As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 26, 2021
File No. 024-11595
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
POST QUALIFICATION AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM 1-A
REGULATION A OFFERING CIRCULAR
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
| VORTEX BRANDS CO. |
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Date: August 26, 2021
| Colorado | 7389 | 81-1007448 | ||
| (State of Other Jurisdiction Of Incorporation) | (Primary Standard Classification Code) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Attn: Todd Higley
Chief Executive Officer
3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835
Telephone: 213-260-0321
Please send copies of all correspondence to our corporate business address:
Attn: Todd Higley, CEO
3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835
Telephone: 213-260-0321
The address for our corporate agent of service:
1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314C, Boulder, CO 80302
An offering statement pursuant to Regulation A relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained in this Preliminary Offering Circular is subject to completion or amendment. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted before the offering statement filed with the Commission is qualified. This Preliminary Offering Circular shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor may there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under the laws of any such state. We may elect to satisfy our obligation to deliver a Final Offering Circular by sending you a notice within two business days after the completion of our sale to you that contains the URL where the Offering Circular was filed may be obtained.
PRELIMINARY OFFERING CIRCULAR
August 26, 2021
Subject to Completion
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This is a post-qualification amendment to an offering statement on Form 1-A originally filed by Vortex Brands Co. (the “Company”) on July 30, 2021, and qualified on August 23, 2021. The primary purpose of this post-qualification amendment is to fix a typographical error whereby the company has 256,750,000 not 263,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding as previously reflected in the Regulation A. Additionally, the Company is adding Exhibit 1 2.1.
The Company is offering up to 200,000,000 shares at a purchase price of $0.01 per share. Other than revising the disclosure in in this Offering Circular as necessary to reflect events described above, no other modifications have been made.
An offering statement pursuant to Regulation A relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained in this Preliminary Offering Circular is subject to completion or amendment. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted before the offering statement filed with the Commission is qualified. This Preliminary Offering Circular shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor may there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under the laws of any such state. We may elect to satisfy our obligation to deliver a Final Offering Circular by sending you a notice within two business days after the completion of our sale to you that contains the URL where the Offering Circular was filed may be obtained.
VORTEX BRANDS CO.
UP TO 2,000,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
PRICE: $0.01 PER SHARE
MINIMUM INVESTMENT: $0.01 (1 SHARE)
SEE “SECURITIES BEING OFFERED” AT PAGE 40
Vortex Brands Co., a Colorado corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,”) is offering a maximum of up to 2,000,000,000 shares of our Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (referred to herein as the “Shares” or the “Common Stock”) in a “Tier 1” offering under Regulation A (the “Offering”). The minimum investment amount per investor in this offering is $0.01 or one (1) share of Common Stock.
This Offering is being conducted on a “best efforts” basis, which means that there is no guarantee that any minimum amount will be sold in this Offering. Offers and sales of the Shares will be made by our management, and specifically by our Chief Executive Officer, Todd Higley, who will not receive any commissions or other remunerations for his efforts. We reserve the right to engage the services of a registered broker-dealer who will offer, sell and process the subscriptions for the Shares, although we do not presently expect to engage such selling agent. If any broker-dealer or other agent/person is engaged to sell our Shares, we will file a post-qualification amendment to the offering statement of which this Offering Circular forms a part disclosing the names and compensation arrangements prior to any sales by such persons. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 20 in this Offering Circular.
All of the Shares being offered for sale by the Company in this Offering will be sold at a fixed price of $0.01 per share for the duration of the Offering. There is no minimum amount we are required to raise from the Shares being offered hereby. There is no guarantee that we will sell any of the Shares being offered in this Offering. Additionally, there is no guarantee that this Offering will successfully raise enough funds to implement our Company’s business plan or to pay for the expenses of this Offering. Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Current Tier of OTC Markets under the symbol, “VTXB.” On August 25, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $0.0087 per share.
The approximate date of the commencement of the sales of the Shares in this Offering will be within two calendar days from the date on which the Offering is qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) and on a continuous basis thereafter until the maximum number of Shares offered hereby are sold. All funds received in this Offering will not be placed in escrow and will be immediately available to us. All offering expenses will be borne by us and will be paid out of the proceeds of this Offering.
This Offering will terminate at the earlier of (i) the date at which the maximum offering amount has been sold; (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date that the SEC deems this offering statement qualified, unless extended by our Company for an additional ninety (90) days, or (iii) the date the Offering is earlier terminated by the Company, in its sole discretion. At least every 12 months after this Offering has been qualified by the SEC, if the Offering is still ongoing at such time, the Company will file a post-qualification amendment to include the Company’s recent financial statements. The Company may undertake one or more closings on a rolling basis. After each closing, funds tendered by investors will be available to the Company. No sales of Shares will be made prior to the qualification of the Offering statement by the SEC.
Under Tier 1 offering, a company can raise up to $20 million in any 12-month period. For Tier 1 offerings, the offering circular must be filed with, and is generally subject to review and qualification by, the staff at the SEC and by the securities regulator in the states where the offering is being conducted. The financial statements disclosed in a Tier 1 offering do not have to be audited.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk, including the risk that you could lose all of your investment. Please read the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this Offering Circular about the risks you should consider before investing.
Generally, no sale may be made to you in this Offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth. Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov.
| Number of Common Stock |
| PRICE TO |
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| SELLING AGENT |
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| PROCEEDS TO |
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| Shares |
| PUBLIC |
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| COMMISSIONS |
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| THE COMPANY (1) |
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| Per Share 1 |
| $ | 0.01 |
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| 0.00 |
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| $ | 0.01 |
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| Maximum Offering 2,000,000,000 |
| $ | 20,000,000 |
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| 0.00 |
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| $ | 20,000,000 |
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| (1) | Before the payment of our expenses in this Offering which we estimate will be approximately $27,500. See “Use of Proceeds” appearing on page 22 of this Offering Circular. All expenses of the offering will be paid for by us using the proceeds of this Offering. |
If all the Shares are not sold in the Company’s Offering, there is the possibility that the amount raised may be minimal and might not even cover the costs of the Offering, which the Company estimates at $27,500. The proceeds from the sale of the securities will be placed directly into the Company’s account; any investor who purchases Shares will have no assurance that any monies, beside their own, will be subscribed to in the Offering. All proceeds from the sale of the securities are non-refundable, except as may be required by applicable laws. All expenses incurred in this Offering are being paid for by the Company from the proceeds of the Offering.
Management will make its best effort to fill the subscription in the State of Colorado and in the State of Delaware. However, in the event that management is unsuccessful in raising the required funds in the aforementioned states, the Company may file a post qualification amendment to include additional jurisdictions that Management has determined to be in the best interest of the Company for the purpose of raising the maximum offer. In the event that the Offering Circular is fully subscribed, any additional subscriptions shall be rejected and returned to the subscribing party along with any funds received.
THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR THE COMMISSION, DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OR GIVE ITS APPROVAL TO ANY SECURITIES OFFERED OR THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, NOR DOES IT PASS UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OFFERING CIRCULAR OR OTHER SELLING LITERATURE. THESE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION; HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION HAS NOT MADE AN INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION THAT THE SECURITIES OFFERED ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.
This Offering Circular is following the offering circular format described in Part II of Form 1-A
The date of this Offering Circular is August 26, 2021
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION |
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| SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS |
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We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this Offering Circular prepared by us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This Offering Circular is an offer to sell only the Shares offered hereby but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this Offering Circular is current only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this Offering Circular or any sale of Shares.
For investors outside the United States: We have not done anything that would permit this Offering or possession or distribution of this Offering Circular in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the Offering and the distribution of this Offering Circular.
Certain data included in this Offering Circular is derived from information provided by third-parties that we believe to be reliable. The discussions contained in this Offering Circular relating to industry data are taken from third-party sources that the Company believes to be reliable and reasonable, and that the factual information is fair and accurate. Certain data is also based on our good faith estimates which are derived from management’s knowledge of the industry and independent sources. Industry publications, surveys and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there can be no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. We have not independently verified such third-party information, nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. The industry market data used in this Offering Circular involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such data. While we are not aware of any material misstatements regarding any market, industry or similar data presented herein, such data was derived from third party sources and reliance on such data involves risks and uncertainties.
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| Table of Contents |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Offering Circular contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “plan,” “intend,” “expect,” “outlook,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict future events, actions, plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual outcomes could differ materially from those set forth or anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our forward-looking statements to differ from actual outcomes include, but are not limited to, those described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect our views as of the date of this Offering Circular. Furthermore, except as required by law, we are under no duty to, and do not intend to, update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this Offering Circular, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
STATE LAW EXEMPTION AND INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
As a Tier 1 offering pursuant to Regulation A under the Securities Act, this Offering is not exempt from state law “Blue Sky” review and is subject to meeting certain state filing requirements and complying with certain anti-fraud provisions.
Each state has separate filing requirements for Tier 1, Regulation A+ filings: for example, Colorado requires the following:
Colorado accepts the uniform application through the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) to register securities and allows for electronic signature of forms.
Registration requires filing or delivery of:
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| ● | Form U-1. |
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| ● | Registration statement. |
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| ● | Copy of latest prospectus, offering circular, or letter of notification filed under the 1933 Act. |
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| ● | Copy of issuer’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. |
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| ● | Copy of an underwriting agreement. (if any) |
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| ● | Copy of indenture or other instrument governing issuance. (if any) |
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| ● | Specimen, copy, or description (including details of all terms and conditions) of security to be offered and sold. |
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| ● | Copy of other information filed under the 1933 Act that may be requested by the Commissioner. |
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| ● | Consent to service of process on Form U-2. |
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| ● | NASAA Form U-2A. |
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| ● | Fee. Make out to Colorado State Treasurer. |
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| ● | Closing report on Colorado Form RC-C. |
Because this is a Tier 1, Regulation A Offering, there are no limitations on whether you can invest, or how much you can invest, if you are investing in an offering relying on Tier 1.
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this Offering Circular. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in the Shares. You should read this entire offering circular carefully, especially the risks of investing in the Shares discussed under “Risk Factors,” before making an investment decision. In this Offering Circular, ‘‘Vortex Brands,’’ “Vortex,” “the “Company,’’ ‘‘we,’’ “VTXB,” ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our,’’ refer to Vortex Brands Co. unless the context otherwise requires. Unless otherwise indicated, the term ‘‘fiscal year’’ refers to our fiscal year ending February 28 (February 29 for leap years). Unless otherwise indicated, the term ‘‘Shares” refers to shares of the Company’s Common Stock. All dollar amounts refer to US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
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| Table of Contents |
The Company
Vortex Brands has two distinct lines of business: (1) provide as a service multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment to electric utilities in the United States; and (2) Bitcoin Mining.
Our Company will provide as a service multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment to electric utilities in the United States. PAS is a one-of-a-kind technology designed to address a one-hundred-year-old inherent problem that was thought to be unsolvable: the inefficient power consumption caused by electric motors. The solution will extend the life of the grid by protecting it from excessive wear and damage, improve grid reliability by reducing line congestion and increasing reserve margin, while creating true cost savings for the utility. Poor power efficiency has been the unsolvable issue in every facility that operates electric motors. PAS is designed to address industrial and commercial use applications in a scalable solution. Revenues will be generated from a service fee we will charge that shares a portion of the savings for the electric utility created by each PAS service installation.
Our company holds the irrevocable right to purchase all components necessary to effectuate the PAS system from Tripac Systems, who has done the research and development of PAS equipment over more than 25 years. Their capabilities include experience at assembling the equipment from off-the-shelf components and designing the plans and schematics for PAS equipment. Our Company, together with Tripac Systems, will effectuate the service program and we are likely to have multiple pilot program PAS units operating in one or more locations, to collect initial data on performance prior to a full roll-out. Current efforts are focused on site selection for PAS installations as well as stakeholder and industry support of the pilot program. We have not sold any products or generated any revenues to date from PAS equipment.
The Company also intends to engage in “Bitcoin Mining” – i.e. the process by which Bitcoins are created, resulting in new blocks being added to the blockchain and new Bitcoins being issued to the miners. Miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations to add a block to the blockchain and thereby confirm cryptocurrency transactions included in that block’s data. Miners that are successful in adding a block to the blockchain are automatically awarded a fixed number of Bitcoins for their effort.
The Company intends to purchase and maintain ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) computers - computers that are specifically designed for cryptocurrency mining - that will be used for Bitcoin Mining. We plan to place the Bitcoin Mining equipment with 3rd party datacenters or farms (often referred as a “Co-Location”) that will power and operate our Bitcoin Mining equipment for a fee. We plan to generate revenues through receiving Bitcoin from our Bitcoin Mining equipment. As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not generated any revenues to date or acquired any Bitcoin Mining equipment.
Vortex Brands Co. (“Vortex Brands”, “we”, “us”, “our”, the “Company” or the “Registrant”) was originally incorporated in the State of Colorado on May 6, 2005 under the name of Global Sunrise, Inc. On January 15, 2007 the Company changed its name to Zulu Energy Corp. On May 29, 2014, the Company changed its name to Vortex Brands Co. The Company trades on OTC Markets PINKS under the symbol “VTXB”.
Our corporate business address is: 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835 and our registered office is located at 1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314C, Boulder, CO 80302. Our telephone number is 213-260-0321. Our E-Mail address is info@vortexbrands.us.
The address of our web site is www.vortexbrands.us and www.blockchainenergyinc.com. The information at our web site is for general information and marketing purposes and is not part of this report for purposes of liability for disclosures under the federal securities laws.
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| Table of Contents |
The Company has incurred the following operating losses:
For the period ended February 28, 2021:
Operating Loss: $216,459
Accumulated deficit: $1,082,127
For the period ended February 29, 2020:
Operating Loss: $437,493
Accumulated deficit: $865,668
In addition, of February 28, 2021, our current liabilities exceeded current assets. Management intends to raise additional operating funds through equity and/or debt offerings. However, there can be no assurance management will be successful in its endeavors.
| Securities being offered by the Company |
| 2,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, at a fixed price of $0.01 offered by us directly through this Offering Circular. |
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| Securities being offered by the Selling Stockholders |
| None. |
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| Offering price per share |
| $0.01 |
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| Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding before the offering |
| 256,750,000 shares of Common Stock are currently issued and outstanding. |
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| Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after the offering |
| 256,750,000 shares of Common Stock will be issued and outstanding if we sell all of the shares we are offering herein. |
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| Number of other classes of stock outstanding before the offering |
| The following shares are currently issued and outstanding: 4,592,900 shares of Series C Preferred Stock |
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| Number of other classes of stock outstanding after the offering of common stock |
| The following shares are currently issued and outstanding: 4,592,900 shares of Series C Preferred Stock |
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| The minimum number of shares to be sold in this offering |
| None. |
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| Market for the shares of Common Stock |
| Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Current Tier of OTC Markets under the symbol, “VTXB.” On August 25, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $0.0087 per share. |
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| Use of Proceeds |
| We intend to use the proceeds of this Offering to pay all of the expenses of the Offering, and to use the remaining proceeds (i) to fund our Bitcoin Mining operations. We will also use a portion of the proceeds from this offering for general operating capital. We reserve the right to change the foregoing use of proceeds if management believes it is in the best interests of the Company. |
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| Termination of the Offering |
| This Offering will terminate at the earlier of (i) the date at which the maximum offering amount has been sold; (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date that the SEC deems this offering statement qualified, unless extended by our Company for an additional ninety (90) days, or (iii) the date the Offering is earlier terminated by the Company, in its sole discretion. At least every 12 months after this Offering has been qualified by the SEC, if the Offering is still ongoing at such time, the Company will file a post-qualification amendment to include the Company’s recent financial statements. The Company may undertake one or more closings on a rolling basis. After each closing, funds tendered by investors will be available to the Company. No sales of Shares will be made prior to the qualification of the Offering statement by the SEC. |
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| Subscriptions: |
| All subscriptions once accepted by us are irrevocable. |
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| Risk Factors: |
| See “Risk Factors” and the other information in this Offering Circular for a discussion of the factors you should consider before deciding to invest in shares of our Common Stock. |
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| Table of Contents |
An investment in our Common Stock is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this Offering Circular. The statements contained in this Offering Circular that are not historic facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed. In that case, the value of our Common Stock could decline, and an investor in our securities may lose all or part of their investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have a limited operating history with respect to our new line of business. Such limited operating history may not provide an adequate basis to judge our future prospects and results of operations.
We have a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of our future success or failure can be made. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon the completion of this offering and our ability to generate revenues.
There is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. We have incurred significant operating losses since our formation and expect to incur significant losses in the foreseeable future. We also expect to experience negative cash flow for the foreseeable future as we fund our operating losses and capital expenditures. As a result we will need to generate significant revenues in order to achieve and maintain profitability. We may not be able to generate these revenues or achieve profitability in the future. Our failure to achieve or maintain profitability could negatively impact the value of our business and may cause us to go out of business.
There is no guarantee we will be successful in generating revenues from our operations, which could significantly harm our operating results, and our viability as a Company. Our limited operating history may not provide a meaningful basis for investors to evaluate our business, financial performance, and prospects with respect to either line of our business.
Our management has concluded that there is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company has incurred the following losses:
For the period ended February 28, 2021:
Operating Loss: $216,459
Accumulated deficit: $1,082,127
For the period ended February 29, 2020:
Operating Loss: $437,493
Accumulated deficit: $865,668
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In addition, as of February 28, 2021 our current liabilities exceeded current assets. Management intends to raise additional operating funds through equity and/or debt offerings. However, there can be no assurance management will be successful in its endeavors.
There are no assurances that the Company will be able to either (1) achieve a level of revenues adequate to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; or (2) obtain additional financing through either private placement, public offerings and/or bank financing necessary to support its working capital requirements. To the extent that funds generated from operations and any private placements, public offerings and/or bank financing are insufficient, the Company will have to raise additional working capital. No assurance can be given that additional financing will be available, or if available, will be on terms acceptable to the Company. If adequate working capital is not available to the Company, it may be required to curtail or cease its operations. Due to uncertainties related to these matters, a substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is raised. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability or classification of asset-carrying amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
We may fail to successfully execute our business plan.
Our shareholders may lose their entire investment if we fail to execute our business plan. Our prospects must be considered in light of the following risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, competition, the erosion of ongoing revenue streams, the ability to retain experienced personnel and general economic conditions. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in executing our business plan. If we fail to successfully execute our business plan, we may be forced to cease operations, in which case our shareholders may lose their entire investment.
The Company has not generated any revenues to date since our inception, December 28, 2017.
The Company demonstrates adverse conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year following the issuance of these financial statements. These adverse conditions are negative financial trends, specifically operating loss, working capital deficiency, and other adverse key financial ratios. We may not be able to generate revenues in the future and as a result the value of our common stock may become worthless. There are no assurances that we will be successful in raising additional capital or successfully developing and commercializing our products and become profitable.
The Company has not established any source of revenue to cover its operating costs. Management plans to fund operating expenses with related party contributions to capital. There is no assurance that management’s plan will be successful.
Our financial statements are unaudited
The Company’s financial statements have not been audited. As a Tier 1 issuer, we will be exempt from any independent auditor attestation requirements concerning any financials, so long as we are a Tier 1 issuer. We lack certain internal controls over financial reporting in that we do not have an audit committee and our Board of Directors has no technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP and internal control of financial reporting and relies upon the Company’s financial personnel to advise the Board on such matters. Accordingly, we are subject to increased risk related to financial statement disclosures.
We are reliant on the efforts of our executive officer, Todd Higley.
We rely on our Chief Executive Officer, Todd Higley, and will need additional key personnel to grow our business, and the loss of key personnel or inability to hire key personnel could harm our business. We believe our success has depended, and continues to depend, on the efforts and talents of our Chief Executive Officer, who has expertise that could not be easily replaced if we were to lose his services.
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The current outbreak of the coronavirus may have a negative effect on our ability to conduct our business and operations and may also cause an overall decline in the economy as a whole and could materially harm our Company.
If the current outbreak of the coronavirus continues to grow, the effects of such a widespread infectious disease and epidemic may inhibit our ability to conduct our business and operations and could materially harm our Company. The coronavirus may cause us to have to reduce operations as a result of various lock-down procedures enacted by the local, state or federal government, which could restrict our ability to conduct our business operations. The coronavirus may also cause a decrease in spending on the types of products that we plan to offer, as a result of the economic turmoil resulting from the spread of the coronavirus and thereby having a negative effect on our ability to generate revenue from the sales of our products. The continued coronavirus outbreak may also restrict our ability to raise funding when needed and may also cause an overall decline in the economy as a whole. The specific and actual effects of the spread of coronavirus are difficult to assess at this time as the actual effects will depend on many factors beyond the control and knowledge of the Company. However, the spread of the coronavirus, if it continues, may cause an overall decline in the economy as a whole and also may materially harm our Company.
Currently, there is relatively limited use of Bitcoin in the retail and commercial marketplace in comparison to relatively large use by speculators, thus contributing to price volatility that could adversely affect our results of operations.
Bitcoin has only recently become accepted as a means of payment for goods and services by certain major retail and commercial outlets and use of Bitcoin by consumers to pay such retail and commercial outlets remains limited. Conversely, a significant portion of Bitcoin demand is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short- or long-term holding of Bitcoin. Many industry commentators believe that Bitcoin’s best use case is as a store of wealth, rather than as a currency for transactions, and that other cryptocurrencies having better scalability and faster settlement times will better serve as currency. This could limit Bitcoin’s acceptance as transactional currency. A lack of expansion by Bitcoin into retail and commercial markets, or a contraction of such use, may result in increased volatility or a reduction in the Bitcoin Index Price, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations.
If regulatory changes or interpretations require the regulation of Bitcoins under the Securities Act and Investment Company Act by the SEC, we may be required to register and comply with such regulations. To the extent that we decide to continue operations, the required registrations and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses to us. We may also decide to cease certain operations. Any disruption of our operations in response to the changed regulatory circumstances may be at a time that is disadvantageous to investors.
Current and future legislation and SEC rulemaking and other regulatory developments, including interpretations released by a regulatory authority, may impact the manner in which Bitcoins are treated for classification and clearing purposes. In particular, Bitcoins may not be excluded from the definition of “security” by SEC rulemaking or interpretation. As of the date of this Offering Circular, we are not aware of any rules or interpretations that have been proposed to regulate Bitcoins as securities. We cannot be certain as to how future regulatory developments will impact the treatment of Bitcoins under the law. Such additional registrations may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in us. If we determine not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease certain of our Bitcoin Mining operations. Any such action may adversely affect an investment in us.
To the extent that Bitcoins are deemed by the SEC to fall within the definition of a security, we may be required to register and comply with additional regulation under the Investment Company Act, including additional periodic reporting and disclosure standards and requirements and the registration of our Company as an investment company. Additionally, one or more states may conclude Bitcoins are a security under state securities laws which would require registration under state laws including merit review laws which would adversely impact us since we would likely not comply. Such additional registrations may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses of our Company, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in our Company. If we determine not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease all or certain parts of our Bitcoin Mining operations. Any such action may adversely affect an investment in us.
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We may not be able to respond quickly enough to changes in technology and technological risks, and to develop our intellectual property into commercially viable products.
Changes in legislative, regulatory or industry requirements or in competitive technologies may render certain of our planned products obsolete or less attractive. Our mining equipment may become obsolete, and our ability to anticipate changes in technology and regulatory standards and to successfully develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis will be a significant factor in our ability to remain competitive. We cannot provide assurance that we will be able to achieve the technological advances that may be necessary for us to remain competitive or that certain of our products will not become obsolete.
We are increasingly dependent on information technology systems and infrastructure (cyber security).
Our operations are potentially vulnerable to breakdown or other interruption by fire, power loss, system malfunction, unauthorized access and other events such as computer hackings, cyber-attacks, computer viruses, worms or other destructive or disruptive software. Likewise, data privacy breaches by persons with permitted access to our systems may pose a risk that sensitive data may be exposed to unauthorized persons or to the public. It is critical that our systems provide a continued and uninterrupted performance for our business to generate revenues. There can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent significant breakdowns, breaches in our systems or other cyber incidents that could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operations or financial condition of the Company.
If we are unable to attract, train and retain technical and financial personnel, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
Our future success depends, to a significant extent, on our ability to attract, train and retain key management, technical, regulatory and financial personnel. Recruiting and retaining capable personnel with experience in pharmaceutical products is vital to our success. There is substantial competition for qualified personnel, and competition is likely to increase. We cannot assure you we will be able to attract or retain the technical and financial personnel we require. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified employees, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
The SEC is continuing its probes into public companies that appear to incorporate and seek to capitalize on the blockchain technology, and may increase those efforts with novel regulatory regimes and determine to issue additional regulations applicable to the conduct of our business or broadening disclosures in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act Of 1934.
As the SEC stated previously, it is continuing to scrutinize and commence enforcement actions against companies, advisors and investors involved in the offering of cryptocurrencies and related activities. At least one Federal Court has held that cryptocurrencies are “securities” for certain purposes under the Federal Securities Laws.
According to a recent report published by Lex Machina, securities litigation in general and those that are related to blockchain, cryptocurrency or Bitcoin specifically, showed a marked increase during the first two quarters of 2018 as compared to 2017. The total number of securities cases that referenced “blockchain,” “cryptocurrency” or “Bitcoin” in the pleadings tripled in the first half of 2018 alone compared to 2017.On the same day, the SEC announced its first charge against unregistered broker-dealers for selling digital tokens after the SEC issued The DAO Report in 2017. The SEC charged TokenLot LLC (TokenLot), a self-described “ICO Superstore”, and its owners, Lenny Kugel and Eli L. Lewitt, with failing to register as broker-dealers. On November 16, 2018 the SEC settled with two cryptocurrency startups, and reportedly has more than 100 investigations into cryptocurrency related ventures, according to a codirector of the SEC’s enforcement. As the regulatory and legal environment evolves, the Company may in its mining activities become subject to new laws, and further regulation by the SEC and other federal and state agencies.
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Recently, the SEC on February 11, 2020, filed charges against an Ohio-based businessman who allegedly orchestrated a digital asset scheme that defrauded approximately 150 investors, including many physicians. The agency alleges that Michael W. Ackerman, along with two business partners, raised at least $33 million by claiming to investors that he had developed a proprietary algorithm that allowed him to generate extraordinary profits while trading in cryptocurrencies. The SEC’s complaint alleges that Ackerman misled investors about the performance of his digital currency trading, his use of investor funds, and the safety of investor funds in the Q3 trading account. The complaint further alleges that Ackerman doctored computer screenshots taken of Q3’s trading account to create. In reality, as alleged, at no time did Q3’s trading account hold more than $6 million and Ackerman was personally enriching himself by using $7.5 million of investor funds to purchase and renovate a house, purchase high end jewelry, multiple cars, and pay for personal security services.
In another recent action filed on March 16, 2020, the SEC obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief to halt an ongoing securities fraud perpetrated by a former state senator and two others who bilked investors in and outside the U.S. and obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief to halt an ongoing securities fraud perpetrated by a former state senator and two others who bilked investors in and outside the U.S. The SEC’s complaint alleges that Florida residents Robert Dunlap and Nicole Bowdler worked with former Washington state senator David Schmidt to market and sell a purported digital asset called the “Meta 1 Coin” in an unregistered securities offering, conducted through the Meta 1 Coin Trust. The complaint alleges that the defendants made numerous false and misleading statements to potential and actual investors, including claims that the Meta 1 Coin was backed by a $1 billion art collection or $2 billion of gold, and that an accounting firm was auditing the gold assets. The defendants also allegedly told investors that the Meta 1 Coin was risk-free, would never lose value and could return up to 224,923%. According to the complaint, the defendants never distributed the Meta 1 Coins and instead used investor funds to pay personal expenses and for other personal purposes.
Banks and financial institutions may not provide banking services, or may cut off services, to businesses that provide digital currency-related services or that accept digital currencies as payment, including financial institutions of investors in our securities.
A number of companies that provide Bitcoin and/or other digital currency-related services have been unable to find banks or financial institutions that are willing to provide them with bank accounts and other services. Similarly, a number of companies and individuals or businesses associated with digital currencies may have had and may continue to have their existing bank accounts closed or services discontinued with financial institutions in response to government action, particularly in China, where regulatory response to digital currencies has been particularly harsh. We also may be unable to obtain or maintain these services for our business. The difficulty that many businesses that provide Bitcoin and/or derivatives on other digital currency-related services have and may continue to have in finding banks and financial institutions willing to provide them services may be decreasing the usefulness of digital currencies as a payment system and harming public perception of digital currencies, and could decrease their usefulness and harm their public perception in the future.
It may be illegal now, or in the future, to acquire, own, hold, sell or use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies, participate in the blockchain or utilize similar digital assets in one or more countries, the ruling of which could adversely affect the company.
Although currently Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies, the Blockchain and digital assets generally are not regulated or are lightly regulated in most countries, including the United States, one or more countries such as China and Russia may take regulatory actions in the future that could severely restrict the right to acquire, own, hold, sell or use these digital assets or to exchange for fiat currency. Such restrictions may adversely affect the Company. Such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern or to pursue this business opportunity at all, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects or operations of the Company and potentially the value of any cryptocurrencies the Company holds or expects to acquire for its own account and harm investors.
If regulatory changes or interpretations require the regulation of Bitcoin or other digital assets under the securities laws of the United States or elsewhere, including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940 or similar laws of other jurisdictions and interpretations by the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), Department of Treasury or other agencies or authorities, the Company may be required to register and comply with such regulations, including at a state or local level. To the extent that the Company decides to continue operations, the required registrations and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary expense or burdens to the Company. The Company may also decide to cease certain operations. Any disruption of the Company’s operations in response to the changed regulatory circumstances may be at a time that is disadvantageous to the Company.
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Our digital currencies may be subject to loss, theft or restriction on access.
There is a risk that some or all of our digital currencies could be lost or stolen. Digital currencies are stored in digital currency sites commonly referred to as “wallets” by holders of digital currencies which may be accessed to exchange a holder’s digital currency assets. Hackers or malicious actors may launch attacks to steal, compromise or secure digital currencies, such as by attacking the digital currency network source code, exchange miners, third-party platforms, cold and hot storage locations or software, or by other means. As we increase in size, we may become a more appealing target of hackers, malware, cyber-attacks or other security threats. Any of these events may adversely affect our operations and, consequently, our investments and profitability. The loss or destruction of a private key required to access our digital wallets may be irreversible and we may be denied access for all time to our digital currency holdings or the holdings of others held in those compromised wallets. Our loss of access to our private keys or our experience of a data loss relating to our digital wallets could adversely affect our investments and assets.
Incorrect or fraudulent digital currency transactions may be irreversible.
Once a transaction has been verified and recorded in a block that is added to a blockchain, an incorrect transfer of a digital currency or a theft thereof generally will not be reversible and we may not have sufficient recourse to recover our losses from any such transfer or theft. It is possible that, through computer or human error, or through theft or criminal action, our digital currency rewards could be transferred in incorrect amounts or to unauthorized third parties, or to uncontrolled accounts. Further, at this time, there is no specifically enumerated U.S. or foreign governmental, regulatory, investigative or prosecutorial authority or mechanism through which to bring an action or complaint regarding missing or stolen digital currency. To the extent that we are unable to recover our losses from such action, error or theft, such events could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue as a going concern or to pursue our new strategy at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects or operations of and potentially the value of any Bitcoin or other digital currencies we mine or otherwise acquire or hold for our own account.
We are subject to risks associated with our need for significant electrical power. Government regulators may potentially restrict the ability of electricity suppliers to provide electricity to mining operations, such as ours.
The operation of a Bitcoin or other digital currency mine can require massive amounts of electrical power. Our mining operations can only be successful and ultimately profitable if the costs, including electrical power costs, associated with mining a Bitcoin are lower than the price of a Bitcoin. As a result, any mine we establish can only be successful if we can obtain sufficient electrical power for that mine on a cost-effective basis with a reliable supplier, and our establishment of new mines requires us to find locations where that is the case. There may be significant competition for suitable mine locations, and government regulators may potentially restrict the ability of electricity suppliers to provide electricity to mining operations in times of electricity shortage, or may otherwise potentially restrict or prohibit the provision or electricity to mining operations. If we are unable to receive adequate power supply and are forced to reduce our operations due to the availability or cost of electrical power, our business would experience materially negative impacts.
Because we don’t expect to initially host our own Bitcoin Mining equipment, our business is dependent on 3rd parties maintaining the equipment and providing adequate service. Any disruptions in service from these 3rd parties could negatively impact our business.
We do not expect to initially host our Bitcoin Mining equipment. We plan to use 3rd parties to host, maintain, and service the equipment on our behalf. If these 3rd parties cease operations or have other disruptions to the services, we have engaged them to provide, our Bitcoin Mining operations may be halted without any recourse available by the Company. Such a result could harm the value of your investment in the Company.
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We do not anticipate having a predictable stream of revenue from Bitcoin Mining operations, and the variability of our revenues from Bitcoin Mining may result in cash shortfalls, which would in turn have a material adverse effect on us.
We cannot predict with any certainty the future performance that will be realized on our Bitcoin Mining activities. If we are unable to achieve a sufficient level of revenues during our operating period, or if our operating expenses are significantly higher than we expect, we may experience cash shortfalls. If we experience a cash shortfall, we may be forced to cease operations. We have no commitments for future debt or equity financing and we cannot be sure that any financing would be available in a timely manner, on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Any equity financing could dilute ownership of existing stockholders and any borrowed money could involve restrictions on future capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we were unable to obtain financing as needed, we could cease to be a going concern.
Since there has been limited precedence set for financial accounting of digital assets, it is unclear how we will be required to account for digital asset transactions in the future.
Since there has been limited precedence set for the financial accounting of digital assets, it is unclear how we will be required to account for digital asset transactions (i.e. receiving or selling Bitcoin) or assets. Furthermore, a change in regulatory or financial accounting standards could result in the necessity to restate our financial statements. Such a restatement could negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation.
In the Internal Revenue Service’s (“IRS”) release titled, “Notice 2014-21”, they stated “For federal tax purposes, virtual currency is treated as property. General tax principles applicable to property transactions apply to transactions using virtual currency.”
Additionally, in the same notice, the following question was asked: “Q-8: Does a taxpayer who “mines” virtual currency (for example, uses computer resources to validate Bitcoin transactions and maintain the public Bitcoin
transaction ledger) realize gross income upon receipt of the virtual currency resulting from those activities?” The IRS responded with: A-8: Yes, when a taxpayer successfully “mines” virtual currency, the fair market value
of the virtual currency as of the date of receipt is includible in gross income. See Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for more information on taxable income.”
The following are important guidelines that the IRS has put in place in regard to accounting for digital assets:
|
| • | Cryptocurrency is NOT treated as currency to determine losses or gains under tax laws. |
|
| • | Taxpayers MUST include the fair market value of the virtual currency as taxable income when it is used to pay for goods or services. |
|
| • | The fair market value is determined as of the date acquired; basically, it is (virtually) exchanged for U.S. dollars for tax purposes. |
|
| • | A taxpayer can have a virtual loss or gain. |
After reviewing the relevant guidance released by the IRS through notices and publications as seen above, we plan to account for our digital assets as follows; Once we commence our operations, we will be paid cryptocurrency once a day from the blockchain. After taking the fair market value of that cryptocurrency payment, it will be recorded as gross income. Once we transfer that cryptocurrency payment to an exchange like Coinbase to “Convert” it to fiat currency, i.e. US dollars, then the ordinary income rate applies to any gain or loss from the conversion if it is different than the fair market value recorded on the date we received the payment.
As an example:
We are paid 1 (one) Bitcoin on March 29, 2021 at which time Bitcoin has a price of $58,000. We will record the fair market value as of March 29, 2021 as gross income, in this case $58,000. We then transfer this one Bitcoin to Coinbase to convert it US Currency on April 1, 2021. On April1, 2021, at the time we convert the Bitcoin into US Currency, the price of Bitcoin is $59,000. Since we recorded a fair market value on March 29, 2021of $58,000 as gross income, the balance, which in this case is $1,000, will be recorded at the ordinary income rate if sold within one year from the time we received it, or at the Capital Gains rate if it has been over a year since we received it.
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If federal or state legislatures or agencies initiate or release tax determinations that change the classification of Bitcoins as property for tax purposes (in the context of when such Bitcoins are held as an investment), such determination could have a negative tax consequence on our Company or our shareholders.
Current IRS guidance indicates that digital assets such as Bitcoins should be treated and taxed as property, and that transactions involving the payment of Bitcoins for goods and services should be treated as barter transactions. While this treatment creates a potential tax reporting requirement for any circumstance where the ownership of a Bitcoin passes from one person to another, usually by means of Bitcoin transactions (including off-blockchain transactions), it preserves the right to apply capital gains treatment to those transactions which may have adversely affect an investment in our Company.
Foreign jurisdictions may also elect to treat digital assets such as Bitcoins differently for tax purposes than the IRS. To the extent that a foreign jurisdiction with a significant share of the market of Bitcoin users imposes onerous tax burdens on Bitcoin users, or imposes sales or value added tax on purchases and sales of Bitcoins for fiat currency, such actions could result in decreased demand for Bitcoins in such jurisdiction, which could impact the price of Bitcoins and negatively impact an investment in our Company.
In addition, we cannot provide any assurance that such federal and state enforcement policies may deviate from the current policies in effect or in the future which could negatively impact an investment in our Company. See the “Risk Factors” and “Description of Business - Government Regulation” sections of this Offering Circular for more information.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock and this Offering
Investment in our Common Stock is speculative.
The Shares being sold in this offering are highly speculative in nature, involve a high degree of risk and should be purchased only by persons who can afford to lose the entire amount invested in our Shares. Before purchasing any of our Shares, you should carefully consider the following factors relating to our business and prospects. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our Common Stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.
There is no current liquid market for the shares of our Common Stock. We may not continue to satisfy the requirements for quotation on the Pink Tier of OTC Markets and, even if we do, an active market for our Common Stock may not develop.
Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Current Tier of OTC Markets under the symbol, “VTXB.” On August 25, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the OTC Pink was $0.0087 per share. Under Regulation A, shares of Common Stock that we sell to non-affiliates of the Company in this Offering are freely tradeable and not restricted. Any securities purchased in this Offering by affiliates of the Company are considered control securities. Nonetheless, even though our Common Stock shares are quoted, that does not mean that there is or will be a liquid market for our Common Stock. Whether or not we’re quoted on a market, or listed on an exchange, investors should assume that they may not be able to liquidate their investment for some time, or be able to pledge their shares as collateral, or be able to hold the stock in a traditional brokerage account. Without a liquid market for our Common Stock, it may be impossible for shareholders to be able to value their stock, reducing or eliminating the value of the stock as an incentive. Even if we continue to satisfy the requirements of the OTC Markets Pink Tier, it is not a stock exchange. As a result, there may be significantly less trading volume and analyst coverage of, and significantly less investor interest in, our Common Stock than there would be if our shares were listed on a stock exchange, which may lead to lower trading prices for our Common Stock.
Our Common Stock price may decrease due to factors beyond our control.
The stock market from time to time has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have particularly affected the market prices for early stage companies and which often have been unrelated to the operating performance of the companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our stock, if a trading market for our stock ever develops. If our shareholders sell substantial amounts of their stock in the public market, the price of our stock could fall. These sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity, or equity-related securities, in the future at a price we deem appropriate.
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The market price of our stock may also fluctuate significantly in response to the following factors, most of which are beyond our control:
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| · | variations in our quarterly operating results, |
|
| · | changes in general economic conditions, |
|
| · | changes in market valuations of similar companies, |
|
| · | announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures, or capital commitments, |
|
| · | poor reviews, and |
|
| · | the addition or loss of key managerial and collaborative personnel. |
The market price for our Common Stocks is particularly volatile which could lead to wide fluctuations in our share price. You may be unable to sell your Common Stock shares at or above your purchase price, or at all, which may result in substantial losses to you.
The market for our Common Stock is characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that our share price will continue to be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more risk-adverse investors may, under the fear of losing all or most of their investment in the event of negative news or lack of progress, be more inclined to sell their shares on the market more quickly and at greater discounts than would be the case with the stock of a seasoned issuer. Many of these factors are beyond our control and may decrease the market price of our common shares, regardless of our operating performance. We cannot make any predictions or projections as to what the prevailing market price for our Common Stock shares will be at any time, or if our Common Stock shares will be able to continue to trade, or as to what effect the sale of shares or the availability of Common Stock shares for sale at any time will have on the prevailing market price.
The sale and issuance of additional shares of our Common Stock could cause dilution as well as the value of our Common Stock to decline.
Investors’ interests in the Company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share when we issue additional shares. Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes the 3,000,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 256,750,000 shares are currently issued and outstanding and 2,256,750,000 shares will be issued and outstanding after this offering terminates (assuming all shares have been sold). Our management could, with the consent of the existing shareholders, issue substantially more shares, causing a large dilution in the equity position of our current shareholders.
We anticipate that all or at least some of our future funding, if any, will be in the form of equity financing from the sale of our Common Stock. If we do sell or issue more Common Stock, any investors’ investment in the Company will be diluted. Dilution is the difference between what you pay for your stock and the net tangible book value per share immediately after the additional shares are sold by us. If dilution occurs, any investment in the Company’s Common Stock could seriously decline in value.
Our Common Stock is currently deemed a “penny stock,” which makes it more difficult for our investors to sell their shares.
Our Common Stock is currently deemed a “penny stock,” which makes it more difficult for our investors to sell their shares. The SEC has adopted rule 3a51-1 which 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, Rule 15g-9 requires:
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| · | that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, and |
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| · | 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. |
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In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must:
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| · | obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person, and |
|
| · | 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:
|
| · | sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination and |
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| · | 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. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our Common Stock and cause a decline in the market value of our stock.
FINRA sales practice requirements may also limit a shareholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted Rule 2111 that requires a broker-dealer to have reasonable grounds for believing that an investment is suitable for a customer before recommending the investment. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.
We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our stock and do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We anticipate that we will retain all of our future earnings for use in the development of our business and for general corporate purposes. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board.
We may become involved in securities class action litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm our business.
The stock market in general, and the shares of early-stage companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the companies involved. If these fluctuations occur in the future, the market price of our shares could fall regardless of our operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. If the market price or volume of our shares suffers extreme fluctuations, then we may become involved in this type of litigation, which would be expensive and divert management’s attention and resources from managing our business.
As a public company, we may also from time to time make forward-looking statements about future operating results and provide some financial guidance to the public markets. Projections may not be made timely or set at expected performance levels and could materially affect the price of our shares. Any failure to meet published forward-looking statements that adversely affect the stock price could result in losses to investors, stockholder lawsuits or other litigation, sanctions or restrictions issued by the SEC.
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Our Subscription Agreement to be used in this Offering contains an indemnification provision.
Section 5 of the Subscription Agreement, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, contains an indemnification provision, which requires the subscriber to agree that the subscriber agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), judgments or amounts paid in settlement of actions arising out of or resulting from the untruth of any representation of the subscriber in the Subscription Agreement or the breach of any warranty or covenant in the Subscription Agreement by the subscriber. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation, warranty, covenant or acknowledgment made by a subscriber in the Subscription Agreement, shall in any manner be deemed to constitute a waiver of any rights granted to it under the Securities Act or state securities laws.
There is a risk the Offering will not close.
There are numerous possible scenarios pursuant to which this Offering may be abandoned prior to any closing, including a material adverse change or event in the capital markets, which could make it impracticable to consummate the Offering. The emergence of material litigation regarding the Company, the outbreak of war or hostilities, or the Company’s determination that the Offering should be delayed, suspended, or abandoned, due to these or other unforeseeable events.
The term ‘dilution’ refers to the reduction (as a percentage of the aggregate Shares outstanding) that occurs for any given share of stock when additional Shares are issued. If all of the Shares in this offering are fully subscribed and sold at the maximum price of $0.01 per share, the Shares offered herein will constitute approximately 57.74% of the total Shares of the Company. The Company anticipates that subsequent to this Offering the Company may require additional capital and such capital may take the form of Common Stock, other stock or securities or debt convertible into stock. Such future fund raising will further dilute the percentage ownership of the Shares sold herein in the Company.
As of the date of this Offering, the net tangible book value of the Company was approximately $(0.0023) per share of Common Stock on a proforma basis. Net tangible book value per share consists of shareholders’ equity divided by the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. The pro forma net tangible book value, assuming full subscription in this Offering, would be $0.0108 per share of Common Stock.
Purchasers of our Common Stock in this Offering will experience an immediate dilution of net tangible book value per share from the public offering price. Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by the purchasers of shares of Common Stock and the net tangible book value per share immediately after this Offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
|
|
| Shares Issued |
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| Total Consideration |
|
| Price |
| |||||||||||
|
|
| Number |
|
| Percent |
|
| Amount |
|
| Percent |
|
| Per Share |
| |||||
| Existing Shareholders |
|
| 256,750,000 |
|
|
| 11 | % |
| $ | 482,800 |
|
|
| 2 | % |
| $ | 0.0018 |
|
| Purchasers of Shares |
|
| 2,000,000,000 |
|
|
| 89 | % |
| $ | 20,000,000 |
|
|
| 98 | % |
| $ | 0.01 |
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| Total |
|
| 2,256,750,000 |
|
|
| 100 | % |
| $ | 20,482,800 |
|
|
| 100 | % |
| $ | 0.0091 |
|
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The following table sets forth the difference between the offering price of the shares of our Common Stock being offered by us, the net tangible book value per share, and the net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the offering by us, assuming that 100%, 50%, 25% and 10% of the offered shares are sold. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities divided by the number of shares outstanding as of the date of this Offering. Totals may vary due to rounding.
|
|
| 100% of offered shares are sold |
|
| 50% of offered shares are sold |
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| 25% of offered shares are sold |
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| 10% of offered shares are sold |
| ||||
|
|
|
| 100 | % |
|
| 50 | % |
|
| 25 | % |
|
| 10 | % |
| Offering Price |
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
|
|
| per share |
|
| per share |
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| Net tangible book value |
| $ | (0.0023 | ) |
| $ | (0.0023 | ) |
| $ | (0.0023 | ) |
| $ | (0.0023 | ) |
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| per share |
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| Net tangible book value after giving effect to the offering |
| $ | 0.0086 |
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| $ | 0.0074 |
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| $ | 0.0058 |
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| $ | 0.0030 |
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| per share |
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| Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to cash payments made by new investors |
| $ | 0.0108 |
|
| $ | 0.0097 |
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| $ | 0.0080 |
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| $ | 0.0053 |
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| per share |
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| Per Share Dilution to New Investors |
| $ | 0.0014 |
|
| $ | 0.0026 |
|
| $ | 0.0042 |
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| $ | 0.0070 |
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| per share |
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| Percent Dilution to New Investors |
|
| 14.27 | % |
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| 25.56 | % |
|
| 42.31 | % |
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| 69.73 | % |
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE
The offering price of the Shares has been arbitrarily determined and bears no relationship to any objective criterion of value. The price does not bear any relationship to our assets, book value, historical earnings or net worth. No valuation or appraisal has been prepared for our business. We cannot assure you that a public market for our securities will develop or continue or that the securities will ever trade at a price higher than the offering price.
This Offering is being conducted on a “best efforts” basis, which means that there is no guarantee that any minimum amount will be sold in this Offering. Offers and sales of the Shares will be made by our management, and specifically by our Chief Executive Officer, Todd Higley, who will not receive any commissions or other remunerations for his efforts. We reserve the right to engage the services of a registered broker-dealer who will offer, sell and process the subscriptions for the Shares, although we do not presently expect to engage such selling agent. If any broker-dealer or other agent/person is engaged to sell our Shares, we will file a post-qualification amendment to the offering statement of which this Offering Circular forms a part disclosing the names and compensation arrangements prior to any sales by such persons.
| 20 |
| Table of Contents |
The Company has 256,750,000 shares of its Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this Offering Circular. The Company is offering up to 2,000,000,000 Shares in this Offering. All of the Shares being offered for sale by the Company in this Offering will be sold at a fixed price of $0.01 per share for the duration of the Offering. There is no minimum amount we are required to raise from the Shares being offered hereby. There is no guarantee that we will sell any of the Shares being offered in this Offering. Additionally, there is no guarantee that this Offering will successfully raise enough funds to implement our Company’s business plan or pay for the expenses of this Offering, which we estimate to be $27,500. Our Common Stock is quoted on OTC Markets under the symbol, “VTXB.” On August 25, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $0.0087 per share.
The approximate date of the commencement of the sales of the Shares will be within two calendar days from the date on which the Offering is qualified by the SEC and on a continuous basis thereafter until the maximum number of Shares offered hereby are sold. All funds received in this Offering will not be placed in escrow and will be immediately available to us. All offering expenses will be borne by us and will be paid out of the proceeds of this Offering.
This Offering will terminate at the earlier of (i) the date at which the maximum offering amount has been sold; (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date that the SEC deems this offering statement qualified, unless extended by our Company for an additional ninety (90) days, or (iii) the date the Offering is earlier terminated by the Company, in its sole discretion. At least every 12 months after this Offering has been qualified by the SEC, if the Offering is still ongoing at such time, the Company will file a post-qualification amendment to include the Company’s recent financial statements. The Company may undertake one or more closings on a rolling basis. After each closing, funds tendered by investors will be available to the Company. No sales of Shares will be made prior to the qualification of the Offering statement by the SEC.
The Shares in this Offering may be sold or distributed from time to time by Mr. Higley directly to one or more purchasers utilizing general solicitation through the internet, social media, and any other means of widespread communication. The Company will pay all expenses the Offering which we expect to be no more than $27,500, using the proceeds of this Offering.
The Company will initially be making offers only to residents of Colorado and Delaware.
Procedures for Subscribing
After the qualification of this Offering Statement by the SEC, if you decide to subscribe for any Shares in this Offering, you must request a Subscription Agreement from the Company by emailing us at investors@vortexbrands.us. You may also request a physical copy of the Subscription Agreement be mailed to you at the address set forth in your email to the Company requesting the Subscription Agreement. The Company will then either email or mail a copy of the Subscription Agreement for your review. If after review, you wish to proceed with an investment in this Offering, you’ll then have to complete the following procedures:
|
| · | Physically execute the Subscription Agreement and then either: |
(1) scan and electronically deliver to us the Subscription Agreement by emailing a signed copy to the Company at investors@vortexbrands.us; or
(2) mailing a copy of the signed Subscription Agreement to us at 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835; and simultaneously
and,
|
| · | Pay the Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Subscription Agreement) by either: |
(1) wiring the funds directly to the Company’s designated bank account pursuant to the wire instructions set forth on Exhibit A to the Subscription Agreement; or
(2) mailing a personal check to the Company payable to “Vortex Brands.” at 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835.
A form of Subscription Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
| 21 |
| Table of Contents |
The Shares acquired under the Subscription Agreement shall be issued to you by our transfer agent in book entry form upon acceptance of your Subscription Agreement and confirmation of funds received by the Company.
Any potential investor will have ample time to review the Subscription Agreement, along with their counsel, prior to making any final investment decision. We shall only deliver such Subscription Agreement upon request after a potential investor has had ample opportunity to review this Offering Circular.
Right to Reject Subscriptions
We have the right to accept or reject subscriptions in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. All monies from rejected subscriptions will be returned immediately by us to the subscriber, without interest or deductions. Subscriptions for securities will be accepted or rejected with letter by mail within 48 hours after we receive them.
Minimum and Maximum Investment Amount
The minimum investment amount per subscriber in this Offering is one Share. There is no maximum investment amount per subscriber in this Offering.
No Escrow
The proceeds of this Offering will not be placed into an escrow account. We will offer our Shares on a best efforts basis. As there is no minimum offering amount, upon the approval of any subscription to this Offering Circular, the Company shall immediately deposit said proceeds into the bank account of the Company and may dispose of the proceeds in accordance with the Use of Proceeds.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Our transfer agent is Pacific Stock Transfer, which is located at 6725 Via Austi Pwky, Suite 300, Las Vegas, NV 89119, with a phone number of 800-785-7782 and an email address of info@pacificstocktransfer.com.
Book-Entry Records of Shares
Ownership of the Shares will be represented in “book-entry” only form directly in the name of the respective owner of the Shares and shall be recorded by the transfer agent and no physical certificates shall be issued, nor received, by the Company or any other person.
The maximum gross proceeds the Company may receive from the sale of the Shares in this Offering is $20,000,000.
Assuming a maximum raise of $20,000,000, the net proceeds to the Company from this Offering will be approximately $19,972,500, after deducting the estimated offering expenses of approximately $27,500 consisting of legal, accounting, EDGARization, and other fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Offering. Assuming a raise of $15,000,000 (representing 75% of the maximum offering amount), the net proceeds to the Company from this Offering will be approximately $14,972,500 after deducting the estimated offering expenses. Assuming a raise of $10,000,000 (representing 50% of the maximum offering amount), the net proceeds to the Company from this Offering will be approximately $9,972,500 after deducting the estimated offering expenses. Assuming a raise of $5,000,000 (representing 25% of the maximum offering amount), the net proceeds to the Company from this Offering will be approximately $4,972,500, after deducting the estimated offering expenses.
We intend to use the proceeds of this Offering to pay all the expenses of the Offering, and to use the remaining proceeds for acquisition of Bitcoin Mining equipment and general operating capital.
| 22 |
| Table of Contents |
Please see the table below for a summary of our intended use of the proceeds from this Offering:
| If 2,000,000,000 Shares (100%) are sold: |
|
| ||
|
|
|
| ||
| Planned Actions |
| Estimated Cost to Complete |
| |
| Acquisition of Bitcoin Mining Equipment |
| $ | 18,000,000 |
|
| General operating capital (including costs of offering of $27,500) |
| $ | 2,000,000 |
|
| TOTAL |
| $ | 20,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| If 1,500,000,000 Shares (75%) are sold: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Planned Actions |
| Estimated Cost to Complete |
| |
| Acquisition of Bitcoin Mining Equipment |
| $ | 13,500,000 |
|
| General operating capital (including costs of offering of $27,500) |
| $ | 1,500,000 |
|
| TOTAL |
| $ | 15,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| If 1,000,000,000 Shares (50%) are sold: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Planned Actions |
| Estimated Cost to Complete |
| |
| Acquisition of Bitcoin Mining Equipment |
| $ | 9,000,000 |
|
| General operating capital (including costs of offering of $27,500) |
| $ | 1,000,000 |
|
| TOTAL |
| $ | 10,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| If 500,000,000 Shares (25%) are sold: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Planned Actions |
| Estimated Cost to Complete |
| |
| Acquisition of Bitcoin Mining Equipment |
| $ | 5,000,000 |
|
| General operating capital (including costs of offering of $27,500) |
| $ | 500,000 |
|
| TOTAL |
| $ | 5,000,000 |
|
Because this Offering is a “best effort” offering, we may close this Offering without sufficient funds for all the intended purposes set out above, or even to cover the costs of this Offering.
The Company reserves the right to change the above use of proceeds if management believes it is in the best interests of the Company.
THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS
Overview
Vortex Brands has two distinct lines of business: (1) provide as a service multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment to electric utilities in the United States; and (2) Bitcoin Mining.
| 23 |
| Table of Contents |
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business:
Our Company will provide as a service multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment to electric utilities in the United States. PAS is a one-of-a-kind technology designed to address a one-hundred-year-old inherent problem that was thought to be unsolvable: the inefficient power consumption caused by electric motors. The solution will extend the life of the grid by protecting it from excessive wear and damage, improve grid reliability by reducing line congestion and increasing reserve margin, while creating true cost savings for the utility. Poor power efficiency has been the unsolvable issue in every facility that operates electric motors. PAS is designed to address industrial and commercial use applications in a scalable solution. Revenues will be generated from a service fee we will charge that shares a portion of the savings for the electric utility created by each PAS service installation. The Company intends to use the proceeds from its Bitcoin Mining operation to fund the acquisition and marketing of its PAS Equipment.
Our company holds the irrevocable right to purchase all components necessary to effectuate the PAS system from Tripac Systems, who has done the research and development of PAS equipment over more than 25 years. Their capabilities include experience at assembling the equipment from off-the-shelf components and designing the plans and schematics for PAS equipment. Our Company, together with Tripac Systems, will effectuate the service program and we are likely to have multiple pilot program PAS units operating in one or more locations, to collect initial data on performance prior to a full roll-out. Current efforts are focused on site selection for PAS installations as well as stakeholder and industry support of the pilot program.
As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not sold any products or generated any revenues to date.
Bitcoin Mining Business
The Company also intends to engage in “Bitcoin Mining” – i.e. the process by which Bitcoins are created, resulting in new blocks being added to the blockchain and new Bitcoins being issued to the miners. Miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations to add a block to the blockchain and thereby confirm cryptocurrency transactions included in that block’s data. Miners that are successful in adding a block to the blockchain are automatically awarded a fixed number of Bitcoins for their effort.
The Company intends to purchase and maintain ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) computers - computers that are specifically designed for cryptocurrency mining - that will be used for Bitcoin Mining. We plans to place the Bitcoin Mining equipment with 3rd party datacenters or farms (often referred as a “Co-Location”) that will power and operate our Bitcoin Mining equipment for a fee. We plan to generate revenues through receiving Bitcoin from our Bitcoin Mining equipment. As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not generated any revenues to date or acquired any Bitcoin Mining equipment.
The Company has not yet purchased any Bitcoin Mining Equipment, nor has it commenced or generated any revenues from Bitcoin Mining.
Organizational History
Vortex Brands Co. (“Vortex Brands”, “we”, “us”, “our”, the “Company” or the “Registrant”) was originally incorporated in the State of Colorado on May 6, 2005 under the name of Global Sunrise, Inc. On January 15, 2007 the Company changed its name to Zulu Energy Corp. On May 29, 2014, the Company changed its name to Vortex Brands Co. The Company trades on OTC Markets PINKS under the symbol “VTXB”.
Our corporate business address is: 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835 and our registered office is located at 1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314C, Boulder, CO 80302. Our telephone number is 213-260-0321. Our E-Mail address is info@vortexbrands.us.
The address of our web site is www.vortexbrands.us and www.blockchainenergyinc.com. The information at our web site is for general information and marketing purposes and is not part of this report for purposes of liability for disclosures under the federal securities laws.
| 24 |
| Table of Contents |
This is the current corporate organization:

Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Current Tier of OTC Markets under the symbol, “VTXB.” On August 25, 2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $0.0087 per share.
Principal Products and Services
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business:
Our Company will act as the operating entity in the commercialization efforts of Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment offered as a service and will create and administer relevant contracts providing PAS service to electric utilities nationwide. Contract services will include creating, negotiating, and administering the monthly service agreements with the electric utility and collecting revenue from a service fee we will charge that shares a portion of the savings for the electric utility created by each PAS service installation. Contract administration may also include contracts for the sourcing or manufacturing of components, assembly, marketing, installation, and maintenance of PAS equipment.
The PAS service will address the problem of inefficient power consumption inherent in every electric motor. This problem places a strain on the grid--namely the transmission and distribution infrastructure of the electric utility--by contributing to what is known as “line congestion”. The PAS equipment improves the consumption efficiency of electricity, installed in parallel behind the meter, and corrects the phase angle precisely to 12 degrees on every cycle (every 1/60th of a second) with the application of precise capacitance phase-to-phase. PAS does this with a complex high-speed computer, which took 25 years to develop because the conceptualized solution did not have the complimentary high-speed computing power to work as fast as was necessary to perform this function, until just a few years ago.
The equipment appears to be different than any other solution because it operates without a reactor, has no cooling fans, and uses a simple “plug-and-play” installation without costly custom engineering. PAS also removes line congestion, improves electric grid stability, and extends the life of electric utility infrastructure. The benefits accrue to the electric utility, primarily since PAS reduces kilovolt-ampere, or kVA, while maintaining the kilowatt-hours, or kWh. This result was measured at a manufacturing facility during R&D comparing the utility bill from the month before PAS installation to the bill after installation. This same result is shown on the demo unit each time it has been shown. The utility bills each customer in kWh but provides kVA so, a reduction in kVA to any facility where PAS is installed will reduce the operating costs of the electric utility, and since it protects the infrastructure PAS will further reduce the electric utility’s maintenance costs.
Clients of the utility who have PAS equipment installed benefit from a reliable grid, meaning less incidence of brown-outs or black-outs, and increased public relations with the ability to publicize the extent to which their facility has reduced its environmental impact by reducing the amount of power the electric utility needs to produce to service the client’s facility. The amount of kVA reduction will be available on every electric bill, so when compared to a baseline operating case for a period prior to PAS installation, there will be an exact amount of “saved kVA” that will translate into trackable and traceable improvements as to environmental impact. Through our operating subsidiary Blockchain Energy, Inc., our company has conceptualized utilizing the public ledger aspects of blockchain technology to document the environmental impact improvements from any PAS service installation, by either implementing available third-party solution or by developing our own solution. Though second in priority to the pilot program and commercialization of the PAS service, a publicly verifiable ledger of these environmental impact improvements could add credibility to the client’s publicity of positive environmental impact.
| 25 |
| Table of Contents |
Our company holds the irrevocable right to purchase all components necessary to effectuate the PAS system from Tripac Systems, and holds the custodial rights to the demo PAS equipment, as evidenced by the Memorandum of Understanding attached as Exhibit 6.1, and will act in connection with Tripac Systems to commercialize PAS equipment offered as a service to electric utilities nationwide, as described above. Tripac Systems has done the research and development of PAS equipment over the last 25 years. Their capabilities include experience at assembling the equipment from off-the-shelf components and designing the plans and schematics for PAS equipment.
As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not sold any products or generated any revenues to date.
Bitcoin Mining Business
The Company intends to use the proceeds from this offering to launch Bitcoin Mining operations, through which the Company expects to generate revenues. The Company intends to earn revenues from Bitcoin Mining by providing transaction verification services within the digital currency network of Bitcoin. The Company satisfies its performance obligation at the point in time that the Company is awarded a unit of Bitcoin through its participation in the Bitcoin’s network and network participants benefit from the Company’s verification service. In consideration for these services, the Company receives Bitcoin, which is recorded as revenue using the closing U.S. Dollar price of the Bitcoin on the date of receipt. The Company will only mine Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Mining
A Bitcoin is one type of an intangible digital asset that is issued by, and transmitted through, an open source, math-based protocol platform using cryptographic security (the “Bitcoin Network”). The Bitcoin Network is an online, peer-to-peer user network that hosts the public transaction ledger, known as the “blockchain,” and the source code that comprises the basis for the cryptography and math-based protocols governing the Bitcoin Network. No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin Network, the infrastructure of which is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. Bitcoins can be used to pay for goods and services or can be converted to fiat currencies, such as the U.S. Dollar, at rates determined on Bitcoin exchanges or in individual end-user-to-end-user transactions under a barter system.
Bitcoins are “stored” or reflected on the blockchain. The blockchain records the transaction history of all Bitcoins in existence and, through the transparent reporting of transactions, allows the cryptocurrency network to verify the association of each Bitcoin with the digital wallet that owns them. The network and software programs can interpret the blockchain to determine the exact balance, if any, of any digital wallet listed in the blockchain as having taken part in a transaction on the cryptocurrency network.
Mining is the process by which Bitcoins are created resulting in new blocks being added to the blockchain and new Bitcoins being issued to the miners. Miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the blockchain and thereby confirm cryptocurrency transactions included in that block’s data. Miners that are successful in adding a block to the blockchain are automatically awarded a fixed number of Bitcoins for their effort. To begin mining, a user can download and run the network mining software, which turns the user’s computer into a node on the network that validates blocks.
All Bitcoin transactions are recorded in blocks added to the blockchain. Each block contains the details of some or all of the most recent transactions that are not memorialized in prior blocks, a reference to the most recent prior block, and a record of the award of Bitcoins to the miner who added the new block. Each unique block can only be solved and added to the blockchain by one miner; therefore, all individual miners and mining pools on the cryptocurrency network are engaged in a competitive process and are incentivized to increase their computing power to improve their likelihood of solving for new blocks.
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| Table of Contents |
The method for creating new Bitcoins is mathematically controlled in a manner so that the supply of Bitcoins grows at a limited rate pursuant to a pre-set schedule. Mining economics have also been much more pressured by the “Difficulty Rate” – a computation used by miners to determine the amount of computing power required to mine Bitcoin. The Difficulty Rate is directly influenced by the total size of the entire Bitcoin network. The Bitcoin network has grown 12-fold in the past year, resulting in a 12-fold increase in difficulty. Meanwhile, demand from miners also drove up hardware and power prices, the largest costs of production. This deliberately controlled rate of Bitcoin creation means that the number of Bitcoins in existence will never exceed 21 million and that Bitcoins cannot be devalued through excessive production unless the Bitcoin Network’s source code (and the underlying protocol for Bitcoin issuance) is altered.
Mining pools have developed in which multiple miners act cohesively and combine their processing power to solve blocks. When a pool solves a new block, the participating mining pool members split the resulting reward based on the processing power they each contributed to solve for such block. The mining pool operator provides a service that coordinates the workers. Fees are paid to the mining pool operator to cover the costs of maintaining the pool. The pool uses software that coordinates the pool members’ hashing power, identifies new block rewards, records how much work all the participants are doing, and assigns block rewards in-proportion to the participants’ efforts. While pool fees are not paid directly, pool fees (approximately 2% to 5%) are deducted from amounts we may otherwise earn. Participation in such pools is anticipated to be essential for our mining business.
Our Planned Bitcoin Mining Operations
We intend to purchase and maintain ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) computers, specifically designed for cryptocurrency mining. We expect to purchase equipment from Whatsminer or Bitmain – each of which are cryptocurrency mining hardware manufacturers. We will initially place the equipment with 3rd party datacenters or farms (often referred to as a “Co-Location”) that will host, provide power, and maintain our equipment for a flat rate per Kilowatt of electricity used (typically between $0.045 to $0.08 per kilowatt). We have not yet identified Co-Location we intend to engage for such a service, but plan to engage such a service provider in the United States once we have raised sufficient funds in this offering to purchase the ASIC computers that will be used for our Bitcoin Mining operations. We plan to generate revenues through receiving Bitcoin from our Bitcoin Mining equipment.
The Company has not yet purchased any Bitcoin Mining Equipment, nor has it commenced or generated any revenues from Bitcoin Mining. See “Suppliers” below for expected acquisition costs and operating costs that we expect for the Bitcoin Mining operations.
Our Markets
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business
It is estimated that 40 percent of all electricity that is generated is lost. If Tripac System’s product works as anticipated that will allow electricity lost at commercial facilities and industrial plants to be saved and utilized. This allows a utility to combat line congestion, improve low reserve margins, and reduce the number of expensive power outages that is estimated at $150 billion dollars per year.
The Phase Angle Synchronization system improves the efficiency in the delivery of electricity. The PAS system will extend the life of the electric grid, protect it from excessive wear and damage, and reduce the number of outage incidences. A pilot program will allow the two companies, Vortex Brands and Tripac Systems, to show electric utilities how this breakthrough product can greatly benefit that industry.
Bitcoin Mining
The Digital Currency Markets
The value of Bitcoins is determined by the supply and demand of Bitcoins in the Bitcoin exchange market (and in private end-user-to-end-user transactions), as well as the number of merchants that accept them. However, merchant adoption is very low according to a Morgan Stanley note from the summer of 2018 and appears to continue to be low.
| 27 |
| Table of Contents |
As Bitcoin transactions can be broadcast to the Bitcoin Network by any user’s Bitcoin software and Bitcoins can be transferred without the involvement of intermediaries or third parties, there are little or no transaction costs in direct peer-to-peer transactions on the Bitcoin Network. Third party service providers such as crypto currency exchanges and Bitcoin third party payment processing services may charge significant fees for processing transactions and for converting, or facilitating the conversion of, Bitcoins to or from fiat currency.
Under the peer-to-peer framework of the Bitcoin Network, transferors and recipients of Bitcoins are able to determine the value of the Bitcoins transferred by mutual agreement, the most common means of determining the value of a Bitcoin being by surveying one or more Bitcoin exchanges where Bitcoins are publicly bought, sold and traded, i.e., the Bitcoin Exchange Market (“Bitcoin Exchange”).
On each Bitcoin Exchange, Bitcoins are traded with publicly disclosed valuations for each transaction, measured by one or more fiat currencies. Bitcoin Exchanges report publicly on their site the valuation of each transaction and bid and ask prices for the purchase or sale of Bitcoins. Market participants can choose the Bitcoin Exchange on which to buy or sell Bitcoins. To date, the SEC has rejected the proposals for Bitcoin ETF’s, citing that lack of enough transparency in the cryptocurrency markets to be sure that prices are not being manipulated. The Wall Street Journal has recently reported on how bots are manipulating the prices of Bitcoin on the crypto exchanges. However, on November 8, 2018, the SEC announced in an order (the “Order”) that it had settled charges against Zachary Coburn, the founder of the digital token exchange EtherDelta, marking the first time that the SEC has brought an enforcement action against an online digital token platform for operating as an unregistered national securities exchange.
Competition
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business
At this time, we have not completed a thorough competitive analysis. We intend to use part of the proceeds to conduct such analysis and structure our strategy accordingly.
Bitcoin Mining
In cryptocurrency mining, companies, individuals and groups generate units of cryptocurrency through mining. Miners can range from individual enthusiasts to professional mining operations with dedicated data centers, with all of which we compete. Miners may organize themselves in mining pools, with which we would compete. The Company intends to participate in mining pools. At present, the information concerning the activities of these enterprises is not readily available as the vast majority of the participants in this sector do not publish information publicly or the information may be unreliable.
Marketing
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business
We plan to offer our products for sale in the United States.
Bitcoin Mining
Marketing does not factor into our Bitcoin Mining operations.
Distribution
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business
Distribution of PAS Equipment will likely be contracted to electrical contractors or other relevant service or operating entities for installation and maintenance, the protocols of which will be determined through the pilot program.
Bitcoin Mining
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| Table of Contents |
Distribution does not factor into our Bitcoin Mining operations.
Suppliers
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business
Our company holds the irrevocable right to purchase all components necessary to effectuate the PAS system from Tripac Systems.
Bitcoin Mining
The Company intends to purchase ASIC computers from cryptocurrency mining hardware manufacturers such as WhatsMiner or Bitmain. We will look to acquire mining equipment for $50 per terahash per second (or “TH/s”). Terahashes are the unit used to measure speed of the mining hardware mining cryptocurrencies, with a TH/s equaling one trillion hash calculations computed in one second. We have not entered into any agreement with these manufacturers or resellers for any hardware.
The Company intends to engage a Co-Location that will host, provide power, and maintain our equipment for a flat rate per Kilowatt of electricity used (typically between $0.045 to $0.08 per kilowatt). We have not yet identified the Co-Location we intend to engage for such a service, but plan to engage such a Co-Location in the United States once we have raised sufficient funds in this offering to purchase the ASIC computers that will be used for our Bitcoin Mining operations.
Bitcoin Mining equipment varies in TH/s and power consumption. Due to the large differences between the Bitcoin Mining Equipment options, the Company will make its acquisition determination based on the following calculations in order to efficiently compare the options: (1) Acquisition cost per TH/s and (2) Power cost per TH/s. We will look to acquire Bitcoin Mining capacity at an acquisition cost of between $50 per TH/s and power consumption costs below $1.90 per TH/s per month. For example, under these calculations 1,000 TH/s would cost the Company up to $50,000 and cost $1,900 per month to operate, and would currently produce approximately 0.00919566 Bitcoin per Day (As of July 23, 2021 and based on open-source calculators available through online resources, such as NovaBlock).
Employees
As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have one full-time employee, Todd Higley, our sole officer and a director of the Company. The Company has not entered into a formal employment agreement with Todd Higley.
Intellectual Property
We do not currently hold rights to any intellectual property.
Government Regulation
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business
We are unaware of and do not anticipate having to expend significant resources to comply with any local, state and governmental regulations. We are subject to the laws and regulations of those jurisdictions in which we plan to offer the PAS system.
Bitcoin Mining
Government regulation of blockchain and cryptocurrency is under review with a number of government agencies, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and in other countries. State government regulations also may apply to certain activities such as cryptocurrency exchanges (bitlicense, banking and money transmission regulations) and other activities. Other bodies which may have an interest in regulating or investigating companies engaged in the blockchain or cryptocurrency business include the national securities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. As the regulatory and legal environment evolves, the Company may in its mining activities become subject to new laws, and further regulation by the SEC and other agencies. On November 16, 2018, the SEC issued a Statement on Digital Asset Securities Issuance and Trading, in which it emphasized that market participants must still adhere to the SEC’s well-established and well-functioning federal securities law framework when dealing with technological innovations, regardless of whether the securities are issued in certificated form or using new technologies, such as blockchain.
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Blockchain and cryptocurrency regulations are in a nascent state with agencies investigating businesses and their practices, gathering information, and generally trying to understand the risks and uncertainties in order to protect investors in these businesses and in cryptocurrencies generally. Various bills have also been proposed in Congress for adoption related to our business which may be adopted and have an impact on us. The offer and sale of digital assets in initial coin offerings, which is not an activity we expect to pursue, has been a central focus of recent regulatory inquiries. On November 16, 2018 the SEC settled with two cryptocurrency startups, and reportedly has more than 100 investigations into cryptocurrency related ventures, according to a codirector of the SEC’s enforcement division (Wall Street Journal, November 17-18, 2018). An annual report by the SEC shows that digital currency scams are among the agency’s top enforcement priorities. The SEC is focused in particular on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), which involve the sale of digital tokens related to blockchain projects. Many such projects have failed to deliver on their promises or turned out to be outright scams. In the past year, the enforcement division has opened dozens of investigations involving ICOs and digital assets, many of which were ongoing at the close of FY 2018,” the SEC states in a section of the report titled “ICOs and Digital Assets.”
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become party to litigation or other legal proceedings that we consider to be a part of the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently involved in legal proceedings that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. We may, however, become involved in material legal proceedings in the future.
The Company uses offices at 3511 Del Paso Road, STE 160 PMB 208, which serve as its headquarters, at an annual cost of $500.00. These offices are generally used only as a mailing address for the Company as the Company does not have a need for physical office space at this time to conduct its operations.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements that are included elsewhere in this Offering Circular. Our discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under the Risk Factors, Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Business sections in this Offering Circular. We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Our future operating results, however, are impossible to predict and no guaranty or warranty is to be inferred from those forward-looking statements.
Overview
The Company has two business operations: (1) Bitcoin Mining and (2) offering multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment as a service to electric utilities in the United States and the administration of that service.
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Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business:
Our Company will act as the operating entity in the commercialization efforts of Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment offered as a service and will create and administer relevant contracts providing PAS service to electric utilities nationwide. Contract services will include creating, negotiating, and administering the monthly service agreements with the electric utility and collecting revenue from a service fee we will charge that shares a portion of the savings for the electric utility created by each PAS service installation. Contract administration may also include contracts for the sourcing or manufacturing of components, assembly, marketing, installation, and maintenance of PAS equipment.
The PAS service will address the problem of inefficient power consumption inherent in every electric motor. This problem places a strain on the grid--namely the transmission and distribution infrastructure of the electric utility--by contributing to what is known as “line congestion”. The PAS equipment improves the consumption efficiency of electricity, installed in parallel behind the meter, and corrects the phase angle precisely to 12 degrees on every cycle (every 1/60th of a second) with the application of precise capacitance phase-to-phase. PAS does this with a complex high-speed computer, which took 25 years to develop because the conceptualized solution did not have the complimentary high-speed computing power to work as fast as was necessary to perform this function, until just a few years ago.
The equipment appears to be different than any other solution because it operates without a reactor, has no cooling fans, and uses a simple “plug-and-play” installation without costly custom engineering. PAS also removes line congestion, improves electric grid stability, and extends the life of electric utility infrastructure. The benefits accrue to the electric utility, primarily since PAS reduces kilovolt-ampere, or kVA, while maintaining the kilowatt-hours, or kWh. This result was measured at a manufacturing facility during R&D comparing the utility bill from the month before PAS installation to the bill after installation. This same result is shown on the demo unit each time it has been shown. The utility bills each customer in kWh but provides kVA so, a reduction in kVA to any facility where PAS is installed will reduce the operating costs of the electric utility, and since it protects the infrastructure PAS will further reduce the electric utility’s maintenance costs.
Clients of the utility who have PAS equipment installed benefit from a reliable grid, meaning less incidence of brown-outs or black-outs, and increased public relations with the ability to publicize the extent to which their facility has reduced its environmental impact by reducing the amount of power the electric utility needs to produce to service the client’s facility. The amount of kVA reduction will be available on every electric bill, so when compared to a baseline operating case for a period prior to PAS installation, there will be an exact amount of “saved kVA” that will translate into trackable and traceable improvements as to environmental impact. Through our operating subsidiary Blockchain Energy, Inc., our company has conceptualized utilizing the public ledger aspects of blockchain technology to document the environmental impact improvements from any PAS service installation, by either implementing available third-party solution or by developing our own solution. Though second in priority to the pilot program and commercialization of the PAS service, a publicly verifiable ledger of these environmental impact improvements could add credibility to the client’s publicity of positive environmental impact.
Our company holds the irrevocable right to purchase all components necessary to effectuate the PAS system from Tripac Systems, and holds the custodial rights to the demo PAS equipment, as evidenced by the Memorandum of Understanding attached as Exhibit 6.1, and will act in connection with Tripac Systems to commercialize PAS equipment offered as a service to electric utilities nationwide, as described above. Tripac Systems has done the research and development of PAS equipment over the last 25 years. Their capabilities include experience at assembling the equipment from off-the-shelf components and designing the plans and schematics for PAS equipment.
Bitcoin Mining Business
The Company intends to use the proceeds from this offering to launch Bitcoin Mining operations, through which the Company expects to generate revenues. The Company intends to earn revenues from Bitcoin Mining by providing transaction verification services within the digital currency network of Bitcoin. The Company satisfies its performance obligation at the point in time that the Company is awarded a unit of Bitcoin through its participation in the Bitcoin’s network and network participants benefit from the Company’s verification service. In consideration for these services, the Company receives Bitcoin, which is recorded as revenue using the closing U.S. Dollar price of the Bitcoin on the date of receipt. The Company will only mine Bitcoin.
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Bitcoin Mining
A Bitcoin is one type of an intangible digital asset that is issued by, and transmitted through, an open source, math-based protocol platform using cryptographic security (the “Bitcoin Network”). The Bitcoin Network is an online, peer-to-peer user network that hosts the public transaction ledger, known as the “blockchain,” and the source code that comprises the basis for the cryptography and math-based protocols governing the Bitcoin Network. No single entity owns or operates the Bitcoin Network, the infrastructure of which is collectively maintained by a decentralized user base. Bitcoins can be used to pay for goods and services or can be converted to fiat currencies, such as the U.S. Dollar, at rates determined on Bitcoin exchanges or in individual end-user-to-end-user transactions under a barter system.
Bitcoins are “stored” or reflected on the blockchain. The blockchain records the transaction history of all Bitcoins in existence and, through the transparent reporting of transactions, allows the cryptocurrency network to verify the association of each Bitcoin with the digital wallet that owns them. The network and software programs can interpret the blockchain to determine the exact balance, if any, of any digital wallet listed in the blockchain as having taken part in a transaction on the cryptocurrency network.
Mining is the process by which Bitcoins are created resulting in new blocks being added to the blockchain and new Bitcoins being issued to the miners. Miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations in order to add a block to the blockchain and thereby confirm cryptocurrency transactions included in that block’s data. Miners that are successful in adding a block to the blockchain are automatically awarded a fixed number of Bitcoins for their effort. To begin mining, a user can download and run the network mining software, which turns the user’s computer into a node on the network that validates blocks.
All Bitcoin transactions are recorded in blocks added to the blockchain. Each block contains the details of some or all of the most recent transactions that are not memorialized in prior blocks, a reference to the most recent prior block, and a record of the award of Bitcoins to the miner who added the new block. Each unique block can only be solved and added to the blockchain by one miner; therefore, all individual miners and mining pools on the cryptocurrency network are engaged in a competitive process and are incentivized to increase their computing power to improve their likelihood of solving for new blocks.
The method for creating new Bitcoins is mathematically controlled in a manner so that the supply of Bitcoins grows at a limited rate pursuant to a pre-set schedule. Mining economics have also been much more pressured by the “Difficulty Rate” – a computation used by miners to determine the amount of computing power required to mine Bitcoin. The Difficulty Rate is directly influenced by the total size of the entire Bitcoin network. The Bitcoin network has grown 12-fold in the past year, resulting in a 12-fold increase in difficulty. Meanwhile, demand from miners also drove up hardware and power prices, the largest costs of production. This deliberately controlled rate of Bitcoin creation means that the number of Bitcoins in existence will never exceed 21 million and that Bitcoins cannot be devalued through excessive production unless the Bitcoin Network’s source code (and the underlying protocol for Bitcoin issuance) is altered.
Mining pools have developed in which multiple miners act cohesively and combine their processing power to solve blocks. When a pool solves a new block, the participating mining pool members split the resulting reward based on the processing power they each contributed to solve for such block. The mining pool operator provides a service that coordinates the workers. Fees are paid to the mining pool operator to cover the costs of maintaining the pool. The pool uses software that coordinates the pool members’ hashing power, identifies new block rewards, records how much work all the participants are doing, and assigns block rewards in-proportion to the participants’ efforts. While pool fees are not paid directly, pool fees (approximately 2% to 5%) are deducted from amounts we may otherwise earn. Participation in such pools is anticipated to be essential for our mining business.
Our corporate business address is: 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835 and our registered office is located at 1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314C, Boulder, CO 80302. Our telephone number is 213-260-0321. Our E-Mail address is info@vortexbrands.us.
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Going Concern Matters
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which contemplates the Company’s continuation as a going concern. The Company has incurred the following operating losses:
The Company has incurred the following losses:
For the period ended February 28, 2021:
Operating Loss: $216,459
Accumulated deficit: $1,082,127
For the period ended February 29, 2020:
Operating Loss: $437,493
Accumulated deficit: $865,668
In addition, as of February 28, 2021 our current liabilities exceeded current assets. Management intends to raise additional operating funds through equity and/or debt offerings. However, there can be no assurance management will be successful in its endeavors.
There are no assurances that the Company will be able to either (1) achieve a level of revenues adequate to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; or (2) obtain additional financing through either private placement, public offerings and/or bank financing necessary to support its working capital requirements. To the extent that funds generated from operations and any private placements, public offerings and/or bank financing are insufficient, the Company will have to raise additional working capital. No assurance can be given that additional financing will be available, or if available, will be on terms acceptable to the Company. If adequate working capital is not available to the Company, it may be required to curtail or cease its operations.
Due to uncertainties related to these matters, a substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is raised. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability or classification of asset-carrying amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Results of Operations
There is limited historical financial information about us upon which to base an evaluation of our performance. We have not generated revenues from our operations to date. The Company has incurred the following losses:
For the period ended February 28, 2021:
Operating Loss: $216,459
Accumulated deficit: $1,082,127
For the period ended February 29, 2020:
Operating Loss: $437,493
Accumulated deficit: $865,668
We cannot guarantee we will be successful in our business operations. Our business is subject to risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise, including the financial risks associated with the limited capital resources currently available to us for the implementation of our business strategies. (See “Risk Factors”). To become profitable and competitive, we must develop our business plan and execute the plan. Our management will attempt to secure financing through various means including borrowing and investment from institutions and private individuals.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2021, the Company had no cash on hand or other capital resources. We do not have any external sources of capital and are dependent upon continued capital contributions from our management until we begin receiving proceeds from the sale of the Shares in this Offering or are able to raise funds from third-parties. No officer or director, however, is under any obligation to advance us any funds and there are no third-parties that have committed to investing in, or funding the Company. As of July 20, 2021, the Company had $0 in cash on hand.
Plan of Operations
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business:
Our Company will act as the operating entity in the commercialization efforts of Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment offered as a service and will create and administer relevant contracts providing PAS service to electric utilities nationwide. Contract services will include creating, negotiating, and administering the monthly service agreements with the electric utility and collecting revenue from a service fee we will charge that shares a portion of the savings for the electric utility created by each PAS service installation. Contract administration may also include contracts for the sourcing or manufacturing of components, assembly, marketing, installation, and maintenance of PAS equipment.
The PAS service will address the problem of inefficient power consumption inherent in every electric motor. This problem places a strain on the grid--namely the transmission and distribution infrastructure of the electric utility--by contributing to what is known as “line congestion”. The PAS equipment improves the consumption efficiency of electricity, installed in parallel behind the meter, and corrects the phase angle precisely to 12 degrees on every cycle (every 1/60th of a second) with the application of precise capacitance phase-to-phase. PAS does this with a complex high-speed computer, which took 25 years to develop because the conceptualized solution did not have the complimentary high-speed computing power to work as fast as was necessary to perform this function, until just a few years ago.
Bitcoin Mining
The Company has not yet begun its Bitcoin Mining operations. The Company plans to use the proceeds from this Offering to purchase the necessary equipment and pay necessary operational costs for its planned Bitcoin Mining operations.
Our specific plan of operations over the next 12-month period is as follows:
Months 0-3:
Bitcoin Mining: The Company intends to begin acquired bitcoin mining equipment upon completion qualification of this Regulation A. Our goal is to acquire 5,000 TH/s which is expected to cost $375,000.
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business: The Company will use the proceeds from its Bitcoin mining operations to fund its PAS Business operations. We don’t expect to place an order from our supplier for PAS system until mid-2022.
Months 4-6:
Bitcoin Mining: The Company will begin acquiring an additional 25,000 TH/s (for a total of 30,000 TH/s) which we believe will require $1,875,000 in total proceeds from this offering.
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business: The Company will use the proceeds from its Bitcoin mining operations to fund its PAS Business operations. We don’t expect to place an order from our supplier for PAS system until mid-2022.
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Months 7-9:
Bitcoin Mining: The Company will begin acquiring an additional 70,000 TH/s (for a total of 100,000 TH/s) which we believe will require $5,250,000 in total proceeds from this offering.
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business: The Company will use the proceeds from its Bitcoin mining operations to fund its PAS Business operations. We don’t expect to place an order from our supplier for PAS system until mid-2022.
Months 10-12:
Bitcoin Mining: The Company will begin acquiring an additional 140,000 TH/s (for a total of 240,000 TH/s) which we believe will require $10,500,000 in total proceeds from this offering.
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business: The Company will use the proceeds from its Bitcoin mining operations to fund its PAS Business operations. We don’t expect to place an order from our supplier for PAS system until mid-2022.
In order to complete our intended plan of operations, we believe $20,000,000 in Offering proceeds will be required. If we raise less than $20,000,000 from the sale of Shares in this Offering, we may be required to reduce the scope of our planned operations, depending on the amount of proceeds received in this Offering and the amount of revenues we are generating from our business, which we believe we will start generating within the next 12 months and may be able to use to help fund our operations. For example, with respect to our holistic health products business, if we raise less than $20,000,000, we may be required to focus on launching only one or two of the three product lines we intend to launch, and may have to reduce the scope of our intended product offerings under such product line(s). While we believe that there is no minimum amount of proceeds we must receive from this Offering in order to continue our business operations, if we do not raise at least $5,000,000 in proceeds from this offering, or 25% of the maximum offering amount, will be required to seek additional funding within the next 6 months to implement our plan of operations. We may seek to raise funds from additional offerings of debt or equity securities of the Company.
Covid-19 Effects
If the current outbreak of the coronavirus continues to grow, the effects of such a widespread infectious disease and epidemic may inhibit our ability to conduct our business and operations and could materially harm our Company. The coronavirus may cause us to have to reduce operations as a result of various lock-down procedures enacted by the local, state or federal government, which could restrict our ability to conduct our business operations, including our Bitcoin Mining operations. The coronavirus may also cause a decrease in spending on the types of products that we plan to offer, as a result of the economic turmoil resulting from the spread of the coronavirus and thereby having a negative effect on our ability to generate revenue from the sales of our products. The continued coronavirus outbreak may also restrict our ability to raise funding when needed and may also cause an overall decline in the economy as a whole, which may reduce the value of the Bitcoin we intend to mine. The specific and actual effects of the spread of coronavirus are difficult to assess at this time as the actual effects will depend on many factors beyond the control and knowledge of the Company. However, the spread of the coronavirus, if it continues, may cause an overall decline in the economy as a whole and also may materially harm our Company.
Trends Information
The core elements of our growth strategy include developing a product line with a strong brand awareness. We plan to invest significant resources product development and marketing, and we anticipate that our operating expenses will continue to increase for the foreseeable future, particularly marketing costs and research and development of new products. These investments are intended to contribute to our long-term growth; however, they may affect our short-term profitability.
Our Company plans to raise funds from this Offering, to use to commence operations, and as of the date of this Offering Circular we have not begun production or selling any products. All our operations to date have been developing our business plan, developing our product line and analysis the specific need of our targeted customers for these products. Accordingly, we have not experienced any recognizable trends in the last fiscal year.
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For our Bitcoin Mining business, the Company intends to capitalize on the growing value of cryptocurrencies – specifically Bitcoin – as well as recent enthusiasm for cryptocurrency mining operations in certain areas which the Company believes provides opportunity.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to our stockholders.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements are affected by the accounting policies used and the estimates and assumptions made by management during their preparation. We have identified below the critical accounting policies which are assumptions made by management about matters that are highly uncertain and that are of critical importance and have a material impact on our financial statements. Management believes that the critical accounting policies and estimates discussed below involve the most complex management judgments due to the sensitivity of the methods and assumptions necessary in determining the related asset, liability, revenue and expense amounts. Specific risks associated with these critical accounting policies are discussed throughout this MD&A, where such policies have a material effect on reported and expected financial results.
A complete listing of our significant policies is included in Note 2 to our financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2021.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Estimates are based on historical experience, management expectations for future performance, and other assumptions as appropriate. We re-evaluate estimates on an ongoing basis; therefore, actual results may vary from those estimates.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s balance sheet includes certain financial instruments. The carrying amounts of current assets and current liabilities approximate their fair value because of the relatively short period of time between the origination of these instruments and their expected realization.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
The table below sets forth our directors and executive officers of as of the date of this Offering Circular.
| Name (1) |
| Position |
| Age |
| Term of Office |
| Approximate Hours Per Week |
|
| ||||||||
| Todd Higley | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | From February 19, 2018 to Present | As required |
_________
| (1) | All addresses shall be considered 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835 |
Todd Higley, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Todd Higley is a 24-year veteran entrepreneur, business consultant, financing specialist, and expert in consultative sales. For more than 10 years he has been Managing Member of Higley & Higley Worldwide, LLC providing sales, marketing, research, and management consulting to clients in retail, manufacturing, green technology, and mortgage industries. Mr. Higley has advised both established and start-up businesses on their structures and financing requirements, process improvement, and performance enhancement. Mr. Higley spent years cultivating the relationships required to successfully implement these structures.
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Recently, Mr. Higley has dedicated a multi-year effort performing independent research on the electric utility industry acquiring vast knowledge of the problems facing the industry and the solutions provided by PAS technology. In years past, he assisted in the creation of a team which finances 100% of multiple energy efficiency products using the savings those products create to pay back the financing. Mr. Higley excels at finding solutions for his clients, and delights at bringing creative products and disruptive technologies to market.
With over 20 years in the mortgage profession to hone his sales and business management skills, Mr. Higley closed well over $200 Million in residential and commercial loans, worked both retail and wholesale channels for top lenders, founded and ran his own brokerage, and consulted on sales, management, and operation improvements for others.
Mr. Higley holds an MBA from California State University San Bernardino with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. Though formally trained with a degree in Economics at BYU, he has spent many years since shedding the theories of the “dismal science” favoring instead the lessons learned from real-world experience. Mr. Higley is fueled by his desire to help others and improve the world around him.
Item 11: Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
| Name (1) |
| Capacities in which Compensation was Received (2) |
| Cash Compensation 2020 |
|
| Cash Compensation 2021 |
|
| Other Compensation |
|
| Total Compensation |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
| Todd Higley |
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
| $ | 100,000 | (3) |
| $ | 100,000 | (3) |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
| Cecilia Widner-White |
| Director(4) |
| $ | 100,000 | (3) |
| $ | 100,000 | (3) |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
_________
| 1 | All addresses shall be considered 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835 |
| 2 | We reimburse our officers and directors for reasonable expenses incurred during the course of their performance and for extraordinary services; however, we do not compensate our directors for attendance at meetings. We have no long-term incentive plans. |
| 3 | The Cash Compensation of our officers and directors is deferred and they shall not receive compensation until sufficient funds have been raised in this offering. |
| 4 | Cecilia Widner-White resigned as an member of the board of directors on June 28, 2021 |
Item 12: Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of July 19, 2021, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of shares of our common stock offered by this Offering Circular, by:
| · | Each of our Directors and the named Executive Officers; |
| · | All of our Directors and Executive Officers as a group; and |
| · | Each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 10% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock |
| · | All other shareholders as a group |
Beneficial ownership and percentage ownership are determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power with respect to shares of stock. This information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose.
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Unless otherwise indicated and subject to applicable community property laws, to our knowledge, each stockholder named in the following table possesses sole voting and investment power over their shares of common stock, except for those jointly owned with that person's spouse. Percentage of beneficial ownership before the offering is based on 207,050,000 shares of common stock and 4,592,900 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding as of January 31, 2019. Unless otherwise noted below, the address of each person listed on the table is c/o Vortex Brands Co., 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835.
If Series C Preferred Shares are not converted into common shares:
|
|
| Common Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering |
|
| Common Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering |
|
| Series C Preferred Shares Beneficially Owned Before and After the Offering |
| |||||||||||||||
| Name and Position of Beneficial Owner |
| Number |
|
| Percent |
|
| Number |
|
| Percent |
|
| Number |
|
| Percent |
| ||||||
| (Each person owning more than 10% not yet known) |
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
| ||||
| Todd Higley |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 2,000,000 |
|
|
| 42.57 |
|
| Cecilia Widner-White |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 2,000,000 |
|
|
| 42.57 |
|
| Other Shareholders as a Group |
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
|
| 592,900 |
|
|
| 12.62 |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
|
| 207,050,000 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| 1,207,050,000 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| 4,592,900 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
If Series C Preferred Shares are all converted into common shares after the offering at a ratio of 1:100:
|
|
| Common Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering |
|
| Common Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering and the conversion |
|
| Series C Preferred Shares Beneficially Owned Before the Offering and the conversion |
| |||||||||||||||
| Name and Position of Beneficial Owner |
| Number |
|
| Percent |
|
| Number |
|
| Percent |
|
| Number |
|
| Percent |
| ||||||
| (Each person owning more than 10% not yet known) |
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
| ||||
| Todd Higley |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 200,000,000 |
|
|
| 12.45 |
|
|
| 2,000,000 |
|
|
| 42.57 |
|
| Cecilia Widner-White |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 200,000,000 |
|
|
| 12.45 |
|
|
| 2,000,000 |
|
|
| 42.57 |
|
| Other Shareholders as a Group |
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
| O/S |
|
|
| 592,900 |
|
|
| 12.62 |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
|
| 207,050,000 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| 1,607,050,000 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| 4,592,900 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
Family Relationships
None.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
No executive officer, member of the board of directors or control person of our Company has been involved in any legal proceeding listed in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K in the past 10 years.
| 38 |
| Table of Contents |
INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Transactions
The Company and its officers and directors own the majority of the issued and outstanding controlling shares of the Company. Consequently, they control the operations of the Company and will have the ability to control all matters submitted to stockholders for approval, including, but not limited to:
| · | Election of the Board of Directors |
| · | Removal of any Directors |
| · | Amendments to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or bylaws; |
| · | Adoption of measures that could delay or prevent a change in control or impede a merger, takeover or other business combination. |
Employment Agreements
As of July 19, 2021, we do not have any employment or consulting agreements with any directors or officers. Our officers have the flexibility to work on our business as required to execute the business plan and are prepared to devote more time to our operations as may be required. The officers and directors have agreed to receive stock as described herein as compensation for their employment. In addition to stock allocations, Mr. Higley has agreed to $100,000 in annual deferred compensation, until such time as sufficient operating capital has been raised.
Due to Related Party
During the period ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, the Company deferred $100,000 each year owed as compensation to Mr. Higley and Mrs. Widner-White.
Equity Transactions
During the period ended February 29, 2020, the Company issued 49,700,000 shares of common stock for $238,800.
Review, Approval and Ratification of Related Party Transactions
Given our small size and limited financial resources, we have not adopted formal policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions, such as those described above, with our executive officer(s), Director(s) and significant stockholders. We intend to establish formal policies and procedures in the future, once we have sufficient resources and have appointed additional Directors, so that such transactions will be subject to the review, approval or ratification of our Board of Directors, or an appropriate committee thereof. On a moving forward basis, our Directors will continue to approve any related party transactions.
Conflict of Interest Policies
Our governing instruments do not restrict any of our directors, officers, stockholders or affiliates from having a pecuniary interest in an investment or transaction in which we have an interest or from conducting, for their own account, business activities of the type we conduct. However, we plan that our policies will be designed to eliminate or minimize potential conflicts of interest. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a director’s, officer’s or employee’s private interest interferes in any way, or appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole. We plan to adopt a policy that discloses personal conflicts of interest. This policy will provide that any situation that involves, or may reasonably be expected to involve, a conflict of interest must be disclosed immediately to our directors and subsequently to our shareholders in our next semi-annual or annual report. These policies may not be successful in eliminating the influence of conflicts of interest. If they are not successful, decisions could be made that might fail to reflect fully the interests of all stockholders.
| 39 |
| Table of Contents |
General
We have authorized capital stock consisting of 3,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). As of the date of this filing, we have 256,750,000 shares of Common Stock, 4,592,900 shares of Preferred Series C Stock issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets or funds legally available for the payment of dividends of such times and in such amounts as the board from time to time may determine. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. There is no cumulative voting of the election of directors then standing for election. The Common Stock is not entitled to pre-emptive rights and is not subject to conversion or redemption. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the assets legally available for distribution to stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of the Common Stock after payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding payment of other claims of creditors.
Preferred Stock
Preferred Series C Stock
The Company has 4,592,900 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share issued and outstanding.
Initially, there will be no dividends due or payable on the Series C Preferred Stock. Any future terms with respect to dividends shall be determined by the Board consistent with the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation. Any and all such future terms concerning dividends shall be reflected in an amendment to this Certificate, which the Board shall promptly file or cause to be filed.
All shares of the Series C Preferred Stock shall rank (i) senior to the Corporation’s Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created, (ii) pari passu with any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created and specifically ranking, by its terms, on par with the Series A Preferred Stock and (iii) junior to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created specifically ranking, by its terms, senior to the Series C Preferred Stock, in each case as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.
The Series C Preferred shall have the following liquidation preferences over any other class of stock:
“In the event of a Liquidation Event, the Holders of the SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK shall have the same rights as holders of Common Stock, except that each share of outstanding SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK shall have one thousand (1,000) times the rights as each share of Common Stock (“Liquidation Ratio”). Collectively, the holders of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the holders of the then outstanding shares of SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to such stockholders. The distribution shall be ratable, in proportion to the number of shares of the Common Stock and/or Series C Preferred Stock held by them, after giving effect to the Liquidation Ratio.”
Each holder of outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to two thousand five hundred (2,500) Common Shares. Except as provided by law, or by the provisions establishing any other series of Preferred Stock, holders of Series C Preferred Stock and of any other outstanding series of Preferred Stock shall vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class.
Each holder of shares of Series C Preferred Stock may, at any time and from time to time, convert (an “Optional Conversion”) each of its shares of Series C Preferred Stock into a 100 of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that any Optional Conversion must involve the issuance of at least 100 shares of Common Stock.
| 40 |
| Table of Contents |
Options and Warrants
None.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Shares Eligible for Future Sale
Prior to the Offering, there are 256,750,000 Shares issued and outstanding. Upon closing of this Offering, if it is fully subscribed, 2,256,750,000 shares will be issued and outstanding.
All of the Shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable unless purchased by our affiliates.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, any person who is or has been an affiliate of ours during the 90 days immediately preceding the sale and who has beneficially owned shares for at least six months is entitled to sell, within any three-month period commencing 90 days after the date of this Offering Circular, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:
|
| · | 1% of the then-outstanding Shares, which will equal approximately 22,630,000 Shares immediately after this offering; and |
|
|
|
|
|
| · | the average weekly trading volume during the four calendar weeks preceding the sale, subject to the filing of a Form 144 with respect to the sale. |
Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
A person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the 90 days immediately preceding the sale and who has beneficially owned his or her shares for at least six months is entitled to sell his or her shares under Rule 144 without regard to the limitations described above, subject only to the availability of current public information about us during the six months after the initial six-month holding period is met. After a non-affiliate has beneficially owned his or her shares for one year or more, he or she may freely sell his or her shares under Rule 144 without complying with any Rule 144 requirements.
We are unable to estimate the number of shares that will be sold under Rule 144, since this will depend on the market price for our Common Stock, the personal circumstances of the sellers and other factors. Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock, and there can be no assurance that a significant public market for the Common Stock will develop or be sustained after the offering. Any future sale of substantial amounts of the Common Stock in the open market may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock offered by this Offering Circular.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 under the Securities Act, any of our employees, directors, consultants or advisors who purchased shares from us in connection with a qualified compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement and in compliance with Rule 701, is eligible to resell those shares 90 days after the effective date of this offering in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with the various restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144.
| 41 |
| Table of Contents |
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS
State Securities – Blue Sky Laws
Transfer of our Shares may be restricted under the securities or securities regulations laws promulgated by various states and foreign jurisdictions, commonly referred to as “Blue Sky” laws. Absent compliance with such individual state laws, our Shares may not be traded in such jurisdictions. Because the securities qualified hereunder have not been registered for resale under the blue sky laws of any state, the holders of such Shares and persons who desire to purchase them in the future, should be aware that there may be significant state blue-sky law restrictions upon the ability of investors to sell the securities and of purchasers to purchase the securities. Accordingly, investors may not be able to liquidate their investments and should be prepared to hold the Shares for an indefinite period of time.
The Company will file with the States of Colorado and Delaware under their respective state statues for “Registration by Coordination.” Generally under Registration By Coordination, the registration statement or offering is considered effective (or qualified) simultaneously with or subsequent to the federal registration statement.
Restrictions Imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act and Related Acts
In accordance with the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, or the USA PATRIOT Act, the securities offered hereby may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, to any “unacceptable investor,” which means anyone who is:
|
| • | A “designated national,” “specially designated national,” “specially designated terrorist,” “specially designated global terrorist,” “foreign terrorist organization,” or “blocked person” within the definitions set forth in the Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the United States, or U.S., Treasury Department; |
|
|
|
|
|
| • | Acting on behalf of, or an entity owned or controlled by, any government against whom the U.S. maintains economic sanctions or embargoes under the Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department; |
|
|
|
|
|
| • | Within the scope of Executive Order 13224 — Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism, effective September 24, 2001; |
|
|
|
|
|
| • | A person or entity subject to additional restrictions imposed by any of the following statutes or regulations and executive orders issued thereunder: the Trading with the Enemy Act, the National Emergencies Act, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the United Nations Participation Act, the International Security and Development Cooperation Act, the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, the Cuban Democracy Act, the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act and the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act or any other law of similar import as to any non-U.S. country, as each such act or law has been or may be amended, adjusted, modified or reviewed from time to time; or |
|
|
|
|
|
| • | Designated or blocked, associated or involved in terrorism, or subject to restrictions under laws, regulations, or executive orders as may apply in the future similar to those set forth above. |
The validity of the securities offered by this Offering Circular will be passed upon for us by legal counsel in Exhibit 12.1.
| 42 |
| Table of Contents |
INTERESTS OF NAME EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
No expert or counsel named in this Offering Circular as having prepared or certified any part of this Offering Circular, or having given any opinion with respect to the validity of the securities offered herein or upon other legal matters in connection with this Offering, was employed on a contingency basis or had, or is to receive, in connection with this Offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the Company, or otherwise is or has been at any time connected to the Company as a promoter, Officer, Director, or employee.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed an offering statement on Form 1-A with the Commission under Regulation A of the Securities Act with respect to the Common Stock offered by this Offering Circular. This Offering Circular, which constitutes a part of the offering statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the offering statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and our Common Stock, please see the offering statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the offering statement. Statements contained in this Offering Circular regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the offering statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the offering statement. The offering statement, including its exhibits and schedules, may be inspected without charge at the public reference room maintained by the Commission, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part of the offering statement may be obtained from such offices upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The Commission also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address of the site is www.sec.gov.
We also maintain a website at www.vortexbrands.us. After the completion of this offering, you may access these materials at our website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Commission. Information contained on our website is not a part of this Offering Circular and the inclusion of our website address in this Offering Circular is an inactive textual reference only.
| 43 |
| Table of Contents |
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| F-1 |
| Table of Contents |
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Unaudited)
|
|
| As of |
|
| As of |
| ||
|
|
| February 28, |
|
| February 29, |
| ||
|
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
| Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Cash |
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
| Total current assets |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Property and equipment, net |
|
| 68,817 |
|
|
| 77,433 |
|
| Total Assets |
| $ | 68,817 |
|
|
| 77,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Accounts payable |
| $ | 67,144 |
|
| $ | 57,039 |
|
| Accrued management fees |
|
| 600,000 |
|
|
| 400,000 |
|
| Due to related parties |
|
| - |
|
|
| 2,262 |
|
| Total liabilities |
|
| 667,144 |
|
|
| 459,301 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Commitments and Contingencies |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stockholders’ deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Preferred stock: 20,000,000 authorized; $0.0001 par value Series C Preferred Stock, 9,996,000 shares designated; $0.0001 par value; 4,592,900 shares issued and outstanding |
|
| 459 |
|
|
| 459 |
|
| Common stock: 3,000,000,000 shares authorized; $0.0001 par value 256,750,000 and 256,750,000 shares issued and outstanding |
|
| 25,675 |
|
|
| 25,675 |
|
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
| 457,666 |
|
|
| 457,666 |
|
| Accumulated deficit |
|
| (1,082,127 | ) |
|
| (865,668 | ) |
| Total stockholders’ deficit |
|
| (598,327 | ) |
|
| (381,868 | ) |
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit |
| $ | 68,817 |
|
| $ | 77,433 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-2 |
| Table of Contents |
Consolidated Statement of Operations
(Unaudited)
|
|
| Fiscal Year Ending |
| |||||
|
|
| February 28, |
|
| February 29, |
| ||
|
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Revenues |
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| General and administrative |
|
| 207,843 |
|
|
| 357,877 |
|
| Research and development |
|
| - |
|
|
| 71,000 |
|
| Deprecation |
|
| 8,616 |
|
|
| 8,616 |
|
| Total operating expenses |
|
| 216,459 |
|
|
| 437,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Operating Loss |
|
| (216,459 | ) |
|
| (437,493 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Loss Before Income Taxes |
|
| (216,459 | ) |
|
| (437,493 | ) |
| Provision for income taxes |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net Loss |
| $ | (216,459 | ) |
| $ | (437,493 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Basic and diluted loss per common share |
| $ | (0.001 | ) |
| $ | (0.002 | ) |
| Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
| 256,750,000 |
|
|
| 235,002,500 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-3 |
| Table of Contents |
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Deficit
For the period from Inception (December 28, 2017) to February 28, 2021
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Common Stock |
|
| Additional |
|
|
|
|
| Total Shareholders’ |
| ||||||||||
|
|
| Series C Preferred Stock |
|
| Number of |
|
|
|
|
| Paid in |
|
| Accumulated |
|
| Equity |
| ||||||||||
|
|
| Shares |
|
| Amount |
|
| shares |
|
| Amount |
|
| Capital |
|
| Deficit |
|
| (Deficit) |
| |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
| Balance, December 28, 2017 (inception) |
|
| - |
|
| $ | - |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Preferred shares issued for services |
|
| 9,996,000 |
|
|
| 1,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 1,000 |
|
| Common shares issued for cash |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 117,000,000 |
|
|
| 11,700 |
|
|
| 222,300 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 234,000 |
|
| Recapitalization |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 90,050,000 |
|
|
| 9,005 |
|
|
| (9,005 | ) |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
| Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| (33,192 | ) |
|
| (33,192 | ) |
| Balance, February 28, 2018 |
|
| 9,996,000 |
|
|
| 1,000 |
|
|
| 207,050,000 |
|
|
| 20,705 |
|
|
| 213,295 |
|
|
| (33,192 | ) |
|
| 201,808 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Preferred shares canceled |
|
| (5,528,500 | ) |
|
| (553 | ) |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 553 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
| Preferred shares issued for cash |
|
| 125,000 |
|
|
| 12 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 24,988 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 25,000 |
|
| Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| (394,983 | ) |
|
| (394,983 | ) |
| Balance, February 28, 2019 |
|
| 4,592,900 |
|
| $ | 459 |
|
|
| 207,050,000 |
|
| $ | 20,705 |
|
| $ | 238,836 |
|
| $ | (428,175 | ) |
| $ | (168,175 | ) |
| Common shares issued for cash |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 49,700,000 |
|
|
| 4,970 |
|
|
| 218,830 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 223,800 |
|
| Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| (437,493 | ) |
|
| (437,493 | ) |
| Balance, February 29, 2020 |
|
| 4,592,900 |
|
| $ | 459 |
|
|
| 256,750,000 |
|
| $ | 25,675 |
|
| $ | 457,666 |
|
| $ | (865,668 | ) |
| $ | (381,868 | ) |
| Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| (216,459 | ) |
|
| (216,459 | ) |
| Balance, February 28, 2021 |
|
| 4,592,900 |
|
| $ | 459 |
|
|
| 256,750,000 |
|
| $ | 25,675 |
|
| $ | 457,666 |
|
| $ | (1,082,127 | ) |
| $ | (598,327 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-4 |
| Table of Contents |
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
|
|
| Year Ended |
|
| Year Ended |
| ||
|
|
| February 28, |
|
| February 29, |
| ||
|
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Cash Used in Operating Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Net loss |
| $ | (216,459 | ) |
| $ | (437,493 | ) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stock based compensation |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
| Depreciation |
|
| 8,616 |
|
|
| 8,616 |
|
| Changes in non-cash working capital balances: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Accounts payable |
|
| 10,105 |
|
|
| 3,896 |
|
| Accrued management fees |
|
| 200,000 |
|
|
| 200,000 |
|
| Due to related parties |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
| Net Cash Used in Operating Activities |
|
| 2,262 |
|
|
| (224,981 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash Used in Investing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Purchases of equipment |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash Provided by Financing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Proceeds from issuance of common shares |
|
| - |
|
|
| 223,800 |
|
| Payment due to related party |
|
| (2,262 | ) |
|
| - |
|
| Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities |
|
| (2,262 | ) |
|
| 223,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net change in cash for the period |
|
| - |
|
|
| (1,181 | ) |
| Cash at beginning of period |
|
| - |
|
|
| 1,181 |
|
| Cash at end of period |
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Supplemental Cash Flow Information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash paid for income taxes |
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
| Cash paid for interest |
| $ | - |
|
| $ | - |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-5 |
| Table of Contents |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Organization and Operations
Vortex Brands Co., (“Vortex”, the “Company”) is a Colorado corporation incorporated on May 6, 2005. It is based in Sacramento, California. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and the Company’s fiscal year end is February 28 (February 29 in leap years).
The Company has two business operations: (1) Bitcoin Mining and (2) offers multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment as a service to electric utilities in the United States.
Bitcoin Mining Business
The Company also intends to engage in “Bitcoin Mining” – i.e. the process by which Bitcoins are created, resulting in new blocks being added to the blockchain and new Bitcoins being issued to the miners. Miners engage in a set of prescribed complex mathematical calculations to add a block to the blockchain and thereby confirm cryptocurrency transactions included in that block’s data. Miners that are successful in adding a block to the blockchain are automatically awarded a fixed number of Bitcoins for their effort.
The Company intends to purchase and maintain ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) computers - computers that are specifically designed for cryptocurrency mining - that will be used for Bitcoin Mining. We plans to place the Bitcoin Mining equipment with 3rd party datacenters or farms (often referred as a “Co-Location”) that will power and operate our Bitcoin Mining equipment for a fee. We plan to generate revenues through receiving Bitcoin from our Bitcoin Mining equipment. As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not generated any revenues to date or acquired any Bitcoin Mining equipment.
Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) Business:
Our Company will provide as a service multi-purpose Phase Angle Synchronization (PAS) equipment to electric utilities in the United States. PAS is a one-of-a-kind technology designed to address a one-hundred-year-old inherent problem that was thought to be unsolvable: the inefficient power consumption caused by electric motors. The solution will extend the life of the grid by protecting it from excessive wear and damage, improve grid reliability by reducing line congestion and increasing reserve margin, while creating true cost savings for the utility. Poor power efficiency has been the unsolvable issue in every facility that operates electric motors. PAS is designed to address industrial and commercial use applications in a scalable solution. Revenues will be generated from a service fee we will charge that shares a portion of the savings for the electric utility created by each PAS service installation. The Company intends to use the proceeds from its Bitcoin Mining operation to fund the acquisition and marketing of its PAS Equipment.
Our company holds the irrevocable right to purchase all components necessary to effectuate the PAS system from Tripac Systems, who has done the research and development of PAS equipment over more than 25 years. Their capabilities include experience at assembling the equipment from off-the-shelf components and designing the plans and schematics for PAS equipment. Our Company, together with Tripac Systems, will effectuate the service program and we are likely to have multiple pilot program PAS units operating in Detroit, Michigan and potentially other locations, to collect initial data on performance prior to a full roll-out. Current efforts are focused on site selection for PAS installations as well as stakeholder and industry support of the pilot program.
As of the date of this Offering Circular, we have not sold any products or generated any revenues to date.
NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
General principles
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”). The fiscal year end is November 30.
| F-6 |
| Table of Contents |
Related Party Transactions
Transactions between related parties are considered to be related party transactions even though they may not be given accounting recognition. FASB ASC 850, Related Party Disclosures (“FASB ASC 850”) requires that transactions with related parties that would make a difference in decision making shall be disclosed so that users of the financial statements can evaluate their significance. Related party transactions typically occur within the context of the following relationships:
| · | Affiliates of the entity; |
| · | Entities for which investments in their equity securities is typically accounted for under the equity method by the investing entity; |
| · | Trusts for the benefit of employees; |
| · | Principal owners of the entity and members of their immediate families; |
| · | Management of the entity and members of their immediate families. |
that can significantly influence the management or operating policies 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.
Consolidation Policy
For February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, the consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Blockchain Energy. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures 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.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of three months or less, at the date acquired.
Revenue recognition
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue from the commercial sales of products by: (1) identify the contract (if any) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract (if any); (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract (if any); and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) the performance of service has been rendered to a customer or delivery has occurred; (3) the amount of fee to be paid by a customer is fixed and determinable; and (4) the collectability of the fee is reasonably assured. Other than The Company has no outstanding contracts with any of its’ customers. The Company recognizes revenue when title, ownership, and risk of loss pass to the customer, all of which occurs upon shipment or delivery of the product and is based on the applicable shipping terms.
| F-7 |
| Table of Contents |
For contracts with customers, ownership of the goods and associated revenue are transferred to customers at a point in time, generally upon shipment of a product to the customer or receipt of the product by the customer and without significant judgments. Advance payments are typically required for commercial customers and are recorded as current liability until revenue is recognized. Advance payments are not required for government customers. The majority of contracts typically require payment within 30 to 60 days after transfer of ownership to the customer.
Advertising and marketing expenses
Advertising and marketing expenses are charged to the statement of operations and comprehensive income, as incurred.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC No. 740, “Income Taxes”. This codification prescribes the use of the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for carry-forward tax losses. Deferred taxes are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to their estimated realizable value if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Deferred tax liabilities and assets are classified as current or non-current based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting, or according to the expected reversal dates of the specific temporary differences, if not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, “Income Taxes”. Accounting guidance addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the consolidated financial statements, under which a company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position.
The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Accordingly, the Company would report a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company elects to recognize any interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense.
Share-Based Expense
ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” prescribes accounting and reporting standards for all share-based payment transactions in which employee and non-employee services are acquired. Transactions include incurring liabilities, or issuing or offering to issue shares, options, and other equity instruments such as employee stock ownership plans and stock appreciation rights. Share-based payments to employees and non-employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized as compensation expense in the financial statements based on their fair values. That expense is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, known as the requisite service period (usually the vesting period).
Share-based expense totaled $0 for the period ending February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020.
Earnings per Share
The Company computes basic and diluted earnings per share amounts in accordance with ASC Topic 260, “Earnings per Share.” Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options and other commitments to issue common stock were exercised or equity awards vest resulting in the issuance of common stock that could share in the earnings of the Company. As of February 28, 2021, there are no convertible shares that were dilutive instruments and are not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share as their effect would be antidilutive.
| F-8 |
| Table of Contents |
Fair value measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that the Company would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent counter-party in the principal market or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. A three-tier hierarchy is established to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs); and establishes a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.
The hierarchy is summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
|
| Level 1 | quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities |
|
| Level 2 | other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, interest rates, credit risk, etc.) |
|
| Level 3 | significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of assets and liabilities). |
The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and due to related parties. The carrying amounts of such financial instruments approximate their respective estimated fair value due to the short-term maturities and approximate market interest rates of these instruments.
There were no transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy during the period ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020.
Contingencies
Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management and legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies relating to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought. If the assessment of the contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 217-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The amendments simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminate the two-step goodwill impairment test. The Company will perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value. If fair value exceeds the carrying amount, no impairment should be recorded. Any loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Impairment losses on goodwill cannot be reversed once recognized. The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We do not anticipate any material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
| F-9 |
| Table of Contents |
Management has considered all recent accounting pronouncements issued. The Company’s management believes that recent pronouncements will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 3. GOING CONCERN
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of February 28, 2021, the Company has a loss from operations, an accumulated deficit, no revenue, and a working capital deficiency. The Company intends to fund operations through equity financing arrangements, which may be insufficient to fund its capital expenditures, working capital and other cash requirements for the year ended February 28, 2021.
Management intends to raise additional funds through public or private placement offerings.
These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net at February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020 consist of the following:
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| February 28, |
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| February 29, |
| ||
|
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
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|
|
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|
| ||
| Technical equipment |
| $ | 77,433 |
|
| $ | 86,049 |
|
| Less: accumulated depreciation |
|
| (8,616 | ) |
|
| (8,616 | ) |
| Equipment |
| $ | 68,817 |
|
| $ | 77,433 |
|
NOTE 5. STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
General
We have authorized capital stock consisting of 3,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). As of the date of this filing, we have 256,750,000 shares of Common Stock, 4,592,900 shares of Preferred Series C Stock issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets or funds legally available for the payment of dividends of such times and in such amounts as the board from time to time may determine. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. There is no cumulative voting of the election of directors then standing for election. The Common Stock is not entitled to pre-emptive rights and is not subject to conversion or redemption. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the assets legally available for distribution to stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of the Common Stock after payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding payment of other claims of creditors.
| F-10 |
| Table of Contents |
During the period ended February 28, 2021, there were no issuances of common stock
During the period ended February 29, 2020, the Company issued 49,700,000 shares of common stock for $238,800.
As of February 28, 2021, 256,750,000 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. As of February 29, 2020, 256,750,000 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.
Preferred Stock
Series C Preferred Stock
The Company designated 9,996,000 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share.
Initially, there will be no dividends due or payable on the Series C Preferred Stock. Any future terms with respect to dividends shall be determined by the Board consistent with the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation. Any and all such future terms concerning dividends shall be reflected in an amendment to this Certificate, which the Board shall promptly file or cause to be filed.
All shares of the Series C Preferred Stock shall rank (i) senior to the Corporation’s Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created, (ii) pari passu with any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created and specifically ranking, by its terms, on par with the Series A Preferred Stock and (iii) junior to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation hereafter created specifically ranking, by its terms, senior to the Series C Preferred Stock, in each case as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.
The Series C Preferred shall have the following liquidation preferences over any other class of stock:
“In the event of a Liquidation Event, the Holders of the SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK shall have the same rights as holders of Common Stock, except that each share of outstanding SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK shall have one thousand (1,000) times the rights as each share of Common Stock (“Liquidation Ratio”). Collectively, the holders of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock and the holders of the then outstanding shares of SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to such stockholders. The distribution shall be ratable, in proportion to the number of shares of the Common Stock and/or Series C Preferred Stock held by them, after giving effect to the Liquidation Ratio.”
Each holder of outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to two thousand five hundred (2,500) Common Shares. Except as provided by law, or by the provisions establishing any other series of Preferred Stock, holders of Series C Preferred Stock and of any other outstanding series of Preferred Stock shall vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class.
Each holder of shares of Series C Preferred Stock may, at any time and from time to time, convert (an “Optional Conversion”) each of its shares of Series C Preferred Stock into a 100 of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that any Optional Conversion must involve the issuance of at least 100 shares of Common Stock.
The Series C Preferred has the following anti-dilution language:
“For a period of 24 months after the Preferred is issue, the conversion price of the Series C Preferred will be subject to adjustment to prevent dilution in the event that the Company issues additional shares at a purchase price less than the applicable conversion price. The conversion price will be subject to adjustment on a weighted basis that takes into account issuances of additional shares and the fully convertible positions of this Series C Preferred. At the expiration of the anti-dilution period, the conversion rate in Section V (A) above shall be equal to a conversion rate equal to 72.5% on the Common Stock. For example, if on the date of expiration of the anti-dilution clause there are 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding then each Series C Preferred Stock shall convert at a rate of 181.9 common shares for each 1 Series Preferred Share.”
| F-11 |
| Table of Contents |
In the event of a reverse split the conversion ratio shall not be change. However, in the event a forward split shall occur then the conversion ratio shall be modified to be increased by the same ratio as the forward split.
The company has evaluated the Series C Preferred Stock in accordance with ASC 815 and has determined their conversion options were for equity and ASC 815 does not apply.
The Series C Preferred Stock is non-redeemable.
On October 29, 2018, as part of the resignation of two of our directors, they agreed to cancel and return to the Company 4,000,000 shares of Series C preferred stock. There was no consideration given for the 4,000,000 shares that were returned.
During the period ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2021, there were no issuances of preferred stock
As of February 28, 2021 and February 28, 2020, 4,592,900 and 4,592,900 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, respectively.
NOTE 6. PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
The Company provides for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Under the asset and liability method of ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and the tax rates in effect when these differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided for certain deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize tax assets through future operations.
The provision for income taxes differs from the amounts which would be provided by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to the net loss before provision for income taxes for the following reasons:
Net deferred tax assets consist of the following components as of:
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| February 28, |
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| February 29, |
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| 2021 |
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| 2020 |
| ||
| NOL carry forward |
| $ | 45,456 |
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| $ | 91,874 |
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| Valuation allowance |
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| (45,456 | ) |
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| (91,874 | ) |
| Net deferred tax asset |
| $ | - |
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| $ | - |
|
Utilization of the NOL carry forwards, which expire 20 years from when incurred, of approximately $45,456 for February 28, 2021 and $91,874 for February 29, 2020 for federal income tax reporting purposes, may be subject to an annual limitation due to ownership change limitations that may have occurred or that could occur in the future, as required by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). These ownership changes may limit the amount of the NOL carry forwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax, respectively. In general, an “ownership change” as defined by Section 382 of the Code results from a transaction or series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than 50 percentage points of the outstanding stock of a company by certain stockholders.
| F-12 |
| Table of Contents |
NOTE 7. RELATED PARTY CONSIDERATIONS
The officer and directors have agreed to receive stock as compensation for their employment. Mr. Higley and Mrs. Widner-White have agreed to $100,000 each in annual deferred compensation, until such time as sufficient operating capital has been raised. As of February 28, 2021, and February 29, 2020, the Company recorded accrued salary of $200,000 for each period.
Due to Related Party
During the period ended February 28, 2021, we paid $2,262 that was due to Mrs. Widner-White.
NOTE 8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has evaluated events occurring between the end of the fiscal year, February 28, 2021 to the date when the financial statements were issued:
None.
| F-13 |
| Table of Contents |
VORTEX BRANDS CO.
Best Efforts Offering of
$20,000,000 Maximum Offering Amount (2,000,000,000 Common Stock Shares)
OFFERING CIRCULAR
PART III – EXHIBITS
Index to Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
| Description |
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| Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as filed with the Colorado Secretary of State | |
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| 10.1 |
| Power of attorney (included on signature page). |
| 11.2 |
| Legal Consent (included in Exhibit 12.1). |
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| 44 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A, the registrant has duly caused this Form 1-A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Sacramento, State of California, on August 26, 2021.
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| VORTEX BRANDS CO. |
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| By: | /s/ Todd Higley |
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| Name: | Todd Higley |
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| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Todd Higley as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including all pre-qualification and post-qualification amendments) to this Form 1-A offering statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A, this Form 1-A has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on August 26, 2021.
| Name |
| Title |
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| /s/ Todd Higley |
| Chief Executive Officer, Director |
| Todd Higley |
| (Principal Executive, Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| 45 |
EXHIBIT 2.1
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Document must be filed electronically. Paper documents are not accepted. Fees & forms are subject to change. For more information or to print copies of filed documents, visit www.sos.state.co.us |
| Colorado Secretary of State Date and Time: 01/29/2019 05:29 PM ID Number: 20051182847
Document number: 20191091179 Amount Paid: $25.00 |
ABOVE SPACE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
filed pursuant to §7-90-301, et seq. and §7-110-107 and §7-90-304.5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.)
| 1. | For the entity, its ID number and entity name are | |
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| ID number | 20051182847 |
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| (Colorado Secretary of State ID number) |
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| Entity name | Vortex Brands Co. . |
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| 3. | The amended and restated constituent filed document is attached. |
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| 4. | If the amendment provides for an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of issued shares, the attachment states the provisions for implementing the amendment. |
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| 5. | (Caution: Leave blank if the document does not have a delayed effective date. Stating a delayed effective date has significant legal consequences. Read instructions before entering a date.) |
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| (If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by entering a date and, if applicable, time using the required format.) |
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| The delayed effective date and, if applicable, time of this document is/are |
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Notice:
Causing this document to be delivered to the Secretary of State for filing shall constitute the affirmation or acknowledgment of each individual causing such delivery, under penalties of perjury, that such document is such individual's act and deed, or that such individual in good faith believes such document is the act and deed of the person on whose behalf such individual is causing such document to be delivered for filing, taken in conformity with the requirements of part 3 of article 90 of title 7, C.R.S. and, if applicable, the constituent documents and the organic statutes, and that such individual in good faith believes the facts stated in such document are true and such document complies with the requirements of that Part, the constituent documents, and the organic statutes.
This perjury notice applies to each individual who causes this document to be delivered to the Secretary of State, whether or not such individual is identified in this document as one who has caused it to be delivered.
| 6. | The true name and mailing address of the individual causing the document to be delivered for filing are |
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| 3511 Del Paso Road, | ||||||
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| Ste. 160, PMB 208 | ||||||
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| Sacramento |
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| 95835 |
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(If the following statement applies, adopt the statement by marking the box and include an attachment.)
☐ This document contains the true name and mailing address of one or more additional individuals causing the document to be delivered for filing.
Disclaimer:
This form/cover sheet, and any related instructions, are not intended to provide legal, business or tax advice, and are furnished without representation or warranty. While this form/cover sheet is believed to satisfy minimum legal requirements as of its revision date, compliance with applicable law, as the same may be amended from time to
time, remains the responsibility of the user of this form/cover sheet. Questions should be addressed to the user’s
legal, business or tax advisor(s).
| AMDRST_PC | Page 1 of 1 | Rev. 12/16/2016 |
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the corporation is Vortex Brands (the “Corporation”)
ARTICLE II
Duration
This corporation has perpetual existence.
ARTICLE III
Corporation Purposes
The purposes for which the corporation is formed are:
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| a) | To engage in any lawful business activity from time to time authorized or approved by the board of directors of this corporation; |
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| b) | To act as principal, agent, partner or joint venturer or in any other legal capacity in any transaction; |
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| c) | To do business anywhere in the world; and |
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| d) | To have, enjoy, and exercise all of the rights, powers, and privileges conferred upon corporations incorporated pursuant to Colorado law, whether now or hereinafter in effect and whether or not herein specifically mentioned. |
The above purposes clauses shall not be limited by reference to or inference from one another, but each purpose clause shall be construed as a separate statement conferring independent purposes and powers upon the corporation.
ARTICLE IV
Capitalization
The total number of shares of stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is 3,020,000,000 shares in book form or certificate form at the sole discretion of the corporation, of which 3,000,000,000 shares of $.0001 par value shall be designated as Common Stock and 20,000,000 shares of $.0001 shall be designated as Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock authorized by these Articles of Incorporation may be issued in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and within the limitations or restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series, to determine the designation and par value of any series and to fix the numbers of shares of any series.
The Company agreed to acquire and merge with Blockchain Energy, A Colorado Corporation, and closed this merger on February 25, 2018.
ARTICLE V
Board of Directors
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors which shall exercise all the powers of the Corporation except, as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, these Articles of Incorporation or by the laws of the laws of the State of Colorado.
| 1 |
ARTICLE VI
Directors Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Colorado, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended or supplemented, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or to its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer.
ARTICLE VII
Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect from time to time, any person against all liability and expense (including attorneys' fees) incurred by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, he is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of, on in any similar managerial or fiduciary position of, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Corporation shall also indemnify any person who is serving or has served the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner provided in any bylaw, resolution of the shareholders or directors, contract, or otherwise, so long as such provision is legally permissible.
ARTICLE VIII
No Preemptive Rights
The owners of shares of stock of the Corporation shall not have a preemptive right to acquire unissued shares, treasury shares or securities convertible into such shares.
ARTICLE IX
Voting Rights
Only the shares of capital stock of the Corporation designated at issuance as having voting rights shall be entitled to vote at meetings of stockholders of the Corporation, and only stockholders of record of shares having voting rights shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at meetings of stockholders of the Corporation. Each stockholder entitled to vote at any election for Directors shall have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, one vote for each share of stock owned by such stockholder for as many persons as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election such stockholder has a right to vote, and no stockholder shall he entitled to cumulate their vote.
ARTICLE X
Quorum
One third of the votes entitled to be cast on any matter by each stockholder voting group entitled to vote on a matter shall constitute a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter by stockholders.
ARTICLE XI
Bond and Debenture Holder Rights
The holder of a bond, debenture or, other obligation of the Corporation may have any of the rights of a stockholder in the Corporation to the extent determined appropriate by the Board of Directors at the time of issuance of such bond, debenture or other obligation.
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ARTICLE XII
Limitation on Right to Call Special Shareholders Meeting
Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, upon not less than 10 nor more than 50 day's written notice to the stockholders of the Corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Vortex Brands Corp. has caused its duly authorized officer to execute this
Certificate on this the 24th day of August, 2018.
Vortex Brands, Co.
/s/ Todd Higley
Todd Higley
Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT 2.2
CORPORATE BYLAWS OF
VORTEX BRANDS, INC,
INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF COLORADO
SECTION 1
Articles of Incorporation
1.1. The nature of the business or purposes of the corporation shall be as set forth in its articles of incorporation. These by-laws, the powers of the corporation and of its directors and stockholders, and all matters concerning the management of the business and conduct of the affairs of the corporation shall be subject to such provisions in regard thereto, if any, as are set forth in the articles of incorporation; and the articles of incorporation is hereby made a part of these by-laws. In these by-laws, references to the articles of incorporation mean the provisions of the articles of incorporation (as that term is defined under Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes and except as otherwise provided herein, the Statutes shall apply to the governance of the Corporation) of the corporation as from time to time in effect, and references to these by-laws or to any requirement or provision of law mean these by-laws or such requirement or provision of law as from time to time in effect.
SECTION 2
Offices
2.1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the corporation shall be in Colorado.
2.2. OTHER OFFICES. The corporation may also have an office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Colorado, as the Board of Directors of the corporation from time to time may determine or as the business of the corporation may require.
SECTION 3
Stockholders
3.1. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at nine-thirty o’clock in the forenoon on the first Monday in May in each year, unless that day be a legal holiday at the place where the meeting is to be held, in which case the meeting shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding day not a legal holiday, or at such other date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect a board of directors and transact such other business as may be required by law or these by-law or as may be specified by the chairman of the board or by a majority of the directors then in office or by vote of the board of directors and of which notice was given in the notice of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first annual meeting of the corporation was held in the year 2010.
3.2. SPECIAL MEETING IN PLACE OF ANNUAL MEETING. If the election for directors shall not be held on the day designated by these by-laws, the directors shall cause the election to be held as soon thereafter as convenient, and to that end, if the annual meeting is omitted on the day herein provided therefor or if the election of directors shall not be held thereat, a special meeting of the stockholders may be held in place of such omitted meeting or election, and any business transacted or election held at such special meeting shall have the same effect as if transacted or held at the annual meeting, and in such case all references in these by-laws to the annual meeting of the stockholders, or to the annual election of directors, shall be deemed to refer to or include such special meeting. Any such special meeting shall be called, and the purposes thereof shall be specified in the call, as provided in Section 3.3.
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3.3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the chairman of the board or by the board of directors. A special meeting of the stockholders shall be called by the secretary, or in the case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of the secretary, by an assistant secretary or some other officer, upon application of a majority of the directors or of one or more stockholders who are entitled to vote and who hold at least fifty percent of the capital stock issued and outstanding. Any such application shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Any such call shall state the place, date, hour, and purposes of the meeting
3.4. PLACE OF MEETING. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such place within or without the State of Colorado as may be determined from time to time by the chairman of the board or the board of directors. Any adjourned session of any meeting of the stockholders shall be held at the place designated in the vote of adjournment.
3.5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided by law, a written notice of each meeting of stockholders stating the place, day and hour thereof and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat; and to each stockholder who, by law, by the articles of incorporation or by these by-laws, is entitled to notice, by leaving such notice with him or at his residence or usual place of business, or by depositing it in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to such stockholder at his address as it appears in the records of the corporation. Such notice shall be given by the secretary, or by an officer or person designated by the board of directors, or in the case of a special meeting by the officer calling the meeting. As to any adjourned session of any meeting of stockholders, notice of the adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was taken except that if the adjournment is for more than thirty days or if after the adjournment a new record date is set for the adjourned session, notice of any such adjourned session of the meeting shall be given in the manner heretofore described. No notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjourned session thereof need be given to a stockholder if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after the meeting or such adjournment session by such stockholder is filed with the records of the meeting or if the stockholder attends such meeting without objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders or any adjourned session thereof need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
3.6. QUORUM OF STOCKHOLDERS. At any meeting of the stockholders, whether the same be an original or an adjourned session, a quorum shall consist of a majority in interest of all stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, except in any case where a larger quorum is required by law, by the articles of incorporation or by these by-laws. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present.
3.7. ACTION BY VOTE. When a quorum is present at any meeting, whether the same be an original or an adjourned session, a plurality of the votes properly cast for election to any office shall elect to such office and a majority of the votes properly cast upon any question other than an election to an office shall decide the question, except when a larger vote is required by law, by the articles of incorporation or by these by-laws. No ballot shall be required for any election unless requested by a stockholder present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election.
3.8. ACTION WITHOUT MEETINGS. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders for or in connection with any corporate action may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
If action is taken by unanimous consent of stockholders, the writing or writings comprising such unanimous consent shall be filed with the records of the meetings of stockholders.
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If action is taken by less than unanimous consent of stockholders and in accordance with the foregoing, there shall be filed with the records of the meetings of stockholders the writing or writings comprising such less than unanimous consent and a certificate signed and attested to by the secretary that prompt notice was given to all stockholders of the taking of such action without a meeting and by less than unanimous written consent.
In the event that the action which is consented to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under any of the provisions of Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes, if such action had been voted upon by the stockholders at a meeting thereof, the certificate filed under such provision shall state that written consent has been given under Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes, in lieu of stating that the stockholders have voted upon the corporate action in question, if such last mentioned statement is required thereby.
3.9. PROXY REPRESENTATION. Every stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a stockholder is entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, objecting to or voting or participating at a meeting, or expressing consent or dissent without a meeting.
Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder or by his attorney-in-fact or be authorized by such other means as is provided under Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the corporation generally. The authorization of a proxy may but need not be limited to specified action, provided, however, that if a proxy limits its authorization to a meeting or meetings of stockholders, unless otherwise specifically provided such proxy shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any adjourned session but shall not be valid after the final adjournment thereof.
3.10. VOTES PER SHARE. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder.
3.11. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in his name. Such list shall be open to examination by any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for at least ten days prior to the meeting either at the place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place should be specified in the notice of such meeting, or at the place where such meeting is to be held, and shall also be produced at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are stockholders entitled to examine such list or to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting.
SECTION 4
Board of Directors
4.1. NUMBER. The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders.
4.2. TENURE. The Board of Directors shall be divided into four classes to be known as Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV, which shall be as nearly equal in number as possible. Except in case of death, resignation, disqualification or removal, each Director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the fourth annual meeting of shareholders following the annual meeting at which the Director was elected; provided, however, that each initial Director in Class I shall hold office until the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders; each initial Director in Class II shall hold office until the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders; and each initial Director in Class III shall hold office until the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders; and each initial Director in Class IV shall hold office until the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of Directors, the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such an increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the four classes of Directors so that the four classes remain as nearly equal in size as possible; provided, however, that there shall be no classification of additional Directors elected by the Board of Directors until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purposes of electing Directors, at which meeting the terms of all such additional Directors shall expire, and such additional Director positions, if they are to be continued, shall be apportioned among the classes of Directors, and nominees therefore shall be submitted to the shareholders for their vote.
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4.3. POWERS. The business of the corporation shall be managed by the board of directors who shall have and may exercise all the power of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law, the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
4.4. VACANCIES. Vacancies and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by vote of the stockholders at a meeting called for the purpose, or by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. When one or more directors shall resign from the board, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote or action by writing thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective. The directors shall have and may exercise all their powers notwithstanding the existence of one or more vacancies in their number, subject to any requirements of law or of the certificate of incorporation or of these by-laws as to the number of directors required for a quorum or for any vote or other action.
4.5. COMMITTEES. The board of directors may, by vote of a majority of the whole board, (a) designate, change the membership of or terminate the existence of any committee or committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors; (b) designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee; and (c) determine the extent to which each such committee shall have and may exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and the power and authority to declare dividends, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes; excepting, however, such powers which by law, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws they are prohibited from so delegating. In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee and his alternate, if any, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Except as the board of directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the board or such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as may be in the same manner as is provided by these by-laws for the conduct of the business by the board of directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors upon request.
4.6. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without call or notice at such place within or without the State of Colorado and at such times as the board may from time to time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any such determination shall be given to absent directors. A regular meeting of the directors may be held without call or notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of the stockholders.
4.7. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the board of directors may be held at any time and at any place within or without the State of Colorado designated in the notice of the meeting, when called by the chairman of the board, or by one-third or more in number of the directors, reasonable notice thereof being given to each director by the secretary or by the chairman of the board or any one of the directors calling the meeting.
4.8. NOTICE. It shall be reasonable and sufficient notice to a director to send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours or by facsimile or electronic message at least twenty-four hours before the meeting addressed to him at his usual or last known business or residence address or to give notice to him in person or by telephone at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director if a written waiver of notice, executed by him before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any director who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him. Neither notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting.
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4.9. QUORUM. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, at any meeting of the directors a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum; a quorum shall not in any case be less than one-third of the total number of directors constituting the whole board. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
4.10. ACTION BY VOTE. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, when a quorum is present at any meeting the vote of a majority of the directors present shall be the act of the board of directors.
4.11. ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or a committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the board or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and such writing or writings are filed with the records of the meeting of the board or of such committee. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as the act of the board or of such committee, as the case may be.
4.12. COMPENSATION. In the discretion of the board of directors, each director may be paid such fees for his services as director and be reimbursed for his reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his duties as director as the board of directors from time to time may determine. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving reasonable compensation therefor.
4.13. INTERESTED DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
(a) No contract or transaction between the corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of the corporation’s directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(1) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or
(2) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(3) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders.
(b) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
4.14. Each member of the Board of Directors shall have obtained a bachelors degree from a college or university that is accredited by a company or institution recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for accrediting activities.
SECTION 5
Officers and Agents
5.1. ENUMERATION; QUALIFICATION. The officers of the corporation shall be a chairman of the board, a treasurer, a secretary and such other officers, if any, as the board of directors from time to time may in its discretion elect or appoint including without limitation a vice-chairman of the board, one or more vice presidents and a controller. The corporation may also have such agents, if any, as the board of directors from time to time may in its discretion choose. Any officer may be, but none except the chairman and any vice-chairman of the board need be, a director or stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may be required by the board of directors to secure the faithful performance of his duties to the corporation by giving bond in such amount and with sureties or otherwise as the board of directors may determine.
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5.2. POWERS. Subject to law, to the certificate of incorporation and to the other provisions of these by-laws, each officer shall have, in addition to the duties and power herein set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to his office and such additional duties and powers as the board of directors may from time to time designate.
5.3. ELECTION. The officers may be elected to the board of directors at their first meeting following the annual meeting of the stockholders or at any other time. At any time or from time to time the directors may delegate to any officers their power to elect or appoint any other officer or any agents.
5.4. TENURE. Each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the board of directors following the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until his respective successor is chosen and qualified unless a shorter period shall have been specified by the terms of his election or appointment, or in each case until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each agent shall retain his authority at the pleasure of the directors, or the officer by whom he was appointed or the officer who then holds agent appointive power.
5.5. CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Except as otherwise voted by the directors, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation, he shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors at which he is present and shall have such other powers and duties as the board of directors, executive committee or any other duly authorized committee shall from time to time designate.
Except as otherwise voted by the directors, the vice-chairman of the board, if any is elected or appointed, shall assume the duties and powers of the chairman of the board in his absence and shall otherwise have such duties and powers as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors.
5.6. VICE PRESIDENTS. Any vice presidents shall have such duties and powers as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors or by the chairman of the board.
5.7. TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. Except as otherwise voted by the directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the corporation and shall be in charge of its funds and valuable papers, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors or by the chairman of the board. If no controller is elected, the treasurer shall also have the duties and powers of the controller.
Any assistant treasurers shall have such duties and powers as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the treasurer.
5.8. CONTROLLER AND ASSISTANT CONTROLLERS. If a controller is elected, he shall be the chief accounting officer of the corporation and shall be in charge of its books of account and accounting records, and of its accounting procedures. He shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the treasurer.
Any assistant controller shall have such duties and powers as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the treasurer or the controller.
5.9. SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. The secretary shall record all proceedings of the stockholders, of the board of directors and of committees of the board of directors in a book or series of books to be kept therefor and shall file therein all writings of, or related to action by stockholder or director consent. In the absence of the secretary from any meeting, an assistant secretary, or if there be none or he is absent, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting, shall record the proceedings thereof. Unless a transfer agent has been appointed the secretary shall keep or cause to be kept the stock and transfer records of the corporation, which shall contain the names and record addresses of all stockholders and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. He shall have such other duties and powers as may from time to time be designated by the board of directors or the chairman of the board.
Any assistant secretaries shall have such duties and powers as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the secretary.
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SECTION 6
Resignations and Removals
6.1. Any director or officer may resign at any time by delivering his resignation in writing to the chairman of the board or the secretary or to a meeting of the board of directors. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time, and without in either case the necessity of its being accepted unless the resignation shall so state. A director (including persons elected by directors to fill vacancies in the board) may be removed from office with or without cause by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of directors. The board of directors may at any time remove any officer either with or without cause. The board of directors may at any time terminate or modify the authority of any agent. No director or officer resigning and (except where a right to receive compensation shall be expressly provided in a duly authorized written agreement with the corporation) no director or officer removed, shall have any right to any compensation as such director or officer for any period following his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal, whether his compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise; unless in the case of a resignation, the directors, or in the case of a removal, the body acting on the removal, shall in their or its discretion provide for compensation.
SECTION 7
Vacancies
7.1. If the office of the chairman of the board or the treasurer or the secretary becomes vacant, the directors may elect a successor by vote of a majority of the directors then in office. If the office of any other officer becomes vacant, any person or body empowered to elect or appoint that officer may choose a successor. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term, and in the case of the chairman of the board, the treasurer and the secretary until his successor is chosen and qualified, or in each case until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Any vacancy of a directorship shall be filled as specified in Section 4.4 of these by-laws.
SECTION 8
Capital Stock
8.1. STOCK CERTIFICATES. Shares of the corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, or issued in book form at the sole discretion of the corporation, as provided by Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes. All certificates of stock of the corporation shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the corporation as they are issued. They shall exhibit the holder’s name and the number, class and designation of the series, if any, of the shares held and shall be signed by the Chairman or a Vice Chairman or the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the time of its issue.
8.2. LOSS OF CERTIFICATES. In the case of the alleged theft, loss, destruction or mutilation of a certificate of stock, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms, including receipt of a bond sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim or account thereof, as the board of directors may prescribe.
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SECTION 9
Transfer of Shares of Stock
9.1. TRANSFER ON BOOKS. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the corporation only by the record holder of such stock, or by an attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and, in the case of stock represented by a certificate, subject to the restrictions, if any, stated or noted on the stock certificate, upon surrender to the corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate therefore properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment and power of attorney properly executed, with necessary transfer stamps affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the board of directors or the transfer agent of the corporation may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to receive notice and to vote or to give any consent with respect thereto and to be held liable for such calls and assessments, if any, as may lawfully be made thereon, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been properly transferred on the books of the corporation.
9.2 RECORD DATE AND CLOSING TRANSFER BOOKS. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distributions or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days (or such longer period as may be required by law) before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action.
If no record date is fixed:
(a) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
(b) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed.
(c) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
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SECTION 10
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
10.1. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION. Each director or officer of the corporation who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a ”proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Colorado, as the same exist or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators: provided however, that except for any proceeding seeking to enforce or obtain payment under any right to indemnification by the corporation, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the corporation has joined in or consented to the initiation of such proceeding (or part thereof). The corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, either on a general basis or as designated by the Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation, and to directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company’s subsidiaries, with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10 to the contrary, no person shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section on account of any suit in which judgment is rendered against such person for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale by such person of securities of the corporation pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
10.2. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section 10 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Each person who is or becomes a director or officer of the corporation shall be deemed to have served or to have continued to serve in such capacity in reliance upon the indemnity provided in this Section 10.
10.3. INSURANCE. The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes.
10.4. EXPENSES AS A WITNESS. To the extent that any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation is by reason of such position, or a position with another entity at the request of the corporation, a witness in any action, suit or proceeding, he or she shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her on his or her behalf in connection therewith.
10.5. INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS. The corporation may enter into indemnity agreements with the persons who are members of its board of directors from time to time, and with such officers, employees and agents of the corporation and with such officers, directors, employees and agents of subsidiaries as the board may designate, such indemnity agreements to provide in substance that the corporation will indemnify such persons as contemplated by this Section 10, and to include any other substantive or procedural provisions regarding indemnification as are not inconsistent with Title 7, Corporations and Associations of the Colorado Revised Statutes. The provisions of such indemnity agreements shall prevail to the extent that they limit or condition or differ from the provisions of this Section 10.
10.6. DEFINITION OF CORPORATION. For purposes of this Section 10 reference to ”the corporation” includes all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such a constituent corporation shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would if he had served the resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
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SECTION 11
Execution of Papers
11.1. Except as the board of directors may generally or in some particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts and other obligations made, accepted or endorsed by the corporation shall be signed by the chairman of the board or by one of the vice presidents or by the treasurer.
SECTION 12
Fiscal Year
12.1. Except as from time to time otherwise provided by the board of directors, the fiscal year of the corporation shall end on the last day of February of each year.
SECTION 13
Amendments
13.1. These by-laws may be made, altered, amended or repealed by vote of a majority of the directors in office or by vote of a majority of the stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Any by-law, whether made, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders or directors, may be altered, amended or reinstated, as the case may be, by either the stockholders or by the directors as hereinbefore provided.
The foregoing Bylaws together with changes and amendments were adopted by the Board of Directors on February 14th, 2019.
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EXHIBIT 4.1
FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
VORTEX BRANDS CO
A COLORADO CORPORATION
NOTICE TO INVESTORS
Investing in the Common Stock Shares (the “Shares”) of VORTEX BRANDS CO (the “Company”) involves significant risks. This investment is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment and such investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time. The Company’s Class A Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol, “VTXB,” however, trading on the OTC Markets is sporadic and if the Company is unable to comply with the applicable OTC Markets requirements, trading of the Shares may not be possible.
The Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities or blue-sky laws and are being offered and sold in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities or blue-sky laws. Although an offering statement (“Offering Statement”) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), that offering statement does not include the same information that would be included in a registration statement under the Securities Act. The Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the SEC, any state securities commission or other regulatory authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon the merits of this offering or the adequacy or accuracy of the offering circular or any other materials or information made available to subscriber in connection with this offering. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.
Prospective investors may not treat the contents of the subscription agreement, the offering circular or any of the other materials available (collectively, the “Offering Materials”) or any prior or subsequent communications from the Company or any of its affiliates, officers, employees or agents as investment, legal or tax advice. In making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the Company and the terms of this offering, including the merits and the risks involved. Each prospective investor should consult the investor’s own counsel, accountant and other professional advisor as to investment, legal, tax and other related matters concerning the investor’s proposed investment.
The Company reserves the right in its sole discretion and for any reason whatsoever to modify, amend and/or withdraw all or a portion of the offering and/or accept or reject in whole or in part any prospective investment in the Shares or to allot to any prospective investor less than the amount of Shares such investor desires to purchase.
Except as otherwise indicated, the Offering Materials speak as of their date. Neither the delivery nor the purchase of the Shares shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since that date.
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VORTEX BRANDS CO
A COLORADO CORPORATION
This subscription agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth below by and between the undersigned (“Subscriber” or “you”) and VORTEX BRANDS CO, a Colorado corporation (the “Company” or ”we” or “us” or “our”) and is intended to set forth certain representations, covenants and agreements between Subscriber and the Company with respect to the offering (the “Offering”) for sale by the Company of shares of its Class A Common Stock (referred to herein as the “Shares”) as described in the Company’s Offering Circular dated as of the date of its qualification by the SEC, as amended by any post-qualification amendment (the “Offering Circular”).
1. Subscription and Purchase of Shares.
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| a. | Maximum and Minimum. There is no maximum investment amount per investor. The minimum investment amount per investor is $0.01 (1 Share). |
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| b. | Irrevocable Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, you irrevocably subscribe for and agree to purchase from the Company the number of Shares set forth on the signature page to this Agreement at a purchase price of $0.01 per Share for the total amount set forth on the signature page (the “Purchase Price”). |
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| c. | Rejection. We have the right to reject or cancel your subscription, in whole or in part, whether or not we consummate the Offering. If we reject or cancel your subscription, we will refund to you amounts paid relating to such portion of the subscription that is rejected or cancelled, without interest. We may deduct third party processing fees, if any, from amounts refunded. |
2. Subscription Procedures, Payment and Delivery
a. Subscription Procedures. The procedures for subscribing to the Offering are set forth in Exhibit A to this Subscription Agreement.
b. Payment. Contemporaneously with the execution and either (i) electronic delivery of this Agreement to the Company by emailing it to the Company at investors@vortexbrands.us or (ii) physical delivery of this Agreement by mailing it to the Company at the address set forth on Exhibit A, you will pay the Purchase Price for the Shares in the form of either (i) a wire transfer to the Company’s designated bank account pursuant to the wire instructions on Exhibit A or (ii) via a personal check made payable to VORTEX BRANDS CO mailed to the address set forth on Exhibit A. Your subscription is irrevocable. Your Purchase Price amount will be immediately available to the Company for use upon receipt.
c. Acceptance. This subscription shall be deemed to be accepted only when this Agreement has been signed by the Company and delivered to you electronically. The deposit of the payment of the Purchase Price for will not be deemed an acceptance of this Agreement.
d. Rejection or Termination. The payment of the Purchase Price (or, in the case of rejection of a portion of the Subscriber’s subscription, the part of the payment relating to such rejected portion) will be returned, without interest, but subject to deduction of third party processing fees, if any, if Subscriber’s subscription is rejected in whole or in part.
e. Issuance of Shares. We will cause our transfer agent to issue the Shares purchased in this Agreement in book-entry form upon acceptance of this Agreement and confirmation of receipt of the Purchase Price by the Company.
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3. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Subscriber. By executing this Agreement, Subscriber represents, warrants and agrees to the Company, as of the date of execution of this Agreement and as of the applicable closing date of the Offering:
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| a. | Requisite Power and Authority and Related Matters. Subscriber has all necessary power and authority under all applicable provisions of law to execute and deliver this Agreement. All action on Subscriber’s part required for the lawful execution and delivery of this Agreement has been or will be effectively taken prior to the applicable closing. If Subscriber is a natural person, Subscriber is at least 21 years of age (or eighteen (18) years of age jurisdictions with such applicable age limit on contracting) and competent to enter into a contractual obligation. If an entity, Subscriber, 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 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 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 has been duly authorized by all necessary action, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such entity and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity; or if executing this Agreement in a representative or fiduciary capacity, represents that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement 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 make an investment in the Company, and represents that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity. The execution and delivery of this Agreement will not violate or be in conflict with any order, judgment, injunction, agreement or controlling document to which the Subscriber is a party or by which it is bound. Upon execution and delivery, this Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) as limited by general principles of equity that restrict the availability of equitable remedies. |
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| b. | Investment Representations. Subscriber understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act. Subscriber also understands that the Shares are being offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration contained in the Securities Act based in part upon Subscriber’s representations contained in this Agreement. Subscriber is purchasing the Shares for Subscriber’s own account. Subscriber has received and reviewed this Agreement and the Offering Circular. Subscriber and/or Subscriber’s advisors, who are not affiliated with and not compensated directly or indirectly by the Company or an affiliate thereof, have such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters as will enable them to utilize the information which they have received in connection with the Offering to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment, to make an informed investment decision and to protect Subscriber’s own interests in connection with an investment in the Shares. |
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| c. | Illiquidity and Continued Economic Risk. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that there is no guarantee that a market for the resale of the Shares will exist or continue to exist. Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment indefinitely and the Company has no obligation to list the Shares on any market or take any steps (including registration under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) with respect to facilitating trading or resale of the Shares. Subscriber acknowledges that it is able to bear the economic risk of losing its entire investment in the Shares. Subscriber also understands that an investment in the Company involves significant risks and understand all of the risk factors relating to the purchase of Shares. |
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| d. | Investor Status. Subscriber represents: |
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| ● | The undersigned understands that the Shares are being offered pursuant to Tier 1 offering pursuant to Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933 and has confirmed that the Company has filed appropriated notice filings in the jurisdiction of the undersigned’s residence; |
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| ● | The Purchase Price set out in signature page to this Agreement, together with any other amounts previously used to purchase Shares in this Offering, does not exceed 10% of the greater of Subscriber’s annual income or net worth (excluding Subscriber’s primary residence and automobiles). |
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| e. | Shareholder Information. Within five days after receipt of a request from the Company, you agree to provide such information with respect to your status as a shareholder (or potential shareholder) and to execute and deliver such documents as may reasonably be necessary to comply with any and all laws and regulations to which the Company is or may become subject, including, without limitation, the need to determine the accredited status of the Company’s shareholders. You further agree that in the event you transfer any Shares, you will require the transferee of such Shares to agree to provide such information to the Company as a condition of such transfer. |
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| f. | Company Information. You have had the opportunity to review the Offering Circular filed with the SEC, including the section titled “Risk Factors.” You have had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with managers, officers and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations. Subscriber has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions of this investment. Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber is making an investment decision based on the information if the Offering Circular and except as set forth in the Offering Circular and herein, no representations or warranties have been made to Subscriber, or to Subscriber’s advisors or representative, by the Company or others with respect to the business or prospects of the Company or its financial condition. |
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| g. | Additional Subscriber Information; Payment Information. Subscriber agrees to provide any additional documentation the Company may reasonably request, including documentation as may be required by the Company to form a reasonable basis that the Subscriber qualifies as an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501 under Regulation D promulgated under the Act, or otherwise as a “qualified purchaser” as that term is defined in Regulation A promulgated under the Act, or as may be required by the securities administrators or regulators of any state, to confirm that the Subscriber meets any applicable minimum financial suitability standards and has satisfied any applicable maximum investment limits. Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber’s statements in this Agreement are true, complete and accurate in all respects. Payment information provided by Subscriber to the Company is true, accurate and correct and such payment information shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement as if and to the same extent that such information was set forth herein. |
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| h. | The Company is not an Investment Adviser. Subscriber understands that Company is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. |
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| i. | Use of Proceeds. Subscriber acknowledges that the price of the Shares was set by the Company arbitrarily and bears no relationship to any objection criterion of value, the price does not bear any relationship to the Company’s assets, book value, historical earnings or net worth. We intend to use the proceeds of this Offering to pay all of the expenses of the Offering, and to use the remaining proceeds for research and development of our products, marketing and general operating capital. We reserve the right to change the foregoing use of proceeds if management believes it is in the best interests of the Company. |
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| j. | Domicile. Subscriber maintains Subscriber’s domicile (and is not a transient or temporary resident) at the address shown on the signature page. |
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| k. | Power of Attorney. Any power of attorney of the Subscriber granted in favor of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company has been executed by the Subscriber in compliance with the laws of the state, province or jurisdiction in which such agreements were executed. |
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| l. | Underwriter Fees. There are no fees or commissions will be payable by the Company to brokers, finders or investment bankers with respect to the Offering. |
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| m. | Foreign Investors. If Subscriber is not a United States person (as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), Subscriber hereby represents that it has satisfied itself as to the full observance of the laws of its jurisdiction in connection with any invitation to subscribe for the Shares or any use of this Agreement, including (a) the legal requirements within its jurisdiction for the purchase of the Shares, (b) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to such purchase, (c) any governmental or other consents that may need to be obtained, and (d) the income tax and other tax consequences, if any, that may be relevant to the purchase, holding, redemption, sale, or transfer of the Shares. Subscriber’s subscription and payment for and continued beneficial ownership of the Shares will not violate any applicable securities or other laws of the Subscriber’s jurisdiction. |
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| n. | Patriot Act; Anti-Money Laundering; OFAC. The Subscriber should check the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) website at http://www.treas.gov/ofac before making the following representations. Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows: |
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| ● | Subscriber represents that (i) no part of the funds used by the Subscriber to acquire the Shares has been, or shall be, directly or indirectly derived from, or related to, any activity that may contravene United States federal or state or non-United States laws or regulations, including anti-money laundering laws and regulations, and (ii) no payment to the Company by the Subscriber and no distribution to the Subscriber shall cause the Company to be in violation of any applicable anti-money laundering laws or regulations including, without limitation, Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 and the United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Offering Circular or any other agreement, to the extent required by any anti-money laundering law or regulation, the Company may restrict distributions or take any other reasonably necessary or advisable action with respect to the Shares, and the Subscriber shall have no claim, and shall not pursue any claim, against the Company or any other person in connection therewith. U.S. federal regulations and executive orders administered by OFAC prohibit, among other things, the engagement in transactions with, and the provision of services to, certain foreign countries, territories, entities and individuals. The lists of OFAC prohibited countries, territories, persons and entities can be found on the OFAC website at http://www.treas.gov/ofac. In addition, the programs administered by OFAC (the “OFAC Programs”) prohibit dealing with individuals1 or entities in certain countries regardless of whether such individuals or entities appear on the OFAC lists. |
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| ● | To the best of the Subscriber’s knowledge, none of: (1) the Subscriber; (2) any person controlling or controlled by the Subscriber; (3) if the Subscriber is a privately-held entity, any person having a beneficial interest in the Subscriber; or (4) any person for whom the Subscriber is acting as agent or nominee in connection with this investment is a country, territory, individual or entity named on an OFAC list, or a person or entity prohibited under the OFAC Programs. Subscriber agrees to promptly notify the Company should the Subscriber become aware of any change in the information set forth in these representations. Subscriber understands and acknowledges that, by law, the Company may be obligated to “freeze the account” of the Subscriber, either by prohibiting additional subscriptions from the Subscriber, declining to make any distributions and/or segregating the assets in the account in compliance with governmental regulations, and any broker may also be required to report such action and to disclose the Subscriber’s identity to OFAC. Subscriber further acknowledges that the Company may, by written notice to the Subscriber, suspend the redemption rights, if any, of the Subscriber if the Company reasonably deems it necessary to do so to comply with anti-money laundering regulations applicable to the Company or any broker or any of the Company’s other service providers. These individuals include specially designated nationals, specially designated narcotics traffickers and other parties subject to OFAC sanctions and embargo programs. |
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| ● | To the best of the Subscriber’s knowledge, none of: (1) the Subscriber; (2) any person controlling or controlled by the Subscriber; (3) if the Subscriber is a privately-held entity, any person having a beneficial interest in the Subscriber; or (4) any person for whom the Subscriber is acting as agent or nominee in connection with this investment is a senior foreign political figure2, or any immediate family3 member or close associate4 of a senior foreign political figure, as such terms are defined in the footnotes below. |
| 1 | These individuals include specially designated nationals, specially designated narcotics traffickers and other parties subject to OFAC sanctions and embargo programs. |
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| 2 | A “senior foreign political figure” is defined as a senior official in the executive, legislative, administrative, military or judicial branches of a foreign government (whether elected or not), a senior official of a major foreign political party, or a senior executive of a foreign government-owned corporation. In addition, a “senior foreign political figure” includes any corporation, business or other entity that has been formed by, or for the benefit of, a senior foreign political figure. |
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| 3 | “Immediate family” of a senior foreign political figure typically includes the figure’s parents, siblings, spouse, children and in-laws. |
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| 4 | A “close associate” of a senior foreign political figure is a person who is widely and publicly known to maintain an unusually close relationship with the senior foreign political figure, and includes a person who is in a position to conduct substantial domestic and international financial transactions on behalf of the senior foreign political figure. |
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| ● | If the Subscriber is affiliated with a non-U.S. banking institution (a “Foreign Bank”), or if the Subscriber receives deposits from, makes payments on behalf of, or handles other financial transactions related to a Foreign Bank, the Subscriber 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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| ● | Subscriber acknowledges that, to the extent applicable, the Company will seek to comply with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and any rules, regulations, forms, instructions or other guidance issued in connection therewith (the “FATCA Provisions”). In furtherance of these efforts, the Subscriber agrees to promptly deliver any additional documentation or information, and updates thereto as applicable, which the Company may request in order to comply with the FATCA Provisions. The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Offering Circular, any side letter or any other agreement, the failure to promptly comply with such requests, or to provide such additional information, may result in the withholding of amounts with respect to, or other limitations on, distributions made to the Subscriber and such other reasonably necessary or advisable action by the Company with respect to the Shares (including, without limitation, required withdrawal), and the Subscriber shall have no claim, and shall not pursue any claim, against the Company or any other person in connection therewith. |
4. Reporting. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that, if Subscriber purchases an amount that after completion of the Offering constitutes more than 10% of the Shares then issued and outstanding, Subscriber acknowledges that Subscriber’s name, address and holdings may be reported in the Company’s ongoing SEC filings.
5. Survival; Indemnification. All representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement and the indemnification contained herein shall survive (a) the acceptance of this Agreement by the Company, (b) changes in the transactions, documents and instruments described herein which are not material or which are to the benefit of Subscriber, and (c) the death or disability of Subscriber. Subscriber acknowledges the meaning and legal consequences of the representations, warranties and agreements in Section 3 hereof and that the Company has relied upon such representations, warranties and covenants in determining Subscriber’s qualification and suitability to purchase the Shares. Subscriber hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), judgments or amounts paid in settlement of actions arising out of or resulting from the untruth of any representation of Subscriber herein or the breach of any warranty or covenant herein by Subscriber. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation, warranty, covenant or acknowledgment made herein by Subscriber shall in any manner be deemed to constitute a waiver of any rights granted to it under the Securities Act or state securities laws.
6. No Advisory Relationship. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arms-length transaction between you and the Company. In connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares, the Company is not acting as your agent or fiduciary. The Company does not assume any advisory or fiduciary responsibility in your favor in connection with the Shares. The Company has not provided you with any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the Shares, and you have consulted your own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent you have deemed appropriate.
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7. Miscellaneous.
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| a. | Captions and Headings. The Article and Section headings throughout this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way be deemed to define, limit or add to any provision of this Agreement. |
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| b. | Notification of Changes. Subscriber agrees and covenants to notify the Company immediately upon the occurrence of any event prior to the consummation of this Offering that would cause any representation, warranty, covenant or other statement contained in this Agreement to be false or incorrect or of any change in any statement made herein occurring prior to the consummation of this Offering. |
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| c. | Assignability. This Agreement is not assignable by Subscriber, and may not be modified, waived or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of such modification, waiver or termination is sought. |
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| d. | Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by and be binding upon such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and assigns. |
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| e. | Obligations Irrevocable. The obligations of Subscriber shall be irrevocable, except with the consent of the Company. |
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| f. | Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement states the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written. No amendment of the Agreement shall be made without the express written consent of the parties. |
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| g. | Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect any other provision hereof, which shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted. |
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| h. | Hardware and Software Requirements. In order to access and retain documents electronically, you must satisfy the following computer hardware and software requirements: access to the Internet; an email account and related software capable of receiving email through the Internet; a web browser which is SSL-compliant and supports secure sessions; and hardware capable of running this software. You will also need a printer if you wish to print electronic documents on paper, and electronic storage if you wish to download and save documents to your computer. |
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| i. | Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Colorado, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof. To the extent of any disagreement or matter relating to this Agreement or the Shares, such disagreement or matter shall be exclusively submitted to the federal or state courts located in the state of Colorado. |
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| j. | Notices. All notices and communications to be given or otherwise made to the Subscriber shall be deemed to be sufficient if sent by electronic mail to such address as set forth for the Subscriber at the records of the Company .You shall send all notices or other communications required to be given hereunder to the Company via email at investors@vortexbrands.us (with a copy to be sent concurrently via prepaid certified mail to: VORTEX BRANDS CO Attn: Todd Higley 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been delivered and received on the first business day following that on which the electronic mail has been sent (assuming that there is no error in delivery). As used in this Section, “business day” shall mean any day other than a day on which banking institutions in the State of Colorado are legally closed for business. | ||
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| k. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. | ||
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| l. | Electronic Delivery of Information. Subscriber and the Company each hereby agrees that all current and future notices, confirmations and other communications regarding this Agreement and future communications in general between the parties, may be made by email, sent to the email address of record as set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise from time to time changed or updated and disclosed to the other party, without necessity of confirmation of receipt, delivery or reading, and such form of electronic communication is sufficient for all matters regarding the relationship between the parties. If any such electronically sent communication fails to be received for any reason, including but not limited to such communications being diverted to the recipients spam filters by the recipients email service provider, or due to a recipient’s change of address, or due to technology issues by the recipients service provider, the parties agree that the burden of such failure to receive is on the recipient and not the sender, and that the sender is under no obligation to resend communications via any other means, including but not limited to postal service or overnight courier, and that such communications shall for all purposes, including legal and regulatory, be deemed to have been delivered and received. No physical, paper documents will be sent to you, and if you desire physical documents then you agree to be satisfied by directly and personally printing, at your own expense, the electronically sent communication(s) and maintaining such physical records in any manner or form that you desire. |
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VORTEX BRANDS CO
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Subscriber or its duly authorized representative has executed and delivered this Subscription Agreement and acknowledges that all of the information below is true and correct.
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| SIGNATURE: |
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| (Signature of subscriber or authorized officer) Name:_________________________________________ Email Address:__________________________________ Mailing Address: ________________________________ ______________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________ |
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VORTEX BRANDS CO
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE
(This countersigned Signature Page will be returned to Subscriber when and if a
subscription has been accepted)
| ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO: |
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| VORTEX BRANDS CO |
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| By: |
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| Name: |
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| Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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VORTEX BRANDS CO
Attn: _Todd Higley ___________
Email Address:
Mailing Address: 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835
Phone number: (213) 260-0321
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EXHIBIT A
PROCEDURES FOR SUBSCRIBING
After the qualification by the SEC of the offering statement, if you decide to subscribe for any shares in this Offering, you must request a Subscription Agreement from Company by emailing us at investors@vortexbrands.us. If you’d like, you can also request a physical copy of the subscription agreement be mailed to you at the address set forth in your email to the Company requesting the Subscription Agreement. The Company will then either email or mail a copy of the Subscription Agreement for your review. If after review, you wish to proceed with an investment in this Offering, you’ll then have to complete the following procedures:
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| · | Physically execute the Subscription Agreement and then either: |
(1) scan and electronically deliver to us the Subscription Agreement by emailing a signed copy to the Company at investors@vortexbrands.us; or
(2) mailing a copy of the signed Subscription Agreement to us at 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835; and simultaneously
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| · | Pay the Purchase Price as such term is defined in the Subscription Agreement by either: |
(1) wiring the funds directly to the Company’s designated bank account pursuant to wire instructions that will be provided
; or
(2) mailing a personal check to the Company payable to “Vortex Brands” at 3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208, Sacramento, CA 95835
Any potential investor will have ample time to review the offering circular and subscription agreement, along with their counsel, prior to making any final investment decision. We will not accept any money until the SEC declares the relevant offering circular qualified. All funds received from investors will be immediately available to the Company. We have the right to accept or reject subscriptions in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. All monies from rejected subscriptions will be returned immediately by us to the subscriber, without interest or deductions. Subscriptions for securities will be accepted or rejected with letter by mail within 48 hours after we receive them.
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EXHIBIT 6.1
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
VENDOR RELATIONSHIP
Effective: December 31, 2017
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is to outline the working arrangement and vendor relationship among the parties, including the duties of each party, effective December 31st, 2017.
The first party consists of Blockchain Energy, Inc., a Colorado corporation referred to herein as “BEI”; and the second party who consists of Tripac Systems, Inc., a Colorado corporation referred to herein as “TSI” which has control over the Widner Family owned Phase Angle Synchronization technology (“PAS”).
The parties understand that they will work together in good faith to bring about an effective “pilot program” to demonstrate the commercial viability of PAS and the savings and benefits it provides the electric utility industry. BEI has agreed to become the operating entity to commercialize PAS within the electric utility market in the US, and TSI has agreed to train and consult on the assembly, testing and installation of the PAS system. BEI is granted an irrevocable right to purchase the necessary components that make up the PAS system from TSI, including the on-board computers with the necessary operating software pre-loaded, and TSI agrees to make all such components available for purchase. This “pilot program” is defined as the installation of up to 100 PAS systems in California, to have a large enough sample to provide overwhelming evidence of PAS effectiveness in various installations.
In addition to the above, each party agrees to the following regarding the working prototype and training systems:
BEI will be entrusted with the fully working prototype known as the “PAS demo unit” at their location in Sacramento County, California and BEI acknowledges it will take care to be responsible for the protection, safety, and security of the PAS demo unit always. BEI agrees to pay TSI $40,000 for the custodial rights of this PAS demo unit to be housed in Sacramento County at least during this “pilot program” phase.
In addition to the PAS demo unit, TSI will provide at least 1 additional PAS training unit as part of TSI’s training to BEI on the assembly, testing, and installation of PAS units. BEI will pay $40,000 for the custodial rights of the PAS training unit, as well as $10,000 for an assortment of parts associated with the PAS training unit that is needed for training purposes.
BEI agrees to pay any expenses related to TSI providing the above services, including consulting, training, travel, and other reasonable expenses as required to properly prepare for the “pilot program” and to perform during the “pilot program” phase and fully train BEI to perform the above stated duties.
BEI further agrees that by serving as the operating entity it will have full authority from TSI to contract with various beneficiaries to lease the assembled PAS units, and BEI will provide:
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| - | a location for demonstrations of PAS technology to stakeholders; location to double as the training and assembly site of the pilot program systems |
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| - | prepare presentations for various stakeholders (electric utility and government regulators) |
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| - | invitations to their contacts including those at electric utility, government regulators, and others to view product presentations |
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| - | in concert with BEI’s industry contacts, find suitable locations for the initial 100-system pilot program |
TSI further agrees that as the vendor, that in addition to the above description of services, it will also provide knowledge and expertise on a “need to know” basis:
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| - | industry knowledge stemming from over 25 years of research and development of the PAS technology and its applications in the market, along with the accompanying research, and subject matter expertise. |
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| - | assistance in preparation of presentation materials for stakeholders which may include electric utilities, government regulators, and others |
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| - | leadership in preparing and delivering stakeholder presentations as well as prepare answers to common questions that arise from such stakeholder presentations |
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| - | assistance with BEI industry contacts to find suitable locations for the initial 100-system pilot program. |
Agreed:
| By: | /s/ Todd Higley |
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| By: | /s/ Bob Widner |
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| Todd Higley, CEO |
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| Bob Widner, President |
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| Blockchain Energy, Inc. |
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| Tripac Systems, Inc. |
EXHIBIT 12.1
LAW OFFICE OF CARL P. RANNO
| CARL P. RANNO | 2733 EAST VISTA DRIVE | Telephone: 602-493-0369 |
| Attorney and Counselor at Law | PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85032 | Email: carlranno@cox.net |
August 12, 2021
Vortex Brands, Inc
3511 Del Paso Rd., Ste. 160 PMB 208
Sacramento, CA 95835
Attn: Todd Higley, CEO
Via email: inbox@vortexbrands.us
RE: Opinion to be included with an amended Form 1-A Offering Statement, pursuant to Regulation A, to be filed by Vortex Brands, Inc., a Colorado Corporation.
Dear Sir,
This opinion is submitted pursuant to Item 17.12 of Form 1-A with respect to the proposed offering of Vortex Brands, Inc, Inc. a Colorado corporation (the Company) of up to 2,000,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The Company is offering, on a best-efforts, self-underwritten basis, a number of shares of the Company’s class A common stock at a fixed priced per share of $0.01 with no minimum amount to be sold up to a maximum of 2,000,000,000 shares but not to exceed $20,000,000 in gross proceeds. The maximum amount sold to an individual investor shall not exceed 10% of the offering.
For purposes of rendering this opinion, I have examined the Offering Statement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation dated January 29, 2019, the Company’s Bylaws dated February 14, 2019, the Exhibits attached to the Offering Statement, and such other documents and matters of law as I have deemed necessary for the expression of the opinion herein contained. For the purposes of such examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted. I have relied, without independent investigation, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinion set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.
On the basis of and in reliance upon the foregoing examination and assumptions, I am of the opinion that assuming the Offering Statement shall have become qualified, the Shares, when issued by the Company against payment therefore (not less than par value) and in accordance with the Offering Statement and the provisions of the Subscription Agreements, and when duly registered on the books of the Company’s transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
I express no opinion as to the laws of any state or jurisdiction other than the applicable sections of the Colorado Revised Statutes, as currently in effect and the federal laws of the United States.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Offering Statement and to the reference to me under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Offering Circular constituting a part of the Offering Statement. This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Offering Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. In giving this consent, I do not admit that my firm is in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Sincerely,

Carl P. Ranno