UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
  For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018
   
[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ______________ to _________________

 

Commission File No.: 001-38182

 

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   20-3937596
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390

Portland, Oregon 97214

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Issuer’s telephone number: (971) 888-4264

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]   Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [   ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company [X]
Emerging growth company [  ]    

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

 

As of August 13, 2018, 6,414,235 shares of our common stock, $0.0001 par value, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 
 

 

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

June 30, 2018

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
PART I— FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) 3
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 3
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 4
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 5
  Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 27
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 34
Item 4 Controls and Procedures 34
     
PART II— OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1 Legal Proceedings 34
Item 1A Risk Factors 34
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 34
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 35
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 35
Item 5. Other Information 35
Item 6. Exhibits 35
     
SIGNATURES 36

 

2
 

 

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1 –FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

 

    June 30, 2018     December 31, 2017  
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 2,352,658     $ 2,586,315  
Trade receivables     580,978       315,321  
Inventories     7,891,154       4,051,282  
Prepaid expenses and current assets     637,298       649,749  
Total current assets     11,462,088       7,602,667  
Property and equipment, net     1,312,043       728,506  
Intangible assets, net     310,778       325,668  
Goodwill     28,182       28,182  
Other assets, net     407,571       343,942  
Total Assets   $ 13,520,662     $ 9,028,965  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 720,583     $ 1,267,189  
Accrued liabilities     334,663       156,163  
Deferred revenue     986       1,579  
Current portion of notes payable     437,539       293,726  
Total current liabilities     1,493,771       1,718,657  
Secured credit facility, net of debt issuance costs     1,957,432       -  
Notes payable - less current portion and debt discount     5,205,693       2,161,760  
Total liabilities     8,656,896       3,880,417  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)                
                 
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:                
Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 3,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017     -       -  
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 5,225,775 and 4,889,745 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively     522       489  
Additional paid-in capital     25,865,248       23,223,435  
Common stock payable     298,522       -  
Accumulated deficit     (21,316,007 )     (18,090,961 )
Total Eastside Distilling, Inc. Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity     4,848,285       5,132,963  
Noncontrolling interests     15,481       15,585  
Total Stockholders’ Equity     4,863,766       5,148,548  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity   $ 13,520,662     $ 9,028,965  

 

3
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

 

    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30, 2018     June 30, 2017     June 30, 2018     June 30, 2017  
Sales   $ 1,675,067     $ 883,522     $ 3,088,249     $ 1,713,191  
Less excise taxes, customer programs and incentives     150,380       278,492       343,229       495,680  
Net sales     1,524,687       605,030       2,745,020       1,217,511  
Cost of sales     763,768       394,625       1,391,291       717,538  
Gross profit     760,919       210,405       1,353,729       499,973  
Operating expenses:                                
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses     1,066,847       549,865       1,709,824       935,997  
General and administrative expenses     1,495,486       848,472       2,707,998       1,574,868  
Loss on disposal of property and equipment     -       5,441       -       40,975  
Total operating expenses     2,562,333       1,403,778       4,417,822       2,551,840  
Loss from operations     (1,801,414 )     (1,193,373 )     (3,064,093 )     (2,051,867 )
Other income (expense), net                                
Interest expense     (107,015 )     (95,753 )     (163,653 )     (143,562 )
Other income (expense)     2,500       -       2,700       4,485  
Total other expense, net     (104,515 )     (95,753 )     (160,953 )     (139,077 )
Loss before income taxes     (1,905,929 )     (1,289,126 )     (3,225,046 )     (2,190,944 )
Provision for income taxes     -       -       -       -  
Net loss   $ (1,905,929 )   $ (1,289,126 )   $ (3,225,046 )   $ (2,190,944 )
                                 
Dividends on convertible preferred stock     -       -       -       5,037  
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests     (696 )     (1,475 )     (103 )     (1,475 )
                                 
Net loss attributable to Eastside Distilling, Inc. common shareholders   $ (1,906,625 )   $ (1,287,651 )   $ (3,225,149 )   $ (2,194,506 )
                                 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.64 )   $ (0.75 )
                                 
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding     5,194,538       3,253,246       5,058,293       2,935,551  

 

4
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

 

    2018     2017  
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:                
Net loss   $ (3,225,046 )   $ (2,190,944 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     158,945       30,044  
Loss on disposal of property and equipment     -       40,975  
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount     50,305       52,657  
Issuance of common stock in exchange for services     196,078       339,720  
Stock-based compensation     651,280       279,322  
                 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Trade receivables     (265,657 )     104,417  
Inventories     (3,839,872 )     (512,579 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets     (190,674 )     (201,008 )
Accounts payable     (546,616 )     (74,236 )
Accrued liabilities     200,355       (619,329 )
Deferred revenue     (593 )     (994 )
Net cash used in operating activities     (6,811,495 )     (2,751,955 )
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:                
Cash acquired in acquisition     -       4,541  
Purchases of property and equipment     (697,056 )     (152,532 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (697,056 )     (147,991 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:                
Stock issuance cost related to acquisitions     -       (19,980 )
Stock issuance costs related to common shares issued for preferred conversion     -       (15,000 )
Proceeds from common stock, net of issuance costs of $6,033, with detachable warrants     -       1,612,467  
Proceeds from option exercise     9,689       -  
Proceeds from warrant exercise     1,542,211       159,250  
Proceeds from warrant exercise, shares not yet issued     298,522       -  
                 
Payments of principal on notes payable     (160,528 )     (27,612 )
Proceeds from convertible notes payable, net of issuance costs     3,630,000       1,400,000  
Proceeds from secured credit facility, net of issuance costs     1,955,000       -  
Net cash provided by financing activities     7,274,894       3,109,125  
Net (decrease) increase in cash     (233,657 )     209,179  
Cash - beginning of period     2,586,315       1,088,066  
Cash - end of period   $ 2,352,658     $ 1,297,245  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information                
Cash paid during the year for interest   $ 74,426     $ 81,529  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Financing Activity                
Issuance of debt discount   $ 351,348     $ -  
Issuance of common stock for the acquisition of MotherLode Craft Distillery, LLC   $ -     $ 377,000  
Issuance of common stock for the acquisition of Big Bottom Distilling, LLC   $ -     $ 134,858  
Issuance of common stock in exchange for services recorded as other assets   $ -     $ 145,000  
Common stock issued in exchange of notes payable   $ -     $ 87,500  
Note payable issued in exchange of accounts payable   $ -     $ 60,000  

 

5
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

1. Description of Business

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. (referred to herein as “Eastside,” “EAST,” “the Company,” “us,” or “we”) is an Oregon-based producer and marketer of craft spirits, founded in 2008. Our products span several alcoholic beverage categories, including bourbon, American whiskey, vodka, gin and rum. Unlike other distillers, we operate several retail tasting rooms in Oregon to market our brands directly to consumers. Our strategy for growth is to build on our local base in the Pacific Northwest and expand selectively to other markets, using major spirits distributors. In December 2016, we retained Sandstrom Partners, an internationally-known spirit branding firm that branded St-Germain and Bulleit Bourbon, to guide our marketing strategy and branding. Sandstrom Partners subsequently became an investor in our company. During 2017, with the assistance of Sandstrom Partners and using our in-house spirits expertise, we created Redneck Riviera Whiskey (“RRW”) in collaboration with country music superstar John Rich, of the duo “Big & Rich.” Supported by John Rich’s marketing efforts, we launched RRW in the Southeastern and Gulf States primarily through Republic National Distributing Company (“RNDC”). We believe that RRW will achieve commercial success on a broad scale, and we have therefore focused our sales efforts on RRW outside Oregon. We believe RRW will be a key growth engine in 2018 and will also provide a “coattail” effect for our other brands, helping them to achieve improved national recognition and success.

 

Operating as a small business in a large, international spirits marketplace occupied by massive conglomerates, we seek to turn our small size from a disadvantage into an advantage. As the success of our RRW launch and Sandstrom Partners collaboration demonstrate, our team can leverage its smaller size to launch new brands more quickly than larger conglomerates because we are able to dedicate more of our attention and resources to developing innovative products. We believe that the dominance of Canadian whiskeys in the light-whiskey segment is vulnerable to a light whiskey that is 100% American, and we are exploiting that vulnerability with RRW, a product that went from idea, to celebrity collaboration, to design and formulation, to market roll-out in less than nine months. We are innovative in targeting emerging trends with our products; for example, we developed our Hue-Hue Coffee Rum with cold brew coffee and low sugar, as well as our gluten-free potato vodka. We seek to be both a leader in creating spirits that offer better value than comparable spirits (for example, our value-priced Portland Potato Vodka), and an innovator in creating imaginative spirits that offer a unique taste experience, like our Hue-Hue Coffee Rum, Oregon oak-aged whiskeys and Marionberry Whiskey.

 

As a Nasdaq-traded company, we have access to public capital markets to support our growth initiatives, including strategic acquisitions. In May 2017, we used our shares to acquire 90% of Big Bottom Distillery (“BBD”), known for its award-winning, super-premium gins and whiskeys, including The Ninety One Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Oregon Gin, Delta Rye and American Single Malt Whiskey. BBD’s super-premium spirits give us a presence at the “high end” of the market. In addition, through MotherLode Craft Distillery (“MotherLode”), our wholly-owned subsidiary acquired in March 2017, we also provide contract bottling and packaging services for existing and emerging spirits producers, some of whom contract with us to blend or distill spirits. During 2018, we have begun to use our “slim line” canning equipment, newly installed at MotherLode, to profit from an emerging consumer interest in canned wine. We believe our location close to vineyards in Oregon and Washington is a competitive advantage.

 

We currently sell our products in 37 states (Oregon, Washington, California, Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming) as well as the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada. The Company also generates revenue from tastings, tasting room tours, private parties, and merchandise sales from its retail tasting rooms in Oregon. The Company is subject to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

 

6
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

2. Liquidity

 

Historically, the Company has funded its cash and liquidity needs through the issuance of notes, convertible notes, extended credit terms and the sale of equity. The Company has incurred a net loss of $3,225,046 and has an accumulated deficit of $21,316,007 for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The Company has been dependent on raising capital from debt and equity financings to fund its operating activities. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company raised $7,274,894 in proceeds from financing activities.

 

At June 30, 2018, the Company had $2,352,658 of cash on hand with a positive working capital of $9,968,317. The Company’s ability to meet its ongoing operating cash needs is dependent on generating positive operating cash flow, primarily through increased sales, improved profit growth and controlling expenses. Management has taken actions to improve profitability, by managing expenses while increasing sales. In addition, through August 13, 2018, the Company raised an additional $5,761,090 in cash through a debt offering and the exercise of previously issued warrants (see Note 15, Subsequent Events). Management believes that cash on hand and proceeds generated from the most recent financings, along with revenue that the Company expects to generate from operations, will be sufficient to meet the Company’s cash needs over the next twelve months.

 

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and with instructions for Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all disclosures necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. In our opinion, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all material adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our financial position as of June 30, 2018, our operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Eastside Distilling, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MotherLode (beginning as of March 8, 2017), and majority-owned subsidiary, BBD (beginning as of May 1, 2017). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company determined its operating segment on the same basis that it uses to evaluate its performance internally. The Company has one business activity, producing, marketing and distributing hand-crafted spirits, and operates as one segment. The Company’s chief operating decision makers, its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, review the Company’s operating results on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires 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. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

7
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Net revenue includes product sales, less excise taxes and customer programs and incentives. The Company recognizes revenue by applying the following steps in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers : (i) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. .

 

The Company recognizes sales when merchandise is shipped from a warehouse directly to wholesale customers (except in the case of a consignment sale). For consignment sales, which include sales to the OLCC, the Company recognizes sales upon the consignee’s shipment to the customer. Postage and handling charges billed to customers are also recognized as sales upon shipment of the related merchandise. Shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point, and title passes to the customer at the time and place of shipment or purchase by customers at a retail location. For consignment sales, title passes to the consignee concurrent with the consignee’s shipment to the customer. The customer has no cancellation privileges after shipment or upon purchase at retail locations, other than customary rights of return. The Company excludes sales tax collected and remitted to various states from sales and cost of sales. Sales from items sold through the Company’s retail locations are recognized at the time of sale.

 

Revenue received from online merchants who sell discounted gift certificates for the Company’s merchandise and tastings is deferred until the customer has redeemed the discounted gift certificate or the gift certificate has expired, whichever occurs earlier.

 

Customer Programs and Incentives

 

Customer programs and incentives, which include customer promotional discount programs, customer incentives and other payments, are a common practice in the alcohol beverage industry. The Company makes these payments to customers and incurs these costs to promote sales of products and to maintain competitive pricing. Amounts paid in connection with customer programs and incentives are recorded as reductions to net sales or as advertising, promotional and selling expenses ASCbased on the nature of the expenditure. Amounts paid to customers totaled $105,591 and $79,837 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Advertising, Promotional and Selling Expenses

 

The following expenses are included in advertising, promotions and selling expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations: media advertising costs, special event costs, tasting room costs, sales and marketing expenses, salary and benefit expenses, travel and entertainment expenses for the sales, brand and sales support workforce and promotional activity expenses. Advertising, promotional and selling costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising, promotional and selling expense was $1,709,824 and $935,997 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, manufacturing labor and overhead, warehousing rent, packaging, and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by packaging and production costs.

 

Shipping and Fulfillment Costs

 

Freight costs incurred related to shipment of merchandise from the Company’s distribution facilities to customers are recorded in cost of sales.

 

8
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash equivalents are considered to be highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of the purchase. The Company had no cash equivalents at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Concentrations

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of trade receivables. At June 30, 2018, four customers represented 70% of trade receivables, and at December 31, 2017, two customers represented 79% of trade receivables. Sales to two customers accounted for approximately 46% of net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

GAAP defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. GAAP permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value and contains financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities for which the fair value option is elected. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, management has not elected to report any of the Company’s assets or liabilities at fair value under the “fair value option” provided by GAAP.

 

The hierarchy of fair value valuation techniques under GAAP provides for three levels: Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3, if applicable, generally would require significant management judgment. The three levels for categorizing assets and liabilities under GAAP’s fair value measurement requirements are as follows:

 

  Level 1: Fair value of the asset or liability is determined using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 2: Fair value of the asset or liability is determined using inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the applicable asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar (as opposed to identical) assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
     
  Level 3: Fair value of the asset or liability is determined using unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement and reflect management’s own assumptions regarding the applicable asset or liability.

 

None of the Company’s assets or liabilities were measured at fair value at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. However, GAAP requires the disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments that are not measured at fair value. Financial instruments consist principally of trade receivables, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, notes payable, and convertible notes payable. The estimated fair value of trade receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximates their carrying value due to the short period of time to their maturities. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s notes payable, convertible notes payable and secured credit facility balances outstanding are at fixed rates and their carrying value approximates fair value.

 

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

Certain assets and liabilities acquired in a business acquisition are valued at fair value at the date of acquisition.

 

9
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Inventories

 

Inventories primarily consist of bulk and bottled liquor and merchandise and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using an average costing methodology, which approximates cost under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. A portion of inventory is held by certain independent distributors on consignment until it is sold to a third party. The Company regularly monitors inventory quantities on hand and records write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based primarily on the Company’s estimated forecast of product demand and production requirements. Such write-downs establish a new cost basis of accounting for the related inventory. The Company has recorded no write-downs of inventory for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from three to seven years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the life of the lease or the useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter. The cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of property and equipment sold or otherwise disposed of are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reported as current period income or expense. The costs of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

 

Intangible Assets / Goodwill

 

The Company accounts for long-lived assets, including property and equipment, at amortized cost. Management reviews long-lived assets for probable impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If there is an indication of impairment, management would prepare an estimate of future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If these estimated cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss would be recognized to write down the asset to its estimated fair value. At December 31, 2017, an impairment loss of $218,374 was recognized related to its acquisition of Big Bottom Distillery, LLC. At June 30, 2018, no additional impairment loss was recognized.

 

Long-lived Assets

 

The Company accounts for long-lived assets, including property and equipment, at amortized cost. Management reviews long-lived assets for probable impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If there is an indication of impairment, management would prepare an estimate of future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If these estimated cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss would be recognized to write down the asset to its estimated fair value.

 

Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes is based on income and expenses as reported for financial statement purposes using the “asset and liability method” for accounting for deferred taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company established valuation allowances against its net deferred tax assets.

 

10
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Income tax positions that meet the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold are measured at the largest amount of income tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with income tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above would be reflected as a liability for unrecognized income tax benefits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized income tax benefits would be classified as additional income taxes in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. There were no unrecognized income tax benefits, nor any interest and penalties associated with unrecognized income tax benefits, accrued or expensed at and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

The Company files federal income tax returns in the U.S. and various state income tax returns. The Company is no longer subject to examinations by the related tax authorities for the Company’s U.S. federal and state income tax returns for years prior to 2012.

 

Comprehensive Income

 

The Company does not have any reconciling other comprehensive income items for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

Excise Taxes

 

The Company is responsible for compliance with the TTB regulations, which includes making timely and accurate excise tax payments. The Company is subject to periodic compliance audits by the TTB. Individual states also impose excise taxes on alcohol beverages in varying amounts. The Company calculates its excise tax expense based upon units produced and on its understanding of the applicable excise tax laws. Excise taxes totaled $237,638 and $415,843 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company recognizes as compensation expense all stock-based awards issued to employees. The compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the related stock-based awards and is recognized over the service period of stock-based awards, which is generally the same as the vesting period. The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which estimates the fair value of each award on the date of grant based on a variety of assumptions including expected stock price volatility, expected terms of the awards, risk-free interest rate, and dividend rates, if applicable. Stock-based awards issued to nonemployees are recorded at fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic market adjustments at the end of each reporting period and as the underlying stock-based awards vest. Stock-based compensation was $847,358 and $619,042 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Accounts Receivable Factoring Program

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2017, we terminated our previous receivable factoring program. Under the prior program, we had the option to sell certain customer account receivables in advance of payment for 75% of the amount due. When the customer remitted payment, we would receive the remaining 25%. We were charged interest on the advanced 75% payment at a rate of 1.5% per month. Under the terms of the agreement with the factoring provider, any factored invoices had recourse should the customer fail to pay the invoice. Thus, we recorded factored amounts as a liability until the customer remitted payment and we received the remaining 25% of the non-factored amount. We did not factor any invoices and did not incur any fees associated with the factoring program during the six months ended June 30, 2018. At June 30, 2018 and 2017, we had no factored invoices outstanding. We incurred fees associated with the factoring program of $63,238 during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

11
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date:

 

  - A lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and
     
  - A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.

 

Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”) . The new lease guidance simplified the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees will no longer be provided with a source of off-balance sheet financing. Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2019, for a calendar year entity). Early application is permitted for all public business entities upon issuance. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 which will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance. Under this update, an entity is required to recognize revenue upon transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the expected consideration received in exchange for those goods or services. As such, an entity will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. ASU 2014-09 is to be applied retrospectively either to each prior reporting period presented in the financial statements, or only to the most current reporting period presented in the financial statements with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Company will elect to apply the impact (if any) of applying ASU 2014-09 to the most current reporting period presented in the financial statements with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015-14”). ASU 2015-14 deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year, making it effective for the year beginning December 31, 2017, with early adoption permitted as of January 1, 2017. We adopted ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-09 had any material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

12
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

4. Business Acquisitions

 

During the fiscal year 2017, the Company completed the following acquisitions:

 

MotherLode Craft Distillery, LLC

 

On March 8, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of MotherLode Craft Distillery, LLC (“MotherLode”), a small Portland, Oregon-based provider of bottling services and production support to craft distilleries. The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include MotherLode’s results of operations. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, MotherLode’s results of operations are included from the acquisition date of March 8, 2017 through June 30, 2017. The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the final purchase accounting adjustments in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations”, whereby the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. MotherLode had approximately $375,000 in revenues (unaudited) in 2016.

 

13
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

The following allocation of the purchase price is as follows:

 

Consideration given:        
86,667 shares of common stock valued at $4.35 per share   $ 377,000  
Assets and liabilities acquired:        
Cash     7,062  
Inventory     103,488  
Property and equipment     46,250  
Intangible assets - customer list and license     376,431  
Goodwill     28,182  
Accounts payable     (5,180 )
Customer deposits     (179,233 )
    $ 377,000  

 

Intangible assets are recorded at estimated fair value, as determined by management based on available information. The fair value assigned to the customer list intangible asset was determined through the use of the income approach, specifically the relief from royalty and the multi-period excess earning methods. The major assumptions used in arriving at the estimated identifiable intangible asset value included management’s estimates of future cash flows, discounted at an appropriate rate of return which is based on the weighted average cost of capital for both the Company and other market participants, projected customer attrition rates, as well as applicable royalty rates for comparable assets. The useful lives for intangible assets were determined based upon the remaining useful economic lives of the tangible assets that are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to future cash flows. The customer relationships estimated useful life is seven years. The fair values assigned to the license intangible asset were determined through the use of the cost approach. The license has an indefinite life and will not be amortized.

 

Big Bottom Distillery, LLC

 

On May 1, 2017, the Company acquired 90% of the ownership of Big Bottom Distillery, LLC (“BBD”), a Hillsboro, Oregon-based distiller of super premium spirits. The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include BBD’s results of operations. The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the final purchase accounting adjustments in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations”, whereby the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. BBD had approximately $201,000 in revenues (unaudited) in 2016.

 

14
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

The following allocation of the purchase price is as follows:

 

Consideration given:        
28,096 shares of common stock valued at $4.80 per share for 90%   $ 134,858  
Noncontrolling interests     14,984  
Total value of acquisition   $ 149,842  
         
Assets and liabilities acquired:        
Cash (overdraft)   $ (2,521 )
Accounts receivable     6,224  
Inventory     129,922  
Property and equipment     22,717  
Intangible assets - license     25,000  
Goodwill     193,374  
Accrued liabilities     (52,841 )
Notes payable     (172,033 )
Total   $ 149,842  

 

Intangible assets are recorded at estimated fair value, as determined by management based on available information. The fair value assigned to the license intangible asset was determined through the use of the cost approach. The license has an indefinite life and will not be amortized. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized an impairment of $218,374 for the intangible asset – license and the goodwill originally recorded as part of the purchase price allocation for BBD.

 

5. Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

    June 30, 2018     December 31, 2017  
Raw materials   $ 6,827,487     $ 3,755,477  
Finished goods     1,063,667       295,805  
Total inventories   $ 7,891,154     $ 4,051,282  

 

6. Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consists of the following:

 

    June 30, 2018     December 31, 2017  
Furniture and fixtures   $ 934,866     $ 326,088  
Leasehold improvements     466,040       56,410  
Vehicles     49,483       49,483  
Construction in progress     51,315       372,667  
Total cost     1,501,704       804,648  
Less accumulated depreciation     (189,661 )     (76,142 )
Property and equipment - net   $ 1,312,043     $ 728,506  

 

15
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Purchases of property and equipment totaled $697,056 and $152,532 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $113,519 and $14,563 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

7. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

 

Intangible assets and goodwill at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consists of the following:

 

    June 30, 2018     December 31, 2017  
Permits and licenses   $ 25,000     $ 25,000  
Customer lists     351,432       351,432  
Goodwill     28,182       28,182  
Total intangible assets and goodwill     404,614       404,614  
Less accumulated amortization     (65,654 )     (50,764 )
Intangible assets and goodwill - net   $ 338,960     $ 353,850  

 

Amortization expense totaled $14,890 and $15,481 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

8. Other Assets

 

Other assets consist of the following:

 

    June 30, 2018     December 31, 2017  
Product branding   $ 285,000     $ 285,000  
Deposits     153,072       53,942  
Less accumulated amortization     (30,501 )     -  
Other assets   $ 407,571     $ 343,942  

 

As of June 30, 2018, the Company had $285,000 of capitalized costs related to services provided for the rebranding of its Burnside product line. This amount is being amortized over a seven-year life. Additionally, there was $130,000 in deposits for the branding services related to the future release of other product lines. The remaining deposits of $23,072 represent office and retail space lease deposits.

 

16
 

 

9. Notes Payable

 

Notes payable consists of the following:

 

    June 30, 2018     December 31, 2017  
Notes payable bearing interest at 8%. The notes have a 2-year maturity, are due on September 19, 2018 or June 30, 2019 and pay interest-only on a monthly basis.   $ 407,500     $ 407,500  
Note payable bearing interest at 2.74%. The note is payable in monthly principal plus interest payments of $100 through December 2019     1,705       2,306  
Note payable bearing interest at 4.00%. The note is payable in quarterly principal plus interest payments of $9,614 through March 2019.     28,344       56,341  
Convertible notes payable bearing interest at 4.00%. The notes principal plus accrued interest is due in full at various dates between April 3, 2020 – September 30, 2020. The notes have an automatic conversion feature upon the closing (or first in a series of closings) of the next equity financing in which the Company sells shares of its equity securities for an aggregate consideration of at least $4,000,000 at a purchase price of at least $7.50. The outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest on the notes will be automatically converted into equity securities at a price equal to 80% of the price paid per share by the investors in the next equity financing or $6.00, whichever is lower, provided, however, that in no event will the conversion price be less than $6.00. The note has a voluntary conversion feature where the investor may convert, in whole or in part, at any time at the conversion price of $6.00.     949,507       927,192  
Promissory notes payable bearing interest at 8.00%. The notes’ principal is due on June 30, 2019. Interest is paid monthly.     489,996       1,101,840  
Notes payable bearing interest at 5.00%. The notes’ principal, plus any accrued and unpaid interest is due May 1, 2021. Interest is paid monthly.     4,552,980       -  
Total notes payable     5,989,032       2,495,179  
Less current portion     (437,539 )     (293,726 )
Less debt discount for detachable warrant     (345,800 )     (39,693 )
Long-term portion of notes payable   $ 5,205,693     $ 2,161,760  

 

Maturities on notes payable as of June 30, 2018, are as follows:

 

Year ending December 31:

 

2018   $ 257,500  
2019     229,055  
2020     949,507  
2021     4,552,970  
Thereafter     -  
    $ 5,989,032  

 

10. Secured Credit Facility

 

On May 10, 2018, Eastside Distilling, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a credit and security agreement (the “Credit and Security Agreement”), by and between the Company and The KFK Children’s Trust, Jeffrey Anderson – Trustee (the “Lender”). Pursuant to the Credit and Security Agreement, the Lender will make loans to the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,000,000 (the “Loans”). The proceeds of the Loans are to be used by the Company to purchase bulk whiskey, bourbon and rye inventory for use in distilling and producing its spirits products, and for no other purpose.

 

The Loans have an annual interest rate of 7.00%. The Company will pay accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, for the period commencing on the date each such Loan is made, and continuing until each such Loan is paid in full. The Company will pay the outstanding principal amount of the Loans: (i) in a one-time payment on the termination date of the Credit and Security Agreement, which shall take place 37 months from the effective date thereof, or earlier pursuant to other provisions thereof; and (ii) the Company may prepay the Loans or any portion thereof at any time, and from time to time, without premium or penalty.

 

The current market value of the Company’s bulk whiskey, bourbon and rye inventories must be at least 120% of the outstanding Loan balance.

 

11. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases its corporate office, warehouse, kiosks, and tasting room space under operating lease agreements which expire at various dates through March 2021. Monthly lease payments range from $1,857 to $6,400 over the terms of the leases. For operating leases which contain fixed escalations in rental payments, the Company records the total rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between the expense computed on a straight-line basis and actual payments for rent represents deferred rent which is included within accrued liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Retail spaces under lease are subject to monthly percentage rent adjustments when gross sales exceed certain minimums.

 

17
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

At June 30, 2018, future minimum lease payments required under the operating leases are approximately as follows:

 

2018   $ 140,261  
2019     253,202  
2020     167,303  
2021     19,200  
2022     -  
Thereafter     -  
Total   $ 579,966  

 

Total rent expense was $183,278 and $145,844 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Legal Matters

 

We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings, however, we could be subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can, among other things, be time consuming and expensive to resolve, and divert management resources.

 

12. Net Loss per Common Share

 

Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without considering any dilutive items. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the potential number of any dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities consist of the incremental common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options and convertible notes. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive. There were no dilutive common shares at June 30, 2018 and 2017. The numerators and denominators used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share in 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

    Three months ended June 30,  
    2018     2017  
Net loss attributable to Eastside Distilling, Inc. common shareholders (numerator)   $ (1,906,625 )   $ (1,287,651 )
Weighted average shares (denominator)     5,194,538       3,253,246  
Basic and diluted net loss per common share   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.40 )

 

    Six months ended June 30,  
    2018     2017  
Net loss attributable to Eastside Distilling, Inc. common shareholders (numerator)   $ (3,225,149 )   $ (2,194,506 )
Weighted average shares (denominator)     5,058,293       2,935,551  
Basic and diluted net loss per common share   $ (0.64 )   $ (0.75 )

 

18
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

13. Stockholder’s Equity

 

 

    Common Stock     Paid-in     Stock     Accumulated     Total Stockholders’     Non-controlling interest in consolidated     Total  
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Payable     Deficit     Equity     Entities     Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2017     4,889,745     $ 489     $ 23,223,435     $ -     $ (18,090,961 )   $ 5,132,963     $ 15,585     $ 5,148,548  
                                                                 
Issuance of common stock from warrant exercise for cash     285,028       29       1,542,182       -       -       1,542,211       -       1,542,211  
Issuance of common stock for services by third parties     17,525       1       103,339       -       -       103,340       -       103,340  
Issuance of common stock for services by employees     31,629       3       236,440       -       -       236,443       -       236,443  
Issuance of detachable warrants on notes payable     -       -       351,548       -       -       351,548       -       351,548  
Stock option exercises     1,848       -       9,689       -       -       9,689       -       9,689  
Cash received for warrant exercises, not yet issued     -       -               298,522       -       -               298,522  
Stock-based compensation     -       -       398,615       -       -       398,615       -       398,615  
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests     -       -       -       -       -       -       (103 )     (103 )
Net loss attributable to common shareholders     -       -       -       -       (3,225,046 )     (3,225,046 )     -       (3,225,046 )
Balance, June 30, 2018     5,225,775     $ 522     $ 25,865,248     $ 298,522     $ (21,316,007 )   $ 4,848,285     $ 15,481     $ 4,863,766  

 

Reverse Stock Splits

 

All shares related and per share information in these financial statements has been adjusted to give effect to the 20-for-1 reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock, effected on October 18, 2016, and the 3-for-1 reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock, effected on June 15, 2017.

 

Issuance of Common Stock

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued 280,028 shares of common stock at $5.40 per share in connection with the exercise of warrants for cash proceeds of $1,512,151, and 5,000 shares of common stock at $6.00 per share in connection with the exercise of warrants for proceeds of $30,000. In addition, the Company received cash proceeds of $298,522 during the six months ended June 30, 2018 in connection with the exercise of warrants for shares of common stock that were issued in July 2018.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued 31,629 shares of common stock to directors and employees for stock-based compensation of $236,443. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $3.99 - $8.50 per share.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued 1,848 shares of common stock in connection with existing option exercises, at an average exercise price of $5.24.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued 17,525 shares of common stock to consultants in exchange for services. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with a range of $3.99 - $7.40 per share, for a total value of $87,118.

 

19
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

In December 2017, the Company issued 18,371 shares of common stock to directors and employees for stock-based compensation of $79,351. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $3.78 - $4.33 per share.

 

In December 2017, the Company issued 32,000 shares of common stock to a consultant in exchange for services, which were subject to a claw-back provision tied to specific performance. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, $4.54 per share.

 

In December 2017, the Company issued 14,384 shares of its common stock upon conversion of 8% convertible promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount converted of $52,500. No gain or loss recorded on the transactions.

 

In September 2017, the Company issued 14,760 shares of common stock to directors and employees for stock-based compensation of $56,221. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $3.78 - $4.38 per share.

 

In August 2017, the Company issued 83,334 shares of its common stock upon conversion of a 6% convertible promissory note with an aggregate principal amount converted of $500,000. No gain or loss recorded on the transactions.

 

In August 2017, the Company issued 5,209 shares of common stock to a third-party consultant in exchange for services rendered. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $3.40 - $3.50 per share.

 

In August 2017, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 1,200,000 units consisting of 1,200,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares of its common stock (each, a “Unit”) at a public offering price of $4.50 per Unit. The warrants have a per share exercise price of $5.40, are exercisable immediately, and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The gross proceeds to the Company from this offering were $5.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses. On August 24, 2017, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 180,000 Units to cover over-allotments, that resulted in additional gross proceeds to the Company of $810,000, before deducting offering expenses.

 

In June 2017, the Company issued 2,716 shares of common stock to employees for stock-based compensation of $15,943, all of which were fully vested upon issuance. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $4.38 - $6.00 per share.

 

In May 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of a majority stake in BBD. We issued 28,096 shares of common stock to the owners of BBD as consideration for 90% of the BBD LLC units. Based on the closing share price of our common stock of $4.80 on May 1, 2017, the value of the transaction was $134,858. Issuance costs incurred were $14,400.

 

In April 2017, the independent directors, Messrs. Trent Davis and Michael Fleming, respectively, each exercised 4,630 stock options to purchase common stock at $5.40 per share.

 

In April 2017, the Company issued 50,335 shares of common stock to three third-party consultants in exchange for services rendered. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $4.35 - $4.50 per share.

 

In April 2017, the Company approved a restricted stock unit grant of 33,334 shares of common stock to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Grover Wickersham. The grant vested on April 5, 2017, of which 10,218 shares were withheld in order to satisfy Mr. Wickersham’s personal tax withholding responsibility. The shares were valued using the $4.80 closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

20
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

In April 2017, the Company issued 16,667 shares of its common stock upon conversion of 50 shares of preferred stock.

 

In March 2017, the Company issued 83,334 shares of its common stock upon conversion of 250 shares of preferred stock.

 

In March 2017, the Company issued 22,436 shares of its common stock upon conversion of 8% convertible promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount converted of $87,500. No gain or loss recorded on the transactions.

 

On March 8, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of MotherLode. We issued 86,667 shares of common stock to the owners of MotherLode as consideration for the acquisition. Based on the closing share price of our common stock of $4.35 on March 8, 2017, the value of the transaction was $377,000. Issuance costs incurred were $5,580.

 

In March 2017, the Company issued 575 shares of common stock to employees for stock-based compensation of $2,517. The shares were valued using the $4.38 closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

In March 2017, the Company issued 19,796 shares of common stock to four third-party consultants in exchange for services rendered. The shares were valued using the closing share price of our common stock on the date of grant, with the range of $3.90 - $4.35 per share.

 

From March 31, 2017 to June 2, 2017, the Company issued 400,019 shares of its common stock for aggregate cash proceeds of $1,560,000, including 400,019 warrants for common stock.

 

From January 15, 2017 through February 16, 2017, the Company received warrant exercises and common stock subscriptions for 40,834 shares for aggregate cash proceeds of $159,250.

 

From January 4, 2017 to January 22, 2017, the Company sold 15,001 shares of common stock to accredited investors at a price of $3.90 per share for aggregate cash proceeds of $58,500.

 

21
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock

 

Each share of Series A Preferred has a stated value of $1,000, which is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a fixed conversion price equal to $4.50 per share. The Series A Preferred accrue dividends at a rate of 8% per annum, cumulative. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears at the Company’s option either in cash or “in kind” in shares of common stock; provided, however that dividends may only be paid in cash following the fiscal year in which the Company has net income (as shown in its audited financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year) of at least $500,000, to the extent permitted under applicable law out of funds legally available therefore. For “in-kind” dividends, holders will receive that number of shares of common stock equal to (i) the amount of the dividend payment due such stockholder divided by (ii) 90% of the average of the per share market values during the twenty (20) trading days immediately preceding a dividend date.

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or sale of the Company, each holder of Series A Preferred is entitled to receive its pro rata portion of an aggregate payment equal to: (i) $1,000 multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Series A Preferred issued under the Series A Certificate of Designation multiplied by (iii) 2.5.

 

For all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders, the holders of the Series A Preferred as a class have an aggregate number of votes equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole number) into which the total shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued under the Series A Certificate of Designation on such date of determination are convertible multiplied by (y) 2.5 (the “Total Series A Votes”), with each holder of Series A Preferred entitled to vote its pro rata portion of the Total Series A Votes. Holders of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights. In addition, the holders of Series A Preferred vote separately a class to change any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred.

 

As of June 30, 2018, the Company has zero shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

22
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

On September 8, 2016, the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”). The total number of shares available for the grant of either stock options or compensation stock under the 2016 Plan is 166,667 shares, subject to adjustment. On January 1, 2017, the number of shares available for grant under the 2016 Plan reset to 307,139 shares, equal to 8% of the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock, calculated on an as-converted basis, on December 31 of the preceding calendar year. On October 18, 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved amendments to the 2016 Plan to (i) increase the number of shares of the common stock that may be issued under the 2016 Plan (the “Aggregate Limit”) by an additional 192,861 shares of common stock, for a total of 500,000 shares of common stock, (ii) increase the number of shares of common stock that may be granted to any participant pursuant to options to purchase common stock and stock appreciation rights under the 2016 Plan in any one-year period (the “Individual Option Limit”) from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares, (iii) increase the number of shares of common stock that may be granted to any participant pursuant to other awards (the “Individual Award Limit”) under the 2016 Plan in any one-year period from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares and (iv) increase the number of shares of common stock that may be paid to any one participant under the 2016 Plan for a performance period pursuant to performance compensation awards under the 2016 Plan (the “Individual Performance Award Limit”) from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares, which amendments were adopted and approved at the December 2017 meeting of stockholders. The exercise price per share of each stock option will not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. On January 1, 2018, the number of shares available for grant under the 2016 Plan reset to 1,131,880 shares, equal to 8% of the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock, calculated on an as-converted basis, on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, added to the prior year plan amount. At June 30, 2018, there were 839,422 options and 164,693 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) issued under the 2016 Plan, with vesting schedules varying between immediate and five (5) years from the grant date.

 

On January 29, 2015, the Company adopted the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2015 Plan). The total number of shares available for the grant of either stock options or compensation stock under the 2015 Plan is 50,000 shares, subject to adjustment. The exercise price per share of each stock option will not be less than 20 percent of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. At June 30, 2018, there were 14,584 options issued under the Plan outstanding, which options vest at the rate of at least 25 percent in the first year, starting 6-months after the grant date, and 75% in year two.

 

The Company also issues, from time to time, options which are not registered under a formal option plan. At June 30, 2018, there were no options outstanding that were not issued under the Plans.

 

A summary of all stock option activity at and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 is presented below:

 

    # of Options     Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2017     369,006     $ 6.47  
Options granted     485,000     $ 4.60  
Options exercised     (1,848 )     5.24  
Options canceled     -          
Outstanding at June 30, 2018     852,158     $ 4.62  
                 
Exercisable at June 30, 2018     274,948     $ 6.07  

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at June 30, 2018 was $2,962,012.

 

At June 30, 2018, there were 579,042 unvested options with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1,566,646. The unvested options will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule in each respective option agreement, which varies between immediate and five (5) years from the grant date. The aggregate intrinsic value of unvested options at June 30, 2018 was $2,265,104. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, 76,500 options became vested.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to measure the grant-date fair value of stock options. The grant-date fair value of stock options issued to employees is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Stock-based awards issued to nonemployees are recorded at fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic market adjustments as the underlying stock-based awards vest. To determine the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model, the calculation takes into consideration the effect of the following:

 

23
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

  Exercise price of the option;
  Fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant;
  Expected term of the option;
  Expected volatility over the expected term of the option; and
  Risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option.

 

The calculation includes several assumptions that require management’s judgment. The expected term of the options is calculated using the simplified method described in GAAP. The simplified method defines the expected term as the average of the contractual term and the vesting period. Estimated volatility is derived from volatility calculated using historical closing prices of common shares of similar entities whose share prices are publicly available for the expected term of the options. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturities in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the options.

 

The following weighted-average assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes valuation model for options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2018:

 

Risk-free interest rate     2.44 %
Expected term (in years)     6.21  
Dividend yield     -  
Expected volatility     63 %

 

The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $2.57. The aggregate grant date fair value of the 480,000 options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $1,233,600.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, total stock option expense related to stock options was $398,615 and $279,322, respectively. At June 30, 2018, the total compensation cost related to stock options not yet recognized is approximately $1,572,611, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.67 years.

 

Warrants

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate of 455,298 common stock warrants in connection with the purchase of $4.55 million in promissory notes. $3.63 million was purchased with new cash proceeds and $922,980 was purchased from the conversion of prior existing notes. The Company has determined the warrants should be classified as equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018. The estimated fair value of the warrants at issuance was $1,776,646, based on a combination of closing market trading price on the date of issuance for the public offering warrants, and the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the weighted-average assumptions below:

 

Volatility     31 %
Risk-free interest rate     2.587 %
Expected term (in years)     4.2  
Expected dividend yield     -  
Fair value of common stock   $ 7.89  

 

A total of 285,028 warrants were exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2018 for cash proceeds of $1,542,211.

 

24
 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

A summary of activity in warrants is as follows:

 

    Warrants     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
                         
Outstanding at December 31, 2017     2,623,077       3.62 years     $ 5.96     $ 54,880  
                                 
Six months ended June 30, 2018:                                
Granted     455,298       4.5 years     $ 5.40     $ 1,411,424  
Exercised     (285,028 )     4.5 years     $ 5.41       -  
Forfeited and cancelled     -       -     $ -       -  
                                 
Outstanding at June 30, 2018     2,793,347       3.50 years     $ 5.92     $ 7,196,481  

 

14. Related Party Transactions

 

The following is a description of transactions since January 1, 2016 as to which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent (1%) of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years and in which any related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity, compensation, termination and other arrangements.

 

On June 2, 2017, Mr. Wickersham purchased 15,189 units at $3.90 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one three-year common stock purchase warrant exercisable at $7.50 per share (subject to adjustment), for total proceeds of $59,237 in cash.

 

On August 10, 2017, Mr. Wickersham and his affiliates purchased 55,555 units at $4.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one Public Warrant, for total proceeds of approximately $250,000 in cash.

 

25
 

 

On August 23, 2017, our Board appointed Jack Peterson to the Board to fill an existing vacancy on the Board effective immediately. Mr. Peterson is also the President of Sandstrom Partners. In late 2016, with the goal of increasing its brand value and accelerating sales, the Company retained Sandstrom and tasked them with reviewing the Company’s current product portfolio, as well as its new ideas, and advising it with respect to marketing, creation of brand awareness and product positioning, locally and nationally. The Company is using Sandstrom’s full range of brand development services, including research, strategy, brand identity, package design, environments, advertising as well as digital design and development. The Company paid $140,000 in cash, issued 33,334 shares of stock valued at $145,000 (at the time of issuance), and issued 42,000 warrants with an exercise price of $3.50 valued at $43,596 (using a Black-Scholes value at the time of issuance) to Sandstrom Partners in 2017 for services rendered by Sandstrom under its agreement with the Company. We have also issued an additional 10,025 shares valued at $40,000 (at the time of issuance) to Sandstrom in 2018.

 

On December 29, 2017, the Grover T. Wickersham Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan (“PSP”) purchased from us a promissory note bearing interest at the rate of 8% per annum (a “Promissory Note”) for aggregate consideration of $464,750. Interest is paid monthly. The note is due on June 30, 2019 or in the event the Company completes a private or public offering of its equity or debt securities in which the gross amount raised in such financing is at least $2.0 million (a “Future Financing”), all amount due under this Note shall become due and payable within five (5) business days of the final closing of such Future Financing. In lieu of receiving the cash repayment of amounts due under this Note in connection with a Future Financing, at the option of Payee, the principal amount due and payable may be used to purchase the securities offered in the Future Financing. The payee used a balance of $379,750 to purchase the Company’s new private offering of notes with warrants. The remaining principal balance of $85,000 was paid in April 2018. The new promissory notes bear interest at 8% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of the month. The entire amount of principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. In conjunction with this new offering, the Payee was issued 37,975 warrants, exercisable at $5.40 per share.

 

On December 29, 2017, the Grover T. and Jill Z. Wickersham 2000 Charitable Remainder Trust (the “Wickersham Trust”) purchased from us a promissory note bearing interest at the rate of 8% per annum (a “Promissory Note”) for aggregate consideration of $179,300. Interest is paid monthly. The note is due on June 30, 2019 or in the event the Company completes a private or public offering of its equity or debt securities in which the gross amount raised in such financing is at least $2.0 million (a “Future Financing”), all amount due under this Note shall become due and payable within five (5) business days of the final closing of such Future Financing. In lieu of receiving the cash repayment of amounts due under this Note in connection with a Future Financing, at the option of Payee, the principal amount due and payable may be used to purchase the securities offered in the Future Financing. During the first quarter of 2018, the payee used the balance to purchase the Company’s new private offering of notes with warrants. The new promissory notes bear interest at 8% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of the month. The entire amount of principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. In conjunction with this new offering, the Payee was issued 37,975 warrants, exercisable at $5.40 per share.

 

We believe that the foregoing transactions were in our best interests. Consistent with Section 78.140 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, it is our current policy that all transactions between us and our officers, directors and their affiliates will be entered into only if such transactions are approved by a majority of the disinterested directors, are approved by vote of the stockholders, or are fair to us as a corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board. We will continue to conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions and potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis. Our audit committee has the authority and responsibility to review, approve and oversee any transaction between the Company and any related person and any other potential conflict of interest situation on an ongoing basis, in accordance with Company policies and procedures in effect from time to time.

 

15. Subsequent Events

 

On July 10, 2018, the Company issued 4,792 shares of common stock in connection with employee option exercises.

 

Between July 2, 2018 and July 20, 2018, the Company raised an additional $447,020 under its private offering of promissory notes and accompanying warrants. The promissory notes bear interest at 5% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of the month. The entire amount of principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. For every $100,000 in principal, the Company issued to the investor 10,000 common stock purchase warrants, for a total of 88,000 warrants. The warrants, which are identical to the warrants that were issued in the Company’s public offering that was consummated in August 2017, are exercisable through August 10, 2022, unless earlier redeemed, at an exercise price of $5.40, subject to adjustment for stock splits, reverse splits and other similar recapitalization events. The Company has the option to redeem all or a part of the outstanding warrants at any time after the closing price of the Company’s common stock exceeds $7.65 for five consecutive trading days. In electing to redeem the warrants, the Company will provide 30 days’ notice of the redemption date, during which time the holders of outstanding warrants will have the opportunity to exercise their warrants at the exercise price then in effect. Any warrants remaining outstanding at the close of business on the 30th day of the notice period will be redeemed at a price of $0.15 per warrant, after which, the warrants will be cancelled.

 

Between July 2, 2018 and August 13, 2018, the Company received an aggregate of $5,314,070 upon exercise of a total of 984,087 common stock purchase warrants that were sold in the Company’s August 2017 public offering as well as the identical warrants that were sold in the private offering of promissory notes during 2018. As of August 13, 2018, there remains outstanding 535,885 warrants sold in the public offering, in addition to a remaining total of 80,000 identical warrants sold in the private placement noted above. We also issued 32,308 common shares associated with the exercise of common stock purchase warrants that were sold in a prior private offering.

 

Between July 2, 2018 and July 10, 2018, the Company issued 167,273 shares of common stock in connection with the conversion of $1,003,638 in convertible note principal and accrued interest.

 

On August 3, 2018 the Company announced that it is exercising its option to call for redemption of the common stock purchase warrants sold in the Company’s public unit offering in August 2017 and the warrants sold in the note offering between March and June 2018 (collectively, the “Common Stock Purchase Warrants”). Registered holders of the Common Stock Purchase Warrants will have until September 10, 2018 (the “Redemption Date”) to exercise each Common Stock Purchase Warrant for one share of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”), at $5.40 per share. The Company has also arranged a call of the warrants issued between July 2, 2018 and July 20, 2018 in connection with its private offering of promissory notes totaling $447,020, on the same terms and conditions.

 

26
 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes. This section of the Quarterly Report includes a number of 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, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words like: believe, expect, estimate, anticipate, intend, project, and similar expressions, or words which, by their nature, refer to future events. You should not place undue certainty on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause differences include, but are not limited to: customer acceptance risks for current and new brands; reliance on external sources on financing; development risks for new products and brands; dependence on wholesale distributors; inventory carrying issue;, fluctuations in market demand and customer preferences; as well as general conditions of the alcohol and beverage industry; and other factors discussed in Item 1A of Part I of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 entitled “Risk Factors,” similar discussions in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including this Form 10-Q, as applicable, and those contained from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Business Overview

 

We are an Oregon-based producer and marketer of craft spirits, founded in 2008. Our products span several alcoholic beverage categories, including bourbon, American whiskey, vodka, gin and rum. Unlike other distillers, we operate several retail tasting rooms in Oregon to market our brands directly to consumers. Our strategy for growth is to build on our local base in the Pacific Northwest and expand selectively to other markets, using major spirits distributors. In December 2016, we retained Sandstrom Partners, an internationally-known spirit branding firm that branded St-Germain and Bulleit Bourbon, to guide our marketing strategy and branding. Sandstrom Partners subsequently became an investor in our company. During 2017, with the assistance of Sandstrom Partners and using our in-house spirits expertise, we created Redneck Riviera Whiskey (“RRW”) in collaboration with country music superstar John Rich, of the duo “Big & Rich.” Supported by John Rich’s marketing efforts, we launched RRW in the Southeastern and Gulf States primarily through Republic National Distributing Company (“RNDC”). We believe that RRW will achieve commercial success on a broad scale, and we have therefore focused our sales efforts on RRW outside Oregon. We believe RRW will be a key growth engine in 2018 and will also provide a “coattail” effect for our other brands, helping them to achieve improved national recognition and success.

 

27
 

 

Operating as a small business in a large, international spirits marketplace occupied by massive conglomerates, we seek to turn our small size from a disadvantage into an advantage. As the success of our RRW launch and Sandstrom Partners collaboration demonstrate, our team can leverage its smaller size to launch new brands more quickly than larger conglomerates because we are able to dedicate more of our attention and resources to developing innovative products. We believe that the dominance of Canadian whiskeys in the light-whiskey segment is vulnerable to a light whiskey that is 100% American, and we are exploiting that vulnerability with RRW, a product that went from idea, to celebrity collaboration, to design and formulation, to market roll-out in less than nine months. We are innovative in targeting emerging trends with our products; for example, we developed our Hue-Hue Coffee Rum with cold brew coffee and low sugar, as well as our gluten-free potato vodka. We seek to be both a leader in creating spirits that offer better value than comparable spirits (for example, our value-priced Portland Potato Vodka), and an innovator in creating imaginative spirits that offer a unique taste experience, like our Hue-Hue Coffee Rum, Oregon oak-aged whiskeys and Marionberry Whiskey.

 

As a Nasdaq-traded company, we have access to public capital markets to support our growth initiatives, including strategic acquisitions. In May 2017, we used our shares to acquire 90% of Big Bottom Distillery (“BBD”), known for its award-winning, super-premium gins and whiskeys, including The Ninety One Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Oregon Gin, Delta Rye and American Single Malt Whiskey. BBD’s super-premium spirits give us a presence at the “high end” of the market. In addition, through MotherLode Craft Distillery (“MotherLode”), our wholly-owned subsidiary acquired in March 2017, we also provide contract bottling and packaging services for existing and emerging spirits producers, some of whom contract with us to blend or distill spirits. During 2018, we have begun to use our “slim line” canning equipment, newly installed at MotherLode, to profit from an emerging consumer interest in canned wine. We believe our location close to vineyards in Oregon and Washington is a competitive advantage.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

First half 2018 results benefitted from the impact of several key initiatives the Company started in 2017. Second quarter gross sales increased 90% over the prior year, and gross sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased 80% over the prior year primarily due to five key factors: 1) the newly launched RRW product, which experienced very strong sales with its initial market launch, 2) increased wholesale sales traction within the Pacific Northwest, especially with our vodka product as we strategically invested in programs to promote the vodka product, 3) the re-launch of our new Burnside Bourbon packaging, which began in late 2017, and its corresponding growth, 4) the acquisitions of MotherLode and BBD, and the expansion of our private label business with our new canning abilities; and 5) the addition of retail locations within Oregon.

 

In order to support our planned growth, we invested heavily in our infrastructure (facilities, people, and marketing programs) during 2017. We believe we are now well positioned from a capacity and infrastructure standpoint to leverage those investments made and thus experience improved performance throughout 2018.

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

Our sales for the three months ended June 30, 2018 increased to $1,675,067, or approximately 90%, from $883,522 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The following table compares our sales in the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2018           2017        
Wholesale   $ 829,738       50 %   $ 495,051       56 %
Private Label     577,259       34 %     75,813       9 %
Retail / Special Events     268,070       16 %     312,658       35 %
Total   $ 1,675,067       100 %   $ 883,522       100 %

 

The increase in sales in the three months ended June 30, 2018 is primarily attributable to: the newly launched RRW product, increased wholesale sales traction within the Pacific Northwest, our acquisitions of MotherLode and BBD and related expansion of our private label business and canning abilities, offset by a reduction in retail due to store relocations.

 

Excise taxes, customer programs and incentives for the three months ended June 30, 2018 decreased to $150,380, or approximately 46%, from $278,492 for the comparable 2017 period. The decrease is primarily attributable to the lower federal excise tax rates that went into effect this year, in addition to decreased Oregon excise taxes (from our retail operations), partially offset by higher customer programs during the period.

 

28
 

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2018, cost of sales increased to $763,768, or approximately 94%, from $394,625 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase is attributable to the costs associated with our increased liquor sales in the period as well as higher facilities costs.

 

Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, manufacturing labor and overhead, warehousing rent, packaging, and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by packaging and production costs. Gross margin is gross profits stated as a percentage of net sales.

 

The following table compares our gross profit and gross margin in the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2018     2017  
             
Gross profit   $ 760,919     $ 210,405  
Gross margin     50 %     35 %

 

Our gross margin of 50% of net sales in the three months ended June 30, 2018 increased from our gross margin of 35% for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to the combination of our new products which have higher margins than prior legacy products as well as the new, lower federal excise tax. While our goal is to ultimately improve our overall gross margin, it may fluctuate around the current level due to the impact of two key factors: product sales mix and the related customer programs and incentives, both of which are subject to seasonal fluctuations and the competitive environment.

 

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 increased to $1,066,847, or approximately 94%, from $549,865 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is primarily due to our efforts to expand our product sales both regionally in the Pacific Northwest as well as target national markets, particularly with the new RRW product launch.

 

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 increased to $1,495,486, or approximately 76%, from $848,472 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is primarily due to increased headcount and the associated compensation and benefits in addition to $254,548 higher stock-based compensation expense in 2018.

 

Total other expense, net was $104,515 for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $95,753 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of 9%. This increase was primarily due to higher interest expense on notes payable in 2018.

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders during the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $1,906,625 as compared to a loss of $1,287,651 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in our net loss was primarily attributable to our higher general and administrative expenses and advertising, promotional and selling expenses during 2018, partially offset by an increase in gross profit.

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

Our sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased to $3,088,249, or approximately 80%, from $1,713,191 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The following table compares our sales in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2018           2017        
Wholesale   $ 1,585,452       51 %   $ 928,756       54 %
Private Label     883,069       29 %     191,683       11 %
Retail / Special Events     619,728       20 %     592,752       35 %
Total   $ 3,088,249       100 %   $ 1,713,191       100 %

 

The increase in sales for the six months ended June 30, 2018 is primarily attributable to: the newly launched RRW product, increased wholesale sales traction within the Pacific Northwest, our acquisitions of MotherLode and BBD and related expansion of our private label business and canning abilities, and the addition of new and relocation of existing retail locations.

 

Excise taxes, customer programs and incentives for the six months ended June 30, 2018 decreased to $343,229, or approximately 31%, from $495,680 for the comparable 2017 period. The decrease is primarily attributable to the lower federal excise tax rates that went into effect this year, in addition to decreased Oregon excise taxes (from our retail operations), partially offset by higher customer programs during the period.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cost of sales increased to $1,391,291, or approximately 94%, from $717,538 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase is attributable to the costs associated with our increased liquor sales in the period as well as higher facilities costs.

 

Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, manufacturing labor and overhead, warehousing rent, packaging, and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by packaging and production costs. Gross margin is gross profits stated as a percentage of net sales.

 

The following table compares our gross profit and gross margin in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2018     2017  
             
Gross profit   $ 1,353,729     $ 499,973  
Gross margin     49 %     41 %

 

Our gross margin of 49% of net sales in the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased from our gross margin of 41% for the six months ended June 30, 2017, primarily due to the combination of our new products which have higher margins than prior legacy products as well as the new, lower federal excise tax. While our goal is ultimately to improve our overall gross margin, it may fluctuate around the current level due to the impact of two key factors: product sales mix and the related customer programs and incentives, both of which are subject to seasonal fluctuations and the competitive environment.

 

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased to $1,709,824, or approximately 83%, from $935,997 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is primarily due to our efforts to expand our product sales both regionally in the Pacific Northwest as well as target national markets, particularly with the new RRW product launch.

 

General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased to $2,707,998, or approximately 72%, from $1,574,868 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. This increase is primarily due to increased headcount and the associated compensation and benefits in addition to $228,316 higher stock-based compensation expense in 2018.

 

Total other expense, net was $160,953 for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $139,077 for the six months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of 16%. This increase was primarily due to higher interest expense on notes payable in 2018.

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders during the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $3,225,149 as compared to a loss of $2,194,506 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. The increase in our net loss was primarily attributable to our higher general and administrative expenses and advertising, promotional and selling expenses during 2018, partially offset by an increase in gross profit.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018

 

The Company’s primary capital requirements are for the financing of inventories, and cash used in operating activities. Funds for the Company’s cash and liquidity needs have historically been generated from short-term credit in the form of extended payment terms from suppliers as well as from convertible debt and equity financings rather than from operations.

 

29
 

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company incurred a net loss of approximately $3.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and has an accumulated deficit of approximately $21.3 million as of June 30, 2018. The Company has been dependent on raising capital from debt and equity financings to meet its needs for cash flow used in operating activities. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company raised approximately $7.3 million from financing activities to meet cash flows used in operating activities.

 

At June 30, 2018, the Company had approximately $2.4 million of cash on hand with a positive working capital of $10.0 million. The Company’s ability to meet its ongoing operating cash needs is dependent on generating positive operating cash flow, primarily through increased sales, improved profit growth and controlling expenses. Management has taken actions to improve profitability and increase sales. Management believes that cash on hand and proceeds generated from the most recent financings, along with revenue that the Company expects to generate from operations, will be sufficient to meet the Company’s cash needs over the next twelve months.

 

The Company’s cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2018     2017  
Net cash flows provided by (used in):                
Operating activities   $ (6,811,495 )   $ (2,751,955 )
Investing activities   $ (697,056 )   $ (147,991 )
Financing activities   $ 7,274,894     $ 3,109,125  

 

Operating Activities

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, our net loss plus non-cash adjustments used was approximately $2.2 million compared to using $1.5 million in 2017. The increase in cash usage can be primarily attributed to the larger net loss incurred in 2018 as compared to 2017. In addition, there was an increase of $3.8 million in inventory, a $0.3 million increase in trade receivables and a $0.5 million net reduction in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in 2018. In 2017, there was a $0.1 million increase in inventory and $0.3 million net reduction accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

 

Investing Activities

 

Cash used in investing activities consists primarily of purchases of property and equipment. Capital expenditures of $697,056 and $152,532 were incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Financing Activities

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company’s operating losses and working capital needs were primarily funded by $1.8 million in proceeds from warrant exercises, $3.6 million in proceeds from the issuance of promissory notes and $2.0 million in proceeds from a secured credit facility. Net cash flows provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily consisted of $1.6 million in proceeds from the sale of common stock and $1.4 million in proceeds from the issuance of promissory notes.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon its condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make significant estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These items are monitored and analyzed by management for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. Our critical accounting policies, summarized below, are highly dependent upon subjective or complex judgements, assumptions and estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from the Company’s estimates if past experience or other assumptions do not turn out to be substantially accurate.

 

30
 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Net sales includes product sales, less excise taxes, customer programs and incentives. we recognize revenue by applying the following steps in accordance with ASC 606 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers : (i) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. For the comparative periods, revenue has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under ASC 605 – Revenue Recognition , record revenue when all four of the following criteria are met: (i) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery of the products and/or services has occurred; (iii) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

 

We recognize sales when merchandise is shipped from a warehouse directly to wholesale customers (except in the case of a consignment sale). For consignment sales, which include sales to the OLCC, the Company recognizes sales upon the consignee’s shipment to the customer. Postage and handling charges billed to customers are also recognized as sales upon shipment of the related merchandise. Shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point, and title passes to the customer at the time and place of shipment or purchase by customers at a retail location. For consignment sales, title passes to the consignee concurrent with the consignee’s shipment to the customer. The customer has no cancellation privileges after shipment or upon purchase at retail locations, other than customary rights of return. We exclude sales tax collected and remitted to various states from sales and cost of sales. Sales from items sold through the Company’s retail location are recognized at the time of sale.

 

Sales received from online merchants who sell discounted gift certificates for our merchandise and tastings is deferred until the customer has redeemed the discounted gift certificate or the gift certificate has expired, whichever occurs earlier.

 

Customer Programs and Incentives

 

Customer programs and incentives, which include customer promotional discount programs, customer incentives and other payments, are a common practice in the alcohol beverage industry. The Company makes these payments to customers and incurs these costs to promote sales of products and to maintain competitive pricing. Amounts paid in connection with customer programs and incentives are recorded as reductions to net revenue or as advertising, promotional and selling expenses based on the nature of the expenditure. Amounts paid to customers totaled $105,591 and $79,837 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories primarily consist of bulk and bottled liquor and merchandise and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using an average costing methodology, which approximates cost under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. A portion of inventory is held by the OLCC on consignment until it is sold to a third party. The Company regularly monitors inventory quantities on hand and records write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based primarily on the Company’s estimated forecast of product demand and production requirements. Such write-downs establish a new cost basis of accounting for the related inventory. We have recorded no write-downs of inventory for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

31
 

 

Excise Taxes

 

The Company is responsible for compliance with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulations, which includes making timely and accurate excise tax payments. The Company is subject to periodic compliance audits by the TTB. Individual states also impose excise taxes on alcohol beverages in varying amounts. The Company calculates its excise tax expense based upon units produced and on its understanding of the applicable excise tax laws. Excise taxes totaled $237,638 and $415,843 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company recognizes as compensation expense all stock-based awards issued to employees in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation . The compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the related stock-based awards and is recognized over the service period of stock-based awards, which is generally the same as the vesting period. The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which estimates the fair value of each award on the date of grant based on a variety of assumptions including expected stock price volatility, expected terms of the awards, risk-free interest rate, and dividend rates, if applicable. Stock-based awards issued to nonemployees are recorded at fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic market adjustments as the underlying stock-based awards vest. Stock-based compensation was $847,358 and $619,042 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no significant 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 are material.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ ASU 2016-02”) . Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date:

 

  A lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and
     
  A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.

 

32
 

 

Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The new lease guidance simplified the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees will no longer be provided with a source of off-balance sheet financing. Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2019, for a calendar year entity). Early application is permitted for all public business entities upon issuance. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ ASU 2014-09”) . ASU 2014-09 will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance. Under this update, an entity is required to recognize revenue upon transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the expected consideration received in exchange for those goods or services. As such, an entity will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. ASU 2014-09 is to be applied retrospectively either to each prior reporting period presented in the financial statements, or only to the most current reporting period presented in the financial statements with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Company will elect to apply the impact (if any) of applying ASU 2014-09 to the most current reporting period presented in the financial statements with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date . ASU 2015-14 deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year, making it effective for the year beginning December 31, 2017, with early adoption permitted as of January 1, 2017. We adopted ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-09 had any material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

33
 

 

ITEM 3 – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required by this item.

 

ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) that are designed to provide reasonable assurances that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

In connection with the preparation of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation was carried out by our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended June 30, 2018, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings; however, we could be subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation is time consuming and expensive to resolve, and it diverts management resources.

 

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and incorporated therein by reference.

 

ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The following list sets forth information regarding all securities sold or granted by us during the period covered by this report that were not registered under the Securities Act, and the consideration, if any, received by us for such securities, which proceeds has been or will be used by us for general working capital purposes. The securities were offered and sold in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, which exempt transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. The purchasers were “accredited investors,” as such term is defined in Regulation D. The securities are non-transferable in the absence of an effective registration statement under the Act or an available exemption therefrom, and all certificates are imprinted with a restrictive legend to that effect.

 

During the first six months of 2018, the Company completed a private offering of promissory notes and accompanying warrants in which it raised $4,552,980 in gross proceeds. The promissory notes bear interest at 8% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of the month. The entire amount of principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. For every $100,000 in principal, the Company issued to the investor 10,000 common stock purchase warrants, for a total of 125,000 warrants. The warrants, which are identical to the warrants that were issued in the Company’s public offering that was consummated in August 2017, are exercisable through August 10, 2022, unless earlier redeemed, at an exercise price of $5.40, subject to adjustment for stock splits, reverse splits and other similar recapitalization events. The Company has the option to redeem all or a part of the outstanding warrants at any time after the closing price of the Company’s common stock exceeds $7.65 for five consecutive trading days. In electing to redeem the warrants, the Company will provide 30 days’ notice of the redemption date, during which time the holders of outstanding warrants will have the opportunity to exercise their warrants at the exercise price then in effect. Any warrants remaining outstanding at the close of business on the 30th day of the notice period will be redeemed at a price of $0.15 per warrant, after which, the warrants will be cancelled.

 

During the first six months of 2018, we issued 10,025 shares to our partner, Sandstrom Partners, as part of their branding work on our products, and 7,500 shares to two different service providers for services rendered.

 

On August 3, 2018 the Company announced that it is exercising its option to call for redemption of the common stock purchase warrants sold in the Company’s public unit offering in August 2017 and the warrants sold in the note offering between March and June 2018 (collectively, the “Common Stock Purchase Warrants”). Registered holders of the Common Stock Purchase Warrants will have until September 10, 2018 (the “Redemption Date”) to exercise each Common Stock Purchase Warrant for one share of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”), at $5.40 per share. The Company has also arranged a call of the warrants issued between July 2, 2018 and July 20, 2018 in connection with its private offering of promissory notes totaling $447,020, on the same terms and conditions. 

 

34
 

 

ITEM 3 – DEFAULT UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None

 

ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5 – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6 – EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as presently in effect, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 14, 2011 (File No. 333-177918) and incorporated by reference herein.
3.2   Certificate of Designation – Series A Preferred Stock, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 9, 2016 and filed on March 11, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.3   Amendment to Certificate of Designation After Issuance of Class or Series, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 1, 2016 and filed on June 9, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.4   Certificate of Change, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 6, 2016 and filed on October 11, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.5   Certificate of Change, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 14, 2017 and filed on June 15, 2017 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.6   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as presently in effect, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 13, 2016 and filed on October 19, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein.
10.1   Credit and Security Agreement, dated May 10, 2018, between the Company and The KFK Children’s Trust, Jeffrey Anderson – Trustee, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2018 and incorporated by reference herein.
10.2   Amended and Restated Redneck Riviera License Agreement dated May 31, 2018**
31.1   Certification of Grover Wickersham pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
31.2   Certification of Steven Shum pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350.
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350.
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Schema Linkbase Document
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 

**Filed herewith; confidential status has been requested for certain portions of this exhibit pursuant to a Confidential Treatment Request filed August 13, 2018. Such provisions have been separately filed with the Commission.

 

35
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Grover Wickersham
    Grover Wickersham
    Chief Executive Officer, Director
    (Principal Executive Officer)
    Date: August 13, 2018
     
  By: /s/ Steve Shum
    Steve Shum
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
    Date: August 13, 2018

 

36
 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

I, Grover Wickersham, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Eastside Distilling, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 13, 2018

 

/s/ Grover Wickersham  
Grover Wickersham  
Chief Executive Officer and Director  

 

 
 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

I, Steven Shum, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Eastside Distilling, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 13, 2018

 

/s/ Steven Shum  
Steven Shum  
Chief Financial Officer  

 

 
 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

 

I, Grover Wickersham, Chief Executive Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Eastside Distilling, Inc.

 

Date: August 13, 2018

 

  By: /s/ Grover Wickersham
  Name: Grover Wickersham
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 
 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

 

I, Steven Shum, Chief Financial Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Eastside Distilling, Inc.

 

Date: August 13, 2018

 

  By: /s/ Steven Shum
  Name: Steven Shum
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [* * * *] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of this 31st day of May, 2018 (“ Effective Date ”), is entered into by and between RICH MARKS, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company “ Licensor ”), Redneck Riviera Whiskey Co., LLC , a Tennessee limited liability company (“ Licensee ”), John D. RICH TISA Trust U/A/D MARCH 27, 2018, DWIGHT P. WILeS, TRUSTEE (“ Trust ”), and EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Nevada (“ Former Licensee ”).

 

WHEREAS, Licensor and Former Licensee originally entered into a license agreement dated October 20, 2017 (“ License Agreement ”) wherein Licensor granted to Former Licensee a license to use the Authorized Trademark (as defined therein) during the Term (as defined therein) and within the Territory (as defined therein) solely in order to produce, manufacture, distribute and promote the Authorized Products (as defined therein), subject to the terms and conditions contained therein;

 

WHEREAS , the License Agreement also granted to Licensor certain consideration rights (“ Consideration Rights ”) for the use of Authorized Property;

 

WHEREAS , in order to comply with the requirements set forth by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission to conform to the requirements of Tennessee Code Annotates Section 57-4-110, in an assignment of license rights agreement dated as of the Effective Date, Licensor assigned all of its Consideration Rights as set forth in the License Agreement to the Trust;

 

WHEREAS , the parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that the Former Licensee’s subsidiary, Licensee, hereby replaces Former Licensee as the Licensee in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS , Licensor, the Trust, Licensee and Former Licensee desire to amend the License Agreement by entering into this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS , this Agreement hereby supersedes and replaces the License Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and conditions contained herein, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

1. Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined in context shall have the following meaning:

 

Artist ” or “ JR ” means country music singer-songwriter John Rich.

 

Authorized Products ” means, collectively, the Distilled Spirits Products, the Promotional Materials and the Promotional Items (each as defined below).

 

Authorized Property ” means, collectively, the Authorized Trademark and the Brand Intellectual Property (as defined below).

 

Authorized Trademark ” means that trademark registration identified on Exhibit D attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

Brand Intellectual Property ” means any and all Authorized Trademark-related (i) product names, product packaging, slogans, designs, bottle designs, logos, trade dress, (ii) any and all copyrights and copyrightable works, (iii) any and all product formulas, recipes, formulations and blends (collectively, the “ Product Formulations ”), and (iv) all intellectual property rights and goodwill associated with (i) through (iii) above in any form throughout the world, including any registrations or applications relating to the foregoing and any extensions, modifications, renewals, reissuance, continuation or continuation in part, reexamination and improvements thereof.

 

 
 

 

Case ” means a package containing [****] equivalent of alcoholic beverages.

 

Control Group ” means those individuals and entities holding in the aggregate, as of the Effective Date, at least fifty percent (50%), directly or indirectly, of the aggregate issued and outstanding capital stock of Licensee on a fully diluted basis.

 

“Contract Date” means January 1, 2018.

 

Contract Year ” means each successive sequential period of twelve (12) months occurring during the Term, with the first of such period commencing on the Contract Date and expiring twelve (12) months thereafter.

 

Distilled Spirits Products ” means distilled spirits products produced by Licensee, and those other alcoholic beverage products agreed to in a Product Extension Amendment (as defined below), as provided for below, bearing some form of the Authorized Trademark on the label of each such Authorized Product (as permitted herein), and consisting solely of distilled spirits intended for human consumption; provided , however , notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Distilled Spirits Products ” shall not mean and shall not be deemed to include, for any purpose hereunder, unless a Product Extension Amendment is agreed in advance and in writing with respect thereto in each instance: (i) wine (regardless of alcohol by content); (ii) any cider or malt beverage products (including, without limitation, beer, sake, hard lemonade, etc.); (iii) any beverage that has distilled spirits as a non-primary ingredient, including any cordial, aperitif or other similar distilled spirits beverage; (iv) any mixed or hybrid alcoholic beverages consisting of, based upon, flavored with, or derived from, any of the foregoing items (i) – (iii), however marketed or branded; or (Iv) any condiment, food or non-alcoholic beverage products intended or marketed for consumption in connection with the consumption of distilled spirits products, including, without limitation, mixers, mixes, juices and/or salts. Licensee currently intends to launch the following initial products within the first [****] of the Effective Date: [****]. For the avoidance of doubt, until such time as a Product Extension Agreement is fully executed by the parties hereto with respect to a particularly defined item of Distilled Spirits Products , Licensor and Artist shall be under no restriction whatsoever respecting entering into any transaction or arrangement regarding any item set forth in (i) – (iv) of this definition of Distilled Spirits Products.

 

Distribution Channels ” shall mean the distribution channel(s) set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

Licensee Disposition ” means the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

(a) Licensee assigns this Agreement to a wholly or partially owned subsidiary (by operation of law, change of control or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Licensor, which shall not be unreasonably withheld;

 

(b) Licensee sells, assigns or otherwise disposes, whether in a single sale or series of related transactions, all or substantially all of its assets;

 

(c) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, in any transaction or any number of transactions, by an individual or Group (as defined by SEC rules), who is not an owner of at least five percent (5%) of the total voting power of Licensee as of the Effective Date, of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the total voting power of Licensee; or

 

(d) the consummation of any merger, consolidation or business combination or similar transaction involving Licensee in which Licensee is not the continuing or surviving corporation, without the prior written permission of Licensor, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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Licensee Know-How ” means any trade secrets, know-how, methods, processes, technical information, directions, instructions, protocols, procedures, techniques, raw material sources, concepts and ideas owned, as of the Effective Date, by Licensee and used for the manufacture, bottling and labeling of distilled spirits products; provided , however , that any of the foregoing shall only constitute “Licensee Know-How” to the extent not known to Licensor as of the Effective Date or not otherwise generally known in the distilled spirits industry.

 

Product Extension Amendment ” means respecting each new possible, proposed distilled spirit alcoholic beverage product not constituting an Initial Product, a written amendment to this Agreement fully executed by the parties hereto that, at a minimum, contains the following: (a) business case for market need; (b) sales plans; (c) marketing spend allotment (including an increase in the Minimum JR Promotional Allowance therefor) ; and (d) proposed packaging, design and flavor profile.

 

Promotional Items ” means merchandise, bearing one or more items of the Authorized Property, used for advertising and promotion solely the Distilled Spirits Products (e.g. hats, t-shirts, glassware and similar items). All Promotional Items will either be given away as free, promotional, premium items or sold solely in tasting rooms or online webstores wholly owned by Licensee provided the parties agree in writing upon a royalty to be paid to Licensor therefor prior to any such sales, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto pursuant to a separate written license agreement. In the event Licensee engages any third party to create Promotional Items, Licensee shall enter into a work-for-hire (in a form approved by Licensor) assigning all rights to any Promotional Items to Licensee.

 

Promotional Materials ” means print advertisements, online, television, radio spots and point of sale materials (at both on and off premise retail locations) including, without limitation, in connection with any personal appearances which Artist , in his individual capacity, may make, and with respect to any and all other promotional materials relating to the Authorized Products occurring during the Term. In the event Licensee engages any third party to create Promotional Materials, Licensee shall enter into a work-for-hire (in a form approved by Licensor) assigning all rights to any Promotional Materials to Licensee.

 

Territory ” shall be the United States of America.

 

2. License Grant .

 

a. License . Subject to the terms, conditions and obligations hereof (including the exclusivity provisions set forth below), Licensor hereby grants to Licensee, and Licensee hereby accepts, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, during the Term (as defined below) and within the Territory, a non-transferable and non-sublicenseable license to use and exploit the Authorized Property solely in order to produce, manufacture, distribute, advertise and promote the Authorized Products (the “ License ”).

 

b. No Denigration . Neither Licensee nor any distributer, wholesaler or any other third party engaged by Licensee shall denigrate or permit or allow the denigration of the Authorized Property in connection with the performance of its obligations and rights under this Agreement, and Licensee shall take any other action not approved by Licensor as provided herein that is harmful or potentially harmful to or which disparages, ridicules or demeans the goodwill, honor and reputation of Licensor, Artist, or the Authorized Property.

 

c. Price Point Consultation . To further protect the value and integrity of the Authorized Trademark and shield it against denigration resulting from inappropriate pricing of Authorized Products bearing the Authorized Trademark, Licensee agrees to meaningfully consult with Licensor respecting price points of each of the Distilled Spirits Products hereunder.

 

d. Limitations . Licensee agrees, during the Term of this Agreement and thereafter, never to challenge or attack the rights of Licensor in and to the Authorized Trademark or the validity of the License being granted herein. Licensee agrees that it shall at no time during the Term or thereafter, use or authorize the use of any trademark, trade name or other designation identical with or confusingly or substantially similar to the Authorized Trademark.

 

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e. Benefit . Licensee agrees, during the Term of this Agreement and thereafter, that its use of the Authorized Trademark is solely and entirely governed by this Agreement, and that Licensee shall not acquire any rights whatsoever in or to the Authorized Trademark other than the rights expressly provided in this Agreement. Licensee agrees and acknowledges that following the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement for any reason, Licensee shall not have any right to use for itself in any manner, or sublicense, the Authorized Trademark to any third party for any purpose, except as specifically provided for in this Agreement (e.g., during the Sell-Off Period provided in Section 12(b)).

 

f. No Registration . Licensee agrees that it shall not (and shall insure that no sublicense shall) at anytime, anywhere in the world, apply for any registration of any element of the Authorized Trademark or any copyright, trademark or other designation which would adversely affect the ownership of the Authorized Trademark by Licensor or file any document with any governmental authority to take any action which would affect the ownership of the Authorized Trademark by Licensor.

 

g. Cooperation . Licensee agrees to cooperate with Licensor in protecting the Authorized Trademark (at Licensor’s cost and expense) and, for that purpose, Licensee will supply to Licensor from time to time, and at no charge, such samples and information regarding sales of the Authorized Trademark sold or distributed by Licensee, as reasonably may be requested by Licensor.

 

h. Sound Recordings/ Musical Compositions . Licensee acknowledges and agrees that no rights are granted herein to use either any sound recordings containing the performance of Artist or any musical compositions written in whole or in part by Artist).

 

i. Exclusion . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall the License granted hereunder be deemed to include or contain a reference to “Big & Rich” on or in connection with any Authorized Product.

 

j. Exclusivity .

 

i. Licensor . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except with respect to the Permitted Activities (as defined below) and provided License is not in breach of this Agreement, Licensor and Artist covenant that within the Territory and commencing upon the Effective Date and ending upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, Licensor shall not market or promote any Distilled Spirits Products under the Authorized Trademark, and Licensor shall not issue a license or authorize any third party to use or sell, except as specifically provided in this Agreement and otherwise without Licensee’s permission, any Distilled Spirits Product under the Authorized Trademark. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that (a) Artist may attend and perform at events (e.g., private events, festivals, tours, etc.) that are sponsored by one or more distilled spirits product brands (and/or their owners and/or distributors), including appearing in public and being photographed at such sponsored public events, (b) Artist may appear in music videos and/or perform on records produced by other recording artists in a “featured” capacity, which videos and/or records may include references to and/or depictions of any distilled spirits product brands as Artist has no control over the content of such videos or records in his capacity as a “featured” Artist, (c) Artist may own and endorse, in any capacity, directly or indirectly, any entertainment venue, restaurant, bar, spa, hotel, beach club, grill, nightclub, and/or casino business anywhere where all distilled spirits products receive comparatively similar prominence, (d) Artist may produce and/or co-write compositions of or with other third party recording artists which productions or musical compositions may include reference to other distilled spirits products brands; (e) Artist shall not be precluded from making de-minimis investments in publicly traded competitors of Licensee; and (f) Artist, in his capacity as a Member of “Big & Rich”, may be sponsored or endorsed by any distilled spirits brand without limitation including respecting tours, album releases, etc. ((a) – (f), collectively, the “ Permitted Activities ”). Licensee and Artist shall be free to engage in whatever business enterprise they desire respecting any of the foregoing.

 

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ii. Licensee . Licensee agrees that it shall not launch, market or promote any other distilled spirits products bearing the name, likeness or image of any another male country music artist during the Term of this Agreement, either directly or indirectly, without the prior express written consent of Licensor.

 

k. Warrant . The effectiveness of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the grant of the License contained herein) shall be contingent upon Licensee’s delivery of the following warrants (in a form acceptable to Licensor ): (a) to the Trust or its designee, a warrant for 25,000 shares of Licensee’s common stock; and (b) to T.J. McDaniel or his designee, a warrant for 5,000 shares of Licensee’s common stock, exercisable one year after the Effective Date (collectively, the “ Warrants ”).

 

3. Term . Unless terminated pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof, the initial period of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall continue for an initial period of ten (10) years therefrom (the “ Initial Period ”). Upon the conclusion of the Initial Period, this Agreement shall automatically renew for one additional ten (10) year period (the “ Automatic Renewal Period ”) . Thereafter (and only in the event that the Automatic Renewal Period has occurred, for avoidance of doubt) , Licensee shall have the right to renew this Agreement upon written notice given to Licensor no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Automatic Renewal Period for on-going additional periods of ten (10) years each (each, a “ Renewal Period ,” and together with the Initial Period and the Automatic Renewal Period, collectively, the “ Term ”); provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, any and all such renewals (including, without limitation, the Automatic Renewal Period) shall be subject to, as of the commencement of each Renewal Period, all of the following: (i) Licensee not then being in breach of this Agreement and (ii) the Annual Case Objective and the Minimum JR Promotional Allowance having been timely paid in full in each instance.

 

4. Royalty Upon Licensee Disposition .

 

a. [**** ] . Upon and from and after a Licensee Disposition, in consideration of the License granted herein, Licensee shall, without offset or deduction of any kind or nature and in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, pay to Trust, per bottle of Distilled Spirit Product produced for commercialization hereunder, an amount equal to the “[**** ] ” (in accordance with the amounts and escalating price points) set forth on Exhibit E attached hereto and hereby incorporated herein by this reference. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Licensee Disposition, Licensee shall not owe Trust a [****] for any Distilled Spirit Product invoiced for sale before such Licensee Disposition. Upon and from and after a Licensee Disposition, Licensor in its sole discretion, may terminate the Term immediately upon written notice to Licensee in the event that Licensee fails to meet any Annual Case Objective (as defined below). If Licensor sends Licensee notice of its intent to so terminate the Agreement, Licensee shall have an opportunity to cure by, within thirty (30) days of receipt of Licensor’s notice of such intent to terminate, paying, in full and in immediately available sums, to Trust the difference between the [****] that would have been paid if Licensee had met the Annual Case Objective (assuming all such items were sold by Licensee during the applicable period) in the relevant Contract Year and the actual [****] paid to Trust during the relevant Contract Year.

 

b. Accounting and Payment . Upon and from and after a Licensee Disposition, the [****] shall be paid to Trust on a quarterly basis in arrears, within thirty (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter during the Term. The [****] shall be accompanied by a detailed accounting statement and back-up production documentation showing the number of Products produced and the precise manner in which the [****] was calculated during such calendar quarter.

 

c. Books and Records . Licensee and any successor or assignee including without limitation, in respect of a Licensee Disposition, shall maintain invoices and books of account for the production, sale, advertising and promotion of the Authorized Products throughout the Term and for a period of at least three (3) years thereafter. Such books of account shall be complete and accurate and in accordance with generally-accepted accounting practices. Licensor, Trust or its designee shall have the right to enter Licensee’s premises, inspect and photocopy all books and records of Licensee relating to the production, sale, advertising and promotion of the Authorized Products within five (5) business days after notice to Licensee during the Term and for three (3) years after the termination or expiration of the Agreement. In the event that underpayments are discovered, Licensee shall immediately render payment thereof to Trust. If the underpayments are more than five percent (5%), then Licensee shall also reimburse Trust for the costs of the audit. Licensee shall pay interest at the average prime rate regarding any underpayment from the time period commencing when the payment should have been made until the date of payment.

 

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5. Annual Case Objective .

 

a. Annual Case Objective .

 

i. Annual Case Objective . Notwithstanding Section 3 above or anything else contained herein to the contrary, the parties hereby set a requirement to produce, per Contract Year, and measured beginning on the first Authorized Product shipping date, and every anniversary thereafter, Cases of Authorized Product equal to or exceeding the Annual Case Objective set forth in Section 5(a)(ii) below (each, an “ Annual Case Objective ”).

 

ii. Informational Requirement and Termination Right . In addition to the other informational requirements set forth herein, Licensee shall provide to Licensor a production report for Case production and sales occurring in each Contract Year within forty-five (45) days following the applicable Contract Year (the “ Annual Production Report ”). The Annual Production Report shall be sent in accordance with Section 16, below. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event that Licensee fails to produce at least as many of the total Authorized Products in a year than as provided below in an Annual Case Objective, Licensor in its sole discretion, may terminate the Term immediately upon written notice to Licensee within sixty (60) days from Licensor’s receipt of the applicable Annual Production Report.

 

Annual Case Objectives :

 

(a) [ ****].

 

b. Promotional Expenditures . Licensee shall provide to Licensor a report for promotional expenditures (“ Promotional Expenditures ”) occurring in each Contract Year of the Term within forty-five (45) days following the applicable Contract Year (the “ Promotional Expenditure Report ”). The Promotional Expenditure Report shall be sent in accordance with Section 16, below.

 

6. Ownership; Goodwill; Authorized Trademark-Related Whiskey Recipes .

 

a. Ownership; Goodwill . Licensee agrees that it shall not contest, deny or dispute the validity of the Authorized Property , Brand Intellectual Property, or the title of Licensor therein; and shall not in any way, either directly or indirectly, encourage or assist others in doing so or take any action of any kind inconsistent with the ownership and/or control of all such intellectual property rights by Licensor. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Licensee a proprietary interest of any kind in and to the Authorized Property or the Brand Intellectual Property other than the right to use the Authorized Property strictly in accordance with this Agreement. As between the parties hereto, all goodwill and any rights arising from Licensee’s use of the Authorized Property hereunder shall inure solely to the benefit of Licensor.

 

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b. Distilled Spirits Products Formulas . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary and not in limitation of any other rights or remedies available to Licensor hereunder, at law or equity, in the event that production and sale of Authorized Products does not meet any Annual Case Objective described in Section 5(a) above, Licensee shall immediately deliver to Licensor all cards for all Product Formulations for all Distilled Spirits Products produced or then in production hereunder.

 

7. [Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

8. Quality, Notices, Approvals and Samples .

 

a. Licensor’s Right of Approval . Licensee acknowledges that the loyalty of Artist’s fans and customers is an asset of tremendous value to Artist and Licensor. Licensee agrees that all Authorized Products shall be of a quality that is at least as high as the quality typical of similarly priced alcoholic beverage products in the same product class (i.e., a $[****] authorized whiskey product will be of a similar quality as a competing $[****] whiskey product). Licensee shall maintain the high professional standard currently associated with the Authorized Property and do nothing to bring ridicule or scorn on the Authorized Property or on the Authorized Products. As an essential element and as a material inducement for Licensor’s grant of the License granted to Licensee herein, Licensee covenants and agrees that the Authorized Products must at all times meet or exceed such standards, as determined by Licensor.

 

b. Submission of Proposed Uses for Approval . Licensee shall submit to Licensor for approval samples of each Authorized Product prior to the manufacture or dissemination thereof. Each Authorized Product shall be submitted with its proposed labeling and/or packaging, if possible, but no Authorized Product shall be deemed approved unless and until its labeling and packaging are also approved, if they are submitted separately.

 

c. Licensor’s Approval of Authorized Products . Licensor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to send a written notice of approval or disapproval of each submission as outlined in Section 8.b. promptly following Licensor’s receipt of the submitted item. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, failure of Licensee to receive written approval of any such submitted item, within fifteen (15) days shall constitute disapproval of the Authorized Product. For the avoidance of doubt, Licensee shall not have the right to use the Authorized Product or any element thereof unless the particular use by Licensee has been approved by Licensor as provided in this Section 8.c. Licensor acknowledges that time is of the essence and that these submissions are integral to Licensee’s performing under this Agreement and Licensor shall not unreasonably withhold or delay approval of, any submission of an Authorized Product reasonably requested by Licensee.

 

d. Conformity of Authorized Products to Approved Samples . All Authorized Products hereunder shall conform in all respects, including style, appearance, materials, contents, workmanship and overall quality, to the samples that Licensor has approved in writing.

 

e. Withdrawal of Approval . If any Authorized Product fails to conform to the approved sample, then, within seven (7) calendar days after Licensee’s receipt of written notice to that effect from Licensor, Licensor shall have the right to withdraw its approval of the Authorized Product(s) by delivery of a further written notice if the failure identified in the initial notice has not been cured within a further ten (10) calendar days. Licensee shall then, upon receipt of such further notice, cease use of the particular Authorized Product(s) identified in the notice.

 

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f. Samples . Upon Licensor’s request, Licensee will furnish to Licensor, without charge, a reasonable number of samples of each type of Authorized Product, with its usual packaging and labeling, if applicable, to permit Licensor to confirm that Licensor’s standards are being observed. Licensor or its representatives shall also have the right to visit the plant(s) where the Authorized Products are made at any time during normal business hours for purposes of quality inspection.

 

g. Approval Not a Warranty . Licensor’s approval of an Authorized Product does not mean that Licensor has determined that the item conforms to applicable laws, that the item is safe or fit for its intended purpose or that the item does not infringe the intellectual property or contractual rights of others. Licensor may also revoke an approval if the item subsequently proves to be unsafe, to be deficient in quality, to violate any law or to violate the rights of others that are subsequently learned to have existed at the time approval was granted.

 

h. Distributors, Manufacturers and Recalls . All Authorized Products will be manufactured, offered for sale, sold, labeled, packaged and distributed, and advertised, promoted, publicized and otherwise exploited, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. To further safeguard the integrity and value of Licensor’s Authorized Trademark, Licensee will monitor the performance of its distributors and manufacturers to assure compliance with these laws and regulations in accordance with the laws of the United States and of all other countries, as applicable. Licensee will terminate any manufacturer and/or distributor which fails to comply therewith. If any Authorized Product poses a danger or health threat, Licensee shall immediately notify the appropriate governmental agency and commence any appropriate or necessary product recall, to be paid for solely by Licensee. In addition, Licensee shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Licensor and Artist, from and against any action solely brought against Licensor and/or Artist based upon or seeking such product recall.

 

9. Required Markings . Licensee will display on all Authorized Products any and all legends, markings or notices that are required by law or that Licensor may reasonably request from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Licensee shall not make any reference to the trademarks comprising the Authorized Trademark without including the ® or ™ symbol, as appropriate. Licensee may only eliminate any or all legends, markings, notices or references with the express prior written approval of Licensor in each instance. Upon receipt of written notice from Licensor, Licensee shall have thirty (30) days to cure any omissions of such legends, markings or notices.

 

10. Personal Services . The parties acknowledge that certain reasonable personal services may be requested of Licensor, its principals, officers or affiliates, including Artist (each, a “ Licensor Principal ”). Artist agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to attend critical distributor meetings and/or participate in bus routing during non-“Big & Rich” touring times or during the Artist’s so-called “off season”; provided , however , in the event of any of the foregoing or in the event that Licensee requests that Artist travel for any other meeting or other specific purpose related to this Agreement, and such request is approved in writing by Artist, on a case-by-case basis, in each instance (to be given or withheld in his sole discretion and subject in all instances to Artist’s prior professional commitments (including, without limitation, touring, performing, recording and composing)), Licensee agrees to pay for such Licensor Principal’s travel and lodging all on a first class basis (which shall be subject to pre-approval by Licensee in each instance). Subject to the limitations of this section, Artist agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to attend mutually agreed upon in writing in each instance media and customer events, and visit with distributors, chain stores, and selected liquor stores and bars for promotional events. Additionally, the parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct meetings or distributor parties at the location commonly referred to as “Mt. Richmond.”

 

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In addition to the [****], Licensee shall provide to Trust, without off-set or deduction of any kind of nature, those amounts set forth on Exhibit B under the designation “ Minimum JR Promotional Allowance ” (in lieu of reimbursing Artist for expenses for promoting the Distilled Spirits Products hereunder):

 

11. Termination; Cure of Breach .

 

a. In addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity, Licensor may terminate this Agreement and all rights granted to Licensee hereunder upon thirty (30) days’ written notice: (a) should Licensee fail to cure any material breach of this Agreement within thirty (30) days’ written notice from Licensor of such breach; (b) if Licensee is dissolved; or (c) if Licensee files a petition in bankruptcy or is adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent, makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, discontinues its business or if a receiver, trustee or custodian is appointed for Licensee, which receiver, trustee or custodian is not discharged within thirty (30) days of appointment.

 

b. Termination by Licensor . In addition to the other termination rights contained herein, Licensor may terminate this Agreement without prejudice to any rights it may have, whether at law or at equity, upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (each, a “ Default ”):

 

i. Licensee breaches Sections 2(a), 2(j)(ii), 8 or 19 and has not cured the breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from Licensor of such breach;

 

ii. Licensee fails to maintain in full force and effect, the insurance referred to herein below and such failure is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from Licensor of such failure;

 

iii. Licensee fails to make any payments due hereunder on the date due two or more times in any one calendar year and such failure is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from Licensor of such failure;

 

iv. Licensee fails to promptly, fully and timely deliver any of the accounting statements required herein, or fails to give access to the books and records pursuant to the provisions hereof and such failure is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from Licensor of such failure;

 

v. immediately upon written notice, if any governmental agency or other administrative body, office or official vested with appropriate authority obtains or issues a final, non-appealable judgment or ruling which determines that the Authorized Products are harmful or defective in any material way, manner or form, or are being manufactured, sold or distributed in contravention of applicable laws or regulations, or in a manner likely to cause harm;

 

vi. immediately upon written notice, if Licensee does any act or conducts itself in any manner that, in Licensor’s reasonable opinion, is offensive to standards of decency of the predominance of the applicable public, morality or social propriety resulting in public scandal or ridicule, or is disparaging to Licensor, Artist, the Authorized Trademark or Licensor’s or Artist’s products or services including, without limitation, the Authorized Products;

 

vii. immediately upon written notice, if Licensee or any parent entity of Licensee is unable to pay its respective debts as they become due or Licensee or any parent entity of Licensee defaults on any indebtedness and does not cure such default within thirty (30) days of Licensor’s written notice of same ; or

 

viii. immediately upon written notice, if Licensee pledges, encumbers, grants a security interest in, or permits any lien (whether arising by operation of law or otherwise) to exist with respect to all or any part of the Authorized Trademark or this Agreement (or any revenue stream attributable to any of the foregoing) in connection with, or as a part of, any obligation (contractual or otherwise), or as collateral or security for, any liability or indebtedness (public or private), in any case of Licensee, any affiliate or related party of Licensee or any other person

 

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c. Termination by Licensee . Licensee shall have the right to terminate this Agreement during the Initial Period in the event Licensee determines that, in its reasonable business judgment, the business relationship created hereby is not a viable business upon six (6) months prior written notice (the “Special Termination Notice”) to Licensor (the “ Six Month Termination Window ”). For avoidance of doubt, all amounts, including without limitation, the Minimum JR Promotional Allowance, shall continue to be due and owing during such Six Month Termination Window.

 

d. Termination by Licensor . In addition to the other termination rights contained herein, Licensor shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon Licensor’s receipt of a Rejected Offer (as defined below) or upon the consummation of an IP Sale (as defined below), after payment in full by Licensor of any then due Sales Bonus to Licensee.

 

12. Effect of Expiration/Termination .

 

a. Post-Term Rights . Upon the effective date of any termination (except as set forth in Section 12.b., below) or expiration of this Agreement, Licensee will immediately discontinue all use of the Authorized Property and Brand Intellectual Property, whether in connection with the sale, distribution, advertisement or manufacture of Authorized Products or otherwise, and will promptly turn over, at no charge, all Product Formulation Cards, materials, items, equipment, bottle, design materials and the like used to make or reproduce the Authorized Property and Brand Intellectual Property to Licensor, and all items affixed with the Authorized Property and Brand Intellectual Property to Licensor whether signage, labels, posters, bags, boxes, tags or otherwise, and, hereby assigns to Licensor, at no cost to Licensor all such rights.

 

b. Sell-Off Period . Following the termination or expiration of this Agreement, Licensor shall, at its option, be entitled to designate a person duly licensed to receive distilled spirits from Licensee to purchase from Licensee all existing Authorized Products within thirty (30) business days after receipt of such inventory following Licensee’s termination at Licensee’s hard cost; provided , however , if this Agreement was terminated by Licensor due to Licensee’s breach hereof in accordance herewith, then Licensee shall deliver the foregoing items at no charge to Licensor’s duly-licensed designee, notwithstanding the foregoing. Provided this Agreement has not been terminated by Licensor for a breach hereof by Licensee in accordance herewith, and if Licensor’s duly-licensed designee does not acquire the inventory pursuant to the previous sentence, Licensee may sell-off any existing Authorized Products (“ Sell-Off Products ”) for a period of six (6) months (the “ Sell-Off Period ”). Such Sell-Off Products may be discounted to no lower than [****] of original wholesale price to allow Licensee to sell through the Sell-Off Products. However, retailers shall be encouraged to sell within the original MSRP and not drop pricing below the original MSRP for any reason, including that it denigrates the overall perception of the brand. If, during the Sell-Off Period, Licensee breaches any obligation under the Agreement, Licensor shall be entitled to terminate all sell-off rights immediately on written notice to Licensee upon the breach of this Agreement by Licensee (i) if such breach is specified herein as a breach for which no cure is permitted, or (ii) for any other breach, the breach is not cured within ten (10) days after Licensee’s receipt of notice of breach. In the event (x) Licensor’s duly-licensed designee does not purchase all of the aforesaid Authorized Products, or (y) all sell-off rights provided have expired, Licensor shall be entitled to cause all Products in the possession of Licensee to be destroyed on an agreed date, time and place, with Licensor and/or its representative entitled to be present at such destruction.

 

c. Termination . In the event that Licensee delivers to Licensor a Special Termination Notice, Licensor terminates this Agreement, this Agreement expires, or a Non-Renewal Event occurs, Licensee shall make best efforts to promptly (but no later than ten (10) business days of such event ) deliver to Licensor all cards for all Product Formulations, all Promotional Materials, all Promotional Items and a full, accurate and complete list of all distributor contacts, all at no charge to Licensor.

 

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d. Distribution Agreements . All distribution arrangements, agreements, contracts, and the like which Licensee enters into (or are binding on Licensee) with respect to the sale and distribution of the Authorized Products shall provide for, an automatic termination (without a break-up, termination or other charge or fee of any kind or nature) in the event this Agreement expires or is terminated for any reason; provided , however , in the event such termination rights are not permitted by applicable law, Licensee shall advise Licensor of same in writing, and prior to entering into such agreement or arrangement, Licensee shall obtain Licensor’s prior written approval therefor in each instance.

 

13. Third-Party Use . In the event that Licensee becomes aware of any unauthorized third-party use of a mark or name that infringes any of the Authorized Trademarks, Licensee agrees to promptly notify Licensor of such unauthorized use. It is understood and agreed that Licensor may, at any time, at Licensor’s sole cost and expense, object, pursue or otherwise take action against such third party in Licensor’s sole discretion. Licensee shall cooperate with and provide commercially reasonably requested information to Licensor in any such proceeding at Licensee’s sole cost and expense.

 

14. Representations and Warranties .

 

a. Each party represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement, and that the person signing this Agreement on behalf of each has been properly authorized and empowered to enter into this Agreement. Each party further acknowledges that it has read this Agreement, understands it, and agrees to be bound by it.

 

b. Other than as expressly set forth in the foregoing clause or elsewhere in this Agreement, all rights granted by Licensor to Licensee under this Agreement are granted on an “AS IS” basis with no representations or warranties of any kind whatsoever. NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND NO IMPLIED WARRANTIES AS TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE AUTHORIZED PROPERTY OR THE PRODUCTS SHALL APPLY, NOR HAVE ANY BEEN MADE BY LICENSOR. LICENSEE HEREBY WAIVES ALL SUCH WARRANTIES OR GUARANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARISING BY LAW OR OTHERWISE.

 

15. Indemnification .

 

a. Licensee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Licensor and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of their respective principals, officers, directors, employees, managers and other representatives (including, without limitation, Artist) (collectively, “ Licensor Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all liabilities, damages, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs) based upon, arising out of or related to:

 

  i. Licensee’s manufacture, distribution, shipment, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale and/or sale of Authorized Products and/or the promotional and packaging material therefor;
     
  ii. any use of the Authorized Products by any third party;
     
  iii. any claims based upon any defect or health hazard in any Authorized Product, including, without limitation, claims for death, personal injury or other bodily injury;
     
  iv. any product liability claims;
     
  v. any actual or alleged violation of law (including, without limitation, pertaining to charitable sales, promotions and contributions, false and unfair advertising, trade label, tortious interference with contract, breach of contract, misappropriation of third party proprietary information and unfair trade practices) arising out of or related to the manufacturing, distributing, sale, marketing, promotion and/or advertising of the Authorized Products and/or the payment and/or calculation of the [****] and/or Minimum Jr Promotional Allowance;

 

11
 

 

  vi. any breach by Licensee of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any of Licensee’s representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this Agreement; and
     
  vii. any infringement by the Authorized Products (or any aspect or component thereof) upon the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third party (or any misappropriation of such rights), except to the extent that such claim is based upon the use of the Authorized Trademark strictly in accordance with this Agreement.

 

b. Licensee shall promptly notify Licensor of any action, suit, claim, demand, inquiry or investigation to which the foregoing indemnification applies. If any Licensor Indemnitee is or may be named in any such action, suit, claim, demand, inquiry or investigation, such Licensor Indemnitee shall be permitted (but under no circumstances will such Licensor Indemnitee be obligated) to undertake the defense or settlement thereof at Licensee’s sole cost and expense. Each Licensor Indemnitee may, at any time and without notice, agree to any settlement or take any remedial or corrective action it deems to be in its best interests. Each Licensor Indemnitee shall have the right to require Licensee to defend any such claims and, in the event that such Licensor Indemnitee chooses to have Licensee undertake the defense of any claim hereunder, Licensee shall not settle such claim without Licensor’s prior written consent.

 

c. Licensor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Licensee and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of their respective principals, officers, directors, employees, managers and other representatives (collectively, “ Licensee Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all third-party liabilities, damages, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs) based upon, arising out of, or related to any claim that the Authorized Trademark when used in strict accordance herewith and used as approved by Licensor as provided herein infringes the United States trademark right of any third party.

 

d. EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO LICENSEE’S INDEMNITY OBLIGATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15.a. AND LICENSOR’S INDEMNITY OBLIGATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15.c ABOVE, NEITHER PARTY HERETO WILL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION AND THE LIKE, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL LICENSOR’S MAXIMUM LIABILITY, IF ANY, UNDER THIS AGREEMENT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF THE MINIMUM JR PROMOTIONAL ALLOWANCE THEN ACTUALLY PAID TO LICENSOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

 

12
 

 

 

16. Notices . Any notice, payment or other form of communication, including any modification of this Agreement, will be duly made when personally delivered to the party to be notified, or when sent by facsimile, overnight courier ( e.g. , FedEx), or mailed, return receipt requested, to the address set forth below or to such other addresses a party may designate by notice pursuant hereto. Notices, payments and other forms of communication shall be sent to:

 

  To Licensor: RICH MARKS, LLC
    c/o Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group
    11 Music Circle South
    Nashville, TN 37203
     
  with a copy to: Greenberg Traurig LLP
    Terminus 200
    3333 Piedmont Road, NE
    Suite 2500
    Atlanta, Georgia 30305
    Attn: Jess L. Rosen, Esq.
     
  If to Trust: DWIGHT P. WILES
    TRUSTEE OF THE JOHN D. RICH TISA TRUST U/A/D MARCH 27, 2018 Wiles + Taylor & Company, P.C.
    900 Division Street
    Nashville TN 37203
     
  If to Licensee: REDNECK RIVIERA WHISKEY CO., LLC
    1001 SE Water Ave. Ste.390
    Portland, OR 97214-2149
     
  with a copy to: Dickinson Wright PLLC
    2600 W. Big Beaver Rd.
    Suite 300
    Troy MI 48084
    Attn: Michael T. Raymond, Esq.

 

17. Dispute Resolution; Choice of Laws . THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, AND THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND LEGAL EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES UNDER TENNESSEE LAW). THE TENNESSEE COURTS (STATE AND FEDERAL), SHALL HAVE SOLE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THIS AGREEMENT; ANY ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH INVOLVES SUCH A CONTROVERSY SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THOSE COURTS IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE AND NOT ELSEWHERE. THE PARTIES WAIVE ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS TO VENUE IN THOSE COURTS AND HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. ANY PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY, AMONG OTHER METHODS, BE SERVED UPON a PARTY BY DELIVERING IT OR MAILING IT, BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR BY OVERNIGHT COURIER OBTAINING PROOF OF DELIVERY, DIRECTED TO THE ADDRESS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 16 ABOVE OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS A PARTY MAY DESIGNATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 16 ABOVE. ANY SUCH DELIVERY OR MAIL SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.

 

13
 

 

18. Miscellaneous . This Agreement is the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all proposals or agreements, oral or written, and all other communications between the parties related to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement can be modified only by a written agreement duly signed by the persons authorized to sign agreements on behalf of Licensee and Licensor, respectively. Neither party shall have the right to assign (by operation of law, merger, change of control or otherwise), transfer or license or sublicense any of its rights hereunder without the consent of the other party, which such party may withhold at its sole discretion. If any provision of this Agreement is adjudged by any court to be void, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this adjudication shall not affect the remainder of such provision or the validity and continuation of the remainder of this Agreement. If as a result of such adjudication, continuation of this Agreement would be inconsistent with the fundamental intentions of the parties, the parties shall use reasonable business efforts to agree on substitute provision(s), which, while valid, will achieve as closely as possible the same effects as the invalid provision(s). Neither party shall be deemed the drafter of this Agreement. The relationship between Licensor and Licensee hereunder shall at all times be that of independent contractors, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall render or constitute Licensor and Licensee joint venturers, partners, or agents of each other or allow a party to legally bind the other party with respect to any third party. Captions contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not constitute part of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which is deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

19. Non-Disparagement . Excepting any truthful statements made by a party pursuant to a court order, legal proceeding, or otherwise required by law, neither party shall disparage or denigrate the other party or its representatives.

 

20. Buy-Out .

 

a. If, during the Term of this Agreement, Licensor enters into material discussions with a third party respecting a potential sale of solely the Authorized Property from Licensor, Licensor shall inform Licensee of such discussions within ten (10) days of such discussion. Licensor is not required to disclose the identity of the potential purchaser during these preliminary discussions. Except for those termination rights contained herein, Licensor may not terminate this Agreement while it is negotiating a sale of the Authorized Property with a potential purchaser.

 

b. In the event that Licensor shall at any time during the Term of this Agreement receive a bona-fide, signed, written offer (a “ Purchase Offer ”) from a potential purchaser to acquire the Authorized Property with respect to the Authorized Products, Licensor shall submit a redacted copy of such Purchase Offer to Licensee within [****] from the date Licensor receives the Purchase Offer. Licensee shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to Licensor within [****] form the date of delivery of the Purchase Offer to Licensee, to purchase such rights and interests for the same price and on the same terms and conditions as are contained in the Purchase Offer. If Licensee does not exercise the above-described right of first refusal by delivering written notice and an offer to purchase in the same form and upon the same terms and conditions as are contained in the Purchase Offer within such [****] period (a “ Rejected Offer ”), Licensor may complete the sale to such potential purchaser pursuant in substantial occurrence with the terms of the Purchase Offer, provided that if the sale to the potential purchaser is not completed in substantial accordance with the terms and conditions of the Purchase Offer, or if there is a material change to the terms of the Purchaser Offer, Licensee shall again have the right of first refusal provided herein under the new terms of the offer.

 

c. In the event of a sale of the Authorized Property by Licensor during the Term (an “ IP Sale ”):

 

i. to remit to Licensee, upon the consummation of such IP Sale, fifty percent (50%) of those out-of-pocket marketing expenses (and, for avoidance of doubt, not in respect of payments of [****]) approved by Licensor in each case in writing which were expended by Licensee solely in promoting the Distilled Spirits Products hereunder as of the consummation of such IP Sale (collectively, the “ Marketing Reimbursement ”).

 

14
 

 

ii. to remit to Licensee, upon the consummation of such IP Sale (or in the event that not all compensation is paid upon the closing of such IP Sale, when and as such compensation is actually received by Licensor), a sales bonus (the “ Sales Bonus ”) based on a percentage set forth on Exhibit C attached hereto and hereby incorporated herein by this reference (the “ Applicable Percentage ”) of the Net Purchase Price (as defined below), actually received by Licensor in such IP Sale. The Applicable Percentage shall only apply to that amount actually received by Licensor respecting the IP Sale and shall not include amounts respecting holdbacks, escrows, Reimbursements and costs, expenses, taxes and the like paid or owing to any unaffiliated third party as part of, or in connection with, or paid to a third-party respecting indemnification claims made by the purchaser, as of any such IP Sale (the “ Net Purchase Price ”). Further, in the event that the foregoing purchase and sale also contemplates the sale of any other intellectual property owned and/or held by Licensor and/or Artist, directly or indirectly (e.g., “REDNECK RIVIERA” in IC 25), then only that part of the Net Purchase Price applicable to the Authorized Property actively under license hereunder (e.g., the Initial Products only if Licensee is manufacturing and causing the active distribution of same at the time of such purchase and sale) shall be considered in computing the Sales Bonus hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the Sales Bonus will be calculated by applying the Applicable Percentage on a percentage basis, and adding all of the relevant tiers together. For instance, below are examples of possible Sales Bonus amounts:

 

Net Purchase Price Sales Bonus Calculation
[****] [****] [****]
[****] [****] [****]

 

iii. Six Month Termination Window . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in the event that an IP Sale is consummated during the Six Month Termination Window, Licensee shall only and solely be entitled to the Marketing Reimbursement (and not for avoidance of doubt, Licensee shall not be entitled to any Sales Bonus or other amount).

 

21. Ownership .

 

a. Materials . Any and all designs, logos, depictions, graphic representations and/or other creative renderings incorporating, depicting and/or embodying any one or more elements of the Authorized Property, in any and all media now known or hereafter invented, including modifications to the Authorized Property in any media now or hereafter invented (including, specifically all elements of the Brand Intellectual Property) (collectively, “ Materials ”), and all rights, including all copyrights and trademark rights in and to the Materials, shall be solely and exclusively owned by Licensor. Without limiting the foregoing, Licensor acknowledges and confirms that all of its services in connection with the creation of the Materials are and shall be rendered for, at the instigation and under the overall direction and supervision of Licensor, and the Materials is and at all times shall be regarded as a “work made for hire” (as that term is used in the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101, et seq. (the “ Act ”)) by Licensee for Licensor. Without limiting the acknowledgment contained in the previous sentence, Licensor hereby assigns, grants and delivers (and hereby further agrees to assign, grant and deliver) exclusively unto Licensor all rights, title and interests of every kind and nature whatsoever in and to the Materials and all copies and versions thereof, including all copyrights therein and thereto and all renewals thereof. Licensee further agrees to execute and deliver to Licensor, its successors and assigns, such other and further instruments and documents as Licensor reasonably may request for the purpose of establishing, evidencing and enforcing or defending its complete, exclusive, perpetual and worldwide ownership of all rights, title and interests of every kind and nature whatsoever, including all copyrights, in and to the Materials, and Licensee hereby constitutes and appoints Licensor as their respective agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to execute and deliver such documents or instruments as they may respectively fail or refuse to execute and deliver within ten (10) days (or such shorter period as designated by Licensor if reasonably necessary), this power and agency being coupled with an interest and being irrevocable. Licensee covenants, warrants and represents that the Materials will not violate or infringe any copyright of any person, firm or corporation, and each has and will order, commission or otherwise obtain or receive from any other person (other than an “employee” working “within the scope of employment” (as those terms are understood under the Act)) any work on or contribution to the Materials without obtaining a valid and binding work-for-hire and/or assignment agreement in a form approved in advance by Licensor.

 

15
 

 

b. Delivery Upon Termination . Any and all Materials shall be sent to Licensor at no cost and prepaid at Licensor’s request not later than thirty (30) days following the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

c. Clarity . For avoidance of doubt, as between the parties hereto, Licensor shall own all modifications, adjustments, changes, variations, revisions, adaptations and/or alterations to any element of the Authorized Property and any/and all derivations and derivative works thereof (collectively, “ Modifications ”) and any act or action by or for Licensee shall not convert such Authorized Property and/or Modifications into Licensee property.

 

22. Insurance .

 

a. Liability . Licensee shall throughout the Term of this Agreement and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, obtain and maintain at its own cost and expense that general liability and product liability insurance acceptable to Licensor. Such policy must be written with a licensed insurance company with a Best’s rating of not less than A-VIII and, with respect to each policy name Licensor and Artist as an additional named insured. Each policy shall provide for ten (10) days’ notice to Licensor from the insurer by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, in the event of any modification, cancellation or termination of such insurance. Licensee agrees to furnish Licensor certificates of insurance evidencing same within thirty (30) days after execution of this Agreement.

 

b. Errors and Omissions . Licensee shall throughout the Term of this Agreement obtain and maintain at its own cost and expense that errors and omissions insurance acceptable to Licensor. Such policy must be written with a licensed insurance company with a Best’s rating of not less than A-VIII and shall specifically name by endorsement to the policy Licensor, Artist and Trust as an additional named insured. The amount of coverage shall be for a minimum mutually agreed upon commercially reasonable amount. The policy shall provide for ten (10) days’ notice to Licensor from the insurer by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, in the event of any modification, cancellation or termination of the insurance. Licensee agrees to furnish Licensor certificates of insurance evidencing same within thirty (30) days after execution of this Agreement.

 

23. Injunctive Relief/General . Licensee acknowledges that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement (including Licensee’s failure to cease utilizing the Authorized Property and/or Brand Intellectual Property upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Term) will cause irreparable injury to Licensor for which the remedy at law may be inadequate and would be difficult to ascertain. Therefore, in the event of the breach of threatened breach of any such covenants by Licensee, Licensor shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights and remedies it may have at law or in equity, to an injunction to restrain Licensee from any threatened or actual activities in violation of any such covenants. Licensee hereby consents and agrees that temporary and permanent injunctive relief may be granted in any proceedings which might be brought to enforce any such covenants without the necessity of proving of actual damages or posting a bond, and in the event Licensor does apply for such an injunction, Licensee shall not raise as a defense thereto that the Licensor has an adequate remedy at law.

 

24. [Intentionally Left Blank.]

 

16
 

 

25. Quality Standards . To further protect the integrity and value of the Authorized Property, Licensee (i) agrees that the Distilled Spirits Products shall be manufactured, bottled and produced at production facilities approved by Licensor (“ Approved Production Facilities ”) and conform in each case in all material organoleptic respects (taste, color, and bouquet) to the specifications and quality standards as mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, and (ii) represents, warrants and covenants that the Distilled Spirits Products shall be merchantable and fit for human consumption. Additionally, Licensee represents, warrants and covenants at all times during the Term that the Distilled Spirits Products manufactured, bottled and shipped by Licensee hereunder will be free from defects and will not be adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the United States Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, (any federal alcohol regulation promulgated by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau or its predecessor agency (collectively the “ TTB ”), or state alcohol commission regulation, or within the meaning of any state or other food, alcohol or drug law) and that such Distilled Spirits Products will be processed, bottled, packaged, labeled, stored, transported, packed and shipped in compliance with all other applicable U.S. federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulation. Licensee shall obtain all necessary permits, approvals and licenses necessary or appropriate to perform its obligations hereunder (including, without limitation the bottling, labeling, distribution and sale of the Authorized Products) and shall at all times comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, approvals and licenses. Moreover, Licensee represents, warrants and covenants at all time during the Term, it will not use any ingredients in the Distilled Spirits Products that are not in compliance with any food, health and safety laws or regulations. Licensee shall permit inspection of the Distilled Spirits Products and the Approved Production Facilities upon reasonable notice solely for determination of compliance with the terms hereof. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if Licensor determines that any Distilled Spirit Product is not in strict compliance with the provisions of this Section 25, it shall send written notice of same to Licensee and Licensee shall have thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of such notice to cure such failure and any failure to fully do so within such thirty day period shall give Licensor the right to immediately terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Licensee.

 

[Signature on Next Page.]

 

17
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

LICENSOR:   LICENSEE:
RICH MARKS, LLC   REDNECK RIVIERA WHISKEY CO., LLC
       

By:

/s/John D. Rich   By:

/s/Grover T. Wickersham

 

(authorized signatory)

   

(authorized signatory)

         
Print name John D. Rich   Print name: Grover T. Wickersham
Title: CEO   Title:

Manager

 

TRUST:   FORMER LICENSEE:
John D. RICH TISA Trust U/A/D MARCH 27, 2018, DWIGHT P. WILES, TRUSTEE     EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.
     

By:

/s/Dwight P. Wiles   By: /s/Grover T. Wickersham
 

(authorized signatory)

    (authorized signatory)
         
Print name:

Dwight P. Wiles

  Print name: Grover T. Wickersham
Title: Trustee   Title: Chairman,CEO

 

18
 

 

Exhibit A

 

Distribution Channels

 

1. Online – solely in the Territory
2. Distributors – solely in the Territory
3. Retail stores – solely in the Territory
4. State liquor stores (e.g. ABC Stores) – solely in the Territory
5. Direct-to-Consumer (where permitted) – solely in the Territory

 

 
 

 

Exhibit B

 

Annual Case Objective (Contract Years [ **** ])

 

  Initial Products [****]
Year [ **** ] [ **** ]
Year 1 [****]  
Year 2 [****]  

 

Minimum JR Promotional Allowance

 

[**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****]

 

 
 

 

Exhibit C

 

Applicable Percentages

 

Bonus Amount Tier of Net Purchase Price Applicable Percentage
[**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** ****
**** **** ]

 

 
 

 

Exhibit D

 

U.S. Federal Registration for REDNECK RIVIERA, International Class 33, Serial Number 86976840.

 

 
 

 

Exhibit E

 

[****] Per Case (12x 750 mL bottles / 24x 375 mL bottles, or equivalent) Invoiced

 

Retail Price Points [ **** ] [ **** ] [ **** ]
       
[****] Per Case [****] [****] [****]