SANUWAVE Health, Inc 10-K for FY2019
SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (SNWV)
10-K
2020-03-30
For: 2019-12-31
View Original
Added on
April 10, 2026
About this 10-K
SANUWAVE Health, Inc filed this 10-K on March 30, 2020, covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (FY2019).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $1.53M
- down 17.4% from $1.85M a year earlier
- Net loss
- $9.93M
- compared with a net loss of $11.63M a year earlier
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to.
Commission File Number: 000-52985
SANUWAVE Health, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)
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Nevada
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20-1176000
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(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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3360 Martin Farm Road, Suite 100
Suwanee, Georgia
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30024
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip Code)
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(770) 419-7525
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area
Code
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class
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Trading Symbol(s)
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Common Stock, par value $0.001
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SNWV
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OTCQB
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a
well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act. YES ☐ NO ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not
required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ☐ NO ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
(1) has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period
that the registrant was required to file such reports), and
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. YES ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark
whether the registrant has submitted electronically every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to
Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit such files). YES ☒ NO ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
reporting company. See definitions of “large
accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and
“smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated filer ☐
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Non-accelerated filer ☒
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Smaller reporting company ☒
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Emerging growth company ☐
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended
transition period for complying with any new or revised financial
accounting standards provided pursuant to
Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a
shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
YES ☐ NO ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock
held by non-affiliates of the registrant (assuming, for purposes of
this calculation only, that the registrant’s directors,
executive officers and greater than 10% shareholders are affiliates
of the registrant), based upon the closing sale price of the
registrant’s common stock on June 30, 2019, the last business
day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal
quarter, was $25 million.
As of March 25, 2020, there were issued and outstanding
297,340,200 shares of the registrant’s common
stock.
SANUWAVE Health,
Inc.
Table of Contents
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PART
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PART
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PART
IV
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2
PART I
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. and its
subsidiaries (“SANUWAVE” or the “Company”)
contains forward-looking statements. All statements in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K, including those made by the management of the
Company, other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements
include statements regarding the Company’s future financial
results, the Company’s near term cash requirements and cash
sources, the ability to conduct clinical trials durng the COVID-19
pandemic, clinical trial results, regulatory approvals, operating
results, business strategies, projected costs, products,
competitive positions, management’s plans and objectives for
future operations, global economic conditions, and industry trends.
These forward-looking statements are based on management’s
estimates, projections and assumptions as of the date hereof and
include the assumptions that underlie such statements.
Forward-looking statements may contain words such as
“may,” “will,” “should,”
“could,” “would,” “expect,”
“plan,” “anticipate,”
“believe,” “estimate,”
“predict,” “potential” and
“continue,” the negative of these terms, or other
comparable terminology. Any expectations based on these
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
and other important factors, including those discussed in this
report, including the sections titled “Risk Factors”
and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.” Other risks and
uncertainties are and will be disclosed in the Company’s
prior and future Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) filings. These and many other factors could
affect the Company’s future financial condition and operating
results and could cause actual results to differ materially from
expectations based on forward-looking statements made in this
document or elsewhere by the Company or on its behalf. The Company
undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statements.
Except as otherwise indicated by the context, references in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we,” “us”
and “our” are to the consolidated business of the
Company.
3
Item 1. BUSINESS
Overview
We are a shock wave technology company using a patented system of
noninvasive, high-energy, acoustic shock waves for regenerative
medicine and other applications. Our initial focus is regenerative
medicine utilizing noninvasive, acoustic shock waves to produce a
biological response resulting in the body healing itself through
the repair and regeneration of tissue, musculoskeletal, and
vascular structures. Our lead regenerative product in the United
States is the dermaPACE® device, used
for treating diabetic foot ulcers, which was subject to two
double-blinded, randomized Phase III clinical studies.
On
December 28, 2017, the U.S. FDA granted the Company’s request
to classify the dermaPACE System as a Class II device via the
de novo process. As a
result of this decision, the Company was able to immediately market
the product for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) as
described in the De Novo request, subject to the general control
provisions of the FD&C Act and the special controls identified
in this order.
Our
portfolio of healthcare products and product candidates activate
biologic signaling and angiogenic responses, including new
vascularization and microcirculatory improvement, helping to
restore the body’s normal healing processes and regeneration.
We intend to apply our Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression
(PACE®) technology in
wound healing, orthopedic, plastic/cosmetic and cardiac conditions.
The Company is marketing its dermaPACE
System for treatment usage in the United States and will continue
to generate revenue from sales of the European Conformity
Marking (CE Mark) devices and accessories in Europe, Canada, Asia,
and Asia/Pacific. The Company generates revenue streams from
dermaPACE treatments, product sales, licensing transactions and
other activities.
Our
lead product candidate for the global wound care market, dermaPACE,
has received FDA clearance for commercial use to treat diabetic
foot ulcers in the United States and the CE Mark allowing for
commercial use on acute and chronic defects of the skin and
subcutaneous soft tissue. We believe we have demonstrated that our
patented technology is safe and effective in stimulating healing in
chronic conditions of the foot and the elbow through our United
States FDA Class III Premarket Approvals ("PMAs") approved
OssaTron® device, and in the stimulation of bone and chronic
tendonitis regeneration in the musculoskeletal environment through
the utilization of our OssaTron, Evotron®, and orthoPACE®
devices in Europe and Asia.
We
are focused on developing our Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression
(PACE) technology to activate healing in:
●
wound
conditions, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous and arterial
ulcers, pressure sores, burns and other skin eruption
conditions;
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orthopedic
applications, such as eliminating chronic pain in joints from
trauma, arthritis or tendons/ligaments inflammation, speeding the
healing of fractures (including nonunion or delayed-union
conditions), improving bone density in osteoporosis, fusing bones
in the extremities and spine, and other potential sports injury
applications;
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plastic/cosmetic
applications such as cellulite smoothing, graft and transplant
acceptance, skin tightening, scarring and other potential aesthetic
uses; and
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cardiac
applications for removing plaque due to atherosclerosis improving
heart muscle performance.
In
addition to healthcare uses, our high-energy, acoustic pressure
shock waves, due to their powerful pressure gradients and localized
cavitational effects, may have applications in secondary and
tertiary oil exploitation, for cleaning industrial waters and food
liquids and finally for maintenance of industrial installations by
disrupting biofilms formation. Our business approach will be
through licensing and/or partnership opportunities.
We
were formed as a Nevada corporation in 2004. We maintain a public
internet site at www.sanuwave.com. The information on our websites
is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression (PACE) Technology for
Regenerative Medicine
Our
PACE product candidates, including our lead product candidate,
dermaPACE, deliver high-energy acoustic pressure waves in the shock
wave spectrum to produce compressive and tensile stresses on cells
and tissue structures. These mechanical stresses at the cellular
level have been shown in pre-clinical work to promote angiogenic
and positive inflammatory responses, and quickly initiate the
healing cascade. This has been shown in pre-clinical work to result
in microcirculatory improvement, including increased perfusion and
blood vessel widening (arteriogenesis), the production of
angiogenic growth factors, enhanced new blood vessel formation
(angiogenesis) and the subsequent regeneration of tissue such as
skin, musculoskeletal and vascular structures. PACE procedures
trigger the initiation of an accelerated inflammatory response that
speeds wounds into proliferation phases of healing and subsequently
returns a chronic condition to an acute condition to help
reinitiate the body’s own healing response. We believe that
our PACE technology is well suited for various applications due to
its activation of a broad spectrum of cellular events critical for
the initiation and progression of healing.
4
High-energy,
acoustic pressure shock waves are the primary component of our
previously developed product, OssaTron, which was approved by the
FDA and marketed in the United States for use in chronic plantar
fasciitis of the foot in 2000 and for elbow tendonitis in 2003.
Previously, acoustic pressure shock waves have been used safely at
much higher energy and pulse levels in the lithotripsy procedure
(breaking up kidney stones) by urologists for over 25 years and has
reached the care status of “golden standard” for the
treatment of kidney stones.
We
research, design, manufacture, market and service our products
worldwide and believe we have already demonstrated that our
technology is safe and effective in stimulating healing in chronic
musculoskeletal conditions of the foot and the elbow through our
United States FDA Class III PMA approved OssaTron device, and in
the stimulation of bone and chronic tendonitis regeneration in the
musculoskeletal environment through the utilization of our
orthoPACE, Evotron and OssaTron devices in Europe, Asia and
Asia/Pacific.
We
believe our experience from our preclinical research and the
clinical use of our predecessor legacy devices in Europe and Asia,
as well as our OssaTron device in the United States, demonstrates
the safety, clinical utility and efficacy of these products. In
addition, we have preclinical programs focused on the development
and better understanding of treatments specific to our target
applications.
Currently,
there are limited biological or mechanical therapies available to
activate the healing and regeneration of skin, musculoskeletal
tissue and vascular structures. As baby boomers age, the incidence
of their targeted diseases and musculoskeletal injuries and
ailments will be far more prevalent. We believe that our
pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that our PACE technology
will be effective in targeted applications. We anticipate that
future clinical studies should lead to regulatory approval of our
regenerative product candidates in the Americas, Middle East and
Africa. If approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities, we
believe that our product candidates will offer new, effective and
noninvasive (extracorporeal) treatment options in wound healing,
orthopedic injuries, plastic/cosmetic uses and cardiovascular
procedures, improving the quality of life for millions of patients
suffering from injuries or deterioration of tissue, bones and
vascular structures.
dermaPACE – Our Lead Product Candidate
The FDA
granted approval of our Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to
conduct two double-blinded, randomized clinical trials utilizing
our lead device product for the global wound care market, the
dermaPACE device, in the treatment of diabetic foot
ulcers.
The
dermaPACE system was evaluated using two studies under IDE G070103.
The studies were designed as prospective, randomized, double-blind,
parallel-group, sham-controlled, multi-center 24-week studies at 39
centers. A total of 336 subjects were enrolled and treated with
either dermaPACE plus conventional therapy or conventional therapy
(a.k.a. standard of care) alone. Conventional therapy included, but
was not limited to, debridement, saline-moistened gauze, and
pressure reducing footwear. The objective of the studies was to
compare the safety and efficacy of the dermaPACE device to
sham-control application. The prospectively defined primary
efficacy endpoint for the dermaPACE studies was the incidence of
complete wound closure at 12 weeks post-initial application of the
dermaPACE system (active or sham). Complete wound closure was
defined as skin re-epithelialization without drainage or dressing
requirements, confirmed over two consecutive visits within
12-weeks. If the wound was considered closed for the first time at
the 12 week visit, then the next visit was used to confirm closure.
Investigators continued to follow subjects and evaluate wound
closure through 24 weeks.
Between
the two studies there were over 336 patients evaluated, with 172
patients treated with dermaPACE and 164 control group subjects with
use of a non-functional device (sham). Both treatment groups
received wound care consistent with the standard of care in
addition to device application. Study subjects were enrolled using
pre-determined inclusion/exclusion criteria in order to obtain a
homogenous study population with chronic diabetes and a diabetic
foot ulcer that has persisted a minimum of 30 days and its area is
between 1cm2 and 16cm2, inclusive. Subjects
were enrolled at Visit 1 and followed for a run-in period of two
weeks. At two weeks (Visit 2 – Day 0), the first treatment
was applied (either dermaPACE or Sham Control application).
Applications with either dermaPACE or Sham Control were then made
at Day 3 (Visit 3), Day 6 (Visit 4), and Day 9 (Visit 5) with the
potential for 4 additional treatments in Study 2. Subject progress
including wound size was then observed on a bi-weekly basis for up
to 24 weeks at a total of 12 visits (Weeks 2-24; Visits
6-17).
5
We
retained Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers, LLC (MCRA)
in January 2015 to lead the Company’s interactions and
correspondence with the FDA for the dermaPACE, which have already
commenced. MCRA has successfully worked with the FDA on numerous
Premarket Approvals (PMAs) for various musculoskeletal, restorative
and general surgical devices since 2006.
Working
with MCRA, we submitted to FDA a de novo petition on July 23, 2016. Due
to the strong safety profile of our device and the efficacy of the
data showing statistical significance for wound closure for
dermaPACE subjects at 20 weeks, we believe that the dermaPACE
device should be considered for classification into Class II as
there is no legally marketed predicate device and there is not an
existing Class III classification regulation or one or more
approved PMAs (which would have required a reclassification under
Section 513(e) or (f)(3) of the FD&C Act). On December 28,
2017, the FDA determined that the criteria at section 513(a)(1)(A)
of (B) of the FD&C Act were met and granted the de novo clearance classifying dermaPACE
as Class II and available to be marketed immediately.
Finally, our
dermaPACE device has received the European CE Mark approval to
treat acute and chronic defects of the skin and subcutaneous soft
tissue, such as in the treatment of pressure ulcers, diabetic foot
ulcers, burns, and traumatic and surgical wounds. The dermaPACE is
also licensed for sale in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South
Korea.
We are
actively marketing the dermaPACE to the European Community, Canada
and Asia/Pacific, utilizing distributors in select
countries.
Clinical Studies
A
dosage study has been developed for launch in Poland to optimize
dermaPACE system treatment dosage for producing a more rapid
reduction in size of a diabetic foot ulcer
(“DFU”). The focus will be on increasing the
number of shock waves delivered per treatment, as a function of
DFUs area. To determine the dosage necessary, three new
distinctive regimens will be assessed during the study. This
study started in April 2019 and is expected to be finalized in the
third quarter of 2020.
A
post-market pilot study to evaluate the effects of high energy
acoustic shock wave therapy on local skin perfusion and healing of
DFUs will be conducted at two sites: one in New Jersey and one in
California. The intent of this trial is to quantify the level of
increased perfusion and oxygenation during and after treatment with
the dermaPACE system. This study started in April 2019 and is
expected to be finalized late in the third quarter of
2020.
Growth Opportunity in Wound Care Treatment
We are focused on the development of products that
treat unmet medical needs in large market opportunities. Our FDA
approval in the United States for our lead product candidate,
dermaPACE, is the first step in providing an option to a currently
unmet need in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
Diabetes is common, disabling and deadly. In the United States,
diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. Based on our
research, foot ulcerations are one of the leading causes of
hospitalization in diabetic patients and lead to billions of
dollars in health care expenditures annually. According to a 2015 report by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 30.3 million people
(diagnosed and undiagnosed), roughly 9.4% of the United States
population, have diabetes and 1.5
million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 18
years or older in 2015. According to the same study,
approximately 25% of diabetics will develop a DFU during
their lifetime. Foot ulcers
are a significant complication of diabetes mellitus and often
precede lower-extremity amputation. The most frequent underlying
etiologies are neuropathy, trauma, deformity, high plantar
pressures, and peripheral arterial disease. Over 50% of DFUs
will become infected, resulting in high rates of hospitalization,
increased morbidity and potential lower extremity amputation.
Diabetic foot infections (“DFI”) are one of the most
common diabetes related cause of hospitalization in the United
States, accounting for 20% of all hospital admissions. Readmission
rates for DFI patients are approximately 40% and nearly one in six
patients die within 1 year of their infection. In a large
prospective study of patients with DFU, the presence of infection
increased the risk of a minor amputation by 50% compared to ulcer
patients without infection. DFUs account for more than half of the
non-traumatic lower-extremity amputations in the world. In June
2006, Advanced Medical Technology Association
(“AdvaMed”) estimated that chronic leg wounds (ulcers)
account for the loss of many workdays per year, at a cost of
approximately $20.8 billion in lost productivity. Advanced,
cost-effective treatment modalities for diabetes and its
comorbidities, including diabetic foot ulcers, are in great need
globally, yet in short supply. According to the International
Diabetes Federation 2017 Global Fact Sheet, 1 in 11 adults has
diabetes (approximately 425 million people) and 12% of global
health expenditure is spent on diabetes (approximately $727
billion).
6
A
majority of challenging wounds are non-healing chronic wounds and
in addition, chronic diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers are
often slow-to-heal wounds, which often fail to heal for many
months, and sometimes, for several years. These wounds often
involve physiologic, complex and multiple complications such as
reduced blood supply, compromised lymphatic systems or immune
deficiencies that interfere with the body’s normal wound
healing processes. These wounds often develop due to a
patient’s impaired vascular and tissue repair capabilities.
Wounds that are difficult to treat do not always respond to
traditional therapies, which include hydrocolloids, hydrogels and
alginates, among other treatments. We believe that physicians and
hospitals need a therapy that addresses the special needs of these
chronic wounds with high levels of both clinical and cost
effectiveness.
We
believe we are developing a safe and advanced technology in the
wound healing and tissue regeneration market with PACE. dermaPACE
is noninvasive and does not require anesthesia, making it a
cost-effective, time-efficient and painless approach to wound care.
Physicians and nurses look for therapies that can accelerate the
healing process and overcome the obstacles of patients’
compromised conditions, and prefer therapies that are easy to
administer. In addition, since many of these patients are not
confined to bed, healthcare providers want therapies that are
minimally disruptive to the patient’s or the
caregiver’s daily routines. dermaPACE’s noninvasive
treatments are designed to elicit the body’s own healing
response and, followed by simple standard of care dressing changes,
are designed to allow for limited disruption to the patients’
normal lives and have no effect on mobility while their wounds
heal.
Developing Product Opportunities - Orthopedic
We
launched the orthoPACE device in Europe, which is intended for use
in orthopedic, trauma and sports medicine indications, following CE
Marking approval in 2010. The device features four types of
applicators including a unique applicator that is less painful for
some indications and may reduce or completely eliminate anesthesia
for some patients. In the orthopedic setting, the orthoPACE is
being used to treat tendinopathies and acute and nonunion
fractures, including the soft tissue surrounding the fracture to
accelerate healing and prevent secondary complications and their
associated treatment costs. In 2013, we obtained approval from
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to market
orthoPACE in that country.
We
believe there are significant opportunities in the worldwide
orthopedic market, driven by aging baby boomers and their desire
for active lifestyles well into retirement and the growth in the
incidence of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, obesity, diabetes and
other diseases that cause injury to musculoskeletal tissues and/or
impair the ability of the body to heal injuries.
We
have experience in the sports medicine field (which generally
refers to the non-surgical and surgical management of cartilage,
ligament and tendon injuries) through our legacy devices, OssaTron
and Evotron. Common examples of these injuries include extremity
joint pain, torn rotator cuffs (shoulder), tennis elbow,
Achilles’ tendon tears and torn meniscus cartilage in the
knee. Injuries to these structures are very difficult to treat
because the body has a limited natural ability to regenerate these
kinds of tissues. Cartilage, ligament and tendons seldom return to
a pre-injury state of function. Due to a lack of therapies
that can activate healing and regenerate these tissues, many of
these injuries will result in a degree of permanent impairment and
chronic pain. Prior investigations and pre-clinical work indicate
that PACE can activate various cell types and may be an important
adjunct to the management of sports medicine injuries.
Trauma injuries are acute and result from any
physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or
fracture.
Surgical treatment of traumatic
fractures often involves fixation with metallic plates, screws and
rods (internal fixation) and include off-loading to prevent motion,
permitting the body to initiate a healing response. In the United
States, six million traumatic fractures are treated each year, and
over one million internal fixation procedures are performed
annually. The prevalence of non-union among these fractures is
between 2.5% and 10.0% depending on the fracture
type and risk factors such as diabetes and smoking
history or other systemic diseases. At the time of surgery,
adjunctive agents (such as autograft, cadaver bone and synthetic
filling materials) are often implanted along with internal fixation
to fill bony gaps or facilitate the healing process to avoid
delayed union or non-union (incomplete fracture healing) results.
Both pre-clinical and clinical investigations have shown positive
results, suggesting our technology could potentially be developed
as an adjunct to these surgeries or primary treatment protocol for
delayed or non-union events.
7
Non-Medical Uses for Our Shockwave Technology
We
believe there are significant license/partnership opportunities for
our acoustic pressure shockwave technology in non-medical uses,
including in the energy, water, food, and industrial
markets.
Due
to their powerful pressure gradients and localized cavitational
effects, we believe that high-energy, acoustic pressure shockwaves
can be used to clean, in an energy efficient manner, contaminated
fluids from impurities, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful
micro-organisms, which provides opportunities for our technology in
cleaning industrial and domestic/municipal waters. Based on the
same principles of action of the acoustic pressure shockwaves
against bacteria, viruses, and harmful micro-organisms, we believe
our technology can be applied for cleaning or sterilization of
various foods such as milk, natural juices, and meats.
In
the energy sector, we believe that the acoustic pressure shockwaves
can be used to improve oil recovery (IOR), as a supplement to or in
conjunction with existing fracking technology, which utilizes high
pressurized water/gases to crack the rocks that trapped oil in the
underground reservoir. Through the use of our high-energy, acoustic
pressure shockwaves the efficiency can be improved and in the same
time the environmental impact of the fracking process can be
reduced. Furthermore, we believe our technology can be used for
enhanced oil recovery (EOR) based on the changes in oil flow
characteristics resulting from acoustic pressure shockwave
stimulation, as a tertiary method of oil recovery from older oil
fields.
Additionally,
we demonstrated through three studies performed at Montana State
University that high-energy, acoustic pressure shockwaves are
disrupting biofilms and thus can be used for surface cleaning
monuments, ship hulls, and underwater structure cleaning, or to
unclog pipes in the energy industry (shore or off-shore
installations), food industry, and water management industry, which
will reduce or eliminate down times with significant financial
benefits for maintenance of existing infrastructure. Also, our
technology should have a significant environmental impact by
eliminating or reducing the use of harmful chemicals, which are the
preferred biofilm cleaning method at this time.
Market Trends
We
are focused on the development of regenerative medicine products
that have the potential to address substantial unmet clinical needs
across broad market indications. We believe there are limited
therapeutic treatments currently available that directly and
reproducibly activate healing processes in the areas in which we
are focusing, particularly for wound care and repair of certain
types of musculoskeletal conditions.
According
to AdvaMed and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data
from 2006 and our internal projections, the United States advanced
wound healing market for the dermaPACE is estimated at
$20 billion, which includes diabetic foot ulcers, pressure
sores, burns and traumatic wounds, and chronic mixed leg ulcers. We
also believe there are significant opportunities in the worldwide
orthopedic and spine markets, driven by aging baby boomers and
their desire for active lifestyles well into retirement and the
growth in the incidence of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, obesity,
diabetes and other diseases that cause injury to orthopedic tissues
and/or impair the ability of the body to heal
injuries.
With
the success of negative pressure wound therapy devices in the wound
care market over the last decade and the recognition of the global
epidemic associated with certain types of wounds, as well as
deteriorating musculoskeletal conditions attributed to obesity,
diabetes, vascular and heart disease, as well as sports injuries,
we believe that Medicare and private insurers have become aware of
the high costs and expenditures associated with the adjunctive
therapies being utilized for wound healing and orthopedic
conditions that have limited efficacies in full skin closure, or
bone and tissue regeneration. We believe the wound healing and
orthopedic markets are undergoing a transition, and market
participants are interested in biological response activating
devices that are applied noninvasively and seek to activate the
body’s own capabilities for regeneration of tissue at injury
sites in a cost-effective manner.
Strategy
Our primary objective is to be a leader in the
development and commercialization of our acoustic pressure shock
wave technology for regenerative medicine and other applications.
Our initial focus is regenerative medicine utilizing noninvasive
(extracorporeal), acoustic pressure shock waves to produce a
biological response resulting in the body healing itself through
the repair and regeneration of skin, musculoskeletal tissue and
vascular structures. Our lead regenerative product in the United
States is the dermaPACE device for treating diabetic foot ulcers,
which was subject to two double-blinded, randomized Phase III
clinical studies. On December 28,
2017, the U.S. FDA granted the Company’s request to classify
the dermaPACE System as a Class II device via the de novo process. As a result of
this decision, the Company was able to immediately market the
product for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) as
described in the De Novo request, subject to the general control
provisions of the FD&C Act and the special controls identified
in this order.
8
Our
portfolio of healthcare products and product candidates activate
biologic signaling and angiogenic responses, including new
vascularization and microcirculatory improvement, helping to
restore the body’s normal healing processes and regeneration.
We intend to apply our Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression (PACE)
technology in wound healing, orthopedic, plastic/cosmetic and
cardiac conditions.
Our
immediate goal for our regenerative medicine technology involves
leveraging the knowledge we gained from our existing human heel and
elbow indications to enter the advanced wound care market with
innovative treatments.
The
key elements of our strategy include the following:
●
Commercialize and support the domestic distribution of our
dermaPACE device to treat diabetic foot ulcers.
On
December 28, 2017, the U.S. FDA granted the Company’s request
to classify the dermaPACE System as a Class II device via the
de novo process. As a
result of this decision, the Company was able to immediately market
the product for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) as
described in the De Novo request, subject to the general control
provisions of the FD&C Act and the special controls identified
in this order. We began the commercialization of dermaPACE in the
United States in 2018 through strategic partnership and have
continued commercialization in 2019 through placement of devices in
doctors’ offices, wound care centers and hospitals by our
internal sales team. For example, in February 2018, we
entered into an agreement with Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc.
(“PSWC”) and Premier Shockwave, Inc. (“PS”)
for the purchase by PSWC and PS of dermaPACE Systems and related
equipment sold by us, including a minimum purchase of 100 units
over 3 years, and granting PSWC and PS limited but exclusive
distribution rights to provide dermaPACE Systems to certain
government healthcare facilities in exchange for the payment of
certain royalties to us. PSWC is a related party since it is owned
by A. Michael Stolarski, a member of the Company’s board of
directors and an existing shareholder of the Company.
●
Develop and commercialize our noninvasive biological response
activating devices in the regenerative medicine area for the
treatment of skin, musculoskeletal tissue and vascular
structures.
We
intend to use our proprietary technologies and know-how in the use
of high-energy, acoustic pressure shock waves to address unmet
medical needs in wound care, orthopedic, plastic/cosmetic and
cardiac indications, possibly through potential license and/or
partnership arrangements.
●
License and seek partnership opportunities for our non-medical
acoustic pressure shock wave technology platform, know-how and
extensive patent portfolio.
We
intend to use our acoustic pressure shock wave technology and
know-how for non-medical uses, including energy, food, water
cleaning and other industrial markets, through license/partnership
opportunities.
●
Support the global distribution of our products.
Our
portfolio of products, the dermaPACE and orthoPACE, are CE Marked
and sold through select distributors in certain countries in
Europe, Canada, Asia and Asia/Pacific. Our revenues will continue
from sales of the devices and related applicators in these markets.
We intend to continue to add additional distribution partners in
the Americas, Middle East, Africa, Europe and
Asia/Pacific.
Scientific Advisors
We
have established a network of scientific advisors that brings
expertise in wound healing, orthopedics, cosmetics, clinical and
scientific research, and FDA experience. We consult our scientific
advisors on an as-needed basis on clinical and pre-clinical study
design, product development, and clinical indications.
We
pay consulting fees to certain members of our scientific advisory
board for the services they provide to us, in addition to
reimbursing them for incurred expenses. The amounts vary depending
on the nature of the services.
9
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
Following FDA
approval in December 2017, we intend to seek a development and/or
commercialization partnership, or to commercialize the product
ourselves. Outside the United States, we retain distributors to
represent our products in selective international markets. These
distributors have been selected based on their existing business
relationships and the ability of their sales force and distribution
capabilities to effectively penetrate the market with our PACE
product line. We rely on these distributors to manage physical
distribution, customer service and billing services for our
international customers. Four distributors and partners accounted
fo 18%, 15% and 12% of revenues for the year ended December 31,
2019, and 0%, 0% and 22% of accounts receivable at December 31,
2019. Three distributors and partners accounted for 33%, 23% and
11% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018, and 24%, 60%
and 7.7% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2018.
Manufacturing
We
have developed a network of suppliers, manufacturers and contract
service providers to provide sufficient quantities of our
products.
We
are party to a manufacturing supply agreement with Swisstronics
Contract Manufacturing AG in Switzerland, a division of Cicor
Technologies Ltd., covering the generator box component of our
products. Our generator boxes are manufactured in accordance with
applicable quality standards (EN ISO 13485) and applicable industry
and regulatory standards. We produce the applicators and applicator
kits for our products. In addition, we program and load software
for both the generator boxes and applicators and perform the final
product testing and certifications internally.
Our
facility in Suwanee, Georgia consists of 10,177 square feet and
provides office, research and development, quality control,
production and warehouse space. It is a FDA registered facility and
is ISO 13485:2016 and Medical Device Single Audit Program
(“MDSAP”) certified (for meeting the requirements for a
comprehensive management system for the design and manufacture of
medical devices).
Intellectual Property
Our
success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain
proprietary protection for our products, product candidates,
technology, and know-how, to operate without infringing on the
proprietary rights of others and to prevent others from infringing
upon our proprietary rights. We seek to protect our proprietary
position by, among other methods, filing United States and selected
foreign patent applications and United States and selected foreign
trademark applications related to our proprietary technology,
inventions, products, and improvements that are important to the
development of our business. Effective trademark, service mark,
copyright, patent, and trade secret protection may not be available
in every country in which our products are made available. The
protection of our intellectual property may require the expenditure
of significant financial and managerial resources.
Patents
We
consider the protection afforded by patents important to our
business. We intend to seek and maintain patent protection in the
United States and select foreign countries, where deemed
appropriate for products that we develop. There are no assurances
that any patents will result from our patent applications, or that
any patents that may be issued will protect our intellectual
property, or that any issued patents or pending applications will
not be successfully challenged, including as to ownership and/or
validity, by third parties. In addition, if we do not avoid
infringement of the intellectual property rights of others, we may
have to seek a license to sell our products, defend an infringement
action or challenge the validity of intellectual property in court.
Any current or future challenges to our patent rights, or
challenges by us to the patent rights of others, could be expensive
and time consuming.
We
derive our patent rights, including as to both issued patents and
“patent pending” applications, from three sources: (1)
assignee of patent rights in technology we developed; (2) assignee
of patent rights purchased from HealthTronics, Inc.
(“HealthTronics”); and (3) as licensee of certain
patent rights assigned to HealthTronics. In August 2005, we
purchased a significant number of patents and patent applications
from HealthTronics, to whom we granted back perpetual and
royalty-free field-of-use license rights in the purchased patent
portfolio primarily for urological uses. We believe that our owned
and licensed patent rights provide a competitive advantage with
respect to others that might seek to utilize certain of our
apparatuses and methods incorporating extracorporeal acoustic
pressure shockwave technologies that we have patented, However, we
do not hold patent rights that cover all of our products, product
components, or methods that utilize our products. We also have not
conducted a competitive analysis or valuation with respect to our
issued and pending patent portfolio in relation to our current
products and/or competitor products.
10
We
are the assignee of twenty-five issued United States patents and
thirty-one issued foreign patents that are not expired, which on
average have remaining useful lives of ten years with the longest
useful life extending to 2037. Our current issued United States and
foreign patents include patent claims directed to particular
electrode configurations, piezoelectric fiber shockwave devices,
chemical components for shockwave generation, reflector geometries,
medical systems general construction, and detachable therapy heads
with data storage devices. Our United States patents also include
patent claims directed to methods of using acoustic pressure
shockwaves, including devices such as our products, to treat
ischemic conditions, spinal cord scar tissue and spinal injuries,
bone fractures and osteoporosis, blood sterilization, stem cell
stimulation, tissue cleaning, and, within particular treatment
parameters, diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores. While such
patented method claims may provide patent protection against
certain indirect infringing promotion and sales activities of
competing manufacturers and distributors, certain medical methods
performed by medical practitioners or related health care entities
may be subject to exemption from potential infringement claims
under 35 U.S.C. § 287(c) and, therefore, may limit enforcement
of claims of our medical and non-medical method patents as compared
to device construction patents.
We
also currently maintain ten United States non-provisional patent
applications and nineteen foreign patent applications. Our
patent-pending rights include inventions directed to certain
shockwave devices and systems, ancillary products, and components
for acoustic pressure shockwave treatment devices, and various
methods of using acoustic pressure shockwaves. Such patent-pending
methods include, for example, using acoustic pressure shockwaves to
treat soft tissue disorders, bones, joints, wounds, skin, blood
vessels and circulatory disorders, lymphatic disorders, cardiac
tissue, fat and cellulite, cancer, blood and fluids sterilization,
to destroy pathogens, to process fluids, meat and dairy products,
to destroy blood vessels occlusions and plaques, and to perform
personalized medical treatments. All of our United States and
foreign pending applications either have yet to be examined or
require response to an examiner’s office action rejections
and, therefore, remain subject to further prosecution, the
possibility of further rejections and appeals, and/or the
possibility we may elect to abandon prosecution, without assurance
that a patent may issue from any pending application.
Under
our license to HealthTronics, we reserve exclusive rights in our
purchased portfolio as to orthopedic, tendonopathy, skin wounds,
cardiac, dental, neural medical conditions and to all conditions in
animals (Ortho Field). HealthTronics receives field-exclusive and
sublicensable rights under the purchased portfolio as to (1)
certain HealthTronics lithotripsy devices in all fields other than
the Ortho Field, and (2) all products in the treatment of renal,
ureteral, gall stones and other urological conditions (Litho
Field). HealthTronics also receives non-exclusive and
non-sublicensable rights in the purchased portfolio as to any
products in all fields other than the Ortho Field and Litho Field.
Refer to section “Contractual Obligations” for
information on the default of our loan with
HealthTronics.
Pursuant
to mutual amendment and other assignment-back rights under the
patent license agreement with HealthTronics, we are also a licensee
of certain patents and patent applications that have been assigned
to HealthTronics. We received a perpetual, non-exclusive and
royalty-free license to nine issued foreign patents. Our
non-exclusive license is subject to HealthTronics’ sole
discretion to further maintain any of the patents and pending
applications assigned back to HealthTronics.
As
part of the sale of the veterinary business in June 2009, we have
also granted certain exclusive and non-exclusive patent license
rights to Pulse Veterinary Technologies, LLC for most of our patent
portfolio issued before 2009 to utilize acoustic pressure shockwave
technologies in the field of non-human mammals.
Given
our international patent portfolio, there are growing risks of
challenges to our existing and future patent rights. Such
challenges may result in invalidation or modification of some or
all of our patent rights in a particular patent territory and
reduce our competitive advantage with respect to third party
products and services. Such challenges may also require the
expenditure of significant financial and managerial
resources.
If
we become involved in future litigation or any other adverse
intellectual property proceeding, for example, as a result of an
alleged infringement, or a third party alleging an earlier date of
invention, we may have to spend significant amounts of money and
time and, in the event of an adverse ruling, we could be subject to
liability for damages, including treble damages, invalidation of
our intellectual property and injunctive relief that could prevent
us from using technologies or developing products, any of which
could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operation. In addition, any claims
relating to the infringement of third party proprietary rights, or
earlier date of invention, even if not meritorious, could result in
costly litigation or lengthy governmental proceedings and could
divert management’s attention and resources and require us to
enter into royalty or license agreements which are not
advantageous, if available at all.
11
Trademarks
Since
other products on the market compete with our products, we believe
that our product brand names are an important factor in
establishing and maintaining brand recognition.
We have the following trademark
registrations: SANUWAVE®
(United States, European Community,
Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan and under the Madrid Protocol),
dermaPACE®
(United States, European Community,
Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Canada, Brazil and under
the Madrid Protocol), angioPACE®
(Australia, European Community and
Switzerland), PACE®
(Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression)
(United States, European Community, China, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Switzerland, Taiwan, and Canada), orthoPACE®
(United States and European
Community), DAP®
(Diffused Acoustic Pressure) (United
States and European Community) and Profile™
(United States, European Community and
Switzerland).
We also maintain trademark registrations for:
OssaTron®
(United States and Germany),
Evotron®
(Germany and Switzerland),
Evotrode®
(Germany and Switzerland),
Orthotripsy®
(United States). We are phasing out
the Reflectron®
(Germany and Switzerland) and
Reflectrode®
(Germany and Switzerland),
evoPACE®
(Australia, European Community and
Switzerland), trademarks due to the fact that
Reflectron®
and Reflectrode®
products are no longer available for
sale in any market and evoPACE®
is a product that was never
commercialized.
Potential Intellectual Property Issues
Although
we believe that the patents and patent applications, including
those that we license, provide a competitive advantage, the patent
positions of biotechnology and medical device companies are highly
complex and uncertain. The medical device industry is characterized
by the existence of a large number of patents and frequent
litigation based on allegations of patent infringement. Our success
will depend in part on us not infringing on patents issued to
others, including our competitors and potential competitors, as
well as our ability to enforce our patent rights. We also rely on
trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation and
in-licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our proprietary
position.
Despite
any measures taken to protect our intellectual property,
unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products
and product candidates, or to obtain and use information that we
regard as proprietary. In enforcement proceedings in Switzerland,
we assisted HealthTronics as an informer of misappropriation by a
Swiss company called SwiTech and related third parties of
intellectual property rights in legacy proprietary software and
devices relating to assets we purchased from HealthTronics in
August 2005. As a result of this action, SwiTech was forced into
bankruptcy. We also pursued the alleged misappropriation by another
Swiss company called SwiTalis and related third parties of
intellectual property rights in legacy proprietary software and
devices relating to assets we purchased from HealthTronics in
August 2005. In 2016, SwiTalis claimed copyright rights on the High
Voltage Modules that were used in our devices and the old line of
Pulse Vet devices during the manufacturing process at Swisstronics
in Switzerland. At this time, however, no such court action against
Swisstronics is pending in Switzerland and we believe that it is
unlikely that SwiTalis will pursue their earlier allegations
against Swisstronics and, indirectly, us. In 2017, we abandoned our
action against SwiTalis. There can be no assurance, however, that
future claims or lawsuits against us may not be brought, and such
present or future actions against violations of our intellectual
property rights may result in us incurring material expense and
divert the attention of management.
Third
parties that license our proprietary rights, such as trademarks,
patented technology or copyrighted material, may also take actions
that diminish the value of our proprietary rights or reputation. In
addition, the steps we take to protect our proprietary rights may
not be adequate and third parties may infringe or misappropriate
our copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, patents, and similar
proprietary rights.
We
collaborate with other persons and entities on research,
development, and commercialization activities and expect to do so
in the future. Disputes may arise about inventorship and
corresponding rights in know-how and inventions resulting from the
joint creation or use of intellectual property by us and our
collaborators, researchers, licensors, licensees and consultants.
In addition, other parties may circumvent any proprietary
protection that we do have. As a result, we may not be able to
maintain our proprietary position.
12
Competition
We
believe the advanced wound care market can benefit from our
technology which up-regulates the biological factors that promote
wound healing. Current medical technologies developed by Acelity
(formerly Kinetic Concepts, Inc.), Organogenesis, Inc., Smith &
Nephew plc, Derma Sciences, Inc., MiMedx Group, Inc., Osiris
Therapeutics, Inc., Molnlycke Health Care, and Systagenix Wound
Management (US), Inc. (now owned by Acelity) manage wounds, but, in
our opinion, do not provide the value proposition to the patients
and care givers like our PACE technology has the potential to do.
The leading medical device serving this market is the Vacuum
Assisted Closure (“V.A.C.”) System marketed by KCI. The
V.A.C. is a negative pressure wound therapy device that applies
suction to debride and manage wounds.
There
are also several companies that market extracorporeal shockwave
device products targeting lithotripsy and orthopedic markets,
including Dornier MedTech, Storz Medical AG, Electro Medical
Systems (EMS) S.A., and CellSonic Medical which could ultimately
pursue the wound care market. Nevertheless, we believe that the
dermaPACE System has a competitive advantage over all of these
existing technologies by achieving wound closure by means of a
minimally invasive process through innate biological response to
PACE technology.
Developing
and commercializing new products is highly competitive. The market
is characterized by extensive research and clinical efforts and
rapid technological change. We face intense competition worldwide
from medical device, biomedical technology and medical products and
combination products companies, including major pharmaceutical
companies. We may be unable to respond to technological advances
through the development and introduction of new products. Most of
our existing and potential competitors have substantially greater
financial, marketing, sales, distribution, manufacturing and
technological resources. These competitors may also be in the
process of seeking FDA or other regulatory approvals, or patent
protection, for new products. Our competitors may commercialize new
products in advance of our products. Our products also face
competition from numerous existing products and procedures, which
currently are considered part of the standard of care. In order to
compete effectively, our products will have to achieve widespread
market acceptance.
Regulatory Matters
FDA Regulation
Each
of our products must be approved or cleared by the FDA before it is
marketed in the United States. Before and after approval or
clearance in the United States, our product candidates are subject
to extensive regulation by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act and/or the Public Health Service Act, as well as
by other regulatory bodies. FDA regulations govern, among other
things, the development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, safety,
storage, record-keeping, market clearance or approval, advertising
and promotion, import and export, marketing and sales, and
distribution of medical devices and pharmaceutical
products.
In
the United States, the FDA subjects medical products to rigorous
review. If we do not comply with applicable requirements, we may be
fined, the government may refuse to approve our marketing
applications or to allow us to manufacture or market our products,
and we may be criminally prosecuted. Failure to comply with the law
could result in, among other things, warning letters, civil
penalties, delays in approving or refusal to approve a product
candidate, product recall, product seizure, interruption of
production, operating restrictions, suspension or withdrawal of
product approval, injunctions, or criminal
prosecution.
The
FDA has determined that our technology and product candidates
constitute “medical devices.” The FDA determines what
center or centers within the FDA will review the product and its
indication for use, and also determines under what legal authority
the product will be reviewed. For the current indications, our
products are being reviewed by the Center for Devices and
Radiological Health. However, we cannot be sure that the FDA will
not select a different center and/or legal authority for one or
more of our other product candidates, in which case the
governmental review requirements could vary in some
respects.
13
FDA Approval or Clearance of Medical Devices
In
the United States, medical devices are subject to varying degrees
of regulatory control and are classified in one of three classes
depending on the extent of controls the FDA determines are
necessary to reasonably ensure their safety and
efficacy:
●
Class I:
general controls, such as labeling and adherence to quality system
regulations;
●
Class II:
special controls, pre-market notification (510(k)), specific
controls such as performance standards, patient registries, and
post market surveillance, and additional controls such as labeling
and adherence to quality system regulations; and
●
Class III:
special controls and approval of a pre-market approval (PMA)
application.
Each
of our product candidates require FDA authorization prior to
marketing, by means of either a 510(k) clearance or a PMA
approval.
To
request marketing authorization by means of a 510(k) clearance, we
must submit a pre-market notification demonstrating that the
proposed device is substantially equivalent to another legally
marketed medical device, has the same intended use, and is as safe
and effective as a legally marketed device and does not raise
different questions of safety and effectiveness than does a legally
marketed device. 510(k) submissions generally include, among other
things, a description of the device and its manufacturing, device
labeling, medical devices to which the device is substantially
equivalent, safety and biocompatibility information, and the
results of performance testing. In some cases, a 510(k) submission
must include data from human clinical studies. Marketing may
commence only when the FDA issues a clearance letter finding
substantial equivalence. After a device receives 510(k) clearance,
any product modification that could significantly affect the safety
or effectiveness of the product, or that would constitute a
significant change in intended use, requires a new 510(k) clearance
or, if the device would no longer be substantially equivalent,
would require a PMA. If the FDA determines that the product does
not qualify for 510(k) clearance, then a company must submit and
the FDA must approve a PMA before marketing can begin.
In
the past, the 510(k) pathway for product marketing required only
the proof of significant equivalence in technology for a given
indication with a previously cleared device. Currently, there
has been a trend of the FDA requiring additional clinical work to
prove efficacy in addition to technological equivalence.
Thus, no matter which regulatory pathway we may take in the future
towards marketing products in the United States, we will be
required to provide clinical proof of device
effectiveness.
Within
the past few years, the FDA has released guidelines for the
FDA’s reviewers to use during a product’s submission
review process. This guidance provides the FDA reviewers with
a uniform method of evaluating the benefits verses the risks of a
device when used for a proposed specific indication. Such a
benefit/risk evaluation is very useful when applied to a novel
device or to a novel indication and provides the FDA with a
consistent tool to document their decision process. While
intended as a guide for internal FDA use, the public availability
of this guidance allows medical device manufacturers to use the
review matrix to develop sound scientific and clinical backup to
support proposed clinical claims and to help guide the FDA, through
the decision process, to look at the relevant data. We intend
to use this benefit/risk tool in our FDA submissions.
A
PMA application must provide a demonstration of safety and
effectiveness, which generally requires extensive pre-clinical and
clinical trial data. Information about the device and its
components, device design, manufacturing and labeling, among other
information, must also be included in the PMA. As part of the PMA
review, the FDA will inspect the manufacturer’s facilities
for compliance with Quality System Regulation requirements, which
govern testing, control, documentation and other aspects of quality
assurance with respect to manufacturing. If the FDA determines the
application or manufacturing facilities are not acceptable, the FDA
may outline the deficiencies in the submission and often will
request additional testing or information. Notwithstanding the
submission of any requested additional information, the FDA
ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the
regulatory criteria for approval. During the review period, an FDA
advisory committee, typically a panel of clinicians and
statisticians, is likely to be convened to review the application
and recommend to the FDA whether, or upon what conditions, the
device should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the advisory
panel decision. While the FDA often follows the panel’s
recommendation, there have been instances where the FDA has not. If
the FDA finds the information satisfactory, it will approve the
PMA. The PMA approval can include post-approval conditions,
including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion,
sale and distribution, or requirements to do additional clinical
studies post-approval. Even after approval of a PMA, a new PMA or
PMA supplement is required to authorize certain modifications to
the device, its labeling or its manufacturing process. Supplements
to a PMA often require the submission of the same type of
information required for an original PMA, except that the
supplement is generally limited to that information needed to
support the proposed change from the product covered by the
original PMA.
14
During
the review of either a PMA application or 510(k) submission, the
FDA may request more information or additional studies and may
decide that the indications for which we seek approval or clearance
should be limited. We cannot be sure that our product candidates
will be approved or cleared in a timely fashion or at all. In
addition, laws and regulations and the interpretation of those laws
and regulations by the FDA may change in the future. We cannot
foresee what effect, if any, such changes may have on
us.
Obtaining
medical device clearance, approval, or licensing in the United
States or abroad can be an expensive process. The fees for
submitting an original PMA to the FDA for consideration of device
approval are substantial. Fees for supplement PMA’s are less
costly but still can be substantial. International fee structures
vary from minimal to substantial, depending on the country. In
addition, we are subject to annual establishment registration fees
in the United States and abroad. Device licenses require periodic
renewal with associated fees as well. In the United States, there
is an annual requirement for submitting device reports for Class
III/PMA devices, along with an associated fee. Currently, we are
registered as a Small Business Manufacturer with the FDA and as
such are subject to reduced fees. If, in the future, our revenues
exceed a certain annual threshold limit, we may not qualify for the
Small Business Manufacturer reduced fee amounts and will be
required to pay full fee amounts.
Clinical Trials of Medical Devices
One
or more clinical trials are almost always required to support a PMA
application and more recently are becoming necessary to support a
510(k) submission. Clinical studies of unapproved or un-cleared
medical devices or devices being studied for uses for which they
are not approved or cleared (investigational devices) must be
conducted in compliance with FDA requirements. If an
investigational device could pose a significant risk to patients,
the sponsor company must submit an IDE application to the FDA prior
to initiation of the clinical study. An IDE application must be
supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory test
results, showing that it is safe to test the device on humans and
that the testing protocol is scientifically sound. The IDE will
automatically become effective 30 days after receipt by the
FDA unless the FDA notifies the company that the investigation may
not begin. Clinical studies of investigational devices may not
begin until an institutional review board (IRB) has approved the
study.
During
the study, the sponsor must comply with the FDA’s IDE
requirements. These requirements include investigator selection,
trial monitoring, adverse event reporting, and record keeping. The
investigators must obtain patient informed consent, rigorously
follow the investigational plan and study protocol, control the
disposition of investigational devices, and comply with reporting
and record keeping requirements. We, the FDA, or the IRB at each
institution at which a clinical trial is being conducted, may
suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including
a belief that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable
risk. During the approval or clearance process, the FDA typically
inspects the records relating to the conduct of one or more
investigational sites participating in the study supporting the
application.
However, the
COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our ability to enroll and treat
patients in clinical trials and to monitor data at our clinical
trial sites.
Post-Approval Regulation of Medical Devices
After
a device is cleared or approved for marketing, numerous and
pervasive regulatory requirements continue to apply. These
include:
●
the
FDA Quality Systems Regulation (QSR), which governs, among other
things, how manufacturers design, test, manufacture, exercise
quality control over, and document manufacturing of their
products;
●
labeling
and claims regulations, which prohibit the promotion of products
for unapproved or “off-label” uses and impose other
restrictions on labeling;
●
the
Medical Device Reporting regulation, which requires reporting to
the FDA of certain adverse experiences associated with use of the
product; and
●
post
market surveillance, including documentation of clinical experience
and also follow-on, confirmatory studies.
We
continue to be subject to inspection by the FDA to determine our
compliance with regulatory requirements, as are our suppliers,
contract manufacturers, and contract testing
laboratories.
15
International
sales of medical devices manufactured in the United States that are
not approved or cleared by the FDA are subject to FDA export
requirements. Exported devices are subject to the regulatory
requirements of each country to which the device is exported.
Exported devices may also fall under the jurisdiction of the United
States Department of Commerce/Bureau of Industry and Security and
compliance with export regulations may be required for certain
countries.
Manufacturing cGMP Requirements
Manufacturers
of medical devices are required to comply with FDA manufacturing
requirements contained in the FDA’s current Good
Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) set forth in the quality system
regulations promulgated under section 520 of the Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act. cGMP regulations require, among other things, quality
control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding
maintenance of records and documentation. The manufacturing
facility for our products must meet cGMP requirements to the
satisfaction of the FDA pursuant to a pre-PMA approval inspection
before we can use it. We and some of our third party service
providers are also subject to periodic inspections of facilities by
the FDA and other authorities, including procedures and operations
used in the testing and manufacture of our products to assess our
compliance with applicable regulations. Failure to comply with
statutory and regulatory requirements subjects a manufacturer to
possible legal or regulatory action, including the seizure or
recall of products, injunctions, consent decrees placing
significant restrictions on or suspending manufacturing operations,
and civil and criminal penalties. Adverse experiences with the
product must be reported to the FDA and could result in the
imposition of marketing restrictions through labeling changes or in
product withdrawal. Product approvals may be withdrawn if
compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained or if
problems concerning safety or efficacy of the product occur
following the approval.
International Regulation
We
are subject to regulations and product registration requirements in
many foreign countries in which we may sell our products, including
in the areas of product standards, packaging requirements, labeling
requirements, import and export restrictions and tariff
regulations, duties and tax requirements. The time required to
obtain clearance required by foreign countries may be longer or
shorter than that required for FDA clearance, and requirements for
licensing a product in a foreign country may differ significantly
from FDA requirements.
The
primary regulatory environment in Europe is the European Union,
which consists of 27 member states encompassing most of the major
countries in Europe. In the European Union, the European Medicines
Agency (EMA) and the European Union Commission have determined that
dermaPACE, orthoPACE, OssaTron and Evotron will be regulated as
medical device products. These devices have been determined to be
Class IIb devices. These devices are CE Marked and as such can be
marketed and distributed within the European Economic
Area.
The
primary regulatory body in Canada is Health Canada. In addition to
needing appropriate data to obtain market licensing in Canada, we
must have an ISO 13485 certification, as well as meet additional
requirements of Canadian laws. We currently maintain this
certification. We maintain a device license for dermaPACE with
Health Canada for the indication of “devices for application
of shock waves (pulsed acoustic waves) on acute and chronic defects
of the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue”.
The
primary regulatory bodies and paths in Asia and Australia are
determined by the requisite country authority. In most cases,
establishment registration and device licensing are applied for at
the applicable Ministry of Health through a local intermediary. The
requirements placed on the manufacturer are typically the same as
those contained in ISO 9001 or ISO 13485.
European Good Manufacturing Practices
In
the European Union, the manufacture of medical devices is subject
to current good manufacturing practice (cGMP), as set forth in the
relevant laws and guidelines of the European Union and its member
states. Compliance with cGMP is generally assessed by the competent
regulatory authorities. Typically, quality system evaluation is
performed by a Notified Body, which also recommends to the relevant
competent authority for the European Community CE Marking of a
device. The Competent Authority may conduct inspections of relevant
facilities, and review manufacturing procedures, operating systems
and personnel qualifications. In addition to obtaining approval for
each product, in many cases each device manufacturing facility must
be audited on a periodic basis by the Notified Body. Further
inspections may occur over the life of the product.
16
United States Anti-Kickback and False Claims Laws
In
the United States, there are Federal and state anti-kickback laws
that prohibit the payment or receipt of kickbacks, bribes or other
remuneration intended to induce the purchase or recommendation of
healthcare products and services. Violations of these laws can lead
to civil and criminal penalties, including exclusion from
participation in Federal healthcare programs. These laws are
potentially applicable to manufacturers of products regulated by
the FDA as medical devices, such as us, and hospitals, physicians
and other potential purchasers of such products. Other provisions
of Federal and state laws provide civil and criminal penalties for
presenting, or causing to be presented, to third-party payers for
reimbursement, claims that are false or fraudulent, or which are
for items or services that were not provided as claimed. In
addition, certain states have implemented regulations requiring
medical device and pharmaceutical companies to report all gifts and
payments over $50 to medical practitioners. This does not apply to
instances involving clinical trials. Although we intend to
structure our future business relationships with clinical
investigators and purchasers of our products to comply with these
and other applicable laws, it is possible that some of our business
practices in the future could be subject to scrutiny and challenge
by Federal or state enforcement officials under these
laws.
Third Party Reimbursement
We
anticipate that sales volumes and prices of the products we
commercialize will depend in large part on the availability of
coverage and reimbursement from third party payers. Third party
payers include governmental programs such as Medicare and Medicaid,
private insurance plans, and workers’ compensation plans.
These third party payers may deny coverage and reimbursement for a
product or therapy, in whole or in part, if they determine that the
product or therapy was not medically appropriate or necessary. The
third party payers also may place limitations on the types of
physicians or clinicians that can perform specific types of
procedures. In addition, third party payers are increasingly
challenging the prices charged for medical products and services.
Some third party payers must also pre-approve coverage for new or
innovative devices or therapies before they will reimburse
healthcare providers who use the products or therapies. Even though
a new product may have been approved or cleared by the FDA for
commercial distribution, we may find limited demand for the device
until adequate reimbursement has been obtained from governmental
and private third party payers.
In
international markets, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems
vary significantly by country, and many countries have instituted
price ceilings on specific product lines and procedures. There can
be no assurance that procedures using our products will be
considered medically reasonable and necessary for a specific
indication, that our products will be considered cost-effective by
third party payers, that an adequate level of reimbursement will be
available or that the third party payers’ reimbursement
policies will not adversely affect our ability to sell our products
profitably.
In
the United States, some insured individuals are receiving their
medical care through managed care programs, which monitor and often
require pre-approval of the services that a member will receive.
Some managed care programs are paying their providers on a per
capita basis, which puts the providers at financial risk for the
services provided to their patients by paying these providers a
predetermined payment per member per month, and consequently, may
limit the willingness of these providers to use products, including
ours.
One
of the components in the reimbursement decision by most private
insurers and governmental payers, including the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers Medicare, is
the assignment of a billing code. Billing codes are used to
identify the procedures performed when providers submit claims to
third party payers for reimbursement for medical services. They
also generally form the basis for payment amounts. We will seek new
billing codes for the wound care indications of our products as
part of our efforts to commercialize such products.
The
initial phase of establishing a professional billing code for a
medical service typically includes applying for a CPT Category III
code for both hospital and in-office procedures. This is a tracking
code without relative value assigned that allows third party payers
to identify and monitor the service as well as establish value if
deemed medically necessary. The process includes CPT application
submission, clinical discussion with Medical Professional Society
CPT advisors as well as American Medical Association (AMA) CPT
Editorial Panel review. A new CPT Category III code will be
assigned if the AMA CPT Editorial Panel committee deems it meets
the applicable criteria and is appropriate. In 2018, we applied for
two, new CPT Category III codes for extracorporeal shock wave
therapy (ESWT) in wound healing. These codes were published by
AMA/CPT for use beginning January 1, 2019.
17
The
secondary phase in the CPT billing code process includes the
establishment of a permanent CPT Category I code in which relative
value is analyzed and established by the AMA. The approval of this
code, is based on, among other criteria, widespread usage and
established clinical efficacy of the medical service.
There
are also billing codes that facilities, rather than health care
professionals, utilize for the reimbursement of operating costs for
a particular medical service. For the hospital outpatient setting,
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services automatically
classified the new ESWT wound healing CPT Category III codes into
interim APC groups. The APC groups are services grouped together
based on clinical characteristics and similar costs. An APC
classification does not guarantee payment.
We
believe that the overall escalating costs of medical products and
services has led to, and will continue to lead to, increased
pressures on the healthcare industry to reduce the costs of
products and services. In addition, recent healthcare reform
measures, as well as legislative and regulatory initiatives at the
Federal and state levels, create significant additional
uncertainties. There can be no assurance that third party coverage
and reimbursement will be available or adequate, or that future
legislation, regulation, or reimbursement policies of third party
payers will not adversely affect the demand for our products or our
ability to sell these products on a profitable basis. The
unavailability or inadequacy of third party payer coverage or
reimbursement would have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.
Confidentiality and Security of Personal Health
Information
The
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as
amended (“HIPAA”), contains provisions that protect
individually identifiable health information from unauthorized use
or disclosure by covered entities and their business associates.
The Office for Civil Rights of HHS, the agency responsible for
enforcing HIPAA, has published regulations to address the privacy
(the “Privacy Rule”) and security (the “Security
Rule”) of protected health information (“PHI”).
HIPAA also requires that all providers who transmit claims for
health care goods or services electronically utilize standard
transaction and data sets and to standardize national provider
identification codes. In addition, the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”) enacted the HITECH Act, which
extends the scope of HIPAA to permit enforcement against business
associates for a violation, establishes new requirements to notify
the Office for Civil Rights of HHS of a breach of HIPAA, and allows
the Attorneys General of the states to bring actions to enforce
violations of HIPAA. Rules implementing various aspects of HIPAA
are continuing to be promulgated.
We
anticipate that, as we expand our dermaPACE business, we will in
the future be a covered entity under HIPAA. We intend to adopt
policies and procedures to comply with the Privacy Rule, the
Security Rule and the HIPAA statute as such regulations become
applicable to our business and as such regulations are in effect at
such time.
In
addition to the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule described
above, we may become subject to state laws regarding the handling
and disclosure of patient records and patient health information.
These laws vary widely. Penalties for violation include sanctions
against a laboratory’s licensure as well as civil or criminal
penalties. Additionally, private individuals may have a right of
action against us for a violation of a state’s privacy laws.
We intend to adopt policies and procedures to ensure material
compliance with state laws regarding the confidentiality of health
information as such laws become applicable to us and to monitor and
comply with new or changing state laws on an ongoing
basis.
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health
Regulations
Our
operations are subject to extensive Federal, state, provincial and
municipal environmental statutes, regulations and policies,
including those promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
Environment Canada, Alberta Environment, the Department of Health
Services, and the Air Quality Management District, that govern
activities and operations that may have adverse environmental
effects such as discharges into air and water, as well as handling
and disposal practices for solid and hazardous wastes. Some of
these statutes and regulations impose strict liability for the
costs of cleaning up, and for damages resulting from, sites of
spills, disposals, or other releases of contaminants, hazardous
substances and other materials and for the investigation and
remediation of environmental contamination at properties leased or
operated by us and at off-site locations where we have arranged for
the disposal of hazardous substances. In addition, we may be
subject to claims and lawsuits brought by private parties seeking
damages and other remedies with respect to similar matters. We have
not to date needed to make material expenditures to comply with
current environmental statutes, regulations and policies. However,
we cannot predict the impact and costs those possible future
statutes, regulations and policies will have on our
business.
18
Employees
As
of March 10, 2020, we had a total of twenty-three full time
employees in the United States. Of these, six were engaged in
research and development which includes clinical, regulatory and
quality. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or
covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe our
relationship with our employees is good.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. You
should carefully consider the following risk factors and all other
information contained in this form 10-K, including the consolidated
financial statements and the related notes, before purchasing our
Common Stock. If any of the following risks actually occur, they
may materially harm our business and our financial condition and
results of operations. In any such event, the market price of our
Common Stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your
investment.
Risks Related to our Business
Our recurring losses from operations and dependency upon future
issuances of equity or other financing to fund ongoing operations
have raised substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a
going concern.
We will be
required to raise additional funds to finance our operations and
remain a going concern; we may not be able to do so, and/or the
terms of any financings may not be advantageous to
us.
The continuation of our business is dependent upon
raising additional capital. We expect to devote substantial
resources for the commercialization of the dermaPACE and will
continue to research and develop the non-medical uses of the PACE
technology, both of which will require additional capital
resources. We incurred a net loss of $10,429,839 and $11,631,394
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
operating losses and the events of default on the Company’s
short term notes payable and the notes payable, related parties
indicate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months
from the filing of this Form 10-K.
As of
December 31, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of $125,752,956
and cash and cash equivalents of
$1,760,455. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018,
the net cash used by operating activities was $6,410,758 and
$3,621,172, respectively. Management
expects the cash used in operations for the Company will be
approximately $250,000 to $325,000 per month for the first half of
2020 and $300,000 to $375,000 per month for the second half of 2020
as resources are devoted to the commercialization of the
dermaPACE product including hiring of new employees, expansion of
our international business and continued research and development
of next generation of our technology as well as non-medical uses of
our technology.
The continuation of our business is dependent upon
raising additional capital to fund operations. Management’s
plans are to obtain additional capital in 2020 through investments
by strategic partners for market opportunities, which may include
strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements, or raise capital
through the conversion of outstanding warrants, issuance of common
or preferred stock, securities convertible into common stock, or
secured or unsecured debt. These possibilities, to the extent
available, may be on terms that result in significant dilution to
our existing shareholders. In addition, there can be no assurances
that our plans to obtain additional capital will be successful on
the terms or timeline we expect, or at all. Although no
assurances can be given, management believes that potential
additional issuances of equity or other potential financing
transactions as discussed above should provide the necessary
funding for us. If these efforts are
unsuccessful, we may be required to significantly curtail or
discontinue operations or obtain funds through financing
transactions with unfavorable terms. The accompanying
consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a
going concern and the realization of assets and satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The carrying amounts
of assets and liabilities presented in the financial statements do
not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement
values. The consolidated financial statements do not include any
adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Our consolidated financial statements
do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of
assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be
necessary should we be unable to continue as a going
concern.
19
In
addition, we may have potential liability for certain sales, offers
or issuances of equity securities of the Company in possible
violation of federal securities laws. Pursuant to a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-208676), declared
effective on February 16, 2016 (the “2016 Registration
Statement”), the Company sought to register: a primary
offering of up to $4,000,000 units, the Common Stock included as
part of the units, the warrants included as part of the units, and
the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants; a primary
offering of up to $400,000 placement agent warrants and the Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of such placement agent warrants; and
a secondary offering of 23,545,144 shares of Common Stock held by
certain selling stockholders named in the 2016 Registration
Statement. The SEC Staff’s interpretations provides that,
when an issuer is registering units composed of common stock,
common stock purchase warrants, and the common stock underlying the
warrants, the registration fee is based on the offer price of the
units and the exercise price of the warrants. The registration fee
paid did include the fee based on the offer price of the units,
allocated to the unit line item in the fee table. Although the fee
table in the 2016 Registration Statement included a line item for
the Common Stock underlying the warrants, the Company did not
include in that line item the fee payable based on the exercise
price of $0.08 per share for such warrants, which amount should
have been allocated to such line item based on the SEC
Staff’s interpretations. As a result, a portion of the
securities intended to be registered by the 2016 Registration
Statement was not registered. In addition, in a post-effective
amendment to the 2016 Registration Statement filed on September 23,
2016, too many placement agent warrants were inadvertently
deregistered. The post-effective amendment stated that the Company
had issued $180,100, based on 2,251,250 Class L warrants issued
with a $0.08 exercise price of warrants to the placement agent and
therefore deregistered $219,900, based on 2,748,750 Class L
warrants issued with a $0.08 exercise price of placement agent
warrants from the $400,000, based on 5,000,000 Class L warrants
issued with a $0.08 exercise price total offering amount included
in the Registration Statement. The actual warrants issued to the
placement agent totaled $240,133.36, based on 3,001,667 Class L
warrants issued with a $0.08 exercise price, and only $159,867,
based on 1,998,338 Class L warrants issued with a $0.08 exercise
price should have been deregistered in such post-effective
amendment. To the extent that we have not registered or failed to
maintain an effective registration statement with respect to any of
the transactions in securities described above and with respect to
our ongoing offering of shares of Common Stock underlying the
warrants, and a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act did in
fact occur or is occurring, eligible holders of our securities that
participated in these offerings would have a right to rescind their
transactions, and the Company may have to refund any amounts paid
for the securities, which could have a materially adverse effect on
the Company’s financial condition. Eligible securityholders
have not filed a claim against the Company alleging a violation of
Section 5 of the Securities Act with respect to these transactions,
but they could file a claim in the future. Furthermore, the ongoing
offering of and issuance of shares of Common Stock underlying
certain of our warrants from the 2016 Registration Statement may
have been, and may continue to be, in violation of Section 5 of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations under the Securities
Act, because we did not update the prospectus in the 2016
Registration Statement for a period of time after the 2016
Registration Statement was declared effective and because our
reliance on Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act in an amendment to
our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-213774) filed on September 23, 2016 effected a deregistration
of the securities registered under the 2016 Registration Statement.
Eligible securityholders have not filed a claim against the Company
alleging a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act, but they
could file such a claim in the future. If a violation of Section 5
of the Securities Act did in fact occur or is occurring, eligible
securityholders would have a right to rescind their transactions,
and the Company may have to refund any amounts paid the securities,
which could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s
financial condition.
We have a history of losses and we may continue to incur losses and
may not achieve or maintain profitability.
For
the year ended December 31, 2019, we had a net loss of
$10,429,839 and used $6,410,758 of cash in operations. For the year
ended December 31, 2018, we had a net loss of $11,631,394 and
used $3,621,172 of cash in operations. As of December 31, 2019, we
had an accumulated deficit of $125,752,956 and a total
stockholders' deficit of $10,063,601. As a result of our
significant research, clinical development, regulatory compliance
and general and administrative expenses, we expect to incur losses
as we continue to incur expenses related to commercialization of
the dermaPACE System and research and development of the
non-medical uses of the PACE technology. Even if we succeed in
developing and commercializing the dermaPACE System or any other
product candidates, we may not be able to generate sufficient
revenues and we may never achieve or be able to maintain
profitability.
20
If we are unable to successfully raise additional capital, our
viability may be threatened; however, if we do raise additional
capital, your percentage ownership as a stockholder could decrease
and constraints could be placed on the operations of our
business.
We
have experienced negative operating cash flows since our inception
and have funded our operations primarily from proceeds received
from sales of our capital stock, the issuance of convertible
promissory notes, the issuance of notes payable to related parties,
the issuance of promissory notes, the sale of our veterinary
division in June 2009 and product sales. We will seek to obtain
additional funds in the future through equity or debt financings,
or strategic alliances with third parties, either alone or in
combination with equity financings. These financings could result
in substantial dilution to the holders of our common stock, or
require contractual or other restrictions on our operations or on
alternatives that may be available to us. If we raise additional
funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities could
impose significant restrictions on our operations. Any such
required financing may not be available in amounts or on terms
acceptable to us, and the failure to procure such required
financing could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations, or threaten our
ability to continue as a going concern. Additionally, we are
required to make mandatory prepayments of principal to
HealthTronics, Inc. on the notes payable, related parties equal to
20% of the proceeds received through the issuance or sale of any
equity securities in cash or through the licensing of our patents
or other intellectual property rights. We
have not made the mandatory prepayments of principal to
HealthTronics, Inc. on the notes payable, related parties from
proceeds received through the issuance or sale of any equity
securities in cash through December 31, 2019.
A
variety of factors could impact our need to raise additional
capital, the timing of any required financings and the amount of
such financings. Factors that may cause our future capital
requirements to be greater than anticipated or could accelerate our
need for funds include, without limitation:
●
unanticipated
expenditures in research and development or manufacturing
activities;
●
delayed
market acceptance of any approved product;
●
unanticipated
expenditures in the acquisition and defense of intellectual
property rights;
●
the
failure to develop strategic alliances for the marketing of some of
our product candidates;
●
additional
inventory builds to adequately support the launch of new
products;
●
unforeseen
changes in healthcare reimbursement for procedures using any of our
approved products;
●
inability
to train a sufficient number of physicians to create a demand for
any of our approved products;
●
lack
of financial resources to adequately support our
operations;
●
difficulties
in maintaining commercial scale manufacturing capacity and
capability;
●
unforeseen
problems with our third party manufacturers, service providers or
specialty suppliers of certain raw materials;
●
unanticipated
difficulties in operating in international markets;
●
unanticipated
financial resources needed to respond to technological changes and
increased competition;
●
unforeseen
problems in attracting and retaining qualified
personnel;
●
the impact of the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the
Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act
(collectively the PPACA) on our operations;
●
the impact of
changes in U.S. health care law and policy on our
operations;
●
enactment
of new legislation or administrative regulations;
●
the
application to our business of new court decisions and regulatory
interpretations;
●
claims
that might be brought in excess of our insurance
coverage;
●
delays
in timing of receipt of required regulatory approvals;
●
the
failure to comply with regulatory guidelines; and
●
the
uncertainty in industry demand and patient wellness
behavior.
In
addition, although we have no present commitments or understandings
to do so, we may seek to expand our operations and product line
through acquisitions. Any acquisition would likely increase our
capital requirements.
The coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has materially and adversely
affected our clinical trial operations and may materially and
adversely affect our financial results.
The
COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries, including the United
States and several European countries, where we are currently
conducting clinical trials. In response to the pandemic, hospitals
participating in the trials in affected countries have taken a
number of actions, including restricting elective and other
procedures that are not deemed to be life-threatening, suspending
clinical trial activities and limiting access to data monitoring.
As a result, patients enrolled in our clinical trials have had the
start of their treatments postponed and ongoing treatment regimens
may be delayed. In addition, we do not have sufficient access to
monitor trial data on a timely basis. These restrictions have had a
materially adverse impact on our clinical operations. The extent to
which the COVID-19 pandemic may impact our clinical trial
operations will depend on future developments, which are highly
uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the
duration of the outbreak, the spread and severity of COVID-19, and
the effectiveness of governmental actions in response to the
pandemic. Furthermore, the spread of COVID-19 may materially impact
our ability to recruit and retain patients.
We
expect that actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will
also negatively impact sales of dermaPACE and orthoPACE. As noted
above, some hospitals are restricting procedures that are not
deemed to be life-threatening at this time. Because dermaPACE and
orthoPACE are not deemed to be life-threatening procedures, we
expect that the number of procedures performed will decline. A
decrease in the number of procedures performed will adversely
affect our expected revenues and our financial
results.
These
consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will delay and could
adversely affect our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and
to commercialize our products, increase our operating expenses, and
could have a material adverse effect on our financial
results.
Our product candidates may not be developed or commercialized
successfully.
Our
product candidates are based on a technology that has not been used
previously in the manner we propose and must compete with more
established treatments currently accepted as the standards of care.
Market acceptance of our products will largely depend on our
ability to demonstrate their relative safety, efficacy,
cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
21
We
are subject to risks that:
●
the
FDA or a foreign regulatory authority finds our product candidates
ineffective or unsafe;
●
we
do not receive necessary regulatory approvals;
●
the
regulatory review and approval process may take much longer than
anticipated, requiring additional time, effort and expense to
respond to regulatory comments and/or directives;
●
the
reimbursement for our products is difficult to obtain or is too
low, which can hinder the introduction and acceptance of our
products in the market;
●
we
are unable to get our product candidates in commercial quantities
at reasonable costs; and
●
the
patient and physician community does not accept our product
candidates.
In
addition, our product development program may be curtailed,
redirected, eliminated or delayed at any time for many reasons,
including:
●
adverse
or ambiguous results;
●
undesirable
side effects that delay or extend the trials;
●
the
inability to locate, recruit, qualify and retain a sufficient
number of clinical investigators or patients for our trials;
and
●
regulatory
delays or other regulatory actions.
We
cannot predict whether we will successfully develop and
commercialize our product candidates. If we fail to do so, we will
not be able to generate substantial revenues, if any.
The medical device/therapeutic product industries are highly
competitive and subject to rapid technological change. If our
competitors are better able to develop and market products that are
safer and more effective than any products we may develop, our
commercial opportunities will be reduced or
eliminated.
Our
success depends, in part, upon our ability to maintain a
competitive position in the development of technologies and
products. We face competition from established medical device,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as from
academic institutions, government agencies, and private and public
research institutions in the United States and abroad. Many of our
principal competitors have significantly greater financial
resources and expertise than we do in research and development,
manufacturing, pre-clinical testing, conducting clinical trials,
obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products.
Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant
competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements, or
mergers with, or acquisitions by, large and established companies,
or through the development of novel products and
technologies.
In 2019, Tissue Regeneration Technologies (TRT),
LLC obtained clearance from the FDA for treatment of diabetic foot
ulcers using non-focused shockwaves, as a 510(k) submission based
on our dermaPACE®
System de novo clearance. We take issue with the FDA’s
decision regarding substantial equivalence of the unfocused
shockwave technology with the focused shockwave technology that we
are marketing. The so-called unfocused shockwaves, which in reality
are pressure waves and not shockwaves, produce much lower energy
compared to focused shockwaves, which makes the two technologies
non-equivalent in energy output in the treatment
zone.
The
industry in which we operate has undergone, and we expect it to
continue to undergo, rapid and significant technological change,
and we expect competition to intensify as technological advances
are made. Our competitors may develop and commercialize
pharmaceutical, biotechnology or medical devices that are safer or
more effective, have fewer side effects or are less expensive than
any products that we may develop. We also compete with our
competitors in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and
management personnel, in establishing clinical trial sites and
patient registration for clinical trials, and in acquiring
technologies complementary to our programs or advantageous to our
business.
22
If our products and product candidates do not gain market
acceptance among physicians, patients and the medical community, we
may be unable to generate significant revenues, if
any.
Even
if we obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, they
may not gain market acceptance among physicians, healthcare payers,
patients and the medical community. Market acceptance will depend
on our ability to demonstrate the benefits of our approved products
in terms of safety, efficacy, convenience, ease of administration
and cost effectiveness. In addition, we believe market acceptance
depends on the effectiveness of our marketing strategy, the pricing
of our approved products and the reimbursement policies of
government and third party payers. Physicians may not utilize our
approved products for a variety of reasons and patients may
determine for any reason that our product is not useful to them. If
any of our approved products fail to achieve market acceptance, our
ability to generate revenues will be limited.
In
addition, a significant health epidemic could adversely affect the
economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an
economic downturn that could affect the market for our products,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.
We may not successfully establish and maintain licensing and/or
partnership arrangements for our technology for non-medical uses,
which could adversely affect our ability to develop and
commercialize our non-medical technology.
Our
strategy for the development, testing, manufacturing, and
commercialization of our technology for non-medical uses generally
relies on establishing and maintaining collaborations with
licensors and other third parties. We may not be able to obtain,
maintain or expand these or other licenses and collaborations or
establish additional licensing and collaboration arrangements
necessary to develop and commercialize our product candidates. Even
if we are able to obtain, maintain or establish licensing or
collaboration arrangements, these arrangements may not be on
favorable terms and may contain provisions that will restrict our
ability to develop, test and market our product candidates.
Furthermore, our licensing and collaboration agreements are subject
to counterparty risk, and to the extent the licensors or other
third parties that we enter into licensing, joint venture or other
collaboration arrangements with face operational, regulatory or
financial difficulties, and to the extent we are unable to find
suitable alternative counterparties in a timely manner, if at all,
our business and results of operations could be materially
adversely affected. Any failure to obtain, maintain or establish
licensing or collaboration arrangements on favorable terms could
adversely affect our business prospects, financial condition or
ability to develop and commercialize our technology for non-medical
uses.
We
expect to rely at least in part on third party collaborators to
perform a number of activities relating to the development and
commercialization of our technology for non-medical uses, including
possibly the design and manufacture of product materials,
potentially the obtaining of regulatory or environmental approvals
and the marketing and distribution of any successfully developed
products. Our collaborators also may have or acquire rights to
control aspects of our product development programs. As a result,
we may not be able to conduct these programs in the manner or on
the time schedule we may contemplate. In addition, if any of these
collaborators withdraw support for our programs or product
candidates or otherwise impair their development, our business
could be negatively affected. To the extent we undertake any of
these activities internally, our expenses may
increase.
Many of our product component materials are only produced by a
single supplier for such product component. If we are unable to
obtain product component materials and other products from our
suppliers that we depend on for our operations, or find suitable
replacement suppliers, our ability to deliver our products to
market will likely be impeded, which could have a material adverse
effect on us.
We
depend on suppliers for product component materials and other
components that are subject to stringent regulatory requirements.
Many of our product component materials are only produced by a
single supplier for such product component, and the loss of any of
these suppliers could result in a disruption in our production. If
this were to occur, it may be difficult to arrange a replacement
supplier because certain of these materials may only be available
from one or a limited number of sources. Our suppliers may
encounter problems during manufacturing due to a variety of
reasons, including failure to follow specific protocols and
procedures, failure to comply with applicable regulations,
equipment malfunction and environmental factors. In addition, our
suppliers could be disrupted by conditions related to COVID-19,
or other epidemics. Establishing additional or
replacement suppliers for these materials may take a substantial
period of time, as certain of these suppliers must be approved by
regulatory authorities.
If we
are unable to secure, on a timely basis, sufficient quantities of
the materials we depend on to manufacture our products, if we
encounter delays or contractual or other difficulties in our
relationships with these suppliers, or if we cannot find
replacement suppliers at an acceptable cost, then the manufacturing
of our products may be disrupted, which could increase our costs
and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of
operations.
23
We currently sell our products through distributors and partners
whose sales account for the majority of our revenues and accounts
receivable. Our business and results of operations could be
adversely affected by any business disruptions or credit or other
financial difficulties experienced by such distributors or
partners.
A
majority of our revenues, and a majority of our accounts
receivable, are from distributors and partners. Three distributors
accounted for 18%, 15 and 12% of revenues for the year ended
December 31, 2019 and 0%, 0% and 22% of accounts receivable at
December 31, 2019. Three distributors and partners accounted for
33%, 23% and 11% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018,
and 24%, 60% and 7.7% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2018.
To the extent that our distributors or partners experience any
business disruptions or credit or other financial difficulties, our
revenues and the collectability of our accounts receivable could be
negatively impacted. If we are unable to establish, on a timely
basis, relationships with new distributors or partners, our
business and results of operations could be negatively
impacted.
We have entered into an agreement with companies owned by a current
board member and stockholder that could delay or prevent an
acquisition of our company and could result in the dilution of our
stockholders in the event of our change of control.
On
February 13, 2018, the Company entered into an Agreement for
Purchase and Sale, Limited Exclusive Distribution and Royalties,
and Servicing and Repairs with Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc.
(“PSWC”) and Premier Shockwave, Inc.
(“PS”), each of which is owned by A. Michael Stolarski,
a member of the Company’s board of directors and an existing
stockholder of the Company. Among other terms, the agreement
contains provisions whereby in the event of a change of control of
the Company (as defined in the agreement), the stockholders of PSWC
have the right and option to cause the Company to purchase all of
the stock of PSWC, and whereby the Company has the right and option
to purchase all issued and outstanding shares of PSWC, in each case
based upon certain defined purchase price provisions and other
terms. Such provision may have the effect of delaying or deterring
a change in control of us, and as a result could limit the
opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their
shares of our common stock and could also affect the price that
some investors are willing to pay for our common stock. In
addition, in the event we do experience a change of control, such
provision may cause dilution of our existing stockholder in the
event that PSWC exercises its option to require the Company to
purchase all issued and outstanding shares of PSWC and the Company
finances some or all of such purchase price through equity
issuances.
The loss of our key management would likely hinder our ability to
execute our business plan.
As
a small company with twenty-three employees, our success depends on
the continuing contributions of our management team and qualified
personnel. Turnover, transitions or other disruptions in our
management team and personnel could make it more difficult to
successfully operate our business and achieve our business goals
and could adversely affect our results of operation and financial
condition. Our success depends in large part on our ability to
attract and retain highly qualified personnel. We face intense
competition in our hiring efforts from other pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as from
universities and nonprofit research organizations, and we may have
to pay higher salaries to attract and retain qualified personnel.
The loss of one or more of these individuals, or our inability to
attract additional qualified personnel, could substantially impair
our ability to implement our business plan.
We face an inherent risk of liability in the event that the use or
misuse of our product candidates results in personal injury or
death.
The
use of our product candidates in clinical trials and the sale of
any approved products may expose us to product liability claims
which could result in financial loss. Our clinical and commercial
product liability insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover
claims that may be made against us. In addition, we may not be able
to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost, or in
sufficient amounts or scope, to protect us against losses. Any
claims against us, regardless of their merit, could severely harm
our financial condition, strain our management team and other
resources, and adversely impact or eliminate the prospects for
commercialization of the product candidate, or sale of the product,
which is the subject of any such claim. Although we do not promote
any off-label use, off-label uses of products are common and the
FDA does not regulate a physician’s choice of treatment.
Off-label uses of any product for which we obtain approval may
subject us to additional liability.
24
We are dependent on information technology and our systems and
infrastructure face certain risks, including from cybersecurity
breaches and data leakage.
We
rely to a large extent upon sophisticated information technology
systems to operate our businesses, some of which are managed,
hosted, provided and/or used by third parties or their vendors. We
collect, store and transmit large amounts of confidential
information, and we deploy and operate an array of technical and
procedural controls to maintain the confidentiality and integrity
of such confidential information. A significant breakdown,
invasion, corruption, destruction or interruption of critical
information technology systems or infrastructure, by our workforce,
others with authorized access to our systems or unauthorized
persons could negatively impact our operations. The ever-increasing
use and evolution of technology, including cloud-based computing,
creates opportunities for the unintentional dissemination or
intentional destruction of confidential information stored in our
or our third-party providers’ systems, portable media or
storage devices. We could also experience, and in some cases have
experienced in the past, a business interruption, theft of
confidential information, financial theft, or reputational damage
from industrial espionage attacks, malware, spoofing or other
cyber-attacks, which may compromise our system infrastructure, lead
to data leakage, either internally or at our third-party providers,
or materially adversely impact our financial condition. We have
previously disclosed that we have experienced cybersecurity
breaches from email spoofing. While we have invested in the
protection of data and information technology, there can be no
assurance that our efforts will prevent service interruptions or
security breaches. Any such interruption or breach of our systems
could adversely affect our business operations and/or result in the
loss of critical or sensitive confidential information or
intellectual property, and could result in financial, legal,
business and reputational harm to us.
We generate a portion of our revenue internationally and are
subject to various risks relating to our international activities
which could adversely affect our operating results.
A
portion of our revenue comes from international sources, and we
anticipate that we will continue to expand our overseas operations.
Engaging in international business involves a number of
difficulties and risks, including:
●
required
compliance with existing and changing foreign healthcare and other
regulatory requirements and laws, such as those relating to patient
privacy or handling of bio-hazardous waste.
●
required
compliance with anti-bribery laws, data privacy requirements, labor
laws and anti-competition regulations.
●
export
or import restrictions.
●
various
reimbursement and insurance regimes.
●
laws
and business practices favoring local companies.
●
political
and economic instability.
●
potentially
adverse tax consequences, tariffs, customs charges, bureaucratic
requirements and other trade barriers.
●
foreign
exchange controls. and
●
difficulties
protecting or procuring intellectual property rights.
As
we expand internationally, our results of operations and cash flows
will become increasingly subject to fluctuations due to changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. Our expenses are generally
denominated in the currencies in which our operations are located,
which is in the United States. If the value of the U.S. dollar
increases relative to foreign currencies in the future, in the
absence of a corresponding change in local currency prices, our
future revenue could be adversely affected as we convert future
revenue from local currencies to U.S. dollars.
Provisions in our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Nevada law
might decrease the chances of an acquisition.
Provisions
of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and applicable
provisions of Nevada law may delay or discourage transactions
involving an actual or potential change in control or change in our
management, including transactions in which stockholders might
otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that
our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best
interests. Some of the following provisions in our Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws that implement these are:
●
stockholders
may not vote by written consent;
●
advance
notice of business to be brought is required for a meeting of the
Company’s stockholders;
●
no
cumulative voting rights for the holders of common stock in the
election of directors; and
●
vacancies
in the board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of
a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a
quorum.
In
addition, Section 78.438 of the Nevada Revised Statutes prohibits a
publicly-held Nevada corporation from engaging in a business
combination with an interested stockholder (generally defined as a
person which together with its affiliates owns, or within the last
three years has owned, 10% of our voting stock, for a period of
three years after the date of the transaction in which the person
became an interested stockholder) unless the business combination
is approved in a prescribed manner. The existence of the foregoing
provisions and other potential anti-takeover measures could limit
the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for
shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential
acquirers of our Company, thereby reducing the likelihood that you
could receive a premium for your common stock in an
acquisition.
25
Regulatory Risks
The results of our clinical trials may be insufficient to obtain
regulatory approval for our product candidates.
We
will only receive regulatory approval to commercialize a product
candidate if we can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or
the applicable foreign regulatory agency, in well designed and
conducted clinical trials, that the product candidate is safe and
effective. If we are unable to demonstrate that a product candidate
is safe and effective in advanced clinical trials involving large
numbers of patients, we will be unable to submit the necessary
application to receive regulatory approval to commercialize the
product candidate. We face risks that:
●
the
product candidate may not prove to be safe or
effective;
●
the
product candidate’s benefits may not outweigh its
risks;
●
the
results from advanced clinical trials may not confirm the positive
results from pre-clinical studies and early clinical
trials;
●
the
FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may interpret data
from pre-clinical and clinical testing in different ways than us;
and
●
the
FDA or other regulatory agencies may require additional or expanded
trials and data.
We are subject to extensive governmental regulation, including the
requirement of FDA approval or clearance, before our product
candidates may be marketed.
The
process of obtaining FDA approval is lengthy, expensive and
uncertain, and we cannot be sure that our product candidates will
be approved in a timely fashion, or at all. If the FDA does not
approve or clear our product candidates in a timely fashion, or at
all, our business and financial condition would likely be adversely
affected. The FDA has determined that our technology and product
candidates constitute “medical devices”, and are thus
subject to review by the Center for Devices and Radiological
Health. However, we cannot be sure that the FDA will not select a
different center and/or legal authority for one or more of our
other product candidates, in which case applicable governmental
review requirements could vary in some respects and be more lengthy
and costly.
Both
before and after approval or clearance of our product candidates,
we and our product candidates, our suppliers and our contract
manufacturers are subject to extensive regulation by governmental
authorities in the United States and other countries. Failure to
comply with applicable requirements could result in, among other
things, any of the following actions:
●
warning
letters;
●
fines
and other monetary penalties;
●
unanticipated
expenditures;
●
delays
in FDA approval and clearance, or FDA refusal to approve or clear a
product candidate;
●
product
recall or seizure;
●
interruption
of manufacturing or clinical trials;
●
operating
restrictions;
●
injunctions;
and
●
criminal
prosecutions.
In
addition to the approval and clearance requirements, numerous other
regulatory requirements apply, both before and after approval or
clearance, to us and our products and product candidates, our
suppliers and contract manufacturers. These include requirements
related to the following:
●
testing;
●
manufacturing;
●
quality
control;
●
labeling;
●
advertising;
●
promotion;
●
distribution;
●
export;
●
reporting
to the FDA certain adverse experiences associated with the use of
the products; and
●
obtaining
additional approvals or clearances for certain modifications to the
products or their labeling or claims.
26
We
are also subject to inspection by the FDA and other international
regulatory bodies to determine our compliance with regulatory
requirements, as are our suppliers and contract manufacturers, and
we cannot be sure that the FDA and other international regulatory
bodies will not identify compliance issues that may disrupt
production or distribution or require substantial resources to
correct.
The
FDA’s requirements and international regulatory body
requirements may change and additional regulations may be
promulgated that could affect us, our product candidates, and our
suppliers and contract manufacturers. We cannot predict the
likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may
arise from future legislation or administrative action. There can
be no assurance that we will not be required to incur significant
costs to comply with such laws and regulations in the future, or
that such laws or regulations will not have a material adverse
effect upon our business.
Patients may discontinue their participation in our clinical
studies, which may negatively impact the results of these studies
and extend the timeline for completion of our development
programs.
Clinical
trials for our product candidates require sufficient patient
enrollment. We may not be able to enroll a sufficient number of
patients in a timely or cost-effective manner. Patients enrolled in
our clinical studies may discontinue their participation at any
time during the study as a result of a number of factors, including
withdrawing their consent or experiencing adverse clinical events,
which may or may not be judged to be related to our product
candidates under evaluation. If a large number of patients in a
study discontinue their participation in the study, the results
from that study may not be positive or may not support a filing for
regulatory approval of the product candidate.
In
addition, the time required to complete clinical trials is
dependent upon, among other factors, the rate of patient
enrollment. Patient enrollment is a function of many factors,
including the following:
●
the
size of the patient population;
●
the
nature of the clinical protocol requirements;
●
the
availability of other treatments or marketed therapies (whether
approved or experimental);
●
our
ability to recruit and manage clinical centers and associated
trials;
●
the
proximity of patients to clinical sites; and
●
the
patient eligibility criteria for the study.
We rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials, and their
failure to perform their obligations in a timely or competent
manner may delay development and commercialization of our
device.
We
engage a clinical research organization (CRO) and other third party
vendors to assist in the conduct of our clinical trials. There are
numerous sources that are capable of providing these services.
However, we may face delays outside of our control if these parties
do not perform their obligations in a timely or competent fashion
or if we are forced to change service providers. Any third party
that we hire to conduct clinical trials may also provide services
to our competitors, which could compromise the performance of their
obligations to us. If we experience significant delays in the
progress of our clinical trials, the commercial prospects for the
product could be harmed and our ability to generate product
revenues would be delayed or prevented. Any failure of the CRO and
other third party vendors to successfully accomplish clinical trial
monitoring, data collection, safety monitoring and data management
and the other services they provide for us in a timely manner and
in compliance with regulatory requirements could have a material
adverse effect on our ability to complete clinical development of
our product and obtain regulatory approval. Problems with the
timeliness or quality of the work of the CRO may lead us to seek to
terminate the relationship and use an alternate service provider.
However, making such changes may be costly and may delay our
clinical trials, and contractual restrictions may make such a
change difficult or impossible. Additionally, it may be difficult
to find a replacement organization that can conduct our trials in
an acceptable manner and at an acceptable cost.
27
We may be required to suspend or discontinue clinical trials due to
unexpected side effects or other safety risks that could preclude
approval of our product candidates.
Our
clinical trials may be suspended at any time for a number of
reasons. For example, we may voluntarily suspend or terminate our
clinical trials if at any time we believe that they present an
unacceptable risk to the clinical trial patients. In addition, the
FDA or other regulatory agencies may order the temporary or
permanent discontinuation of our clinical trials at any time if
they believe that the clinical trials are not being conducted in
accordance with applicable regulatory requirements or that they
present an unacceptable safety risk to the clinical trial
patients.
Administering any
product candidate to humans may produce undesirable side effects.
These side effects could interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials
of our product candidates and could result in the FDA or other
regulatory authorities denying further development or approval of
our product candidates for any or all targeted indications.
Ultimately, some or all of our product candidates may prove to be
unsafe for human use. Moreover, we could be subject to significant
liability if any patient suffers, or appears to suffer, adverse
health effects as a result of participating in our clinical
trials.
Regulatory approval of our product candidates may be withdrawn at
any time.
After
regulatory approval has been obtained for medical device products,
the product and the manufacturer are subject to continual review,
including the review of adverse experiences and clinical results
that are reported after our products are made available to
patients, and there can be no assurance that such approval will not
be withdrawn or restricted. Regulators may also subject approvals
to restrictions or conditions or impose post-approval obligations
on the holders of these approvals, and the regulatory status of
such products may be jeopardized if such obligations are not
fulfilled. If post-approval studies are required, such studies may
involve significant time and expense.
The
manufacturing facilities we use to make any of our products will
also be subject to periodic review and inspection by the FDA or
other regulatory authorities, as applicable. The discovery of any
new or previously unknown problems with the product or facility may
result in restrictions on the product or facility, including
withdrawal of the product from the market. We will continue to be
subject to the FDA or other regulatory authority requirements, as
applicable, governing the labeling, packaging, storage,
advertising, promotion, recordkeeping, and submission of safety and
other post-market information for all of our product candidates,
even those that the FDA or other regulatory authority, as
applicable, had approved. If we fail to comply with applicable
continuing regulatory requirements, we may be subject to fines,
suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approval, product recalls
and seizures, operating restrictions and other adverse
consequences.
Federal regulatory reforms may adversely affect our ability to sell
our products profitably.
From
time to time, legislation is drafted and introduced in the United
States Congress that could significantly change the statutory
provisions governing the clearance or approval, manufacture and
marketing of a medical device. In addition, FDA regulations and
guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the agency in ways
that may significantly affect our business and our products. It is
impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted
or FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations changed, and what
the impact of such changes on us, if any, may be.
Failure to obtain regulatory approval in foreign jurisdictions will
prevent us from marketing our products abroad.
International
sales of our products and any of our product candidates that we
commercialize are subject to the regulatory requirements of each
country in which the products are sold. Accordingly, the
introduction of our product candidates in markets outside the
United States will be subject to regulatory approvals in those
jurisdictions. The regulatory review process varies from country to
country. Many countries impose product standards, packaging and
labeling requirements, and import restrictions on medical devices.
In addition, each country has its own tariff regulations, duties
and tax requirements. The approval by foreign government
authorities is unpredictable and uncertain and can be expensive.
Our ability to market our approved products could be substantially
limited due to delays in receipt of, or failure to receive, the
necessary approvals or clearances.
Prior
to marketing our products in any country outside the United States,
we must obtain marketing approval in that country. Approval and
other regulatory requirements vary by jurisdiction and differ from
the United States’ requirements. We may be required to
perform additional pre-clinical or clinical studies even if FDA
approval has been obtained.
28
If we fail to obtain an adequate level of reimbursement for our
approved products by third party payers, there may be no
commercially viable markets for our approved products or the
markets may be much smaller than expected.
The
availability and levels of reimbursement by governmental and other
third party payers affect the market for our approved products. The
efficacy, safety, performance and cost-effectiveness of our product
and product candidates, and of any competing products, will
determine the availability and level of reimbursement.
Reimbursement and healthcare payment systems in international
markets vary significantly by country and include both government
sponsored healthcare and private insurance. To obtain reimbursement
or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to
produce clinical data, which may involve one or more clinical
trials, that compares the cost-effectiveness of our approved
products to other available therapies. We may not obtain
international reimbursement or pricing approvals in a timely
manner, if at all. Our failure to receive international
reimbursement or pricing approvals would negatively impact market
acceptance of our approved products in the international markets in
which those pricing approvals are sought.
We
believe that, in the future, reimbursement for any of our products
or product candidates may be subject to increased restrictions both
in the United States and in international markets. Future
legislation, regulation or reimbursement policies of third party
payers may adversely affect the demand for our products currently
under development and limit our ability to sell our products on a
profitable basis. In addition, third party payers continually
attempt to contain or reduce the costs of healthcare by challenging
the prices charged for healthcare products and services. If
reimbursement for our approved products is unavailable or limited
in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels,
market acceptance of our approved products would be impaired and
our future revenues, if any, would be adversely
affected.
Uncertainty surrounding and future changes to healthcare law in the
United States may have a material adverse effect on
us.
The
healthcare regulatory environment in the United States is currently
subject to significant uncertainty and the industry may in the
future continue to experience fundamental change as a result of
regulatory reform. In March 2010, the former U.S. President signed
into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended
by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act
(collectively the PPACA), which substantially changes the way
healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers,
encourages improvements in the quality of healthcare items and
services, and significantly impacts the biotechnology and medical
device industries. The PPACA includes, among other things, the
following measures:
●
a 2.3% excise tax
on any entity that manufactures or imports medical devices offered
for sale in the United States, with limited exceptions, began in
2013 but a two year moratorium has been issued for sales during
2016 and 2017, and new legislation was passed in January 2018 such
that the tax will be delayed until January 1, 2020;
●
a new
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify
priorities and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness
research;
●
payment system
reforms including a national pilot program on payment bundling to
encourage hospitals, physicians and other providers to improve the
coordination, quality and efficiency of certain healthcare services
through bundled payment models;
●
an independent
payment advisory board that will submit recommendations to reduce
Medicare spending if projected Medicare spending exceeds a
specified growth rate; and
●
a new abbreviated
pathway for the licensure of biological products that are
demonstrated to be biosimilar or interchangeable with a licensed
biological product.
However, some of
the provisions of the PPACA have yet to be fully implemented and
certain provisions have been subject to judicial and Congressional
challenges. Furthermore, President Trump has vowed to repeal the
PPACA, and it is uncertain whether new legislation will be enacted
to replace the PPACA. On January 20, 2017, President Trump signed
an executive order stating that the administration intended to seek
prompt repeal of the healthcare reform law, and, pending repeal,
directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other
executive departments and agencies to take all steps necessary to
limit any fiscal or regulatory burdens of the healthcare reform
law. On October 12, 2017, President Trump signed another executive
order directing certain federal agencies to propose regulations or
guidelines to permit small businesses to form association health
plans, expand the availability of short-term, limited duration
insurance, and expand the use of health reimbursement arrangements,
which may circumvent some of the requirements for health insurance
mandated by the healthcare reform law. The U.S. Congress has also
made several attempts to repeal or modify the healthcare reform
law. In the coming years, there may continue to be additional
proposals relating to the reform of the United States healthcare
system. Certain of these proposals could limit the prices we are
able to charge for our products or the amounts of reimbursement
available for our products and could limit the acceptance and
availability of our products. The adoption of some or all of these
proposals could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
29
Additionally,
initiatives sponsored by government agencies, legislative bodies
and the private sector to limit the growth of healthcare costs,
including price regulation and competitive pricing, are ongoing in
the United States and other markets. We could experience an adverse
impact on our operating results due to increased pricing pressure
these markets. Governments, hospitals and other third party payors
could reduce the amount of approved reimbursement for our products
or deny coverage altogether. Reductions in reimbursement levels or
coverage or other cost-containment measures could adversely affect
our future operating results.
If we fail to comply with the United States Federal Anti-Kickback
Statute, False Claims Act and similar state laws, we could be
subject to criminal and civil penalties and exclusion from the
Medicare and Medicaid programs, which would have a material adverse
effect on our business and results of operations.
A
provision of the Social Security Act, commonly referred to as the
Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, prohibits the offer, payment,
solicitation or receipt of any form of remuneration in return for
referring, ordering, leasing, purchasing or arranging for, or
recommending the ordering, purchasing or leasing of, items or
services payable by Medicare, Medicaid or any other Federal
healthcare program. The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute is very broad
in scope and many of its provisions have not been uniformly or
definitively interpreted by existing case law or regulations. In
addition, most of the states have adopted laws similar to the
Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and some of these laws are even
broader than the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute in that their
prohibitions are not limited to items or services paid for by
Federal healthcare programs, but instead apply regardless of the
source of payment. Violations of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute
may result in substantial civil or criminal penalties and exclusion
from participation in Federal healthcare programs.
Our
operations may also implicate the False Claims Act. If we fail to
comply with federal and state documentation, coding and billing
rules, we could be subject to liability under the federal False
Claims Act, including criminal and/or civil penalties, loss of
licenses and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The
False Claims Act prohibits individuals and companies from knowingly
submitting false claims for payments to, or improperly retaining
overpayments from, the government.
All
of our financial relationships with healthcare providers and others
who provide products or services to Federal healthcare program
beneficiaries are potentially governed by the Federal Anti-Kickback
Statute, False Claims Act and similar state laws. We believe our
operations are in compliance with the Federal Anti-Kickback
Statute, False Claims Act and similar state laws. However, we
cannot be certain that we will not be subject to investigations or
litigation alleging violations of these laws, which could be
time-consuming and costly to us and could divert management’s
attention from operating our business, which in turn could have a
material adverse effect on our business. In addition, if our
arrangements were found to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback
Statute, False Claims Act or similar state laws, the consequences
of such violations would likely have a material adverse effect on
our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Failure to comply with the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach
Notification Regulations, as such rules become applicable to our
business, may increase our operational costs.
The
HIPAA privacy and security regulations establish comprehensive
federal standards with respect to the uses and disclosures of PHI
by certain entities including health plans and health care
providers, and set standards to protect the confidentiality,
integrity and availability of electronic PHI. The regulations
establish a complex regulatory framework on a variety of subjects,
including, for example: the circumstances under which uses and
disclosures of PHI are permitted or required without a specific
authorization by the patient. a patient’s right to access,
amend and receive an accounting of certain disclosures of PHI. the
content of notices of privacy practices describing how PHI is used
and disclosed and individuals’ rights with respect to their
PHI. and implementation of administrative, technical and physical
safeguards to protect privacy and security of PHI. We anticipate
that, as we expand our dermaPACE business, we will in the future be
a covered entity under HIPAA. We intend to adopt policies and
procedures to comply with the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule and
the HIPAA statute as such regulations become applicable to our
business and as such regulations are in effect at such time;
however, there can be no assurance that our policies and procedures
will be adequate or will prevent all incidents of non-compliance
with such regulations.
30
The
privacy regulations establish a uniform federal standard but do not
supersede state laws that may be more stringent. Therefore, as we
expand our deramPACE business, we may also be required to comply
with both federal privacy and security regulations and varying
state privacy and security laws and regulations. The federal
privacy regulations restrict the ability to use or disclose certain
individually identifiable patient health information, without
patient authorization, for purposes other than payment, treatment
or health care operations (as defined by HIPAA), except for
disclosures for various public policy purposes and other permitted
purposes outlined in the privacy regulations.
The
HITECH Act and its implementing regulations also require healthcare
providers to notify affected individuals, the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, and in some cases, the
media, when PHI has been breached as defined under and following
the requirements of HIPAA. Many states have similar breach
notification laws. In the event of a breach, to the extent such
regulations are applicable to our business, we could incur
operational and financial costs related to remediation as well as
preparation and delivery of the notices, which costs could be
substantial. Additionally, HIPAA, the HITECH Act, and their
implementing regulations provide for significant civil fines,
criminal penalties, and other sanctions for failure to comply with
the privacy, security, and breach notification rules, including for
wrongful or impermissible use or disclosure of PHI. Although the
HIPAA statute and regulations do not expressly provide for a
private right of action for damages, private parties may also seek
damages under state laws for the wrongful or impermissible use or
disclosure of confidential health information or other private
personal information. Additionally, amendments to HIPAA provide
that the state Attorneys General may bring an action against a
covered entity for a violation of HIPAA. As we expand our business
such that federal and state laws regarding PHI and privacy apply to
our operations, any noncompliance with such regulations could have
a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
We face periodic reviews and billing audits from governmental and
private payors and these audits could have adverse results that may
negatively impact our business.
As
a result of our participation in the Medicare and Medicaid
programs, we are subject to various governmental reviews and audits
to verify our compliance with these programs and applicable laws
and regulations. We also are subject to audits under various
government programs in which third-party firms engaged by the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conduct extensive
reviews of claims data and medical and other records to identify
potential improper payments under the Medicare program. Private pay
sources also reserve the right to conduct audits. If billing errors
are identified in the sample of reviewed claims, the billing error
can be extrapolated to all claims filed which could result in a
larger overpayment than originally identified in the sample of
reviewed claims. Our costs to respond to and defend reviews and
audits may be significant and could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
cash flows. Moreover, an adverse review or audit could result
in:
●
required
refunding or retroactive adjustment of amounts we have been paid by
governmental or private payors.
●
state
or Federal agencies imposing fines, penalties and other sanctions
on us.
●
loss
of our right to participate in the Medicare program, state
programs, or one or more private payor networks. or
●
damage
to our business and reputation in various markets.
Any
one of these results could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
Product quality or performance issues may be discovered through
ongoing regulation by the FDA and by comparable international
agencies, as well as through our internal standard quality
process.
The
medical device industry is subject to substantial regulation by the
FDA and by comparable international agencies. In addition to
requiring clearance or approval to market new or improved devices,
we are subject to ongoing regulation as a device manufacturer.
Governmental regulations cover many aspects of our operations,
including quality systems, marketing and device reporting. As a
result, we continually collect and analyze information about our
product quality and product performance through field observations,
customer feedback and other quality metrics. If we fail to comply
with applicable regulations or if post market safety issues arise,
we could be subject to enforcement sanctions, our promotional
practices may be restricted, and our marketed products could be
subject to recall or otherwise impacted. Each of these potential
actions could result in a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.
31
The use of hazardous materials in our operations may subject us to
environmental claims or liability.
We
conduct research and development and manufacturing operations in
our facility. Our research and development process may, at times,
involve the controlled use of hazardous materials and chemicals. We
may conduct experiments in which we may use small quantities of
chemicals, including those that are corrosive, toxic and flammable.
The risk of accidental injury or contamination from these materials
cannot be eliminated. We do not maintain a separate insurance
policy for these types of risks. In the event of an accident or
environmental discharge or contamination, we may be held liable for
any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our
resources. We are subject to Federal, state and local laws and
regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of
these materials and specified waste products. The cost of
compliance with these laws and regulations could be
significant.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
The protection of our intellectual property is critical to our
success and any failure on our part to adequately protect those
rights could materially adversely affect our business.
Our
commercial success depends to a significant degree on our ability
to:
●
obtain
and/or maintain protection for our product candidates under the
patent laws of the United States and other countries;
●
defend
and enforce our patents once obtained;
●
obtain
and/or maintain appropriate licenses to patents, patent
applications or other proprietary rights held by others with
respect to our technology, both in the United States and other
countries;
●
maintain
trade secrets and other intellectual property rights relating to
our product candidates; and
●
operate
without infringing upon the patents, trademarks, copyrights and
proprietary rights of third parties.
The
degree of intellectual property protection for our technology is
uncertain, and only limited intellectual property protection may be
available for our product candidates, which may prevent us from
gaining or keeping any competitive advantage against our
competitors. Although we believe the patents that we own or
license, and the patent applications that we own, generally provide
us a competitive advantage, the patent positions of biotechnology,
biopharmaceutical and medical device companies are generally highly
uncertain, involve complex legal and factual questions and have
been the subject of much litigation. Neither the United States
Patent & Trademark Office nor the courts have a consistent
policy regarding the breadth of claims allowed or the degree of
protection afforded under many biotechnology patents. Even if
issued, patents may be challenged, narrowed, invalidated or
circumvented, which could limit our ability to stop competitors
from marketing similar products or limit the length of term of
patent protection we may have for our products. Further, a court or
other government agency could interpret our patents in a way such
that the patents do not adequately cover our current or future
product candidates. Changes in either patent laws or in
interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other
countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property or
narrow the scope of our patent protection.
We
also rely upon trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how
and continuing technological innovation in developing our products,
especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate
or obtainable. We seek to protect this intellectual property, in
part, by generally requiring our employees, consultants, and
current and prospective business partners to enter into
confidentiality agreements in connection with their employment,
consulting or advisory relationships with us, where appropriate. We
also require our employees, consultants, researchers, and advisors
who we expect to work on our products and product candidates to
agree to disclose and assign to us all inventions conceived during
the work day, developed using our property or which relate to our
business. We may lack the financial or other resources to
successfully monitor and detect, or to enforce our rights in
respect of, infringement of our rights or breaches of these
confidentiality agreements. In the case of any such undetected or
unchallenged infringements or breaches, these confidentiality
agreements may not provide us with meaningful protection of our
trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how or adequate
remedies. In addition, others may independently develop technology
that is similar or equivalent to our trade secrets or know-how. If
any of our trade secrets, unpatented know-how or other confidential
or proprietary information is divulged to third parties, including
our competitors, our competitive position in the marketplace could
be harmed and our ability to sell our products successfully could
be severely compromised. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally
obtained and is using trade secrets that have been licensed to us
or that we own is also difficult, expensive and time consuming, and
the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the
United States may be less willing to protect trade secrets. Costly
and time consuming litigation could be necessary to seek to enforce
and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to
obtain or maintain trade secret protection could have a material
adverse effect on our business. Moreover, some of our academic
institution licensees, evaluators, collaborators and scientific
advisors have rights to publish data and information to which we
have rights. If we cannot maintain the confidentiality of our
technologies and other confidential information in connection with
our collaborations, our ability to protect our proprietary
information or obtain patent protection in the future may be
impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
32
In
particular, we cannot assure you that:
●
we
or the owners or other inventors of the patents that we own or that
have been licensed to us, or that may be issued or licensed to us
in the future, were the first to file patent applications or to
invent the subject matter claimed in patent applications relating
to the technologies upon which we rely;
●
others
will not independently develop similar or alternative technologies
or duplicate any of our technologies;
●
any
of our patent applications will result in issued
patents;
●
the
patents and patent applications that we own or that have been
licensed to us, or that may be issued or licensed to us in the
future, will provide a basis for commercially viable products or
will provide us with any competitive advantages, or will not be
challenged by third parties;
●
the
patents and patent applications that have been licensed to us are
valid and enforceable;
●
we
will develop additional proprietary technologies that are
patentable;
●
we
will be successful in enforcing the patents that we own or license
and any patents that may be issued or licensed to us in the future
against third parties;
●
the
patents of third parties will not have an adverse effect on our
ability to do business; or
●
our
trade secrets and proprietary rights will remain
confidential.
Accordingly,
we may fail to secure meaningful patent protection relating to any
of our existing or future product candidates or discoveries despite
the expenditure of considerable resources. Further, there may be
widespread patent infringement in countries in which we may seek
patent protection, including countries in Europe and Asia, which
may instigate expensive and time consuming litigation that could
adversely affect the scope of our patent protection. In addition,
others may attempt to commercialize products similar to our product
candidates in countries where we do not have adequate patent
protection. Failure to obtain adequate patent protection for our
product candidates, or the failure by particular countries to
enforce patent laws or allow prosecution for alleged patent
infringement, may impair our ability to be competitive. The
availability of infringing products in markets where we have patent
protection, or the availability of competing products in markets
where we do not have adequate patent protection, could erode the
market for our product candidates, negatively impact the prices we
can charge for our product candidates, and harm our reputation if
infringing or competing products are manufactured to inferior
standards.
Patent applications owned by us or licensed to us may not result in
issued patents, and our competitors may commercialize the
discoveries we attempt to patent.
The
patent applications that we own and that have been licensed to us,
and any future patent applications that we may own or that may be
licensed to us, may not result in the issuance of any patents. The
standards that the United States Patent & Trademark Office and
foreign patent agencies use to grant patents are not always applied
predictably or uniformly and can change. Consequently, we cannot be
certain as to the type and scope of patent claims to which we may
in the future be entitled under our license agreements or that may
be issued to us in the future. These applications may not be
sufficient to meet the statutory requirements for patentability
and, therefore, may not result in enforceable patents covering the
product candidates we want to commercialize. Further, patent
applications in the United States that are not filed in other
countries may not be published or generally are not published until
at least 18 months after they are first filed, and patent
applications in certain foreign countries generally are not
published until many months after they are filed. Scientific and
patent publication often occurs long after the date of the
scientific developments disclosed in those publications. As a
result, we cannot be certain that we will be the first creator of
inventions covered by our patents or applications, or the first to
file such patent applications. As a result, our issued patents and
our patent applications could become subject to challenge by third
parties that created such inventions or filed patent applications
before us or our licensors, resulting in, among other things,
interference proceedings in the United States Patent &
Trademark Office to determine priority of discovery or invention.
Interference proceedings, if resolved adversely to us, could result
in the loss of or significant limitations on patent protection for
our products or technologies. Even in the absence of interference
proceedings, patent applications now pending or in the future filed
by third parties may prevail over the patent applications that may
be owned by us or licensed to us or that we may file in the future,
or may result in patents that issue alongside patents issued to us
or our licensors or that may be issued or licensed to us in the
future, leading to uncertainty over the scope of the patents owned
by us or licensed to us or that may in the future be owned by us or
impede our freedom to practice the claimed inventions.
33
Our patents may not be valid or enforceable and may be challenged
by third parties.
We
cannot assure you that the patents that have been issued or
licensed to us would be held valid by a court or administrative
body or that we would be able to successfully enforce our patents
against infringers, including our competitors. The issuance of a
patent is not conclusive as to its validity or enforceability, and
the validity and enforceability of a patent is susceptible to
challenge on numerous legal grounds, including the possibility of
reexamination proceedings brought by third parties in the United
States Patent & Trademark Office against issued patents and
similar validity challenges under foreign patent laws. Challenges
raised in patent infringement litigation brought by us or against
us may result in determinations that patents that have been issued
to us or licensed to us or any patents that may be issued to us or
our licensors in the future are invalid, unenforceable or otherwise
subject to limitations. In the event of any such determinations,
third parties may be able to use the discoveries or technologies
claimed in these patents without paying licensing fees or royalties
to us, which could significantly diminish the value of our
intellectual property and our competitive advantage. Even if our
patents are held to be enforceable, others may be able to design
around our patents or develop products similar to our products that
are not within the scope of any of our patents.
In
addition, enforcing the patents that we own or license and any
patents that may be issued to us in the future against third
parties may require significant expenditures regardless of the
outcome of such efforts. Our inability to enforce our patents
against infringers and competitors may impair our ability to be
competitive and could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
Issued patents and patent licenses may not provide us with any
competitive advantage or provide meaningful protection against
competitors.
The
discoveries or technologies covered by issued patents we own or
license may not have any value or provide us with a competitive
advantage, and many of these discoveries or technologies may not be
applicable to our product candidates at all. We have devoted
limited resources to identifying competing technologies that may
have a competitive advantage relative to ours, especially those
competing technologies that are not perceived as infringing on our
intellectual property rights. In addition, the standards that
courts use to interpret and enforce patent rights are not always
applied predictably or uniformly and can change, particularly as
new technologies develop. Consequently, we cannot be certain as to
how much protection, if any, will be afforded by these patents with
respect to our products if we, our licensees or our licensors
attempt to enforce these patent rights and those rights are
challenged in court.
The
existence of third party patent applications and patents could
significantly limit our ability to obtain meaningful patent
protection. If patents containing competitive or conflicting claims
are issued to third parties, we may be enjoined from pursuing
research, development or commercialization of product candidates or
may be required to obtain licenses, if available, to these patents
or to develop or obtain alternative technology. If another party
controls patents or patent applications covering our product
candidates, we may not be able to obtain the rights we need to
those patents or patent applications in order to commercialize our
product candidates or we may be required to pay royalties, which
could be substantial, to obtain licenses to use those patents or
patent applications.
In
addition, issued patents may not provide commercially meaningful
protection against competitors. Other parties may seek and/or be
able to duplicate, design around or independently develop products
having effects similar or identical to our patented product
candidates that are not within the scope of our
patents.
Limitations
on patent protection in some countries outside the United States,
and the differences in what constitutes patentable subject matter
in these countries, may limit the protection we have under patents
issued outside of the United States. We do not have patent
protection for our product candidates in a number of our target
markets. The failure to obtain adequate patent protection for our
product candidates in any country would impair our ability to be
commercially competitive in that country.
34
The ability to market the products we develop is subject to the
intellectual property rights of third parties.
The
biotechnology, biopharmaceutical and medical device industries are
characterized by a large number of patents and patent filings and
frequent litigation based on allegations of patent infringement.
Competitors may have filed patent applications or have been issued
patents and may obtain additional patents and proprietary rights
related to products or processes that compete with or are similar
to ours. We may not be aware of all of the patents potentially
adverse to our interests that may have been issued to others.
Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may
be currently pending applications, unknown to us, which may later
result in issued patents that our product candidates or proprietary
technologies may infringe. Third parties may claim that our
products or related technologies infringe their patents or may
claim that the products of our suppliers, manufacturers or contract
service providers that produce our devices infringe on their
intellectual property. Further, we, our licensees or our licensors,
may need to participate in interference, opposition, protest,
reexamination or other potentially adverse proceedings in the
United States Patent & Trademark Office or in similar agencies
of foreign governments with regards to our patents, patent
applications, and intellectual property rights. In addition, we,
our licensees or our licensors may need to initiate suits to
protect our intellectual property rights.
Litigation or any
other proceeding relating to intellectual property rights, even if
resolved in our favor, may cause us to incur significant expenses,
divert the attention of our management and key personnel from other
business concerns and, in certain cases, result in substantial
additional expenses to license technologies from third parties.
Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex
patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have
substantially greater resources. An unfavorable outcome in any
patent infringement suit or other adverse intellectual property
proceeding could require us to pay substantial damages, including
possible treble damages and attorneys’ fees, cease using our
technology or developing or marketing our products, or require us
to seek licenses, if available, of the disputed rights from other
parties and potentially make significant payments to those parties.
There is no guarantee that any prevailing party would offer us a
license or that we could acquire any license made available to us
on commercially acceptable terms. Even if we are able to obtain
rights to a third party’s patented intellectual property,
those rights may be nonexclusive and, therefore, our competitors
may obtain access to the same intellectual property. Ultimately, we
may be unable to commercialize our product candidates or may have
to cease some of our business operations as a result of patent
infringement claims, which could materially harm our business. We
cannot guarantee that our products or technologies will not
conflict with the intellectual property rights of
others.
If we
need to redesign our products to avoid third party patents, we may
suffer significant regulatory delays associated with conducting
additional clinical studies or submitting technical, clinical,
manufacturing or other information related to any redesigned
product and, ultimately, in obtaining regulatory approval. Further,
any such redesigns may result in less effective and/or less
commercially desirable products, if the redesigns are possible at
all.
Additionally, any
involvement in litigation in which we, our licensees or our
licensors are accused of infringement may result in negative
publicity about us or our products, injure our relations with any
then-current or prospective customers and marketing partners, and
cause delays in the commercialization of our products.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
Our stock price is volatile.
The
market price of our common stock is volatile and could fluctuate
widely in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our
control, including the following:
●
our
ability to obtain additional financing and, if available, the terms
and conditions of the financing;
●
changes
in the timing of on-going clinical trial enrollment, the results of
our clinical trials and regulatory approvals for our product
candidates or failure to obtain such regulatory
approvals;
●
changes
in our industry;
●
additions
or departures of key personnel;
●
sales
of our common stock;
●
our
ability to execute our business plan;
●
operating
results that fall below expectations;
●
period-to-period
fluctuations in our operating results;
●
new
regulatory requirements and changes in the existing regulatory
environment; and
●
general
economic conditions and other external factors.
35
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.
There is currently a limited trading market for our common stock
and we cannot predict how liquid the market might
become.
To
date, there has been a limited trading market for our common stock
and we cannot predict how liquid the market for our common stock
might become. Our common stock is quoted on the Over-the-Counter
market (OTCQB), which is an inter-dealer market that provides
significantly less liquidity than the New York Stock Exchange or
the Nasdaq Stock Market. The quotation of our common stock on the
OTCQB does not assure that a meaningful, consistent and liquid
trading market exists. The market price for our common stock is
subject to volatility and holders of our common stock may be unable
to resell their shares at or near their original purchase price, or
at any price. In the absence of an active trading
market:
●
investors
may have difficulty buying and selling, or obtaining market
quotations for our common stock;
●
market
visibility for our common stock may be limited; and
●
a
lack of visibility for our common stock may have a depressive
effect on the market for our common stock.
Trading for our common stock is limited under the SEC’s penny
stock regulations, which has an adverse effect on the liquidity of
our common stock.
The
trading price of our common stock is less than $5.00 per share and,
as a result, our common stock is considered a “penny
stock,” and trading in our common stock is subject to the
requirements of Rule 15g-9 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Under this rule,
broker-dealers who recommend low-priced securities to persons other
than established customers and accredited investors must satisfy
special sales practice requirements. Generally, the broker-dealer
must make an individualized written suitability determination for
the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written consent
prior to the transaction.
Regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) also require additional disclosure in
connection with any trades involving a “penny stock,”
including the delivery, prior to any penny stock transaction, of a
disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and its
associated risks. These requirements severely limit the liquidity
of securities in the secondary market because only a few brokers or
dealers are likely to undertake these compliance activities.
Compliance with these requirements may make it more difficult for
holders of our Common Stock to resell their shares to third parties
or to otherwise dispose of them in the market.
As an issuer of “penny stock”, the protection provided
by the federal securities laws relating to forward looking
statements does not apply to us.
Although federal
securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking
statements made by a public company that files reports under the
federal securities laws, this safe harbor is not available to
issuers of penny stocks. As a result, we will not have the benefit
of this safe harbor protection in the event of any legal action
based upon a claim that the material provided by us contained a
material misstatement of fact or was misleading in any material
respect because of our failure to include any statements necessary
to make the statements not misleading. Such an action could hurt
our financial condition.
We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay
dividends in the future. Any return on investment may be limited to
the value of our common stock.
We
have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not
anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. The payment of
dividends on our common stock will depend on earnings, financial
condition and other business and economic factors affecting us at
such time as our board of directors may consider relevant. 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.
36
The rights of the holders of common stock may be impaired by the
potential issuance of preferred stock.
Our
board of directors has the right, without stockholder approval, to
issue preferred stock with voting, dividend, conversion,
liquidation or other rights which could adversely affect the voting
power and equity interest of the holders of common stock, which
could be issued with the right to more than one vote per share, and
could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or
preventing a change of control. The possible negative impact on
takeover attempts could adversely affect the price of our common
stock.
On
January 31, 2020, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Right and Limitations of Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company with the Nevada Secretary of State
which amended our Articles of Incorporation to designate 90 shares
of our preferred stock as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.
Although we have no other shares of
preferred stock currently outstanding and no present intention to
issue any additional shares of preferred stock or to create any
additional series of preferred stock, we may issue such shares in
the future.
On
January 12, 2016, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Right and Limitations of Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company with the Nevada Secretary of State
which amended our Articles of Incorporation to designate 293 shares
of our preferred stock as Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock.
We have never held an annual meeting for the election of
directors.
Pursuant
to the provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the
“NRS”), directors are to be elected at the annual
meeting of the stockholders. Pursuant to the NRS and our
bylaws, our board of directors is granted the authority to fix the
date, time and place for annual stockholder meetings. No date, time
or place has yet been fixed by our board for the holding of an
annual stockholder meeting. Pursuant to the NRS and our bylaws,
each of our directors holds office after the expiration of his term
until a successor is elected and qualified, or until the director
resigns or is removed. Under the provisions of the NRS, if an
election of our directors has not been made by our stockholders
within 18 months of the last such election, then an application may
be made to the Nevada district court by stockholders holding a
minimum of 15% of our outstanding stockholder voting power for an
order for the election of directors in the manner provided in the
NRS.
We have not sought an advisory stockholder vote to approve the
compensation of our named executive officers.
Rule
14a-21 under the Exchange Act requires us to seek a separate
stockholder advisory vote at our annual meeting at which
directors are elected to approve the compensation of our named
executive officers, not less frequently than once every three years
(say-on-pay vote), and, at least once every six years, to seek a
separate stockholder advisory vote on the frequency with which we
will submit advisory say-on-pay votes to our stockholders
(say-on-frequency vote). In 2013, the year in which Rule 14a-21
became applicable to smaller reporting companies, and in 2014, we
did not submit to our stockholders a say-on-pay vote to approve an
advisory resolution regarding our compensation program for our
named executive officers, or a say-on-frequency vote. Consequently,
the board of directors has not considered the outcome of our
say-on-pay vote results when determining future compensation
policies and pay levels for our named executive
officers.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
Our
operations, production and research and development office is in a
leased facility in Suwanee, Georgia, consisting of 10,177 square
feet of space under a lease which expires on December 31, 2021.
Under the terms of the lease, we pay monthly rent of $14,651,
subject to a 3% adjustment on an annual basis.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We
are engaged in various legal actions, claims and proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of business, including claims
related to breach of contracts and intellectual property matters
resulting from our business activities. As with most actions such
as these, an estimation of any possible and/or ultimate liability
cannot always be determined.
There
are no material proceedings known to us to be contemplated by any
governmental authority.
There
are no material proceedings known to us, pending or contemplated,
in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates or any of our
principal security holders, or any associate of any of the
foregoing, is a party or has an interest adverse to
us.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not
applicable.
37
PART II
Item 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
The
Company’s common stock is quoted on the OTCQB under the
symbol “SNWV”. The quotations reflect inter-dealer
prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commissions, and may
not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Holders of Common Stock
As of March 25, 2020, there were
297,340,200 shares of Common Stock outstanding and
approximately 161 holders of record of the Company’s common
stock.
Dividends
The
Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common
stock. The Company intends to retain future earnings, if any, to
finance the expansion of its business. As a result, the Company
does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable
future.
38
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation
Plans
|
Plan
Category
|
Number of
securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights
|
Number of
securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a))
|
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by security holders
|
-
|
$0.00
|
-
|
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by security holders
|
34,303,385
|
$0.28
|
2,028,281
|
|
Total
|
34,303,385
|
$0.28
|
2,028,281
|
Stock Incentive Plans
On November
1, 2010, the Company approved the Amended and Restated 2006 Stock
Incentive Plan of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. effective as of January 1,
2010 (the “Stock Incentive Plan”). The Stock Incentive
Plan permits grants of awards to selected employees, directors and
advisors of the Company in the form of restricted stock or options
to purchase shares of common stock. Options granted may include
non-statutory options as well as qualified incentive stock options.
The Stock Incentive Plan is currently administered by the board of
directors of the Company. The Stock Incentive Plan gives broad
powers to the board of directors of the Company to administer and
interpret the particular form and conditions of each option. The
stock options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan are
non-statutory options which vest over a period of up to three years
and have a ten year term. The options are granted at an exercise
price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of the grant which is approved by the board of directors of
the Company.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not
required under Regulation S-K for “smaller reporting
companies”.
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains
forward-looking statements regarding our business development
plans, clinical trials, regulatory reviews, timing, strategies,
expectations, anticipated expenses levels, projected profits,
business prospects and positioning with respect to market,
demographic and pricing trends, business outlook, technology
spending and various other matters (including contingent
liabilities and obligations and changes in accounting policies,
standards and interpretations) and express our current intentions,
beliefs, expectations, strategies or predictions. These
forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and
currently available information and are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a
result of various factors, including those set forth under the
sections titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements” and “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion should be
read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and
related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
39
Overview
We are
a shock wave technology company using a patented system of
noninvasive, high-energy, acoustic shock waves for regenerative
medicine and other applications. Our initial focus is regenerative
medicine utilizing noninvasive, acoustic shock waves to produce a
biological response resulting in the body healing itself through
the repair and regeneration of tissue, musculoskeletal, and
vascular structures. Our lead regenerative product in the United
States is the dermaPACE® device, used
for treating diabetic foot ulcers, which was subject to two
double-blinded, randomized Phase III clinical studies.
On
December 28, 2017, the U.S. FDA granted the Company’s request
to classify the dermaPACE System as a Class II device via the
de novo process. As a
result of this decision, the Company was able to immediately market
the product for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) as
described in the De Novo request, subject to the general control
provisions of the FD&C Act and the special controls identified
in this order.
Our
portfolio of healthcare products and product candidates activate
biologic signaling and angiogenic responses, including new
vascularization and microcirculatory improvement, helping to
restore the body’s normal healing processes and regeneration.
We intend to apply our Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression
(PACE®) technology in
wound healing, orthopedic, plastic/cosmetic and cardiac conditions.
The Company is marketing its dermaPACE
System for treatment usage in the United States and will continue
to generate revenue from sales of the European Conformity
Marking (CE Mark) devices and accessories in Europe, Canada, Asia,
and Asia/Pacific. The Company generates revenue streams from
dermaPACE treatments, product sales, licensing transactions and
other activities.
Our
lead product candidate for the global wound care market, dermaPACE,
has received FDA clearance for commercial use to treat diabetic
foot ulcers in the United States and the CE Mark allowing for
commercial use on acute and chronic defects of the skin and
subcutaneous soft tissue. We believe we have demonstrated that our
patented technology is safe and effective in stimulating healing in
chronic conditions of the foot and the elbow through our United
States FDA Class III Premarket Approvals ("PMAs") approved
OssaTron® device, and in the stimulation of bone and chronic
tendonitis regeneration in the musculoskeletal environment through
the utilization of our OssaTron, Evotron®, and orthoPACE®
devices in Europe and Asia.
We
are focused on developing our Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression
(PACE) technology to activate healing in:
●
wound
conditions, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous and arterial
ulcers, pressure sores, burns and other skin eruption
conditions;
●
orthopedic
applications, such as eliminating chronic pain in joints from
trauma, arthritis or tendons/ligaments inflammation, speeding the
healing of fractures (including nonunion or delayed-union
conditions), improving bone density in osteoporosis, fusing bones
in the extremities and spine, and other potential sports injury
applications;
●
plastic/cosmetic
applications such as cellulite smoothing, graft and transplant
acceptance, skin tightening, scarring and other potential aesthetic
uses; and
●
cardiac
applications for removing plaque due to atherosclerosis improving
heart muscle performance.
In
addition to healthcare uses, our high-energy, acoustic pressure
shock waves, due to their powerful pressure gradients and localized
cavitational effects, may have applications in secondary and
tertiary oil exploitation, for cleaning industrial waters, for
sterilizing food liquids and finally for maintenance of industrial
installations by disrupting biofilms formation. Our business
approach will be through licensing and/or partnership
opportunities.
41
On
December 11, 2019, the Company, entered into a Common Stock
Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors for the sale
by the Company in a private placement of an aggregate of 21,071,143
shares of common stock at a purchase price of $0.14 per share. The
Company has granted the purchasers indemnification rights with
respect to its representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements under the purchase agreement. In connection with the agreement, the Company also
entered into a registration rights agreement with the purchasers,
pursuant to which the Company has agreed to file a registration
statement with the SEC by April 30, 2020. Pursuant to the terms of
the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will maintain the
effectiveness of the registration statement until the date upon
which the securities held by the Purchasers cease to be
Registerable Securities (as that term is defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement). During the year ended December 31,
2019, the Company issued 20,000,711 shares of common stock in
conjunction with this offering and received $2,800,100 in cash
proceeds.
On
December 13, 2019, the Company entered into a joint venture
agreement (the “Agreement”) with Universus Global
Advisors LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws
of the State of Delaware (“Universus”), Versani Health
Consulting Consultoria em Gestão de Negócios EIRELI, an
empresa individual de
responsabilidade limitada organized under the laws of Brazil
(“Versani”), Curacus Limited, a private limited company
organized under the laws of England and Whales
(“Curacus”), and certain individual citizens of Brazil
and the Czech Republic (the individuals together with Curacus, the
“IDIC Group”). The principal purpose of the joint
venture company will be to manufacture, import, use, sell, and
distribute, on an exclusive basis in Brazil, dermaPACE devices and
wound kits consisting of a standard ultrasound gel and custom size
sterile sleeves used for the treatment of various acute and chronic
wounds using extracorporeal shockwave therapy technology. The joint
venture company will also provide treatments related to the
dermaPACE devices. The IDIC Group has agreed to pay to the Company
a partnership fee in the total amount of $600,000 for the granting
of exclusive territorial rights to the joint venture company to
distribute the dermaPACE devices and wound kits in Brazil. Of the
$600,000 partnership fee, $500,000 was received in November and
December of 2019 and recorded as license fees in revenue, while the
remaining $100,000 is contingent on receipt of required regulatory
approvals from ANVISA (the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency) and
is expected to be received within the next twelve to eighteen
months. As the remaining $100,000 fee is contingent it was not
recorded in the financial statements at December 31, 2019. The
parties executed a shareholders’ agreement, a trademark
license agreement, a supply agreement and a technology license
agreement on January 31, 2020. The IDIC Group will also have the
right to receive prioritized dividends until full reimbursement of
the partnership fee and expenses incurred in the formation of the
joint venture company, which are required to be paid by the IDIC
Group.
On
December 13, 2019, the Company entered into short term notes
payable agreements in the total principal amount of $210,000. The
principal amount will be due and payable six months from the date
of issuance of the respective notes via issuance of 2,250,000
shares of common stock.
42
On
January 31, 2020, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Right and Limitations of Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company with the Nevada Secretary of State
which amended our Articles of Incorporation to designate 90 shares
of our preferred stock as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.
Although we have no other shares of
preferred stock currently outstanding and no present intention to
issue any additional shares of preferred stock or to create any
additional series of preferred stock, we may issue such shares in
the future.
Clinical Trials and Marketing
The FDA
granted approval of our Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to
conduct two double-blinded, randomized clinical trials utilizing
our lead device product for the global wound care market, the
dermaPACE device, in the treatment of diabetic foot
ulcers.
The
dermaPACE system was evaluated using two studies under IDE G070103.
The studies were designed as prospective, randomized, double-blind,
parallel-group, sham-controlled, multi-center 24-week studies at 39
centers. A total of 336 subjects were enrolled and treated with
either dermaPACE plus conventional therapy or conventional therapy
(a.k.a. standard of care) alone. Conventional therapy included, but
was not limited to, debridement, saline-moistened gauze, and
pressure reducing footwear. The objective of the studies was to
compare the safety and efficacy of the dermaPACE device to
sham-control application. The prospectively defined primary
efficacy endpoint for the dermaPACE studies was the incidence of
complete wound closure at 12 weeks post-initial application of the
dermaPACE system (active or sham). Complete wound closure was
defined as skin re-epithelialization without drainage or dressing
requirements, confirmed over two consecutive visits within
12-weeks. If the wound was considered closed for the first time at
the 12 week visit, then the next visit was used to confirm closure.
Investigators continued to follow subjects and evaluate wound
closure through 24 weeks.
Between
the two studies there were over 336 patients evaluated, with 172
patients treated with dermaPACE and 164 control group subjects with
use of a non-functional device (sham). Both treatment groups
received wound care consistent with the standard of care in
addition to device application. Study subjects were enrolled using
pre-determined inclusion/exclusion criteria in order to obtain a
homogenous study population with chronic diabetes and a diabetic
foot ulcer that has persisted a minimum of 30 days and its area is
between 1cm2 and 16cm2, inclusive. Subjects
were enrolled at Visit 1 and followed for a run-in period of two
weeks. At two weeks (Visit 2 – Day 0), the first treatment
was applied (either dermaPACE or Sham Control application).
Applications with either dermaPACE or Sham Control were then made
at Day 3 (Visit 3), Day 6 (Visit 4), and Day 9 (Visit 5) with the
potential for 4 additional treatments in Study 2. Subject progress
including wound size was then observed on a bi-weekly basis for up
to 24 weeks at a total of 12 visits (Weeks 2-24; Visits
6-17).
We
retained Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers, LLC (MCRA)
in January 2015 to lead the Company’s interactions and
correspondence with the FDA for the dermaPACE, which have already
commenced. MCRA has successfully worked with the FDA on numerous
Premarket Approvals (PMAs) for various musculoskeletal, restorative
and general surgical devices since 2006.
Working
with MCRA, we submitted to FDA a de novo petition on July 23, 2016. Due
to the strong safety profile of our device and the efficacy of the
data showing statistical significance for wound closure for
dermaPACE subjects at 20 weeks, we believe that the dermaPACE
device should be considered for classification into Class II as
there is no legally marketed predicate device and there is not an
existing Class III classification regulation or one or more
approved PMAs (which would have required a reclassification under
Section 513(e) or (f)(3) of the FD&C Act). On December 28,
2017, the FDA determined that the criteria at section 513(a)(1)(A)
of (B) of the FD&C Act were met and granted the de novo clearance classifying dermaPACE
as Class II and available to be marketed immediately.
Finally, our
dermaPACE device has received the European CE Mark approval to
treat acute and chronic defects of the skin and subcutaneous soft
tissue, such as in the treatment of pressure ulcers, diabetic foot
ulcers, burns, and traumatic and surgical wounds. The dermaPACE is
also licensed for sale in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South
Korea.
We are
actively marketing the dermaPACE to the European Community, Canada
and Asia/Pacific, utilizing distributors in select
countries.
43
Financial Overview
Since
inception in 2005, our operations have primarily been funded from
the sale of capital stock, notes payable, and convertible debt
securities. We expect to devote substantial resources for the
commercialization of the dermaPACE System and will continue to
research and develop the non-medical uses of the PACE technology,
both of which will require additional capital resources. We
incurred a net loss of $10,429,839 and $11,631,394 for the years
ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. These factors and
the events of default on the notes payable to HealthTronics, Inc.,
and the Company’s short term notes payable create substantial
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern for a period of at least twelve months from the financial
statement issuance date.
Our
operating losses create substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern. Although no assurances can be given,
we believe that potential additional issuances of equity, debt or
other potential financing will provide the necessary funding for us
to continue as a going concern for the next year. See
“Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further
information regarding our financial condition.
The continuation of our business is dependent upon
raising additional capital to fund operations. Management’s
plans are to obtain additional capital in 2020 through investments
by strategic partners for market opportunities, which may include
strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements, or raise capital
through the conversion of outstanding warrants, the issuance of
common or preferred stock, securities convertible into common
stock, or secured or unsecured debt. These possibilities, to the
extent available, may be on terms that result in significant
dilution to our existing shareholders. In addition, there can be no
assurances that our plans to obtain additional capital will be
successful on the terms or timeline we expect, or at all.
Although no assurances can be given, management believes that
potential additional issuances of equity or other potential
financing transactions as discussed above should provide the
necessary funding for us. If these
efforts are unsuccessful, we may be required to significantly
curtail or discontinue operations or obtain funds through financing
transactions with unfavorable terms. The accompanying
consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a
going concern and the realization of assets and satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The carrying amounts
of assets and liabilities presented in the financial statements do
not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement
values. The consolidated financial statements do not include any
adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Our consolidated financial statements
do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of
assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be
necessary should we be unable to continue as a going
concern.
Since
our inception, we have incurred losses from operations each year.
As of December 31, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of
$125,752,956. Although the size and timing of our future operating
losses are subject to significant uncertainty, we anticipate that
our operating losses will continue over the next few years as we
incur expenses related to commercialization of our dermaPACE system
for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in the United States. If
we are able to successfully commercialize, market and distribute
the dermaPACE system, then we hope to partially or completely
offset these losses in the future. Although no assurances can be
given, we believe that potential additional issuances of equity,
debt or other potential financing, as discussed above, will provide
the necessary funding for us to continue as a going concern for the
next year.
We
cannot reasonably estimate the nature, timing and costs of the
efforts necessary to complete the development and approval of, or
the period in which material net cash flows are expected to be
generated from, any of our products, due to the numerous risks and
uncertainties associated with developing and marketing products,
including the uncertainty of:
●
the scope, rate of
progress and cost of our clinical trials;
●
future clinical
trial results;
●
the cost and timing
of regulatory approvals;
●
the establishment
of successful marketing, sales and distribution channels and
partnerships, including our efforts to expand our marketing, sales
and distribution reach through joint ventures and other contractual
arrangements;
●
the cost and timing
associated with establishing reimbursement for our
products;
●
the effects of
competing technologies and market developments; and
●
the industry demand
and patient wellness behavior.
Any
failure to complete the development of our product candidates in a
timely manner, or any failure to successfully market and
commercialize our product candidates, would have a material adverse
effect on our operations, financial position and liquidity. A
discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with us and
our business are set forth under the section entitled “Risk
Factors – Risks Related to Our Business”.
The
worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus is expected to result in a
global slowdown of economic activity which is likely to decrease
demand for a broad variety of products, including from our
customers, while also disrupting supply channels and marketing
activities for an unknown period of time until the disease is
contained. We expect this to have a negative impact on our sales
and our results of operations, the size and duration of which we
are currently unable to predict.
44
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations are based on our consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles. The preparation of our consolidated
financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues
and expenses.
On an ongoing
basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those
related to the recording of the allowances for doubtful accounts,
estimated reserves for inventory, estimated useful life of property
and equipment, the determination of the valuation allowance for
deferred taxes, the estimated fair value of warrants and warrant
liability, and the estimated fair value of stock-based
compensation. We base our estimates on authoritative literature and
pronouncements, historical experience and on various other
assumptions 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. Our actual results may differ from
these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The
results of our operations for any historical period are not
necessarily indicative of the results of our operations for any
future period.
While
our significant accounting policies are more fully described in
Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements filed with this
Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following
accounting policies relating to revenue recognition, research and
development costs, inventory valuation, liabilities related to
warrants issued, stock-based compensation and income taxes are
significant and; therefore, they are important to aid you in fully
understanding and evaluating our reported financial
results.
Revenue Recognition
Refer
to Notes 2 and 16 to the accompanying consolidated financial
statements.
Stock-based Compensation
The
Stock Incentive Plan provides that stock options, and other equity
interests or equity-based incentives, may be granted to key
personnel, directors and advisors at the fair value of the common
stock at the time the option is granted, which is approved by our
board of directors. The maximum term of any option granted pursuant
to the Stock Incentive Plan is ten years from the date of
grant.
In
accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, the
fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The expected terms of
options granted represent the period of time that options granted
are estimated to be outstanding and are derived from the
contractual terms of the options granted. We amortize the fair
value of each option over each option’s vesting
period.
45
Results of Operations for the Years ended December 31, 2019 and
2018
Revenues and Cost of Revenues
Revenues for the
year ended December 31, 2019 were $1,028,730, compared to
$1,850,060 for the same period in 2018, a decrease of $821,330, or
44%. Revenue resulted primarily from sales in Europe and
Asia/Pacific of our orthoPACE devices and related applicators and
sales in the United States and Asia/Pacific of our dermaPACE
devices and related applicators. The decrease in revenue for 2019 a
decrease in sales of orthoPACE devices, new applicators and
refurbishment of applicators in Asia/Pacific and the European
Community, as compared to the prior year.
Cost of
revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019 were $538,923,
compared to $693,664 for the same period in 2018. Gross profit as a
percentage of revenues was 48% for the year ended December 31,
2019, compared to 63% for the same period in 2018. The decrease in
gross profit as a percentage of revenues in 2019 was primarily due
to decrease in new applicators which have a lower margin and lower
shipping costs.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and
development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 were
$1,181,892, compared to $981,654 for the same period in 2018, an
increase of $200,238, or 20%. The increase in
research and development expenses in 2019, as compared to 2018, was
due to increased contracting expenses for temporary services,
increased services related to the dosage study in Poland and
increased expenses related to electrical testing for the
device.
Selling and Marketing Expenses
Selling
and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 were
$1,590,957, as compared to $521,413 for the same period in 2018, an
increase of $1,069,544, or 205%. The increase in sales and
marketing expenses in 2019, as compared to 2018, was due to an
increase in hiring of trainers and salespeople, increased travel
expenses for placement and training related to the
commercialization of dermaPACE and increased participation in
domestic and international tradeshows.
General and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019
were $6,440,093, as compared to $6,811,255 for the same period in
2018, a decrease of $371,162, or 5%. The decrease in general and
administrative expenses in 2019, as compared to 2018, was due to
lower stock based compensation expense, lower lease expense related
to pay off of lease agreement for devices in 2018 and lower travel
and entertainment costs. This was partially
offset by an increase in consultants related to distribution
partner searches and execution and an increase in regulatory audit
fees for updated ISO Audit and initial MDSAP Audit.
Depreciation
Depreciation for
the year ended December 31, 2019 was $71,213, compared to $22,332
for the same period in 2018, an increase of $48,881, or 219%. The
increase was due to the higher depreciation related to an increase
in fixed assets and finance lease right of use assets.
46
Other Income (Expense)
Other
income (expense) was a net expense of $1,635,491 for the year ended
December 31, 2019, as compared to a net expense of
$4,451,136 for the same period in 2018, a decrease of
$2,815,645, or 63%, in the net expense. The decrease was primarily
due to decreased interest expense, beneficial conversion discount
and debt discount related to the convertible promissory notes
issued in 2018 and is partially offset by increased interest
expense as a result of issuance of short term notes payable in the
fourth quarter of 2018. In addition, the net expense in 2019
included a non-cash gain of $227,669 for a valuation adjustment on
outstanding warrants, as compared to a non-cash gain of $55,376 for
a valuation adjustment on outstanding warrants in
2018.
Net Loss
Net
loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $10,429,839, or
($0.05) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of
$11,631,394, or ($0.08) per basic and diluted share, for the same
period in 2018, a decrease in the net loss of $1,201,555, or 10%.
The decrease in the net loss was primarily a result of increase in
operating expenses offset by a decrease in interest expense as
explained above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We
expect to devote substantial resources for the commercialization of
the dermaPACE System and will continue to research and develop the
next generation of our technology as well as the non-medical uses
of the PACE technology, both of which will require additional
capital resources. We incurred a net loss of $10,429,839 and
$11,631,394 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018,
respectively. These factors and the events of default on the notes
payable to HealthTronics, Inc. and the Company’s short term
notes payable create substantial doubt about the Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least
twelve months from the financial issuance date.
Since
inception in 2005, our operations have primarily been funded from
the sale of capital stock, notes payable, and convertible debt
securities.
The continuation of our business is dependent upon
raising additional capital to fund operations. Management expects
the cash used in operations for the Company will be approximately
$250,000 to $325,000 per month for the first half of 2020 and
$300,000 to $375,000 per month for the second half of 2020
as resources are devoted to the commercialization of the
dermaPACE product including hiring of new employees, expansion of
our international business and continued research and development
of next generation of our technology as well as non-medical uses of
our technology. Management’s
plans are to obtain additional capital in 2020 through investments
by strategic partners for market opportunities, which may include
strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements, or raise capital
through the conversion of outstanding warrants, issuance of common
or preferred stock, securities convertible into common stock, or
secured or unsecured debt. These possibilities, to the extent
available, may be on terms that result in significant dilution to
our existing shareholders. Although no assurances can be
given, management believes that potential additional issuances of
equity or other potential financing transactions as discussed above
should provide the necessary funding for us. If these efforts are unsuccessful, we may be
required to significantly curtail or discontinue operations or
obtain funds through financing transactions with unfavorable
terms. The accompanying consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, which
contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern and the
realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal
course of business. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
presented in the financial statements do not necessarily purport to
represent realizable or settlement values. The consolidated
financial statements do not include any adjustment that might
result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Our consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets
and classification of assets and liabilities that might be
necessary should we be unable to continue as a going
concern.
47
In
addition, we may have potential liability for certain sales, offers
or issuances of equity securities of the Company in possible
violation of federal securities laws. Pursuant to a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-208676), declared
effective on February 16, 2016 (the “2016 Registration
Statement”), the Company sought to register: a primary
offering of up to $4,000,000 units, the Common Stock included as
part of the units, the warrants included as part of the units, and
the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants; a primary
offering of up to $400,000 placement agent warrants and the Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of such placement agent warrants; and
a secondary offering of 23,545,144 shares of Common Stock held by
certain selling stockholders named in the 2016 Registration
Statement. The SEC Staff’s interpretations provide that, when
an issuer is registering units composed of common stock, common
stock purchase warrants, and the common stock underlying the
warrants, the registration fee is based on the offer price of the
units and the exercise price of the warrants. The registration fee
paid did include the fee based on the offer price of the units,
allocated to the unit line item in the fee table. Although the fee
table in the 2016 Registration Statement included a line item for
the Common Stock underlying the warrants, the Company did not
include in that line item the fee payable based on the exercise
price of $0.08 per share for such warrants, which amount should
have been allocated to such line item based on the SEC
Staff’s interpretations. As a result, a portion of the
securities intended to be registered by the 2016 Registration
Statement was not registered. In addition, in a post-effective
amendment to the 2016 Registration Statement filed on September 23,
2016, too many placement agent warrants were inadvertently
deregistered. The post-effective amendment stated that the Company
had issued $180,100, based on 2,251,250 Class L warrants issued
with a $0.08 exercise price of warrants to the placement agent and
therefore deregistered $219,900, based on 2,748,750 Class L
warrants issued with a $0.08 exercise price of placement agent
warrants from the $400,000, based on 5,000,000 Class L warrants
issued with a $0.08 exercise price total offering amount included
in the Registration Statement. The actual warrants issued to the
placement agent totaled $240,133.36, based on 3,001,667 Class L
warrants issued with a $0.08 exercise price, and only $159,867,
based on 1,998,338 Class L warrants issued with a $0.08 exercise
price should have been deregistered in such post-effective
amendment. To the extent that we have not registered or failed to
maintain an effective registration statement with respect to any of
the transactions in securities described above and with respect to
our ongoing offering of shares of Common Stock underlying the
warrants, and a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act did in
fact occur or is occurring, eligible holders of our securities that
participated in these offerings would have a right to rescind their
transactions, and the Company may have to refund any amounts paid
for the securities, which could have a materially adverse effect on
the Company’s financial condition. Eligible securityholders
have not filed a claim against the Company alleging a violation of
Section 5 of the Securities Act with respect to these transactions,
but they could file a claim in the future. Furthermore, the ongoing
offering of and issuance of shares of Common Stock underlying
certain of our warrants from the 2016 Registration Statement may
have been, and may continue to be, in violation of Section 5 of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations under the Securities
Act, because we did not update the prospectus in the 2016
Registration Statement for a period of time after the 2016
Registration Statement was declared effective and because our
reliance on Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act in an amendment to
our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-213774) filed on September 23, 2016 effected a deregistration
of the securities registered under the 2016 Registration Statement.
Eligible securityholders have not filed a claim against the Company
alleging a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act, but they
could file such a claim in the future. If a violation of Section 5
of the Securities Act did in fact occur or is occurring, eligible
securityholders would have a right to rescind their transactions,
and the Company may have to refund any amounts paid the securities,
which could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s
financial condition.
On
December 29, 2017, the Company entered into a line of credit
agreement with A. Michael Stolarski, a member of the Company's
board of directors and an existing shareholder of the Company. The
agreement established a line of credit in the amount of $370,000
with an annualized interest rate of 6%. On June 21, 2018, the
Company made a payment of $144,500 on the line of credit. On June
26, 2018, the amount of the line of credit was increased by
$280,500. The line of credit may be called for payment upon
demand.
On
November 12, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to the
line of credit agreement with A. Michael Stolarski, a member of the
Company’s board of directors and an existing shareholder of
the Company. The line of credit was increased to $1,000,000 with an
annualized interest rate of 6%. The line of credit may be called
for payment upon demand of the holder. On October 5, 2018 and
October 23, 2018, the Company received $15,000 and $40,000,
respectively, as an increase in the line of credit.
On January 26, 2018, the Company entered into a
Master Equipment Lease with NFS Leasing Inc. (“NFS”) to
provide financing for equipment purchases to enable the Company to
begin placing the dermaPACE System in the marketplace. This
agreement provides for a lease line of up to $1,000,000 with a term
of 36 months, and grants NFS a security interest in the Company's
accounts receivable, tangible and intangible personal property and
cash and deposit accounts of the Company. As of February 27,
2018, we were in default of Master Equipment Lease due to the sale
of equipment purchased under the Master Lease Agreement to a third
party and, as a result, the note is callable by NFS or NFS could
have notified the Company to assemble all equipment for pick up.
The balance due to NFS under The Master Equipment Lease was paid in
full on June 27, 2018. In 2019, the Company entered into additional
equipment leases under the Master Equipment Lease and they are
included in property, plant and equipment as a right of use asset
with a related finance lease liability in our consolidated balance
sheets.
On June
26, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with Johnfk Medical
Inc. (“FKS”), effective as of June 14, 2018, pursuant
to which the Company and FKS committed to enter into a joint
venture for the manufacture, sale and distribution of the
Company’s dermaPACE and orthoPACE devices. On September 21,
2018, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with FKS
setting forth the terms of the operation, management and control of
a joint venture entity initially with the name of Holistic Health
Institute Pte. Ltd., a private limited company to be incorporated
in the Republic of Singapore, but with such company name subject to
confirmation by Singapore Government. On November 9, 2018, the
joint venture entity was incorporated in the Republic of Singapore
with the name of Holistic Wellness Alliance Pte. Ltd. Under the
terms of the June 2018 agreement, FKS paid the Company a fee of
$500,000 on June 22, 2018 for initial distribution rights in
Taiwan. An additional fee of $500,000 for initial distribution
rights in the SEA Region will be received in installments. The
first two installments of $50,000 have been received and the
remaining $400,000 was expected to be received in April 2019. On
June 4, 2019, the Company and FKS terminated their Agreement. FKS
will pay the Company a fee of $50,000 for early termination of the
Agreement plus $63,275 in outstanding invoices for equipment
delivered to FKS. A $400,000 fee we
anticipated receiving in April 2019 from FKS under the terms of a
June 2018 agreement will not be received. On June 4, 2019, we entered into an agreement
with Johnfk Medical Inc. (“FKS”) and Holistic Wellness Alliance Pte. Ltd.
(“HWA”) pursuant to which the parties terminated the
joint venture agreement, dated as of September 21, 2018, that
established HWA as a joint venture between us and FKS. Pursuant to
the termination agreement, FKS will pay us the outstanding amount
of $63,275 for equipment delivered to FKS and a penalty fee of
$50,000 for early termination of the joint venture agreement, which
was received in 2019. We credited the outstanding amount of $63,275
due for equipment upon the return of the equipment on September 6,
2019.
48
We have
entered into short term notes payable with twenty-four individuals
between June 26, 2018 and April 10, 2019 in the total principal
amount of $3,085,525 with an interest rate of 5% per annum. The
principal and accrued interest are due and payable six months from
the date of issuance or receipt of notice of warrant exercise. On
December 26, 2018, the Company defaulted on the short term notes
payable issued on June 26, 2018 and began accruing interest at the
default interest rate of 10%. On January 2, 2019, the Company
defaulted on the short term notes payable issued on July 2, 2018
and began accruing interest at the default interest rate of 10%. On
January 30, 2019, the Company defaulted on the short term notes
payable issued on July 30, 2018 and began accruing interest at the
default interest rate of 10%. In May 2019, the Company defaulted on
the short term notes payable issued during November 2018 and began
accruing interest at the default rate of 10%. On June 30, 2019, the
Company defaulted on the short term notes payable issued on
December 31, 2018 and began accruing interest at the default
interest rate of 10% in July 2019.
On
December 11, 2019, the Company entered into a Common Stock
Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors for the sale
by the Company in a private placement of an aggregate of 21,071,143
shares of common stock, at a purchase price of $0.14 per share. The
Company has granted the purchasers indemnification rights with
respect to its representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements under the purchase agreement. In connection with the agreement, the Company also
entered into a registration rights agreement with the purchasers,
pursuant to which the Company has agreed to file a registration
statement with the SEC by April 30, 2020. Pursuant to the terms of
the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will maintain the
effectiveness of the registration statement until the date upon
which the securities held by the Purchasers cease to be
Registerable Securities (as that term is defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement). During the year ended December 31,
2019, the Company issued 20,000,711 shares of common stock in
conjunction with this offering and received $2,800,100 in cash
proceeds.
On
December 13, 2019, the Company entered into a joint venture
agreement (the “Agreement”) with Universus Global
Advisors LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws
of the State of Delaware (“Universus”), Versani Health
Consulting Consultoria em Gestão de Negócios EIRELI, an
empresa individual de
responsabilidade limitada organized under the laws of Brazil
(“Versani”), Curacus Limited, a private limited company
organized under the laws of England and Whales
(“Curacus”), and certain individual citizens of Brazil
and the Czech Republic (the individuals together with Curacus, the
“IDIC Group”). The principal purpose of the joint
venture company will be to manufacture, import, use, sell, and
distribute, on an exclusive basis in Brazil, dermaPACE devices and
wound kits consisting of a standard ultrasound gel and custom size
sterile sleeves used for the treatment of various acute and chronic
wounds using extracorporeal shockwave therapy technology. The joint
venture company will also provide treatments related to the
dermaPACE devices. The IDIC Group has agreed to pay to the Company
a partnership fee in the total amount of $600,000 for the granting
of exclusive territorial rights to the joint venture company to
distribute the dermaPACE devices and wound kits in Brazil. The
partnership fee is to be paid as follows: (i) a $250,000 payment
was made by IDIC Group to the Company on November 14, 2019 which
was initially provided in the form of a loan that was forgiven and
terminated on December 13, 2019, (ii) an additional payment of
$250,000 was made by the IDIC Group to the Company on December 31,
2019, and (iii) the remaining $100,000 is to be paid by the IDIC
Group upon receipt of required regulatory approvals from ANVISA
(the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). The parties are in the
process of executing a shareholders’ agreement, a trademark
license agreement, a supply agreement and a technology license
agreement. The IDIC Group will also have the right to receive
prioritized dividends until full reimbursement of the partnership
fee and expenses incurred in the formation of the joint venture
company, which are required to be paid by the IDIC
Group.
49
On
December 13, 2019, the Company entered into short term notes
payable agreements in the total principal amount of $210,000. The
principal amount will be due and payable six months from the date
of issuance of the respective notes via issuance of 2,250,000
shares of common stock.
On
January 31, 2020, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Right and Limitations of Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company with the Nevada Secretary of State
which amended our Articles of Incorporation to designate 90 shares
of our preferred stock as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.
Although we have no other shares of
preferred stock currently outstanding and no present intention to
issue any additional shares of preferred stock or to create any
additional series of preferred stock, we may issue such shares in
the future.
We may
also attempt to raise additional capital if there are favorable
market conditions or other strategic considerations even if we have
sufficient funds for planned operations. To the extent that we
raise additional funds by issuance of equity securities, our
shareholders will experience dilution and we may be required to use
some or all of the net proceeds to repay our indebtedness, and debt
financings, if available, may involve restrictive covenants or may
otherwise constrain our financial flexibility. To the extent that
we raise additional funds through collaborative arrangements, it
may be necessary to relinquish some rights to our intellectual
property or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
In addition, payments made by potential collaborators or licensors
generally will depend upon our achievement of negotiated
development and regulatory milestones. Failure to achieve these
milestones would harm our future capital position.
For the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, net cash used by operating
activities was $6,410,758 and $3,621,172, respectively, primarily
consisting of compensation costs, research and development
activities and general corporate operations. The increase in the
use of cash for operating activities for the year ended December
31, 2019, as compared to the same period for 2018, of $2,789,586,
or 77%, was primarily due to the decrease in accounts payable of
$138,730, an increase of accrued employee compensation and accrued
expenses of $1,556,326 and increase in interest payable, related
parties of $688,195. Net cash used by investing activities in 2019
was $89,049 as compared to net cash used by investing activities in
2018 of $42,888. The increase in cash used by investing activities
is due to the purchase of property and equipment and payments
related to finance lease. Net cash provided by financing activities
for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $7,895,079, which
primarily consisted of proceeds from PIPE offering of $2,800,100,
advances from related parties of $2,055,414, proceeds from warrant
exercises of $1,758,142, proceeds from short term notes payable of
$1,215,000 and proceeds from line of credit, related party of
$90,000, net of payment of principal on finance leases of $23,577.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended
December 31, 2018 was $3,317,510, which primarily consisted of the
proceeds from short term notes of $1,637,497, net proceeds from
convertible promissory notes of $1,159,785, proceeds from related
party line of credit of $480,000, proceeds from advances from
related parties of $144,000 and proceeds from warrant exercises of
$40,728 which was offset by payment on related party line of credit
of $144,500. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $1,395,906 for
the year ended December 31, 2019 and cash and cash equivalents
decreased by $365,635 for the year ended December 31,
2018.
Contractual Obligations
Our
major outstanding contractual obligations relate to our operating
lease for our facility, purchase and supplier obligations for
product component materials and equipment, and our notes payable,
related parties.
In
August 2016, we entered into a lease agreement for 7,500
square feet of office space for office, research and development,
quality control, production and warehouse space which expires on
December 31, 2021. On February 1, 2018, we entered into an
amendment to the lease agreement for an additional 380 square feet
of office space for storage which expires on December 31, 2021. On
January 2, 2019, we entered into a second amendment to the lease
agreement for an additional 2,297 square feet of office space for
office space which expires on December 31, 2021. Under the terms of
the lease, we pay monthly rent of $14,651, subject to a 3%
adjustment on an annual basis.
We have
developed a network of suppliers, manufacturers, and contract
service providers to provide sufficient quantities of product
component materials for our products through the development,
clinical testing and commercialization phases. We have a manufacturing supply agreement with
Swisstronics Contract Manufacturing AG in Switzerland, a division
of Cicor Technologies Ltd., covering the generator box component of
our devices.
50
In
August 2005, as part of the purchase of the orthopedic division
assets of HealthTronics, Inc., we issued two notes to
HealthTronics, Inc. for $2,000,000 each. The notes bear interest at
6% annually. Quarterly interest through June 30, 2010 was accrued
and added to the principal balance. Interest is paid quarterly in
arrears beginning September 30, 2010. All remaining unpaid accrued
interest and principal was due August 1, 2015. Accrued interest on
the notes which matured in August 2015 totaled $1,372,743 at
December 31, 2019 and 2018.
On
August 3, 2017, the Company and HealthTronics, Inc. entered into a
third amendment (the “Third Amendment”) to amend
certain provisions of the notes payable, related parties. The Third
Amendment provides for the extension of the due date to December
31, 2018, revision of the mandatory prepayment provisions and the
future issuance of additional warrants to HealthTronics upon
certain conditions.
Since
December 31, 2018, the Company has been in default under the notes,
as amended by the Third Amendment, and as a result HealthTronics,
Inc. could, among other rights and remedies, exercise its rights
under the security agreement granting HealthTronics, Inc. a first
priority security interest in the assets of the Company. The
Company is in negotiations with HealthTronics, Inc. to address the
event of default.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
New
accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Standards
Board (“FASB”) or other standards setting bodies that
the Company adopts according to the various timetables the FASB
specifies. The Company does not expect the adoption of recently
issued accounting pronouncements to have a significant impact on
the Company’s results of operations, financial position or
cash flow. See Note 2 to the accompanying consolidated financial
statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Since
inception, we have not engaged in any off-balance sheet activities,
including the use of structured finance, special purpose entities
or variable interest entities.
Effects of Inflation
Due to
the fact that our assets are, to an extent, liquid in nature, they
are not significantly affected by inflation. However, the rate of
inflation affects such expenses as employee compensation, office
space leasing costs and research and development charges, which may
not be readily recoverable during the period of time that we are
bringing the product candidates to market. To the extent inflation
results in rising interest rates and has other adverse effects on
the market, it may adversely affect our consolidated financial
condition and results of operations.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
Not
required under Regulation S-K for “smaller reporting
companies”.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
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Page
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Consolidated Financial Statements
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F-1
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F-3
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F-4
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F-5
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F-6
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F-7
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51
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Shareholders and Board of Directors of
SANUWAVE
Health, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December
31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of
comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for
each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and
the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial
statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of
its operations and its cash flows for each of the
two years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America.
Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more
fully described in Note 1, the Company has a significant working
capital deficiency, has incurred significant losses and needs to
raise additional funds to meet its obligations and sustain its
operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the
Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's
plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments
that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
Change in Accounting Principle
As
discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the
Company has changed its method of accounting for leases in 2019 due
to the adoption of the guidance in Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, Leases (“Topic
842”).
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 audits 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/
Marcum llp
Marcum
llp
We have
served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.
New
York, NY
March
30, 2020
F-1
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SANUWAVE
HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
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CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
December
31, 2019 and 2018
|
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$1,760,455
|
$364,549
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
|
|
|
|
of $72,376 in 2019
and $33,045 in 2018
|
75,543
|
234,774
|
|
Due from related
parties
|
-
|
1,228
|
|
Inventory
|
542,955
|
357,820
|
|
Prepaid expenses
and other current assets
|
125,405
|
125,111
|
|
TOTAL CURRENT
ASSETS
|
2,504,358
|
1,083,482
|
|
|
|
|
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PROPERTY AND
EQUIPMENT, net
|
512,042
|
77,755
|
|
|
|
|
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RIGHT OF USE
ASSETS
|
323,661
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
ASSETS
|
41,931
|
16,491
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$3,381,992
|
$1,177,728
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
$1,439,413
|
$1,592,643
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
1,111,109
|
689,280
|
|
Accrued employee
compensation
|
1,452,910
|
340,413
|
|
Contract
liabilities
|
66,577
|
131,797
|
|
Operating lease
liability
|
173,270
|
-
|
|
Finance lease
liability
|
121,634
|
-
|
|
Advances from
related parties
|
18,098
|
-
|
|
Line of credit,
related parties
|
212,388
|
883,224
|
|
Accrued interest,
related parties
|
1,859,977
|
1,171,782
|
|
Short term notes
payable
|
587,233
|
1,883,163
|
|
Convertible
promissory notes, net
|
-
|
2,652,377
|
|
Notes payable,
related parties, net
|
5,372,743
|
5,372,743
|
|
Warrant
liability
|
-
|
1,769,669
|
|
TOTAL CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
12,415,352
|
16,487,091
|
|
|
|
|
|
NON-CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
Contract
liabilities
|
573,224
|
46,736
|
|
Operating lease
liability
|
185,777
|
-
|
|
Finance lease
liability
|
271,240
|
-
|
|
TOTAL NON-CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
1,030,241
|
46,736
|
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
13,445,593
|
16,533,827
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS AND
CONTINGENCIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
|
|
|
|
PREFERRED STOCK,
par value $0.001, 5,000,000
|
|
|
|
shares authorized;
no shares issued and outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
PREFERRED STOCK,
SERIES A CONVERTIBLE, par value $0.001,
|
|
|
|
6,175 designated;
6,175 shares issued and 0 shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
in 2019 and
2018
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
PREFERRED STOCK,
SERIES B CONVERTIBLE, par value $0.001,
|
|
|
|
293 designated; 293
shares issued and 0 shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
in 2019 and
2018
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMON STOCK, par
value $0.001, 350,000,000 shares authorized;
|
|
|
|
293,780,400 and
155,665,138 issued and outstanding in 2019 and
|
|
|
|
2018,
respectively
|
293,781
|
155,665
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADDITIONAL PAID-IN
CAPITAL
|
115,457,808
|
101,153,882
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCUMULATED
DEFICIT
|
(125,752,956)
|
(116,602,778)
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCUMULATED OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
|
(62,234)
|
(62,868)
|
|
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
|
(10,063,601)
|
(15,356,099)
|
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
$3,381,992
|
$1,177,728
|
|
The
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
|
|
statements
are an integral part of these statements.
|
F-2
|
SANUWAVE
HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE
LOSS
|
|
Years
Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
|
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES
|
|
|
|
Product
|
$645,169
|
$949,601
|
|
License
fees
|
315,557
|
819,696
|
|
Other
revenue
|
68,004
|
80,763
|
|
TOTAL
REVENUES
|
1,028,730
|
1,850,060
|
|
|
|
|
|
COST OF
REVENUES
|
|
|
|
Product
|
454,862
|
525,216
|
|
Other
|
84,061
|
168,448
|
|
TOTAL COST OF
REVENUES
|
538,923
|
693,664
|
|
|
|
|
|
GROSS
MARGIN
|
489,807
|
1,156,396
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
|
|
|
Research and
development
|
1,181,892
|
981,654
|
|
Selling and
marketing
|
1,590,957
|
521,413
|
|
General and
administrative
|
6,440,093
|
6,811,255
|
|
Depreciation
|
71,213
|
22,332
|
|
TOTAL OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
9,284,155
|
8,336,654
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
LOSS
|
(8,794,348)
|
(7,180,258)
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER INCOME
(EXPENSE)
|
|
|
|
Gain on warrant
valuation adjustment
|
227,669
|
55,376
|
|
Interest
expense
|
(1,147,986)
|
(3,708,562)
|
|
Interest expense,
related party
|
(688,195)
|
(787,586)
|
|
Other income,
net
|
-
|
9,952
|
|
Loss on foreign
currency exchange
|
(26,979)
|
(20,316)
|
|
TOTAL OTHER INCOME
(EXPENSE), NET
|
(1,635,491)
|
(4,451,136)
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
LOSS
|
(10,429,839)
|
(11,631,394)
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME (LOSS)
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency
translation adjustments
|
19,844
|
(19,085)
|
|
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE
LOSS
|
$(10,409,995)
|
$(11,650,479)
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS PER
SHARE:
|
|
|
|
Net loss - basic
and diluted
|
$(0.05)
|
$(0.08)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average
shares outstanding - basic and diluted
|
203,588,106
|
149,537,777
|
|
The
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
|
|
statements
are an integral part of these statements.
|
F-3
|
SANUWAVE
HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
|
|
Years
Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
|
|
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Number
of
|
|
Number
of
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
Issued
and
|
|
Issued
and
|
|
Additional
Paid-
|
Accumulated
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
Par
Value
|
Outstanding
|
Par
Value
|
in
Capital
|
Deficit
|
Loss
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances as of
December 31, 2017
|
-
|
$-
|
139,300,122
|
$139,300
|
$94,995,040
|
$(104,971,384)
|
$(43,783)
|
$(9,880,827)
|
|
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(11,631,394)
|
-
|
(11,631,394)
|
|
Cashless warrant
exercises
|
-
|
-
|
6,395,499
|
6,396
|
(6,396)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Proceeds from
warrant exercise
|
-
|
-
|
422,939
|
423
|
40,305
|
-
|
-
|
40,728
|
|
Shares issued for
services
|
-
|
-
|
1,049,340
|
1,049
|
180,451
|
-
|
-
|
181,500
|
|
Conversion of
promissory notes
|
-
|
-
|
8,497,238
|
8,497
|
926,199
|
-
|
-
|
934,696
|
|
Warrants issued for
services
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
828,690
|
-
|
-
|
828,690
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2,480,970
|
-
|
-
|
2,480,970
|
|
Warrants issued
with convertible promissory notes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
808,458
|
-
|
-
|
808,458
|
|
Beneficial
conversion feature on convertible promissory notes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
709,827
|
-
|
-
|
709,827
|
|
Warrants issued
with promissory note
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
36,104
|
-
|
-
|
36,104
|
|
Beneficial
conversion feature on promissory notes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
35,396
|
-
|
-
|
35,396
|
|
Reclassification of
warrant liability to equity
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
118,838
|
-
|
-
|
118,838
|
|
Foreign currency
translation adjustment
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(19,085)
|
(19,085)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances as of
December 31, 2018
|
-
|
-
|
155,665,138
|
155,665
|
101,153,882
|
(116,602,778)
|
(62,868)
|
(15,356,099)
|
|
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(10,429,839)
|
-
|
(10,429,839)
|
|
Cashless warrant
exercises
|
-
|
-
|
4,962,157
|
4,962
|
(4,962)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Cashless warrant
exercises with waived proceeds
|
|
|
450,000
|
450
|
35,550
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
Proceeds from
warrant exercise
|
-
|
-
|
40,284,422
|
40,285
|
3,581,674
|
-
|
-
|
3,621,959
|
|
Conversion of short
term notes payable and convertible notes payable
|
-
|
-
|
65,247,517
|
65,248
|
6,427,607
|
-
|
-
|
6,492,855
|
|
Reclassification of
warrant liability to equity due to adoption of ASU
2017-11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
262,339
|
1,279,661
|
-
|
1,542,000
|
|
Conversion of line
of credit, related parties to equity
|
-
|
-
|
7,020,455
|
7,020
|
672,980
|
-
|
-
|
680,000
|
|
Warrants issued for
services
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
186,867
|
-
|
-
|
186,867
|
|
Shares issued for
services
|
-
|
-
|
150,000
|
150
|
28,350
|
-
|
-
|
28,500
|
|
Proceeds from PIPE
offering
|
-
|
-
|
20,000,711
|
20,001
|
2,780,099
|
-
|
-
|
2,800,100
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
333,422
|
-
|
-
|
333,422
|
|
Foreign currency
translation adjustment
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
634
|
634
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances as of
December 31, 2019
|
-
|
$-
|
293,780,400
|
$293,781
|
$115,457,808
|
$(125,752,956)
|
$(62,234)
|
$(10,063,601)
|
|
The
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
|
|
statements
are an integral part of these statements.
|
F-4
|
SANUWAVE
HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
Years
Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
|
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
$(10,429,839)
|
$(11,631,394)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss
|
|
|
|
to
net cash used by operating activities
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
71,213
|
22,332
|
|
Change in allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
39,331
|
(59,752)
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
333,422
|
2,480,970
|
|
Warrants issued for
consulting services
|
186,867
|
828,690
|
|
Stock issued for
consulting services
|
28,500
|
181,500
|
|
Gain on warrant
valuation adjustment
|
(227,669)
|
(55,376)
|
|
Amortization of
operating lease
|
(9,236)
|
-
|
|
Amortization of
debt issuance costs
|
-
|
2,767,361
|
|
Amortization of
debt discount
|
-
|
150,484
|
|
Waived proceeds
from warrant exercise
|
36,000
|
-
|
|
Accrued
interest
|
1,159,713
|
410,289
|
|
Interest payable,
related parties
|
688,195
|
485,875
|
|
Changes in
operating assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable - trade
|
(8,600)
|
(22,502)
|
|
Inventory
|
(185,135)
|
(123,118)
|
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
(294)
|
(34,823)
|
|
Due
from related parties
|
1,228
|
-
|
|
Other
assets
|
(25,440)
|
(3,802)
|
|
Operating leases
|
44,622
|
-
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
(138,730)
|
276,120
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
421,829
|
188,708
|
|
Accrued
employee compensation
|
1,134,497
|
338,733
|
|
Contract
liabilties
|
468,768
|
178,533
|
|
NET CASH USED BY
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
(6,410,758)
|
(3,621,172)
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
Purchases of
property and equipment
|
(53,939)
|
(42,888)
|
|
NET CASH USED BY
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
(53,939)
|
(42,888)
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from PIPE
offering
|
2,800,100
|
-
|
|
Advances from
related parties
|
2,055,414
|
-
|
|
Proceeds from
warrant exercise
|
1,758,142
|
40,728
|
|
Proceeds from short
term note
|
1,215,000
|
1,637,497
|
|
Proceeds from line
of credit, related party
|
90,000
|
624,000
|
|
Proceeds from
convertible promissory notes, net
|
-
|
1,159,785
|
|
Proceeds from note
payable, product
|
-
|
96,708
|
|
Payment on line of
credit, related party
|
-
|
(144,500)
|
|
Payments on note
payable, product
|
-
|
(96,708)
|
|
Payments of
principal on finance leases
|
(58,687)
|
-
|
|
NET CASH PROVIDED
BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
7,859,969
|
3,317,510
|
|
|
|
|
|
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE
RATES ON CASH
|
634
|
(19,085)
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET INCREASE
(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
1,395,906
|
(365,635)
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
364,549
|
730,184
|
|
CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
|
$1,760,455
|
$364,549
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for
interest, related parties
|
$-
|
$151,227
|
|
|
|
|
|
NONCASH INVESTING
AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
Other warrant
exercise
|
$1,863,815
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of line
of credit, related party to equity
|
$680,000
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of line of credit, related party to accounts
receivable
|
$121,000
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of short
term notes payable to equity
|
$3,559,542
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of
convertible promissory notes to equity
|
$2,933,313
|
$934,696
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of
warrant liability to equity
|
$1,542,000
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
and accrued employee compensation converted to equity
|
$36,500
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to right
of use assets from new operating lease liabilities
|
$476,029
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to right
of use assets from new finance lease liabilities
|
$451,561
|
$-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of
warrant liability to equity
|
$-
|
$118,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advances payable
converted to convertible promissory notes
|
$-
|
$310,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
converted to convertible promissory notes
|
$-
|
$120,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficial
conversion feature on convertible debt
|
$-
|
$745,223
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants issued
with debt
|
$-
|
$844,562
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
|
|
statements
are an integral part of these statements.
|
F-5
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
1. Description of the Business
and Going Concern and Management’s Plans
SANUWAVE Health,
Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a shock wave technology company using a patented
system of noninvasive, high-energy, acoustic shock waves for
regenerative medicine and other applications. The Company’s
initial focus is regenerative medicine – utilizing
noninvasive, acoustic shock waves to produce a biological response
resulting in the body healing itself through the repair and
regeneration of tissue, musculoskeletal and vascular structures.
The Company’s lead regenerative product in the United States
is the dermaPACE®
device, used for treating diabetic
foot ulcers, which was subject to two double-blinded, randomized
Phase III clinical studies. On December 28,
2017, the U.S. FDA granted the Company’s request to classify
the dermaPACE System as a Class II device via the de novo process. As a result of
this decision, the Company was able to immediately market the
product for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) as
described in the De Novo request, subject to the general control
provisions of the FD&C Act and the special controls identified
in this order.
The Company is marketing its dermaPACE System for
treatment usage in the United States and is able to generate
revenue from sales of the European Conformity Marking (CE Mark)
devices and accessories in Europe, Canada, Asia, and Asia/Pacific.
The Company generates revenue streams from dermaPACE treatments,
product sales, licensing transactions and other
activities.
As
shown in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the
Company incurred a net loss of $10,429,839 and $11,631,394 during
the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and the
net cash used by operating activities
was $6,410,758 and $3,621,172, respectively. As of December
31, 2019, the Company had a net working capital deficit of
$9,910,994, and cash and cash
equivalents of $1,760,455. These factors and the events of
default on the notes payable to HealthTronics, Inc. (see Note 11)
and the Company’s short term notes payable (see Note 9) raise
substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as
a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from the
financial statement issuance date.
The
Company does not currently generate significant recurring revenue
and will require additional capital during 2020. Although no
assurances can be given, management of the Company believes that
existing capital resources should enable the Company to fund
operations into the third quarter of 2020.
The continuation of the Company’s business
is dependent upon raising additional capital to fund operations.
Management’s plans are to obtain additional capital in 2020
through investments by strategic partners for market opportunities,
which may include strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements,
or raise capital through the conversion of outstanding warrants,
the issuance of common or preferred stock, securities convertible
into common stock, or secured or unsecured debt. These
possibilities, to the extent available, may be on terms that result
in significant dilution to the Company’s existing
shareholders. Although no assurances can be given,
management of the Company believes that potential additional
issuances of equity or other potential financing transactions as
discussed above should provide the necessary funding for the
Company to continue as a going concern. If these efforts are unsuccessful, the Company
may be required to
significantly curtail or discontinue operations or obtain funds
through financing transactions with unfavorable terms. The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America, which contemplate continuation of the
Company as a going concern and the realization of assets and
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities presented in the
financial statements do not necessarily purport to represent
realizable or settlement values. The consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustment that might result from the
outcome of this uncertainty. The consolidated financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the
Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
F-6
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
2.
Summary
of significant accounting policies
The
significant accounting policies followed by the Company are
summarized below:
Foreign currency
translation - The functional currencies of the
Company’s foreign operations are the local currencies. The
financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiary have
been translated into United States dollars. All balance sheet
accounts have been translated using the exchange rates in effect at
the balance sheet date. Income statement amounts have been
translated using the average exchange rate for the year.
Translation adjustments are reported in other comprehensive loss in
the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss and as cumulative
translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive loss in
the consolidated statements of stockholders’
deficit.
Principles of
consolidation - The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated.
Estimates –
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Because a
precise determination of assets and liabilities, and
correspondingly revenues and expenses, depend on future events, the
preparation of consolidated financial statements for any period
necessarily involves the use of estimates and assumptions. Actual
amounts may differ from these estimates. These consolidated
financial statements have, in management’s opinion, been
properly prepared within reasonable limits of materiality and
within the framework of the accounting policies summarized herein.
Significant estimates include the recording of allowances for
doubtful accounts, estimate of the net realizable value of
inventory, estimated reserves for inventory, valuation of
derivatives, the determination of the valuation allowances for
deferred taxes, estimated fair value of stock-based compensation,
and estimated fair value of warrants.
Reclassifications
– Certain accounts in the prior period consolidated
financial statements have been reclassified for comparison purposes
to conform to the presentation of the current period consolidated
financial statements. These reclassifications had no effect on the
previously reported net loss.
Cash and cash
equivalents - For purposes of the consolidated financial
statements, liquid instruments with an original maturity of 90 days
or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents. The Company
maintains its cash in bank accounts which may exceed federally
insured limits.
Concentration of credit
risk and limited suppliers - Management routinely assesses
the financial strength of its customers and, as a consequence,
believes accounts receivable are stated at the net realizable value
and credit risk exposure is limited. THree distributors and
partners accounted for 18%, 15% and 12% of revenues for the year
ended December 31, 2019, and 0%, 0% and 22% of accounts receivable
at December 31, 2019. Three distributors and partners accounted for
33%, 23% and 11% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018,
and 24%, 60% and 7.7% of accounts receivable at December 31,
2018.
The
Company expects that actions taken in response to the COVID-19
pandemic will also negatively impact sales of dermaPACE and
orthoPACE. Some hospitals are restricting procedures that are not
deemed to be life-threatening at this time. Because dermaPACE and
orthoPACE are not deemed to be life-threatening procedures, we
expect that the number of procedures performed will decline. A
decrease in the number of procedures performed will adversely
affect our expected revenues and our financial
results.
The
Company depends on suppliers for product component materials and
other components that are subject to stringent regulatory
requirements. The Company currently purchases most of its product
component materials from single suppliers and the loss of any of
these suppliers could result in a disruption in our production. If
this were to occur, it may be difficult to arrange a replacement
supplier because certain of these materials may only be available
from one or a limited number of sources. In addition, our suppliers
could be disrupted by conditions related to COVID-19, or other
epidemics Establishing additional or replacement suppliers
for these materials may take a substantial period of time, as
certain of these suppliers must be approved by regulatory
authorities.
F-7
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
2.
Summary
of significant accounting policies (continued)
Accounts receivable
- Accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects
to collect from outstanding balances. Management provides for
probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings based
on its assessment of the current status of individual accounts.
Receivables are generally considered past due if greater than 60
days old. Balances that are still outstanding after management has
used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge
to the allowance for doubtful accounts.
Inventory -
Inventory consists of finished medical equipment and parts and is
stated at the lower of cost, which is valued using the first in,
first out (“FIFO”) method, or net realizable value less
allowance for selling and distribution expenses. The Company analyzes its inventory
levels and writes down inventory that has, or is expected to,
become obsolete.
Depreciation of property
and equipment - The straight-line method of depreciation is
used for computing depreciation on property and equipment. The
costs of additions and betterments are capitalized and expenditures
for repairs and maintenance, which do not extend the economic
useful life of the related assets, are expensed. Depreciation is
based on estimated useful lives as follows: machines and equipment,
3 years; devices, 5 - 15 years; office and computer equipment, 3
years; furniture and fixtures, 3 years; and software, 2
years.
Fair value of financial
instruments - The carrying values of accounts payable, and
other short-term obligations approximate their fair values,
principally because of the short-term maturities of these
instruments.
The
Company has adopted ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements, which defines
fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and
requires disclosures about fair value measurements. The framework
that is set forth in this standard is applicable to the fair value
measurements where it is permitted or required under other
accounting pronouncements.
The ASC
820-10 hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of inputs, or
assumptions, used in the determination of fair value and requires
financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value to be
classified and disclosed in one of the following three
categories:
Level 1
- Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) in
active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
Level 2
- Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are
observable for the asset or liability, either directly or
indirectly; and
Level 3
- Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data,
therefore requiring the Company to develop its own
assumptions.
The
Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair
value. The fair value of the warrant liability is determined based
on a lattice solution, binomial approach pricing model, and
includes the use of unobservable inputs such as the expected term,
anticipated volatility and risk-free interest rate, and therefore
is classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. (See Note
14).
The
Company’s notes payable approximate fair value because the
terms are substantially similar to comparable debt in the
marketplace.
F-8
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
2.
Summary
of significant accounting policies (continued)
Impairment of long-lived
assets – The Company reviews long-lived assets for
impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the
carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. An
impairment loss is recognized only if the carrying amount of the
asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. Recoverability
of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying
amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows
expected to be generated by the asset. If the asset’s
carrying value is not recoverable, an impairment charge is
recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset
exceeds its fair value. The Company determines fair value by using
a combination of comparable market values and discounted cash
flows, as appropriate.
Revenue recognition
- The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with
ASC 606. See Note 16 for further
discussion.
Shipping and handling
costs - Shipping charges billed to customers are included in
revenues. Shipping and handling costs incurred have been recorded
in cost of revenues.
Income taxes -
Income taxes are accounted for utilizing the asset and liability
method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on
differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of 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. A valuation allowance is provided for the deferred tax
assets, including loss carryforwards, when it is more likely than
not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be
realized.
A
provision of ASC 740, Income
Taxes, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48)
specifies the way public companies are to account for uncertainties
in income tax reporting, and prescribes a methodology for
recognizing, reversing, and measuring the tax benefits of a tax
position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. ASC 740
requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be
taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns to
determine whether the tax positions would
“more-likely-than-not” be sustained if challenged by
the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the
more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit
or expense in the current year. Management has evaluated and
concluded that there were no material uncertain tax positions
requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements
as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company does not expect any
significant changes in the unrecognized tax benefits within twelve
months of the reporting date.
The
Company will recognize in income tax expense, interest and
penalties related to income tax matters. For the years ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not have any amounts
recorded for interest and penalties.
F-9
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
2.
Summary
of significant accounting policies (continued)
Loss per share -
Basic net income (loss) per share is
computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common
stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of
shares of common stock outstanding for the
period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed
by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common
stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common
stock and dilutive common stock equivalents then
outstanding. To the extent that securities are
“anti-dilutive,” they are excluded from the calculation
of diluted net income (loss) per share. As a result of the net loss
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, all
potentially dilutive shares were anti-dilutive and therefore
excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share.
Anti-dilutive equity securities consist of the following at
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
options
|
34,303,385
|
31,703,385
|
|
Warrants
|
9,474,091
|
103,994,927
|
|
Convertible
promissory notes
|
2,250,000
|
24,112,518
|
|
Anti-dilutive equity
securities
|
46,027,476
|
159,810,830
|
Comprehensive income
–Comprehensive income (loss) as defined includes all changes
in equity (net assets) during a period from non-owner sources. The
only source of other comprehensive income (loss) for the Company,
which is excluded from net income (loss), is foreign currency
translation adjustments.
Stock-based
compensation - The Company uses the fair value method of
accounting for its employee stock option program. Stock-based
compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards is based on
the estimated fair value of the award measured on the grant date.
The Company recognizes the estimated fair value of the award as
compensation cost over the requisite service period of the award,
which is generally the option vesting term. The Company generally
issues new shares of common stock to satisfy option and warrant
exercises.
Research and
development - Research and development costs are expensed as
incurred. Research and development costs include payments to third
parties that specifically relate to the Company’s products in
clinical development, such as payments to contract research
organizations, consulting fees for FDA submissions, universities
performing non-medical related research and insurance premiums for
clinical studies and non-medical research. In addition, employee
costs (salaries, payroll taxes, benefits and travel) for employees
of the clinical affairs, and research and development departments
are classified as research and development costs.
Liabilities related to
warrants issued – The Company
evaluates its convertible instruments to determine if those
contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as
derivative financial instruments to be separately accounted for in
accordance with FASB ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”
(“ASC 815”). The accounting treatment of derivative
financial instruments requires that the Company record embedded
conversion options (“ECOs”) and any related
freestanding instruments at their fair values as of the inception
date of the agreement and at fair value as of each subsequent
balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recorded as
non-operating, non-cash income or expense for each reporting period
at each balance sheet date. Conversion options are recorded as a
discount to the host instrument and are amortized as amortization
of debt discount on the consolidated statements of operations over
the life of the underlying instrument. The Company reassesses the
classification of its derivative instruments at each balance sheet
date. If the classification changes as a result of events during
the period, the contract is reclassified as of the date of the
event that caused the reclassification. A binomial model was
used to estimate the fair value of the ECOs of warrants that are
classified as derivative liabilities on the consolidated balance
sheets. The models include subjective input assumptions that can
materially affect the fair value estimates. The expected volatility
is estimated based on the actual volatility during the most recent
historical period of time equal to the weighted average life of the
instruments.
Warrants related to debt
issued – The Company records a warrant discount
related to warrants issued with debt at fair value and recognizes
the cost using the straight-line method over the term of the
related debt as interest expense, which is reported in the Other
Income (Expense) section in our Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive Loss. This warrant discount is reported as a
reduction of the related debt liability.
Beneficial conversion
feature on convertible debt -The Company records a
beneficial conversion feature related convertible debt at fair
value and recognizes the cost using the straight-line method over
the term of the related debt as interest expense, which is reported
in the Other Income (Expense) section in our Consolidated
Statements of Comprehensive Loss. This beneficial conversion
feature is reported as a reduction of the related debt
liability.
F-10
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
2.
Summary
of significant accounting policies (continued)
Recently issued or adopted accounting standards
In
February 2016, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update
(“ASU”)
2016-02, Leases (Topic
842). Subsequent to the issuance of Topic 842, the FASB
clarified the guidance through several ASUs; hereinafter the
collection of lease guidance is referred to as “ASC
842”. The Company, using the modified retrospective approach
with a cumulative-effect adjustment, recognized a right to use
("ROU") asset at the beginning of the period of adoption (January
1, 2019). Therefore, the Company recognized and measured operating
leases on the consolidated balance sheet without revising
comparative period information or disclosure. The Company elected
the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition
guidance within the standard, which eliminates the reassessment of
past leases, classification and initial direct costs and treats
short term leases of less than a year outside of a ROU asset. The
adoption did not materially impact the Company’s Consolidated
Statements of Operations or Cash Flows. Based on the
analysis, on January 1, 2019, the Company recorded right of use
assets and lease liabilities of approximately $520,000, which
represented an operating lease entered into prior to January 1,
2019. Refer to Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, for
additional disclosures required by ASC 842. The Company determines
if an arrangement is a lease at inception.
In June
2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments –
Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on
Financial Instruments, which was subsequently revised by ASU
2018-19. The ASU introduces a new model for assessing impairment of
most financial assets. Entities will be required to use a
forward-looking expected loss model, which will replace the current
incurred loss model, which will result in earlier recognition of
allowance for losses. The ASU is effective for annual reporting
periods beginning after January 2023 with early adoption
permitted.
In
May 2017, the FASB issued ASU
No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718):
Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies what
constitutes a modification of a share-based payment award.
The ASU is intended to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in
practice and cost and complexity when applying the guidance in
Topic 718 to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based
payment award. ASU 2017-09 is effective for public entities
for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and
interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of
ASU 2017-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s
financial condition or results of operations.
In July
2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing
Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480): Derivatives and Hedging (Topic
815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with
Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite
Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of
Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable
Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. Part I of
this ASU addresses the complexity and reporting burden associated
with the accounting for freestanding and embedded instruments with
down round features as liabilities subject to fair value
measurement. Part II of this ASU addresses the difficulty of
navigating Topic 480. Part I of this ASU will be effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is
permitted for an entity in an interim or annual period. The Company
has elected to apply ASU 2017-11 using a modified-retrospective
approach by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to its
financial statements as of the beginning of the first fiscal year
for which the account standard applies (or January 1, 2019), as
allowed under ASU 2017-11. Since the adoption of ASU 2017-11 would
have classified the warrants effected as equity at inception, the
cumulative-effect adjustment should (i) record the issuance date
value of the warrants as if they had been equity classified at the
issuance date, (ii) reverse the effects of changes in the fair
value of the warrants that had been recorded in the statement of
comprehensive loss of each period, and (iii) eliminate the
derivative liabilities form the balance sheet. Upon adoption, the
Company (i) recorded an increase of $262,339 to additional paid-in
capital, (ii) recorded an increase to retained earnings of
$1,279,661 and (iii) decreased the warrant liability by
$1,542,000.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07,
Compensation
– Stock Compensation (Topic 718) – Improvements to
Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU simplifies the accounting for
share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the
accounting for share-based payments to employees. As a result,
share-based payments issued to nonemployees related to the
acquisition of goods and services will be accounted for similarly
to the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with
certain exceptions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within
such fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted if financial
statements have not yet been issued. The adoption of ASU 2018-07
had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
F-11
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
2.
Summary
of significant accounting policies (continued)
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No.
2018-09, Codification
Improvements (“ASU
2018-09”). These amendments provide clarifications and
corrections to certain ASC subtopics including the following:
Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income – Overall
(Topic 220-10), Debt - Modifications and Extinguishments (Topic
470-50), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity – Overall
(Topic 480-10), Compensation - Stock Compensation - Income Taxes
(Topic 718-740), Business Combinations - Income Taxes (Topic
805-740), Derivatives and Hedging – Overall (Topic 815- 10),
and Fair Value Measurement – Overall (Topic 820-10). The
majority of the amendments in ASU 2018-09 are effective for pubic
business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15,
2018. The Company has adopted ASU No. 2018-09 and the adoption of
this ASU had no significant impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No.
2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic
820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure
Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The amendments in ASU
2018-13 modify the disclosure requirements associated with fair
value measurements based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement,
including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments
on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted
average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3
fair value measurements, and the narrative description of
measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only
the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial
fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied
retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date.
The amendments are effective for all entities for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those
fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an
interim period. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2018-13 and
its impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
3.
Inventory
Inventory consists
of the following at December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory -
finished goods
|
$357,265
|
$188,116
|
|
Inventory -
parts
|
185,690
|
169,704
|
|
Total
inventory
|
$542,955
|
$357,820
|
F-12
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
4.
Property
and equipment
Property and
equipment consists of the following at December 31, 2019 and
2018:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance lease right
of use asset
|
$451,561
|
$-
|
|
Machines and
equipment
|
281,633
|
240,295
|
|
Office and computer
equipment
|
201,841
|
196,150
|
|
Devices
|
81,059
|
81,059
|
|
Software
|
38,126
|
38,126
|
|
Furniture and
fixtures
|
22,929
|
16,019
|
|
Other
assets
|
2,259
|
2,259
|
|
Total
|
1,079,408
|
573,908
|
|
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(567,366)
|
(496,153)
|
|
Net
property and equipment
|
$512,042
|
$77,755
|
Depreciation
expense was $71,213 and $22,332 for the years ended December 31,
2019 and 2018, respectively.
5.
Accrued
expenses
Accrued
expenses consist of the following at December 31, 2019 and
2018:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued board of
director's fees
|
$400,000
|
$200,000
|
|
Accrued
inventory
|
167,050
|
-
|
|
Accrued executive
severance
|
154,000
|
136,000
|
|
Accrued
travel
|
120,000
|
58,993
|
|
Accrued outside
services
|
108,033
|
115,118
|
|
Accrued legal and
professional fees
|
134,970
|
-
|
|
Accrued clinical
study expenses
|
13,650
|
13,650
|
|
Accrued related
party advance
|
-
|
101,137
|
|
Deferred
rent
|
-
|
44,623
|
|
Accrued computer
equipment
|
-
|
8,752
|
|
Accrued
other
|
13,406
|
11,007
|
|
|
$1,111,109
|
$689,280
|
The
Company is a party to a Severance and Advisory Agreement (the
“Severance Agreement”) with its former President and
Chief Executive Officer, and a director of the Company. Pursuant to
the Severance Agreement, the former executive will receive, as
severance along with other non-cash items, six months of his base
salary payable over the following six month period and bonus
payments of $100,000 upon each of four bonus payment events tied to
the Company’s clinical trial plan for the dermaPACE device,
or December 31, 2016, whichever occurs first. The Company achieved
three of the four bonus payment events in 2014 and paid $300,000 in
accrued executive severance in 2014. The accrued executive
severance at December 31, 2019 and 2018 represents the unpaid
portion of the bonus payments plus accrued interest due to late
payment.
On
October 10, 2018, the Company entered into accrued related party
advance with Shri P. Parikh, the President of the Company, in
the total principal amount of $100,000 with an interest rate of 5%
per annum. The principal and accrued interest are due and payable
on the earlier of (i) one day after receipt of payment from
Johnfk Medical Inc., (ii) six
months from the date of issuance and (iii) the acceleration of the
maturity of the short term note by the holder upon the occurrence
of an event of default. On May 13, 2019, the Company repaid
in full the outstanding balance on short term notes payable with
Shri P. Parikh, the President of the
Company.
F-13
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
6.
Contract
liabilities
As of
December 31, 2019, the Company has contract assets and liabilities
from contracts with customers (see Note 16).
Contract
liabilities consist of the following:
|
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
agreement
|
$133,510
|
$57,365
|
|
Deposit on
product
|
-
|
92,950
|
|
License
fees
|
500,000
|
-
|
|
Other
|
6,291
|
28,218
|
|
Total
Contract liabilities
|
639,801
|
178,533
|
|
Non-Current
|
(573,224)
|
(46,736)
|
|
Total
Current
|
$66,577
|
$131,797
|
7.
Advances
from related parties
The
Company has received cash advances to help fund the Company’s
operations. On January 10, 2018, the outstanding balance of
the $310,000 of advances payable was converted into two 10%
Convertible Promissory Notes (see Note 10). On November 12, 2018, the advances
payable balance was added to the outstanding balance line of
credit, related parties.
8.
Line
of credit, related parties
The
Company entered into a line of credit agreement with a member of
the board of directors and an existing shareholder at December
29, 2017. The agreement established a line of credit in the amount
of $370,000 with an annualized interest rate of 6%. On
November 12, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to the
line of credit agreement that increased the line of credit to
$1,000,000 with an annualized interest rate of 6%. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the
amount of the line of credit was decreased by $680,000 through a
conversion to 7,020,455 shares of common stock, by $121,000 through
payment on purchase of dermaPACE Systems and was increased
by $90,000 through a deposit on purchase of future dermaPACE
Systems. The line of credit may be called for payment
upon demand of the holder. The line of credit, related parties had
an aggregate outstanding balance of $212,388 and $883,224 as of
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31,
2019, the amount of credit available is
$861,500.
Interest expense on
the line of credit, related parties totaled $40,164 and $33,724 for
the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
F-14
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
9.
Short
term notes payable
The
Company entered into non-interest bearing short term notes payable
agreements on December 13, 2019 in the total principal amount of
$210,000. The principal amount will be due and payable six months
from the date of issuance of the respective notes via issuance of
2,250,000 shares of common stock.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company defaulted on all of
the short term notes payable and began accruing interest at the
default interest rate of 10% upon the date of default.
The
short term notes payable had an aggregate outstanding principal
balance of $587,233 and $1,883,163 at December 31, 2019, and 2018,
respectively.
Interest expense on
the short term notes payable totaled $838,613 and $12,638 for the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
10.
Convertible
promissory notes
The calculated fair value of the Class N Warrants was determined
using the Black-Scholes pricing model based on the following
assumptions:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Weighted
average contractual term in years
|
1.13-1.19
|
|
Weighted
average risk free interest rate
|
1.98% - 2.15%
|
|
Weighted
average volatility
|
94% - 99%
|
|
Forfeiture
rate
|
0.0%
|
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.0%
|
Additional debt
issuance costs will be incurred and amortized over the remaining
lives of the 10% Convertible Promissory Notes when Class N Warrants
are issued per the engagement letter with West Park Capital. On
June 29, 2018, the Company issued 1,242,955 Class N Warrants to
West Park Capital per the terms of a placement agent
agreement and $417,633 was expensed as interest expense. On October
4, 2018, the Company issued 1,242,954 Class N Warrants to West Park
Capital per the terms of a placement agent agreement and $91,233
was expensed as interest expense.
As of August 2, 2018, the Company defaulted on all of
the 10% Convertible Promissory Notes issued and began accruing
interest at the default interest rate of 18%.
F-15
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
10.
Convertible
promissory notes (continued)
Interest expense on
the 10% Convertible Promissory Notes totaled $280,936 and
$3,565,198 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
On
January 29, 2018, the Company entered
into an additional 10% Convertible Promissory Note with
an accredited investor in
the amount of $71,500 and issued 650,000 Class N Warrants in
connection with such 10% Convertible Promissory Note. The Company
intends to use the proceeds from such 10% Convertible Promissory
Note for payment of services to an investor relations company and
the account of the attorney updating the Registration Statement on
Form S-1 of the Company filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on January 3, 2017 (File No. 333-213774), which
registration statement shall also register the shares issuable upon
conversion of such 10% Convertible Promissory Note and issuable
upon the exercise of a Class N Warrants issued concurrently with
the issuance of such 10% Convertible Promissory Note.
In
2018, the Company recorded $35,396 debt discount for the beneficial
conversion feature of the 10% Convertible Promissory Note and
$36,104 in debt discount for the discount on the Class N Warrant
agreement to be amortized over the life of the 10% Convertible
Promissory Note.
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Weighted
average contractual term in years
|
1.14
|
|
Weighted
average risk free interest rate
|
1.96%
|
|
Weighted
average volatility
|
98.2%
|
|
Forfeiture
rate
|
0.0%
|
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.0%
|
The 10%
Convertible Promissory Note was converted in full in August 2018
(See Note 13).
11.
Notes
payable, related parties
The
notes payable, related parties as amended were issued in
conjunction with the Company’s purchase of the
orthopedic division of HealthTronics, Inc. The notes payable,
related parties bear interest at 8% per annum, as amended. All
remaining unpaid accrued interest and principal is due on December
31, 2018, as amended. HealthTronics, Inc. is a related party
because they are a shareholder in the Company and have a security
agreement with the Company detailed below.
F-16
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
11.
Notes
payable, related parties (continued)
The
notes payable, related parties had an aggregate outstanding
principal balance of $5,372,743, net of $0 debt discount at
December 31, 2019, and 2018.
Accrued
interest currently payable totaled $1,859,977 and $1,171,782 at
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest expense on notes
payable, related parties totaled $688,195 and $787,586 for the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, we are in default under
the notes, as amended by the Third Amendment, and
as a result HealthTronics,
Inc. could, among other rights and remedies, exercise its rights
under its first priority security interest in our assets. We are in
negotiations with HealthTronics, Inc. to address the event of
default.
12.
Preferred
Stock
The
Company’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of
up to 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock
with designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from
time to time by the board of directors.
On
January 12, 2016, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Rights and Limitations for Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Certificate of
Designation”) with the Nevada Secretary of State. The
Certificate of Designation amends the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation to designate 293 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.001 per share, as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has a stated value of $1,000
per share. Holders of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to convert each share of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 2,000 shares of common
stock, provided that after giving effect to such conversion, such
holder, together with its affiliates, shall not beneficially own in
excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding
(the “Beneficial Ownership
Limitation”).
On
March 14, 2014, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Rights and Limitations for Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Certificate of
Designation”) with the Nevada Secretary of State. The
Certificate of Designation amends the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation to designate 6,175 shares of preferred stock, par
value $0.001 per share, as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.
The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has a stated value of
$1,000 per share.
13.
Equity
Transactions
Warrant Exercises
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 19,116,934
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of 19,116,934 Class L
Warrants, Class O Warrants, Class N Warrants and Series A Warrants
to purchase shares of stock under the terms of the respective
warrant agreements, in exchange for $1,758,142 in cash
proceeds.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 21,167,488
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of 21,167,488 Class L
Warrants, Class O Warrants, Class N Warrants and Series A Warrants
to purchase shares of stock under the terms of the respective
warrant agreements, in exchange for $1,827,315 in customer deposits
and $36,500 in accounts payable.
For
the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 422,939 shares
of common stock upon the exercise of 422,939 Class N Warrants,
Series A Warrants and Class O Warrants to purchase shares of stock
under the terms of the respective warrant agreements.
Cashless Warrant Exercises
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 4,962,157
shares of Common Stock upon the cashless exercise of 10,423,886
Class N Warrants, Class L Warrants and Series A Warrants to
purchase shares of stock under the terms of the respective warrant
agreements.
F-17
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
13.
Equity
Transactions (continued)
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 450,000 shares
of Common Stock on a cashless basis upon the exercise of 450,000
Class L Warrants to purchase shares of stock under the terms of the
respective warrant agreements. The Common Stock was issued on a
cashless basis as a result of email breach in March 2019. The
warrant holder sent the funds to an incorrect bank account as a
result of the email breach and the Company elected to waive the
requirement to cash exercise and allowed the warrant holder to net
exercise.
For
the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 6,395,499
shares of common stock upon the exercise of 7,878,925 Class N
Warrants, Series A Warrants and Class O Warrants to purchase shares
of stock under the terms of the respective warrant
agreements.
Conversion of liabilities
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 38,581,030
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of 35,677,272 Class L
Warrants, Class N Warrants and Series A Warrants, under the terms
of the respective warrant agreements and 2,903,758 upon the
conversion of interest and bonus shares pursuant to the terms of
the short term note payable. The other warrant exercise constituted
the conversion of short term note payable in the outstanding amount
of $3,559,542 with the receipt of notices of Class L, Class N and
Series A warrant exercises, all pursuant to the terms of the short
term note payable.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 26,666,487
shares of Common Stock due upon exercise of the conversion of
convertible promissory notes in the principal and interest amount
of $2,933,313 with the receipt of notices of conversion, all
pursuant to the terms of the convertible promissory
notes.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 7,020,455
shares of Common Stock due upon exercise of 6,795,455 Class L and
Class N Warrants and 225,000 upon the conversion of bonus share
pursuant to the terms of the conversion of line of credit, related
parties in the principal amount of $680,000 with the receipt of
notices of conversion.
For the
year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 8,497,238 shares
of Common Stock upon the conversion of 10% Convertible Promissory
Notes in the amount of $902,500 plus accrued interest of $32,197 at
the conversion price of $0.11 per share per the terms of the 10%
Convertible Promissory Notes agreement.
Consulting Agreement
In
February 2019, the Company entered into a three month consulting
agreement for which a portion of the fee for the services was to be
paid with Common Stock. The number of shares to be paid with Common
Stock was 75,000 earned upon signing and an additional 75,000 upon
renewal of the agreement. The Company issued 150,000 shares in
December 2019. The fair value of the shares of $28,500 was recorded
as a non-cash general and administrative expense during the year
ended December 31, 2019.
In
April 2018, the Company verbally entered into a month-to-month
consulting agreement with a consultant for which a portion of the
fee for the services was to be paid with Common Stock. The number
of shares to be paid with Common Stock was calculated by dividing
the amount of the fee to be paid with Common Stock of $4,000 by the
Company stock price at the close of business on the eighth business
day of each month. The Company issued 74,714 shares of Common Stock
for services performed from January through June 2018. $20,000 was
recorded as a non-cash general and administrative expense during
the year ended December 31, 2018.
F-18
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
13.
Equity
Transactions (continued)
In May
2017, the Company entered into an agreement with an investment
company to provide business advisory and consulting services.
The compensation for those services was to be paid in a combination
of cash and Common Stock. At December 31, 2017, the Company
accrued $120,000 of expense for the services provided. The Common
Stock was issued in March and June 2018 in the amount of 533,450
and 15,000 shares, respectively. On October 17, 2018, this
agreement was verbally amended to provide for the cash compensation
of services performed to be paid with Common Stock. The Common
Stock was issued in October 2018 in the amount of 426,176 shares.
The $37,500 was recorded as a non-cash general and administrative
expense during the year ended December 31, 2018.
PIPE Offering
On
December 11, 2019, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase
Agreement with certain investors for the sale by the Company in a
private placement of an aggregate of up to 21,071,143 shares of its
common stockat a purchase price of $0.14 per share. The Company has
granted the purchasers indemnification rights with respect to its
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements under the
purchase agreement.
In
connection with the agreement, the Company also entered into a
registration rights agreement with the purchasers, pursuant to
which the Company has agreed to file a registration statement with
the SEC by April 30, 2020.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 20,000,711
shares of Common Stock in conjunction with this offering and
received $2,800,100 in cash proceeds.
14.
Warrants
A
summary of warrants as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, is presented
as follows:
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
as
of
|
|
|
|
as
of
|
|
|
|
as
of
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Warrant
class
|
2017
|
Issued
|
Exercised
|
Expired
|
2018
|
Issued
|
Exercised
|
Expired
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class F
Warrants
|
300,000
|
-
|
-
|
(300,000)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Class G
Warrants
|
1,503,409
|
-
|
-
|
(1,503,409)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Class H
Warrants
|
1,988,095
|
-
|
-
|
(1,988,095)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Class I
Warrants
|
1,043,646
|
-
|
-
|
(1,043,646)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Class K
Warrants
|
7,200,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7,200,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7,200,000
|
|
Class L
Warrants
|
63,898,173
|
-
|
(6,639,834)
|
-
|
57,258,339
|
-
|
(57,133,339)
|
(125,000)
|
-
|
|
Class N
Warrants
|
13,943,180
|
17,644,999
|
(1,136,364)
|
-
|
30,451,815
|
-
|
(29,951,815)
|
(500,000)
|
-
|
|
Class O
Warrants
|
6,540,000
|
1,509,091
|
(120,000)
|
-
|
7,929,091
|
-
|
(6,549,090)
|
(470,910)
|
909,091
|
|
Class P
Warrants
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,365,000
|
-
|
-
|
1,365,000
|
|
Series A
Warrants
|
1,561,348
|
-
|
(405,666)
|
-
|
1,155,682
|
-
|
(1,092,936)
|
(62,746)
|
-
|
|
|
97,977,851
|
19,154,090
|
(8,301,864)
|
(4,835,150)
|
103,994,927
|
1,365,000
|
(94,727,180)
|
(1,158,656)
|
9,474,091
|
F-19
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
14.
Warrants
(continued)
A
summary of the warrant exercise price per share and expiration date
is presented as follows:
|
|
Exercise
|
Expiration
|
|
|
price/share
|
date
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class K
Warrants
|
$0.08
|
June
2025
|
|
Class K
Warrants
|
$0.11
|
August
2027
|
|
Class O
Warrants
|
$0.11
|
January
2022
|
|
Class P
Warrants
|
$0.01
|
June
2021
|
|
Class P
Warrants
|
$0.20
|
June
2024
|
On
January 23, 2019, the Company extended the expiration date to May
1, 2019 for Series A Warrants, Class L Warrants and Class N
Warrants. On March 1, 2019, the Company extended the expiration
date to June 28, 2019 for Class N Warrants and Class O Warrants. On
May 31, 2019, the Company amended the expiration date of the Class
N warrants from June 28, 2019 to September 3, 2019. No
consideration was given for the warrant extensions.
The
Company has 1,033,334 Class L Warrants and 62,811 Series A Warrants
that have been exercised but the common stock has not yet been
issued. The cash for these issuable shares was previously received
and recorded in Advances from related parties and Short term notes
payable.
The
exercise price and the number of shares covered by the warrants
will be adjusted if the Company has a stock split, if there is a
recapitalization of the Company’s common stock, or if the
Company consolidates with or merges into another
company.
The
Class K Warrants may be exercised on a physical settlement or on a
cashless basis.
On June
11, 2019, the Company issued Class P Warrant Agreements to vendors
to purchase 265,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of
$0.20 per share. Each Class P Warrant
represents the right to purchase one share of Common Stock. The
estimated fair value of the Class P Warrants at the grant date was
$36,067 and was recorded as selling and marketing expense. The
warrants vested upon issuance and expire on June 11,
2024.
On June
14, 2019, the Company issued Class P Warrant Agreement to a vendor
to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $0.01 per share. Each Class P
Warrant represents the right to purchase one share of Common Stock.
The estimated fair value of the Class P Warrants at the grant date
was $150,800 and was recorded as general and administrative
expense. The warrants vested upon issuance and expire on June 14,
2021.
On June
24, 2019, the Company issued Class P Warrant Agreement to a vendor
to purchase up to 100,000 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $0.20 per share. Each Class P
Warrant represents the right to purchase one share of Common Stock.
The estimated fair value of the Class P Warrant will be recorded as
selling and marketing expense as the warrants are earned per the
milestones. The warrants have not yet vested based on milestones
and expire on June 24, 2024.
F-20
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
14.
Warrants
(continued)
In
March 2019, the Company entered into a three month consulting
agreement for which a portion of the fee for the services was to be
paid with a par value warrant for 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
The Company issued the warrant agreement in June 2019. The $150,800
calculated fair value of the warrants was recorded as a non-cash
general and administrative expense during the year ended December
31, 2019.
On
January 26, 2018, the Company issued Class O Warrant Agreements to
a related party vendor to purchase 909,091 shares of common stock
at an exercise price of $0.11 per share. Each Class O Warrant represents the right to
purchase one share of Common Stock. The estimated fair value of the
Class O Warrants at the grant date was $160,455 and was recorded as
general and administrative expense. The warrants vested upon
issuance and expire on March 17, 2019. On March 1, 2019, the
Company extended the expiration date to June 28,
2019.
In
2018, the Company issued Class O Warrant Agreements to a vendor to
purchase 600,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of
$0.11 per share. Each Class O Warrant
represents the right to purchase one share of Common Stock. The
estimated fair value of the Class O Warrants at their respective
grant dates was $159,370 and was recorded as general and
administrative expense. The warrants vested upon issuance and
expire on March 17, 2019. On March 1, 2019, the Company extended
the expiration date to June 28, 2019.
The
Class K Warrants and the Series A Warrants were derivative
financial instruments. The estimated fair value of the Class K
Warrants at the date of grant was $36,989 and recorded as debt
discount, which is accreted to interest expense through the
maturity date of the related notes payable, related parties. The
estimated fair values of the Series A Warrants and the Series B
Warrants at the date of grant were $557,733 for the warrants issued
in conjunction with the 2014 Private Placement and $47,974 for the
warrants issued in conjunction with the 18% Convertible Promissory
Notes. The fair value of the Series A Warrants and Series B
Warrants were recorded as equity issuance costs in 2014, a
reduction of additional paid-in capital. The Series B Warrants
expired unexercised in March 2015.
The
estimated fair values were determined using a binomial option
pricing model based on various assumptions. The
Company’s derivative liabilities have been classified as
Level 3 instruments and are adjusted to reflect estimated fair
value at each period end, with any decrease or increase in the
estimated fair value being recorded in other income or expense
accordingly, as adjustments to the fair value of derivative
liabilities. Various factors are considered in the pricing
models the Company uses to value the warrants, including the
Company’s current common stock price, the remaining life of
the warrants of 0.085 years, the volatility of the Company’s
common stock price of 102%, and the risk-free interest rate of
2.43% for the year ended December 31, 2019. The remaining
life of the warrants which ranged from 0.21 to 8.6 years, the
volatility of the Company’s common stock price which ranged
from 112% to 134%, and the risk-free interest rate which ranged
from 2.43% to 2.64% for the year ended December 31, 2018. In
addition, as of the valuation dates, management assessed the
probabilities of future financing and other re-pricing events in
the binominal valuation models.
F-21
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
14.
Warrants
(continued)
A
summary of the changes in the warrant liability during the years
ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, is as follows:
|
|
Class
K
|
Series
A
|
|
|
|
Warrants
|
Warrants
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrant liability
as of December 31, 2017
|
$1,616,000
|
$327,883
|
$1,943,883
|
|
Issued
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Redeemed
|
-
|
(118,838)
|
(118,838)
|
|
Change in fair
value
|
(74,000)
|
18,624
|
(55,376)
|
|
Warrant liability
as of December 31, 2018
|
1,542,000
|
227,669
|
1,769,669
|
|
Change in fair
value
|
-
|
(32,359)
|
(32,359)
|
|
Expired
|
-
|
(195,310)
|
(195,310)
|
|
Reclassification
due to Adoption of ASU
|
|
|
|
|
2017-11 (see Note
2)
|
(1,542,000)
|
-
|
(1,542,000)
|
|
Warrant liability
as of December 31, 2019
|
$-
|
$-
|
$-
|
15.
Commitments
and contingencies
Operating Leases
The
Company is a party to certain operating leases. In
August 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for
7,500 square feet of office space for office, research and
development, quality control, production and warehouse space which
expires on December 31, 2021. On February 1, 2018, the Company
entered into an amendment to the lease agreement for an additional
380 square feet of office space for storage which expires on
December 31, 2021. On January 2, 2019, the Company entered into a
second amendment to the lease agreement for an additional 2,297
square feet of office space for office space which expires on
December 31, 2021. Under the terms of the lease, the Company pays
monthly rent of $14,651, subject to a 3% adjustment on an annual
basis.
For
leases where the Company is the lessee, ROU assets represent the
Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term
and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease
payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities
are recognized at the lease commencement date (except we used the
practical expedients and recorded the outstanding operating lease
at January 1, 2019) based on the present value of lease payments
over the lease term. As the Company’s lease did not provide
an implicit interest rate, the Company used the equivalent
borrowing rate for a secured financing with the term of that equal
to the remaining life of the lease at inception. The lease terms
used to calculate the ROU asset and related lease liability did not
include options to extend or termination of the lease; there are
none and there is no reasonable certainty that the Company would
extend the lease at expiration. Lease expense for operating leases
is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as an
operating expense. The Company has lease agreements which require
payments for lease and non-lease components and has elected to
account for these as a separate lease components. Non-leasing
components are not included in the ROU asset.
F-22
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
15. Commitments
and contingencies (continued)
Right
of use assets and Lease Liability – right of use consists of
the following:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
Right of use
assets
|
$323,661
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
Lease liability -
right of use
|
|
|
Current
portion
|
$173,270
|
|
Long
term portion
|
185,777
|
|
|
$359,047
|
As of
December 31, 2019, the maturities of the Company’s lease
liability – right of use which have initial or remaining
lease terms in excess of one year consist of the
following:
|
Year ending
December 31,
|
Amount
|
|
2020
|
$191,713
|
|
2021
|
197,462
|
|
Total
lease payments
|
389,175
|
|
Less: Present value
adjustment
|
(30,128)
|
|
Lease liability -
right of use
|
$359,047
|
As of
December 31, 2019, the Company’s operating lease had a
weighted average remaining lease term of 2 years and a weighted
average discount rate of 7%.
Rent
expense for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, was
$225,274 and $157,395, respectively.
F-23
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
15. Commitments
and contingencies (continued)
Financing Lease
For
leases where the Company is the lessee, ROU assets represent the
Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term
and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease
payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities
are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present
value of lease payments over the lease term. The present value of
the lease payment exceeds 90% of the sales price of the equipment,
therefore this lease will be considered a financing lease and is
included in Property and equipment, net on our Consolidated Balance
Sheets (see Note 4). Lease expense will be recognized as payment of
financing lease, depreciation expense and interest
expense.
Right
of use assets and Lease Liability – right of use consists of
the following:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
Right of use
assets
|
$418,088
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
Lease liability -
right of use
|
|
|
Current
portion
|
$121,634
|
|
Long
term portion
|
271,240
|
|
|
$392,874
|
As of
December 31, 2019, the maturities of the Company’s lease
liability – right of use which have initial or remaining
lease terms in excess of one year consist of the
following:
|
Year ending
December 31,
|
Amount
|
|
2020
|
$165,078
|
|
2021
|
165,078
|
|
2022
|
130,278
|
|
Total
|
$460,434
|
As of December 31,
2019, the Company’s financing leases had a weighted average
remaining lease term of 2.8 years based on annualized base payments
expiring through 2022 and a weighted average discount rate of
13.2%.
As of
December 31, 2019, the Company did not have additional operating or
financing leases that have yet commenced.
Litigation
The
Company is a defendant in various legal actions, claims and
proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including
claims related to breach of contracts and intellectual property
matters resulting from our business activities. As with most
actions such as these, an estimation of any possible and/or
ultimate liability cannot always be determined. We believe that all
pending claims, if adversely decided, would not have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of
operations.
F-24
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
16.
Revenue
The
Company began accounting for revenue in accordance with ASC 606,
which we adopted beginning January 1, 2018, using the modified
retrospective method (see Note 2). The core principle of
ASC 606 requires that an entity
recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or
services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration
to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those
goods or services. ASC 606 defines a five-step process to achieve
this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment
and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition
process than required under GAAP, including identifying performance
obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable
consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating
the transaction price to each separate performance
obligation.
Pursuant to ASC
606, we apply the following the five-step model:
1.
Identify the
contract(s) with a customer. A contract with a customer exists when
(i) we enter into an enforceable contract with a customer that
defines each party’s rights regarding the goods to be
transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these
goods, (ii) the contract has commercial substance and, (iii) we
determine that collection of substantially all consideration for
services that are transferred is probable based on the
customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised
consideration.
2.
Identify the
performance obligation(s) in the contract. If a contract promises
to transfer more than one good or service to a customer, each good
or service constitutes a separate performance obligation if the
good or service is distinct or capable of being
distinct.
3.
Determine the
transaction price. The transaction price is the amount of
consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in
exchanging the promised goods or services to the
customer.
4.
Allocate the
transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
For a contract that has more than one performance obligation, an
entity should allocate the transaction price to each performance
obligation in an amount that depicts the amount of consideration to
which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for satisfying
each performance obligation.
5.
Recognize revenue
when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation. For
each performance obligation, an entity should determine whether the
entity satisfies the performance obligation at a point in time or
over time. Appropriate methods of measuring progress include output
methods and input methods.
The
Company recognizes revenue primarily from the following types of
contracts:
Product sales
Product
sales include devices and applicators (new and refurbished).
Performance obligations are satisfied at the point in time when the
customer obtains control of the goods, which is generally at the
point in time that the product is shipped.
Procedure
revenue from the dermaPACE System is not material to the
consolidated financial statements as of December 31,
2019.
F-25
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
16.
Revenue
(continued)
Licensing transactions
Other activities
Disaggregation of Revenue
The
disaggregation of revenue is based on geographical region. The
following table presents revenue from contracts with customers
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
Year ended
December 31, 2019
|
Year ended
December 31, 2018
|
||||
|
|
United
States
|
International
|
Total
|
United
States
|
International
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
|
$277,527
|
$367,642
|
$645,169
|
$209,842
|
$739,759
|
$949,601
|
|
License
fees
|
125,000
|
190,557
|
315,557
|
25,000
|
794,696
|
819,696
|
|
Other
Revenue
|
2,450
|
65,554
|
68,004
|
-
|
80,763
|
80,763
|
|
|
$404,977
|
$623,753
|
$1,028,730
|
$234,842
|
$1,615,218
|
$1,850,060
|
F-26
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
17.
Related
party transactions
On
February 13, 2018, the Company entered into an Agreement for
Purchase and Sale, Limited Exclusive Distribution and
Royalties, and Servicing and Repairs with Premier Shockwave Wound
Care, Inc., a Georgia Corporation (“PSWC”), and
Premier Shockwave, Inc., a Georgia Corporation (“PS”).
The agreement provides for the purchase by PSWC and PS of dermaPACE
System and related equipment sold by the Company and includes a
minimum purchase of 100 units over 3 years. The agreement grants
PSWC and PS limited but exclusive distribution rights to provide
dermaPACE Systems to certain governmental healthcare facilities in
exchange for the payment of certain royalties to the Company. No
royalties were earned during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Under the agreement, the Company is responsible for the servicing
and repairs of such dermaPACE Systems and equipment. The agreement
also contains provisions whereby in the event of a change of
control of the Company (as defined in the agreement), the
stockholders of PSWC have the right and option to cause the Company
to purchase all of the stock of PSWC, and whereby the Company has
the right and option to purchase all issued and outstanding shares
of PSWC, in each case based upon certain defined purchase price
provisions and other terms. The agreement also contains certain
transfer restrictions on the stock of PSWC. Each of PS and PSWC is
owned by A. Michael Stolarski, a member of the Company’s
board of directors and an existing shareholder of the
Company.
For the
year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $253,013 in
product revenue from this related party. The Contract liabilities
balance includes a balance of $117,152 from this related
party. For the year ended
December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $207,457 in product revenue
from this related party. The Contract liabilities balance includes
a balance of $156,565 from this related party.
18.
Stock-based
compensation
On
November 1, 2010, the Company approved the Amended and Restated
2006 Stock Incentive Plan of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. effective as of
January 1, 2010 (the “Stock Incentive Plan”). The Stock
Incentive Plan permits grants of awards to selected employees,
directors and advisors of the Company in the form of restricted
stock or options to purchase shares of common stock. Options
granted may include non-statutory options as well as qualified
incentive stock options. The Stock Incentive Plan is currently
administered by the board of directors of the Company. The Stock
Incentive Plan gives broad powers to the board of directors of the
Company to administer and interpret the particular form and
conditions of each option. The stock options granted under the
Stock Incentive Plan are non-statutory options which generally vest
over a period of up to three years and have a ten year term. The
options are granted at an exercise price determined by the board of
directors of the Company to be the fair market value of the common
stock on the date of the grant. As of December 31, 2019, and 2018,
the Stock Incentive Plan reserved a total of 35,000,000 and
35,000,000, respectively, shares of common stock for grant.
On December 31, 2019, there were
2,028,281 shares of common stock available for grant under the
Stock Incentive Plan.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company granted to employees,
members of the board of directors and members of the
Company’s Medical Advisory Board options to purchase an
aggregate of 2,700,000 shares of common stock under a
previously issued incentive plan. The options have an exercise
price between $0.14 and $0.18 per share for an aggregate grant date
value of approximately $333,422. The options vested upon issuance
and have a term of ten years.
F-27
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
18. Stock-based
compensation (continued)
During
the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted to employees,
members of the board of directors and members of the
Company’s Medical Advisory Board options to purchase an
aggregate of 10,110,000 shares of common stock under a
previously issued incentive plan. The options have an exercise
price between $0.11 and $0.42 per share for an aggregate grant date
value of approximately $2,500,000. The options vested upon issuance
and have a term of ten years.
The
fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following
weighted average assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2019
and 2018:
|
|
2019
|
|
2018
|
|
Weighted
average expected life in years
|
5.00
|
|
5.00
|
|
Weighted
average risk free interest rate
|
1.54% -
2.15%
|
|
2.84% -
3.21%
|
|
Weighted
average volatility
|
131% -
189%
|
|
134% -
144%
|
|
Forfeiture
rate
|
0.0%
|
|
0.0%
|
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.0%
|
|
0.0%
|
The
expected life of options granted represent the period of time that
options granted are expected to be outstanding and are derived from
the contractual terms of the options granted. The risk-free rate
for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on
the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the
grant. The expected volatility is based on the average volatility
of the Company and that of peer group companies similar in size and
value to us. We estimate pre-vesting forfeitures at the time of
grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual
forfeitures differ from those estimates. The expected dividend
yield is based on our historical dividend experience, however,
since our inception, we have not declared dividends. The amount of
stock-based compensation expense recognized during a period is
based on the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to
vest. Ultimately, the total expense recognized over the vesting
period will equal the fair value of the awards that actually
vest.
For the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized
$333,422 and $2,480,970, respectively, as compensation cost related
to options granted. As of December 31, 2019, and 2018, there are no
unamortized compensation costs related to options
granted.
F-28
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
18.
Stock-based
compensation (continued)
A
summary of option activity as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and
the changes during the years then ended, is presented as
follows:
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Options
|
per
share
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2017
|
21,593,385
|
$0.31
|
|
Granted
|
10,110,000
|
$0.25
|
|
Exercised
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Forfeited or
expired
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2018
|
31,703,385
|
$0.29
|
|
Granted
|
2,700,000
|
$0.15
|
|
Exercised
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Forfeited or
expired
|
(100,000)
|
$0.11
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2019
|
34,303,385
|
$0.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vested and
exercisable at December 31, 2019
|
33,928,385
|
$0.29
|
The
range of exercise prices for options was $0.04 to $2.00 for options
outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
aggregate intrinsic value for outstanding options was $981,088 and
$2,085,866 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
aggregate intrinsic value for all vested and exercisable options
was $981,088 and $2,085,866 at December 31, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
The
weighted average remaining contractual term for outstanding
exercisable stock options is 6.62 years and 7.4 years as of
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
A
summary of the Company’s nonvested options as of December 31,
2019 and 2018, and changes during the years then ended, is
presented as follows:
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Options
|
per
share
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2017
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Granted
|
10,110,000
|
$0.25
|
|
Vested
|
(10,110,000)
|
$0.25
|
|
Forfeited or
expired
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2018
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Granted
|
2,700,000
|
$0.15
|
|
Vested
|
(2,350,000)
|
$0.15
|
|
Forfeited or
expired
|
-
|
$-
|
|
Outstanding at
December 31, 2019
|
350,000
|
$0.18
|
F-29
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
19.
Joint
ventures
On June
26, 2018, the Company entered into an Agreement with FKS, effective
as of June 14, 2018, pursuant to which the Company and FKS
committed to enter into a joint venture for the manufacture, sale
and distribution of the Company’s dermaPACE and orthoPACE
devices. Under the Agreement, FKS paid the Company a fee of
$500,000 for initial distribution rights in Taiwan on June 22,
2018, with an additional fee of $500,000 for initial distribution
rights in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos,
Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam (the “SEA
Region”) to be paid in the first quarter of 2019. On
September 21, 2018, the Company entered into a joint venture
agreement (the “JV Agreement”) with FKS setting forth
the terms of the operation, management and control of a joint
venture entity initially with the name of Holistic Health Institute
Pte. Ltd., a private limited company to be incorporated in the
Republic of Singapore, but with such company name subject to
confirmation by Singapore Government. On November 9, 2018, the
joint venture entity was incorporated in the Republic of Singapore
with the name of HWA. HWA was formed as a joint venture of the
Company and FKS for the manufacture, sale and distribution of the
Company’s dermaPACE and orthoPACE devices. Under the JV
Agreement, the Company and FKS each hold shares constituting fifty
percent of the issued share capital of HWA. The Company provides to
HWA FDA and CE approved products for an agreed cost, access to
treatment protocols, training, marketing and sales materials and
management expertise, and FKS provides to HWA capital, human
capital and sales resources in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei,
Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and
Vietnam, certain reports and identification of new key opinion
leaders as well as clinical trial and poster access availability.
The JV Agreement also established the corporate governance of HWA,
including a five-person board of directors consisting of two
directors designated by the Company, two directors designated by
FKS, and a third director appointed jointly by the parties.
Initially, net profits under the JV Agreement shall be used to
repay FKS for (i) the payment of $500,000 on June 22, 2018 to the
Company for initial distribution rights in Taiwan and (ii) the cash
advance to HWA per the terms of the JV Agreement. The JV Agreement
includes other customary terms, including regarding the transfer of
shares, indemnification and confidentiality. On June 4, 2019, we entered into an agreement
with Johnfk Medical Inc. (“FKS”) and Holistic Wellness Alliance Pte. Ltd.
(“HWA”) pursuant to which we and FKS terminated the
joint venture agreement, dated as of September 21, 2018, that
established HWA as a joint venture between us and FKS. Pursuant to
the termination agreement, FKS will pay us the outstanding amount
of $63,275 for equipment delivered to FKS and a penalty fee of
$50,000 for early termination of the joint venture agreement, which
was received in 2019. We credited the outstanding amount of $63,275
due for equipment upon the return of the equipment on September 6,
2019.
On September 27, 2017, the Company entered into a
binding term sheet with MundiMed Distribuidora Hospitalar
LTDA (“MundiMed”),
for a joint venture for the manufacture, sale and distribution of
our dermaPACE device. Under the binding term sheet, MundiMed was to
pay the Company an initial upfront distribution fee, with monthly
upfront distribution fees payable thereafter over the following
eighteen months. The initial upfront distribution fee was received
on October 6, 2017. Monthly upfront distribution fee payments have
been received aggregating $372,222. In August 2018, MundiMed
advised the Company that it did not anticipate being able to make
further payments under the binding term sheet due to operational
and cash flow difficulties. On September 14, 2018, the Company sent
a letter to MundiMed informing them of a breach in our agreement
regarding payment of the upfront distribution fee. On September 28,
2018, the Company received a response letter stating that the
Company was in default of the agreement. On October 9, 2018, the
Company sent MundiMed a letter of termination of the agreement
effective as of October 8, 2018. Accordingly, the Company
derecognized the contract assets and contract liabilities
associated with the MundiMed
contract.
F-30
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
19.
Joint
ventures (continued)
On
December 13, 2019, the Company entered into a joint venture
agreement (the “Agreement”) with Universus Global
Advisors LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws
of the State of Delaware (“Universus”), Versani Health
Consulting Consultoria em Gestão de Negócios EIRELI, an
empresa individual de responsabilidade limitada organized under the
laws of Brazil (“Versani”), Curacus Limited, a private
limited company organized under the laws of England and Whales
(“Curacus”), and certain individual citizens of Brazil
and the Czech Republic (the individuals together with Curacus, the
“IDIC Group”). The principal purpose of the joint
venture company will be to manufacture, import, use, sell, and
distribute, on an exclusive basis in Brazil, dermaPACE devices and
wound kits consisting of a standard ultrasound gel and custom size
sterile sleeves used for the treatment of various acute and chronic
wounds using extracorporeal shockwave therapy technology. The joint
venture company will also provide treatments related to the
dermaPACE devices. The IDIC Group has agreed to pay to the Company
a partnership fee in the total amount of $600,000 for the granting
of exclusive territorial rights to the joint venture company to
distribute the dermaPACE devices and wound kits in Brazil. Of the
$600,000 partnership fee, $500,000 was received in November and
December of 2019 and recorded as contract liability, while the
remaining $100,000 is contingent on receipt of required regulatory
approvals from ANVISA (the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency) and
is expected to be received within the next twelve to eighteen
months. As the remaining $100,000 fee is contingent it was not
recorded in the financial statements at December 31, 2019. The
parties executed a shareholders’ agreement, a trademark
license agreement, a supply agreement and a technology license
agreement on January 31, 2020. The IDIC Group will also have the
right to receive prioritized dividends until full reimbursement of
the partnership fee and expenses incurred in the formation of the
joint venture company, which are required to be paid by the IDIC
Group.
20.
Income
taxes
The
Company files income tax returns in the United States federal
jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The
Company is subject to United States federal and state income tax
examinations by tax authorities for any years that have net
operating losses open until the net operating losses are
used.
The
components of net loss before provision for income taxes for the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
Domestic
|
$(10,595,457)
|
$(12,031,115)
|
|
Foreign
|
165,618
|
399,721
|
|
Net loss before
provision for income taxes
|
$(10,429,839)
|
$(11,631,394)
|
F-31
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
20.
Income
taxes (continued)
Deferred income
taxes are provided for temporary differences between the carrying
amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are
classified as current or noncurrent based on the financial
statement classification of the related asset or liability giving
rise to the temporary difference. For those deferred tax assets or
liabilities (such as the tax effect of the net operating loss
carryforwards) which do not relate to a financial statement asset
or liability, the classification is based on the expected reversal
date of the temporary difference. The income tax provision
(benefit) from continuing operations consists of the following at
December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
$-
|
$-
|
|
State
|
-
|
-
|
|
Foreign
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
(2,300,997)
|
(2,157,035)
|
|
State
|
(409,313)
|
(383,705)
|
|
Foreign
|
(3,676)
|
2,673
|
|
Change in valuation
allowance
|
2,713,986
|
2,538,067
|
|
|
$-
|
$-
|
At
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not have any
undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. As a result, no
additional income or withholding taxes have been provided for. The
Company does not anticipate any impacts of the global intangible
low taxed income (“GILTI”) and base erosion anti-abuse
tax (“BEAT”) and as such, the Company has not recorded
any impact associated with either GILTI or BEAT.
F-32
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
20.
Income
taxes (continued)
The
income tax provision (benefit) amounts differ from the amounts
computed by applying the United States federal statutory income tax
rate of 21% for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 to
pretax loss from operations as a result of the following for the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax benefit at
statutory rate
|
$(2,071,322)
|
$(2,442,593)
|
|
Increase
(reduction) in income taxes resulting from:
|
|
|
|
State income
benefit, net of federal benefit
|
(291,082)
|
(343,257)
|
|
Non-deductible loss
on warrant valuation adjustment
|
(47,810)
|
(11,629)
|
|
Income (loss) from
foreign subsidiaries
|
(2,595)
|
6,699
|
|
Change in valuation
allowance
|
2,713,986
|
2,538,067
|
|
Other
|
(301,177)
|
252,713
|
|
Income
tax expense (benefit)
|
$-
|
$-
|
The tax
effects of temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax
assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
|
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
Deferred tax
assets:
|
|
|
|
Net operating loss
carryforwards
|
$23,727,093
|
$21,320,935
|
|
Net operating loss
carryforwards - foreign
|
20,227
|
16,551
|
|
Excess of tax basis
over book value of
|
|
|
|
property
and equipment
|
4,240
|
(2,229)
|
|
Excess of tax basis
over book value
|
|
|
|
of
intangible assets
|
73,705
|
146,943
|
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
1,607,841
|
1,520,209
|
|
Accrued employee
compensation
|
357,869
|
83,393
|
|
Captialized equity
costs
|
49,471
|
49,471
|
|
Inventory
reserve
|
38,323
|
29,510
|
|
|
25,878,769
|
23,164,783
|
|
Valuation
allowance
|
(25,878,769)
|
(23,164,783)
|
|
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$-
|
$-
|
The
Company’s ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards
could be limited and subject to annual limitations. Since a full
analysis under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code has not
been performed, the Company may realize a “more than 50%
change in ownership” which could limit its ability to use its
net operating loss carryforwards accumulated to date to reduce
future taxable income and tax liabilities. Additionally, because
United States tax laws limit the time during which net operating
loss carryforwards may be applied against future taxable income and
tax liabilities, the Company may not be able to take advantage of
all or portions of its net operating loss carryforwards for federal
income tax purposes.
F-33
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
20.
Income
taxes (continued)
The
federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$77.9M from years ending December 31, 2005 through December 31,
2017 will begin to expire in 2025. The federal and state net
operating loss carryforward for the years ended December 31, 2019
and 2018 of $18M will not expire. The foreign net operating loss
carryforward at December 31, 2019 of $0.1M will begin to expire in
2024.
21.
Segment
and geographic information
The
Company has one line of business with revenues being generated from
sales in Europe, Canada, Asia and Asia/Pacific. All significant
expenses are generated in the United States. All significant assets
are located in the United States.
22.
Subsequent
events
The
Company evaluates events that occur after the year-end date through
the date the financial statements are available to be
issued.
On
January 31, 2020, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of
Preferences, Right and Limitations of Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company with the Nevada Secretary of State
which amended our Articles of Incorporation to designate 90 shares
of our preferred stock as Series C Convertible Preferred
Stock.
Subsequent to
December 31, 2019, the Company received $2,250,000 in proceeds for
the purchase of 90 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.
As of the date of this report, no shares of Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock have been issued.
Warrant Exercise
Subsequent
to December 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,062,811 shares of common
stock upon the exercise of 1,062,811 Class P Warrants and Series A
Warrants to purchase shares of stock under the terms of the
respective warrant agreements.
Conversion of liabilities
Subsequent
to December 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,496,989 shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of 416,667 Class L Warrants, under the
terms of the respective warrant agreements and 1,080,322 upon the
conversion of interest and bonus shares pursuant to the terms of
the short term note payable. The other warrant exercise constituted
the conversion of short term note payable in the outstanding amount
of $208,109 with the receipt of notices of Class L warrant
exercises, all pursuant to the terms of the short term note
payable.
Consulting Agreement
Subsequent to
December 31, 2019, the Company entered into a six month consulting
agreement for which the services are to be paid with Common Stock.
The number of shares to be paid with Common Stock was 1,000,000
earned upon signing and if agreed by both client and consultant an
additional 1,000,000 No later than May 1, 2020. The Company issued
1,000,000 shares in March 2020.
New agreements
Subsequent to
December 31, 2019, the Company entered into the sixth drawdown of
the Master Equipment Lease with NFS Leasing, Inc. to provide
financing for equipment purchase in the amount of
$125,689.
Issuance of stock options
Subsequent to
December 31, 2019, the Company granted to new employees
fully-vested options to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock.
F-34
Item 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are
designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required
to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under
the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and
forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without
limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports
that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and
communicated to the Company’s management, including its
principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons
performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure.
We
carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Chief Executive
Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer and accounting officer), of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure
controls and procedures as of December 31, 2019. Based on this
evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not
operating effectively as of December 31, 2019.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
Management
is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) for the
Company. The Company’s internal control over financial
reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial
reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even
those systems determined to be effective can provide only
reasonable assurance of achieving their control
objectives.
Management,
with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer (principal
executive officer) and the Chief Financial Officer (principal
financial and accounting officer), evaluated the effectiveness of
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used
the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated
Framework (2013).
We
previously reported three material weaknesses in our internal
control over financial reporting process resulting from a lack of
internal expertise and resources to analyze and properly apply
generally accepted accounting principles to complex and non-routine
transactions such as complex financial instruments and derivatives
and complex sales distribution agreements, a lack of internal
resources to analyze and properly apply generally accepted
accounting principles to accounting for equity components of
service agreements with select vendors and cybersecurity breaches
from email spoofing. As a result, management concluded that our
internal control over reporting was not effective as of December
31, 2019.
Remediation Plan
During
2019, we engaged external consultants with appropriate experience
applying GAAP technical accounting guidance, and we have hired
additional accounting personnel. We engaged external consultants to
review revenue recognition for new products, lease agreements,
internal controls and related procedures and review of
documentation of internal controls in addition to new equity and
debt financing arrangements. Accounting memos were produced for all
technical issues during 2019 and reviewed with management. All
internal controls were reviewed, in addition to new controls
created and documented. We hired an accounting manager in April
2019 to enhance the accounting knowledge and abilities of the
department. The accounting manager’s skill set includes
restructuring of accounting procedure, preparation of budgets and
key analytical reports and managing all accounting functions.
Adding an additional member to the accounting team also enabled
some segregation of duties and additional review
procedures.
We
have also implemented cybersecurity training for all employees and
redesign of procedures that cyber security breaches may impact and
worked with our third party IT vendor to develop a training plan
for all existing and new employees related to cyber and implemented
related controls around information technology infrastructure. In
addition, an additional employee was hired to assist with the
management of IT controls and enhance internal IT resources. Going
forward, this employee will monitor our third party IT
vendor’s testing and monitoring efforts and where necessary
implement new controls as the Company grows. These internal
controls have been documented and procedures
implemented.
There
is no assurance that the measures described above will be
sufficient to remediate the previously identified material
weaknesses.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
have been no changes in our internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2019
that materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except as
disclosed in "Remediation of Material Weaknesses"
above.
52
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
53
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
MANAGEMENT
Below
are the names and certain information regarding the Company’s
executive officers and directors.
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
Held
|
|
Kevin
A. Richardson, II
|
|
51
|
|
Director,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Lisa E.
Sundstrom
|
|
50
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
Shri P.
Parikh
|
|
48
|
|
President,
Healthcare
|
|
Peter
Stegagno
|
|
60
|
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
|
Iulian
Cioanta, PhD
|
|
57
|
|
Chief
Science and Technology Officer
|
|
John F.
Nemelka
|
|
54
|
|
Director
|
|
Alan L.
Rubino
|
|
65
|
|
Director
|
|
A.
Michael Stolarski
|
|
49
|
|
Director
|
|
Maj-Britt
Kaltoft
|
|
56
|
|
Director
|
|
Thomas
Price
|
|
65
|
|
Director
|
Kevin A.
Richardson, II joined the Company as chairman of the
board of directors in October of 2009 and joined SANUWAVE, Inc. as chairman of the board of
directors in August of 2005. In November 2012, upon the resignation
of the Company’s former President and Chief Executive
Officer, Christopher M. Cashman, Mr. Richardson assumed the role of
Active Chief Executive Officer, in addition to remaining Chairman
of the Board, through the hiring of Mr. Chiarelli in February 2013.
In April 2014, Mr. Richardson assumed the role of Co-Chief
Executive Officer. When Mr. Chiarelli departed the Company in 2014,
Mr. Richardson again assumed the role as Acting Chief Executive
Officer. In November 2018, Mr. Richardson was appointed as Chief
Executive Officer. Mr. Richardson brings to our board of directors
a broad array of financial knowledge for healthcare and other
industries. Since 2004, Mr. Richardson served as managing partner
of Prides Capital LLC, an investment management firm, until its
liquidation in September 2015.
Lisa E.
Sundstrom joined the Company as Controller in October of
2006, and in August of 2015, assumed the responsibilities of
Interim Chief Financial Officer. In
December 2015, Ms. Sundstrom was promoted to Chief Financial
Officer. Ms. Sundstrom has extensive financial accounting
experience with Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Mitsubishi
Consumer Electronics. She began her career with a small public
accounting firm, Carnevale & Co., P.C., was Senior Accountant
at Mitsubishi Consumer Electronics responsible for the close
process and was Accounting Manager for the Benefit Services
division of ADP and assisted in the documentation of internal
controls for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Ms. Sundstrom holds a
Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the State University of New
York at Geneseo.
Shri P.
Parikh joined the Company as President, Healthcare in May of
2018. Mr. Parikh most recently served as Vice President, Sales and
Marketing at Molnycke Health Care from April 2013 to May 2018.
Prior to Molnlycke, from 2011 to 2013 Mr. Parikh was the Director
of National Accounts at Stryker Corporation, a leading medical
technology company with products and services in Orthopaedics,
Medical and Surgical Equipment, and Neurotechnology and Spine. Mr.
Parikh began his career in sales at Bristol-Myers Squibb and held
various roles with increasing sales, marketing and corporate
accounts responsibility at Guidant and St. Jude Medical before
joining Stryker Corporation. Mr. Parikh holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Medical Ethics and Economics from Davison College, a
Master of Business Administration from Jacksonville University and
an Advanced Management Program degree from the University of
Chicago.
54
Peter
Stegagno joined the Company as
Vice President, Operations in March 2006. Mr. Stegagno brings to
the Company sixteen years of experience in the medical device
market encompassing manufacturing, design and development, quality
assurance and international and domestic regulatory affairs. He
most recently served as Vice President of Quality and Regulatory
Affairs for Elekta, and other medical device companies including
Genzyme Biosurgery. Before focusing on the medical field, Mr.
Stegagno enjoyed a successful career encompassing production roles
in the space industry, including avionics guidance systems for
military applications and control computers for the space shuttle.
Mr. Stegagno graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor of
Science degree in Chemical Engineering.
Iulian
Cioanta, PhD joined the Company
in June 2007 as Vice President of Research and Development. Dr.
Cioanta most recently served as Business Unit Manager with Cordis
Endovascular, a Johnson & Johnson company. Prior to that, Dr.
Cioanta worked as Director of Development Engineering with Kensey
Nash Corporation, Research Manager at ArgoMed Inc. and Project
Manager and Scientist with the Institute for the Design of Research
Apparatus. Dr. Cioanta also worked in academia at Polytechnic
University of Bucharest in Romania, Leicester University in the
United Kingdom and Duke University in the United States. Dr.
Cioanta received a Master of Science degree in Mechanical
Engineering and Technology form the Polytechnic University of
Bucharest and he earned his PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering
from Duke University in the field of extracorporeal shock wave
lithotripsy.
John F.
Nemelka joined the Company as a
member of the board of directors in October of 2009 and joined
SANUWAVE, Inc. as a member of the board of directors in August of
2005. Mr. Nemelka founded NightWatch Capital Group, LLC, an
investment management business, and served as its Managing
Principal since its incorporation in July 2001 until its
liquidation in December 2015. From 1997 to 2000, he was a Principal
at Graham Partners, a private investment firm and affiliate of the
privately-held Graham Group. From 2000 to 2001, Mr. Nemelka was a
Consultant to the Graham Group. Mr. Nemelka brings to
our board of directors a diverse background with both financial and
operations experience. He holds a B.S. degree in Business
Administration from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. degree
from the Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania.
Alan L.
Rubino joined the Company as a member of the board of
directors in September of 2013. Mr. Rubino has served as President
and Chief Executive Officer of Emisphere Technologies, Inc. since
September 2012. Previously, Mr. Rubino served as the CEO and
President of New American Therapeutics, Inc., CEO and President of
Akrimax Pharmaceuticals, LLC., and President and COO of Pharmos
Corporation. Mr. Rubino has continued to expand upon a highly
successful and distinguished career that included Hoffmann-La Roche
Inc. where he was a member of the U.S. Executive and Operating
Committees and a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) corporate
officer. During his Roche tenure, he held key executive positions
in marketing, sales, business operations, supply chain and human
resource management, and was assigned executive committee roles in
marketing, project management, and globalization. Mr. Rubino also
held senior executive positions at PDI, Inc. and Cardinal Health.
He holds a BA in economics from Rutgers University with a minor in
biology/chemistry and completed post-graduate educational programs
at the University of Lausanne and Harvard Business School. Mr.
Rubino serves on the boards of Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. and
Genisphere, LLC and is also on the Rutgers University Business
School Board of Advisors.
A. Michael Stolarski
joined the Company as a member of the board of directors in April
2016. Mr. Stolarski founded Premier Shockwave, Inc. in October 2008
and has since served as its President & CEO. From 2005 to 2008,
Mr. Stolarski was the Vice President of Business Development and,
previously, Acting CFO of SANUWAVE, Inc. From 2001 to 2005, he was
the President – Orthopedic Division and Vice President of
Finance for HealthTronics Surgical Services, Inc. From 1994 to
2001, he was the CFO and Controller of the Lithotripsy Division,
Internal Auditor, and Paralegal of Integrated Health Services, Inc.
Mr. Stolarski brings to our board an in-depth understanding of the
orthopedic and podiatric shock wave market. In addition to being a
Certified Public Accountant in the state of Maryland (inactive), he
holds a M.S. in Finance from Loyola College, Baltimore a B.S. in
Accounting and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland,
College Park.
Dr. Maj-Britt
Kaltoft joined the Company as a member of the board of
directors in June 2017. Since January 2017, Dr. Kaltoft heads the
business development and patent functions at the Danish State Serum
Institute, an institution under the Danish Ministry of Health. From
2011 to 2016, she was the Vice President – Corporate Alliance
Management, Licensing Director and Business Development with Novo
Nordisk headquartered in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. She has obtained
outstanding results in the areas of business development, licensing
and alliance management in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry
at Lundbeck, Nycomed, and EffRx. Dr. Kaltoft brings 20 years of
international specialization in development and successful
execution of business development strategies, contractual
structures and alliance management within all sectors of the life
science industry.
55
Dr. Thomas Price
joined the Company as a member of the board of directors in
February 2020. Dr. Price holds a BA and MD from the University of
Michigan and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Emory
University in Atlanta. He entered private practice in 1984 and
returned to Emory as an assistant professor in of orthopedic
surgery in 2002. He was director of the orthopedic clinic at
Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. Dr. Price’s
political career began as a Member of the Georgia Senate from the
56th
district from 1996 to 2005, he was the minority Whip from 1998 to
2002, and the Majority leader of the Georgia Senate from 2002 to
2003. He served in the US House of Representatives from
Georgia’s 6th district from 2005
to 2017, during which time he served as Chair of the House Budget
Committee from 2015 to 2017. In February 2017 he was confirmed by
the Senate as the United States Secretary of Health and Human
Services (HHS) and remained in that position until September 2017.
Currently Tom serves on the boards of several privately held health
care companies and non-profits as well as, consulting and advising
companies.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
The
Company adopted a formal Corporate Governance policy in January
2012 which included establishing formal board committees and a code
of conduct for the board of directors and the Company.
The Board of Directors
Recent Developments
The
Company’s current board of directors consists of six members,
four of whom have been determined by the board to be
“independent” as defined under the rules of the Nasdaq
stock market. The Company expects to add additional independent
directors in 2020.
Board’s Leadership Structure
The
Company’s board of directors elects the Company’s chief
executive officer and its chairman, and each of these positions may
be held by the same person or may be held by two persons. The
chairman’s primary responsibilities are to manage the board
and serve as the primary liaison between the board of directors and
the chief executive officer, while the primary responsibility of
the chief executive officer is to manage the day-to-day affairs of
the Company, taking into account the policies and directions of the
board of directors. Such an arrangement promotes more open and
robust communication among the board, and provides an efficient
decision making process with proper independent oversight. The
Company’s board of directors has determined that it is
currently in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders
to combine the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive
officer.
The
Company believes, however, that there is no single leadership
structure that is the best and most effective in all circumstances
and at all times. Accordingly, the board of directors retains the
authority to later combine these roles if doing so would be in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The
Company’s board of directors is authorized to have an audit
committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate
governance committee, to assist the Company’s board of
directors in discharging its responsibilities. The Company’s
current board of directors consists of six members, four of whom
has been determined by the board to be “independent” as
defined under the rules of the Nasdaq stock market. The board of
directors has determined that Mr. Richardson and Mr. Stolarski are
not independent under the applicable marketplace rules of the
Nasdaq stock market and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The
Company expects to add additional independent directors in
2020.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
While
the Company’s management is responsible for the day-to-day
management of risk to the Company, the board of directors has broad
oversight responsibility for the Company’s risk management
programs. The various committees of the board of directors assist
the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities
in certain areas of risk. In particular, the audit committee
focuses on financial and enterprise risk exposures, including
internal controls, and discusses with management and the
Company’s independent registered public accountants the
Company’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management. The compensation committee is responsible for
considering those risks that may be implicated by the
Company’s compensation programs and reviews those risks with
the Company’s board of directors and chief executive
officer.
56
Audit Committee
The
current members of the Company’s audit committee are John F.
Nemelka (Chairperson), Alan Rubino and Thomas Price, all determined
to be independent directors, pursuant to the rules of the SEC and
Nasdaq stock market. Mr. Nemelka, who chairs the committee, has
been determined by the board of directors to be an audit committee
financial expert as defined pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
..
The
audit committee operates under a written charter adopted by the
board of directors which is available on the Company’s
website at www.sanuwave.com.
The primary responsibility of the audit committee is to oversee the
Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the board
of directors. Among other things, the audit committee is
responsible for overseeing the Company’s accounting and
financial reporting processes and audits of the Company’s
financial statements, reviewing and discussing with the independent
auditors the critical accounting policies and practices for the
Company, engaging in discussions with management and the
independent auditors to assess risk for the Company and management
thereof, and reviewing with management the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal controls and disclosure controls and
procedures. The audit committee is directly responsible for the
appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of
the Company’s independent auditors, currently Marcum LLP,
including the resolution of disagreements, if any, between
management and the auditors regarding financial reporting. In
addition, the audit committee is responsible for reviewing and
approving any related party transaction that is required to be
disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under
the Exchange Act.
Compensation Committee
The
current members of the Company’s compensation committee are
Alan L. Rubino (Chairperson), Thomas Price and Maj-Britt Kaltoft,
who are all independent directors, pursuant to the
rules of the SEC and Nasdaq stock market. The primary
purpose of the compensation committee is to discharge the
responsibilities of the board of directors relating to compensation
of the Company’s executive officers. Pursuant to the
Company’s Compensation Committee Charter, the compensation
committee is required to consist of at least two independent
directors.
The
compensation committee operates under a written charter adopted by
the board of directors which is available on the Company’s
website at www.sanuwave.com.
Specific responsibilities of the compensation committee include
reviewing and recommending approval of compensation of the
Company’s named executive officers, administering the
Company’s stock incentive plan, and reviewing and making
recommendations to the Company’s board of directors with
respect to incentive compensation and equity plans.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The
current members of the Company’s nominating and corporate
governance committee are Maj-Britt Kaltoft (Chairperson), John F.
Nemelka, and Alan L. Rubino, who are all
independent directors, pursuant to the
rules of the SEC and Nasdaq stock market. Pursuant to
the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Charter, the nominating and corporate governance committee is
required to consist of at least two independent
directors.
The
nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a
written charter adopted by the board of directors which is
available on the Company’s website at www.sanuwave.com.
Specific responsibilities of the nominating and corporate
governance committee include: identifying and recommending nominees
for election to the Company’s board of directors; developing
and recommending to the board of directors the Company’s
corporate governance principles; overseeing the evaluation of the
board of directors; and reviewing and approving compensation for
non-employee members of the board of directors.
The
nominating and corporate governance committee’s charter
outlines how the nominating and corporate governance committee
fulfills its responsibilities for assessing the qualifications and
effectiveness of the current board members, assessing the needs for
future board members, identifying individuals qualified to become
members of the board and its committees, and recommending
candidates for the board of director’s selection as director
nominees for election at the next annual or other properly convened
meeting of shareholders.
57
The
nominating and corporate governance committee considers director
candidates recommended by shareholders for nomination for election
to the board of directors. The committee applies the same standards
in considering director candidates recommended by the shareholders
as it applies to other candidates. Any shareholder entitled to vote
for the election of directors may recommend a person or persons for
consideration by the committee for nomination for election to the
board of directors. The Company must receive written notice of such
shareholder’s recommended nominees(s) no later than January
31st of
the year in which the shareholder wishes such recommendation to be
considered by the committee in connection with the next meeting of
shareholders at which the election of directors will be held. To
submit a recommendation, a shareholder must give timely notice
thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company. A
shareholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (i)
the name and record address of the shareholder making such
recommendation and any other shareholders known by such shareholder
to be supporting such recommendation; (ii) the class and number of
shares of the Company which are beneficially owned by the
shareholder and by any other shareholders known by such shareholder
to be supporting such recommendation; (iii) the name, age and five
year employment history of such recommended nominee; (iv) the
reasons why the shareholder believes the recommended nominee meets
the qualifications to serve as a director of the Company; and (v)
any material or financial interest of the shareholder and, if
known, the recommended nominee in the Company.
Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors
The
board of directors has implemented a process for shareholders to
send communications to the board of directors. Shareholders who
wish to communicate directly with the board of directors or any
particular director should deliver any such communications in
writing to the Secretary of the Company. The Secretary will
compile any communications they receive from shareholders and
deliver them periodically to the board of directors or the specific
directors requested. The Secretary of the Company will not screen
or edit such communications, but will deliver them in the form
received from the shareholder.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
It
is the Company’s policy to conduct its affairs in accordance
with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the
jurisdictions in which it does business. The Company has adopted a
code of business conduct and ethics with policies and procedures
that apply to all associates (all employees are encompassed by this
term, including associates who are officers) and directors,
including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer,
controller, and persons performing similar functions.
The Company has made the code of business conduct
and ethics available on its website at www.sanuwave.com.
If any substantive amendments to the
code of business conduct and ethics are made or any waivers are
granted, including any implicit waiver, the Company will disclose
the nature of such amendment or waiver on its website or in a
report on Form 8-K.
No Family Relationships Among Directors and Officers
There
are no family relationships between any director or executive
officer of the Company and any other director or executive officer
of the Company.
Director Independence
Our
board of directors has determined that John F. Nemelka, Alan L.
Rubino, Dr. Maj-Britt Kaltoft and Dr. Thomas Price qualify as
independent directors based on the Nasdaq stock market definition
of “independent director.”
Limitation of Directors Liability and Indemnification
The
Nevada Revised Statutes authorize corporations to limit or
eliminate, subject to certain conditions, the personal liability of
directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of their fiduciary duties. Our certificate of
incorporation limits the liability of our directors to the fullest
extent permitted by Nevada law.
We have
director and officer liability insurance to cover liabilities our
directors and officers may incur in connection with their services
to us, including matters arising under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also
provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers who, by
reason of the fact that he or she is one of our officers or
directors, is involved in a legal proceeding of any
nature.
There
is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our
directors, officers, employees or agents in which indemnification
will be required or permitted. We are not aware of any threatened
litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for such
indemnification.
58
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive
officers, and persons who own more than 10% of our equity
securities which are registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership of our equity securities. Officers,
directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC
regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a)
reports they file.
Except
as set forth herein, based solely upon a review of the Forms 3, 4
and 5 (and amendments thereto) furnished to us for our fiscal year
ended December 31, 2019, we have determined that our directors,
officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all
applicable Section 16 filing requirements.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Years 2019 and
2018
The
following table provides certain information concerning
compensation earned for services rendered in all capacities by our
named executive officers during the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018.
|
Name and
Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock Awards
($)
|
Option Awards
($)
|
Non Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
|
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
|
All Other
Compensation ($)(3)
|
Total
($)
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
(e)
|
(f)
|
(g)
|
(h)
|
(i)
|
(j)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin A.
Richardson, II
|
2019
|
$361,619(1)
|
-
|
$6,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$31,288
|
$399,407
|
|
Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer
(principal
executive officer)
|
2018
|
$235,000(1)
|
-
|
$226,600(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$2,459
|
$464,059
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lisa E.
Sundstrom
|
2019
|
$200,000
|
-
|
$6,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$24,589
|
$231,089
|
|
Chief Financial
Officer (principal financial officer)
|
2018
|
$192,917
|
-
|
$154,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$15,960
|
$363,377
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shri P.
Parikh
|
2019
|
$311,000(4)
|
-
|
$6,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$30,960
|
$348,460
|
|
President,
Healthcare
|
2018
|
$182,496(4)
|
-
|
$206,000(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$10,702
|
$399,198
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
Stegano
|
2019
|
$231,295
|
-
|
$6,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$21,519
|
$259,314
|
|
Chief Operating
Officer
|
2018
|
$200,000
|
-
|
$154,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$15,142
|
$369,642
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iulian
Cioanta
|
2019
|
$200,000
|
-
|
$6,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$33,678
|
$240,178
|
|
Chief Science and
Technology Officer
|
2018
|
$200,000
|
-
|
$154,500(2)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$23,610
|
$378,110
|
(1) Mr.
Richardson has been the Company's Chairman of the Board since the
Company's inception. Since 2014, Mr. Richardson has also been our
Acting Chief Executive Officer. We continue to compensate Mr.
Richardson as a director as described in "Discussion of Director
Compensation" below, however we pay him an additional $10,000 per
month in recognition of his additional role as Acting Chief
Executive Officer. On November 30, 2018 Mr. Richardson was named
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(2)
This dollar amount reflects the full fair value of the grant at the
date of issuance and is recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes with respect to each fiscal year over the
vesting terms in accordance with ASC 718-10.
(3)
Includes health, dental, life and disability insurance premiums and
401(k) matching contributions.
(4) Mr.
Parikh was named President, Healthcare of the Company effective May
31, 2018.
Stock Incentive Plan
On October 24, 2006, SANUWAVE, Inc.’s board
of directors adopted the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan of SANUWAVE,
Inc. (the “2006 Plan”). On November 1, 2010, the
Company approved the Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. effective as of January 1, 2010
(previously defined as the “Stock Incentive Plan”). The
Stock Incentive Plan permits grants of awards to selected
employees, directors and advisors of the Company in the form of
restricted stock or options to purchase shares of common stock.
Options granted may include nonstatutory options as well as
qualified incentive stock options. The Stock Incentive Plan is
currently administered by the board of directors of the Company.
The Stock Incentive Plan gives broad powers to the board of
directors of the Company to administer and interpret the particular
form and conditions of each option. The stock options granted under
the Stock Incentive Plan are nonstatutory options which vest over a
period of up to three years and have a maximum ten year term. The
options are granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market
value of the common stock on the date of the grant which is
approved by the board of directors of the Company. The Stock
Incentive Plan had 35,000,000 shares of common stock reserved for
grant at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
59
The
terms of the options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan expire
as determined by individual option agreements (or on the tenth
anniversary of the grant date), unless terminated earlier, on the
first to occur of the following: (1) the date on which the
participant’s service with the Company is terminated by the
Company for cause; (2) 60 days after the participant’s death;
or (3) 60 days after the termination of the participant’s
service with the Company for any reason other than cause or the
participant’s death; provided that, if during any part of
such 60 day period the option is not exercisable solely because of
specified securities law restrictions, the option will not expire
until the earlier of the expiration date or until it has been
exercisable for an aggregate period of 60 days after the
termination of the participant’s service with the Company.
The options vest as provided for in each individual’s option
agreement and the exercise prices for the options are determined by
the board of directors at the time the option is granted; provided
that the exercise price shall in no event be less than the fair
market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the
grant date. In the event of any change in the common stock
underlying the options, by reason of any merger or exchange of
shares of common stock, the board of directors shall make such
substitution or adjustment as it deems to be equitable to (1) the
class and number of shares underlying such option, (2) the exercise
price applicable to such option, or (3) any other affected terms of
such option.
In
the event of a change of control, unless specifically modified by
an individual option agreement: (1) all options outstanding as of
the date of such change of control will become fully vested; and
(2) notwithstanding (1) above, in the event of a merger or share
exchange, the board of directors may, in its sole discretion,
determine that any or all options granted pursuant to the Stock
Incentive Plan will not vest on an accelerated basis if the board
of directors, the surviving corporation or the acquiring
corporation, as the case may be, has taken such action that in the
opinion of the board of directors is equitable or appropriate to
protect the rights and interests of the participants under the
Stock Incentive Plan.
On
December 31, 2019, there were 2,028,281 shares of common stock
available for grant under the Stock Incentive Plan. For the years
ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were 250,000 and 6,350,000
options, respectively, granted to the Company’s executive
officers under the Stock Incentive Plan.
60
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2019 Fiscal Year End
The
following table provides certain information concerning the
outstanding equity awards for each named executive officer as of
December 31, 2019.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
Stock
Awards
|
|||||||
|
Name
|
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/ Warrants (#)
Exercisable
|
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/ Warrants (#)
Unexercisable
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned
Options (#)
|
Option/ Warrant
Exercise Price ($)
|
Option/ Warrant
Expiration Date
|
Number of Shares
or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)
|
Market Value of
Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That
Have Not Vested (#)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or
Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
(e)
|
(f)
|
(g)
|
(h)
|
(i)
|
(j)
|
|
Kevin A.
Richardson, II
|
115,000(1)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.35
|
02/21/2023
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Chairman of the
Board and
|
452,381(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Chief Executive
Officer
|
297,619(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.06
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
(principal
executive officer)
|
700,000(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.04
|
6/16/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
594,300(5)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.18
|
11/9/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
900,000(6)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
6/14/2027
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
1,100,000(7)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.21
|
9/20/2028
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
50,000(9)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.15
|
8/26/2029
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Lisa
Sundstrom
|
65,000(1)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.35
|
02/21/2023
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Chief Finanical
Officer
|
25,000(2)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.55
|
5/7/2024
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
(principal
financial officer)
|
301,587(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
198,413(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.06
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
500,000(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.04
|
6/16/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
424,500(5)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.18
|
11/9/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
600,000(6)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
6/14/2027
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
750,000(7)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.21
|
9/20/2028
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
50,000(9)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.15
|
8/26/2029
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Shri
Parikh
|
2,000,000(8)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.42
|
5/31/2028
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
President,
Healthcare
|
1,000,000(7)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.21
|
9/20/2028
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
50,000(9)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.15
|
8/26/2029
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Peter
Stegano
|
333,644(1)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.35
|
02/21/2023
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Chief Operating
Officer
|
50,000(2)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.55
|
5/7/2024
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
301,587(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
198,413(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.06
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
500,000(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.04
|
6/16/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
424,500(5)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.18
|
11/9/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
600,000(6)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
6/14/2027
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
750,000(7)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.21
|
9/20/2028
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
50,000(9)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.15
|
8/26/2029
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Iulian
Cioanta
|
296,241(1)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.35
|
02/21/2023
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Chief Science and
Technology Officer
|
50,000(2)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.55
|
5/7/2024
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
301,587(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
198,413(3)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.06
|
10/1/2025
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
500,000(4)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.04
|
6/16/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
424,500(5)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.18
|
11/9/2026
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
600,000(6)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.11
|
6/14/2027
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
750,000(7)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.21
|
9/20/2028
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
50,000(9)
|
-
|
-
|
$0.15
|
8/26/2029
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1) On
February 21, 2013, the Company, by mutual agreement with all active
employees and directors of the Company, cancelled options granted
to the active employees and directors in the year ended December
31, 2011 and prior. In exchange for these
options, the active
employees and directors received new options to purchase shares of
common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share. The Company
cancelled all options which were previously granted to Mr.
Richardson, Ms. Sundstrom,
Mr.
Stegagno and Dr. Cioanta. The Company granted Mr. Richardson
115,000 options, Ms. Sundstrom 65,000 options, Mr. Stegagno 333,644
options and Dr. Cioanta 296,241 options on February 21, 2013 which
vests one-third at grant date,
one-third on
February 21, 2014 and one-third on February 21, 2015.
(2) The
Company granted Ms. Sundstrom 25,000 options, Mr. Stegagno 50,000
options and Dr. Cioanta 50,000 options on May 7, 2014 which vests
one-third at grant date, one-third on May 7, 2015 and one-third on
May 7, 2016.
(3) The
Company granted Mr. Richardson 750,000 options, Ms. Sundstrom
500,000 options, Mr. Stegagno 500,000 options and Dr. Cioanta
500,000 options on October 1, 2015 which vests at grant
date.
(4) The
Company granted Mr. Richardson 700,000 options, Ms. Sundstrom
500,000 options, Mr. Stegagno 500,000 options and Dr. Cioanta
500,000 options on June 16, 2016 which vests at grant
date.
(5) The
Company granted Mr. Richardson 594,300 options, Ms. Sundstrom
424,500 options, Mr. Stegagno 424,500 options and Dr. Cioanta
424,500 options on November 9, 2016 which vests at grant
date.
(6) The
Company granted Mr. Richardson 900,000 options, Ms. Sundstrom
600,000 options, Mr. Stegagno 600,000 options and Dr. Cioanta
600,000 options on June 15, 2017 which vests at grant
date.
(7) The
Company granted Mr. Richardson 1,100,000 options, Ms. Sundstrom
750,000 options, Mr. Parikh 1,000,000 options, Mr. Stegagno 750,000
options and Dr. Cioanta 750,000 options on September 20, 2018 which
vests at grant date.
(8) The
Company granted Mr. Parikh 2,000,000 options on May 31, 2018 which
vests at grant date.
(9) The
Company granted 50,000 options each to Mr. Richardson, Ms.
Sundstrom, Mr. Parikh, Mr. Stegagno and Dr. Cioanta on August 26,
2019 which vests at grant date.
61
Director Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2019
The
following table provides certain information concerning
compensation for each director during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2019.
|
Name
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($)
|
Stock Awards
($)
|
Option Awards
($)
|
Non Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
|
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
|
All Other
Compensation ($)
|
Total
($)
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
(e)
|
(f)
|
(g)
|
(h)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin A.
Richardson, II (1)
|
$40,000
|
-
|
$-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$40,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John F.
Nemelka
|
$40,000
|
-
|
$6,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$46,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alan L.
Rubino
|
$40,000
|
-
|
$6,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$46,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Michael
Stolarski
|
$40,000
|
-
|
$6,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$46,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maj-Britt
Kaltoft
|
$40,000
|
-
|
$6,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
$46,500
|
(1) Mr.
Richardson has been the Company's Chairman of the Board since the
Company's inception. Since 2014, Mr. Richardson has also been our
Acting Chief Executive Officer. We continue to compensate Mr.
Richardson as a director as described in "Discussion of Director
Compensation" below, however we pay him an additional $10,000 per
month in recognition of his additional role as Acting Chief
Executive Officer. On November 30, 2018 Mr. Richardson was named
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
62
Discussion of Director Compensation
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company began to
compensate its directors at an annual rate of $40,000 each.
On August 26, 2019, the Company issued an option to purchase 50,000
shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.15 per share to
employee director Kevin A. Richardson II and to non-employee
directors John F. Nemelka, Alan L. Rubino, A. Michael Stolarski and
Maj-Britt Kaltoft. On September 20, 2018, the Company issued an
option to purchase 1,100,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock at $0.21 per share to non-employee director Kevin A.
Richardson II and the Company issued options to purchase 350,000
shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.21 per share to
non-employee directors John F. Nemelka, Alan L. Rubino, A. Michael
Stolarski and Maj-Britt Kaltoft. On June 15, 2017, the Company
issued an option to purchase 900,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock at $0.11 per share to non-employee director Kevin A.
Richardson II and the Company issued options to purchase 300,000
shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.11 per share to
non-employee directors John F. Nemelka, Alan L. Rubino, A. Michael
Stolarski and Maj-Britt Kaltoft. On
November 9, 2016, the Company issued an option to purchase 594,300
shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.18 per share to
director Kevin A. Richardson, II and the Company issued options to
purchase 169,800 shares of the Company’s common stock at
$0.18 per share to directors John F. Nemelka, Alan L. Rubino and A.
Michael Stolarski. On June 16, 2016, the Company issued an option
to purchase 700,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at
$0.04 per share to director Kevin A. Richardson, II and the Company
issued options to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock at $0.04 per share to directors John F. Nemelka, Alan
L. Rubino and A. Michael Stolarski. On October 1, 2015, the Company
issued an option to purchase 452,381 shares of the Company’s
common stock at $0.11 per share and an option to purchase 297,619
shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.50 per share to
director Kevin A. Richardson, II and the Company issued options to
purchase 150,795 shares of the Company’s common stock at
$0.11 per share and options to purchase 99,205 shares of the
Company’s common stock at $0.50 per share to directors John
F. Nemelka and Alan L. Rubino. The options above issued at $0.50
per share were re-priced to $0.06 per share in March 2016 as the
result of the public offering. On September 3, 2013, the Company
issued an option to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock at $0.65 per share to director Alan L. Rubino.
On February 21, 2013, the Company, by mutual agreement with all the
active employees and directors of the Company, cancelled options
granted to the active employees and directors in the year ended
December 31, 2011 and prior. In exchange for these options, the
active employees and directors received new options to purchase
shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share.
Kevin A. Richardson, II, and John F. Nemelka, each cancelled
options to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company’s Common
Stock and were each issued options to purchase 115,000 shares of
the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per
share.
The
following are the aggregate number of option awards outstanding
that have been granted to each of our non-employee directors as of
December 31, 2019: Kevin A. Richardson, II – 4,209,300,
John F. Nemelka – 1,434,800, Alan L. Rubino –
1,419,800, A. Michael Stolarski – 1,069,800 and Maj-Britt
Kaltoft – 700,000.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The
following table sets forth certain information, as of March 25,
2020, with respect to the beneficial ownership of the
Company’s outstanding common stock by (i) any holder of more
than five percent, (ii) each of the Company’s named executive
officers and directors, and (iii) the Company’s directors and
executive officers as a group.
63
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
Percent
of
|
|
|
Beneficially
|
Shares
|
|
Name of
Beneficial Owner (1)
|
Owned
|
Outstanding
(2)
|
|
A. Michael
Stolarski (3)
|
18,081,290
|
6.1%
|
|
Kevin A. Richardson
II (4)
|
13,545,993
|
4.6%
|
|
Peter Stegagno
(5)
|
3,968,007
|
1.3%
|
|
Iulian Cioanta
(6)
|
3,186,146
|
1.1%
|
|
Lisa E. Sundstrom
(7)
|
2,914,500
|
1.0%
|
|
John F. Nemelka
(8)
|
1,446,055
|
0.5%
|
|
Alan Rubino
(9)
|
1,419,800
|
0.5%
|
| Maj-Britt Kaltoft (10) |
700,000
|
0.2%
|
|
Thomas Price
(11)
|
200,000
|
0.1%
|
|
All directors and
executive officers as a group (9 persons)
|
45,461,791
|
15.4%
|
|
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, each beneficial owner has the same address
as us.
|
|
(2) Applicable percentage ownership is based on
297,340,200shares of common stock outstanding as of March 25,
2020 ,
“Beneficial ownership” includes shares for which an
individual, directly or indirectly, has or shares voting or
investment power, or both, and also includes options that are
exercisable within 60 days of March 25, 2020. Unless
otherwise indicated, all of the listed persons have sole voting and
investment power over the shares listed opposite their names.
Beneficial ownership as reported in the above table has been
determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange
Act.
|
|
(3) Includes options to purchase up to 1,069,800 shares of common
stock.
|
|
(4) Includes options to purchase up to 4,209,300 shares of common
stock. In addition, this amount includes 1,324,723 shares of common
stock owned directly by Prides Capital Fund I, L.P. Prides Capital
Partners LLC is the general partner of Prides Capital Fund I, L.P.
and Mr. Richardson is the controlling shareholder of Prides Capital
Partners LLC; therefore, under certain provisions of the Exchange
Act, he may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such
securities. Mr. Richardson has also been deputized by Prides
Capital Partners LLC to serve on the board of directors of the
Company. Mr. Richardson disclaims beneficial ownership of all such
securities except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest
(within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange Act)
therein.
|
|
(5) Consists of options to purchase up to 3,208,144 shares of
common stock.
|
|
(6) Consists of options to purchase up to 3,170,741 shares of
common stock.
|
|
(7) Consists of options to purchase up to 2,914,500 shares of
common stock.
|
|
(8) Includes options to purchase up to 1,434,800 shares of common
stock.
|
|
(9) Includes options to purchase up to 1,419,800 shares of common
stock.
|
|
(10) Includes options to purchase up to 700,000 shares of common
stock.
|
|
(11) Includes options to purchase up to 200,000 shares of common
stock.
|
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation
Plans
Information on
securities authorized for issuance under the Company's equity
compensation plans can be found in Item 5 under the same caption in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Related Party Transactions
Other
than as described below, since January 1, 2018, there have been no
transactions with related persons required to be disclosed in this
report.
On
February 13, 2018, the Company entered into an Agreement for
Purchase and Sale, Limited Exclusive Distribution and Royalties,
and Servicing and Repairs with Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc.,
a Georgia Corporation (“PSWC”), and Premier Shockwave,
Inc., a Georgia Corporation (“PS”). Each of PS and PSWC
is owned by A. Michael Stolarski, a member of the Company’s
board of directors and an existing shareholder of the Company. The
agreement provides for the purchase by PSWC and PS of dermaPACE
System and related equipment sold by the Company and includes a
minimum purchase of 100 units over 3 years. The agreement grants
PSWC and PS limited but exclusive distribution rights to provide
dermaPACE Systems to certain governmental healthcare facilities in
exchange for the payment of certain royalties to the Company. Under
the agreement, the Company is responsible for the servicing and
repairs of such dermaPACE Systems and equipment. The agreement also
contains provisions whereby in the event of a change of control of
the Company (as defined in the agreement), the stockholders of PSWC
have the right and option to cause the Company to purchase all of
the stock of PSWC, and whereby the Company has the right and option
to purchase all issued and outstanding shares of PSWC, in each case
based upon certain defined purchase price provisions and other
terms. The agreement also contains certain transfer restrictions on
the stock of PSWC.
64
On
December 29, 2017, the Company entered into a line of credit
agreement with A. Michael Stolarski, a member of the
Company’s board of
directors and an existing shareholder of the Company. On November
12, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to the line of
credit agreement. The line of credit was increased to $1,000,000
with an annualized interest rate of 6%. The line of credit may be
called for payment upon demand of the holder. The outstanding
balance as of December 31, 2019 with accrued interest was
$212,388.
On
March 27, 2017, the Company began offering subscriptions for 10%
convertible promissory notes to selected accredited investors. A.
Michael Stolarski, a member of the Company’s board of directors and an existing
shareholder of the Company, was a purchaser in the 10% Convertible
Promissory Notes in the amount of $330,000. A. Michael Stolarski
and Kevin A. Richardson II, both members of the Company’s board of directors and existing
shareholders of the Company, had subscribed $130,000 and $140,000,
respectively, to the Company as advances from related parties to be
used to purchase 10% Convertible Promissory Notes. The 10%
Convertible Promissory Notes associated with these subscriptions
were issued in January 2018.
Director Independence
Our
board of directors has determined that John F. Nemelka, Alan L.
Rubino, Dr. Maj-Britt Kaltoft and Dr. Thomas Price qualify as
independent directors based on the Nasdaq stock market definition
of “independent director.” Our board of directors has
determined that our other two directors, Kevin A. Richardson II and
A. Michael Stolarski, do not qualify as independent directors based
on the Nasdaq stock market definition of “independent
director.” There are no family relationships among any of the
directors or executive officers of the Company.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
following table summarizes the fees that we have paid or accrued
for audit and other services provided by our prior principal
independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP for the
years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (Marcum LLP
became our principal accountant on October 26, 2018, replacing
Cherry Bekaert, LLP):
|
Fee
Category
|
2019
|
2018
|
|
Audit
fees
|
$184,000
|
$286,000
|
|
Tax
fees
|
18,000
|
18,000
|
|
Audit
related fees
|
-
|
-
|
|
All
other fees
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
fees
|
$202,000
|
$104,000
|
For
purposes of the preceding table:
●
Audit fees consist of fees for the annual audit of our
consolidated financial statements, the review of the interim
financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form
10-Q, and other professional services provided in connection with
statutory and regulatory filings and consents related to capital
markets transactions and engagements for those fiscal
years.
●
Tax fees consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice and
tax planning services for those fiscal years.
●
Audit related fees
consist of fees for assurance and
related services that are reasonably related to the performance of
the audit or review.
●
All other fees
consist of fees for all other products
and services.
The
board of directors must pre-approve all audits and permitted
non-audit services to be provided by our principal independent
registered public accounting firm unless an exception to such
pre-approval exists under the Exchange Act or the rules of the SEC.
Each year, the board of directors approves the retention of the
independent auditor to audit our consolidated financial statements,
including the associated fee. At this time, the board of directors
evaluates other known potential engagements of the independent
auditor, including the scope of audit-related services, tax
services and other services proposed to be performed and the
proposed fees, and approves or rejects each service, taking into
account whether the services are permissible under applicable law
and the possible impact of each non-audit service on the
independent auditor’s independence from
management.
Audit Committee Report
The
audit committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting
processes of the Company on behalf of the board of directors.
Management has primary responsibility for the Company’s
financial statements, financial reporting process and internal
controls over financial reporting. The independent auditors are
responsible for performing an independent audit of the
Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). The audit committee's responsibility is to select
the independent auditors and monitor and oversee the accounting and
financial reporting processes of the Company, including the
Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, and the
audits of the consolidated financial statements of the
Company.
65
During
the course of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, the audit
committee met and held discussions with management and the
independent auditors. In the discussions related to the
Company’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal year
2019, management represented to the audit committee that such
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with
United States generally accepted accounting principles. The audit
committee reviewed and discussed with management and the
independent auditors the audited consolidated financial statements
for fiscal year 2019.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the audit
committee discussed with the independent auditors the matters that
are required to be discussed by the PCAOB and
SEC.
In addition, the audit committee received from the independent
auditors the written disclosures and letter required by applicable
requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
regarding the independent auditor's communications with the audit
committee concerning independence, and the audit committee
discussed with the independent auditors that firm’s
independence. In connection with this discussion, the audit
committee also considered whether the provision of services by the
independent auditors not related to the audit of the
Company’s financial statements for fiscal year 2019 were
compatible with maintaining the independent auditors’
independence. The audit committee’s policy requires that the
audit committee approve any audit or permitted non-audit service
proposed to be performed by its independent auditors in advance of
the performance of such service.
Based
upon the audit committee’s discussions with management and
the independent auditors and the audit committee's review of the
representations of management and the written disclosures and
letter of the independent auditors provided to the audit committee,
the audit committee recommended to the board of directors that the
audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2019 be included in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K, for filing with the SEC.
|
|
|
The Audit Committee
|
|
|
|
John
F. Nemelka (Chair)
|
|
Alan
Rubino
|
|
Thomas
Price
|
|
|
|
March 26, 2020
|
|
|
66
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
1. All financial statements
The
following financial statements are included in this Annual Report
on Form 10-K in Item 8 of Part II:
|
|
|
Page
|
||
|
Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
F-1
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
F-3
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
F-4
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
F-5
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
F-6
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
F-7
|
|||
2. Financial statement schedules
3. Exhibits
67
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
Agreement
and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 25, 2009, by and between
Rub Music Enterprises, Inc., RME Delaware Merger Sub, Inc. and
SANUWAVE, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on September 30, 2009).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles
of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-SB filed
with the SEC on December 18, 2007).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix A to the Definitive Schedule 14C filed with
the SEC on October 16, 2009).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by
reference to Appendix A to the Definitive Schedule 14C filed with
the SEC on April 16, 2012).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bylaws
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-SB filed with the SEC on
December 18, 2007).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate
of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company dated March 14, 2014
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, dated September 8,
2015 (Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K filed with the SEC
on March 30, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate
of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company dated January 12, 2016
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
January 19, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certificate
of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C
Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company dated January 31, 2020
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
February 6, 2020).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class A Warrant Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on September 30, 2009).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class B Warrant Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on September 30, 2009).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class D Warrant Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on October 14, 2010).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class E Warrant Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on April 7, 2011).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Series A Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Series B Warrant (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
18% Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note issued by the
Company to select accredited investors (Incorporated by reference
to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2013).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Convertible Promissory Note between the Company and accredited
investors party thereto (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to the Convertible Note Agreement between the Company and
accredited investors party thereto (Incorporated by reference to
the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class K
Warrant Agreement by and between the Company and HealthTronics,
Inc., dated June 15, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to the Form
8-K filed with the SEC on June 18, 2015).
|
68
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Class K Warrant Agreement by and between the Company and
HealthTronics, Inc., dated June 28, 2016 (Incorporated by reference
to the Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 15,
2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class L Warrant Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by
reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 17,
2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second
Form of Class L Warrant Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated
by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 24,
2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement dated January 13, 2016 among the Company and the
investors listed therein (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on January 19, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class K
Warrant Agreement dated as of August 3, 2017, between the Company
and HealthTronics, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on August 4, 2017).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class N Warrant. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on November 9, 2017).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Letter
to Series A Warrantholders, Class N Warrantholders and Class L
Warrantholders, dated January 29, 2019. (Incorporated by reference
to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 25, 2019).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Class O Warrant. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on March 15, 2019).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Letter
to Class N Warrantholders and Class O Warrantholders, dated March
14, 2019. (Incorporated by Reference to Form 8-K filed with the SEC
on March 15, 2019).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Letter
to Class N Warrant Holders, dated June 5, 2019 (incorporated by
reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
with the SEC on June 7, 2019).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Letter
to Class O Warrant Holders, dated June 5, 2019 (incorporated by
reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
with the SEC on June 7, 2019).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.22
|
|
Description
of Registrant's Common Stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.1∞
|
|
Amended
and Restated 2006 Stock Option Incentive Plan of SANUWAVE Health,
Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
November 3, 2010).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Securities Purchase Agreement, by and among the Company and the
accredited investors party thereto, dated March 17, 2014
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Registration Rights Agreement, by and among the Company and the
holders party thereto, dated March 17, 2014 (Incorporated by
reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 18,
2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Subscription Agreement for the 18% Convertible Promissory Notes
between the Company and the accredited investors a party thereto
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
March 18, 2014).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amendment
to certain Promissory Notes that were dated August 1, 2005, by and
among the Company, SANUWAVE, Inc. and HealthTronics, Inc., dated
June 15, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on June 18, 2015.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
Agreement, by and between the Company and HealthTronics, Inc.,
dated June 15, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on June 18, 2015).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange
Agreement dated January 13, 2016 among the Company and the
investors listed therein (Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on January 19, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escrow
Deposit Agreement dated January 25, 2016 among the Company, Newport
Coast Securities, Inc. and Signature Bank (Incorporated by
reference to the Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on February 3,
2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second
Amendment to Certain Promissory Notes entered into as of June 28,
2016 by and among the Company, SANUWAVE, Inc. and HealthTronics,
Inc. (Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-Q filed with the SEC
on August 15, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Securities Purchase Agreement, by and among the Company and the
accredited investors a party thereto, dated March 11, 2016
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
March 17, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
Form of
Securities Purchase Agreement, by and between the Company and the
accredited investors a party thereto, dated August 24, 2016
(Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on J
August 25, 2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
Registration Rights Agreement, by and between the Company and the
holders a party thereto, dated August 24, 2016 (Incorporated by
reference to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 25,
2016).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Third
Amendment to promissory notes entered into as of August 3, 2017 by
and among the Company, SANUWAVE, Inc. and HealthTronics, Inc.
(Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August
4, 2017).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Binding
Term Sheet for Joint Venture Agreement between the Company and
MundiMed Distribuidora Hospitalar LTDA effective as of September
25, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q filed with the SEC
on November 15, 2017).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Form of
10% Convertible Promissory Note, by and among the Company and the
accredited investors a party thereto. (Incorporated by reference to
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017).
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Form of
Registration Rights Agreement, by and among the Company and the
accredited investors a party thereto (Incorporated by reference to
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017).
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Agreement
for Purchase and Sale, Limited Exclusive Distribution and
Royalties, and Servicing and Repairs of dermaPACE Systems and
Equipment among the Company, and Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc.
and Premier Shockwave, Inc. dated as of February 13, 2018.
(Incorporated by reference to Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March
29, 2018).
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Agreement,
dated June 14, 2018, by and among the Company and Johnfk Medical
Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
June 29, 2018).
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|
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|
Joint
Venture Agreement, dated September 21, 2018, by and among the
Company, Johnfk Medical Inc. and Holistic Health Institute Pte.
Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
September 27, 2018).
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|
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Master
Equipment Lease, dated January 26, 2018, by and among the Company
and NFS Leasing, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on February 15, 2018).
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|
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Offer
Letter, dated as of November 30, 2018, by and between SANUWAVE
Health, Inc. and Kevin Richardson. (Incorporated by reference to
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 4, 2018).
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|
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Offer
Letter, dated as of April 15, 2018, by and between SANUWAVE Health,
Inc,, and Shri Parikh. (Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on June 7, 2018).
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|
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Deed of
Termination of Joint Venture Agreement, dated June 4, 2019, by and
among the Company, Johnfk Medical Inc. and Holistic Wellness
Alliance Pte. Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on
June 17, 2019).
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10.24
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|
Common
Stock Purchase Agreement, by and among the Company and the
accredited investors party thereto, dated December 11, 2019
(incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 27,
2019).
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10.25
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, by and among the Company and the accredited
investors party thereto, dated December 11, 2019 (incorporated by
reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
with the SEC on December 27, 2019).
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|
|
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10.26*b
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|
Joint
Venture Agreement, dated December 13, 2019, by and among the
Company, Universus Global Advisors LLC, Versani Health Consulting
Consultoria Em Gestao De Negocios Eireli, and the IDIC Group as set
forth therein.
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|
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|
Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (Incorporated
by reference to the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30,
2016).
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21.1*
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List of
subsidiaries
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23.1*
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|
Consent
of Marcum LLP, independent registered public
accountants.
|
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24.1*
|
|
Power
of Attorney (included on signature page).
|
|
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31.1*
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|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive
Officer.
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|
31.2*
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|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial
Officer.
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32.1*
|
|
Section
1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.
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70
|
32.2*
|
|
Section
1350 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.
|
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101.INS**
|
|
XBRL
Instance
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.SCH**
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.CAL**
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.DEF**
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.LAB**
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Labels
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.PRE**
|
|
XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation
|
______________________________________________________________
∞
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or
arrangement.
*
Filed herewith
#
Confidential treatment has been requested as to certain portions of
this exhibit, which portions have been omitted and
submitted
separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
b
Confidential portions of this exhibit
have been omitted as permitted by applicable
regulations.
** XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a
registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or
12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed
for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act and otherwise is not
subject to liability under these sections.
Item 16. Form 10-K
Summary
The
Company has elected not to include summary
information.
71
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
|
|
SANUWAVE
HEALTH, INC.
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Dated: March 30,
2020
|
By:
|
/s/ Kevin A.
Richardson, II
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|
Name: Kevin A.
Richardson, II
|
|
|
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|
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all persons by these presents, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Kevin A.
Richardson, II and Lisa E. Sundstrom, and each of them, as such
person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and
in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this annual report on
Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be
done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes
as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them or their or such person’s substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated:
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Signatures
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Title
|
|
Date
|
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|
By: /s/ Kevin A. Richardson,
II
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
Directors
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|
March
30, 2020
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|
Name:
Kevin A. Richardson, II
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|
(principal
executive officer)
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|
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By: /s/ Lisa E.
Sundstrom
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|
Chief Financial Officer
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|
March
30, 2020
|
|
Name:
Lisa E. Sundstrom
|
|
(principal
financial and accounting officer)
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By: /s/ John F.
Nemelka
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Director
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|
March
30, 2020
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|
Name: John F. Nemelka
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By: /s/ Alan L.
Rubino
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Director
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March
30, 2020
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|
Name: Alan L. Rubino
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By: /s/ A.
Michael Stolarski
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Director
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March
30, 2020
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|
Name: A. Michael Stolarski
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By: /s/
Maj-Britt Kaltoft
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Director
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March
30, 2020
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Name: Maj-Britt Kaltoft
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By: /s/ Thomas
Price
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Director
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March
30, 2020
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|
Name: Thomas Price
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72
Exhibit
4.22
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
The
following is a brief description of the common stock, $0.001 par
value per share (the “Common Stock”), of SANUWAVE
Health, Inc. (the “Company”), which is the only
security of the Company registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Description of Common Stock
General
The
following summary of the material features of our Common Stock and
certain provisions of Nevada law do not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of
our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (“Articles of
Incorporation”), our Bylaws (“Bylaws”), the
Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) and other applicable
law. Copies of our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws have
been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.4 respectively, to
our Annual Report on Form 10-K. All issued and outstanding shares
of Common Stock are, and the Common Stock reserved for issuance
upon exercise of our stock options and warrants will be, when
issued, fully-paid and non-assessable. Our Common Stock is
currently quoted in the over-the-counter market on the OTCQB under
the symbol “SNWV”.
Common Stock
Dividend rights
Subject
to provisions of the NRS and to any future rights which may be
granted to the holders of any series of our preferred stock,
holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such
dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out
of legally available funds. However, the current policy of our
board of directors is to retain earnings, if any, for the operation
and expansion of the Company.
Voting rights
Each
holder of shares of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote per
share on all matters submitted to a vote of our common
stockholders. Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not
allowed, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares can elect all the directors if they choose to do
so and, in such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not
be able to elect any directors. The affirmative vote of a plurality
of the shares of Common Stock voted at a stockholders meeting where
a quorum is present is required to elect directors and to take
other corporate actions. Our Articles of Incorporation does not
provide for a classified Board of Directors; all directors of the
Company are elected annually.
Liquidation
Upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our Common
Stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets which are
legally available for distribution, after payment of or provision
for all liabilities and the liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred stock.
No preemptive or similar rights
The
holders of our Common Stock do not have any preemptive, conversion
or redemption rights by virtue of their ownership of the Common
Stock.
Limitation on Rights of Holders of Common Stock – Preferred
Stock
The
rights of holders of Common Stock may be materially limited or
qualified by the rights of holders of preferred shares that we may
issue in the future.
Our
Articles of Incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors,
without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of
up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Shares of our preferred
stock may be issued in one or more series, and our board of
directors is authorized to determine the designation and to fix the
number of shares of each series. Our board of directors is further
authorized to fix and determine the dividend rate, premium or
redemption rates, conversion rights, voting rights, preferences,
privileges, restrictions and other variations granted to or imposed
upon any wholly unissued series of our preferred stock. The Company
may amend from time to time our Articles of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of preferred
stock.
Prior
to the issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock, our board
of directors will adopt resolutions and file a certificate of
designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. The
certificate of designation will fix for each series the designation
and number of shares and the rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions of the shares including, but not limited to, the
following:
●
voting
rights, if any, of the preferred stock;
●
any
rights and terms of redemption;
●
the
dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of
calculation applicable to the preferred stock;
●
whether
dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative, and if cumulative, the
date from which dividends on the preferred stock will
accumulate;
●
the
relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to
dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of our affairs;
●
the
terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock
will be convertible into Common Stock, another series of preferred
stock, or any other class of securities being registered hereby,
including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and
conversion period;
●
the
provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred
stock;
●
the
provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred
stock;
●
liquidation
preferences;
●
any
limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred
stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of
preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
●
any
other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or
restrictions of the preferred stock.
Certain Anti-Takeover Matters
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions
Our
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain certain provisions
that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and
stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the
policies formulated by our board of directors and to discourage an
unsolicited takeover of our company if our board of directors
determines that such a takeover is not in the best interests of our
company and stockholders. However, these provisions could have the
effect of discouraging certain attempts to acquire us or remove
incumbent management even if some or a majority of our stockholders
deemed such an attempt to be in their best interests, including
those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price
for the shares of our Common Stock held by
stockholders.
Our
Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with regard to
stockholder proposals. We may reject a stockholder proposal that is
not made in accordance with such procedures. In addition, our
Bylaws provide that:
●
stockholders may
not cause a special meeting of stockholders to be
called;
●
stockholders may
not vote by written consent;
●
vacancies in the
board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a
majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
and
●
our
bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular meeting
of the stockholders (or at any special meeting thereof duly called
for such purpose) by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66
2/3% of our entire capital stock that is issued, outstanding and
entitled to vote.
Nevada Takeover Statutes
Nevada’s
Combination with Interested Stockholders Statute and Control Share
Acquisition Statute may both have the effect of delaying or making
it more difficult to effect a change in control of our
company.
The
Combination with Interested Stockholders Statute prevents an
“interested stockholder” and an applicable Nevada
corporation from entering into a “combination,” unless
certain conditions are met. A “combination” means any
merger or consolidation with an “interested
stockholder” or affiliate or associate of an
“interested stockholder,” or any sale, lease, exchange,
mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, in one transaction
or a series of transactions with an “interested
stockholder” or affiliate or associate of an
“interested stockholder”:
●
having
an aggregate market value equal to more than 5% of the aggregate
market value of the assets of the corporation;
●
having
an aggregate market value equal to more than 5% of the aggregate
market value of all of the outstanding voting shares of the
corporation; or
●
representing
more than 10% of the earning power or net income, determined on a
consolidated basis, of the corporation.
An
“interested stockholder” means (i) the beneficial
owner of 10% or more of the voting shares of the corporation or
(ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation who at any
time within 2 years immediately prior to the date in question was
the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting shares of the
corporation. A corporation may not engage in a
“combination” within two years after the interested
stockholder acquired his shares unless the combination meets all of
the requirements of the articles of incorporation of the
corporation and (x) the combination or the purchase of shares made
by the interested stockholder was approved by the board of
directors before the interested stockholder acquired such shares or
(y) the combination is approved by the board of directors and, at
or after that time, the combination is approved at an annual or
special meeting of the stockholders of the corporation representing
at least 60% of the outstanding voting power of the corporation not
beneficially owned by interested stockholders or affiliates or
associates thereof. If such approval is not obtained, then after
the expiration of the two-year period, the business combination may
be consummated if the combination meets all of the requirements of
the corporation’s articles of incorporation and (a) the
combination or the transaction in which the person became an
interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors
before the person became an interested stockholder, (b) if it
is approved at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders of
the corporation by a majority of the voting power held by
disinterested stockholders, or (c) if the consideration to be
paid by the interested stockholder for disinterested shares of
common and preferred stock, as applicable, is at least equal to the
highest of:
●
The
highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder, at a
time when the interested stockholder was the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of 5 percent or more of the outstanding
voting shares of the corporation, for any common shares of the same
class or series acquired by the interested stockholder within 2
years immediately before the date of announcement with respect to
the combination or within 2 years immediately before, or in, the
transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder,
whichever is higher, plus, in either case, interest compounded
annually from the earliest date on which the highest price per
share was paid through the date of consummation at the rate for
one-year obligations of the United States Treasury in effect on
that earliest date, less the aggregate amount of any dividends paid
in cash and the market value of any dividends paid other than in
cash, per common share since that earliest date.
●
The
market value per common share on the date of announcement with
respect to the combination or on the date that the person first
became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, plus
interest compounded annually from that date through the date of
consummation at the rate for one-year obligations of the United
States Treasury in effect on that date, less the aggregate amount
of any dividends paid in cash and the market value of any dividends
paid other than in cash, per common share since that
date.
Nevada’s
Control Share Acquisition Statute prohibits an acquiror, under
certain circumstances, from voting shares of a target
corporation’s stock after crossing certain threshold
ownership percentages, unless the acquiror obtains the approval of
the target corporation’s disinterested stockholders. The
Control Share Acquisition Statute specifies three thresholds:
(i) one-fifth or more but less than one-third,
(ii) one-third or more but less than a majority, and
(iii) a majority or more, of the outstanding voting power in
the election of directors. Once an acquiror crosses one of the
above thresholds, those shares in the immediate offer or
acquisition and those shares acquired within 90 days become Control
Shares (as defined in the statute) and those Control Shares are
deprived of the right to vote until disinterested stockholders
restore the right. The Control Share Acquisition Statute also
provides that in the event Control Shares are accorded full voting
rights and the acquiring person has acquired a majority or more of
all voting power, all other stockholders who do not vote in favor
of authorizing voting rights to the Control Shares are entitled to
demand payment for the fair value of their shares. Our board is
required to notify such stockholders within 10 days after the vote
of the stockholders that they have the right to receive the fair
value of their shares in accordance with statutory procedures
established generally for dissenter’s rights.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our
Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws provide for
indemnification of our directors, officers, employees and other
agents to the maximum extent permitted by Nevada law.
Exhibit 10.26
CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS EXHIBIT
BECAUSE IT IS BOTH (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) WOULD BE COMPETITIVELY
HARMFUL IF PUBLICLY DISCLOSED. SUCH PORTIONS ARE MARKED AS
INDICATED WITH BRACKETS (“[***]”) BELOW
JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
This
JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is
entered into on December, 13, 2019 (the “Effective
Date”), by and between (each a “Party” and
jointly the “Parties”):
(1)
SANUWAVE HEALTH, INC. a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada,
United States of America, with its headquarters at 3360 Martin Farm
Road, Suite 100, Suwanee, Georgia 30024, United States of America
(“Sanuwave”);
(2)
UNIVERSUS GLOBAL ADVISORS LLC, a limited
liability company organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, United States of America, with its headquarters
at 251 Little Falls Drive, New Castle, Delaware 19808, United
States of America (“Universus”);
(3)
VERSANI HEALTH CONSULTING CONSULTORIA EM
GESTÃO DE NEGÓCIOS EIRELI, a empresa individual de responsabilidade
limitada organized and existing under the laws of Brazil
having its principal place of business at Rua Francisco
Leitão, 177, Conj. 92, Pinheiros, Municipality of São
Paulo, State of São Paulo – 05.414- 020, Brazil,
enrolled with the Brazilian Taxpayer Secretariat under number CNPJ
31.025.914/0001-30 (“Versani”);
(4)
CURARUS LIMITED, a private limited
company organized and existing under the laws of England and Whales
having its principal place of business at Unit C, Harcourt Way,
Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1WP (“Curarus”);
(5)
DANIEL FELICIANO FERREIRA, Brazilian,
married, manager, resident and domiciled in the city of São
Paulo, State of São Paulo, at (“Daniel”);
(6)
FERNANDO DELMONTE MOREIRA, Brazilian,
married, physician, resident and domiciled in the city of Salvador,
State of Bahia, at (“Fernando”);
(7)
PAULO HENYAN YUE CESENA, Brazilian,
divorced, engineer, resident and domiciled in the city of São
Paulo, State of São Paulo, at (“Paulo”);
(8)
FABIO DELMONTE MOREIRA, Brazilian,
married, pharmacist, resident and domiciled in the city of Miami,
State of Florida, at (“Fabio”);
(9)
PARVINDER
PUNIA, a citizen of the Czech
Republic, regulatory affairs consultant, resident and domiciled in
the city of Ricany, at (“Parvinder”);
and
(10)
LAURA NAE, a citizen of the Czech
Republic, regulatory affairs consultant, resident and domiciled in
the city of Prague, at (“Laura” and,
together with Curarus, Daniel, Fernando, Paulo, Fabio and
Parvinder, the “IDIC
Group”).
WHEREAS,
(A)
Sanuwave develops
and commercializes high-energy, focused, shock wave technology used
in devices for the repair and regeneration of bones, muscles,
tendons and skin, and for the separation of solids and fluid in
non-medical systems;
(B)
Sanuwave has
developed and commercializes the dermaPACE device and wound kits
consisting of a standard ultrasound gel and a custom size sterile
sleeves used for the treatment of various acute and chronic wounds
using extracorporeal shockwave therapy technology (the
“Device”);
(C)
On November
6th, 2019, the IDIC Group
completed the payment to Sanuwave of the first installment of the
Partnership Fee in the total amount of USD $250,000.00 (two hundred
and fifty thousand U.S. Dollars);
(D)
Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parties agreed (i) to
form a joint venture in Brazil to manufacture, import, export, use,
offer for sale, and distribute the Device and related treatments on
an exclusive basis in Brazil, and (ii) to enter into this
Agreement, to further regulate their rights and obligations with
respect to the joint venture; and (iii) to incorporate the JV
Company, and execute the other Transaction Documents to govern the
operations and management of the JV Company;
(E)
Upon formation of
the JV Company, Sanuwave will own forty-five per cent (45%) of the
equity interests of the JV Company, the IDIC Group, through a
holding company to be formed, will collectively own forty-five per
cent (45%) of the equity interests of the JV Company and each of
Versani and Universus will own five per cent (5%) of the equity
interests of the JV Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree,
subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, as
follows:
SECTION
1
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
DEFINITIONS
1.1 For the purposes of
this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to them below:
Affiliate means any Person which
directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under
common Control with, another Person.
Agreement means this Agreement and its
Schedules and Exhibits.
Anti-Corruption Laws has the meaning set
forth in Section 9.2.
ANVISA means Agência Nacional de Vigilância
Sanitária, the National Health Surveillance Agency of
Brazil.
Applicable Law means any and all laws,
rules, statutes, decrees, regulations, ordinances or orders valid
and enforceable in the United Kingdom, Brazil and any other
jurisdiction in the proper exercise of its jurisdiction, as
applicable, including all applicable public, environmental and
competition laws and regulations; and any administrative decision,
judgment and other pronouncement enacted, issued, promulgated,
enforced or entered into by any Governmental
Authority.
Arbitral Tribunal has the meaning set
forth in Section 23.4.
Arbitration Chamber has the meaning set
forth in Section 23.2.
Board of Directors means the board of
directors of the Company.
Brazil means the Federative Republic of
Brazil.
Business means the manufacturing,
import, export, use, sale, and distribution of the Device and
related treatments on an exclusive basis within the
Brazil.
Business Day means a day on which
commercial banks are generally open for business in São
Paulo.
Business Plan means the annual operating
and financial plan of the JV Company, which shall be agreed between
Sanuwave and the members of the IDIC Group prior to the formation
of the JV Company.
Bylaws means the bylaws of the Company
to be enacted at the general meeting of incorporation of the JV
Company.
Change of Control has the meaning set
forth in Section 7.1.
Confidential Information has the meaning
set forth in Section 24.1.
Conflict has the meaning set forth in
Section 23.1.
Consenting Meeting of Representatives
has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.
Consenting Meeting of the Senior
Management has the meaning set forth in Section
10.3.
2
Control (including the terms
“Controls”, “Controlled by” and
“under common Control with”) means with respect to any
Person or group of Persons (the “Controlling Person”),
(a) the ability of the Controlling Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities of another Person (the
“Controlled Person”) or by contract or otherwise, to
directly or indirectly (i) elect a majority of the board of
directors or other similar governing or managing body of such
Controlled Person, or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Controlled Person, or (b) the
ownership rights that entitle the Controlling Person to have the
majority of the voted in such Controlled Person general
meetings.
Defense Costs has the meaning set forth
in Section 19.5(b).
Direct Claim has the meaning set forth
in Section 19.5(a).
Direct Transfer means, when used as a
noun, any direct transfer, assignment (including any fiduciary
assignment) conveyance, exchange, donation, gift, sale, merger, or
other disposition or attempted disposition of equity interests,
whether voluntary or involuntary; and when used as a verb and/or as
an adjective, shall have a meaning correlative with the
foregoing.
Director means a member of the Board of
Directors.
Drag-Along Conditions has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.4.2.
Drag-Along Transferor has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.4.1.
Drag-Along Notice has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.4.1.
Drag-Along Potential Buyer has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.4.1.
Drag-Along Right has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.4.1.
[***]
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
Encumbrance means any charge, pledge,
mortgage, encumbrance, option, deposit, usufruct, reservation of
title, preemptive right, preferential right, fiduciary transfer or
other third party rights affecting the property, asset or right in
question, or security interest of any kind, or promise, agreement
or obligation to provide any of the above-listed
items.
Effective Date has the meaning set forth
in the Preamble.
Fiscal Year means the period commencing
on January 1 and ending on December 31 each year.
Follow-on Offer Period has the meaning
set forth in Section 6.2.1.
Governmental Authority means any court,
whether tribunal or administrative, governmental or regulatory
body, agency, commission, division, department, autarchy,
organization, public body, State, municipality or other
governmental authority (including the Brazilian judicial,
legislative and executive branches) having jurisdiction over the
Parties and/or the matters which
are subject to this Agreement.
3
Gross Sales means the total amount of
sales recognized for a reporting period, prior to any deductions or
discounts.
IDIC Group has the meaning set forth in
the Preamble.
IDIC Group Change of Control Put Option
Affected Shares has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.1.
IDIC Group Change of Control Put Option
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.1.
IDIC Group Change of Control Put Option
Exercise Notice has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.1.
[***]
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
IDIC Group Indemnified Parties has the
meaning set forth in Section 19.2.
IDIC Group Nominee Shareholder has the
meaning set forth in Section 25
Indemnified Parties has the meaning set
forth in Section 19.2.
Indemnifying Party has the meaning set
forth in Section 19.4.
Initial Closing has the meaning set
forth in Section 16.1.
Initial Closing Conditions has the
meaning set forth in Section 15.1.
Initial Closing Date has the meaning set
forth in Section 16.1.
Initial Closing Long Stop Date means
(including) December 17, 2019.
Initial Offer Period has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
Indirect Transfer means, when used as a
noun, (a) with respect to any Party (other than Sanuwave) (a
“Subject Person”): (i) any corporate recapitalization,
reorganization, amalgamation or change of ownership of any of the
issued and outstanding securities or other ownership of such
Subject Person; (ii) any transfer, assignment (including any
fiduciary assignment), conveyance, exchange, donation, gift, sale,
merger or other transaction or disposition or attempted disposition
or abandonment of the equity interest of a Subject Person, whether
voluntary or involuntary; (iii) the issuance of any treasury or
other securities or ownership interests of such Subject Person to
any Person, in each case, where as a result of such action or
transaction described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, any of the
issued and outstanding securities or other ownership interests of
such Subject Person would be owned, directly or indirectly, by a
person other than the Person or Persons or beneficial owners or
beneficial owners) that owned such securities immediately prior to
such action and/or transactions (and when used as a verb and/or as
an adjective, shall have a meaning correlative to the
foregoing).
4
Intellectual Property Rights means any
intellectual property rights, including, without limitation, (i)
patents, patent applications and statutory invention registrations,
(ii) registered, unregistered and applications to register
trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, logos,
commercial names, domain names or corporate names, including any
trademarks registered before the Brazilian Intellectual Property
Agency (Instituto Nacional da
Propriedade Intelectual – INPI) and including all
goodwill associated with the foregoing, (iii) registered,
unregistered and applications to register copyrights, together with
translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations thereof,
(iv) trade secrets, know-how, and proprietary information,
including trade secrets, know-how and invention rights and (v)
algorithms and software, domain names, websites, inventions
(whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to
practice) and all improvements thereto, and all other similar
intellectual property rights.
JV Company means the corporation or
other Person which the Parties agree to establish, or cause to be
establish, as provided for in this Agreement to explore the
Business pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
the Bylaws and the other Transaction Documents.
JV Transaction has the meaning set forth
in Section 13.1.
License means any licenses, permits,
authorizations, consents or other approvals required by Applicable
Law (especially any environmental laws) or by any Governmental
Authority.
Lock-Up has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.1.
Losses means any and all damages,
losses, amounts paid pursuant to judicial, administrative or
arbitration decisions, costs and expenses, tax assessments,
interest, fines and charges of any nature, including
attorneys’ fees and deposits due to judicial and
administrative proceedings, it being agreed that neither Party
shall be liable in an action initiated by one against the other for
special, indirect or consequential damages resulting from or
arising out of, without limitation, loss of profit or business
opportunities, and/or business interruptions.
Marketing Policy means the marketing
policy of the JV Company which shall be agreed between the Parties
prior to the Subsequent Closing Date.
New Transfer Terms has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.2.
Net Sales means the gross amount
invoiced by the JV Company for Device procedures or products sold
in bona fide, arms-length transactions to third parties for use in
the field, less sales, use, occupation and excise taxes, and
transportation, discounts, returns and allowances in lieu of
returns.
Non-Compete Obligation has the meaning
set forth in Section 21.1.
Notice of Change of Control has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
Officer means the officers of the JV
Company appointed in accordance with the Shareholders’
Agreement and Bylaws.
Organizational Expenses means the cost
of organizational expenses for the incorporation and operation of
the JV Company such as the INMETRO certification, ANVISA
authorization, pharma economic study, RADAR licenses, the cost of
the initial three Devices, insurance, and pre- launch costs for key
opinion leader development and symposiums or congresses, provided
that any costs related to employees, contract labor, or back office
facilities are excluded from this definition.
5
Partnership Fee means the total amount
to be paid by the IDIC Group to Sanuwave in the aggregate amount of
$600,000.00 (six hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) payable in
accordance with Section 3.1.
Parties has the meaning ascribed to it
in the Preamble.
Party has the meaning ascribed to it in
the Preamble.
Person means any natural person, legal
entity, firm, partnership, association, business or non-business
company, corporation, joint venture, limited liability company,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, pension fund,
trust, Governmental Authority, investment fund or other entity, as
well as any syndicate or group of two or more of such Persons
acting as a syndicate or group for purposes of acquiring, holding
or disposing of securities or other interests in any such
Person.
Policy has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.6.2.
Remaining Parties has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
Remaining Party Transfer Terms has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.2.1.
Required Approvals has the meaning set
forth in Section 17.1.1.
Requisite Vote of the Board has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.5.8.
Right of First Offer has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
ROFO Acceptance has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
ROFO Completion Date has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.3.
ROFO Offered Shares has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
ROFO Offer Price has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
Rules of Arbitration has the meaning set
forth in Section 23.2.
Sanuwave has the meaning set forth in
the Preamble.
Sanuwave Indemnified Parties has the
meaning set forth in Section 19.1.
Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of Control
Affected Shares has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.1.
6
Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.1.
Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option Exercise Notice has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.1.
Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Affected
Shares has the meaning set forth in Section
7.2.
Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option has the meaning set forth in Section
7.2.
Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option Exercise Notice has the meaning set forth in Section
7.2.
Sanuwave’s Technology means all
know how, methods, processes, pathway, technology, inventions,
expertise, trade secrets, techniques, specifications, formulations,
formulae, combinations of components, and tangible and intangible
information that Sanuwave has developed or otherwise owns or holds
related to the Device.
Shareholders’ Agreement means the
shareholders’ agreement of the JV Company to be entered into
by the Parties prior to the formation of the JV
Company.
Shares mean the issued and outstanding
ordinary and preferred shares of the capital stock of the JV
Company.
Subsequent Closing has the meaning set
forth in Section 18.1.
Subsequent Closing Conditions has the
meaning set forth in Section 17.1.
Subsequent Closing Date has the meaning
set forth in Section 18.1.
Subsequent Closing Long Stop Date means
(including) December 31, 2020.
Supply Agreement means the agreement to
be entered into by Sanuwave and the JV Company for the supply of
Devices.
Tag-Along Exercise Notice has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.3.3.
Tag-Along Conditions has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.3.2.
Tag-Along Notice has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.3.1.
Tag-Along Potential Buyer has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.3.1.
Tag-Along Right has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.3.1.
Tag-Along Shares has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.3.1.
7
Tag-Along Transferor has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.3.1.
Technology License Agreement means the
technology license agreement to be entered into by Sanuwave and the
JV Company on the Subsequent Closing Date related to the ownership
and use of the Intellectual Property Rights to be transferred to
and/or developed by JV Company.
Third-Party Claim has the meaning set
forth in Section 19.5(b).
Third Party Claim Notice has the meaning
set forth in Section 19.4.
Trademark License Agreement means the
trademark license agreement to be entered into by the JV Company
and Sanuwave prior to the Subsequent Closing.
Transfer means any Indirect Transfer or
Direct Transfer.
Transfer Notice has the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.1.
Transferor has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.2.1.
Transaction Documents means this
Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Promissory Notes,
the Trademark License Agreement, the Supply Agreement and the
Technology License Agreement.
INTERPRETATION
1.2 All references to
Sections, Recitals, Exhibits and Schedules are, unless otherwise
expressly stated, references to sections of, and Recitals, Exhibits
and Schedules to, this Agreement.
1.3 The headings in
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall be
ignored in construing this Agreement.
1.4 Any reference to
any statute, statutory instrument or contract, agreement or other
similar arrangement in this Agreement shall be a reference to the
same as amended, supplemented, re-enacted or replaced from time to
time.
1.5
References to “include” or “including” are
to be construed without limitation.
1.6 Unless the context
otherwise requires, reference to the singular shall include a
reference to the plural and vice-versa; and reference to any gender
shall include a reference to all genders.
1.7 The Exhibits and
Schedules form part of this Agreement. In the event of any conflict
between the provisions of this Agreement, the Exhibits and the
Schedules, the provisions of this Agreement shall
prevail.
SECTION
2
SCOPE
OF THIS AGREEMENT
8
2.1 The purpose of this
Agreement is to set forth the rights and obligations of the Parties
in connection with (i) the establishment of the joint venture, (ii)
the incorporation, management and governance of the JV Company;
(iii) the development and operation of the Business by the JV
Company.
2.2 The Parties agree
that upon the formation of the JV Company and subsequent execution
of the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Parties’
relationship as shareholders of the JV Company shall be governed by
the provisions of the Bylaws and the Shareholders’ Agreement
in respect of all matters requiring shareholders or Board of
Directors approval, which are relevant for the carrying out of the
JV Company’s Business and the pursuit of its
objectives.
2.3 Each Party
acknowledges and agrees that it shall vote in the General
Shareholders’ Meeting, and shall cause the members of the
Board of Directors appointed by them to vote in the Board of
Directors’ Meetings so as to comply with and give effect to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and that such Party and
such members of the Board of Directors shall act in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement. The Parties undertake to take all
the necessary measures to ensure that the members of the Board of
Directors and the Officers will comply with this Agreement,
including through the execution of a deed of adherence by each
member of the Board of Directors and the Officers.
2.4 The Parties also
agree that it is of the essence of this Agreement that, in their
capacity as shareholders, they shall endeavor to generate value for
the JV Company and the Business by their mutual cooperation and
contribution in their respective areas of expertise within the
scope of the Business.
2.5 The Business shall
be conducted so as to maximize the benefit to the Parties as
shareholders, and to prioritize the JV Company’s financial
independence from the Parties as shareholders, using (in light of
the tax, legal, regulatory and economic circumstances at the time)
the financing tools and instruments which are available in the
market and the guarantees secured on its own assets and credit
health, avoiding as far as reasonably possible the request by it
for financial support from one or more Parties as
shareholders.
SECTION
3
THE
JOINT VENTURE AND JV COMPANY
3.1 IDIC Group shall
pay to Sanuwave the Partnership Fee, in exchange for the right of
establishing a joint venture company which will hold the exclusive
territorial rights to be granted to the JV Company to use, offer
for sale, import, and export the Device within Brazil on the
Subsequent Closing Date. The Partnership Fee has been and shall be
paid in three separate installments as follows: (a) USD $250,000.00
(two hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars) paid in full on
November 14th, 2019; (b) USD
$250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars) to be
paid on the Initial Closing Date (no later than December
31st, 2019); and (c)
USD $100,000.00 (one
hundred thousand U.S. dollars) to be paid by Sanuwave upon receipt
of applicable regulatory approval by ANVISA for the JV Company to
commercialize the Device in Brazil, on the Subsequent Closing
Date.
9
3.1.1 In
the event that the Parties have not reached agreement on the
Shareholders’ Agreement, the Promissory Notes, the Trademark
License Agreement, the Supply Agreement and the Technology License
Agreement by January 31, 2020, IDIC Group shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement for cause, [***],and Sanuwave
[***].
3.1.2 In
the event ANVISA does not grant regulatory approval for the JV
Company to commercialize the Device in Brazil, or in the event
ANVISA grants the approval with restrictions that will materially
impact the JV Company’s operation, IDIC Group shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement for cause, [***], and Sanuwave
[***].
3.2 In exchange for the
payment of the first installment of the Partnership Fee, Sanuwave
issued to each member of the IDIC Group, the Promissory Notes. Each
of such Promissory Notes is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
3.3 The IDIC Group
shall be responsible for the incorporation of the JV Company and
shall pay any and all fees and expenses in connection with the
incorporation, formation, and startup of the JV Company, including
but not limited to all expenses to form the JV Company, obtain the
required approvals and filings with any Governmental Authority for
the operation of the JV Company, the registration and
commercialization of the Device, attorneys' fees and fees of other
advisors involved and all other disbursements or expenses of the
types customarily incurred in connection with the procedures herein
contemplated.
3.4 Sanuwave shall
cooperate with the IDIC Group and bear its own costs associated
with it becoming a shareholder of the JV Company, including but not
limited, to any requested legal opinions outside of Brazil and its
own travel expenses.
3.5 The JV Company
shall be a corporation incorporated in Brazil governed by Law No.
6.404/76, the Bylaws and the Shareholders’ Agreement. The
following provisions of Sections 3.5 through
and including
Section 3.12 shall apply after the formation of the JV Company and
shall be reflected in the Bylaws and Shareholders’ Agreement
of the JV Company.
3.6 The corporate name
of the JV Company shall be Diversa S.A. and the JV Company’s
headquarters will be at Santana do Parnaíba.
3.7 When the formation
of the JV Company occurs, the corporate capital of the JV Company
shall be represented by ordinary and preferred registered shares,
all with a par value of R$ 1.00 (one Brazilian Real) each, free
from any Encumbrances, in a total of R$5,001.00 (five thousand and
one Brazilian Reais) represented by five thousand (5,000) ordinary
shares and one preferred share each held as follows:
(a) [***] held by
Sanuwave;
(b)
[***] held by the
IDIC Group, through a holding company to be formed by IDIC
Group;
10
Group;
(c) [***] held by
the IDIC
(d) [***] held by
Versani; and
(e) [***] held by
Universus.
3.8
The preferred shares of the JV
Company will not grant any voting right to [***], are not
convertible into ordinary shares, and shall not be transferred by
[***], except among its
members and/or Affiliates of its members.
3.9 Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in case preferred shares are granted any voting rights
to [***] by virtue of law, [***] hereby fully waives any such
rights and, if such rights may not be waived by [***] for any
reason whatsoever, [***] shall always exercise such voting rights
with respect to the preferred shares in the same manner as [***]
exercise voting rights with respect to its ordinary shares. In
addition, for all purposes of this Agreement (including verifying
whether any minimum ownership percentage thresholds set forth
herein were met), the preferred shares shall not be considered to
constitute part of the voting capital of the JV Company. The
preferred shares do not participate in the capital increases
arising from capitalization of reserves or profits and do not give
any rights to remaining profits.
3.10 The right granted to [***] as the
sole holder of preferred shares shall exclusively consist of
receiving fixed prioritized dividends from the profits of the JV
Company until full reimbursement of the amounts paid by [***] in
connection with the Partnership Fee and the Organizational
Expenses, including the amount corresponding to any taxes paid by
[***] in connection with the payment of the Partnership Fee, always
net of any applicable taxes (the “[***]”). Such
dividends shall be paid exclusively based on the Bylaws reserve to
be established in the Bylaws of the Company. The Parties agree that
the [***] will not be paid through interest on net capital
(juros sobre capital
próprio).
3.11 The
Parties undertake to vote in the General Shareholders’
Meeting in order to distribute to [***], as the sole holder of
preferred share, the totality of the [***] as soon as the
applicable Bylaws reserve has received enough cash to pay the
[***].
3.12 The
preferred share shall be redeemed by the JV Company for the price
equivalent to the equity value of the share on the Effective Date
as soon as the [***] is paid in full, solely by making use of funds
allocated to the Bylaws reserve to be created. The Parties hereby
undertake to carry out: (a) an Extraordinary General
Shareholders’ Meeting within thirty days counted as from the
date on which the [***] is paid in full and to approve the
redemption of the preferred shares, under the terms
hereof.
3.13 The
ordinary shares shall be paid-in by the shareholders in cash (in
Brazilian Reais) or with assets and rights pursuant to the terms of
the Shareholders’ Agreement and the Business Plan. Upon
contribution, the JV Company shall be entitled to use
Sanuwave’s Technology as per the terms and conditions of the
Technology License Agreement.
11
SECTION
4
FINANCING,
CAPITAL INCREASES AND DIVIDENDS
4.1 The following
provisions of this Section 4 shall apply after the formation of the
JV Company, and shall be incorporated into the Shareholders’
Agreement and the Bylaws of the JV Company.
4.2 None of the Parties
shall be obligated to pay any debt or provide any equity financing
or other financial support of any kind or nature to the JV Company,
including loans or guarantees or other assurances to third parties
in connection with the extension of credit or other financial
support provided to the JV Company, unless it has separately
committed in writing (in a legally binding manner) to the JV
Company to do so.
4.3 Upon approval by
the requisite number of shareholders at a General
Shareholders’ Meeting, the JV Company may obtain financing
through the issuance of securities, including equity and debt
securities, if the Board of Directors determines that such
financing is in the best interest of the JV Company.
4.4 The capital
increases involving issuance of Shares by the JV Company shall be
carried out in the best interests of the JV Company, shall comply
with the Applicable Law, and must be approved by a General
Shareholders’ Meeting, upon recommendation of the Board of
Directors.
4.4.1 Notwithstanding
the above mentioned, for the purposes of increasing the capital of
the JV Company, the Parties hereby agree that the JV Company shall
be evaluated by its book value until it reaches US$ 2,000,000.00 in
Gross Sales. Once this threshold is reached, the JV Company may be
evaluated by any methods available, according to the Applicable
Law, the recommendation of the Board of Directors and approval of
the General Shareholders’ Meeting.
4.5 In case of a
capital increase, each Party shall have the right to subscribe for
and contribute to the capital increase pro-rata in proportion to
its ownership interest as of the date of the approval of the
capital increase. If a Party does not subscribe for and contribute
its share of capital increase, then any other Party may subscribe
for and contribute that share pro-rata in proportion to its
ownership interest, in which case the ownership interest of the
non-contributing Party may be diluted, and that of the other
Parties’ increased.
4.6 Within [***] days
as from the approval of: (i) a capital increase by issuance of
Shares by the JV Company; or (ii) any issuances of other Shares by
the JV Company, each Party will be offered the opportunity to
subscribe for up to its pro rata share of the new Shares relative
to its then-current participation in the corporate capital of the
JV Company in accordance with the Applicable Law. In the event that
any Party does not exercise, in whole or in part, its preemptive
rights, but one or more other Parties exercised its or their
preemptive rights in full, such other subscribing Party(ies) shall
first have the opportunity (for an additional period of [***] days
after the date of elapse of the [***]-day term provided by this
Section) to subscribe for such unsubscribed-for Shares (on a pro
rata basis among them), before such unsubscribed Shares are offered
to third parties.
12
SECTION
5
GENERAL
ASPECTS OF THE TRANSFER OF SHARES
5.1 No member of the IDIC
Group shall Transfer any of their respective direct or indirect
participation in the joint venture or the JV Company (except among
its undersigned members and/or to one or more Affiliates of such
members) either totally or partially, until the third anniversary
of the payment in full of the Partnership Fee (“Lock-Up”).
5.2 The following
remaining provisions of this Section 5 shall apply after the
formation of the JV Company, and shall be incorporated into the
Shareholders’ Agreement and the Bylaws of the JV
Company.
5.3 Except as
contemplated by this Section 5 or Section 6, no Party shall
Transfer, any portion of their respective Shares without complying
with the provisions of this Section 5 or Section 6.
5.4 The Parties agree
that the following Transfers will not be subject to the
restrictions on transfer established under this Agreement: (i)
Transfers among the current members of the IDIC Group, or transfers
by the current members of the IDIC Group to one or more Affiliates,
provided that in case a current member ceases to be a member of the
IDIC Group, a transfer to such former member shall not be permitted
or if a Transfer is made to a member of the IDIC Group and such
Person ceases to be a member of the IDIC Group, such shares must be
re-transferred to a member of the IDIC Group; and (ii) transfers by
Sanuwave to an Affiliate.
5.5 Any Transfer of
Shares performed in violation of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be null and void and the Company shall not register such
transaction under the Shares Registry Book or the Shares Transfer
Book, in which case the defaulting Party undertakes to be liable
towards the JV Company, the remaining Parties and any third parties
for any losses and damages resulting from such
violation.
5.6 The issue of Shares
or the Transfer of Shares to a Person who is not already a Party to
this Agreement (including any Affiliate of the transferring Party)
shall only be performed upon irrevocable and irreversible
obligation of such Person to adhere to the Shareholders’
Agreement by means of the execution of an adhesion agreement to be
attached as an exhibit to the Shareholders’
Agreement.
SECTION
6
RIGHT
OF FIRST OFFER; TAG-ALONG RIGHT; DRAG-ALONG RIGHT
6.1 The following
provisions of this Section 6 shall apply after the formation of the
JV Company, and shall be incorporated into the Shareholders’
Agreement and the Bylaws of the JV Company.
6.2
Right of First Offer
6.2.1 Subject
to the Lock-Up, if a Party (“Transferor”)
desires to Transfer all or any portion of its Shares (the
“ROFO
Offered Shares”) to a Third Party (other than a
permitted assignee), the Transferor shall first permit each of the
other Parties (“Remaining
Parties”) to exercise its right
of first offer in respect of all of the ROFO Offered Shares (the
“Right of
First Offer”). The Transferor shall notify the
Remaining Parties about its intention to Transfer the Shares, which
notice shall include the number of ROFO Offered Shares (the
“Transfer
Notice”). Within [***] days of the Transfer Notice
(the “Initial Offer
Period”), each Remaining Party may, on a pro-rata
basis to its then current participation in the corporate capital of
the JV Company, make an offer to the Transferor to acquire all (but
not less than all) of the ROFO Offered Shares at an all-cash price
(the highest such price shall be the “ROFO Offer
Price”) and on an “as-is, where-is” basis,
except for customary representations and warranties
(“Remaining Party Transfer
Terms”); any exercise by the IDIC Group as a
“Remaining Party” of the Right of First Offer hereunder
may be exercised by the IDIC Group as a whole, or by its individual
members, at their sole discretion. In making such offer, each
Remaining Party will have the right to over-elect, on a pro-rata
basis relative to its then current participation in the corporate
capital of the JV Company, to acquire the pro rata portion of any
Remaining Party which does not elect to participate. Each Remaining
Party that in the Initial Offer Period offered less than the ROFO
Offer Price shall have [***] Business Days following the expiry of
the Initial Offer Period (the “Follow-on Offer
Period”) to notify the Transferor and the other
Remaining Parties that it is willing to also pay the ROFO Offer
Price. The Transferor shall have a [***]-day period following the
end of the Initial Offer Period or the Follow-on Offer Period (as
applicable), to accept the ROFO Offer Price (“ROFO
Acceptance”) at its discretion.
13
6.2.2 If
the Transferor elects not to sell its ROFO Offered Shares at the
ROFO Offer Price with the Remaining Parties, it may, during a
further period of [***] months, enter into definitive transaction
documents to sell all (but not less than all) of the ROFO Offered
Shares to an arm’s length third party at a price higher than
the ROFO Offered Price, which sale shall not include any collateral
agreements or any other terms that would reasonably be expected to
make the transaction price with such third party less than the ROFO
Offer Price (“New Transfer
Terms”). In the event that no ROFO Offer Price is
offered, the Transferor may sell to a third party purchaser at any
price, provided that execution of the definitive transaction
documents to effect the sale occurs within [***] months after the
lapse of a [***] days period for presentation of the ROFO Offer
Price. In case of lapse of the [***] month period without the
execution of the definitive transaction documents to be entered
into with a Third Party, in case the Transferor still intends to
sell the ROFO Offered Shares, the Transferor shall restart the
procedure indicated in this Section 6.2.
6.2.3 If
the Transferor elects to consummate the Transfer of the ROFO
Offered Shares at the ROFO Offer Price with the Remaining Parties
then within [***] days of the date of the ROFO Acceptance, the
Transferor must provide written notice to the Remaining Parties of:
the number of ROFO Offered Shares that each Remaining Party is
obliged to acquire; and the date, place and time (the "ROFO Completion
Date") between [***] and [***] Business Days after the date
of the ROFO Acceptance, on which the sale and purchase of the ROFO
Offered Shares is to be completed.
6.2.4 On
or before the ROFO Completion Date, the Transferor shall effect the
Transfer to the Remaining Party(ies) by executing an instrument of
transfer in respect of the relevant ROFO Offered Shares and will
Transfer on the ROFO Completion Date the relevant ROFO Offered
Shares to the relevant Remaining Parties) free from all
Encumbrances with full title guarantee, and on the Remaining Party
Transfer Terms against payment in cash of the aggregate ROFO
Offered Price due to it in respect of the ROFO Offered Shares from
the Remaining Parties on the ROFO Completion
Date.
14
6.3
Tag-Along
Right
6.3.1 Subject
to the Lock-Up and the Right of First Offer, a Party which intends
to sell its Shares of the JV Company (“Tag-Along
Transferor”) shall not sell its Shares in the JV
Company to a Third Party (other than a permitted transferee)
(“Tag-Along Potential
Buyer”), except in case (i) the terms and conditions
of such Transfer of Shares include an offer, by the Tag- Along
Potential Buyer to the other Parties other than the Tag-Along
Transferor for the acquisition of the Shares held by the other
Parties (“Tag-Along
Shares” and “Tag-Along
Right”, respectively), on a pro rata basis to their
share ownership in the corporate capital of the JV Company, and
(ii) the Tag-Along Transferor delivers a notice of such offer to
the other Parties not less than forty-five days prior to such
proposed transfer to such Tag-Along Potential Buyer
(“Tag-
Along Notice”).
6.3.2 The
Tag-Along Notice shall include the following information
(“Tag-Along
Conditions”): (a) the number of Shares held by the
Tag-Along Transferor to be transferred to the Tag-Along Potential
Buyer; (b) the cash price to be paid per share and the conditions
of payment; (c) the transfer
terms agreed with the Tag-Along Potential Buyer; (d) the name and
the identity of the Tag-Along Potential Buyer; (e) copy of the
principal final documents for the purchase and sale of shares or,
in their absence, copy of the offer or the purchase terms submitted
by the Tag-Along Potential Buyer.
6.3.3 The
other Parties shall have the right, to be exercised by notice to
the Tag- Along Transferor within [***] days after the receipt of
the Tag-Along Notice, to notify the Tag Along Transferor in writing
whether it intends to exercise the Tag-Along Right
(“Tag-Along Exercise
Notice”). Upon the timely delivery of any Tag-Along
Exercise Notice, it shall be a condition precedent for the closing
of such Transfer of Shares to the Tag-Along Potential Buyer that
the Tag-Along Potential Buyer acquires at the same time the
Tag-Along Shares of the Parties which provided the Tag-Along
Exercise Notice. In this case, the Tag-Along Transferor shall cause
the amount to be paid by the Tag-Along Potential Buyer in the terms
of the Tag-Along Offer to be transferred directly to the applicable
Parties upon delivery of its/their Tag-Along Shares and any other
documents reasonably agreed between the Tag-Along Transferor and
the Tag-Along Potential Buyer.
6.3.4 Any
Shares transferred by the other Parties to the Tag-Along Potential
Buyer shall be transferred at the same price per share transferred
by the Tag-Along Transferor to the Tag-Along Potential Buyer. In
case the other Parties exercise the Tag-Along Right under the terms
hereof, the Transfer of Shares held by the Tag-Along Transferor and
the Tag-Along Shares to the Tag-Along Potential Buyer shall be
concluded within [***] days after the receipt of the Tag-Along
Exercise Notice by the Tag-Along Transferor. In case the Transfer
of Shares is not concluded as soon as reasonably possible, the
Tag-Along Transferor shall again comply with the terms hereof prior
to the Transfer of Shares to the Tag-Along Potential Buyer Notice
(extendable to accommodate any required Governmental Authority
approvals, which shall be obtained as soon as possible with all
necessary action by the parties involved).
15
6.3.5 In
case no other Party decides not to exercise its Tag-Along Right
under the terms hereof, the Transfer of Shares by the Tag-Along
Transferor to the Tag-Along Potential Buyer shall be concluded as
soon as reasonably possible. In case the Transfer of Shares to the
Tag-Along Potential Buyer is not totally concluded within [***]
months counted as from the date in which the term for the issuance
of the Tag-Along Exercise Notice expires, the provisions of this
Section 6.3.5 shall be
required to be complied with again by the Tag-Along Transferor
prior to the Transfer of Shares to the Tag-Along Potential Buyer
Notice (extendable to accommodate any required Governmental
Authority approvals, which shall be obtained as soon as possible
with all necessary action by the parties involved).
6.4
Drag-Along
Right
6.4.1 Subject
to the Lock-up and Right of First Offer, in the event a Party or
Parties holding not less than [***] percent ([***]%) of the equity
interests of the JV Company receives a bona fide purchase offer
(“Drag-Along
Transferor”) from a Third Party (“Drag-Along Potential
Buyer”), the Drag-Along Transferor shall be entitled
to cause the other Parties to transfer all, but not less than all,
of their Shares jointly with the Drag-Along Transferor to the
Drag-Along Potential Buyer for the same price per share on a pro
rata basis to their share ownership in the corporate capital of the
JV Company and on the same conditions applicable to the transfer of
the Drag-Along Transferor (“Drag-Along
Right”). The Drag-Along Transferor shall send a prior
notice on such offer to the other Parties informing them about such
Transfer of Shares (“Drag-Along
Notice”).
6.4.2 The
Drag-Along Notice shall include the following information
(“Drag-
Along Conditions”): (a) the number of Shares held by
the Drag-Along Transferor to be transferred to the Drag-Along
Potential Buyer; (b) the cash price to be paid per share and the
conditions of payment; (c) the transfer terms agreed with the
Drag-Along Potential Buyer; (d) the name and the identity of the
Drag-Along Potential Buyer; (e) copy of the principal final
documents for the purchase and sale of shares or, in their absence,
copy of the offer or the purchase terms submitted by the Drag-Along
Potential Buyer.
6.4.3 In
the event of exercise of the Drag-Along Right by the Drag-Along
Transferor, the other Parties shall take or cause to be taken all
necessary or reasonable actions required for the expeditious
completion of the Transfer of Shares and shall execute and deliver
any reasonable documents determined by the Drag-Along Transferor,
including, if necessary, a share purchase agreement. The Transfer
of Shares shall be concluded within [***] days from the date of
delivery of the Drag-Along Notice (extendable to accommodate any
required Governmental Authority approvals, which shall be obtained
as soon as possible with all necessary action by the parties
involved).
6.4.4 In
the event of exercise of the Drag-Along Right by the Drag-Along
Transferor, all costs and expenses proven to have been incurred for
the preparation and execution of the Transfer of Shares, including
attorneys’ and professional fees, shall be borne by the Drag-
Along Transferor, except if the other Parties engage lawyers or
other advisers to assist them in the transaction, provided that
each Party shall be responsible for any and all taxes that may be
due by such Party as a result of such Transfer of
Shares.
16
6.4.5 For
purposes of the completion of the Transfer of Shares as a result of
the exercise of the Drag-Along Right, the Parties shall grant
irreversible and irrevocable powers of attorney pursuant to
articles 684 and 685 of the Brazilian Civil Code to execute any
transaction documents required to document the sale of shares and
the relevant share transfer form so as to perfect the Transfer of
Shares as a result of the Drag-Along Right.
SECTION
7
OPTION
UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL OF SANUWAVE
7.1 In case of a change
of Control of Sanuwave (“Change of
Control”), Sanuwave shall deliver written notice to
the other Parties informing about the consummation of the Change of
Control, within [***] days counted from the closing of the Change
of Control transaction (“Notice of Change of
Control”).
7.1.1 Notwithstanding
the above, Sanuwave undertakes to notify IDIC Group whenever it
starts a negotiation with third parties that could end up in a
Change of Control.
7.2
Sanuwave Pre
Ramp-Up Change of Control Call Option
7.2.1
In case a Change of Control occurs prior to the JV Company
achieving USD $2,000,000.00 (two million U.S. Dollars) in Gross
Sales, Sanuwave shall have the right to cause the other Parties to
sell all (but not less than all) of the equity interests held by
the other Parties (“Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change
of Control Affected Shares”) to the new Controlling
Entity of Sanuwave (“Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change
of Control Call Option”) and shall have a term of
[***] days from the receipt of the Notice of Change of Control by
the other Parties, to notify the other Parties of its intention to
exercise the Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Call Option
(the “Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up
Change of Control Call Option Exercise Notice”). In
case Sanuwave does not so notify the other Parties of such
intention within such [***]-day term, its omission shall be deemed
as a waiver of its Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option.
7.2.2 If
Sanuwave exercises its Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option, the price to be paid by the new Controlling Entity of
Sanuwave to the other Parties for all the Shares owned by such
other Parties shall be an amount equivalent to the multiple of four
(4) times the total amount invested in the JV Company, including
the Partnership Fees and Organizational Expenses, before the
closing of the Change of Control transaction, provided that such
amount shall be paid to the other Parties on a pro rata basis to
their share ownership in the corporate capital of the JV Company.
In case Sanuwave exercises its Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of
Control Call Option, the transfer of the Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up
Change of Control Affected Shares to the new Controlling Entity of
Sanuwave shall be made within [***] days counted from the receipt
of the Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Call Option Exercise
Notice (extendable to accommodate any required Governmental
Authority approvals, which shall be obtained as soon as possible
with all necessary action by the parties involved). In case
Sanuwave does not exercise its Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of
Control Call Option, the other Parties shall not be required to
sell the Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Affected Shares to
Sanuwave, and such Sanuwave Pre Ramp-Up Change of Control Affected
Shares shall remain
17
subject
to the terms and conditions provided for in this Agreement,
including the Right of First Offer, the Tag-Along Right and the
Drag-Along Right.
7.3
Sanuwave Post
Ramp-Up Change of Control Call Option
7.3.1
If a Change of Control occurs after the JV Company achieves USD
$2,000,000.00 (two million U.S. Dollars) in gross sales, Sanuwave
shall have the right to cause the other Parties to sell the
totality (but not less than the totality) of the Shares held by the
other Parties (“Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up
Change of Control Affected Shares”) to the new
Controlling Entity of Sanuwave (“Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up
Change of Control Call Option”) and shall have a term
of [***] days counted as from the receipt of the Notice of Change
of Control by the other Parties, to notify the other Parties of its
intention to exercise the Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of Control
Call Option (the “Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up
Change of Control Call Option Exercise Notice”). In
case Sanuwave does not so notify the other Parties of such
intention within such 30 (thirty)-day term, its omission shall be
deemed as a waiver of its Sanuwave Post Ramp- Up Change of Control
Call Option.
7.3.2 If
Sanuwave exercises its Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of Control Call
Option, the price to be paid by the new Controlling Entity of
Sanuwave to the other Parties for all the Shares owned by such
other Parties shall be an amount equivalent to the multiple of
twelve (12) times the Net
Sales of the JV Company for the last twelve (12) months before the
closing of the Change of Control transaction, provided that such
amount shall be paid to the other Parties on a pro rata basis to
their share ownership in the corporate capital of the JV Company.
In case Sanuwave exercises its Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of
Control Call Option, the transfer of the Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up
Change of Control Affected Shares to the new Controlling Entity of
Sanuwave shall be made within [***] days counted from the receipt
of the Sanuwave Post Ramp-Up Change of Control Exercise Notice
(extendable to accommodate any required Governmental Authority
approvals, which shall be obtained as soon as possible with all
necessary action by the parties involved). In case Sanuwave does
not exercise its Post-Ramp-Up Change of Control Call Option, the
other Parties shall not be required to sell the Sanuwave Post
Ramp-Up Change of Control Affected Shares, which shall remain
subject to the terms and conditions provided for in this Agreement,
including the Right of First Offer, the Tag-Along Right and the
Drag-Along Right.
7.4
IDIC Group Change
of Control Put Option
7.4.1 If
a Party receives a Notice of Change of Control after the JV Company
achieves USD $2,000,000.00 (two million U.S. Dollars) in gross
sales, such Party shall have a put option to sell all (but not less
than all) of its equity interests (“IDIC Group Change of
Control Put Option Affected Shares”) to the new
Controlling Entity of Sanuwave (“IDIC Group Change of
Control Put Option”). Each such Party shall deliver a
written notice of its intention to exercise the IDIC Group Change
of Control Put Option to Sanuwave within [***] days from the
earlier of the receipt of the Notice of Change of Control, or the
date of its actual knowledge of the occurrence of such Change of
Control (if such Notice of Change of Control was not delivered)
(the “IDIC Group Change of
Control Put Option Exercise Notice”).
18
7.4.2 The
price to be paid by the new Controlling Entity of Sanuwave to the
Parties exercising their put option for the exercise of the IDIC
Grup Change of Control Put Option shall be a price to be determined
proportionally based on the same EBITDA multiple paid by the new
Controlling Entity of Sanuwave for Sanuwave, provided that such
amount shall be paid to the other Parties exercising their put
option on a pro rata basis to their share ownership in the
corporate capital of the JV Company. In case any Party fails to
notify Sanuwave of its intention to exercise its IDIC Group Change
of Control Put Option within such [***]-day term, its omission
shall be deemed as a waiver of its IDIC Group Change of Control Put
Option. In case any Party exercises its IDIC Group Change of
Control Put Option, the transfer of the respective Shares to the
new Controlling Entity of Sanuwave shall occur within [***] days
counted as from the receipt of the IDIC Group Change of Control Put
Option Exercise Notice (extendable to accommodate any required
Governmental Authority approvals, which shall be obtained as soon
as possible with all necessary action by the parties
involved).
SECTION
8
GENERAL
SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
8.1 The following
provisions of this Section 8 shall apply after the formation of the
JV Company, and shall be incorporated into the Shareholders’
Agreement and the Bylaws of the JV Company.
8.2 The JV Company
shall hold (a) an Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting
annually, and (b) Extraordinary General Shareholders’
Meetings, each as required by Applicable Law.
8.3 The Ordinary
General Shareholders’ Meeting shall be held within the
four-month period following the end of each Fiscal Year of the JV
Company to vote on the following matters, and any other matters
properly brought before the Ordinary General Shareholders’
Meeting in accordance with the Bylaws and Applicable
Law:
(i) the examination,
discussion and approval of the accounts and financial statements of
the JV Company, as presented by the Board;
(ii) the
allocation of the net profit of the ended Fiscal Year, and the
declaration and distribution of dividends of the JV Company;
and
(iii) election
of the members of the Board of Directors and the members of the
Fiscal Board, if its installation is required.
8.4 Except for the
matters set forth above in Section 8.3 and the matters required by
Applicable Law to be approved by Extraordinary General
Shareholders’ Meetings, all decisions with respect to the
governance or operations of the JV Company shall be decided by the
Board of Directors.
8.5 The General
Shareholders’ Meeting may be called by any Party holding at
least a twenty-five percent (25%) equity interest in the JV
Company, by any two members of the Fiscal Board, or by any two
members of the Board of Directors with due regard to all
formalities provided for in Applicable Law and the Bylaws. Subject
to the provisions of Brazilian Corporation Law,
19
the
call notices shall be delivered to each Party at least fifteen (15)
days in advance of the date scheduled for the General
Shareholders’ Meeting, and shall contain information on the
place, date, time and agenda of such meeting, as well as any
supporting documentation related to the agenda.
8.6 The presence of
Parties representing at least sixty percent (60%) of the
outstanding equity interests of the JV Company shall be required to
constitute a quorum for any General Shareholders’ Meeting. If
the quorum is not reached at any scheduled General
Shareholders’ Meeting, the meeting shall be called again in
accordance with the above, at least 8 (eight) days in advance of
the date scheduled for such meeting. The quorum for such recalled
meeting shall be satisfied by the attendance of any number of
Parties, which shall remain applicable to issues resolved during
the General Shareholders’ Meeting installed through the
subsequent call. The General Shareholders’ Meeting shall be
chaired by one of the shareholders chosen by the majority of votes
in attendance. The Chairman of the General Shareholders Meeting
shall choose, among the present shareholders, the secretary of the
meeting.
8.7 Each Party shall be
entitled to cast a number of votes that is equal to the number of
voting Shares that it owns. Any matter submitted to a General
Shareholders’ Meeting shall be approved by the affirmative
vote of at least 2/3 (two thirds) of the voting capital of the JV
Company.
8.8 No Party shall vote
at any General Shareholders’ Meeting resolving on any issue
with respect to which it has a conflict of interest in accordance
with the Applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, no Party shall
vote at any General Shareholders’ Meeting resolving on any
issue as to whether such Party should have its rights suspended in
accordance with this Agreement.
SECTION
9 MANAGEMENT
9.1 The Company shall
be managed by a Board of Directors, pursuant to the
Shareholders’ Agreement and the Bylaws and in accordance with
Applicable Laws.
9.2 Each of the
Shareholders and the JV Company shall, and shall cause their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents and other
representatives to always comply, in connection with the ownership
and operation of the JV Company, with the provisions of: (i) the
Brazilian anticorruption law (Law 12,846/13) and Decree 8,420/15;
(ii) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of
1977, as amended; (iii) the United Kingdom Bribery Act (UKBA) of
2010; (iv) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and (v) any other
compliance, anticorruption and/or anti-bribery legislation
(collectively, the “Anti-Corruption
Laws”), in each case to the extent applicable to the
Company, to the Shareholders and/or their respective business and
assets, as the case may be. Each Party undertakes to each other
Party that it will procure (insofar as it is lawfully able to do
so) that the JV Company has, and at all times maintains in place,
such procedures as may be reasonably required by any Party to
ensure the ongoing compliance by the JV Company with all applicable
Anti-Corruption Laws.
9.3 The members of the
Board of Directors and the Officers of the JV Company shall be
appointed and elected upon execution of the respective term of
investiture in the registered book of meetings of the Board of
Directors, being subject to the requirements, impairments,
duties,
20
obligations and
responsibilities provided by the Brazilian Corporation law, the
Bylaws and the Shareholders’ Agreement, and shall remain in
their offices until their successors are appointed and
elected.
9.4 Each Party
(directly or through its designated directors, officers and/or
members of the Fiscal Board) shall be entitled to examine the books
and records, and have reasonable access, at all reasonable times
and with prior written notice addressed to the Company, to any and
all information, documentation, properties and assets, of the
Company.
9.5
Board of
Directors
9.5.1 The
Board of Directors of the JV Company shall be composed of 4 (four)
members elected and dismissible at any time by the General
Shareholders’ Meeting, with a term of office of 3 (three)
years, reelection being permitted, considering that: (i) Sanuwave
shall have the right to nominate 2 (two) Directors; and (ii) the
members of the IDIC Group shall have the right to jointly nominate
2 (two) Directors. Sanuwave hereby appoints Kevin Richardson and
Michael Hubert as members of the Board of Directors and the members
of the IDIC Group hereby collectively appoint Daniel Feliciano
Ferreira and Paulo Cesena as members of the Board of Directors.
IDIC Group shall have the right to appoint the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and Sanuwave shall have the right to appoint the
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Each Party agrees to vote
their Shares in favor of the nominees (or any replacement nominee)
nominated by Sanuwave or the IDIC Group in accordance with Section
9.5.1.
9.5.2 The
Shareholders shall inform each other of the names and complete
qualifications of the individuals indicated above who they intend
to appoint to the Board of Directors at least [***] Business Days
before the scheduled date of the General Shareholders’
Meeting resolving on the election of the members of the Board of
Directors.
9.5.3 Each
Director shall state in his/her respective term of investiture that
he or she is aware of the terms of this Agreement, and shall
execute a deed of adherence, acknowledging the obligations of such
Director to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
the Bylaws and the Shareholders’ Agreement and not to take
any unauthorized action in contravention thereof.
9.5.4 The
Parties expressly recognize that the members of the Board of
Directors of the JV Company shall be elected solely based on the
procedure provided herein above and, during the term of this
Agreement or the Shareholders’ Agreement, they waive the
right and state that they shall refrain from requesting the
election of members of the Board of Directors by means of the
proceeding of multiple vote provided for in the Brazilian
Corporation Law.
9.5.5 A
Party shall have the right to request at any time the dismissal of
any member of the Board of Directors appointed by such Party (and,
for the avoidance of doubt, shall not have the right to request the
dismissal of any member appointed by any other Party). Upon a
dismissal request, the Parties undertake to immediately adopt all
necessary measures (including
the
calling of any General Shareholders’ Meeting or aiming at the
dismissal and replacement of such member of the Board of
Directors).
21
9.5.6 In
the event of dismissal, resignation, replacement, permanent
impairment or any other event which may result in the vacancy of
the office of any member of the Board of Directors of the JV
Company appointed by one of the Parties, the Chairman of the Board
of Directors shall acknowledge to the relevant body and the full
board appoint the alternative member, by recommendation of the
Party which appointed the member to be replaced, until another
person appointed by such Party be elected in a Shareholders’
General Meeting to exercise the position of alternative member,
having to complete the term of management of the previous member.
In such case, the other Parties undertake to vote in accordance
with the interest of the Party which appointed the replaced
member.
9.5.7 In
case of temporary impairment or absence of the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, such member shall be replaced by an effective
member appointed by Sanuwave during the period of his/her absence,
who, in turn, shall be automatically replaced, during the period of
replacement of the Chairman.
9.5.8 The Board of Directors shall be
responsible for all actions taken by or on behalf of the JV
Company, except those matters specifically designated to be taken
by an Officer or other Person designated by the Board of Directors.
Any action taken by the Board of Directors shall require a majority
vote of the Directors (i.e. three of four directors) (the
“Requisite Vote of the
Board”), and the provisions of Section 10.1 shall
apply.
9.5.9 The
meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on an ordinary
basis at least once during each fiscal quarter, extraordinarily,
whenever the business activities of the JV Company or the Business
require. The meetings shall take place at the JV Company’s
headquarters, or telephonically or by other means. The meetings of
the Board of Directors and the resolutions approved in such
meetings shall be registered in the book of registration of Board
of Directors’ meeting minutes. Such minutes shall be filed
with the competent Board of Trade (Junta Comercial) if required to have
effects before third parties.
9.5.10 The
Chairman of meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company shall
not compute votes casted in violation to the provision hereunder as
provided for in Article 118, Paragraph 8 of the Brazilian
Corporation Law.
9.5.11 The
meetings of the Board of Directors, ordinarily or extraordinarily,
shall be convened by at least two Directors upon notice addressed
to the other Directors at least fifteen (15) days in
advance of the envisaged date for the meeting of the Board of
Directors. The notice shall specify all matters to be discussed and
voted at the meeting, as well as the place, date and time of the
meeting. The notice shall be accompanied with all necessary
documents for the analysis of the agenda by the members. No
resolution with respect to any matter can be taken at any meeting
of the Board of Directors unless the notice of the meeting contains
reasonable details of the matter. The call procedure may be waived
whenever all of the effective members of the Board of Directors are
present in the meeting and so agree or upon previous acceptance in
writing by the absent members.
22
9.5.12 The
quorum for the meeting of the Board of Directors shall be at least
three Directors present at such meeting. If a quorum is not present
at any scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors, the meeting
shall be once again convened, at least 8 (eight) days in advance of
the scheduled date for such meeting of the Board of Directors. The
quorum for such reconvened meeting shall be satisfied by the
attendance of any of the members of the Board of Directors;
provided that at such reconvened meeting, no action by the Board
may be approved without the Requisite Vote of the
Board.
9.5.13 The
members of the Board of Directors shall always act in a manner
consistent with the (i) most recently approved Business Plan, (ii)
terms of this Agreement and (iii) decisions approved at the
Company’s General Shareholders’ Meetings and the Board
of Directors’ Meetings.
9.5.14 In
case of a tie in the resolutions of the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors shall exercise the deciding
vote.
9.5.15 The
members of the Board of Directors may participate in any meeting of
the Board of Directors by means of conference call, video
conference or any other means of communication in which all members
can hear each other, and a member participating in such manner
shall be deemed as present at the referred meeting. In such event,
the members of the Board of Directors shall express their votes by
means of letter, fax or e-mail message which clearly identifies the
sender.
9.6
Officers
9.6.1 The
JV Company shall have at least two (2) executives, that will manage
the Brazilian operation, all indicated by the IDIC Group, being one
Chief Executive Officer and one Chief Technical
Officer.
9.6.2 The
Officers shall exercise the powers assigned to them by Applicable
Law, the Board of Directors and the Bylaws.
9.6.3 Each
Officer shall always act in a manner consistent with (i) the most
recently approved Business Plan, (ii) terms of this Agreement and
(iii) the decisions of the Board of Directors
9.6.4 The
Party designating an Officer shall cause such Officer to sign a
deed of adherence, acknowledging the obligations of such Officer to
comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Bylaws
and the Shareholders’ Agreement and not to take any
unauthorized action in contravention thereof.
9.6.5 In
case of dismissal, resignation, replacement, permanent impairment
or any other event which results in the vacancy of the office of
any Officer of the JV Company, the Party which appointed such
Officer shall have the right to appoint the respective replacement
and the directors appointed by the other Party undertake to vote in
accordance with the interest of the Party which nominated such
Officer.
23
SECTION
10
DEADLOCK
RESOLUTION
10.1 In
the event the minimum voting threshold for approval is not obtained
with respect to any matter subject to the resolution of the General
Shareholders’ Meeting, the matter shall be considered a
“Deadlock”. The Deadlock matter shall be deemed as
non-approved in the General Shareholders’ Meeting, and shall
be subject to the resolution of the representatives of the
Parties.
10.2 In
the event of Deadlock, the Parties shall call within [***] Business
Days from the date of the General Shareholders’ Meeting which
resulted in Deadlock, a meeting in which up to [***]
representatives of each Party, considering the objectives and
interests of the JV Company, shall in good faith seek to achieve an
agreement on how to resolve the Deadlock issue (“Consenting Meeting of
Representatives”).
10.3 In
case the Deadlock persists for [***] Business Days after the
Consenting Meeting of Representatives is convened, the Parties
shall call within [***] Business Days counted from the Consenting
Meeting of Representatives a new meeting with members of the Senior
Management of each Party, who, considering the objectives and
interests of the JV Company, shall in good faith seek to achieve an
agreement on how to resolve the Deadlock issue (“Consenting Meeting of the
Senior Management”).
10.4 In
case an agreement is not achieved in the Consenting Meeting of the
Senior Management within [***] Business Days after it is convened,
the matter subject to Deadlock shall be deemed definitively not
approved and not resolved in the General Shareholders’
Meeting unless consensus is reached in a new Consenting Meeting of
the Senior Management.
SECTION
11
FISCAL
BOARD
11.1 The
JV Company shall have a non-permanent Fiscal Board composed of four
effective members, comprised of the following: (i) Sanuwave shall
appoint two members and their respective alternates; and (ii) the
members of the IDIC Group shall collectively appoint two
members.
11.2 The
Fiscal Board shall only undertake such activities as provided for
under the Brazilian Corporation Law without adverse effects to the
rights, obligations and duties of other Persons or bodies set forth
in the Bylaws or the Shareholders’ Agreement.
SECTION
12
BUSINESS
OF THE JV COMPANY, BUSINESS PLANS, PROTOCOLS
12.1
The
Business
12.1.1 The
main purpose of the JV Company shall be the manufacturing, import,
export, use, sale, and distribution of the Device and related
treatments on an exclusive basis within Brazil (the
“Business”).
12.2
Supply of the
Device by Sanuwave
24
12.2.1 For
the duration of the JV Company’s existence, Sanuwave shall
supply the Device to the JV Company at its cost without mark-up,
which at the time of the execution of this Agreement is USD $[***]
per device and USD $[***] per wound kit, and the JV Company agrees
to purchase the Device from Sanuwave in accordance with the terms
of the Supply Agreement to be entered into by Sanuwave and the JV
Company following the formation of the JV Company. The Supply
Agreement shall also contain provisions providing for improvement
opportunities, use of an alternative source of supply, cost of
goods, supply interruptions and the Joint Venture Company
establishing its own source of supply in Brazil for the Wound Kits
and assembly of the Devices in Brazil when the Parties approve that
Device assembly in Brazil is appropriate for the JV Company’s
business. Refurbishment of Devices will initially be performed by
Sanuwave at Sanuwave’s facility in Suwanee, Georgia, USA
until such time when the Parties approve that the JV Company starts
refurbishing Devices in Brazil.
12.2.2 The
Parties hereby agree that the initial five (5) Devices imported to
Brazil by the IDIC Group on behalf of the JV Company will be
provided by Sanuwave on deferred payment terms to be agreed by the
Parties under the Supply Agreement, with the invoiced amount for
the Devices from Sanuwave due by the time the JV Company reaches
USD $1,000,000.00 (one million U.S. dollars) in Gross Sales. Such
deferred payments shall be made without withholding or deducting
any taxes unless required by law, in which case an additional
amount will be added to the applicable invoice to make sure
Sanuwave will receive the same amount as it would have received
without such withholding or deduction.
12.3
The Trademark
License Agreement; Trademark Protection
12.3.1 Subsequent
to the formation of the JV Company, Sanuwave and the JV Company
shall enter into a Trademark License Agreement, which shall include
the terms and conditions of the use of certain trademarks by the JV
Company. The JV Company shall be required to use Sanuwave’s
trademarks on the Device, but it shall also be permitted to use its
own trademarks on the Device as long as the parties’
trademarks are used separately and are not combined to create a
single composite mark. The JV Company shall not register or attempt
to register the trademarks or any trademark confusingly similar to
Sanuwave’s trademarks, and Sanuwave shall retain the
exclusive right to apply for and obtain registrations for the
trademarks throughout the world. The JV Company shall not challenge
the validity of the trademarks, Sanuwave’s ownership of the
trademarks or the enforceability of Sanuwave’s rights
therein.
12.4
The Technology
License Agreement
12.4.1 On
the Subsequent Closing Date, Sanuwave shall enter into a Technology
License Agreement which shall set forth the terms and conditions
for the granting by Sanuwave to the JV Company of exclusive
territorial rights for the use, offer for sale, import, and export
of the Device within Brazil and an exclusive, royalty-free right
and license for the JV Company to use Sanuwave’s selected
trademarks in Brazil solely for the purpose of and in connection
with the marketing of the Device. Such use of trademarks shall
comply with Applicable Laws and the Trademark License
Agreement.
12.4.2 The
Technology License Agreement shall contain detailed customary
provisions relating to Intellectual Property Rights, including: (a)
the license terms and sublicense
25
terms;
(b) pre-existing Intellectual Property Rights; (c) third party
rights; (d) ownership of new patent, trademark or other
Intellectual Property Rights created during the term of the
Technology License Agreement; and (e) rights for the JV Company to
use, reference and access existing Devices and clinical or other
study data.
12.5
The Manufacturing
of the Device by the JV Company
12.5.1 Both
the Trademark License Agreement and the Technology License
Agreement shall set forth the rights and obligations of Sanuwave
and the JV Company with respect to the sharing of Sanuwave’s
rights to patents, designs, and trademarks, trade dress, copyright
or other intellectual property related to the Device and
improvements thereof. Each Party shall have the sole right to
prosecute and maintain intellectual property unrelated to the
Device and shall bear all costs associated therewith. Prosecution
and maintenance of jointly owned intellectual property shall be a
responsibility of the Party in the best position to defend the
intellectual property as determined under both the Trademark
License Agreement and the Technology License
Agreement.
12.5.2 The
Trademark License Agreement and the Technology License Agreement
shall also contemplate obligations of the Parties to notify one
another if either learns of any existing or threatened infringement
of any intellectual property relevant to the JV Company. In Brazil,
the JV Company shall have priority rights, but not the obligation,
to bring an infringement action, while outside Brazil, Sanuwave
shall have priority rights, but not the obligation, to bring such
action. The Parties shall collaborate and neither Party shall
unilaterally settle any claim, if such settlement would negatively
impact the other Party.
12.6 The
Business Plan. The Board of Directors shall prepare an
annual Business Plan, which shall include (a) a strategic and
operating plan for the development of the JV Company; (b) a
financial business plan including a consolidated profit and loss
statement for the following Fiscal Year, and a cash flow outlook
including working capital and investment requirements; (c) a
management proposal on the objectives and top priorities for the
following year; (d) details of capital expenditure and investment
requirements; (e) a detailed annual capital and operational
expenditure and investment budget; (f) a balance sheet forecast;
(g) a management report giving business objectives for the
following year; (h) a financial report which will include an
analysis of the estimated results of the JV Company for the
following Fiscal Year compared with the Business Plan for that
year, identifying variations in revenues, costs, and other material
items; and (i) any other terms and details that are customary of
the medical device industry commercialization and business plans,
including elements such as pricing and the reimbursement approval
strategy.
12.6.1 The
Parties agree to carry on the Business in good faith and in
accordance with Applicable Laws, general standards used by
comparable companies in the medical device industry for
commercializing similar medical device products with similar market
potential, and international guidelines, including those on
corporate governance, anti-corruption, and
sustainability.
12.6.2 The JV Company shall implement
written policies setting out the parameters of the decision-making
processes of the Board of Directors the protocols to be followed by
the JV Company in the conduct of the Business (each a
“Policy”).
26
12.6.3 The
JV Company shall implement (i) the Marketing Policy; (ii) the Risk
Policy; (iii) the Code of Conduct and (iv) the Intellectual
Property Policy, as approved by the Board of Directors, each of
which may be amended from time to time, with the approval of the
Board of Directors.
SECTION
13
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE IDIC GROUP MEMBERS
Each
member of the IDIC Group hereby individually represents and
warrants that the following statements are true in relation to
themselves, accurate and complete as of the Effective Date, and
shall be true, accurate on the Initial Closing Date and Subsequent
Closing Date.
13.1 Authority; Execution;
Enforceability. When applicable, all members of the IDIC
Group, as applicable, are validly incorporated, in existence and
duly registered under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation
and have full power to conduct its business as conducted at the
Effective Date and have full capacity to execute this Agreement,
perform its obligations, as well as to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents (the “JV Transaction”). This Agreement
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the IDIC Group
Members enforceable against them and their successors, according to
the terms contained herein.
13.2 No
Conflicts; Consents. The execution of each of the
Transaction Documents by the members of the IDIC Group, as well as
the completion of the Transaction (and the performance of all of
the IDIC Group Members’ other obligations provided for
therein) does not as of the Effective Date or will not as of the
Initial Closing Date or the Subsequent Closing Date (as
applicable), result in any breach of an obligation or right, or
constitute fraud in the execution or against creditors by virtue of
(i) any legally binding agreement or other arrangement, verbal or
written, to which any of the IDIC Group Members is a party to, (ii)
any court decision of any nature or instance or (iii) any
Applicable Law, decree, ruling or regulation applicable to the IDIC
Group Members. The execution of the Transaction Documents, as well
as the completion of the Transaction (and the performance of all of
the IDIC Group Members’ other obligations provided for
therein) also does not (i) result in any breach or violation of or
default under, give rise to a right of termination or acceleration
of any obligation under, allow for the amendment of or result in
the imposition of any additional obligations or loss of rights
under any contract to which any of the IDIC Group Members is a
party to or whereby any of its properties or assets is bound; (ii)
violate any Law or License applicable to or held by the IDIC Group
Members or any properties or assets owned or used by the IDIC Group
Members; or (iii) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon
any of the shares held by the IDIC Group Members. No consent or
approval must be obtained from any third party, competent
Government Authority or any court, administrative agency or
commission or other Government Authority by the IDIC Group Members
regarding the execution of and compliance with this Agreement, as
well as regarding the consummation of the Transaction.
13.3 Intellectual
Property. The operations and activities of the members of
the IDIC Group and the Intellectual Property Rights which shall be
the subject of the Technology License Agreement and the Trademark
License Agreement, to the best of its knowledge, do not and shall
not in the future infringe on, misappropriate or otherwise violate
any Intellectual Property Rights of any other Person
or shall require the payment of any royalty, fees or other payments
to any other Person.
27
13.4 Sufficient
Capital. The members of the IDIC Group each have sufficient
financial resources and capacity to carry out all payments and
perform all obligations under the Transaction Documents and to
support any and all of its obligations hereunder and will continue
to have sufficient financial capacity to carry on its activities
after such obligations have been complied with. There is no act or
fact, nor, to the best of the members of the IDIC Group’s
knowledge any threatened action or proceeding affecting the members
of the IDIC Group that could be expected to affect the Transaction
or the financial condition or operations of the members of the IDIC
Group, including insolvency, winding up, bankruptcy, or similar
proceedings.
13.5 Compliance.
The members of the IDIC Group have not (nor, to their knowledge,
have any agent, representative or other person acting on their
behalf) (a) corruptly made, offered or agreed to make or offer any
loan, gift or other payment, directly or indirectly, whether in
cash or in kind, for the use or benefit of a government official
for the purposes of influencing any act or decision of such
government official in its official capacity, or inducing such
government official to do or omit to do any act in order to obtain
or retain business or otherwise to secure any improper advantage
such that, if the members of the IDIC Group or any of their
respective employees, representatives or agents were: (i) United
States persons, such action would constitute a violation of the
FCPA; or (ii) nationals of the United Kingdom, would constitute an
offense under the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010, or (iii)
nationals of Brazil, would constitute an offense under Brazilian
Law 12.846/13, or (b) otherwise breached any other applicable
regulations relating to anti-bribery as well as any applicable
sanctions or embargoes imposed on any person, company or
country.
SECTION
14
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SANUWAVE
14.1 Sanuwave
hereby represents and warrants that the following statements are
true, accurate and complete as of the Effective Date, and shall be
true, accurate and complete on the Initial Closing Date and
Subsequent Closing Date.
14.2 Authority;
Execution; Enforceability. Sanuwave is validly incorporated,
in existence and duly registered under the laws of its jurisdiction
of incorporation and has full power to conduct its business as
conducted at the Effective Date and has full capacity to execute
this Agreement, perform its obligations, as well as to consummate
the Transaction. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of Sanuwave, enforceable against it and its
successors, according to the terms contained herein.
14.3 No
Conflicts; Consents. The execution of the Transaction
Documents by Sanuwave, as well as the completion of the JV
Transaction (and the performance of all of Sanuwave other
obligations provided for therein) does not result in any breach of
an obligation or right, or constitute fraud in the execution or
against creditors by virtue of (i) any legally binding agreement or
other arrangement, verbal or written, to which Sanuwave is a party
to, (ii) any court decision of any nature or instance or Applicable
Law, decree, ruling or regulation applicable to Sanuwave. The
execution of the Transaction Documents, as well as the completion
of the JV Transaction (and
the performance of all of Sanuwave’s other obligations
provided for therein) also does not (i) result in any breach or
violation of or default under, give rise to a right of termination
or acceleration of any obligation under, allow for the amendment of
or result in the imposition of any additional obligations or loss
of rights under any contract to which Sanuwave is a party to or
whereby any of its properties or assets are bound; nor (ii) violate
any Law or License applicable to or held by Sanuwave or any
properties or assets owned or used by Sanuwave. No consent or
approval must be obtained from any third party, competent
Governmental Authority or any court, administrative agency or
commission or other Governmental Authority by Sanuwave regarding
the execution of and compliance with this Agreement, as well as
regarding the consummation of the JV
Transaction.
28
14.4 Intellectual
Property. The operations and activities of Sanuwave and the
Intellectual Property Rights which shall be the subject of the
Technology License Agreement and the Trademark License Agreement,
to the best of its knowledge, do not and shall not in the future
infringe on, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual
Property Rights of any other Person or shall require the payment of
any royalty, fees or other payments to any other
Person.
14.5 Sufficient
Capital. Sanuwave has sufficient financial resources and
capacity to carry out all payments and perform all obligations
under the Transaction Documents and to support any and all of its
obligations hereunder and will continue to have sufficient
financial capacity to carry on its activities after such
obligations have been complied with. There is no act or fact, nor
any threatened action or proceeding affecting Sanuwave or the
entities pertaining to Sanuwave’s economic group that could
be expected to affect the JV Transaction or their financial
condition or operations, including insolvency, winding up,
bankruptcy, or similar proceedings.
14.6 Compliance.
Sanuwave and/or its Affiliates have not (nor, to their knowledge,
has any agent, representative or other person acting on their
behalf (a) corruptly made, offered or agreed to make or offer any
loan, gift or other payment, directly or indirectly, whether in
cash or in kind, for the use or benefit of a government official
for the purposes of influencing any act or decision of such
government official in its official capacity, or inducing such
government official to do or omit to do any act in order to obtain
or retain business or otherwise to secure any improper advantage
such that, if Sanuwave or any of its Affiliates or any of their
respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees,
representatives or agents were: (i) United States persons, such
action would constitute a violation of the FCPA; or (ii) nationals
of the United Kingdom, would constitute an offense under the United
Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010, or (c) nationals of Brazil, would
constitute an offense under Brazilian Law 12.846/13,; or (b)
otherwise breached any other applicable regulations relating to
anti-bribery as well as any applicable sanctions or embargoes
imposed on any person, company or country.
SECTION
15
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO INITIAL CLOSING
15.1 The Initial Closing of the JV
Transaction shall be subject to the following conditions precedent
(“Initial
Closing Conditions”):
29
15.1.1 the
members of the IDIC Group shall have paid to Sanuwave the second
installment of the Partnership Fee in the total amount of USD
$250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand U.S.
dollars);
15.1.2 the
representations and warranties provided by the Parties above shall
be true, legitimate, accurate, correct and complete in all aspects
on the Initial Closing Date, as reflected in a certificate to be
issued by the Parties on the Initial Closing Date;
15.1.3 the
Parties shall not have materially violated any provision of this
Agreement; and
15.1.4 inexistence
of any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order in effect issued by a Governmental
Authority prohibiting or preventing the consummation of the JV
Transaction.
15.2 The
Parties agree that the Initial Closing Conditions set forth above
shall inure to the benefit of Sanuwave only, who shall waive or not
such Initial Closing Conditions at its sole discretion and that the
members of the IDIC Group shall not claim such conditions in order
to not proceed with the Initial Closing of the JV
Transaction.
15.3 Sanuwave
may, but shall not be obliged to, to the fullest extent permitted
by Applicable Law, waive one or more of its respective Initial
Closing Conditions at its sole discretion. Upon fulfillment of all
Initial Closing Conditions (or waiver by Sanuwave, as the case may
be), the Closing of the JV Transaction shall take place as
agreed.
15.4 The
Parties shall cooperate with each other to meet the conditions
precedent herein established and keep each other informed as to the
progress towards the satisfaction of the such conditions and shall
disclose in writing to the other Party anything which shall or may
prevent the conditions from being satisfied on or before the
Initial Closing Long Stop Date, as soon as reasonably practicable
upon such matter coming to the notice of such Party. The Parties
shall each notify the other promptly upon becoming aware that any
of the Initial Closing Conditions have been fulfilled and deliver
evidence of the same.
15.5 Upon
the satisfaction or waiver of all Initial Closing Conditions,
Sanuwave shall notify the IDIC Group, Versani and Universus to
proceed with the Initial Closing.
SECTION
16
INITIAL
CLOSING
16.1 The
Initial Closing of the JV Transaction shall take place at
[***] (“Initial Closing
Date”) unless another place and time is agreed upon in
writing between the Parties, when the Parties shall carry out
and/or execute and/or deliver the following actions and documents,
which shall all be deemed to have occurred simultaneously for the
purposes hereunder (“Initial
Closing”):
30
16.1.1 Confirmation
of Representations and Warranties and Conditions. The
Parties shall deliver to each other a written statement confirming
that (a) the representations and warranties granted to each other
hereby remain true, legitimate, accurate, correct and complete on
the Initial Closing Date; and (b) all Initial Closing Conditions
that each of the Parties should have completed until the Initial
Closing Date have been fulfilled (or waived, as the case may
be);
16.1.2
Execution of the
Agreement. Execution by the Parties of this Agreement;
and
16.1.3
Payment
of the Second Installment of the Partnership Fee and Release
of the Promissory
Notes. The members
of the IDIC Group shall provide evidence of payment to Sanuwave of
the second installment of the Partnership Fee in the total amount
of USD $250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars)
and evidence of the termination and satisfaction in full of the
Promissory Notes.
16.2 The
Parties shall cooperate in good faith with each other (or third
parties indicated by them) including, but not limited to, by
undertaking to execute any document and provide all necessary
assistance and information necessary to allow the performance of
any obligation under this Agreement for the Initial
Closing.
SECTION
17
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO SUBSEQUENT CLOSING
17.1 The Subsequent Closing shall be
subject to the following conditions precedent (“Subsequent Closing
Conditions”):
17.1.1 the
JV Company shall be duly formed and existing under the laws of
Brazil and the IDIC Group shall provide evidence of registration of
the JV Company’s Bylaws with the applicable State Registry in
Brazil;
17.1.2
the Parties shall
have executed the Shareholders’ Agreement;
17.1.3 the JV Company shall have
obtained all required approvals to operate in Brazil and to
manufacture, import, export, use, sell, and distribute the Device
and related treatments in Brazil (“Required
Approvals”);
17.1.4 the Parties shall have executed
the Trademark License Agreement, Supply Agreement and Technology
License Agreement;
17.1.5 the members of the IDIC Group
shall have paid to Sanuwave the third installment of the
Partnership Fee in the total amount of USD $100,000.00 (one hundred
thousand U.S.
dollars);
17.1.6
the Parties shall
have paid-up their Shares in the JV Company;
17.1.7 the IDIC Group shall have
invested R$ 1,00 (one Real) in preference shares of the JV
Company;
31
17.1.8 the
representations and warranties provided by the Parties above shall
be true, legitimate, accurate, correct and complete in all aspects
on the Subsequent Closing Date, as reflected in a certificate to be
issued by the Parties on the Subsequent Closing Date;
17.1.9 the
Parties shall not have materially violated any provision of this
Agreement; and
17.1.10 inexistence
of any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order in effect issued by a Governmental
Authority prohibiting or preventing the consummation of the JV
Transaction.
17.2 The
Parties agree that the Subsequent Closing Conditions set forth in
items 17.1.3 and 17.1.4 above shall inure to the exclusive benefit
of IDIC Group, who shall waive or not such Subsequent Closing
Conditions at its sole discretion; and the Subsequent Closing
Conditions set forth in items 17.1.5 and 17.1.7 above shall inure
to the exclusive benefit of Sanuwave, who shall waive or not such
Subsequent Closing Conditions at its sole discretion. The remaining
Subsequent Closing Conditions shall inure to the benefit of both
IDIC Group and Sanuwave, which may not be waived by either
Party.
17.3 Sanuwave
and IDIC Group may, but shall not be obliged to, to the fullest
extent permitted by Applicable Law, waive one or more of its
respective Subsequent Closing Conditions at their sole discretion.
Upon fulfillment of all Subsequent Closing Conditions (or waiver,
as the case may be), the Subsequent Closing of the JV Transaction
shall take place as agreed.
17.4 The
Parties shall cooperate with each other to meet the conditions
precedent herein established and keep each other informed as to the
progress towards the satisfaction of the such conditions and shall
disclose in writing to the other Party anything which shall or may
prevent the conditions from being satisfied on or before the
Subsequent Closing Long Stop Date, as soon as reasonably
practicable upon such matter coming to the notice of such Party.
The Parties shall each notify the other promptly upon becoming
aware that any of the Subsequent Closing Conditions have been
fulfilled and deliver evidence of the same.
17.5 Upon
satisfaction or waiver of all Subsequent Closing Conditions,
Sanuwave and IDIC Group shall notify each other, as well as Versani
and Universus to proceed with the Subsequent Closing.
SECTION
18
SUBSEQUENT
CLOSING
18.1 The Subsequent Closing shall take
place at [***] after receipt of the notice sent pursuant to Section
16.5 above (“Subsequent Closing
Date”) unless another place and time is agreed upon in
writing between the Parties, when the Parties shall carry out
and/or execute and/or deliver the following actions and documents,
which shall all be deemed to have occurred simultaneously for the
purposes hereunder (“Subsequent
Closing”):
18.1.1 Required
Approvals. The IDIC Group shall deliver to Sanuwave evidence
that the JV Company obtained all Required Approvals;
32
18.1.2 Technology
License Agreement. The Parties shall have entered into the
Technology License Agreement, and
18.1.3 Payment
of the Third Installment of the Partnership Fee. The members of the IDIC Group shall
provide evidence of payment to Sanuwave of the third installment of
the Partnership Fee in the total amount of USD $100,000.00 (one
hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars).
18.1.4 Investment
in the JV Company.
The members of the IDIC Group shall provide evidence of investment
of the total amount of R$ 1,00 (one Real) in preference shares of
the JV Company; and
18.1.5 Amendment
to the Bylaws of the JV Company and Shareholders’
Agreement. The
Parties shall execute an amendment to the Bylaws of the JV Company
and Shareholders’ Agreement, reflecting all rules related to
their rights and obligations in connection with the JV Company, as
a result of the termination of this Agreement.
18.2 The
Parties shall cooperate in good faith with each other and the JV
Company (or third parties indicated by them) including, but not
limited to, by undertaking to execute any document and provide all
necessary assistance and information necessary to allow the
performance of any obligation under this Agreement for the
Subsequent Closing.
INDEMNIFICATION
19.1 The members of the IDIC Group, as
represented by its holding company to be formed, jointly and
severally agree to, indemnify, defend and hold Sanuwave, Universus,
Versani and the JV Company as the case may be, their Affiliates and
each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives (other than the IDIC Group) (“Sanuwave Indemnified
Parties”) harmless from and against any and all
Losses, as set forth in this Agreement and as effectively suffered
or incurred by the Sanuwave Indemnified Parties as a result
of:
(a) any violation,
inaccuracy, misrepresentation, untruthfulness or breach of any
representation or warranty made by any members of the IDIC Group
under this Agreement;
(b) any breach,
non-compliance or failure by any member of the IDIC Group to
perform any covenant or obligation contained in this
Agreement;
(c) any facts,
omissions or actions performed, occurred or related to members of
the IDIC Group occurred prior or after the Subsequent Closing Date
and that may affect the JV Company and/or other Sanuwave
Indemnified Parties; and
(d) any facts,
omissions or actions performed, occurred or related to any member
of the IDIC Group occurred until the Subsequent Closing, even if
the effects thereof materialize only after the Subsequent
Closing.
19.2 Sanuwave agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold the members of the IDIC Group, Universus, Versani
and the JV Company (“IDIC Group Indemnified
Parties” and together with the Sanuwave
Indemnified Parties, the “Indemnified
Parties”) harmless from and against any and all
Losses, as set forth in this Agreement and as suffered or incurred
by the IDIC Group Indemnified Parties as a result
of:
33
(a) any violation,
inaccuracy, misrepresentation, untruthfulness or breach of any
representation or warranty made by Sanuwave contained in this
Agreement;
(b) any breach,
non-compliance or failure by Sanuwave to perform any covenant or
obligation contained in this Agreement; and
(c) any facts,
omissions or actions performed, occurred or related to Sanuwave and
its Affiliates occurred prior or after the Subsequent Closing Date
and that may affect the JV Company and/or other IDIC Members’
Indemnified Parties; and
(d) any facts,
omissions or actions performed, occurred or related to Sanuwave or
any of its Affiliates occurred until the Subsequent Closing, even
if the effects thereof materialize only after the Subsequent
Closing.
19.3 Without
prejudice to any other limitation under this Agreement, the Parties
shall be exempt from any indemnification obligation pursuant to
this Section 18 in relation to any amount of a Loss that has been
fully reimbursed, indemnified, or compensated in any other way,
including indemnifications received due to insurance coverage or by
any other third-parties, but excluding any self-insurance or
similar self-coverage.
19.4 If any Indemnified Party seeks
indemnification for a Loss which give rise to obligations to
indemnify pursuant to Sections 19.1.1 or 19.2, as applicable, the
Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the other responsible party
for indemnification (the “Indemnifying
Party”) of any claim for which indemnification may be
payable, specifying in detail the nature of the claim and the
amount of the related Loss or an estimate thereof when determinable
and attaching all relevant documentation relating thereto,
including a copy of the notice document received by any
third-parties in case of a Third-Party Claim (the
“Third
Party Claim Notice”).
19.5 In
any case the Third Party Claim Notice shall be sent within 15
(fifteen) Business Days from the date on which the Indemnified
Party became aware of such claim and/or condition which could give
rise to a Loss or such shorter time as required to timely present a
response to such Third Party Claim. Failure by the Indemnified
Party to notify the Indemnifying Party within the periods set forth
in this Section 18.5 will not release the Indemnifying Party from
its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party for the Losses
related to such Claim, except to the extent that the Indemnifying
Party is objectively prejudiced thereby or is not able to file the
proper defense to a Third-Party Claim as a result of the lack of
time.
(a) If a Loss shall
arise and such event does not involve any third-party (a
“Direct Claim”),
the Indemnifying Party shall send a written response to the
Indemnified Party in which the Indemnifying Party states its
intention to either (i) pay the amount involved or commence any
required remedial measures in connection with the Loss pursuant to
Section 19.4; (ii) refuse to
consider the event as a Loss; or (iii) discuss the matter. In case
of item (iii), the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party
shall discuss the issues involved during a period of thirty (30)
days from the receipt of the Third Party Claim Notice, and if they
reach an agreement,
34
any
payment required thereby shall be made by the Indemnifying Party to
the Indemnified Party as agreed between them and pursuant to
Section 19.4. In case of item “ii” above or, if the
Parties do not reach an agreement after discussion between them in
case of item “iii” above, then the Indemnified Party
may commence, at its option, any required action to pursue its
rights and remedies.
(b) If a Loss shall
arise and such event involves any third party (“Third-Party
Claim”), the Indemnifying Party shall have the right
to assume the defense (at its own expense) of such claim through
counsel of its own choice by so notifying the Indemnified Party.
The Indemnifying Party response shall be given within thirty
Business Days of receipt of notice thereof and shall indicate its
intention either to (i) pay the amount involved; (ii) assume the
defense of the litigation or proceeding with the counsel of its
choice (in which case, the Indemnifying Party shall be responsible
for all costs, expenses, legal and court fees, any guaranties which
may be required to be paid, advanced or deposited for the
respective defense (“Defense
Costs”), and the Indemnified Party shall have the
right to retain its own counsel at its own expense to monitor the
defense); or (iii) not assume the defense of the litigation or
proceeding. If the Indemnifying Party does not notify the
Indemnified Party of its decision to assume the defense of a
Third-Party Claim within the proper time, or if the Indemnifying
Party expressly does not assume the defense of the litigation or
proceeding and denies the existence of a Loss, the Indemnified
Party shall carry on the defense of the litigation or proceeding
diligently and no settlement or agreement nor any appeal may be
waived by the Indemnified Party without the prior written consent
of the Indemnifying Party. The Party that assumes the defense shall
be entitled to: (i) the cooperation of the other Party in preparing
the defense; and (ii) a reimbursement of all Defense Costs in the
event the Third-Party Claim effectively becomes a Loss to the
Indemnified Party. The indemnified Party agrees to provide the
Indemnifying Party with access to all of the Indemnified Party
files, information and records concerning said defense and to grant
to the attorneys appointed by the Indemnifying Party all necessary
powers-of-attorney to allow the defense of the Third-Party Claim
assumed by the Indemnifying Party.
19.6 The
Parties agree that if the JV Company is a Party and has been duly
notified of a Third-Party Claim that may be regarded as a Loss,
then the Parties agree that the JV Company shall always be the one
to take all actions to defend this Third-Party Claim, without
prejudice to the obligation of the Indemnifying Party to indemnify
the Indemnified Parties as the case may be. In this case the claim
shall be conducted in cooperation with the Indemnifying Party, who
may appoint (at their own cost) any legal advisor in addition to
the one(s) appointed by the JV Company.
19.7 Subject to the other provisions
of this Section 19.7, any amount due under the terms of this
Section 19 related to any Loss effectively incurred under the terms
of Section 19 (including the corresponding Defense Costs) shall be
paid by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party as follows:
(i) if related to a Third-Party Claim, within the fifteen (15)
Business Days following the receipt by the Indemnifying Party of a
written notice from the Indemnified Party informing about the Loss,
it being agreed that any indemnification shall be due only and
after final and non- appealable court or arbitral decision in
relation to the Third-Party Claim; and (ii) in the event of a
Direct Claim, (a) within fifteen (15) Business Days as from the
agreement in writing of the Indemnifying Party to be liable for the
requested indemnification; or (b) within fifteen (15) Business Days
as from the end of the arbitral proceeding provided in this
Agreement. Any such indemnification
obligation to be paid by the Indemnifying Party shall be adjusted
by the IPCA variation between the date in which the Losses were
incurred and the date of the actual payment to the Indemnified
Party.
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19.8 When
the Loss has been suffered by the JV Company (after the Subsequent
Closing) the Indemnifying Party shall, at its discretion, indemnify
the JV Company in the full amount of the Loss. When the Loss has
been suffered directly by the Indemnified Parties that are not the
JV Company, then the Loss shall be fully indemnified to such
Indemnified Party.
19.9 The
Parties undertake to act in good faith in the event any Loss
occurs, as to mitigate in each case, the amount of any Losses to be
indemnified by the other Party. In this sense, Parties shall in
good faith (i) avoid performing acts, omissions, and/or letting or
making facts or events occur which could cause Losses
indemnifiable, (ii) in the event any event triggering Losses
occurs, remedy or mitigate the amount of any Losses to be
indemnified; and (iii) receive full indemnification under any
insurance policy that covers any Loss under this Agreement or seek
full indemnification before any responsible third-party for the
relevant Loss, undertaking to take all necessary judicial or
arbitration measures to receive such indemnification.
19.10 Any
amounts paid in connection with this Section 19 shall be made to
hold the Indemnified Party harmless with respect to the Losses
incurred, with the transfer of amounts necessary for reinstating
the Indemnified Party to the status quo ante. In that respect, the
payments of any indemnification shall be made taking into account
any possible deduction of any Taxes imposed on the receipt of such
amounts and/or on their transfer to the relevant party, with the
gross-up of such amounts when necessary.
SECTION
20
TERM
AND TERMINATION
20.1 This
Agreement shall be effective from the Effective Date and shall be
automatically terminated upon the earliest to occur of any one of
the following events: (a) the Initial Closing Date; (b) the date
fixed for termination by a separate written instrument executed by
Sanuwave and the IDIC Group; or (c) on the Initial Closing Long
Stop Date, if the applicable Parties have not satisfied or waived
the Initial Closing Conditions.
20.2 This
Agreement may be terminated by Sanuwave, subject to a 30-day cure
period if any member of the IDIC Group or any other Party (a) fails
to make any payments when due; (b) materially breaches any term or
condition of this Agreement, provided that such material breach
would be reasonably foreseeable to cause a material adverse effect
on the business, financials or results of operations of the
non-breaching Party with respect to the Business; or (c) if any
member of the IDIC Group or any other Party files for bankruptcy,
judicial recovery or becomes insolvent.
20.3 This
Agreement may be terminated by the IDIC Group, subject to a 30-day
cure period, if Sanuwave (a) fails to make any payments when due;
(b) materially breaches any term or condition of this Agreement,
provided that such material breach would be reasonably foreseeable
to cause a material adverse effect on the business, financials or
results of operations of the non- breaching Party with respect to
the Business; or (c) files for bankruptcy, judicial recovery or
becomes insolvent.
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20.3.1 Even
if this Agreement is terminated due to any of the reasons described
in Clause 20.3 (c), the Supply Agreement, Trademark License
Agreement and Technology License Agreement shall survive for the
benefit of the JV Company.
20.4 The
Shareholders’ Agreement shall provide that if the Subsequent
Closing has not occurred by the Subsequent Closing Long Stop Date,
that the Parties can mutually agree to extend the Subsequent
Closing Long Stop Date. In the event that the Parties do not agree
to extend the Subsequent Closing Long Stop Date and if the
Subsequent Closing has not occurred by the Subsequent Closing Long
Stop Date, Sanuwave shall reimburse to the members of the IDIC
Group all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by the IDIC Group with respect to the Business or the JV Company
from the Effective Date until the Subsequent Closing Long Stop
Date. In such case, all rights granted to the IDIC Group hereunder,
under the Supply Agreement, the Trademark License Agreement and the
Technology License Agreement shall be terminated and reverted to
Sanuwave. The IDIC Group shall return all equipment and materials
provided by Sanuwave in connection with the JV Company and pay all
amounts due to Sanuwave. The members of the IDIC Group shall also
return to Sanuwave any and all tangible embodiments of any and all
Intellectual Property licensed to the IDIC Group by Sanuwave. The
IDIC Group shall also provide Sanuwave with a certificate attesting
the return of all items indicated above.
20.5 Sections
19, 22, 23, and 24 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Nothing in this Section 19 shall be deemed to release any Party
from any liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to the
effective date of its termination.
20.6 The
JV Company may otherwise be terminated and/or wound up pursuant to
the terms and provisions set forth in the Shareholders’
Agreement.
SECTION
21
NON-COMPETE
AND NON SOLICIT
21.1 If the Subsequent Closing occurs,
the Parties undertake that they shall not, directly or indirectly,
either on their own account or through third parties (whether as
owner, quotaholder, shareholder, investor, partner, joint venture,
consultant, employee, agent, services provider, distributor,
licensor or otherwise), conduct activities identical to the
Business in Brazil, as carried out by the JV Company at the
corresponding time, other than through the JV Company, register,
make, have made, develop, license, sell, market or distribute a
competing product in Brazil or attempt to register any Intellectual
Property of the other Party in its name or in the name of the JV
Company, nor shall they permit, consent to, or authorize any of
their respective sub-licensees, distributors, contractors or agents
to do any of the foregoing (the “Non-Compete
Obligation”). For the avoidance of doubt, the
Non-Compete Obligation shall also include the production, sale and
commercialization, directly or indirectly, either on their own
account or through third parties (whether as owner, quotaholder,
shareholder, investor, partner, joint venture, consultant,
employee, agent, services provider, distributor, licensor or
otherwise) of any Device for the treatment of various acute and
chronic wounds using extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The Non-
Compete obligation does not include the consulting
activities of Pharmexon Consulting s.r.o, in any territory
whatsoever, which are expressly authorized.
37
21.2 The
Non-Compete Obligation shall be valid in Brazil for the IDIC Group,
Versani and Universus and binding on such Parties on and from the
Subsequent Closing Date and shall survive for one (1) year as from
the date on which either Party ceases to have any direct or
indirect equity in the JV Company.
SECTION
22
SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE AND ANNULLMENT OF VOTE
22.1
The Shareholders’ Agreement of the JV Company shall
contemplate that the General Shareholders’ Meeting shall have
powers to approve the suspension of the voting rights and/or of
right to receive dividends of the Parties which are proven in
default to the obligations established thereunder, under this
Agreement or under Applicable Law, with due regard to Articles 115
and 120 of Brazilian Corporations Law; provided that such
suspension shall be valid only until the relevant default has been
cured by the defaulting shareholder. The default or failure to
comply with any of the obligations set forth under the
Shareholders’ Agreement or under this Agreement will grant
any harmed Party the right to demand judicially the performance of
the obligation under Applicable Law. The Shareholders’
Agreement shall be executed by 2 (two) witnesses and shall create
an out-of-court enforceable deed under the terms of Article 585, II
of the Civil Procedure Code and the obligations contained therein
shall be subject to specific performance pursuant to the civil
procedure legislation currently in force. The Shareholders’
Agreement shall be filed at the JV Company’s head office
pursuant to and for the purposes of Article 118 of the Brazilian
Corporation Law. The members of the Board of Directors shall not
cast a vote which does not comply with the provisions of this
Agreement.
SECTION
23
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
23.1 In case of controversies or
disagreements of any nature, direct or indirectly related or
arising from this Agreement, including (i) with respect to its
validity, existence and effectiveness; (ii) the existence and/or
exercise of any right or obligation arising out of this Agreement;
(iii) the existence and/or occurrence of any loss; or (iv)
interpretation of terms, conditions and provisions of this
Agreement (a “Conflict”),
involving any Party and/or the Company, including its successors on
any account, the Parties, represented by the member of their Senior
Management, shall meet aiming to solve the Conflict in an amicable
manner. If an agreement is not reached within 30 (thirty) days or a
longer period as may be agreed in writing among the Parties, the
Dispute shall be solved by arbitration proceeding pursuant to the
following terms.
23.2 The arbitration shall be managed
by the International Chamber of Commerce - ICC (“Arbitration
Chamber”) pursuant to its internal arbitration rules
in force at the time of filling the request by the interested Party
(“Rules
of Arbitration”).
23.3 The
arbitration shall be conducted in English and the seat of the
arbitration shall be the City of London, United Kingdom, without
prejudice to the designation by the Arbitral Tribunal on the
inquiries and hearings to be held elsewhere. The arbitration award
shall be rendered in the City of London, United Kingdom. The main
documents of the arbitration shall be translated into Portuguese
language, provided that the English language version shall prevail
in case of conflict.
38
23.4 The arbitral tribunal shall be
composed of 1 (one) arbitrator (“Arbitral
Tribunal”), to be nominated in accordance with the
Rules of Arbitration.
23.5 All
expenses related to the arbitration, as well as fees of the
arbitrators and administrative expenses with the Arbitration
Chamber shall be borne in accordance with the arbitration award. In
no event, however, shall the losing party, total or partially, be
required to bear the cost of the legal fees agreed between the
winning party(ies) and its attorney.
23.6 The
arbitration award shall be definitive and shall be binding upon the
Parties, the Company and their successors. The arbitration award
shall not be subject to appeal, except for requests for correction
and clarifications.
23.7 The
Parties and the Company agree that the arbitration shall be kept
strictly confidential and that its elements (including the
arguments of the parties, evidence, reports, third- party
statements and any other document presented or exchanged during the
arbitration proceeding) shall only be disclosed to the Arbitral
Tribunal, to the Parties, the Company, their lawyers and to any
Person required to the development of the arbitration, except for
the disclosure requested for the fulfilment of obligations imposed
by Law or by any competent Governmental Authority.
23.8 The
arbitration provisions set forth herein provided only binds the
Parties and the Company, and its effects shall not be extended to
any other Person who is not a signatory of this Agreement, even if
the other Person is part of the same group of the Parties or of the
Company, or is a party to any other agreement with any of the
Parties.
SECTION
24
CONFIDENTIALITY
24.1 Each Party agrees not to disclose
any Confidential Information of or concerning any other Party, the
Business or the JV Company to any Person without the express prior
authorization of such other Party. “Confidential
Information” means any information concerning the JV
Company, the Parties and/or their Affiliates obtained hereunder or
in connection herewith. The obligation sets forth in this Section
23 shall not apply to Confidential Information that is or becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of an
action or omission by a Party obligated hereunder to preserve the
confidentiality of such information or any of its
representatives.
24.2 The
confidentiality obligations under this Section 24 shall not prevent
the disclosure by a Party of any Confidential Information (i) to
the extent required under Applicable Law or any regulation
applicable to such Party or its Affiliates or for its or their
compliance with requirements made by competent Governmental
Authority, including public agencies of supervision and control;
(ii) for accounting purposes, including for the consolidation of
the Party’s investments; or (iii) to such Party’
Affiliates and their respective officers, partners, shareholders,
auditors, consultants, financing parties, business partners,
investors, advisors or to third parties potentially interested in
acquiring the shares, provided that each such Person to which
Confidential Information is disclosed has committed to
confidentiality obligations no less stringent than those
established in this Section 23 or is bound by professional duties
of confidentiality.
39
24.3 If
a Party discloses Confidential Information under the terms of item
“i” of Section 24.2 above, such
Party shall immediately notify the Person who provided the
Confidential Information in order to give that Person an
opportunity to challenge the legal/regulatory request. The Party
shall also cooperate with the referred Person and shall take
reasonable efforts to mitigate the disclosure or the use of
Confidential Information, as well as to make the Confidential
Information to be treated as confidential by the Person to whom the
Confidential Information was disclosed.
24.4
Each
Party:
(i) shall limit the
disclosure of Confidential Information to its directors, officers,
employees, the directors, officers and employees of their
Affiliates, as well as to the other Persons to whom disclosure is
authorized herein, which may be required to use the Confidential
Information for the purposes authorized under this Agreement or as
a result of their duties, considering that such Persons shall be
bound to the Party by means of a confidentiality agreement, with
terms no less stringent than those established under this Section
24, or by a professional ethical obligation which requires the
maintenance of secrecy and does not violate the terms of this
Agreement;
(ii) shall
cause (a) each one of its directors, officers and employees, (b)
directors, officers and employees of their Affiliates, and (c) each
other Person to which it discloses Confidential Information to
comply with the obligations provided herein; and
(iii) shall
use its best efforts to cause its Affiliates and the Persons
mentioned in item “ii” above to comply with the terms
of this Section 24, being responsible for the breach of the terms
set forth by any such Person.
24.5 The
Parties shall use their best efforts to make only the press
releases or other public disclosures as are required by law;
observing that no press release or other public disclosure shall be
made without prior consultation with the other
Party(ies).
24.6 The
Parties hereby acknowledge that Sanuwave is subject to certain
securities laws, compliance with which may require the disclosure
of Confidential Information. The Parties hereby agree that Sanuwave
may disclose Confidential Information in connection with its
ongoing reporting requirements under applicable securities laws and
pursuant to any other acts it may take in connection with its
obligation to comply with such securities laws.
SECTION
25
25.1 The
members of the IDIC Group hereby grant irrevocable powers to the
IDIC Group Nominee Shareholder to exercise or waive, as applicable,
any and all rights attached to the Shares held by the members of
the IDIC Group, including but not limited to the following rights,
which the IDIC Group Nominee Shareholder shall exercise in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement:
(a) propose to convene
shareholders meetings and exercise voting rights in any Ordinary or
Extraordinary General Shareholders Meetings of the JV
Company;
40
(b) exercise any and
all rights of the members of the IDIC Group in connection with any
Transfer of Shares, including for the purposes of the exercise of
any Right of First Offer, Tag-Along Right and Drag-Along Right,
which shall be exercised by the IDIC Group as a whole, and not by
its individual members;
(c) exercise any and
all rights of the members of the IDIC Group in connection with an
IDIC Group Change of Control Put Option, which shall be exercised
by the IDIC Group as a whole, and not by its individual
members;
(d) appoint any members
of the Board of Directors and Fiscal Board of the JV Company which
the members of the IDIC Group are entitled to appoint jointly as a
whole, and not by its individual members; or request the dismissal
of any such members of the Board of Directors and Fiscal Board of
the JV Company appointed by the members of the IDIC Group as herein
provided;
(e) represent the
members of the IDIC Group in any Consenting Meetings of
Representatives and Consenting Meetings of the Senior Management in
connection with a Deadlock;
(f) issue any and all
documents required for the Initial Closing and the Subsequent
Closing on behalf of the members of the IDIC Group;
(g) represent the
members of the IDIC Group in connection with any Event Subject to
Indemnification;
(h) execute any
amendments to this Agreement on behalf of the members of the IDIC
Group;
(i)
grant any consent or approval on behalf of the members of the IDIC
Group;
(j) issue any and all
notices and written statements required to be issued by the members
of the IDIC Group under this Agreement to exercise any of the
rights attached to the Shares held by the members of the IDIC Group
Members, including but not limited to the rights listed
above.
25.2 The
members of the IDIC Group hereby agree to execute any and all
documents necessary to grant the necessary required for the IDIC
Group Nominee Shareholder to exercise the rights provided for
herein on behalf of the members of the IDIC Group
Members.
25.3 The
authority conferred to the IDIC Group Nominee Shareholder is
binding on the members of the IDIC Group until another joint
representative is notified to the other Parties in writing with a
30-day prior notice. In the event that the IDIC Group Nominee
Shareholder becomes unable to perform his responsibilities
hereunder or resigns from such position, the members of the IDIC
Group shall appoint a new IDIC Group Nominee Shareholder or another
representative without delay to fill such vacancy and notify the
other Parties of such replacement in writing.
41
25.4 The
members of the IDIC Group hereby acknowledge and agree that all
members of the IDIC Group shall be jointly and severally liable for
any legal consequences arising from the IDIC Group Nominee
Shareholder's exercise of the aforesaid rights in accordance with
this Agreement.
25.5 Any
member of the IDIC Group who sells and transfers all of its Shares
in the JV Company to a Party or a Third-Party shall cease to be a
member of the IDIC Group as of the date on which the respective
sale and transfer of all of such Shares becomes
effective.
SECTION
26
MISCELLANEOUS
26.1 All
costs and expenses incurred by each Party in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other
agreements referred to herein shall, unless otherwise expressly
agreed in writing between the Parties, be borne exclusively by the
Party that incurred such costs.
26.2 All
notices authorized or required between the Parties by any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing, in English
(except for documents and/or information received from
third-parties attached that may be attached to such notices), and
delivered in person or by courier service or by e-mail provided
that the other party provides confirmation of transmission, and
addressed to such Parties as designated below. Oral communication
does not constitute notice for the purposes of this Agreement and
telephone numbers of the Parties are listed below as a matter of
convenience only. The originating notice given under any provision
of this Agreement shall be deemed delivered only when received by
the Party to whom such notice is directed, and the time for such
Party to deliver any notice in response to such originating notice
shall run from the Business Day following receipt of the
originating notice. "Received" for the purposes of this Section
shall mean actual delivery of the notice to the address, including
electronic address as applicable, of the Party to be notified as
specified in this Section. Each Party shall have the right to
change its address at any time and/or designate that copies of all
such notices be directed to another Person at another address, by
giving at least five (5) Business Days written Notice thereof to
all other Parties.
26.3 Any
Notice hereunder shall be deemed sufficiently given and received at
the time of receipt, if delivered by hand, sent by registered mail
or courier service, or, if delivered by email or fax, on the date
the other Party receives transmission thereof, free of any
transmission error.
26.4 Each
Party shall, immediately upon receipt of any Notice given
hereunder, acknowledge receipt thereof by any of the means under
this Section 26.4, whenever requested to do so by the sender,
provided that the lack of such acknowledgment shall not prejudice
the validity of any notice given in accordance with this Section
26.4.
26.5 The
waiver of any provision of this Agreement by a Party shall not be
valid unless in writing and signed by authorized officers of such
Party. The waiver by any Party in any instance of the other Party's
noncompliance with any obligation or responsibility herein shall
not be deemed a waiver of other instances of
noncompliance.
42
26.6 Neither
this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended in any
manner except by an instrument in writing which refers to this
Agreement and is executed by each one of the Parties.
26.7 All
Schedules and/or Exhibits referred to in, or relating to, this
Agreement are attached hereto and are incorporated herein by
reference as if fully set forth herein and shall be an integral
part hereof. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the text
hereof, all references to this Agreement shall be considered to
include this Agreement and its Schedules and Exhibits.
26.8 The
provisions of this Agreement and its Schedules and Exhibits, (i)
set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties as
to the subject matter hereof; and (ii) supersede all prior
agreements, oral or written, and all other communications between
the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof, including, but
not limited to, the Term Sheet. In the event of any conflict or
discrepancy between the provisions of this Agreement and those of
the other Transaction Documents (i) first, the provisions of the
Shareholders’ Agreement shall prevail vis-à-vis the
provisions of all other Transaction Documents; and (ii) second, the
provisions of this Agreement shall (to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law) prevail vis-à-vis the provisions of all other
Transaction Document.
26.9 This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns;
provided, however, that no rights, obligations or liabilities
hereunder shall be assignable by any Party without the prior
written consent of the other Party, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein. None of the conditions, provisions,
rights and obligations arising under this Agreement, except as
otherwise expressly set forth, shall function to bind other
companies, divisions, business units or businesses comprising the
respective business groups of each Party.
26.10 Should
any provision of this Agreement be held to be definitively
unenforceable by a competent court under the Applicable Law, (i)
the Parties hereto shall in good faith adopt such measures as are
legally permitted and reasonable, so as to actually effect their
intent under such provision; and (ii) in any event, the legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement
shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
26.11 This
Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, construed and
governed by and in accordance with the laws of England and
Wales.
26.12 No
public release, announcement or other form of publicity concerning
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be issued by
any Party without the prior consent of the other Party, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
26.13 This
Agreement is not intended, nor should anything herein be construed,
to create a relationship of partners, principal and agent, employer
and employee, or other fiduciary relationship among the Parties,
except as expressly provided herein. Except as expressly provided
herein, no Party shall have any authority to represent or to bind
the other Party in any manner whatsoever, and each Party shall be
solely responsible and liable for its own acts.
26.14 This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same document.
43
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have
caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective duly
authorized officers as of the date first above mentioned. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original and all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute the entire document and may be executed by
electronically scanned or “pdf”
signatures.
SANUWAVE HEALTH
INC.
/s/ Kevin A. Richardson II
Name:
Kevin A. Richardson II
Title:
Chairman & CEO
VERSANI
HEALTH CONSULTING CONSULTORIA EM GESTÃO DE NEGÓCIOS
EIRELI
/s/ Mauricio Grimoni
Name:
Mauricio Grimoni
Title:
Partner
UNIVERSUS GLOBAL
ADVISORS LLC
/s/ Michael Hubert
Name:
Michael Hubert
Title:
Principal
IDIC
GROUP
/s/ Paulo Cesena
/s/ Daniel Feliciano Ferreira
Name: Paulo
Cesena
Name: Daniel
Feliciano Ferreira
/s/ Fabio Delmonte
Moreira
/s/ Parvinder
Punia
Name: Fabio Delmonte Moreira Name: Parvinder Punia
Name: Fabio Delmonte Moreira Name: Parvinder Punia
/s/ Laura Nae
/s/ Fernando Delmonte Moreira
Name: Laura
Nae
Name: Fernando Delmonte Moreira
CURARUS
LIMITED
/s/ Danesh Gadhia
Name:
Danesh Gadhia
EXHIBIT 21.1
List of Subsidiaries
Direct Subsidiary of SANUWAVE Health, Inc.
1.
SANUWAVE,
Inc., a Delaware corporation
Subsidiaries of SANUWAVE, Inc. – Indirect Subsidiaries of
SANUWAVE Health, Inc.
1.
SANUWAVE
Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
2.
SANUWAVE
AG, a company organized under the laws of Switzerland
Exhibit 23.1
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S
CONSENT
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. on Form S-8 (File No.
333-170301) of our report dated March 30, 2020, which includes an
explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue
as a going concern, with respect to our audits of the consolidated
financial statements of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. as of December 31,
2019 and 2018 and for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 2019, which report is included in this Annual Report
on Form 10-K of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. for the year ended December
31, 2019.
Our
report on the consolidated financial statements refers to a change
in the method of accounting for leases effective January 1, 2019
due to the adoption of the guidance in Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842.
/s/
Marcum llp
Marcum
llp
New
York, NY
March
30, 2020
EXHIBIT 31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
I, Kevin A. Richardson, II, certify that:
1.
I
have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of SANUWAVE Health,
Inc.;
2.
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
3.
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
this report;
4.
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible
for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange
Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
a)
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
b)
Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
c)
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the
end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
d)
Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the
registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting; and
5.
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed,
based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the
audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions):
a)
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information;
and
b)
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting.
Date: March 30, 2020
/s/ Kevin
A. Richardson, II
Kevin A. Richardson, II
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
EXHIBIT 31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
I, Lisa E. Sundstrom, certify that:
1.
I
have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of SANUWAVE Health,
Inc.;
2.
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
3.
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
this report;
4.
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible
for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange
Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
a)
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in
which this report is being prepared;
b)
Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;
c)
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the
end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
d)
Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the
registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting; and
5.
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed,
based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the
audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions):
a)
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information;
and
b)
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting.
Date: March 30, 2020
/s/ Lisa E.
Sundstrom
Lisa E.
Sundstrom
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting
officer)
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION
In
connection with the annual report of SANWUAVE Health, Inc. (the
“Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Report”), I, Kevin A. Richardson, II, Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, hereby certify as of the date hereof,
solely for purposes of Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350 of the
United States Code, that:
1.
The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and
2.
The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods
indicated.
Date: March 30, 2020
/s/ Kevin
A. Richardson, II
Kevin A. Richardson, II
Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION
In
connection with the annual report of SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (the
“Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Report”), I, Lisa E. Sundstrom, Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, hereby certify as of the date hereof,
solely for purposes of Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350 of the
United States Code, that:
1.
The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and
2.
The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods
indicated.
Date: March 30, 2020
/s/ Lisa E. Sundstrom
Lisa E. Sundstrom
Chief Financial Officer