SEC Filing Document

Company: Synergy CHC Corp.
Ticker: SNYR
CIK: 1562733
Filing Type: S-1/A
Document Type: S-1/A
Date Filed: 2024-09-16
Accession Number: 0001213900-24-079034
Exchange: Nasdaq
SIC Code: 2833
SIC Description: Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products
URL: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1562733/000121390024079034/ea0208324-09.htm

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from our existing business as management focuses on developing these initiatives and related operations. Also, our short-term operating results could be unfavorably impacted by the opportunity and financial costs associated with the implementation of our strategic plans or the completion of any acquisitions, and we might not realize the benefits from such strategies. In addition, we may not be successful in achieving the intended objectives of the strategic initiatives (including acquisitions) in a timely manner or at all. We may choose to fund any acquisitions by way of (i) debt, which would subject us to additional covenant obligations and liquidity constraints, (ii) cash, which could divert working capital away from our existing business, or (iii) equity, which would result in dilution for existing stockholders, or any combination of the foregoing. There can also be no guarantee that we will be able to obtain debt on favorable terms, or at all.

As has been the case with our historical acquisition transactions, future business combinations could involve the acquisition of significant tangible and intangible assets, which could require us to record ongoing amortization expense with respect to identified intangible assets acquired. In addition, we may need to record write-downs from future impairments of identified tangible and intangible assets and goodwill. These and other similar accounting charges would reduce any future earnings or increase any losses. In future acquisitions, we could also incur debt to pay for acquisitions or issue additional equity securities as consideration, either of which could cause our stockholders to suffer significant dilution. Additionally, our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards, if any, acquired in any acquisitions may be significantly limited or unusable by us under Section 382 or other sections of the Internal Revenue Code (as has been the case with our net operating loss carryforwards attributable to the acquisition of Breakthrough Products, Inc.).

Current and future acquisitions may use significant resources, may be unsuccessful, and could expose us to unforeseen liabilities.

As part of our growth strategy, we have a history of pursuing acquisitions of companies with products that are similar or complementary to those that we provide in our businesses to better leverage our existing, scalable infrastructure, and may continue to pursue this strategy in the future. These acquisitions may involve significant cash expenditures, debt incurrence, additional operating losses and expenses, and compliance risks that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be able to successfully integrate our acquired businesses into our company, and therefore, we may not be able to realize the intended benefits of an acquisition. If we fail to successfully integrate acquisitions, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. These acquisitions could result in difficulties integrating acquired operations, technologies, and personnel into our business. Such difficulties may divert significant financial, operational, and managerial resources from our existing operations and make it more difficult to achieve our operating and strategic objectives. We may fail to retain employees or employer customers acquired

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through these acquisitions, which may negatively impact the integration efforts. These acquisitions could also harm our results of operations if it is subsequently determined that goodwill or other acquired intangible assets are impaired, thus resulting in an impairment charge in a future period.

In addition, these acquisitions involve risks that the acquired businesses will not perform in accordance with expectations, that we may become liable for unforeseen financial or business liabilities of the acquired businesses, including liabilities for failure to comply with healthcare regulations, that the expected synergies associated with acquisitions will not be achieved, and that business judgments concerning the value, strengths, and weaknesses of businesses acquired will prove incorrect, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The nutritional supplement industry increasingly relies on intellectual property rights and although we seek to ensure that we do not infringe the intellectual property rights of others, there can be no assurance that third parties will not assert intellectual property infringement claims against us, which claims may result in substantial costs and diversion of management and other resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Our inability to acquire, protect or maintain our intellectual property could harm our ability to compete or grow.

Recently it has become more and more common for suppliers and competitors to apply for patents or develop proprietary technologies and processes. We seek to ensure that we do not infringe the intellectual property rights of others, but there can be no assurance that third parties will not assert intellectual property infringement claims against us. These developments could prevent us from offering or supplying competitive products or ingredients in the marketplace. They could also result in litigation or threatened litigation against us related to alleged or actual infringement of third-party rights. If an infringement claim is asserted or litigation is pursued, we may be required to obtain a license of rights, pay royalties on a retrospective or prospective basis or terminate our manufacturing and marketing of our products that are alleged to have infringed. Litigation with respect to such matters could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and other resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have one U.S. patent (which expires in April 2025) and numerous U.S. and foreign trademarks and service marks. There can be no assurance that the protection afforded by the patent and these trademarks and service marks will provide us with a competitive advantage or that we will be able to assert our intellectual property rights in infringement actions. We may be required to defend our intellectual property against such infringement, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and other resources. In addition, results of such litigation are difficult to predict and if we are not successful in defending our intellectual property rights, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are not able to adequately prevent disclosure of proprietary knowledge, the value of our products could be materially diminished.

Trade secrets are difficult to protect. We rely on trade secrets to protect our proprietary knowledge, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable, or where such patents would be difficult to enforce. We rely in part on confidentiality agreements to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary knowledge. We cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party that may have had access to our proprietary knowledge, or that such agreements, even if in place, will not be circumvented. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of proprietary knowledge and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of such information. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary knowledge, in which case we may have no right to prevent them from using such trade secrets or proprietary knowledge to compete with us. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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International expansion will subject our business to additional economic and operational risks that could increase our costs and make it difficult to operate profitably.

One of our key growth strategies is to pursue international expansion. Expansion of our international operations may require significant expenditure of financial and management resources and result in increased administrative and compliance costs. As a result of such expansion, we will be increasingly subject to the risks inherent in conducting business internationally, including:

•        foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in reduced revenues and increased operating expenses;

•        longer or less predictable payment and sales cycles;

•        difficulty in collecting accounts receivable;

•        applicable foreign tax structures, including tax rates that may be higher than tax rates in the United States or taxes that may be duplicative of those imposed in the United States;

•        tariffs and trade barriers;

•        general economic and political conditions in each country;

•        inadequate intellectual property protection in foreign countries;

•        uncertainty regarding liability for information retrieved and replicated in foreign countries;

•        the difficulties and increased expenses of complying with a variety of foreign laws, regulations and trade standards; and

•        unexpected changes in regulatory requirements.

As a result of these risks, we may be required to incur higher than expected costs to implement or we may not be able to achieve the expected benefits of our international strategy. If we are unsuccessful in this international expansion, we would be required to reevaluate our growth strategy, and we may have incurred substantial expenses and devoted significant management time and resources in pursuing international growth.