EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1109486
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1109486_10-K_2024_0001493152-24-002515.json

---

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business.
Overview
Endexx® is a Consumer Products (CPG) company specializing in Plant-Based formulations and Innovative delivery systems, focused on creating “Better Products for a Better You”©. Our focus is on developing the most innovative and effective products using all-natural plant-based ingredients. Our companies, Hyla™ and CBD Unlimited™, harness the power of plants and deliver clean ingredient formulations with innovative technology systems.
Through Hyla, our recently acquired majority-owned subsidiary, we produce and sell organic, plant-based, all-natural, zero-nicotine, tobacco-free vape products under the Hyla brand. Each “HYLA device” contains a natural guarana extract that is blended with proprietary botanical formulas. Hyla launched its products in October 2021 and its initial inventory (140,000 devices) was sold out the following month. Hyla’s products bear the Underwriters Laboratories global safety certification and are CE approved.
Through CBD Unlimited, we develop hemp-derived, cannabidiol-enhanced products, each formulated to address key segments of the health and wellness market. Through our subsidiaries and strategic partnerships, we sell high-end, full-spectrum oils, extracts, topicals, and pet products, all with the shared purpose of supporting the potential of relief of pain and inflammation for humans and pets through our e-commerce site www.cbdunlimited.com, as well as other online and in-store retailers. Our products are built upon three key fundamentals: targeted-delivery, controlled-dosing, and dual-therapy applications. Our products have been formulated with input from nutrition experts, cosmetic specialists, and Doctors of Podiatric Medicine; use American-sourced hemp-derived materials; and use the highest quality natural ingredients. Each product undergoes rigorous quality control checks to ensure that the final product is of the highest possible quality and is tested and verified by independent laboratories. (See, “Government Regulation.”)
We continue to invest in research and development in order to develop new products and delivery methods. We plan to scale our production to meet growing consumer demand by entering into new joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and securing commitments from large retailers with a national and/or international presence.
We are led by a management team and advisory group that has decades of experience in the pharmacy, medical, hemp-derived products, nutraceutical, and health supplement industries. Our strategic partnerships include leading regulated hemp farms, manufacturers, marketers, and retailers with national presence, all supporting the development and sale of our plant-based products. We are based in Cave Creek, Arizona with additional offices in Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas.
Historical Overview
The Company was incorporated in the State of Nevada on September 5, 1997 as Micron Solutions, Inc. (“Micron Solutions”), in order to complete a merger with Shillelagh Ventures Chartered, a Utah corporation (“Shillelagh”). In November 1997, Shillelagh merged with and into Micron Solutions, with Micron Solutions as the surviving entity.
In 2002, Micron Solutions entered into an Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with PanaMed, Inc., a California corporation, formerly known as PanaMed Africa, Inc., and all of its shareholders, pursuant to which they transferred and assigned their common shares to Micron Solutions in exchange for an equal number of shares of common stock of Micron Solutions, thereby causing PanaMed, Inc. to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Micron Solutions. In connection with the Exchange Agreement, Micron Solutions (i) changed its name to PanaMed Corporation (“PanaMed Corporation”), (ii) effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, such that every ten shares of PanaMed Corporation’s common stock became one share of its common stock, and (iii) amended its Articles of Incorporation similarly to decrease the number of its authorized shares of capital stock by the same ratio as the reverse stock split ratio. From 2002 to 2005, PanaMed Corporation operated as a biotech service and licensing company, investing capital into biotechnologies and conducting therapeutic treatment programs in the Ivory Coast, Africa.
In June 2005, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to change our name to Endexx Corporation. At that time, we adopted our current trading symbol, “EDXC.” In September 2005, we acquired Visual Board Books, Inc. (“VBB”), a Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) developer, through a merger, whereby VBB merged with and into us, and we were the surviving entity. Subsequently, we operated as a diversified technology and SaaS and compliance and tracking systems company until we shifted our focus to the hemp-derived product industry in August 2014. In October 2018, we changed our name to CBD Unlimited, Inc., and in May 2020, we changed our name back to Endexx Corporation, with CBD Unlimited, Inc., becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary. On January 25, 2021, we filed our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
Operating Subsidiaries
We currently have two primary related health and wellness product lines:
Hyla US Holdco Limited
Effective August 31, 2022, we closed the transactions contemplated by a Control Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which we purchased 51% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Hyla (Please see Item 9b for additional disclosure). Hyla specializes in producing and selling organic, plant-based, all-natural zero-nicotine, tobacco-free vape products under the HYLA brand. We now offer a wide range of premium and mass-market vape devices that contain natural guarana extract blended with proprietary botanical formulas. All HYLA vapes are manufactured in Underwriters Laboratories Global Safety certified facilities and undergo rigorous testing and quality controls.
CBD Unlimited, Inc.
Through CBD Unlimited and other subsidiaries, we develop, manufacture, and distribute nutritional supplements and delivery systems for healthy living for the nutraceutical consumer market in the form of hemp-based, non- psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenoid extracts that are infused into products. Our current products encompass premium hemp-derived oils, topicals, delayed release capsules, extracts, tea and coffee, grooming and skincare, and a newly launched high performance, value line of hemp-derived health and skin care products.
Khode, LLC
On October 1, 2020, we entered into an LLC Operating Agreement of Khode, LLC (“Khode”) and, in May of 2021, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement that resulted in a minor adjustment to the holdings of the parties thereto. By virtue of that agreement, we now own 70.01% of the membership interests of Khode and, pursuant to the provisions of the Khode Operating Agreement, are required to make a capital contribution of $3,500,000. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have made a partial capital contribution in the amount of approximately $1,500,000 and expect to raise the balance through limited, private sales of our debt and equity securities. We cannot provide any assurance that such financing will be available on terms acceptable to us, at times required by us, if at all. If we fail to make the entire capital contribution, we will be in breach of our obligations under the Khode Operating Agreement. In the event of such a breach, the 24.99% interest holder in Khode, a Florida corporation known as Serious Promotions, Inc., will have the right, exercisable by written notice given at any time on or before the date which is twenty Business Days following the occurrence of such event of default, to terminate the Endorsement Agreement (as described in the second paragraph, below), with Khode having a ten-month sell-off period with respect to all Branded Products (as defined in the Khode Operating Agreement) then manufactured but not yet sold.
Effective January 22, 2021, we entered into a Percentage Payment Agreement with a third party that is not otherwise affiliated with Khode, pursuant to which we are obligated to pay to that third party an amount equivalent to 2.1% of all cash received by Khode from its net sales of certain products during the term of that Percentage Payment Agreement, which will terminate when Khode has been dissolved.
During October 2020, Khode entered into a five-year Endorsement and License Agreement with Serious Promotions, Inc., a Florida corporation, f/s/o Khaled, professionally known as DJ Khaled, who is an American artist, record executive and producer, and media personality. Pursuant to that agreement, Khode is to create a custom line of hemp- derived-infused oils, creams, and other beauty products under DJ Khaled’s brand and he is to promote the products through personal appearances, the use of social media platforms, participation in presentation videos, video, and audio “drops,” and media quotes. In connection with DJ Khaled’s services, Khode is obligated to make quarterly payments totaling an aggregate of $5,000,000 by July 1, 2025, of which aggregate amount, as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Khode has tendered $750,000 and expects to finance the balance of the quarterly payments through cash flow from operations of Khode. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10- K, Khode has not generated any positive cash flow from operations and we cannot provide any assurance that it will generate any cash flow from operations in the future in an amount sufficient to, among other things, make such quarterly payments. (See, Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings.)
Planned-for Future State of Operations
CBD Unlimited and Hyla are operational, as is our operating agreement with Khode. In the near- and mid-term, we currently are planning to (i) expand Hyla’s distribution and sales channels both internationally and domestically, (ii) expand retail and ecommerce sales channels for CBD Unlimited and its brand lines, and (iii) seek additional distribution partners and evaluate strategic alliances and potential acquisitions.
Overview of the Hemp-Derived Product Industry
The Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana
Both marijuana and hemp come from the same species of plant called “Cannabis.” Hemp is a unique strain or species known as “Cannabis Sativa L,” which, by dry weight, contains less than 0.3% THC concentration. Cannabis Sativa L plants contain unique compounds called cannabinoids and terpenoids. CBD is one of approximately 66 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa L plant and shares many properties with cannabis (i.e., marijuana). Unlike CBD derived from marijuana, CBD derived from the aerial parts of the hemp plant contains less than three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) of THC, the component that causes the psychoactive side-effects commonly associated with marijuana. In general, hemp CBD-based products that have a THC concentration of less than 0.3% is generally considered “legal” in the United States, and yields a product that some consumers believe contains the observed medicinal benefits of traditional cannabis, without inducing its “high” in consumers. Notwithstanding the beliefs of many consumers, the FDA has not recognized any medical benefits derived from CBD. CBD is available in several forms, such as isolates, distillates, and oil extracts, including (i) hemp seed oil, which has no CBD, (ii) full-spectrum CBD, which contains phyto-cannabinoids, such as THC, CBN, THCA, CBC, and CBG in variable concentrations, and is considered the most natural form of CBD, and (iii) broad-spectrum CBD, which contains less-to-non-detectable THC than full- spectrum CBD.
Market Opportunity
We believe that, with recent regulatory changes, the hemp-derived product industry is poised for continued growth. Recent projections from According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), “Cannabidoil Market Information By Form, Route of Administration, End User, Product, Application, Source and Region Forecast till 2030” the market size was valued $9.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $59.3 billion by 2030 (an 18.2% compound annual growth rate during the forecast period of 2022-2030).
The hemp-derived product industry is still largely underserved against the demand for natural and nutritional supplements and topicals. With the industry poised for growth in the coming years, our established portfolio of products and industry solutions can serve multiple market segments, as well as have been proven to be some of the best performing products according to key retailers like Walgreens.
The vape industry is currently being disrupted by regulators and customers looking to have healthier and safer product solutions for consumers. Our organic, plant-based, all-natural, zero-nicotine, tobacco-free vape products fill a significant void in the market and continue to see growing demand as tobacco-based products are banned or lose favor with consumers.
Our Current Consumer Products
Our focus is on the development, manufacturing, and distribution of plant-based and clean-ingredient consumer products, including nutritional supplements, plant-based alternatives, and delivery systems for healthier living for the consumer market in the form of hemp-based, non-psychoactive cannabinoids, terpenoid extracts, and other plant- based ingredients that are infused into products. Our current products encompass hemp-derived oils, topical skin care for skin health, pain relief support, and beauty products, value price hemp-derived creams and balms, a premium line of hemp-derived health and beauty care products, and organic, plant-based, all-natural, zero-nicotine, tobacco-free vape products. Our PhytoBites® are hemp-derived soft chews for animal use that are formulated to promote health and potentially support an improved quality of life.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a “dietary supplement” is a product that is intended to supplement the diet. A dietary supplement contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances) or their components; is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; and is identified on the front label of the product as being a dietary supplement. None of our products is a dietary supplement.
We have built a network of reliable suppliers of high-quality, hemp-derived and plant-derived products that can also provide pharmacy-grade delivery systems with consistent and precise dosages. The derived and finished products are tested at the point of origin and retested in the certified labs for contaminants, trace elements, potency, and purity. All of our hemp-derived products are developed and produced in ISO 9000 and GMP and OTC-certified facilities in collaboration with our distribution partners throughout the United States and established licensed medical hemp manufacturing and processing facilities. Our plant-based vape products follow similar rigorous standards to make sure they are the most premium in the market.
We believe that our product line is establishing a new standard in quality, transparency, consistency, and accuracy. Using current extraction technologies and sustainable cultivation practices, our ultimate goal is to improve the safety, quality, and bioavailability of plant-based products to our customers. All of our products are sold on our e-commerce sites: www.cbdunlimited.com or www.tryhyla.com, which seamlessly bring together our products, marketing content, and education into two platforms. We also have specific products like our Value Line, which are marketed to the mass-pharmacy, mass-retail, and mass-food markets.
Distribution Methods
All of our products are currently sold online through one of our e-commerce platforms www.cbdunlimited.com or www.tryhyla.com, select distributors, specialty sales groups, and brick-and-mortar retailers.
A portion of our sales comes through our e-commerce platforms, and orders are fulfilled from various fulfillment centers domestically and internationally. Demand for our products is increasing and we are transitioning our distribution to centralized third-party logistics and fulfillment centers in an aim to reduce.
In addition to our e-commerce website, several distributors carry our products and sell them into mass-pharmacy, retail stores, food chains, convenience stores, gas station stores, and specialty shops. Our current retail strategy entails targeting accounts and regions throughout the world where we believe our products are most likely to succeed with shoppers. Our distribution and retail strategy aims to increase our brand exposure and drive follow-on purchases at retail locations that carry our products and through our e-commerce platforms. We utilize social media, print, radio, and digital marketing, as well as broad distribution agreements. We currently have distribution agreements with:
● Numerous domestic and international distributors, including established partners in key international markets such as Italy, UAE, Egypt and other key regions in the Middle East, Europe and Asia;
● Numerous brokers specializing in defined product and channel categories having beneficial relationships with key buyers.
Marketing
The key goal of our sales and marketing strategy is to provide broad exposure of our products and their differentiation to our target consumers. We have adopted a multi-pronged approach to marketing our products and building brand awareness. Currently, our strategy is primarily focused on sampling opportunities where possible, key sponsorships opportunities, as well as digital marketing efforts inclusive of paid digital media, organic social media, search engine optimization, email marketing, and numerous other tactics. We are constantly iterating and testing our marketing spend to maximize results and return on investment.
Competition
For our CBD Unlimited business, the hemp-derived product industry is subject to significant competition and is comprised of thousands of businesses, ranging from growers, extractors, and manufacturers to distributors and retailers, and this number is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. We directly compete with small-to- mid-sized manufacturers with annual revenues between $2 million and $20 million. However, if we are successful in achieving our future growth targets, of which there can be no assurance, we would compete with much larger companies that generate annual revenues in excess of $50 million. Many of our historical key competitors included Medterra CBD, Kadenwood, LLC, Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc., Cresco Labs, Inc., Curaleaf Holdings Inc., CV Sciences, Inc., Elixinol Wellness Ltd., Neuropathix, Inc., Ovation Science Inc., and Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; however, there are new competitors entering the market regularly such as direct-to-consumer facing brands Highline Wellness Inc. and
Competition against these brands is fierce, with each manufacturer offering a host of hemp-derived products directly competing with us. This can over-populate the market with indistinguishable products and brands, forcing customers to buy products with little information. With so many brands in the market, having a competitive differentiator is essential to attract customers. We believe our products are superior to those of many of our competitors because we have established formulations with controlled dosing and delivery systems and have tested this platform within the healthcare industry with physicians, pharmacists, healthcare service providers, and veterinarians through clinical studies and field work, or other pharmacy collaborations. Additionally, we believe that providing good customer service to our customers, through transparency and education, will set us apart from our competitors. However, it is possible that one or more of our competitors could develop significant research or marketing advantages over us that allow them to provide superior products or pricing, respectively, which could put us at a competitive disadvantage.
For our Hyla business, the competition ranges from traditional tobacco-based product brands that are expanding into, or are already dominating, the consumer demand for vape-type products to more modern brands that are attempting to follow Hyla’s early success in the plant-based, alternative vaping space. Fortunately, Hyla has a first mover advantage as it relates to organic, plant-based, all-natural, zero-nicotine, tobacco-free vape products and has seen early traction both domestically and internationally. This does not make Hyla not susceptible to being disrupted or overtaken by a competitor; however, it is our belief that Hyla’s experience in creating best-in-class products and a robust product expansion pipeline will help fend off competition far into the future.
Suppliers
For our CBD Unlimited business, we have a network of suppliers and third-party service providers, including state- certified hemp suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors. We source all of our hemp from certified American growers, and manufacture all of our products in CGMP, OTC, Cosmetic, NSF, and ISO-certified facilities. Additionally, all of our ingredients and finished goods are tested for purity and quality by ISO-certified third-party laboratories: Kaycha Labs, Delta Verde Laboratories, DB Labs, LLC, Eurofins Scientific SE and now comply with newly established United Laboratories protocol. We make available to our customers copies of the laboratories’ certificates of analysis, which disclose Cannabinoid, terpenes, and THC concentration, mycotoxins, microbial, heavy metals, pesticides, or any other harmful contaminants. We continuously manage the risks associated with third-party suppliers and service providers by continuously evaluating our supply chain for any quality or manufacturing problems and are continually identifying alternative solutions to any potential issues.
For our Hyla vape business, we have long term relationships with key suppliers in the United States that exclusively manufacture all our plant-based flavored liquid that goes into our disposable devices, which are manufactured in China. The strategic benefit of this arrangement protects Hyla from any copycat or competitor getting access to the unique formulas that are proprietary to our products. All our manufacturers, both domestically and internationally, comply with all local and international manufacturing standards and regulations pertinent to our industry.
Our Customers
We are not dependent on any single customer for a significant portion of our sales. However, we have customers who purchase our products on a regular basis. We believe this loyalty is an essential factor that will help differentiate our brand and products from our competition. Our goal is to continue to build this loyalty from our customers by offering the highest quality products and best customer service in the hemp-derived product industry.
In addition to the customers who visit our e-commerce platforms, we have strong relationships with wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. Our CBD Unlimited products are now in approximately 8,000 mass-retail stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and independent “Mom and Pop” locations in the United States, and our Hyla products are in approximately ten thousand retail locations and rapidly expanding, both domestically and internationally.
Government Regulation
In 2014, Congress enacted Section 7606 of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (the “2014 Farm Bill”), which provides for the domestic cultivation of industrial hemp as part of agricultural pilot programs adopted by individual states for the purposes of research by state departments of agriculture and institutions of higher education. The 2014 Farm Bill provides for the domestic cultivation of industrial hemp in these pilot programs, notwithstanding other federal laws, such as the Controlled Substances Act (the “CSA”). The 2014 Farm Bill governed any current domestic production of industrial hemp.
The 2014 Farm Bill’s provisions require states that choose to adopt agricultural pilot programs to study the growth, cultivation, or marketing of industrial hemp to do so in a manner that (i) ensures that only institutions of higher education and state agriculture departments are used to grow or cultivate industrial hemp; (ii) requires that sites used for growing or cultivating industrial hemp be certified with, and registered by, the states; and (iii) authorizes state agriculture departments to regulate the pilot programs. Within those parameters, the 2014 Farm Bill gives significant discretion to states to determine whether to adopt an industrial hemp pilot program, and to adopt regulations governing industrial hemp (including marketing research involving products derived from industrial hemp) under those pilot programs. Many of the states that have adopted pilot programs have registered private companies to participate in the pilot program. We worked with farms and extraction facilities that were registered under Arizona’s agricultural pilot program.
Under the 2014 Farm Bill, any cannabis plant, plant part, or plant product that contains a higher concentration of THC than permitted in industrial hemp is considered a Schedule I substance under the CSA and is not protected by the 2014 Farm Bill. In addition, any industrial hemp plant, plant part, or plant product that is produced outside of a state agricultural pilot program may be considered unlawful but not a controlled substance.
In December 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the “2018 Farm Bill”) was signed into law. Prior to its passage, hemp, a member of the cannabis family, and hemp-derived products were classified as Schedule I controlled substances, and so were considered illegal under the CSA. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp cultivation is broadly permitted outside of the state agricultural pilot programs. The 2018 Farm Bill explicitly allows the transfer of hemp-derived products across state lines for commercial or other purposes. It also puts no restrictions on the sale, transport, or possession of hemp-derived products, so long as those items are produced in a manner consistent with the law.
Additionally, there will be significant, shared state-federal regulatory power over hemp cultivation and production. Pursuant to the 2018 Farm Bill, state agriculture departments must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”). A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of the USDA approves the state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally- run program. This system of shared regulatory programming is similar to options states had in other policy areas, such as health insurance marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act, or workplace safety plans under the Occupational Health and Safety Act - both of which had federally-run systems for states opting not to set up their own systems. The USDA has deferred review and approval of state plans, establishing its umbrella plan for hemp production in states without approved plans, and issuing federal licenses to producers in such states until the agency promulgates final implementing regulations. Until such time as the USDA issues such final regulations, commercial hemp production under the 2018 Farm Bill cannot legally begin. However, research-related activities involving industrial hemp under the more-restrictive 2014 Farm Bill may continue. The USDA has expressed an intention to issue such final regulations in time for producers to cultivate hemp for commercial purposes during the 2020 growing season; however, the timing and content of the USDA’s final implementing regulations cannot be assured. Moreover, the 2018 Farm Bill permits states to establish additional restrictions on hemp production and hemp products than required under federal law, although states may not interfere with the interstate transportation of hemp or hemp products produced in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill.
Even though the 2018 Farm Bill removed industrial hemp from the Schedule I list, the 2018 Farm Bill preserved the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) over cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds used in food and pharmaceutical products pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the “FD&C Act”) and Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act. The FDA has stated that it intends to treat products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds as it treats any other FDA-regulated products. The FDA requires a cannabis product (hemp-derived or otherwise) that is marketed with a claim of therapeutic benefit, or with any other disease claim, to be approved by the FDA for its intended use before it may be introduced into interstate commerce.
The FDA has also stated that it is unlawful under the FD&C Act to introduce food containing added CBD or THC into interstate commerce, or to market CBD or THC products as, or in, dietary supplements, regardless of whether the substances are hemp-derived. Even though products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds remain subject to the FDA’s regulatory authority, there are methods available for those companies who seek to lawfully introduce these products into interstate commerce. For example, a company can seek approval from the FDA to market a human or animal drug that is derived from cannabis with therapeutic claims. In June 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, which is a CBD-derived drug approved to treat epilepsy. The approval was based on adequate and well- controlled clinical studies, which gives prescribers confidence in the drug’s uniform strength and consistent delivery that support appropriate dosing needed for treating patients with epilepsy. The FDA’s position leaves a great deal of uncertainty in interpreting the legal standing of CBD - the 2018 Farm Bill legalizes the interstate commerce of hemp, but the FDA has made statements indicating its desire to regulate CBD products, which could significantly limit interstate commerce of CBD products.
Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) regulates advertising of all products, including for FDA- regulated articles made from hemp and CBD derived from hemp.
Intellectual Property
We do not hold, nor have we applied for, any patents. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10- K, we have a registered trademark for “Endexx” and a registered trademark for “PhytoBites.” Additionally, we have applied for several trademarks of our products’ names and logos, including “CBD Unlimited,” “Maggie’s Balm,” and “Blesswell.” As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has not approved any CBD-related trademarks, and, accordingly, our applications are still pending.
Research and Development
Our research and development expenses for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 totaled $5,249 and $27,066, respectively, and relate to the development of our products. None of these costs was borne directly by our customers.
Employees
As of January 16, 2024, we have approximately ten full-time employees across our businesses. None of our employees is covered by any collective bargaining agreements and we have never experienced a major work stoppage, strike, or dispute. We consider our relationship with our employees to be outstanding.
Reports to Security Holders
Because our class of Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, we are subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) thereunder, which requires us to file Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and to comply with all other obligations of the Exchange Act applicable to issuers pursuant to Section 12(g). Further, our directors and named executive officers and beneficial owners of five percent (5%) or more of our Common Stock are subject to certain disclosure obligations under the Exchange Act.
You may read and copy this Annual Report on Form 10-K and any future reports we file with the Commission free of charge through the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. You may obtain further information about us on our websites at https://endexx.com/ and www.cbdunlimited.com. We caution the reader that none of the information contained on such websites is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

---

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10- K or in any other documents incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Moreover, the risks so described are not the only risks we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently perceive as immaterial may ultimately prove more significant than expected and impair our business operations. Any of these risks could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects. The quoted price of the Common Stock could decline due to any of these risks and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have a limited operating history on which to judge our new business prospects and management. We commenced operations in the hemp-derived product industry in 2014 in the same year as the 2014 Farm Bill became law and four years prior to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Accordingly, we have only a limited operating history upon which to base an evaluation of our business and prospects. Operating results for future periods are subject to numerous uncertainties and we cannot assure you that we will achieve or sustain profitability. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks encountered by companies in the early stage of development, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving markets. We cannot assure you that we will successfully address any of these risks.
We have incurred significant net losses and cannot assure you that we will achieve or maintain profitable operations. Our net losses were $6,274,597 for the year ended September 30, 2023 and $4,884,486 for the year ended September 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2023, we had a stockholders’ deficit of $17,331,610. The decrease in net loss was the result of the sum of certain positive results in the 2023 fiscal year compared to the 2022 fiscal year:
● an decrease in gross profit of $1,958,633, resulting from a substantial increase in revenues of $1,770,375, combined with a greater-than-proportional increase in the cost of revenues of $2,605,806, and a significant increase in inventory impairment of $1,123,202;
● a decrease in operating expenses of $1,168,457, resulting from a decrease in advertising and promotion expense of $67,702, decrease in payroll expenses of $349,801, decreases in professional fees of $459,259 and decreases in impairment expenses of $249,560; and
● an increase in other expense of $1,477,417 resulting from significant loss from the fair value of derivative liability offset by significant gain from settlement of derivative liability and discount amortization, interest expenses, and default penalties, and significant gains on settlement of liabilities and disposition of assets.
We may continue to incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, and delays, and other unknown events.
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will achieve sustainable operating profits as we continue to expand our product line and otherwise implement our growth initiatives. Any failure to achieve and maintain profitability would have a materially adverse effect on our ability to implement our business plan, our results and operations, and our financial condition, and could cause the value of our Common Stock to decline, resulting in a significant or complete loss of your investment.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s reports for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 have raised substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a “going concern.” Our independent registered public accounting firm indicated in its reports on our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. A “going concern” opinion indicates that the financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result if we do not continue as a going concern. Therefore, you should not rely on our consolidated balance sheet as an indication of the amount of proceeds that would be available to satisfy the claims of creditors, and potentially be available for distribution to stockholders, in the event of liquidation. The presence of the going concern note to our financial statements may have an adverse impact on the relationships we are developing and plan to develop with third parties as we continue the commercialization of our products and could make it challenging and difficult for us to raise additional financing, all of which could have a material adverse impact on our business and prospects and result in a significant or complete loss of your investment.
Our ability to grow and compete in the future will be adversely affected if adequate capital is not available to us or not available on terms favorable to us. We have limited capital resources. To date, we have financed our operations through a mix of equity and debt investments by investors, and we expect to continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Our ability to continue our normal and planned operations, to grow our business, and to compete in our industry will depend on the availability of adequate capital.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain additional funding from those or other sources when or in the amounts needed, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we raise capital through the sale of equity, or securities convertible into equity, it will result in dilution to our then-existing stockholders, which could be significant depending on the price at which we may be able to sell our securities. If we raise additional capital through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, we will likely become subject to further covenants restricting our business activities, and holders of debt instruments may have rights and privileges senior to those of our then-existing stockholders. In addition, servicing the interest and principal repayment obligations under debt facilities could divert funds that would otherwise be available to support development of new programs and marketing to current and potential new clients. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we could be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate development of new products or future marketing efforts, or reduce or discontinue our operations. Any of these events could significantly harm our business, financial condition, and prospects.
Another “Pandemic” like the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” This worldwide 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 are also taking 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 an adverse impact on global economic conditions and have had an adverse impact on consumer confidence and spending on certain products and services, which could materially adversely affect the supply of, as well as the demand for, our products. Uncertainties regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 are likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition, and cash flow. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, many of the governmental restrictions are in the process of being lessened or lifted, which actions we expect should have a positive impact on consumer confidence and spending and a related positive impact on our business and, thereafter, our financial condition and cash flow.
Our co-packers source raw materials used in our products from suppliers located in the United States. The impact of “Pandemics”, “Tariffs,” and international business complexities can affect any of our suppliers, distributors, and resellers, or transportation or logistics providers. Cost of goods and services, combined with inflation, has negatively affected the price (through increases) and the availability of our ingredients and/or packaging materials (through longer lead times) and has accordingly negatively impacted our supply chain. As these disruptions caused by pandemics, tariffs, and general economic conditions have continued for an extended period of time, our ability to meet the demands of our consumers has been and may be further materially impacted. To date, we have not experienced any reduction in the available supply of our products. Additionally, many of our employees, including members of our management team, continue to work remotely. If our operations or productivity continue to be impacted by these variables, these occurrences will continue to impact our business, financial condition, and cash flow, all in a negative manner. The extent to which any of the above occurrences, whether or not foreseen may 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, we expect that, during our current fiscal year, the adverse impact of these variables on our business will slowly abate.
However, as these occurrences have continued for a prolonged period, they have had a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flow and may have contributed to the volatility in the quoted price of our Common Stock on the OTCM.
The 2018 Farm Bill passed in December 2018, along with undeveloped shared state-federal regulations over hemp cultivation and production that may impact our business. The 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the 2018 Farm Bill, state agriculture departments must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the USDA. A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of the USDA approves the state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will need to construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally-run program. The details and scopes of each state’s plans are not known as of the date of this Registration Statement and may contain varying regulations that may impact our business. Even if a state creates a plan in conjunction with its governor and chief law enforcement officer, the Secretary of the USDA must approve it. There can be no guarantee that any state plan will be approved. Review times may be extensive. There may be amendments and the ultimate plans, if approved by states and the USDA, may materially limit our business depending upon the scope of the regulations.
Laws and regulations affecting our industry to be developed under the 2018 Farm Bill are in development. As a result of the 2018 Farm Bill’s recent passage, there will be constant evolution of laws and regulations affecting the hemp industry that could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state, and federal hemp laws and regulations may be broad in scope and subject to changing interpretations. These changes may require us to incur substantial costs associated with legal and compliance fees and ultimately require us to alter our business plan. Furthermore, violations of these laws, or alleged violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business.
The possible FDA regulation of hemp and industrial hemp-derived products, and the possible registration of facilities where hemp is grown and hemp-derived products are produced, if implemented, could negatively affect the cannabis industry generally, which could directly affect our financial condition. The 2018 Farm Bill established that hemp containing less than 0.3% THC was no longer under the CSA. Previously, the FDA had not approved cannabis, industrial hemp, or CBD derived from cannabis or industrial hemp as a safe and effective drug for any indication. The FDA considered hemp and hemp-derived CBD as illegal Schedule I drugs. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not, and do not intend to file an investigational new drug (“IND”) application with the FDA, concerning any of our products that may contain cannabis, industrial hemp, or CBD derived from industrial hemp. Further, the FDA concluded that products containing hemp or CBD derived from hemp are excluded from the dietary supplement definition of the FD&C Act. However, as a result of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, at some indeterminate future time, the FDA may choose to change its position concerning products containing hemp, or CBD derived from hemp, and may choose to enact regulations that are applicable to such products, including, but not limited to, the growth, cultivation, harvesting, and processing of hemp; regulations covering the physical facilities where hemp is grown; and possible testing to determine efficacy and safety of hemp-derived CBD. In such event, our products could be subject to regulation. However, we do not know what impact would be on the hemp industry in general, and what costs, requirements, and possible prohibitions may be enforced in the future. If we are unable to comply with the conditions and possible costs of such regulations and/or registrations, we may be unable to continue to operate our business.
The FDA limits companies’ ability to discuss the medical benefits of hemp-derived products. Under FDA rules, it is illegal for companies to make “health claims” or any claim that a product has a specific medical benefit without first getting FDA approval for such claim. The FDA has not recognized any medical benefits resulting from the consumption of hemp-derived products, which means that no companies are legally permitted to advertise any health claims related to hemp-derived products. Because of the perception among many consumers that hemp-derived CBD is a health/medicinal product, our inability to make health claims about the hemp-derived materials in our products may limit our ability to market and sell the products to consumers, which would negatively impact our revenues and profits.
The FDA has recently called into question the legality of products containing hemp-derived ingredients sold as dietary supplements. In November 2019, the FDA issued warning letters to 15 companies for selling products that contain CBD in ways that violate the FD&C Act and stated therein that products containing CBD cannot be sold as dietary supplements. In a series of letters in 2016 and 2017, the FDA stated that, “based on available evidence, FDA has concluded that cannabidiol products are excluded from the dietary supplement definition (the “IND Preclusion”) under Section 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) of the FD&C Act.” Under that provision, if a substance (such as CBD) has been authorized for investigation as a new drug for which substantial clinical investigations have been instituted and for which the existence of such investigations has been made public, the products containing that substance are excluded from the Section 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) definition of a dietary supplement. There is an exception to the IND Preclusion if the substance was “marketed as” a dietary supplement or as a conventional food before substantial clinical investigations were instituted pursuant to an authorization for investigation of a new drug and made public, as further discussed below; however, based on available evidence, the FDA concluded that this is not the case for cannabidiol, as it has not concluded that CBD is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food. The FDA has not instituted any rulemaking procedures or provided an opportunity for public comment in arriving at its conclusion regarding CBD in dietary supplements.
The IND preclusion language from Section 201(ff) of the FD&C Act includes several requirements that must be met for a certain ingredient to be precluded from the definition of a dietary supplement. First, the ingredient must have been authorized by FDA for investigation as a new drug. Next, substantial clinical investigations must have been instituted. These substantial clinical investigations must also be made public. Lastly, all of the above must have occurred prior to the marketing of the ingredient as a dietary supplement or food. That is, all of these conditions must be met before the article can be precluded from the definition of a dietary supplement under Section 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) of the FD&C Act.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a “dietary supplement” is a product that is intended to supplement the diet. A dietary supplement contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances) or their components; is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; and is identified on the front label of the product as being a dietary supplement. None of our products is a dietary supplement.
We believe that CBD has been marketed as a dietary supplement prior to commencement and public notice of any substantial clinical investigations instituted on CBD, as the investigations that were publicized were not substantial and they were limited in number and preliminary in nature, thereby rendering the IND Preclusion inapplicable.
U.S. federal and foreign regulation and enforcement may adversely affect the implementation of cannabis laws and regulations and may negatively impact our revenue, or we may be found to be violating the CSA or other federal, state, or foreign laws. Even though we do not cultivate, process, market, or distribute cannabis or any products that contain cannabis, some of our customers do engage in such activities. Cannabis, though not strictly defined in the 2018 Farm Bill, is a Schedule I controlled substance and is illegal under federal law. Even in those states where the use of cannabis has been legalized, its use remains a violation of federal law. A Schedule I controlled substance is defined as a substance that has no currently accepted medical use in the United Stated, a lack of safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. The Department of Justice defines Schedule I controlled substances as “the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.”
At present, numerous states and the District of Columbia allow their citizens to use medical cannabis. Additionally, many states have approved legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use. The laws of these states relative to cannabis are in conflict with the CSA, which makes cannabis use and possession illegal on a national level. If the federal government decides to enforce the CSA with respect to cannabis, persons that are charged with distributing, possessing with intent to distribute, or growing cannabis could be subject to fines and imprisonment. Any such change in the federal government’s enforcement of current federal laws could cause significant financial damage to us.
Cannabis and cannabis products remain illegal under federal law. Cannabis and CBD containing in excess of 0.3% THC are Schedule I controlled substances and are illegal under federal law, specifically the CSA. Even in those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized, its use remains a violation of federal law. CBD and cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp are not distinguishable. Although our hemp-derived products contain less than 0.3% THC, if there were mistakes in processing or mislabeling and THC in excess of 0.3% were found in our products, we could be subject to enforcement and prosecution, which would have a negative impact on our business and operation.
Variations in state and local regulation, and enforcement in states that have legalized cannabis, may restrict cannabis-related activities, which may negatively impact our revenues and prospective profits. Individual state laws do not always conform to the federal standard or to other states’ laws. States that have decriminalized cannabis have created legal regimes, structures, and rules related to the use, cultivation, manufacture, distribution, transportation, and sale of medical cannabis and related products. These legal regimes often require companies to apply for and be awarded a license in order to operate a cannabis business operation. Although our products contain less than 0.3% THC, if there were mistakes in processing or mislabeling and THC in excess of 0.3% was found in our products, we could be found to be in violation of these states laws and regulations for not obtaining required licenses.
State laws and regulations are also still in flux as states figure out how best to regulate new products. State laws may change in unexpected ways that could result in our partners losing their licenses, being forced to change their products or services, or raise prices, all of which could impact our revenues and prospective profits.
Laws regarding the transportation of cannabis may change, which may negatively impact our business. Transportation of cannabis is governed by both state and federal law. The interaction between these two legal regimes creates legal and practice difficulties in getting products to market. Changes in state law related to the transportation of cannabis may significantly impact our ability to get products to market or may raise the cost of doing so, which would impact our revenue and potential profits. Although federal law now allows the transportation of products derived exclusively from industrial hemp, both state and federal law make it illegal to transport cannabis products across state lines. Any accidental or intentional transportation of cannabis in our products across state lines could, therefore, result in significant consequences including loss of a state issued license or permit, financial penalties, seizure of our products, and prosecution for the illegal transportation of a Schedule I substance. These consequences may impact our revenues, potential profits, or ability to continue operating in this line of business.
The approach in the enforcement of cannabis laws may be subject to change, which creates uncertainty for our business. As a result of the conflicting views between state legislatures and the federal government regarding cannabis, investments in, and the operations of, cannabis businesses in the United States are subject to inconsistent laws and regulations. Laws and regulations affecting the cannabis industry are constantly changing, which could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state, and federal cannabis laws and regulations are broad in scope and subject to evolving interpretations, which could require us to incur substantial costs associated with compliance or alter our business plan. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in material adverse effect on our operations. It is also possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, there has been little other legislation passed at the federal level pertaining to the cultivation, transportation, and sale of CBD products. Conversely, numerous laws and guidance have passed on the state and local levels, providing for non-standardized legal standing throughout the US. These ever-changing regulations could even affect federal tax policies that may make it difficult to claim tax deductions on our returns. In light of these changes and to the best of our knowledge, we are in compliance with all existing regulations.
We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated, could have on our business.
Because our business is dependent upon continued market acceptance by consumers, any negative trends will adversely affect our business operations. We are substantially dependent on continued market acceptance and proliferation of consumers of hemp and hemp-derived products. We believe that, as hemp and hemp-derived products become more accepted as a result of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the stigma associated with hemp and hemp- derived products will diminish and, as a result, consumer demand will continue to grow. While we believe that the market and opportunity in the hemp space continues to grow, we cannot predict the future growth rate and size of the market. Any negative outlook on the hemp industry will adversely affect our business operations.
We face intense competition and many of our competitors have greater resources that may enable them to compete more effectively. We are involved in a highly competitive industry where we may compete with numerous other companies who offer alternative methods or approaches, who may have far greater resources, more experience, and personnel perhaps more qualified than we. Our competitors may devote their resources to developing and marketing products that will directly compete with our product lines. Due to this competition, there is no assurance that we will not encounter difficulties in obtaining revenues and market share or in the positioning of our products and services. There are no assurances that competition in our respective industries will not lead to reduced prices for our products. If we are unable to successfully compete with existing companies and new entrants to the hemp market, this will have a negative impact on our business and financial condition.
Our products and services are new, and our industry is rapidly evolving. Due consideration must be given to our prospects in light of the risks, uncertainties, and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of development, particularly companies in the rapidly evolving legal hemp industry. To be successful in this industry, we must, among other things:
● develop and introduce functional and attractive product and service offerings;
● attract and maintain a large base of consumers;
● increase awareness of our brands and develop consumer loyalty;
● establish and maintain strategic relationships with distribution partners and service providers;
● respond to competitive and technological developments; and
● attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel.
We cannot guarantee that we will succeed in achieving any or all of these goals, and our failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
Some of our products and services are new and are only in early stages of commercialization. We are not certain that these products and services will function as anticipated or be desirable to its intended market. Also, some of our products may have limited functionalities, which may limit their appeal to consumers and put us at a competitive disadvantage. If our current or future products and services fail to function properly or if we do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, we could lose customers or could be subject to claims that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
As is typical in a new and rapidly evolving industry, demand, and market acceptance for recently introduced products and services are subject to a high level of uncertainty and risk. Because our market is new and evolving, it is difficult to predict with any certainty the size of this market and its growth rate, if any. We cannot guarantee that a market for our products and services will develop or that a demand for our products and services will emerge or be sustainable. If the market fails to develop, develops more slowly than expected, or becomes saturated with competitors, our business, financial condition, and operating results would be materially adversely affected.
Federal intellectual property laws may limit our ability to protect our trademarks, names, logos, and other intellectual property. U.S. trademark law makes it unlawful to trademark any product that cannot legally be sold across state lines. Because the sale and transportation of cannabis and cannabis products is still prohibited under federal law, this may limit our ability to secure trademark protection for our products. We applied for trademark protection with the understanding that our products are derived from industrial hemp and other legal sources; however, because of the current state of cannabis law, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may reject our current or future applications. This would negatively impact our ability to protect our intellectual property, which could negatively impact our revenues and prospective profits.
If we fail to protect our intellectual property, our business could be adversely affected. Our viability will depend, in part, on our ability to develop and maintain the proprietary aspects of our intellectual property to distinguish our products from our competitors’ products. We rely on trade secrets and confidentiality provisions to establish and protect our intellectual property, including our proprietary formulas and manufacturing techniques. We may not be able to enforce some of our intellectual property rights because cannabis is illegal under federal law.
Any infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property or proprietary formulations could damage its value and limit our ability to compete. We may have to engage in litigation to protect the rights to our intellectual property, which could result in significant litigation costs and require a significant amount of our time. In addition, our ability to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights may be limited in certain countries outside the United States, which could make it easier for competitors to capture market position in such countries by utilizing technologies that are similar to those developed or licensed by us.
Competitors may also harm our sales by designing products that mirror our products or processes without infringing on our intellectual property rights. If we do not obtain sufficient protection for our intellectual property, or if we are unable to effectively enforce our intellectual property rights, our competitiveness could be impaired, which would limit our growth and future revenue.
We may also find it necessary to bring infringement or other actions against third parties to seek to protect our intellectual property rights. Litigation of this nature, even if successful, is often expensive and time-consuming to prosecute and there can be no assurance that we will have the financial or other resources to enforce our rights or be able to enforce our rights or prevent other parties from developing similar products or processes or designing around our intellectual property.
Although we believe that our products and processes do not and will not infringe upon the patents or violate the proprietary rights of others, it is possible such infringement or violation has occurred or may occur, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We are not aware of any infringement by us of any person’s or entity’s intellectual property rights. In the event that products we sell or processes we employ are deemed to infringe upon the patents or proprietary rights of others, we could be required to modify our products or processes or obtain a license for the manufacture and/or sale of such products or processes or cease selling such products or employing such processes. In such event, there can be no assurance that we would be able to do so in a timely manner, upon acceptable terms and conditions, or at all, and the failure to do any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect upon our business.
There can be no assurance that we will have the financial or other resources necessary to enforce or defend a patent infringement or proprietary rights violation action. If our products or processes are deemed to infringe or likely to infringe upon the patents or proprietary rights of others, we could be subject to injunctive relief and, under certain circumstances, become liable for damages, which could also have a material adverse effect on our business and our financial condition.
Tax laws related to cannabis may impact our ability to generate revenue or potential profits. Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits cannabis businesses from deducting their ordinary and necessary business expenses, forcing us to pay higher effective federal tax rates compared to similar companies in other industries. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we believe that Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code will not apply to us. However, if we inadvertently produce or sell products that are considered cannabis, or are deemed to engage in a cannabis business despite the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we may be subject to Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which would prohibit us from deducting our ordinary and necessary business expenses. In such instance, our business may be less profitable than it could otherwise be.
State tax laws are also changing. Even though state taxes are already high, many local jurisdictions are imposing heavy additional taxes either as a disincentive for cannabis companies to operate there or in order to cash in on the growing number of cannabis companies paying taxes. It is unknown how states will treat companies engaging in the hemp- derived product industry from a tax perspective. High taxes could overwhelm our partner companies causing them to go out of business or raise prices for their services, which in turn may impact our revenues and profits by forcing us to find different partners in more tax friendly areas or pay higher prices.
We may not be able to obtain the necessary permits and authorizations to operate our business in the future. We may not be able to obtain or maintain the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, or accreditations for our business, or may only be able to do so at great cost. In addition, we may not be able to comply fully with the wide variety of laws and regulations applicable to the cannabis and hemp-derived product industries. Failure to comply with or to obtain the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, or accreditations could result in restrictions on our ability to operate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Changes in the regulations governing cannabis outside of the United States may adversely impact our prospects. Our growth strategy with respect to international expansion of the new business lines continues to evolve as regulations governing the cannabis and hemp-derived product industries in foreign jurisdictions become more fully developed. Interpretation of these laws, rules, and regulations and their application is ongoing. Amendments to current laws, regulations, and guidelines, more stringent implementation, or enforcement thereof, enactment of new laws, the adoption of new regulations, or other unanticipated events, including changes in political regimes and attitudes toward cannabis and hemp-derived products are beyond our control and could material adverse effect on our international growth prospects.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to expand our operations into legal jurisdictions outside of the United States, and any such expansion will be subject to risks. There can be no assurance that any market for cannabis products to be offered by us will develop in any jurisdiction outside of the United States. Laws, regulations, and perceptions pertaining to cannabis and hemp-derived products vary widely internationally, and the scope or pace of legalization of cannabis and hemp-derived products cannot be predicted or assured. If and when additional legal markets for cannabis and hemp-derived products develop, our pursuit of such markets may expose it to new or unexpected risks or significantly increase its exposure to one or more existing risk factors, including economic instability, changes in laws and regulations, and the effects of competition. These factors may limit our capability to successfully expand our operations into such jurisdictions and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We will become subject to further laws and regulations as we expand internationally. In addition to initiating business operations in Jamaica, we plan on expanding our business internationally. If and as this international expansion occurs, we will become subject to the laws and regulations of (as well as international treaties among) the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate or import or export products or materials. In addition, we may avail ourselves of proposed legislative changes in certain jurisdictions to expand our product portfolio, which expansion may include business and regulatory compliance risks as yet undetermined. Failure by us to comply with the current or evolving regulatory framework in any jurisdiction could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. There is the possibility that any such international jurisdiction could determine that we were not or is not compliant with applicable local regulations. If our historical or current sales or operations were found to be in violation of such international regulations, we may be subject to enforcement actions in such jurisdictions including, but not limited to civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations or asset seizures and the denial of regulatory applications, each of such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Reliance on third-party suppliers, service providers, manufacturers, and distributors may result in disruption to our business lines’ supply chains. Suppliers, service providers, and distributors of our products may elect, at any time, to breach or otherwise cease to participate in supply, service, or distribution agreements, or other relationships, on which the operations of our business rely. The loss of suppliers, service providers, manufacturers, or distributors would have a material adverse effect on the business and operational results of our business.
Industrial hemp is vulnerable to specific agricultural risks that could have a material adverse effect on the availability of hemp to be purchased by us for use in our products. Our suppliers may grow their industrial hemp outdoors. As such, the risks inherent in engaging in outdoor agricultural businesses apply. Agricultural production by its nature contains elements of risk and uncertainty that may adversely affect our business and operations, including but not limited to the following: (i) any future climate change with a potential shift in weather patterns leading to droughts and associated crop losses; (ii) potential insect, fungal, and weed infestations resulting in crop failure and reduced yields; (iii) wild and domestic animals damaging the crops; and (iv) crop raiding, sabotage, or vandalism, all of which could affect the availability of hemp that we can purchase for use in our products. If hemp is not readily available, our business and financial condition would be materially adversely effected.
Loss of key contracts with our suppliers, renegotiation of such agreements on less favorable terms or other actions these third parties may take could harm our business. Most of our agreements with suppliers of our industrial hemp, including our key supplier contract, may be subject to cancellation or non-renewal. The loss of these agreements, or the renegotiation of these agreements on less favorable economic or other terms, could limit our ability to procure raw material to manufacture our products. This could negatively affect our ability to meet consumer demand for our products. Upon expiration or termination of these agreements, our competitors may be able to secure industrial hemp from our existing suppliers that will put us at a competitive disadvantage in the market.
We have a limited number of supply sources and depend solely on United States-based suppliers, which may subject us to additional risks. We believe that our continued success will depend upon the availability of raw materials that permit us to meet labeling claims and quality control standards. The supply of our industrial hemp is subject to the same risks normally associated with agricultural production, such as climactic conditions, insect infestations, and availability of manual labor or equipment for harvesting. Any significant delay in or disruption of the supply of raw materials could substantially increase the cost of such materials, could require product reformulations, the qualification of new suppliers, and repackaging and could result in a substantial reduction or termination by us of our sales of certain products, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon us. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the disruption of our supply sources will not have a material adverse effect on us.
We also exclusively obtain our raw product from United States’ suppliers. Therefore, our business is subject to the risks generally associated with a lack of geographic diversity in our suppliers poses, including the potential for enforcement activity, natural disasters affecting key geographic locations where our ingredients are grown, and possible challenges with exporting our products abroad.
The market for industrial hemp and hemp-derived products in the United States is relatively new and is subject to risks associated with an emerging industry. This industry and market may not continue to exist or grow as anticipated or we may ultimately be unable to succeed in this industry or market. The hemp and hemp-derived product industry in the United States is highly speculative and is a relatively new industry that appears to be rapidly expanding but ultimately may not be successful. We face inherent challenges associated with being in a new market, including establishing reliable agricultural supply chains and processing and manufacturing to compete with producers in other countries where industrial hemp cultivation has already been established. Therefore, we are subject to all of the business risks associated with a new business in a niche market, including risks of unforeseen capital requirements, failure of widespread market acceptance of hemp products, failure to establish business relationships, and competitive disadvantages as against larger and more established competitors.
Laws governing our access to banking services are uncertain and are in a state of flux. Since the commerce in cannabis is illegal under federal law, most federally chartered banks will not accept funds for deposit from businesses involved with cannabis. Consequently, businesses involved in the cannabis industry often have difficulty finding a bank willing to accept their business. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we expect the banking industry will be more open to doing business with compliant hemp business. However, banks may still refuse to open bank accounts, make loans, or initiate currency transactions with us. Additionally, major credit card processors also may be hesitant to do business with us and, as a result, we may be forced to find less reputable credit card processing solutions abroad, or pay higher transaction fees.
The House of Representatives approved the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act in September 2019 and its provisions were included in the HEROES Act relief bill that it approved in May 2020. Those provisions are designed to protect banks that service the cannabis industry from being penalized by federal regulators as well as to protect ancillary business that work with the cannabis industry from being charged with money laundering and other financial crimes. However, whether the provisions of this bill will be introduced again and ultimately passed is unknown and, even if it is passed, it may not result in a more open banking climate. Our inability to open and maintain bank accounts would make it difficult for us to operate our business, increase our operating costs, and pose additional operational, logistical, and security challenges and could result in our inability to implement our business plan. Similarly, many of our suppliers, partners, and customers are involved in cannabis and/or hemp businesses and further restriction to their ability to access banking services may make it difficult for them to purchase our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Banking regulations in our business are costly and time consuming, which may negatively impact our business. In assessing the prospective risk of providing services to hemp-related business, financial institutions may conduct customer due diligence that includes: (i) verifying with the appropriate state authorities whether the business is duly licensed and registered; (ii) reviewing the license application (and related documentation) submitted by the business for obtaining a state license to operate its cannabis-related or hemp-related businesses; (iii) requesting from state licensing and enforcement authorities available information about the business and related parties; (iv) developing an understanding of the normal and expected activity for the business, including the types of products to be sold; (v) ongoing monitoring of publicly available sources for adverse information about the business and related parties; (vi) ongoing monitoring for suspicious activity, including for any of the red flags described in this guidance; and (vii) refreshing information obtained as part of customer due diligence on a periodic basis and commensurate with the risk. With respect to information regarding state licensure obtained in connection with such customer due diligence, a financial institution may reasonably rely on the accuracy of information provided by state licensing authorities, where states make such information available. These regulatory reviews may be time consuming and costly.
Due to our involvement in the hemp industry, we may have a difficult time obtaining the various insurances that are desired to operate our business, which may expose us to additional risk and financial liability. Insurance that is otherwise readily available, such as general liability and product liability, may be more difficult for us to obtain and has been more expensive, because of our involvement in the hemp industry. There are no guarantees that we will be able to find such insurance in the future, or that the cost will be affordable to us. If we are forced to go without such insurance, it may prevent us from entering into certain business sectors, may inhibit our growth, and may expose us to additional risk and financial liability.
We are dependent on the popularity of consumer acceptance of our product lines and service offerings. Our ability to generate revenue and be successful in the implementation of our business plan is dependent on consumer acceptance and demand of our product lines and service offerings. Acceptance of our products and services will depend on several factors, including availability, cost, ease of use, familiarity of use, convenience, effectiveness, safety, and reliability. If customers do not accept our products, or if we fail to meet customers’ needs and expectations adequately, our ability to continue generating revenues could be reduced. Due to the changing consumer preferences, it is also difficult to forecast demand for hemp-derived products. There is a high risk that hemp-derived products’ ultimate popularity will decline, leading to lower revenues.
A drop in the retail price of hemp-derived products may negatively impact our business. The demand for our products depends in part on the price of commercially grown hemp. Fluctuations in economic, market, and agricultural conditions that impact the prices of commercially grown hemp, such as increases in the supply of such hemp and the decrease in the price of products using commercially grown hemp, could cause the demand for hemp-derived products to decline, which would have a negative impact on our business.
We could suffer reputational and financial damage in the event of injury from our products or product recalls. As a manufacturer and distributor of products intended for human consumption or use, we are subject to product liability claims if the use of our products by others is alleged to have resulted in harm or injury. Our products consist of hemp- derived oils, creams, lotions, extracts, and other ingredients that are not subject to pre-market regulatory approval in the United States or internationally, as well as snacks and health, but not dietary, supplements. Previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption or use of these ingredients could occur, which would likely result in product liability claims against us, and which would increase our costs and adversely affect our reputation and harm our business. We may be held liable if any illness or injury caused by any product we develop, manufacture, or distribute, if any such product is found to be unsuitable for use. In addition to any reputational damage we would suffer, we cannot guarantee that our product liability insurance or that of any of our suppliers would fully cover potential liabilities. In the event of litigation, any adverse judgments against us would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, including our cash balances, and results of operations.
The presence of THC in our hemp-derived products may cause adverse consequences to users of such products that will expose us to the risk of liability and other consequences. Our products are made from industrial hemp, which contains THC, though typically at a low level. As a result of the variability of agricultural products, certain of our products contain varying levels of THC. THC is an illegal or controlled substance in many jurisdictions. Whether or not ingestion of THC (at low levels or otherwise) is permitted in a particular jurisdiction, there may be adverse consequences to end users who test positive for THC attributed to use of our products through unintentional presence in its products of THC, even if only in trace amounts. In addition, certain metabolic processes in the body may negatively affect the results of drug tests. Positive tests may adversely affect the end user’s reputation, ability to obtain or retain employment, and participation in certain athletic or other activities. A claim or regulatory action against us based on such positive test results could materially adversely affect our reputation, potentially expose us to material liability, and potentially require us to recall our products.
Our future success depends on our key executive officers and our ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel. Our future success largely depends upon the continued services of our executive officers and management team. If one or more of our executive officers are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them readily, if at all. Additionally, we may incur additional expenses to recruit and retain new executive officers. If any of our executive officers joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose some or all of our customers. Finally, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance on any of our executive officers. Because of these factors, the loss of the services of any of these key persons could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and thereby an investment in our stock.
Our continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel will also be critical to our success because we will need to hire and retain additional personnel as our business grows. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly qualified personnel. We face significant competition for skilled personnel in our industries. In particular, if the hemp industry continues to grow, demand for personnel may become more competitive. This competition may make it more difficult and expensive to attract, hire, and retain qualified managers and employees. Because of these factors, we may not be able to manage or grow our business effectively, which could adversely affect our financial condition or business. As a result, the value of your investment could be significantly reduced or completely lost.
We may not be able to manage our growth or improve our operational, financial, and management information systems effectively, which would impair our results of operations. In the near term, we intend to expand the scope of our operations activities significantly, including Hyla plant-based vape products both internationally and domestically. If we are successful in executing our business plan, we will experience growth in our business that could place a significant strain on our business operations, finances, management, and other resources. The factors that may place strain on our resources include, but are not limited to, the following:
● The need for continued development of our financial and information management systems;
● The need to manage strategic relationships and agreements with manufacturers, customers, and partners; and
● Difficulties in hiring and retaining skilled management, technical, and other personnel necessary to support and manage our business.
Additionally, our strategy envisions a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources. Our ability to manage growth effectively will require us to substantially expand the capabilities of our administrative and operational resources and to attract, train, manage, and retain qualified management and other personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in recruiting and retaining new employees or retaining existing employees.
We cannot provide assurances that our management will be able to manage this growth effectively. Our failure to successfully manage growth could result in our sales not increasing commensurately with capital investments or otherwise materially adversely affecting our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
If we are unable to continually innovate and increase efficiencies, our ability to attract new customers may be adversely affected. In the area of innovation, we must be able to develop new technologies and products that appeal to our customers. This depends, in part, on the technological and creative skills of our personnel and on our ability to protect our intellectual property rights. We may not be successful in the development, introduction, marketing, and sourcing of new technologies or innovations, that satisfy customer needs, achieve market acceptance, or generate satisfactory financial returns.
If we incur substantial liability from litigation, complaints, or enforcement actions, our financial condition could suffer. Our participation in the hemp-derived product industry may lead to litigation, formal or informal complaints, enforcement actions, and inquiries by various federal, state, or local governmental authorities against us. Litigation, complaints, and enforcement actions could consume considerable amounts of financial and other corporate resources, which could have a negative impact on our sales, revenue, profitability, and growth prospects. We have not been, and are not currently, subject to any material litigation, complaint, or enforcement action regarding cannabis or hemp (or otherwise) brought by any federal, state, or local governmental authority.
Risks Relating to Our Hyla Business
Significant federal, state and local governmental actions, including actions by the FDA, and various private sector actions may have an adverse impact on us. Actions by the FDA and other federal, state, or local governments or agencies may impact not only the adult tobacco and vape consumer acceptability of or access to tobacco, or similarly categorized non-tobacco-based products like those of Hyla (for example, through product standards that may be proposed by the FDA for non-nicotine and flavors), but also may limit adult consumer choices, delay or prevent the launch of new or modified non-tobacco-based vapes or other products with claims of reduced risk compared with tobacco-based products, require the recall or other removal of non-tobacco products from the marketplace (for example, as a result of product contamination or because the FDA determines that removal is necessary for the protection of public health), impose additional manufacturing, labeling, or packing requirements, or interrupt manufacturing or otherwise significantly increase the cost of doing business. Any one or more of these actions may have a material adverse impact on the business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial position of Hyla and of us.
Hyla’s business faces significant competition (including across categories) and its failure to compete effectively could have an adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows of Hyla and us. Despite not being a tobacco- based product, Hyla business operates and sells into highly competitive tobacco and tobacco-based vape categories. This competition also exists across categories as adult tobacco consumer preferences evolve. Significant methods of competition include products with nicotine, product quality, taste, price, product innovation, marketing, packaging, distribution, and promotional activities. A highly competitive environment could negatively impact the profitability, market share and shipment volume of Hyla’s products, which could have an adverse effect on the results of operations or cash flows of Hyla and us.
Hyla may be unsuccessful in anticipating changes in adult consumer preferences, responding to changes in consumer purchase behavior, or managing through difficult competitive and economic conditions, which could have an adverse effect on the results of operations and cash flows of Hyla and us. Hyla is subject to intense competition and changes in adult consumer preferences. To be successful, Hyla must continue to:
● promote its brand equity successfully;
● anticipate and respond to new and evolving adult consumer preferences;
● develop, manufacture, market and distribute new and innovative products that appeal to adult consumers (including, where appropriate, through arrangements with, or investments in, third parties);
● improve productivity; and
● protect or enhance margins through cost savings and price increases.
The willingness of adult consumers to purchase premium consumer product brands depends in part on economic conditions. In periods of economic uncertainty, adult consumers may purchase more discount brands and/or, in the case of tobacco and vape products, consider lower-priced tobacco and vape products, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial position of Hyla and us. While Hyla works to broaden its product portfolio to compete effectively with lower-priced products, the failure to do so could negatively impact Hyla’s ability to compete in these circumstances.
Hyla may be unsuccessful in developing and commercializing adjacent products or processes, including innovative non-tobacco-based products that may reduce the health risks associated with current tobacco products in the market and that appeal to adult tobacco consumers, which may have an adverse effect on Hyla’s ability to grow revenue and put Hyla at a competitive disadvantage. Hyla has growth strategies involving further moves and potential moves into adjacent products or processes, including innovative non-tobacco, but tobacco-like, products. Some innovative non-tobacco products may reduce the health risks associated with current tobacco products on the market, while continuing to offer adult tobacco consumers (within and outside the United States) products that meet their taste expectations and evolving preferences. Examples include Hyla’s current vape products that do not contain nicotine and that reduce or eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke and/or constituents identified by public health authorities as harmful, such as e-vapor products. Hyla may not succeed in its efforts to introduce such new products, which would have an adverse effect on the ability to grow revenue.
Further, Hyla cannot predict whether regulators, including the FDA, will permit the marketing or sale of products with claims of reduced risk to adult consumers, the speed with which the FDA may make such determinations or whether regulators will impose an unduly burdensome regulatory framework on such products. Nor can we predict whether adult tobacco consumers’ purchasing decisions would be affected by reduced risk claims if permitted.
Adverse developments on any of these matters could negatively impact the commercial viability of such products. If Hyla does not succeed in its efforts to develop and commercialize its innovative organic, plant-based, all-natural, zero- nicotine, tobacco-free vape products or to obtain regulatory approval for the marketing or sale of products with claims of reduced risk, but one or more of Hyla’s competitors does succeed, Hyla may be at a competitive disadvantage, which could have an adverse effect on Hyla’s financial performance or ours.
Significant changes in price, availability or quality of raw materials or component parts could have an adverse effect on the profitability and business of Hyla and ours. Any significant change in prices, quality or availability of raw materials or component parts could adversely affect Hyla’s profitability and business and ours.
Because Hyla relies on a few significant facilities and a small number of key suppliers, an extended disruption at a facility or in service by a supplier could have a material adverse effect on its business and the results of operations, cash flows, or financial position of Hyla and us. Hyla faces risks inherent in reliance on a few significant facilities and a small number of key suppliers. A natural or man-made disaster or other disruption that affects the manufacturing operations of Hyla or the operations of any key suppliers of Hyla, including as a result of a key supplier’s unwillingness to supply goods or services to a Hyla, could adversely impact the operations of Hyla. An extended disruption in operations experienced by Hyla or key suppliers could have a material adverse effect on Hyla’s business and the results of operations, cash flows, or financial position of Hyla and us.
Hyla could decide or be required to recall products, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, results of operations, cash flows, or financial position of Hyla or us. In addition to a recall that could be required by the FDA, Hyla could decide, or other laws or regulations could require it, to recall products due to the failure to meet quality standards or specifications, suspected or confirmed and deliberate or unintentional product contamination, or other adulteration, product misbranding, or product tampering. Product recalls could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, results of operations, cash flows, or financial position of Hyla or us.
The failure of Hyla’s information systems or service providers’ information systems to function as intended, or cyber-attacks or security breaches, could have a material adverse effect on the business, reputation, results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Hyla. Hyla relies extensively on information systems, many of which are managed by third-party service providers (such as cloud providers), to support a variety of business processes and activities, including: complying with regulatory, legal, financial reporting and tax requirements; engaging in marketing and e-commerce activities; managing and improving the effectiveness of its operations; manufacturing and distributing its products; collecting and storing sensitive data and confidential information; and communicating internally and externally with employees, investors, suppliers, trade customers, adult consumers, and others. To date, interruptions of its information systems have been infrequent and have not had a material impact on its operations. However, because technology is increasingly complex and cyber-attacks are increasingly sophisticated and more frequent, there can be no assurance that such incidents will not have a material adverse effect on Hyla in the future. Failure of Hyla’s systems or service providers’ systems to function as intended, or cyber-attacks or security breaches, could result in loss of revenue, assets, personal data, intellectual property, trade secrets or other sensitive and confidential data, violation of applicable privacy and data security laws, damage to Hyla’s reputation and its brand, operational disruptions, legal challenges, and significant remediation and other costs to Hyla.
International business operations subject Hyla to various United States and foreign laws and regulations, and violations of such laws or regulations could result in reputational harm, legal challenges, and/or significant costs. Hyla engages (directly or indirectly) in certain international business activities that are subject to various United States and foreign laws and regulations. In addition, foreign regulations, as well as how these regulations interact with United States regulations are constantly evolving. Violations of these laws or regulations, or allegations of such violations, could result in reputational harm, legal challenges, and/or significant costs to Hyla or us.
Hyla may be unable to attract and retain the best talent due to the impact of decreasing social acceptance of tobacco usage and tobacco-like products. Although none of Hyla’s products contains tobacco, Hyla’s ability to implement its strategy of attracting and retaining talent may be impaired by the impact of decreasing social acceptance of tobacco usage or tobacco-like products and tobacco regulation and control actions. The vape and tobacco industry competes for talent with the consumer products industry and other companies that enjoy greater societal acceptance. As a result, Hyla may be unable to attract and retain sufficient talent and personnel.
Future economic and financial conditions could adversely impact our financial condition and results. Hyla’s business is sensitive to global, national, and regional macroeconomic conditions, as well as specific inflation levels and buying patterns. Adverse developments, including heightened economic uncertainty, could reduce the demand for consumer products like Hyla’s, which could have a material adverse effect on Hyla’s revenue, results of operations, cash flows and financial position and ours.
● Conditions in the credit markets could adversely impact Hyla’s and our results of operations and financial position; and
● Turmoil in the credit markets or a contraction in the availability of credit would make it more difficult for Hyla to meet its capital requirements and could cause Hyla to change its financial relationship with its vendors.
● Access to credit and capital is key for financing large customer orders. If turmoil in the credit markets were to occur, it could materially adversely impact Hyla’s and our results of operations and financial position.
Hyla’s business could be adversely affected if it loses key distribution clients. Hyla operates its business through key distributors in markets across the globe. The loss of one or more distributors could materially affect the results of Hyla as a whole. The loss of several of Hyla’s largest distributors could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial position and ours.
Hyla’s two largest clients (measured by revenue generated) accounted for 50% of Hyla’s revenue for the year ended September 30, 2022. A significant reduction in spending on Hyla’s products by those clients, or the loss of several of Hyla’s larger clients, could have a material adverse effect on Hyla’s business, results of operations, and financial position and ours.
Hyla’s ability to generate new business from new and existing clients may be limited. To increase its revenues, Hyla needs to obtain additional distribution clients or generate demand for additional products from existing clients. Hyla’s ability to generate initial demand for its product from new distribution clients and additional demand from existing distribution clients is subject to such clients’ and potential clients’ requirements, their pre-existing vendor relationships, financial conditions, strategic plans and internal resources, as well as the quality of Hyla’s products and reputation. To the extent Hyla cannot generate new business from new and existing clients due to these limitations, the Hyla’s ability to grow its business and to increase its revenues will be limited.
Hyla is exposed to the risk of client defaults. Hyla often incurs expenses on behalf of its clients for product that is to be manufactured and delivered. The difference between the gross production cost and the revenue earned by Hyla can be significant. While Hyla takes precautions against default on payment for these orders (such as credit analysis, advance billing of clients, and receipt of client deposits) and has historically had a very low incidence of default, Hyla is still exposed to the risk of significant uncollectible receivables from its clients. The risk of a material loss could significantly increase in periods of severe economic downturn. Such a loss could have a material adverse effect on Hyla’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position and ours.
Significant Reliance on Key Shareholder of the Company. Hyla is currently a majority owned subsidiary of ours. Previously, it was wholly owned by Hyla UK, which was established and built on the relationships of one individual who remains its majority shareholder. Although this individual executed a non-competition agreement with us when we acquired majority interest in Hyla, due to his connections and relationships in the market in which Hyla does business, any loss of this individual or his continued support of Hyla could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows, and financial position and ours.
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock
The market price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly, which could negatively affect us and the holders of our Common Stock. The trading price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. For instance, if our financial results are below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, the market price of our Common Stock could decrease, perhaps significantly. Other factors that may affect the market price of our Common Stock include:
● volatility in the trading markets generally and in our particular market segment;
● limited trading of our Common Stock;
● actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations;
● the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in those projections, or our failure to meet those projections;
● announcements regarding our business or the business of our customers or competitors;
● changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations, or principles;
● actual or anticipated developments in our business or our competitors’ businesses or the competitive landscape generally;
● developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or our offerings, or third-party proprietary rights;
● announced or completed acquisitions of businesses or technologies by us or our competitors;
● new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;
● any major change in our board of directors (our “Board”) or management;
● sales of shares of our Common Stock by us or by our stockholders;
● lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and
● other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events.
Statements of, or changes in, opinions, ratings, or earnings estimates made by brokerage firms or industry analysts relating to the markets in which we operate or expect to operate could have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock. In addition, the stock market as a whole, as well as our particular market segment, has from time to time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which may affect the market price for the securities of many companies, and which often have appeared unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. Any of these factors could negatively affect our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares of Common Stock at the time and price they desire.
We may issue additional shares of Common Stock or preferred stock in the future, which could cause significant dilution to all stockholders. We are authorized to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 506,357,952 shares of Common Stock and 4,878,048.8 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series H Stock”) are currently issued and outstanding as of January 16, 2024. The number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding excludes the shares of Common Stock underlying the shares of Series H Stock and shares underlying common stock purchase warrants. We expect to seek additional financing in order to provide working capital to our business or may issue additional shares of Common Stock as compensation. Our Board has the power to issue any or all of such authorized but unissued shares of our Common Stock at any price and, in respect of the preferred stock, at any price and with any attributes, our Board considers sufficient, without stockholder approval. The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock in the future will reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of current stockholders and may negatively impact the market price of our Common Stock.
We may issue additional securities with rights superior to those of our Common Stock, which could materially limit the ownership rights of our stockholders. We may offer additional debt or equity securities in private and/or public offerings in order to raise working capital or to refinance our debt. Our Board has the right to determine the terms and rights of any debt securities and preferred stock without obtaining the approval of our stockholders. It is possible that any debt securities or preferred stock that we sell would have terms and rights superior to those of our Common Stock and may be convertible into shares of our Common Stock. Any sale of securities could adversely affect the interests or voting rights of the holders of our Common Stock, result in substantial dilution to existing stockholders, or adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
Quotation on the OTCM’s OTCQB® Venture Market may be volatile and sporadic. Currently, our Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Markets Group Inc.’s (the “OTCM”) OTCQB® Venture Market . Trading in stock quoted on over-the-counter markets is often thin and characterized by wide fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors that may have little to do with our operations or business prospects. This volatility could depress or inflate the market price of our Common Stock for reasons unrelated to operating performance. Moreover, the OTCM is not a stock exchange, and trading of securities on this market is often more sporadic than the trading of securities listed on a national securities exchange, i.e., the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, or The Nasdaq Stock Market.
The Holders of our Series H Stock control more than half of our voting securities; they can exert significant control over our business and affairs and have actual or potential interests that may depart from those of investors. The holders of our Series H Stock control in excess of 50% of our total voting power. As a result, they will have significant influence and control over all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, irrespective of how our other stockholders may vote, including the following actions:
● to elect or defeat the election of our directors;
● to amend or prevent an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws;
● to effect or prevent a merger, sale of assets, or other corporate transaction; and
● to control the outcome of any other matter submitted to our stockholders for a vote.
This concentration of ownership by itself may have the effect of impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover, or other business consolidation, or discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer for our Common Stock, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock price.
We will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules and the NYSE rules and, as a result, will qualify for, and will rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to the stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements. Because the holders of our Series H Stock control in excess of 50% of our total voting power, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq rules and the NYSE rules. Under these rules, a listed company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group, or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain of the exchange’s corporate governance requirements. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, or the Nasdaq Stock Market and there cannot be any assurance that it ever will be listed on a national securities exchange. If our Common Stock qualifies to be listed on a national securities exchange and if we choose to initiate the listing process, we will then determine whether we characterize ourselves as a “controlled company” for corporate governance requirements. As a company, whose Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTCM’s OTCQB® Venture Market , we are not required to abide by the corporate governance rules of a national securities exchange and accordingly, do not have a fully independent series of board committees. Thus, as a consequence of our reliance on certain exemptions from the Nasdaq standards provided to “controlled companies,” you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of a national securities exchange.
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. Separately from the “controlled company” analysis of the previous risk factor, we are not subject to the rules of a national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, or The Nasdaq Stock Market. National securities exchanges generally require more rigorous measures relating to corporate governance that are designed to enhance the integrity of corporate management. The requirements of the OTCM’s OTCQB® Venture Market afford our stockholders fewer corporate governance protections than those of a national securities exchange. Until we comply with such greater corporate governance measures, even though such compliance is not required by the OTCM for quotations of shares of our Common Stock on the OTCM’s OTCQB® Venture Market, our stockholders will have fewer protections, such as those related to director independence, stockholder approval rights, and governance measures that are designed to provide oversight of a corporation’s management by its board of directors.
A decline in the price of our Common Stock could affect our ability to raise working capital, which could adversely impact our ability to continue our operations. A prolonged decline in the price of our Common Stock could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our Common Stock and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. We may attempt to acquire a significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned operations through the sale of equity securities; thus, a decline in the price of our Common Stock could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because the decline may adversely affect investors’ desire to invest in our securities. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all of our planned operations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products or services and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations. We also might not be able to meet our financial obligations if we cannot raise enough funds through the sale of our Common Stock and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations.
Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock in the near future, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless and until they sell them. We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the near future. The declaration, payment, and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our Board, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations, cash flow, and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as our Board considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and, if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. Unless our Board determines to pay dividends, our stockholders will be required to look to appreciation of our Common Stock to realize a gain on their investment. There can be no assurance that this appreciation will occur.
If we are unable to establish appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, possibly subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanctions, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our Common Stock. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively to prevent fraud. We maintain a system of internal controls over financial reporting, which is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our Board, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
Because our class of Common Stock is now registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, we will have significant requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls. We are required to document and test our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. The process of designing and implementing effective internal controls is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and economic and regulatory environments, and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations as a public company.
We cannot assure you that we will, in the future, identify areas requiring improvement in our internal control over financial reporting. We cannot assure you that the measures we will take to remediate any areas in need of improvement will be successful or that we will implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future as we continue to grow. If we are unable to establish appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our Common Stock.
We lack sufficient internal controls over financial reporting and implementing acceptable internal controls will be difficult with a limited number of management personnel, which will make it difficult to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our future reports filed and submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported as and when required. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we currently lack certain internal controls over our financial reporting. We have a limited number of management personnel, which may make it difficult to implement such controls at this time. The lack of such controls makes it difficult to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports to be filed and submitted under the Exchange Act (now that our class of Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) thereof) will be recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, as and when required.
The reasons we believe that our disclosure controls and procedures are not fully effective are because:
● there is a lack of segregation of duties necessary for a good system of internal control due to insufficient accounting staff due to our size;
● the staffing of our accounting department is weak due to the lack of qualifications and training, and the lack of formal review process;
● our control environment is weak due to the lack of an effective risk assessment process, the lack of internal audit function, and insufficient documentation and communication of the accounting policies; and
● failure in the operating effectiveness over controls related to recording revenue.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to develop and implement the necessary internal controls over financial reporting. The absence of such internal controls may inhibit investors from purchasing our shares and may make it more difficult for us to raise debt or equity financing.
Our Common Stock is categorized as “penny stock,” which may make it more difficult for investors to sell their shares of Common Stock due to suitability requirements. Our Common Stock is categorized as “penny stock.” The Commission adopted Rule 15g-9, which generally defines “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) of less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. The price of our Common Stock is significantly less than $5.00 per share and we did not qualify for any of the other exceptions; therefore, our Common Stock is considered “penny stock.” This designation imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors.” The term “accredited investor” refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 jointly with his or her spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer buying our securities, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the Commission that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability and/or willingness of broker-dealers to trade our securities, either directly or on behalf of their clients, may discourage potential investor’s from purchasing our securities, or may adversely affect the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) has adopted sales practice requirements that may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our Common Stock, which could depress the price of our Common Stock. In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non- institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. Thus, the FINRA requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which could limit your ability to buy and sell our Common Stock, have an adverse effect on the market for our shares, and thereby depress our price per share of Common Stock.
The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers, and employees under Nevada law and the existence of indemnification rights for our obligations to our directors, officers, and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers, and employees. Our Articles of Incorporation contain a provision limiting the personal liability of our directors and officers to our stockholders and to us for damages for the breach of a fiduciary duty as a director or officer except with respect to (i) acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of the law or (ii) the payment of dividends in violation of Nevada law. We also previously entered into employment agreements with each of our officers pursuant to which we have contractual indemnification obligations. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in us incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and the resulting costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties, and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit our stockholders and us.
Anti-takeover effects of certain provisions of Nevada state law hinder a potential takeover of us. Nevada has a business combination law that prohibits certain business combinations between Nevada corporations and “interested stockholders” for three years after an “interested stockholder” first becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination in advance. For purposes of Nevada law, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (i) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation or (ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the three previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of the term “business combination” is sufficiently broad to cover virtually any kind of transaction that would allow a potential acquirer to use the corporation’s assets to finance the acquisition or otherwise to benefit its own interests rather than the interests of the corporation and its other stockholders.
The potential effect of Nevada’s business combination law is to discourage parties interested in taking control of us from doing so if these parties cannot obtain the approval of our Board. Both of these provisions could limit the price investors would be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Common Stock.

---

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1b. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties.
Our principal executive offices are located at 38246 North Hazelwood Circle, Cave Creek Arizona 85331, and our telephone number is (480) 595-6900. The property encompasses approximately 2,860 square feet. Approximately 1,907 square feet is designated as office space that serves as the principal place of business for our management team and support staff, as well as our sales and customer service teams. The remaining 950 square feet is designated as our product development and test facility, and our inventory storage and fulfillment center. We occupy this facility pursuant to a one-year lease that expired on April 1, 2023. Subject to an agreement with our landlord, our monthly rent has increased from $5,000 to $7,500 from and after April 1, 2023. We currently believe that we no longer need this physical space and are working with our landlord to vacate the space and transition to a more remote workforce setup.

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we are involved in various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. We currently have no legal proceeding to which we are a party to or to which our property is subject and, to the best of our knowledge, no adverse legal activity is anticipated or threatened.

---

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
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities:
We issued the following shares of our Common Stock in Fiscal Year 2023:
None.
We issued the following shares of our Common Stock in Fiscal Year 2022:
On October 22, 2021, the Company and a noteholder agreed to modify the terms of the May 2021 note payable agreement. The maturity of the note was extended from November 2021 to April 2022. In return, the Company agreed to issue the noteholder (identified as Noteholder J in the footnotes to our financial statements) a total of 2,562,500 shares of common stock as modification and commitment fees. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
On October 25, 2021, the Company issued 6,211,180 shares of common stock valued at $300,000 in connection with a services agreement. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
On April 17, 2022, the Company issued 9,761,904 shares of common stock, valued at $548,738 as default penalty to a certain noteholder. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
On April 20, 2022, the Company issued 4,111,111 shares of its common stock to a certain noteholder, for debt and interest conversions by the noteholder. The shares were valued at $220,000. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
On May 8, 2022, the Company issued 3,500,000 shares of common stock valued at $133,000 in connection with a services agreement. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
On May 8, 2022, the Company issued 600,000 shares of common stock valued at $22,800 in connection with a services agreement. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
On May 19, 2022, the Company issued 8,928,571 shares of its common stock to a certain noteholder valued at $294,643 in connection with a financing agreement. We issued the shares in reliance on the exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (in that the shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued by the Company in a transaction not involving any public offering).
Market Information
Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTCM’s OTCQB® Venture Market, under the symbol “EDXC.” The following table shows the high and low closing bid prices of our Common Stock for periods indicated as reported by OTCM. The market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down, or commission, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
High Closing Bid
Price Per Share Low Closing Bid
Price Per Share
Fiscal Year 2024
Second Quarter (through January 12, 2024) $ 0.0201 $ 0.0143
First Quarter $ 0.0365 $ 0.0172
Fiscal Year 2023
Fourth Quarter $ 0.0485 $ 0.0324
Third Quarter $ 0.0448 $ 0.042
Second Quarter $ 0.0897 $ 0.039
First Quarter $ 0.0897 $ 0.0415
Fiscal Year 2022
Fourth Quarter $ 0.100 $ 0.0245
Third Quarter $ 0.0713 $ 0.0008
Second Quarter $ 0.049 $ 0.029
First Quarter $ 0.0579 $ 0.031
On January 12, 2024, the closing bid price of our Common Stock as reported by OTCM was $0.0185 per share.
Holders
As of January 16, 2024, we had approximately 438 record holders of shares our Common Stock. As of January 16, 2024, we had 506,357,952 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
We do not have any equity compensation plans.
Dividends
We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support our operations and finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to the dividend policy will made at the discretion of our Board.
Securities Not Registered under the Securities Act; Rule 144 Eligibility
None of our shares of Common Stock and preferred stock has been registered under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the shares of Common Stock and preferred stock issued and outstanding that are not in the public markets through an exemption from such registration may not be resold absent registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an available exemption thereunder.
Rule
Shares of our Common Stock that are restricted securities may be eligible for resale in compliance with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, subject to the requirements described below. “Restricted securities,” as defined under Rule 144, were issued and sold by us in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. These shares may be sold in the public market only if registered or if they qualify for an exemption from registration, such as Rule 144. Below is a summary of the requirements for sales of our Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 commencing 90 days after our class of Common Stock became registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act on May 3, 2021.
For a person who has not been deemed to have been one of our affiliates at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale, sales of our shares of Common Stock held longer than six months, but less than one year, will be subject only to the current public information requirement. A person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, is entitled to sell his or her shares without complying with the manner of sale, public information, volume limitation, or notice provisions of Rule 144.
A person who is our affiliate or who was our affiliate at any time during the preceding three months and who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months, will generally be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed one percent of the number of shares of our Common Stock then outstanding. Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates generally include individuals or entities that control, or are controlled by, or are under common control with, us and may include our directors and officers, as well as our significant stockholders.

---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Not applicable.

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Forward-looking statements are statements not based on historical information and which relate to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. Forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts, and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control and many of which, with respect to future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us, or on our behalf. We disclose any obligation to update forward-looking statements. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Item 1. Business,” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” sections in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements.
Overview
Endexx® is a Consumer Products (CPG) company specializing in Plant-Based formulations and Innovative delivery systems, focused on creating “Better Products for a Better You”©. Our focus is on developing the most innovative and effective products using all-natural plant-based ingredients. Our companies, CBD Unlimited™ and Hyla™, harness the power of plants and deliver clean ingredient formulations with innovative technology systems.
Through CBD Unlimited, we develop hemp-derived, cannabidiol-based products, each formulated to address key segments of the health and wellness market. Through our subsidiaries, we sell high-end, full-spectrum hemp-derived oils, extracts, topicals, and pet products, all with the shared purpose of supporting the potential of relief of pain and inflammation for humans and pets, through our e-commerce site www.cbdunlimited.com, as well as other online and in-store retailers. Through Hyla, we produce and sell organic, plant-based, all-natural, zero-nicotine, tobacco-free vape products under the Hyla brand. Each “HYLA device” contains a natural guarana extract that is blended with proprietary botanical formulas. Hyla launched its products in October 2021 and its initial inventory (140,000 devices) was sold out the following month. Hyla’s products bear the Underwriters Laboratories global safety certification and are CE approved. All of Hyla’s products are sold on its e-commerce site: www.tryhyla.com.
The Company was incorporated in the State of Nevada on September 5, 1997 as Micron Solutions in order to complete a merger with Shillelagh. In November 1997, Shillelagh merged with and into Micron Solutions, with Micron Solutions as the surviving entity. In 2002, Micron Solutions entered into the Exchange Agreement with PanaMed, Inc., and all of its shareholders, pursuant to which PanaMed, Inc. became the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary. In connection with the Exchange Agreement, Micron also changed its name to PanaMed Corporation.
In June 2005, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to change our name to Endexx Corporation. At that time, we adopted our current trading symbol, “EDXC.”
In September 2005, PanaMed Corporation acquired VBB, an SaaS provider, through a merger, whereby VBB merged with and into us, and we were the surviving entity. Subsequently, we operated as a diversified technology and SaaS and compliance and tracking systems company, until we shifted our focus to the hemp-derived product industry in August 2014. In October 2018, we changed our name to CBD Unlimited, Inc., and in May 2020, we changed our name back to Endexx Corporation, with CBD Unlimited, Inc., becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary. On January 25, 2021, we filed our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
Results of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended and September 30, 2022 Revenues
Revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 were $3,908,385, as compared to $2,138,010 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, a $1,770,375 (or 83%) increase in revenues. The improvement in revenue for fiscal 2023 is attributable to improved market conditions, new sales channels and improved marketing efforts in promoting the Company’s products.
We expect an increase in commercial revenue over the next 12 months as our business model is implemented and expanded and our commercial and retail accounts continue to grow and expand the products being sold in each of their retail locations. Additionally, we will continue to focus on the development of both current and new products while continuing to commercialize existing products lines.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $765,523, as compared to a profit of $1,193,110 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, representing a $1,958,633 decrease. This decline in gross profit in 2023 was attributable to increased costs of revenues and an increase in inventory impairment of $1,301,544 for the year ended September 30, 2023, compared to an inventory impairment of $178,342 for the year ended September 2022.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, were $3,941,467, as compared to $5,109,924 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, an decrease of $1,168,457. The decrease in operating expenses over the prior period can be attributed to a $67,702 decrease in advertising and promotional fees, $349,801 decrease in payroll expenses, $459,259 decrease in professional fees and a $249,560 decrease in impairment expenses.
We expect that operating expenses will remain consistent over the next 12 months as our long-term growth strategy will require significant changes in personnel and facilities, offset increased research and development expenses to ensure that products nearing commercialization are brought to market as quickly and as effectively. We cannot provide any assurances that our strategy will be effective.
Other Expense
Other expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 was $3,705,163, as compared to other expense of $1,227,746 for the year ended September 30, 2022, a $1,477,417 year-over-year increase. The increase resulted from a gain from the change in fair value of derivative liability offset by significant increases in financing costs and discount amortization, interest expenses. Derivative liabilities are associated with loans that are convertible or have variable pricing on the equivalent shares of Common Stock. At the end of each period, these derivative liabilities are valued, and the net change is recorded as a gain or loss in other expense and income.
Total Net Loss
As a result of the above, our net losses for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 totaled $7,412153 and $5,144,560, respectively. We do not expect to realize net income in the near term as anticipated operational expenses are expected to increase as a result of increased research and development expenses, consulting fees, payroll expenses, and administrative costs as staffing increases. Despite management’s focus on ensuring operating efficiencies, we expect to continue to operate at a loss through fiscal 2023 only in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, we expect that, during our current fiscal year, the adverse impact of COVID-19 on our business will continue to abate, as the supply chain continues to recover.
Going Concern
We have incurred operating losses since inception and have negative cash flow from operations. As of September 30, 2023, we had a stockholders’ deficit of $17,331,610, a working capital deficit of $25,643,895, and we incurred a net loss totaling $7,412153 in fiscal year 2023. As a result, our continuation as a going concern is dependent on our ability to obtain additional financing until we can generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our obligations. We intend to continue to seek additional debt or equity financing to continue our operations, but there can be no assurance that such financing will be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which implies we may not continue to meet our obligations and continue our operations for the next fiscal year. The continuation of our Company as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to obtain necessary debt or equity financing to continue operations until we begin generating positive cash flow.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2023, we had a cash position of $7,644. We estimate our operating expenses for the near- and mid-term may continue to exceed the revenues that we may generate, and we may need to raise capital through either debt or equity offerings to continue operations. We are in the early stages of our business. We are required to fund growth from financing activities, and we intend to rely on a combination of equity and debt financings. Due to market conditions and the early stage of our operations, there is considerable risk that we will not be able to raise such financings at all, or on terms that are not overly dilutive to our existing stockholders. We can offer no assurance that we will be able to raise such funds. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all of our planned operations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations.
There is no assurance that we will ever be profitable or that debt or equity financing will be available to us in the amounts, on terms, and at times deemed acceptable to us, if at all. The issuance of additional equity securities by us would result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, would increase our liabilities and future cash commitments. If we are unable to obtain financing in the amounts and on terms deemed acceptable to us, we may be unable to continue our business, as planned, and as a result may be required to scale back or cease operations for our business, the result of which would be that our stockholders would lose some or all of their investment. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Cash Flow - Operating Activities
For the 12 months ended September 30, 2023, our cash used in operating activities amounted to an outflow of $1,557,357, compared to cash used during the 12 months ended September 30, 2022 of $2,088,304. We expect cash outflows from operations to continue to improve as the Company continues to improve its operations and market conditions improve into the upcoming fiscal year.
Cash Flow - Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities in the 12 months ended September 30, 2023 was $0, compared to net cash used in investing activities in the 12 months ended September 30, 2022 of $573,763. We expect limited cash flows from investing activities as the Company focuses on improving existing operations.
Cash Flow - Financing Activities
For the 12 months ended September 30, 2023, our cash provided by financing activities amounted to $908,225, which includes $1,022,000 in proceeds from the issuance of notes payable, $930,000 in proceeds from a line credit and $1,066,000 used for the repayment of certain notes payable.
For the 12 months ended September 30, 2022, our cash provided by financing activities amounted to $3,297,976, which includes $2,964,853 in proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes and $333,123 in proceeds from the issuance of notes payable.
Basis of Presentation
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that these estimates are reasonable and have been discussed with the Board of Directors; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. The operating results of the above listed subsidiaries were consolidated with the consolidated financial statements of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470- 20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. This ASU (a) simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in ASC 470-20, Debt: Debt with Conversion and Other Options, that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock; (b) revises the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification; and (c) revises the guidance in ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, to require entities to calculate diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments by using the “if-converted” method. In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares. For smaller reporting companies, ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2020-06 may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
As of September 30, 2022, there were several new accounting pronouncements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Each of these pronouncements, as applicable, has been or will be adopted by the Company. Management does not believe the adoption of any of these accounting pronouncements has had or will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates
The Company’s financial statement preparation requires that management make estimates and assumptions which affect the reporting of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in order to report these financial statements in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Inventory
Inventory is composed of finished goods, in-process, and raw goods inventory, valued on a first in first out basis, and includes production cost, product freight in, and packaging costs. Slow moving and obsolete inventories are written down based on a comparison of on-hand quantities to historical and projected usages.
Prepaid Expenses
The Company considers all items incurred for future services to be prepaid expenses.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Each period, the Company evaluates the estimated remaining useful life of its intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. Management tests for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized from the sale of hemp products when our performance obligation is satisfied. Our primary performance obligation (the distribution and sales of hemp products) is satisfied upon the shipment of products to our customers, which is also when control is transferred. The transfer of control of products to our customers is typically based on written sales terms that do not allow for a right of return after 30 days from the date of purchase. Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. In general, fair values of financial instruments are based upon quoted market prices, where available. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, observable market-based parameters. Valuation adjustments may be made to ensure that financial instruments are recorded at fair value. These adjustments may include amounts to reflect counterparty credit quality and the customer’s creditworthiness, among other things, as well as unobservable parameters. Any such valuation adjustments are applied consistently over time.
Derivative Financial Instruments
FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, requires bifurcation of certain embedded derivative instruments, and measurement at their fair value for accounting purposes. A holder redemption feature embedded in the Company’s notes payable requires bifurcation from its host instrument and is accounted for as a freestanding derivative.
Under the Company’s contract ordering policy, the Company first considers common shares issued and outstanding as well as reserved but unissued equity awards, such as under an equity award program. All remaining equity linked instruments such as, but not limited to, options, warrants, and debt and equity with conversion features are evaluated based on the date of issuance. If the number of shares which may be issued under the Company’s agreements exceed the authorized number of shares or are unable to be determined, equity linked instruments from that date forward are considered to be derivative liabilities until such time as the number of shares which may be issued under the Company’s agreements no longer exceed the authorized number of shares and are able to be determined.
Convertible Instruments
The Company evaluates and accounts for conversion options embedded in convertible instruments in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging Activities.
Stock-Based Compensation
All share-based payments to employees, directors and contractors, including grants of stock options, restricted shares or warrants, are recognized in the statement of operations based on their fair values at the time of grant in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2023 and on September 30, 2022, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources that is material to stockholders.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7a. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[INSERT HERE]
ENDEXX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
[INSERT HERE]
ENDEXX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
[INSERT HERE]
ENDEXX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
[INSERT HERE]
ENDEXX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
[INSERT HERE]
ENDEXX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
[INSERT HERE]

---

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
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the year ended September 30, 2022. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2022.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is a process, including policies and procedures, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our management assessed our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Our system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Based on our evaluation under the framework in COSO, our management concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were ineffective as of September 30, 2022 based on such criteria. Deficiencies then existed in the design or operation of our internal controls over financial reporting that adversely affected our internal controls and that may then have been considered to be material weaknesses. The matters involving internal controls and procedures that our management then considered to have been material weaknesses were:
(i) inadequate segregation of duties and effective risk assessment;
(ii) insufficient staffing resources resulting in financial statement closing process; and
(iii) lack of review of significant contracts and recording new contracts with the appropriate accounting treatment.
The weaknesses and the related risks were not uncommon in a company of our size because of the limitations in the size and number of staff. To address these material weaknesses, we performed additional analyses and other procedures and retained additional accounting professionals in September 2022 to assist with the preparation of our financial statements, to ensure that the financial statements included herein fairly present, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented.
Accordingly, we believe that the financial statements included in this report fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented.
By virtue of our receipt of additional financing during our 2023 fiscal year, we undertook remediation measures to address the above-described material weaknesses described in this Annual Report. Such remediation activities included the following:
(i) we updated the documentation of our internal control processes, including formal risk assessment of our financial reporting processes; and
(ii) we implemented procedures pursuant to which we can now ensure segregation of duties by hiring additional resources to ensure appropriate review and oversight.
Notwithstanding the changes to our system of internal controls during the preceding two fiscal years, as described herein, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met under all potential conditions, regardless of how remote, and may not prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Auditor’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the year ended September 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9b. Other Information
None.

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Directors and Executive Officers
Our executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, our Board, holding office until their death, resignation, or removal from office. Each of our directors serve a one-year term, with the current director serving until the next annual meeting of stockholders, until his respective successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, or removal.
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors:
Name
Age
Position
Date First Elected
or Appointed
Todd Davis
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, and Audit Committee Member, Compensation Committee Member, and Governance and Nominating Committee
January 1, 2002
Steven Plumb
Chief Financial Officer, Audit Committee Member, Compensation Committee Member, and Governance and Nominating Committee Member
August 31, 2022
Nick Mehdi
Independent Director, Audit Committee Member, Compensation Committee Member, and Governance and Nominating Committee Member
August 31, 2022
Dustin Sullivan
Independent Director, Audit Committee Member, Compensation Committee Member, and Governance and Nominating Committee Member
March 20, 2020
Irving Minnaker
Independent Director, Audit Committee Member, Compensation Committee Member, and Governance and Nominating Committee Member
September 15, 2021
Claude Zdanow
Independent Director, Audit Committee Member, Compensation Committee Member, and Governance and Nominating Committee Member
November 1, 2023
Todd Davis - Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Treasurer. Mr. Davis joined us in January 2002 as a director, and has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board since June 2004. Mr. Davis previously worked as an investment banker in Chicago, Illinois from October 1990 to December 2000 at Thomas James Associates, Inc., Baron Chase Securities, Inc., Lexington Securities, Inc., and Access Financial Group, Inc., where he was engaged in over 100 initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, and private placements. Following his tenure on Wall Street, Mr. Davis worked as an independent consultant, an advisor in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries beginning in March 2000 through April 2003. In January 2002, he was hired as the Chief Financial Officer of PanaMed Corporation, and was later appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2004. Mr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Communications from Northern Arizona University, and has partially completed a master’s degree in International Finance from Arizona State University. Additionally, Mr. Davis previously held Series 7 and 63 licenses from 1990 to 2002. We believe that Mr. Davis is qualified to serve on our Board because he has served in multiple C-level positions in public companies and has the experience and knowledge necessary to lead us. We believe that Mr. Davis’ status as our long-time Chairman of the Board and executive officer allows him to have a great understanding of what is required to advance our business, which qualifies him to serve on our Board.
Steven M Plumb - Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Plumb is a seasoned senior executive and financial manager, experienced in operations, finance, and marketing. He is a former auditor with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. He also has a background in IT, biotech, oil and gas, real estate, medical, and utility companies. Since 2001, Mr. Plumb has served as the president of Clear Financial Solutions, Inc., a consulting firm that he founded, which provides interim CFO services to small public companies. Between December of 2018 and May of 2021, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Artella Solutions, Inc., a private medical device company; from May of 2013 through February of 2019, as the Chief Financial Officer of ProBility Media Corp. (PBYA.PK), a Pasadena, Texas-based online training school for skilled trades, and commencing January of 2020, as the Chief Financial Officer of DirectView Holdings, Inc. (DIRV.PK), a Boca Raton, Florida-based security monitoring company. In his career, he has prepared SEC filings, managed investor relations, conducted mergers and acquisition activities, developed successful offering memoranda, registration statements, and investor presentations. Steve received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. Based on his financial background and his wide variety of experience, we believe that M. Plumb is well suited to act as our Secretary and Treasurer.
Nick Mehdi - Director. Mr. Mehdi, 49, has served as Hyla’s CEO since inception in September of 2021. Prior to joining Hyla and commencing in May of 2019, he was the Chief Executive Officer of ZT Wireless, LLC, and from October of 2018 to October of 2018, he was the Vice President of Operations for Sun Com Mobile, LLC. Both companies are Sugarland, Texas-based wireless communications companies. Nick received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston in May 2001. Based on his experience with Hyla’s products and his position as its CEO, we believe that Mr. Mehdi is well qualified to serve as one of our directors.
Dustin Sullivan - Director. Mr. Sullivan joined our Board in March 2020, as Chief Operating Officer. Since his resignation as our Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sullivan serves as an independent director. Between September 2018 and March 2020, he also served as our Chief Operating Officer. He previously worked at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (“Walgreens”) from August 2000 to December 2015 in various roles, completing his tenure there as a Divisional Merchandise Manager. In his time at Walgreens, he worked with large healthcare consumer packaged goods companies to launch a variety of brands within the nonprescription and healthcare business. Additionally, he served as Divisional Merchandise Manager, where he oversaw several large prescription drugs to nonprescription drugs conversions (e.g., Nasacort, Flonase, and Nexium). After leaving Walgreens in December 2015, Mr. Sullivan worked at Impulse Health, LLC, serving as Vice President of their Health and Wellness consulting division. In this role, his team lead the sales, marketing, and financial planning of several new brands, launching in markets ranging from specialty/niche distribution to thirty thousand plus grocery, drug, and mass-retail outlets. Mr. Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education, History, and Economics, and was a teacher in Chicago, Illinois from January 1997 to January 2000. In March 2020, Mr. Sullivan resigned as our Chief Operating Officer, but remained on our Board as an independent director. We believe that Mr. Sullivan’s background and experience in retail business development allows him to have a great understanding of what is required to bring new products to market, which qualifies him to serve on our Board.
Irving Minnaker - Director. Mr. Minnaker joined our Board in September 2021, as an independent director. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Minnaker served as a Senior Vice President of Retail Sales and Trading at Lehman Brothers from January 1986 to December 1993. Additionally, he served as Senior Vice President of Retail Sales at Prudential Financial from January 1994 to December 1996, and Head of International Sales for Eco Building Products, Inc. from October 2010 to November 2011. Since December 2014, he has served as an Executive Vice President at Apollo Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Minnaker is also an independent director of Chemical Technologies Holding Corporation and Comprehensive Business Developers Inc. Mr. Minnaker holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from the University of Miami.
Claude Zdanow - Director. Mr. Zdanow has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Integrum Group, LLC. (“Integrum”) since March of 2023 and from June 2021 until then as its President. Additionally, he is the founder of and serves as the Managing Partner of 35 Wellsona Holdings LLC, a position that he has held since January 2021. Mr. Zdanow also a principal of Claude Philippe Wines LLC, which he founded in June 2021. Between July 2007 and May 2021, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Stadiumred, Inc. We believe that Mr. Zdanow’s background and experience in management consulting and a history of acquisitions of complementary business entities, including assistance with the acquisition of Hyla, has provided him with the relevant experience to serve on our Board.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
In June 2022, Serious Promotions, Inc. filed a Petition before the American Arbitration Association seeking monetary damages against Khode, LLC, a joint venture entered into by Serious Promotions and us. Serious Promotions alleges that Khode failed to make certain payments of fees related to the Endorsement and License Agreement entered into by Serious Promotions and its president Khaled Mohamed Khaled (p/k/a DJ Khaled). Serious Promotions seeks $6,250,000 in damages.
In July 2022, Khode, joined as a party by us, filed counterclaims against Serious Promotions, Khaled and Impact Brokers for breach of the Endorsement and License Agreement and related violations of legal duties, seeking damages in an amount no less than $100,000,000.
Although this arbitration is in its early stages, we are confident in our position, will vigorously defend our position, and prosecute our counterclaims, and ultimately expect a ruling in our favor.
We know of no other material proceedings in which any of our directors, officers, or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder is a party adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries, including, but not limited to:
(a) any petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws filed by or against, or an appointment of a receiver, fiscal agent, or similar officer by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which such person was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which such person was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;
(b) any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
(c) being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such person from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association, or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity; engaging in any type of business practice; or (ii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws or federal commodities laws;
(d) being the subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending, or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in paragraph (c)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
(e) being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;
(f) being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;
(g) being the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of: (i) any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation; or (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease- and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
(h) being the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity, or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The following table sets forth certain compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the following “named executive officers,” which term is defined as follows:
(a) all individuals serving as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer during the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022; and
(b) each of our three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
Except as set forth in the following table, we did not have any individuals for whom disclosure would have been required but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer as of the end of our 2022 fiscal year.
Name and Position Fiscal
Year Salary
($) Stock
Awards
($) (1) Total
($)
Todd Davis (2)
Chief Executive Officer, President, $ 125,000 $ - $ 125,000
and Chairman of the Board $ 153,000 $ - $ 153,000
Steven M Plumb (6)
Chief Financial Officer $ 45,800 $ - $ 45,800
$ 5,000 $ - $ 5,000
Ronald Cotting (4)
Director of Operations $ 20,034 $ - $ 20,034
$ 125,000 $ - $ 125,000
Stephen A. Herron, Sr. (5)
Director of Sales $ 19,686 $ - $ 19,686
$ 125,000 $ - $ 125,000
(1) For valuation purposes, the dollar amount shown is calculated based on the market price of our Common Stock on the grant dates. The number of shares granted, the grant date, and the market price of such shares for each named executive officer is set forth below.
(2) Mr. Davis was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer on January 1, 2002 and as our Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board on June 4, 2004, and served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer until August 31, 2022.
(4) Mr. Cotting joined the Company as our Director of Operations (a non-executive officer level position) on April 1, 2020.
(5) Mr. Herron joined the Company as our Director of Sales (a non-executive officer level position) on April 1, 2020.
(6) Mr. Plumb joined the Company as our Chief Financial Officer on August 29, 2022.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
The following is a discussion of the material information that we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the foregoing Summary Compensation Table.
Todd Davis
On April 4, 2005, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Davis. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Davis is entitled to a base salary of $156,000 per year. Mr. Davis is also eligible to receive an annual bonus as provided for under an annual incentive plan sponsored and maintained by us and/or as the Board determines in its discretion, as well as options to purchase shares of Common Stock as the Board determines in its discretion. In addition to certain payments due to Mr. Davis upon termination of employment, the employment agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions. Finally, Mr. Davis is eligible for certain other welfare, pension, and incentive benefits available to all of our senior executives. This agreement was superseded in connection with the Hyla Transaction.
Mr. Davis earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $125,000 in our 2023 fiscal year, of which $58,000 was deferred, and $153,000 in our 2022 fiscal year.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
We did not have any option awards or unvested stock awards outstanding as of September 30, 2023.
Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide retirement or similar benefits for our director or executive officers.
Resignation, Retirement, Other Termination, or Change in Control Arrangements
Other than as disclosed below, we have no contract, agreement, plan, or arrangement, whether written or unwritten, that provides for payments to our director or executive officers at, following, or in connection with the resignation, retirement, or other termination of our director or executive officers, or a change in control of our Company or a change in our director’s or executive officers’ responsibilities following a change in control.
Mr. Davis and our other senior executives are entitled to payments upon termination pursuant to the terms of their respective employment agreements. If the officer’s employment is terminated by us “without cause” or by the officer for “good reason” (each term as defined in the employment agreement), we are obligated to pay to the officer (i) his base salary and any bonus earned and/or accrued, but unpaid through the date of termination, (ii) a pro rata portion of the officer’s annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the officer’s termination occurs in an amount at least equal to (1) the officer’s target bonus amount, multiplied by (2) a fraction, the number of which is the number of days in the fiscal year in which the termination occurs through the date of termination and the denominator of which is 365 (the “Pro-Rated Bonus”), (iii) any accrued vacation pay, and (iv) a lump-sum cash payment equal to 50% of the officer’s then-current base salary. We are also obligated to continue for a period of six months following the termination, medical, hospitalization, dental, and life insurance programs the officer and his dependents were participating immediately prior to the date of termination (the “Continued Benefits”).
If the officer’s employment is terminated by us for “cause” or by the officer “without good cause” (each term as defined in the employment agreement), we are obligated to pay the officer his base salary and accrued vacation pay through the date of termination. If the officer’s employment is terminated for “disability” (as that term is defined in the employment agreement), we are obligated to pay the officer his base salary, bonus, and accrued vacation pay through the date of termination as soon as practicable following the date of termination, the Pro-Rated Bonus, and the Continued Benefits for a period of one year.
If the officer’s employment is terminated by reason of death, we are obligated to pay to his beneficiaries, legal representatives, or estate, as the case may be, the officer’s base salary and accrued vacation pay through the date of termination, his Pro-Rated Bonus, and the Continued Benefits, for the benefit of the officer’s spouse and dependence, for a period of two years.
Director Summary Compensation Table
As of the end of our 2023 fiscal year, we had four non-employee directors. We did not compensate them for their service as directors during any of the years in which they served.
Risk Assessment in Compensation Programs
During our 2023 and 2022 fiscal years, we paid compensation to our employees, including executive and non- executive officers. Due to the size and scope of our business, and the amount of compensation, we did not have any employee compensation policies and programs to determine whether our policies and programs create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Management and Directors
To our knowledge, based on information furnished to us, each person named in the tables below has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares, shown as beneficially owned by such person, except as otherwise indicated. The number of securities shown represents the number of securities the person “beneficially owns,” as determined by the rules of the Commission. The Commission has defined “beneficial” ownership of a security to mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of voting power and/or investment power. A security holder is also deemed to be, as of any date, the beneficial owner of all securities that such security holder has the right to acquire within 60 days after that date through (i) the exercise of any option, warrant, or right, (ii) the conversion of a security, (iii) the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account, or similar arrangement, or (iv) the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account, or similar arrangement.
The following table sets forth, as of January 16, 2024, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by (i) each stockholder, or group of affiliated stockholders, known by us to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding Common Stock, (ii) our directors, (iii) each of our named executive officers, and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Name and Address Title of Class Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership Percent Owned (%) (1)
Todd Davis, CEO (2)
c/o 38246 N. Hazelwood Circle
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 Common Stock 28,254,345 5.58 %
Steven M Plumb, CFO
9130 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77096 Common Stock - * %
Nick Mehdi
4719 Chenybriar Ave.
Sugar Land, TX 77479 Common Stock - * %
Irving Minnaker
550 South Ocean Blvd, Apt. 1201 Boca Raton Florida 33432 Common Stock - * %
Dustin Sullivan
212 Island Drive
Island Lake, IL 60042 Common Stock 3,825,654 * %
Claude Zdanow
8605 Santa Monica Blvd.
PMB 36522
Los Angeles, CA 90069 Common Stock
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (5 persons) Common Stock 32,079,999 5.58 %
* Less than 1%
(1) Applicable percentage of ownership is based on 506,357,952 shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of January 16, 2024, plus, for each stockholder, all shares that such stockholder could be issued within 60 days upon the conversion or exercise of any convertible or exercisable securities.
(2) Includes 3,044,175 shares of our Common Stock owned of record and beneficially by Mr. Davis and 25,210,170 shares of our Common Stock owned of record by Rayne Forecast Inc. (“Rayne”), an entity over which Mr. Davis has dispositive and voting authority. Does not include 20,526,143 shares of our Common Stock held in an escrow account with the Company’s counsel for the benefit of Rayne, subject to release upon our payment of our obligations under our promissory note to Hyla UK.
The following table sets forth, as of January 16, 2024, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Series H Stock by (i) each stockholder, or group of affiliated stockholders, known by us to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding Common Stock, (ii) our directors, (iii) each of our named executive officers, and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Name and Address Title of Class Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
Percent Owned (%) (1)
Todd Davis, CEO
c/o 38246 N. Hazelwood Circle
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock - * %
Steven M Plumb, CFO
9130 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77096 Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock - * %
LNMS LLC (2)
4719 Chenybriar Ave.
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock 278,048.782 5.7 %
Irving Minnaker
550 South Ocean Blvd., Apt. 1201
Boca Raton Florida 33432 Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock - * %
Dustin Sullivan, Director
212 Island Drive
Island Lake, IL 60042 Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock - * %
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (5
persons)
Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock
- 5.7 %
Beneficial Owner of More than 5% Series H
Convertible
Preferred Stock
Global Investment Holdings Limited (3)
826 N. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90069
Series H
Convertible Preferred Stock
3,846,341.48 78.85 %
* Less than 1%
(1) Applicable percentage of ownership is based on 4,878,048.8 shares of our Series H Convertible Stock outstanding as of January 16, 2024.
(2) LNMS LLC is managed by Nick Mehdi, who makes all of its investment decisions.
(3) Global Investment Holdings Limited is managed by Max Baker, who makes all of its investment decisions.
Changes in Control
We do not know of any arrangements that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change in control.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence.
Related Party Transactions
When we are contemplating entering into any transaction in which any executive officer, director, director nominee, or any family member of the foregoing would have any direct or indirect interest, regardless of the amount involved, the terms of such transaction have to be presented to the Chairman of the Board for his consideration. The Board has not adopted a written policy for related party transactions.
Except for the transactions described below, we have had no related party transactions during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2023.
Transactions with Todd Davis and Rayne
Todd Davis, our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, is the owner of Rayne. Commencing in 2001, Mr. Davis, through Rayne (which was then an Illinois-domiciled corporation through October of 2015 and thereafter was domiciled in Arizona), entered into a series of financial arrangements, consulting agreements (and amendments), and an employment agreement with us. During our fiscal years prior to our 2020 fiscal year, Rayne lent funds to us, portions of which were repaid by our issuing to Rayne shares of our Common Stock. Also, during those years, Rayne assisted us with certain business transactions and earned fees in respect thereof, which fees were accrued and portions of which were repaid by our issuing to Rayne shares of our Common Stock. Mr. Davis, directly, entered into an employment agreement with us in 2005, pursuant to which he is to receive $156,000 in annual compensation. During our fiscal years prior to our 2022 fiscal year, as well as in our 2022 fiscal year, much of Mr. Davis’ compensation has been accrued. Effective September 30, 2021, we issued 719,571 shares of our Series Z Stock to Rayne in consideration of the retirement of our accrued obligations (approximately $2.5 million) to Rayne and Mr. Davis. In connection with the Hyla Transaction, Mr. Davis returned all of the Series Z Stock to our treasury for cancellation.
Mr. Davis has two primary functions with the Company. The first, for which he spends approximately 90% of his business time, is operational: sourcing raw materials, overseeing manufacturing, tending to marketing and distribution, monitoring accounts receivable, and collecting the receivables. Relative to his operational duties (which stem from his services as the Company’s executive officer), the Company paid or accrued a salary for Mr. Davis. The second function, for which Mr. Davis spends approximately 10% of his business time, is financial: interfacing with a variety of potential sources of debt and equity financing for the Company. Relative to his financial duties (which stemmed from his services as the Company’s sole director through late March 2020), the Company periodically paid additional compensation or a bonus to Mr. Davis through his consulting agreement, as amended. For certain personal reasons, Mr. Davis has determined to have the Company pay his employment agreement-based compensation through his consulting agreement, rather than through his employment agreement. So long as he performs the duties of an executive officer and a director of the Company, Mr. Davis and the Company have taken the position that the specific form of agreement under which payment is tendered or accrued is irrelevant. Also in connection with the Hyla Transaction, Mr. Davis and we agreed that his compensation would be fixed at $10,000 per month.
Transactions with Black Mountain Botanicals
From April 2019 through December 2019, Black Mountain Botanicals (BMB), an entity owned by the spouse of our President, was a contractor of the Company for sales and procurement. During the years ended September 30, 2021, and September 30, 2022, BMB was paid $105,582 and $127,444, respectively, for such services. Additionally, during the years ended September 30, 2021, and September 30, 2022, BMB collected and processed the Company’s credit card charges from sales and advanced funds totaling $94,692 and $44,701, respectively. The transaction fee for the service is three percent plus interest calculated on each credit facility utilized.
Director Independence
Our Board is currently composed of five members: Messrs. Davis, Mehdi, Minnaker, Sullivan, and Zdanow. Our Common Stock is not currently listed for trading on a national securities exchange and, as such, we are not subject to any director independence standards. However, we have determined that Messrs. Mehdi, Minnaker, and Sullivan are independent in accordance with the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC, and the Commission.
Board Committees
Our Board has three board committees - Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee. The membership of the committees are as follows:
Committees
Audit Committee
Compensation Committee
Governance and Nominating Committee
Members:
Todd Davis (Chair)
Irving Minnaker
Dustin Sullivan
Claude Zdanow
Todd Davis (Chair)
Irving Minnaker
Dustin Sullivan
Nick Mehdi
Claude Zdanow
Todd Davis (Chair)
Irving Minnaker
Dustin Sullivan
Nick Mehdi
Claude Zdanow
Audit Committee
On January 1, 2021, our Board adopted an audit committee charter (the “Audit Committee Charter”) to govern the Audit Committee. Currently, Messrs. Minnaker, Sullivan, Zdanow, and Davis (Chairman) serve on the Audit Committee. As of the date of this Offering Circular, none of the members qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.”
The Audit Committee Charter requires that each member of the Audit Committee meet the independence requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and the Commission and requires that the Audit Committee have at least one member that qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” We intend to identify potential new directors who can serve as Audit Committee members and satisfy these requirements. In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Audit Committee in the Audit Committee Charter, the primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist our Board in its general oversight of our accounting and financial reporting processes, audits of our financial statements, and internal control and audit functions.
Compensation Committee
On January 1, 2021, our Board approved and adopted a charter (the “Compensation Committee Charter”) to govern the Compensation Committee. Currently, Messrs. Mehdi, Minnaker, Sullivan, Zdanow and Davis (Chairman) serve as members of the Compensation Committee. Messrs. Mehdi, Minnaker, Sullivan and Zdanow each meet the independence requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and the Commission, qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and qualify as an outside director within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Compensation Committee in the Compensation Committee Charter, the primary function of the Compensation Committee is to oversee the compensation of our executives, produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in our proxy statement, if and when required by applicable laws or regulations, and advise our Board on the adoption of policies that govern our compensation programs.
Governance and Nominating Committee
On January 1, 2021, our Board approved and adopted a charter (the “Nominating Committee Charter”) to govern the Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Nominating Committee”). Currently, Messrs. Mehdi, Minnaker, Sullivan, Zdanow and Davis (Chairman) serve as members of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee Charter requires that each member of the Nominating Committee meets the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and the Commission; however, currently only Messrs. Mehdi, Minnaker, Sullivan and Zdanow qualify as independent directors. In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Nominating Committee in the Nominating Committee Charter, the primary function of the Nominating Committee is to determine the slate of director nominees for election to our Board, to identify and recommend candidates to fill vacancies occurring between annual stockholder meetings, to review our policies and programs that relate to matters of corporate responsibility, including public issues of significance to us and our stockholders, and any other related matters required by federal securities laws.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal and Accounting Fees and Services.
Each year, the Board approves the annual audit engagement in advance. The Board also has established procedures to pre-approve all non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. All fiscal 2023 and 2022 non-audit services listed below were pre-approved.
Audit and Audit-Related Fees: This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in our annual and periodic reports that are filed with the SEC. This category also includes services performed for the preparation of responses to SEC correspondence, travel expenses for our auditors, on audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements, and the preparation of an annual “management letter” on internal control and other matters.
Tax Fees: This category consists of professional services rendered by our independent auditors for tax compliance.
All Other Fees: This category consists of fees for services other than the services described above.
The following fees were billed to us by our independent registered public accounting firm, Turner, Stone & Company, LLP, which served as the Company’s auditor from fiscal years ending September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 and reviewed the Company’s quarterly financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters during fiscal 2023.
September 30, September 30,
Description
Audit fees $ 88,226 $ 63,823
Audit-related fees $ 16,500 $ 0
Legal fees $ 0 $ 0
All other fees $ 67,862 $ 21,002
Total $ 172,588 $ 84,825
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1**
Share Exchange Agreement by and among PanaMed, Inc and the Registrant, dated February 22, 2002
2.2 **
Share Exchange Agreement by and among PhytoLabs, LLC and the Registrant, dated March 1, 2017
2.3a**
Common Stock Share Exchange Agreement between Go Green Global Inc and the Registrant dated May 1, 2018
2.3b**
First Amended Common Stock Share Exchange Agreement by and among Go Green Global, Inc. and the Registrant, dated July 10, 2018
3.1**
Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on September 5, 1997
3.1a**
Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on March 1, 2002
3.1b**
Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of the State of Nevada on June 22, 2005
3.1c**
Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on October 25, 2018
3.1d**
Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on May 3, 2020
3.1e**
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on January 25, 2021
3.2**
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated January 25, 2021
3.3**
Certificate of Designation of Series Z Preferred filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, dated January 1, 2021
3.3a>
Certificate of Withdrawal of Certificate of Designation for the Series Z Convertible Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Nevada on September 6, 2022
3.4>
Certificate of Designation of Rights, Privileges, Preferences, and Limitations of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock of the registrant filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on August 25, 2022
4.1**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated February 1, 2019
4.2**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated June 5, 2019
4.3**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated July 7, 2019
4.4**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated August 1, 2019
4.5**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated August 12, 2019
4.6**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated September 15, 2019
4.7**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated October 5, 2019
4.8**
Amended Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant, dated February 5, 2020
4.8a^
Warrant Modification and Clarification Agreement between the Registrant and the holder of eight Common Stock Purchase Warrants, dated March 31, 2021
4.9#
Common Stock Purchase Warrant granted by the Registrant, dated May 10, 2010 (2,500,000 shares)
4.10#
Common Stock Purchase Warrant granted by the Registrant, dated May 10, 2010 (5,185,185 shares)
4.11>
Form of Warrant of the registrant granted to two separate investors, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.2**
Stock Purchase Agreement by and between CBD Life Brands, Inc. and the Registrant, dated March 1, 2020
10.3a**
Operating Agreement by and between Khode, LLC and the Registrant, dated October 1, 2020
10.3b**
Endorsement Agreement by and among Khode, LLC and the Registrant
10.4**
Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Retail Pro Associates, Inc. and the Registrant, dated April 25, 2020
10.5**
Sale and Distribution Agreement by and among CBD Health Solutions and the Registrant, dated January 28,2019
10.6**
Distribution Agreement by and among Gold Coast and the Registrant, dated February 17, 2019
10.7**
Sales Representative Agreement by and among Impulse Health and the Registrant, dated December 15, 2017
10.8**
3PL Agreement by and among Virtual Supply and the Registrant, dated August 7, 2019
10.9**
Electronics Payment Agreement by and among Walgreens, Inc and the Registrant dated February 5, 2019
10.10**
Employment Contract - Todd Davis, dated April 5, 2005
10.11**
Consulting Agreement between Rayne Forecast Inc and the Registrant, dated September 1, 2001
10.11a**
Amended Consulting Agreement between Rayne Forecast Inc and the Registrant, dated October 1, 2009
10.12^
Securities Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and an investor, dated October 11, 2019
10.13^
Security Agreement between the Registrant and an investor, dated October 11, 2019
10.14^
Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note of the Registrant in the principal amount of $750,000, dated October 19, 2019
10.15^
Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note of the Registrant in the principal amount of $700,000, dated November 1, 2019
10.16^
Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note of the Registrant in the principal amount of $550,000, dated January 16, 2020
10.17^
Update Agreement between the Registrant and an investor in respect of the Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes, dated October 10, 2019, November 1, 2019, and January 16, 2020
10.18^
Convertible Note Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and an institutional investor, dated January 22, 2021
10.19^
Security Agreement between the Registrant and an institutional investor, dated January 22, 2021
10.20^
Intellectual Property Security Agreement between the Registrant and an institutional investor, dated January 22, 2021
10.21^
Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and an institutional investor, dated January 22, 2021
10.22^
Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note of the Registrant in the principal amount of $1,250,000, dated January 22, 2021
10.23^
Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant exercisable for up to 10,416,667 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, granted on January 22, 2021
10.24^
Percentage Payment Agreement between the Registrant and a third party, dated January 22, 2021
10.25^
Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note of the Registrant in the principal amount of $300,000, dated March 5, 2021
10.26^
Common Stock Purchase Warrant of the Registrant exercisable for up to 3,111,111 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, granted on March 5, 2021
10.27#
Securities Purchase Agreement of the Registrant, dated May 10, 2021 ($386,400)
10.28#
Promissory Note of the Registrant, dated May 10, 2021 ($386,400)
10.29#
Securities Purchase Agreement of the Registrant, dated May 10, 2021 ($750,000)
10.30#
Promissory Note of the Registrant, dated May 10, 2021 ($250,000)
10.31#
Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 10, 2021
10.32+
Exchange Agreement between Rayne Forecast, Inc., and the Registrant, effective as of September 30, 2021
10.33+
Exchange Agreement between Todd Davis and the Registrant, effective as of September 30, 2021
10.34
Reserved
10.35>
Form of Control Acquisition Agreement among the Registrant, EH Sub Inc., and Hyla UK Holdco Limited, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.36>
Form of Self-Financing Promissory Note of the Registrant issued to Hyla UK Holdco Limited, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.37>
Form of Intercompany Services Agreement between the Registrant and Hyla US Holdco Limited, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.38>
Form of Promissory Note of HYLA US Holdco Limited issued to the Registrant, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.39>
Form of Note Purchase Agreement among the Registrant and two separate investors, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.40>
Form of Convertible Senior Note of the Registrant sold and issued to two separate investors, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.41>
Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and two separate investors, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.42>
Form of Security Agreement of the Registrant in favor of two separate investors, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.43>
Form of IP Security Agreement of the Registrant in favor of two separate investors, effective as of August 31, 2022
10.44>
Form of Settlement, Lock-Up, and Leak-Out Agreement between the Registrant and seven separate investors, effective August 31, 2022
10.45>
Form of Promissory Note of the Registrant issued to seven separate investors, effective August 31, 2022
10.46>
Form of Contribution and Exchange Agreement among the Registrant, CBD Unlimited, Inc., Todd Allen Davis, and Rayne Forecast Inc., effective August 31
10.47>
Form of Escrow Agreement among the Registrant, Todd Allen Davis, Rayne Forecast Inc., and the escrow agent, effective August 31, 2022
10.48>
Form of Executive Agreement between the Registrant and Todd Allen Davis, effective August 31, 2022
10.49
Form of Stockholders Agreement among the Registrant, Todd Allen Davis, Rayne Forecast Inc., and CBD Unlimited, Inc., effective as of August 31, 2022 (to be filed by further amendment)
10.50>
Employment Agreement between Hyla US Holdco Limited and Nick Mehdi, dated June 14, 2021
10.51<
Master Distributor Agreement between Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC, and the Registrant, dated March 27, 2020
10.52<
Sales Representative Agreement between Impulse Health LLC and the Registrant, dated April 1, 2020
10.53<
Brand Consulting Agreement between Beauty Strategy Group, LLC and the Registrant, dated April 21, 2021
10.54<
Master Service Agreement between Impact Brokers, LLC, and Khode LLC, dated October 9, 2020
11.1**
Audit Committee Charter
11.2**
Compensation Committee Charter
11.3**
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter
21.1*
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1
Reserved
31.1*
Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*
Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
* - Filed herewith.
+ - Filed as exhibits with equivalent exhibit numbers to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (Amendment No. 1), filed with the Commission on June 9, 2023, each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
** - Filed as exhibits with equivalent exhibit numbers to our Registration Statement on Form 10, filed with the Commission on March 4, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
^ - Filed as exhibits with equivalent exhibit numbers to our Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form 10, filed with the Commission on April 8, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
# - Filed as exhibits with equivalent exhibit numbers to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the Commission on May 24, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
> - Filed as exhibits with equivalent exhibit numbers to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 7, 2022, each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
< - Filed as exhibits 10.27, 10.28, 10.29, and 10.30, respectively, to our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form 10, filed with the Commission on July 1, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.