UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report:

 

February 28, 2017

 

Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   0-55209   52-2158952
State of   Commission   IRS Employer
Incorporation   File Number   Identification No.

 

135 Fifth Ave., 10th Floor

New York, NY 10010

Address of principal executive offices

 

212-739-7650

Telephone number, including

Area code

 

 

 

Former name or former address if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
   
[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
   
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
   
[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

 

 

 

     
     

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

See Item 5.03 below for a description.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On February 28, 2017, the Company amended its Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock from 11,000,000 to 10,097,330.

 

Also on February 28, 2017, the Company filed the Certificate of Designation of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock designating 902,670 shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.01 as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series B Shares”). No Series B Shares are currently outstanding. If and when issued (of which there can be no assurance), holders of Series B Preferred Shares will be entitled to, among other things, the following:

 

8% annual dividend, payable quarterly, within thirty (30) following the end of the quarter, subject only to a determination by the Company’s Board of Directors that payment of dividends would jeopardize the Company’s ongoing operations.

 

A liquidation preference to be paid ahead of shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Upon any uplisting or elevation of the Company’s common stock to a national exchange such as NASDAQ or NYSE MKT, mandatory conversion to common stock, at a ratio of ten shares of common stock for each Series B Share.

 

If Series B Shares have not been previously converted into common stock, redemption of Series B Shares on the date that is two years following the termination of any offering of the Series B Shares.

 

Each holder of Series B Shares shall be entitled to vote on all matters and shall be entitled to the number of votes determined by a formula set forth in the certificate of designation, subject to a maximum of ten votes per Series B Share. Holders of Series B Shares also vote as a class to the extent Series B Shares would be treated differently from another series of preferred stock, such as any action that would amend any of the rights, preferences or privileges of the holders of Series B Shares, or that would authorize the Company to issue a class of preferred stock that would be senior to Series B Shares, and in each such instance consent or approval of holders of at least 50.01% of the then outstanding Series B Shares would be required for such action to become effective.

 

     
     

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

 

Attached as Exhibit 99.1 is a shareholder letter dated March 1, 2017 from Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc. (the “Company”) to its shareholders outlining the Company’s anticipated business plans and strategic initiatives.

 

The information furnished under this Item 7.01, including the exhibit, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended except as shall be expressly set forth by reference to such filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits
   
 3.1 Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, dated February 28, 2017
   
 3.2 Certificate of Designation of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, dated February 28, 2017
   
99.1 Shareholder letter dated March 1, 2017.

 

     
     

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 1 st day of March 2017.

 

  Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Scott L. Mathis
    Scott L. Mathis, President & CEO

 

     
     

 

Amendment no. 1 to the Amended and Restated CERTIFICATE OF

DESIGNATION OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF
ALGODON WINES & LUXURY DEVELOPMENT GROUP, INC.

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE
DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the “ Corporation ”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

 

That pursuant to resolutions adopted by unanimous consent of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designation for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, dated September 30, 2013 (hereinafter the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), be and hereby is amended as set forth below:

 

Section 1 of the Amended and Restated Certificate be and it hereby is deleted in its entirety and a new Section 1 be inserted in lieu thereof to read as follows:

 

1. Designation . A total of 10,097,330 shares of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock shall be designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.” As used herein, the term “ Preferred Stock ” means the shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock except as the context otherwise requires.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Certificate has been executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer, and attested by its Secretary, as of this 21 st day of February, 2017.

 

 

ALGODON WINES & LUXURY

DEVELOPMENT GROUP, INC.

     
  By: /s/ Scott Mathis
  Name: Scott Mathis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Attest:

 

/s/ Maria Echevarria  
Maria Echevarria, Secretary  

 

 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF SERIES B
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF
ALGODON WINES & LUXURY DEVELOPMENT GROUP, INC.

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE
DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the “ Corporation ”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

 

That pursuant to resolutions adopted by unanimous consent of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the Certificate of Designation for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, dated February 21, 2017, is as follows:

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

1. Designation. A total of 902,670 shares of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock shall be designated as “Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.” As used herein, the term “ Preferred Stock ” means the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock except as the context otherwise requires.

 

2. Dividends. Subject to provisions of law, from and after the date of issuance, the holders of record of shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive cash dividends, which shall be payable when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of assets which are legally available for the payment of such dividends, including any special dividends declared by the Board of Directors as well as ordinary dividends, at an annual rate of 8% of the Series B Liquidation Value (as defined below) per share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (which amount shall be subject to equitable adjustment whenever there shall occur a stock dividend, stock split, combination, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event), provided that such dividends shall not be currently payable and shall only be payable when and if specifically provided herein. Such dividends shall also be paid upon a liquidation or redemption of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 6. Dividends shall be cumulative, without compounding, and shall accrue daily on each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock from the date of issue thereof. Dividends payable on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for any period less than a full year shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 365-day year. All accrued and accumulated dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be prior and in preference to any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation and shall be fully declared and paid before any dividends are declared and paid, or any other distributions or redemptions are made, on any shares of Common Stock. Upon the conversion of shares of the Series B Preferred Stock into Common Stock of the Corporation, all cumulative dividends with respect to such converted shares which have not been declared by the Board of Directors shall be cancelled.

 

     
   

 

3. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

 

(a) Treatment at Sale, Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, before any distribution or payment is made to any holders of any shares of Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation designated to be junior to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and subject to the liquidation rights and preferences of any class or series of Preferred Stock designated to be senior to, or on a parity with, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid first out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to holders of the Corporation’s capital stock whether such assets are capital, surplus or earnings, an amount equal to $10.00 per share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (which amount shall be subject to equitable adjustment whenever there shall occur a stock dividend, stock split, combination, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event) plus any dividends accrued or declared but unpaid on such shares (such amount, as so determined, is referred to herein as the “ Series B Liquidation Value ” with respect to such shares).

 

(b) Insufficient Funds . If upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up the assets or surplus funds of the Corporation to be distributed to the holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and any other then-outstanding shares of the Corporation’s capital stock ranking on a parity with respect to payment on liquidation with the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (such shares being referred to herein as the “ Series B Parity Stock ”) shall be insufficient to permit payment to such respective holders of the full Series B Liquidation Value and all other preferential amounts payable with respect to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and such Series B Parity Stock, then the assets available for payment or distribution to such holders shall be allocated among the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and such Series B Parity Stock, pro rata, in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and such Series B Parity Stock are each entitled.

 

(c) Certain Transactions Treated as Liquidation . For purposes of this Section 3 , (i) any acquisition of the Corporation by means of merger or other form of corporate reorganization or consolidation with or into another corporation in which outstanding shares of this Corporation, including shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, are exchanged for securities or other consideration issued, or caused to be issued, by the other corporation or its subsidiary and, as a result of which transaction, the shareholders of this Corporation own 50% or less of the voting power of the surviving entity (other than a mere re-incorporation transaction), or (ii) a sale, transfer or lease (other than a pledge or grant of a security interest to a bona fide lender) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall be treated as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and shall entitle the holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to receive the amount that would be received in a liquidation, dissolution or winding up pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, if the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock so elect by giving written notice thereof to the Corporation at least three days before the effective date of such event, or have voted in favor of such event at a shareholders meeting (or pursuant to a written consent in lieu of a meeting). The Corporation will provide the holders of Preferred Stock with notice of all transactions which are to be treated as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up pursuant to this Section 3(c) fifteen (15) days prior to the earlier of the vote relating to such transaction or the closing of such transaction.

 

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(d) Distributions of Property . Whenever the distribution provided for in this Section 3 shall be payable in property other than cash, the value of such distribution shall be the fair market value of such property as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, unless the holders of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock request, in writing, that an independent appraiser perform such valuation, then by an independent appraiser selected by the Board of Directors and reasonably acceptable to 50% or more of the holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The cost of the independent appraiser shall be borne by the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock unless such valuation is 15% (or more) greater than the initial valuation as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

4. Voting Power.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 9 hereof or as otherwise required by law, each holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters and shall be entitled to that number of votes determined as follows:

 

$10 ÷ the fair market value of the Corporation’s common stock

as of the date the shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued,

subject to a maximum of ten votes per share of Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 9 hereof or as otherwise required by law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters.

 

5. Conversion Rights; Mandatory Conversion. The holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the following rights and obligations with respect to the conversion of such shares into shares of Common Stock:

 

(a) Voluntary Conversion . Subject to and in compliance with the provisions of this Section 5 , on or before the second anniversary of the termination date of the offering whereby the Corporation offered and sold Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the holder of shares of Preferred Stock may elect to convert such shares into fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, except that the Company shall not be required to convert less than 2,500 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in the event such holder seeks to convert less than all of such holder’s shares. Holders will be notified of the date on which the right to voluntarily convert provided for herein shall expire. The number of shares of Common Stock that a holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive upon conversion shall be the product obtained by multiplying the Series B Applicable Conversion Rate (determined as provided in Section 5(b) ) by the number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock being converted at any time.

 

(b) Applicable Conversion Rate . The conversion rate in effect at any time for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Series B Applicable Conversion Rate ”) shall be the quotient obtained by dividing $10.00 by the Series B Applicable Conversion Value, as defined in Section 5(c) . Initially, the Series B Applicable Conversion Rate shall be ten (10), and each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall initially be convertible into ten (10) shares of Common Stock.

 

   - 3 -  
   

 

(c) Applicable Conversion Value . The Series B Applicable Conversion Value in effect from time to time, except as adjusted in accordance with Section 5(d) hereof, shall be $1.00 with respect to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Series B Applicable Conversion Value ”).

 

(d) Adjustment to Series B Applicable Conversion Value .

 

(i) Upon Extraordinary Common Stock Event . Upon the happening of an Extraordinary Common Stock Event (as hereinafter defined), the Series B Applicable Conversion Value (and all other conversion values set forth in Section 5(d)(i) above) shall, simultaneously with the happening of such Extraordinary Common Stock Event, be adjusted by multiplying the Series B Applicable Conversion Value by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Extraordinary Common Stock Event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such Extraordinary Common Stock Event, and the product so obtained shall thereafter be the Series B Applicable Conversion Value. The Series B Applicable Conversion Value, as so adjusted, shall be readjusted in the same manner upon the happening of any successive Extraordinary Common Stock Event or Events. An “ Extraordinary Common Stock Event ” shall mean (A) the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution on outstanding shares of Common Stock, (B) a subdivision of outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or (C) a combination or reverse stock split of outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock.

 

(ii) Waiver of Adjustment to Series B Applicable Conversion Value. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the operation of, and any adjustment of the Series B Applicable Conversion Value pursuant to, this Section 5(d) may be waived with respect to any specific share or shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, either prospectively or retroactively and either generally or in a particular instance, by a writing executed by the registered holder of such share or shares. Any waiver pursuant to this Section 5(d)(ii) shall bind all future holders of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for which such rights have been waived. In the event that a waiver of adjustment of Series B Applicable Conversion Value under this Section 5(d)(ii) results in different Series B Applicable Conversion Values for shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Secretary of the Corporation shall maintain a written ledger identifying the Series B Applicable Conversion Value for each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Such information shall be made available to any person upon request.

 

(e) Mandatory or Automatic Conversion .

 

(i) Mandatory Conversion of Preferred Stock Upon Uplisting of Corporation’s Common Stock . Immediately upon the uplisting of the Corporation’s Common Stock to a national securities exchange including but not limited to NASDAQ or NYSE MKT, all outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be converted automatically into the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are then convertible pursuant to Section 5 hereof without any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent.

 

   - 4 -  
   

 

(ii) Mandatory Conversion of Preferred Stock Upon Merger with Public Company or Comparable Transaction . Immediately upon the closing of a merger between a company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act (hereinafter referred to as “PubCo”), and the Corporation, or any other transaction in which PubCo effectively acquires all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation, all outstanding shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be converted automatically into the number of shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock into which such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are then convertible pursuant to Section 5 hereof without any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent.

 

(iii) Surrender of Certificates Upon Mandatory Conversion . Upon the occurrence of the conversion events specified in the preceding paragraphs (i), (ii) or (iii), the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall, upon notice from the Corporation, surrender the certificates representing such shares at the office of the Corporation or of its transfer agent for the Common Stock. Thereupon, there shall be issued and delivered to such holder a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock so surrendered were convertible on the date on which such conversion occurred. The Corporation shall not be obligated to issue such certificates unless certificates evidencing the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock being converted are either delivered to the Corporation or any such transfer agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection therewith.

 

(f) Dividends . In the event the Corporation shall make or issue, or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution (other than a distribution in liquidation or other distribution otherwise provided for herein) with respect to the Common Stock payable in (i) securities of the Corporation other than shares of Common Stock, or (ii) other assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions), then and in each such event provision shall be made so that the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion thereof in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereupon, the number of securities or such other assets of the Corporation which they would have received had their Series B Convertible Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event and had they thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Conversion Date (as that term is hereafter defined in Section 5(j) ), retained such securities or such other assets receivable by them during such period, giving application to all other adjustments called for during such period under this Section 5 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

(g) Capital Reorganization or Reclassification . If the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be changed into the same or different number of shares of any class or classes of capital stock, whether by capital reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or otherwise (other than a subdivision or combination of shares or stock dividend provided for elsewhere in this Section 5 , or a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s capital stock or assets to any other person), then and in each such event the holder of each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such share into the kind and amount of shares of capital stock and other securities and property receivable upon such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or other change by the holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock might have been converted immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

 

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(h) Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets . If at any time or from time to time there shall be a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another corporation (other than a merger or reorganization involving only a change in the state of incorporation of the Corporation), or the sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s capital stock or assets to any other person, then, as a part of such reorganization, merger, or consolidation or sale, provision shall be made so that the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Corporation, or of the successor corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation, to which such holder would have been entitled if such holder had converted its shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior to such capital reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale. In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this Section 5 to the end that the provisions of this Section 5 (including adjustment of the Series B Applicable Conversion Value then in effect and the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities issuable upon conversion of such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock) shall be applicable after that event in as nearly equivalent a manner as may be practicable.

 

(i) Certificate as to Adjustments; Notice by Corporation . In each case of an adjustment or readjustment of the Series B Applicable Conversion Rate, the Corporation at its expense will furnish each holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock with a certificate prepared by the Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, showing such adjustment or readjustment, and stating in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based.

 

(j) Exercise of Conversion Privilege . To exercise its conversion privilege, a holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificate or certificates representing the shares being converted to the Corporation at its principal office, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at that office that such holder elects to convert such shares. Such notice shall also state the name or names (with address or addresses) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be issued. The certificate or certificates for shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion shall be accompanied by proper assignment thereof to the Corporation or in blank. The date when such written notice is received by the Corporation, together with the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock being converted, shall be the “ Conversion Date .” As promptly as practicable after the Conversion Date, the Corporation shall issue and shall deliver to the holder of the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock being converted, or on its written order, such certificate or certificates as it may request for the number of whole shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of such shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5 , rounded up to the nearest whole share as provided in Section 5(k) , in respect of any fraction of a share of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the Conversion Date, and at such time the rights of the holder as holder of the converted shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall cease and the person(s) in whose name(s) any certificate(s) for shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders of record of the shares of Common Stock represented thereby.

 

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(k) No Issuance of Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Instead of any fractional shares of Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable upon conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall round up to the next whole share of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The determination as to whether any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be rounded up shall be made with respect to the aggregate number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock being converted at any one time by any holder thereof, not with respect to each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock being converted.

 

(l) Partial Conversion . In the event some but not all of the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock represented by a certificate(s) surrendered by a holder are converted, the Corporation shall execute and deliver to or on the order of the holder, at the expense of the Corporation, a new certificate representing the number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock which were not converted.

 

(m) Reservation of Common Stock . The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (including any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock represented by any warrants, options, subscription or purchase rights for Series B Convertible Preferred Stock), and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (including any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock represented by any warrants, options, subscriptions or purchase rights for such Preferred Stock), the Corporation shall take such action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose.

 

(n) No Reissuance of Preferred Stock . No share or shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock acquired by the Corporation by reason of redemption, purchase, conversion or otherwise shall be reissued as a share or shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, however, all such shares shall be made available as preferred shares which the Corporation shall be authorized to issue. The Corporation shall from time to time take such appropriate corporate action as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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6. Redemption.

 

(a) Redemption of Preferred Stock. Subject to the provisions of Section 5, and any actions previously taken pursuant thereto, on the second anniversary of the termination of the offering whereby the Corporation offered and sold Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Redemption Date”), the Corporation shall redeem all then-outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock (“Series B Redemption”) for a price per Share equal to the Liquidation Value for such Share, plus all unpaid accrued and accumulated dividends on such Share (whether or not declared) (the “Series B Redemption Price,” for all holders collectively, the “Aggregate Series B Redemption Price”). The Aggregate Series B Redemption Price shall be payable in immediately available funds to the respective holders of the Series B Preferred Stock within sixty (60) days following the Redemption Date and the Corporation shall contribute all of its assets to the payment of the Aggregate Series B Redemption Price, and to no other corporate purpose, except to the extent prohibited by applicable Delaware law.

 

(b) Insufficient Funds; Remedies for Nonpayment .

 

(i) Insufficient Funds . If the assets of the Corporation legally available are insufficient to pay the Aggregate Series B Redemption Price, the Corporation shall (i) take all appropriate action reasonably within its means to maximize the assets legally available for paying the Aggregate Series B Redemption Price, (ii) redeem out of all such assets legally available therefor the maximum possible number of Shares that it can redeem on such date, pro rata among the holders of such Shares, and (iii) thereafter at any time and from time to time when additional assets of the Corporation become legally available to redeem the remaining Shares, the Corporation shall immediately use such assets to pay the remaining balance of the Aggregate Series B Redemption Price.

 

(ii) Remedies for Nonpayment . If within sixty (60) days of the Redemption Date all shares of the Series B Preferred Stock are not redeemed in full, until such Shares are fully redeemed and the Aggregate Series B Redemption Price paid in full, (a) all of the unredeemed Shares shall remain outstanding and continue to have the rights, preferences and privileges expressed herein, including the accrual and accumulation of dividends thereon as provided in Section 4, and (b) interest on the portion of the aggregate Series B Redemption Price applicable to the unredeemed Shares shall accrue daily in arrears at an annual rate equal to 10%.

 

(c) Rights Subsequent to Redemption . At such time that the Series B Redemption Price is paid (or payment is tendered) for any of the Shares to be redeemed, on such date all rights of the holder in the Shares so redeemed and paid or tendered, including any rights to dividends on such Shares, shall cease, and such Shares shall no longer be deemed issued and outstanding.

 

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7. Registration of Transfer. The Corporation will keep at its principal office a register for the registration of shares of Preferred Stock. Upon the surrender of any certificate representing shares of Preferred Stock at such place, the Corporation will, at the request of the record holders of such certificate, execute and deliver (at the Corporation’s expense) a new certificate or certificates in exchange therefore representing the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by the surrendered certificate. Each such new certificate will be registered in such name and will represent such number of shares of Preferred Stock as is required by the holder of the surrendered certificate and will be substantially identical in form to the surrendered certificate.

 

8. Replacement. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation (an affidavit of the registered holder will be satisfactory) of the ownership and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate evidencing shares of Preferred Stock, and in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of an unsecured indemnity from the holder reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation or, in the case of such mutilation upon surrender of such certificate, the Corporation will (at its expense) execute and deliver in lieu of such certificate a new certificate of like kind representing the number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate and dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate.

 

9. Restrictions and Limitations on Corporate Action and Amendments to Charter. The Corporation shall not take any corporate action or otherwise amend its Certificate of Incorporation without the approval by vote or written consent of the holders of at least 50.01% of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class except and to the extent that any series of Preferred Stock would be treated differently from other series of Preferred Stock, in which case such series shall be entitled to a separate series vote, each share of Preferred Stock to be entitled to that number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share could then be converted pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 , if such corporate action or amendment would:

 

(a) amend any of the rights, preferences, privileges of or limitations provided for herein for the benefit of any shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock;

 

(b) authorize or issue, or obligate the Corporation to authorize or issue, (i) additional shares (beyond the amount authorized herein) of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, (ii) Series B Parity Stock (as defined in Section 3(b) ) or (iii) shares of Preferred Stock senior to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to liquidation preferences, dividend rights or redemption rights;

 

(c) decrease the authorized number of shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock;

 

(d) cause the Corporation to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value (or pay into or set aside for a sinking fund for such purpose), any securities of the Corporation, pursuant to a redemption, purchase or other acquisition for cash of shares of Preferred Stock, which is effected pro rata with the holders thereof, in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which such holders are entitled; or

 

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(e) amend any provisions of this Section 9 .

 

10. No Dilution or Impairment. The Corporation will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of capital stock or assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of the Preferred Stock set forth herein, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock against dilution or other impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation (a) will not increase the par value of any shares of stock receivable on the conversion of the Preferred Stock above the amount payable therefor on such conversion, and (b) will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of stock on the conversion of all Preferred Stock from time to time outstanding.

 

11. Notices of Record Date. In the event of:

 

(a) any taking by the Corporation of a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right; or

 

(b) any capital reorganization of the Corporation, any reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the Corporation, any merger or consolidation of the Corporation, or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any other corporation, or any other entity or person; or

 

(c) any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation;

 

then and in each such event the Corporation shall mail or cause to be mailed to each holder of Preferred Stock a notice specifying (i) the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right and a description of such dividend, distribution or right, (ii) the date on which any such reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and (iii) the time, if any, that is to be fixed, as to when the holders of record of Common Stock (or other securities) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or other securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. Such notice shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least ten (10) days prior to the earlier of (A) the date specified in such notice on which such record is to be taken and (B) the date on which such action is to be taken.

 

12. Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided, all notices referred to herein will be in writing and will be delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and will be deemed to have been given when so mailed (a) to the Corporation, at its principal executive offices and (b) to any shareholder, at such shareholder’s address as it appears in the stock records of the Corporation (unless otherwise indicated in writing by any such shareholder).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Certificate of Designation has been executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer, and attested by its Secretary, this 21 st day of February, 2017.

 

  Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Scott Mathis
  Name: Scott Mathis
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Attest:  
   
/s/ Maria Echevarria  
Maria Echevarria, Secretary  

 

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LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

 

March 1, 2017

 

With the support of our shareholders, Algodon Group (OTCQB: VINO) has created an emerging luxury brand featuring a number of exciting projects under the Algodon® umbrella. Have you visited the vineyards and winery of Algodon Wine Estates in the heart of Argentina’s wine country in San Rafael, Mendoza? Our property there includes 325 acres (131 hectares) of vines dating back to 1946, as well as a 2,050 acre (830 hectare) luxury real estate development with over 400 estate lots (ranging from .5 to 7 acres). That bucolic spot features the Algodon Wines & Wellness Resort, a developing premier wine, wellness, culinary, and sport resort that includes golf and tennis facilities. Have you tasted (or bought) some of our Algodon Fine Wines, several of which have received numerous international accolades? Have you tried Algodon’s award-winning olive oil sourced directly from the estate? Have you been able to spend a few nights at the beautiful Algodon Mansion, our all-suite boutique hotel located in the fashionable heart of Buenos Aires’ luxury residential and embassy district?

 

Clearly, Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc. is growing up, but we know we have a long way to go. And we think we are in a good place to do so.

 

Along with much of the investment community, we believe Argentina is finally emerging from its long economic slump and is already on a path toward significant growth. The election in 2016 of Argentina’s new president, Mauricio Macri, seemed to presage a new economic era in Argentina, and caused many to take a fresh, new look at all that Argentina has to offer. From the earliest days of his presidency, the global financial press has widely reported an abundance of positive news regarding Argentina’s economic forecast and investment potential, highlighting Argentina as one of the best places to invest in 2016 and beyond. We at Algodon have been focusing on Argentina for about ten years, and it’s clear that we are no longer alone in our thinking. In January 2017, for example, Morgan Stanley forecast that Argentina’s stock market could “rocket” (their word, not mine) as much as 258% in five years.

 

The challenge we now face is this: while we have acquired and developed significant real estate assets and are starting to see the fruits of our hard work, we have begun to think and plan bigger than we have in the past. We are very happy with our substantial real estate holdings as last year was a huge positive for real estate values in Argentina. We are also pleased that our wines are just now beginning to sell in the U.S., and so on. But as a public company, we are now thinking bigger, with a focus on further expanding our customer base as we seek to become the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) of South America. With our new perspective, we now find ourselves with the ability to “scale” on a significant and global basis as it relates to significant long term business expansion, revenues and ultimately our market capitalization. So as a public company, we now have two important and specific goals. First, we want to elevate our company’s shares from the OTC marketplace and successfully uplist to a national exchange such as the NYSE MKT or the NASDAQ, in order to help unlock the value we have achieved to date and to develop greater liquidity for our shareholders. Our second goal is to demonstrate to the investment community how we will leverage our brand in order to achieve significant economic scale far beyond our earlier thinking. We have been hard at work focused on these goals. The opportunity now exists, and we must position ourselves to take full advantage of the timing.

 

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We believe Buenos Aires is in the very early stages of igniting a renewed emphasis on its moniker “the Paris of South America.” Argentina was once one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and Buenos Aires enjoyed a reputation as one of the globe’s most elegant hotspots. Before Peronism, Buenos Aires had a place among the top fashion capitals of the world, alongside Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, and New York. But Argentina’s capital city lost its foothold on that list many years ago due to bad politics, protectionist trade measures, and limits on imports and exports. Last year, President Macri’s administration reversed many of these business-unfriendly policies, and now trade is coming back, tourism levels are at an all-time high and growing, and significant import and export restrictions have been lifted. We believe there is now substantial opportunity in Argentina’s luxury goods market, and that there will be a renewed global interest in Argentinian luxury goods, specifically those from Buenos Aires.

 

As discussed below, if we are to achieve scale, our thinking is to shift well beyond our branded wines and hospitality sectors. And to do that, we have launched two new initiatives: the creation of “Algodon – Buenos Aires” branded products and providing access to other luxury Argentinian products via a new global e-commerce platform. We believe the potential for economic scale which these initiatives present can be significant.

 

We have identified and begun working on a number of programs and initiatives which we believe will lead to better financial results derived from increased revenues while also leveraging our brand to achieve a new level of scale.

 

Here is where it gets exciting:

 

  1. U.S. wine sales: Algodon Fine Wines will soon be available for sale online at Sherry-Lehmann.com (which ships to 39 states), and at Sherry-Lehmann’s iconic retail store in New York City. To help get the word out in the NY metro area, Time Warner Cable (“Spectrum”) Television’s local program “A Taste of New York” featured a 5 minute segment featuring Algodon Fine Wines, which was aired weekly for four weeks (a total of 20 minutes of air time). A Taste of New York has a potential local audience of 3.5 million weekly. Sherry-Lehmann also recently announced that they will soon enter the California market with a retail store slated to open in early 2017 in the greater Los Angeles area, where we hope to also be represented. Our importer’s goal is to have our wines in the major wine-drinking markets in the U.S. including CA, TX, IL and others. The potential for scale here is significant.
     
  2. Algodon Group will leverage Sotheby’s International Realty brand and network with more than 18,000 sales associates located in 825 offices in 61 countries and territories worldwide, while utilizing the local expertise of Sotheby’s International Realty recent local partnership to form Ginevra Sotheby’s International Realty, a leading luxury real estate firm in Buenos Aires and the rest of the country. Through Ginevra Sotheby’s International Realty’s website (ginevrasir.com), Algodon Wine Estates listings will be marketed on sothebysrealty.com to a global clientele.

 

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  3. Algodon Group’s internal sales team is creating a hardline marketing campaign focusing on Google Ads to generate additional real estate interest and leads.
     
  4. We anticipate that we will soon be authorized to issue deeds for lots already sold (several of which have homes built on them already) at Algodon Wine Estates. This will finally enable us to recognize the income from these sales on our financial statements, as well as from future sales on these deeded lots.
     
  5. We own Algodon Wine Estates outright – no leverage, so potential buyers can turn to us for any needed financing, rather than from a bank or a mortgage company. By offering “owner financing” options, we have created a new “interest income” revenue stream which can become substantial over time, and also makes purchasing at Algodon Wine Estates easier and a more attractive opportunity for potential buyers.
     
  6. As the number of sold lots at Algodon Wine Estates increases, the amount of monthly maintenance fees that we receive continues to grow, and these revenues help offset the expenses we incur in continuing to build out the infrastructure of this large property.
     
  7. If the Company is successful in an uplisting to NASDAQ or the NYSE MKT, we believe we will be positioned to utilize the Company’s stock as “currency” in a sort of “roll-up strategy” to acquire other companies that fall squarely within or complement the Company’s existing and planned lines of business. For example, we might seek to acquire businesses that offer luxury products and experiential hospitality experiences the quality of which is consistent with the Algodon brand.

 

Here is where it gets more exciting:

 

  8. Leveraging the Algodon brand, and building on the renewed global interest in all kinds of products from Argentina, we are now developing a new luxury product category to include perfumes and colognes to be marketed as luxury items from Buenos Aires. Our first product will be a perfume called Oro Blanco (“ White Gold ”) by Algodon - Buenos Aires, and more products are in development. We see the potential for scale here as Buenos Aires reasserts its position as the “Paris of South America” and as one of the fashion capital cities of the world, as it was in Argentina’s glory days.

 

Here is a potential game-changer:

 

  9. We have begun developing a U.S.-based e-commerce portal and flash sale website, dubbed “Project ARLUX,” which will offer the very best of Argentina: high end products and brands that reflect the quality and craftsmanship of a bygone era but which still flourishes in Argentina. From leather goods such as shoes, boots, jackets and wallets, to cutlery, to high-end fashion, jewelry and other accessories and precious metal goods, to fragrances, to wine & spirits, the opportunity we see is broad and deep. We believe the potential for scale here is particularly significant as Argentina is poised to make a noteworthy re-entry to international trade. Currently, one of the few ways to buy Argentina goods is to travel there and buy local. We want to change that, and in a favorable economic and political climate, we seek to be in the forefront of opening Argentina’s luxury market to the millions of potential customers around the globe interested in luxury items and experiences from Argentina. And of course, Algodon’s branded products – the wine resort, the boutique hotel, the premium wines, and more, will be well represented on this e-commerce platform.

 

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As we focus our business efforts on these undertakings, we also seek to uplist our stock to a national exchange, and to do that we seek to boost our shareholder equity, which is one of the important criteria for uplisting. In combination, we hope we will be positioned to achieve our primary current goals, trade on a national exchange and dramatically scale our product offerings as we grow our customer base and increase our revenues.

 

We would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support, which has enabled Algodon to become an emerging brand known for luxury and prestige. From our premium wines, luxury accommodations and real estate development projects, we believe Algodon has earned its place as a reputable and emerging member of the global luxury community. We are more enthusiastic than ever, and though still a small company, our reputation is growing, and we believe there are significant opportunities ahead.

 

Thank you,

 

Scott L. Mathis

Founder and CEO

 

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Important Disclosures

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The information discussed in this Shareholder Letter of Algodon Wines & Luxury Development Group, Inc. (the “Company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements about the Company’s pursuit of strategic partnerships, planned capital expenditures, future cash flows, anticipated product offerings, sales objectives, financial position, outlook for opportunities in the Argentinian wine futures markets, expectations regarding capital raises and listing on the NYSE MKT, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “may,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “achievable,” “anticipate,” “will,” “continue,” “potential,” “should,” “could,” and similar terms and phrases. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, among others:

 

  Our capital requirements and the uncertainty of being able to obtain additional funding on terms acceptable to us;
  The volatile and unstable nature of the Argentinian economy and the resulting impact on our products;
  The frequent and occasionally extensive intervention by the Argentinian government in its economy, including price controls, foreign currency restrictions, and efforts to nationalize businesses;
  The effect of further sales or issuances of our common stock and the lack of public trading market for our common stock, of which there can be no assurance that a trading market will ever develop or be sufficiently liquid for an investor to sell his or her shares;
  The potential impact of complex and comprehensive statutory and regulatory requirements in the securities and futures markets;
  Construction delays and cost over runs resulting in a delay of our ability to complete and sell our real estate properties;
  Our history of significant losses and working capital deficits; and
  Our ability to retain key members of our senior management and key technical employees.

 

Finally, our future results will depend upon various other risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those detailed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this section and our annual report. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise.

 

Not an Offer of Securities

 

This Shareholder Letter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer or invitation to sell any securities. This Shareholder Letter is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision.

 

Third-Party Website Links

 

This Shareholder Letter may contain links to third party websites. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by the Company of the contents on such third-party websites. The Company is not responsible for the content of linked third-party sites and does not make any representations regarding the content or accuracy of materials on such third-party websites.

 

SEC Reports

 

The Company files annual reports (on Form 10-K) and quarterly reports (on Form 10-Q) with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings provide important information about the Company and our financial results. We urge you to review these documents which are available to the public from the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=Algodon+Wines&owner=exclude&action=getcompany.

 

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