UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2018

 

or

 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

 

Commission file number: 000-55903

 

BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   82-4270040
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
3000 NW 109th Avenue
Miami, Florida
  33172
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(305) 836-6858

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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 Website, 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [  ]

 

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

 

  Large Accelerated Filer [  ] Accelerated Filer [  ]
  Non-Accelerated Filer [  ] Smaller reporting company [X]
  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Emerging Growth Company [X]

 

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 June 30, 2018, there were 10,000,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding. Of these 10,000,000 shares, none were held by non-affiliates of the registrant. Therefore, the aggregate market value of securities held by non-affiliates as of May 31, 2018 was $0.00.

 

As of March 29, 2019, there were 16,028,164 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 3
     
PART I   4
     
ITEM 1. BUSINESS 4
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 11
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 29
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 29
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 29
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 29
     
PART II   29
     
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 29
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 30
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 31
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 38
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 39
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 64
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 65
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION 66
     
PART III   67
     
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 67
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 70
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 76
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 76
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 78
     
PART IV   80
     
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 80
     
SIGNATURES 82

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Except for historical information, this report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements include, among others, those statements including the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans” and words of similar import. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, potential target businesses, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you therefore that you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as statements of historical fact or as guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include changes in local, regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market (supply and demand) and regulatory conditions and the following:

 

  Our ability to raise capital when needed and on acceptable terms and conditions;
     
  Our ability to make acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses into our company;
     
  Our ability to attract and retain management with experience in the business of importing, packaging and selling of seafood;
     
  Our ability to negotiate, finalize and maintain economically feasible agreements with suppliers and customers;
     
  The availability of crab meat and other premium seafood products we sell;
     
  The intensity of competition; and
     
  Changes in the political and regulatory environment and in business and fiscal conditions in the United States and overseas.

 

These risks and others described under the section “Risk Factors” below are not exhaustive.

 

Given these uncertainties, readers of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

 

All references in this Annual Report to the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”, are to Blue Star Foods Corp. (formerly AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiary, John Keeler & Co., Inc., d/b/a Blue Star Foods, a Florida corporation.

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

History

 

We were incorporated on October 17, 2017 in the State of Delaware as a blank check company to be used as a vehicle to pursue a business combination with an unidentified target. Since inception, and prior to the Merger (as defined below), we only engaged in organizational efforts. Following the Merger, we discontinued our prior activities of seeking a business for a merger or acquisition and acquired the business of John Keeler & Co., Inc., d/b/a Blue Star Foods, a Florida corporation formed on May 5, 1995 (“Keeler & Co”).

 

On November 8, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), we consummated a merger (the “Merger”) pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, Blue Star Acquisition Corp., a newly formed, wholly-owned Florida subsidiary of the Company (“Acquisition Sub”), Keeler & Co, and John Keeler, Keeler & Co’s sole stockholder (the “Keeler & Co Stockholder”). As a result of the Merger, effective as of November 8, 2018, Acquisition Sub merged with and into Keeler & Co, and Keeler & Co became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company changed its name from “AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.” to “Blue Star Foods Corp.” and succeeded to the business of Keeler & Co, an international seafood company that imports, packages and sells refrigerated pasteurized crab meat, and other premium seafood products, including crab cakes, finfish and wakami salad, as its sole line of business.

 

At the Closing Date, each of the 500 shares of Keeler & Co’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger was exchanged for 30,000 shares of our common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”). As a result, an aggregate of 15,000,000 shares of our Common Stock were issued to the Keeler & Co Stockholder.

 

Concurrently with the closing of the Merger, we held an initial closing of our private placement offering (the “Offering”) of a minimum of $700,000 and a maximum of $3,200,000 of units of our securities (the “Units”), in which we sold 725 Units at a purchase price of $1,000 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $725,000. Each Unit consisted of one share of the Company’s 8% Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Stock”), initially convertible into shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, at a conversion rate of $2.00 per share, and (ii) a three-year warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase one-half of one share of Common Stock for every share of Common Stock that would be received upon conversion of a share of Series A Stock (the “Warrant Shares”), at an exercise price equal to $2.40.

 

On November 8, 2018, we entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the investors in the Offering. Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, within 120 business days after the closing of the Offering, the Company is obligated toll file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC covering the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares (collectively, the “Registrable Shares”) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective and to keep such Registration Statement effective for a period of twelve months or for such shorter period ending on the earlier to occur of (x) the sale of all Registrable Securities and (y) the availability of Rule 144 for the sale of the Registrable Securities without volume limitations within a 90 day period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the SEC limits the number of Registrable Securities that may be sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company may remove from the Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities as specified by the SEC on a pro-rata basis (the “SEC Cutback”). The holders of Registrable Shares will have “piggyback” registration rights for such Registrable Shares with respect to two registration statements in accordance with the terms and the notice requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, subject to a SEC Cutback or a customary cutback in an underwritten offering, both which would be pro rata.

 

Effective upon the closing of the Merger, we issued an aggregate of 688 Units to eleven individuals and entities (the “Settlement Parties”) in consideration for each such individual or entity entering into a settlement and mutual general release agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with the Company in full and complete settlement and satisfaction and release of claims such Settlement Parties may have against the Company (the “Company Settlement”).

 

4
 

 

Also, in connection with the Merger, the Company redeemed an aggregate of 9,250,000 shares of Common Stock from the Company’s pre-Merger stockholders (the “Pre-Merger Holders”) for cancellation by the Company (the “Share Redemption”). The Pre-Merger Holders retained an aggregate of 750,000 shares of our Common Stock after the Merger. The shares were surrendered in consideration for the direct benefit the Pre-Merger Holders will receive in connection with the consummation of the Merger.

 

Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and 5,000,000 shares of the preferred stock, of which 10,000 shares have been designated as Series A Stock. Our Common Stock is not traded on any exchange or quoted on the OTC Markets, and there is no public market for our Common Stock.

 

Company Overview

 

We are an international seafood company that imports, packages and sells refrigerated pasteurized crab meat, and other premium seafood products. Our current source of revenue is from importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Indonesia, Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States, Canada and Europe under several premium brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika, Crab & Go and Harbor Banks. Our products are also sold in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Hong Kong. The crab meat which we import is processed in 14 plants throughout Southeast Asia. Our suppliers are primarily via co-packing relationships, including two affiliated suppliers. We sell primarily to food service distributors. We also sell our products to wholesalers, retail establishments and seafood distributors. See “Description of Business” below.

 

Our premium proprietary brands are differentiated in terms of quality and price point.

 

We believe that we utilize best-in-class technology, in both resource sustainability management and ecological packaging.

 

The Company’s executive offices and warehouse facility are based in Miami, Florida Additionally, the Company may, from time to time, utilize third party warehouses located in Miami, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

 

Strategy

 

Our strategy is to create a vertically integrated seafood company that offers customers high quality products while maintaining a focus on our core values of delivering food safety, traceability and certified sustainability.

 

We plan to grow the Company organically by continuing to grow our customer base, offering additional species to our customers, introducing new value-added product lines and strategically acquiring companies that we believe we can integrate into a larger, vertically integrated company.

 

Competitive Strengths -Sustainable and Traceable Product Sourcing

 

We believe that our greatest point of differentiation from other seafood companies are our efforts to ensure that our seafood products are ethically sourced in a method that is consistent with our core values and those of our customers.

 

We purchase the majority of our crab product from processors which source the crab meat from local fishermen in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India, to whom we pay a premium in order to outfit their boats with a proprietary GPS-based system. This system allows us to trace where the crab product originates and ensure that only mature crabs are being harvested by the use of collapsible traps and not gill nets.

 

We have created a technology platform that tracks the product through its entire chain of custody and collects and transmits various data to the Company in real-time, from the loading site, to the packing plant, through the sorting and pasteurization process and the exporting process to the end customer. Our technology allows our customers access to their “Scan on Demand” QR code-enabled traceability application.

 

5
 

 

The crab meat is purchased directly from processors with whom we have long-standing relationships, that have agreed to source their product in a sustainable manner. All crab meat is sourced under the Company’s FDA approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (“HACCP”) Plan. Additionally, all suppliers are certified by the British Retail Consortium (the “BRC”) and are audited annually to ensure safety and quality of our product.

 

Our warehouse facility in Miami, Florida is the only crab meat facility audited by the BRC in the U.S.

 

Proprietary Brands. We have created several brands of crab meat that are well regarded amongst our customers and are differentiated by product quality and price point.

 

Blue Star is packed with only high quality Portunus Pelagicus species crab and is produced under exacting specifications and quality control requirements.
   
Pacifika is a quality brand for the price conscious end-user. The Portunus Haanii crab meat is packed in China and is ideal for upscale plate presentations.
   
Oceanica is made from the Portunus Haanii crab, which is caught and processed in Vietnam. It is an affordable choice to help reduce food cost without sacrificing the look / taste of dishes.
   
Crab + Go Premium Seafood is geared towards millennials as part of the trend toward prepackaged grab and go items. The product is packaged in flexible foil pouches.

 

Eco-Friendly Packaging. Another major point of differentiation from our competitors is our use of sustainable and ethical packaging. Our green pouches for Eco-Fresh crab meat are patented in the United States, Europe, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia under patent Nos.1526091 B1 and US Patents 8,337,922 and 8,445,046. Since their introduction in 2003, these pouches have saved in excess of 800 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions versus metal can packaging material.

 

Competition

 

In general, the international seafood industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented. We compete with local and overseas manufacturers and importers engaged in similar products.

 

The Company’s primary competitors are Tri Union Frozen Products, Inc. (Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods), Phillips Foods, Inc., Harbor Seafood, Inc., Bonamar Corporation and Twin Tails Seafood Corp.

 

Industry Overview

 

The international seafood industry is going through a period of rapid change as it strives to meet the needs of a growing population around the world, where food consumption habits are evolving. We believe there are powerful trends emerging in the developing world (including a growing demand for animal-based protein) as well as and in the developed world (where there is an increased awareness and focus on sustainable sourcing and protecting marine ecosystems).

 

Population Growth and Global Seafood Consumption

 

  The United Nations estimates that there will be close to 9.8 billion people on our planet by the year 2050(1), a significant increase from the existing population estimates of 7.6 billion. (1)
     
  (1) United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2017)

 

  As the population has grown, so has per capita consumption. World per capita apparent fish consumption increased from an average of 9.9 kg in the 1960s to 14.4 kg in the 1990s and 19.7 kg in 2013, with preliminary estimates for 2014 and 2015 pointing towards further growth beyond 20 kg. (2)

 

6
 

 

  (2) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture – 2016”.

 

Sources of Seafood

 

  Global total capture fishery production in 2014 was 93.4 million tons, of which 81.5 million tons from marine waters and 11.9 million tons from inland waters (3).
     
  (3) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture – 2016”.
     
  Where seafood comes is sourced is changing in order to meet the demand. In 2014, a milestone was reached when the aquaculture sector’s contribution to the supply of fish for human consumption overtook that of wild-caught fish for the first time (4).
     
  (4) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture – 2016”.

 

Seafood Industry Participants

 

  The mix of parties involved in seafood varies from the local village fisherman, to large, international, vertically-integrated seafood companies.
     
  The total number of fishing vessels in the world in 2014 is estimated at about 4.6 million, with the fleet in Asia being the largest, consisting of 3.5 million vessels and accounting for 75 percent of the global fleet, followed by Africa (15%), Latin America and the Caribbean (6%), North America (2%) and Europe (2%) (5).
     
  (5) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture – 2016”.

 

Growth Strategy

 

We intend to grow the business organically and through strategic acquisitions.

 

Organic growth – We believe that allocating additional capital to our existing business plan will allow us to continue to meet growing demand from end-customers for seafood products. The Company also currently intends to introduce new species, including lobster tails, fin fish and other specialty seafood proteins in the next 18 months.

 

Acquisitions –We also currently intend to evaluate strategic acquisitions in the fragmented seafood industry. We believe that such potential acquisitions may add value in several ways, including geographical diversification and new specifies offerings, as well as operational and price synergies.

 

Products

 

We currently have four products: Blue Star, Pacifika, Oceanica, and Crab & Go Premium Seafood.

 

Blue Star is packed with only high quality Portunus Pelagicus species crab and is produced under exacting specifications and quality control requirements.

 

Pacifika is a quality brand for the price conscious end-user. The Portunus Haanii crab meat is packed in China and is ideal for upscale plate presentations.

 

Oceanica is made from the Portunus Haanii crab, which is caught and processed in Vietnam. It is an affordable choice to help reduce food cost without sacrificing the look / taste of dishes.

 

7
 

 

Grab + Go Premium Seafood is geared towards millennials as part of the trend toward pre-packaged, grab-and-go items. The product is packaged in flexible foil pouches.

 

Suppliers

 

We purchase crab meat directly from 14 processors with which we have long-standing relationships, that have agreed to source their product in a sustainable manner. All crab meat is sourced under the Company’s FDA approved HACCP Plan. Additionally, all suppliers are certified by the BRC and are audited annually to ensure safety and quality.

 

The Company has two suppliers which accounted for approximately 76% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2018. These two suppliers are located in Indonesia and the Philippines, which accounted for approximately 93% of the Company’s total purchases during 2018. These suppliers included Bacolod Blue Star Export Corp. (“Bacolod”), an affiliated party based in the Philippines, which accounted for approximately 49% of the Company’s total purchases during 2018. Five non-affiliated suppliers, PT Siger Jaya Abadi of Indonesia, PT Blue Star Anugrah of Indonesia, PT Bumi Menara Interusa of Indonesia, PT Nuansa Cipta Magello and PT Muria Bahari Indonesia made up the balance of the 44% of the supply concentration.

 

Sales, Marketing and Distribution

 

The Company’s products can be found in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Hong Kong. Its primary current source of revenue is importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Indonesia, Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States, Canada and Europe under several brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika and Harbor Banks.

 

The Company has a sales team of four employees based throughout the U.S. who sell directly to customers most of whom are in the food service and retail industry and also manage a network of nine regional and national brokers, that cover both the retail and wholesale segments. The sales team and brokers help to pull the products through the system by creating demand at the end user level and pulling the demand through our distributor customers. We sell to retail customers either directly or via distributors that specialize in the retail segment.

 

The Company does not own its own fleet of trucks and utilizes “LTL” national freight carriers to deliver its products to its customers. Less than truckload freight shipping (“LTL”) is used for the transportation of small freight or when freight does not require the use of an entire trailer. When shipping LTL, we pay for a portion of a standard truck trailer, and other shippers and their shipments fill the unoccupied space.

 

Our Technology

 

We have created a technology platform that tracks the product through its entire chain of custody and collects and transmits various data to the Company in real-time, from the loading site, to the packing plant, through the sorting and pasteurization process and the exporting process to the end customer. Our technology allows our customers access to their “Scan on Demand” QR code-enabled traceability application.

 

Customers

 

Our customer base is comprised of some of the largest companies in the food service and retail industry. We sell our crab meat to our customers through purchase orders. Currently, almost 63% of our revenue is derived from fortune 500 customers. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, sales to food distributors accounted for 57% of our revenue, sales to large buying cooperatives accounted for 11% of our revenue, and sales to retail and wholesale clubs accounting for 11% of our revenue. The balance of our revenue derived from smaller seafood distributors and value-added processors.

 

Our sales are diversified geographically throughout the United States, with Florida being the largest geographic concentration at 17% of sales. As typical in the seafood industry, a large portion of our revenue is located along the eastern seaboard with 42% of our revenue derived from sales to customers along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Florida. International sales directly or through our affiliate in the United Kingdom, Strike the Gold Foods, Ltd. make up roughly 3% of revenue.

 

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The Company had three customers which accounted for approximately 65% of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2018. Outstanding receivables from these customers accounted for approximately 67% of the total accounts receivable as of December 31, 2018. The loss of any major customer could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

 

Intellectual Property

 

Our intellectual property is an essential element of our business. We use a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and other intellectual property laws and confidentiality agreements to protect our intellectual property. Our policy is to seek patent protection in the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions for our products, processes and other technology where available and when appropriate. We also in-license technology, inventions and improvements we consider important to the development of our business.

 

In addition to our patents, we also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, copyright protection and continuing technological and licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our competitive position. We have periodically monitored and continue to monitor the activities of our competitors and other third parties with respect to their use of intellectual property. We require our employees to execute confidentiality and non-competition agreements upon commencing employment with us. Despite these safeguards, any of our know-how or trade secrets not protected by a patent could be disclosed to, or independently developed by, a competitor.

 

It is our standard practice to require our employees to sign agreements acknowledging that all inventions, trade secrets, works of authorship, developments and other processes generated by them on our behalf are our property, and assigning to us any ownership in those works Despite our precautions, it may be possible for third parties to obtain and use without consent intellectual property that we own. Unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties, and the expenses incurred in protecting our intellectual property rights, may adversely affect our business.

 

Borrowings under our loan and security agreement with ACF are secured by substantially all of our personal property, including our intellectual property.

 

The following is a list of our patents:

 

Title Country

Patent No. OR

Publication No

Issue Date Application No.

Application

Date

POUCH-PACKAGED CRABMEAT PRODUCT AND METHOD US 2015/0257426 A1   14/205,742 3/12/2014
METHOD FOR PACKAGING CRABMEAT US 8445046 B2 5/21/2013 13/681,027 11/19/2012
METHOD FOR PACKAGING CRABMEAT US 8337922 B2 12/25/2012 10/691,480 10/21/2003
METHOD FOR PACKAGING CRABMEAT EPC 1526091 B1     10/21/2004
  TH 28,256      
  PH 1-2005-000216      
  ID 21261      

 

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Our patents expire 20 years from the date of issuance.

 

The following is a list of our registered trademarks, and trademarks for which we have filed applications.

 

Mark Registration No

Registration

Date

Application No.

Application

Date

SEASSENTIALS 4573673 22-Jul-14 86050295 28-Aug-13
AMERICA’S FAVORITE CRABMEAT 2961590 7-Jun-05 78344059 22-Dec-03
ECO-FRESH 4525998 6-May-14 77922376 28-Jan-10
3858522 5-Oct-10 77885209 3-Dec-09
3818057 13-Jul-10 77885203 3-Dec-09
OCEANICA 3711200 17-Nov-09 77595180 17-Oct-08
2419060 9-Jan-01 75855876 19-Nov-99

 

Government Regulation

 

Our distribution facility in Florida and our international suppliers are certified in accordance with the HACCP, standards for exporting aquatic products to the United States. The HACCP standards are developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), pursuant to the FDA’s HACCP regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, part 123, and are used by the FDA to help ensure food safety and control sanitary standards.

 

Food Safety and Labeling

 

We are subject to extensive regulation, including, among other things, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”), the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the FDA. FSMA was enacted in order to aid the effective prevention of food safety issues in the food supply. This comprehensive and evolving regulatory program will impact how food is grown, packed, processed, shipped and imported into the United States and will govern compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices regulations (“GMPs”). The FDA has finalized seven major rules to implement FSMA, recognizing that ensuring the safety of the food supply is a shared responsibility among many different points in the global supply chain. The FSMA rules are designed to make clear specific actions that must be taken at each of these points to prevent contamination. Some aspects of these laws use a strict liability standard for imposing sanctions on corporate behavior. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we may be subject to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls, or seizures, and criminal sanctions, any of which could impact our results of operations.

 

In addition, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 prescribes the format and content of certain information required to appear on the labels of food products.

 

Our operations and products are also subject to state and local regulation, including the registration and licensing of plants, enforcement by state health agencies of various state standards, and the registration and inspection of facilities. Compliance with federal, state and local regulation is costly and time-consuming. Enforcement actions for violations of federal, state, and local regulations may include seizure and condemnation of products, cease and desist orders, injunctions or monetary penalties. We believe that our practices are sufficient to maintain compliance with applicable government regulations.

 

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Trade

 

For the purchase of products harvested or manufactured outside of the United States, and for the shipment of products to customers located outside of the United States, we are subject to customs laws regarding the import and export of shipments. Our activities, including working with customs brokers and freight forwarders, are subject to regulation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

 

Federal Trade Commission

 

We are subject to certain regulations by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Advertising of our products is subject to such regulation pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Employee Safety Regulations

 

We are subject to certain health and safety regulations, including regulations issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These regulations require us to comply with certain manufacturing, health, and safety standards to protect our employees from accidents.

 

Anticorruption

 

Because we are organized under the laws of a state in the U.S. and our principal place of business is in the U.S., we are considered a “domestic concern” under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and are covered by the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. The anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA prohibit any domestic concern and any officer, director, employee, or agent, acting on behalf of the domestic concern from paying or authorizing payment of anything of value to (i) influence any act or decision by a foreign official; (ii) induce a foreign official to do or omit to do any act in violation of his/her lawful duty; (iii) secure any improper advantage; or (iv) induce a foreign official to use his/her influence to assist the payor in obtaining or retaining business, or directing business to another person.

 

Environmental Regulation

 

We are subject to a number of federal, state, and local laws and other requirements relating to the protection of the environment and the safety and health of personnel and the public. These requirements relate to a broad range of our activities, including: the discharge of pollutants into the air and water; the identification, generation, storage, handling, transportation, disposal, recordkeeping, labeling, and reporting of, and emergency response in connection with, hazardous materials (including asbestos) associated with our operations; noise emissions from our facilities; and safety and health standards, practices, and procedures that apply to the workplace and the operation of our facilities. Insurance

 

We maintain general liability and product liability, property, worker’s compensation and business interruption insurance and are in the process of obtaining director and officer insurance in amounts and on terms that we believe are customary for companies similarly situated. In addition, we maintain excess insurance where we believe it is reasonably cost effective.

 

Employees

 

As of March 29, 2019, we have sixteen full time employees and one part-time employee. We believe that our future success will depend, in part, on our continued ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

THIS ANNUAL REPORT CONTAINS CERTAIN STATEMENTS RELATING TO FUTURE EVENTS OR THE FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF OUR COMPANY. YOU ARE CAUTIONED THAT SUCH STATEMENTS ARE ONLY PREDICTIONS AND INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, AND THAT ACTUAL EVENTS OR RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY. IN EVALUATING SUCH STATEMENTS, YOU SHOULD SPECIFICALLY CONSIDER THE VARIOUS FACTORS IDENTIFIED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT, INCLUDING THE MATTERS SET FORTH BELOW, WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE INDICATED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

 

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AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS BEFORE DECIDING TO INVEST IN OUR COMPANY. IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING RISKS ACTUALLY OCCUR, OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROSPECTS FOR GROWTH WOULD LIKELY SUFFER.

 

Risks Relating to Our Company and Business

 

Future acquisitions may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business.

 

Selective acquisitions currently form part of our strategy to further expand our business. If we are presented with appropriate opportunities, we may acquire additional businesses, services or products that are complementary to our core business. Future acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new companies into ours would require significant attention from our management. Future acquisitions would also expose us to potential risks, including risks associated with the assimilation of new operations, services and personnel, unforeseen or hidden liabilities, the diversion of resources from our existing businesses and technologies, the inability to generate sufficient revenue to offset the costs and expenses of acquisitions and potential loss of, or harm to, relationships with employees as a result of integration of new businesses. The diversion of our management’s attention and any difficulties encountered in any integration process could have a material adverse effect on our ability to manage our business.

 

The value of crab meat is subject to fluctuation which may result in volatility of our results of operations and the value of an investment in the Company.

 

Our business is dependent upon the sale of a commodity which value is subject to fluctuation and which value greatly fluctuates. Our net sales and operating results vary significantly due to the volatility of the value of the crab meat that we sell which may result in the volatility of the market price of our common stock.

 

A material decline in the population and biomass of crab meat that we sell in the fisheries from which we obtain our crab meat would materially and adversely affect our business.

 

The population and biomass of crab meat are subject to natural fluctuations which are beyond our control and which may be exacerbated by disease, reproductive problems or other biological issues and may be affected by changes in weather and global environmental changes. The overall health of a crab or other fish is difficult to measure, and fisheries management is still a relatively inexact science. Since we are unable to predict the timing and extent of fluctuations in the population and biomass of our products, we are unable to engage in any measures that might alleviate the adverse effects of these fluctuations. Any such fluctuation which results in a material decline in the population and biomass in the fisheries from which we obtain our crab meat would materially and adversely affect our business. Our operations are also subject to the risk of variations in supply.

 

We are subject to the risk of product contamination and product liability claims.

 

The sales of our products may involve the risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from tampering by unauthorized personnel, product contamination or spoilage, including the presence of foreign objects, substances, chemicals, or residues introduced during the packing, storage, handling or transportation phases. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, including internal product safety policies, we cannot be sure that consumption of our products will not cause a health-related illness in the future or that we will not be subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or injury could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our brand image.

 

A significant portion of our revenues are derived from a single product, crab meat, and therefore we are highly susceptible to changes in market demand, which may be affected by factors over which we have limited or no control.

 

A significant portion of our revenues are derived from a single product, crab meat. We therefore are highly susceptible to changes in market demand, which may be impacted by factors over which we have limited or no control. Factors that could lead to a decline in market demand for crab meat include economic conditions and evolving consumer preferences. A substantial downturn in market demand for crab meat may have a material adverse effect on our business and on our results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Industry

 

Regulation of the fishing industry may have an adverse impact on our business.

 

The international community has been aware of and concerned with the worldwide problem of depletion of natural fish stocks. In the past, these concerns have resulted in the imposition of quotas that subject individual countries to strict limitations on the amount of seafood that is allowed to be caught or harvested. Environmental groups have been lobbying for additional limitations. If international organizations or national governments were to impose additional limitations on crab meat or the seafood products we sell, this could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

 

Segments of the seafood industry in which we operate are competitive, and our inability to compete successfully could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We compete with major integrated seafood companies such as Tri Union Frozen Products, Inc. (Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods), Phillips Foods, Inc., Harbor Seafood, Inc., Bonamar Corporation and Twin Tails Seafood Corp. Some of our competitors have the benefit of marketing their products under brand names that have better market recognition than ours or have stronger marketing and distribution channels than we do. Increased competition as to any of our products could result in price reduction, reduced margins and loss of market share, which could negatively affect our profitability. An increase in imported products in the U.S. at low prices could also negatively affect our profitability.

 

Our insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover losses we may incur or to fully replace a significant loss of assets.

 

Our involvement in the fishing industry may result in liability for pollution, property damage, personal injury or other hazards. Although we believe we have obtained insurance in accordance with industry standards to address such risks, such insurance has limitations on liability and/or deductible amounts that may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of such liabilities or losses. In addition, such risks may not, in all circumstances, be insurable or, in certain circumstances, we may choose not to obtain insurance to protect against specific risks due to the high premiums associated with such insurance or for other reasons. The payment of such uninsured liabilities would reduce the funds available to us. If we suffer a significant event or occurrence that is not fully insured, or if the insurer of such event is not solvent, we could be required to divert funds from capital investment or other uses towards covering any liability or loss for such events.

 

Our operations, revenue and profitability could be adversely affected by changes in laws and regulations in the countries where we do business.

 

The governments of countries into which we sell our products, from time to time, consider regulatory proposals relating to raw materials, food safety and markets, and environmental regulations, which, if adopted, could lead to disruptions in distribution of our products and increase our operational costs, which, in turn, could affect our profitability. To the extent that we increase our product prices as a result of such changes, our sales volume and revenues may be adversely affected.

 

Furthermore, these governments may change import regulations or impose additional taxes or duties on certain imports from time to time. These regulations and fees or new regulatory developments may have a material adverse impact on our operations, revenue and profitability. If one or more of the countries into which we sell our products bars the import or sale of crab meat or related products, our available market would shrink significantly, adversely impacting our results of operations and growth potential.

 

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A decline in discretionary consumer spending may adversely affect our industry, our operations and ultimately our profitability.

 

Luxury products, such as premium grade crab meat, are discretionary purchases for consumers. Any reduction in consumer discretionary spending or disposable income may affect the crab meat industry significantly. Many economic factors outside of our control could affect consumer discretionary spending, including the financial markets, consumer credit availability, prevailing interest rates, energy costs, employment levels, salary levels, and tax rates. Any reduction in discretionary consumer spending could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern in its report on our audited financial statements.

 

The report from our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 includes an explanatory paragraph stating that for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company incurred a net loss of $2,277,116, has an accumulated deficit of $3,853,139 and working capital deficit of $1,146,937, inclusive of $2,910,136 in subordinated stockholder debt. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to increase revenues, execute on its business plan to acquire complimentary companies, raise capital and continue to sustain adequate working capital to finance its operations. If we are unable to do so, our financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected and we may be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

We are dependent on third parties for our operations.

 

Our business is dependent upon our relationships with vendors in Southeast Asia for co-packing, processing and shipping product to us. If for any reason these companies became unable or unwilling to continue to provide services to us, this would likely lead to a temporary interruption in our ability to import our products until we found another entity that could provide these services. Failure to find a suitable replacement, even on a temporary basis, would have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

We are primarily dependent on two suppliers to provide our crab meat product.

 

The Company had two suppliers which accounted for approximately 76% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2018. These two suppliers are located in Indonesia and the Philippinesand accounted for approximately 93% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2018. These suppliers included Bacolod, which accounted for approximately 49% of the Company’s total purchases during 2018. The loss of any major supplier could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position. John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, and Christopher Constable, our Chief Financial Officer, own 75% and 20%, respectively, of Bacolod, an exporter of pasteurized crab meat from the Philippines, and Messrs. Keeler and Constable own 80% and 15%, respectively, of Bicol Blue Star Export Co., a Philippine company (“Bicol”), and an indirect supplier of crab meat to the Company through Bacolod. Additionally, Mr. Constable manages the finance operations of these entities.

 

Three customers accounted for the majority of our revenue.

 

The Company had three customers which accounted for approximately 65% of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2018. . Outstanding receivables from these customers accounted for approximately 67% of the total accounts receivable as of December 31, 2018. The loss of any of any major customer could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

 

All of our significant customer contracts and some of our supplier contracts are short-term and may not be renewable on terms favorable to us, or at all.

 

All of our customers and some of our suppliers operate through purchase orders or short-term contracts. Though we have long-term business relationships with many of our customers and suppliers and alternative sources of supply for key items, we cannot be sure that any of these customers or suppliers will continue to do business with us on the same basis. Additionally, although we try to renew these contracts as they expire, there can be no assurance that these customers or suppliers will renew these contracts on terms that are favorable to us, if at all. The termination of, or modification to, any number of these contracts may adversely affect our business and prospects, including our financial performance and results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements

 

We may need to raise additional capital to fund our existing commercial operations and develop and commercialize new products and expand our operations.

 

Based on our current business plan, we believe the net proceeds from the Offering, together with our current cash and cash equivalents and cash receipts from sales will enable us to conduct our planned operations for at least the next 12 months. If our available cash balances, net proceeds from the Offering and anticipated cash flow from operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements including because of lower demand for our products or due to other risks described herein, we may seek to sell Common Stock or preferred stock or convertible debt securities, enter into an additional credit facility or another form of third-party funding or seek other debt financing.

 

We may consider raising additional capital in the future to expand our business, to pursue strategic investments, to take advantage of financing opportunities or for other reasons, including to:

 

  increase our sales and marketing efforts and address competitive developments;
     
  provide for supply and inventory costs;
     
  fund development and marketing efforts of any future products or additional features to then-current products;
     
  acquire, license or invest in new technologies;
     
  acquire or invest in complementary businesses or assets; and
     
  finance capital expenditures and general and administrative expenses.

 

Our present and future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:

 

  our ability to achieve revenue growth and improve gross margins;
     
  the cost of expanding our operations and offerings, including our sales and marketing efforts;
     
  the effect of competing market developments; and
     
  costs related to international expansion.

 

The various ways we could raise additional capital carry potential risks. If we raise funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to our stockholders could result. Any equity securities issued also could provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of our Common Stock. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, those debt securities would have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our Common Stock. The terms of debt securities issued or borrowings pursuant to a credit agreement could impose significant restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, we might be required to relinquish significant rights or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.

 

We will incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company and our management expects to devote substantial time to public company compliance programs.

 

As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses due to our compliance with regulations and disclosure obligations applicable to us, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) as well as rules implemented by the SEC, and the OTC Markets. Stockholder activism, the current political environment and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact, in ways we cannot currently anticipate, the manner in which we operate our business. Our management and other personnel will devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance programs and monitoring of and compliance with, public company reporting obligations. These rules and regulations will cause us to incur significant legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly.

 

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To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, including implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring new accounting or internal audit staff. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate and weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls could negatively impact the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we may be required to include in our periodic reports we will file with the SEC under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, harm our operating results, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in a restatement of our prior period financial statements. In the event that we are not able to demonstrate compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that our internal control over financial reporting is perceived as inadequate or that we are unable to produce timely or accurate financial statements, investors may lose confidence in our operating results and the price of our Common Stock could decline. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, our Common Stock may not be able to be eligible for quotation on the OTC Markets or meet the eligibility requirements for the NASDAQ Stock Market(“NASDAQ”).

 

We are not currently required to comply with the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and are therefore not yet required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. Upon becoming a public company, we will be required to comply with certain of these rules, which will require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting commencing with our second annual report. We are just beginning the costly and challenging process of compiling the system and processing documentation needed to comply with such requirements. We may not be able to complete our evaluation, testing and any required remediation in a timely fashion. During the evaluation and testing process, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the later of our second annual report or the first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act depending on whether we choose to rely on certain exemptions set forth in the JOBS Act. If we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could harm our business.

 

Our loan and security agreement with ACF Finco I LP (“ACF”), contains operating and financial covenants that may restrict business and financing activities of our wholly-owned subsidiary, John Keeler & Co, Inc.

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had $8,203,725 in outstanding debt to ACF. Borrowings under our loan and security agreement with ACF are secured by substantially all of our personal property, including our intellectual property. Our loan and security agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants which restricts our wholly-owned subsidiary, John Keeler & Co, Inc.’s ability to, among other things:

 

  dispose of or sell its assets;
     
  make material changes in its business;

 

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  merge with or acquire other entities or assets;
     
  incur additional indebtedness;
     
  create liens on its assets;
     
  pay dividends; and
     
  make investments.

 

The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our loan and security agreement, as well as any future financing agreements into which we may enter, may restrict our or our subsidiary’s ability to finance operations and engage in, expand or otherwise pursue business activities and strategies. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, and future breaches of any of these covenants could result in a default under our loan and security agreement. If not waived, future defaults could cause all of the outstanding indebtedness under our loan and security agreement to become immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit.

 

If we do not have or are unable to generate sufficient cash available to repay our debt obligations when they become due and payable, either upon maturity or in the event of a default, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on favorable terms, if at all, which may negatively impact our ability to operate and continue our business as a going concern.

 

We face risks related to the current global economic environment which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The state of the global economy continues to be uncertain. The current global economic conditions and uncertain credit markets, concerns regarding the availability of credit pose a risk that could impact our international relationships, as well as our ability to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers and creditors, including financial institutions. Global trade issues and the impositions of tariffs could also have an adverse effect on our international business activities. If the current global economic environment deteriorates, our business could be negatively affected.

 

Risks Related to Administrative, Organizational and Commercial Operations and Growth

 

We may be unable to manage our future growth effectively, which could make it difficult to execute our business strategy.

 

We anticipate growth in our business operations. This future growth could create a strain on our organizational, administrative and operational infrastructure, including manufacturing operations, quality control, technical support and customer service, sales force management and general and financial administration. Our ability to manage our growth properly will require us to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, as well as our reporting systems and procedures. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations.

 

If we are unable to support demand for our current and our future products, including ensuring that we have adequate resources to meet increased demand our business could be harmed.

 

As our commercial operations and sales volume grow, we will need to continue to increase our workflow capacity for processing, customer service, billing and general process improvements and expand our internal quality assurance program, among other things. We may also need to purchase additional equipment and increase our manufacturing, maintenance, software and computing capacity to meet increased demand. We cannot assure you that any of these increases in scale, expansion of personnel, purchase of equipment or process enhancements will be successfully implemented.

 

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The loss of our Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer or our inability to attract and retain highly skilled officers and key personnel could negatively impact our business.

 

Our success depends on the skills, experience and performance of our Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The individual and collective efforts of these individuals will be important as we continue to develop and expand our commercial activities. The loss or incapacity of existing members of our executive management team could negatively impact our operations if we experience difficulties in hiring qualified successors. Qualified employees periodically are in great demand and may be unavailable in the time frame required to satisfy our customers’ requirements. Expansion of our business could require us to employ additional personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract and retain sufficient numbers of skilled employees in the future. The loss of personnel or our inability to hire or retain sufficient personnel at competitive rates could impair the growth of our business.

 

If we were sued for product liability or professional liability, we could face substantial liabilities that exceed our resources.

 

The marketing and sale of our products could lead to the filing of product liability claims alleging that our product made users ill. A product liability claim could result in substantial damages and be costly and time-consuming for us to defend.

 

We maintain product liability insurance, but this insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending against product liability claims. Any product liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our insurance rates or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future. Additionally, any product liability lawsuit could lead to regulatory investigations, product recalls or withdrawals, damage our reputation or cause current vendors, suppliers and customers to terminate existing agreements and potential customers and partners to seek other suppliers, any of which could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

We face risks associated with our international business.

 

Our international business operations are subject to a variety of risks, including:

 

  difficulties with [managing] foreign and geographically dispersed operations;
     
  having to comply with various U.S. and international laws, including export control laws and the FCPA, and anti-money laundering laws;
     
  changes in uncertainties relating to foreign rules and regulations;
     
  tariffs, export or import restrictions, restrictions on remittances abroad, imposition of duties or taxes that limit our ability to import product;
     
  limitations on our ability to enter into cost-effective arrangements with distributors, or at all;
     
  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
     
  imposition of limitations on production, sale or export in foreign countries;
     
  imposition of limitations on or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by foreign processors or joint ventures;
     
  imposition of differing labor laws and standards;

 

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  economic, political or social instability in foreign countries and regions;
     
  an inability, or reduced ability, to protect our intellectual property, including any effect of compulsory licensing imposed by government action;
     
  availability of government subsidies or other incentives that benefit competitors in their local markets that are not available to us;
     
  difficulties in recruiting and retaining personnel, and managing international operations; and
     
  less developed infrastructure.

 

If we expand into other target markets we cannot assure you that our expansion plans will be realized, or if realized, be successful. We expect each market to have particular regulatory and funding hurdles to overcome and future developments in these markets, including the uncertainty relating to governmental policies and regulations, could harm our business. If we expend significant time and resources on expansion plans that fail or are delayed, our reputation, business and financial condition may be harmed.

 

Our results may be impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Currently, the majority of our international sales contracts are denominated in U.S. dollars. We pay certain of our suppliers in a foreign currency and we may pay others in the future in foreign currency. As a result, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could require us to reduce our selling price or risk making our product less competitive in international markets or our costs could increase. Also, if our international sales increase, we may enter into a greater number of transactions denominated in non-U.S. dollars, which could expose us to foreign currency risks, including changes in currency exchange rates.

 

A larger portion of our revenues may be denominated in other foreign currencies if we expand our international operations. Conducting business in currencies other than U.S. dollars subjects us to fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could have a negative impact on our operating results. Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies impact our revenues, cost of revenues and operating margins and result in foreign currency translation gains and losses.

 

We could be negatively impacted by violations of applicable anti-corruption laws or violations of our internal policies designed to ensure ethical business practices.

 

We operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including in countries that do not have as strong a commitment to anti-corruption and ethical behavior that is required by U.S. laws or by corporate policies. We are subject to the risk that we, our U.S. employees or our employees located in other jurisdictions or any third parties that we engage to do work on our behalf in foreign countries may take action determined to be in violation of anti-corruption laws in any jurisdiction in which we conduct business. Any violation of anti-corruption laws or regulations could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties and curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions and might harm our business, financial condition or results of operations. Further, detecting, investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management.

 

We depend on our information technology systems, and any failure of these systems could harm our business.

 

We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems for significant elements of our operations. We have developed propriety software for the management and operation of our business. We have installed and expect to expand a number of enterprise software systems that affect a broad range of business processes and functional areas, including for example, systems handling human resources, financial controls and reporting, contract management, regulatory compliance and other infrastructure operations.

 

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Information technology and telecommunications systems are vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. Despite the precautionary measures we have taken to prevent unanticipated problems that could affect our information technology and telecommunications systems, failures or significant downtime of our information technology or telecommunications systems or those used by our third-party service providers could prevent us from providing support services and product to our customers and managing the administrative aspects of our business. Any disruption or loss of information technology or telecommunications systems on which critical aspects of our operations depend could harm our business.

 

Our operations are vulnerable to interruption or loss due to natural or other disasters, power loss, strikes and other events beyond our control.

 

We conduct a significant portion of our activities, including administration and data processing, at facilities located in Southern Florida that have experienced major hurricanes and floods which could affect our facilities, , could significantly disrupt our operations, and delay or prevent product shipment during the time required to repair, rebuild or replace damaged processing facilities; these delays could be lengthy and costly. Our suppliers in Southeast Asia are also vulnerable to natural disasters which could disrupt their operations and their ability to supply product to us. If any of our customers’ facilities are negatively impacted by a disaster, product shipments could be delayed. Additionally, customers may delay purchases of products until operations return to normal. Even if we and/or our suppliers are able to quickly respond to a disaster, the ongoing effects of the disaster could create some uncertainty in the operations of our business. In addition, our facilities may be subject to a shortage of available electrical power and other energy supplies. Any shortages may increase our costs for power and energy supplies or could result in blackouts, which could disrupt the operations of our affected facilities and harm our business.

 

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

 

Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability to adequately protect, or uncertainty regarding validity, enforceability or scope of them could undermine our competitive position and reduce the value of our products, services and brand, and litigation to protect our intellectual property rights may be costly.

 

We attempt to strengthen and differentiate our product portfolio by developing new and innovative products and product improvements. As a result, our patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and other intellectual property rights are important assets to us. Various events outside of our control pose a threat to our intellectual property rights as well as to our products and services. For example, effective intellectual property protection may not be available in countries in which our products are sold. Also, although we have registered our trademark in various jurisdictions, our efforts to protect our proprietary rights may not be sufficient or effective. Any significant impairment of our intellectual property rights could harm our business or our ability to compete and hurt our results of operation. Also, protecting our intellectual property rights is costly and time consuming. Policing unauthorized use of our proprietary technology can be difficult and expensive. Litigation might be necessary to protect our intellectual property rights and any such litigation may be costly and may divert our management’s attention from our core business. An adverse determination in any lawsuit involving our intellectual property is likely to jeopardize our business prospects and reputation. Although we are not aware of any of such litigation, we have no insurance coverage against litigation costs, so we would be forced to bear all litigation costs if we cannot recover them from other parties. All foregoing factors could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any unauthorized use of our intellectual property could make it more expensive for us to do business and harm our operating results.

 

We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if determined against us, could adversely affect our business and subject us to significant liability to third parties.

 

Our success mainly depends on our ability to use and develop our technology and product designs without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of third parties. We may be subject to litigation involving claims of patent infringement or violations of other intellectual property rights of third parties. Holders of patents and other intellectual property rights potentially relevant to our product offerings may be unknown to us, which may make it difficult for us to acquire a license on commercially acceptable terms. There may also be technologies licensed to us and that we rely upon that are subject to infringement or other corresponding allegations or claims by third parties which may damage our ability to rely on such technologies. In addition, although we endeavor to ensure that companies that work with us possess appropriate intellectual property rights or licenses, we cannot fully avoid the risks of intellectual property rights infringement created by suppliers of components used in our products or by companies we work with in cooperative research and development activities. Our current or potential competitors may have obtained or may obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products. The defense of intellectual property claims, including patent infringement suits, and related legal and administrative proceedings can be both costly and time consuming, and may significantly divert the efforts and resources of our technical personnel and management. These factors could effectively prevent us from pursuing some or all of our business operations and result in our customers or potential customers deferring, canceling or limiting their purchase or use of our products, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our commercial success will depend in part on our success in obtaining and maintaining issued patents and other intellectual property rights in the United States and elsewhere If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property, competitors may be able to use our processes and erode or negate any competitive advantage we may have, which could harm our business.

 

We cannot provide any assurances that any of our patents have, or that any of our pending patent applications that mature into issued patents will include, claims with a scope sufficient to protect our products, any additional features we develop or any new products. Patents, if issued, may be challenged, deemed unenforceable, invalidated or circumvented.

 

Furthermore, though an issued patent is presumed valid and enforceable, its issuance is not conclusive as to its validity or its enforceability and it may not provide us with adequate proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products. Competitors may also be able to design around our patents. Other parties may develop and obtain patent protection for more effective technologies, designs or methods. We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our knowledge or trade secrets by consultants, suppliers, vendors, former employees and current employees. The laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and we may encounter significant problems in protecting our proprietary rights in these countries. If any of these developments were to occur, they each could have a negative impact on our sales.

 

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position could be harmed.

 

We rely upon copyright and trade secret protection, as well as non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties, to protect our confidential and proprietary information. In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not, for example, in the case of misappropriation of a trade secret by an employee or third party with authorized access, provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. Our security measures may not prevent an employee or consultant from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, and recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.

 

We may not be able to enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

 

The laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement or the misappropriation of our intellectual property rights. For example, many foreign countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against third parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, patents may provide limited or no benefit. Patent protection must ultimately be sought on a country-by-country basis, which is an expensive and time-consuming process with uncertain outcomes. Accordingly, we may choose not to seek patent protection in certain countries, and we will not have the benefit of patent protection in such countries.

 

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Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate. In addition, changes in the law and legal decisions by courts in the United States and foreign countries may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection for our technology and the enforcement of intellectual property.

 

Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.

 

Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.

 

Risks Related to Regulatory Matters

 

Our products and operations are subject to government regulation and oversight both in the United States and abroad, and our failure to comply with applicable requirements could harm our business.

 

The FDA and other government agencies regulate, among other things, with respect to our products and operations:

 

  design, development and manufacturing;
     
  testing, labeling, content and language of instructions for use and storage;
     
  product safety;
     
  marketing, sales and distribution;
     
  record keeping procedures;
     
  advertising and promotion;
     
  recalls and corrective actions;
     
  product import and export.

 

The regulations to which we are subject are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. Regulatory changes could result in restrictions on our ability to carry on or expand our operations, higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales.

 

The failure to comply with applicable regulations could jeopardize our ability to sell our products and result in enforcement actions such as:

 

  warning letters;
     
  fines;
     
  injunctions;

 

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  civil penalties;
     
  termination of distribution;
     
  recalls or seizures of products;
     
  delays in the introduction of products into the market; and
     
  total or partial suspension of production.

 

We may also be required to take corrective actions, such as installing additional equipment or taking other actions, each of which could require us to make substantial capital expenditures. We could also be required to indemnify our employees in connection with any expenses or liabilities that they may incur individually in connection with regulatory action against them. As a result, our future business prospects could deteriorate due to regulatory constraints, and our profitability could be impaired by our obligation to provide such indemnification to our employees.

 

Any of these sanctions could result in higher than anticipated costs or lower than anticipated sales and harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our business, be expensive to defend and result in sizeable damage awards against us that may not be covered by insurance.

 

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

 

We may be unable to register for resale all of the Common Stock included within the Units sold in the Offering, in which case a stockholder will need to rely on an exemption from the registration requirements in order to sell such shares.

 

We are obligated to file the “resale” Registration Statement with the SEC that covers all of our Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares included within the Units sold in the Offering within 120 business days after the closing of the Merger. Nevertheless, it is possible that the SEC may not permit us to register all of such shares of Common Stock for resale. In certain circumstances, the SEC may take the view that the Offering requires us to register the issuance of the securities as a primary offering. Without sufficient disclosure of this risk, rescission of the Offering could be sought by investors or an offer of rescission may be mandated by the SEC, which would result in a material adverse effect to us. To date, the SEC has not made any formal statements or proposed or adopted any new rules or regulations regarding Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule applies to resale registration statements. However, investors should be aware of the risks that interpretive positions taken with respect to Rule 415, or similar rules or regulations adopted subsequent to the date of this Report, could have on the manner in which the Common Stock may be registered or our ability to register the Common Stock for resale at all.

 

If we are not able to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective, then investors will need to rely on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as Rule 144 which may require that the investor have held the shares to be sold for a minimum period of time.

 

Failure to cause a registration statement to become effective in a timely manner could materially adversely affect our company.

 

We have agreed, at our expense, to prepare a registration statement covering the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares in connection with the Offering. Our obligation requires us to file the Registration Statement with the SEC within 120 business days of the closing of the Merger. There are many reasons, including those over which we have no control, which could delay the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement, including delays resulting from the SEC review process and comments raised by the SEC during that process. Failure to file or cause the Registration Statement to become effective in a timely manner or maintain its effectiveness could materially adversely affect us.

 

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As a result of the Merger, Keeler & Co became subject to the reporting requirements of federal securities laws, which can be expensive.

 

As a result of the Merger, Keeler & Co became a public reporting company and, accordingly, subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and other federal and state securities laws, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The costs of preparing and filing annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC and furnishing audited reports to stockholders will cause Keeler & Co’s expenses to be higher than they would have been if Keeler & Co remained privately-held and did not consummate the Merger.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or detect fraud. Consequently, investors could lose confidence in our financial reporting and this may decrease the trading price of our Common Stock.

 

We must maintain effective internal controls to provide reliable financial reports and detect fraud. We are in the process of evaluating changes to internal controls for our new public company status but have not yet implemented changes. Failure to implement changes to our internal controls or any other factors that we identify as necessary to maintain an effective system of internal controls could harm our operating results and cause investors to lose confidence in our business, operations or reported financial information. Any such inability to establish effective controls or loss of confidence would have an adverse effect on our company and could adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock.

 

The price of our Common Stock may be volatile and may be influenced by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

Factors that could cause volatility in the market price of our Common Stock include, but are not limited to:

 

  actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results;
     
  actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate relative to our competitors;
     
  commercial success and market acceptance of our products;
     
  success of our competitors in commercializing products;
     
  strategic transactions undertaken by us;
     
  additions or departures of key personnel;
     
  product liability claims;
     
  prevailing economic conditions;
     
  disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights;
     
  U.S. or foreign regulatory actions affecting us or our industry;
     
  sales of our Common Stock by our officers, directors or significant stockholders;
     
  future sales or issuances of equity or debt securities by us;
     
  business disruptions caused by natural disasters; and
     
  issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations regarding us.

 

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In addition, the stock markets in general have experienced extreme volatility that have been often unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market fluctuations may negatively impact the price or liquidity of our Common Stock. In the past, when the price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the issuer. If any of our stockholders were to bring such a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit and the attention of our management would be diverted from the operation of our business.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Common Stock less attractive to investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We cannot predict if investors will find our Common Stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Common Stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Common Stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

 

In addition, Section 102 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. An “emerging growth company” can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.

 

You may experience dilution of your ownership interests because of the future issuance of additional shares of our Common Stock or preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock or preferred stock.

 

If our existing stockholders convert our Series A Stock or exercise Warrants or sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the public market after the lock-up Restricted Period lapses, the price of our Common Stock could decline. The perception in the market that these sales may occur could also cause the price of our Common Stock to decline.

 

In the future, we may issue authorized but previously unissued equity securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of the then current stockholders. We are authorized to issue an aggregate of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock. We may issue additional shares of our Common Stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock in connection with hiring or retaining employees, future acquisitions, future sales of our securities for capital raising purposes, or for other business purposes. The future issuance of any such additional shares of our Common Stock may create downward pressure on the trading price of the common stock. We may need to raise additional capital in the near future to meet our working capital needs, and there can be no assurance that we will not be required to issue additional shares, warrants or other convertible securities in the future in conjunction with these capital raising efforts, including at a price (or exercise prices) below the price you paid for your stock.

 

There is currently no market for our Common Stock and there can be no assurance that any market will ever develop. You may therefore be unable to re-sell shares of our Common Stock at times and prices that you believe are appropriate.

 

Our Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, or any other exchange, or quoted on an over-the-counter market. Therefore, there is no trading market, active or otherwise, for our Common Stock and our Common Stock may never be included for trading on any stock exchange, automated quotation system or any over-the-counter market. Accordingly, our Common Stock is highly illiquid, and you will likely experience difficulty in re-selling such shares at times and prices that you may desire

 

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Our Common Stock may be deemed a “penny stock” which may reduce the value of an investment in the stock.

 

Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require: (a) that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks; and (b) the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.

 

In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must: (a) obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person and (b) make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

 

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form: (a) sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and (b) confirms that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction. Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the “penny stock” rules. If our Common Stock is or becomes subject to the “penny stock” rules, it may be more difficult for investors to dispose of our Common Stock and cause a decline in the market value of our Common Stock.

 

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about commissions payable to both the broker or dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks

 

The sales practice requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (“FINRA”) may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our Common Stock.

 

FINRA has adopted rules requiring that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative or low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA has indicated its belief that there is a high probability that speculative or low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. If these FINRA requirements are applicable to us or our securities, they may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that at least some of their customers buy our Common Stock, which may limit the ability of our stockholders to buy and sell our Common Stock and could have an adverse effect on the market for and price of our Common Stock.

 

Our operating results for a particular period may fluctuate significantly or may fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, each of which may cause the price of our Common Stock to fluctuate or decline.

 

We expect our operating results to be subject to fluctuations. Our operating results will be affected by numerous factors, including:

 

  variations in the level of expenses related to future development plans;
     
  fluctuations in value of the underlying commodity;
     
  inability to procure sufficient quantities to meet demand due to the scarcity of the product available from its suppliers

 

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  level of underlying demand for our products and any other products we sell;
     
  any intellectual property infringement lawsuit or opposition, interference or cancellation proceeding in which we may become involved; and
     
  regulatory developments affecting us or our competitors.

 

If our operating results for a particular period fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our Common Stock could decline substantially. Furthermore, any fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially. We believe that comparisons of our financial results from various reporting periods are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of our future performance

 

Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our Common Stock and will be able to exercise significant influence over matters subject to stockholder approval.

 

As of the date of this filing, our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders, together with their respective affiliates, owned approximately 94.7% of our Common Stock, including shares subject to outstanding options that are exercisable within 60 days after such date. Accordingly, these stockholders will be able to exert a significant degree of influence over our management and affairs and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of our board of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of entrenching our management and/or the board of directors, delaying or preventing a change in our control or otherwise discouraging a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could have a material and adverse effect on the fair market value of our Common Stock.

 

Because we became a reporting company under the Exchange Act by means other than a traditional underwritten initial public offering, we may not be able to attract the attention of research analysts at major brokerage firms.

 

Because we did not become a reporting company by conducting an underwritten initial public offering of our Common Stock, and because we will not be listed on a national securities exchange, securities analysts of brokerage firms may not provide coverage of our company. In addition, investment banks may be less likely to agree to underwrite secondary offerings on our behalf than they might if we became a public reporting company by means of an underwritten initial public offering, because they may be less familiar with our company as a result of more limited coverage by analysts and the media, and because we became public at an early stage in our development. The failure to receive research coverage or support in the market for our shares will have an adverse effect on our ability to develop a liquid market for our Common Stock.

 

Because the Merger was a reverse merger, the Registration Statement we file with respect to the shares of Common Stock received by investors in the Merger might be subject to heightened scrutiny by the SEC.

 

Additional risks may exist as a result of our becoming a public reporting company through a “reverse merger.” Certain SEC rules are more restrictive when applied to reverse merger companies, such as the ability of stockholders to re-sell their shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144, and the SEC may subject the Registration Statement we file with respect to the shares of Common Stock received by investors in the Merger and the Offering to heightened scrutiny.

 

The resale of shares covered by the Registration Statement could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock in the public market, should one develop, which result would in turn negatively affect our ability to raise additional equity capital.

 

The sale, or availability for sale, of our Common Stock in the public market may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our Common Stock and may impair our ability to raise additional capital by selling equity or equity-linked securities. We have agreed, at our expense, to prepare and file the Registration Statement with the SEC registering the resale of an aggregate of 17,074,750 shares of Common Stock issued and/or issuable in connection with the Merger, the Offering, the Company Settlement and the shares retained by the pre-Merger shareholders. Once effective, the Registration Statement will permit the resale of these shares at any time. The resale of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price for our Common Stock and make it more difficult for you to sell shares of our Common Stock at times and prices that you feel are appropriate. Furthermore, we expect that, because there will be a large number of shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, selling stockholders will continue to offer shares covered by such Registration Statement for a significant period of time, the precise duration of which cannot be predicted. Accordingly, the adverse market and price pressures resulting from an offering pursuant to the Registration Statement may continue for an extended period of time and continued negative pressure on the market price of our Common Stock could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise additional equity capital.

 

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Issuance of stock to fund our operations may dilute your investment and reduce your equity interest.

 

We may need to raise capital in the future to fund the development of our seafood business. Any equity financing may have significant dilutive effect to stockholders and a material decrease in our stockholders’ equity interest in us. Equity financing, if obtained, could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders. At its sole discretion, our board of directors may issue additional securities without seeking stockholder approval, and we do not know when we will need additional capital or, if we do, whether it will be available to us.

 

Provisions of our charter documents or Delaware law could delay or prevent an acquisition of the Company, even if such an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, which could make it more difficult for you to change management.

 

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempt by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult to replace or remove our board of directors. These provisions include:

 

  no cumulative voting in the election of directors;
     
  the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director;
     
  a requirement that special meetings of stockholders be called only by the board of directors;
     
  a notice provision requirement for stockholders to nominate directors;
     
  a requirement that our directors may be removed only by a supermajority (two-thirds) vote of the stockholders; and
     
  the authority of our board of directors to issue preferred stock with such terms as our board of directors may determine.

 

In addition, Delaware law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person who, together with its affiliates, owns, or within the last three years has owned, 15% or more of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Accordingly, Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the company. Furthermore, our certificate of incorporation will specify that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for most legal actions involving actions brought against us by stockholders. We believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law by chancellors particularly experienced in resolving corporate disputes, efficient administration of cases on a more expedited schedule relative to other forums and protection against the burdens of multi-forum litigation. However, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with any applicable action brought against us, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action.

 

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We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future; therefore, capital appreciation, if any, of our Common Stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our Common Stock. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. In addition, our current loan and security agreement with ACF contains, and our future loan arrangements, if any, may contain, terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our Common Stock. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our Common Stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

 

We may apply the proceeds of the Offering to uses that ultimately do not improve our operating results or increase the value of our Common Stock.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the Offering, including proceeds received upon the exercise of any Warrants sold therein, for general working capital purposes. However, we do not have more specific plans for the net proceeds from the Offering and our management has broad discretion in how we use these proceeds. These proceeds could be applied in ways that do not improve our operating results or otherwise increase the value of our Common Stock.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this Item.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

We lease approximately 16,800 square feet of office/warehouse space for our executive offices and distribution facility under a lease expiring in June 2021 for $16,916 per month from John Keeler Real Estate Holding, Inc. (“Keeler Real Estate”), a corporation owned by each trust for each of John Keeler III, Andrea Keeler and Sarah Keeler, each of whom is a child of our Executive Chairman, John Keeler. The Company is a guarantor of the mortgage on the distribution facility which had a balance of approximately $1,307,007 as of December 31, 2018. We believe our current facilities are adequate for our immediate and near-term needs.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

There are no pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or in which any director, officer or affiliate of ours, any owner of record or beneficially of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or security holder is a party adverse to us or has a material interest adverse to us.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Market Information

 

Our Common Stock is not quoted or traded on any exchange. As soon as practicable, and assuming we satisfy all necessary initial listing requirements, we intend to apply to have our Common Stock quoted on the OTC Markets. There can be no assurances that our Common Stock will be quoted on the OTC Markets or that an active trading market will ever develop.

 

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Holders

 

As of March 29, 2019, we have 16,028,164 shares of Common Stock outstanding held by 24 stockholders of record.

 

Dividends

 

We have never paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings to fund ongoing operations and future capital requirements. Our Loan and Security Agreement with ACF contains terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our Common Stock. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and such other factors as the board of directors deems relevant.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table provides information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2018:

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan category   Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
    Weighted-
average exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
    Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
 
                   
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders     6,240,000       1,167       1,260,000  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders     0       0       0  

 

(1) Represents (i) options to purchase 3,120,000 shares of common stock at $0.333 to Carlos Faria and (ii) options to purchase 3,120,000 shares of common stock at $2.00 per share to Christopher Constable granted under the 2018 Plan.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

There were no sales of equity securities during the period covered by this Report that were not registered under the Securities Act and were not previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

None.

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this Item.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements and the related notes thereto. The management’s discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors,” above, that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Annual Report.

 

Recent Developments

 

We were incorporated on October 17, 2017 in the State of Delaware as a blank check company to be used as a vehicle to pursue a business combination with an unidentified target. Since inception, and prior to the Merger, we only engaged in organizational efforts.

 

On November 8, 2018, we consummated the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement by and among the Company, Acquisition Sub, Keeler & Co and the Blue Star Stockholder. As a result of the Merger, effective as of November 8, 2018, Acquisition Sub merged with and into Keeler & Co, and Keeler & Co became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company changed its name from “AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.” to “Blue Star Foods Corp.” and succeeded to the business of Keeler & Co.

 

As a result of the Merger and the related change in our business and operations, a discussion of our past financial results is not pertinent, and under applicable accounting principles the historical financial results of Keeler & Co, the accounting acquirer, prior to the Merger are considered the historical financial results of the Company.

 

The audited financial statements for our fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and the audited financial statements as amended filed with the Securities Exchange Commission with the Company’s Form 8-K/A on December 31, 2108, include a summary of our significant accounting policies and should be read in conjunction with the discussion below. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of operations for such periods have been included in these audited financial statements. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company is based upon, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited financial statements and related notes elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

Net Sales. Revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 13.0% to $32,165,933 as compared to $36,951,923 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The revenue decrease reflects a decrease in poundage sold attributable to a reduction in sales of Hanaii product from China. The Company elected not to purchase from China during the late summer into winter production season due to the uncertainty surrounding the trade tariffs being imposed on the product. The Company believed that these tariffs would remove any pricing advantage of the Hanaii product from China and would require the Company to sell at little to no margin on these products in order to be at a price point that would entice the customers to purchase Chinese Hanaii. Additionally, overall pricing pressures continued to soften industry demand as prices increased during 2018 to new market highs. We believe, these high prices caused customers to either downgrade their purchases to less expensive specifications, or remove crab from their menus altogether.

 

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Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased to $27,227,664 as compared to $31,254,430 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease is attributable to the revenue decline.

 

Gross Profit Margin . Gross profit margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased $759,224 to $4,938,269 from $5,697,493 for the twelve months ended December 31,2017. This decrease is directly attributable to the decreased revenue.

 

Gross profit margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 remained consistent at 15.4% with the gross profit margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017.

 

Commissions Expenses. Commissions expenses decreased from $155,574 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 to $133,240 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2018. The decrease can be attributed to lower commissionable revenues.

 

Salaries & Wages Expense . Salaries and wages increased $734,971, to $2,594,677 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to $1,859,706 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The increase can be directly attributed to stock-based compensation related to the issuance of options to two officers during 2018. The expense related to the options in 2018 was $808,338. Cash payment for salaries and wages decreased by $73,367 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2018, as a result of the re-alignment of our sales staff during 2018, reducing net sales salaries but leaving headcount the same during the year.

 

Settlement & Warrant Expenses Settlement and warrant expenses was $769,353 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2018 as compared to $0 for the same period in 2017. Settlement expense of $688,000 for 2018 relates directly to Series A Stock issued to the Settlement Parties. The Warrant expense of $81,353 for 2018 relates to the non-cash cost for the issuance of Warrants to the Settlement Parties and the investors in the Offering.

 

Other Operating Expense. Other operating expenses increased $368,846 from $2,340,163 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 to $2,709,009 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The increase is primarily attributable to costs associated with the closing of the Merger. These costs include $530,000 paid to service providers in shares of common stock and $94,995 paid in cash. The balance of the increase relates to an increase in quality assurance expenses and insurance costs. Included in other operating expense for the 12 months ending December 31, 2018 was a settlement with a supplier for $388,199 pursuant to which such supplier agreed to reduce the amount the Company under a settlement and mutual release agreement entered into in October 2018.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased from $969,416 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 to $1,009,106 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. This increase is due to an increase in interest paid to a stockholder of $12,300 for a full years’ interest on an additional $500,000 that was loaned to the Company in May 2017. $25,700 represents interest paid to ACF as a result of the increase in the 30-day LIBOR rate during 2018. Despite the fact that the average monthly loan balance decreased in 2018, the interest rate paid to ACF increased from 6.73% at December 31, 2017 to 8.96% at December 31, 2018.

 

Other Income/Expenses. Other expenses decreased from $29,478 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 to $0 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The decrease is attributable to no charges related to bank forbearance for the 12 months ending December 31, 2018.

 

Net Income/(Loss). The Company generated a net loss of $2,277,116 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to a net profit of $343,156 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease can be attributed to the decrease in revenue combined with increased operating expenses associated with the completion of the Merger during the twelve months ending December 31, 2018.

 

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Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $3,641,738 as compared to cash used in operating activities of $3,075,944 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The increase is attributable to cash generated from inventory of $5,220,684 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 as compared to cash used for inventory of $3,429,637 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. Additionally, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 cash provided by Accounts receivable was $884,240 as compared to the cash provided by Accounts receivable of ($257,934) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The Company used $1,139,619 to advance an affiliated supplier as compared to $981,972 provided for the 12 months ending December 31, 2017.

 

Cash Used in Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $26,681 as compared to $33,491 cash used for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017.

 

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $3,288,084 as compared to cash provided in financing activities of $2,863,645 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The primary usage of cash was a reduction in the outstanding line of credit of $3,905,425 as of December 31, 2018 as compared to an increase of $2,511,735 as of December 31, 2017. The Company also received $725,000 in proceeds from the sale of Series A Stock for the twelve months ending December 31, 2018 as compared to $0 in the prior year.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company had cash of $13,143 as of December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2018, the Company had a working capital deficit of $1,146,937, including $2,910,136 in stockholder loans that are subordinated to ACF as compared to a working capital deficit of $1,676,219 at December 31, 2017, also including $2,910,136 in stockholder debt. The Company’s primary sources of liquidity consisted of inventory of $8,126,634 and accounts receivable of $3,449,487 at December 31, 2018. The increase in working capital was due primarily to the reduction of inventories of $4,826,216 and accounts receivable of $1,226,101, as opposed to the reduction in accounts payable and the working capital line of credit of $5,158,916. The Company also received proceeds of $725,000 for the sale of Series A Stock in the twelve months ending December 31, 2018.

 

The Company has historically financed its operations through the cash flow generated from operations, loans from John Keeler, a working capital line of credit and the sale of equity in private offerings.

 

Loan and Security Agreement

 

On August 31, 2016, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement and a revolving credit note for a $14,000,000 revolving line of credit with ACF, the proceeds of which were used to pay off the prior line of credit, pay new loan costs of approximately $309,000, and provide additional working capital. The credit facility was amended on November 18, 2016, September 19, 2017, October 16, 2017, September 19, 2018 and November 8, 2018. In the fourth amendment the term of this facility was extended to 2021 and is subject to early termination by the lender upon defined events of default. The Company continues to be obligated to meet certain financial covenants.

 

The line of credit bears an interest at the greater of (i) the 3-month LIBOR rate plus 6.25%, (ii) the prime rate plus 3.0% and (iii) 6.5%. Borrowing is based on up to 85% of eligible accounts receivable plus the net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory at the same rate, subject to certain specified limitations. The credit line is collateralized by substantially all the assets of the Company and is personally guaranteed by John Keeler, our Executive Chairman. The Company is restricted with respect to certain distribution payments, use of funds and is required to comply with certain other covenants including certain financial ratios.

 

During the twelve months ending December 31,2018, the Company failed to meet certain financial covenants. Such default was waived in September 2018 pursuant to the fourth amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement and no default interest was incurred. The Company is currently in compliance with all covenants and the line of credit currently bears interest at the rate of 8.957%. At December 31 31, 2018, the outstanding balance of the line of credit was $8,203,725.

 

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John Keeler Promissory Notes

 

From January 2006 through May 2017, Keeler & Co issued an aggregate of approximately $2,910,000 6% demand promissory notes to John Keeler, our Executive Chairman. As of December 31, 2018, approximately $2,910,000 of principal was outstanding and $174,600 of interest was paid under the notes. These notes have been subordinated to the provider of the working capital line of credit and payment of these loans are restricted under this subordination agreement. After satisfaction of the terms of the subordination, the Company can prepay the notes at any time first against interest due thereunder. If an event of default occurs under the notes, interest will accrue at 18% per annum and if not paid within 10 days of payment becoming due, the holder of the note is entitled to a late fee of 5% of the amount of payment not timely made.

 

Kenar Note

 

On March 26, 2019, the Company issued a four-month promissory note in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “Kenar Note”) to Kenar Overseas Corp., a company registered in Panama (the “Lender”). The term of the note may be extended for an additional two months at the Lender’s discretion. The note bears interest at the rate of 18% per annum during the initial four months which rate will increase to 24% during any extension thereof. The note may be prepaid in whole or in part without penalty. John Keeler, the Company’s Executive Chairman pledged 5,000,000 shares of common stock to secure the Company’s obligations under the note.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Variable Interest Entity

 

Under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation , when a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of an entity that is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in ASC 810, the VIE must be consolidated into the financial statements of the reporting entity. The determination of which owner is the primary beneficiary of a VIE requires management to make significant estimates and judgments about the rights, obligations, and economic interests of each interest holder in the VIE.

 

The Company evaluates its interests in VIE’s on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

 

Effective April 1, 2014, the Company’s stockholder was transferred the controlling interest of Strike the Gold Foods, Ltd. (“Strike”), a related party entity which holds the Company’s inventory on consignment in United Kingdom (see Note 3). The Company evaluated its interest in Strike and determined that Strike is a VIE due to the Company’s implicit interest in Strike and the fact that Strike and the Company were under common control after the transfer of the controlling interest. Moreover, the Company determined that it is the primary beneficiary of Strike due to the fact that the Company had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Strike and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from Strike. Therefore, the Company consolidated Strike in its financial statements.

 

Strike’s activities are reflected in the Company’s financial statements starting on April 1, 2014, the effective date of the controlling interest transfer. Strike’s equity is classified as non-controlling interest in the Company’s financial statements since the Company is not a shareholder of Strike. Strike was not a VIE of the Company and the Company was not the primary beneficiary of Strike prior to the controlling interest transfer.

 

The Company also evaluated its interest in three related party entities that are under common control with the Company, Bacolod, Bicol Blue Star Export Co. (“Bicol”) and John Keeler Real Estate Holding (“JK Real Estate”), in light of ASC 810. The Company purchased inventory from Bacolod, an exporter of pasteurized crab meat out of the Philippines. The Company purchased inventory, via Bacolod, from Bicol. The Company leases its office and warehouse facility from JK Real Estate, a landlord that is a related party through common family beneficial ownership.

 

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The Company determined that Bacolod and Bicol are not VIE’s as they do not meet the criteria to be considered a VIE per ASC 810. The Company does not directly or indirectly absorb any variability of Bacolod or Bicol. The relationship between the Company and Bacolod and Bicol is strictly a supplier/customer relationship. Moreover, Bacolod and Bicol have other customers besides the Company. Even if the Company is no longer Bacolod or Bicol’s customer, they would be able to sustain their operations from selling their inventory to their other customers. As the Company concluded that Bacolod and Bicol are not VIE’s and the Company is not deemed their primary beneficiary, Bacolod or Bicol is not consolidated with the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company determined that JK Real Estate is a VIE due the fact that the Company guarantees the mortgage on the facility rented from JK Real Estate. Therefore, JK Real Estate’s equity at risk is not deemed sufficient to permit JK Real Estate to finance its activities without subordinated financial support. Moreover, the activities of JK Real Estate are substantially conducted on behalf of the Company’s stockholder. The Company concluded that it not the primary beneficiary of JK Real Estate since the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact JK Real Estate. Therefore, JK Real Estate is not consolidated with the Company’s financial statements.

 

Inventories

 

Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of packaged crab meat located at the Company’s warehouse facility as well as public cold storage facilities and merchandise in transit from suppliers. The cost of inventory is primarily determined using the specific identification method. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in, first-out method.

 

Merchandise is purchased cost and freight shipping point and becomes the Company’s asset and liability upon leaving the suppliers’ warehouse. The Company had in-transit inventory of approximately $4,203,400 and $6,148,000 as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

The Company periodically reviews the value of items in inventory and records an allowance to reduce the carrying value of inventory to the lower of cost or market based on its assessment of market conditions, inventory turnover and current stock levels. Inventory write-downs are charged to cost of goods sold. The Company recorded an inventory allowance of approximately $39,300 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, which represents a reduction of approximately $88,600 from the year ending December 31, 2016.

 

Advances to Suppliers and Related Party

 

In the normal course of business, the Company may advance payments to its suppliers, including Bacolod, a related party. These advances are in the form of prepayments for products that will ship within a short window of time. In the event that it becomes necessary for the Company to return products or adjust for quality issues, the Company is issued a credit by the vendor in the normal course of business and these credits are also reflected against future shipments.

 

As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance due from Bacolod for future shipments was approximately $1,139,619 and $0, respectively. The 2018 balances represent approximately three to four months of purchases from the supplier.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Effective with the January 1, 2018 adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” and the associated ASUs (collectively, “Topic 606”), the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

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The Company elected an accounting policy to treat shipping and handling activities as fulfillment activities. Consideration payable to a customer is recorded as a reduction of the arrangement’s transaction price, thereby reducing the amount of revenue recognized, unless the payment is for distinct goods or services received from the customer.

 

In periods prior to the adoption of Topic 606, the Company’s accounting policy was to recognize revenue when the products were shipped, the risks of ownership transferred to the customer and collectability was reasonably assured. Revenue was stated net of sales returns and allowances. The incentives for sales discounts and promotions the Company offers to its customers were accounted for as a reduction of revenue when they were characterized as cash consideration, in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Otherwise, the incentives were expensed.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, and has subsequently issued several supplemental and/or clarifying ASUs (collectively, “ASC 606”). ASC 606 prescribes a single common revenue standard that replaces most existing U.S. GAAP revenue recognition guidance. ASC 606 is intended to provide a more consistent interpretation and application of the principles outlined in the standard across filers in multiple industries and within the same industries compared to current practices, which should improve comparability. Adoption of ASC 606 is required for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Upon adoption, we must elect to adopt either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or use the modified retrospective transition method with the cumulative effect of initial adoption recognized at the date of initial application. We adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective method on January 1, 2018.

 

Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASC 606 also impacts certain other areas, such as the accounting for costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. The standard also requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

 

We examined our revenue recognition policy specific to all revenue streams governing product sales and have come to conclusions on the impact of the new standard using the 5-step process prescribed by ASC 606. We reviewed all of our contracts, and determined the potential impact to our accounting policies, financial controls and operations. Our conclusions include recognizing revenue on product sales once the product is sold to the distributor or retail customers.

 

As noted above, we used the modified retrospective method to adopt the new standard. This means that we did not restate previously issued financial statements, but we recorded a one-time adjustment to retained earnings of ($81,520). This adjustment represents the sales of our product to our customers prior to January 1, 2018, that had not been delivered or in control of the customer.

 

The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows:

 

    Balance at
December 31, 2017
    Adjustments due
to Adoption of
ASC 606
    Balance at
January 1, 2018
 
ASSETS                        
Accounts receivable, net   $ 4,675,588     $ (341,861 )   $ 4,333,727  
Inventory, net     12,952,850       394,468       13,347,318  
Total Assets   $ 18,244,859     $ 52,607     $ 18,297,466  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT                        
Accounts payable and accruals   $ 4,409,232     $ 134,127     $ 4,543,359  
Accumulated deficit     (1,494,927 )     (81,520 )     (1,576,447 )
Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit   $ 18,244,859     $ 52,607     $ 18,297,466  

 

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Previously, we recognized revenue on product sales once the product left the company’s warehouse. Effective January 1, 2018, we began recognizing revenue when our customers, take control of our product be it a shipment or upon delivery. This will have the impact of us recognizing revenue approximately seven calendar days later than before adopting the new standard. The following financial statement line items for twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were affected as a result of the adoption:

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

    12 months ended December 31, 2018  
    As Reported     Effect of Change     Balances without Adoption of ASC 606  
Revenue, Net   $ 32,165,933       (472,171 )   $ 32,638,104  
Cost of revenue (including approximately $11,086,491 and $17,230,000 respectively, purchased from related party)   $ 27,227,664     $ (382,766 )   $ 27,610,430  
Net Loss   $ (2,277,116 )   $ (89,405 )   $ (2,187,711 )
                         
Loss per basic and diluted common share:                        
Basic and diluted net loss per common share     (0.15 )     (0.01 )     (0.15 )

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

    12 months ended December 31, 2018  
    Balance as Presented     Effect of Change     Balances without Adoption of ASC 606  
ASSETS                        
Accounts receivable, net   $ 3,449,487     $ (243,177 )   $ 3,206,310  
Inventory, net     8,126,634       281,361       8,407,995  
Total Assets   $ 13,481,318     $ 38,184     $ 13,519,502  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT                        
Accounts payable and accruals   $ 3,155,741     $ 127,589     $ 3,283,330  
Accumulated deficit     (3,853,139 )     (89,405 )     (3,942,544 )
Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit   $ 13,481,318     $ 38,184     $ 13,519,502  

 

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ASC 606 did not have an aggregate impact on our net cash provided by operating activities but resulted in offsetting changes in certain assets and liabilities presented within net cash used in operating activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows, as reflected in the above tables.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued new lease accounting guidance ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), as amended by ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases” and ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements.” Under the new guidance, at the commencement date, lessees will be required to recognize 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. The new guidance is not applicable for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. 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. Early application is permitted upon issuance.

 

ASC 842 was previously required to be adopted using the modified retrospective approach. However, in July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which allows for retrospective application with the recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Under this option, entities would not need to apply ASC 842 (along with its disclosure requirements) to the comparative prior periods presented.

 

Management expects that most of its operating leases (primarily warehouse space) will be recognized as operating lease liabilities and right of use assets on its consolidated balance sheet. The Company has elected to adopt certain of the optional practical expedients, including the package of practical expedients, which, among other things, gives the option to not reassess: (1) whether expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; (2) the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and (3) initial direct costs for existing leases.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We currently have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information under this Item.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

Blue Stars Foods Corp.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Blue Stars Foods Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Going Concern Matter

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note three to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note three. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP

www.malonebailey.com

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.

Houston, Texas

April 1, 2019

 

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Blue Star Foods Corp.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

DECEMBER 31,

 

    2018     2017  
ASSETS                
                 
CURRENT ASSETS                
Cash (including VIE $5,561 and $22,571, respectively)   $ 13,143     $ 29,377  
Restricted Cash     334,083       29,498  
Accounts receivable, net (including VIE $49,624 and $138,333, respectively)     3,449,487       4,675,588  
Inventory, net (including VIE $117,816 and $257,798, respectively)     8,126,634       12,952,850  
Advances to related party     1,139,619       -  
Other current assets (including VIE $4,351 and $3,656, respectively)     90,929       99,997  
Total current assets     13,153,895       17,787,310  
                 
FIXED ASSETS, net     109,169       146,496  
                 
OTHER ASSETS     218,254       311,053  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 13,481,318     $ 18,244,859  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT                
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES                
Accounts payable and accruals (including VIE $95,720 and $318,073, respectively)   $ 3,155,741     $ 4,409,232  
Working capital line of credit     8,203,725       12,109,150  
Current maturities of long-term debt     31,230       35,011  
Stockholder notes payable - Subordinated     2,910,136       2,910,136  
Total current liabilities     14,300,832       19,463,529  
                 
LONG -TERM DEBT     -       33,878  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES     14,300,832       19,497,407  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                
                 
STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT                
Blue Star Foods Corp. Stockholder’s Deficit                
Series A 8% cumulative convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, 1,413 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 0 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2017     -       -  
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 16,023,164 shares issued and outstanding (including 8,164 shares declared as stock dividend on December 31, 2018) as of December 31, 2018 and 15,000,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2017     1,603       1,500  
Additional paid-in capital     3,404,774       558,257  
Accumulated deficit     (3,853,139 )     (1,494,927 )
Total Blue Star Foods Corp. stockholder’s deficit     (446,762 )     (935,170 )
                 
Non-controlling interest     (440,833 )     (424,081 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (VIE)     68,081       106,703  
Total VIE’s deficit     (372,752 )     (317,378 )
                 
TOTAL STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT     (819,514 )     (1,252,548 )
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT   $ 13,481,318     $ 18,244,859  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

40
 

 

Blue Star Foods Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

    2018     2017  
             
REVENUE, NET   $ 32,165,933     $ 36,951,923  
                 
COST OF REVENUE (including approximately $11,086,491 and $17,230,000 respectively, purchased from related party)     27,227,664       31,254,430  
                 
GROSS PROFIT     4,938,269       5,697,493  
                 
COMMISSIONS     133,240       155,574  
SALARIES & WAGES     2,594,677       1,859,706  
SETTLEMENT & WARRANT EXPENSE     769,353       -  
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES     2,709,009       2,340,163  
                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS     (1,268,010 )     1,342,050  
                 
OTHER EXPENSE     -       (29,478 )
INTEREST EXPENSE     (1,009,106 )     (969,416 )
                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)     (2,277,116 )     343,156  
                 
LESS: NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST     (16,752 )     (50,716 )
                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.   $ (2,260,364 )   $ 393,872  
                 
DIVIDEND ON PREFERRED STOCK     16,328       -  
                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUABLE TO BLUE STAR FOODS CORP. COMMON SHAREHOLDERS   $ (2,276,692 )   $ 393,872  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):                
                 
TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST     (38,622 )     56,010  
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST   $ (55,374 )   $ 5,294  
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.   $ (2,260,364 )   $ 393,872  
                 
PRO FORMA DATA:                
PRO FORMA INCOME TAX EXPENSE     3,004       214,321  
                 
PRO FORMA NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.   $ (2,263,368 )   $ 179,551  
                 
PRO FORMA COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.   $ (2,263,368 )   $ 179,551  
                 
Loss per basic and diluted common share:                
Basic net income (loss) per common share   $ (0.15 )   $ 0.03  
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding     15,147,384       15,000,000  
Fully diluted net income (loss) per common share   $ (0.15 )   $ 0.03  
Fully diluted weighted average common shares outstanding     15,147,384       15,000,000  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

41
 

 

Blue Star Foods Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 and 2017

 

    Series A Pref Stock $.0001 par value     Common Stock $.0001 par value     Additional Paid-in     Accumulated     Total Blue Star Foods Corp. Stockholder’s     Non-Controlling     Total Stockholder’s  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Deficit     Interest     Deficit  
                                                       
December 31, 2016                     15,000,000       1,500       558,257       (1,888,799 )     (1,329,042 )     (322,672 )     (1,651,714 )
                                                                         
Net Income                     -       -       -       393,872       393,872       (50,716 )     343,156  
                                                      -                  
Comprehensive loss                     -       -       -       -       -       56,010       56,010  
                                                                         
December 31, 2017     -       -       15,000,000       1,500       558,257       (1,494,927 )     (935,170 )     (317,378 )     (1,252,548 )
                                                                         
606 Adjustment to January 1, 2018                                             (81,520 )     (81,520 )             (81,520 )
                                                                         
Adjusted January 1, 2018     -       -       15,000,000       1,500       558,257       (1,576,447 )     (1,016,690 )     (317,378 )     (1,334,068 )
                                                                         
Reverse Merger recapitalization                     750,000       75       (2,475 )             (2,400 )             (2,400 )
                                                                         
Common stock issue for service                     265,000       27       529,974               530,001               530,001  
                                                                         
Preferred Stock Issued for Cash     725       -                       725,000               725,000               725,000  
                                                                         
Preferred Stock Issued in Connection with SOR investors     688       -                       688,000               688,000               688,000  
                                                                         
Option Expense                                     808,338               808,338               808,338  
                                                                         
Warrant Expense                                     81,353               81,353               81,353  
                                                                         
Series A 8% Dividend issued in Common Stock                     8,164       1       16,327       (16,328 )     -               -  
                                                                         
Net Loss                             -               (2,260,364 )     (2,260,364 )     (16,752 )     (2,277,116 )
                                                                         
Comprehensive loss                     -       -       -       -       -       (38,622 )     (38,622 )
                                                                         
December 31, 2018     1,413       -       16,023,164       1,603       3,404,774       (3,853,139 )     (446,762 )     (372,752 )     (819,514 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

42
 

 

Blue Star Foods Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

    2018     2017  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
                 
Net Income (Loss)   $ (2,277,116 )   $ 343,156  
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
Stock Based Compensation & Settlement Expense     2,107,692       -  
Depreciation of fixed assets     64,008       62,400  
Amortization of intangible assets     7,326       6,491  
Amortization of loan costs     155,474       164,457  
Settlement of Accounts Payable     (388,199 )     -  
Allowance for inventory obsolescence     -       (88,584 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Receivables     884,240       (257,934 )
Inventories     5,220,684       (3,429,637 )
Advances to affiliated supplier     (1,139,619 )     981,972  
Other current assets     9,068       70,370  
Other assets     -       (23,071 )
Accounts payable and accruals     (1,001,820 )     (905,564 )
Net cash provided by (used) in operating activities     3,641,738       (3,075,944 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Purchases of fixed assets     (26,681 )     (33,491 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (26,681 )     (33,491 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Proceeds from Preferred Stock Offering     725,000       -  
Proceeds from working capital lines of credit     32,503,116       39,080,437  
Repayments of working capital lines of credit     (36,408,541 )     (36,568,702 )
Principal payments of long-term debt     (37,659 )     (33,090 )
Proceeds from stockholder notes payable - Subordinated     -       500,000  
Payments of Loan costs     (70,000 )     (115,000 )
Net cash provided by (used) in financing activities     (3,288,084 )     2,863,645  
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     (38,622 )     56,010  
                 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH     288,351       (189,780 )
                 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH BEGINNING OF PERIOD     58,875       248,655  
                 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - END OF PERIOD   $ 347,226     $ 58,875  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITY                
Series A 8% Dividend issued in Common Stock     16,328       -  
Reverse Merger Recapitalizaton     2,400       -  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information                
Cash paid for interest   $ 995,088     $ 969,483  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

43
 

 

Blue Star Foods Corp.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Note 1.

Company Overview

 

Located in Miami, Florida, Blue Star Foods Corp. (the “Company”) is a sustainable seafood company. The company’s main operating business, John Keeler & Co., Inc. has been in business for approximately twenty-one years. The Company was formed under the laws of the State of Delaware. The current source of revenue is importing blue and red swimming crab meat primarily from Indonesia, Philippines and China and distributing it in the United States of America, Canada and Europe under several brand names such as Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifika and Harbor Banks.

 

On November 8, 2018 the sole shareholder of John Keeler & Co., Inc. executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization with Blue Star Foods Corp. (Formerly A.G. Acquisition Group II, Inc.) and Blue Star Acquisition Corp. John R. Keeler exchanged his 500 shares with a par value of $1.00 in John Keeler & Co., Inc. for the 15,000,000 shares with a par value of $.0001 of the then outstanding 16,015,000 outstanding shares. As part of the merger, the net liabilities existing in the company as of the date of the merger totaling approximately $2,400 were converted to equity as part of this transaction. The prior owners of Blue Star Foods Corp. received 750,000 shares of common stock as part of this transaction, and various service providers received 265,000 shares as compensation for their work on the transaction resulting in and expense and additional paid in capital of $530,001. Additionally, there were 725 Series A Preferred shares and 181,250 warrants issued to private placement investors for total capital contribution of $725,000, 688 Series A Preferred shares and 172,000 warrants issued for settlement with prior investors which had a fair value of $688,000 and $81,353 respectively. Lastly, upon the close of the merger there were 3,120,000 options to purchase common stock issued to Christopher Constable. Additionally, Carlos Faria held options to purchase 104 shares of John Keeler & Co., Inc. prior to the merger. These options were immediately converted at closing to 3,120,000 options to purchase common stock in Blue Star Foods Corp.

 

The Merger was accounted for as a “reverse merger” and recapitalization since, immediately following the completion of the transaction, the holders of John Keeler & Co., Inc.’s stock will have effective control of Blue Star Foods Corp. In addition, John Keeler & Co., Inc. will have control of the combined entity through control of the Board by designating all four of the board seats. Additionally, all of John Keeler & Co., Inc.’s officers and senior executive positions will continue on as management of the combined entity after consummation of the Merger. For accounting purposes, John Keeler & Co., Inc. will be deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction has been treated as a recapitalization of Blue Star Foods Corp. Accordingly, John Keeler & Co., Inc.’s assets, liabilities and results of operations are the historical financial statements of the registrant, and the John Keeler & Co., Inc.’s assets, liabilities and results of operations have been consolidated with Blue Star Foods Corp effective as of the date of the closing of the Merger. No step-up in basis or intangible assets or goodwill was recorded in this transaction.

 

44
 

 

Note 2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation:

 

The accompanying financial statements of the Company were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, John Keeler & Co, a wholly owned subsidiary, and its variable interest entity for which the John Keeler & Co. the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Variable Interest Entity

 

Under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation , when a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of an entity that is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in ASC 810, the VIE must be consolidated into the financial statements of the reporting entity. The determination of which owner is the primary beneficiary of a VIE requires management to make significant estimates and judgments about the rights, obligations, and economic interests of each interest holder in the VIE.

 

The Company evaluates its interests in VIE’s on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

 

Effective April 1, 2014, the Company’s stockholder was transferred the controlling interest of Strike the Gold Foods, Ltd. (“Strike”), a related party entity which holds the Company’s inventory on consignment in United Kingdom (see Note 3). The Company evaluated its interest in Strike and determined that Strike is a VIE due to the Company’s implicit interest in Strike and the fact that Strike and the Company were under common control after the transfer of the controlling interest. Moreover, the Company determined that it is the primary beneficiary of Strike due to the fact that the Company had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Strike and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from Strike. Therefore, the Company consolidated Strike in its financial statements.

 

45
 

 

Strike’s activities are reflected in the Company’s financial statements starting on April 1, 2014, the effective date of the controlling interest transfer. Strike’s equity is classified as non-controlling interest in the Company’s financial statements since the Company is not a shareholder of Strike. Strike was not a VIE of the Company and the Company was not the primary beneficiary of Strike prior to the controlling interest transfer.

 

The Company also evaluated its interest in three related party entities that are under common control with the Company, Bacolod Blue Star Export Corp. (“Bacolod”), Bicol Blue Star Export Co. (“Bicol”) and John Keeler Real Estate Holding (“JK Real Estate”), in light of ASC 810. The Company purchased inventory from Bacolod, an exporter of pasteurized crab meat out of the Philippines. The Company purchased inventory, via Bacolod, from Bicol. The Company leases its office and warehouse facility from JK Real Estate, a landlord that is a related party through common family beneficial ownership (see Note 7).

 

The Company determined that Bacolod and Bicol are not VIE’s as they do not meet the criteria to be considered a VIE per ASC 810. The Company does not directly or indirectly absorb any variability of Bacolod or Bicol. The relationship between the Company and Bacolod and Bicol is strictly a supplier/customer relationship (see Advances to Suppliers and Related Party accounting policy). Moreover, Bacolod and Bicol have other customers besides the Company. Even if the Company is no longer Bacolod or Bicol’s customer, they would be able to sustain their operations from selling their inventory to their other customers. As the Company concluded that Bacolod and Bicol are not VIE’s and the Company is not deemed their primary beneficiary, Bacolod or Bicol is not consolidated with the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company determined that JK Real Estate is a VIE due the fact that the Company guarantees the mortgage on the facility rented from JK Real Estate. Therefore, JK Real Estate’s equity at risk is not deemed sufficient to permit JK Real Estate to finance its activities without subordinated financial support. Moreover, the activities of JK Real Estate are substantially conducted on behalf of the Company’s stockholder. The Company concluded that it not the primary beneficiary of JK Real Estate since the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact JK Real Estate. Therefore, JK Real Estate is not consolidated with the Company’s financial statements.

 

Cash, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

On January 1, 2018 the Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”) , which requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash and cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash.

 

46
 

 

The Company maintains cash balances with financial institutions in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Company (“FDIC”) insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such accounts and believes it does not have a significant exposure.

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

The Company considers any cash balance in the lender designated cash collateral account as restricted cash. All cash proceeds must be deposited into cash collateral account, and will be cleared and applied to the line of credit. The Company has no access to this account, and the purpose of the funds is restricted to repayment of the line of credit. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 restricted cash was approximately $334,500 and $29,500.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable consist of unsecured obligations due from customers under normal trade terms, usually net 30 days. The Company grants credit to its customers based on the Company’s evaluation of a particular customer’s credit worthiness.

 

Allowances for doubtful accounts are maintained for potential credit losses based on the age of the accounts receivable and the results of the Company’s periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition. Receivables are written off as uncollectible and deducted from the allowance for doubtful accounts after collection efforts have been deemed to be unsuccessful. Subsequent recoveries are netted against the provision for doubtful accounts expense. The Company generally does not charge interest on receivables.

 

Receivables are net of estimated allowances for doubtful accounts and sales return and allowances. They are stated at estimated net realizable value. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded sales return and allowances and refund liability of approximately $159,500 and $155,000, respectively. There was no allowance for bad debt recorded during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

Inventories

 

Substantially all of the Company’s inventory consists of packaged crab meat located at the Company’s warehouse facility as well as public cold storage facilities and merchandise in transit from suppliers. The cost of inventory is primarily determined using the specific identification method. Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in, first-out method.

 

Merchandise is purchased cost and freight shipping point and becomes the Company’s asset and liability upon leaving the suppliers’ warehouse. The Company had in-transit inventory of approximately $4,203,400 and $6,148,000 as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

47
 

 

The Company periodically reviews the value of items in inventory and records an allowance to reduce the carrying value of inventory to the lower of cost or market based on its assessment of market conditions, inventory turnover and current stock levels. Inventory write-downs are charged to cost of goods sold. The Company recorded an inventory allowance of approximately $39,300 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, this represents a reduction of approximately $88,600 from the year ending December 31, 2016.

 

Advances to Suppliers and Related Party

 

In the normal course of business, the Company may advance payments to its suppliers, inclusive of Bacolod, a related party. These advances are in the form of prepayments for products that will ship within a short window of time. In the event that it becomes necessary for the Company to return products or adjust for quality issues, the Company is issued a credit by the vendor in the normal course of business and these credits are also reflected against future shipments.

 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the balance due from the related party for future shipments was approximately $1,139,619 and $0 respectively. The 2018 balances represent approximately three to four months of purchases from the supplier.

 

Fixed Assets

 

Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and are being depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:

 

Furniture and fixtures   7 to 10 years
Computer equipment   5 years
Warehouse and refrigeration equipment   10 years
Leasehold improvements   7 years
Automobile   5 years
Trade show booth   7 years

 

Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected life of the improvement or the remaining lease term.

 

The Company capitalizes expenditures for major improvements and additions and expenses those items which do not improve or extend the useful life of the fixed assets.

 

The Company reviews fixed assets for recoverability if events or changes in circumstances indicate the assets may be impaired. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company believes the carrying values of its long-lived assets are recoverable and as such, the Company did not record any impairment.

 

Other Comprehensive (loss) Income

 

The Company reports its comprehensive (loss) income in accordance with ASC 220, Comprehensive Income , which establishes standards for reporting and presenting comprehensive (loss) income and its components in a full set of financial statements. Other comprehensive (loss) income consists of net income (loss) and cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

48
 

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The Company’s functional and reporting currency is the U.S. Dollars. The assets and liabilities held by the Company’s VIE have a functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar. They are translated into U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of each reporting period. The VIE’s revenue and expenses are translated into U.S. Dollars at the average rates that prevailed during the period. The rates used in the financial statements as presented for December 31, 2018 and 2017 were 1.336 and 1.289 US dollar to UK pound sterling, respectively. The resulting net translation gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments in stockholders’ equity as a component of comprehensive (loss) income. The Company recorded foreign currency translation adjustment of approximately ($38,600) and $56,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Effective with the January 1, 2018 adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” and the associated ASUs (collectively, “Topic 606”), the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

The Company elected an accounting policy to treat shipping and handling activities as fulfillment activities. Consideration payable to a customer is recorded as a reduction of the arrangement’s transaction price, thereby reducing the amount of revenue recognized, unless the payment is for distinct goods or services received from the customer.

 

In periods prior to the adoption of Topic 606, the Company’s accounting policy was to recognize revenue when the products were shipped, the risks of ownership transferred to the customer and collectability was reasonably assured. Revenue was stated net of sales returns and allowances. The incentives for sales discounts and promotions the Company offers to its customers were accounted for as a reduction of revenue when they were characterized as cash consideration, in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Otherwise, the incentives were expensed.

 

Advertising

 

The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred. Advertising expenses which are included in Other Operating Expenses were approximately $127,000 and $108,000, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

49
 

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“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.

 

Customer Concentration

 

The Company had three customers which accounted for approximately 65% and 63%, of revenue during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Outstanding receivables from these customers accounted for approximately 65% and 66% of the total accounts receivable as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The loss of any major customer could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

 

Supplier Concentration

 

The Company had three suppliers which accounted for approximately 87% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2018. These three suppliers are located in two countries, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which accounted for approximately 93% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

The Company had three suppliers which accounted for approximately 75% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2017. These three suppliers are located in three countries, Indonesia, Philippines, and China, which accounted for approximately 93% of the Company’s total purchases during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

These suppliers included Bacolod, a related party, which accounted for approximately 49% and 53% of the Company’s total purchases, during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

On September 20, 2018, the company entered into a settlement and mutual release agreement with a supplier that the company was engaged in a commercial dispute. The settlement resulted in a reduction of the outstanding accounts payable to that supplier of $388,199 to a balance due of $1,465,000. The balance due to this supplier as of December 31, 2018 was approximately $1,297,800.

 

The loss of any major supplier could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

 

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Our financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and debt obligations. We believe the carrying values of our financial instruments approximate their fair values because they are short term in nature or payable on demand.

 

Earnings or Loss per Share:

 

The Company accounts for earnings per share pursuant to ASC 260, Earnings per Share, which requires disclosure on the financial statements of “basic” and “diluted” earnings (loss) per share. Basic earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus common stock equivalents (if dilutive) related to stock options and warrants for each year. As further described in Footnote 6 - Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, as of December 31, 2018, 1,413 shares of Preferred Stock could be converted into 706,500 shares of common stock. As further described in Footnote 7 – Options & Warrants, as of December 31, 2018, 6,240,000 options may be exercised and 353,250 Warrants are eligible for exercise. There were no Preferred Stock, Warrants or Options outstanding as of December 31, 2017

 

As there was a net loss for the years ended December 31, 2018, basic and diluted losses per share are the same.

 

Employee Stock-Based Compensation:

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation”. ASC 718 requires companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments, including stock options, based on the grant-date fair value of the award and to recognize it as compensation expense over the period the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. The Company has elected to adopt ASU 2016-09 and has a policy to account for forfeitures as they occur.

 

Non-Employee Stock-Based Compensation:

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the provision of ASC 505-50, “Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees,” which requires that such equity instruments are recorded at their fair value on the measurement date. The measurement of stock-based compensation is subject to periodic adjustment as the underlying equity instruments vest.

 

Related Parties:

 

The Company accounts for related party transactions in accordance with ASC 850 (“Related Party Disclosures”). A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.

 

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As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was $174,600 and $162,300 in interest paid to related parties on subordinated notes payable. See Note 6 Stockholder Notes Payable and Note 4 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entity for further information.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain amounts in prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

Income Taxes

 

Accounting policies:

 

Prior to November 8, 2018, the Company was taxed under the provisions of subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code. Under these provisions, the Company did not pay corporate federal income taxes on its taxable income but was liable for Florida corporate income taxes and Texas Franchise Tax. The shareholder was liable for individual income taxes on the Company’s taxable income. Post-merger, the Company file consolidated federal and state income tax returns.

 

Unaudited pro forma amounts for income tax expense have been presented assuming the Company’s pro forma effective tax rate of (2.56)% for the year ended December 31, 2018, and 68.09 % for the year ended December 31, 2017 as if it had been a C corporation during those periods. The pro-forma provision for income taxes excludes information related to the Company’s VIE.

 

Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are the expected future tax amounts for the temporary differences between carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, computed using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes.

 

A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.

 

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions in “Income tax expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no amounts related to interest and penalties recognized for the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2017.

 

52
 

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, and has subsequently issued several supplemental and/or clarifying ASUs (collectively, “ASC 606”). ASC 606 prescribes a single common revenue standard that replaces most existing U.S. GAAP revenue recognition guidance. ASC 606 is intended to provide a more consistent interpretation and application of the principles outlined in the standard across filers in multiple industries and within the same industries compared to current practices, which should improve comparability. Adoption of ASC 606 is required for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Upon adoption, we must elect to adopt either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or use the modified retrospective transition method with the cumulative effect of initial adoption recognized at the date of initial application. We adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective method on January 1, 2018.

 

Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASC 606 also impacts certain other areas, such as the accounting for costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. The standard also requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

 

We examined our revenue recognition policy specific to all revenue streams governing product sales and have come to conclusions on the impact of the new standard using the 5-step process prescribed by ASC 606. We reviewed all of our contracts, and determined the potential impact to our accounting policies, financial controls and operations. Our conclusions include recognizing revenue on product sales once the product is sold to the distributor or retail customers.

 

As noted above, we used the modified retrospective method to adopt the new standard. This means that we did not restate previously issued financial statements, but we recorded a one-time adjustment to retained earnings of ($81,520). This adjustment represents the sales of our product to our customers prior to January 1, 2018, that had not been delivered or in control of the customer.

 

The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASC 606 was as follows:

 

    Balance at
December 31, 2017
    Adjustments due to Adoption of
ASC 606
    Balance at January 1, 2018  
ASSETS                        
Accounts receivable, net   $ 4,675,588     $ (341,861 )   $ 4,333,727  
Inventory, net     12,952,850       394,468       13,347,318  
Total Assets   $ 18,244,859     $ 52,607     $ 18,297,466  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT                        
Accounts payable and accruals   $ 4,409,232     $ 134,127     $ 4,543,359  
Accumulated deficit     (1,494,927 )     (81,520 )     (1,576,447 )
Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit   $ 18,244,859     $ 52,607     $ 18,297,466  

 

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Previously, we recognized revenue on product sales once the product left the company’s warehouse. Effective January 1, 2018, we began recognizing revenue when our customers, take control of our product be it a shipment or upon delivery. This will have the impact of us recognizing revenue approximately seven calendar days later than before adopting the new standard. The following financial statement line items for twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were affected as a result of the adoption:

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

    12 months ended December 31, 2018  
    As Reported     Effect of Change     Balances without Adoption of ASC 606  
Revenue, Net   $ 32,165,933       (472,171 )   $ 32,638,104  
Cost of revenue   $ 27,227,664     $ (382,766 )   $ 27,610,430  
Net Loss   $ (2,277,116 )   $ (89,405 )   $ (2,187,711 )
                         
Loss per basic and diluted common share:                        
Basic and diluted net loss per common share     (0.15 )     (0.01 )     (0.15 )

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

    12 months ended December 31, 2018  
    Balance as
Presented
    Effect of Change     Balances without Adoption of ASC 606  
ASSETS                        
Accounts receivable, net   $ 3,449,487     $ (243,177 )   $ 3,206,310  
Inventory, net     8,126,634       281,361       8,407,995  
Total Assets   $ 13,481,318     $ 38,184     $ 13,519,502  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT                        
Accounts payable and accruals   $ 3,155,741     $ 127,589     $ 3,283,330  
Accumulated deficit     (3,853,139 )     (89,405 )     (3,942,544 )
Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit   $ 13,481,318     $ 38,184     $ 13,519,502  

 

ASC 606 did not have an aggregate impact on our net cash provided by operating activities but resulted in offsetting changes in certain assets and liabilities presented within net cash used in operating activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows, as reflected in the above tables.

 

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued new lease accounting guidance ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), as amended by ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases” and ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements.” Under the new guidance, at the commencement date, lessees will be required to recognize 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. The new guidance is not applicable for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. 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. Early application is permitted upon issuance.

 

ASC 842 was previously required to be adopted using the modified retrospective approach. However, in July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which allows for retrospective application with the recognition of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Under this option, entities would not need to apply ASC 842 (along with its disclosure requirements) to the comparative prior periods presented.

 

Management expects that most of its operating leases (primarily warehouse space) will be recognized as operating lease liabilities and right of use assets on its consolidated balance sheet. The Company has elected to adopt certain of the optional practical expedients, including the package of practical expedients, which, among other things, gives the option to not reassess: 1) whether expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; 2) the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and 3) initial direct costs for existing leases.

 

55
 

 

Note 3. Going Concern

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company incurred a net loss of $2,277,116, has an accumulated deficit of $3,853,139 and working capital deficit of $1,146,937, inclusive of $2,910,136 in subordinated stockholder debt. The company does have a positive cash flow from operations. These circumstances raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company’s ability to increase revenues, execute on its business plan to acquire complimentary companies, raise capital, and to continue to sustain adequate working capital to finance its operations. The failure to achieve the necessary levels of profitability and cash flows would be detrimental to the Company. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Note 4. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

 

Effective April 1, 2014, the Company’s stockholder was transferred the controlling interest of Strike (see Note 2). The Company concluded that Strike is a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary of Strike, in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation . Therefore, the Company consolidated Strike in its financial statements. Strike’s activities are reflected in the Company’s financial statements starting on April 1, 2014, the effective date of the controlling interest transfer. Strike was not a VIE of the

 

Company and the Company was not the primary beneficiary of Strike prior to the effective date of the controlling interest transfer of April 1, 2014. Strike’s equity is classified as non-controlling interest in the Company’s financial statements since the Company is not a shareholder of Strike.

 

The information below represents the assets, liabilities and non-controlling interest related to Strike as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

    December 31, 2018  
Assets   $ 177,352  
Liabilities     95,720  
Non-controlling interest     (440,883 )

 

    December 31, 2017  
Assets   $ 422,358  
Liabilities     318,073  
Non-controlling interest     (424,081 )

 

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Note 5.

Fixed Assets

 

Fixed assets comprised the following at December 31:

 

    2018     2017  
Computer equipment   $ 27,320     $ 22,924  
Warehouse and refrigeration equipment     157,839       135,607  
Leasehold improvements     26,600       26,600  
Automobile     174,620       174,621  
Total     386,379       359,752  
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization     (277,210 )     (213,256 )
Fixed assets, net   $ 109,169     $ 146,496  

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, depreciation and amortization expense of fixed assets totaled approximately $64,000 and $62,400 respectively.

   

Note 6.

 

Stockholder Notes Payable

 

The Company had unsecured promissory notes outstanding to its stockholder of approximately $2,910,000 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. These notes are payable on demand and bear an annual interest rate of 6%. These notes are subordinated to AFS Finco I LP (“Ares”) as a stipulation to the working capital line of credit. Principle payments are not allowed under this subordination agreement that was effective August 31, 2016. No Principal payments were made by the Company during 2018 or 2017. The Stockholder loaned an additional $500,000 in subordinated funds to the Company during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Interest expense for the stockholder notes totaled approximately $174,600 and $162,300 for the years ending December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Note 7. Debt

 

Working Capital Line of Credit

 

The Company entered into a $14,000,000 revolving line of credit with ACF Finco I, LP on August 31, 2016, the proceeds of which were used to pay off the prior line of credit, pay new loan costs of approximately $309,000, and provide additional working capital to the company. This facility was amended on November 18, 2016, June 19, 2017, October 16, 2017, September 19, 2018 and November 8, 2018. In the fourth amendment the term of this facility was extended to a term of 5 years from the effective date and is subject to early termination by the lender upon defined events of default. The Company continues to be obligated to meet certain financial covenants.

 

The line of credit bears an interest rate equal to the greater of 3 Month LIBOR rate plus 6.25%, the Prime rate plus 3.0% or a fixed rate of 6.5%.

 

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The Ares line of credit agreement is subject to the following terms:

 

  Borrowing is based on up to 85% of eligible accounts receivable plus the net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory at the same rate, subject to certain defined limitations.
  The line is collateralized by substantially all the assets and property of the Company and is personally guaranteed by the stockholder of the Company.
  The Company is restricted to specified distribution payments, use of funds, and is required to comply with certain other covenants including certain financial ratios.
  All cash received by the Company is applied against the outstanding loan balance.
  A subjective acceleration clause allows Ares to call the note upon a material adverse change.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company failed to meet certain financial covenants. The bank issued the fourth amendment to the loan and security agreement dated September 19, 2018 waiving the defaults of the financial covenants, and resetting certain financial covenants. The Company is in compliance with all bank covenants as of December 31, 2018.

 

On November 8, 2018, Inc. the company entered into the fifth amendment to the loan and security agreement with Ares Financial. This amendment memorialized the change in ownership of John Keeler & Co., Inc as a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Star Foods Corp. as well as the change of John Keeler from CEO to Executive Chairman, and the appointment of Carlos Faria as the CEO of John Keeler & Co., Inc.

 

The Company analyzed the Line of Credit modification under ASC 470-50-40-21 and determined that the modification did not trigger any additional accounting due to the revolving line of credit remain unchanged

 

As of December 31, 2018, the line of credit bears interest rate of 8.96%.

 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the line of credit had an outstanding balance of approximately $8,204,000 and $12,100,000, respectively.

 

The Company amortizes loan costs on a straight-line basis, which approximates the interest method, over the term of the credit facility. The Company added loan costs associated with the working capital lines of credit of approximately $70,000 and $115,000 for the twelve months ending December 31, 2018 and 2017, leaving balances in the asset of $109,200 and $195,000, net of approximately $384,500 and $229,000 of accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company recorded amortization expense of approximately $155,500 and $164,000 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Long-Term Debt

 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, long-term debt consisted of a note payable outstanding with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (“MB Financial”). The Company entered into a loan agreement with MB Financial on November 30, 2014 to finance the purchase of an automobile. The loan bears interest at 5.56% per annum and requires monthly installment of approximately $3,000, inclusive of interest. The loan matures on November 30, 2019.

 

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As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, this loan had an outstanding balance of approximately $31,200 and $69,000, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2018, scheduled principal payments related to long-term debt are as follows:

 

2019     31,200  
         
Total   $ 31,200  

 

Interest expense for third party debt totaled approximately $820,500 and $807,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

  Note 8. Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

Our Board of Directors has designated 10,000 shares of preferred stock as “8% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock”.

 

The Series A Stock has no maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund or redemption and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless and until converted by the holder or the Company redeems or otherwise repurchases the Series A Stock.

 

Dividends. Cumulative dividends shall accrue on each share of Series A Stock at the rate of 8% (the “Dividend Rate”) of the purchase price of $1,000.00 per share, commencing on the date of issuance. Dividends are payable quarterly, when and if declared by the Board, beginning on September 30, 2018 (each a “Dividend Payment Date”) and are payable in shares of Common Stock (a “PIK Dividend”) with such shares being valued at the daily volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Common Stock for the thirty trading days immediately prior to each Dividend Payment Date or if not traded or quoted as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Company. Any fractional shares of a PIK Dividend will be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a share. All shares of Common Stock issued in payment of a PIK Dividend will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Dividends will accumulate whether or not the Company has earnings, there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends and whether or not those dividends are declared by the Board.

 

A dividend of common stock was authorized to the shareholders per the preferred shares designation on December 31, 2018. The dividend resulted in an issuance of 8,164 shares of stock with a value of $16,328.

 

Conversion. Each share of Series A Stock is convertible at any time and in the sole discretion of the holder thereof, into shares of Common Stock at a conversion rate of 500 shares of Common Stock per each share of Series A Stock (the “Conversion Rate”) The Company analyzed the embedded conversion option for derivative accounting consideration under ASC 815-15 “Derivatives and Hedging” and determined that the conversion option should be classified as equity

 

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Note 9. Options

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018

 

Upon the closing of the Merger on November 8, 2018 the following options were issued:

 

  1. Options to purchase an aggregate of 104 shares of Blue Star’s common stock issued to Carlos Faria at an exercise price of $10,000 per share, which were outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, were converted into ten-year immediately exercisable options to purchase an aggregate of 3,120,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.333 under the 2018 Plan.
  2. Options to purchase 3,120,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 with a 10 year life, which vest one-year from the date of grant, were issued to Christopher Constable under the 2018 Plan.

 

During the twelve months ending December 31, 2018, $808,338 in compensation expense was recognized on these 6,240,000 options.

 

The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the stock options granted during 2018:

 

    2018  
Expected Volatility     37%-39 %
Risk Free Interest Rate     2.84 %
Expected life of warrants     5 - 5.5  

 

Under the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the fair value of the 6,240,000 options granted during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 is estimated at $2,926,087 on the date of grant. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, $808,338 compensation expense was recognized on these 6,240,000 options.

 

The following Table represents option activity for the period ending December 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

    Number of Options     Weighted Average Exercise Price     Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years     Aggregate Intrinsic Value  
Outstanding - December 31, 2017     -     $ -                  
Exercisable - December 31,2017     -     $ -             $ -  
Granted     6,240,000     $ 1.17                  
Exercised     -                          
Outstanding - December 31, 2018     6,240,000     $ 1.17       9.86          
Exercisable - December 31, 2018     3,120,000     $ 0.33       9.86     $ 5,210,400  

 

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Note 10. Warrants

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018

 

On November 8, 2018, as part of the units purchased by the private placement participants and the SOR settlement shareholders 172,000 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock were granted. These warrants are immediately vested, are exercisable at an exercise price of $2.40 per share and expire on November 7, 2021. The Company recognized $81,353 in Settlement and Warrant expense during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

 

The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the 172,000 warrants granted during 2018 as of re-measurement dates:

 

    2018  
Expected Volatility     40 %
Risk Free Interest Rate     2.84 %
Expected life of warrants     3.0  

 

The following Table represents warrant activity for the period ending December 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

    Number of Warrants     Weighted Average Exercise Price     Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years     Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Outstanding - December 31, 2017     0     $ -                  
Exercisable - December 31,2017     0     $ -             $ -  
Granted     353,250     $ 2.40                  
Forfeited or Expired     0                          
Outstanding - December 31, 2018     353,250     $ 2.40       2.85          
Exercisable - December 31, 2018     353,250     $ 2.40       2.85     $ -  

 

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Note 11 Income taxes

 

In connection with the Merger, as discussed in Note 1, the Company terminated its S-Corporation status and became a taxable entity (“C Corporation”) on November 8, 2018. The consolidated statements of income present unaudited pro forma statements of income for the year to date and for prior year period. The pro-forma provision for income taxes excludes information related to the Company’s VIE.

 

Allocation of federal and state income taxes between current and deferred portions is as follows:

 

Components of Tax Expense   December 31, 2018     December 31, 2018 (Pro forma)     December 31, 2017 (Pro Forma)  
                   
Current - Federal     -       -       -  
Current - State     3,004       3,004       -  
Deferred - Federal     -       -       246,793  
Deferred - State     -       -       23,842  
                         
Income Tax Provision/(Benefit)     3,004       3,004       270,635  

 

Federal income tax expense differs from the statutory federal rates of 21% for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 34% for the year ended December 31, 2017 due to the following:

 

Rate Reconciliation   December 31, 2018           December 31, 2018
(Pro forma)
          December 31, 2017
(Pro Forma)
       
                                     
Pre-Tax Book Income     (1,939,482 )             (2,260,364 )             393,872          
                                                 
Provision/(Benefit) at Statutory Rate     (407,291 )     21.00 %     (474,676 )     21.00 %     133,917       34.00 %
State Tax Provision/(Benefit) net of federal benefit     (46,706 )     4.03 %     (57,336 )     4.03 %     16,665       3.61 %
Permanent Book/Tax Differences     163,916       -8.45 %     175,909       -7.78 %     23,212       5.89 %
Change in Tax Rate     -       0.00 %     -       0.00 %     102,745       26.09 %
Employee Retention Credit     -       0.00 %     (6,484 )     0.29 %     (6,484 )     -1.65 %
Change in valuation allowance     290,454       -14.98 %     423,761       -18.75 %     -       0.00 %
Other     2,631       -0.14 %     (58,170 )     2.57 %     580       0.15 %
                                                 
Income Tax Provision/(Benefit)     3,004       1.47 %     3,004       1.36 %     270,635       68.09 %

 

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The components of the net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2018, are as follows:

 

    December 31, 2018  
Deferred Tax Assets        
263A Unicap     29,233  
Fixed Assets     (4,408 )
Charitable Contribution Carryforward     -  
Business Interest Limitation     36,969  
Employee Retention Bonus     -  
Stock based compensation     106,015  
Federal Net Operating loss     109,380  
State Net Operating Loss     20,612  
Total Deferred Tax Assets     297,801  
         
Deferred Tax Liabilities        
Intangibles     (7,347 )
Inventory Reserve     -  
Total Deferred Tax Liability     (7,347 )
         
Net Deferred Tax Asset/(Liability)     290,454  
         
Valuation Allowance     (290,454 )
         
Net Deferred Tax Asset/(Liability)     -  

 

Tax periods for all fiscal years after 2014 remain open to examination by the federal and state taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has federal net operating loss of $520,857 to be carried forward indefinitely.

 

ASC 740, “Income Taxes” requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is “more likely than not” that all, or a portion of, deferred tax assets will not be recognized. A review of all available positive and negative evidence needs to be considered, including the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies. After consideration of all the information available, management believes that uncertainty exists with respect to future realization of its deferred tax assets and has, therefore, established a full valuation allowance as of December 31, 2018.

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company has evaluated and concluded that there were no material uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s policy is to classify assessments, if any, for tax related interest as income tax expenses. No interest or penalties were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2018.

 

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Note 12. Commitment and Contingencies

 

Office lease

The Company leases its office and warehouse facility from JK Real Estate, a related party through common family beneficial ownership (see Note 2). The lease has a 20 year term, expiring in July 2021. The Company is a guarantor of the mortgage on the facility which had a balance of approximately $1,307,000 at December 31, 2018; the Company’s maximum exposure. The Company deems that rental income on this lease is sufficient to cover the loan payments under this mortgage. Therefore, the Company did not record any liability related to the mortgage in the consolidated financial statements as the Company does not believe it will be called upon to perform under this guarantee, in accordance with ASC 460, Guarantees .

 

Legal

 

At December 31, 2018, future minimum lease payments under operating lease agreements are as follows:

 

2019     203,000  
2020     203,000  
2021     102,000  
    $ 508,000  

 

Rental and equipment lease expenses amounted to approximately $213,600 and $211,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

On November 27, 2018 the company was issued a settlement letter in relation to a threatened lawsuit by a former employee. On March 26, 2019, the company responded to this letter with a settlement offer of approximately $40,000. The company has fully reserved for this settlement amount in the December 31, 2018 financial statements. The company has received no further communications regarding this settlement.

 

Note 13. Employee Benefit Plan

 

The Company provides and sponsors a 401(k) plan for its employees. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no contributions were made to the plan by the Company.

 

Note 14. Subsequent Events

 

On December 20, 2018, the Board of Directors granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 705,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share to certain employees and service providers, effective January 15, 2019.

 

On February 1, 2019, the Company sold 5,000 shares at $2.00 per share to one investor in a private offering.

 

On March 26, 2019, the Company issued a four-month promissory note in the principal amount of $1,000,000 to Kenar Overseas Corp., a company registered in Panama (the “Lender”). The term of the note may be extended for an additional two months at the Lender’s discretion. The note bears interest at the rate of 18% per annum during the initial four months which rate will increase to 24% during any extension thereof. The note may be prepaid in whole or in part without penalty. John Keeler, the Company’s Executive Chairman pledged 5,000,000 shares of common stock to secure the Company’s obligations under the note.

 

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as of December 31, 2018, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, based on the material weaknesses discussed below, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of such date to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act were recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that our disclosure controls are not effectively designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

  Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
     
  Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and board of directors; and
     
  Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Because of the inherent limitations of internal control, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

 

Immediately following the Merger, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, existing as of December 31, 2018, based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) and SEC guidance on conducting such assessments. Based on that evaluation, we believe that, during the period covered by this report, such internal controls and procedures were not effective to detect the inappropriate application of US GAAP rules as more fully described below. This was due to deficiencies that existed in the design or operation of our internal controls over financial reporting that adversely affected our internal controls and that may be considered to be material weaknesses.

 

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As a result of the foregoing, the matters involving internal controls and procedures that our management considered to be material weaknesses under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board were:

 

  The Company’s lack of an audit committee with a financial expert and thus the Company lacks the board oversight role within the financial reporting process; and
     
  inadequate segregation of duties consistent with control objectives, including lack of personnel resources and technical accounting expertise within the accounting function of the Company.

 

Management believes that the material weaknesses that were identified did not have an effect on our financial results. However, management believes that these weaknesses, if not properly remediated, could result in a material misstatement in our financial statements in future periods.

 

Management’s Remediation Initiatives

 

At the time of the Merger, we appointed new members of senior management, including a new Chief Financial Officer. In an effort to remediate the identified material weaknesses and other deficiencies and enhance our internal controls, we plan to further initiate, the following measures, subject to the availability of required resources:

 

  We plan to establish an audit committee, including an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by applicable SEC rules, that has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable Nasdaq rules and regulations; and
     
  We plan to create a position to segregate duties consistent with control objectives and hire personnel resources with technical accounting expertise within the accounting function.

 

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding our internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that exempt smaller reporting companies from this requirement.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

As of November 8, 2018, Howard Gostfrand resigned as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors, and Laura Anthony resigned as our Chief Financial Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors. Both Mr. Gostfrand and Ms. Anthony had served in those capacities since October 17, 2017.

 

Below are the names of and certain information regarding the Company’s current executive officers and directors:

 

Name   Age   Position   Date Named to Board of
Directors/as

Executive Officer
             
John Keeler   48   Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board   November 8, 2018
Carlos Faria   48   President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director   November 8, 2018
Christopher H. Constable   52   Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer and a Director   November 8, 2018
Nubar Herian   49   Director   November 8, 2018

 

Our directors hold office for three-year terms and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Our officers are elected by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors.

 

A majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a quorum of our board of directors for the transaction of business. The directors must be present at the meeting to constitute a quorum. However, any action required or permitted to be taken by the board of directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board of directors individually or collectively consent in writing to the action.

 

Our board of directors currently consists of four members. Executive officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at its pleasure.

 

The principal occupation and business experience during the past five years for our executive officers and directors is as follows:

 

John Keeler has been Executive Chairman of the Board since the effectiveness of the Merger. Mr. Keeler founded John Keeler & Co., d/b/a Blue Star Foods in May 1995 and served as its Executive Chairman of the Board since inception during which time he grew the company to become one of the leading marketers of imported blue swimming crab meat in the United States. Mr. Keeler built sales over the past 20 years to $35+ million annually through 2017. Mr. Keeler oversees procurement as well as operating facilities in the Philippines and Indonesia. Mr. Keeler is an executive committee member of the National Fisheries Institute-Crab Council and a founding member of the Indonesia and Philippines crab meat processors associations. Mr. Keeler received his BS in Economics from Rutgers University in 1995 and attended Harvard Business School executive programs in supply chain management, negotiations and marketing in 2005. Mr. Keeler’s extensive experience in the industry led to the decision to appoint him to the board of directors.

 

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Carlos Faria has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a director since the effectiveness of the Merger. Mr. Faria was a consultant to Keeler & Co since December 2016. Prior thereto, from September 2015 to November 2016, Mr. Faria was senior vice president of Procurement at AquaStar, the largest division of the privately-held Red Chamber Group, a diversified and vertically integrated seafood company, where he developed four new product lines of pasteurized seafood and helped build a supplier network in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and China. From February 2012 to August 2015, Mr. Faria was vice president of operations at Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, the largest US division of the Thai Union Group, a diversified and vertically integrated worldwide seafood company and head of East Coast operations of Empress International, where he was responsible for M&A strategy and the acquisition of $250 million Orion Seafood International, Inc., the largest marketer of frozen lobster products in the United States. From May 2003 to January 2012, Mr. Faria was senior vice president of International, Supply Chain & Strategy at Keeler & Co where he implemented sales and operations planning process to structure growth for the company and vertically integrated operations in Indonesia and the Philippines with multiple processing plants. Mr. Faria has also held positions in corporate finance, including as a deputy general manager at WestLB Group (Banque Europeenne pour l’Amerique Latine – a West Deutsche Landesbank subsidiary) (Caracas, Venezuela) and as an international business analyst at Citibank, NA (Caracas, Venezuela). Mr. Faria graduated from the Universidad Metropolitana (Venezuela), with a bachelor’s in business administration, majoring in management and received training at the Harvard Business School in supply chain management. Mr. Faria’s extensive experience in the seafood industry led to the decision to appoint him to the board of directors.

 

Christopher H. Constable has been Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary and a director since the effectiveness of the Merger. Mr. Constable was Chief Financial Officer of Keeler & Co since May 2003. Mr. Constable manages the Company’s US finance operations. In addition, Mr. Constable manages the finance operations of the Company’s international affiliates, Bacolod Blue Star Export Corp, Bicol Blue Star Export Corp., Strike the Gold Foods, Ltd., affiliated suppliers. Prior thereto, from 1999 to 2003, Mr. Constable was a consultant at Gateway Capital Corp., a business consulting firm, where he analyzed the financial and reporting capabilities of prospective lending customers for lines of credit from $10 to $100 million. Additionally, Mr. Constable was involved with loan workouts of facilities that required either liquidation or restructuring to ensure collectability for the financial institutions. From 1990 to 1999, Mr. Constable was a commercial banker at Mercantile Bankshares in Baltimore, Finova Capital Corporation and Capital Bank, both in south Florida. Mr. Constable received his B.S. in Finance with an Accounting Minor from the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore, in 1989. Mr. Constable’s experience with the Company and industry knowledge led to the decision to appoint him to the board of directors.

 

Nubar Herian has been a director since the effectiveness of the Merger. Since 2014, Mr. Herian has been the chief executive officer of Monaco Group Holdings, a privately-held company headquartered in Miami, Florida, which owns and operates Monaco Foods, Inc., an importer, exporter and distributor of premium gourmet foods from around the world. Since 1995, Mr. Herian has been the commercial director of Casa de Fruta Caracas, a privately-held company based in Caracas, Venezuela, that focuses on importing foods. Mr. Herian is also the president of Lunar Enterprises, a holding company for his family’s public and private equity investments and real estate holdings. Mr. Herian received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Atlantic University in 1994 and an Executive M.B.A. from the University of Miami in 2014. Mr. Herian’s experience in the food import industry led to the decision to appoint him to the board of directors. There are no family relationships among our directors and executive officers.

 

Family Relationship

 

There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

No executive officer or director of ours has been involved in the last ten years in any of the following:

 

  Any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business or property of such person, or of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
     
  Any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

 

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  Being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities;
     
  Being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;
     
  Being the subject of or a party to any judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, or any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail, fraud, wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
     
  Being the subject of or a party to any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act, any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% percent of our equity securities (“Reporting Persons”) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Based solely on our review of copies of such reports and representations from the Reporting Persons, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Reporting Persons timely filed all such reports, except:

 

  On October 17, 2017, Howard Gostfrand was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors. In connection with his appointment, American Capital Ventures, Inc., a company controlled by Mr. Gostfrand, purchased 5,000,000 founder’s shares for an aggregate of $2,000, representing 50% of the Company’s equity ownership. No Form 3 was filed on Mr. Gostfrand’s behalf.
     
  On October 17, 2017, Laura Anthony was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer and as a member of our board of directors. In connection with her appointment, Leone Group, LLC, a company controlled by Ms. Anthony, purchased 5,000,000 founder’s shares for an aggregate of $2,000, representing 50% of the Company’s equity ownership. No Form 3 was filed on Ms. Anthony’s behalf.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We intend to adopt a code of ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, but have not done so to date due to our relatively small size.

 

Board Committees

 

The Company has no nominating, audit or compensation committees at this time. The entire board of directors participates in the nomination and audit oversight processes and considers executive and director compensation. The entire board of directors is involved in such decision-making processes. Thus, there is a potential conflict of interest in that our directors and officers have the authority to determine issues concerning management compensation, nominations, and audit issues that may affect management decisions. We are not aware of any other conflicts of interest with any of our executive officers or directors.

 

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Role of Board in Risk Oversight Process

 

Risk assessment and oversight are an integral part of our governance and management processes. Our board of directors encourages management to promote a culture that incorporates risk management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Management discusses strategic and operational risks at regular management meetings and conducts strategic planning and review sessions during the year that include a discussion and analysis of the risks facing us.

 

Board Diversity

 

Upon consummation of the Merger, the board of directors will review, on an annual basis, the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience required for the board of directors as a whole and its individual members. In evaluating the suitability of individual candidates (both new candidates and current members), the board of directors, in approving (and, in the case of vacancies, appointing) such candidates, will take into account many factors, including the following:

 

  personal and professional integrity;
     
  ethics and values;
     
  experience in the industries in which we compete;
     
  experience as a director or executive officer of another publicly held company;
     
  diversity of expertise and experience in substantive matters pertaining to our business relative to other board members;
     
  conflicts of interest; and
     
  practical business judgment.

 

Shareholder Communications

 

We have not yet established a process for shareholder communications.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The table below sets forth certain information about the compensation paid, earned or accrued by our Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers who received annual remuneration in excess of $100,000 during 2018 (each a “Named Executive Officer”).

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position*   Fiscal Year     Salary ($)     Bonus ($)     Other Annual Compensation ($)     Total ($)  
John Keeler     2018       104,959       1,000       25,465 (1)     131,424  
Executive Chairman of the Board     2017       104,595       -       18,912 (1)     123,507  
                                         
Carlos Faria     2018       150,000       1,000       3,398 (1)     154,398  
President and Chief Executive Officer     2017       120,000       5,000       1,668 (1)     126,668  
                                         
Christopher Constable     2018       253,475       1,000       3,398 (1)     257,873  
Chief Financial Officer     2017       235,852       10,807       3,109 (1)     249,768  

 

  (1) Represents health insurance premiums paid on behalf of the executive officer by the Company.

 

  *Howard Gostfrand, served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer prior to the Merger and received no compensation for such service.

 

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Our executive officers have basic health benefits that are generally available to all of our employees.

 

We offer a 401(k) plan to eligible employees, including our executive officers. In accordance with this plan, all eligible employees may contribute a percentage of compensation up to a maximum of the statutory limits per year. We intend for the 401(k) plan to qualify, depending on the employee’s election, under Section 401(a) of the Code, so that contributions by employees, and income earned on those contributions, are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from the 401(k) plan.

 

The table below reflects all outstanding equity awards made to any Named Executive Officer that were outstanding at December 31, 2018.

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2018

 

    Option Awards  
          Number of     Number of              
          Securities     Securities              
          Underlying     Underlying              
          Unexercised     Unexercised     Option     Option  
          Options (#)     Options (#)     Exercise     Expiration  
Name   Grant Date     Exercisable     Unexercisable     Price ($)     Date  
Carlos Faria     11/8/18       3,120,000 (1)     -       0.333       11/8/28  
                                         
Christopher Constable     11/8/18       -       3,120,000 (1)(2)     2.00       11/8/28  

 

(1) Such shares are subject to a lock-up agreement with the Company for the Lock-Up Period, pursuant to which such officer may not sell or dispose of more than 50% of the common stock held by him or at a price per share of less than $2.20, except for up to 10% of his shares to a charitable organization which agrees to be bound by such Lock-Up Period restrictions. After the Lock-Up Period, such officer may not sell more than one-third of the common stock held by him in any two-month period.
   
(2) Shares subject to the option vest and become exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

 

2018 Equity Incentive Plan

 

We have adopted the 2018 Plan that provides for the grant of up to 7,500,000 shares of common stock. Under the 2018 Plan, we are authorized to issue incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code and non-qualified stock options. The 2018 Plan is administered by our board of directors. In connection with the Merger, we issued options to purchase an aggregate of 6,240,000 million shares of common stock to certain executive officers and directors.

 

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Share Reserve . 7,500,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2018 Plan pursuant to a variety of stock-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights(“SARs”), restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, deferred stock awards, dividend equivalent awards, stock payment awards, performance awards and other stock-based awards.

 

● to the extent that an award terminates, expires or lapses for any reason or an award is settled in cash without the delivery of shares, any shares subject to the award at such time will be available for future grants under the 2018 Plan;

 

● to the extent shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant, exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any award under the 2018 Plan, such tendered or withheld shares will be available for future grants under the 2018 Plan;

 

● to the extent that shares of common stock are repurchased by us prior to vesting so that shares are returned to us, such shares will be available for future grants under the 2018 Plan;

 

● the payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2018 Plan; and

 

● to the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by us or any of our subsidiaries will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2018 Plan.

 

Administration. The compensation committee is expected to administer the 2018 Plan unless our board of directors assumes authority for administration. The compensation committee must consist of at least three members of our board of directors, each of whom is intended to qualify as an “outside director,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an “independent director” within the meaning of the NASDAQ rules. The 2018 Plan provides that the board of directors or compensation committee may delegate its authority to grant awards to employees other than executive officers to a committee consisting of one or more members of our board of directors or one or more of our officers, other than awards made to our non-employee directors, which must be approved by our full board of directors.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2018 Plan, the administrator has the authority to select the persons to whom awards are to be made, to determine the number of shares to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards, and to make all other determinations and to take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2018 Plan. The administrator is also authorized to adopt, amend or rescind rules relating to administration of the 2018 Plan. Our board of directors may at any time remove the compensation committee as the administrator and revest in itself the authority to administer the 2018 Plan. The full board of directors will administer the 2018 Plan with respect to awards to non-employee directors.

 

Eligibility. Options, SARs, restricted stock and all other stock-based and cash-based awards under the 2018 Plan may be granted to individuals who are then our officers, employees or consultants or are the officers, employees or consultants of subsidiaries. Such awards also may be granted to our directors. Only employees of the Company or certain subsidiaries may be granted ISOs.

 

Awards. The 2018 Plan provides that the administrator may grant or issue stock options, SARs, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, deferred stock awards, deferred stock unit awards, dividend equivalent awards, performance awards, stock payment awards and other stock-based and cash-based awards, or any combination thereof. Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.

 

Nonstatutory Stock Options (“NSOs”) will provide for the right to purchase shares of common stock at a specified price that may not be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, and usually will become exercisable (at the discretion of the administrator) in one or more installments after the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment or service with us and/or subject to the satisfaction of corporate performance targets and individual performance targets established by the administrator. NSOs may be granted for any term specified by the administrator that does not exceed 10 years.

 

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Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) will be designed in a manner intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and will be subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees, and must not be exercisable after a period of 10 years measured from the date of grant. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the 2018 Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant and the ISO must not be exercisable after a period of five years measured from the date of grant.

 

Restricted Stock Awards may be granted to any eligible individual and made subject to such restrictions as may be determined by the administrator. Restricted stock, typically, may be forfeited for no consideration or repurchased by us at the original purchase price if the conditions or restrictions on vesting are not met. In general, restricted stock may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed or expire. Purchasers of restricted stock, unlike recipients of options, will have voting rights and will have the right to receive dividends, if any, prior to the time when the restrictions lapse; however, extraordinary dividends will generally be placed in escrow, and will not be released until restrictions are removed or expire.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be awarded to any eligible individual, typically without payment of consideration, but subject to vesting conditions based on continued employment or service or on performance criteria established by the administrator. Like restricted stock, restricted stock units may not be sold, or otherwise transferred or hypothecated, until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Unlike restricted stock, stock underlying restricted stock units will not be issued until the restricted stock units have vested, and recipients of restricted stock units generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

 

Deferred Stock Awards represent the right to receive shares of common stock on a future date. Deferred stock may not be sold or otherwise hypothecated or transferred until issued. Deferred stock will not be issued until the deferred stock award has vested, and recipients of deferred stock generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when the vesting conditions are satisfied and the shares are issued. Deferred stock awards generally will be forfeited, and the underlying shares of deferred stock will not be issued, if the applicable vesting conditions and other restrictions are not met.

 

Deferred Stock Units are denominated in unit equivalent of shares of common stock and vest pursuant to a vesting schedule or performance criteria set by the administrator. The common stock underlying deferred stock units will not be issued until the deferred stock units have vested, and recipients of deferred stock units generally will have no voting rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARS”), may be granted in connection with stock options or other awards, or separately. SARs granted in connection with stock options or other awards typically will provide for payments to the holder based upon increases in the price of our Common Stock over a set exercise price. The exercise price of any SAR granted under the 2018 Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant. Except as required by Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to a SAR intended to qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m) of the Code, there are no restrictions specified in the 2018 Plan on the exercise of SARs or the amount of gain realizable therefrom, although restrictions may be imposed by the administrator in the SAR agreements. SARs under the 2018 Plan will be settled in cash or shares of common stock, or in a combination of both, at the election of the administrator.

 

Dividend Equivalent Awards represent the value of the dividends, if any, per share paid by us, calculated with reference to the number of shares covered by the award. Dividend equivalents may be settled in cash or shares and at such times as determined by our compensation committee or board of directors, as applicable.

 

Performance Awards may be granted by the administrator on an individual or group basis. Generally, these awards will be based upon specific performance targets and may be paid in cash or in common stock or in a combination of both. Performance awards may include “phantom” stock awards that provide for payments based upon the value of our Common Stock. Performance awards may also include bonuses that may be granted by the administrator on an individual or group basis and that may be payable in cash or in common stock or in a combination of both.

 

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Stock Payment Awards may be authorized by the administrator in the form of common stock or an option or other right to purchase common stock as part of a deferred compensation or other arrangement in lieu of all or any part of compensation, including bonuses, that would otherwise be payable in cash to the employee, consultant or non-employee director.

 

Change in Control . In the event of a change in control where the acquirer does not assume or replace awards granted prior to the consummation of such transaction, awards issued under the 2018 Plan will be subject to accelerated vesting such that 100% of such awards will become vested and exercisable or payable, as applicable. Performance awards will vest in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement. In the event that, within the 12 month period immediately following a change in control, a participant’s services with us are terminated by us other than for cause (as defined in the 2018 Plan) or by such participant for good reason (as defined in the 2018 Plan), then the vesting and, if applicable, exercisability of 100% of the then-unvested shares subject to the outstanding equity awards held by such participant under the 2018 Plan will accelerate effective as of the date of such termination. The administrator may also make appropriate adjustments to awards under the 2018 Plan and is authorized to provide for the acceleration, cash-out, termination, assumption, substitution or conversion of such awards in the event of a change in control or certain other unusual or nonrecurring events or transactions. Under the 2018 Plan, a change in control is generally defined as:

 

● the transfer or exchange in a single transaction or series of related transactions by our stockholders of more than 50% of our voting stock to a person or group;

 

● a change in the composition of our board of directors over a two-year period such that the members of the board of directors who were approved by at least two-thirds of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination was so approved cease to constitute a majority of the board of directors;

 

● a merger, consolidation, reorganization or business combination in which we are involved, directly or indirectly, other than a merger, consolidation, reorganization or business combination that results in our outstanding voting securities immediately before the transaction continuing to represent a majority of the voting power of the acquiring company’s outstanding voting securities and after which no person or group beneficially owns 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity immediately after the transaction; or

 

● stockholder approval of our liquidation or dissolution.

 

Adjustments of Awards . In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, recapitalization, distribution of our assets to stockholders (other than normal cash dividends) or any other corporate event affecting the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock or the share price of our Common Stock other than an “equity restructuring” (as defined below), the administrator may make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to reflect the event giving rise to the need for such adjustments, with respect to:

 

● the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the 2018 Plan;

 

● the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards and terms and conditions of outstanding awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect to such awards); and

 

● the grant or exercise price per share of any outstanding awards under the 2018 Plan.

 

In the event of one of the adjustments described above or other corporate transactions, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the potential benefits intended to be made available under the 2018 Plan, the administrator has the discretion to make such equitable adjustments and may also:

 

● provide for the termination or replacement of an award in exchange for cash or other property;

 

● provide that any outstanding award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event;

 

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● provide that awards may be exercisable, payable or fully vested as to shares of common stock covered thereby; or

 

● provide that an award under the 2018 Plan cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

 

In the event of an equity restructuring, the administrator will make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable. In addition, the administrator will make equitable adjustments, as the administrator in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such equity restructuring, with respect to the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the 2018 Plan. The adjustments upon an equity restructuring are nondiscretionary and will be final and binding on the affected holders and the Company.

 

For purposes of the 2018 Plan, “equity restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between us and our stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of shares (or other securities) or the share price of our Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the common stock underlying outstanding stock-based awards granted under the 2018 Plan. In the event of a stock split in connection with an offering, the administrator will proportionately adjust (i) the number of shares subject to any outstanding award under the 2018 Plan, (ii) the exercise or grant price of any such awards, if applicable, and (iii) the aggregate number of shares subject to the 2018 Plan.

 

Amendment and Termination . Our board of directors or the compensation committee (with board approval) may terminate, amend or modify the 2018 Plan at any time and from time to time. However, we must generally obtain stockholder approval:

 

● to increase the number of shares available under the 2018 Plan (other than in connection with certain corporate events, as described above);

 

● reduce the price per share of any outstanding option or SAR granted under the 2018 Plan;

 

● cancel any option or SAR in exchange for cash or another award when the option or SAR price per share exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares; or

 

● to the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation (including any NASDAQ rule).

 

Termination. Our board of directors may terminate the 2018 Plan at any time. No ISOs may be granted pursuant to the 2018 Plan after the 10th anniversary of the effective date of the 2018 Plan, and no additional annual share increases to the 2018 Plan’s aggregate share limit will occur from and after such anniversary. Any award that is outstanding on the termination date of the 2018 Plan will remain in force according to the terms of the 2018 Plan and the applicable award agreement.

 

Employment Agreements

 

We do not currently have employment agreements with our officers.

 

Compensation of Directors

 

As of December 31, 2018, none of the Company’s directors have been compensated for their services as directors of the Company.

 

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information relating to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock at March 29, 2019, by:

 

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock;
   
each of our directors;
   
each of our named executive officers; and
   
all current directors and executive officers as a group.

 

The number of shares beneficially owned by each entity, person, director or executive officer is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of any stock option, warrants or other rights. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock held by such person.

 

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 16,028,164 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 29, 2019. Shares of common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such rights but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person, except with respect to the percentage ownership of all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each beneficial owner listed in the table is c/o Blue Star Foods Corp., 3000 NW 109th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33172.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
    Percentage
of Beneficial
Ownership
 
Named Executive Officers and Directors                
John Keeler     15,000,000       93.6 %
Carlos Faria     3,120,000 (1)     16.3 %
Christopher H. Constable     (2)     -  
Nubar Herian     453,467 (3)     2.8 %
All current directors and executive officers as a group (4 persons)     18,573,467       94.7 %

 

  (1) Represents a currently exercisable option to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.333 per share.
  (2) Does not include stock options to purchase 3,120,000 shares of common stock issued on November 8, 2018, which do not vest until one year from the date of grant.
  (3) Includes 300,000 Conversion Shares and 150,000 Warrant Shares.

 

Change-in-Control Agreements

 

The Company does not have any change-in-control agreements with any of its executive officers.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

The following is a description of transactions since January 1, 2016 to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our pre-Merger capital stock, or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation and other arrangements that are described in the section titled “Executive Compensation.” The following description is historical and has not been adjusted to give effect to the Merger or the share conversion ratio pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

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From January 2006 through May 2017, Keeler & Co issued an aggregate of $2,910,000 6% demand promissory notes to John Keeler, our Executive Chairman. We can prepay the notes at any time first against interest due thereunder. If an event of default occurs under the notes, interest will accrue at 18% per annum and if not paid within 10 days of payment becoming due, the holder of the note is entitled to a late fee of 5% of the amount of payment not timely received.

 

John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, and Christopher Constable, our Chief Financial Officer own 75% and 20%, respectively, of Bacolod, an exporter of pasteurized crab meat from the Philippines.

 

John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, and Christopher Constable, our Chief Financial Officer own 80% and 15%, respectively, of Bicol, a Philippine company, and an indirect supplier of crab meat via Bacolod to the Company.

 

The approximate dollar value of the Company’s transactions with Bacolod was approximately $11,000 and $17,230,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. There were no transactions between the Company and Bicol for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, and Christopher Constable, our Chief Financial Officer own 80% and 20%, respectively, of Strike the Gold Foods, Ltd., a UK company, which sells the Company’s packaged crab meat in the United Kingdom.

 

We lease approximately 16,800 square feet of office/warehouse space for our executive offices and distribution facility under a lease expiring in June 2021 for $16,916 per month from Keeler Real Estate, a corporation 33% owned by each trust for each of John Keeler III, Andrea Keeler and Sarah Keeler, each of whom are our Executive Chairman, John Keeler’s children. The Company is a guarantor of the mortgage on the distribution facility which had a balance of approximately $1,325,189 as of June 30, 2018.

 

From time to time, we may prepay Bacolod for future shipments of product which may represent two to three months of purchases. There was $1,139,619 due as of December 31, 2018 and there was no balance due for future shipments from Bacolod as of December 31, 2017.

 

A company owned by the parents of John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, is a party to the Settlement Agreement and was issued 40 Units on November 8, 2018 in connection with the Company Settlement.

 

John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, is a party to an Unconditional and Continuing Guaranty, dated August 31, 2016, with ACF, pursuant to which Mr. Keeler is guarantor of the Company’s obligations under our Loan and Security Agreement with ACF.

 

On March 31, 2018, we issued options to purchase 104 shares of common stock of Keeler & Co with an exercise price of $10,000 per share to Carlos Faria, our President and Chief Executive Officer, for services provided to Keeler & Co. Upon the closing of the Merger, such options were converted into ten-year immediately exercisable options to purchase an aggregate of 3,120,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.333 under the 2018 Plan,

 

On November 8, 2018, we issued Christopher Constable, our Chief Financial Officer, a ten-year option under the 2018 Plan to purchase 3,120,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 which vest one-year from the date of grant.

 

On November 8, 2018, we issued 600 Units in the Offering to Nubar Herian, a director of our company, for $600,000.

 

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John Keeler, our Executive Chairman pledged 5,000,000 shares of common stock to secure the Company’s obligations under the $1,000,000 Kenar Note issued on March 26, 2019.

 

On March 29, 2019, we issued 92 shares of common stock to a company owned by the parents of John Keeler, our Executive Chairman, as a quarterly dividend which accrues on the Series A Stock acquired by such company in connection with the Company Settlement. These shares are fully recognized on the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2018.

 

On March 29, 2019, we issued 3,467 shares of common stock to Lunar Enterprise Corp., a corporation owned by Nubar Herian, a director of our company, as a quarterly dividend which accrues on the Series A Stock acquired by Mr. Herian in the Offering. These shares are fully recognized on the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2018.

 

Director Independence

 

We are not currently subject to listing requirements of any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system that has requirements that a majority of the board of directors be “independent.” Our board of directors currently has four members, John Keeler, Carlos Faria, Christopher Constable and Nubar Herian. Mr. Keeler serves as our Chairman. Mr. Keeler, Mr. Faria and Mr. Constable are not “independent” within the definition of independence provided in the Marketplace Rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market and the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We have not yet assessed whether Mr. Herian qualifies as independent.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed to us by our principal accountants, D. Brooks and Associates CPAs, P.A., for professional services rendered during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 and the period from October 17, 2017 (inception) through October 31, 2017 are set forth in the table below:

 

Fee Category  

Year ended

October 31, 2018

   

Year ended

October 31, 2017

 
             
Audit fees (1)   $ 13,540     $ 2,500  
Audit-related fees (2)   0       0  
Tax fees (3)     0       0  
All other fees (4)     0       0  
Total fees   $ 13,540     $ 2,500  

 

 

(1) Audit fees consist of fees incurred for professional services rendered for the audit of financial statements, for reviews of our interim consolidated financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and for services that are normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements.
   
(2) Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for professional services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements but are not reported under “Audit fees.”
   
(3) Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services relating to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.
   
(4) All other fees consist of fees billed for services not associated with audit or tax.

 

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The aggregate fees billed to us by our principal accountants, MaloneBailey, LLP, for professional services rendered for the period from December 4, 2018 through December 31, 2018 are set forth in the table below:

 

Fee Category  

Year ended

December 31, 2018

 
       
Audit fees (1)   $ 75,000  
Audit-related fees (2)   0  
Tax fees (3)     0  
All other fees (4)     25,000  
Total fees   $ 100,000  

 

 

(1) Audit fees consist of fees incurred for professional services rendered for the audit of financial statements, for reviews of our interim consolidated financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and for services that are normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements.
   
(2) Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for professional services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements but are not reported under “Audit fees.”
   
(3) Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services relating to tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice.
   
(4) All other fees consist of fees billed for services not associated with audit or tax.

 

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Practice

 

Prior to our engagement of our independent auditor, such engagement was approved by our board of directors. The services provided under this engagement may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. Pursuant our requirements, the independent auditors and management are required to report to our board of directors at least quarterly regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date. Our board of directors may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. All audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees incurred by us for the year ended December 31, 2019 and by our predecessor, AG Acquisition Group II, Inc., for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017 were approved by our board of directors.

 

Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services

 

We have not yet established an audit committee. Until then, there are no formal pre-approval policies and procedures. Nonetheless, the auditors engaged for these services are required to provide and uphold estimates for the cost of services to be rendered. The percentage of hours expended on Brooks and Malone Bailey’s respective engagement to audit our financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit
No.
 

SEC

Report

Reference

No.

  Description
         
2.1   2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 8, 2018, by and among the Company, Blue Star, Acquisition Sub and John Keeler (1)
2.2   2.2   Articles of Merger between Blue Star and Acquisition Sub (1)
3.1   3.3   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (2)
3.2   3.4   By-Laws (2)
3.3   3.1   Certificate of Amendment, dated November 5, 2018 (3)
3.4   3.2   Certificate of Designation of 8% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (3)
10.1   10.1   Form of Subscription Agreement (1)
10.2   10.2   Form of Amendment to Subscription Agreement (1)
10.3   10.3   Form of Warrant (1)
10.4   10.4   Form of Registration Rights Agreement (1)
10.5   10.5   Form of Settlement Agreement and Mutual General Release (1)
10.6   10.6   Forms of Lockup Agreement for Pre-Merger Stockholders and Officers and Directors (1)
10.7   10.7   Form of Redemption Agreement (1)
10.8   10.8   2018 Incentive Stock Option Plan (1) †
10.9   10.9   Form of Stock Option Agreement (1) †
10.10   10.10   Loan and Security Agreement, dated August 31, 2016 between the Company and ACF (1)
10.11   10.11   First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement and Reservation of Rights, dated November 18, 2016, between the Company and ACF (1)
10.12   10.12   Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between the Company and ACF (1)
10.13   10.13   Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 16, 2017, between the Company and ACF (1)
10.14   10.14   Fourth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 19, 2018, between the Company and ACF (1)
10.15   10.15   Fifth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated November 8, 2018, between the Company and ACF (1)
10.16   10.16   $14,000,000 Revolving Credit Note, dated August 31, 2016 between the Company and ACF (1)
10.17   10.17   Patent Security Agreement, dated August 31, 2016, between Blue Star and ACF FINCO LP (1)
10.18   10.18   Lease Agreement, dated May 1, 2001, between Blue Star and John Keeler Real Estate Holdings, Inc. (1)
10.19   10.19   Master Software Development Agreement, dated February 6, 2017 between the Company and Claritus Management Pvt. Ltd. (1)
10.20   10.20   $500,000 Demand Note, dated January 4, 2006 from Blue Star in favor of John Keeler and Maria Keeler (1)
10.21   10.21   $300,000 Demand Note, dated March 22, 2006 from Blue Star in favor of John Keeler and Maria Keeler (1)
10.22   10.22   $200,000 Demand Note, dated March 31, 2006 from Blue Star in favor of John Keeler and Maria Keeler (1)
10.23   10.23   $100,000 Demand Note, dated November 21, 2007, from Blue Star in favor of John Keeler (1)
10.24   10.24   $516,833.83 Demand Note, dated July 31, 2013 from Blue Star in favor of John Keeler (1)
10.25   10.25   $500,000 Demand Note, dated May 30, 2017 from Blue Star in favor of John Keeler (1)
10.26*       Form of Subscription Agreement for February 1, 2019 offering
10.27*       $1,000,000 Promissory Note, dated March 26, 2019, issued to Kenar Overseas Corp.
16.1   16.1   Letter from D. Brooks and Associates CPA’s, P.A. to the SEC, dated December 31, 2018 (4)
21.1   21.1   List of Subsidiaries (5)
31.1*       Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*       Certification of Principal Financial and accounting Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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32.1*       Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*       Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*       XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*       XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*       XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*       XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*       XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*       XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

(1) Filed with the SEC on November 14, 2018, as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above , to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 8, 2018, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
   
(2) Filed with the SEC on May 17, 2018, as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above , to the Company’s Form 10/A, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
   
(3) Filed with the SEC on November 9, 2018, as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 5, 2018, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
   
(4) Filed with the SEC on December 31, 2018, as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 8, 2018, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
   
(5) Filed with the SEC on December 31, 2018, as an exhibit, numbered as indicated above, to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.
   
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Filed herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.
     
Dated: April 1, 2019 By: /s/ Carlos Faria
  Name: Carlos Faria
  Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

     
Dated: April 1, 2019 By: /s/ Christopher Constable
  Name: Christopher Constable
  Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
 /s/ John Keeler   Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of   April 1, 2019
John Keeler   Directors    
         
 /s/ Carlos Faria   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   April 1, 2019
Carlos Faria        
         
 /s/ Christopher Constable   Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer and Director   April 1, 2019
Christopher Constable        
         
/s/ Nubar Herian   Director   April 1, 2019
Nubar Herian        

 

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SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

This Subscription Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) has been executed by the purchaser set forth on the signature page hereof (the “ Purchaser ”) in connection with the private placement offering (the “ Offering ”) by Blue Star Foods Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), of up to $300,000 of shares (the “ Maximum Amount ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”; each, a “ Share ” and, collectively, the “ Shares ”) at a purchase price of $2.00 per Share (the “ Purchase Price ”). The Maximum Amount may be increased by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

This subscription is being submitted to you in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions described in this Agreement.

 

There is no minimum subscription amount to participate in the Offering.

 

The Shares being subscribed for pursuant to this Agreement have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). The Offering is being made on a reasonable best efforts basis to “accredited investors,” as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act, in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D.

 

Each closing of the Offering is hereinafter referred to as “ Closing ,” and the date on which such Closing occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date ”. will The Closing of the purchase and sale of Shares shall occur simultaneously with the acceptance by the Company of the undersigned’s subscription, as evidenced by the Company’s execution of this Subscription Agreement. A Closing will not occur unless the conditions set forth in Sections 7 and 8 shall have been satisfied.

 

The Company may conduct one or more Closings for the sale of the Shares until the termination of the Offering. The Shares will be offered through __________, 2019 (the “ Initial Offering Period ”), which period may be extended by the Company in its sole discretion, without notice to any Purchaser or prospective Purchaser, to a date not later than sixty (60) days after the Initial Offering Period (any such additional period and the Initial Offering Period are referred to as the “ Offering Period ”). The final day of the Offering Period shall be referred to as the “ Termination Date .”

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any person, any other person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144 ”). With respect to a Purchaser, any investment fund or managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the same investment manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Purchaser.

 

Business Day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.

 

 
     

 

  1. Subscription. The undersigned Purchaser hereby subscribes to purchase the number of Shares set forth on the Omnibus Signature Page attached hereto, for the aggregate Purchase Price as set forth on such Omnibus Signature Page, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and on the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein.
     
  2. Subscription Procedure. To complete a subscription for the Shares, the Purchaser must fully comply with the subscription procedure provided in paragraphs a. through c. of this Section. on or before the Termination Date.

 

    a. Subscription Documents . On or before the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall review, complete and execute the Omnibus Signature Page to this Agreement together with the Accredited Investor Certification , Investor Profile and Anti-Money Laundering Information Form , each attached hereto following the Omnibus Signature Page (collectively, the “ Subscription Documents ”), and deliver the completed Subscription Documents to the address set forth under the caption “ How to subscribe for Shares in the private offering of Blues Star Foods Corp. ” below. Executed documents may be delivered by facsimile or .pdf sent by electronic mail (e-mail), if the Purchaser delivers the original copies of the documents as soon as practicable thereafter.
       
    b. Purchase Price . Simultaneously with the delivery of the Subscription Documents as provided herein, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company, the full Purchase Price by certified or other bank check, pursuant to the instructions set forth under the caption “ How to subscribe for Shares in the private offering of Blue Star Foods Corp. ” below. Such funds will be returned promptly, without interest or offset, if this Agreement is not accepted by the Company or the Offering is terminated pursuant to its terms prior to the Closing.
       
    c. Company Discretion . The Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company in its sole discretion reserves the right to accept or reject this or any other subscription for Shares, in whole or in part, notwithstanding prior receipt by the Purchaser of notice of acceptance of this subscription. The Company shall have no obligation hereunder until the Company shall execute and deliver to the Purchaser an executed copy of this Agreement. If this subscription is rejected in whole, or the Offering is terminated, all funds received from the Purchaser will be returned without interest or offset, and this Agreement shall thereafter be of no further force or effect. If this subscription is rejected in part, the funds for the rejected portion of this subscription will be returned without interest or offset, and this Agreement will continue in full force and effect to the extent this subscription was accepted.

 

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  3. Registration Rights.

 

    a. The Shares, when issued, will have piggyback registration rights in the event that the Company files a registration statement with respect to its common stock (other than registration statements (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (iii) in connection with a merger or acquisition) provided, that if the offering with respect to which a registration statement is filed is an underwritten primary or secondary offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing that in its opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting such underwriter’s ability to effect an orderly distribution of such securities or otherwise adversely effecting such offering (including, without limitation, causing a diminution in the offering price of the Company’s securities) the Company will include in such registration statement: (A) first, the securities being sold for the account of the Company; (B) second, the number of securities with respect to which the Company has granted rights to participate in such registration that, in the opinion of such underwriter, can be sold pro rata among the respective holders of such securities on the basis of the amount of such securities then owned by each such holder. The Shares removed from any such registration statement as a result of an underwriter’s determination or a “cutback comment” from the SEC shall have piggyback registration rights with respect to any future registration statement filed by the Company that would permit the inclusion of such shares. If, at any time the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Purchasers having piggyback rights hereunder and shall be relieved of its obligation to include the Purchaser’s Shares in connection with such abandoned or delayed registration.
       
    b. The Company will pay all costs related to the registration statement to which a piggy-back registration relates, but will not pay costs of any holder, including legal fees, expert fees, or commissions, or other costs incurred by the holder of the Shares.
       
    c. Notwithstanding Section 3a above, the piggyback registration rights expire one year after the issuance of the Shares provided that Rule 144 is then available for the resale of the Shares.

 

  4. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser, as of the date hereof, the following:

 

    a. Organization and Qualification . The Company and its subsidiary, John Keeler & Co., Inc. d//b/a Blue Star Foods, a Florida corporation (the “ Subsidiary ”), is a corporation or other business entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company and its Subsidiary are duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects of the Company or its Subsidiary (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).
       
    b. Authorization, Enforcement, Compliance with Other Instruments . (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other agreements and documents contemplated hereby or necessary or desirable to effect the transactions contemplated hereby (the “ Transaction Documents ”) and to issue the Shares in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; (ii) the execution and delivery by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares have been, or will be at the time of execution of such Transaction Document, duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors (the “ Board of Directors ”), and no further consent or authorization is, or will be at the time of execution of such Transaction Documents, required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders; (iii) each of the Transaction Documents will be duly executed and delivered by the Company; and (iv) the Transaction Documents when executed will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies.

 

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    c. Capitalization . The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock (“ Preferred Stock ”), 10,000 of which shares have been designated as Series A convertible preferred stock (“ Series A Preferred Stock ”). Not including any Shares issued in this Offering, as of December 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding 16,015,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Outstanding Common Stock ”) and 1,413 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, which are convertible into 706,500 additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “ Conversion Shares ”). All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The Conversion Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance, and upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are free and clear from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof. At the time of the Closing, no shares of capital stock of the Company will be subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances (other than as contemplated by Section 7f hereof) suffered or permitted by the Company. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding stock options (“ Stock Options” ) to purchase 6,240,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “ Option Shares ”) and warrants (“ Warrants ”) to purchase 353,250 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “ Warrant Shares ”). All of the outstanding Stock Options and Warrants have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The Option Shares and Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance, and upon exercise of the Stock Options and Warrants, respectively, in accordance with their terms, including payment of the exercise price therefor, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are free and clear from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof. Except for the Stock Options and Warrants, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever created by the Company relating to, or securities or rights created by the Company convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company. Other than with respect to the shares of Outstanding Common Stock, the Conversion Shares, the Options Shares, and all of the Warrant Shares, there are no agreements or arrangements pursuant to which the Company is obligated to register the sale of any of its securities under the Securities Act. There are no securities or instruments of the Company containing anti-dilution or similar provisions, including the right to adjust the exercise, exchange or reset price under such securities, that will be triggered by the issuance of the Shares as described in this Agreement. No co-sale right, right of first refusal or other similar right will exist with respect to the Shares or the issuance and sale thereof. Upon request, the Company will make available to the Purchaser true and correct copies of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as will be in effect as of the Closing Date.

 

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    d. Issuance of Shares . The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.
       
    e. No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of Incorporation or the By-laws of the Company, as such documents will be in effect as of the Closing, or (ii) violate or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, except for those which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including U.S. federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except for those which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in violation of any term of or in default under its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended to date. Except for those violations or defaults which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company is not in violation of any term of or in default under any material contract, agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company. To the Company’s knowledge, the business of the Company is not being conducted in violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation of any governmental entity, except for any violation which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, will require any notice, consent or waiver under any contract or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of its assets is subject, except for any notice, consent or waiver the absence of which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding two sentences have been or will be obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing.

 

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    f. Absence of Litigation . There is no action, suit, claim, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation before or by any court, public board, governmental or administrative agency, self-regulatory organization, arbitrator, regulatory authority, stock market, stock exchange or trading facility (an “ Action ”) now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its officers or directors, which would be reasonably likely to (i) adversely affect the validity or enforceability of, or the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or (ii) have a Material Adverse Effect. For the purpose of this Agreement, the knowledge of the Company means the actual knowledge of the officers of the Company.
       
    g. Acknowledgment Regarding Purchaser’s Purchase of the Shares . The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchaser’s purchase of the Shares.
       
    h. No General Solicitation . Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any person acting on their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares.
       
    i. No Integrated Offering . Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the Shares under the Securities Act or cause this Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act.
       
    j. Employee Relations . The Company is not involved in any labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened. The Company is not party to any collective bargaining agreement. The Company’s employees are not members of any union, and the Company believes that its relationship with its employees is good.
       
    k. Authorizations; Regulatory Compliance . The Company holds, and is operating in compliance with, all authorizations, licenses, permits, approvals, clearances, registrations, exemptions, consents, certificates and orders of any governmental authority and supplements and amendments thereto (collectively, “ Authorizations ”) required for the conduct of its business, and all such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the Company is not in material violation of any terms of any such Authorizations, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such Authorization, except to the extent that any such revocation or modification would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best of its knowledge, the Company is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees, including such laws and regulations applicable to import and export , except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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    n. Title . The Company does not own any real property. The Company has good and marketable title to all of its personal property and assets, free and clear of any restriction, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest or other charge, claim or encumbrance which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
       
    o. Tax Status . The Company has made and filed (taking into account any valid extensions) all federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject (except in any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse Effect) and (unless and only to the extent that the Company has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and unreported taxes) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due from the Company by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.
       
    p. Certain Transactions . Except for arm’s-length transactions pursuant to which the Company makes payments in the ordinary course of business upon terms no less favorable than it could obtain from third parties, none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company is a party to any transaction with the Company (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner.
       
    q. Financial Statements . The financial statements of the Company, comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and relevant rules and regulations with respect thereto as in effect at the time of the Closing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments.
       
    v. Undisclosed Liabilities . The Company has no material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (i) trade payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) liabilities not required to be reflected in financial statements if they were to be prepared as of the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date pursuant to GAAP.

 

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    w. Dividends . The Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock.
       
    x. Foreign Corrupt Practices . Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has: (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
       
    y. Brokers’ Fees . The Company has no liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
       
    z. Investment Company . The Company is not required to be registered as, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
       
    aa. Reliance . The Company acknowledges that the Purchaser is relying on the representations and warranties made by the Company hereunder and that such representations and warranties are a material inducement to the Purchaser purchasing the Shares. The Company further acknowledges that without such representations and warranties of the Company made hereunder, the Purchaser would not enter into this Agreement.
       
    bb. Use of Proceeds . The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital purposes.
       
    cc. No Disqualification Event .

 

      (i) None of Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the Offering, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “ Issuer Covered Person ” and, together, “ Issuer Covered Persons ”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications currently described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (vii) under the Securities Act (a “ Disqualification Event ”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e).

 

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      (ii) The Company is not aware of any person, other than any Issuer Covered Person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the Securities.
         
      (iii) The Company will promptly notify the Buyer in writing of (A) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (B) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person.

 

  5. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Purchaser. The Purchaser, severally and not jointly with any other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company as of the date hereof the following:

 

    a. The Purchaser has the knowledge and experience in financial and business matters necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of its prospective investment in the Company, and has carefully reviewed and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, the purchase of Shares and the tax consequences of the investment and has the ability to bear the economic risks of the investment. The Purchaser has carefully reviewed all of the Company’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the Exchange Act. The Purchaser can afford the loss of his/her/its entire investment.
       
    b. The Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for investment for his/her/its own account and not with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Offering and sale of the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent as expressed herein. The Purchaser further represents that he/she/it does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant participation to any third person with respect to any of the Shares. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Offering of the Shares will not be registered under the Securities Act nor under the state securities laws on the ground that the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser as provided for in this Agreement and the issuance of Shares hereunder is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, for the reason(s) specified on the Accredited Investor Certification attached hereto, as completed by Purchaser, and Purchaser shall submit to the Company such further assurances of such status as may be reasonably requested by the Company. The Purchaser resides in the jurisdiction set forth on the Purchaser’s Omnibus Signature Page affixed hereto. The Purchaser has not taken any of the actions set forth in, and is not subject to, the disqualification provisions of Rule 506(d)(1) of the Securities Act.

 

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    c. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Shares purchased hereunder will not be registered under the Securities Act. Except as set forth in Sec tion 3 above, the Purchaser understands that the Company is under no obligation to register the Shares under the Securities Act, or to assist the Purchaser in complying with the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States or of any foreign jurisdiction.
       
    d. The Purchaser (i) if a natural person, represents that he or she is the greater of (A) 21 years of age or (B) the age of legal majority in his or her jurisdiction of residence, and has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all other related agreements or certificates and to carry out the provisions hereof and thereof; (ii) if a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, represents that such entity was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, such entity is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state or jurisdiction of its organization, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is authorized by, and will not result in a violation of state law or its charter or other organizational documents, such entity has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and all other related agreements or certificates and to carry out the provisions hereof and thereof and to purchase and hold the Shares, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action, this Agreement and the Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such entity and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity; or (iii) if executing this Agreement and the Transaction Documents in a representative or fiduciary capacity, represents that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Transaction Documents in such capacity and on behalf of the subscribing individual, ward, partnership, trust, estate, corporation, or limited liability company or partnership, or other entity for whom the Purchaser is executing this Agreement, and such individual, partnership, ward, trust, estate, corporation, or limited liability company or partnership, or other entity has full right and power to perform pursuant to this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and make an investment in the Company, and represents that this Agreement and the Transaction Documents constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents will not violate or be in conflict with any order, judgment, injunction, agreement or controlling document to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound.
       
    e. The Purchaser understands that the Shares are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire such securities. The Purchaser further acknowledges and understands that the Company is relying on the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser hereunder and that such representations and warranties are a material inducement to the Company to sell the Shares to the Purchaser. The Purchaser further acknowledges that without such representations and warranties of the Purchaser made hereunder, the Company would not enter into this Agreement with the Purchaser.

 

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    f. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for the Shares and that there can be no assurance that any public market for the Shares will exist or continue to exist. The Shares are not approved for quotation on the OTC Markets or any other quotation system or listed on any exchange. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to the initiation of or continued quotation of the Shares on the OTC Markets or the listing of the Shares on any other market or exchange.
       
    g. The Purchaser has a substantial, pre-existing relationship with the Company. The Purchaser has received, reviewed and understood such information about the Company as the Purchaser has requested, and has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs, with the Company’s management. The Purchaser understands that such discussions were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects and the Offering which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description, and except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, the Purchaser understands and represents that the Purchaser is purchasing the Shares notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information the Purchaser has not received, including (without limitation) financial statements of the Company for the current or prior or subsequent fiscal periods, that the Purchaser is not relying on any such information in connection with its purchase of the Shares and that the Purchaser waives any right of action with respect to nondisclosure of any such information to the Purchaser prior to the Purchaser’s purchase of the Shares.. The Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as such Purchaser has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Shares.
       
    h. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Purchaser (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and no investment advice has been given by the Company or any of its respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Purchaser further represents to the Company that the Purchaser’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Purchaser and its representatives.
       
    i. As of each Closing, all actions on the part of Purchaser, and its officers, directors and partners, if applicable, necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of all obligations of the Purchaser hereunder shall have been taken, and this Agreement , assuming due execution by the parties hereto , shall constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to: (i) judicial principles limiting the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, and other equitable remedies and (ii) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect generally relating to or affecting creditors’ rights.

 

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    j. The Purchaser represents that neither the Purchaser nor, to the Purchaser’s knowledge, any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with it, nor any person having a beneficial interest in it, nor any person on whose behalf the Purchaser is acting: (i) is a person listed in the Annex to Executive Order No. 13224 (2001) issued by the President of the United States (Executive Order Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism); (ii) is named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control; (iii) is a non-U.S. shell bank or is providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank; (iv) is a senior non-U.S. political figure or an immediate family member or close associate of such figure; or (v) is otherwise prohibited from investing in the Company pursuant to applicable U.S. anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist and asset control laws, regulations, rules or orders (categories (i) through (v), each a “ Prohibited Purchaser ”). The Purchaser agrees to provide the Company, promptly upon request, all information that the Company reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable U.S. anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist and asset control laws, regulations, rules and orders. The Purchaser consents to the disclosure to U.S. regulators and law enforcement authorities by the Company and its Affiliates and agents of such information about the Purchaser as the Company reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable U.S. anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist and asset control laws, regulations, rules and orders. If the Purchaser is a financial institution that is subject to the USA Patriot Act, the Purchaser represents that it has met all of its obligations under the USA Patriot Act. The Purchaser acknowledges that if, following its investment in the Company, the Company reasonably believes that the Purchaser is a Prohibited Purchaser or is otherwise engaged in suspicious activity or refuses to promptly provide information that the Company requests, the Company has the right or may be obligated to prohibit additional investments, segregate the assets constituting the investment in accordance with applicable regulations or immediately require the Purchaser to transfer the Shares. The Purchaser further acknowledges that the Purchaser will have no claim against the Company or any of its Affiliates or agents for any form of damages as a result of any of the foregoing actions.
       
      If the Purchaser is Affiliated with a non-U.S. banking institution (a “ Foreign Bank ”), or if the Purchaser receives deposits from, makes payments on behalf of, or handles other financial transactions related to a Foreign Bank, the Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that: (1) the Foreign Bank has a fixed address, other than solely an electronic address, in a country in which the Foreign Bank is authorized to conduct banking activities; (2) the Foreign Bank maintains operating records related to its banking activities; (3) the Foreign Bank is subject to inspection by the banking authority that licensed the Foreign Bank to conduct banking activities; and (4) the Foreign Bank does not provide banking services to any other Foreign Bank that does not have a physical presence in any country and that is not a regulated Affiliate.

 

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    k. The Purchaser or the Purchaser’s duly authorized representative realizes that because of the inherently speculative nature of businesses of the kind conducted and contemplated by the Company, the Company’s financial results may be expected to fluctuate from month to month and from period to period and will, generally, involve a high degree of financial and market risk that could result in substantial or, at times, even total losses for investors in securities of the Company. The Purchaser has carefully considered such risks and has carefully reviewed the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s , before deciding to invest in the Shares.
       
    l. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current and anticipated financial needs and contingencies, is able to bear the economic risk for an indefinite period of time and has no need for liquidity of the investment in the Shares and could afford complete loss of such investment.
       
    m. The Purchaser is not subscribing for Shares as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement, article, notice or other communication, published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television, radio, or the internet, or presented at any seminar or meeting, or any solicitation of a subscription by a person not previously known to the Purchaser in connection with investments in securities generally.
       
    n. The Purchaser acknowledges that no U.S. federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon the Shares or made any finding or determination as to the fairness, suitability or wisdom of any investment therein.
       
    o. The Purchaser is aware that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), may apply to sales of the Shares and other activities with respect to the Shares by the Purchaser.
       
    p. All of the information concerning the Purchaser set forth herein, and any other information furnished by the Purchaser in writing to the Company for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, is true, correct and complete in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement, and, if there should be any material change in such information prior or subsequent to the Purchaser’s subscription , the Purchaser will promptly furnish revised or corrected information to the Company.
       
    q. (For ERISA plans only) The fiduciary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ ERISA ”) plan (the “ Plan ”) represents that such fiduciary has been informed of and understands the Company’s investment objectives, policies and strategies, and that the decision to invest “plan assets” (as such term is defined in ERISA) in the Company is consistent with the provisions of ERISA that require diversification of plan assets and impose other fiduciary responsibilities. The Purchaser fiduciary or Plan (a) is responsible for the decision to invest in the Company; (b) is independent of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (c) is qualified to make such investment decision; and (d) in making such decision, the Purchaser fiduciary or Plan has not relied primarily on any advice or recommendation of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

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  6. Transfer Restrictions . The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees as follows:

 

    a. The Shares have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act, in reliance on the private offering exemption in Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Rule 506 thereunder; other than as expressly provided herein, the Company does not currently intend to register the Shares under the Securities Act at any time in the future; and the undersigned will not immediately be entitled to the benefits of Rule 144 with respect to the Shares.
       
    b. The Purchaser understands that there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Shares and that the certificates representing the Shares shall bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such certificates or other instruments):
       
      THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT ), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND NEITHER SUCH SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (1) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO IS EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (2) AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION EXISTS AND THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, WHICH COUNSEL AND OPINION ARE REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED IN THE MANNER CONTEMPLATED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
       
      In addition, if any Purchaser is an Affiliate of the Company, certificates evidencing the Shares issued to such Purchaser may bear a customary “Affiliates” legend.
       
    The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Shares upon which it is stamped, if (a) such Shares are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (b) such holder delivers to the Company an opinion of counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Company, that a disposition of the Shares is being made pursuant to an exemption from such registration and that the Shares, after such transfer, shall no longer be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144.

 

  14  
     

 

Subject to the Company’s right to request an opinion of counsel as set forth in Section 6b , the legend set forth in Section 6b above shall be removable and the Company shall issue or cause to be issued a certificate without such legend or any other legend (except for any “Affiliates” legend as set forth in Section 6(b)) to the holder of the applicable Shares upon which it is stamped as provided in this Section 6c , if (i) such Shares are registered for resale under the Securities Act (provided that, if the Purchaser is selling pursuant to an effective registration statement registering the Shares for resale, the Purchaser agrees to only sell such Shares during such time that such registration statement is effective and not withdrawn or suspended, and only as permitted by such registration statement), or (ii) such Shares are sold or transferred in compliance with Rule 144, including without limitation in compliance with the current public information requirements and volume and manner-of-sale restrictions of Rule 144, if applicable at the time of such sale or transfer, and the holder and its broker have delivered customary documents reasonably requested by the Company’s transfer agent and/or Company counsel in connection with such sale or transfer. All costs and expenses related to the removal of the legends and the reissuance of any Shares, including but not limited to costs and expenses with respect to the transfer agent, Company counsel or otherwise, shall be borne by the Purchaser. Following the date on which the registration statement registering the Shares is first declared effective by the SEC, or at such other time as a legend is no longer required for certain Shares, the Company will no later than three (3) Trading Days (as defined below) following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the transfer agent (with concurrent notice and delivery of copies to the Company) of a legended certificate representing such Shares (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer, and together with such other customary documents as the transfer agent and/or Company counsel shall reasonably request), deliver or cause to be delivered to the transferee of such Purchaser or such Purchaser, as applicable, a book entry position or a certificate representing such Shares that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the transfer agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 6. Certificates for Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the transfer agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with DTC, if the Company is then DTC eligible. “ Trading Day ” means (i) a day on which the Company’s common stock is listed or quoted and traded on its principal trading market (unless the principal trading market is the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC Pink tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), or (ii) if the common stock is not listed on a trading market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC QB, OTC QX or OTC Pink tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), a day on which the common stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the common stock is not quoted on any trading market (other than the OTC QB, OTC QX or OTC Pink tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), a day on which the common stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by the OTC QB, OTC QX or OTC Pink tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the common stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

 

  7. Conditions to Company’s Obligations at Closing. The Company’s obligation to complete the sale and issuance of the Shares to each Purchaser, individually, at each Closing shall be subject to the following conditions to the extent not waived by the Company:

 

    a. Receipt of Payment . The Company shall have received payment, by certified or other bank check, in the full amount of the Purchase Price for the number of Shares being purchased by such Purchaser at such Closing.

 

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    b. Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in Section 5 hereof are true and correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to prevent the statements made from being misleading (except in each case to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified). The Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed by it.
       
    c. Receipt of Executed Documents . Such Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Omnibus Signature Page to this Agreement, the Accredited Investor Certification , the Investor Profile and the Anti-Money Laundering Information Form , in the forms following the Omnibus Signature Page of this Agreement.

 

  8. Conditions to Purchasers’ Obligations at Closing. Each Purchaser’s obligation to accept delivery of the Shares and to pay for the Shares shall be subject to the following conditions to the extent not waived by the Purchaser:

 

    a. Representations and Warranties Correct . The representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4 hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) as of the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects correct as of such earlier date (except in each case to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified). The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed by it on or prior to such Closing Date.
       
    b. Receipt of Agreements . The Company shall have executed and delivered counterparts of this Agreement.
       
    c. Certificate . The Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall execute and deliver to the Purchasers a certificate addressed to the Purchasers to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 4 hereof are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) as of, and as if made on, the date of this Agreement and as of such Closing Date and that the Company has satisfied in all material respects all of the conditions set forth in this Section 8.
       
    d. Judgments . No judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of or by any court, or judge, justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court or judge, or any order of or by any governmental authority, shall have been issued, and no action or proceeding shall have been instituted by any governmental authority, enjoining or preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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  9. Indemnification.

 

    a. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and any other broker, agent or finder engaged by the Company for the Offering, and their respective directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each person who controls such indemnified person (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling person, from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, costs, fees and expenses whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened) based upon or arising out of the Purchaser’s actual or alleged false acknowledgment, representation or warranty, or misrepresentation or omission to state a material fact, or breach by the Purchaser of any covenant or agreement made by the Purchaser, contained herein or in any other document delivered by the Purchaser in connection with this Agreement.
       
    b. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling person, from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, costs, fees and expenses whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened) based upon or arising out of the Company’s actual or alleged false acknowledgment, representation or warranty, or misrepresentation or omission to state a material fact, or breach by the Company of any covenant or agreement made by the Company contained herein; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent and only to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage, cost, fee or expense arises out of or is based upon the inaccuracy of any representations made by such indemnified party in this Agreement, or the failure of such indemnified party to comply with the covenants and agreements contained herein. The liability of the Company under this paragraph shall not exceed the total Purchase Price paid by the Purchaser hereunder, except in the case of fraud.

 

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    c. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any Action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9. In case any such Action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such Action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and either (i) the indemnifying party or parties and the indemnified party or parties mutually agree or (ii) representation of both the indemnifying party or parties and the indemnified party or parties by the same counsel is inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct due to actual or potential differing interests between them, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such Action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense of such Action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any reasonable legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel in such circumstance), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the Action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened Action in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such Action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such Action, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such Action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such Action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

 

  10. Revocability; Binding Effect. The subscription hereunder may be revoked prior to the Closing thereon, provided that written notice of revocation is sent and is received by the Company at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing on such subscription. The Purchaser hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement shall survive the death or disability of the Purchaser and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns. If the Purchaser is more than one person, the obligations of the Purchaser hereunder shall be joint and several and the agreements, representations, warranties and acknowledgments herein shall be deemed to be made by and be binding upon each such person and such person’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing revocation provisions, in no case may a Purchaser revoke its purchase of Shares after the Purchaser’s funds have been closed upon.

 

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  11. Modification. This Agreement shall not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the holders of at least a majority of the then held Shares. Any amendment, modification or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 11 shall be binding upon the Company and all Purchasers and each transferee of the Shares.
     
  12. Notices. Any notice, consents, waivers or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when personally delivered; (ii) upon receipt when sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; (iii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); (iv) when sent, if by e-mail (provided that such sent e-mail is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s e-mail server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient); or (v) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses, facsimile numbers and email addresses for such communications shall be:

 

    (a) if to the Company:

 

Blue Star Foods Corp.

3000 NW 109 th Ave.

Miami, Florida 33172

Attention: Carlos Faria, CEO

Telephone: (305) 836-6858

Facsimile: (305) 836-6859

Email: cfaria@bluestarfoods.com

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

The Crone Law Group, P.C.

60 East 42 nd Street

New York, New York 10165

Attention: Eric C. Mendelson, Esq.

Telephone: (646) 278-0886

Facsimile: (212) 840-8560

Email: emendelson@cronelawgroup.com

 

(b) if to the Purchaser, at the address set forth on the Omnibus Signature Page hereof

 

(or, in either case, to such other address as the party shall have furnished in writing in accordance with the provisions of this Section). Any notice or other communication given by certified mail shall be deemed given at the time of certification thereof, except for a notice changing a party’s address which shall be deemed given at the time of receipt thereof.

 

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  13. Assignability. This Agreement and the rights, interests and obligations hereunder are not transferable or assignable by the Purchaser or the Company.
     
  14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to the principles thereof relating to the conflict of laws. Any judicial proceeding brought against either of the parties to this Agreement or any dispute arising out of this Agreement or any matter related hereto shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in the County of New York in the State of New York and, by its execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party to this Agreement accepts the jurisdiction of such courts. The foregoing consent to jurisdiction shall not be deemed to confer rights on any person other than the parties to this Agreement.
     
  15. Arbitration. The parties hereto agree to submit all controversies to arbitration in accordance with the provisions set forth below and understand that:

 

    a. Arbitration shall be final and binding on the parties.
       
    b. The parties are waiving their right to seek remedies in court, including the right to a jury trial.
       
    c. Pre-arbitration discovery is generally more limited and different from court proceedings.
       
    d. The arbitrator’s award is not required to include factual findings or legal reasoning and any party’s right to appeal or to seek modification of rulings by arbitrators is strictly limited.
       
    e. The panel of arbitrators will typically include a minority of arbitrators who were or are affiliated with the securities industry.
       
    f. All controversies which may arise between the parties concerning this Agreement shall be determined by arbitration pursuant to the rules then pertaining to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in New York, New York. Judgment on any award of any such arbitration may be entered in the Supreme Court of the State of New York or in any other court having jurisdiction of the person or persons against whom such award is rendered. Any notice of such arbitration or for the confirmation of any award in any arbitration shall be sufficient if given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The parties agree that the determination of the arbitrators shall be binding and conclusive upon them. The prevailing party, as determined by such arbitrators, in a legal proceeding shall be entitled to collect any costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney’s fees from the other party. Prior to filing an arbitration, the parties hereby agree that they will attempt to resolve their differences first by submitting the matter for resolution to a mediator, acceptable to all parties, and whose expenses will be borne equally by all parties. The mediation will be held in the County of New York, State of New York, on an expedited basis. If the parties cannot successfully resolve their differences through mediation within sixty (60) days from the receipt of the written notice of a matter from the notifying party, the matter will be resolved by arbitration. The arbitration shall take place in the County of New York, State of New York, on an expedited basis.

 

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  16. Form D; Blue Sky Qualification . The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Shares and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of any Purchaser. The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Shares for sale to the Purchaser at such Closing under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States.
     
  17. Use of Pronouns. All pronouns and any variations thereof used herein shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the person or persons referred to may require.
     
  18. Miscellaneous.

 

    a. This Agreement between the Purchaser and the Company constitutes the entire agreement between the Purchaser and the Company with respect to the Offering and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof.
       
    b. If the Shares are certificated and any certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company and, if applicable, the Company’s transfer agent of such loss, theft or destruction and the execution by the holder thereof of a customary lost certificate affidavit of that fact and an agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and, if applicable, the Company’s transfer agent for any losses in connection therewith or, if required by the transfer agent, a bond in such form and amount as is required by the transfer agent. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs associated with the issuance of such replacement Shares. If a replacement certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is requested due to a mutilation thereof, the Company may require delivery of such mutilated certificate or instrument as a condition precedent to any issuance of a replacement.
       
    c. Each of the parties hereto shall pay its own fees and expenses (including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, appraisers or others engaged by such party) in connection with this Agreement the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.
       
    d. This Agreement may be executed in one or more original or facsimile or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument and which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile transmission or in .pdf format shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the parties transmitted by facsimile or by e-mail of a document in pdf format shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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    e. Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered separable and, if for any reason any provision or provisions hereof are determined to be invalid or contrary to applicable law, such invalidity or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect the remaining portions of this Agreement.
       
    f. Paragraph titles are for descriptive purposes only and shall not control or alter the meaning of this Agreement as set forth in the text.
       
    g. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that there may be multiple Closings for the Offering.
       
    h. The Purchaser hereby agrees to furnish the Company such other information as the Company may request prior to the Closing with respect to such Purchaser’s subscription hereunder.
       
    i. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Purchaser made in this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the delivery of the Shares.

 

  19. Public Disclosure. Neither the Purchaser nor any officer, manager, director, member, partner, stockholder, employee, Affiliate, Affiliated person or entity of the Purchaser shall make or issue any press releases or otherwise make any public statements or make any disclosures to any third person or entity with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein and will not make or issue any press releases or otherwise make any public statements of any nature whatsoever with respect to the Offering or the Company without the Company’s express prior written approval (which may be withheld in the Company’s sole discretion), except to the extent such disclosure is required by law or applicable governmental or principal trading market regulation.
     
  20. Potential Conflicts. Legal counsel to the Company and its Affiliates, principals, representatives or employees may now or hereafter own shares of the Company.
     
  21. Independent Nature of Each Purchaser’s Obligations and Rights . For avoidance of doubt, the obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any other Subscription Agreement. Nothing contained herein and no action taken by the Purchaser shall be deemed to constitute the Purchaser as a partnership, an association, a joint venture, or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other subscription agreement. The Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

  22  
     

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this Agreement as of __________ __, 2019.

 

  BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.
     
  By:
  Name: John Keeler
  Title: Executive Chairman

 

[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]

 

 
     

 

 

 

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

$1,000,000 Miami, Florida
  March 26, 2019

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED , BLUE STAR FOODS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), promises to pay to the order of Kenar Overseas Corp, a company registered in Panama (the “ Lender ”, the principal sum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), together with interest on the unpaid principal balance at the rate and on the terms provided herein.

 

  1. Interest Rate . Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Promissory Note (including all modifications, substitutions, renewals or extensions hereof, this “ Note ”) at the rate of 18% per annum (the “ Interest Rate ”) from the date hereof until the Note is paid in full. Interest shall be paid for the actual number of days elapsed based on a 360-day year and shall be payable monthly. In the event that the lender agrees to extend the maturity date of the note as per paragraph 2, the interest rate will increase to 24% per annum, payable monthly, for the period of extension.
     
  2. Maturity Date .  The term of the Note shall be the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the four-month anniversary thereof (the “ Maturity Date ”). The lender has the right to extend the maturity date for up to two months.
     
  3. Payment . The outstanding accrued, but unpaid, interest and principal balance due under the Note shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date. If the Maturity Date is not a Business Day, payments shall be due on the next Business Day. For purposes of this Note, “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or required by law to close. Amounts due under this Note shall be payable by certified or bank cashier’s check, or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Lender in writing.
     
  4. Pre-Payment . The Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time or from time to time during the term of the Note. Any such prepayment shall be applied first to interest accrued but unpaid to such date on the outstanding principal balance hereof immediately preceding such prepayment and then to reduction of the principal balance hereof. There will be no penalty for pre-payment of the Note.
     
  5. Default .  The unpaid principal, interest and other amounts and charges due under the Note shall be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of the following:

 

    a. Default in any payment of principal or interest due on the Note or default under any other provision of the Note; or
       
    b. The Borrower makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, files a petition in bankruptcy, is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt, petitions or applies to any tribunal for any receiver of any trustee for the Borrower or any substantial part of its property, commences any proceeding relating to the Borrower under any reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect, or there is commenced against the Borrower any such action or proceeding which remains undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days, or the Borrower by any act indicates its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such action or proceeding or the appointment of any receiver of or any trustee for the Borrower or any substantial part of its property, or suffers any such receivership or trusteeship to continue undischarged for a period of thirty (30) days.

 

 
     

 

  6. Security . As an inducement for the Lender to make this loan (the “ Loan ”) to the Borrower, John Keeler, the Executive Chairman of the Borrower, hereby pledges five million (5,000,000) of his shares of common stock of the Borrower to secure the Borrower’s obligations under this Note.
     
  7. Waiver . Presentment for payment and demand for payment, notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest, notice of non-payment, notice of intent to accelerate the maturity and acceleration are hereby waived.
     
  8. Amendment . The Note cannot be modified, discharged or terminated except in writing signed by the parties hereto.
     
  9. Cost of Collection . The Borrower shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Lender in collecting or enforcing the Note.
     
  10. Governing Law .  The Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such State, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
     
  11. Savings Clause . Any provision herein or in any other agreement or commitment between the Borrower and the Lender, whether written or oral, expressed or implied, to the contrary notwithstanding, the Lender shall never be entitled to charge, receive, or collect, nor shall amounts received hereunder be credited as interest so that the Lender shall be paid, a sum greater than interest at the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any time may be contracted for, charged, received, or collected on the indebtedness evidenced by the Note under applicable law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). It is the intention of the parties that the Note shall comply with applicable law. If the Lender ever contracts for, charges, receives, or collects, anything of value which is deemed to be interest under applicable law, and if the occurrence of any circumstance or contingency, whether acceleration of maturity of the Note, delay in advancing proceeds of the Note; or other event, should cause such interest to exceed interest at the Maximum Rate, any such excess amount shall be applied to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of the Note or any other indebtedness owed to the Lender by the Borrower, and if the Note and such other indebtedness is paid in full, any remaining excess shall be paid to the Borrower. In determining whether or not the interest hereon exceeds interest at the Maximum Rate, the total amount of interest shall be spread throughout the entire term of the Note until its payment in full in a manner which will cause the interest rate on the Note not to exceed the Maximum Rate.

 

 
     

 

  12. Independent Legal Counsel . Each party hereto has been advised and has had the opportunity to consult with independent legal counsel regarding its rights and obligations under the Note and acknowledges that it fully understandings the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

The Borrower agrees to the terms of the Note by signing below.

 

  BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.
     
  By: /s/ John Keeler
  Name:  John Keeler
  Title: Executive Chairman

 

Acknowledged and Agreed to

with respect only to Section 6 hereof:

 

/s/ John Keeler  
John Keeler  

 

 
     

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Carlos Faria, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Blue Star Foods Corp. (formerly known as AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, for the year ended December 31, 2018;
   
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. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) 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 most recent quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter) covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and 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 registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weakness 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: April 1, 2019 By: /s/ Carlos Faria
    Carlos Faria
   

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Christopher Constable, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Blue Star Foods Corp. (formerly known as AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, for the year ended December 31,2018;
   
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. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) 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 most recent quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter) covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and 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 registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weakness 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: April 1, 2019 By: /s/ Christopher Constable
    Christopher Constable
    Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Blue Star Foods Corp. (formerly known as AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Carlos Faria, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that;

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     
  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

Date: April 1, 2019 By /s/ Carlos Faria
  Name: Carlos Faria
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Blue Star Foods Corp. (formerly known as AG Acquisition Group II, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Christopher Constable, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that;

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     
  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

Date: April 1, 2019 By /s/ Christopher Constable
  Name: Christopher Constable
  Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
   

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)