EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1471727
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1471727_10-K_2021_0001471727-21-000029.json

---

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Our History
On December 17, 2018, Better Choice Company made a $2.2 million investment in TruPet, an online seller of pet foods, pet nutritional products and related pet supplies. On February 2, 2019, Better Choice Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the remainder of TruPet. In connection with the acquisition, 15,027,533 shares of Better Choice Company common stock were issued to TruPet’s members for the remaining 93% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of TruPet. We closed the acquisition on May 6, 2019.
On February 28, 2019, Better Choice Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Bona Vida, an emerging hemp-based CBD platform focused on developing a portfolio of brand and product verticals within the animal health and wellness space. In connection with the acquisition, 18,103,273 shares of Better Choice Company common stock were issued to Bona Vida’s stockholders for all shares of Bona Vida’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the acquisition. We closed the acquisition on May 6, 2019.
On October 15, 2019, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (as amended, the “Halo Agreement”) with Halo, Thriving Paws, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Thriving Paws”), HH-Halo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“HH-Halo” and, together with Thriving Paws, the “Sellers”) and HH-Halo, in the capacity of the representative of the Sellers. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Halo Agreement, among other things, we agreed to purchase from the Sellers one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Halo. The aggregate consideration payable by us under the Halo Agreement was $38.2 million, subject to customary adjustments for Halo’s net working capital, cash, and indebtedness, and consisted of a combination of (i) cash, (ii) shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and (iii) convertible subordinated notes and accompanying stock purchase warrants. We closed this acquisition, which we refer to as the Halo Acquisition, on December 19, 2019.
Overview of Our Business
Better Choice is a growing animal health and wellness company ready to lead the global industry shift toward pet products and services that help dogs and cats live healthier, happier and longer lives. Our mission is to become the most innovative premium pet food company in the world, and we are motivated by our commitment to making products with integrity and treating pets and their parents with respect. We position our portfolio of brands to benefit from the trends of growing pet humanization and an increased consumer focus on health and wellness, and have adopted a laser focused approach to growth that is driven by new product innovation. Our executive team has a proven history of success in both pet and consumer-packaged goods, and has over 50 years of combined experience in the pet industry and over 100 years of combined experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry.
Better Choice’s best-in-class product offering is sold today under the Halo and TruDog brands and has enabled the Company to penetrate multiple channels of trade, which we believe enables us to deliver on core consumer needs and respond to changing channel dynamics that have only accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We group these channels of trade into four distinct categories: E-Commerce, which includes the sale of product to online retailers such as Amazon and Chewy; Brick & Mortar, which includes the sale of product to pet specialty chains such as Petco, PetSmart, select grocery chains and neighborhood pet stores; Direct to Consumer (“DTC”) which includes the sale of product through our online web platform; and International, which includes the sale of product to foreign distribution partners and to select international retailers. We believe our omni-channel approach is a significant competitive advantage, as it allows us to design and sell products purpose-built for success in specific channels while maintaining our ability to leverage marketing and sales resources cross-channel.
New product innovation represents the cornerstone of our growth plan, and our established supply and distribution infrastructure allows us to develop, manufacture and bring new products to market in generally under nine months. Our flexible and scalable outsourced manufacturing model also promotes innovation, as we offer a wide variety of dog and cat food products under the Halo and TruDog brands that serve many different consumer needs. Founded in 1986, the Halo brand consists of a diversified, premium natural dog and cat portfolio, with products derived from real whole meat, no rendered meat meal and non-genetically modified (non-"GMO") fruits and vegetables, unlike many other kibble and canned products currently in the marketplace. In addition to its dry kibble and canned wet food offering, Halo also has a successful line of freeze-dried treats for dogs and cats and a growing line of award-winning vegan products for dogs. Founded in 2013, the TruDog brand offers ultra-premium, freeze-dried raw dog food, toppers, treats and supplements sold predominantly on its DTC website. Freeze-dried raw dog food is one of the fastest growing sub-category of premium pet food, with Packaged Facts reporting 39% YoY growth in the sub-category in 2019. We strongly believe that both brands are well positioned to take advantage of pet parents’ increasing desire to feed only the highest quality ingredients to their pets, and that there will continue to be innovative opportunities for brand consolidation over time.
Product Lines
We have a strong portfolio of premium animal health and wellness products for dogs and cats sold under the Halo, TruDog, and Rawgo! brand names across multiple forms and classes, including foods, treats, toppers, dental products, chews, grooming products and supplements. Our products consist of naturally formulated premium kibble and canned dog and cat food, freeze-dried raw dog food and treats, vegan dog food and treats, oral care products, supplements and grooming aids. Our core products sold under the Halo brand are sustainably sourced, derived from real whole meat and no rendered meat meal and include non-GMO fruits and vegetables. Our core products sold under the TruDog brand are made according to our nutritional philosophy of fresh, meat-based nutrition and minimal processing.
We offer our customers over 100 active stock keeping units (“SKUs”), and all of our products are sold under the Halo, TruDog, or Rawgo! brand name, with ingredients, packaging and labeling customized by SKU.
Although Bona Vida remains a wholly owned subsidiary of the Better Choice Company, as of December 31, 2020 Better Choice does not currently sell or market any CBD products, does not currently own any CBD related inventory or raw materials and does not currently have plans to re-enter the CBD market at this time.
Supply, Manufacturing and Logistics
Our products sold under the Halo brand are made strictly from naturally raised animals on sustainable farms and are manufactured in the United States. By sourcing cage-free poultry, pasture-raised beef, and wild-caught fish from certified sustainable fisheries and not including meat meals or other animal byproducts in its formulations, Halo is able to provide pets and pet parents with a nutritious and highly digestible suite of food and treats. Halo partners with a number of co-manufacturing partners to produce its products. Halo’s dog and cat foods meet The Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO”) guidelines and are small-batch tested for common contaminants prior to leaving the manufacturer.
Our products sold under the TruDog brand are manufactured and sourced from a variety of third-party and suppliers in both the United States and New Zealand and use healthy, natural ingredients, with all purchases transacted in U.S. dollars. Many products are preserved using either freeze drying or gentle air dehydration to eliminate the need for artificial preservatives and added chemicals. Our treats and chews are oven-baked, using natural ingredients for maximum nutrition and protein content. Like Halo, TruDog raw dog foods meet AAFCO guidelines and are small-batch tested for common contaminants prior to leaving the manufacturer.
We utilize logistics service providers as a part of our supply chain, primarily for shipping and logistics support. Fulfillment of orders for both the Halo and Trudog brands is managed by a third-party warehousing and logistics partner based in Lebanon, Tennessee. Our DTC ecosystem allows us to efficiently manage and customize the online shopping experience for customers, including a customer dashboard where shoppers can manage and track orders and order history. Our products are shipped by trusted carriers for expeditious and reliable delivery.
Customers
The following chart provides a breakdown of net sales by channel for the year ended December 31, 2020:
E-Commerce partners include Amazon, Chewy, Petflow, Thrive Market and Vitacost. While the industry-wide E-Commerce sales have retreated somewhat following the March 2020 pantry stocking, the sale of pet food and supplies online has increased 35% year-over-year according to Packaged Facts, with subscription sales nearly equal to the March 2020 peak. We anticipate our ability to reach a growing base of diverse customers online will only increase as E-Commerce penetration increases as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our DTC website also has a loyalty program called the TruDog Love Club (“TLC”), which incentivizes repeat purchases and customer loyalty.
Brick & Mortar partners include Petco, Petsmart, neighborhood pet stores and select grocery accounts. Although E-Commerce led industry growth in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly believe Better Choice’s long-established relationships with key Brick & Mortar customers will enable us to jointly launch new products in the future that are designed for in-store success.
International distribution partners are driven by purchases in China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. We believe that our growth in Asia is fueled by increasing levels of economic financial status and demand for premium, western manufactured products, with China representing the largest market opportunity for growth and 48% of Better Choice’s international sales in 2020. According to Euromonitor, the Chinese market for premium dry dog and cat food is anticipated to grow at a 20% CAGR and 28% CAGR, respectively, from 2015 through 2025.
Sales and Marketing
Our marketing strategies are designed to clearly communicate to consumers about the benefits of our products and to build awareness of our brands. We deploy a broad set of marketing tools across various forms of media to reach consumers through multiple touch points and engage with a number of marketing agencies to develop content and product packaging. Our marketing initiatives include the use of social and digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization, email and SMS marketing, and paid media (Facebook, Instagram & YouTube), among other proven strategies to generate and convert sales prospects into loyal, satisfied customers. In addition to directly targeting and educating consumers of our products, we partner with a number of retailers such as Amazon, Chewy and Petco to develop joint sales and marketing initiatives to increase sales and acquire new customers.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related stay at home orders, consumer purchasing behaviors have shifted dramatically in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, E-Commerce penetration increased from 13% in 2019 to 34% at the end of Q1 2020. Although approximately 59% of Better Choice’s sales are made online today, we remain committed to partnering with select Brick & Mortar retailers in pet specialty and neighborhood pet, as in-store recommendation and trial represent a significant opportunity for new customer acquisition. We believe that these in-store partnerships are complementary to the incentives that our E-Commerce partners offer to drive monthly subscriptions, and build upon the recurring revenue that we generate online.
Competition
The pet health and wellness industry is highly competitive. Competitive factors include product quality, ingredients, brand awareness and loyalty, product variety, product packaging and design, reputation, price, advertising, promotion, and nutritional claims. We believe that we compete effectively with respect to each of these factors.
We compete with manufacturers of conventional pet food such as Mars, Nestlé and Big Heart Pet Brands (part of the J.M. Smucker Company), and manufacturers of specialty and natural pet food such as Blue Buffalo (part of General Mills), Wellness, Fromm, Orijen, Merrick (part of Nestlé), Stella and Chewy, I and Love and You, and Freshpet. In addition, we compete with many regional niche brands in individual geographic markets.
Raw Materials and Principal Suppliers
We rely upon the supply of raw materials that meet our specifications, such as USA farm-raised beef, Global Animal Partnership Certified Step 2 ("GAP 2") cage-free whole chicken and associated broths, GAP 2 certified cage-free whole turkey and associated broths, Marine Stewardship Council ("MSC") certified wild-caught salmon and MSC certified wild-caught whitefish and associated broths, and select non-GMO fruits and vegetables, such as peas, sweet potatoes and lentils. If any raw material is adulterated and does not meet our specifications, it could significantly impact our ability to source manufactured products and could materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on Alphia, Inc. (“Alphia” f/k/a “C.J. Foods”) for the supply and co-manufacturing of dry kibble sold under the Halo brand, Simmons Pet Food, Inc. (“Simmons”) for the supply and co-manufacturing of the majority of canned wet food sold under the Halo brand, and Carnivore Meat Company, LLC (“Carnivore”) for the supply and co-manufacturing of freeze-dried food and treats sold under the TruDog brand. Together, CJ Foods, Simmons, and Carnivore represent more than 75% of product volume sold across the Better Choice platform. In addition, we sourced approximately 76% of inventory purchases from three vendors for the year ended December 31, 2020 and approximately 74% from one vendor for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Employees and Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2020, we had 45 employees, all of which are full-time. Our employees are not represented by any labor union or any collective bargaining arrangement with respect to their employment with us. We have never experienced any work stoppages or strikes as a result of labor disputes. We believe that our employee relations are good.
Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and additional employees. The principal purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants and directors through the granting of stock-based compensation awards.
Many of our employees, including members of our management team, have been reporting to work remotely due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has resulted in the closure of our offices in Florida, Ohio and New York. Our operations or productivity may continue to be impacted throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and government-mandated closures.
Government Regulation
The regulation of animal food products in the United States is complex, multi-faceted, and currently undergoing significant change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") and other regulatory authorities at the federal, state and local levels, as well as authorities in foreign countries, extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, composition, manufacture, import, export, labeling, storage, distribution, promotion, marketing, and post-market reporting of animal foods. We, along with our third-party contractors, are required to navigate a complex regulatory framework in the countries in which we wish to manufacture, test, import, export, or sell our products.
We are also subject to labor and employment laws, laws governing advertising, privacy laws, safety regulations and other laws, including consumer protection regulations that regulate retailers or govern the promotion and sale of merchandise. Our operations, and those of our distributors and suppliers, are subject to various laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and worker health and safety matters. We monitor changes in these laws and believe that we are in material compliance with applicable laws.
FDA Regulation of Animal Foods
The FDA regulates foods, including foods intended for animals, under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act ("FDCA") and its implementing regulations. The FDCA defines “food” as articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, which includes products that are intended primarily for nutritional use, taste, or aroma and the components of such products. For animal foods in particular, this definition applies based on their intended use regardless of labelling as animal food, treats, or supplements. The FDA also imposes certain requirements on animal foods relating to their composition, manufacturing, labeling, and marketing. Among other things, the facilities in which our products and ingredients are manufactured must register with the FDA, comply with current good manufacturing practices (“cGMPs”) and comply with a range of food safety requirements.
Although pet foods are not required to obtain premarket approval from the FDA, any substance that is added to or is expected to become a component of a pet food must be used in accordance with a food additive regulation, unless it is generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”) under the conditions of its intended use or if it appears on an FDA-recognized list of acceptable animal food ingredients in the Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials ("AAFCO"). A food may be adulterated if it uses an ingredient that is neither GRAS nor an approved food additive, and that food may not be legally marketed in the United States.
The labeling of pet foods is regulated by both the FDA and state regulatory authorities. FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, a net quantity statement, a statement of the name and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor and proper listing of all the ingredients in order of predominance by weight. The FDA also considers certain specific claims on pet food labels to be medical claims and therefore subject to prior review and approval by the FDA. For example, pet food products that are labeled or marketed with claims that may suggest that they are intended to treat or prevent a specific disease in pets would potentially meet the statutory definitions of both a food and a drug.
The FDA recently issued guidance containing a list of specific factors it will consider in determining whether to initiate enforcement action against such products if they do not comply with the regulatory requirements applicable to drugs, including, among other things, whether the product is only made available through or under the direction of a veterinarian and does not present a known safety risk when used as labeled. The FDA may classify some of our products differently than we do and may impose more stringent regulations which could lead to possible enforcement action.
Under the FDCA, the FDA may require the recall of an animal food product if there is a reasonable probability that the product is adulterated or misbranded, and the use of or exposure to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. In addition, pet food manufacturers may voluntarily recall or withdraw their products from the market. If the FDA believes that our products are adulterated, misbranded or otherwise marketed in violation of the FDCA, the agency make take further enforcement action, including:
•restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of a product;
•required modification of promotional materials or issuance of corrective marketing information;
•issuance of safety alerts, press releases, or other communications containing warnings or other safety information about a product;
•warning or untitled letters;
•product seizure or detention;
•refusal to permit the import or export of products;
•fines, injunctions, or consent decrees; and
•imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
Our Trademarks and Other Intellectual Property
We believe that our intellectual property has substantial value and has contributed significantly to the success of our business. Our trademarks are valuable assets that reinforce our brand, our sub-brands and our consumers’ perception of our products. The current registrations of these trademarks in the U.S. and foreign countries are effective for varying periods of time and may be renewed periodically, provided that we, as the registered owner, or our licensees where applicable, comply with all applicable renewal requirements including, where necessary, the continued use of the trademarks in connection with the goods or services identified in the applicable registrations. In addition to trademark protection, we have registered more than 100 domain names, including www.trupet.com, www.trudog.com, www.rawgo.com, www.halopets.com, www.orapup.com and www.bonavida.com, that are important to the successful implementation of our marketing and advertising strategy. We rely on and carefully protect unpatented proprietary expertise, recipes and formulations, continuing innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position.
In April 2019, we entered into an intellectual property license with Elvis Presley Enterprises, LLC, pursuant to which we licensed the image, likeness, and persona of Elvis Presley and an associated trademark (“Houndog”) for use in the United States and Canada (subject to a territorial restriction in the geographical area surrounding Memphis, Tennessee) in connection with the advertisement, promotion and sale, via approved distribution channels, of certain of our CBD-infused animal health and wellness products. In January 2020, we terminated the agreement with no further obligations under the agreement.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated in the State of Nevada in 2001 under the name Cayenne Construction, Inc., and in 2009, changed our name to Sports Endurance, Inc. Effective March 11, 2019, we changed our name to Better Choice Company Inc. after reincorporating in Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 12400 Race Track Road, Tampa, FL 33626, and our telephone number is (813) 659-5921. Our website is available at https://www.betterchoicecompany.com. Our website and the information contained on or connected to that site are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that are publicly available through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available free of charge under the Investor Relations section of our website at www.betterchoicecompany.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website and the information contained on or connected to that site are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

---

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide a statement of risk factors. Nonetheless, we are voluntarily providing risk factors herein. You should consider carefully the following risk factors, together with all the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, and in our other public filings with the SEC. The occurrence of any of the following risks could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or growth prospects or cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements we have made in this report and those we may make from time to time. You should consider all of the risk factors described when evaluating our business.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. Companies have also taken precautions, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions and temporarily closing businesses and facilities. These restrictions, and future prevention and mitigation measures, have had and could have in the future an adverse impact on global economic conditions and are likely to have an adverse impact on consumer confidence and spending, which could materially adversely affect the supply of, as well as the demand for, our products. Uncertainties regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 is likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition and cash flows.
The COVID-19 pandemic could disrupt our third-party business partners' ability to meet their obligations to us, which may negatively affect our operations. These third parties include those who supply our ingredients, packaging, and other necessary operating materials, contract manufacturers, distributors, and logistics and transportation services providers. The impact of COVID-19 on these third party business partners, may negatively affect the price and availability of our ingredients and/or packaging materials and impact our supply chain. If the disruptions caused by COVID-19 continue for an extended period of time, our ability to meet the demands of our customers may be materially impacted. To date, we have not experienced any reduction in the available supply of our products.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our business will depend on future developments and, given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our business at this time. However, if the pandemic continues for a prolonged period it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and adversely impact the trading price of our common stock.
We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy on a timely basis or at all.
Our future success depends on our ability to implement our growth strategy of introducing new products and expanding into new markets and new distribution channels and attracting new consumers to our brand and sub-brands. Our ability to implement this growth strategy depends, among other things, on our ability to: establish our brands and reputation as a well-managed enterprise committed to delivering premium quality products to the pet health and wellness industry; partner with retailers and other potential distributors of our products; continue to effectively compete in specialty channels and respond to competitive developments; continue to market and sell our products through a multi-channel distribution strategy and achieve joint growth targets with our distribution partners; expand and maintain brand loyalty; develop new proprietary value-branded products and product line extensions that appeal to consumers; maintain and, to the extent necessary, improve our high standards for product quality, safety and integrity; maintain sources from suppliers that comply with all federal, state and local laws for the required supply of quality ingredients to meet our growing demand; identify and successfully enter and market our products in new geographic markets and market segments; execute value-focused pricing strategies; and attract, integrate, retain and motivate qualified personnel.
We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy and may need to change our strategy in order to maintain our growth. If we fail to implement our growth strategy or if we invest resources in a growth strategy that ultimately proves unsuccessful, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
We may have difficulties managing our anticipated growth, or we may not grow at all.
If we succeed in growing our business, such growth could strain our management team and capital resources. Our ability to manage operations and control growth will be dependent on our ability to raise and spend capital to successfully attract, train, motivate, retain and manage new members of senior management and other key personnel and continue to update and improve our management and operational systems, infrastructure and other resources, financial and management controls, and reporting systems and procedures. Failure to manage our growth effectively could cause us to misallocate management or financial resources, and result in additional expenditures and inefficient use of existing human and capital resources. Such slower than expected growth may require us to restrict or cease our operations and go out of business. Additionally, our anticipated growth will increase the demands placed on our suppliers, resulting in an increased need for us to manage our suppliers and monitor for quality assurance and comply with all applicable laws. Any failure by us to manage our growth effectively could impair our ability to achieve our business objectives.
We have a history of losses, we expect to incur losses in the future and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
Because we have a short operating history at scale, it is difficult for us to predict our future operating results. Thus, our losses may be larger than anticipated, and we may not achieve profitability when expected, or at all. Also, we expect our operating expenses to increase over the next several years as we further increase marketing spend, hire more employees, continue to develop new products and services, and expand internationally. These efforts may be more costly than we expect and may not result in increased revenue or growth in our business. Any failure to increase our revenue sufficiently to keep pace with our investments and other expenses could prevent us from achieving or maintaining profitability or positive cash flow on a consistent basis. Furthermore, if our future growth and operating performance fail to meet investor or analyst expectations, or if we have future negative cash flow or losses resulting from our investment in acquiring new customers or expanding our business, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
Our outstanding debt could reduce our strategic flexibility and liquidity and may have other adverse effects on our results of operations.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations depends upon our operating and financial performance, which is subject to general economic and competitive conditions and to financial, business and other factors affecting our operations, many of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to service our debt, we may need to sell inventory and other material assets, restructure or refinance our debt, or seek additional equity capital. If our inability to meet our debt service obligations results in an event of default as defined under our subordinated convertible promissory notes or our senior credit facility, the lenders thereunder may be able to take possession of substantially all of the assets of the Company. Prevailing economic conditions and global credit markets could adversely impact our ability to do so. Our debt agreements contain limits on our ability to, among other things, incur additional debt, grant liens, undergo certain fundamental changes, make investments, and dispose of inventory. For information regarding our outstanding debt, refer to "Note 10 - Debt" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report, which is incorporated into this Item 1A by reference.
Our recurring losses and significant accumulated deficit have raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.
We have experienced recurring operating losses over the last two years and have a significant accumulated deficit. We expect to continue to generate operating losses and consume significant cash resources for the foreseeable future. Without generating sufficient cash flow from operations or additional debt or equity financing, these conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, meaning that we may be unable to continue operations for the foreseeable future or realize assets and discharge liabilities in the ordinary course of operations. If we need to seek additional financing to fund our business activities in the future and there remains doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain sufficient funding, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected and we may be unable to continue as a going concern. If we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may have to liquidate our assets and may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on our consolidated financial statements, and it is likely that investors will lose all or a part of their investment.
Due to inherent limitations, there can be no assurance that our system of disclosure and internal controls and procedures will be successful in preventing all errors and fraud, or in making all material information known in a timely manner to management.
Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control.
The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
The combined business may be unable to integrate Bona Vida, Halo and TruPet’s businesses successfully and realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions.
In 2019, we completed three significant acquisitions that involved the combination of three businesses that historically have operated as independent companies. The success of the acquisitions will depend in large part on the success of the management of the combined business in integrating the operations, strategies, technologies and personnel of the companies. We may fail to realize some or all of the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions if the integration process takes longer than expected or is more costly than expected. Our failure to meet the challenges involved in successfully integrating the operations of Bona Vida, Halo or TruPet or to otherwise realize any of the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions could impair our operations.
Potential issues and difficulties the combined business may encounter in the integration process include the following:
•the inability to integrate the respective businesses of Bona Vida, Halo and TruPet in a manner that permits the combined business to achieve the synergies anticipated to result from the acquisitions, which could result in the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions not being realized partly or wholly in the time frame currently anticipated or at all;
•integrating personnel from the three companies while maintaining focus on safety and providing consistent, high quality products and customer service; and
•performance shortfalls at one or all of the companies as a result of the diversion of management's attention caused by the acquisitions and integrating the companies' operations.
We may seek to grow our company and business through acquisitions, investments or through strategic alliances, as we have with the acquisitions of Bona Vida, Halo and TruPet and our failure to identify and successfully integrate and manage these assets could have a material adverse effect on the anticipated benefits of the acquisition and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
From time to time we expect to consider opportunities to acquire or make investments in new or complementary businesses, facilities, technologies or products, or enter into strategic alliances, that may enhance our capabilities, expand our network, complement our current products or expand the breadth of our markets. In 2019, we completed three significant acquisitions that involved the combination of three businesses that historically have operated as independent companies. The success of these completed acquisitions and any future acquisitions will depend in large part on the success of our management team in integrating the operations, strategies, technologies and personnel.
Potential and completed acquisitions and investments and other strategic alliances involve numerous risks, including: problems integrating the purchased business, facilities, technologies or products; issues maintaining uniform standards, procedures, controls and policies; assumed liabilities; unanticipated costs associated with acquisitions, investments or strategic alliances; diversion of management's attention from our existing business; adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and retail customers; risks associated with entering new markets in which we have limited or no experience; potential write-offs of acquired assets and/or an impairment of any goodwill recorded as a result of an acquisition; potential loss of key employees of acquired businesses; and increased legal and accounting compliance costs.
We may fail to realize some or all of the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions if the integration process takes longer than expected or is more costly than expected. Our failure to meet the challenges involved in successfully integrating acquisitions, including the operations of Halo or TruPet, or to otherwise realize any of the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions could impair our financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, we do not know if we will be able to identify additional acquisitions or strategic relationships we deem suitable or whether we will be able to successfully complete any such transactions on favorable terms or at all. Our ability to successfully grow through strategic transactions depends upon our ability to identify, negotiate, complete and integrate suitable target businesses, facilities, technologies and products and to obtain any necessary financing. These efforts could be expensive and time-consuming and may disrupt our ongoing business.
We are a holding company and rely on payments, advances and transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations and pay any dividends.
We have limited direct operations and significant assets other than ownership of 100% of the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Because we primarily conduct our operations through our subsidiaries, we depend on those entities for payments to generate the funds necessary to meet our financial obligations, and to pay any dividends with respect to our common stock. Legal and contractual restrictions in our subordinated convertible notes, term loan, and revolving line of credit agreement and other agreements that may govern future indebtedness of our subsidiaries, as well as the financial condition and operating requirements of our subsidiaries, may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. The earnings from, or other available assets of, our subsidiaries might not be sufficient to make distributions or loans to enable us to meet certain of our obligations. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we do not successfully develop additional products and services, or if such products and services are developed but not successfully commercialized, we could lose revenue opportunities.
Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to develop and market new products and improvements to our existing products, including those that we may develop through partnerships, strategic relationships or licensing arrangements. We are always assessing and identifying new opportunities to provide additional products and related services to our customers. The process of identifying and commercializing new products is complex, uncertain and may involve considerable costs, and if we fail to accurately predict customers' changing needs and preferences, our business could be harmed. The success of our innovation and product development efforts is affected by the technical capability of our product development staff, the ability to establish new supplier relationships and third-party consultants in developing and testing new products, including complying with governmental regulations, our attractiveness as a partner for outside research and development scientists and entrepreneurs and the success of our management and sales team in introducing and marketing new products. We have already and may have to continue to commit significant resources to commercializing new products before knowing whether our investments will result in products the market will accept. We may not always be able to respond quickly and effectively to changes in customer taste and demand due to the amount of time and financial resources that may be required to bring new products to market. Implementation of these plans may also divert management's attention from other aspects of our business and place a strain on management, operational and financial resources, as well as our information systems. Launching new products or updating existing products may also leave us with obsolete inventory that we may not be able to sell or we may sell at significantly discounted prices. Furthermore, we may not execute successfully on commercializing those products because of errors in product planning or timing, technical hurdles that we fail to overcome in a timely fashion, or a lack of appropriate resources. This could result in competitors providing those solutions before we do and a reduction in net sales and earnings. If we are unable to successfully develop or otherwise acquire new products, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Because we are engaged in a highly competitive business, if we are unable to compete effectively, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
The pet health and wellness industry is highly competitive. We compete on the basis of product and ingredient quality, product availability, palatability, brand awareness, loyalty and trust, product variety and innovation, product packaging and design, reputation, price and convenience and promotional efforts. The pet products and services retail industry has become increasingly competitive due to the expansion of pet-related product offerings by certain supermarkets, warehouse clubs, and other mass and general retail and online merchandisers and the entrance of other specialty retailers into the pet food and pet supply market.
We face direct competition from companies that sell various pet health and wellness products at a lower price point and distribute such products to traditional retailers, which are larger than we are and have greater financial resources. Price gaps between products may result in market share erosion and harm our business. Our current and potential competitors may also establish cooperative or strategic relationships amongst themselves or with third parties that may further enhance their resources and offerings. Further, it is possible that domestic or foreign companies, some with greater experience in the pet health and wellness industry or greater financial resources than we possess, will seek to provide products or services that compete directly or indirectly with ours in the future.
Many of our current competitors have, and potential competitors may have, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition, larger fulfillment infrastructures, greater technical capabilities, significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources and larger customer bases than we do. These factors may allow our competitors to derive greater net sales and profits from their existing customer base, acquire customers at lower costs or respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies and changes in consumer preferences or habits. These competitors may engage in more extensive research and development efforts, undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns and adopt more aggressive pricing policies (including but not limited to predatory pricing policies and the provision of substantial discounts), which may allow them to build larger customer bases or generate net sales from their customer bases more effectively than we do.
Our competitors may be able to identify and adapt to changes in consumer preferences more quickly than us due to their resources and scale. They may also be more successful in marketing and selling their products, better able to increase prices to reflect cost pressures and better able to increase their promotional activity, which may impact us and the entire pet health and wellness industry. Increased competition as to any of our products could result in price reduction, increased costs, reduced margins and loss of market share, which could negatively affect our profitability. While we believe we are better equipped to customize products for the pet health and wellness market generally as compared to other companies in the industry, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully compete against these other companies. Expansion into markets served by our competitors and entry of new competitors or expansion of existing competitors into our markets could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we fail to attract new customers, or retain existing customers, or fail to do either in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to increase sales.
Our success depends, in part, on our ability to attract new, and retain existing, customers in a cost-effective manner. Marketing campaigns can be expensive and may not result in the cost-effective acquisition, or retention, of customers. Further, as our brand becomes more widely known, future marketing campaigns may not attract new or retain customers at the same rate as past campaigns. If we are unable to attract new customers, and retain existing customers, our business will be harmed.
We are vulnerable to fluctuations in the price and supply of key inputs, including ingredients, packaging materials, and freight.
Our business is dependent on a number of key inputs and their related costs including raw materials and supplies related to product development and manufacturing operations. The prices of the ingredients, packaging materials and freight are subject to fluctuations in price attributable to, among other things, changes in supply and demand of raw materials, or other commodities, fuel prices and government-sponsored agricultural programs. The sales prices to our DTC customers are a delivered price. Therefore, changes in our input costs could impact our gross margins. Our ability to pass along higher costs through price increases to our customers is dependent upon competitive conditions and pricing methodologies employed in the various markets in which we compete. To the extent competitors do not also increase their prices, customers and consumers may choose to purchase competing products or may shift purchases to lower-priced private label or other value offerings which may adversely affect our results of operations.
We use significant quantities of food ingredients and other products as well as plastic packaging materials provided by third-party suppliers. We buy from a variety of producers and manufacturers, some of which may only be available from a single supplier or a limited group of suppliers. Alternate sources of supply are generally available, however, the supply and price are subject to market conditions and are influenced by other factors beyond our control, including the continued impact of COVID-19. We do not have long-term contracts with many of our suppliers, and, as a result, they could increase prices or fail to deliver. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could increase our , disrupt our operations, or could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
We may be subject to product liability claims or regulatory action if our products are alleged to have caused significant loss or injury.
We may be subject to product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation if our products are alleged to have caused loss or injury or failed to include adequate instructions for use or failed to include adequate warnings concerning possible side effects or interactions with other substances. In addition, the sale of any ingested product involves a risk of injury due to tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination. Our products may also be subject to product recalls, including voluntary recalls or withdrawals. A product liability claim or regulatory action against us could result in increased costs and could adversely affect our reputation and goodwill with our patients and consumers generally. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain product liability insurance on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities. Such insurance is expensive and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. The inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage on reasonable terms or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims could result in us becoming subject to significant liabilities that are uninsured and also could adversely affect our commercial arrangements with third parties. If there is a product liability judgment against us or a settlement agreement related to a product liability claim, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. In addition, even if product liability claims against us are not successful or are not fully pursued, these claims could be costly and time-consuming and may require management to spend time defending claims rather than operating our business.
We may face difficulties as we expand our business and operations into jurisdictions in which we have no prior operating experience.
We plan in the future to expand our operations and business into jurisdictions outside of the jurisdictions where we currently carry on business. There can be no assurance that any market for our products will develop in any such foreign jurisdiction. We may face new or unexpected risks or significantly increase our exposure to one or more existing risk factors, including economic instability, new competition, changes in laws and regulations, including the possibility that we could be in violation of these laws and regulations as a result of such changes, and the effects of competition. These factors may limit our capability to successfully expand our operations in, or export our products to, those other jurisdictions.
We may not be able to manage our manufacturing and supply chain effectively, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
We must accurately forecast demand for all of our products in order to ensure that we have enough products available to meet the needs of our customers. Our forecasts are based on multiple assumptions that may cause our estimates to be inaccurate and affect our ability to obtain adequate third-party contract manufacturing capacity in order to meet the demand for our products. If we do not accurately align our manufacturing capabilities with demand, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, we must continuously monitor our inventory and product mix against forecasted demand. If we underestimate demand, we risk having inadequate supplies. We also face the risk of having too much inventory on hand that may reach its expiration date and become unsalable, and we may be forced to rely on markdowns or promotional sales to dispose of excess or slow-moving inventory. If we are unable to manage our supply chain effectively, our operating costs could increase and our profit margins could decrease.
Interruption in our sourcing operations could disrupt production, shipment or receipt of our merchandise, which would result in lost sales and could increase our costs.
We depend upon independent third-party contract manufacturers for the manufacture of all of our products. We cannot control all of the various factors, which include inclement weather; natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other adverse weather and climate conditions; political and financial instability; strikes; unforeseen public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic; acts of war or terrorism and other catastrophic events, whether occurring in the United States or internationally, that might affect a manufacturer's ability to ship orders of our products to customers from or to the impacted region in a timely manner or to meet our quality standards.
We also receive and warehouse a portion of our inventory in Tampa, Florida, a city that is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and sinkholes. If any such disaster were to impact this facility, our operations would be materially disrupted. Inadequate labor conditions, health or safety issues in the factories where goods are produced can negatively impact our brand reputation. From time to time, a third-party contract manufacturer may experience financial difficulties, bankruptcy or other business disruptions, which could disrupt our supply of products or require that we incur additional expense by providing financial accommodations to the third-party contract manufacturer or taking other steps to seek to minimize or avoid supply disruption, such as establishing a new third-party contract manufacturing arrangement with another provider. Further, we may be unable to locate an additional or alternate third-party contract manufacturing arrangement in a timely manner or on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Any delay, interruption or increased cost in the proprietary value-branded products that might occur for any reason could affect our ability to meet customer demand, adversely affect our net sales, increase our cost of sales and hurt our results of operations, which in turn may injure our reputation and customer relationships, thereby harming our business.
If the ingredients used in our products are contaminated, alleged to be contaminated or are otherwise rumored to have adverse effects, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
We buy ingredients from a variety of third-party suppliers. If these materials are alleged or prove to include contaminants that affect the safety or quality of our products or are otherwise rumored to have adverse effects, for any reason, we may sustain the costs of and possible litigation resulting from a product recall and need to find alternate ingredients, delay production, or discard or otherwise dispose of products, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if any of our competitors experience similar events, our reputation could be damaged, including as a result of a loss of consumer confidence in the types of products we sell. We also may be subject to product liability claims and adverse public relations if consumption or use of our products is alleged to cause injury or illness.
If any of our independent transportation providers experience delays or disruptions, our business could be adversely affected.
We currently rely on independent transportation service providers both to ship raw materials and products to our manufacturing and distribution warehouses from our third-party suppliers and third-party contract manufacturers and to ship products from our manufacturing and distribution warehouses to our customers. Our utilization of these delivery services, or those of any other shipping companies that we may elect to use, is subject to risks, including increases in fuel prices, which would increase our shipping costs, employee strikes, organized labor activities and inclement weather, which may impact the shipping company's ability to provide delivery services sufficient to meet our shipping needs. Furthermore, if we are not able to negotiate acceptable terms with these companies or they experience performance problems or other difficulties, it could negatively impact our operating results and customer experience. If any of the foregoing occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Our intellectual property rights may be inadequate to protect our business.
We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights, both in the United States and in foreign countries, through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as licensing agreements and third-party nondisclosure and assignment agreements. Because of the differences in foreign trademark, patent and other laws concerning proprietary rights, our intellectual property rights may not receive the same degree of protection in foreign countries as they would in the United States. Our failure to obtain or maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property rights for any reason could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We also rely on unpatented proprietary technology. It is possible that others will independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology. To protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information, we require employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to enter into confidentiality agreements. We cannot assure you that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure of such trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies, we could be materially adversely affected.
We rely on our trademarks, trade names, and brand names to distinguish our products from the products of our competitors, and have registered or applied to register many of these trademarks. We cannot assure you that our trademark applications will be approved. Third parties may also oppose our trademark applications, or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products, which could result in loss of brand recognition, and could require us to devote resources advertising and marketing new brands. Further, we cannot assure you that competitors will not infringe our trademarks, or that we will have adequate resources to enforce our trademarks.
If third parties claim that we infringe upon their intellectual property rights, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We face the risk of claims that we have infringed third parties’ intellectual property rights. Any claims of intellectual property infringement, even those without merit, could be expensive and time consuming to defend; could require us to cease selling the products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property, could require us to redesign, reengineer, or rebrand the product, if feasible, could divert management’s attention and resources, or could require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party’s intellectual property.
Any royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. A successful claim of infringement against us could result in our being required to pay significant damages, enter into costly license or royalty agreements, or stop the sale of certain products, any of which could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our future prospects.
We depend on the knowledge and skills of our senior management and other key employees, and if we are unable to retain and motivate them or recruit additional qualified personnel, our business may suffer.
We have benefited substantially from the leadership and performance of our senior management, as well as other key employees. Our success will depend on our ability to retain our current management and key employees, and to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to retain our personnel or attract new, qualified personnel. In addition, we do not maintain any “key person” life insurance policies. The loss of the services of members of our senior management or key employees could prevent or delay the implementation and completion of our strategic objectives, or divert management’s attention to seeking qualified replacements.
Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, other applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and applicable trade control laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.
We operate our business in part outside of the United States. Our operations are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), as well as the anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws in the countries where we do business. In addition, we are subject to U.S. and other applicable trade control regulations that restrict with whom we may transact business, including the trade sanctions enforced by the U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). We also plan to expand our operations outside of the United States in the future and our risks related to the FCPA will increase as we grow our international presence. Any violations of these anti-corruption or trade controls laws, or even allegations of such violations, can lead to an investigation and/or enforcement action, which could disrupt our operations, involve significant management distraction, and lead to significant costs and expenses, including legal fees. In addition, our brand and reputation, our sales activities or our stock price could be adversely affected if we become the subject of any negative publicity related to actual or potential violations of anti-corruption, anti-bribery or trade control laws and regulations.
A failure of one or more key information technology systems, networks or processes may materially adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
The efficient operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage our sales and marketing, accounting and financial and legal and compliance functions, engineering and product development tasks, research and development data, communications, supply chain, order entry and fulfillment and other business processes. We also rely on third parties and virtualized infrastructure to operate and support our information technology systems. The failure of our information technology systems, or those of our third-party service providers, to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and could result in transaction errors, processing inefficiencies and the loss of sales and customers, causing our business and results of operations to suffer.
In addition, our information technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, power outages, systems failures, security breaches, cyber-attacks and computer viruses. The failure of our information technology systems to perform as a result of any of these factors or our failure to effectively restore our systems or implement new systems could disrupt our entire operation and could result in decreased sales, increased overhead costs, excess inventory and product shortages and a loss of important information.
Further, it is critically important for us to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of our information technology systems. To the extent that we have information in our databases that our customers consider confidential or sensitive, any unauthorized disclosure of, or access to, such information could result in a violation of applicable data privacy and security, data protection, and consumer protection laws and regulations, legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation, a loss of confidence of our customers, suppliers and manufacturers and lost sales. Despite the implementation of certain security measures, our systems may still be vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, programming errors, attacks by third parties or similar disruptive problems. If any of these risks materialize, our reputation and our ability to conduct our business may be materially adversely affected.
We rely heavily on third-party commerce platforms to conduct our businesses. If one of those platforms is compromised, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
We currently rely upon third-party commerce platforms, including Shopify. We also rely on e-mail service providers, bandwidth providers, Internet service providers and mobile networks to deliver e-mail and “push” communications to customers and to allow customers to access our website. Any damage to, or failure of, our systems or the systems of our third-party commerce platform providers could result in interruptions to the availability or functionality of our website and mobile applications. As a result, we could lose customer data and miss order fulfillment deadlines, which could result in decreased sales, increased overhead costs, excess inventory and product shortages. If for any reason our arrangements with our third-party commerce platform providers are terminated or interrupted, such termination or interruption could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We exercise little control over these providers, which increases our vulnerability to problems with the services they provide. We could experience additional expense in arranging for new facilities, technology, services and support. In addition, the failure of our third-party commerce platform providers to meet our capacity requirements could result in interruption in the availability or functionality of our website and mobile applications.
Significant merchandise returns or refunds could harm our business.
We allow our customers to return products or offer refunds, subject to our return and refunds policy. If merchandise returns or refunds are significant or higher than anticipated and forecasted, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. Further, we modify our policies relating to returns or refunds from time to time, and may do so in the future, which may result in customer dissatisfaction and harm to our reputation or brand, or an increase in the number of product returns or the amount of refunds we make.
Premiums for our insurance coverage may not continue to be commercially justifiable, and our insurance coverage may have limitations and other exclusions and may not be sufficient to cover our potential liabilities.
We have insurance to protect our assets, operations and employees. While we believe our insurance coverage addresses all material risks to which we are exposed and is adequate and customary in our current state of operations, such insurance is subject to coverage limits and exclusions and may not be available for the risks and hazards to which we are exposed. No assurance can be given that such insurance will be adequate to cover our liabilities or will be generally available in the future or, if available, that premiums will be commercially justifiable. If we are unable to obtain such insurances or if we were to incur substantial liability and such damages were not covered by insurance or were in excess of policy limits, we may be prevented from entering into certain business sectors, our growth may be inhibited, and we may be exposed to additional risk and financial liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Adverse litigation judgments or settlements resulting from legal proceedings relating to our business operations could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
From time to time, we are subject to allegations, and may be party to legal claims and regulatory proceedings, relating to our business operations. Such allegations, claims and proceedings may be brought by third parties, including our customers, employees, governmental or regulatory bodies or competitors. Defending against such claims and proceedings, regardless of their merits or outcomes, is costly and time consuming and may divert management’s attention and personnel resources from our normal business operations, and the outcome of many of these claims and proceedings cannot be predicted. If any of these claims or proceedings were to be determined adversely to us, a judgment, a fine or a settlement involving a payment of a material sum of money were to occur, or injunctive relief were issued against us, our reputation could be affected and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
There may be decreased spending on pets in a challenging economic climate.
The United States and other countries have experienced and continue to experience challenging economic conditions. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected by a challenging economic climate, including adverse changes in interest rates, volatile commodity markets and inflation, contraction in the availability of credit in the market and reductions in consumer spending. In addition, a slow-down in the general economy or a shift in consumer preferences to less expensive products may result in reduced demand for our products which may affect our profitability. The keeping of pets and the purchase of pet-related products may constitute discretionary spending for some of our consumers and any material decline in the amount of consumer discretionary spending may reduce overall levels of pet ownership or spending on pets. As a result, a challenging economic climate may cause a decline in demand for our products which could be disproportionate as compared to competing pet food brands since our products command a price premium. If economic conditions result in decreased spending on pets and have a negative impact on our suppliers or distributors, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards may be limited.
Our ability to utilize our federal net operating loss carryforwards and federal tax credit may be limited under Section 382 of the Code as amended by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”). The limitations apply if we experience an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in the ownership of our equity by certain stockholders over a rolling three-year period). Similar provisions of state tax law may also apply. We have not assessed, including with respect to acquisition of Halo, whether such an ownership change has previously occurred. If we have experienced an ownership change at any time since our formation, we may already be subject to limitations on our ability to utilize our existing net operating losses to offset taxable income. In addition, future changes in our stock ownership, which may be outside of our control, may trigger an ownership change and, consequently, the limitations under Section 382. As a result, if or when we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards to offset such taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could adversely affect our future cash flows.
Risks Related to the Regulation of our Business and Products
We and our third-party contract manufacturers and suppliers are subject to extensive governmental regulation and may be subject to enforcement if we are not in compliance with applicable requirements.
We and our third-party contract manufacturers and suppliers are subject to a broad range of federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, the testing, development, manufacture, distribution, marketing and post-market reporting of animal foods. These include laws administered by the FDA, the FTC, the USDA, and other federal, state and local regulatory authorities. Because we market food, supplements and other products that are regulated as food and cosmetic care products for animals, we and the companies that manufacture our products are subject to the requirements of the FDCA and regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA. The statute and regulations govern, among other things, the manufacturing, composition, ingredients, packaging, labeling and safety of food for animals. The FDA requires that facilities that manufacture animal food products comply with a range of requirements. If our third-party contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture products that conform to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA and applicable state and local laws, they may be subject to adverse inspectional findings or enforcement actions, which could materially impact our ability to market our products, could result in their inability to continue manufacturing for us or could result in a recall of our products that have already been distributed. If the FDA or other regulatory authority determines that we or they have not complied with the applicable regulatory requirements, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely impacted. If we do not comply with labeling requirements, including making unlawful claims about our products, we could be subject to public warning letters and possible further enforcement. Failure by us or our third-party contract manufacturers and suppliers to comply with applicable laws and regulations or to obtain and maintain necessary permits, licenses and registrations relating to our or our partners’ operations could subject us to administrative and civil penalties, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, warning letters, restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of our products, or refusals to permit the import or export of products, as well as potential criminal sanctions, which could result in increased operating costs resulting in a material effect on our operating results and business. See “Business-Government Regulation.”
Our products may be subject to recalls for a variety of reasons, which could require us to expend significant management and capital resources.
Manufacturers and distributors of products are sometimes subject to the recall or return of their products for a variety of reasons, including product defects, such as contamination, adulteration, unintended harmful side effects or interactions with other substances, packaging safety and inadequate or inaccurate labeling disclosure. Although we have detailed procedures in place for testing finished products, there can be no assurance that any quality, potency or contamination problems will be detected in time to avoid unforeseen product recalls, regulatory action or lawsuits, whether frivolous or otherwise. If any of the animal food or care products produced by us are recalled due to an alleged product defect or for any other reason, we could be required to incur the unexpected expense of the recall and any legal proceedings that might arise in connection with the recall. We had to issue a recall in 2018 for one of our products after a single retail sample collected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture tested positive for Salmonella. Although customers reported no incidents of injury or illness in association with this product, the recall negatively affected our results. As a result of any such recall, we may lose a significant amount of sales and may not be able to replace those sales at an acceptable margin or at all. In addition, a product recall may require significant management attention or damage our reputation and goodwill or that of our products or brands. Additionally, product recalls may lead to increased scrutiny of our operations by the FDA or other state or federal regulatory agencies, requiring further management attention, increased compliance costs and potential legal fees, fines, penalties and other expenses.
Changes in existing laws or regulations, including how such existing laws or regulations are enforced by federal, state, and local authorities, or the adoption of new laws or regulations may increase our costs and otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The manufacture and marketing of animal food products is highly regulated, and we and our third-party contract manufacturers and suppliers are subject to a variety of federal and state laws and regulations applicable to pet food and treats. These laws and regulations apply to many aspects of our business, including the manufacture, packaging, labeling, distribution, advertising, sale, quality and safety of our products. We could incur costs, including fines, penalties, and third-party claims, in the event of any violations of, or liabilities under, such requirements, including any competitor or consumer challenges relating to compliance with such requirements. For example, in connection with the marketing and advertisement of our products, we could be the target of claims relating to false or deceptive advertising, including under the auspices of the FTC and state consumer protection statutes. The regulatory environment in which we operate could change significantly and adversely in the future. The laws and regulations that apply to our products and business may change in the future and we may incur (directly or indirectly) material costs to comply with current or future laws and regulations or any required product recalls. New or revised government laws and regulations could significantly limit our ability to run our business as it is currently conducted, result in additional compliance costs and, in the event of noncompliance, lead to administrative or civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, withdrawals, recalls or seizures and confiscations, as well as potential criminal sanctions. Any such changes or actions by the FDA or other regulatory agencies could have a material adverse effect on our third-party manufacturers, our suppliers or our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Common Stock
There is currently a limited public market for our common stock, a trading market for our common stock may never develop, and our common stock prices may be volatile and could decline substantially.
Although our common stock is quoted on OTCQX tier of OTC Markets Group Inc., an over-the-counter quotation system, under the symbol “BTTR,” there has been no material public market for our common stock. In these marketplaces, our stockholders may find it difficult to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of their shares of our common stock, and may find few buyers to purchase their stock and few market makers to support its price. As a result of these and other factors, investors may be unable to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price for which they purchased them, at or near quoted bid prices, or at all. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling additional equity in the future, and may impair our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using shares of our common stock as consideration.
Moreover, there can be no assurance that any selling stockholders will sell any or all of their shares of common stock and there may initially be a lack of supply of, or demand for, our common stock. In the case of a lack of supply for our common stock, the trading price of our common stock may rise to an unsustainable level, particularly in instances where institutional investors may be discouraged from purchasing our common stock because they are unable to purchase a block of shares in the open market due to a potential unwillingness of our selling stockholders to sell the amount of shares at the price offered by such investors and the greater influence individual investors have in setting the trading price. In the case of a lack of demand for our common stock, the trading price of our common stock could decline significantly and rapidly at any time.
We are not subject to the rules of a national securities exchange requiring the adoption of certain corporate governance measures and, as a result, our stockholders do not have the same protections.
We are quoted on the OTCQX marketplace and are not subject to the rules of a national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market. National securities exchanges generally require more rigorous measures relating to corporate governance designed to enhance the integrity of corporate management. The requirements of the OTCQX afford our stockholders fewer corporate governance protections than those of a national securities exchange. Until we comply with such greater corporate governance measures, regardless of whether such compliance is required, our stockholders will have fewer protections such as those related to director independence, stockholder approval rights and governance measures designed to provide board oversight of management.
The “penny stock” rules could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and increase your transaction costs to sell those shares.
The SEC has adopted Rule 3a51-1, which establishes the definition of a “penny stock” as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. As of the date of this report, our common stock is deemed to be a penny stock. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, Rule 15g-9 requires that a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive (i) the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the “penny stock” rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our common stock and cause a decline in the market value of our stock.
We may have material liabilities that have not been discovered since the closing of the acquisitions.
As a result of the May Acquisitions and the Halo Acquisition, the prior business plan and management relating to Better Choice Company was abandoned and replaced with the business and management team of Bona Vida, Halo and TruPet. As a result, we may have material liabilities based on activities before the acquisitions that have not been discovered or asserted. We could experience losses as a result of any such undisclosed liabilities that are discovered in the future, which could materially harm our business and financial condition. Although the agreements entered into in connection with the acquisitions contains customary representations and warranties from Bona Vida, Halo and TruPet concerning their assets, liabilities, financial condition and affairs, there may be limited or no recourse against the pre-acquisition stockholders or principals in the event those representations prove to be untrue. As a result, our current and future stockholders will bear some, or all, of the risks relating to any such unknown or undisclosed liabilities.
Our common stock prices may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations. Our financial performance, government regulatory action, tax laws, interest rates and market conditions in general could have a significant impact on the future market price of our common stock.
The public price of our common stock following the date of this report also could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to the risk factors described in this report and others beyond our control, including: the number of shares of our common stock publicly owned and available for trading; actual or anticipated quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors; our actual or anticipated operating performance and the operating performance of similar companies in our industry; our announcements or our competitors’ announcements regarding, significant contracts, acquisitions, or strategic investments; general economic conditions and their impact on the pet food markets; the overall performance of the equity markets; threatened or actual litigation; changes in laws or regulations relating to our industry; any major change in our board of directors or management; publication of research reports about us or our industry or changes in recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts; and sales or expected sales of shares of our common stock by us, and our officers, directors, and significant stockholders.
In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company’s securities. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in very substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources and harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.
We cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements resulting from our “smaller reporting company,” status will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. As a smaller reporting company we are eligible for exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not smaller reporting companies, including, but not limited to:
•Reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements;
•Not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and
•Reduced disclosure obligations for our annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and registration statements.
We do not expect to pay any cash dividends to the holders of the common stock in the foreseeable future and the availability and timing of future cash dividends, if any, is uncertain.
We expect to use cash flow from future operations to repay debt and support the growth of our business and do not expect to declare or pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Our Wintrust Credit Facility, subordinated convertible notes, term loan and revolving line of credit place certain restrictions on the ability of us and our subsidiaries to pay cash dividends. We may amend our current credit facilities or enter into new debt arrangements that also prohibit or restrict our ability to pay cash dividends on our common stock.
Subject to such restrictions, our board of directors will determine the amount and timing of stockholder dividends, if any, that we may pay in future periods. In making this determination, our directors will consider all relevant factors, including the amount of cash available for dividends, capital expenditures, covenants, prohibitions or limitations with respect to dividends, applicable law, general operational requirements and other variables. We cannot predict the amount or timing of any future dividends you may receive, and if we do commence the payment of dividends, we may be unable to pay, maintain or increase dividends over time. Therefore, you may not be able to realize any return on your investment in our common stock for an extended period of time, if at all.
Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that such sales may occur, may depress our share price, and any additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute your ownership in us.
We may in the future issue our previously authorized and unissued securities. We are authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock and 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designations, preferences and rights as determined by our board of directors. The potential issuance of such additional shares of common stock will result in the dilution of the ownership interests of the holders of our common stock and may create downward pressure on the trading price, if any, of our common stock. The registration rights of certain of our stockholders and the sales of substantial amounts of our common stock following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this report is a part or other effective registration statements of the Company, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline and impair our ability to raise capital. These shares also may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, depending on their holding period and subject to restrictions in the case of shares held by persons deemed to be our affiliates. We also may grant additional registration rights in connection with any future issuance of our capital stock.
For information regarding our outstanding stockholders’ equity and potentially dilutive securities, refer to "Note 10 - Debt", "Note 13 - Redeemable convertible preferred stock", "Note 14 - Stockholders’ deficit" and "Note 15 - Share-based compensation" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report, which is incorporated into this Item 1A by reference.
We may issue preferred stock whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our common stock.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends and distributions, as our board of directors may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events, or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we might grant to holders of preferred stock could affect the value of the common stock.
We will continue to incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time-consuming and costly, particularly after we are no longer a smaller reporting company. We expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance.
To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we will be engaged in a costly and challenging process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources and potentially engage outside consultants or hire an internal audit resource to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm will be able to conclude within the prescribed timeframe that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404. This could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. Moreover, if we are not able to comply with the requirements or regulations as a public reporting company in any regard, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
Our bylaws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer (or affiliate of any of the foregoing) of us to us or the our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (iv) any other action asserting a claim arising under, in connection with, and governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that these exclusive forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or to any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our bylaws described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may discourage a takeover attempt even if a takeover might be beneficial to our stockholders.
Provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us after we have become a publicly traded company. Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. For example, our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of unissued series of preferred stock without any vote or action by our stockholders. Thus, our board of directors can authorize and issue shares of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could dilute the voting power of holders of our other series of capital stock. These rights may have the effect of delaying or deterring a change of control of our company. Additionally, our certificate of incorporation and/or bylaws establish limitations on the removal of directors and on the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings and include advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors and for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings.
Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), which prohibits an “interested stockholder” owning in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which such stockholder acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
See “Description of Capital Stock-Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Our Bylaws and Delaware Law.” These provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
Claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that we will indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation and our indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and officers provide that:
•We will indemnify our directors and officers for serving us in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.
•We may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law.
•We are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.
•We will not be obligated pursuant to the indemnification agreements entered into with our directors and executive officers to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person, except with respect to proceedings to enforce an indemnitees right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, proceedings authorized by our board of directors and if offered by us in our sole discretion.
•The rights conferred in our certificate of incorporation are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons.
•We may not retroactively amend our certificate of incorporation or indemnification agreement provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

---

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our principal place of business is located at 12400 Race Track Road, Tampa, FL 33626, which consists of approximately 5,000 square feet of office space which we lease. Our lease for this location is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2023. We have a lease at 4025 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, FL 34677, which consists of approximately 9,200 square feet and formerly housed our customer care center. Our lease for this location is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2022.
We do not own any properties or land.
We believe our facilities are adequate and suitable for our current needs and that suitable additional or alternative space will be available if the need arises in the future.

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are subject to litigation and other proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Subject to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and although no assurances are possible, we believe that there are no pending lawsuits or claims that, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or our yearly results of operations.

---

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

---

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock is listed on the OTC Market Group Inc.'s OTCQX market under the symbol “BTTR” after being upgraded from the OTCQB on December 28, 2020 where it had been trading since June 2010. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated and as reported on the OTC Markets, the high and low bid prices for our common stock. Such over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-downs or commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions:
High Low
First Quarter (1)
$13.26 $1.33
Second Quarter (1)
$9.15 $3.40
Third Quarter (1)
$6.46 $3.12
Fourth Quarter (1)
$4.35 $1.31
First Quarter (1)
$2.70 $0.50
Second Quarter (1)
$2.00 $0.60
Third Quarter (1)
$2.00 $0.24
Fourth Quarter (2)
$1.28 $0.45
(1) The high and low bid prices for this quarter were reported by the OTCQB marketplace.
(2) The high and low bid prices for this quarter were reported by the OTCQB & OTCQX marketplaces.
Holders of Common Stock
As of March 26, 2021, we had 65,907,126 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. As of March 26, 2021, there were 174 record holders of our common stock. Certain shares are held in “street” name and accordingly, the number of beneficial owners of such shares is not known or included in the foregoing number. This number of holders of record also does not include stockholders whose shares may be held in trust by other entities.
Dividend Policy
We do not currently anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the development and expansion of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon then-existing conditions, including our results of operations and financial condition, capital requirements, business prospects, statutory and contractual restrictions on our ability to pay cash dividends, including restrictions contained in the credit agreements governing our Facilities Agreement, and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant. Accordingly, you may need to sell your shares of our common stock to realize a return on your investment, and you may not be able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them. Our Series F Preferred Stock ranks on parity with our common stock with respect to dividend rights.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
Information about our equity compensation plans is included in Item 12 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Since January 1, 2016, the registrant made the following issuances of its unregistered securities as described below. All share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the reverse stock split of 26-for-1 of the registrant’s common stock effected on March 15, 2019.
(1) On May 11, 2016, the registrant issued 200,000 shares of common stock, valued at $360,000 as commitment shares to convertible note holders of the registrant. These shares were issued at fair value based on the market price at issuance of $1.80 per share.
(2) On May 11, 2016, the registrant issued senior secured convertible promissory notes to an investor in the principal amount of $440,000 with an original issue discount of 3.5% (the “3.5% OID Convertible Notes”).
(3) On December 28, 2016, the registrant issued an investor of the registrant 35,000 shares of common stock as partial consideration for entering into a forbearance agreement with respect to debt held by such investor.
(4) In January 2017 and February 2017, the registrant entered into restructuring agreements with holders of its 3.5% OID Convertible Notes. Pursuant to these agreements, the registrant agreed to issue new notes (the “January and February 2017 Convertible Notes”) for the amounts due under the 3.5% OID Convertible Notes; penalties, fees, and accrued interest in the aggregate amount of $212,702 would be added to the principal amount due under the January and February 2017 Convertible Notes; 35,000 shares of common stock were issued as a commitment fee.
(5) On May 2, 2017, the registrant issued 208,333 shares of common stock, for the conversion of $15,000 of principal and $10,000 of accrued interest of convertible notes payable.
(6) On June 2, 2017, the registrant issued 208,333 shares of common stock as consideration for the conversion of $25,000 of principal of convertible notes.
(7) On November 17, 2017, the registrant issued a senior secured convertible note to an investor in the principal amount of $250,000 with an original issue discount of 3.5% and received gross proceeds of $241,250.
(8) On January 29, 2018, the registrant issued 998,540 shares of common stock in exchange for the conversion of $28,148 of principal and $1,808 of accrued interest of convertible notes payable.
(9) On February 15, 2018, the registrant issued (i) senior secured convertible promissory notes to an investor in the amount of $250,000 with an original issue discount of 3.5% and (ii) 500,000 five-year warrants to purchase the registrant’s common stock, exercisable at $0.01 per share, and received gross proceeds of $241,250.
(10) On March 14, 2018, a subsidiary of the registrant issued (i) a 10% original issue discount senior secured convertible note in the principal amount of $5,500,000 and (ii) 25,000,000 five-year warrants to purchase the registrant’s common stock, exercisable at $0.01 per share, and received $5,000,000 of bitcoin valued as of such date.
(11) On March 19, 2018, the registrant issued (i) a senior secured convertible note to an investor in the principal amount of $777,202 with an original issue discount of 3.5% and (ii) 1,554,405 five-year warrants to purchase the registrant’s common stock, exercisable at $0.01 per share, and received gross proceeds of $750,000.
(12) On October 22, 2018, the registrant issued 2,846,356 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock to existing holders of the registrant’s securities in exchange for the cancellation of all outstanding secured promissory notes, 803,969.73 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and 12,054,405 of the registrant’s outstanding warrants. The shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock were issued and sold in reliance upon the exemption from registration contained in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.
(13) On December 12, 2018, the registrant issued 1,425,641 units to new investors, with each unit consisting of (i) one share of our common stock and (ii) a warrant to purchase one half of a share of common stock. The units were offered at a fixed price of $1.95 per unit for gross proceeds of approximately $2.7 million.
(14) On December 21, 2018, the registrant issued certain directors and employees stock options to purchase 38,462 shares of the registrant’s common stock. The stock options have an exercise price of $6.76 per share.
(15) In connection with the acquisition of Bona Vida, Inc., on May 6, 2019, the registrant issued an aggregate of 18,003,273 shares of common stock to new investors and certain of our directors and executive officers in exchange for all outstanding shares of common stock of Bona Vida, Inc.
(16) In connection with the acquisition of TruPet LLC, on May 6, 2019, the registrant issued an aggregate of 15,027,533 shares of common stock to new investors and certain of our directors and executive officers in exchange for all remaining outstanding membership interests of TruPet LLC.
(17) On May 6, 2019, the registrant issued an aggregate of 5,744,991 shares of common stock and 5,744,991 warrants at an offering price of $3.00 per share to new investors and certain of our directors. The warrants have an exercise price of $4.25 per share.
(18) On May 6, 2019, the registrant issued certain directors and employees stock options to purchase 5,520,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock. The stock options have an exercise price of $5.00 per share.
(19) On August 28, 2019, the registrant issued an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of common stock at a price per share of $5.00 to an affiliate of iHeartMedia + Entertainment, Inc. (“iHeart”) as consideration for iHeart’s provision of advertising inventory with an aggregate value of $5.0 million.
(20) On September 17, 2019, the registrant issued Bruce Linton (i) 2,500,000 share purchase warrants, with each warrant entitling Mr. Linton to acquire one share of common stock at a price of $0.10 per share and (ii) an additional 1,500,000 share purchase warrants entitling Mr. Linton to acquire one share of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share as consideration for Mr. Linton’s services as a special advisor to our Chief Executive Officer, other senior executives and our board of directors.
(21)On November 11, 2019, the registrant issued subordinated convertible notes and warrants to one of our directors and an investor in an aggregate principal amount of $2,750,000.
(22) On December 19, 2019, the registrant issued a total of 2,134,390 shares of common stock, 937,500 warrants and an aggregate amount of $15,000,000 of convertible subordinated notes as consideration to the former stockholders of Halo as part of the Halo Acquisition.
(23) On December 19, 2019, the registrant issued a total of 6,500,000 warrants to certain of our directors as consideration for the shareholder guaranty in connection with the Halo Acquisition.
(25) On January 2, 2020, the registrant issued 308,642 shares of common stock to an investor for net proceeds of $0.5 million, net of issuance costs of less than $0.1 million.
(26) On January 13, 2020 and January 20, 2020, respectively, the registrant issued 72,720 shares of common stock and 61,224 common stock warrants to a third party in connection with a contract termination.
(27) On March 3, 2020, the registrant issued 450,000 shares of restricted common stock to three non-employee directors in return for services provided in their capacity as directors.
(28) On March 5, 2020, the registrant issued 125,000 shares of common stock to an affiliate of iHeartMedia Entertainment, Inc. (“iHeart”) for future advertising to be incurred through August 2021 .
(29) On March 17, 2020, the registrant issued an additional 1,003,232 warrants to holders of warrants acquired on May 6, 2019 due to dilutive impact of subsequent issuances.
(30) On March 30, 2020, the registrant issued 5,956 restricted shares of common stock to an officer of the Company.
(31) On June 24, 2020, the registrant issued an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 million subordinated convertible promissory notes and 1,000,000 warrants to one of our directors and one of our shareholders. The subordinated convertible promissory notes are convertible at a conversion price of $0.75 per share and the warrants have an exercise price of $1.25 per share.
(32) On June 24, 2020, the registrant issued 1,000,000 warrants to two of our directors. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.25 per share.
(33) On July 20, 2020, the registrant issued a total of 300,000 common stock purchase warrants to certain of our directors as consideration for the shareholder guaranty in connection with the Citizens ABL Agreement. The warrants are exercisable at a price equal to $1.05 per share.
(34) On July 20, 2020, the registrant issued a total of 200,000 common stock purchase warrants to certain of our directors. The warrants are exercisable at a price equal to $1.05 per share.
(35) On October 1, 2020, October 12, 2020 and October 23, 2020, the registrant issued (i) 17,763.550 shares, 1,106.015 shares and 2,832 shares, respectively, of Series F Preferred Stock and (ii) 35,527,100 warrants, 2,212,030 warrants, 5,664,000 warrants, respectively, to acquire shares of registrant’s common stock. The Series F Preferred Stock and related warrants were issued as units, with each (i) share of Series F Preferred Stock having a Stated Value of $1,000 and is convertible into shares of registrant’s common stock at a price of $.50 per share and (ii) related warrant being exercisable to acquire such number of shares of common stock as the related share of Series F Preferred Stock is convertible into with an exercise price of $.75 per share of common stock.
(36) On October 23, 2020, the registrant issued (i) a total of 100 shares of Series F Preferred Stock and (ii) 200,000 warrants to acquire shares of registrant’s common stock, each in connection with a marketing agreement. The Series F Preferred Stock and related warrants were issued as units, with each (i) share of Series F Preferred Stock having a Stated Value of $1,000 and is convertible into shares of registrant’s common stock at a price of $.50 per share and (ii) related warrant being exercisable to acquire such number of shares of common stock as the related share of Series F Preferred Stock is convertible into with an exercise price of $.75 per share of common stock.
(37) On November 30, 2020, the registrant issued (i) 400,000 warrants to acquire shares of the registrants common stock to a third-party as consideration for services.
(38) On January 22, 2021, the registrant issued (i) a total of 2,488,400 shares of common stock and (ii) 2,488,400 shares of common stock purchase warrants to acquire shares of registrant’s common stock. The common stock and related warrants were issued as units, with each (i) share of common stock having a par value of $.001 and (ii) related warrant being exercisable to acquire the same number of shares common stock issued, at an exercise price of $1.45 per share of common stock. The Company received a $1.0 million commitment for the purchase of 800,000 common shares and 800,000 common stock purchase warrants that will be executed upon the declaration of effectiveness of this registration statement.
(39) On February 1, 2021, the registrant issued (i) 97,222 shares of common stock in connection with a separation agreement between Mr. Santarsiero and the Company.
(40) On February 2, 2021, the registrant issued (i) 30,000 shares of common stock to a third-party as consideration for services.
Unless otherwise stated above, the issuances of the above securities were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, or Rule 701 promulgated under Section 3(b) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering or pursuant to benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation as provided under Rule 701. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were placed upon the stock certificates issued in these transactions.

---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion includes forward-looking statements about our business, financial condition and results of operations, including discussions about management’s expectations for our business. These statements represent projections, beliefs and expectations based on current circumstances and conditions and in light of recent events and trends, and you should not construe these statements either as assurances of performance or as promises of a given course of action. Instead, various known and unknown factors are likely to cause our actual performance and management’s actions to vary, and the results of these variances may be both material and adverse. A description of material factors known to us that may cause our results to vary or may cause management to deviate from its current plans and expectations, is set forth under “Risk Factors.” See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” The following discussion should also be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements including the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this filing.
Overview and Outlook
Better Choice is a growing animal health and wellness company ready to lead the global industry shift toward pet products and services that help dogs and cats live healthier, happier and longer lives. Our mission is to become the most innovative premium pet food company in the world, and we are motivated by our commitment to making products with integrity and treating pets and their parents with respect. We position our portfolio of brands to benefit from the trends of growing pet humanization and an increased consumer focus on health and wellness, and have adopted a laser focused approach to growth that is driven by new product innovation. Our executive team has a proven history of success in both pet and consumer-packaged goods, and has over 50 years of combined experience in the pet industry and over 100 years of combined experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry.
Better Choice’s best-in-class product offering is sold today under the Halo and TruDog brands and has enabled the Company to penetrate multiple channels of trade, which we believe enables us to deliver on core consumer needs and respond to changing channel dynamics that have only accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We group these channels of trade into four distinct categories: E-Commerce, which includes the sale of product to online retailers such as Amazon and Chewy; Brick & Mortar, which includes the sale of product to pet specialty chains such as Petco, PetSmart, select grocery chains and neighborhood pet stores; Direct to Consumer (“DTC”) which includes the sale of product through our online web platform; and International, which includes the sale of product to foreign distribution partners and to select international retailers. We believe our omni-channel approach is a significant competitive advantage, as it allows us to design and sell products purpose-built for success in specific channels while maintaining our ability to leverage marketing and sales resources cross-channel.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the U.S. retail landscape, the pet industry has proven to be resilient, with Packaged Facts recently increasing their projected 2021 growth rate for U.S. retail sales of pet food and supplies from 5.3% to 7.6%. While the industry-wide E-Commerce sales have retreated somewhat following the March 2020 pantry stocking, the sale of pet food and supplies online has increased 35% year-over-year according to Packaged Facts, with subscription sales nearly equal to the March 2020 peak. We anticipate our ability reach a growing base of diverse customers online will only increase as approximately 59% of Better Choice’s sales in 2020 were made via our DTC and E-Commerce channels. Conversely, we believe that our long-established relationships with key Brick & Mortar customers will enable us to jointly launch new products in the future that are designed for in-store success.
In addition to our domestic sales channels, the Halo brand’s international sales grew in 2020, driven primarily by Halo’s ability to secure Product Import Registrations for 15 Dog and Cat Food Diets from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (“MOA”) in June 2020. We believe that our growth in Asia is fueled by increasing levels of economic financial status and demand for premium, western manufactured products, with China representing the largest market opportunity for growth and 48% of Better Choice’s international sales in 2020. According to Euromonitor, the Chinese market for premium dry dog and cat food is anticipated to grow at a 20% CAGR and 28% CAGR, respectively, from 2015 through 2025. This growth rate is driven by dramatic increases in pet ownership, which has seen the number of dog-owning Chinese households increase from 12% in 2015 to 20% in 2020. On a relative basis, 67% of U.S. households owned a pet in 2020 according to the American Pet Products Association, suggesting that the Chinese pet market has significant room to grow in the foreseeable future.
New product innovation represents the cornerstone of our growth plan, and our established supply and distribution infrastructure allows us to develop, manufacture and bring new products to market in generally under nine months. Our flexible and scalable outsourced manufacturing model also promotes innovation, as we offer a wide variety of dog and cat food products under the Halo and TruDog brands that serve many different consumer needs. Founded in 1986, the Halo brand consists of a diversified, premium natural dog and cat portfolio, with products derived from real whole meat, no rendered meat meal and non-genetically modified (non-"GMO") fruits and vegetables, unlike many other kibble and canned products currently in the marketplace. In addition to its dry kibble and canned wet food offering, Halo also has a successful line of freeze-dried treats for dogs and cats and a growing line of award-winning vegan products for dogs. Founded in 2013, the TruDog brand offers ultra-premium, freeze-dried raw dog food, toppers, treats and supplements sold predominantly on its DTC website. Freeze-dried raw dog food is one of the fastest growing sub-category of premium pet food, with Packaged Facts reporting 39% YoY growth in the sub-category in 2019. We strongly believe that both brands are well positioned to take advantage of pet parents’ increasing desire to feed only the highest quality ingredients to their pets, and that there will continue to be innovative opportunities for brand consolidation over time.
Our marketing strategies are designed to clearly communicate to consumers about the benefits of our products and to build awareness of our brands. We deploy a broad set of marketing tools across various forms of media to reach consumers through multiple touch points and engage with a number of marketing agencies to develop content and product packaging. Our marketing initiatives include the use of social and digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization, email and SMS marketing, and paid media (Facebook, Instagram & YouTube), among other proven strategies to generate and convert sales prospects into loyal, satisfied customers. In addition to directly targeting and educating consumers of our products, we partner with a number of retailers such as Amazon, Chewy and Petco to develop joint sales and marketing initiatives to increase sales and acquire new customers.
On February 2, 2019 and February 28, 2019, respectively, Better Choice Company entered into definitive agreements to acquire through stock exchange agreements, approximately 93% of the outstanding interest of TruPet LLC and all of the outstanding shares of Bona Vida, Inc., an emerging hemp-based CBD platform focused on developing a portfolio of brand and product verticals within the animal health and wellness space. On May 6, 2019, Better Choice Company consummated the stock exchange transactions whereby TruPet LLC and Bona Vida, Inc. became wholly owned subsidiaries of Better Choice Company. For accounting and financial reporting purposes, the transaction was treated as a reverse acquisition whereby TruPet is considered the acquiror of Better Choice Company and Bona Vida, Inc. Thus, the historical financial information of the registrant is that of TruPet even though the legal registrant remains Better Choice Company.
On December 19, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Halo, Purely for Pets, Inc., in exchange for a combination of cash consideration, shares of our common stock, and convertible subordinated notes and accompanying stock purchase warrants. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the historical business information described in this report prior to consummation of the May Acquisitions is that of TruPet and, following consummation of the May Acquisitions through December 19, 2019, reflects business information of the Company, TruPet, and Bona Vida. From December 19, 2019 onward, the results of operations reflects business information of the Company and Halo as a combined business. See "Note 2 - Acquisitions" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Although Bona Vida remains a wholly owned subsidiary of the Better Choice Company, as of December 31, 2020 Better Choice does not currently sell or market any CBD products, does not currently own any CBD related inventory or raw materials and does not currently have plans to re-enter the CBD market at this time.
The impact that COVID-19 will have on our consolidated results of operations is uncertain. Although we have not observed a material reduction in sales as of December 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the nature and extent of COVID-19’s impact to our business, consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, and our results presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future periods in 2021 or the full fiscal year. Management cannot predict the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of its products or to economic conditions generally, including the effects on consumer spending. The ultimate extent of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, and such effects could exist for an extended period of time even after the pandemic might end.
Fiscal Year End
On May 21, 2019, our board of directors approved a change in fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31 to align with the TruPet fiscal year end. The fiscal year change became effective with our 2019 fiscal year, which began January 1, 2019 and ended December 31, 2019. Following its acquisition by us, Halo has adopted the same fiscal year end.
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table sets forth our consolidated results for the periods presented (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, Change
2020 2019 $ %
Net sales $ 42,590 $ 15,577 $ 27,013 173 %
Cost of goods sold 26,491 9,717 16,774 173 %
Gross profit 16,099 5,860 10,239 175 %
Operating expenses:
General and administrative 25,966 19,782 6,184 31 %
Share-based compensation 8,940 10,280 (1,340) (13) %
Sales and marketing 7,892 10,138 (2,246) (22) %
Customer service and warehousing 623 1,097 (474) (43) %
Impairment of intangible asset - 889 (889) (100) %
Total operating expenses 43,421 42,186 1,235 3 %
Loss from operations $ (27,322) $ (36,326) $ 9,004 (25) %
Net Sales
We sell our products through online retailers, pet specialty retailers, our online portal directly to our consumers and internationally through domestic distributors. During 2019, our net sales were primarily driven by our distribution of TruPet products through our DTC channel. However, with the acquisition of Halo, our sales became more diversified through the E-commerce, Brick & Mortar and International channels.
For many customers, sales transactions are single performance obligations that are recorded at the time the product is shipped from our distribution centers, when control transfers. We record a revenue reserve based on past return rates to account for customer returns. DTC net sales include revenue derived from the sale of our products and related shipping fees offset by promotional discounts, refunds and loyalty points earned. We offer a variety of promotions and incentives to our customers including daily discounts, multi-bag purchase discounts and coupon codes for initial purchases. For our DTC loyalty program, a portion of revenue is deferred at the time of the sale as points are earned based on the relative stand-alone selling price, and not recognized until the redemption of the loyalty points, which do not expire. We have applied a redemption rate based on historical experience.
Information about the Company’s revenue channels is as follows (in thousands):
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
2020 2019
E-commerce $ 14,218 34 % $ 1,952 13 %
Brick & Mortar 8,982 21 % 194 1 %
DTC 10,778 25 % 13,392 86 %
International 8,612 20 % 39 - %
Net Sales $ 42,590 100 % $ 15,577 100 %
Net sales increased $27.0 million, or 173%, to $42.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Net sales include an increase of $29.6 million from Halo for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 following the closing of the Halo acquisition in December 2019 and an increase of $0.2 million in net sales for the year ended December 31, 2020 related to Bona Vida as compared to the comparable prior period. This was partially offset by a $2.8 million decrease for the year ended December 31, 2020 in net sales related to TruPet as compared to the comparable prior period.
Key factors that affect our future sales growth include new product innovation and expansion in each of the sales channels.
Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit
Our products are manufactured to our specifications by contracted manufacturing plants using raw materials sourced by our contracted manufacturers. We design our packaging in-house for manufacture by third parties, and packaging is shipped directly to contracted manufacturing plants. We work with our co-manufacturers to secure a supply of raw materials that meet our specifications, such as USA farm-raised beef, GAP 2 certified cage-free whole chicken and associated broths, GAP 2 certified cage-free whole turkey and associated broths, MSC certified wild-caught salmon and MSC certified wild-caught whitefish and associated broths, and select non-GMO fruits and vegetables, such as peas, sweet potatoes and lentils. In addition to procuring raw materials that meet our formulation requirements, our contract manufacturers manufacture, test and package our products.
Cost of goods sold consists primarily of the cost of product obtained from third-party contract manufacturing plants, packaging materials, inventory freight for shipping product from third-party contract manufacturing plants to our warehouse and third-party fulfillment and royalties. We review inventory on hand periodically to identify damages, slow moving inventory, and/or aged inventory. Based on the analysis, we record inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with any reduction in value expensed as cost of goods sold.
We calculate gross profit as net sales, including any shipping revenue collected from our customers, less cost of goods sold. Our gross profit has been and will continue to be affected by a variety of factors, primarily product sales mix, volumes sold, discounts offered to newly acquired and recurring customers, the cost of our manufactured products, and the cost of freight from the manufacturer to the warehouse.
Cost of goods sold increased $16.8 million, or 173%, to $26.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $9.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. As a percentage of revenue, cost of goods sold remained consistent at 62% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Cost of goods sold includes an additional $19.9 million of Halo product costs for the year ended December 31, 2020 following the closing of the Halo Acquisition in December 2019. In addition, cost of goods sold during the year ended December 31, 2020 included $0.9 million of non-cash expense related to the amortization of a purchase accounting adjustment to inventory recorded in connection with the Halo Acquisition. These increases were partially offset by a comparable decrease in cost of goods sold related to lower TruPet sales.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, gross profit increased $10.2 million, or 175%, to $16.1 million compared to $5.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. Gross profit margin remained consistent at 38% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Gross profit includes an additional $9.7 million from Halo for the year ended December 31, 2020 following the closing of the Halo Acquisition in December 2019. The Halo line of products for the current period carried a gross profit margin of 32% compared to TruPet’s gross margin of 53%. TruPet products have higher margins as compared to the Halo product line as Halo’s food and pet food topper products have higher costs than the TruPet products. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Halo incurred storage and fulfillment center costs of $0.7 million compared to $0.1 million for TruPet due to the outsourcing of the TruPet warehouse operations in November 2020. During 2020, Halo also incurred an inventory reserve of $0.2 million and product obsolescence costs of $0.2 million.
Operating Expenses
General and administrative expenses include management and office personnel compensation and bonuses, warrant expense, information technology related costs, rent, travel, professional service fees, costs related to merchant credit card fees, insurance, product development costs, shipping DTC orders and general corporate expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2020, General and administrative expenses increased $6.2 million, or 31% to $26.0 million compared to $19.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase includes additional expenses of $4.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 following the closing of the Halo Acquisition, including non-cash amortization of $1.5 million related to the trade name and customer relationship intangible assets acquired, additional salaries and wages and related costs of $2.2 million, as well as other costs such as professional and consulting fees, charitable contributions, and other miscellaneous costs. The remaining increase was primarily driven by higher warrant expense of $7.2 million and higher salaries and wages and related costs of $0.4 million as we continued building the infrastructure to support our status as a public company and the expansion of our corporate staff. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $4.0 million as compared to the prior year period driven by reductions in TruPet compensation costs, professional fees, and outbound shipping costs and a decrease in consulting and other professional fees of $2.1 million mainly driven by a favorable legal settlement during the fourth quarter of 2020.
Share-based compensation includes expenses related to stock options and warrants issued to employees and non-employee directors. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Share-based compensation decreased $1.3 million, or 13%, to $8.9 million, as compared to share-based compensation of $10.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in equity-based compensation is primarily driven by terminations during 2020 and the acceleration of vesting of option awards in connection with the May Acquisitions in the prior year period, partially offset by $1.0 million related to a catch up of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, $1.0 million of add-on warrant expense issued to two non-employee directors, and $0.5 million related to restricted shares issued to three non-employee directors during 2020.
Sales and marketing expenses include costs related to compensation for sales personnel, other costs related to the selling platform, as well as marketing, including paid media and content creation expenses. Marketing expenses consist primarily of Facebook, Amazon and other media ads, and other advertising and marketing costs, all geared towards acquiring new customers and building brand awareness. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Sales and marketing expenses, including paid media, decreased approximately $2.2 million or 22%, to $7.9 million from $10.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. Marketing expenses include additional expenses of $3.6 million related to Halo products during the year ended December 31, 2020 following the closing of the Halo Acquisition and $0.4 million incurred by Bona Vida related to the write-off of a prepaid expense associated with a marketing contract that was terminated during 2020. This was partially offset by a decrease sales and marketing expenses related to TruPet products from $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 to $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Customer service and warehousing costs include the cost of our customer service department, including our in-house call center, and costs associated with warehouse operations. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Customer service and warehousing decreased $0.5 million, or 43%, to $0.6 million, as compared to $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2019 due to a reduction in staff and related operating costs, as well as the full outsourcing of TruPet warehouse operations in November 2020.
Impairment of intangible asset consists of amortization expense recognized for impairment of a license intangible in connection with a contract termination. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we recognized an impairment loss of $0.9 million related to the Elvis Presley Houndog license agreement which was terminated on January 13, 2020. We did not record any impairment losses during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Interest Expense, Net
During the year ended December 31, 2020, interest expense increased $8.6 million, or 1,280% to $9.2 million from $0.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Interest expense is comprised of interest on our term loan, revolving credit facility, PPP loans, payable in kind interest on our senior subordinated convertible notes, and the amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of debt discounts. See "Note 10 - Debt" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding our outstanding debt.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability
Common stock warrants classified as liabilities are revalued at each balance sheet date subsequent to the initial issuance and changes in the fair value are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations as change in fair value of warrant liability. The change in fair value for the year ended December 31, 2020 relates to the increase in the fair value of common stock warrants issued in connection with the Series F Private Placement between the date of issuance and December 31, 2020.
Income Taxes
Our income tax provision consists of an estimate of federal and state income taxes based on enacted federal and state tax rates, as adjusted for any allowable credits, deductions and uncertain tax positions as the arise. No provision has been made for federal and state income taxes prior to the date of the May Acquisitions as the proportionate share of TruPet’s income or loss was included in the personal tax returns of its members as TruPet was a limited liability company. Subsequent to the acquisitions, the Company, as a corporation is required to provide for income taxes.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we did not record income tax expense due to the continued losses incurred by the Company. The effective tax rate subsequent to the acquisitions is 0%, which differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 21% as our reported losses are offset by a valuation allowance due to uncertainty as to the realization of those losses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our founding, we have financed our operations primarily through sales of member units while a limited liability company, and since becoming a corporation, through the sales of shares of our common stock, warrants, preferred stock, and loans. On December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $4.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively.
We are subject to risks common in the pet wellness consumer market including, but not limited to, dependence on key personnel, competitive forces, successful marketing and sale of its products, the successful protection of its proprietary technologies, ability to grow into new markets, and compliance with government regulations. As of December 2020, we have not experienced a significant adverse impact to our business, financial condition or cash flows resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, uncertainties regarding the continued economic impact of COVID-19 are likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition, and cash flows in the future.
We have historically incurred losses and have an accumulated deficit. We expect to continue to generate operating losses and consume significant cash resources for the foreseeable future. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, meaning that we may be unable to continue operations for the foreseeable future or realize assets and discharge liabilities in the ordinary course of operations. We have implemented and continue to implement plans to achieve cost savings and other strategic objectives to address these conditions. We have achieved cost savings from the consolidation of our third-party logistics operations and reduction of overhead costs and we expect to achieve further cost savings from the consolidation of third-party manufacturers and optimization of shipping costs. The business is focused on growing the most profitable channels while reducing investments in areas that are expected to have lower long-term benefits.
If we seek additional financing to fund our business activities in the future and there remains doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, investors or other financing sources may be unwilling to provide additional funding on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to raise the necessary funds when needed or achieve planned cost savings, or other strategic objectives are not achieved, we may not be able to continue our operations, or we could be required to modify our operations that could slow future growth. The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and payments of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the audited consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or the amount of and classification of liabilities that may result should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
A summary of our cash flows is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2020 2019
Cash flows (used in) provided by:
Operating activities $ (7,505) $ (20,969)
Investing activities (151) (20,207)
Financing activities 9,111 39,764
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 1,455 $ (1,412)
Cash flows from Operating Activities
Cash used in operating activities decreased $13.5 million, or 64%, during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. Net loss from operations adjusted for non-cash expenses was $7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $22.2 million for the comparable prior year period. The improvement was driven by an increase in revenue from the Halo acquisition and a reduction in sales and marketing and customer service and warehousing expenses. While general and administrative increased $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the comparable prior year period, a majority of the increase was related to non-cash expenses. As a percentage of revenue, cash expenses from general and administrative activity decreased year over year, reflecting continued optimization and leverage of operating costs as a combined company.
Cash flows from Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities decreased to $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 from $20.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 is related to the purchase of property and equipment. The cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 is related to the Halo Acquisition.
Cash flows from Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities decreased by $30.7 million, to $9.1 million, during the year ended December 31, 2020 from $39.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was related to proceeds of $18.1 million associated with the Series F Private Placement, proceeds of $1.5 million from the June 2020 Notes, proceeds from warrant exercises of $1.0 million, proceeds from the PPP loans of $0.9 million and net proceeds from the revolving line of credit of $0.3 million, partially offset by a $12.5 million pay down on the term loan and debt issuance costs of $0.1 million. Net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2019 was related to proceeds from short term loan of $20.5 million, net proceeds from shares issued pursuant to private placement of $15.8 million, net proceeds from the exercise of warrants of $4.0 million, proceeds from November 2019 notes of $2.8 million, proceeds from an investor prepayment of $0.5 million and net proceeds from lines of credit of $0.4 million, partially offset by a $1.9 million payment of a cash advance, payment of a related party note for $1.6 million and $0.7 million of debt issuance costs.
Indebtedness
Our indebtedness includes a term loan, a revolving credit facility, various convertible notes payable, and PPP loans. See "Note 10 - Debt" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Short term loan and line of credit
The short-term loan and line of credit were issued with customary affirmative and negative covenants relating to the incurrence of debt, liens, declaring and paying dividends, purchasing or redeeming our common stock, the making of restricted payments and asset sales and certain fundamental changes and events of default such as maintaining timely payments, filing tax and regulatory documents in a timely manner, continuing the existing business with control over existing assets, default on senior debt, and voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. The term loan and line of credit are secured by substantially all of our assets and our subsidiary guarantors, who include Halo, TruPet and Bona Vida.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.
See "Note 21 - Subsequent events" for additional information related to changes in our term loan and line of credit subsequent to December 31, 2020.
Notes Payable
Our subordinated convertible notes were all issued with customary affirmative and negative covenants relating to the incurrence of debt, prohibitions on liens and restricted payments and events of default such as failure to pay, default on senior debt, and voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. It is also an event of default if the Company’s common stock is suspended from trading or the failure of the common stock to be listed on the OTC markets, the pink sheets, NASDAQ, NYSE or other national securities exchange in the United States or Canada for a period of five (5) consecutive days or for more than ten (10) days in any 365-day period.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenant requirements and there were no events of default. All notes payable are subordinated to the short term loan and line of credit.
PPP Loans
Pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") under Division A, Title I of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act") we received two PPP loans in response to the economic impact of COVID-19. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the loans may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act. The Company has used the entire loan amounts for qualifying expenses and expects the full loan amounts to be forgiven.
Contractual Commitments and Obligations
The Company is contractually obligated to to make future cash payments for various items, including debt arrangements, lease arrangements, as well as certain purchase obligations. See "Note 10 - Debt" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about our debt obligations. See "Note 8 - Operating leases" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about our lease obligations. Our purchase obligations include certain software subscriptions as well as in-transit or in-production purchase orders with our suppliers, for which amounts vary depending on the purchasing cycle. The majority of our software subscriptions are not under long-term contracts, and we do not have long-term contracts or commitments with any of our suppliers beyond active purchase orders. These purchase obligations were not material as of the date of this Annual Report.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined by applicable regulations of the SEC, that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net sales, costs and expenses and related disclosures. We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies described below have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements and, therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies. Accordingly, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. See "Note 1 - Nature of business and summary of significant accounting policies" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of our significant accounting policies.
Accounting for Warrants
The fair value of warrants is estimated using a Monte Carlo and/or Black-Scholes valuation model. The assumptions used in these models included the simulation of future stock prices based on future financing events, likelihood of mandatory exercise of the warrants, and timing and likelihood of fundamental transactions, such as a change in control. Both valuation methodologies use key inputs, including expected stock volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the expected life of the option and the expected dividend yield. Expected volatility is calculated based on the analysis of other public companies within the pet wellness and internet commerce (e-commerce) sectors. Risk-free interest rates are calculated based on risk-free rates for the appropriate term. The expected life is estimated based on contractual terms as well expected exercise dates. The divided yield is based on the historical dividends issued by the Company. The valuation of the warrants is subject to uncertainty as a result of the unobservable inputs. If the volatility rate or risk-free interest rate were to change, the value of the warrants would be impacted.
Warrants that are classified as liabilities due to the terms of the warrant obligation are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the end of each reporting period. The warrants accounted for as a derivative included a reset function which is triggered if the Company issues or sells shares of common stock or common stock equivalents at a price per share that is less than the exercise price of the warrants. Subsequent to the issuance of the warrants, additional common stock equivalents were awarded, triggering the reset clause under the terms of the warrants. Accordingly, the fair value analysis performed during the period ended December 31, 2019 included the impact of the trigger. As a result, we recorded an adjustment to the derivative liability to reflect its fair value as of December 31, 2019. Warrants that are classified as equity or considered compensation are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis on the date of issuance. See "Note 11 - Warrants" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense is measured based on the estimated fair value of awards granted to employees, directors, officers and consultants on the grant date. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur, therefore there are no forfeiture related estimates required.
The fair value of an option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires the development of input assumptions, as described in "Note 15 - Share-based compensation". Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of share-based payment awards requires the input of the subjective assumptions described in "Note 15 - Share-based compensation". The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based payment awards represent management’s best estimates, which involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. See "Note 15 - Share-based compensation" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Accounting for Convertible Notes
Notes payable consist of the November 2019 Notes, the Seller Notes, ABG Notes and June 2020 Notes. These subordinated convertible notes were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. In connection with the issuance of the June 2020 Notes, the Company lowered the maximum conversion price of the November 2019 Notes, Seller Notes and ABG Notes from $4.00 to $3.75, and as such, the Company was required to re-value these notes. These notes were valued based on a risk-neutral Monte Carlo simulation-based approach. The stock price was simulated based on a Geometric Brownian Motion process, with a trend equal to the risk-free rate. The fair value analysis included assumptions about the probability of the occurrence of future events such as a change of control and initial public offering. See "Note 10 - Debt" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Goodwill Impairment
The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment at least annually. The Company monitors the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the year and will evaluate for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying value. Impairment testing is based on the Company's current business strategy in light of present industry and economic conditions, as well as future expectations.
When performing a quantitative assessment, the fair value units is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including the discounted cash flow, guideline transaction and guideline company methods. These types of analyses contain uncertainties because they require management to make significant assumptions and judgments including: (1) an appropriate rate to discount the expected future cash flows; (2) the inherent risk in achieving forecasted operating results; (3) long-term growth rates; (4) expectations for future economic cycles; (5) market comparable companies and appropriate adjustments thereto; and (6) market multiples. When performing a qualitative assessment, qualitative factors are assessed to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying amount. Fair value measurements used in the impairment review of goodwill are Level 3 measurements. See "Note 1 - Nature of business and summary of significant accounting policies" for further information about our policy for fair value measurements. See "Note 9 - Intangible assets, royalties, and goodwill" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Revenue
The Company applies judgment in the determination of the amount of consideration the Company receives from its customers. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods. Revenue the Company recognizes varies with changes in trade incentives the Company offers to its customers and their consumers, which is net of trade incentives and allowances. Trade incentives consist primarily of customer pricing allowances and merchandising funds. Estimates of trade promotion expense and coupon redemption costs are based upon programs offered, timing of those offers, estimated redemption/usage rates from historical performance, management’s experience and current economic trends.
The TLC loyalty program is a membership club where members enjoy certain benefits including auto-shipments, free shipping, VIP access to TruDog’s Happiness Concierge and invitations to secret sales only for TLC members as well as earning reward points with every TLC order, which can be used to purchase TruDog products. For this program, a portion of revenue is deferred at the time of the sale as points are earned based on the relative stand-alone selling price, and not recognized until the redemption of the loyalty points. The Company has applied a redemption rate based on historical experience. See "Note 3 - Revenue" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Accounting for Business Combinations
We allocate the purchase price of an acquired entity to the assets and liabilities acquired based upon their estimated fair values at the business combination date. We also identify and estimate the fair values of intangible assets that should be recognized as assets apart from goodwill. A single estimate of fair value results from a complex series of judgments about future events and uncertainties and relies heavily on estimates and assumptions. The estimated fair values related to intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships and trademarks which are determined primarily using discounted cash flow models. Estimates in the discounted cash flow models include, but are not limited to, certain assumptions that form the basis of the forecasted results (e.g. revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, and royalty rates). These significant assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions. The carrying values of acquired receivables and trade accounts payable have historically approximated their fair values at the business combination date. With respect to other acquired assets and liabilities, we use all available information to make our best estimates of their fair values at the business combination date.
Our purchase price allocation methodology contains uncertainties because it requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities. Management estimates the fair value of assets and liabilities based upon quoted market prices, the carrying value of the acquired assets and widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flows. Unanticipated events or circumstances may occur which could affect the accuracy of our fair value estimates, including assumptions regarding industry economic factors and business strategies.
In May 2019, the Company completed a reverse acquisition, resulting in the combined operations of TruPet and Bona Vida. In December 2019, the Company acquired Halo. See "Note 2 - Acquisitions" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
Income Taxes
Deferred taxes are recorded using an asset and liability approach. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the consolidated financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards using enacted tax rates anticipated to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided if, based upon the weight of available evidence and management's estimates and judgments, it is more likely than not that some or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized. See "Note 18 - Income taxes" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and is not required to provide the information under this Item.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this report and are incorporated herein by reference. An index of those financial statements is found in Item 15 of Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer (our principal executive officer) and our chief financial officer (our principal financial officer) evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based upon that evaluation, and as a result of the remediation of previously identified material weaknesses, as described below, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
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 Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projection of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods is subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Due to the material weakness described in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we implemented and executed on a remediation plan, as described below.
1.The Company hired additional resources to effectively allow for segregation of duties, formally document accounting policies, and ensure compliance with accounting requirements.
2.The Company implemented a company-wide accounting system to support a timely financial statement close, secondary reviews, and consolidation of the Company’s subsidiaries within an integrated financial solution,
3.The Company implemented a sales tax solution in order to ensure sales tax compliance.
As of December 31, 2020, management concluded that the remediated controls were operating effectively and the deficiencies that contributed to the material weaknesses had been effectively corrected.
Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm, as non-accelerated filers are exempt from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth the names and positions of our executive officers and directors serving as of such date of filing of this annual report on Form 10-K. Directors will be elected at our annual meeting of stockholders and serve for one year or until their successors are elected and qualify. Officers are elected by the Board and their terms of office are, except to the extent governed by employment contract, at the discretion of the Board.
Name Age Position Director Since
Scott Lerner 48 Chief Executive Officer n/a
Sharla Cook 40 Chief Financial Officer n/a
Donald Young 57 Executive Vice President, Sales n/a
Robert Sauermann 29 Executive Vice President, Strategy n/a
Michael Young 42 Chairman of the Board of Directors 2019
Michael Close 60 Director 2020
Damian Dalla-Longa 36 Director 2019
Jeff D. Davis 60 Director 2019
Clinton Gee 56 Director 2020
Lori Taylor 51 Director 2019
John M. Word III 71 Director 2020
Scott Lerner. Mr. Lerner was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company in January 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lerner served as the Chief Executive Officer of Farmhouse Culture where he partnered with private equity investors to reposition the brand to capitalize on health and wellness trends. Previously, Mr. Lerner held positions with PepsiCo, ConAgra Foods and Kimberly-Clark, where he managed iconic brands such as Naked Juice, Quaker Oats, Scott Tissue and Parkay Margarine. In 2008, Scott created his own functional beverage brand called Solixir, resulting in a successful exit in 2014. Following the sale of Solixir, Scott partnered with the private equity group VMG partners to become the CEO of Kernel Season’s, where he introduced new product lines, increased profitability by 30% and oversaw the sale of the company to Hilghlander Partners.
Sharla Cook. Sharla Cook was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in October 2020 after having served as Vice President, Finance and Accounting since May 2020. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Cook served as Vice President, Accounting, and Corporate Controller at InvestRes from May 2019 until April 2020. Prior to that, Ms. Cook was Corporate Controller at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. from December 2015 until April 2019 and prior to that, Senior Director of SEC Reporting at Syniverse Technologies, Inc. Ms. Cook is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southeastern University.
Donald Young. Mr. Young joined Better Choice Company in January of 2021 with more than 29 years of experience leading the sales organizations of several prominent pet specialty pet food brands including The Nutro Company (Natural Choice, MAX, and Greenies Brands) and Merrick Pet Care, Inc. (Merrick, Backcountry, Purrfect Bistro and Fresh Kisses Brands). Following his success at The Nutro Company, Mr. Young led the turnaround and expansion of Merrick Pet Care’s Pet Specialty business from 2010 - 2020, where he was directly responsible for growing the company from a niche brand to the #3 natural player in the pet specialty retail channel. Merrick Pet Care more than quadrupled its sales during this period, surpassing $500m in the process and ultimately leading to the sale of Merrick Pet Care to the Nestle Purina Company. Donald has also been recognized by his peers in the Pet Industry for his track record of success, winning numerous sales awards throughout his career including recognition as one of Pet Age Magazine’s 2019 ICON Winners.
Robert Sauermann. Mr. Sauermann joined Better Choice Company in December 2019, concurrent with the acquisition of Halo, and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Strategy & Finance for Better Choice. Prior to joining the Halo team full-time in October 2019 as its Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Sauermann served as an Investment Professional at Pegasus Capital Advisors. In that role, he also served on the board of Halo from 2017 through 2019, and led the successful restructuring and sale of the company to Better Choice. While at Pegasus, he deployed approximately $100 million of growth equity capital across various sectors, with a particular focus on animal health and wellness focused investments. Mr. Sauermann previously served on the boards of Organix Recycling, National Strategies, and currently serves on the board of SGV International. Mr. Sauermann began his career at Credit Suisse in New York. Mr. Sauermann is a graduate of Harvard College and holds a degree in Economics and Earth and Planetary Science.
Michael Young. Mr. Young has served as our Chairman since December 2019. Mr. Young is a founding partner of Cottingham Capital, an investment company focused on real estate and technology investment, where he has served as Managing Partner since its inception in January 2017. Prior to January 2017, Mr. Young served as the Managing Director and Co-Head of Trading of GMP Securities, L.P., a Canadian investment bank. Mr. Young currently serves on the boards of Aerues Inc., an anti-microbial copper coating technology company, and XIB I Capital Corp., a capital pool company, and was previously on the boards of Nuuvera Corp. and ICC Labs. Mr. Young holds a diploma in Finance from George Brown College. We believe Mr. Young’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include his extensive senior level executive management and trading experience in the Canadian and U.S. capital markets and his experience on other public company boards of directors.
Michael Close. Mr. Close has served as a director of the Company since January 2020. Mr. Close is the Chief Executive Officer of CHOICE Administrators where he is responsible for two health insurance programs: A multi-carrier private health insurance exchange, CaliforniaChoice, and the nation’s first ancillary benefits exchange, ChoiceBuilder. Mr. Close previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for The Word & Brown Companies where he oversaw information technology, marketing, and strategic business development. He worked closely with the business units to ensure strategic alignment between corporate short-term and long-term strategic goals. Mr. Close was previously President of Quotit Corp and HealthCompare, two national health insurance distribution platforms, before their acquisition by National General Holdings Corp. in early 2017. He was also President of CONEXIS, a leading benefits administration company, before its acquisition by WageWorks in 2014. Mr. Close joined The Word & Brown Companies in 2003. His professional background makes him uniquely suited to lead CHOICE Administrators. He has an impressive career spanning more than 35 years in employee benefits and health care. Prior to joining The Word & Brown Companies, he held senior executive positions with Health Net of California and American Specialty Health. Mr. Close earned his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Ohio State University. We believe Mr. Close’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include a strong background in strategic planning, operational effectiveness, sales, distribution and organizational development.
Damian M. Dalla-Longa. Mr. Dalla-Longa joined Better Choice Company in May 2019, concurrent with the acquisition of Bona Vida, and currently serves as our Executive Vice President of Capital Markets & Corporate Development. Previously, Mr. Dalla-Longa served as our Chief Executive Officer and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bona Vida, Inc. from October 2018 until its acquisition by the Company. Mr. Dalla-Longa is a Partner at Albaron Partners, a private equity fund focused on acquiring and operating medical practices and other healthcare businesses, where he has served since August 2017. Prior to August 2017, Mr. Dalla-Longa served as a Sector Head at Magnetar Capital, a privately owned hedge fund sponsor, and an Investment Analyst at King Street Capital Management, a global investment management company. Mr. Dalla-Longa holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. We believe Mr. Dalla-Longa’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include his experience investing in, and operating, commodity-related and consumer-facing business and his institutional knowledge of the animal health and wellness space.
Jeff D. Davis. Mr. Davis has served as a director of the Company since March 2019. Mr. Davis founded Molio Inc., a venture-backed, creative and media analytics agency, where he has served as Chief Executive Officer since February 2015. Prior to founding Molio Inc., Mr. Davis served as director and Chief Executive Officer of Orabrush Inc., a recognized Google e-commerce startup business focused on YouTube advertising for oral care products. Mr. Davis has also served in a variety of leadership positions at Procter & Gamble in 5 different countries over 20 years, where he spent time in numerous product sectors including consumer-packaged goods, pharmaceuticals and beauty. Mr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in German from the University of Utah. We believe Mr. Davis’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include skills and expertise in sales, marketing and general management, innovation and brand-building, strategic planning, digital DTC and e-commerce advertising, organizational effectiveness, global “big company” and entrepreneurial “startup” businesses, as well as a global network of business relationships.
Clinton Gee. Mr. Gee has served as a director of the Company since January 2020. Mr. Gee has been the Chief Financial Officer for all of The Word and Brown Companies (the Word & Brown General Agency, CHOICE Administrators, and California Rx Card Program) since June of 2006. In addition, Mr. Gee oversees Information Technology, Human Resources, Security & Compliance, Legal, Marketing, and Strategic Business Development. Mr. Gee also is a Certified Public Accountant and a Licensed Life and Health Agent in California. Before joining The Word and Brown Companies, he worked as Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Sales for Nationwide Insurance Companies; Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Operations, and Vice President and Controller at CalFarm Insurance Company; Vice President of Finance for Foundation Health Plans. In addition, he worked as an Audit Manager for KPMG where he managed audits of various manufacturing, retail and distribution customers. Mr. Gee holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Computer Science from California State University, Chico. We believe Mr. Gee’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include his financial and operational acumen and his relationships with financial institutions.
Lori Taylor. Ms. Taylor founded TruPet, LLC, a direct to consumer dog food and supplement company, where she served as its Chief Executive Officer from August 2013 to April 2019. Ms. Taylor also founded RevMedia Marketing LLC, a full-service marketing consultation and product innovation firm, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since April 2009. From February 1992 to March 2009, Ms. Taylor served as Senior Account Director at RR Donnelley, the largest direct marketer in the United States, during which time she managed direct marketing activity for Fortune 50 accounts, including Proctor and Gamble and was instrumental in the launch of national brands including Tide, Crest White Strips, Charmin, Puffs, and IAMS. Ms. Taylor’s accolades include being named a Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencer in 2012 and a Forbes Top 20 Female Social Media Influencer in 2013. During her time at RR Donnelley, Ms. Taylor also won the Direct Marketing Association’s prestigious Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards. Ms. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Business Logistics from the University of Missouri. We believe Ms. Taylor’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include her marketing expertise, direct response acumen entrepreneurial experience. Ms. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Business Logistics from the University of Missouri.
John M. Word III. Mr. Word has served as a director of the Company since January 2020. Mr. Word founded the Word & Brown General Agency in 1984 to market and distribute health plans through California’s huge brokerage community; by 1986, the company was recognized as the largest independent small group health distributor in the nation. That same year, the company launched the nation’s first COBRA administration operation, sensing that employers needed assistance and qualified support with federal COBRA laws. CaliforniaChoice®, a groundbreaking enterprise empowering small business employees to select from multiple health plans within one program, was launched in 1996. Mr. Word’s professional credentials include Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC). He has served as President of the California Association of Health Underwriters (CAHU), President of the Orange County Association of Health Underwriters (OCAHU), and Chairman of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Leading Producers Roundtable program. Mr. Word holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. We believe Mr. Word’s qualifications to serve as a director of our Company include his background in running successful organizations, understanding of consumer needs and marketing to those needs. Mr. Word holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance from William Jewel College in Liberty, MO.
Board of Directors
The number of members of our board of directors will be determined from time to time by resolution of the board of directors. Currently, our board of directors consists of seven persons. Our directors hold office until the earlier of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. We did not have an annual meeting of shareholders in 2020 or 2019, and the Board does not currently have a policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings.
Committees of the Board
We have an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee. Each such committee of the board of directors has or will have the composition and responsibilities described below.
Audit Committee
The audit committee assists the board in overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. The audit committee’s responsibilities include, among other matters: appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our registered public accounting firm; overseeing the work of our registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of reports from such firm; reviewing and discussing with management and the registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures; coordinating our board of directors’ oversight of our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures; discussing our risk management policies; meeting independently with our internal auditing staff, if any, registered public accounting firm and management; reviewing and approving or ratifying any related person transactions; and preparing the audit committee report required by the SEC.
We have a separately-standing audit committee, whose members are Messrs. Young, Gee and Davis, with Mr. Young serving as chairperson of this committee. Our Board has determined that each of Messrs. Young, Gee and Davis is independent under the applicable independence standards of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act applicable to audit committee members. In addition, our Board has determined that Clinton Gee, who was appointed to the Board in January 2020, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. The audit committee met 8 times during 2020. The audit committee has adopted a charter, which is available for viewing on our website at www.betterchoicecompany.com.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee’s responsibilities include, among other matters: reviewing and approving, or recommending for approval by the board of directors, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers; overseeing and administering our cash and equity incentive plans; reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to director compensation; reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” to the extent required; reviewing and discussing the voting recommendations of our stockholders on matters involving executive compensation, to the extent required; and preparing the annual compensation committee report required by SEC rules, to the extent required. No compensation consultant was engaged to provide advice or recommendations on our executive or director compensation for 2020.
The members of our compensation committee are Messrs. Close, Young and Davis, and Mr. Close serves as chairman of this committee. The compensation committee met 9 times during 2020. The compensation committee has adopted a charter, which is available for viewing on our website at www.betterchoicecompany.com.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include, among other matters: identifying individuals qualified to become board of directors members; recommending to our board of directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each board committee; developing and recommending to our board of directors corporate governance guidelines, and reviewing and recommending to our board of directors proposed changes to our corporate governance guidelines from time to time; and overseeing a periodic evaluation of our board of directors.
The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Messrs. Gee, Young and Davis, and Mr. Davis serves as chairperson of this committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee did not met separately during 2020. The nominating and corporate governance committee has adopted a charter, which is available for viewing on our website at www.betterchoicecompany.com.
Family Relationships
Two of our directors have a family relationship; Ms. Taylor is the daughter of Mr. Word. Our board of directors has determined that this relationship would not interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. There are no other family relationships amongst any of our other executive officers or directors.
Risk Oversight
Our audit committee is responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our audit committee focuses on our general risk management policies and strategy, the most significant risks facing us, and oversees the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our board of directors is also apprised of particular risk management matters in connection with its general oversight and approval of corporate matters and significant transactions.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.
Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct
Our securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, and we are, therefore, not required and do not have a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. Our management promotes honest and ethical conduct, full and fair disclosure in our reports to the SEC, and compliance with applicable governmental laws and regulations.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following is a discussion and analysis of the compensation arrangements for our named executive officers, or NEOs. We are currently considered a “smaller reporting company” for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules. In accordance with such rules, we are providing a Summary Compensation Table and an Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table as well as narrative disclosures regarding our executive compensation program. For 2020, our named executive officers were Werner von Pein our former Chief Executive Officer, Sharla Cook our Chief Financial Officer, Damian Dalla-Longa our Executive Vice President of Capital Markets and Corporate Development, Anthony Santarsiero our Executive Vice President of Direct to Consumer, Robert Sauermann our Executive Vice President of Strategy and Finance and Andreas Schulmeyer our former Chief Financial Officer.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by our named executive officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, as applicable:
Name and Principal
Position Year(1)
Salary ($) Bonus ($) Stock
Awards ($) Option Awards
($)(2)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation ($) All Other
Compensation ($) Total ($)
Werner von Pein (3)
Chief Executive Officer
2020 $ 316,712 $ 103,087 $ 0 $ 367,196 $ 0 $ 39,175 $ 826,170
Sharla Cook (4)
Chief Financial Officer
2020 $ 143,562 $ 45,313 $ 0 $ 79,721 $ 0 $ 3,385 $ 271,981
Damian Dalla-Longa (5)
Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Corporate Development
2020 $ 291,644 $ 56,642 $ 0 $ 106,571 $ 0 $ 0 $ 454,857
2019 $ 192,857 $ 100,000 $ 600,000 $ 3,572,699 $ 0 $ 0 $ 4,465,556
Anthony Santarsiero (6)
Executive Vice President, Direct to Consumer
2020 $ 250,000 $ 56,642 $ 0 $ 74,013 $ 0 $ 8,414 $ 389,069
2019 $ 166,047 $ 25,000 $ 0 $ 3,077,101 $ 0 $ 5,740 $ 3,273,888
Robert Sauermann (7)
Executive Vice President, Strategy & Finance
2020 $ 216,712 $ 50,977 $ 0 $ 56,131 $ 0 $ 6,501 $ 330,321
Andreas Schulmeyer (8)
Former Chief Financial Officer
2020 $ 97,945 $ 0 $ 5,956 $ 174,327 $ 0 $ 3,556 $ 281,784
2019 $ 105,769 $ 0 $ 0 $ 1,877,285 $ 0 $ 37,011 $ 2,020,065
(1)Ms. Cook commenced employment with us in April 2020 and was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in October 2020. Mr. Schulmeyer’s employment with us terminated on May 22, 2020 and Mr. von Pein’s employment terminated on December 31, 2020.
(2)The values in this column reflect for 2019 awards the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock option awards and the incremental value due to the repricings on December 19, 2019 and October 1, 2020 as computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The value of stock options granted subsequent to October 1, 2020 are based on their aggregate grant date fair values.
(3)Mr. von Pein received (i) $6,297 in car allowance payments, (ii) $2,752 in auto insurance payments (iii) $20,625 in housing allowance payments and (iv) $9,501 in matching 401(k) payments. On December 28, 2020, we entered into an agreement with Mr. von Pein pursuant to which he retired from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective on December 31, 2020.
(4)Ms. Cook received $3,385 in matching 401(k) payments.
(5)During 2019, Mr. Dalla-Longa received (i) a signing bonus of $100,000 as per his employment contract with Better Choice, and (ii) an award of 100,000 shares in lieu of the change of control payment contained in his Bona Vida employment contract. On February 5, 2020, Mr. Dalla-Longa resigned as our Chief Executive Officer and was simultaneously appointed to Executive Vice President, Corporate Development. Mr. Dalla-Longa separated from the Company February 8, 2021.
(6)During 2020, Mr. Santarsiero received $8,414 in matching 401(k) payments. During 2019, Mr. Santarsiero received (i) a signing bonus of $25,000 as per his employment contract and (ii) $5,740 in matching 401(k) payments. Mr. Santarsiero separated from the Company on February 1, 2021.
(7)During 2020, Mr. Sauermann received $6,501 in matching 401(k) payments.
(8)During 2020, Mr. Schulmeyer received (i) $5,956 in restricted stock awards for services performed and (ii) $3,556 in matching 401(k) payments. During 2019, Mr. Schulmeyer received (i) $32,876 in compensation for work prior to joining the Company and (ii) $4,135 in matching 401(k) payments. On May 8, 2020, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Schulmeyer pursuant to which he resigned as our Chief Financial Officer effective on May 22, 2020.
Employment Agreements
We entered into employment agreements with Mr. Dalla-Longa and Mr. Santarsiero effective as of May 6, 2019 (each such employment agreements, the “May 2019 NEO Employment Agreements”). We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Schulmeyer effective as of July 29, 2019 (the “Schulmeyer Employment Agreement”). We entered into employment agreements with Mr. von Pein and Mr. Sauermann effective as of December 19, 2019 (the “December 2019 NEO Employment Agreements” and together with the May 2019 NEO Employment Agreements and the Schulmeyer Employment agreement, the “2019 NEO Employment Agreements”). The 2019 NEO Employment Agreements had an initial two-year term commencing on the applicable effective date and, unless earlier terminated by us or the executive, automatically renewed for successive two-year terms. Pursuant to each NEO Employment Agreement, the executive’s base salary was subject to review each year at the sole discretion of the compensation committee. Each executive was also eligible to earn an annual cash performance bonus as determined by the board, but in an amount no less than 25% of such executive’s base salary, prorated for any partial year of service.
We entered into new employment agreements with Mr. von Pein and Mr. Sauermann effective as of September 27, 2020 which terminated the December 2019 NEO Employment Agreements. We entered into new employment agreements with Mr. Santarsiero and Mr. Dalla-Longa effective as of October 7, 2020 and November 1, 2020, respectively, which terminated the May 2019 NEO Employment Agreements. We entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Cook effective as of October 8, 2020. The NEO employment agreements entered into during 2020 are collectively referred to as the 2020 NEO Employment Agreements.
Pursuant to the 2020 NEO Employment Agreements, each NEO is employed on an at-will basis. The executive’s base salary is subject to review each year at the sole discretion of the compensation committee. Each executive is also eligible to earn an annual cash performance bonus in an amount of at least 16%, but not greater than 40%, of such executive’s annual base salary, as determined by the board based on the achievement of performance goals and objectives established by the Company and such executive.
Pursuant to the 2020 NEO Employment Agreement, in the event the executive’s employment is terminated due to death, disability (as defined in the 2020 NEO Employment Agreement), for any reason by the executive provided three months’ advance written notice is given by the executive to the Company, or for any reason by the Company provided at least thirty days advance written notice is given from the Company to the executive, the executive will be eligible to receive: (i) any accrued but unpaid base salary for services rendered to the date of termination and any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be reimbursed under such employment agreement, (ii) for all NEO’s excluding Mr. Dalla-Longa, severance equal to six months of executive’s base salary paid in the form of continuing installments on the Company’s ordinary payroll schedule and for Mr. Dalla-Longa severance equal to 12 months of executive’s base salary paid in the form of continuing installments on the Company’s ordinary payroll schedule; and (iii) a lump sum payment equal to the executive’s target bonus that remains unpaid for the previous completed year. In addition, pursuant to the terms of Mr. Dalla-Longa’s employment agreement, his unvested equity awards shall become fully vested on the date of termination and any exercise of options may, at his election, be exercised with a cashless exercise. The receipt of the foregoing described severance payment and benefits is subject to the executive’s continued compliance with all of his obligations to the Company, including under the executive’s confidential information and non-compete agreements with the Company, and the executive’s execution and delivery of a release of claims against the Company.
Pursuant to the 2020 NEO Employment Agreement, in the event of a “merger” (as defined in the 2020 NEO Employment Agreement), (i) if the executive’s employment is terminated for “cause” within twelve months following a merger (as defined in the 2020 NEO Employment Agreement), executive will be entitled to the severance the payments described above, or (ii) if the executive’s employment is terminated for “good reason” or “without cause” within twelve months following a merger, the executive will be entitled to the severance payments described above, plus a lump sum payment equal to one-half of such executive’s annual base salary. In addition, immediately preceding a merger, all of the executive’s unvested stock options shall vest and become exercisable in their entirety and may be exercised with a cashless exercise.
For purposes of the 2020 NEO Employment Agreement:
•“cause” means (i) any act of personal dishonesty taken by the Executive in connection with their responsibilities as an employee which is intended to result in personal enrichment of the Executive, (ii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony that the Board of Directors reasonably believes has had or will have a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business, (iii) a willful act by the Executive that constitutes misconduct and is injurious to the Company, including without limitation any breach of Section 11 hereof, and (iv) continued willful violations by the Executive of the Executive’s obligations to the Company for a period of thirty (30) days after there has been delivered to the Executive a written demand for performance from the Company which describes the basis for the Company’s belief that the Executive has not substantially performed their duties.
•“good reason” shall exist if one or more of the following circumstances exists uncured for a period of thirty (30) days after the Executive has notified the Company of the existence of such circumstance(s) after a merger: (i) without the Executive’s express written consent, a significant reduction of the Executive’s duties, position or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, position or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction, or the removal of the Executive from such position, duties, and responsibilities, unless the Executive is provided with comparable duties, position and responsibilities, it being understood that the Executive shall not be deemed to have been removed from such position if and as long as the Executive shall be offered or shall have an executive position within their area of experience or expertise; (ii) without the Executive’s express written consent, a substantial reduction, without good business reasons, of the facilities and tools (including office space and location) available to the Executive immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) a reduction by the Company of the Executive’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (iv) a material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee benefits to which the Executive is entitled immediately prior to such a reduction with the result that the Executive’s overall benefits package is significantly reduced; or (v) without the Executive’s express written consent, the relocation of the Executive to a facility or a location more than fifty (50) miles from their then-current location.
The 2020 NEO Employment Agreements also contain standard confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.
On May 8, 2020, we entered into a separation and release agreement with Mr. Schulmeyer effective as of May 22, 2020 (the “Termination Date”). The agreement provided for the accelerated vesting of 50% of unvested stock options held by Mr. Schulmeyer as of the Termination Date, as well as continuation of his salary through the Termination Date. Mr. Schulmeyer’s remaining unvested stock options were forfeited on the Termination Date.
The Company and Mr. von Pein entered into a separation and retirement agreement effective as of December 31, 2020 (“the Separation Date”). The agreement provides for continuation of payment by the Company of Mr. von Pein’s salary for a period of six months; the payment of Mr. von Pein’s 2020 annual bonus in accordance with the Company’s Management Incentive Plan; the accelerated vesting of 75% of unvested stock options held by Mr. von Pein as of the Separation Date and the payment of unused paid time off as of the Separation Date. In addition, the Separation Agreement includes a general release by Mr. von Pein related to Mr. von Pein’s employment with the Company.
Executive Compensation Components
2020 Salaries
The named executive officers receive a base salary to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities. For 2020, our board of directors established an annual base salary for each of our NEOs as follows:
Named Executive Officer Annual Base Salary
Werner von Pein $ 325,000 (1)
Sharla Cook $ 200,000
Damian Dalla-Longa $ 250,000 (2)
Anthony Santarsiero $ 250,000
Robert Sauermann $ 225,000 (3)
Andreas Schulmeyer $ 250,000
(1)Increased from $300,000 effective May 1, 2020.
(2)Decreased from $300,000 effective November 1, 2020.
(3)Increased from $200,000 effective May 1, 2020.
Equity Compensation
The goals of our long-term, equity-based incentive awards are to align the interests of our named executive officers and other employees, non-employee directors and consultants with the interests of our stockholders. Because vesting is based on continued employment, our equity-based incentives also encourage the retention of our named executive officers through the vesting period of the awards.
Prior to the completion of the May Acquisitions, execution of employment agreements and granting of awards under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”), we engaged Willis Towers Watson (“WTW”) to evaluate executive compensation packages for all of our senior employees. This included an evaluation of salary and equity award levels, among other items. The analysis completed by WTW was performed to benchmark our company alongside public-market industry peers in order to design an appropriate market-standard compensation plan for our use.
To reward and retain our named executive officers in a manner that best aligns employees’ interests with stockholders’ interests, we use stock options as the primary incentive vehicles for long-term compensation. We believe that stock options are an effective tool for meeting our compensation goal of increasing long-term stockholder value by tying the value of the stock options to our future performance. The exercise price of each stock option grant is the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date, as determined by our board of directors from time to time.
On April 13, 2020, Ms. Cook was granted 200,000 stock options. On October 8, 2020, Mr. Sauermann and Mr. von Pein were each granted 100,000 options. On November 1, 2020, Mr. Dalla-Longa was granted 50,000 stock options. In each case, the options vest over a period of three years subject to continued employment with the Company as follows: one-third of the options will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining options will vest monthly in equal amounts over the remaining 24-month period. In the event of a change in control the options shall immediately vest and become exercisable in their entirety.
On May 2, 2019, Mr. Dalla-Longa and Mr. Santarsiero were granted 1,200,000 and 1,000,000 stock options, respectively. Mr. Santarsiero was granted an additional 100,000 options on December 19, 2019. Mr. Schulmeyer was granted 500,000 options on June 29, 2019, 100,000 options of August 30, 2019, 250,000 options on December 11, 2019 and 20,371 options on December 31, 2019. In each case, the stock options vest and become exercisable monthly over 2 years in equal installments of 1/24 each month, subject to the executive’s continuous service with the Company through the vesting date(s). The stock options will be accelerated upon a termination without cause or for good reason within two years following a change in control (as defined under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan).
On May 6, 2019 Mr. Dalla-Longa waived the change of control payment provided for in his employment agreement with Bona Vida of $500,000 and received a grant of 100,000 shares of common stock.
Other Elements of Compensation
Retirement Plans. We currently maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan that allows eligible employees to contribute a portion of their compensation, within limits prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code, on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the plan. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings through our 401(k) plan adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our named executive officers in accordance with our compensation policies. During 2020, the Company had a separate 401(k) plans for TruPet and Halo and provided an employer matching contribution under each plan. Beginning in 2021, the Company provides an employer matching contribution of 50% up to 5% of compensation under our 401(k) plan.
Employee Benefits and Perquisites. All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our employee benefit plans and programs, including medical, dental, and vision benefits, health spending accounts, short and long-term disability and life insurance, to the same extent as our other full-time employees, subject to the terms and eligibility requirements of those plans. During 2020, the Company paid certain auto and housing costs on Mr. von Pein’s behalf.
Termination and Change in Control Benefits. Our named executive officers may become entitled to certain benefits or enhanced benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of employment and/or a change in control of our Company. Each of our named executive officers’ employment agreements entitles them to severance in the event of their termination without cause or their resignation for good reason and upon termination by reason of death or disability.
Repricing of Stock Options
Effective as of December 19, 2019, the board of directors repriced all outstanding options to purchase common stock issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2019 Incentive Award Plan (the “2019 Amended Plan”) including options held by our named executive officers. As a result, the exercise price of all 2019 Amended Plan options outstanding as of December 19, 2019 was lowered to $1.82 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 19, 2019. No other terms of the stock options were changed.
Effective October 1, 2020, all outstanding stock option awards under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan held by current employees as of October 1, 2020 were repriced concurrent with the closing of the Company’s Series F Private Placement. In total, 6,077,731 stock options were repriced. The exercise price was set at a 20% premium to the Series F conversion price, or $0.60 per share. No other terms of the stock options were changed.
The board of directors effectuated the repricing, in each case, to realign the value of the stock options with their intended purpose, which is to retain and motivate the holders of the stock options to continue to work in the best interests of the Company. Prior to the repricing, many of the stock options had exercise prices well above the then recent market prices of our common stock. The stock options were repriced unilaterally and the consent of holders was neither necessary nor obtained.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth outstanding stock option awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2020. None of our named executive officers hold stock awards:
Option Awards
Name Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#) Option
Exercise
Price ($) Option
Expiration
Date
Werner von Pein 575,000 (a) - $ 0.60 Various
Sharla A. Cook - - (b) 200,000 0.60 4/13/2030
Damian Dalla-Longa 950,000 - (c) 300,000 various various
Robert Sauermann 133,333 - (d) 366,667 0.60 various
Anthony Santarsiero 841,666 - (e) 258,334 0.60 various
(a)Options to vest as to 1/3rd of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and 1/36th of the shares to vest monthly thereafter. Mr. von Pein’s options were granted at various times as shown below:
•600,000 options were issued on December 19, 2019 at $0.60.
•100,000 options were issued on October 8, 2020 at $0.60.
•Mr. von Pein retired from the Company on December 28, 2020 at which time 75% of Mr. von Pein’s unvested options became fully vested per the separation agreement by and between the Company and Mr. von Pein.
(b)Options to vest as to 1/3rd of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and 1/36th of the shares to vest monthly thereafter. Ms. Cook’s options were granted as shown below:
•200,000 options were issued on April 13, 2020 at $0.60.
(c)Options to vest as follows:
•1,200,000 options were issued on May 2, 2019 at $0.60. Options to vest on a monthly basis over a two year period (1/24th of award per month).
•50,000 options were issued on November 1, 2020 at $0.82. Options to vest as to 1/3rd of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and 1/36th of the shares to vest monthly thereafter.
(d)Options to vest as to 1/3rd of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and 1/36th of the shares to vest monthly thereafter. Mr. Sauermann’s options were granted at various times as shown below:
•400,000 options were issued on December 19, 2019 at $0.60.
•100,000 options were issued on October 8, 2020 at $0.60.
(e)Options to vest as follows:
•1,000,000 options were issued on May 2, 2019 at $0.60. Options to vest on a monthly basis over a two year period (1/24th of award per month).
•100,000 options were issued on December 19, 2019 at $0.60. Options to vest on a monthly basis over a two year period (1/24th of award per month).
Director Compensation Table
The following table sets forth compensation information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for our non-employee directors (other than Mr. Dalla-Longa whose compensation is shown above under “Summary Compensation Table”):
Name Fees Earned or Paid in Cash Stock Awards Option
Awards Non-equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation All Other
Compensation (1)
Total
Compensation
Michael Young $ - $ - $ 33,988 $ - $ - $ 33,988
Jeff Davis $ - $ - $ 33,988 $ - $ - $ 33,988
Michael Close $ - $ 150,000 $ - $ - $ 510,469 $ 660,469
Clinton Gee $ - $ 150,000 $ - $ - $ 510,469 $ 660,469
Lori Taylor $ - $ - $ 78,173 $ - $ - $ 78,173
John Word $ - $ 150,000 $ - $ - $ - $ 150,000
(1) Includes compensation expense related to warrants issued in connection with the June 2020 Notes and Citizens ABL Facility. See "Note 11 - Warrants" to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.
The table below shows the aggregate numbers of option awards (exercisable and unexercisable) held as of December 31, 2020 by each non-employee director who was serving as of December 31, 2020 (other than Mr. Dalla-Longa whose awards are shown above under “Outstanding Equity Awards at Year End”):
Name Options Outstanding
at Fiscal Year End
Michael Young 519,231
Jeff Davis 500,000
Michael Close -
Clinton Gee -
Lori Taylor 1,150,000
John Word -

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth information about the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by (i) each of our current directors, (ii) each of our named executive officers (iii) all our current directors and executive officers as a group, and (iv) each person or group known by us to own more than 5% of our common stock. The percentages reflect beneficial ownership, as determined in accordance with the SEC’s rules, as of March 26, 2021, and are based on 65,907,126 shares of common stock outstanding. Except as noted below, the address for all beneficial owners in the table below is 12400 Race Track Road, Tampa, FL 33626:
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1)
% of Total
Voting Power
Common Stock %
Name of Beneficial Owner
Holders of More than 5%
Thriving Paws LLC (2)
3,372,176 5.1 % 5.4 %
HH-Halo LP (3)
3,252,417 4.9 % 5.6 %
Edward J. Brown Jr TTEE (4)
22,863,442 34.7 % 26.0 %
Directors and Executive Officers
Scott Lerner (5)
48,000 0.1 % 0.1 %
Donald Young (6)
195,000 0.3 % 0.3 %
Robert Sauermann (7)
671,053 1.0 % 1.0 %
Sharla Cook (8)
112,222 0.2 % 0.2 %
Damian Dalla-Longa (9)
3,089,891 4.7 % 4.6 %
Michael Young (10)
3,831,346 5.8 % 6.3 %
John M. Word III (11)
33,085,267 50.2 % 35.4 %
Michael Close (12)
1,190,000 1.8 % 1.8 %
Clinton Gee (13)
1,190,000 1.8 % 1.8 %
Jeff Davis (14)
499,999 0.8 % 0.8 %
Lori Taylor (15)
8,082,027 12.3 % 11.8 %
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons) 51,994,805 79.0 % 64.1 %
*Represents less than 1% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.
(1)Beneficial ownership of shares and percentage ownership are determined in accordance with the SEC’s rules. In calculating the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entity and the percentage ownership of that individual or entity, shares underlying options, warrants or restricted stock units held by that individual or entity that are either currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days from the date hereof are deemed outstanding. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other individual or entity. Unless otherwise indicated and subject to community property laws where applicable, the individuals and entities named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
(2)Includes (i) 1,884,989 shares of common stock and (ii) 1,487,187 shares of common stock underlying subordinated convertible notes exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021. The holder disclaims beneficial ownership of 306,994 shares of common stock underlying warrants due to beneficial ownership limitations. Thriving Paws, LLC (“Thriving Paws”) is controlled by Pegasus Partners III, L.P. (“PP III”). PP III is managed by Pegasus Capital Advisors III, L.P. (“PCA III”), which is controlled, indirectly, by Craig Cogut. As a result of the foregoing, each of Mr. Cogut, PCA III and PP III may be deemed to have beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by Thriving Paws.
(3)Includes (i) 232,976 shares of common stock and (ii) 3,019,441 shares of common stock underlying subordinated convertible notes exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021. The holder disclaims beneficial ownership of 623,291 shares of common stock underlying warrants due to beneficial ownership limitations. Thomas O. Hicks is the managing member of HEP Partners LLC, which is the investment manager of HH-Halo LP (“HH-Halo”), and consequently has voting control and investment discretion over securities held by HH-Halo. Mack H. Hicks is the manager of HH-Halo GP LLC, which is the general partner of HH-Halo GP LP, the general partner of HH-Halo. As a result of the foregoing, each of Thomas O. Hicks and Mack H. Hicks may be deemed to have beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by HH-Halo. Each of Thomas O. Hicks and Mack H. Hicks disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
(4)Includes (i) 779,999 shares of common stock, (ii) 1,497,943 shares of common stock underlying subordinated convertible notes exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (iii) 10,585,500 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and (iv) 10,000,000 shares of common stock underlying preferred stock convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2021. Edward Brown may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares.
(5)Includes (i) 24,000 shares of common stock and (ii) 24,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(6)Includes (i) 135,000 shares of common stock and (ii) 60,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(7)Includes (i) 20,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 227,215 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (iii) 200,000 shares of common stock underlying preferred stock convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (iv) 34,949 shares of common stock underlying subordinated convertible notes exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and (v) 188,889 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(8)Includes (i) 20,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (ii) 20,000 shares of common stock underlying preferred stock convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and 72,222 shares of common stock underling options exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(9)Includes (i) 1,759,891 shares of common stock, (ii) 1,250,000 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (iii) 40,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and (iv) 40,000 shares of common stock underlying convertible preferred stock exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(10)Includes (i) 3,086,281 shares of common stock, (ii) 519,230 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (iii) 225,835 shares of common stock held by Cottingham Capital Partners LLC, which is managed by Mr. Young. Mr. Young disclaims beneficial ownership of (i) 365,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants due to beneficial ownership limitations.
(11)Includes (i) 5,406,824 shares of common stock, (ii) 1,497,943 shares of common stock underlying subordinated convertible notes exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021, (iii) 16,180,500 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and (iv) 10,000,000 shares of common stock underlying preferred stock convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(12)Includes (i) 170,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 820,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and (iii) 200,000 shares of common stock underlying preferred stock convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(13)Includes (i) 170,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 820,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 and (iii) 200,000 shares of common stock underlying preferred stock convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(14)Includes 499,999 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021.
(15)Includes (i) 5,632,027 shares of common stock held directly by Blue Sky Holdings Trust which are beneficially owned by Lori Taylor, (ii) 1,150,000 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of March 26, 2021 held directly by Ms. Taylor and (iii) 1,300,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants held directly by Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor is the trustee, compliance officer, and protector of Blue Sky Holdings Trust.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information on our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020:
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(2)
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 stockholders 7,776,980 $ 0.81 1,223,020
Total 7,776,980 $ 0.81 1,223,020

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Security Issuances
TruPet and Bona Vida Acquisitions
On May 6, 2019, we issued an aggregate of 15,027,533 shares of common stock to new investors and certain of our directors and executive officers in exchange for all remaining outstanding membership interests of TruPet.
On May 6, 2019, we issued an aggregate of 18,103,273 shares of common stock to new investors and certain of our directors and executive officers in exchange for all outstanding shares of common stock of Bona Vida.
November Convertible Notes and Warrant Issuances
On November 4, 2019, we issued to a member of our board of directors: (i) $1.4 million in aggregate principal amount of our subordinated convertible notes (the “Convertible Notes”); and (ii) 5,500 warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase shares of our common stock.
Shareholder Guaranties
As consideration for the Shareholder Guaranties (as described below), we agreed to issue common stock purchase warrants to purchase shares of our common stock (the “Shareholder Guarantor Warrants”). The Shareholder Guarantor Warrants are exercisable any time from the date of issuance for up to 24 months from the date of the consummation of an IPO (as defined therein) at an exercise price $1.82 per share. We issued 4,875,000 Shareholder Guarantor Warrants to John M. Word III, 1,300,000 Shareholder Guarantor Warrants to Lori Taylor and 325,000 Shareholder Guarantor Warrants to Michael Young. Mr. Young and Ms. Taylor, each a Shareholder Guarantor, were directors of the Company as of the date of the Shareholder Guaranty. Mr. Word was elected to the Board in connection with the Shareholder Guaranty.
December Convertible Notes and Warrant Issuances
During the year ended December 2019, we issued $1.4 million of subordinated convertible notes to a member of the board of directors. The note remains outstanding as of December 31, 2020. Interest related to the subordinated convertible notes was less than $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
We also issued $0.1 million of subordinated convertible notes to an executive in satisfaction of a transaction bonus as per his employment agreement upon the close of the Halo Acquisition in December 2019. These convertible notes are outstanding as of December 31, 2020. We also issued 7,215 stock purchase warrants to the same executive in December 2019.
June 2020 Convertible Notes and Warrant Issuances
On June 24, 2020, the Company issued $1.5 million in subordinated convertible promissory notes and common stock purchase warrants to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock to one of the Company's directors and a shareholder of the Company. The June 2020 Convertible Notes are convertible at a conversion price of $0.75 per share and the warrants have an exercise price of $1.25 per share.
July 2020 Shareholder Guaranty Warrants
In connection with the Citizens ABL Facility, John M. Word, a director and shareholder agreed to enter into the ABL Facility Guaranty in favor of the Company and guaranteeing our obligations under the Citizens ABL Facility. In consideration of the ABL Facility Guaranty, the Company issued the July 2020 Warrants to purchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price equal to $1.05 per share. 300,000 July 2020 Warrants were issued to Mr. Word, 100,000 July 2020 Warrants were issued to Michael Close, and 100,000 July 2020 Warrants were issued to Clinton Gee, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors. The July 2020 Warrants are exercisable on the date of issuance and expire on the earlier of (i) 84 months from the date of the consummation of an underwritten public offering or other uplist transaction through which the Company lists its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market or another national securities exchange in the United States or Canada or (ii) June 30, 2030.
Series F Private Placement
In October, 2020, we consummated the Series F Private Placement in which we raised approximately $18.2 million, including an investment by certain of our officers and directors of approximately $6.5 million and an exchange of all of our outstanding Series E preferred stock of approximately $3.5 million. Each Series F Unit was sold in the Series F Private Placement at a per unit price of $1,000 and consisted of (i) one share of Series F Preferred Stock, which is convertible into shares of our common stock, at a value per share of common stock of $0.50 (subject to adjustment and certain beneficial ownership limitations); and (ii) a warrant to purchase for a six year period such number of shares of common stock into which such share of Series F Preferred Stock is convertible at an exercise price per share of $0.75 (subject to adjustment and certain beneficial ownership limitations).
January 2021 Private Placement
In January 2021, we consummated the January 2021 Private Placement in which we raised approximately $4.1 million, including an investment by certain of our officers and directors of approximately $1.6 million. The Company will receive $1.0 million of these cash proceeds upon the date of declaration of effectiveness of this registration statement. Each Unit was sold in the January 2021 Private Placement at a per unit price of $1.25 and consisted of (i) one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share; and (ii) a warrant to purchase for a six year period one share of common stock at an exercise price per share of $1.45 (subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations).
Registration Rights Agreements
TruPet and Bona Vida Acquisitions
In connection with the acquisition of TruPet, we entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of the recipients of common stock issued as the acquisition consideration.
In connection with the acquisition of Bona Vida, we entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of the recipients of common stock issued as the acquisition consideration.
May Private Placement
In connection with the May Private Placement, we entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of the investors in the May Private Placement.
June 2020 Convertible Notes and Warrant Issuances
In connection with the June 2020 Convertible Notes and Warrant Issuances, we entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of the investors in the June 2020 Convertible Notes and Warrant Issuances.
Series F Private Placement
In connection with the Series F Private Placement, we entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of the investors in the Series F Private Placement.
January 2021 Private Placement
In connection with the January 2021 Placement, we entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of the investors in the January 2021 Private Placement.
Shareholder Guaranty
In connection with the Facilities Agreement in December 2019, certain of our directors and shareholders agreed to enter into a Continuing Guaranty in favor of the Company and guaranteeing our obligations under the Facilities Agreement. Pursuant to the Shareholder Guaranty, John M. Word III agreed to personally guarantee our obligations in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000, Lori Taylor agreed to personally guarantee our obligations in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 and Michael Young agreed to personally guarantee our obligations in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.
In connection with the Citizens ABL Facility in July 2020, John M. Word III agreed to enter into the ABL Facility Guaranty, dated as of July 16, 2020 in favor of the Company and guaranteeing our obligations under the Citizens ABL Facility.
Director Independence
The Company is admitted to the OTCQX tier of the OTC Markets. Under the OTCQX Standards, the Company is required to have a board of directors that includes at least two Independent Directors (as defined under the OTCQX Standards) and an audit committee, a majority of the members of which are Independent Directors. An Independent Director is defined under the OTCQX Standards as a person other than an executive officer or employee of the Company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities. Each of our directors other than Mr. Dalla-Longa as our former Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Taylor as our former co-Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Word as the father of Ms. Taylor, has been determined independent. Our Board has made a subjective determination that, as to each of Messrs. Close, Davis, Gee and Young, no relationships exist, which, in the opinion of our Board, would interfere with such person’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our Board reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and management with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to the Company and our management.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General Corporate Law and applicable law. Delaware law provides that such a provision may not limit the liability of directors:
•for any breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
•for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
•for unlawful payment of dividend or unlawful stock repurchase or redemption, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or
•for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Any amendment, repeal or modification of these provisions will be prospective only and would not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions that occurred prior to any such amendment, repeal or modification. Our certificate of incorporation also requires us to pay any expenses incurred by any director or officer in defending against any such action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such matter to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to the receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by our amended and restated bylaws or otherwise. We have entered indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of their service to us and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We believe that the limitation of liability provision in our certificate of incorporation and the indemnification agreements facilitate our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.
Policies and Procedures for Review of Related Party Transactions
A “Related Party Transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we or any of our subsidiaries was, is or will be a participant, the amount of which involved exceeds $50,000 in any one fiscal year, and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A “Related Person” means:
•any person who is, or at any time during the applicable period was, one of our executive officers, one of our directors, or a nominee to become one of our directors;
•any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of any class of our voting securities;
•any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of a director, executive officer or a beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of any class of our voting securities, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer or beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of any class of our voting securities; and
•any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest in any class of the Company’s voting securities.
Our Related Party Transactions policy subjects these transactions to review and either approval or disapproval of entry into the Related Party Transaction, subject to certain limited exceptions, by our nominating and governance committee. In determining whether to approve or disapprove entry into a Related Party Transaction, our nominating and governance committee shall take into account, among other factors, the following: (i) whether the Related Party Transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and (ii) the extent of the Related Person’s interest in the transaction. Further, the policy requires that all Related Party Transactions required to be disclosed in our filings with the SEC be so disclosed in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table shows the fees paid or accrued for the audit and other services provided by Ernst & Young LLP, our independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
2020 2019
Audit fees (1)
$ 740,198 $ 1,086,600
Audit related fees (2)
93,000 -
Tax fees (3)
68,750 -
All other fees (4)
173,000 -
Total $ 1,074,948 $ 1,086,600
(1)Audit fees consist of fees billed for services rendered for the audit of our financial statements and review of our financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
(2)Audit-related fees consist of fees reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements that are not reported as “Audit Fees.”
(3)Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services related to the preparation of our U.S. federal and state income tax returns and tax advice.
(4)All other fees consist of fees for other miscellaneous items, including fees related to our registration statements.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1)Financial Statements-See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, beginning on page.
(2)Financial Statement Schedules-Financial statement schedules have been omitted in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because they are not applicable, not required under the instructions, or the information requested is set forth in the consolidated financial statements or related notes thereto.
(3)Exhibits-The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.