NeoVolta Inc S-1, filed Apr 13, 2022
NeoVolta Inc. (NEOV)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2022.
Registration No. 333-________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NEOVOLTA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada |
| 3690 |
| 82-5299263 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
| (Primary Standard Industrial |
| (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
| Classification Code Number) |
| Identification Number) |
13651 Danielson Street, Suite A
Poway, CA 92064
(800) 364-5464
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Brent Willson
Chief Executive Officer
NeoVolta, Inc.
13651 Danielson Street, Suite A
Poway, CA 92064
(800) 364-5464
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Cavas Pavri, Esq. Johnathan Duncan, Esq. ArentFox Schiff LLP 1717 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: (202) 724-6847 Fax: (202) 778-6460 | Barry Grossman, Esq. Sarah Williams, Esq. Matthew Bernstein, Esq. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10105 Telephone: (212) 370-1300 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
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If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
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Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
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| Emerging growth company ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 13, 2022
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
1,666,666 Units
Each Unit Consisting of
One Share of Common Stock and
One Warrant to Purchase One Share of Common Stock
This is an initial public offering of units of our securities. We anticipate a public offering price between $5.00 and $7.00 per share.
Each “Unit” consists of one share of our common stock and one warrant (each, a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”) to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $_____ per share, constituting not less than 100% of the price of each Unit sold in this offering. The Units have no stand-alone rights and will not be certificated or issued as stand-alone securities. The shares of common stock and the Warrants comprising the Units are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering. Each Warrant offered hereby is immediately exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire five years from the date of issuance.
Prior to this offering, our common stock was quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace (the “OTCQB”) under the symbol “NEOV.” There is no established trading market for the Warrants. We have applied for listing of our common stock and Warrants on the NASDAQ Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “NEOV” and “NEOVW,” respectively. We believe that upon the completion of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, we will meet the standards for listing on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in listing our common stock or our Warrants on Nasdaq; however, we will not complete this offering unless we are so listed.
There is no assurance that our common stock will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. If our common stock is not approved for listing the offering will not proceed.
The last reported sale price for our common stock as reported on the OTCQB on April 8, 2022 was $5.63. The offering price of the Units will be determined by negotiations between the underwriters and us at the time of pricing, considering our historical performance and capital structure, prevailing market conditions, and overall assessment of our business, and may be at a discount to the current market price. The prices at which our common stock was quoted on the OTCQB may not be indicative of the actual public offering price for our Units or of the prices at which our common stock may trade on Nasdaq in the future.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that you should consider before investing in our securities.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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(1)We have also agreed to issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock to the underwriter and to reimburse the underwriter for certain expenses. The underwriter’s warrants are exercisable for a number of shares of common stock equal to 6.0% of the number of Units sold in this offering, at an exercise price equal to 110% of the public offering price per Unit. See “Underwriting” for additional information regarding total underwriter compensation.
(2)The amount of offering proceeds to us presented in this table does not give effect to any exercise of the: (i) over-allotment option (if any) we have granted to the underwriter as described below and (ii) warrants being issued to the underwriter in this offering.
We have granted a 45-day option to the underwriter to purchase up to an additional 249,999 shares of common stock and/or 249,999 additional Warrants solely to cover overallotments, if any, at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. If the representative of the underwriters exercises the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable will be $_____ and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $_____.
The underwriter expects to deliver the securities against payment to the investors in this offering made on or about _________ , 2022.
Sole Book-Running Manager
Maxim Group LLC
The date of this prospectus is _______________ , 2022.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | 28 |
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 55 |
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK | 61 |
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We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide you. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, Units only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the Units.
Neither we nor the underwriter have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than the United States. You are required to inform yourself about, and to observe any restrictions relating to, this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.
MARKET, INDUSTRY AND OTHER DATA
This prospectus includes industry and market data that we obtained from periodic industry publications, third-party studies and surveys, filings of public companies in our industry and internal company surveys. These sources may include government and industry sources. Industry publications and surveys generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Although we believe the industry and market data to be reliable as of the date of this prospectus, this information could prove to be inaccurate. Industry and market data could be wrong because of the method by which sources obtained their data and because information cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to the limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties. In addition, we do not know all of the assumptions regarding general economic conditions or growth that were used in preparing the forecasts from the sources relied upon or cited herein.
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The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. Before you decide to invest in our common stock, you should read and carefully consider the following summary together with the entire prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the matters discussed in the sections in this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those discussed in the “Risk Factors” and other sections of this prospectus.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company” in this prospectus mean NeoVolta, Inc.
Our Company
We are a designer, manufacturer, and seller of high-end Energy Storage Systems (or ESS), primarily our NeoVolta NV14 and NV 24, which can store and use energy via batteries and an inverter at residential or commercial sites. We were founded to identify new ways to leverage emerging technologies with the dynamic changes that are taking place in the energy delivery space. We primarily market and sell our products directly to our certified solar installers and solar equipment distributors. In the future, we also intend to pursue residential developers, commercial developers, and other commercial opportunities. Because we are purely dedicated to energy solar systems, virtually all of our current resources and efforts go into further developing our flagship NV14 and NV 24 products, while focusing on specific industry needs for our next generation of products. We believe we are unique in the marketplace due to our low cost, our innovative battery chemistry, our product versatility and our commitment to installer service. Because of these factors, we believe NeoVolta is uniquely equipped to establish ourselves as a major player in the energy storage market.
Our Products - NeoVolta NV14 and NV24
The NV14 is a complete ESS with 7,680-Watt 120V / 240V hybrid inverter (one of the largest in the industry) which is also capable of 208V commercial power with a 14.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFe (PO4)) battery system. This is all incorporated in one National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) Type 3R rated indoor/outdoor cabinet system with all United laboratories (UL) compliant electrical certifications, and fire code requirements. The NV14 is capable of storing and using inverted (AC) photovoltaic, non-inverted (DC) photovoltaic, or both AC and DC photovoltaic solar sources. It can also accept utility grid AC power as a charging source for the integrated 14.4 kWh battery system. The NV14 system will charge the batteries with excess solar photovoltaic (AC, DC or both AC and DC) power during daylight conditions - a unique functionality in the ESS industry. The inverter will invert DC battery power into AC power during periods of darkness or higher use periods. Once discharged, the batteries will be idle until excess solar photovoltaic is available and will subsequently begin to recharge. The NV14 is designed to primarily charge from solar but can be programmed to charge from other sources of power (solar, wind turbine, generator, and grid). It can be easily programmed by our certified installers to customer-specific use profiles, including for “rate arbitrage,” which allows charging from the grid during the lowest rate periods (A) if the utility company allows this activity. Once recharged, the batteries will discharge once solar photovoltaic begins to wane or when the customer needs more power than available from solar photovoltaic (B). By doing this, customers will be consuming their own solar photovoltaic production instead of sending excess photovoltaic power to the grid and then buying this power back later in the evening from the utility at an often significantly higher retail rate, thereby potentially lowering their monthly electric bill depending on their local
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utility’s rate plan. Our NV14 is also capable of multi-tasking by recharging via solar photovoltaic power while also supplying power.
We believe our NV14 is unique among its competitors in that the cabinet is rated for indoor/outdoor installation (NEMA Type 3R) allowing for more installation configurations and the ability to fit more residential customer use cases. With measurements of 50.5” H x 38” W x 10” D it can be installed either inside the garage or outside (preferable near existing utility connections) of the residence or facility.
Our NV24 has additional battery capability that raises NV14 energy storage from 14.4 KW to 24.0 KW. As the NV24 has add-on battery capacity, additional inverters are not required. This enables customers to achieve a 67% increase in storage for a fraction of the cost. Most competitive systems require an additional inverter for any additional storage.
Background
The changing energy landscape has put significant strain on the traditional utility ‘grid’. Pressures in economics, system resiliency and consumer confidence are driving the energy industry to dramatic change. The combination of a decreasing supply of reliable electricity and an increasing demand is not sustainable. The majority of the nation’s grid is aging, with some components over a century old - far past their 50-year life expectancy - and others, including 70% of transmission and distribution systems lines, are well into the second half of their lifespans.
Gas and coal power plants generate continuous power by burning fuel, and how much they burn can be modulated based on the demand for electricity when grid stability exists. But the generation of solar and wind energy fluctuates. The sun doesn’t shine at night, and turbines don’t turn without wind. This can create a mismatch between demand and supply. According to California Independent System Operator (CAISO), this puts tremendous stress on the grid, which must exist in constant balance.
Utilities have sophisticated systems for predicting when demand will go up and down, but the introduction of renewables into the equation has made compensating for the fluctuations more difficult.
Three areas where current utilities’ grids are not fully equipped according to CAISO are:
·Short, steep ramps - when the ISO must bring on or shut down generation resources to meet an increasing or decreasing electricity demand quickly, over a short period of time;
·Oversupply risk - when more electricity is supplied than is needed to satisfy real-time electricity requirements; and
·Decreased frequency response - when less resources are operating and available to automatically adjust electricity production to maintain grid reliability
Without any form of energy storage, after times of high solar generation, generating companies must rapidly increase other forms of power generation around the time of sunset to compensate for the loss of solar
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generation, a major concern for grid operators where there is rapid growth of solar. Storage can fix these issues if it can be implemented, or they can strike that balance by burning more fossil fuels. But if there’s an unexpected spike in demand and a utility doesn’t have the requisite power, it must restore balance by cutting demand with blackouts.
Market Characteristics - Solar Installers and the ESS Market
Solar Installer Market. Although we have active non-residential customers and prospects, the bulk of NeoVolta’s revenue and recurring customer base has been residential solar installers. According to IBIS Worldwide, there are nearly 20,000 solar installers in the US employing almost 90,000 employees. With SunRun and Tesla Energy representing approximately 20% of the market combined, and the top 10 companies representing about 38%. Most solar installers in the US are very small, independently owned operators and are generally not serviced by the larger companies. These installers have been NeoVolta’s target market. Based on IBIS’ figures, we estimate this to be at least 15,000 installers with less than 25 employees. Our average recurring installer customer purchases 1-2 systems a month. They generally sell their systems and install and pay for them within the same month, and typically do not stock inventory, so we believe NeoVolta’s “just in time” product availability makes us an ideal fit. Once these customers become certified NeoVolta installers, they become recurring customers. We built our company based on servicing small installers and will continue to do so by focusing on product availability, installer service, and, most importantly, the characteristics of our product.
Although Tesla and LG Chem have dominated the market in the past few years, new market entries continue to gain ground and new opportunities in the space continue to present themselves to those who can adapt to fill the need. Additionally, our larger ESS competitors focus on energy storage as a component of their new solar installation, whereas NeoVolta focuses entirely on ESSs, revealing what we believe to be a compelling market in existing solar system retrofits. According to Berkeley Lab’s Tracking the Sun dataset, there are over 3 million solar systems installed in the US and only 6.8% of those have energy solar installed. This marketplace scenario presents small installer customers almost 3 million households to revisit for a storage retrofit.
ESS Market. This is a relatively new market as residential solar storage systems have only become viable in the last decade. It is a subset of what the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) refers to as the $17 billion U.S. residential solar PV market. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that there will be 3 million installations in 2021 growing to 4 million in 2023. According to Mordor Intelligence, the global residential energy storage systems market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 19% during the forecast period of 2021 - 2026, reaching a market value of more than $8.5 billion by 2026 from $2.2 billion in 2019. With the United States being the fastest growing market. The growth of the ESS market comes from a combination of retrofits to existing solar installations and more widespread adoption of storage as part of new solar installations.
Market Drivers
Regulatory. The regulatory drivers regarding ESS come in the form of an increasing number of mandates and incentives from government and utilities. For example, on the mandate side California now requires solar and battery storage on many new buildings. On the incentive side, the federal Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is the most impactful providing a 26% if you pair the battery with an on-site renewable resource.
Resiliency. Energy dependence has been a growing concern in the last few years as weather patterns have become more erratic. New findings from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Clean Energy Group (CEG) found that when the value of resilience is considered - preventing power outages - several more integrated solar-plus-storage projects are economically viable.
Consumer Perception. Although both economics and resiliency have been impactful on ESS demand, researchers at Berkeley Labs concluded that a third category of consumer perception may be adding to the trend. The feedback they received included the concept that consumers saw ESS as a “green” investment and felt like it was a way to “stick it to the utilities”.
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Growth Strategy
Our growth strategy is focused on expanding our core business of small recurring installer acquisitions and broadening the application of our product through more non-residential (commercial) partnerships. We plan to do this through an increase in targeted direct sales and marketing to installers in ripe regional markets, concentrating efforts on adding to our national distributor partners, and marketing in ESS industry circles to identify new potential applications of our systems. Our growth thus far has been through word of mouth and networking mainly in Southern California. We have been successful in consistently growing both our installer base and our number of installs through these means, but recognize that to succeed in the national marketplace, we will need to bring on a team of sales and marketing professionals to reach our goals. We have plans to start to build out this team utilizing funds from this offering.
Installer Acquisition: Our goal is to increase our installer network by mirroring our success in the San Diego market. We will do this through increased investment into sales and marketing in targeted geographic areas that meet ideal conditions for solar storage needs.
Non-Residential / Commercial Growth: NeoVolta’s all-in-one system was engineered with the intent to be easily configurable to the needs of the client and easily serviced and updated for our installers. Flexibility due to the close contact with the manufacturing process and the adaptability of the product, along with our ability to handle commercial 208V power, have opened up a number of new opportunities for us. These customers sought us out to create an energy storage system for their unique needs specifically because others would not or could not accept the challenge. NeoVolta was and continues to be open to customizing our products for energy storage contracts should they meet our volume, profitability, and system requirements.
NeoVolta Competitive Advantages:
Availability. We believe recent back order times for competitive products have been as long as 9-months in 2021. Smaller installers rely on quick sales to install to payment to keep their business going, and the lack of availability of competitive products is often the reason they are introduced to NeoVolta. As of December 2021, NeoVolta is delivering on orders in under two weeks, very often the same day. We achieve this by maintaining a high level of inventory relative to projected sales, component consolidation prior to shipment, and a small lot, recurring freight strategy, which we believe allows for more flexibility in getting through the supply chain. Our strategy of maintaining higher levels of inventory based on projected sales means that to the extent our sales expectations in any periods are incorrect we may suffer cash flow constraints for such periods.
Installer Service. NeoVolta considers its installer relationships to be the key to our growth. The relative newness of the industry requires a great deal of education and support to ensure quality and efficient installations. With all energy storage, there is significant necessary electrical work, which may be new to smaller solar installers. NeoVolta requires that every installer go through our Certified Installer Program and we often walk them through early installations one-on-one to get them comfortable with the product either in-person or via smart phone video.
Superior Product. We have been able to develop distinct competitive advantages to appeal to smaller and regional independent installers. We designed the NeoVolta NV14 to be cost effective, easy to install and service, and adaptable to customer needs. We are one of very few in the ESS industry to focus virtually all our resources on energy storage systems.
Cost:
·Product cost is well below the industry median of about $1,000 per kWh
·Labor costs to install are reduced due to the ease of install. A typical NV14 installation takes between 6-8 hours. Some of our competitors can take up to three days to install.
Ease of Install and Service:
·Our NeoVolta NV14 is an all-in-one system. Most competitive products require multiple components and additional installation materials. This generally allows for a smaller total system footprint, providing a cleaner and more appealing look - both indoors and outdoors.
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·Our NV14 is modular. Meaning that all its internal components can be replaced on site. Most components can be replaced in less than 30 minutes. Most competitive products require disconnection and removal of the system that needs replacement. The system is then sent back to the manufacturer for repair many times leaving the homeowner without working solar.
·System firmware updates for the NV14 and NV24 can be ‘pushed’ remotely to the units.
System Adaptability:
·Our NV14 is compatible with AC, DC and AC/DC solar systems. This is unique to NeoVolta and allows for flexibility and more widespread installation scenarios.
·No solar is required to charge the NV14 battery. Most competitive systems require solar.
·Our NV14’s storage can be increased by 9.6 KW without the need for an additional inverter, most of our competitors, require an additional inverter for increases in system storage sizing.
Our NV14 inverter can also accept 208 Volt commercial power by simply making a settings change. This feature allows small businesses to back up vital systems such as servers, alarm systems, entry and exit security features, vaults, emergency lighting, etc. Some States are beginning to require these capabilities as an emergency capability due to frequent grid outages.
Risks We Face
Our business and ability to execute our business strategy are subject to a number of risks of which you should be aware before you decide to buy our securities. In particular, you should consider the following risks, which are discussed more fully in the section entitled “Risk Factors”:
·We have concluded that substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern exists and our auditors have made reference to this in their audit report on our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2021.
·Our prospects depend entirely on our ability to market and sell our energy storage system, which is our sole product.
·The regulatory approval pathway we must navigate in each state in which we sell our products may be expensive, time-consuming and uncertain, and may prevent or delay us from expanding our geographic footprint.
·We rely on third parties to manufacture critical components for our products.
·If others claim we are infringing on their intellectual property rights, we may be subject to costly and time-consuming litigation.
·We face competition from companies that have greater resources than we do, and we may not be able to effectively compete against these companies.
·We may need to raise additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 13651 Danielson Street, Suite A, Poway, CA 92064. Our telephone number is 800-364-5464. Our website address is http://www.neovolta.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus.
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Implications of being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”). An “emerging growth company” may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. We intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to:
·not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or 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 stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, delaying the adoption of these accounting standards until they would apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption and, therefore, we are not subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.
We expect to take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which is the end of the fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of our most recent second fiscal quarter, and (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
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Use of proceeds: | We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $9.0 million, or approximately $10.4 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, at an assumed offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for new product development, research and development, property and equipment, sales and marketing, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” for a more complete description of the intended use of proceeds from this offering. |
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Underwriters’ warrants: | Upon the closing of this offering, we will issue to Maxim, or its designee, as the representative of the underwriters in this offering, warrants entitling it to purchase a number of Units equal to 6.0% of the Units sold in this offering at an exercise price equal to 110% of the public offering price of the units in this offering. The warrants shall be exercisable commencing six months after the closing of this offering and will expire five years after the commencement date of sales in this offering. |
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Proposed Trading symbols: | Our common stock is presently quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “NEOV.” We have applied to list our common stock and Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “NEOV” and “NEOVW,” respectively. No assurance can be given that an active trading market will develop for the common stock or Warrants. We believe that upon the completion of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, we will meet the standards for listing on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in listing our common stock or our Warrants on Nasdaq; however, we will not complete this offering unless we are so listed |
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Risk factors: | Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk and purchasers of our securities may lose their entire investment. You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in shares of our securities. |
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Lock-up Agreements: | We and our directors, officers and holders of 3.0% or more of our outstanding shares of our common stock have agreed with the underwriter not to offer for sale, issue, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions. Holders of a total of ___________ of our issued and outstanding common stock are subject to such lockup. See “Underwriting-Lock-Up Agreements.” |
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding following this offering, or 33,315,784 shares, is based upon the shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of April 11, 2022, plus (i) 9,404,867 shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our 2018 convertible notes into shares of common stock and (ii) 267,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our October 2021 convertible notes, at a conversion price of $4.00 per share, each of which shall occur upon the closing of this offering, and excludes:
·1,666,666 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants to be issued to investors in this offering; and
·100,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants to be issued to the underwriters.
Unless otherwise noted, the information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of outstanding options or warrants.
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You should read the following summary financial data together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing at the end of this prospectus, “Capitalization,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We have derived the financial data for the six months ended December 31, 2021 from our unaudited condensed financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the financial data for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 from our audited financial statements included in this prospectus.
| For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020 |
| For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2021 |
| For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2021 | |||
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Revenues from contracts with customers | $ | 2,011,644 |
| $ | 4,823,510 |
| $ | 2,634,731 |
Cost of goods sold |
| 1,773,049 |
|
| 4,175,795 |
|
| 2,222,700 |
Gross profit |
| 238,595 |
|
| 647,715 |
|
| 412,031 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative |
| 1,507,211 |
|
| 8,255,865 |
|
| 4,494,053 |
Research and development |
| 162,697 |
|
| 42,801 |
|
| 66,503 |
Total operating expenses |
| 1,669,908 |
|
| 8,298,666 |
|
| 4,560,556 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
| (1,431,313) |
|
| (7,650,951) |
|
| (4,148,525) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
| (25,297) |
|
| (24,521) |
|
| (9,536) |
Gain on forgiveness of debt |
| - |
|
| 29,600 |
|
| - |
Total other income (expense) |
| (25,297) |
|
| 5,079 |
|
| (9,536) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | $ | (1,456,610) |
| $ | (7,645,872) |
| $ | (4,158,061) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.12) |
| $ | (0.43) |
| $ | (0.21) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
| 12,404,725 |
|
| 17,889,327 |
|
| 19,982,352 |
| As of June 30, 2020 |
| As of June 30, 2021 |
| As of December 31, 2021 |
| Pro Forma as adjusted as of December 31, 2021(1) | ||||
Balance Sheet Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash | $ | 1,309,304 |
| $ | 425,681 |
| $ | 1,017,758 |
| $ | 10,017,758 |
Working capital | $ | 3,378,443 |
| $ | 3,167,942 |
| $ | 3,006,017 |
| $ | 13,074,017 |
Total assets | $ | 3,403,727 |
| $ | 3,262,191 |
| $ | 4,125,280 |
| $ | 13,125,280 |
Total liabilities | $ | 69,321 |
| $ | 113,557 |
| $ | 1,173,173 |
| $ | 51,263 |
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | 3,334,406 |
| $ | 3,148,634 |
| $ | 2,952,107 |
| $ | 13,074,017 |
(1)Reflects the sale and issuance of all the Units offered hereby, at an assumed public offering price of $6.00 per unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
9
Preliminary Results for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2022
Set out below are certain preliminary estimated financial results for the three months and nine months ended March 31, 2022. The estimated financial results described below have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, our management. MaloneBailey, LLP has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the estimated financial results. Accordingly, MaloneBailey, LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. These estimated financial results are preliminary and subject to normal end of period closing procedures and, accordingly, are subject to change. As a consequence, actual results may differ from the preliminary results described below.
Preliminary Results (Unaudited)
We expect to report operating revenues of between $0.9 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as a result principally of differences in timing of receiving installation orders from our major wholesale customers. Net loss is expected to be between $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to a net loss of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, reflecting the impact of the change in timing of installation orders along with an increase in our general and administrative expenses due to costs related to our public offering.
We expect to report operating revenues of between $3.5 million and $3.6 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $3.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2021, as a result principally of differences in timing of receiving installation orders from our major wholesale customers in the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as noted above. Net loss is expected to be between $4.4 million and $4.5 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 compared to net loss of $7.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2021, largely due to the reduction in the expense recorded for the fair value of incentive shares of common stock earned by our executive officers under Board approved contracts.
We expect to report, as of March 31, 2022, total debt of between $1.1 million and $1.2 million including the current portion of approximately $1.1 million, cash liquidity of between $0.7 million and $0.8 million (consisting of cash and cash equivalents) and total stockholders' equity of between $2.8 million and $2.9 million.
Certain Non-GAAP EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA Financial Measurements and Reconciliation to GAAP
The following non-GAAP EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (defined below) financial measures are intended to supplement the GAAP financial information by providing additional insight regarding our results of operations. The non-GAAP EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA financial measures used by our company are intended to provide an enhanced understanding of our underlying operational measures to manage our company’s business, to evaluate performance compared to prior periods and the marketplace, and to establish operational goals. Certain items are excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures to provide additional comparability measures from period to period. Specifically, the table below presents the non-GAAP financial measure “EBITDA” (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and “Adjusted EBITDA” (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for stock-based compensation), respectively. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are intended as supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and operating results.
We believe that the use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide additional tools for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial measures with other businesses which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful measures because they normalize operating results by excluding non-recurring gains, losses and other items and help to demonstrate how much cash we are able to generate annually. In addition, you should be aware when evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA that in the future we may incur expenses similar to those excluded when calculating these measures. Our presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our computation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because all companies do not calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the same fashion.
10
Our management does not consider EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in our financial statements. Some of these limitations are:
a.EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
b.EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
c.EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts;
d.although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
e.EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the impact of certain cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; and
f.other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only as supplements. You should review the reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA below and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(unaudited)
| Six Months Ended December 31, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Net income (loss) from operations | $ | (4,158,061) |
| $ | (7,152,224) |
Depreciation and amortization |
| - |
|
| 10,695 |
Interest expense |
| 9,536 |
|
| 12,425 |
EBITDA from operations |
| (4,148,525) |
|
| (7,129,104) |
Stock-based compensation |
| 4,001,558 |
|
| 7,089,351 |
Adjusted EBITDA from operations | $ | (146,967) |
| $ | (39,753) |
11
Investing in our Units involves a high degree of risk. Prospective investors should carefully consider the risks described below and other information contained in this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes before purchasing Units. There are numerous and varied risks, known and unknown, that may prevent us from achieving our goals. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations may be materially adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock and Warrants could decline and investors in our Units could lose all or part of their investment.
Risks Related to the Company’s Business and Industry
We are a relatively new company, with our sales having only commenced in July 2019, and we continue to have some of the risks associated with start-up ventures.
We formed our corporation in 2018. Since formation, we have focused on research, development and certification of our first energy storage system. We began marketing, sales, and installations via our certified installers in May 2019 (although no sales were completed in the year ended June 30, 2019). We may never achieve commercial success with our energy storage systems. We have limited historical financial data upon which we may base our projected revenue and operating expenses. Our relatively short operating history makes it difficult for potential investors to evaluate our technology or prospective operations and business prospects. Accordingly, we continue to be subject to many of the risks inherent in business development, financing, unexpected expenditures, and complications and delays that often occur in a new business. Investors should evaluate an investment in us in light of the uncertainties encountered by developing companies in a competitive environment. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that we will ultimately be able to attain profitability.
We have a history of net losses and we are uncertain about our future profitability.
We have incurred significant net losses since our inception. For the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, we have incurred net losses of $7.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $14.2 million. If our revenue grows more slowly than currently anticipated, or if operating expenses are higher than expected, we may be unable to consistently achieve profitability, our financial condition will suffer, and the value of our common stock could decline. Even if we are successful increasing our sales, we may incur losses in the foreseeable future as we continue to develop and market our products. If sales revenue from any of our current products or any additional products that we develop in the future is insufficient, or if our product development is delayed, we may be unable to achieve profitability and, in the event we are unable to secure financing for prolonged periods of time, we may need to temporarily cease operations and, possibly, shut them down altogether. Furthermore, even if we are able to achieve profitability, we may be unable to sustain or increase such profitability on a quarterly or annual basis, which would adversely impact our financial condition and significantly reduce the value of our common stock.
Our losses from operations could continue to raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern requires that we obtain sufficient funding to finance our operations.
We had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1.0 million at December 31, 2021. Our financial statements included with this prospectus have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. We have concluded that substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern exists and our auditors have made reference to this in their audit report on our audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2021. After the completion of this offering, future financial statements may continue to disclose substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. If we seek additional financing to fund our business activities in the future and there remains substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
12
We may experience in the future, delays or other complications in the design, manufacture, launch and production ramp of our energy storage products which could harm our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
We may encounter unanticipated challenges, such as supply chain or logistics constraints, that lead to delays in producing and ramping our energy storage products. Any significant delay or other complication in the production of our products or the development, manufacture, and production ramp of our future products, including complications associated with expanding our production capacity and supply chain or obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, and/or coronavirus impacts, could materially damage our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
We may be unable to meet our growing energy storage production plans and delivery plans, any of which could harm our business and prospects.
Our plans call for achieving and sustaining significant increases in energy storage systems production and deliveries. Our ability to achieve these plans will depend upon a number of factors, including our ability to utilize installed manufacturing capacity, achieve the planned production yield and further increase capacity as planned while maintaining our desired quality levels and optimize design and production changes, and our suppliers’ ability to support our needs. If we are unable to realize our plans, our brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially damaged.
We are dependent on our suppliers, the majority of which are single-source suppliers, and the inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components of our products according to our schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to us, or our inability to efficiently manage these components, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
Our products contain numerous purchased parts which we source globally from direct suppliers, the majority of whom are currently single-source suppliers. Any significant unanticipated demand would require us to procure additional components in a short amount of time. While we believe that we will be able to secure additional or alternate sources of supply for most of our components in a relatively short time frame, there is no assurance that we will be able to do so or develop our own replacements for certain highly customized components of our products. In addition, if we are required to use alternative suppliers for certain critical components, we may need to have our products go through a re-certification process with various regulatory bodies, which process may be lengthy. In such event, we would not be able to sell our products using these new components until we received all required certifications.
If we encounter unexpected difficulties with key suppliers such as our inverter or lithium-iron phosphate cell supplier, and if we are unable to fill these needs from other suppliers, we could experience production delays and potential loss of access to important technology and parts for producing, servicing and supporting our products. This limited, and in many cases single source, supply chain exposes us to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages for the production of our products. The loss of any single or limited source supplier or the disruption in the supply of components from these suppliers could lead to significant product design changes and delays in product deliveries to our customers, which could hurt our relationships with our customers and result in negative publicity, damage to our brand and a material and adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Changes in our supply chain may result in increased cost. If we are unsuccessful in our efforts to control and reduce supplier costs, our operating results will suffer.
There is no assurance that our suppliers will ultimately be able to meet our cost, quality and volume needs, or do so at the times needed. Furthermore, as the scale of our energy storage systems increase, we will need to accurately forecast, purchase, warehouse and transport to our manufacturing facilities components at much higher volumes than we have experience with. If we are unable to accurately match the timing and quantities of component purchases to our actual needs, or successfully implement automation, inventory management and other systems to accommodate the increased complexity in our supply chain, we may incur unexpected production disruption, storage, transportation and write-off costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
13
The duration and scope of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are uncertain and may continue to adversely affect our operations, supply chain, distribution, and demand for our products.
The impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and our customers has thus far not affected us materially. To date, we have not experienced any issues with our supply chain, but delays through international ports have been experienced in the industry. If we were to encounter a significant disruption due to COVID-19 at one or more of our locations or suppliers, we may not be able to satisfy customer demand for a period of time.
Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, demand for our products and impacts to our operations, including the measures taken by governmental authorities to address it, may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and/or uncertainties, including specifically many of the risk factors set forth herein, which may have a significant impact on our operating results and financial condition, although we are unable to predict the extent or nature of these impacts at this time.
We are currently selling two products and if these products that we sell or install fail to perform as expected, our reputation could be harmed and our ability to develop, market and sell our products and services could be harmed.
If our energy products were to contain defects in design and manufacture that cause them not to perform as expected or that require repair or take longer than expected to become enabled or are legally restricted, our ability to develop, market and sell our products and services could be harmed. While we intend to perform internal testing on the products we manufacture, as a start-up company we currently have no frame of reference by which to evaluate detailed long-term quality, reliability, durability and performance characteristics of our battery packs, inverters, and energy storage products. There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix any defects in our products prior to their sale to or installation for consumers. Any product defects, delays or legal restrictions on product features, or other failure of our products to perform as expected could harm our reputation and result in delivery delays, product recalls, product liability claims, significant warranty and other expenses, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
We depend on a small number of wholesale dealers for a significant portion of our revenues to date.
Due to our limited operating history, we depend on a relatively small number of wholesale dealers and installers, primarily in California, for our revenue. For the year ended June 30, 2021, four such dealers represented approximately 18%, 15%, 13% and 10% of our revenues whereas in the year ended June 30, 2020, two such dealers represented approximately 41% and 25% of our revenues. As of June 30, 2021, three such dealers represented an aggregate of 54% of our accounts receivable. As of June 30, 2020, two such dealers represented an aggregate of 97% of our accounts receivable. Our limited customer base and concentration could expose us to the risk of substantial losses if a single dominant customer stops purchasing, or significantly reduces orders for, our products. Our ability to maintain close relationships with these top customers is essential to the growth and profitability of our business. If we fail to sell our products to one or more of these top customers in any particular period, or if a large customer purchases fewer of our products, defers orders or fails to place additional orders with us, or if we fail to develop additional major customers, our revenue could decline, and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
If we fail to scale our business operations and otherwise manage future growth and adapt to new conditions effectively as we grow our company, we may not be able to produce, market, sell and service our products successfully.
Any failure to manage our growth effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. Our future operating results depend to a large extent on our ability to manage our expansion and growth successfully. We may not be successful in undertaking this expansion if we are unable to control expenses and avoid cost overruns and other unexpected operating costs; adapt our products and conduct our operations to meet local requirements; implement the required infrastructure, systems and processes; and find and hire the right skills to make our growth successful.
14
If we are unable to achieve our targeted manufacturing costs for our energy storage products our financial condition and operating results will suffer.
As a relatively new company, we have limited historical data that ensures our targeted manufacturing costs will be achievable. While we expect in the future to better understand our manufacturing costs, there is no guarantee we will be able to achieve sufficient cost savings to reach our gross margin and profitability goals. We may also incur substantial costs or cost overruns in utilizing and increasing the production capability of our energy storage system facilities.
If we are unable to achieve production cost targets on our products pursuant to our plans, we may not be able to meet our gross margin and other financial targets. Many of the factors that impact our manufacturing costs are beyond our control, such as potential increases in the costs of our materials and components, such as lithium iron phosphate, nickel and other components of our battery cells. If we are unable to continue to control and reduce our manufacturing costs, our operating results, business and prospects will be harmed.
Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials, in particular for inverters and lithium iron phosphate cells, could harm our business.
We may experience increases in the cost or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of materials. Any such increase, supply interruption or shortage could materially and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. We use various materials in our business, including inverters and lithium iron phosphate cells, from suppliers.
The prices for these materials fluctuate, and their available supply may be unstable, depending on market conditions and global demand for these materials, including as a result of increased production of energy storage products by our competitors, and could adversely affect our business and operating results. For instance, we are exposed to multiple risks relating to inverters and lithium iron phosphate cells.
These risks include:
·an increase in the cost, or decrease in the available supply, of materials used;
·disruption in the supply of cells due to quality issues or recalls by manufacturers;
·tariffs on the materials we source in China, which make up a significant amount of the materials we require;
·fluctuations in the value of the Chinese Renminbi against the U.S. dollar as our purchases for energy storage products will be denominated in Chinese Renminbi. Already in 2021, we have experienced five percent inflation in our cost of goods sold because of currency valuations; and
·increases in global shipping costs have gone up 70 percent in 2021 due to shipping container shortages and delays at both shipping and receiving ports due to COVID and lack of appropriate workforce.
Our business is dependent on the continued supply of inverters and battery cells for the battery packs used in our energy storage products. Any disruption in the supply of inverters or battery cells could disrupt production of our battery packs we require for our energy storage product. Substantial increases in the prices for our materials or prices charged to us would increase our operating costs, and could reduce our margins if we cannot recoup the increased costs through increased prices. Any attempts to increase prices in response to increased material costs could result in cancellations of energy storage orders and therefore materially and adversely affect our brand, image, business, prospects and operating results.
We are currently operating in a period of economic uncertainty and capital markets disruption, which has been significantly impacted by geopolitical instability due to the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by any negative impact on the global economy and capital markets resulting from the conflict in Ukraine or any other geopolitical tensions.
U.S. and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the start of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops was reported. Although the length and impact of the ongoing
15
military conflict is highly unpredictable, the conflict in Ukraine could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions. We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine and globally and assessing its potential impact on our business. In addition, Russian military actions and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets, potentially making it more difficult for us to obtain additional funds.
Any of the above mentioned factors could affect our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks described in this registration statement.
We may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm our financial condition and liquidity if we are not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.
Although we believe we have designed our products for safety, product liability claims, even those without merit, could harm our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. Our risks in this area are particularly pronounced given that we have only recently begun to deliver energy storage products. Moreover, a product liability claim could generate substantial negative publicity about our products and business and could have material adverse effect on our brand, business, prospects and operating results.
The markets in which we operate are in their infancy and highly competitive, and we may not be successful in competing in these industries as the industry further develops. We currently face competition from new and established domestic and international competitors and expect to face competition from others in the future, including competition from companies with new technology.
The worldwide energy storage market is in its infancy, and we expect it will become more competitive in the future. We also expect more regulatory burden as customers adopt this new technology. There is no assurance that our energy storage systems will be successful in the respective markets in which they compete. A significant and growing number of established and new companies, as well as other companies, have entered or are reported to have plans to enter the energy storage market. Most of our current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales networks and other resources than we do and may be able to devote greater resources to the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, sale and support of their products. Increased competition could result in lower unit sales, price reductions, revenue shortfalls, loss of customers and loss of market share, which could harm our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. The energy storage industry is highly competitive.
We face competition from other manufacturers, developers and installers of energy storage systems, as well as from large utilities. Decreases in the retail prices of electricity from utilities or other renewable energy sources could make our products less attractive to customers. Reduction in various federal and state rebate and incentive programs could also adversely affect product adoption.
Our products and services are subject to substantial regulations, which are evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with these regulations could substantially harm our business and operating results.
As a manufacturer of energy storage systems, we are impacted by federal, state and local regulations and policies concerning electricity pricing, the interconnection of electricity generation and storage equipment with the electric grid, and the sale of electricity generated by third-party owned systems. For example, existing or proposed regulations and policies would permit utilities to limit the amount of electricity generated by our customers with their solar energy systems, adjust electricity rate designs such that the price of our products may not be competitive with that of electricity from the grid, restrict us and our customers qualifying for government incentives and benefits that apply to renewable energy, and limit or eliminate net energy metering. If such regulations and policies remain in effect or are adopted in other jurisdictions, or if other regulations and policies that adversely impact the interconnection or use of our energy storage systems are introduced, they could deter potential customers from purchasing our energy storage products, which could harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
16
We may need to defend ourselves against intellectual property infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and could cause us to incur substantial costs.
Others, including our competitors, may hold or obtain patents, copyrights, trademarks or other proprietary rights that could prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, sell or market our products and services, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. From time to time, the holders of such intellectual property rights may assert their rights and urge us to take licenses, and/or may bring suits alleging infringement or misappropriation of such rights. We may consider the entering into licensing agreements with respect to such rights, although no assurance can be given that such licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or that litigation will not occur, and such licenses could significantly increase our operating expenses. In addition, if we are determined to have infringed upon a third party’s intellectual property rights, we may be required to cease making, selling or incorporating certain components or intellectual property into the goods and services we offer, to pay substantial damages and/or license royalties, to redesign our products and services, and/or to establish and maintain alternative branding for our products and services. In the event that we were required to take one or more such actions, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, negative publicity and diversion of resources and management attention.
Our business could be negatively impacted if we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights.
We consider our intellectual property rights to be important assets, and seek to protect them through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as licensing and confidentiality agreements. These protections may not be adequate to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property without our authorization, breaching any confidentiality agreements with us, copying or reverse engineering our products, or developing and marketing products that are substantially equivalent to or superior to our own. The unauthorized use of our intellectual property by others could reduce our competitive advantage and harm our business. Not only are intellectual property-related proceedings burdensome and costly, but they could span years to resolve and we might not ultimately prevail. We cannot guarantee that any patents, issued or pending, will provide us with any competitive advantage or will not be challenged by third parties. Moreover, the expiration of our patents may lead to increased competition with respect to certain products.
Potential tariffs or a global trade war have increased our costs and could further increase the cost of our products, which could adversely impact the competitiveness of our products and our financial results.
In 2019, the Trump Administration announced tariffs on goods imported from China in connection with China’s intellectual property practices. Our products depend on materials from China, namely inverters and batteries, which are the main components of our products. Traditionally, the tariff rate for our imports has been 3.4%. Presently, our tariff rate is 10.9% on these imports. To date, the Biden Administration has made no significant changes to these Chinese tariffs.
We cannot predict what actions may ultimately be taken with respect to tariffs or trade relations between the United States and China, what products may be subject to such actions, or what actions may be taken by the China in retaliation. The tariffs described above, the adoption and expansion of trade restrictions, the occurrence of a trade war, or other governmental action related to tariffs, trade agreements or related policies have the potential to adversely impact our supply chain and access to equipment, our costs and our product margins. Any such cost increases or decreases in availability could slow our growth and cause our financial results and operational metrics to suffer.
Our industry is subject to technological change, and our failure to continue developing new and improved products and to bring these products rapidly to market could have an adverse impact on our business.
New products, or refinements and improvements to our existing products, may have technical failures, delayed introductions, higher than expected production costs or may not be well accepted by our customers. If we are not able to anticipate, identify, develop and market high quality products in line with technological advancements that respond to changes in customer preferences, demand for our products could decline and our operating results could be adversely affected.
17
Public company compliance may make it more difficult to attract and retain officers and directors.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules subsequently implemented by the SEC have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. As a public company, we expect these rules and regulations to increase our compliance costs in 2021 and beyond and to make certain activities more time consuming and costly. As a public company, we also expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance in the future 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.
Confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties may not prevent unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information, and our inability to maintain the confidentiality of that information, due to unauthorized disclosure or use, or other event, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we seek to rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary know-how that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce, and any other elements of our product discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information, or technology that is not covered by patents. Trade secrets, however, may be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, advisors, contractors and collaborators. Although we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our employees, consultants, advisors, contractors, and collaborators might intentionally or inadvertently disclose our trade secret information to competitors. In addition, competitors may otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Furthermore, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same manner as the laws of the United States. As a result, we may encounter significant problems in protecting and defending our intellectual property both in the United States and abroad. If we are unable to prevent unauthorized material disclosure of our intellectual property to third parties, or misappropriation of our intellectual property by third parties, we will not be able to establish or maintain a competitive advantage in our market, which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
We are heavily reliant on Brent Willson, our Chief Executive Officer and President, and the departure or loss of Brent Willson could disrupt our business.
We depend heavily on the continued efforts of Brent Willson, our Chief Executive Officer and President and a director. Mr. Willson, who is also a director, is the founder of NeoVolta and is essential to our strategic vision and day-to-day operations and would be difficult to replace. The departure or loss of Mr. Willson, or the inability to timely hire and retain a qualified replacement, could negatively impact our ability to manage our business.
If we are unable to recruit and retain key management, technical and sales personnel, our business would be negatively affected.
For our business to be successful, we need to attract and retain highly qualified technical, management and sales personnel. The failure to recruit additional key personnel when needed with specific qualifications and on acceptable terms or to retain good relationships with our partners might impede our ability to continue to develop, commercialize and sell our products. To the extent the demand for skilled personnel exceeds supply, we could experience higher labor, recruiting and training costs in order to attract and retain such employees. We face competition for qualified personnel from other companies with significantly more resources available to them and thus may not be able to attract the level of personnel needed for our business to succeed.
18
Risks Related to This Offering and Our Securities
Our executive officers and directors will continue to exercise significant control over us for the foreseeable future, which will limit our shareholders ability to influence corporate matters and could delay or prevent a change in corporate control.
Our executive officers and directors currently hold or have the right to acquire, in the aggregate, up to approximately 25.5% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders will be able to influence our management and affairs and heavily influence the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors and any sale, merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
These stockholders may have interests, with respect to their common stock, that are different from our other stockholders and the concentration of voting power among one or more of these stockholders may have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
In addition, this concentration of ownership might adversely affect the market price of our common stock by: (1) delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company; (2) impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving our company; or (3) discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.
Our common stock trades on the over-the-counter market, and trading our common stock has been volatile and sporadic.
Our common stock recently began trading and is currently quoted on the over-the-counter market and not on a national securities exchange. As such, the trading in our common stock is volatile, sporadic and illiquid, and is subject to wide fluctuations. Our stock price may be impacted by factors that are unrelated or disproportionate to our operating performance. These market fluctuations, as well as general economic, political and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rates or international currency fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Shareholders and potential investors in our common stock should exercise caution before making an investment in us, and should not rely solely on the publicly quoted or traded stock prices in determining our common stock value, but should instead determine the value of our common stock based on the information contained in our public disclosures, industry information, and those business valuation methods commonly used to value private companies.
There are material limitations with making preliminary estimates of our financial results for the period ended March 31, 2022 prior to the completion of our and our auditors’ financial review procedures for such period.
The preliminary financial estimates contained in “Prospectus Summary - Summary Financial Information” are not a comprehensive statement of our financial results for the period ended March 31, 2022, and our auditors have not yet completed their review of such financial results. Our financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2022 will not be available until after this offering is completed and, consequently, will not be available to you prior to investing in this offering. Our actual financial results for the period ended March 31, 2022 may differ materially from the preliminary financial estimates we have provided as a result of the completion of our financial closing procedures, final adjustments, and other developments arising between now and the time that our financial results for such periods are finalized. You should not place undue reliance on the preliminary estimates, and the preliminary estimates are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future. The preliminary financial data included herein has been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, management. MaloneBailey LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has not audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to such preliminary estimates. Accordingly, MaloneBailey LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto
As an “emerging growth company” under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements.
As an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. We are an emerging growth company until the earliest of:
19
·the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or more;
·the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering;
·the date on which we have, during the previous 3-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt; or
·the date on which we are deemed a “large accelerated issuer” as defined under the federal securities laws.
For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:
·have an auditor report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
·comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis);
·submit certain executive compensation matters to shareholders advisory votes pursuant to the “say on frequency” and “say on pay” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve compensation of certain executive officers) and the “say on golden parachute” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve golden parachute arrangements for certain executive officers in connection with mergers and certain other business combinations) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; and
·include detailed compensation discussion and analysis in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and instead may provide a reduced level of disclosure concerning executive compensation.
For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we:
·may present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A; and
·are eligible to claim longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act.
We intend to take advantage of all of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions.
Certain of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions were already available to us due to the fact that we also qualify as a “smaller reporting company” under SEC rules. For instance, smaller reporting companies are not required to obtain an auditor attestation and report regarding management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting; are not required to provide a compensation discussion and analysis; are not required to provide a pay-for-performance graph or CEO pay ratio disclosure; and may present only two years of audited financial statements and related MD&A disclosure.
We cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive due to our reliance on these exemptions. If investors were to find our common stock less attractive as a result of our election, we may have difficulty raising additional capital.
Investors in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in net tangible book value.
The public offering price will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding shares of common stock. As a result, investors in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $5.61 per share based on the assumed public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. Investors in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our assets after subtracting our liabilities. See “Dilution” for a more complete description of how the value of your investment will be diluted upon the completion of this offering.
20
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering and may not use the proceeds effectively.
Our management will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. The net proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not improve our operating results or enhance the value of our securities. Our expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business condition. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering. The amounts and timing of our actual use of the net proceeds will vary depending on numerous factors, including amount of cash used in our operations, which can be highly uncertain, subject to substantial risks and can often change. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and investors will be relying on our judgment regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.
You may experience dilution of your ownership interests because of the future issuance of additional shares of our common or preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our common or preferred stock.
We are authorized to issue an aggregate of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock. In the future, we may issue our authorized but previously unissued equity securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of our present stockholders.
We intend to seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions or develop strategic relationships by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, which would reduce the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders. Our board of directors has the authority, without action or vote of the stockholders, to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued shares of common or preferred stock. Our articles of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Future issuances of common or preferred stock would reduce our stockholders influence over matters on which stockholders vote and would be dilutive to earnings per share. In addition, any newly issued preferred stock could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the common stock. Those rights, preferences and privileges could include, among other things, the establishment of dividends that must be paid prior to declaring or paying dividends or other distributions to holders of our common stock or providing for preferential liquidation rights. These rights, preferences and privileges could negatively affect the rights of holders of our common stock, and the right to convert such preferred stock into shares of our common stock at a rate or price that would have a dilutive effect on the outstanding shares of our common stock.
We do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock, and investors may lose the entire amount of their investment.
Cash dividends have never been declared or paid on our common stock, and we do not anticipate such a declaration or payment for the foreseeable future. We expect to use future earnings, if any, to fund business growth. Therefore, stockholders will not receive any funds absent a sale of their shares of common stock. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on your investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates. We cannot assure stockholders of a positive return on their investment when they sell their shares, nor can we assure that stockholders will not lose the entire amount of their investment.
The Warrants are speculative in nature.
The Warrants offered in this offering do not confer any rights of common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of our common stock at a fixed price for a limited period of time. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the Warrants may exercise their right to acquire the common stock and pay an exercise price of $_____ per share (not less than 100% of the assumed public offering price of a Unit), prior to _____ years from the date of issuance, after which date any unexercised Warrants will expire and have no further value. In addition, there is no established trading market for the Warrants.
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Holders of the Warrants will have no rights as a common stockholder until they acquire our common stock.
Until holders of the Warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of the Warrants, the holders will have no rights with respect to shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. Upon exercise of the Warrants, the holder will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder as to the security exercised only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise.
If we obtain approval to list our securities on Nasdaq, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq, a failure of which could result in a de-listing of our common stock.
The Nasdaq Capital Market requires that the trading price of its listed stocks remain above one dollar in order for the stock to remain listed. If a listed stock trades below one dollar for more than 30 consecutive trading days, then it is subject to delisting from Nasdaq. In addition, to maintain a listing on Nasdaq, we must satisfy minimum financial and other continued listing requirements and standards, including those regarding director independence and independent committee requirements, minimum stockholders’ equity, and certain corporate governance requirements. If we are able to obtain approval to list our securities on Nasdaq, we may be unable to satisfy these requirements or standards, we could subject our securities to delisting, which would have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a delisting, we would expect to take actions to restore our compliance with the listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock from dropping below the minimum bid price requirement, or prevent future non-compliance with the listing requirements.
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:
·changes in our industry;
·competitive pricing pressures;
·our ability to obtain working capital financing;
·additions or departures of key personnel;
·conversions from preferred stock to common stock;
·sales of our common and preferred stock;
·our ability to execute our business plan;
·operating results that fall below expectations;
·loss of any strategic relationship;
·regulatory developments; and
·economic and other external factors.
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.
22
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements other than statements of historical fact or relating to present facts or current conditions included in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “should,” “can have,” “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Forward-looking statements include:
·our ability to obtain additional funding to develop and market our products;
·the need to obtain regulatory approval of our products in the states in which we operate or expect to operate in the future;
·our ability to market our products;
·market acceptance of our product;
·competition from existing products or new products that may emerge;
·potential product liability claims;
·our dependency on third-party manufacturers to supply or manufacture our products;
·our ability to establish or maintain collaborations, licensing or other arrangements;
·our ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights;
·our ability to adequately support future growth; and
·our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in “Risk Factors.” Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by the federal securities laws, we are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.
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We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $9.0 million, or approximately $10.4 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, assuming a public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering as follows:
·approximately $5.0 million to increase production;
·approximately $1.5 million for research and development;
·approximately $1.0 million for product marketing and to add sales and marketing professionals;
·approximately $1.0 million for property and equipment; and
·the remainder for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds to us from this offering and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds from this offering. We reserve the right to change the use of these proceeds as a result of certain contingencies such as competitive developments, the results of our marketing efforts, acquisition and investment opportunities and other factors. An investor will not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial or other information on which we base our decisions on how to use the proceeds.
We believe that the net proceeds from this offering will allow us to operate for at least the next 12 months. We may need additional funding for developing new products and for additional sales, marketing and promotional activities. Should this occur, we may need to seek additional capital earlier than anticipated. In the event we require additional capital, there can be no assurances that we will be able to raise such capital on acceptable terms, or at all.
We have never declared dividends on our equity securities, and currently do not plan to declare dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. We expect to retain our future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business. Subject to the foregoing, the payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon such factors as earnings levels, capital requirements, our overall financial condition and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.
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The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2021:
·on an actual basis; and
·on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to (i) the sale of 1,666,666 Units of our securities in this offering at an assumed public price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us; and (ii) the issuance of 9,404,867 shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our 2018 convertible notes into shares of common stock and 267,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our October 2021 convertible notes, at a conversion price of $4.00 per share, each of which shall occur upon the closing of this offering.
The information in this table is illustrative only and our capitalization following the closing of the offering will be adjusted based upon the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
|
| Actual |
| Pro forma as adjusted(1) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 1,017,758 |
| $ | 10,017,758 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
| $ | 10,350 |
| $ | 10,350 |
Accrued expenses |
|
| 40,913 |
|
| 40,913 |
Short term debt |
|
| 1,068,000 |
|
| - |
Total current liabilities |
|
| 1,119,263 |
|
| 51,263 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long term debt |
|
| 53,910 |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
| 1,173,173 |
|
| 51,263 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,998,683 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021, 33,148,094 shares on a pro forma as adjusted basis |
|
| 19,999 |
|
| 33,148 |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
| 17,084,730 |
|
| 27,193,491 |
Accumulated deficit |
|
| (14,152,622) |
|
| (14,152,622) |
Total Stockholders’ Equity |
|
| 2,952,107 |
|
| 13,074,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization |
| $ | 4,125,280 |
| $ | 13,125,280 |
(1)Reflects the total number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding following this offering
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding following this offering, or 33,148,094 shares, is based upon the shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021, and excludes:
·1,666,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants to be issued to investors in this offering; and
·100,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants to be issued to the underwriters.
An increase or decrease in the number of Units offered by us of 333,333 Units, based on the assumed public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease our cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $1,800,000, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
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If you invest in our Units in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the assumed public offering price per share of our common stock that is part of the Unit and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after the closing of this offering. Our net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. Net tangible book value per share is our net tangible book value divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2021. Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2021 was $2,952,107 or $0.15 per share.
After giving effect to the sale and issuance by us of the Units in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and the receipt and application of the net proceeds, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, as well as the conversion or exchange of all our existing convertible notes into common stock, our pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 2021 would have been approximately $13,074,017 or $0.39 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $0.24 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $5.61 per share to investors purchasing common stock as part of the Units in this offering.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis:
Assumed public offering price per share |
|
|
|
| $ | 6.00 |
Pro forma net tangible book value per share before offering |
| $ | 0.15 |
| $ |
|
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to shares offered hereby |
| $ | 0.24 |
| $ |
|
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after offering |
|
|
|
| $ | 0.39 |
Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to investors in offering |
|
|
|
| $ | 5.61 |
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors by $0.05, and would increase (decrease) dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $0.05, assuming that the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 333,333 in the number of shares of common stock as part of the Units offered by us would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $0.05 per share and increase (decrease) the dilution to new investors by $0.05 per share, assuming the assumed public offering price remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
The pro forma information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
The following table sets forth, on the pro forma as adjusted basis described above as of December 31, 2021, the differences between our existing stockholders and the purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering with respect to the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us and the weighted average price paid per share paid to us, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, but assuming no exercise of the Warrants included in the Units offered hereby.
|
| Shares Purchased |
| Total Consideration |
| Weighted Average | |||||||
|
| Number |
| Percent |
| Amount |
| Percent |
| Price per Share | |||
Existing stockholders |
| 19,998,683 |
| 92.3% |
| $ | 17,104,729 |
|
| 63.1% |
| $ | 0.86 |
New investors |
| 1,666,666 |
| 7.7% |
| $ | 9,999,996 |
|
| 36.9% |
| $ | 6.00 |
Total |
| 21,665,349 |
| 100.0% |
| $ | 27,104,725 |
|
| 100.0% |
| $ | 1.25 |
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If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock in this offering, the number of shares held by existing stockholders will be reduced to 94.3% of the total number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding upon completion of this offering, and the number of shares of common stock held by new investors participating in this offering will be further increased to 5.7 % of the total number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding upon completion of the offering, before any sales by any Selling Stockholders of any of the shares of common stock registered concurrently with this offering.
To the extent that any outstanding options or warrants, including the Warrants, are exercised, new options are issued or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. If all outstanding options and warrants as of December 31, 2021, other than the option held by the underwriters, and the Warrants included in the Units offered hereby, were exercised, then our existing stockholders, including holders of such options and warrants, would own 95.0% and our new investors would own 5.0% of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering. In such event, the total consideration paid by our existing stockholders, including the holders of such options and warrants, would be approximately $17.1 million, or 63.1%, the total consideration paid by our new investors would be $10.0 million, or 36.9% of the total consideration for our common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering, and the weighted average price per share paid by our existing stockholders would be $0.86 and the average price per share paid by our new investors would be $6.00.
A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as appropriate, the total consideration paid by new investors by $1.50 million, assuming the number of Units we are offering, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 333,333 Units in the number of Units offered by us would increase or decrease, as appropriate, the total consideration paid by new investors by $1,800,000, assuming that the assumed initial price to the public remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We may choose to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or equity-linked securities due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that any options are issued under our equity incentive plan or we issue additional shares of common stock or equity-linked securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors purchasing in this offering.
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding following this offering, or 33,148,094 shares, is based upon (i) the shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021, plus and (ii) the issuance of 9,404,867 shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our 2018 convertible notes into shares of common stock and 267,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our October 2021 convertible notes, at a conversion price of $4.00 per share, each of which shall occur upon the closing of this offering, and excludes:
·1,666,666 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Warrants to be issued to investors in this offering; and
·100,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants to be issued to the underwriters.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. We encourage you to review the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” sections in this prospectus.
Overview
We are a designer, manufacturer, and seller of high-end Energy Storage Systems (or ESS), primarily our NeoVolta NV14 and NV 24, which can store and use energy via batteries and an inverter at residential or commercial sites. We were founded to identify new ways to leverage emerging technologies with the dynamic changes that are taking place in the energy delivery space. We primarily market and sell our products directly to our certified solar installers and solar equipment distributors. We also are also pursuing agreements with residential developers, commercial developers, and other commercial opportunities. Because we are purely dedicated to energy solar systems, virtually of our current resources and efforts go into further developing our flagship NV14 and NV 24 products, while focusing on specific industry needs for our next generation of products. We believe we are unique in the marketplace due to our low cost, our innovative battery chemistry, our product versatility and our commitment to installer service. Because of these factors, we believe NeoVolta is uniquely equipped to establish itself as a major player in the energy storage market.
In May 2019, we completed a public offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to Regulation A of the Securities Act (the “IPO”). The IPO was for a total of 3,500,000 shares of our common stock at an offering price of $1.00 per share. We used the proceeds of the IPO to ramp up production, marketing, and sales of our NV14 product line. In that regard, we have used the proceeds from the offering to fund the marketing, production and distribution of our products, which commenced in July 2019 through a group of wholesale customers in California, as well as to provide additional working capital for other corporate purposes. We have expanded to include one wholesale distribution customer in Nevada.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Years Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
Revenues - Revenues from contracts with customers for the year ended June 30, 2021 were $4,823,510 compared to $2,011,644 for the year ended June 30, 2020. Such revenues in the fiscal 2021 period reflected accelerated growth both in sales volumes as well as the addition of our NV24 ESS since the initial sales and installations of the Company’s assembled energy storage systems in residential properties began in July 2019, primarily through a group of wholesale dealers and installers located in California.
Cost of Goods Sold - Cost of goods sold for the year ended June 30, 2021 were $4,175,795 compared to $1,773,049 for the year ended June 30, 2020. The cost of goods sold in both periods reflected the cost of procuring and assembling the component parts of the energy storage systems that were sold in each fiscal year and resulted in gross profits on such sales of approximately 13% and 12%, respectively.
General and Administrative Expense - General and administrative expenses for the year ended June 30, 2021 were $8,255,865 compared to $1,507,211 for the year ended June 30, 2020. This fluctuation was largely due to the increase in non-cash stock compensation expense to $7,437,389 in the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to $616,667 for the year ended June 30, 2020. Such increase was primarily due to the recognition of the expense for the fair value of a total of 1,600,000 incentive shares of common stock earned by the Company’s two executive officers, under their Board approved employment contracts, as of December 31, 2020 (see Note 4).
Research and Development Expense - Research and development expenses for year ended June 30, 2021 were $42,801 compared to $162,697 for year ended June 30, 2020. Such decrease was due to the completion of the Company’s initial product development efforts in conjunction with the commencement of product sales beginning in July 2019. We expect research and development expense to increase in the future as we improve and expand upon our product portfolio.
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Interest Expense - Interest expense for the year ended June 30, 2021 was $24,521 compared to $25,297 for the year ended June 30, 2020, reflecting a largely equivalent level of outstanding borrowings between the two periods.
Gain on Forgiveness of Debt - Gain on forgiveness of debt for the year ended June 30, 2021 was $29,600 compared to zero for the year ended June 30, 2020, reflecting the forgiveness of a U.S. government sponsored loan that was received in May 2020 and was subsequently forgiven in full in February 2021 (see Note 3).
Net Loss - Net loss for the year ended June 30, 2021 was $7,645,872 compared to $1,456,610 for the year ended June 30, 2020, representing the aggregate of the various revenue and expense categories indicated above. The Company has not recognized any income tax benefit for these net losses due to the uncertainty of its ultimate realization.
Comparison of the Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Revenues – Revenues from contracts with customers for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were $1,035,127 compared to $1,545,751 for the three months ended December 31, 2020. We believe such decrease partially reflected the recent negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sales of our assembled energy storage systems, primarily through a group of wholesale dealers and installers located in California, as well as a change in the relative timing of such sales between the first two quarters of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30. 2022.
Cost of Goods Sold – Cost of goods sold for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were $861,706 compared to $1,287,323 for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The cost of goods sold reflected the cost of procuring and assembling the component parts of the energy storage systems that were sold in each period and resulted in a gross profit on such sales of approximately 17% in each period.
General and Administrative Expenses - General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were $4,137,495 compared to $7,186,737 for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Such decrease was primarily due to the reduction in the expense recorded for the fair value of incentive shares of common stock earned by the Company’s executive officers under Board approved contracts. In the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized compensation expense on the fair value of a total of 533,568 incentive shares, which was a lesser number of shares than in the three months ended December 31, 2020, when the Company recognized compensation expense on the fair value of a total of 1,600,000 incentive shares, although at a lower relative value.
Research and Development Expense - Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were $62,250 compared to $2,102 for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Such fluctuation was due to a modest increase in the level of the Company’s product development efforts. We expect research and development expense to increase in the future as we improve and expand upon our product portfolio.
Interest Expense - Interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $3,530 compared to $6,104 for the three months ended December 31, 2020, reflecting a decrease resulting from discontinuing the amortization of a previously recorded debt discount to interest expense, which was associated with convertible notes issued in May 2018, due to the adoption of a new accounting principle on July 1, 2021, partially offset by the interest expense accrued on new convertible notes issued in October 2021.
Net Loss - Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $4,029,854 compared to $6,936,515 for the three months ended December 31, 2020, representing the net amounts of the various revenue and expense categories indicated above. The Company has not recognized any income tax benefits for these net losses due to the uncertainty of their ultimate realization.
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Comparison of the Six Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Revenues - Revenues from contracts with customers for the six months ended December 31, 2021 were $2,634,731 compared to $2,545,922 for the six months ended December 31, 2020. While we believe we have recently experienced the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sales of our assembled energy storage systems, primarily through a group of wholesale dealers and installers located in California, such impact has been largely offset by the change in the relative timing of such sales, between the first two quarters of our fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
Cost of Goods Sold - Cost of goods sold for the six months ended December 31, 2021 were $2,222,700 compared to $2,209,974 for the six months ended December 31, 2020. The cost of goods sold reflected the cost of procuring and assembling the component parts of the energy storage systems that were sold in each period and resulted in a gross profit on such sales of approximately 16% and 13%, respectively, with the comparative increase largely due to timing differences with regard to the impact of temporary tariffs on materials we source from China.
General and Administrative Expenses - General and administrative expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2021 were $4,494,053 compared to $7,458,598 for the six months ended December 31, 2020. Such decrease was primarily due to the reduction in the expense recorded for the fair value of incentive shares of common stock earned by the Company’s executive officers under Board approved contracts. In the six months ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized compensation expense on the fair value of a total of 633,568 incentive shares, which was a lesser number of shares than in the six months ended December 31, 2020, when the Company recognized compensation expense on the fair value of a total of 1,600,000 incentive shares, although at a lower relative value.
Research and Development Expense - Research and development expenses for the six months ended December 31, 2021 were $66,503 compared to $17,149 for the six months ended December 31, 2020. Such fluctuation was due to a modest increase in the level of the Company’s product development efforts. We expect research and development expense to increase in the future as we improve and expand upon our product portfolio.
Interest Expense - Interest expense for the six months ended December 31, 2021 was $9,536 compared to $12,425 for the six months ended December 31, 2020, reflecting a decrease resulting from discontinuing the amortization of a previously recorded debt discount to interest expense, which was associated with convertible notes issued in May 2018, due to the adoption of a new accounting principle on July 1, 2021, partially offset by the interest expense accrued on new convertible notes issued in October 2021.
Net Loss - Net loss for the six months ended December 31, 2021 was $4,158,061 compared to $7,152,224 for the six months ended December 31, 2020, representing the net amounts of the various revenue and expense categories indicated above. The Company has not recognized any income tax benefits for these net losses due to the uncertainty of their ultimate realization.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating activities. Net cash used in operating activities in the six months ended December 31, 2021 was $475,923, compared to $426,685 in the six months ended December 31, 2020, largely due to a slightly higher net cash operating loss in the current fiscal year period.
Financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities in the six months ended December 31, 2021 was $1,068,000, compared to zero in the six months ended December 31, 2020. This fluctuation was entirely attributable to the issuance of short-term convertible notes to a group of accredited investors in October 2021 in the amount of $1,068,000.
Since completing two private equity offerings and one public equity offering in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Company has completed only two additional financings as follows: (i) In May 2020, we received a small loan under the U.S. government sponsored Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), in the amount of $29,600, which was subsequently forgiven in full in February 2021; and (ii) In October 2021, we completed a new debt offering with a group of accredited investors via the issuance of convertible notes in the total amount of $1,068,000. The unsecured notes bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum and are due one year from the date of issuance. In the event, though, of a qualified public offering of the Company’s common stock pursuant to which the Company’s
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common stock becomes listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the principal amount of the notes and any accrued interest will be automatically converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $4.00 of principal per share.
As of December 31, 2021, we had a cash balance of $1.0 million and net working capital of $3.0 million. Currently, we are generating a roughly break-even level of net operating cash flow from our sales, however, we have not sustained such performance on a consistent basis for an extended period of time. We anticipate that demand for our products will continue to increase and that we will have sufficient cash to operate for the next 12 months, after taking into consideration the additional debt offering completed in October 2021, as noted above.
Until such time that we are able to generate sufficient operating cash flow from operations, if ever, we expect to finance our operating activities through a combination of equity offerings and debt financings and we may seek to raise additional capital through strategic collaborations. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all, which would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our operations. Failure to receive additional funding could cause us to cease operations, in part or in full. Furthermore, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations, which may cause dilution to our existing and future stockholders.
Recent Developments
As a result of the continued spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus since early 2020, economic uncertainties have arisen which could impact business operations, supply chains, energy demand, and commodity prices that are beyond our control. As referenced above, we have recently experienced the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sales of our assembled energy storage systems, primarily through a group of wholesale dealers and installers located in California. We continue to monitor COVID-19, but do not believe it will have a material unfavorable impact to our future financial performance at this time.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303 of Regulation S-K.
Critical Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our limited historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe that certain accounting policies, particularly those related to the recognition of revenues arising from the sales of our ESS products to customers of our business, affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements. See “Note 1. Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the notes to our financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, set forth below under, “Index to Financial Statements”, for a further description of our critical accounting policies and estimates.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as
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of public company effective dates. We are using the extended transition period for any other new or revised accounting standards during the period in which we remain an emerging growth company.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of our first fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenues of at least $1.07 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 exceeds $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th and (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
We are also a “smaller reporting company,” meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates plus the proposed aggregate amount of gross proceeds to us as a result of this offering is less than $700.0 million and our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company after this offering if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation
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Our Company
We are a designer, manufacturer, and seller of high-end Energy Storage Systems (or ESS), primarily our NeoVolta NV14 and NV 24, which can store and use energy via batteries and an inverter at residential or commercial sites. We were founded to identify new ways to leverage emerging technologies with the dynamic changes that are taking place in the energy delivery space. We primarily market and sell our products directly to our certified solar installers and solar equipment distributors. In the future, we intend to pursue residential developers, commercial developers, and other commercial opportunities. Because we are purely dedicated to energy solar systems, virtually all of our current resources and efforts go into further developing our flagship NV14 and NV 24 products, while focusing on specific industry needs for our next generation of products. We believe we are unique in the marketplace due to our low cost, our innovative battery chemistry, our product versatility and our commitment to installer service. Because of these factors, we believe NeoVolta is uniquely equipped to establish ourselves as a major player in the energy storage market.
Our NV14 ESS contains a 7,680 W hybrid 120V / 240V and 208V inverter and a 14.4 kWh battery system power. The NV14 is energy efficient, has a variety of operating options, and uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFe (PO4)) batteries. The batteries we utilize are capable of 6,000 cycles at a Depth of Discharge (DoD) of 90% and have a high thermal range (heat and cold tolerances). Our NV14 ESS integrates all components and is NEMA Type 3R rated (indoor/outdoor). Our NV24 provides additional energy storage capacity raising the NV14 from 14.4 KW to 24.0 KW. Our newest update of the NV14 ESS allows for commercial 208V installations adding significantly to our potential customer base.
Background
The changing energy landscape has put significant strain on the traditional utility ‘grid’. Pressures in economics, system resiliency and consumer confidence are driving the energy industry to dramatic change. On the supply side, the appetite for fossil fuels and nuclear power generation have decreased in recent years. S&P Global Platts Analytics’ 2021 North American Electricity Five-year Forecast indicates that US lower 48 coal-fired generation is forecast to average 103 GW in 2021, declining steadily each year in the forecast period, supplying approximately 23% of generation in 2021 to between 15% to 16% by 2026 and further decreasing significantly thereafter. The desire for cleaner power sources continues to increase, straining legacy supply infrastructure due to the variability in usage and supply caused by renewables. As such, some utilities struggle to provide for their customers using the traditional business model based largely on fossil fuel and nuclear generation. The result is more frequent grid outages which put lives at risk when life sustaining equipment is without power, sources of water supply are hindered, businesses are impacted, and schooling is interrupted. In February 2021, an extreme winter storm event caused a massive electricity generation failure in the state of Texas, which resulted in a loss of power for more than 4.5 million homes. This failure resulted in at least 57 deaths across 25 Texas counties and over $195 billion in property damage, bringing attention to the energy system crisis and its potential causes. Utilities throughout California have experienced several rolling blackouts and brown-outs in recent years due to fire risks, supply constraints, and inability of neighboring states to assist with load sharing. On the demand side, we believe that consumers will continue to use more electricity than ever due to more erratic weather patterns and the growing
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adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) - national goal of 66% of all cars by 2050. EVs may decrease emissions, but they also significantly increase demand for electricity. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) estimates that to reach the 66% goal, the US energy capacity will have to double to reach just the demand generated by EVs. For reference, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the last time the US doubled energy generation took nearly 40 years - from 1977 (2,128 billion kWh) to 2018 (4,178 billion kWh). These projections, EV adoption goals driving demand and generation goals for supply, are at odds. The likely result will be more frequent grid challenges especially during ambient temperature extremes both hot and cold.
The combination of a decreasing supply of reliable electricity and an increasing demand is not sustainable. According to the US Energy Information Administration’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card (www.infrastructurereportcard.org), the U.S. depends on an aging and complex patchwork of power generation facilities, 600,000 miles of backbone transmission lines and around 5.5 million miles of local distribution lines that operate within federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory jurisdictions. The majority of the nation’s grid is aging, with some components over a century old - far past their 50-year life expectancy - and others, including 70% of transmission and distribution systems lines, are well into the second half of their lifespans. Distribution is a key failure point in the electric grid in terms of system reliability. The distribution system accounts for 92% of all electric service interruptions, a result of aging infrastructure, severe weather events, and vandalism. While weather has always been the number one threat to the energy sector’s reliability, climate change has only exacerbated the frequency and intensity of these events and associated costs. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently found that power outages are costing the U.S. economy $28 billion to $169 billion annually. Electric companies have invested more than $285 billion in Transmission and Distribution (T&D) since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, partially to harden the energy grid and make it more resilient to future storms, including investing in new and upgraded T&D infrastructure. Other ways utilities have incorporated resilience are through increased utilization of microgrids and battery storage. As wind and solar generation grow, new T&D lines are required to link these renewable resources to customers. Doing so allows owners to make investments that “harden” the grid and reduce outage frequency and duration on their own terms.
Gas and coal power plants generate continuous power by burning fuel, and how much they burn can be modulated based on the demand for electricity when grid stability exists. But the generation of solar and wind energy fluctuates. This can create a mismatch between demand and supply. This puts tremendous stress on the grid, which must exist in constant balance. Utilities have sophisticated systems for predicting when demand will go up and down, but the introduction of renewables into the equation has made compensating for the fluctuations more difficult as illustrated by the so-called ‘Duck Curve, a term coined in 2012 by California Independent System Operator (CAISO) www.caiso.com.
Without any form of energy storage, after times of high solar generation, generating companies must rapidly increase other forms of power generation around the time of sunset to compensate for the loss of solar generation, a major concern for grid operators where there is rapid growth of solar. Storage can fix these issues if it can be implemented, or they can strike that balance by burning more fossil fuels. But if there’s an unexpected spike in demand and a utility doesn’t have the requisite power, it must restore balance by cutting demand with blackouts.
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History
We completed the initial design work and completed testing and certification of our first offering, the NeoVolta NV14, in August 2018. In September 2018, we completed our first production prototype. By March 2019, we completed all certifications and were granted approval by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for off-grid and on-grid installation. Since our headquarters are located in San Diego County, a county with more than 160,000 solar customers, we chose San Diego for our initial rollout. In May 2019, the NV14 was approved throughout San Diego County and City areas by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) for connection to its grid system and customer installations began. In June 2019, we moved our contracted manufacturing to a facility in Poway, California. In June 2019, we began marketing to San Diego based solar installers. In early 2020, we expanded our certified installer network to the greater Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento areas, and, importantly, out of California to Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. In January 2021, we moved to a larger production facility in Poway, California to facilitate growth. In 2021, we increased our national distribution, which we conduct through certified wholesale dealers, and now have installs in Puerto Rico, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Utah.
Our Products - NeoVolta NV14 and NV24
The NV14 is a complete ESS with 7,680-Watt 120V / 240V hybrid inverter (one of the largest in the industry) which is also capable of 208V commercial power with a 14.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFe (PO4)) battery system. This is all incorporated in one National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) Type 3R rated indoor/outdoor cabinet system with all United laboratories (UL) compliant electrical certifications, and fire code requirements. The NV14 is capable of storing and using inverted (AC) photovoltaic, non-inverted (DC) photovoltaic, or both AC and DC photovoltaic solar sources. It can also accept utility grid AC power as a charging source for the integrated 14.4 kWh battery system. The NV14 system will charge the batteries with excess solar photovoltaic (AC, DC or both AC and DC) power during daylight conditions - a unique functionality in the ESS industry. The inverter will invert DC battery power into AC power during periods of darkness or higher use periods. Once discharged, the batteries will be idle until excess solar photovoltaic is available and will subsequently begin to recharge. The NV14 is designed to primarily charge from solar but can be programmed to charge from other sources of power (solar, wind turbine, generator, and grid). It can be easily programmed by our certified installers to customer-specific use profiles, including for “rate arbitrage,” (graph below) which allows charging from the grid during the lowest rate periods (A) if the utility company allows this activity. Once recharged, the batteries will discharge once solar photovoltaic begins to wane or when the customer needs more power than available from solar photovoltaic (B). By doing this, customers will be consuming their own solar photovoltaic production instead of sending excess photovoltaic power to the grid and then buying this power back later in the evening from the utility at an often significantly higher retail rate, thereby potentially lowering their monthly electric bill depending on their local utility’s rate plan. Our NV14 is also capable of multi-tasking by recharging via solar photovoltaic power while also supplying power.
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We believe our NV14 is unique among its competitors in that the cabinet is rated for indoor/outdoor installation (NEMA Type 3R) allowing for more installation configurations and the ability to fit more residential customer use cases. With measurements of 50.5” H x 38” W x 10” D it can be installed either inside the garage or outside (preferable near existing utility connections) of the residence or facility.
No solar system can provide power to a home without a system capable of “Islanding”, due to safety regulations put in place for utility workers during outages. “Islanding” is when a PV generator or other electrical source continues to power a location or residence even though electrical grid power is no longer present. According to Bloomenergy.com, power outages are on the rise in California. There were 25,281 blackout events in 2019, a 23% increase from 20,598 in 2018. The number of utility customers affected jumped to 28.4 million in 2019, up 50% from 19 million in 2018. Our NV14 is capable of “Islanding” when used with AC or DC photovoltaic (PV) systems. As islanding can be dangerous to utility workers, who may not realize that a circuit is still powered, an ESS capable of “islanding” must be capable of physically disconnecting from the grid power when it senses that grid supply is not present, has an over current, or an undercurrent condition. The NV14 includes “islanding” relays that are approved to perform this function. Islanding also allows solar production to function and power the residence or facility thereby decreasing the impact of a grid outage.
Our NV14 currently includes a commercially available encrypted WiFi logger and associated smart phone application that allows customers to visualize the state of the system in 8-minute intervals (battery, home, grid, photovoltaic, and/or generator). Settings adjustments for how the system works can be made remotely if/when utilities make changes to Time-of-Use billing rates/times. Our remote management system is included with the product and allows NeoVolta 24/7 system health monitoring, malfunction diagnosis, and the ability to push firmware and software. This allows NeoVolta, installers, and their customers, insight into system health 24/7. Remote monitoring and programming is accomplished using AWS Key Management encryption and cloud storage ensuring customer privacy and security.
Our NV24 has additional battery capability that raises NV14 energy storage from 14.4 KW to 24.0 KW. As the NV24 has add-on battery capacity, additional inverters are not required. This enables customers to achieve a 67% increase in storage for a fraction of the cost. Most competitive systems require an additional inverter for any additional storage.
New ESS fire code regulations have been significant and are ongoing, especially in California. ESSs can no longer be installed inside the living areas of a home. ESSs can be installed inside the garage but require smoke and heat detectors and may also require bollards or caging to protect the ESS from being accidentally struck by a vehicle. This is a particularly detrimental code to ESS that cannot be installed outside. Both requirements are directly related to fire risk from certain battery chemistries. Lithium Ion, a very popular chemistry in the ESS
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industry, has demonstrated fire and thermal runaway characteristics in certain circumstances. Our batteries were UL 9540 certified at the cell and modular level in July 2021 certifying that they will not catch on fire and exhibit no thermal runaway characteristics.
We are aware of additional regulatory requirements being planned in various jurisdictions for 2022. We expect such changes in regulatory code to be a routine requirement as ESS is a new field that warrants scrutiny and is a major focus of our management team. We also see the complex regulatory environment as a significant barrier to new market entry.
Market Characteristics
Our market can be looked at two ways: the solar installer market and the ESS market.
Solar Installer Market. Although we have active non-residential customers and prospects, the bulk of NeoVolta’s revenue and recurring customer base has been residential solar installers. According to IBIS Worldwide, there are nearly 20,000 solar installers in the US employing almost 90,000 employees. With SunRun and Tesla Energy representing approximately 20% of the market combined, and the top 10 companies representing about 38%. Most solar installers in the US are very small, independently owned operators and are generally not serviced by the larger companies. These installers have been NeoVolta’s target market. Based on IBIS’ figures, we estimate this to be at least 15,000 installers with less than 25 employees. Our average recurring installer customer purchases 1-2 systems a month. They generally sell their systems and install and pay for them within the same month, and typically do not stock inventory, so we believe NeoVolta’s “just in time” product availability makes us an ideal fit. Once these customers become certified NeoVolta installers, they become recurring customers. We built our company based on servicing small installers and will continue to do so by focusing on product availability, installer service, and, most importantly, the characteristics of our product while we capture market share. As we gain market acceptance, we expect larger installers to take notice. This is especially true when considering repeated product availability challenges within the industry.
Installer storage installation activity has grown over time, with 50% of all active residential installers in 2020 having completed at least one solar + storage system, up from less than 20% in 2016 according to Berkeley Labs. The rate of attachment, or number of PV systems installed with storage, is growing considerably. According to Wood Mackenzie, by 2025, nearly 25% of all behind-the-meter solar systems will be paired with storage, compared to under 6% in 2020. Most of the growth will be powered by the smaller installers, as the larger ones have already incorporated storage into their standard new solar offerings. Although Tesla and LG Chem have dominated the market in the past few years, new market entries continue to gain ground and new opportunities in the space continue to present themselves to those who can adapt to fill the need. Additionally, our larger ESS competitors focus on energy storage as a component of their new solar installation, whereas NeoVolta focuses entirely on ESSs, revealing what we believe to be a compelling market in existing solar system retrofits. According to Berkeley Lab’s Tracking the Sun dataset, there are over 3 million solar systems installed in the US and only 6.8% of those have energy solar installed. This marketplace scenario presents small installer customers almost 3 million households to revisit for a storage retrofit.
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We believe that our 100% commitment to ESS and our relatively small size allow us to navigate this nascent industry more nimbly, and we have been able to develop distinct competitive advantages despite our relative resources.
ESS Market. This is a relatively new market as residential solar storage systems have only become viable in the last decade. It is a subset of what the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) refers to as the $17 billion U.S. residential solar PV market. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that there will be 3 million installations in 2021 growing to 4 million in 2023. According to Mordor Intelligence, the global residential energy storage systems market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 19% during the forecast period of 2021 - 2026, reaching a market value of more than $8.5 billion by 2026 from $2.2 billion in 2019. With the United States being the fastest growing market. The growth of the ESS market comes from a combination of retrofits to existing solar installations and more widespread adoption of storage as part of new solar installations.
According to Wood Mackenzie’s U.S. Energy Storage Monitor, released in December 2020, the residential storage segment posted its best quarter ever in the third quarter of 2020, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic with 52 megawatts and 119 megawatt-hours of new storage installed. The U.S. market is expected to reach 7.5 gigawatts in 2025, which amounts to sixfold growth from 2020. The Q3 2021 US Energy Storage Monitor estimates that the U.S. residential market will surpass $1 billion in 2022; a 14% share of the estimated $7 billion total US Energy Storage market. The report added that Q2 surpassed Q1 2021 to become the second-largest quarter for storage deployment on record in MWh terms.
Market Drivers
Regulatory. The regulatory drivers regarding ESS come in the form of an increasing number of mandates and incentives. On the mandate side, in August of 2021, California became the first state in the country to require builders to install solar and battery storage on new commercial buildings and high-rise multifamily buildings. This state approved Energy Code also includes requirements for builders to design single-family homes so battery storage can be easily added to the already existing solar system in the future as well as incentives to eliminate natural gas from new buildings. On the incentive side, the federal Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is the most impactful providing a 26% if you pair the battery with an on-site renewable resource. For a typical ESS, the ITC can reduce the cost of the system by $3,000 to $5,000. Many states are also putting incentive systems in place. Beyond states taking steps to encourage greater adoption of energy storage technologies, some utilities are now also offering incentives to home and business owners who install storage. To date, most of these utility-specific storage incentives are in the Northeast. We anticipate more of these programs being put in place in the future.
Utilities can also impact battery storage adoption on the cost side of the equation. In certain circumstances, when state utilities change their billing profiles, the market for ESS becomes more (or less) attractive. For example, Hawaii’s attachment rate rose to 80% after the state began transitioning away from net energy metering (NEM) and reduced compensation for grid exports.
Resiliency. Energy dependence has been a growing concern in the last few years as weather patterns have become more erratic. New findings from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Clean Energy Group (CEG) found that when the value of resilience is considered - preventing power outages - several more integrated solar-plus-storage projects are economically viable.
Utilities are addressing this matter in some cases through Public Safety Power Shut Off (PSPS) events (when power is purposefully turned off in the case of high winds with very dry vegetation conditions that increase wildfire risks). The direct result of this was seen in California after the PSPS events of late 2019 (below)
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Consumer Perception. Although both economics and resiliency have been impactful on ESS demand, researchers at Berkeley Labs concluded that a third category of consumer perception may be adding to the trend. The feedback they received included the concept that consumers saw ESS as a “green” investment and felt like it was a way to “stick it to the utilities”. These factors are obviously less measurable than the more objective drivers above but are an additive factor in the market.
Growth Strategy
Our growth strategy is focused on expanding our core business of distributing our products on a recurring basis to small installers and broadening the application of our product through more non-residential (commercial) partnerships. We plan to do this through an increase in targeted direct sales and marketing to installers in ripe regional markets, concentrating efforts on adding to our national distributor partners, and marketing in ESS industry circles to identify new potential applications of our systems. Our growth thus far has been through word of mouth and networking mainly in Southern California. We have been successful in consistently growing both our installer base and our number of installs through these means, but recognize that to succeed in the national marketplace, we will need to bring on a team of sales and marketing professionals to reach our goals. We have plans to start to build out this team utilizing funds from this offering.
Installer Acquisition: Our goal is to increase our installer network by mirroring our success in the San Diego market. To date we have brought on almost all of our installers through word of mouth and through our distributor network (discussed below).
1.Increased sales and marketing to educate our prospective customers. We have historically not invested in significant marketing activities and have no direct sales team. To date most of our sales have been made through our website, word of mouth or management relationships. As a result of not having a large historical sales and marketing budget, we have had very little exposure to the 20,000+ installers nationwide. Our conversion from prospects to customers has been very high, as we are generally filling an urgent customer need. We believe that with increased investment in marketing and sales we will be able to reach a much larger audience of prospects who could benefit from our products, and that we should be able to maintain our high conversion rates from prospects to customers.
2.Expansion of Installer Incentive Programs. We provide a unique benefit to our installer network; in that we provide them a lead generation tool for full solar installations. We receive a great number of inbound calls regarding our ESS, but the caller often wants a full solar system, so we put our certified installers on a lead program, where we send them qualified solar install leads at no cost and with no obligation to use our product. This referral system has proven to create a strong bond and brand loyalty with our installers. We intend to invest heavily in our target regions in social media and lead generation at the ESS-level to continue generating reciprocal lead volume for our customers. We will also pursue co-marketing plans with our installers, where we create materials and help cover their marketing costs to push NeoVolta products to both their install base and to new customers.
3.Data/demographic-based geographic expansion. We believe the success we have found in Southern California can be spread nationally with strategically focused sales and marketing. Our focus will be in the regions or the country that meet both the regulatory and environmental profiles that most resemble those in California and Hawaii - high rates, economic incentives, and risk of grid outages. We have already
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established footholds in some of those states but will continue to fund marketing efforts to consumers and outreach to local and regional installers. The residential sweet spot is high number of solar production days, high utility costs, and frequent grid outages, but is amplified by government regulatory requirements and incentives. Value propositions vary greatly by region. The Northeast may see more value in grid protection, while the West, may see value in the amount of sun and government incentives. Whatever the case, we believe we have adapted well to these environments on a tactical level due to our intimate relationships with each installer and with our inverter setting capabilities to offset high Time-of-Use rates and high demand or tier rates, and to set up for maximum grid outage protection scenarios. These efforts will continue to drive R&D expenditures in our determination to provide a great deal of flexibility and value to our customers.
4.According to Wood Mackenzie, there is a growing residential PV sector that is rapidly diversifying across state markets. South Carolina, for instance, was an emerging market as recently as 2016 with only about 1,160 cumulative installations. Today, the state is home to more than 18,000 solar systems and is expected to add 22,000 systems over the next five years. Other fast-growing states over the last three years include Texas, Utah, Florida, Rhode Island, and Maryland, which combined have grown from around 50,000 installations to more than 200,000. Looking ahead, Illinois will see cumulative installations increase from 4,000 today to nearly 100,000 by 2024. While California will continue to lead the nation in installations, the top 10 state markets will see faster growth. Nearly 750,000 installations are expected in those markets over the next 5 years, compared to 500,000 installations over the last 5 years.
5.Expand Distributor/Partner Relationships. Distributors partner with NeoVolta to market and sell our products to their own installer networks. This type of symbiotic relationship has proven to be a very successful growth strategy as evidenced by our current distributor Plus Minus Power - Energy (PMPE), located in Henderson, Nevada. We signed a three-year distribution agreement with PMPE in October 2019, which may be renewed for additional successive one year terms unless either party provides notice of nonrenewal at least 60 days before the end of the then-current term. The distribution agreement may also be terminated by either party for any reason on 90 days’ notice. The distribution agreement grants PMPE the ability to obtain limited exclusive distribution rights within the territories and for the customers covered by the distribution agreement, provided PMPE makes certain minimum purchases. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, if PMPE achieves certain volume requirements, we agreed to issue PMPE shares of our common stock. As of December 2021, we have received over $1,325,000 of purchase orders against that agreement and PMPE has earned an aggregate of 23,098 shares of common stock pursuant to the agreement. In December 2020, we signed an additional distribution agreement with PMPE related to an additional application of the NV-14. This agreement does not have any exclusivity provisions and may be terminated by either party for any reason on 90 days’ notice. Since signing with PMPE, together we have added installers throughout Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, and Colorado. Additionally, PMPE is pursuing larger multi-year commercial projects that are an ideal fit for NeoVolta. We will use capital to build production and inventory in 2022 to service these pending contracts. We continue to grow our relationship with PMPE through the synergy of their network and marketing efforts with our product development and customization to meet their needs. We will continue to seek out distributor relationships similar to PMPE through industry networking and direct sales, though we also believe the growth of the NeoVolta brand will begin to attract distributors to us.
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6.Expand our Installer Network Relationships. The rise in the popularity of solar energy comes with the rise of the number of organizations and associations that aim to promote this form of renewable energy even further. There are hundreds of such organizations representing thousands of solar companies in the US. National ones such as the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), almost every state also has at least one such as California’s California Solar & Storage Association (CSSA), to regional and local such as SEBANE (www.sebane.org) - representing New England solar installers. These associations make it easy to get the audience of our prime prospective customers, as it is very difficult to find a solar installer who is not a member of their regions’ industry groups. We have participated in Southern California’s associations with some success, and plan on investing heavily in advertising, networking and social media with these groups as we enter each region.
Non-Residential / Commercial Growth: NeoVolta’s systems are manufactured in the United States in our facility in Poway, CA and our all-in-one system was engineered with the intent to be easily configurable to the needs of the client and easily serviced and updated for our installers. Flexibility due to the close contact with the manufacturing process and the adaptability of the product, along with our ability to handle commercial 208V power, have opened up a number of new opportunities for us. These customers sought us out to create an energy storage system for their unique needs specifically because others would not or could not accept the challenge. NeoVolta was and continues to be open to customizing our products for energy storage contracts should they meet our volume, profitability, and system requirements. This strategy of flexibility in R&D is affording NeoVolta access into markets that would normally be closed to companies of our size. We plan to leverage this customer-driven approach in the future.
New opportunities in this sector are difficult to forecast and are not a core focus of our current sales and marketing plan, but as these projects roll out and begin to be publicized, we believe NeoVolta can establish itself as an energy storage system engineering firm for large projects in applications globally. We intend to take advantage of our adaptability and the nascent industry to fill these diverse and complicated needs.
Competition
We compete with several large competitors already successfully selling in the ESS space. Notable competitors include Tesla, LG Chem, Sonnen, and SMA America, among others. Some of our competitors have significantly greater financial, product development, manufacturing, marketing resources, and name recognition. In addition to competitors in the ESS space, we compete with companies in power generation equipment and other engine powered products industries. We face competition from a variety of large diversified industrial companies as well as smaller generator manufacturers, along with mobile equipment, engine powered tools, solar inverter, battery storage and grid services providers, both domestic and internationally. In addition, as energy storage becomes a necessary component for residential customers to realize better value/savings from their solar PV installation, we believe new competitors will emerge in this field. There is no assurance that we will be able to successfully compete in this market.
NeoVolta Competitive Advantages:
Availability. We believe recent back order times for competitive products have been as long as 9-months in 2021. Smaller installers rely on quick sales to install to payment to keep their business going, and the lack of availability of competitive products is often the reason they are introduced to NeoVolta. As of December 2021, NeoVolta is delivering on orders in under two weeks, very often the same day. We achieve this by maintaining a high level of inventory relative to projected sales, component consolidation prior to shipment, and a small lot, recurring freight strategy, which we believe allows for more flexibility in getting through the supply chain. Our strategy of maintaining higher levels of inventory based on projected sales means that to the extent our sales expectations in any periods are incorrect we may suffer cash flow constraints for such periods. LG Chem recently experienced a large recall of their older systems due to fire risk and product defects associated with their lithium-ion chemistry. Inability to secure reliable product delivery, fire risk, and recalls have harmed reputations of our competitors.
Installer Service. NeoVolta considers its installer relationships to be the key to our growth. The relative newness of the industry requires a great deal of education and support to ensure quality and efficient installations. With all energy storage, there is significant necessary electrical work, which may be new to smaller solar installers. NeoVolta requires that every installer go through our Certified Installer Program and we often walk them through
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early installations one-on-one to get them comfortable with the product either in-person or via smart phone video. NeoVolta’s San Diego-based direct customer support is available throughout the install and for any ongoing service, as well as through our remote system monitoring. This one-on-one philosophy has generated great customer loyalty and install success and we intend to invest the resources necessary to keep this partnership culture a priority.
Superior Product. Some of our competitors have significantly greater financial, product development, manufacturing, marketing resources, and name recognition than we have. However, with the industry’s growth will come frequent and dramatic change. We believe that our 100% commitment to ESS and our size allow us to navigate this nascent industry more nimbly, and we have been able to develop distinct competitive advantages to appeal to smaller and regional independent installers. We designed the NeoVolta NV14 to be cost effective, easy to install and service, and adaptable to customer needs. We are one of very few in the ESS industry to focus virtually all our resources on energy storage systems.
Cost:
·According to Berkeley Labs, the median system-level reported residential storage cost is about $1,000 per kWh. NeoVolta’s cost generally falls below that mark depending on permitting, installer costs, etc. With the addition of the NV24, NeoVolta becomes even more cost competitive due to the addition of 9 KW of storage without the cost of an additional inverter.
·Because of the ease of install, the time and cost of installation is greatly reduced. A typical NV14 installation generally takes between 6-8 hours to install because of design features of the NV14 that specifically benefit the installer during installation. Some of our competitors can take up to three days to install. This cost savings can be passed on to the homeowner, reducing the total system cost, making the sale easier for the installer.
Ease of Install and Service:
·Our NeoVolta NV14 is an all-in-one system. Most competitive products require multiple components and additional installation materials. This generally allows for a smaller total system footprint, providing a cleaner and more appealing look.
·Our NV14 is rated for indoor/outdoor installation (NEMA Type 3R) allowing for more installation configurations and the ability to fit more residential customer use cases with measurements of 50.5” H x 38” W x 10” D.
·Our NV14 is modular. Meaning that all its internal components can be replaced on site. Most components can be replaced in less than 30 minutes. Inverter replacement can be accomplished in about an hour. NeoVolta’s unique design can even allow the customer to have power while any warranty work is being performed. Most competitive products require disconnection and removal of the system that needs replacement. The system is then sent back to the manufacturer for repair. Once fixed, the same system is returned to the customer for reinstallation.
This warranty process can take up to 6 months. During this time, then homeowner typically does not have use of the battery and may not have working solar. This increases customer costs and places them at greater risk during a utility black out.
·System firmware updates for the inverter and the battery system can be ‘pushed’ remotely to the system, keeping the product up to date without the need for installer involvement. This capability also greatly enhances troubleshooting capabilities reducing the need for the installer to conduct a site visit, saving them limited resources.
·System Adaptability:
·Our NV14 is compatible with AC, DC and AC/DC solar systems. This is unique to NeoVolta and allows for flexibility and more widespread installation scenarios.
·No solar is required to charge the NV14 battery. Most competitive systems require solar.
·Our NV14’s storage can be increased by 9.6 KW without the need for an additional inverter, most of our competitors, require an additional inverter for increases in system storage sizing.
·Our NV14 includes our NV7600 inverter, which is one of the biggest inverters in the ESS space at 7,680 W.
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Other functionality that is rare or unique in the ESS space include:
·Grid outage switch over at 0.008 seconds. This means that there is no disruption to customer power during a grid outage. Most competitors experience a 1-3 second outage, which can be a significant inconvenience especially to office/computer work.
·We exclusively use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFe (PO4)) chemistry in our systems. This exclusivity is rare in the industry and provides for a much safer product (no fire risk). It also prevents us from competing with the more popular Lithium-Ion battery technology in the electric vehicle supply chain.
·Both our NV14 and NV24 are only 10-inches in depth. This allows installations inside garages and outside by the utility supply points where space is limited. Some of our competitor systems are so large that they reduce garage parking and restrict movement to the street of large items like garbage cans. This is an inconvenience to their customers.
·We can also accept generators, which are a staple commodity in areas where utility power is unreliable. Generators can be installed to power the critical loads thereby preserving the battery when the grid is out. They can also be connected to power the battery system if the solar system is DC.
Our NV14 inverter can also accept 208 Volt commercial power by simply making a settings change. This feature allows small businesses to back up vital systems such as servers, alarm systems, entry and exit security features, vaults, emergency lighting, etc. Some States are beginning to require these capabilities as an emergency capability due to frequent grid outages.
IP & Product Development
We currently have one issued utility patent (US Patent No. 10,998,730) that is directed to NeoVolta’s solar power inverter system. This patent expires on November 25, 2039. A continuing utility application was also filed directed to the ‘730 patent, which is currently pending. Furthermore, another U.S. patent application was filed directed to supply circuitry that is implemented as part of NeoVolta’s solar power inverter system (the “supply circuitry patent application”), which is also currently pending. A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application has also been filed claiming priority to the supply circuitry patent application, which is also pending. The PCT application affords NeoVolta the opportunity to file a foreign application in any PCT-member country by the deadline of August 12, 2023. We also intend to further broaden our product portfolio to pursue new and diverse markets. We believe investment in our operations and engineering teams in the first quarter will accelerate these improvements.
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, including federal, state and common law rights in the United States and other countries, nondisclosure agreements, and other measures to protect our intellectual property. We require our employees, consultants, and advisors to execute confidentiality agreements and to agree to disclose and assign to us all inventions conceived under their respective employment, consultant, or advisor agreement, using our property, or which relate to our business. Despite any measures taken to protect our intellectual property, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. Our business is affected by our ability to protect against misappropriation and infringement of our intellectual property, including our trademarks, service marks, patents, domain names, copyrights and other proprietary rights.
Regulatory Environment
Regulators are quickly getting involved in the ESS space. In the past two years, California regulators have implemented major requirements, including CSIP and CPUC “rapid shutdown”, and more are being planned. We have a track record of understanding, adapting, and deploying our products in this ever-changing world.
California, via the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and Hawaii appear to be leading the United States when it comes to new ESS regulations. In the past 16-months, CPUC adopted Common Smart Inverter Profile (CSIP), solar rapid shutdown, and several fire standards both inside garages and outside on residential dwellings. On June 22, 2020, with significant technical development and relationship building, NeoVolta received all certifications necessary for California CSIP compliance. On August 5, 2020, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved NeoVolta’s CSIP application. CEC facilitates regulatory approvals for the CPUC.
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In January 2021, CPUC adopted solar “rapid shutdown” requirements, which means emergency responders needed to be able to quickly terminate all with a switch or lever within a few feet of the Main Service Panel (MSP). NeoVolta already met this challenge with outside AC solar installations, and quickly met the requirements for indoor installations and DC solar.
NeoVolta’s other certifications include:
·Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1547 (2003 standard)
·International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62897
·Electrical Codes: National Fire Codes (NEC) 2017
·California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rule 21 Interconnection
·Hawaii Electric Companies Source Requirement Document Version 1.1 (SRD-UL-1741-SA-V1.1)
·CSA Group C22.2 No. 107.1:2001 Ed. 3
·Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 15 Class B
·Multiple Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certifications including 9540a
·1699B Arc Fault Circuit Protection Type 1
·California Energy Commission (CEC) off-grid and on-grid R-F38
·California Energy Commission (CEC) on-grid R-F58
·California Energy Commission (CEC) Grid Support Utility, Utility Interactive, Energy Storage System
·San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) utility
·National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Type 3R
NeoVolta has established a track record for quickly understanding and meeting regulatory hurdles. Although regulatory changes will cause an enduring need for increases in Research and Development (R&D) and product constraints, we believe this will also raise the barrier of entry to new market entrants. We believe NeoVolta is well positioned to face new regulatory requirements due to our battery chemistry and our product being developed in California - where regulatory standards in energy are generally set. In fact, most states default their own regulations to California’s standards for energy solar systems.
Employees
As of January 1, 2022, we have five full-time employees. Our CEO manages all Company strategy, sales and R&D, our CFO manages all finance and administration. The balance of the staff manages supply chain, technical support and marketing/sales support. We also contract for hire with four outside consultants and contractors on an ongoing basis. Also, specific contracts for non-recurring R&D. Our intent is to hire up to three executive-level leaders in the first quarter to head up sales & marketing, operations and product development and build out their teams.
Facilities
Commencing January 2021, NeoVolta moved into a new dedicated headquarters and manufacturing facility in Poway, California, just north of San Diego. This state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facility has ample square footage, shipping and receiving space, and office spaces to support the company’s rapid growth by providing double the production capability and increases shipping efficiency from that of our previous facility. We believe this facility will accommodate our growth for at least three years. The facility was secured under a sublease agreement with a major customer. Under the terms of the sublease agreement, we are required to make rental payments of $10,350 per month during the initial one-year term of the agreement. The sublease agreement is renewable upon mutual agreement of both parties for up to four additional years at a modest increase in the monthly rent, however, we are under is no obligation to renew it.
The complex features four shipping and receiving docks, two at ground level and two below grade. This setup significantly increases efficiency. The floor plan has four times the space for finished goods, which are kept separate from production and shipping areas. Exterior storage space is also available if needed.
The additional space at the facility will accommodate automation of labor-intensive tasks such as packaging and wire cutting. NeoVolta also has the option of future expansion within the site complex.
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All of NeoVolta’s products are manufactured in-house at our Poway, CA facility. We manufacture our products in an efficient build-to-order model, keeping very little finished-goods inventory. We sublease and share our facility with our contract manufacturer, ConnectPV, creating a seamless transition from sub-components to finished goods that are ready for shipping in a short amount of time.
With very clear short-term understanding of product demand, we issue build orders to ConnectPV, they pull raw materials from the warehouse, assemble the final units and prepare them for shipment or pick-up. Our timeline from order to delivery is usually less than two-weeks, some of our competitors have wait times as long as six months.
The end-product is then picked up or shipped from our docks, signed off by our installer and logged into our system when installed for system monitoring.
Quality control and component tracking are key. We run multiple quality checks throughout the process and have systems to track components and end-units from Asia to San Diego to the end-user’s location. Our manufacturing partner records all component serial numbers, all torque settings, and annotates all required item numbers and functionality prior to packaging.
Legal Proceedings
We are currently not a party to any pending legal proceeding, nor is our property the subject of a pending legal proceeding, that we believe is not ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business or otherwise material to the financial condition of our business.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We are registering the securities offered by this prospectus under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will have reporting obligations, including the requirement to file annual and quarterly reports with the SEC, following this offering. In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by an independent registered public accounting firm.
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The following table presents information with respect to our executive officers and directors as of December 31, 2021:
Name |
| Age |
| Position |
Brent Willson |
| 57 |
| Director, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Steve Bond |
| 47 |
| Director and Chief Financial Officer |
James F. Amos |
| 74 |
| Director |
Susan Snow |
| 64 |
| Director Nominee |
John Hass |
| 51 |
| Director Nominee |
Set forth below is biographical information about each of the individuals named in the table above:
Brent Willson. Brent Willson has served as founder and a director and as our president and chief executive officer since our inception. Col Willson retired after more than 31 years of distinguished service with the United States Marine Corps, in December 2017. Col Willson rose to the rank of USMC Colonel where he was responsible for large acquisitions, security, facilities and infrastructure, and was an aviator. At the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Col Willson was responsible for managing the Defense Department’s $100 billion portfolio of helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft. In January 2018, Col Willson served as a director and as president and chief executive officer of Holly Brothers Pictures, Inc., a crypto-currency company. Col Willson resigned from Holly Brothers Pictures, Inc. on November 15, 2019. Col Willson holds a BS in Business Administration, a Masters of Military Science, a Masters of National Security and Strategic Studies, and is a Level II Program Manager. Col Willson also holds all military pilots ratings and FAA multi-engine airplane/helicopter with instrument license. We believe Col Willson’s background in managing large portfolios and his educational background qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company.
Steve Bond. Steve Bond has served as a director and as our chief financial officer since May 2018. Over the last 15 years, Steve Bond has worked with over 100 companies as a consulting executive in finance, strategy and revenue growth. Mr. Bond resigned as a director and as chief financial officer of Holly Brothers Pictures, Inc., a crypto-currency company, on November 15, 2019. Mr. Bond has been active in the San Diego Rotary Club and served on the Board of Promises to Kids. Mr. Bond graduated Summa Cum Laude in Finance from San Diego State University in 2000. We believe Mr. Bond’s consulting experience and his educational background qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company.
James Amos. James Amos has served as a director since January 2021. Gen Amos was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2010, and confirmed by Congress, as the 35th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, the highest-ranking officer in the Marine Corps. Upon retirement in 2014, he joined the Board of Directors of LORD Corporation, a global leader in motion and control technologies, and later served as its Chairman of the Board of Directors prior to its acquisition by Parker Hannifin in 2019. Gen Amos currently serves as a strategic advisor to the President of ST Engineering - North America, a member of the President of Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding Strategic Advisory Panel, a member of NOVANT Health’s Board of Trustees, a member of the Board of Advisors for the Jewish Institute for National Security in America (JINSA), a member of Charlotte’s Veterans Bridge Home Advisory Board, as well as Founder of Windsock LLC. Gen Amos graduated from the University of Idaho in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics. Gen Amos previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Semper Fi Fund/America’s Fund. We believe Gen Amos’s leadership in both his military and civilian endeavors qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company.
Susan Snow. Susan Snow will become a director upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. From January 2018 to December 2021, Ms. Snow served as Senior VP, Operations at Redhorse, a consulting firm specializing in contacts and relationships with U.S. governmental agencies. Previously, from May 2009 until January 2018, Ms. Snow was a principal at Transitional Finance Partners. Ms. Snow began her professional career and earned her CPA at KPMG, where she spent four years before leaving for a Chief Financial Officer role in private industry. We believe Ms. Snow’s financial and corporate experience and expertise qualify her to serve as one of our directors.
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John Hass. John Hass will become a director upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Mr. Hass has served as the Chief Product Officer for Shoals Technologies Group, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed electrical Balance of Systems provider for solar, energy storage, and eMobility, since September 2021. Prior, he was Founder and CEO of ConnectPV, Inc., from January 2015 until September 2021, providing electrical Balance of Systems products to the utility scale solar and white labelling Residential Energy Storage systems for NeoVolta. Mr. Hass served as CEO of SolarBOS, also supporting electrical Balance of System products in the solar industry, from March 2013 through November 2014. Mr. Hass began his professional career at TEAL Electronics in 1994 and has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from San Diego State University. We believe that John’s experience that spans almost three decades in power systems development, renewable energy and manufacturing qualify him to serve as one of our directors.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers.
Director Independence
Our Board of Directors has determined that Gen Amos is considered an “independent director” under the Nasdaq listing rules, which is defined generally as a person other than an executive officer or employee of ours who does not have a relationship that, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Prior to this offering, we will appoint additional independent directors such that our independent directors together will constitute a majority of our full Board of Directors. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Board Committees
Prior to the closing of this offering, our Board of Directors will have three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will have a written charter, which will be available on our corporate website.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee will consist of three independent directors. The members of the audit committee will be Susan Snow, John Hass and James Amos. Ms. Snow will be the chairperson of the audit committee. The audit committee will consist exclusively of directors who are financially literate. In addition, Ms. Snow is considered an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC’s rules and regulations.
The audit committee responsibilities include:
·overseeing the compensation and work of and performance by our independent auditor and any other registered public accounting firm performing audit, review or attestation services for us;
·engaging, retaining and terminating our independent auditor and determining the terms thereof;
·assessing the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditor;
·evaluating whether the provision of permitted non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence;
·reviewing and discussing the audit results, including any comments and recommendations of the independent auditor and the responses of management to such recommendations;
·reviewing and discussing the annual and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor;
·producing a committee report for inclusion in applicable SEC filings;
·reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and procedures;
·establishing procedures regarding the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received regarding the accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and conducting or authorizing investigations into any matters within the scope of the responsibility of the audit committee; and
·reviewing transactions with related persons for potential conflict of interest situations.
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Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee will consist of three independent directors. The members of the compensation committee will be John Hass, Susan Snow and James Amos. Mr. Hass will be the chairperson of the compensation committee. The committee has primary responsibility for:
·reviewing and recommending all elements and amounts of compensation for each executive officer, including any performance goals applicable to those executive officers;
·reviewing and recommending for approval the adoption, any amendment and termination of all cash and equity-based incentive compensation plans;
·once required by applicable law, causing to be prepared a committee report for inclusion in applicable SEC filings;
·approving any employment agreements, severance agreements or change of control agreements that are entered into with the CEO and certain executive officers; and
·reviewing and recommending the level and form of non-employee director compensation and benefits.
Nominating and Governance Committee. The nominating and governance committee will consist of three independent directors. The members of the nominating and governance committee will be James Amos, Susan Snow and John Hass. Gen Amos will be the chairperson of the nominating and governance committee. The committee’s responsibilities include:
·recommending persons for election as directors by the stockholders;
·recommending persons for appointment as directors to the extent necessary to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships;
·reviewing annually the skills and characteristics required of directors and each incumbent director’s continued service on the board;
·reviewing any stockholder proposals and nominations for directors;
·advising the board of directors on the appropriate structure and operations of the board and its committees;
·reviewing and recommending standing board committee assignments;
·developing and recommending to the board Corporate Governance Guidelines, a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and other corporate governance policies and programs and reviewing such guidelines, code and any other policies and programs at least annually;
·making recommendations to the board as to determinations of director independence; and
·making recommendations to the board regarding corporate governance based upon developments, trends, and best practices.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for candidates for the board of directors.
Our bylaws provide that, in order for a stockholder’s nomination of a candidate for the board to be properly brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders, the stockholder’s nomination must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company no later than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting.
Code of Ethics
Prior to the closing of this offering, we will adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics that will apply to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The full text of our code of business conduct and ethics will be posted on our corporate website and is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our code of business conduct and ethics, or waivers of these provisions, on our corporate website or in filings under the Exchange Act.
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Director Compensation
Prior to this offering, our only independent director was Gen Amos. During 2021 and through March 31, 2022, we did not pay any cash compensation to Gen Amos for his service on the board, however, we granted Gen Amos 50,000 shares of restricted common stock at December 31, 2021 and will grant an additional 12,500 shares of common stock for the services rendered during the three months ended March 31, 2022. We do not pay Col Willson and Mr. Bond any additional compensation for serving as a director.
Commencing upon the closing of this offering, Gen Amos, Ms. Snow and Mr. Hass will receive annual compensation of $65,000 to paid quarterly with not less than 70% of such amount paid in shares of our common stock, calculated based on the share price at the end of such the prior fiscal quarter, and up to 30% paid in cash, with such final amounts to be determined by each director.
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The following table shows the compensation awarded to or earned in the last two fiscal years by our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. We did not have any other employees that received more than $100,000 in compensation during fiscal 2021.
Summary Compensation Table - 2021
Name and Principal Position |
| Year |
| Salary ($) |
| Bonus ($) |
| Stock Awards ($)(2) |
| Total ($) |
Brent Willson, Director |
| 2021 |
| 150,000(1) |
| - |
| 6,540,000 |
| 6,690,000 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
| 2020 |
| 150,000(1) |
| - |
| 500,000 |
| 650,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Bond, Director and |
| 2021 |
| 100,000(3) |
| - |
| 436,000 |
| 536,000 |
Chief Financial Officer |
| 2020 |
| 100,000(3) |
| - |
| - |
| 100,000 |
(1)The amounts shown in the first column represents the payments made or accrued by the Company to Col Willson in the period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 and in the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Such payments were made to either Col Willson as an employee, or to his personal consulting company in its capacity as a contractor. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for additional information.
(2)Represents the full grant date fair value of the stock awards and do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may be realized by the holder. In December 2020, the Company awarded a total of 1,500,000 shares of common stock to a company which is affiliated with Col Willson for reaching Milestones 1 and 2 of such affiliated company’s June 1, 2020 contractor agreement with the Company (see “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” below). The Company valued the stock awards at a total amount of $6,540,000 based on the year-end 2020 public quoted price of $4.36 per share, as reported on the OTCQB Market. For the 1,500,000 shares awarded to Col Willson’s affiliated company, the Company immediately amortized $6,540,000 as a non-cash charge to expense as such shares were considered to have been earned by him under the Company’s milestone incentive compensation program, as of December 31, 2020. This amount compares with the previous year in which the Company granted Col Willson 500,000 incentive shares valued at $1.00 per share for a total grant of $500,000. Similarly, the Company awarded a total of 100,000 shares of common stock to Steve Bond for reaching the two milestones, with respect to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, under his June 1, 2020 contractor agreement with the Company, as of December 2020. For the 100,000 shares awarded to Mr. Bond, the Company valued the stock awards at a total amount of $436,000 based on the same quoted price of $4.36 per share and immediately amortized $436,000 as a non-cash charge to expense. For a description of these stock awards, see Note 4 to the Company’s financial statements.
(3)The amounts shown in the first column represents the payments made or accrued by the Company to Mr. Bond in the period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 and in the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Such payments were made to Mr. Bond in his capacity as a contractor, not as an employee.
Outstanding Equity Awards
The following table sets forth certain information concerning our outstanding equity awards for our named executive officer on June 30, 2021.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End – 2021
Name | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares of units of stock that have not vested ($) | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($) |
Brent Willson | -- | -- | 750,000 | 4,920,000 |
Steve Bond | -- | -- | 100,000 | 656,000 |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
We have entered into a new employment agreement with Colonel Brent Willson, which will become effective April 1, 2022, pursuant to which Col Willson agreed to continue to serve as our Chief Executive Officer and President. The initial term of the employment agreement will be one year and will be automatically renewable for additional one-year terms unless either party chooses not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $165,000. Pursuant to the agreement, we issued Col Willson a restricted stock unit award for up to 150,000 shares of our common stock upon achieving the following milestones (which achievements shall be determined by the Board): (i) Milestone 1 - Successfully complete this offering in 2022 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2023: 50,000 shares; and (ii) Milestone 2 - Produce 2,000 ESSs in 2022 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2023: 100,000 shares. Any shares of common stock issued pursuant to the foregoing restricted stock unit award shall be subject to a further lock-up arrangement restricting the sale of such shares of common stock to 25% of the total shares issued on the three, six, nine and twelve month anniversary of issuance. If Col Willson’s employment is terminated at our election without “cause” (as defined in the agreement), Col Willson shall be entitled to receive severance payments equal to three months of Col Willson’s base salary. Col Willson will agree not to compete with us until twelve months after the termination of his employment.
Effective June 1, 2020, we entered into a second amended and restated independent contractor agreement with Canmore International, Inc., which is affiliated with Col Willson. The agreement provides for a term of two years, which we may extend for additional one-year terms. This agreement will terminate on March 31, 2022. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to pay Canmore cash fees of $4,167 per month. In addition, pursuant to the original agreement, Canmore International, Inc is entitled to receive up to 2,250,000 shares of common stock upon achieving the following milestones (which achievement shall be determined by the Board): (i) Milestone 1 - design, engineer and submit for certification two-battery augmentation system (NV24) to the NV14 ESS: 750,000 shares; (ii) Milestone 2 - Sell a minimum of 300 NV14s in 2020: 750,000 shares; (iii) Milestone 3 - obtain a distributor agreement with distributor who purchases a minimum of 500 NV14s through 2021: 750,000 shares. As indicated in footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table above, Canmore successfully reached Milestones 1 and 2 as of December 2020, therefore, the Company awarded Canmore a total of 1,500,000 shares of common stock. Canmore partially achieved Milestone 3, as of December 2021 such that 500,000 shares (two-thirds of possible 750,000 shares) were awarded to Canmore for service in 2021 under this agreement.
In February 2022, we entered into a new employment agreement with Steve Bond pursuant to which Mr. Bond agreed to continue to serve as our Chief Financial Officer, effective March 1, 2022. The initial term of the employment agreement is one year and will be automatically renewable for additional one-year terms unless either party chooses not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $125,000. Pursuant to the agreement, we issued Mr. Bond a restricted stock unit award for up to 300,000 shares of our common stock upon achieving the following milestones (which achievements shall be determined by the Board): (i) Milestone 1 - Successfully complete this offering in 2022 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2023: 250,000 shares; and (ii) Milestone 2 - successfully complete and file the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023 no later than September 29, 2023 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2024: 50,000 shares. If Mr. Bond’s employment is terminated at our election without “cause” (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Bond shall be entitled to receive severance payments equal to three months of Mr. Bond’s base salary. Mr. Bond will agree not to compete with us until twelve months after the termination of his employment.
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Effective October 4, 2021, we entered into an amended and restated independent contractor agreement with Steve Bond. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Bond cash fees of $9,000 per month. This agreement was terminated upon execution of the employment agreement described above. Pursuant to the amended and restated independent contractor agreement, Mr. Bond was entitled to receive 100,000 shares each fiscal year as follows (for which achievement shall be determined by the Board): (i) 50,000 shares of common stock if all monthly financials are completed and filed on time; and (ii) 50,000 shares of common stock if the annual audits are completed on time. As indicated in footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table above, Mr. Bond successfully reached the two milestones with respect to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 as of December 2020, therefore, the Company awarded Mr. Bond a total of 100,000 shares of common stock. In connection with the termination of the amended and restated independent contractor agreement discussed above, Mr. Bond agreed that he was not entitled to any further compensation pursuant to the amended and restated independent contractor agreement for 2021.
2019 Stock Plan
In February 2019, we adopted the NeoVolta, Inc. 2019 Stock Plan (the “2019 Plan”). The Plan is a stock-based compensation plan that provides for discretionary grants of stock options, stock awards and stock unit awards to key employees and non-employee directors. To date, no awards have been granted under the 2019 Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to recognize contributions made to our Company by key employees and non-employee directors and to provide them with additional incentive to achieve the objectives of our Company. The following is a summary of the Plan.
Administration. The 2019 Plan is administered by our board of directors or, once established, the compensation committee of the board of directors (we refer to the body administering the 2019 Plan as the “Committee”). The Committee has full authority to select the individuals who will receive awards under the 2019 Plan, determine the form and amount of each of the awards to be granted and establish the terms and conditions of awards.
Limit on Non-Employee Director Compensation. Under the 2019 Plan, the following limits apply to non-employee directors. The aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid, as applicable, to any individual for service as a non-employee director with respect to any calendar year, including awards granted under the 2019 Plan and cash fees paid to such non-employee director, will not exceed $300,000 in total value. For purposes of these limitations, the value of awards is calculated based on the grant date fair value of such awards for financial reporting purposes.
Number of Shares of Common Stock. The number of shares of the common stock that may be issued under the 2019 Plan is 2,500,000. If there is a lapse, forfeiture, expiration, termination or cancellation of any award made under the 2019 Plan for any reason, the shares subject to the award will again be available for issuance. Any shares subject to an award that are delivered to us by a participant, or withheld by us on behalf of a participant, as payment for an award or payment of withholding taxes due in connection with an award will not again be available for issuance, and all such shares will count toward the number of shares issued under the 2018 Plan. The number of shares of common stock issuable under the 2019 Plan is subject to adjustment, in the event of any reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock distribution, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, subdivision, consolidation or exchange of shares, any change in the capital structure of the company or any similar corporate transaction. In each case, the Committee has the discretion to make adjustments it deems necessary to preserve the intended benefits under the 2019 Plan. No award granted under the 2019 Plan may be transferred, except by will, the laws of descent and distribution.
Eligibility. All employees designated as key employees for purposes of the 2019 Plan, all non-employee directors and consultants are eligible to receive awards under the 2019 Plan. As of January 1, 2019, two employees and directors were eligible to participate in the 2019 Plan.
Awards to Participants. The 2019 Plan provides for discretionary awards of stock options, stock awards, stock unit awards and stock appreciation rights to participants. Each award made under the 2019 Plan will be evidenced by a written award agreement specifying the terms and conditions of the award as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with the terms of the 2019 Plan.
Stock Options. The Committee has the discretion to grant non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options to participants and to set the terms and conditions applicable to the options, including the type of option, the
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number of shares subject to the option and the vesting schedule; provided that the exercise price of each stock option will be the closing price of the common stock on the date on which the option is granted (“fair market value”), each option will expire ten years from the date of grant and no dividend equivalents may be paid with respect to stock options.
In addition, an incentive stock option granted to a key employee is subject to the following rules: (i) the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the option is granted) of the shares of common stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a key employee during any calendar year (under all incentive stock option plans of the company and its subsidiaries) cannot exceed $100,000, and if this limitation is exceeded, that portion of the incentive stock option that does not exceed the applicable dollar limit will be an incentive stock option and the remainder will be a non-qualified stock option; (ii) if an incentive stock option is granted to a key employee who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all class of stock of the company, the exercise price of the incentive stock option will be 110% of the closing price of the common stock on the date of grant and the incentive stock option will expire no later than five years from the date of grant; and (iii) no incentive stock option can be granted after ten years from the date the 2019 Plan was adopted.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee has the discretion to grant stock appreciation rights to participants. The Committee determines the exercise price for a stock appreciation right, which cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, we will pay the participant in common stock or in cash, at our discretion, an amount equal to the product of (1) the excess of the per share fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price, multiplied by (2) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised. The Committee has the discretion to set the terms and conditions applicable to the award, including the number of shares subject to the stock appreciation right and the vesting schedule, provided that each stock appreciation right will expire not more than ten years from the date of grant and no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be paid with respect to any stock appreciation right prior to the exercise of the stock appreciation right.
Stock Awards. The Committee has the discretion to grant stock awards to participants. Stock awards will consist of shares of common stock granted without any consideration from the participant or shares sold to the participant for appropriate consideration as determined by the Board. The number of shares awarded to each participant, and the restrictions, terms and conditions of the award, will be at the discretion of the Committee. Subject to the restrictions, a participant will be a shareholder with respect to the shares awarded to him or her and will have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares, including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends on the shares; provided that dividends otherwise payable on any stock award subject to restrictions will be held by us and will be paid to the holder of the stock award only to the extent the restrictions on such stock award lapse.
Stock Units. The Committee has the discretion to grant stock unit awards to participants. Each stock unit entitles the participant to receive, on a specified date or event set forth in the award agreement, one share of common stock or cash equal to the fair market value of one share on such date or event, as provided in the award agreement. The number of stock units awarded to each participant, and the terms and conditions of the award, will be at the discretion of the Committee. Unless otherwise specified in the award agreement, a participant will not be a shareholder with respect to the stock units awarded to him prior to the date they are settled in shares of common stock. The award agreement may provide that until the restrictions on the stock units lapse, the participant will be paid an amount equal to the dividends that would have been paid had the stock units been actual shares; provided that such dividend equivalents will be held by us and paid only to the extent the restrictions lapse.
Payment for Stock Options and Withholding Taxes. The Committee may make one or more of the following methods available for payment of any award, including the exercise price of a stock option, and for payment of the tax obligation associated with an award: (i) cash; (ii) cash received from a broker-dealer to whom the holder has submitted an exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to us the amount of sales proceeds from the sale of the shares subject to the award to pay the exercise price or withholding tax; (iii) by directing us to withhold shares of common stock otherwise issuable in connection with the award having a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld; and (iv) by delivery of previously acquired shares of common stock that are acceptable to the Committee and that have an aggregate fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price or withholding tax, or certification of ownership by attestation of such previously acquired shares.
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Provisions Relating to a “Change in Control” of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of the 2019 Plan or any award agreement, in the event of a “Change in Control” of the company, the Committee has the discretion to provide that all outstanding awards will become fully exercisable, all restrictions applicable to all awards will terminate or lapse, and performance goals applicable to any stock awards will be deemed satisfied at the target level. In addition, upon such Change in Control, the Committee has sole discretion to provide for the purchase of any outstanding stock option for cash equal to the difference between the exercise price and the then fair market value of the common stock subject to the option had the option been currently exercisable, make such adjustment to any award then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control and cause any such award then outstanding to be assumed by the acquiring or surviving corporation after such Change in Control.
Amendment of Award Agreements; Amendment and Termination of the 2019 Plan; Term of the 2019 Plan. The Committee may amend any award agreement at any time, provided that no amendment may adversely affect the right of any participant under any agreement in any material way without the written consent of the participant, unless such amendment is required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule.
The Board may terminate, suspend or amend the 2019 Plan, in whole or in part, from time to time, without the approval of the stockholders, unless such approval is required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, and provided that no amendment may adversely affect the right of any participant under any outstanding award in any material way without the written consent of the participant, unless such amendment is required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any stock exchange on which the shares are listed.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the 2019 Plan nor any outstanding award agreement can be amended in a way that results in the repricing of a stock option. Repricing is broadly defined to include reducing the exercise price of a stock option or stock appreciation right or cancelling a stock option or stock appreciation right in exchange for cash, other stock options or stock appreciation rights with a lower exercise price or other stock awards. (This prohibition on repricing without stockholder approval does not apply in case of an equitable adjustment to the awards to reflect changes in the capital structure of the company or similar events.)
No awards may be granted under the 2019 Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the initial effective date of the 2019 Plan.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus by:
·each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
·each of our named executive officers, directors and director nominees; and
·all our executive officers and directors as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as otherwise indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our capital shown as beneficially owned, subject to applicable community property laws.
In computing the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned by a person, shares that may be acquired by such person within 60 days of the date of this prospectus are counted as outstanding, although such shares are not counted as outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage of shares beneficially owned before the offering is computed on the basis of 21,977,251 shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the date of this prospectus. The percentage of shares beneficially owned after the offering assumes the representative does not exercise the option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person listed below is c/o NeoVolta, Inc., 13651 Danielson Street, Suite A, Poway, California 92064.
Name of Beneficial Owner |
| Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
| Percent of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering |
| Percent of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After to Offering(2) |
Executive officers and directors: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brent Willson |
| 4,000,000(1) |
| 18.2% |
| 12.0% |
Steve Bond |
| 500,000 |
| 2.3% |
| 1.5% |
James F. Amos |
| 50,000 |
| * |
| * |
Susan Snow |
| -- |
|
|
|
|
John Hass |
| -- |
|
|
|
|
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group (5 persons) |
| 4,550,000 |
| 20.7% |
| 13.7% |
*Less than 1%.
(1)Includes shares held by Canmore International, Inc., an entity affiliated with Col Willson.
(2)Based on 33,315,784 shares to be outstanding following this offering, which includes (i) 9,404,867 shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange of our 2018 convertible notes into shares of common stock and (ii) 267,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our October 2021 convertible notes, at a conversion price of $4.00 per share, each of which shall occur upon the closing of this offering, and excludes
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Effective June 1, 2020, we entered into a second amended and restated independent contractor agreement with Canmore International, Inc., which is affiliated with Col Willson. The agreement provides for a term of two years, which we may extend for additional one-year terms. This agreement will terminate on March 31, 2022. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to pay Canmore cash fees of $4,167 per month. In addition, pursuant to the original agreement, Canmore International, Inc is entitled to receive up to 2,250,000 shares of common stock upon achieving the following milestones (which achievement shall be determined by the Board): (i) Milestone 1 - design, engineer and submit for certification two-battery augmentation system (NV24) to the NV14 ESS: 750,000 shares; (ii) Milestone 2 - Sell a minimum of 300 NV14s in 2020: 750,000 shares; (iii) Milestone 3 - obtain a distributor agreement with distributor who purchases a minimum of 500 NV14s through 2021: 750,000 shares. As indicated in footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table above, Canmore successfully reached Milestones 1 and 2 as of December 2020, therefore, the Company awarded Canmore a total of 1,500,000 shares of common stock in connection with reaching these milestones. Canmore partially achieved Milestone 3 as of December 2021 such that 500,000 shares (two-thirds of possible 750,000 shares) were awarded to Canmore for service in 2021 under this agreement.
Effective October 4, 2021, we entered into an amended and restated independent contractor agreement with Steve Bond. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Bond cash fees of $9,000 per month. We intend to terminate this agreement upon execution of the employment agreement described above. Pursuant to the amended and restated independent contractor agreement, Mr. Bond was entitled to receive 100,000 shares each fiscal year as follows (for which achievement shall be determined by the Board): (i) 50,000 shares of common stock if all monthly financials are completed and filed on time; and (ii) 50,000 shares of common stock if the annual audits are completed on time. As indicated in footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table above, Mr. Bond successfully reached the two milestones with respect to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 as of December 2020, therefore, the Company awarded Mr. Bond a total of 100,000 shares of common stock. In connection with the termination of the amended and restated independent contractor agreement discussed above in “Executive Compensation - Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table,” Mr. Bond agreed that he was not entitled to any further compensation pursuant to the amended and restated independent contractor agreement for 2021.
Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions
As the Board standing committees will be constituted at the time of the effectiveness of this registration statement, the Board at large is currently responsible for reviewing and approving in advance any related party transaction. This covers, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which we were or will be a participant to, where the amount involved exceeds the lesser $120,000 or one percent (1%) of the average of the Company’s total assets as of the end of last two completed fiscal years, and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including, without limitation, purchases of goods or services by or from the related person or entities in which the related person has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness and employment by us of a related person.
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We have authorized capital stock consisting of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
Common Stock
Shares of our common stock have the following rights, preferences and privileges:
Voting
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Any action at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be decided by a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy, except in the case of any election of directors, which will be decided by a plurality of votes cast. There is no cumulative voting.
Dividends
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment, subject to the rights of holders, if any, of any class of stock having preference over the common stock. Any decision to pay dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors may or may not determine to declare dividends in the future. See “Dividend Policy.” The board’s determination to issue dividends will depend upon our profitability and financial condition any contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and the SEC, and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably on the basis of the number of shares held in any of the assets available for distribution after we have paid in full, or provided for payment of, all of our debts and after the holders of all outstanding series of any class of stock have preference over the common stock, if any, have received their liquidation preferences in full.
Other
Our issued and outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of shares of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights. Shares of our common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock, nor are they subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our articles of incorporation authorizes the board to issue these shares in one or more series, to determine the designations and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including the dividend rights, conversion or exchange rights, voting rights (including the number of votes per share), redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences, sinking fund provisions and the number of shares constituting the series. Our board of directors could, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock and which could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.
Units Offered Hereby
We are offering 1,666,666 Units at an assumed offering price of $6.00 per Unit, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. Each Unit consists of (a) one share of our common stock, and (b) one Warrant to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price equal to $____ share, which is not less than the offering price per Unit, exercisable until the fifth anniversary of the issuance date. The
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shares of our common stock and the Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately, but will be purchased together in this offering.
Warrants Offered in the Units in this Offering
Overview. The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Warrants offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the warrant agent agreement between us the Warrant Agent, and the form of Warrant, both of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions set forth in the warrant agent agreement, including the annexes thereto, and form of Warrant. The Warrants issued in this offering entitle the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price equal to $____ per share, which is not less than the offering price per Unit, subject to adjustment as discussed below, immediately following the issuance of such warrant and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the closing of this offering. As described below, we intend to apply to list the Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbol “NEOVW.”
Exercisability. The Warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance and at any time up to the date that is five years after their original issuance. The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the Warrant Agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated. Under the terms of the Warrant Agreement, we must use our best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement and current prospectus relating to common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants until the expiration of the Warrants. If we fail to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement and current prospectus relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the holders of the Warrants shall have the right to exercise the Warrants solely via a cashless exercise feature provided for in the Warrants, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and current prospectus.
Exercise Limitation. A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the warrant to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the outstanding common stock immediately after exercise, except that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from the holder to us, the holder may increase the amount of ownership of outstanding stock after exercising the holder’s warrants up to 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the warrants.
Exercise Price. The exercise price per whole share of our common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is $____ (or not less than 100% of the public offering price per Unit) per share of common stock. The warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time up to the date that is five years after their original issuance. The exercise price of the warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders.
Cashless Exercise. If, at any time after the issuance of the warrants, a holder of the warrants exercises the warrants and a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available (or a prospectus is not available for the resale of shares of common stock underlying the warrants), then in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder shall instead receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) only the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the warrants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event we do not have or maintain an effective registration statement, there are no circumstances that would require us to make any cash payments or net cash settle the warrants to the holders.
Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Warrant, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, pay a cash adjustment in respect of such fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price. If multiple Warrants are exercised by the holder at the same time, we shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the Warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned at the option of the holder without our consent.
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Fundamental Transactions. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares of our common stock, the holder of a warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the warrant.
Underwriter’s Warrants.
The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also registers for sale the Underwriter’s Warrants, as a portion of the underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. Please see “Underwriting-Underwriter’s Warrants” for a description of the warrants we have agreed to issue to the underwriter in this offering, subject to the completion of the offering.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Neither our articles of incorporation nor bylaws prevent us from indemnifying our officers, directors and agents to the extent permitted under the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). NRS Section 78.7502, provides that a corporation may indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation against expenses, including fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any defense to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to Section 78.7502(1) or 78.7502(2), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.
NRS 78.7502(1) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he: (a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
NRS Section 78.7502(2) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he: (a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals there from, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
NRS Section 78.747 provides that except as otherwise provided by specific statute, no director or officer of a corporation is individually liable for a debt or liability of the corporation, unless the director or officer acts as the alter ego of the corporation. The court as a matter of law must determine the question of whether a director or officer acts as the alter ego of a corporation.
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Our charter provides that we will indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the extent and in the manner permitted by the provisions of the NRS, as amended from time to time, subject to any permissible expansion or limitation of such indemnification, as may be set forth in any stockholders’ or directors’ resolution or by contract. Any repeal or modification of these provisions approved by our stockholders will be prospective only and will not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any of our directors or officers existing as of the time of such repeal or modification. We are also permitted to apply for insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee or other agent for liability arising out of his actions, whether or not the NRS would permit indemnification.
Our bylaws provide that a director or officer of the Company shall have no personal liability to the Company or its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for damages for breach of fiduciary duty resulting from (a) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law, or (b) the payment of dividends in violation of section 78.3900 of the NRS as it may from time to time be amended or any successor provision thereto.
Listing
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB marketplace under the symbol “NEOV.” We have applied to list our common stock and Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “NEOV” and “NEOVW,” respectively. We believe that upon the completion of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, we will meet the standards for listing on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in listing our common stock or our Warrants on Nasdaq; however, we will not complete this offering unless we are so listed.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company. Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company will also be the warrant agent in connection with the warrants to be issued in this offering.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK
The following discussion is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other United States federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-United States tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the United States Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS will not take, or that a court will not sustain, a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock.
This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all United States federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or the alternative minimum tax. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
·certain United States expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
·persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;
·banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;
·brokers, dealers or certain traders in securities;
·“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;
·partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for United States federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);
·tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;
·persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
·persons who hold or receive our common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
·tax-qualified retirement plans;
·“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds;
·persons who own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below); and
·persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the stock being taken into account in an applicable financial statement.
If an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships (or other entities treated
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as partnerships for United States federal income tax purposes) holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships (or other entities treated as partnerships for United States federal income tax purposes) should consult their tax advisors regarding the United States federal income tax consequences to them.
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-UNITED STATES TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder
For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.
A U.S. person is any person that, for United States federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:
·an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
·a corporation, or an entity treated as a corporation, created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, or other entity treated as such for United States federal income tax purposes;
·an estate, the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or
·a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and all substantial decisions of which are subject to the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for United States federal income tax purposes.
Distributions
As described in the section titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not anticipate declaring or paying dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, amounts not treated as dividends for United States federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and will first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock owned by such Non-U.S. Holder, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “-Sales or Other Taxable Dispositions of Common Stock.”
Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, backup withholding and foreign accounts, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will be subject to United States federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder timely furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate of United States withholding tax, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S.
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Holder will be exempt from the United States federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must timely furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form), certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis at regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Sales or Other Taxable Dispositions of Common Stock
Subject to the discussion below regarding backup withholding and foreign accounts, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:
·the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);
·the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or
·our common stock constitutes a United States real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of our status as a United States real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for United States federal income tax purposes.
Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis at regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.
Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to United States federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by certain United States source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed United States federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Generally, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-United States real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance that we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become a USRPHC in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will not be subject to United States federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition thereof or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING ANY POTENTIALLY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATIES THAT MAY PROVIDE FOR DIFFERENT RULES.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of distributions on our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the Non-U.S. Holder is a United
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States person and the Non-U.S. Holder either certifies its non-United States status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld.
In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock within the United States, or conducted through certain United States-related brokers, generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-United States office of a non-United States broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the United States generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.
Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts
Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA) on certain types of payments made to non-United States financial institutions and certain other non-United States entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on distributions on our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of distributions on our common stock. While withholding under FATCA also would have applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of such stock on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of such gross proceeds. In its preamble to these proposed Treasury Regulations, the U.S. Treasury Department stated that taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF WITHHOLDING UNDER FATCA TO THEIR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK.
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Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering (the “Representative”). We will enter into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to purchase from us, at the public offering price per Unit less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of Units listed next to its name in the following table:
Underwriter |
| Number of Units |
Maxim Group LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligation of the underwriters to purchase all of the Units being offered to the public is subject to specific conditions, including the absence of any material adverse change in our business or in the financial markets and the receipt of certain legal opinions, certificates and letters from us, our counsel and the independent auditors. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the offering may be terminated. Subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters will purchase all of the Units being offered to the public, other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below, if any of these Units are purchased.
The underwriters are offering the Units, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by it, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Over-Allotment Option
We have granted to the Representative an option, exercisable one or more times in whole or in part, not later than 45 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase from us up to an (i) additional ____ shares of common stock at a price of $____ per share and/or (ii) additional warrants to purchase ____ shares of common stock at a price of $____ per warrant, in each case, less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover of this prospectus in any combination thereof to cover over-allotments, if any. To the extent that the Representative exercises this option, it will become obligated, subject to conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of these additional shares of common stock and/or warrants as the number of Units to be purchased by it in the above table bears to the total number of Units offered by this prospectus. We will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell these additional shares of common stock and/or warrants to the Representative to the extent the option is exercised. If any additional shares of common stock and/or warrants are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares of common stock and/or warrants on the same terms as those on which the other Units are being offered hereunder.
Discounts and Commissions; Expenses
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses, to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the Representative of the over-allotment option.
|
| Per Unit |
| Total Without Over- Allotment Option |
| Total With Full Over- Allotment Option | |||
Public offering price |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
Underwriting discount ([__%]) |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
The underwriters proposes to offer the Units offered by us to the public at the public offering price per Unit set forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriters may offer some of the Units to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of $____ per Unit. After the initial offering, the public offering price and concession to dealers may be changed.
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We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the offering not to exceed $125,000 in the aggregate, including an advance of $25,000 paid to the Representative for its anticipated out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this offering. Any portion of the $25,000 expense advance will be returned to us to the extent that offering expenses are not actually incurred by the underwriters in accordance with Financial Industry Regulation Authority (“FINRA”) Rule 5110(g)(4)(A). We estimate that total expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discount and corporate finance fee, will be approximately $250,000.
Discretionary Accounts
The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the Units offered hereby to any accounts over which it has discretionary authority.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
Lock-Up Agreements
We and our directors, officers and record holders of 3.0% or more of our outstanding shares of our common stock have agreed with the underwriter, for a period of 180 days after the closing of this offering, not to offer for sale, issue, sell, contract to sell, pledge grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock either owned as of the date of the underwriting agreement or thereafter acquired without the prior written consent of the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions. Holders of a total of __________ shares of our issued and outstanding common stock are subject to such lockup. The Representative may, in its sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the lock-up period, without notice, release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements.
Pricing of this Offering
Prior to this offering, there has not been an active market for our common stock and there has been no public market for our Warrants. The public offering price for our Units was determined through negotiations between us and the underwriters. Among the factors considered in these negotiations were prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the underwriters believe to be comparable to us, estimates of our business potential, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant.
We offer no assurances that the public offering price of our Units will correspond to the price at which our common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to this offering or that an active trading market for our common stock will develop and continue after this offering.
Underwriter’s Warrants
We have agreed to issue to the Representative (or its permitted assignees) warrants to purchase up to a total of ____ shares of common stock (6.0% of the shares of common stock included in the Units). The warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the period commencing 180 days from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and expiring five years from the commencement of sales of the offering, which period is in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(e). The warrants are exercisable at a per share price equal to $____ per share, or 110% of the public offering price per unit in the offering. The warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA. The Representative (or permitted assignees under Rule 5110(e)(2)) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the commencement of sales of the offering. In addition, the warrants provide for certain demand and piggyback registration rights. The registration rights provided will not be greater than five years from the commencement of sales of the offering in compliance
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with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to one demand and unlimited piggyback registration of the securities issuable on exercise of the Underwriter’s warrants. The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrant exercise price or underlying shares will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below the warrant exercise price.
Right of First Refusal and Certain Post-Offering Investments
Subject to the closing of this offering and certain conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, for a period of 18 months after the commencement of sales of the offering, the Representative shall have a right of first refusal to act as sole underwriter and sole book-running manager and/or sole placement agent for any and all future public or private equity, equity-linked, convertible or debt (excluding commercial bank debt) offerings undertaken during such period by us, or any of our successors or subsidiaries, on terms customary to each of the underwriter. The Representative, in conjunction with us, shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker-dealer shall have the right to participate in any such offering and the economic terms of any such participation. In addition, we have agreed that in the event any investor previously introduced to us by the Representative in this Offering subsequently provides capital to us in any public or private financing during the twelve (12) month period following the closing of this Offering, we will pay the underwriters a cash fee of [__%] of the gross proceeds on any such investments.
Trading; Nasdaq Capital Market Listing
Prior to this offering, our common stock was quoted on the OTCQB market under the symbol “NEOV.” We have applied to list our common stock and Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “NEOV” and “NEOVW,” respectively. We believe that upon the completion of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, we will meet the standards for listing on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in listing our common stock or our Warrants on Nasdaq; however, we will not complete this offering unless we are so listed.
Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
In connection with this offering the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act:
·Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase securities so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
·Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of securities in excess of the number of securities the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of securities over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of securities that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of securities involved is greater than the number of securities in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising its over-allotment option and/or purchasing securities in the open market.
·Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of securities to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. A naked short position occurs if the underwriters sells more securities than could be covered by the over-allotment option. This position can only be closed out by buying securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.
67
·Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when securities originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of our shares of common stock and warrants may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our shares of common stock and warrants. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that any transaction, if commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Electronic Distribution
This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriters, or by their affiliates. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ website and any information contained in any other websites maintained by the underwriters is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters in their capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Other
From time to time, the underwriters and/or their affiliates may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us for which services it has received and, may in the future receive, customary fees. Except for the services provided in connection with this offering and other than as described below, the underwriters have not provided any investment banking or other financial services during the 180-day period preceding the date of this prospectus.
Offers Outside the United States
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by ArentFox Schiff LLP, Washington, DC, and Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York is acting as counsel for the underwriters in this offering.
The financial statements of NeoVolta, Inc. as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, have been included herein in reliance on the report of MaloneBailey, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
68
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to us and the Units offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference. All filings we make with the SEC are available on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
We file reports pursuant to Rule 257 of the Securities Act with the SEC. These reports are available on the website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.neovolta.com. Upon the completion of this offering you may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge or at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this prospectus.
69
Unaudited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021 and for the three and six months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited).
Audited Financial Statements as of June 30, 2021 and 2020 and for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020
70
NEOVOLTA, INC.
| December 31, 2021 |
| June 30, 2021 | ||
| (Unaudited) |
|
| ||
Assets |
|
|
| ||
Current assets: |
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,017,758 |
| $ | 425,681 |
Accounts receivable |
| 1,453,448 |
|
| 1,128,444 |
Inventory |
| 1,535,531 |
|
| 1,662,140 |
Prepaid insurance and other current assets |
| 118,543 |
|
| 45,926 |
Total current assets |
| 4,125,280 |
|
| 3,262,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets | $ | 4,125,280 |
| $ | 3,262,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable | $ | 10,350 |
| $ | 53,510 |
Accrued interest payable |
| 18,872 |
|
| 3,918 |
Other accrued liabilities |
| 22,041 |
|
| 36,821 |
Convertible notes payable |
| 1,068,000 |
|
| - |
Total current liabilities |
| 1,119,263 |
|
| 94,249 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible notes payable (net of unamortized discount of $-0- and $41,307 as of December 31, 2021 & June 30, 2021, respectively) |
| 53,910 |
|
| 19,308 |
Total liabilities |
| 1,173,173 |
|
| 113,557 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,19,998,683 and 19,640,888 shares issued and outstanding |
| 19,999 |
|
| 19,641 |
Additional paid-in capital |
| 17,084,730 |
|
| 13,169,363 |
Accumulated deficit |
| (14,152,622) |
|
| (10,040,370) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
| 2,952,107 |
|
| 3,148,634 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 4,125,280 |
| $ | 3,262,191 |
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.
F-1
NEOVOLTA, INC.
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues from contracts with customers | $ | 1,035,127 |
| $ | 1,545,751 |
Cost of goods sold |
| 861,706 |
|
| 1,287,323 |
Gross profit |
| 173,421 |
|
| 258,428 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative |
| 4,137,495 |
|
| 7,186,737 |
Research and development |
| 62,250 |
|
| 2,102 |
Total operating expenses |
| 4,199,745 |
|
| 7,188,839 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
| (4,026,324) |
|
| (6,930,411) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
| (3,530) |
|
| (6,104) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | $ | (4,029,854) |
| $ | (6,936,515) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
| 19,998,683 |
|
| 17,167,628 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.20) |
| $ | (0.40) |
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.
F-2
NEOVOLTA, INC.
(Unaudited)
| Six Months Ended December 31, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues from contracts with customers | $ | 2,634,731 |
| $ | 2,545,922 |
Cost of goods sold |
| 2,222,700 |
|
| 2,209,974 |
Gross profit |
| 412,031 |
|
| 335,948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative |
| 4,494,053 |
|
| 7,458,598 |
Research and development |
| 66,503 |
|
| 17,149 |
Total operating expenses |
| 4,560,556 |
|
| 7,475,747 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
| (4,148,525) |
|
| (7,139,799) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
| (9,536) |
|
| (12,425) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | $ | (4,158,061) |
| $ | (7,152,224) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
| 19,982,352 |
|
| 16,641,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.21) |
| $ | (0.43) |
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.
F-3
NEOVOLTA, INC.
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Six Months Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
(Unaudited)
| Common Stock |
| Additional Paid-in Capital |
| Accumulated Deficit |
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Balance at June 30, 2021 | 19,640,888 | $ | 19,641 |
| $ | 13,169,363 |
| $ | (10,040,370) |
| $ | 3,148,634 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest | 203,630 |
| 204 |
|
| 1,079 |
|
| - |
|
| 1,283 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock compensation expense | 154,165 |
| 154 |
|
| 4,001,404 |
|
| - |
|
| 4,001,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustment for change in accounting principle | - |
| - |
|
| (87,116) |
|
| 45,809 |
|
| (41,307) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | - |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (4,158,061) |
|
| (4,158,061) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2021 | 19,998,683 | $ | 19,999 |
| $ | 17,084,730 |
| $ | (14,152,622) |
| $ | 2,952,107 |
| Common Stock |
| Additional Paid-in Capital |
| Accumulated Deficit |
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Balance at June 30, 2020 | 14,421,528 | $ | 14,422 |
| $ | 5,714,482 |
| $ | (2,394,498) |
| $ | 3,334,406 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock for conversion of debt and accrued interest | 2,746,100 |
| 2,746 |
|
| 14,555 |
|
| - |
|
| 17,301 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock compensation expense | - |
| - |
|
| 7,089,351 |
|
| - |
|
| 7,089,351 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | - |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (7,152,224) |
|
| (7,152,224) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2020 | 17,167,628 | $ | 17,168 |
| $ | 12,818,388 |
| $ | (9,546,722) |
| $ | 3,288,834 |
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.
F-4
NEOVOLTA, INC.
(Unaudited)
| Six Months Ended December 31, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
| ||
Net loss | $ | (4,158,061) |
| $ | (7,152,224) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
Stock compensation expense |
| 4,001,558 |
|
| 7,089,351 |
Amortization of debt discount |
| - |
|
| 10,695 |
Changes in current assets and liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
| (325,004) |
|
| (878,579) |
Inventory |
| 126,609 |
|
| 165,683 |
Prepaid insurance and other current assets |
| (72,617) |
|
| 110,106 |
Accounts payable |
| (43,160) |
|
| 219,864 |
Accrued expenses |
| 197 |
|
| 8,419 |
Other changes, net |
| (5,445) |
|
| - |
Net cash flows used in operating activities |
| (475,923) |
|
| (426,685) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from convertible notes payable |
| 1,068,000 |
|
| - |
Net cash flows provided by financing activities |
| 1,068,000 |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
| 592,077 |
|
| (426,685) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
| 425,681 |
|
| 1,309,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,017,758 |
| $ | 882,619 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest | $ | - |
| $ | - |
Cash paid for income taxes |
| - |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental non-cash financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of convertible debt and accrued interest into common stock | $ | 1,283 |
| $ | 17,301 |
Adjustment of debt discount related to adoption of new accounting principle |
| 87,116 |
|
| - |
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.
F-5
NEOVOLTA, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
December 31, 2021
(1) Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business - NeoVolta, Inc. (“we”, “our” or the “Company”) is a Nevada corporation, which was formed on March 5, 2018. The Company is a designer, seller and manufacturer of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) which can store and use energy via batteries and an inverter at residential sites. The Company completed a public offering of shares of its common stock pursuant to Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on May 9, 2019 (see Note 4), and began assembling and selling its proprietary ESS units through wholesale customers, primarily in California, in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
Basis of Presentation - The accompanying financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company’s fiscal year end is June 30. Accordingly, such interim financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete annual financial statements. The information furnished reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items which are, in the opinion of management, necessary in order to make the financial statements not misleading. The balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 has been derived from the Company’s June 30, 2021 financial statements that were audited by an independent registered public accounting firm but does not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete annual financial statements. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The unaudited financial statements included in this report should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 1-K annual report for the year ended June 30, 2021, filed by the Company with the SEC on October 4, 2021.
Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Company considers all highly liquid accounts with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. Periodically, the Company may carry cash balances at financial institutions in excess of the federally insured limit of $250,000. The amount in excess of the FDIC insurance at December 31, 2021 was $767,758.
Inventory - Inventory consists of batteries and inverters purchased from Asian suppliers and delivered to a location near the Company’s offices, for assembly into ESS units. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, cost being determined using the first-in, first out (FIFO) method. Inventory of raw materials and work in process amounted to $1,535,531 and $1,662,140, as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively.
Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which was adopted on July 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method, with no impact to the Company’s comparative financial statements. Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring those goods or services. Revenue is recognized based on the following five step model:
·Identification of the contact with a customer
·Identification of the performance obligations in the contract
·Determination of the transaction price
·Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
·Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation
The Company generates revenues from contracts with customers, consisting of a relatively small number of wholesale dealers and installers, primarily in California. Two such dealers represented approximately 25% and 14% of the Company’s revenues in the six months ended December 31, 2021, however, no other dealers accounted for more than 10% of the revenues in such period. Those two dealers plus another one represented an aggregate of approximately 59% of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021. In the six months ended December 31, 2020, four dealers represented approximately 17%, 15%, 13% and 12% of the Company’s revenues. Under its present contracts with customers, the Company’s sole performance obligation is the delivery of products to the customer. Since all of the Company’s revenue is currently generated from the sales of similar products, no
F-6
further disaggregation of revenue information for the six-month periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is provided.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - The Company recognizes an allowance for doubtful accounts whenever a loss is expected to be incurred in the realization of a customer’s account. As of December 31, 2021, no allowance for doubtful accounts has been recorded.
Income Taxes - The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of reported assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company must then assess the likelihood that the resulting deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740-10 which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on its tax return. The Company evaluates and records any uncertain tax positions based on the amount that management deems is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination and ultimate settlement with the tax authorities in the tax jurisdictions in which it operates.
Stock Compensation Expense - Employee and non-employee share-based payment compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period.
Loss Per Common Share - Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is determined using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents. In periods when losses are reported, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding common stock equivalents of 10,207,177 shares related to convertible notes, including accrued interest, issued in May 2018, and 267,000 shares related to convertible notes issued in October 2021 (see Note 3).
Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Use of Estimates - Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions in preparing these financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ from those estimates. As a result of the continued spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus since early 2020, economic uncertainties have arisen which could impact business operations, supply chains, energy demand, and commodity prices that are beyond our control. Overall, we have not experienced a material adverse impact to our economic performance or ability to continue our business operations as a result of COVID-19. We continue to monitor COVID-19, but do not believe it will have a material unfavorable impact to our future financial performance at this time.
Related Parties - The Company accounts for related party transactions in accordance with ASC 850 (“Related Party Disclosures”). A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that it might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements - From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (“FASB”), or other standard setting bodies and adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective
F-7
will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations upon adoption. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its financial statements.
Effective as of July 1, 2021, the Company early adopted the provisions of ASU 2020-06, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity). As a result of the adoption of this new accounting principle, using the modified retrospective method, the Company no longer recognized a beneficial conversion feature associated with the issuance of any convertible debt. Accordingly, the Company adjusted the beneficial conversion feature associated with the convertible notes issued in 2018 as of July 1, 2021 by reversing the previously recorded cumulative amortization expense of $45,809 and the remaining unamortized balance of the debt discount of $41,307, with an offsetting adjustment to reduce additional paid-in capital, in the amount of $87,116 (see Note 3).
(2) Going Concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes the Company will continue to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to obtain necessary equity financing to continue operations and the attainment of profitable operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has incurred an accumulated deficit of $14,152,622, and had not yet generated a positive level of operating cash flow. These circumstances raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
These financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company may seek additional funding through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, third-party funding, collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or a combination thereof. Management cannot be certain that such events can be achieved.
(3) Notes Payable
On various dates beginning in May 2018, the Company entered into six unsecured convertible notes payable for aggregate proceeds of $104,688. Each note bears interest at 12% per annum and both principal and accrued interest are due at maturity five years from the date of issuance. These notes are convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.0063 per share. The Company performed an analysis to determine whether there was a beneficial conversion feature and noted none. The notes are structured to be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price, subject to a shareholder limitation of 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. This conversion feature resulted in the full repayment of the notes payable owed to two such note holders in conjunction with the closing of an IPO in May 2019 and left the four remaining note holders with a total outstanding principal balance of $87,116 (see Note 4).
Effective May 19, 2019, the remaining holders of the convertible notes payable agreed to prospectively amend the terms of the outstanding balance of their notes to reduce the interest rate from 12% per annum to 3.99% per annum and to change the interest accrual method from a compound to a simple basis. Due to this amendment, the Company was required to perform an updated debt modification analysis under ASC 470 and determined that the amendment qualified as an extinguishment of debt and therefore a beneficial conversion feature was required to be evaluated as of the date of the modification. Since the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of the amendment was sufficiently higher than the conversion price, it was determined that a beneficial conversion feature in the amount of $87,116 existed as of that date. Accordingly, the Company recorded a debt discount, offset by a credit to additional paid-in capital, in the amount of $87,116 as of May 19, 2019, and began amortizing the debt discount to interest expense over the remaining term of the notes. As of July 1, 2021, the Company adopted a new accounting standard for convertible debt by reversing the previously recorded cumulative amortization expense of $45,809 and the remaining unamortized balance of the debt discount of $41,307, with an offsetting adjustment to reduce additional paid-in capital, in the amount of $87,116 (see Note 1).
In the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, holders of certain convertible notes payable reached agreements to sell portions of their notes in the aggregate amounts of $22,711 and $17,010, consisting of principal in the amounts of $16,652 and $9,849 and accrued interest in the amounts of $6,059 and $7,161, respectively, to
F-8
various third party investors. Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these investors elected to convert or exchange such purchased convertible notes payable into a total of 3,604,830 and 2,700,000 shares of common stock for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively (see Note 4).
In the six months ended December 31, 2021, the holders of additional convertible notes payable having total principal and accrued interest balances in the aggregate amount of $1,283 elected to convert their notes. Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these holders converted their notes payable into a total of 203,630 shares of common stock (see Note 4).
On October 18, 2021, the Company completed a new convertible debt offering with a group of accredited investors via the issuance of notes in the total amount of $1,068,000. The unsecured notes bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum and are due one year from the date of issuance. In the event, however, of a qualified public offering of the Company’s common stock pursuant to which the Company’s common stock becomes listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the principal amount of the notes and any accrued interest will be automatically converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $4.00 of principal per share.
As of December 31, 2021, the future maturities of all notes payable, after considering the partial sales of the 2018 convertible notes referenced above, are as follows:
Year ending December 31, 2022 | $ | 1,068,000 |
Year ended December 31, 2023 |
| 53,910 |
| $ | 1,121,910 |
(4) Equity
Common Stock - In March 2018, the Company issued 100,000 shares of its common stock to its chief executive officer in exchange for his founding capital contribution in the amount of $500, which equates to a price of $0.005 per share.
In July 2018, the Company completed a private placement offering of shares of its common stock to a group of accredited investors. This offering was for a total of 1,500,000 shares at an offering price of $0.50 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $750,000. In December 2018, the Company completed a second private placement offering of shares of common stock to a group of accredited investors. This offering was for a total of 1,000,003 shares at an offering price of $0.75 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $750,000.
On May 9, 2019, the Company completed a public offering of shares of its common stock pursuant to Regulation A. This offering was for a total of 3,500,000 shares at an offering price of $1.00 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $3,500,000 (the net proceeds were $3,399,115). In conjunction with the closing of the public offering, holders of the Company’s convertible notes payable in the principal amount of $17,572, plus an additional accrued interest amount of $2,094, automatically converted their notes into 3,121,525 shares of common stock, taking into consideration the shareholder ownership limitations under the terms of the convertible notes payable (see Note 3).
In the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, holders of certain convertible notes payable reached agreements to sell portions of their notes in the aggregate amounts of $22,711 and $17,010, consisting of principal in the amounts of $16,652 and $9,849 and accrued interest in the amounts of $6,059 and $7,161, respectively, to various third party investors. Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these investors elected to convert or exchange such purchased convertible notes payable into a total of 3,604,830 and 2,700,000 shares of common stock for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively (see Note 3).
In the six months ended December 31, 2021, the holders of additional convertible notes payable having total principal and accrued interest balances in the aggregate amount of $1,283 elected to convert their notes. Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these holders converted their notes payable into a total of 203,630 shares of common stock (see Note 3).
Stock Compensation Expense - In June 2018, the Company awarded a total of 2,100,000 shares of common stock to two executive officers and a consultant. The Company valued the stock awards at a total amount of $13,200, based on the $0.0063 per share conversion price of the convertible notes payable (see Note 3). Per the
F-9
original vesting milestones, $525 of the value was initially amortized to stock compensation expense as of June 30, 2018. Effective December 31, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors determined that the originally intended milestones associated with the awarding of these shares had been fully satisfied. Accordingly, the Company issued those shares to the recipients as of December 31, 2018. In conjunction with that issuance, the Company recorded the remaining unamortized cost of such awards as stock compensation expense in the amount $12,675 as of December 31, 2018.
In December 2018, the Company also issued 100,000 shares of common stock to an attorney for legal services. The Company recorded a charge to stock compensation expense for these shares in the amount $75,000, based on the same offering price of $0.75 per share, as was used in the second private placement offering, which was completed simultaneously with that issuance.
In December 2019, the Company awarded a total of 700,000 shares of common stock to an executive officer and a consultant. The Company valued the stock awards at a total amount of $700,000, based on the above-noted public offering price of $1.00 per share. For the 500,000 shares awarded to an officer, the Company immediately amortized $500,000 as a non-cash charge to expense as such shares were considered to have been earned by him under the Company’s milestone incentive compensation program, as of December 31, 2019, notwithstanding that issuance of the shares was deferred until a later date (such shares were issued in March 2022). For the 200,000 shares awarded to a consultant, the Company amortized $200,000 as a non-cash charge to expense over his 24 month services agreement.
In June 2020, the Company entered into new Board approved employment contracts with the Company’s two executive officers and also entered into an associated contractor agreement with a company controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Pursuant to such contracts, the company controlled by the Company’s CEO and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, in his induvial capacity, met the necessary milestones to earn a total of 1,600,000 incentive shares of common stock as of December 31, 2020. These shares, plus another 14,530 incentive shares earned by a wholesale dealer (see Note 5), were issued in February 2021. In the year ended June 30, 2021, the Company recognized non-cash stock compensation expense for the fair value of such shares, plus the fair value of earned shares subsequently issued to other grantees, in the total amount of $7,354,056.
Pursuant to the above noted contract with a company controlled by the Company’s CEO, such company met the necessary milestones to earn a total of an additional 500,000 incentive shares of common stock as of December 31, 2021, with a then current fair value of $3,505,000. These shares, plus another 8,568 incentive shares earned by a wholesale dealer (see Note 5), will be issued in March 2022. In the six months ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized non-cash stock compensation expense for the fair value of such shares, plus the fair value of earned shares issued (or to be issued) to other grantees, in the total amount of $4,001,558, including $103,500 for the amortized value of 50,000 shares attributable to a new independent director. There was a total of 154,165 earned shares of common stock issued to such grantees, primarily advisors and consultants, in the six months ended December 31, 2021.
Other Matters - In February 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the establishment of a new 2019 Stock Option Plan with an authorization for the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock. The Plan is designed to provide for future discretionary grants of stock options, stock awards and stock unit awards to key employees and non-employee directors. The Company also increased the total number of shares of common stock authorized from 30,000,000 to 100,000,000.
(5) Commitments and Contingencies
Effective January 1, 2021, the Company secured new corporate and manufacturing office space under a sublease agreement with a major wholesale customer. Under the terms of the sublease agreement, the Company is required to make rental payments of $10,350 per month during the initial one-year term of the agreement. The sublease agreement is renewable upon mutual agreement of both parties for up to four additional years at a modest increase in the monthly rent, however, the Company is under is no obligation to renew it. Management has determined that the exercise of the renewal option is not reasonably certain and, as such, the Company has accounted for it as a short-term lease under ASC 842, Leases.
In connection with a contractor agreement with a company associated with the CEO, the Company pays monthly service fees of $4,167 to such company which is also entitled to receive up to 2,250,000 shares of common stock of the Company based on achievement of certain milestones, of which the milestones for a total of 2,000,000
F-10
shares have been met through December 31, 2021. The final 500,000 shares thus earned, plus another 8,568 shares earned by a wholesale dealer under an incentive sales plan, were issued in March 2022 (see Note 4).
From time to time in the ordinary course of our business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings, the outcomes of which may not be determinable. The Company is not involved in any legal proceedings at this time. The results of litigation are inherently unpredictable. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, require significant amounts of management time and result in diversion of significant resources. We are not able to estimate an aggregate amount or range of reasonably possible losses for those legal matters for which losses are not probable and estimable.
(6) Subsequent Events
In February 2022, we entered into a new employment agreement with our CEO, effective April 1, 2022. The initial term of the employment agreement will be one year and will be automatically renewable for additional one-year terms unless either party chooses not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $165,000. Pursuant to the agreement, we issued our CEO a restricted stock unit award for up to 150,000 shares of our common stock upon achieving the following milestones (which achievements shall be determined by the Board): (i) Milestone 1 - Successfully complete this offering in 2022 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2023: 50,000 shares; and (ii) Milestone 2 - Produce 2,000 ESSs in 2022 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2023: 100,000 shares.
In February 2022, we entered into a new employment agreement with our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), effective March 1, 2022. The initial term of the employment agreement is one year and will be automatically renewable for additional one-year terms unless either party chooses not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $125,000. Pursuant to the agreement, we issued our CFO a restricted stock unit award for up to 300,000 shares of our common stock upon achieving the following milestones (which achievements shall be determined by the Board): (i) Milestone 1 - Successfully complete this offering in 2022 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2023: 250,000 shares; and (ii) Milestone 2 - successfully complete and file the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023 no later than September 29, 2023 and continue his employment with our company until January 1, 2024: 50,000 shares.
In March and April 2022, the holders of additional convertible notes payable having total principal and accrued interest balances in the aggregate amount of $5,638.50 elected to convert their notes (see Note 3). Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these holders converted their notes payable into a total of 895,000 shares of common stock.
F-11
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
NeoVolta, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of NeoVolta, Inc. as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, 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 June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Matter
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has not generated positive operating cash flows that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
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.
/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018
Houston, Texas
October 1, 2021
F-12
NEOVOLTA, INC.
| June 30, 2021 |
| June 30, 2020 | ||
Assets |
|
|
| ||
Current assets: |
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 425,681 |
| $ | 1,309,304 |
Accounts receivable |
| 1,128,444 |
|
| 391,112 |
Inventory |
| 1,662,140 |
|
| 1,553,296 |
Prepaid insurance and other current assets |
| 45,926 |
|
| 150,015 |
Total current assets |
| 3,262,191 |
|
| 3,403,727 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets | $ | 3,262,191 |
| $ | 3,403,727 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable | $ | 53,510 |
| $ | 3,660 |
Accrued interest payable |
| 3,918 |
|
| 7,236 |
Other accrued liabilities |
| 36,821 |
|
| 14,388 |
Total current liabilities |
| 94,249 |
|
| 25,284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible notes payable (net of unamortized discount of $41,307 and $62,830 as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively) |
| 19,308 |
|
| 14,437 |
Paycheck Protection Program loan |
| - |
|
| 29,600 |
Total liabilities |
| 113,557 |
|
| 69,321 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,640,888 and 14,421,528 shares issued and outstanding |
| 19,641 |
|
| 14,422 |
Additional paid-in capital |
| 13,169,363 |
|
| 5,714,482 |
Accumulated deficit |
| (10,040,370) |
|
| (2,394,498) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
| 3,148,634 |
|
| 3,334,406 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 3,262,191 |
| $ | 3,403,727 |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
F-13
NEOVOLTA, INC.
| Year Ended June 30, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues from contracts with customers | $ | 4,823,510 |
| $ | 2,011,644 |
Cost of goods sold |
| 4,175,795 |
|
| 1,773,049 |
Gross profit |
| 647,715 |
|
| 238,595 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative |
| 8,255,865 |
|
| 1,507,211 |
Research and development |
| 42,801 |
|
| 162,697 |
Total operating expenses |
| 8,298,666 |
|
| 1,669,908 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
| (7,650,951) |
|
| (1,431,313) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
| (24,521) |
|
| (25,297) |
Gain on forgiveness of debt |
| 29,600 |
|
| - |
Total other income (expense) |
| 5,079 |
|
| (25,297) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | $ | (7,645,872) |
| $ | (1,456,610) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
| 17,889,327 |
|
| 12,404,725 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share | $ | (0.43) |
| $ | (0.12) |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
F-14
NEOVOLTA, INC.
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
|
| Additional |
|
|
| Total | ||||
| Common Stock |
| Paid-in |
| Accumulated |
| Stockholders’ | |||||
| Shares | Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Equity | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Balance at June 30, 2019 | 11,521,528 | $ | 11,522 |
| $ | 5,083,705 |
| $ | (937,888) |
| $ | 4,157,339 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock for conver- sion of debt and accrued interest | 1,950,000 |
| 1,950 |
|
| 10,335 |
|
| - |
|
| 12,285 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange of accrued interest on con- vertible debt into common stock | 750,000 |
| 750 |
|
| 3,975 |
|
| - |
|
| 4,725 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock compensation expense | 200,000 |
| 200 |
|
| 616,467 |
|
| - |
|
| 616,667 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | - |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (1,456,610) |
|
| (1,456,610) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at June 30, 2020 | 14,421,528 |
| 14,422 |
|
| 5,714,482 |
|
| (2,394,498) |
|
| 3,334,406 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock for conver- sion of debt and accrued interest | 3,604,830 |
| 3,605 |
|
| 19,106 |
|
| - |
|
| 22,711 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock compensation expense | 1,614,530 |
| 1,614 |
|
| 7,435,775 |
|
| - |
|
| 7,437,389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss | - |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (7,645,872) |
|
| (7,645,872) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at June 30, 2021 | 19,640,888 | $ | 19,641 |
| $ | 13,169,363 |
| $ | (10,040,370) |
| $ | 3,148,634 |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
F-15
NEOVOLTA, INC.
| Year Ended June 30, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
| ||
Net loss | $ | (7,645,872) |
| $ | (1,456,610) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
Stock compensation expense |
| 7,437,389 |
|
| 616,667 |
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature |
| 21,780 |
|
| 21,780 |
Gain on forgiveness of debt |
| (29,600) |
|
| - |
Changes in current assets and liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
| (737,332) |
|
| (391,112) |
Inventory |
| (108,844) |
|
| (559,383) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| 104,089 |
|
| (78,878) |
Accounts payable - others |
| 49,850 |
|
| (28,399) |
Accrued expenses |
| 24,917 |
|
| 17,742 |
Net cash flows used in operating activities |
| (883,623) |
|
| (1,858,193) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds of Paycheck Protection Program loan |
| - |
|
| 29,600 |
Net cash flows from financing activities |
| - |
|
| 29,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
| (883,623) |
|
| (1,828,593) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
| 1,309,304 |
|
| 3,137,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 425,681 |
| $ | 1,309,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest | $ | - |
| $ | - |
Cash paid for income taxes |
| - |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible notes payable and accrued interest converted to common stock | $ | 22,711 |
| $ | 12,285 |
Exchange of common stock for debt |
| - |
|
| 4,725 |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
F-16
NEOVOLTA, INC.
June 30, 2021 and 2020
(1) Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business – NeoVolta, Inc. (“we”, “our” or the “Company”) is a Nevada corporation, which was formed on March 5, 2018. The Company is a designer, seller and manufacturer of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) which can store and use energy via batteries and an inverter at residential sites. The Company completed a public offering of shares of its common stock pursuant to Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on May 9, 2019 (see Note 4), and began assembling and selling its proprietary ESS units through wholesale customers, primarily in California, in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
Basis of Presentation - The accompanying financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Company considers all highly liquid accounts with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. Periodically, the Company may carry cash balances at financial institutions in excess of the federally insured limit of $250,000. The amount in excess of the FDIC insurance at June 30, 2021 was $175,681.
Inventory - Inventory consists of batteries and inverters purchased from Asian suppliers and delivered to a location near the Company’s offices, for assembly into ESS units. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, cost being determined using the first-in, first out (FIFO) method. Inventory of raw materials and work in process amounted to $1,662,140 and $1,553,296, respectively, as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company periodically reviews the value of items in inventory and records an allowance to reduce the carrying value of inventory to the lower of cost or net realizable value based on its assessment of market conditions, inventory turnover and current stock levels. Inventory write-downs are charged to cost of goods sold. No inventory reserve was required as of June 30, 2021 and 2020.
Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which was adopted on July 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method, with no impact to the Company’s comparative financial statements. Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring those goods or services. Revenue is recognized based on the following five step model:
·Identification of the contact with a customer
·Identification of the performance obligations in the contract
·Determination of the transaction price
·Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
·Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation
The Company initially began generating revenues from contracts with customers in the year ended June 30, 2020, however, such revenues have thus far been concentrated within a relatively small number of wholesale dealers and installers, primarily in California. In the year ended June 30, 2021, four such dealers represented approximately 18%, 15%, 13% and 10% of the Company’s revenues whereas in the year ended June 30, 2020, two such dealers represented approximately 41% and 25% of the Company’s revenues. As of June 30, 2021, three such dealers represented an aggregate of 54% of the Company’s accounts receivable. As of June 30, 2020, two such dealers represented an aggregate of 97% of the Company’s accounts receivable. Under its present contracts with customers, the Company’s sole performance obligation is the delivery of products to the customer. Since all of the Company’s revenue is currently generated from the sales of similar products, no further disaggregation of revenue information for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is provided.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - The Company recognizes an allowance for doubtful accounts whenever a loss is expected to be incurred in the realization of a customer’s account. As of June 30, 2021, no allowance for doubtful accounts has been recorded.
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Income Taxes - The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of reported assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company must then assess the likelihood that the resulting deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740-10 which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on its tax return. The Company evaluates and records any uncertain tax positions based on the amount that management deems is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination and ultimate settlement with the tax authorities in the tax jurisdictions in which it operates.
Beneficial Conversion Feature - The Company has issued convertible notes that have conversion prices that create an embedded beneficial conversion feature on the issuance date. A beneficial conversion feature exists on the date a convertible note is issued when the fair value of the underlying common stock to which the note is convertible into is in excess of the remaining unallocated proceeds of the note after first considering the allocation of a portion of the note proceeds to the fair value of any attached equity instruments, if any related equity instruments were granted with the debt. The Company estimated the fair value of its common stock on the dates issued. The intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature, if any, is recorded as a debt discount and amortized to interest expense over the life of the note (see Note 3).
Stock Compensation Expense - Employee and non-employee share-based payment compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period. Share-based awards to non-employees are expensed over the period in which the related services are rendered at their fair value.
Loss Per Common Share - Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is determined using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents. In periods when losses are reported, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had outstanding common stock equivalents related to convertible notes of approximately 9,621,000 shares.
Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Use of Estimates - Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions in preparing these financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ from those estimates. As a result of the continued spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus since early 2020, economic uncertainties have arisen which could impact business operations, supply chains, energy demand, and commodity prices that are beyond our control. Overall, we have not experienced a material adverse impact to our economic performance or ability to continue our business operations as a result of COVID-19. We continue to monitor COVID-19, but do not believe it will have a material unfavorable impact to our future financial performance at this time.
Related Parties - The Company accounts for related party transactions in accordance with ASC 850 (“Related Party Disclosures”). A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that it might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.
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Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments - ASC 820 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
The carrying value of certain on-balance-sheet financial instruments approximated their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. These financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and long-term debt. The carrying value of long-term debt approximates fair value since the related rate of interest approximates current market rates.
At June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have any financial assets or liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets on a recurring basis.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements - From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (“FASB”), or other standard setting bodies and adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations upon adoption. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its financial statements.
(2) Going Concern
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes the Company will continue to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to obtain necessary equity financing to continue operations and the attainment of profitable operations. As of June 30, 2021, the Company has incurred an accumulated deficit of $10,040,370 and had not yet generated a positive level of operating cash flow. These circumstances raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
These financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company may seek additional funding through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, third-party funding, collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or a combination thereof. Management cannot be certain that such events can be achieved.
(3) Notes Payable
On various dates beginning in May 2018, the Company entered into six unsecured convertible notes payable for aggregate proceeds of $104,688. Each note originally bore interest at 12% per annum and both principal and accrued interest are due at maturity five years from the date of issuance. These notes are convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.0063 per share. The Company performed an analysis to determine whether there was a beneficial conversion feature and noted none. The notes are structured to be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at the conversion price, subject
F-19
to a shareholder limitation of 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. This conversion resulted in the full repayment of the notes payable owed to two such note holders in conjunction with the closing of an IPO in May 2019 and left the four remaining note holders with a total outstanding principal balance of $87,116 (see Note 4).
Effective May 19, 2019, the remaining holders of the convertible notes payable agreed to prospectively amend the terms of the outstanding balance of their notes to reduce the interest rate from 12% per annum to 3.99% per annum and to change the interest accrual method from a compound to a simple basis. Due to this amendment, the Company was required to perform an updated debt modification analysis under ASC 470 and determined that the amendment qualified as an extinguishment of debt and therefore a beneficial conversion feature was required to be evaluated as of the date of the modification. Since the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of the amendment was sufficiently higher than the conversion price, it was determined that a beneficial conversion feature in the amount of $87,116 existed as of that date. Accordingly, the Company recorded a debt discount, offset by a credit to additional paid-in capital, in the amount of $87,116 as of May 19, 2019, and is amortizing the debt discount to interest expense over the remaining term of the notes. Amortization of debt discount had been recorded in the amount of $45,809, of which $21,780 was recorded in each of the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. As of June 30, 2021, unamortized debt discount amounted to $41,307.
In the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, holders of certain convertible notes payable reached agreements to sell portions of their notes in the aggregate amounts of $22,711 and $17,010, consisting of principal in the amounts of $16,652 and $9,849 and accrued interest in the amounts of $6,059 and $7,161, respectively, to various third party investors. Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these investors elected to convert or exchange such purchased convertible notes payable into a total of 3,604,830 and 2,700,000 shares of common stock for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively (see Note 4).
As of June 30, 2021, the future maturities of all notes payable, without taking into account the debt discount of the convertible notes referenced above, are as follows:
Year ended June 30, 2022 | $ | - |
Year ended June 30, 2023 |
| 60,615 |
| $ | 60,615 |
As a result of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, the Company applied for and received a loan under the U.S. government sponsored Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) in May 2020 in the amount of $29,600. Under the terms of the PPP loan, the Company was allowed to apply to have the PPP loan forgiven provided that it met certain documentation requirements. The Company made such an application in late 2020 and the loan was subsequently forgiven in full, effective February 26, 2021. Accordingly, the Company recognized a gain on the forgiveness of debt for the year ended June 30, 2021 in the amount of $29,600.
Common Stock -
In March 2018, the Company issued 100,000 shares of its common stock to its chief executive officer in exchange for his founding capital contribution in the amount of $500, which equates to a price of $0.005 per share.
In July 2018, the Company completed a private placement offering of shares of its common stock to a group of accredited investors. This offering was for a total of 1,500,000 shares (of which 60,000 shares were issued prior to July 1, 2018) at an offering price of $0.50 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $750,000 (of which $30,000 was received prior to July 1, 2018). The subscription agreement includes, among other things, certain “lockup” provisions in the event of a successful IPO of the Company’s securities.
In December 2018, the Company completed a second private placement offering of shares of common stock to a group of accredited investors. This offering was for a total of 1,000,003 shares at an offering price of $0.75 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $750,000. The subscription agreement includes, among other things, certain “lockup” provisions in the event of a successful IPO of the Company’s securities.
On May 9, 2019, the Company completed a public offering of shares of its common stock pursuant to Regulation A. This offering was for a total of 3,500,000 shares at an offering price of $1.00 per share resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $3,500,000 (the net proceeds were $3,399,115). In conjunction with the closing
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of the public offering, holders of the Company’s convertible notes payable in the principal amount of $17,572, plus an additional accrued interest amount of $2,094, automatically converted their notes into 3,121,525 shares of common stock, taking into consideration the shareholder ownership limitations under the terms of the convertible notes payable (see Note 3).
In the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, holders of certain convertible notes payable reached agreements to sell portions of their notes in the aggregate amounts of $22,711 and $17,010, consisting of principal in the amounts of $16,652 and $9,849 and accrued interest in the amounts of $6,059 and $7,161, respectively, to various third party investors. Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these investors elected to convert or exchange such purchased convertible notes payable into a total of 3,604,830 and 2,700,000 shares of common stock for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively (see Note 3).
Stock Compensation Expense - In June 2018, the Company awarded a total of 2,100,000 shares of common stock to two executive officers and a consultant. The Company valued the stock awards at a total amount of $13,200, based on the $0.0063 per share conversion price of the convertible notes payable (see Note 3). Per the original vesting milestones, $525 of the value was initially amortized to stock compensation expense as of June 30, 2018. Effective December 31, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors determined that the originally intended milestones associated with the awarding of these shares had been fully satisfied. Accordingly, the Company issued those shares to the recipients as of December 31, 2018. In conjunction with that issuance, the Company recorded the remaining unamortized cost of such awards as stock compensation expense in the amount $12,675 as of December 31, 2018.
In December 2018, the Company also issued 100,000 shares of common stock to an attorney for legal services. The Company recorded a charge to stock compensation expense for these shares in the amount $75,000, based on the same offering price of $0.75 per share, as was used in the second private placement offering, which was completed simultaneously with that issuance.
In December 2019, the Company awarded a total of 700,000 shares of common stock to an executive officer and a consultant. The Company valued the stock awards at a total amount of $700,000, based on the above-noted public offering price of $1.00 per share. For the 500,000 shares awarded to an officer, the Company immediately amortized $500,000 as a non-cash charge to expense as such shares were considered to have been earned by him under the Company’s milestone incentive compensation program, in the year ended June 30, 2020, notwithstanding that issuance of the shares was deferred until a later date (such shares have not been issued as of June 30, 2021). For the 200,000 shares awarded to a consultant, the shares were issued to him in 2019, and the Company is amortizing the $200,000 as a non-cash charge to expense over his 24 month services agreement.
In June 2020, the Company entered into new Board approved employment contracts with the Company’s two executive officers. Pursuant to such employment contracts, the two officers met the necessary milestones to earn a total of 1,600,000 incentive shares of common stock as of December 31, 2020. These shares, plus another 14,530 incentive shares earned by a wholesale dealer (see Note 6), were issued in February 2021. Accordingly, the Company recognized non-cash stock compensation expense during the year ended June 30, 2021 for the fair value of such shares, plus the fair value of earned shares to be subsequently issued to other grantees, in the total amount of $7,354,056. When combined with the non-cash stock compensation expense for the shares issued to a consultant in 2019, the total non-cash stock compensation expense in the year ended June 30, 2021 was $7,437,389.
Other Matters - In February 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the establishment of a new 2019 Stock Option Plan with an authorization for the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock. The Plan is designed to provide for future discretionary grants of stock options, stock awards and stock unit awards to key employees and non-employee directors. The Company also increased the total number of shares of common stock authorized from 30,000,000 to 100,000,000.
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(5) Income Taxes
The Company is subject to United States federal income taxes at an approximate rate of 21%. The reconciliation of the provision for income taxes at the federal statutory rate, compared to the Company’s income tax expense as reported, is as follows (rounded to nearest $00):
| Year Ended June 30, | ||||
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
|
|
|
| ||
Income tax benefit computed at statutory rate | $ | 39,200 |
| $ | 93,000 |
Change in valuation allowance |
| (39,200) |
|
| (93,000) |
Provision for income taxes | $ | - |
| $ | - |
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets at the currently enacted corporate income tax rate are as follows (rounded to nearest $00):
| June 30, 2021 |
| June 30, 2020 | ||
Deferred income tax assets: |
|
|
| ||
Net operating losses | $ | 310,200 |
| $ | 271,000 |
Valuation allowance |
| (310,200) |
|
| (271,000) |
Net deferred income tax assets | $ | - |
| $ | - |
The Company has a tax operating loss carry forward as of June 30, 2021 of approximately $1,477,000, with an indefinite expiration period.
(6) Commitments and Contingencies
Effective January 1, 2021, the Company secured new corporate and manufacturing office space under a sublease agreement with a major customer. Under the terms of the sublease agreement, the Company is required to make rental payments of $10,350 per month during the initial one-year term of the agreement. The sublease agreement is renewable upon mutual agreement of both parties for up to four additional years at a modest increase in the monthly rent, however, the Company is under is no obligation to renew it. Management has determined that the exercise of the renewal option is not reasonably certain and, as such, the Company has accounted for it as a short-term lease under ASC 842, Leases.
In connection with a contractor agreement with a company associated with the CEO, the Company pays monthly service fees of $4,167 to such company which is also entitled to receive up to 2,250,000 shares of common stock of the Company based on achievement of certain milestones, of which the first two milestones of 1,500,000 shares has been met and the shares were issued in February 2021. In connection with the contractor agreement entered into with the CFO, the Company has agreed to issue up to 100,000 shares of common stock of the Company based on achievement of certain milestones, of which both of the two milestone of 100,000 shares has been met and the shares were issued in February 2021 (see Note 4).
As indicated in Note 1, the Company has commenced selling its proprietary ESS units through wholesale dealers, primarily in California. In that regard, the Company has entered into agreements with several wholesale dealers under which the Company has incentivized the dealers to achieve quarterly sales above targeted levels by agreeing to grant them shares of the Company’s common stock for exceeding such quarterly sales targets, subject to defined maximums. On October 7, 2019, the Company entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for specified territories outside of California, once objectives and milestones have been achieved, with a distributor in Henderson, Nevada. Pursuant to that agreement, the dealer met the necessary level of sales to earn a total of 14,530 incentive shares of common stock, which were issued in February 2021.
In April 2021, we were advised by a competitor located in Texas that they believed we were in violation of the terms of a distribution agreement that the competitor has in place with an Asian supplier of a significant component of our products. As a result of this claim, we immediately filed an action for declaratory relief from the competitor’s allegations in state district court in San Diego County, California. In June 2021, the competitor removed the claim to the federal district court for the Southern District of California and filed a counter claim.
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Following a period of extensive negotiations which took place in July and August 2021, the Company and the competitor, as well as the Asian supplier of the component to both companies, reached a mutual Settlement and Release Agreement (the “Agreement”) on August 30, 2021 (under the Agreement, the Company, the competitor, and the Asian supplier are collectively referred to as the “Parties”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Parties agreed to dismiss all claims and defenses asserted against each other and to completely release and forever discharge such claims in this matter. The Parties also agreed that the Company shall have the right to purchase the component from the Asian supplier and to sell it throughout the world.
Further, the Agreement provides for the Company and the Asian supplier to enter into a new five-year exclusive supply agreement pertaining to its NV7600 product. In accordance with the Agreement, the Company and the Asian supplier entered into the initial five-year exclusive supply agreement on August 30, 2021.
From time to time in the ordinary course of our business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings, the outcomes of which may not be determinable. Except for the matter noted above, the Company has not been involved in any legal proceedings. The results of litigation are inherently unpredictable. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, require significant amounts of management time and result in diversion of significant resources. We are not able to estimate an aggregate amount or range of reasonably possible losses for those legal matters for which losses are not probable and estimable.
(7) Subsequent Events
In July 2021, the holders of additional convertible notes payable having total principal and accrued interest balances in the aggregate amount of $1,283 elected to convert their notes (see Note 3). Based upon the stated conversion price of $0.0063 per share, these holders converted their notes payable into a total of 203,630 shares of common stock. Additionally, another 154,165 shares of common stock were issued as compensation to several consultants (see Note 4) and attorneys.
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|
|
1,666,666 Units Each Unit Consisting of One Share of Common Stock and One Warrant to Purchase One Share of Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
Sole Book-Running Manager Maxim Group, LLC ________, 2022
Until ________, 2022 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions. |
|
|
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
Set forth below is an estimate (except for registration fees, which are actual) of the approximate amount of each type of fees and expenses listed below that were paid or are payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares of common stock to be registered by this registration statement. None of the expenses listed below are to be borne by any of the selling stockholders named in the prospectus that forms a part of this registration statement.
SEC registration fee | $ | 2,205 |
FINRA filing fee |
| 4,064 |
Nasdaq listing fee |
| 75,000 |
Printing and engraving expenses |
| 10,000 |
Legal fees and expenses |
| 125,000 |
Accounting fees and expenses |
| 50,000 |
Transfer agent and registrar fees |
| 10,000 |
Miscellaneous fees and expenses |
| 5,000 |
Total | $ | 281,251 |
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Neither our articles of incorporation nor bylaws prevent us from indemnifying our officers, directors and agents to the extent permitted under the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). NRS Section 78.7502, provides that a corporation may indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation against expenses, including fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any defense to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to Section 78.7502(1) or 78.7502(2), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.
NRS 78.7502(1) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he: (a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
NRS Section 78.7502(2) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he: (a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals there from, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.
NRS Section 78.747 provides that except as otherwise provided by specific statute, no director or officer of a corporation is individually liable for a debt or liability of the corporation, unless the director or officer acts as the
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alter ego of the corporation. The court as a matter of law must determine the question of whether a director or officer acts as the alter ego of a corporation.
To the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing 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. If a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of our company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by any of our directors, officers or controlling persons in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of that issue.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the past three years, we sold the following shares of common stock and promissory notes without registration under the Securities Act:
In May and June 2018, we issued 12% convertible notes in an aggregate of $104,698 in principal amount of convertible notes, which principal and accrued interest is convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion rate of $0.0063 per share. To date, we have issued an aggregate of 10,524,985 shares of our common stock in connection with prior conversions of the convertible notes. In April 2022, the holders of all of the remaining convertible notes payable having total principal and accrued interest of $59,251 agreed to exchange the foregoing convertible notes for an aggregate of 9,404,867 shares of common stock upon the closing of this offering.
In May 2019, we completed our initial public offering of 3,500,000 shares of our common stock at an offering price of $1.00 per share. The shares were issued pursuant to Regulation A of Section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for Tier 2 offerings.
In December 2019, we awarded 500,000 shares of our common stock to Brent Willson as compensation for services provided to the Company. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
In December 2019, we issued 200,000 shares of our common stock to a consultant as compensation for consulting services provided to the Company. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
In December 2020, we awarded 1,500,000 and 100,000 shares of our common stock to Canmore International and Steve Bond, respectively, as payment for reaching certain milestones under compensation contracts. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
In February 2021, we issued 14,530 shares of our common stock to PMP Energy as payment for reaching certain volume thresholds pursuant to a distribution agreement. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
In October 2021, we completed a private placement of convertible notes in aggregate principal amount of $1,068,000 to accredited investors. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
In December 2021, we issued 104,165 shares of our common stock to two advisors as compensation for advisory board services provided to the Company. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
In March 2022, we issued 500,000 of previously earned shares of our common stock to Canmore International as payment for reaching certain milestones under a compensation contract. At that time, we also issued 75,000 shares earned by a director and an attorney, and 8,568 shares to PMP Energy as payment for reaching certain
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volume thresholds pursuant to a distribution agreement. The securities were issued in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
| Exhibit Description |
1.1* |
| Form of Underwriting Agreement. |
| Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of NeoVolta, Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 1-A (file no. 024-10942)). | |
| Amended and Restated Bylaws of NeoVolta, Inc. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.2 of the Company’s Form 1-A (file no. 024-10942)). | |
3.3* |
| Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of NeoVolta, Inc. |
| Form of 2018 convertible promissory note issued to debt holders (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 1-A (file no. 024-10942)) | |
| Form of amendment to 2018 convertible promissory notes issued to debt holders (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 1-K for the year ended June 30, 2019 filed October 15, 2019) | |
4.3* |
| Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant. |
4.4* |
| Form of Warrant Agent Agreement. |
4.5* |
| Form of Underwriter’s Warrant. |
| Form of October 2021 convertible promissory note | |
5.1* |
| Opinion of ArentFox Schiff LLP |
| NeoVolta, Inc. 2019 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 6.4 of the Company’s Form 1-A (file no. 024-10942)) | |
| Amended and Restated Independent Contractor Agreement between NeoVolta, Inc. and Canmore International Inc. dated January 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 6.1 of the Company’s Form 1-K for the year ended June 30, 2020 filed October 2, 2020) | |
| Amended and Restated Independent Contractor Agreement between NeoVolta, Inc. and Steve Bond dated October 4, 2021 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 6.2 of the Company’s Form 1-K for the year ended June 30, 2020 filed October 2, 2020) | |
| Employment Agreement between NeoVolta, Inc. and Brent Willson dated January 1, 2019 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 6.3 of the Company’s Form 1-A (file no. 024-10942)) | |
10.5+ |
| Employment Agreement between NeoVolta, Inc. and Brent Willson dated February 23, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 6.5 of the Company’s Form 1-SA for the fiscal semi-annual period ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 28, 2022) |
10.6+ |
| Employment Agreement between NeoVolta, Inc. and Steve Bond dated February 23, 2022 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 6.6 of the Company’s Form 1-SA for the fiscal semi-annual period ended December 31, 2021, filed on March 28, 2022) |
10.7** |
| Distribution Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2019, between NeoVolta, Inc. and PMP Energy, LLC |
10.8** |
| Exclusive Supply Agreement, effective as of August 30, 2021, by and between NeoVolta, Inc. and NingBo Deye Inverter Technology Co, Ltd. |
| Consent to Sublease dated August 16, 2021 between NeoVolta, Inc. and ConnectPV, Inc. | |
| Independent Director Agreement, dated April 11, 2022, by and between NeoVolta, Inc. and Susan Snow. | |
| Independent Director Agreement, dated April 7, 2022, by and between NeoVolta, Inc. and John Hass. | |
14.1* |
| Code of Ethics |
| Consent of MaloneBailey, LLP. | |
23.2 |
| Consent of ArentFox Schiff (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
24.1 |
| Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page) |
| Consent of Susan Snow | |
| Consent of John Hass | |
| Filing fee table |
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* To be filed by amendment.
II-3
** Pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted. The Company hereby agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC, upon its request, an unredacted copy of this exhibit.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
(2)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Poway, State of California, on April 13, 2022.
| NEOVOLTA, INC. | |
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| By: | /s/ Brent Willson |
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| Brent Willson |
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| Chief Executive Officer and President |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Brent Willson or Steve Bond as attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, to sign on his or her behalf, individually and in any and all capacities, including the capacities stated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any registration statements filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Brent Willson |
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Brent Willson |
| Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director |
| April 13, 2022 |
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| (Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ Steve Bond |
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Steve Bond |
| Chief Financial Officer and Director |
| April 13, 2022 |
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| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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/s/ James F. Amos |
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James F. Amos |
| Director |
| April 13, 2022 |
II-5
THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED UNTIL (i) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) SHALL HAVE BECOME EFFECTIVE WITH RESPECT THERETO OR (ii) RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY TO THE EFFECT THAT REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS NOT REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH PROPOSED TRANSFER NOR IS IN VIOLATION OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
NEOVOLTA, INC.
6% UNSECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE
| $_________ | _____________, 2021 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, NeoVolta, Inc, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay to the order of ______________ (the “Payee” or the “Holder”) or registered assigns, on the earlier of: (i) the one-year anniversary of the date hereof, or (ii) a completion by the Company of a Qualified Offering (as defined below), unless accelerated due to the occurrence of an Event of Default (the earlier of such dates is referred to as the “Maturity Date”), the principal amount of _____________ Dollars ($_________) (the “Principal Amount”) and interest on the Principal Amount (as set forth in Section 3), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts. Interest on this Note shall accrue on the Principal Amount outstanding from time to time at a rate per annum computed in accordance with Section 3 hereof.
1. Qualified Offering. A “Qualified Offering” means the completion of a public offering of the Company’s securities pursuant to which the Company’s securities become listed for trading on a national securities exchange.
2. Automatic Conversion Upon a Qualified Offering.
A. If a Qualified Offering is completed, without further action from the Holder, on the closing date of the Qualified Offering, 100% of the Principal Amount of this Note and all accrued and unpaid interest shall be converted into [_____________]1 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) (subject to proportionate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends or similar events). Upon conversion, the Common Stock deliverable hereunder shall be issued within four (4) business days of the conversion date.
3. Base Interest Rate; Payment of Interest. The outstanding Principal Amount shall bear interest at the rate of 6.0% per annum. Interest shall be based on a 365 day year. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.A. above, accrued interest will be due and payable on the Maturity Date unless converted in Common Stock upon a Qualified Offering.
4. Covenants of Company.
1 [Insert number of shares equal to Principal Amount divided by $4.00.]
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A. Affirmative Covenants. The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as this Note shall be outstanding, it will perform the obligations set forth in this Section 4.A.:
(i) Maintenance of Existence. The Company will do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights and franchises and comply with all laws applicable to the Company, except where the failure to comply would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
5. Events of Default
A. The term “Event of Default” shall mean any of the events set forth in this Section 5.A.:
(i) Non-Payment of Obligations. The Company shall default in the payment of the Principal Amount or accrued interest of this Note as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether by acceleration or otherwise.
(ii) Non-Performance of Affirmative Covenants. The Company shall materially default in the due observance or performance of any covenant set forth in Section 4.A.
(iii) Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. The Company shall:
(a) apply for, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian for the Company, or make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(b) permit or suffer to exist the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization, debt arrangement or other case or proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution, winding up or liquidation proceeding, in respect of the Company, and, if such case or proceeding is not commenced by the Company or converted to a voluntary case, such case or proceeding shall be consented to or acquiesced in by the Company or shall result in the entry of an order for relief.
B. Action if Bankruptcy. If any Event of Default described in clause (iii) of Section 5.A. shall occur, the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note and all other obligations hereunder shall automatically be and become immediately due and payable, without notice or demand.
C. Action if Other Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default that goes uncured for more than 10 days after written notice thereof by Holder to the Company (other than any Event of Default described in clause (iii) of Section 5.A.) the entire outstanding principal of the Note together with the interest accrued thereon shall be immediately due and payable. The Company hereby waives any and all notices including notice of breach, notice of default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or any other demand or presentment that may be required.
6. Miscellaneous.
A. Parties in Interest. All covenants, agreements and undertakings in this Note binding upon the Company or the Payee shall bind and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the Payee, respectively, whether so expressed or not.
B. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of California as applied to contracts entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of California.
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C. Notice. All notices shall be in writing, and shall be deemed given when actually delivered to a party at its address set forth herein personally, by a reputable overnight messenger.
D. No Waiver. No delay in exercising any right hereunder shall be deemed a waiver thereof, and no waiver shall be deemed to have any application to any future default or exercise of rights hereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Note has been executed and delivered on the date specified above by the duly authorized representative of the Company.
NeoVolta, Inc.
By:________________________________
Brent Willson, Chief Executive Officer
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Certain identified information has been excluded from this exhibit because it is both not material and is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential. Information that was omitted has been noted in this document with a placeholder identified by the mark “[***]”.
Distribution Agreement
This Distribution Agreement (this “Agreement”) (Reference Number NVI001), dated as of October 7, 2019, is entered into between NeoVolta Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Seller”) located at 13370 Kirkham Way, Poway, CA 92064 and PMP Energy, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company located at 6 Sunset Way, Suite 108, Henderson, NV 89014 (“Distributor,” and together with Seller, the “Parties,” and each, a “Party”).
WHEREAS, Seller is in the business of designing /manufacturing and selling the Goods (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, Distributor is in the business of marketing and reselling Goods;
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell the Goods to Distributor and appoint Distributor as a non exclusive distributor under the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Distributor desires to purchase the Goods from Seller and resell the Goods to customers, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, terms and conditions set out herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
“Agreement” has the meaning set out in the preamble and includes all schedules and exhibits hereto.
“Confidential Information” has the meaning set out under Section 11.
“Customer” means a purchaser that is an individual or entity located in the Territory that has been approved by Seller, that agrees to terms required for Customers herein, and has acquired a Good from Distributor.
“Distributor” has the meaning set out in the preamble.
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set out in Section 36.
“Good” means any good that is identified in Schedule 1, as it may be revised pursuant to Section 4.4 from time to time.
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set out under Section 17.1.
”Party” has the meaning set out in the preamble.
“Seller” has the meaning set out in the preamble.
“Term” has the meaning set out under Section 10.
“Territory” means the territories listed in Schedule l.
2. Appointment.
2.1 Non-Exclusive Appointment. Seller hereby appoints Distributor, and Distributor hereby accepts the appointment, to act as a non-exclusive distributor of Goods to Customers during the Term in accordance with the terms and condition s of this Agreement. Distributor shall not sell or offer to sell Goods outside the Territory without prior written approval from the Seller, email will suffice with mutual acceptance. Seller may in its sole discretion sell the Goods to any other person, including distributors, retailers, and customers in or outside the Territory, except as specifically provided herein. By accepting this appointment, Distributor agrees to conform to all quality standards established from time to time by Seller for its distributors. These quality standards are subject to change by Seller on 30 days’ prior notice to Distributor.
3. Facilities, Inventory, and Marketing Obligations.
3.1 Distributor Obligations. Distributor shall:
(a) market, advertise, promote, and sell the Goods to Customer s in a manner that reflects favorably at all times on Goods and the good name, goodwill and reputation of Seller and consistent with good business practice , in each case using its best efforts to maximize the sales volume of the Goods;
(b) maintain a place or places of business in the Territory, including adequate office, storage, and warehouse facilities and all other facilities as required for Distributor to perform its duties under this Agreement in a location or lo cations approved by Seller;
(c) provide Seller a purchase order and communicate the delivery timelines to the Customer once those timelines are provided to the Distributor by the Seller;
(d) have sufficient knowledge of the industry and products competitive with each Good (including specifications, features, and benefits) so as to be able to explain in detail to Customers:
(i) the differences between the Good and competing products; and
(ii) information on standard protocols and features of each Good;
(e) unless otherwise defined to the contrary in this Agreement, observe all directions and instructions given to it by Seller in relation to the marketing, advertisement, and promotion of the Goods, including Seller’s sales, marketing, and merchandising policies as they currently exist or as they may hereafter be changed by Seller;
(f) not use any promotional and marketing materials, whether prepared by Distributor or others, without the prior written consent of Seller.
(g) establish and maintain a sales and marketing organization sufficient to develop the market potential for the sale of the Goods, and independent sales representatives, facilities, and a distribution organization sufficient to make the Goods available for shipment through Distributor to each Customer within the agreed upon timeframe from receipt of order;
(h) develop and execute a marketing plan sufficient to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement;
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(i) not make any materially misleading or untrue statements concerning Seller or the Goods, including any product disparagement or “bait-and-switch” practices;
(j) unless otherwise prohibited by law promptly notify Seller of any complaint or adverse claim about any Good or its use of which Distributor becomes aware;
(k) submit to Seller complete and accurate monthly reports regarding inventory, marketing, and sales of the Goods in a computer-readable format and containing the scope of information acceptable to Seller, maintain books, records, and accounts of all transactions and permit full examination thereof by Seller in accordance with Section 9;
(l) not resell Goods to any federal, state, local, or foreign government or political subdivision or agency thereof, without express written approval from Seller; and
(m) on request, provide Seller with a written forecast of the current and three- month forecast of demand for the Goods in the Territory, especially in relation to similar or competing products; and
(n) only resell any software or accessories offered by the Seller bundled, or packaged with any Good on those terms and conditions as Seller may, from time to time, require.
(o) Distributor in its sole discretion may incorporate the sale of Seller’s Products and Services into a larger proposal incorporating Products and Services not of the Seller including but not limited to the following; bundles, financing and payment options, additional services, support, and warranties. In no event will Distributor white label or otherwise change the manufacturing labels of the Goods without prior written permission from Seller or as part of an approved Purchase Order.
3.2 Seller Obligations. Seller shall:
(a) provide any information and support that may be reasonably requested by Distributor regarding the marketing, advertising, promotion, and sale of Goods;
(b) allow Distributor to participate, at its own expense, in any marketing, advertising, promotion and sales programs or events that Seller may make generally available to its authorized distributors of Goods in the Territory, provided that Seller may alter or eliminate any program at any time outside of the program dates or by providing 60 days written notice ;
(c) approve or reject within ten (10) business days, in its discretion, any promotional information or material submitted by Distributor for Seller’s approval, any material not responded to within the ten (10) business days will be deemed accepted;
(d) and Seller may provide promotional information and material. Distributor and Seller will agree on what materials Distributor shall obtain and use. Such materials will be at Distributor’s sole cost and expense for use by Distributor in accordance with this Agreement.
4. Agreement to Purchase and Sell Goods.
4.1 Terms of Sale; Orders. Seller shall make available and sell Goods to Distributor at the prices under Section 4.2 and on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.
4.2 Price. The prices for Goods sold under this Agreement shall be as per Schedule 1 or Seller’s then-current wholesale price list. Subject to Section 6:
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(a) all prices are exclusive of all sales, use and excise taxes, and any other similar taxes, duties, and charges of any kind imposed by any governmental authority on any amounts payable by Distributor under this Agreement;
(b) Distributor is responsible for all charges, costs, and taxes, provided that Distributor is not responsible for any taxes imposed on, or regarding, Seller’s income, revenues, gross receipts, personnel, or real or personal property or other assets; and
(c) Distributor shall pay interest on all late payments, calculated daily and compounded monthly, at the lesser of the rate of [***]% per month or the highest rate permissible under applicable Law.
(d) Distributor shall perform its obligations under this Agreement without setoff, deduction, recoupment or withholding of any kind for amounts owed or payable by Seller, whether relating to Seller’s or Seller’s affiliates’ breach, bankruptcy, or otherwise and whether under this Agreement, any purchase order, any other agreement between (i) Distributor or any of its affiliates and (ii) Seller or any of its affiliates, or otherwise. However, Distributor may withhold payments on disputed amounts for amounts disputed in good faith.
4.3 Payment Terms. Seller shall issue periodic invoices to Distributor for all Goods ordered via purchase order. Distributor shall pay all properly invoiced amounts due to Seller within [***] days after Distributor’s receipt of such invoice, except for any amounts disputed by Distributor in good faith. Orders require a [***] percent ([***]%) deposit upon the order. All credits are subject to the issue of a credit memo.
Distributor shall make all payments in US dollars by check, wire transfer, or automated clearing house, in accordance with Seller’s written instructions.
4.4 Availability/Changes in Goods. Seller is not liable for any late or unfulfilled deliveries. Seller may, in its sole discretion, add or make changes to Goods, or remove Goods from, Schedule I on notice to Distributor, in each case, without obligation to modify or change any Goods previously delivered or to supply new goods meeting earlier specifications excepting Purchase Orders that have been submitted by the Distributor and deemed Accepted by the Seller as stated in this Agreement in Section 5.2.
5. Orders Procedure.
5.1 Orders. Distributor shall issue all purchase orders to Seller in written form via e- mail, or US mail. By placing an order, Distributor makes an offer to purchase Goods under the following commercial terms listed in the purchase order and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and on no other terms:
(a) the listed Goods to be purchased;
(b) the quantities ordered
(c) the delivery address; and
(d) the requested delivery date.
Any variations made to the terms and conditions of this Agreement by Distributor in any order are void and have no effect.
5.2 Seller’s Right to Accept or Reject Orders. Seller may, in its sole discretion, accept or reject any order. Seller may accept any order by confirming the order (whether by written confirmation, in voice, or otherwise) or by delivering the Goods, whichever occurs first. If Seller does not accept the order under
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the terms of this Section 5.2 within [***] days of Seller’s receipt of the order, the order will lapse. No order is binding on Seller unless accepted by Seller as provided in this Agreement.
5.3 Order Deposit. Distributor shall provide a [***] percent ([***]%) deposit on all Orders. Seller may terminate the Order for Distributor’s failure to pay the deposit within ten days of the Acceptance of the Order.
5.4 Non-Cancellable Orders. All Orders accepted by Seller are non-cancellable by Distributor except if the Order is under [***] units and the Order is cancelled at least [***] days prior to shipment (estimated shipment date as provided in the Order).
6. Shipment and Delivery.
6.1 Shipment and Delivery. Unless expressly agreed to by the Parties in writing, Seller shall:
(a) Select the method of shipment of and the carrier for the Goods. Seller will ship in batches based on the order quantity. Seller may make partial shipment of Goods as agreed upon in the purchase order or by both Parties in an amended Purchase Order,
(b) Deliver the Goods to the address on the Order using Seller’s or manufacturers standard methods for packaging and shipping. All prices are FOB, Poway, California. Any time quoted for delivery is an estimate only.
6.2 Title and Risk of Loss. Title and risk of loss passes to Distributor upon delivery of the Goods to the carrier and Seller’s shipping point. As collateral security for the payment of the Goods (balance due), Distributor hereby grants to Seller a lien on and security interest in and to all of the right, title and interest of Distributor in, to and under the Goods, wherever located, and whether now existing or hereafter arising or acquired from time to time, and in all accessions thereto and replacements or modifications thereof, as well as all proceeds (including insurance proceeds) of the foregoing. The security interest granted under this provision constitutes a purchase money security interest under the California Uniform Commercial Code.
6.3 Inspection and Acceptance of Goods. Distributor shall inspect Goods received under this Agreement. On the 5th day after delivery of the actual Goods delivered in each separate delivery, Distributor shall be deemed to have accepted the Goods unless it earlier notifies Seller in writing and furnishes written evidence or other documentation that the Goods:
(a) are damaged, defective, or otherwise do not conform to the Goods listed in the applicable purchase order; or
(b) were delivered to Distributor as a result of Seller’s error.
If Distributor notifies Seller pursuant to this Section 6.3, then Seller shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether to repair or replace the Goods or refund the price for the Goods.
Distributor shall ship at Seller’s expense, all goods to be returned, repaired, or replaced under this Section 6.3 to Seller’s facility located in Poway, California. If Seller exercises its option to replace the Goods, Seller shall, after receiving Distributor’s shipment of the Goods under this provision, ship to Distributor, at Seller’ s expense and at Distributor ‘ s risk of loss, the replacement Goods to shipping address on the Order. Distributor acknowledges and agrees that the remedies set out in this Section 6.3 are exclusive of all other remedies, subject to Distributor’s rights under Section 12 regarding any Goods for which Distributor has accepted delivery under this Section 6.3.
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Except as provided under this Agreement, all sales of Goods to Distributor under this Agreement are made on a one-way basis and Distributor has no other right to return Goods purchased under this Agreement.
6.4 Installation. Installation of the Goods shall only be provided by authorized installers or authorized home builders. For each Customer that Distributor intends to sell to, Distributor must obtain Seller’s prior approval. Distributor shall have each Customer agree to Seller’s form dealer agreement or Distributor’s contract that contains similar terms and that has been approved by Seller (“Customer Contract”). Distributor shall be responsible to ensure Customer complies with the terms of the Customer Contract. All installation and use of the Goods shall be in compliance with Seller’s documentation.
7. Intellectual Property Rights.
7.1 Proprietary Rights. Seller retains all right, title and interest in and to the design of the Goods, all intellectual property rights contained in the Goods and all associated documentation and software, whether now known or existing or hereinafter developed , and further including all intellectual property rights therein or in any developments, additions, enhancements, improvements or derivatives thereof created. Distributor does not acquire any rights, express or implied, in any intellectual property owned by Seller other than those specified in this Agreement. Except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, Distributor here by waives any claim that it may have had or has to title and ownership of any proprietary rights in and to intellectual property owned by Seller. Distributor will not modify, make derivative works or reverse engineer the Goods or associated software.
7.2 Seller’s Trademark License Grant. Subject to Seller’ s pre-approval and trademark use guidelines, which may be amended from time to time in Seller’s sole discretion, and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Seller hereby grants to Distributor a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and non-sublicensable license in the Territory during the Term solely on or in connection with the promotion, advertising, and resale of the Goods in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement to use all Seller’s trademark[s] set forth on Schedule 2, whether registered or unregistered, including the listed registrations and applications and any registrations, which may be granted pursuant to such applications. On expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement or upon Seller request, Distributor shall promptly discontinue the display or use of any trademark or change the manner in which it is displayed or used with regard to the Goods. Upon expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, Distributor’s rights under this Section 7 shall cease immediately. Other than the express licenses granted by this Section 7, Seller grants no right or license to Distributor, by implication, estoppels, or otherwise, to the Goods or any intellectual property rights of Seller or its affiliates.
8. Resale Prices. Distributor unilaterally establishes its own resale prices and terms regarding products it sells, including Goods.
9. Audit and Inspection Rights. During the term of this Agreement, on request and during regular business hours, and no more than two (2) times annually or upon dispute, Seller or its representatives may at its own expense reasonably inspect Distributor’s facility and during the term and for one year thereafter, audit Distributor’s books, records, and other documents related to the sale and distribution of Goods, as necessary to verify compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
10. Term; Termination.
10.1 Term. The term of this Agreement commences on the date set out in the preamble of this Agreement and terminates after three years, and shall thereafter renew for additional successive one year terms unless and until either Party provides notice of nonrenewal at least 60 days before the end of the then-current term, or unless and until earlier terminated as provided under this Agreement or applicable law (the “Term”). If either Party provides timely notice of its intent not to renew this Agreement, then unless earlier terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement terminates on the expiration of the then-current Term.
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10.2 Termination Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, either Party may terminate this Agreement and the appointment of Distributor under Section 2, for any or no reason, at any time upon written notice to the other Party, and said termination shall become effective ninety (90) days following the delivery of such notice, except where a shorter period is provided for in this Agreement. In addition to any remedies that may be provided in this Agreement, Seller may immediately terminate this Agreement (including all related purchase orders pursuant to Section I 0.3(a)) , upon notice to Distributor if Distributor:
(a) fails to pay any amount when due under this Agreement and failure to pay the amount due is not cured within twenty (20) days;
(b) is in breach of this Agreement and either the breach cannot be cured or, if the breach can be cured, it is not cured within thirty (30) days following Seller’s receipt of notice of such breach;
(c) if Distributor:
(i) becomes insolvent, or is generally unable to pay, or fails to pay, its debts as they become due;
(ii) files or has filed against it, a petition for voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or otherwise becomes subject, voluntarily or involuntarily, to any proceeding under any domestic or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law;
(iii) seeks reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition, or other relief with respect to it or its debts;
(iv) makes or seeks to make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(v) applies for or has a receiver, trustee, custodian, or similar agent appointed by order of any court of competent jurisdiction to take charge of or sell any material portion of its property or business.
10.3 Effect of Expiration or Termination. Upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement:
(a) In the event the Agreement is terminated other than for Distributors breach or insolvency, Seller may not sell or execute any Purchase Orders, Agreements, or other transactions with any exclusive Customer of the Distributor who has previously executed Purchase Order with the Distributor or been provided a proposal by the Distributor for purchase of Goods within the past one hundred and eighty (180) days (Seller may fulfill all existing orders directly to Customer if Distributor breaches or is insolvent);
(b) If terminated for Distributor’s breach, all Purchase Orders are automatically terminated, unless Seller fulfills such Purchase Orders to Distributor at its discretion;
(c) Distributor shall cease to represent itself as Seller’s authorized distributor regarding the Goods, and shall otherwise desist from all conduct or representations that might lead the public to believe that Distributor is authorized by Seller to sell the Goods
(d) Distributor shall promptly return or destroy (pursuant to Seller’s instructions) all:
(i) documents and tangible materials (and any copies) containing , reflecting, incorporating or based on Confidential Information; and
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(e) Distributor shall promptly return (pursuant to Seller’s instructions) all:
(i) products that Seller provided to Distributor that are not intended for resale.
10.4 Option to Repurchase. Within 45 days after the effective date of expiration or earlier termination, Distributor shall submit to Seller a written schedule reflecting all Goods then owned by Distributor or in the Distributor’s possession. Upon notice within 15 days following its receipt of such schedule from Distributor, Seller shall have the right, but not the obligation, to buy back all or a portion of such Goods, free of all liens, claims or encumbrances, at a price equal to the lower of Distributor’s cost therefor and the then-prevailing price, minus a 15% restocking fee (restocking fee only applicable if Distributor is in breach), pursuant to the following procedures. Distributor shall promptly deliver, at Seller’s reasonable expense, the repurchased Goods in their original packaging (unopened and undamaged) to Seller’s designated carrier for delivery to Seller. Seller has the right to set off or recoup any liability it owes to Distributor under this Section 10.4 against any liability for which Distributor is liable to Seller, whether either liability is matured or unmatured, is liquidated or unliquidated or arises under this Agreement.
11. Confidential Information. All non-public, confidential or proprietary information of both Parties, including, but not limited to, specifications, samples, patterns, designs, plans, drawings, documents, data, business operations, customer lists, pricing, discounts or rebates, disclosed by either Party, whether disclosed orally or disclosed or accessed in written, electronic or other form or media, and whether or not marked, designated or otherwise identified as “confidential,” in connection with this Agreement is confidential, solely for the use of performing this Agreement and may not be disclosed or copied unless authorized by the other Party in writing. Upon either Party’s request, requested Party shall promptly return all documents and other materials received from requesting Party. Either Party shall be entitled to injunctive relief for any violation of this Section. This Section shall not apply to information that is:
(a) in the public domain;
(b) known to either Party at the time of disclosure; or
(c) rightfully obtained by the receiving Party on a non -confidential basis from a third party.
12. Limited Product Warranty; Disclaimer. Seller warrants that the Goods are free from material defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service with proper maintenance as provided in Schedule 1. The term for such warranties shall begin upon Customer’s receipt of the Good. Distributor or Customer shall promptly notify Seller of any known warranty claims and shall cooperate in the investigation of such claims. If any Good is proven to not conform with this warranty during the applicable warranty period, Seller shall, at its exclusive option, either repair or replace the Good or refund the purchase price paid by Distributor for each non-conforming Good.
12.1 Warranty Service. Distributor or through its Customers shall provide warranty services to the end user as provided in Schedule 1 or as agreed in writing signed by both parties.
13. Seller shall have no obligation under the warranty set forth above if Distributor or Customer:
(a) fails to notify Seller in writing during the warranty period of a non- conformity; or
(b) uses, misuses, or neglects the Good in a manner inconsistent with the Good’s specifications or use or maintenance directions, modifies the Good or improperly installs, handles or maintains the Good.
14. Except as explicitly authorized in this Agreement or in a separate written agreement with Seller, Distributor shall not service, repair, modify, alter, replace, reverse engineer, or otherwise change the Goods it sells to Customers. Distributor shall not provide its own warranty regarding any good unless such warranty program is
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approved by the Seller.
15. EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTIES SET OUT UNDER SECTION 12, NEITHER SELLER NOR ANY PERSON ON SELLER’S BEHALF HAS MADE OR MAKES FOR DISTRIBUTOR’S BENEFIT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF: (i) MERCHANTABILITY; (ii) FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; (iii) TITLE; OR (iv) NON-INFRINGEMENT; WHETHER ARISING BY LAW, COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, USAGE OF TRADE OR OTHERWISE, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. DISTRIBUTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY MADE BY SELLER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON ON SELLER’S BEHALF.
16. Compliance With Laws. Distributor shall at all times comply with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations and orders that are applicable to the operation of its business, and this Agreement and its performance hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Distributor shall at all times, at its own expense, obtain and maintain all certifications, credentials, authorizations, licenses, and permits necessary to conduct its business relating to the exercise of its rights and the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
17. Indemnification.
17.1 Indemnification. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Distributor shall indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Seller and its parent, officers, directors, partners, members, shareholders, employees, agents, affiliates, successors, and permitted assigns (collectively, “Indemnified Party”) against any and all losses, damages, liabilities , deficiencies, claims, actions, judgments, settlements, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs, or expenses of whatever kind, including attorneys’ fees, fees, and the costs of enforcing any right to indemnification under this Agreement and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers, relating to any claim of a third party or Seller arising out of or occurring in connection with:
(a) Distributor’s acts or omissions as Distributor of the Goods, including breach of this Agreement;
(b) Distributor’s advertising or representations that warrant performance of Goods beyond that provided by Seller’s written warranty or based upon Distributor’s business or trade practices;
(c) Customer’s breach of the Customer Contract;
(d) any failure by Distributor or its personnel (including Customer) to comply with any applicable Laws; or
(e) allegations that Distributor breached its agreement with a third party as a result of or in connection with entering into, performing under or terminating this Agreement.
17.2 Indemnification. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Seller shall indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Distributor and its parent, officers, directors, partners, members , shareholders, employees, agents, affiliates, successors, and permitted assigns (collectively, “Indemnified Party”) against any and all losses, damages, liabilities , deficiencies, claims, actions, judgments, settlement s, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs, or expenses of whatever kind, including attorneys’ fees, fees, and the costs relating to any claim of a third party for personal injury, death or property damage caused by the proper use of the Goods. This indemnification provision shall not apply in the event of misuse, improper maintenance or improper installation.
18. Limitation of Liability. EXCEPT FOR OBLIGATIONS TO MAKE PAYMENT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, LIABILITY FOR INDEMNIFICATION, LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY,
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OR LIABILITY FOR INFRINGEMENT OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, IN NO EVENT:
(a) IS SELLER OR ANY SELLER REPRESENTATIVE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR ENHANCED DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES, OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF:
(i) WHETHER THE DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE;
(ii) WHETHER OR NOT SELLER WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DAMAGES; AND
(iii) THE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY (CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) ON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED.
(b) SHALL SELLER’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR OTHERWISE, EXCEED THE TOTAL OF THE AMOUNTS PAID TO SELLER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IN THE 12 MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM OR SELLER’ S LIABILITY RELATED TO A CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF THE PURCHASE ORDER GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
19. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS APPLY EVEN IF THE DISTRIBUTOR’S REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FAIL OF THEIR ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.
20. Insurance. During the Term and for a period of one year after the Term, Distributor shall, at its own expense, maintain and carry insurance in full force and effect that includes, but is not limited to, commercial genera l liability (including product liability) with limits no less than $[***] for each occurrence and $[***] in the aggregate and worker’s compensation insurance (legal minimums) with financially sound and reputable insurers. Upon Seller’s request, Distributor shall provide Seller with a certificate of insurance and policy endorsements for all insurance coverage required by this Section 20, and shall not do anything to invalidate such insurance. The certificate of insurance shall name Seller as an additional insured. Distributor shall provide Seller with 30 days’ advance written notice in the event of a cancellation or material change in Distributor’s insurance policy. Except where prohibited by law, Distributor shall require its insurer to waive all rights of subrogation against Seller’s insurers, Seller and the other Indemnified Parties.
21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including and together with any related exhibits, schedules, attachments and appendices, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, regarding such subject matter. The terms of this Agreement prevail over any terms or conditions contained in any other documentation related to the subject matter of this Agreement and expressly exclude any of Distributor’s general terms and conditions contained in any purchase order or other document issued by Distributor (excluding the information set out in Section 5. l (a) - Section 5. l(c)).
22. Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provision s of this Agreement: (a) the representations and warranties of the Parties contained herein shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement; and (b) of this Agreement, as well as any other provision that, in order to give proper effect to its intent, should survive such expiration or termination, shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.
23. Notices. All notices , requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and addressed to the other Party at its address set forth below (or to such other address that the receiving Party may designate from time to time in accordance with this Section). Unless otherwise
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agreed herein, all notices must be delivered by personal delivery, nationally recognized overnight courier, or certified or registered mail (in each case, return receipt requested and postage prepaid). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a notice is effective only (a) on receipt by the receiving Party, and (b) if the Party giving the notice has complied with the requirements of this Section.
Notice to Seller: | 13370 Kirkham Way, Poway, CA 92064 Attention: Brent Willson |
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Notice to Distributor: | 6 Sunset Way, Suite 108, Henderson, NV 89104 Attention Dan Briggs |
24. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon a determination that any term or provision is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to or the court may modify this Agreement to give effect to the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
25. Amendments. No amendment to this Agreement is effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of each Party.
26. Waiver. No waiver by any party of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any rights, remedy, power, or privilege arising from this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power, or privilege.
27. Cumulative Remedies. All rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive, and the exercise by either Party of any right or remedy does not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies that may now or subsequently be available at law, in equity, by statute, in any other agreement between the Parties, or otherwise. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Parties intend that Distributor’s rights under this Agreement are Distributor’s exclusive remedies for the events specified therein.
28. Assignment. Distributor shall not assign, transfer, delegate, or subcontract any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Seller. Any purported assignment or delegation in violation of this Section shall be null and void. No assignment or delegation shall relieve Distributor of any of its obligations hereunder. Seller may at any time assign, transfer, or subcontract any or all of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without Distributor’s prior written consent.
29. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is binding on and inures to the benefit of the Parties to this Agreement and their respective permitted successors and permitted assigns.
30. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Subject to the next paragraph, this Agreement benefits solely the Parties to this Agreement and their respective permitted successors and assigns and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, confers on any other Person (including any Customer) any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
31. The Parties hereby designate Indemnified Parties as third-party beneficiaries of Section 17 with the right to enforce this provision.
32. Choice of Law. This Agreement, including all exhibits, schedule s, attachments and appendices attached to this Agreement and thereto, and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement, are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, United States of America, without regard to
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the conflict of laws provision s thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of California.
33. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any breach thereof shall be settled by arbitration in San Diego County, California, conducted by JAMS using one arbitrator in accordance with JAMS commercial rule s of arbitration. Judgment upon the award of the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. In any action between the Parties to enforce any of the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover expenses, including arbitration costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
34. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which is deemed an original, but all of which together are deemed to be one and the same agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 23, a signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, email, or other means of electronic transmission is deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.
35. Force Majeure. No Party shall be liable or responsible to the other Party, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement (except for any obligations to make payments to the other Party under this Agreement), when and to the extent the failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted Party’s (“Impacted Party”) reasonable control (which events may include natural disasters, embargoes, explosions , riots, wars or acts of invasion or terrorism, requirements of law, national or regional emergency , strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or shortage of adequate power or transportation) (each, a “Force Majeure Event”). A Party shall give the other Party prompt written notice of any event or circumstance that is reasonably likely to result in a Force Majeure Event, and the anticipated duration of such Force Majeure Event. An affected Party shall use all diligent efforts to end the Force Majeure Event, ensure that the effects of any Force Majeure Event are minimized, and resume full performance under this Agreement.
36. No Franchise or Business Opportunity Agreement. The Parties to this Agreement are independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed as creating a joint venture, partnership, agency relationship, franchise, or business opportunity between Seller and Distributor. Neither Party, by virtue of this Agreement, will have any right, power, or authority to act or create an obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the other Party. Each Party assumes responsibility for the actions of their personnel under this Agreement and will be solely responsible for their supervision, daily direction and control, wage rates, withholding income taxes, disability benefits, or the manner and means through which the work under this Agreement will be accomplished. Except as provided otherwise in this Agreement, Distributor has the sole discretion to determine Distributor’s methods of operation, Distributor’s accounting practices, the types and amounts of insurance Distributor carries, Distributor’s personnel practices, Distributor’s advertising and promotion, its Customers , and Distributor’s service areas and methods. The relationship created hereby between the parties is solely that of seller and distributor. If any provision of this Agreement is deemed to create a franchise relationship between the parties, then Seller may immediately terminate this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
NEOVOLTA INC.
By: /s/ Brent Willson
Name: Brent Willson
Title: Chief Executive Officer
PMP ENERGY, LLC
By: /s/ Dan Briggs
Name: Dan Briggs
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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SCHEDULE 1
Goods and Price List
[***]
Warranty and Warranty Service
[***]
Volume Compensation
As of the end of each calendar quarter (i.e. March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31), to the extent Distributor meets the requirements set forth herein, Seller agrees to issue Distributor shares of Seller’s common stock as follows (the “Distributor Compensation Shares”):
[***]
The Distributor hereby acknowledges that is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Distributor hereby re-affirms this representation each calendar quarter, unless it provides Seller with notice stating that it is no longer an “accredited investor”.
The Distributor understands that the Distributor Compensation Shares are “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from Seller in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 only in certain limited circumstances. The Distributor understands that the Distributor Compensation Shares will bear a restrictive legend stating the foregoing.
By accepting the Distributor Compensation Shares, the Distributor hereby agrees that it shall not sell more than 5% of the Distributor Compensation Shares earned in any quarter during any calendar month.
Schedule 1 - Page 2
Limited Exclusivity
Distributor shall have limited exclusive distribution in those territories or to those Customers provided in the chart below. Exclusivity requires the minimum purchases provided in the chart below, per year.
[***]
Schedule 1 - Page 3
[SCHEDULE 2]
NeoVolta Inc.’s Trademarks
Trademarks:
Certain identified information has been excluded from this exhibit because it is both not material and is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential. Information that was omitted has been noted in this document with a placeholder identified by the mark “[***]”.
EXCLUSIVE SUPPLY AGREEMENT
THIS EXCLUSIVE SUPPLY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of August 30, 2021 (“Commencement Date”), by and between NeoVolta, Inc., a Nevada corporation having a principal place of business at 13651 Danielson Street, Suite A, Poway CA 92064 USA, on behalf of itself (“NeoVolta”) and NingBo Deye Inverter Technology Co, Ltd, a Chinese Limited Company having its principal place of business at No 26-30, Southern Yongjiang Road, Beilun, NingBo, China, on behalf of itself (“Manufacturer” or “Deye”). For purposes of this agreement, either NeoVolta or Manufacturer may be referred to as a “Party” and may collectively be referred to as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, the Parties entered into a Supply Agreement dated September 25, 2018 where Deye developed the NV7600 for NeoVolta and NeoVolta received the exclusive rights of and ownership of the NV7600;
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to continue the improvement and supply of inverters by Deye to NeoVolta, subject to the terms herein.
THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
1.TERM
The initial term of this Agreement will commence on the Commencement Date and will continue for FIVE (5) years. NeoVolta will have an option to renew the Agreement for another two (2) years. Thereafter the Agreement will automatically renew on an annual basis after the initial term notwithstanding the foregoing, the term of this Agreement will automatically extend to include the terms of any Orders (defined in 4.1 (a) below) pending at the time of termination (“Term” including the initial term, option term and any renewals). NeoVolta promises to grow as rapidly as possible. NeoVolta will keep Deye appraised of any large developments that will increase volume.
2.PRICING
2.1. Pricing. During the Term, NeoVolta may purchase from Manufacturer the products specified in Exhibits A hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement (the “Products”) at the prices set forth in the quote and purchase order (the “Price(s)”). Prices (a) are in U.S. Dollars, (b) include Manufacturer standard packaging, and (c) are based on the configuration set forth in the specifications provided in Exhibit A (the “Specifications”).
2.2. Pricing Review. Manufacturer shall make reasonable efforts to reduce costs of the Products on a yearly basis. NeoVolta pricing will be as good as, if not better than any other buyer of Deye inverters.
3.PAYMENT TERMS
Payment Terms. Payment shall be [***]% upon shipping.
4.PURCHASE ORDERS/RESCHEDULE
4.1.Purchase Orders.
(a) NeoVolta will issue to Manufacturer specific purchase orders for Product covered by this Agreement (each an “Order”). Each Order will be based on a quote provided by Manufacturer. Each Order will be in the form of a written or electronic communication and contain the following information: (i) the part number of the Product; (ii) the quantity of the Product; (iii) the delivery date or shipping schedule which will have a lead time agreed to by each party; (iv) the location to which the Product is to be shipped; and (v) transportation instructions. Each Order will contain a number for billing purposes, and may include other instructions and terms (provided that such terms do not conflict with this Agreement) as may be appropriate under the circumstances.
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(b) Manufacturer will decide whether to accept Orders issued by NeoVolta within five (5) business days of receipt. In the event Manufacturer fails to accept the Order within five (5) business days of receipt, the parties will negotiate in good faith to resolve the disputed matter(s). Manufacturer will supply the Product in quantities to meet all requirements of NeoVolta. Manufacturer guarantees for the Term to supply the Products to NeoVolta.
(c) Once the Order is accepted by Manufacturer, NeoVolta will purchase all Product ordered in each order, and Manufacturer will manufacture and sell to NeoVolta all such Product.
(d) Reschedule. NeoVolta may reschedule all or part of a scheduled delivery at any time, subject to the percentage –allowances in the following table:
| Days Before Delivery Date | Percentage Reschedule Allowance |
| [***] | [***] |
| [***] | [***]% |
| [***] | [***]% |
Manufacturer will use its best efforts to accommodate any upside schedule changes beyond the firm order periods.
5.DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE
5.1. Delivery. Manufacturer will deliver all Products to destination(s) specified in the applicable Order as stipulated in the Order. Shipments (including shipments made in accordance with Section 7 (Warranty)) will be made shipped F.O.B. the destination location identified by NeoVolta in the Purchase Order, either to NeoVolta or to warehouse in Qingdao. Risk of loss or damage to the Product will pass to NeoVolta upon Manufacturer's delivery of the Product of the Order at the NeoVolta designated shipping facility in China and the BL copy has been transmitted to NeoVolta. Manufacturer will mark, pack, package, crate, transport, ship and store Product to ensure (a) delivery of the Product to its ultimate destination in safe condition, (b) compliance with all requirements of the carrier and destination authorities priorly agreed by both parties, and (c) compliance with any special instructions by both parties. Manufacturer will deliver the Products on the agreed-upon delivery dates and will notify NeoVolta of any anticipated delays.
5.2. Acceptance. NeoVolta will accept the Product no later than [***] days after receiving Product. NeoVolta will base its acceptance on whether the Product passes a reasonable acceptance test procedure or inspection designed to demonstrate compliance with the Specifications. If NeoVolta does not reject the Product within [***] day period, the Product will be deemed accepted. Once a Product is rejected by the reason of failure to comply with the Specifications, all defective Product returns will be handled in accordance with Article 7 (Warranty). Prior to returning any rejected Product, NeoVolta will obtain an Return Materials Authorization (“RMA”) number from Manufacturer, which number Manufacturer will promptly provide NeoVolta, and NeoVolta will return such Product in accordance with the Manufacturer's reasonable instructions, at manufacturer's expense. NeoVolta will specify the reason for such rejection in all RMAs and provide relevant supporting documents. In the event a Product is rejected, Manufacturer will promptly repair or replace the Product with Product that complies with the Specifications. NeoVolta's obligation to pay for any rejected Product will be suspended until such time as Manufacturer provides Product to NeoVolta that complies with the Specifications and Acceptance Testing.
5.3. Quality. Manufacturer acknowledges that the detail, quality, reliability and workmanship of the Products affects the goodwill and reputation of NeoVo1ta. Manufacturer will meet or exceed the good industry standards with respect to detail, quality and reliability of the Products, and will only employ the high caliber of workmanship and use the high quality components with respect to the manufacture of the Products. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Manufacturer will develop and .implement appropriate policies and procedures, including testing processes for quality and reliability, to ensure compliance with this Section. If any of the Products fail to conform to the Specifications or otherwise fail to perform in their intended capacity, the Parties will work together in good faith to conduct a failure analysis and identify the cause of the failure(s).
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6.CHANGES
Both parties may upon sufficient notice make changes within the general scope of this Agreement or any Order. Such changes may include, but are not limited to changes in (l) drawings, plans, designs, procedures, Specifications, test specifications or bill of material (“BOM”), (2) methods of packaging and shipment, (3) quantities of Product to be furnished, (4) delivery schedule, or (5) NeoVolta-Furnished Items. All material changes other than changes in quantity of Products to be furnished will be requested pursuant to a revised Order. If any such change causes either a material increase or decrease (+/-[***]%) in Manufacturer's cost or the time required for performance of any part of the work under this Agreement, Manufacturer will adjust the Price in accordance with the procedure described in Section 2.1 to account for such change.
7.WARRANTY
7.1. Manufacturer Warranty. Manufacturer warrants that, for a period of five (5) years, from the date of Acceptance of the Product, (i) the Product will be merchantable, conform to the Specifications, and be free from defects in material and workmanship, and (ii) Manufacturer has good and marketable title to such Products, free from any claims of infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property, and there are no leins, licenses, claims or encumbrances of any kind on such Products. Manufacturer will, at its sole expense use its best efforts to replace all Product found defective with Product that conforms to the Specifications and requirements under this Section (Section 7.1) during the warranty period. If Manufacturer fails to use its best efforts to replace defective Products, then MANUFACTURER will be liable for costs of procurement of substitute products by NeoVolta. Additional warranty coverage is available for a fee, which can be negotiated separately.
7.2. RMA Procedure. Manufacturer will concur in advance on all Products found defective to be returned for repair or replacement. NeoVolta will obtain a RMA number from Manufacturer prior to return shipment, which number Manufacturer wi1l promptly provide to NeoVolta. All returns will state the specific reason for such return, and will be processed in accordance with Manufacturer's reasonable RMA Procedure. NeoVolta will pay transportation costs of any defective product being returned to Manufacturer (but will be given a credit for such transportation costs if the returned Product is under warranty). Manufacturer will pay transportation and shipping costs to return repaired or replaced product to NeoVolta or to NeoVolta's affiliates, and will bear all risk of loss or damage to such Products while in transit. Any repaired or replaced Product will be warranted as set forth in this Article for a period equal to (i) if repaired, the balance of the applicable warranty period relating to such Product plus six (6) months or (ii) if replaced the full warranty period of five (5) years.
7.3. Exclusions From Warranty. If applicable, this warranty does not include Products that have defects or failures resulting solely from (a) neglect, abuse, misuse, improper handling, or storage; or (b) alterations, modifications by NeoVolta or third parties.
7.4. Remedy. The sole remedy under this warranty will be the prompt repair, replacement, transportation, and credit for defective parts, and/or costs of procurement of substitute products, as stated above.
8.INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. Manufacturer's Indemnification. Manufacturer will indemnify, defend, and hold NeoVolta harmless from all third party demands, claims, actions, causes of action, proceedings, suits, assessments, losses, damages, liabilities, settlements, judgments, fines, penalties, interest, costs and expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) of every kind (each a “Claim,” and, collectively “Claims”) (i) based upon personal injury or death or injury to property (other than damage to the Product itself, which is handled in accordance with Article 7/Warranty) to the extent any of the foregoing is proximately caused either by the negligent or willful acts or omissions of Manufacturer or its officers, employees, subcontractors or agents (ii) arising from a breach by Manufacturer of any representation, warranty or covenant under this Agreement. For clarity, Manufacturer is only responsible for Claims related to the NV7600 and liability arising from the NV7600.
8.2. Procedure. If NeoVolta is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article, NeoVolta will promptly notify the Manufacturer in writing of any Claims covered by this indemnity and provide relevant supporting documents. Promptly after receipt of such notice, Manufacturer will assume the defense of such Claim. If Manufacturer fails, within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume the defense or, if
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in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnitee, a direct or indirect conflict of interest exists between the Parties with respect to the Claim, NeoVolta will have the right to undertake the defense, compromise and settlement of such Claim for the account and at the expense of the Indemnitor. Manufacturer will not compromise any Claim (or portions thereof) or consent to the entry of any judgment without an release of all liability of NeoVolta as to each claimant or plaintiff.
9.TERMINATION
9.1. Termination for Cause. Subject to Section 9.4, either Party may terminate this Agreement or an Order hereunder for default if the other Party materially breaches this Agreement; provided, however, no termination right will accrue until twenty (20) days after the defaulting Party is notified in writing of the material breach and has failed to cure or give adequate assurances of performance within the twenty (20) day period after notice of material breach.
9.2. Termination for Convenience. Subject to Section 9.4, NeoVolta may terminate this Agreement hereunder for any reason upon ninety (90) days prior written notice.
9.3. Termination by Operation of Law. Subject to Section 9.4, this Agreement will immediately and automatically terminate should either Party (a) become insolvent; (b) enter into or file a petition, arraignment or proceeding seeking an order for relief under the bankruptcy laws of its respective jurisdiction; (c) enter into a receivership of any of its assets or (d) enter into a dissolution or liquidation of its assets or an assignment for the benefit of its creditors.
9.4. Consequences of Termination.
(a) Termination for Reasons other than Manufacturer’s Breach. In the event this Agreement or an Order hereunder is terminated for any reason other than a breach by Manufacturer (including but not limited to a force majeure or termination for convenience), NeoVolta will pay Manufacturer the contract price for all finished Product existing at the time of termination, and which are promptly delivered to and accepted by NeoVolta.
(b) Surviving Terms. The following terms shall survive any termination of this Agreement: Sections 7, 8, 10, 11 and 13.
10.EXCLUSIVITY
During the Term and thereafter, Manufacturer agrees to sell the NV7600 product only to NeoVolta. The designs of the NV7600 product are solely owned by NeoVolta. This exclusivity provision shall survive termination of this Agreement and shall be enforceable by NeoVolta.
11.CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
11.1.Definitions. For the purpose of this Agreement,
(a) “Confidential Information” means information (in any form or media) regarding either Party, including any of its affiliates, and its customers, potential customers, methods of operation, design, development, ordering and manufacturing methods and processes, programs and databases, designs, know how, billing rates, billing procedures, vendors and suppliers, orders, purchases, projections, forecasts, sales, business methods or strategy, finances, management, or any other business information relating to either Party, including its affiliates (whether constituting a trade secret or proprietary or otherwise) which has value to such Party and is treated by such Party as being confidential; provided, however, that Confidential Information does not include information that (i) is known to the other party prior to receipt from the disclosing party hereunder, which knowledge will be evidenced by written records, (ii) is independently developed without the use of such Confidential Information as evidenced by written records, (iii) is or becomes in the public domain through no breach of this Agreement, or (iv) is received from a third party without breach of any obligation of confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all information provided by either Party hereunder regarding the Products, will be the Confidential Information of such Party.
(b) “Person” will mean and include any individual, partnership, association, corporation, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or any other business entity or enterprise.
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(c) “Representative” will mean a Party’s employees, agents, or representatives, including, without limitation, financial advisors, lawyers, accountants, experts, and consultants.
11.2.Nondisclosure Covenants.
(a) In connection with this Agreement, each Party (the “Disclosing Party”) may furnish to the other Party (the “Receiving Party”) or its Representatives certain Confidential Information. For a period of five (5) years from the date of the last disclosure under this Agreement, or in perpetuity with respect to any Confidential Information that is held by a party as a trade secret, the Receiving Party (a) will maintain as confidential all Confidential Information disclosed to it by the Disclosing Party, (b) will not, directly or indirectly, disclose any such Confidential Information to any Person other than (i) those Representatives of the Receiving Party whose duties justify the need to know such Confidential Information and then only if such Representative is under written obligations no less restrictive than those contained herein regarding maintaining the confidentiality of such Confidential Information and restricting the use of such Confidential Information or (ii) if Manufacturer is the Receiving Party, a third party Vendor for the purpose of obtaining price quotations provided that such Vendor is under written obligations no less restrictive than those contained herein regarding maintaining the confidentiality of the Confidential Information and restricting the use of such Confidential Information and (c) will treat such Confidential Information with the same degree of care as it treats its own Confidential Information (but in no case with less than a reasonable degree of care).
(b) The disclosure of any Confidential Information is solely for the purpose of enabling each Party to perform under this Agreement or exercise rights under this Agreement, and the Receiving Party will not use any Confidential Information disclosed by the Disclosing Party for any other purpose.
(c) Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all Confidential Information supplied by the Disclosing Party will remain the property of the Disclosing Party, and will be promptly returned by the Receiving Party upon receipt of written request therefor.
(d) If the Receiving Party or its Representative is requested or becomes legally compelled to disclose any of the Confidential Information, it will provide the Disclosing Party with prompt written notice. If a protective order or other remedy is not obtained, then only that part of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be furnished will be furnished, and reasonable efforts will be made to obtain reliable assurances of confidentiality.
11.3. Injunctive Relief Authorized. Any material breach of this Article by a Party or its Representatives may cause irreparable injury and the non-breaching Party may be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, in the event of a breach. The above will not be construed to limit the remedies available to a Party. In addition, the prevailing Party will be entitled to be reimbursed for all of its reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses at all levels of proceedings and for investigations, from the non-prevailing Party.
11.4. No Publicity. Each Party agrees not to disclose the terms of this Agreement or any third Party, without the prior consent of the other Party, except as required by law, regulation or court order (in which case, the Party seeking to disclose the information will give reasonable notice to the other Party of its intent to make such a disclosure so as to allow the non-disclosing Party to oppose the disclosure).
11.4 Intellectual Property Rights. Manufacturer will continue to own all right, title, and interest in and to [***] (“Background Manufacturer IP”), and NeoVolta will continue to own all right, title, and interest in and to [***] (“background NeoVolta IP”).
(a) With respect to any Background Manufacturer IP specific to [***]that claims, covers or is otherwise incorporated into the Products, manufacturer hereby grants to NeoVolta a nonexclusive, non transferable, royalty-free, world-wide, fully-paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual license (with the right to grant sublicenses through multiple tiers) to offer for sale, sell or import Products incorporating the Background Manufacturer IP. Except for the foregoing, no license or any other right is granted to NeoVolta in any know-how or process information contained within the Background Manufacturer IP.
(b) All developments and improvements of [***] shall be solely owned by NeoVolta. During the Term of this Agreement, NeoVolta grants to Manufacturer a non-exclusive, royalty-free, internal
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license to use the Background NeoVolta IP and Neo Volta IP solely for the purpose of performing Manufacturer’s obligations hereunder specific to [***].
(c) Both parties hereby expressly reserve all rights, title, and interest in any of their respective Intellectual Property not provided for in this Agreement.
12.INSURANCE
Manufacturer agrees to maintain during the Term of this Agreement any and all insurance as prescribed by the law of the state, or country in which Manufacturer's services are performed.
13.MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. Integration Clause. This Agreement (including the Exhibits to this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties regarding the subject matter set forth herein, superseding all previous Agreements covering the subject matter. This Agreement will not be changed or modified except by written agreement, specifically amending, modifying and changing this Agreement, signed by Manufacturer and an authorized representative of the NeoVolta. Each Party represents that no third party or other contract will be violated or breached by entering into this Agreement.
13.2. Limitation of Liability. EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY STATED HEREIN, IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR SPECIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, EVEN IF THE OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THESE LIM1TATIONS APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitations set forth herein will not apply to limit (i) a Party’s obligation to indemnify the other Party against any third party Claim for personal injury or property damage, (ii) a Party’s obligation to indemnify The other Party against any third party Claim for intellectual property infringement, (iii) a Party’s breach of section 11, (iv) a party’s intentional breach of the Agreement, or (v) actual damages required to be paid to any third party as a result of any infringement claim. THE LIMITATION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION ONLY APPL1ES WHERE THE DAMAGES ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT.
13.3. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder will be transferred or assigned by either Party without the written consent of the other Party. Nevertheless, either party may, without such consent, assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder in connection with the transfer or sale of all or substantially all of its business or assets related to this Agreement, or in the event of its merger, consolidation, change in control or other similar transaction. This Agreement may be assigned in whole or in part by either Party to any Affiliate of such Party provided that such Party remains secondarily liable under this Agreement.
13.4. Disputes/Choice of Law/Attorneys’ Fees.
This Agreement will be construed in accordance with the State of California laws (excluding its conflicts of laws principles). The provisions of the United Nations Conventions on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods will not apply to this Agreement.
Any dispute, controversy, difference or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the existing, validity, interpretation, performance, breach or termination thereof or any dispute regarding non-contractual obligations arising out of or relating to it shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by Judicate West under the Judicate West Commercial Arbitration Rules in force when the Notice of Arbitration is submitted. The arbitration shall take place in San Diego, California and conducted in English. The number of arbitrators shall be one. The parties agree to split the costs of the arbitration fees of Judicate West.
The prevailing party will be entitled to recover its costs (including arbitration fees) and reasonable attorneys’ fees from the non-prevailing party in any action brought to enforce this Agreement.
13.5. Severability/Waiver/Counterparts. Any of the provisions of this Agreement which are determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity
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or unenforceability in such jurisdiction, without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining provision hereof and without affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. The waiver by a party hereto of any right hereunder or the failure to perform or of a breach by another party will not be deemed a waiver of any other right hereunder or of any other breach of failure by said other party whether of a similar nature or otherwise. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Each Party represents that the person signing below has the authority to bind the party.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed effective as of the Commencement Date by their officers, duly authorized.
| Manufacturer: NingBo Deye Inverter Technology Co, Ltd |
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NeoVolta Inc. |
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| By: /s/ [***] |
| By: /s/ Brent S. Willson |
| Signature |
| Signature |
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| Typed Name: [***] |
| Typed Name: Brent S. Willson |
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| Title: General Manager |
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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| Date: 30 August 2021 |
| Date: 30 August 2021 |
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EXHIBIT A
PRODUCTS AND SPECIFICATIONS
NV7600
Capabilities:
[***].
Regulatory:
[***].
Private Label/License:
[***].
Specifications and Drawings Documents:
[***]
Software
[***].
Development and Upgrades
[***].
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CONSENT TO SUBLEASE
This Consent to Sublease (“Consent”) is dated for reference purposes the 16th day of August 2021 and is entered into by and among ConnectPV, Inc. (“Tenant”), NeoVolta Inc. (“Subtenant”) and The Realty Associates Fund XI Portfolio, L.P. (“Landlord”), with reference to the following recitals:
RECITALS
A. Landlord and Tenant are the parties to that certain lease (the “Master Lease”) respecting certain premises commonly known as Suite(s) A & B (“Premises”) and located at 13651 Danielson Street. Poway, California (the “Building”).
B. Tenant and Subtenant wish to enter into a sublease (the “Sublease”) respecting the portion of the Premises described in the Sublease (the “Sublease Premises”).
C. The Master Lease provides that Tenant may not enter into any sublease without Landlord’s prior written approval, and Landlord is willing to approve the Sublease on the following terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Sublease. Tenant and Subtenant hereby represent that a true and complete copy of the Sublease is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference, and Tenant and Subtenant agree that the Sublease shall not be modified without Landlord’s prior written consent.
2. Landlord and Tenant Liability. Neither the Master Lease, the Sublease nor this Consent shall be deemed to grant Subtenant any rights whatsoever against Landlord. Landlord is not a party to the Sublease and shall have no liability to Tenant, Subtenant or any broker based on or arising out of the Sublease. Subtenant hereby acknowledges and agrees that its sole remedy for any alleged or actual breach of its rights in connection with the Sublease Premises shall be solely against Tenant. This Consent shall not release Tenant from any existing or future duty, obligation or liability to Landlord pursuant to the Master Lease, nor shall this Consent change, modify or amend the Master Lease in any way. This consent shall not be deemed Landlord’s consent to any further subleases.
3. Attornment.
(a) In the event of Master Lease Termination (as hereinafter defined) prior to the termination of the Sublease, at Landlord’s option, Subtenant agrees to attorn to Landlord and to recognize Landlord as Subtenant’s landlord under the Sublease, upon the terms and conditions and at the rental rate specified in the Sublease, and for the then remaining term of the Sublease, except that Landlord shall not be bound by any provision of the Sublease which in any way increases Landlord’s duties, obligations or liabilities to Subtenant beyond those owed to Tenant under the Master Lease. Subtenant agrees to execute and deliver at any time and from time to time, upon request of Landlord, any instruments which may be necessary or appropriate to evidence such attornment. Landlord shall not (i) be liable to Subtenant for any act, omission or breach of the Sublease by Tenant, (ii) be subject to any offsets or defenses which Subtenant might have against Tenant, (iii) be bound by any rent or additional rent which Subtenant might have paid in advance to Tenant, (iv) be bound to honor any rights of Subtenant in any security deposit made with Tenant except to the extent Tenant has turned over such security deposit to Landlord, (v) be obligated in any manner with respect to the transfer, delivery, use or condition of any furniture, equipment or other personal property in the Sublease Premises which Tenant agreed would be transferred to Subtenant or which Tenant agreed could be used by the Subtenant during the term of the Sublease or (vi) be liable for the payment of any improvement allowance or to otherwise modify the Sublease Premises. Tenant hereby agrees that in the event of Master Lease Termination, Tenant shall immediately pay or transfer to Landlord any security deposit, rent or other sums then held by Tenant. Landlord shall have the right, in Landlord’s sole discretion, to elect not to have Subtenant attorn to Landlord and, in this event, the Sublease shall be deemed terminated on the date of Master Lease Termination and, Landlord shall have no obligation to permit Subtenant to continue to occupy the Premises.
(b) “Master Lease Termination” means any event, which by voluntary or involuntary act or by operation of law, might cause or permit the Master Lease to be terminated, expired, be cancelled, be foreclosed against, or otherwise come to an end, including but not limited to (i) a default by Tenant under the Master Lease of any of the terms or provisions
1
thereof; (ii) foreclosure proceedings brought by the holder of any mortgage or trust deed to which the Master Lease is subject; or (iii) the termination of Tenant’s leasehold estate by dispossession proceeding or otherwise.
(c) In the event of attornment hereunder, Landlord’s liability shall be limited to matters arising during Landlord’s ownership of the Building, and in the event that Landlord (or any successor owner) shall convey or dispose of the Building to another party, such party shall thereupon be and become landlord hereunder and shall be deemed to have fully assumed and be liable for all obligations of this Consent or the Sublease to be performed by Landlord which first arise after the date of conveyance, including the return of any security deposit, and Subtenant shall attorn to such other party, and Landlord (or such successor owner) shall, from and after the date of conveyance, be free of all liabilities and obligations hereunder not then incurred. The liability of Landlord to Subtenant for any default by landlord under this Consent or the Sublease after such attornment, or arising in connection with Landlord’s operation, management, leasing, repair, renovation, alteration, or any other matter relating to the Building or the Sublease Premises, shall be limited to the interest of the Landlord in the Building (and proceeds thereof). Under no circumstances shall any present or future employee, officer, agent, partner or member of Landlord have any personal liability for the performance of Landlord’s obligations under this Consent.
4. Payment of Rent by Subtenant. In addition to Landlord’s rights under Section 3 hereof, in the event Tenant is in default under any of the terms and provisions of the Master Lease, Landlord may elect to receive directly from Subtenant all sums due or payable to Tenant by Subtenant pursuant to the Sublease, and upon receipt of Landlord’s notice, Subtenant shall thereafter pay to Landlord any and all sums becoming due or payable under the Sublease and Tenant shall receive from Landlord a corresponding credit for such sums against any payments then due or thereafter becoming due from Tenant. Neither the service of such written notice nor the receipt of such direct payments shall cause Landlord to assume any of Tenant’s duties, obligations and/or liabilities under the Sublease, nor shall such event impose upon Landlord the duty or obligation to honor the Sublease, nor subsequently to accept Subtenant’s attornment pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof.
5. Subtenant Acknowledgement. Subtenant hereby acknowledges that it has read and has knowledge of all of the terms, provisions, rules and regulations of the Master Lease and agrees not to do or omit to do anything which would cause Tenant to be in breach of the Master Lease. Any such act or omission shall also constitute a breach of this Consent and shall entitle Landlord to recover any damage, loss, cost or expense which it thereby suffers, from Subtenant, whether or not Landlord proceeds against Tenant. Subtenant hereby assumes and agrees to perform for Landlord’s benefit all of the indemnity and insurance obligations of the Tenant under the Master Lease with respect to the Sublease Premises, provided that the foregoing shall not be construed as relieving or releasing Tenant from any such obligations. Prior to entering the Sublease Premises, Subtenant shall deliver to Landlord certificates of insurance and an endorsement adding Landlord as an additional insured all as more particularly required by the insurance provisions of the Master Lease. Subtenant shall not further sublease the Sublease Premises, assign its interest as the Subtenant under the Sublease or otherwise transfer its interest in the Sublease Premises or the Sublease to any person or entity without the written consent of Landlord, which Landlord may withhold in its sole discretion.
6. Parking and Services. Any parking rights granted to Subtenant pursuant to the Sublease shall be satisfied out of the parking rights, if any, granted to Tenant under the Master Lease. Tenant hereby authorizes Subtenant, as agent for Tenant, to obtain services and materials for or related to the Sublease Premises, and Tenant agrees to pay for such services and materials as additional rent under the Master Lease upon written demand from Landlord. However, as a convenience to Tenant, Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to bill Subtenant directly for such services and materials, or any portion thereof, in which event Subtenant shall pay for the services and materials so billed upon written demand, provided that such billing shall not relieve Tenant from its primary obligation to pay for such services and materials.
7. Notices. Landlord may deliver notices to Subtenant at the Sublease Premises in the same manner as Landlord is entitled to deliver notices to Tenant pursuant to the Master Lease. If Tenant is subleasing the entire Premises or otherwise vacating the Premises, Tenant’s new address for notices to Tenant under the Master Lease shall be as follows: __________________________; and if no address is filled in at the preceding blank (or if a post office box address is used for the preceding blank), then Landlord may continue to send notices to Tenant at the address(es) provided in, and in accordance with the terms of, the Master Lease.
8. Reimbursement of Costs. As a condition to the effectiveness of Landlord’s consent to the Sublease, Tenant agrees to pay Landlord concurrently with Tenant’s delivery of an executed counterpart hereof, (i) $500.00 to compensate Landlord for its internal administrative costs in processing this Consent; plus (ii) Landlord’s reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with this Consent; both of which shall be additional rent. Landlord’s acceptance of such fee shall impose no duty
2
on Landlord to approve the Sublease. Tenant shall also promptly pay Landlord any share of bonus rents, or other items required under the Master Lease in connection with subleases.
9. Generally. This Consent shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties’ respective successors and assigns, subject to all agreements and restrictions contained in the Master Lease, the Sublease and herein with respect to subleasing, assignment, or other transfer. The agreements contained herein constitute the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior agreements, written or oral, inconsistent herewith. This Consent may be amended only in writing, signed by all parties hereto. Each signatory of this Consent represents hereby that he or she has the authority to execute and deliver the same on behalf of the party hereto for which such signatory is acting. In the event of any litigation between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, the unsuccessful party agrees to pay the successful party all costs, expenses and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred therein by the successful party, which shall be included as a part of the judgment therein rendered. If the Master Lease is guaranteed by any person or entity, Landlord’s consent is conditioned upon the execution of this Consent where provided below by the guarantor.
10. Execution. This Consent and any documents or addenda attached hereto (collectively, the “Documents”) may be executed in two or more counterpart copies, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall have the same force and effect as if the parties had executed a single copy of the Document. Landlord shall have the right, in Landlord’s sole discretion, to insert the name of the person executing a Document on behalf of Landlord in Landlord’s signature block using an electronic signature (an “Electronic Signature”), and in this event the Document delivered to Tenant and/or Subtenant will not include an original ink signature and Landlord shall have no obligation to provide a copy of such Document to Tenant and/or Subtenant with Landlord’s original ink signature. A Document delivered to Tenant and/or Subtenant by Landlord with an Electronic Signature shall be binding on Landlord as if the Document had been originally executed by Landlord with an ink signature. Without the prior written consent of Landlord, which may be withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion, Tenant and Subtenant shall not have the right to insert the name of the person executing the Document on behalf of Tenant or Subtenant using an Electronic Signature and all Documents shall be originally executed by Tenant and Subtenant using an ink signature. A Document executed by Landlord, Tenant and/or Subtenant and delivered to the other party(ies) in PDF, facsimile or similar electronic format (collectively, “Electronic Format”) shall be binding on the party delivering the executed Document with the same force and effect as the delivery of a printed copy of the Document with an original ink signature. At any time upon Landlord’s written request, Tenant and Subtenant shall provide Landlord with a printed copy of the Document with an original ink signature. This Section describes the only ways in which Documents may be executed and delivered by the parties. An email from Landlord, its agents, brokers, attorneys, employees or other representatives shall never constitute Landlord’s Electronic Signature or be otherwise binding on Landlord. Subject to the limitations set forth above, the parties agree that a Document executed using an Electronic Signature and/or delivered in Electronic Format may be introduced into evidence in a proceeding arising out of or related to the Document as if it was a printed copy of the Document executed by the parties with original ink signatures. Landlord shall have no obligation to retain copies of Documents with original ink signatures, and Landlord shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to elect to discard originals and to retain only copies of Documents in Electronic Format.
11. [ADDRESS PROFIT SHARING, IF APPLICABLE]
12. [ADDRESS Tis AND RESTORATION, IF APPLICABLE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the following parties have executed this Consent as of the date first above written.
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LANDLORD:
The Realty Associates Fund XI Portfolio, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership
By: The Realty Associates Fund XI, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership, general partner
By: Realty Associates Fund XI, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company, general partner
By: /s/ James Harper
Name: James Harper
Title: Vice President
TENANT:
ConnectPV, Inc.
By: /s/ John Hass
Name: John Hass
Its: CEO
SUBTENANT:
Neovolta Inc.
By: /s/ Brent Willson
Name: Brent Willson
Its: CEO
4
[ADD THE FOLLOWING IF THE LEASE IS GUARANTEED]
AGREEMENT OF GUARANTOR
In the event Landlord elects to have Subtenant attorn to Landlord as provided in Section 3(a), Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect. Upon such an attornment, and without further action by Guarantor, the Guaranty shall automatically be deemed modified to provide that the Guarantor is guarantying to Landlord the performance by Subtenant of all of Subtenant’s obligations under the Sublease arising prior to and after such an attornment, and references in the Guaranty to Sublessor shall mean Landlord. Guarantor acknowledges that Landlord would not have consented to the Sublease unless Guarantor had agreed to the foregoing modification of the Guaranty in the event of an attornment.
_________________________
By:_________________________________
____________________________________
(print name)
Its:__________________________________
(print title)
5
Exhibit A
(Copy of Sublease)
6
AIRCRE
CONTRACTS
SUBLEASE FOR MULTIPLE TENANTS
To be used if there will be one or more sublessees sharing the space with each other and/or the lessee, whether or not the space (Premises) is a single tenant building or is located in a multi-tenant building.
If the entire space (Premises) will be subleased by a single sublessee, whether or not the space (Premises) is a single tenant building or is located in a multi-tenant building, use the Sublease for a Single Sublessee.
1. Basic Provisions (“Basic Provisions”).
1.1 Parties: This Sublease (“Sublease”), dated for reference purposes only January 8, 2021, is made by and between ConnectPV, Inc. (“Sublessor”) and NeoVolta Inc. (“Sublessee”), (collectively the “Parties”, or individually a “Party”).
1.2(a) Premises: That certain portion of the Project (as defined below), commonly known as (street address, unit/suite, city, state) 13651 Danielson Street, Suites A & B, Poway, CA 92064 (“Premises”). The Premises are located in the County of San Diego and consist of approximately 7,706 square feet. In addition to Sublessee’s rights to use and occupy the Premises as hereinafter specified, Sublessee shall have nonexclusive rights to the Common Areas (as defined below) as hereinafter specified, but shall not have any rights to the roof, the exterior walls, or the utility raceways of the building containing the Premises (“Building”) or to any other buildings in the Project. The Premises, the Building, the Common Areas, the land upon which they are located, along with all other buildings and improvements thereon, are herein collectively referred to as the “Project.”
1.2(b) Parking: pro-rata share of unreserved and zero (0) reserved vehicle parking spaces.
1.3 Term: ____ years and 12 months commencing January 1, 2021 (“Commencement Date”) and ending December 31, 2021 (“Expiration Date”). The lease shall renew for 12 month Renewal Terms, upon mutual agreement of the Parties within thirty (30) days of the Expiration of a Term or Renewal Term, per the Base Rent Schedule in Paragraph 14.
1.4 Early Possession: If the Premises are available Sublessee may have non-exclusive possession of the Premises commencing (“Early Possession Date”).
1.5 Base Rent: $8,000 per month (“Base Rent”), payable on the 1st day of each month commencing January 1, 2021.
☒ lf this box is checked, there are provisions in this Sublease for the Base Rent to be adjusted.
1.6 Sublessee’s Share of Operating Expenses: 1/2 of the estimated NNN expenses charged by the Landlord percent (____%) (“Sublessee’s Share”). In the event that that size of the Premises and/or the Project are modified during the term of this Lease, Lessor shall recalculate Lessee’s Share to reflect such modification.
1.7 Base Rent and Other Monies Paid Upon Execution:
(a) Base Rent: $8,000 for the period January 1, 2021 - January 31, 2021
(b) Security Deposit: $0 (“Security Deposit”).
(c) Other: $2,350 for January 1 - January 31, 2021 (estimated NNN’s)
(d) Total Due Upon Execution of this Lease: $10,350.
1.8 Agreed Use: The Premises shall be used and occupied only for _______ and for no other purposes.
1.10 Guarantor. The obligations of the Sublessee under this Sublease shall be guaranteed by _________ (“Guarantor”).
1.11 Attachments. Attached hereto are the following, all of which constitute a part of this Sublease:
/S/ BW . /S/ JH .
INITIALS INITIALS
Last Edited: 5/24/2021 12:37 PM
Page 1 of 11
☒ an Addendum consisting of Paragraphs 14 through 16;
☐ a plot plan depicting the Premises and/or Project;
☐ a current set of the Rules and Regulations;
☐ a Work Letter;
☐ a copy of the Master Lease and any and all amendments to such lease (collectively the “Master Lease”);
☐ other (specify): ____________
2. Premises.
2.1 Letting. Sublessor hereby subleases to Sublessee, and Sublessee hereby subleases from Sublessor, the Premises, for the term, at the rental, and upon all of the terms, covenants and conditions set forth in this Sublease. While the approximate square footage of the Premises may have been used In the marketing of the Premises for purposes of comparison, the Base Rent stated herein Is NOT tied to square footage and is not subject to adjustment should the actual size be determined to be different. Note: Sublessee is advised to verify the actual size prior to executing this Sublease.
2.2 Condition. Sublessor shall deliver the Premises to Sublessee broom clean and free of debris on the Commencement Date or the Early Possession Date, whichever first occurs (“ Start Date”), and warrants that the existing electrical, plumbing, fire sprinkler, lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems (“HVAC”), and any items which the Sublessor is obligated to construct pursuant to the Work Letter attached hereto, If any, other than those constructed by Sublessee, shall be in good operating condition on said date. If a non-compliance with such warranty exists as of the Start Date, or if one of such systems or elements should malfunction or fail within the appropriate warranty period, Sublessor shall, as Sublessor’s sole obligation with respect to such matter, except as otherwise provided in this Sublease, promptly after receipt of written notice from Sublessee setting forth with specificity the nature and extent of such non-compliance, malfunction or failure, rectify same at Sublessor’s expense. The warranty periods shall be as follows: (I) 6 months as to the HVAC systems, and (II) 30 days as to the remaining systems and other elements. If Sublessee does not give Sublessor the required notice within the appropriate warranty period, correction of any such non-compliance, malfunction or failure shall be the obligation of Sublessee at Sublessee’s sole cost and expense.
2.3 Compliance. Sublessor warrants that any improvements, alterations or utility installations made or installed by or on behalf of Sublessor to or on the Premises comply with all applicable covenants or restrictions of record and applicable building codes, regulations and ordinances (“Applicable Requirements”) in effect on the date that they were made or Installed. Sublessor makes no warranty as to the use to which Sublessee will put the Premises or to modifications which may be required by the Americans with Disabilities Act or any similar laws as a result of Sublessee’s use. NOTE: Sublessee is responsible for determining whether or not the zoning and other Applicable Requirements are appropriate for Sublessee’s intended use, and acknowledges that past uses of the Premises may no longer be allowed. If the Premises do not comply with said warranty, Sublessor shall, except as otherwise provided, promptly after receipt of written notice from Sublessee setting forth with specificity the nature and extent of such non-compliance, rectify the same.
2.4 Acknowledgements. Sublessee acknowledges that: (a) it has been given an opportunity to inspect and measure the Premises, (b) it has been advised by Sublessor and/or Brokers to satisfy itself with respect to the condition of the Premises (including but not limited to the electrical, HVAC and fire sprinkler systems, security, environmental aspects, and compliance with Applicable Requirements and the Americans with Disabilities Act), and their suitability for Sublessee’s intended use, (c) Sublessee has made such investigation as it deems necessary with reference to such matters and assumes all responsibility therefor as the same relate to its occupancy of the Premises, (d) it is not relying on any representation as to the size of the Premises made by Brokers or Sublessor, (e) the square footage of the Premises was not material to Sublessee’s decision to sublease the Premises and pay the Rent stated herein, and (f) neither Sublessor, Sublessor’s agents, nor Brokers have made any oral or written representations or warranties with respect to said matters other than as set forth in this Sublease. In addition, Sublessor acknowledges that: (I) Brokers have made no representations, promises or warranties concerning Sublessee’s ability to honor the Sublease or suitability to occupy the Premises, and (II) it is Sublessor’s sole responsibility to investigate the financial capability and/or suitability of all proposed tenants.
2.5 Americans with Disabilities Act. In the event that as a result of Sublessee’s use, or intended use, of the Premises the Americans with Disabilities Act or any similar law requires modifications or the construction or installation of improvements in or to the Premises, Building, Project and/or Common Areas, the Parties agree that such modifications, construction or improvements shall be made at: ☐ Sublessor’s expense ☒ Sublessee’s expense.
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2.6 Vehicle Parking. Sublessee shall be entitled to use the number of Unreserved Parking Spaces and Reserved Parking Spaces specified in Paragraph 1.2(b) on those portions of the Common Areas designated from time to time for parking. Sublessee shall not use more parking spaces than said number. Said parking spaces shall be used for parking by vehicles no larger than full-size passenger automobiles or pickup trucks, herein called “Permitted Size Vehicles.” Sublessor may regulate the loading and unloading of vehicles by adopting Rules and Regulations as provided in Paragraph 2.9. No vehicles other than Permitted Size Vehicles may be parked in the Common Area without the prior written permission of Sublessor.
(a) Sublessee shall not permit or allow any vehicles that belong to or are controlled by Sublessee or Sublessee’s employees, suppliers, shippers, customers, contractors or invitees to be loaded, unloaded, or parked in areas other than those designated by - Sublessor for such activities.
(b) Sublessee shall not service or store any vehicles in the Common Areas.
(c) If Sublessee permits or allows any of the prohibited activities described in this Paragraph 2.6, then Sublessor shall have the right, without notice, in addition to such other rights and remedies that it may have, to remove or tow away the vehicle involved and charge the cost to Sublessee, which cost shall be immediately payable upon demand by Sublessor.
2.7 Common Areas-Definition. The term “Common Areas” is defined as all areas and facilities outside the Premises and within the exterior boundary line of the Project and interior utility raceways and installations within the Premises that are provided and designated by the Sublessor from time to time for the general nonexclusive use of Sublessor, Sublessee and other tenants of the Project and their respective employees, suppliers, shippers, customers, contractors and invitees, Including parking areas, loading and unloading areas, trash areas, roofs, roadways, walkways, driveways and landscaped areas.
2.8 Common Areas-Sublessee’s Rights. Sublessor grants to Sublessee, for the benefit of Sublessee and its employees, suppliers, shippers, contractors, customers and invitees, during the term of this Sublease, the nonexclusive right to use, in common with others entitled to such use, the Common Areas as they exist from time to time, subject to any rights, powers, and privileges reserved by Sublessor under the terms hereof or under the terms of any rules and regulations or restrictions governing the use of the Project. Under no circumstances shall the right herein granted to use the Common Areas be deemed to include the right to store any property, temporarily or permanently, in the Common Areas. Any such storage shall be permitted only by the prior written consent of Sublessor or Sublessor’s designated agent, which consent may be revoked at any time. In the event that any unauthorized storage shall occur then Sublessor shall have the right, without notice, in addition to such other rights and remedies that it may have, to remove the property and charge the cost to Sublessee, which cost shall be immediately payable upon demand by Sublessor.
2.9 Common Areas-Rules and Regulations. Sublessor or such other person(s) as Sublessor may appoint shall have the exclusive control and management of the Common Areas and shall have the right, from time to time, to establish, modify, amend and enforce reasonable rules and regulations (“Rules and Regulations”) for the management, safety, care, and cleanliness of the·grounds, the parking and unloading of vehicles and the preservation of good order, as well as for the convenience of other occupants or tenants of the Building and the Project and their invitees. Sublessee agrees to abide by and conform to all such Rules and Regulations, and to cause its employees, suppliers, shippers, customers, contractors and invitees to so abide and conform. Sublessor shall not be responsible to Sublessee for the noncompliance with said Rules and Regulations by other tenants of the Project.
2.10 Common Areas-Changes. Sublessor shall have the right, in Sublessor’s sole discretion, from time to time:
(a) To make changes to the Common Areas, including, without limitation, changes in the location, size, shape and number of driveways, entrances, parking spaces, parking areas, loading and unloading areas, ingress, egress, direction of traffic, landscaped areas, walkways and utility raceways;
(b) To close temporarily any of the Common Areas for maintenance purposes so long as reasonable access to the Premises remains available;
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(c) To add additional buildings and improvements to the Common Areas;
(d) To use the Common Areas while engaged in making additional improvements, repairs or alterations to the Project, or any portion thereof; and
(e) To do and perform such other acts and make such other changes in, to or with respect to the Common Areas and Project as Sublessor may, in the exercise of sound business judgment, deem to be appropriate.
3. Possession.
3.1 Early Possession. Any provision herein granting Sublessee Early Possession of the Premises is subject to and conditioned upon the Premises being available for such possession prior to the Commencement Date. Any grant of Early Possession only conveys a non-exclusive right to occupy the Premises. If Sublessee totally or partially occupies the Premises prior to the Commencement Date, the obligation to pay Base Rent shall be abated for the period of such Early Possession. All other terms of this Sublease (including but not limited to the obligations to pay Sublessee’s Share of Common Area Operating Expenses, Real Property Taxes and insurance premiums and to maintain the Premises) shall, however, be in effect during such period. Any such Early Possession shall not affect the Expiration Date.
3.2 Delay in Commencement. Sublessor agrees to use its best commercially reasonable efforts to deliver possession of the Premises by the Commencement Date. If, despite said efforts, Sublessor is unable to deliver possession as agreed, the rights and obligations of Sublessor and Sublessee shall be as set forth in Paragraph 3.3 of the Master Lease (as modified by Paragraph 6.3 of this Sublease).
3.3 Sublessee Compliance. Sublessor shall not be required to tender possession of the Premises to Sublessee until Sublessee complies with its obligation to provide evidence of insurance. Pending delivery of such evidence, Sublessee shall be required to perform all of its obligations under this Sublease from and after the Start Date, including the payment of Rent, notwithstanding Sublessor’s election to withhold possession pending receipt of such evidence of insurance. Further, If Sublessee is required to perform any other conditions prior to or concurrent with the Start Date, the Start Date shall occur but Sublessor may elect to withhold possession until such conditions are satisfied.
4. Rent and Other Charges.
4.1 Rent Defined. All monetary obligations of Sublessee to Sublessor under the terms of this Sublease (except for the Security Deposit) are deemed to be rent (“Rent”). Rent shall be payable in lawful money of the United States to Sublessor at the address stated herein or to such other persons or at such other places as Sublessor may designate in writing.
4.2 Common Area Operating Expenses. Sublessee shall pay to Sublessor during the term hereof, in addition to the Base Rent, Sublessee’s Share of all Common Area Operating Expenses, as hereinafter defined, during each calendar year of the term of this Sublease, in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) “Common Area Operating Expenses” are defined, for purposes of this Sublease, as those costs incurred by Sublessor relating to the operation of the Project, which are included in the following list:
(i) Costs related to the operation, repair and maintenance, in neat, clean, good order and condition, but not the replacement of the following:
(aa) The Common Areas and Common Area improvements, including parking areas, loading and unloading areas, trash areas, roadways, parkways, walkways, driveways, landscaped areas, bumpers, irrigation systems, Common Area lighting facilities, fences and gates, elevators, roofs, and roof drainage systems.
(bb) Exterior signs and any tenant directories.
(cc) Any fire sprinkler systems.
(ii) The cost of water, gas, electricity and telephone to service the Common Areas and any utilities not separately metered.
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(iii) The cost of trash disposal, pest control services, property management, security services, and the costs of any environmental inspections.
(iv) Reserves set aside for maintenance and repair of Common Areas.
(v) Real Property Taxes.
(vi) insurance premiums.
(vii) Any deductible portion of an insured loss concerning the Building or the Common Areas.
(b) The inclusion of the improvements, facilities and services set forth in Subparagraph 4.2(a) shall not be deemed to impose an obligation upon Sublessor to either have said improvements or facilities or to provide those services unless Sublessor already provides the services, or Sublessor has agreed elsewhere in this Sublease to provide the same or some of them.
(c) Sublessee’s Share of Common Area Operating Expenses is payable monthly on the same day as the Base Rent is due hereunder. The amount of such payments shall be based on Sublessor’s estimate of the Common Area Operating Expenses. Within 60 days after written request (but not more than once each year) Sublessor shall deliver to Sublessee a reasonably detailed statement showing Sublessee’s Share of the actual Common Area Operating Expenses incurred during the preceding year. If Sublessee’s payments under this Paragraph 4.2(c) during the preceding year exceed Sublessee’s Share as indicated on such statement, Sublessor shall credit the amount of such overpayment against Sublessee’s Share of Common Area Operating Expenses next becoming due. If Sublessee’s payments under this Paragraph 4.2(c) during the preceding year were less than Sublessee’s Share as indicated on such statement, Sublessee shall pay to Sublessor the amount of the deficiency within 10 days after delivery by Sublessor to Sublessee of the statement.
4.3 Utilities. Sublessee shall pay for all water, gas, heat, light, power, telephone, trash disposal and other utilities and services supplied to the Premises, together with any taxes thereon. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 4.2, if at any time in Sublessor’s sole judgment, Sublessor determines that Sublessee is using a disproportionate amount of water, electricity or other commonly metered utilities, or that Sublessee is generating such a large volume of trash as to require an increase in the size of the dumpster and/or an increase in the number of times per month that the dumpster is emptied, then Sublessor may increase Sublessee’s Base Rent by an amount equal to such Increased costs.
5. Security Deposit. The rights and obligations of Sublessor and Sublessee as to said Security Deposit shall be as set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Master Lease (as modified by Paragraph 6.3 of this Sublease).
6. Master Lease.
6.1 Sublessor is the lessee of the Premises by virtue of the “Master Lease”, wherein The Realty Associates Fund XI Portfolio, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership is the lessor, hereinafter the “ Master Lessor”.
6.2 This Sublease is and shall be at all times subject and subordinate to the Master Lease.
6.3 The terms, conditions and respective obligations of Sublessor and Sublessee to each other under this Sublease shall be the terms and conditions of the Master Lease except for those provisions of the Master Lease which are directly contradicted by this Sublease in which event the terms of this Sublease document shall control over the Master Lease. Therefore, for the purposes of this Sublease, wherever in the Master Lease the word “Lessor” is used it shall be deemed to mean the Sublessor herein and wherever in the Master Lease the word “Lessee” is used it shall be deemed to mean the Sublessee herein.
6.4 During the term of this Sublease and for all periods subsequent for obligations which have arisen prior to the termination of this Sublease, Sublessee does hereby expressly assume and agree to perform and comply with, for the benefit of Sublessor and Master Lessor, each and every obligation of Sublessor under the Master Lease except for the following paragraphs which are excluded therefrom: ______.
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6.5 The obligations that Sublessee has assumed under paragraph 6.4 hereof are hereinafter referred to as the “Sublessee’s Assumed Obligations”. The obligations that sublessee has not assumed under paragraph 6.4 hereof are hereinafter referred to as the “Sublessor’s Remaining Obligations”.
6.6 Sublessee shall hold Sublessor free and harmless from all liability, Judgments, costs, damages, claims or demands, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising out of Sublessee’s failure to comply with or perform Sublessee’s Assumed Obligations.
6.7 Sublessor agrees to maintain the Master Lease during the entire term of this Sublease, subject, however, to any earlier termination of the Master Lease without the fault of the Sublessor, and to comply with or perform Sublessor’s Remaining Obligations and to hold Sublessee free and harmless from all liability, Judgments, costs, damages, claims or demands arising out of Sublessor’s failure to comply with or perform Sublessor’s Remaining Obligations.
6.8 Sublessor represents to Sublessee that the Master Lease is in full force and effect and that no default exists on the part of any Party to the Master Lease.
7. Assignment of Sublease and Default.
7.1 Sublessor hereby assigns and transfers to Master Lessor the Sublessor’s interest in this Sublease, subject however to the provisions of Paragraph 8.2 hereof.
7.2 Master Lessor, by executing this document, agrees that until a Default shall occur in the performance of Sublessor’s Obligations under the Master Lease, that Sublessor may receive, collect and enjoy the Rent accruing under this Sublease. However, if Sublessor shall Default in the performance of its obligations to Master Lessor then Master Lessor may, at its option, receive and collect, directly from Sublessee, all Rent owing and to be owed under this Sublease. Master Lessor shall not, by reason of this assignment of the Sublease nor by reason of the collection of the Rent from the Sublessee, be deemed liable to Sublessee for any failure of the Sublessor to perform and comply with Sublessor’s Remaining Obligations.
7.3 Sublessor hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs Sublessee upon receipt of any written notice from the Master Lessor stating that a Default exists in the performance of Sublessor’s obligations under the Master Lease, to pay to Master Lessor the Rent due and to become due under the Sublease. Sublessor agrees that Sublessee shall have the right to rely upon any such statement and request from Master Lessor, and that Sublessee shall pay such Rent to Master Lessor without any obligation or right to inquire as to whether such Default exists and notwithstanding any notice from or claim from Sublessor to the contrary and Sublessor shall have no right or claim against Sublessee for any such Rent so paid by Sublessee.
7.4 No changes or modifications shall be made to this Sublease without the consent of Master Lessor.
8. Consent of Master Lessor.
8.1 In the event that the Master Lease requires that Sublessor obtain the consent of Master Lessor to any subletting by Sublessor then, this Sublease shall not be effective unless, within 10 days of the date hereof; Master Lessor signs this Sublease thereby giving its consent to this Subletting.
8.2 In the event that the obligations of the Sublessor under the Master Lease have been guaranteed by third parties, then neither this Sublease, nor the Master Lessor’s consent, shall be effective unless, within 10 days of the date hereof, said guarantors sign this Sublease thereby giving their consent to this Sublease.
8.3 In the event that Master Lessor does give such consent then:
(a) Such consent shall not release Sublessor of its obligations or alter the primary liability of Sublessor to pay the Rent and perform and comply with all of the obligations of Sublessor to be performed under the Master Lease.
(b) The acceptance of Rent by Master Lessor from Sublessee or any one else liable under the Master Lease shall not be deemed a waiver by Master Lessor of any provisions of the Master Lease.
(c) The consent to this Sublease shall not constitute a consent to any subsequent subletting or assignment.
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(d) In the event of any Default of Sublessor under the Master Lease, Master Lessor may proceed directly against Sublessor, any guarantors or any one else liable under the Master Lease or this Sublease without first exhausting Master Lessor’s remedies against any other person or entity liable thereon to Master Lessor.
(e) Master Lessor may consent to subsequent sublettings and assignments of the Master Lease or this Sublease or any amendments or modifications thereto without notifying Sublessor or any one else liable under the Master Lease and without obtaining their consent and such action shall not relieve such persons from liability.
(f) In the event that Sublessor shall Default in its obligations under the Master Lease, then Master Lessor, at its option and without being obligated to do so, may require Sublessee to attorn to Master Lessor in which event Master Lessor shall undertake the obligations of Sublessor under this Sublease from the time of the exercise of said option to termination of this Sublease but Master Lessor shall not be liable for any prepaid Rent nor any Security Deposit paid by Sublessee, nor shall Master Lessor be liable for any other Defaults of the Sublessor under the Sublease.
8.4 The signatures of the Master Lessor and any Guarantors of Sublessor at the end of this document shall constitute their consent to the terms of this Sublease.
8.5 Master Lessor acknowledges that, to the best of Master Lessor’s knowledge, no Default presently exists under the Master Lease of obligations to be performed by Sublessor and that the Master Lease is in full force and effect.
8.6 In the event that Sublessor Defaults under its obligations to be performed under the Master Lease by Sublessor, Master Lessor agrees to deliver to Sublessee a copy of any such notice of default. Sublessee shall have the right to cure any Default of Sublessor described in any notice of default if Sublessee does so within the same number of days set forth in the notice of default given to Sublessor. If such Default is cured by Sublessee then Sublessee shall have the right of reimbursement and offset from and against Sublessor.
9. Additional Brokers Commissions.
9.1 Sublessor agrees that if Sublessee exercises any option or right of first refusal as granted by Sublessor herein, or, any option or right substantially similar thereto, either to extend the term of this Sublease, to renew this Sublease, to purchase the Premises, or to lease or purchase adjacent property which Sublessor may own or in which Sublessor has an interest, then Sublessor shall pay to Broker a fee in accordance with the schedule of Broker in effect at the time of the execution of this Sublease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sublessor’s obligation under this Paragraph is limited to a transaction in which Sublessor Is acting as a Sublessor, lessor or seller.
9.2 If a separate brokerage fee agreement is attached then Master Lessor agrees that if Sublessee shall exercise any option or right of first refusal granted to Sublessee by Master Lessor in connection with this Sublease, or any option or right substantially similar thereto, either to extend or renew the Master Lease, to purchase the Premises or any part thereof, or to lease or purchase adjacent property which Master Lessor may own or in which Master Lessor has an interest, or if Broker is the procuring cause of any other lease or sale entered into between Sublessee and Master Lessor pertaining to the Premises, any part thereof, or any adjacent property which Master Lessor owns or in which it has an interest, then as to any of said transactions, Master Lessor shall pay to Broker a fee, in cash, in accordance with the schedule attached to such brokerage fee agreement.
9.3 Any fee due from Sublessor or Master Lessor hereunder shall be due and payable upon the exercise of any option to extend or renew, upon the execution of any new lease, or, in the event of a purchase, at the close of escrow.
9.4 Any transferee of Sublessor’s interest in this Sublease, or of Master Lessor’s interest in the Master Lease, by accepting an assignment thereof, shall be deemed to have assumed the respective obligations of Sublessor or Master Lessor under this Paragraph 9. Broker shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this paragraph 9.
10. Representations and Indemnities of Broker Relationships. The Parties each represent and warrant to the other that it has had no dealings with any person, firm, broker, agent or finder (other than the Brokers and Agents, if any) in connection with this Sublease, and that no one other than said named Brokers and Agents is entitled to any commission or finder’s fee in connection herewith. Sublessee and Sublessor do each hereby agree to indemnify, protect, defend and hold the other harmless
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from and against liability for compensation or charges which may be claimed by any such unnamed broker, finder or other similar party by reason of any dealings or actions of the indemnifying Party, including any costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred with respect thereto.
11. Attorney’s fees. If any Party or Broker brings an action or proceeding involving the Premises whether founded In tort, contract or equity, or to declare rights hereunder, the Prevailing Party (as hereafter defined) In any such proceeding, action, or appeal thereon, shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees. Such fees may be awarded in the same suit or recovered in a separate suit, whether or not such action or proceeding is pursued to decision or judgment. The term, “Prevailing Party” shall include, without limitation, a Party or Broker who substantially obtains or defeats the relief sought, as the case may be, whether by compromise, settlement, judgment, or the abandonment by the other Party or Broker of its claim or defense. The attorneys’ fees award shall not be computed in accordance with any court fee schedule, but shall be such as to fully reimburse all attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred. In addition, Sublessor shall be entitled to attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in the preparation and service of notices of Default and consultations in connection therewith, whether or not a legal action is subsequently commenced in connection with such Default or resulting Breach ($200 is a reasonable minimum per occurrence for such services and consultation).
12. No Prior or Other Agreements; Broker Disclaimer. This Sublease contains all agreements between the Parties with respect to any matter mentioned herein, and no other prior or contemporaneous agreement or understanding shall be effective. Sublessor and Sublessee each represents and warrants to the Brokers that it has made, and is relying solely upon, its own investigation as to the nature, quality, character and financial responsibility of the other Party to this Sublease and as to the use, nature, quality and character of the Premises. Brokers have no responsibility with respect thereto or with respect to any default or breach hereof by either Party. The liability (including court costs and attorneys’ fees), of any Broker with respect to negotiation, execution, delivery or performance by either Sublessor or Sublessee under this Sublease or any amendment or modification hereto shall be limited to an amount up to the fee received by such Broker pursuant to this Sublease; provided, however, that the foregoing limitation on each Broker’s liability shall not be applicable to any gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Broker. Signatures to this Sublease accomplished by means of electronic signature or similar technology shall be legal and binding.
13. Accessibility; Americans with Disabilities Act.
(a) The Premises:
☐ have not undergone an inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp). Note: A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) can inspect the subject premises and determine whether the subject premises comply with all of the applicable construction·related accessibility standards under state law. Although state law does not require a CASp Inspection of the subject premises, the commercial property owner or lessor may not prohibit the lessee or tenant from obtaining a CASp inspection of the subject premises for the occupancy or potential occupancy of the lessee or tenant, if requested by the lessee or tenant. The parties shall mutually agree on the arrangements for the time and manner of the CASp inspection, the payment of the fee for the CASp inspection, and the cost of making any repairs necessary to correct violations of construction related accessibility standards within the premises.
☐ have undergone an inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) and it was determined that the Premises met all applicable construction-related accessibility standards pursuant to California Civil Code §55.51 et seq. Lessee acknowledges that it received a copy of the inspection report at least 48 hours prior to executing this Lease and agrees to keep such report confidential.
☐ have undergone an inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) and it was determined that the Premises did not meet all applicable construction-related accessibility standards pursuant to California Civil Code §55.51 et seq. Lessee acknowledges that it received a copy of the inspection report at least 48 hours prior to executing this Lease and agrees to keep such report confidential except as necessary to complete repairs and corrections of violations of construction related accessibility standards. In the event that the Premises have been issued an inspection report by a CASp the Lessor shall provide a copy of the disability access inspection certificate to Lessee within 7 days of the execution of this Lease.
(b) Since compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state and local accessibility statutes are dependent upon Lessee’s specific use of the Premises, Lessor makes no warranty or representation as to whether or not
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the Premises comply with ADA or any similar legislation. In the event that Lessee’s use of the Premises requires modifications or additions to the Premises in order to be in compliance with ADA or other accessibility statutes, Lessee agrees to make any such necessary modifications and/or additions at Lessee’s expense.
ATTENTION: NO REPRESENTATION OR RECOMMENDATION IS MADE BY AIR CRE OR BY ANY REAL ESTATE BROKER AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY, LEGAL EFFECT, OR TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THIS SUBLEASE OR THE TRANSACTION TO WHICH IT RELATES. THE PARTIES ARE URGED TO:
1. SEEK ADVICE OF COUNSEL AS TO THE LEGAL AND TAX CONSEQUENCES OF TH IS SUBLEASE.
2. RETAIN APPROPRIATE CONSULTANTS TO REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE THE CONDITION OF THE PREMISES. SAID INVESTIGATION SHOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: THE POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, THE CONDITION OF THE ROOF AND OPERATING SYSTEMS, AND THE SUITABILITY OF THE PREMISES FOR SUBLESSEE’S INTENDED USE.
WARNING: IF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN A STATE OTHER THAN CALIFORNIA, CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE SUBLEASE MAY NEED TO BE REVISED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED.
| Executed At: | CPV |
| Executed At: | CPV |
| On: | 5/28/21 |
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| By Sublessee: | NeoVolta, Inc. |
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| By: | /s/ Brent S. Willson |
| Name Printed: | John Hass |
| Name Printed: | Brent S. Willson |
| Title: | CEO |
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Consent to the above Sublease is hereby given
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By Master Lessor:
The Realty Associates Fund XI Portfolio, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership
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AIR CRE * https://www.alrcre.com *213.687.8777·contracts@alrcre.com
NOTICE: No part of these works may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing.
14. Base Rent Schedule:
1/1/21-12/31/21: $8,000.00
1/1/22 -12/31/22: $8,100.00
1/1/23 -12/31/23: $8,400.00
1/1/24 -12/31/24: $8,700.00
1/1/25 -2/28/25: $8,700.00
15. Rental Abatement. Lessee shall receive two (2) months of Base Rent abatement during months two (2) and three (3) of the Sublease Term.
16. Forklift. Sublessor agrees to afford Sublessee with reasonable access to its on-site fork lift and other loading and unloading equipment (“Sublessor Equipment”). Sublessee agrees to release and discharge Sublessor and its officers, employees, affiliates, successors, partners and representatives from any and all claims, liabilities, damages or disputes of any nature and kind arising out of Sublessee’s use of any Sublessor Equipment
/S/ BW . /S/ JH .
INITIALS INITIALS
Last Edited: 5/24/2021 12:37 PM
Page 10 of 11
THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made effective upon NeoVolta’s Common Stock becoming listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and is by and between NeoVolta, Inc. a Nevada corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), and Susan Snow (hereinafter referred to as the “Director”).
BACKGROUND
The Board of Directors of the Company desires to appoint the Director and to have the Director perform the duties of an independent director and the Director desires to be so appointed and to perform the duties required of such position in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
In consideration for the above recited promises and the mutual promises contained herein, the adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Director hereby agree as follows:
1. DUTIES. The Company requires that the Director be available to perform the duties of an independent director customarily related to this function as may be determined and assigned by the Board of Directors of the Company and as may be required by the Company’s constituent instruments, including its articles of incorporation, bylaws and its corporate governance and board committee charters (if any), each as amended or modified from time to time, and by applicable law, including the Nevada Revised Statues, corporate governance standards, or any other applicable governing statute (the “Law”). The Director agrees to devote as much time as is necessary to perform completely the duties as the Director of the Company, including duties as a member of such committees as the Director may hereafter be appointed to. The Director will perform such duties described herein in accordance with the general fiduciary duty of directors arising under the Law.
2. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date of the Director’s appointment by the Board of Directors of the Company and shall continue until the Director’s removal or resignation.
COMPENSATION. The following shall serve as compensation to the Director, for all duties, services, and positions:
Cash and Common Shares. As annual compensation, the Company agrees to compensate Director in the amount of Sixty-Five Thousand ($65,000). Compensation shall be paid quarterly wherein not less than 70% is paid in common shares of the Company (the “Shares”), issued in book entry form calculated based on the share price at the end of such fiscal quarter, and up to 30% paid in cash, with such final amounts to be determined by the Director.
3. EXPENSES. In addition to the compensation provided in paragraph 3 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Director for pre-approved reasonable business-related expenses incurred in good faith in the performance of the Director’s duties for the Company. Such payments shall be made by the Company upon submission by the Director of a signed statement itemizing the expenses incurred. Such statement shall be accompanied by sufficient documentary matter to support the expenditures.
4. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Company and the Director each acknowledge that, in order for the intents and purposes of this Agreement to be accomplished, the Director shall necessarily be obtaining access to certain confidential information concerning the Company and its affairs, including, but not limited to business methods, information systems, financial data and strategic plans which are unique assets of the Company (“Confidential Information”). The Director covenants not to, either directly or indirectly, in any manner, utilize or disclose to any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity any Confidential Information.
1
5. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. The Director represents that she is free to enter into this Agreement and that this engagement does not violate the terms of any agreements between the Director and any third party. Further, the Director, in rendering his services shall not utilize any invention, discovery, development, improvement, innovation, or trade secret in which she does not have a proprietary interest or is not otherwise authorized to use.
6. INVENTIONS. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments and innovations conceived by the Director during this engagement relative to the duties under this Agreement shall be the exclusive property of the Company; and the Director hereby assigns all right, title, and interest in the same to the Company. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments and innovations conceived by the Director prior to the Term and utilized by her in rendering duties to the Company are hereby licensed to the Company for use in its operations and for an infinite duration. This license is non-exclusive, and may be assigned without the Director’s prior written approval by the Company to a parent, affiliate, successor, or wholly owned subsidiary of Company
7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and the rights of the parties hereto shall be determined by, the laws of the State of Nevada without reference to that state’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties consent to and agree that the state and federal courts located in San Diego, California will have exclusive jurisdiction related to any dispute related to or arising from this Agreement.
8. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile or electronic .PDF (or similar format) execution and delivery of-this Agreement is legal, valid, and binding for all purposes.
9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except as provided elsewhere herein, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with .respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations, or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee, or representative of any party to this Agreement with respect to such subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Independent Director Agreement to be duly executed and signed as of the day and year set forth below.
NeoVolta, Inc.
By: /s/ Brent S. Willson
Name: Brent S. Willson
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Independent Director
/s/ Susan Snow
Name: Susan Snow
Address: ***
Date: April 11, 2022
2
THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made effective upon NeoVolta’s Common Stock becoming listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and is by and between NeoVolta, Inc. a Nevada corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), and John Hass (hereinafter referred to as the “Director”).
BACKGROUND
The Board of Directors of the Company desires to appoint the Director and to have the Director perform the duties of an independent director and the Director desires to be so appointed and to perform the duties required of such position in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
In consideration for the above recited promises and the mutual promises contained herein, the adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Director hereby agree as follows:
1. DUTIES. The Company requires that the Director be available to perform the duties of an independent director customarily related to this function as may be determined and assigned by the Board of Directors of the Company and as may be required by the Company’s constituent instruments, including its articles of incorporation, bylaws and its corporate governance and board committee charters (if any), each as amended or modified from time to time, and by applicable law, including the Nevada Revised Statues, corporate governance standards, or any other applicable governing statute (the “Law”). The Director agrees to devote as much time as is necessary to perform completely the duties as the Director of the Company, including duties as a member of such committees as the Director may hereafter be appointed to. The Director will perform such duties described herein in accordance with the general fiduciary duty of directors arising under the Law.
2. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date of the Director’s appointment by the Board of Directors of the Company and shall continue until the Director’s removal or resignation.
COMPENSATION. The following shall serve as compensation to the Director, for all duties, services, and positions:
Cash and Common Shares. As annual compensation, the Company agrees to compensate Director in the amount of Sixty-Five Thousand ($65,000). Compensation shall be paid quarterly wherein not less than 70% is paid in common shares of the Company (the “Shares”), issued in book entry form calculated based on the share price at the end of such fiscal quarter, and up to 30% paid in cash, with such final amounts to be determined by the Director.
3. EXPENSES. In addition to the compensation provided in paragraph 3 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Director for pre-approved reasonable business-related expenses incurred in good faith in the performance of the Director’s duties for the Company. Such payments shall be made by the Company upon submission by the Director of a signed statement itemizing the expenses incurred. Such statement shall be accompanied by sufficient documentary matter to support the expenditures.
4. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Company and the Director each acknowledge that, in order for the intents and purposes of this Agreement to be accomplished, the Director shall necessarily be obtaining access to certain confidential information concerning the Company and its affairs, including, but not limited to business methods, information systems, financial data and strategic plans which are unique assets of the Company (“Confidential Information”). The Director covenants not to, either directly or indirectly, in any manner, utilize or disclose to any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity any Confidential Information.
1
5. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. The Director represents that he is free to enter into this Agreement and that this engagement does not violate the terms of any agreements between the Director and any third party. Further, the Director, in rendering his services shall not utilize any invention, discovery, development, improvement, innovation, or trade secret in which she does not have a proprietary interest or is not otherwise authorized to use.
6. INVENTIONS. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments and innovations conceived by the Director during this engagement relative to the duties under this Agreement shall be the exclusive property of the Company; and the Director hereby assigns all right, title, and interest in the same to the Company. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments and innovations conceived by the Director prior to the Term and utilized by him in rendering duties to the Company are hereby licensed to the Company for use in its operations and for an infinite duration. This license is non-exclusive, and may be assigned without the Director’s prior written approval by the Company to a parent, affiliate, successor, or wholly owned subsidiary of Company
7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and the rights of the parties hereto shall be determined by, the laws of the State of Nevada without reference to that state’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties consent to and agree that the state and federal courts located in San Diego, California will have exclusive jurisdiction related to any dispute related to or arising from this Agreement.
8. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile or electronic .PDF (or similar format) execution and delivery of-this Agreement is legal, valid, and binding for all purposes.
9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except as provided elsewhere herein, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with .respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations, or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee, or representative of any party to this Agreement with respect to such subject matter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Independent Director Agreement to be duly executed and signed as of the day and year set forth below.
NeoVolta, Inc.
By: /s/ Brent S. Willson
Name: Brent S. Willson
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Independent Director
/s/ John Hass
Name: John Hass
Address: ***
Date: April 7, 2022
2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report dated October 1, 2021 with respect to the audited financial statements of NeoVolta, Inc. for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. Our report contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We also consent to the references to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
Houston, Texas
April 12, 2022
CONSENT OF SUSAN SNOW
In connection with the filing by NeoVolta, Inc. of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors for NeoVolta, Inc. in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Dated: April 11, 2022 | Susan Snow |
|
|
| /s/ Susan Snow |
| Signature |
CONSENT OF JOHN HASS
In connection with the filing by NeoVolta, Inc. of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors for NeoVolta, Inc. in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Dated: April 11, 2022 | John Hass |
|
|
| /s/ John Hass |
| Signature |