Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Discussions containing forward-looking statements may be found in the material set forth under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation” and in other sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Although we believe that our opinions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and our actual results may differ substantially from the views and expectations set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions or expectations. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect our business, including, without limitation, the audited financial statements and the notes thereto and disclosures made under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation,” “Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
Overview
We were incorporated on August 26, 1998 as Orcas Ltd. under the laws of the State of Delaware. As Orcas Ltd., we were in the business of building and promoting arcade video games and vending machines. We underwent a reverse merger and abandoned this enterprise to develop a loyalty reward program based in Taipei, Taiwan, at which time we changed our name to Ezcomm, Inc. to reflect this change in our business model. We were unable to raise enough capital to finance the research and development of our proposed consumer incentive and loyalty program in Asia and, therefore, we abandoned all efforts to develop such business in January 2001. We remained inactive until July 2004, at which time we changed our name to Ezcomm Enterprises, Inc. and began to consider and investigate potential business opportunities, including an acquisition or merger. On September 30, 2005, we acquired Eugene Science, Inc. pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement. The exchange transaction was accounted for as a reverse merger (recapitalization) with Eugene Science deemed to be the acquirer for accounting purposes. Accordingly, the historical financial information presented in our financial statements is that of Eugene Science as adjusted to give effect to any difference between the par value of our capital stock and Eugene Science capital stock with an offset to capital in excess of par value. The basis of the assets, liabilities and retained earnings of Eugene Science, the accounting acquirer, were carried over in the recapitalization. Upon the closing of the exchange transaction, we became a global biotechnology company that develops, manufactures and markets nutraceuticals, functional foods that offer health-promoting advantages beyond that of nutrition. Our primary products are our plant sterol products, including our CZTM Series of food additives, and our CholZeroTM branded beverages and capsules. On January 13, 2006, we changed our name from Ezcomm Enterprises to Eugene Science.
Going Concern
Our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern, in its report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, based on significant operating losses that we incurred and the fact that we do not have adequate working capital to finance our day-to-day operations. The Company's continued existence depends upon the success of our efforts to raise additional capital necessary to meet our obligations as they become due and to obtain sufficient capital to execute our business plan. We intend to obtain capital primarily through issuances of debt or equity. There can be no degree of assurance that we will be successful in completing additional financing transactions.
If we cannot obtain adequate funding or achieve revenues from the sale of our products, we may be required to significantly curtail or even shut down our operations.
Results of Operations
Revenues
Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
Revenues increased 120% to $220,397 for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to revenues of $100,082 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. This increase is attributable primarily to the sale and distribution of our dietary supplements, such as our CholZero capsules, in the United States, which began during the second quarter of 2006. Our merchandise revenues have not changed measurably from the comparable period of the prior year.
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
Revenues decreased 33% to $342,840 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to revenues of $516,314 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. This decrease is attributable primarily to a decrease in our merchandise revenues from the sale of crude cooking oils. We have temporarily stopped our crude cooking oil trading in order to concentrate on our primary business area, manufacturing and distributing our cholesterol-lowering products. The increase in sales of our cholesterol-lowering dietary supplements has been reflected in the increase in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to revenues during the three months ended June 30, 2005.
Operating Expenses
Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales increased 98% to $81,570 for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to cost of sales of $41,177 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. This increase is attributable primarily to an increase in our manufacturing revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period of the prior year. We have not had a significant change in our merchandise cost of sales for the three months ended June 30, 2006 as compared to the same period of the prior year. Our gross margin for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was approximately 37% of our gross revenues, as compared to a gross margin of approximately 59% of our gross revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005. The change in our gross margin is due primarily to a decrease in our manufacturing gross margin.
Total Expenses
Our total expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 were $731,297 as compared to $538,622 for the three months ended June 30, 2005, an increase of $192,675. This change is due primarily to an increase in professional fees, salaries and research and development expenses owed by us.
Other Income (Expenses)
Other income increased to $2,032,582 for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to other expenses of $481,275 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. This increase in other income resulted primarily from a gain on the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea. Interest expense increased 33% to $737,782 for the three months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to interest expense of $551,947 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. This increase is attributable primarily to interest expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation of a contract regarding sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea, and to interest expenses on our outstanding debt. Upon the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea, we had to cancel an existing sales agreement with Wando Fisheries Co. Ltd., or Wando Fisheries, and repay the outstanding principal balance and all accrued and unpaid interest under a loan from Wando Fisheries in order to sell our real property to another buyer. In addition, all of our bank loans were in default as of June 30, 2006. The interest rates on such loans range from 15% to 18%. We are currently in negotiations with our lenders to settle our outstanding debts, and we intend to enter into settlement agreements with such lenders during the second half of our 2006 fiscal year.
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales decreased 60% to $165,070 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to cost of sales of $413,770 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. This decrease is attributable primarily to a decrease in both our manufacturing cost of sales and our merchandise cost of sales in response of a decrease in our manufacturing and merchandise revenues. The decrease in our merchandise cost of sales was greater than that of our manufacturing cost of sales because of a decrease in our crude cooking oil sales, which constituted most of the merchandise revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Our gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was approximately 52% of our gross revenues, as compared to a gross margin of approximately 20% of our gross revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2005. The change in our gross margin is due primarily to a higher margin rate from sale of our dietary supplements, such as our CholZero capsules, which increased for the six months ended June 30, 2006.
Total Expenses
Our total expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $1,410,660 as compared to $1,249,392 for the six months ended June 30, 2005, an increase of 13%, or $161,268. This change is due primarily to an increase in professional fees and salaries owed by us and to an increase in our bad debts.
Other Income (Expenses)
Other income increased to $1,474,505 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to other expenses of $760,293 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. This increase in other income resulted primarily from a gain on the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea. Interest expense increased 40% to $1,177,221 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to interest expense of $835,351 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. This increase is attributable primarily to interest expanses incurred as a result of the cancellation of a contract regarding the sale of our real property and interest expenses incurred upon our loans. Upon the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea, we had to cancel an existing sales agreement with Wando Fisheries and repay the outstanding principal balance and all accrued and unpaid interest under a loan from Wando Fisheries.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
For the six months ended June 30, 2006, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $25,911 and negative working capital of approximately $12,901,251. For the six months ended June 30, 2005, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $58,018 and negative working capital of approximately $13,133,207. This decrease in our cash and working capital was due primarily to the repayment of certain bank loans during the six months ended June 30, 2006 upon the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea.
Cash Used In Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities increased 767% to $2,889,624 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to net cash of $333,156 used in operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2005. This increase of $2,556,468 resulted primarily from a gain on the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea during the six months ended June 30, 2006.
Cash Used In/Provided By Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities increased 207% to $33,168 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to net cash of $30,913 provided by investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2005. This increase of $64,081 resulted primarily from a decrease in the carrying value of the companies in which we have invested.
Cash Provided By Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased 801% to $2,923,872 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $324,232 during the six months ended June 30, 2005. This increase of $2,559,640 resulted primarily from the sale of our real property in Bucheon, Kyonggi-Do, Korea.
Bank Loans
Since 1999, we have borrowed an aggregate principal amount of $3,889,259 from the Industrial Bank of Korea. These loans bear interest at rates of 4.5% to 18% per annum and are due and payable on demand. A portion of these loans was secured by our real property. Loans in the aggregate principal amount of $1,301,919 are guaranteed by the Korea Technology Credit Guarantee Fund, or KOTEC, a government-operated fund. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, we repaid all of the outstanding principal and a portion of the accrued and unpaid interest owed under these loans. At June 30, 2006, the accrued and unpaid interest owed under these loans was approximately $1,272,633. We were in default under these loans as of December 31, 2004 and, as such, the Industrial Bank of Korea requested that our real property be auctioned to repay the loan. The Industrial Bank of Korea later agreed to cancel the auction and released our property as security upon our payment of administrative costs in the amount of $173,000. As noted above, we used the proceeds from the sale of our real property in Bucheon, South Korea to repay all outstanding principal and a portion of the accrued and unpaid interest owed to the Industrial Bank of Korea.
In December 2004, we obtained a short-term loan from the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, or NACF, in the principal amount of $1,946,105. This loan has an interest rate of 4.6% per annum and was due on December 22, 2005. This loan is guaranteed by KOTEC. At June 30, 2006, the loan had not been repaid to NACF and the aggregate outstanding principal balance and accrued and unpaid interest on such loan was approximately $1,322,691.
In September 2002, we obtained a short-term loan from ChoHeung Bank in the principal amount of $278,805. This loan has an interest rate of 9.5%, was due on August 1, 2004 and was personally guaranteed by Mr. Noh, our president, chief executive officer, board member and principal stockholder. At June 30, 2006, the aggregate principal balance and accrued and unpaid interest on such loan was approximately $418,168. In July 2001 and December 2002, we entered into loan arrangements with Kookmin Bank. Each loan is for $1,000,000, is unsecured and has interest rates of 6.22% and 11.22% per annum, respectively. Both loans were due and payable on November 15, 2004. At June 30, 2006, the aggregate principal balance and accrued and unpaid interest on such loans was approximately $2,063,843.
Notes
On October 9, 2004, we issued KOTEC a note in connection with its payout as guarantor of our convertible debenture described below. The note bears interest at a rate of 21% per annum, is guaranteed by Mr. Noh, our president, chief executive officer, board member and significant stockholder, and is due and payable on demand. To date, KOTEC has made no demands for payment of this note. At June 30, 2006, the outstanding balance of the note was approximately $2,107,620. Interest payments on the note are classified in our financial statements as “Accounts Payable.”
In October 2003, we issued a note in the principal amount of $47,772, bearing interest at a rate of 9% per annum, to Jae Ho Lee, the president of UcoleBio Corp., an entity in which Eugene Science Korea, our subsidiary, has a 73% ownership interest. The note is due and payable on demand and, to date, Mr. Lee has made no demands to us for payment of this note. The outstanding balance of this note was $51,627 at June 30, 2006.
In February 2002, we issued a note in the principal amount of $100,000, bearing interest at a rate of 8% per annum, to Kyungioils Co., Ltd. The note is due and payable on demand and, to date, no demands have been made to us for payment of this note. The outstanding balance on this note was $19,706 at June 30, 2006.
Government Loans
On March 2, 2003, we received a non-interest bearing, unsecured loan from the South Korean government in the principal amount of $61,779. Pursuant to its terms, the loan was to be repaid in three annual installments of $20,593, beginning February 26, 2004. The loan matured in its entirety in February 2006. At June 30, 2006, we were $66,764 in arrears under this loan.
We received a $316,181 loan from the South Korean government in connection with certain research and development projects over the period from 1999 to 2002. The projects were not successful and, therefore, we are obligated to repay to the South Korean government the principal amount of the loan. We repaid $21,034 of the amount due under this loan in our 2004 fiscal year. At June 30, 2006, we were $306,646 in arrears under this loan arrangement.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are impacted by the accounting policies we have adopted. In order to get a full understanding of our financial statements, one must have a clear understanding of the accounting policies employed. A summary of our critical accounting policies follows:
BASIS OF PRESENTATION. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of UcoleBio Corp, a company in which Eugene Science Korea holds a 74% ownership interest. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. These consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the year.
UNIT OF MEASUREMENT. The United States Dollar has been used as the unit of measurement in our consolidated financial statements.
USE OF ESTIMATES. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and related notes to financial statements. These estimates are based on management's best knowledge of current events and actions we may undertake in the future. Actual results may ultimately differ from estimates, although management does not believe such changes will materially affect the financial statements in any individual year.
REVENUE RECOGNITION. We generate revenues from sales of manufactured goods and merchandise, as well as rental of the company's buildings. Revenues from products sales are recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements," or SAB No. 101, when delivery has occurred provided there is persuasive evidence of an agreement, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection of the related receivable is probable.
GOVERNMENT GRANTS. Government grants are recognized as income over the periods necessary to match them with the related costs that they are intended to compensate.
CURRENCY TRANSLATION. Our functional currency is Korean Won. Adjustments to translate those statements into United States Dollars at the balance sheet date are recorded in other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transactions of the Korean operation have been translated to Korean Won at the rate prevailing at the time of the transaction. Realized foreign exchange gains and losses have been charged to income in the year.
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS. Highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents and recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.
PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT. Properties and equipment are stated at cost. Major renewals and betterments are capitalized and expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charges to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following periods:
Building | 20-40 years |
| |
Machinery | 10 years |
| |
Vehicles | 5 years |
| |
Furniture and equipment | 3-5 years |
INTANGIBLE ASSETS. Intangible assets such as costs of obtaining industrial rights and patents are stated at cost, net of depreciation computed using the straight-line method over 5 to 10 years.
INVENTORIES. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is determined by deducting selling expenses from selling price. The cost of inventories is determined on the first-in first-out method, except for materials-intransit for which the specific identification method is used.
INVESTMENTS. Investments in available-for-sale securities are being recorded in accordance with FAS-115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." Equity securities that are not held principally for the purpose of selling in the near term are reported at fair market value with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. Fair values of cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments and short-term debt approximate cost. The estimated fair values of other financial instruments, including debt, equity and risk management instruments, have been determined using market information and valuation methodologies, primarily discounted cash flow analysis. These estimates require considerable judgment in interpreting market data, and changes in assumptions or estimation methods could significantly affect the fair value estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections," or SFAS 154, which replaces Accounting Principles Board, or APB, Opinion No. 20, "Accounting Changes", and SFAS No. 3, "Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements An Amendment of APB Opinion No. 28". SFAS No. 154 provides guidance on the accounting for and reporting of changes in accounting principles and error corrections. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior period financial statements of voluntary changes in accounting principle and changes required by new accounting standards when the standard does not include specific transition provisions, unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 also requires certain disclosures for restatements due to correction of an error. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, and is required to be adopted by us as of January 1, 2006. The impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 154 will have on our results of operations and financial condition will depend on the nature of future accounting changes adopted by us and the nature of transitional guidance provided in future accounting pronouncements.
Risk Factors
The following risks could affect our business, financial results and results of operations. These risk factors should be considered in connection with evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB because these factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
Our independent registered public accounting firm has a going concern qualification in their opinion contained in our audited financial statements which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
As a result of our substantial historical operating losses, limited revenues and working capital and our capital needs, our auditors added a going concern qualification in their report contained in our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. While we have relied principally in the past on external financing to provide liquidity and capital resources for our operations, we can provide no assurance that cash generated from our operations together with cash received in the future from external financing will be sufficient to enable us to continue as a going concern.
We will need to raise additional capital and it may not be available to us on favorable terms or at all. Our inability to obtain any needed additional capital on favorable terms could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We will need to raise additional capital over the next twelve months to support our operations, meet competitive pressures and respond to unanticipated requirements during and beyond that period. While there are no definitive arrangements with respect to sources of additional financing, management is optimistic that these funds can be raised through debt and/or equity offerings. However, our inability to obtain additional financing, when needed or on favorable terms, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could cause us to curtail or cease operations.
We may fail to establish or cultivate strategic relationships to expand our business.
We intend to develop our business model and build our business initially through strategic relationships with large manufacturers. We may not be able successfully to form or manage such relationships, and if not, our ability to execute our business plan will be at risk. Further, if these partnerships are formed but are not successful in their execution, further revenue derived from sales of patented products may not materialize.
Because we rely on a limited number of customers, any reduction in orders from any single customer would harm our business.
In the six months ended June 30, 2006, sales to four major customers accounted for 90% of our total revenue. We may fail to capture a share of the market for such products. Because we are dependent on a limited number of customers, any decrease or elimination of such customers’ purchases could materially harm our business.
We face product liability risks and may not be able to obtain adequate insurance to protect ourselves against losses.
We maintain liability insurance with policy limits generally of $100,000 per occurrence and $100,000 per year. Our insurance coverage includes property, casualty, comprehensive general liability, and products liability insurance. We believe that our insurance coverage is adequate. The testing, marketing, and sale of health care products, however, entail an inherent risk of product liability. We cannot assure you that product liability claims relating to dietary supplement products will not be asserted against us, our licensees, or third parties with whom we operate. Many claims related to dietary supplements have already been brought against businesses in our industry. Further, we cannot assure you that such insurance will provide adequate coverage against any potential claims. A product liability claim or product recall could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
We may experience difficulty in entering international markets.
The creation of strategic customer relationships and the marketing and sale of our functional nutrition technology and products could experience difficulty entering both the U.S. and additional international markets due to greater regulatory barriers, the necessity of adapting to new regulatory systems and problems related to entering new markets with different cultural bases and political systems. Operating in international markets exposes us to certain risks, including, among other things: (i) changes in or interpretations of foreign regulations that may limit our ability to sell certain products; (ii) exposure to currency fluctuations; (iii) the potential imposition of trade or foreign exchange restrictions or increased tariffs; and (iv) political instability. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into agreements with additional international marketing partners and thereby would limit the expansion of our revenue base.
We rely on patents, licenses and intellectual property rights to protect our proprietary interests.
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain patents, licenses and other intellectual property rights covering its products. There can be no assurance that our licenses, patents and patent applications are sufficiently comprehensive to protect our products. The process of seeking further patent protection can be long and expensive, and there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient capital reserves to cover the expense of patent prosecution for their application or that all or even any patents will issue from currently pending or any future patent applications or that any of the patents when issued will be of sufficient scope or strength to provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage to us. While we believe the bases on which patent applications were filed correspond to the patents that have been issued for composition and method of production and use and are reasonable given the issuance of the latter patents, there can be no assurance that the patents for which it has applied will be issued. We may be subject to or may be required to initiate interference proceedings with international patent and trademark authorities. Such proceedings could demand significant financial and management resources. We may receive communications alleging possible infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights of others. We believe that in most cases it could obtain necessary licenses or other rights on commercially reasonable terms, but it may be unable to do so. In addition, litigation could ensue or damages for any past infringements could be assessed. Litigation, which could result in substantial cost to and diversion of efforts by our management, may be necessary to enforce patents or our other intellectual property rights or to defend against claimed infringement of the rights of others. The failure to obtain necessary licenses or other rights or litigation arising out of infringement claims could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our success depends in part on our successful development and sale of products currently in the research and development stage.
Many of our product candidates are still in the research and development stage. The successful development of new products is uncertain and subject to a number of significant risks. Potential products that appear to be promising at early states of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the cost and time of development. Potential products may be found to be ineffective or cause harmful side effects, fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals, be difficult to manufacture on a large scale or be uneconomical or fail to achieve market acceptance. Additionally, our proprietary products may not be commercially available for a number of years, if at all.
There can be no assurance that any of our products in development will be successfully developed or that we will achieve significant revenues from such products even if they are successfully developed. Our success is dependent upon our ability to develop and market our products on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing or marketing such products, or taking advantage of the perceived demand for such products. In addition, there can be no assurance that products or technologies developed by others will not render our products or technologies non-competitive or obsolete.
We will rely in part on international sales, which are subject to additional risks.
International sales may account for a significant portion of our revenues. International sales can be subject to many inherent risks that are difficult or impossible for us to predict or control, including:
• expected changes in regulatory requirements and tariffs;
• difficulties and costs associated with staffing and managing foreign operations, including foreign distributor relationships;
• longer accounts receivable collection cycles in certain foreign countries;
• adverse economic or political changes;
• unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
• more limited protection for intellectual property in some countries;
• changes in our international distribution network and direct sales force;
• potential trade restrictions, exchange controls and import and export licensing requirements;
• potentially adverse tax consequences of overlapping tax structure; and
• foreign currency fluctuations.
Failure to adequately expand to address expanding market opportunities could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We anticipate that a significant expansion of operations will be required to address potential market opportunities. There can be no assurances that we will expand our operations in a timely or sufficiently large manner to capitalize on these market opportunities. The anticipated substantial growth is expected to place a significant strain on our managerial, operational and financial resources and systems. While management believes it must implement, improve and effectively use our operational, management, research and development, marketing, financial and employee training systems to manage anticipated substantial growth, there can be no assurances that these practices will be successful.
We do not have a separate standing audit committee, compensation committee or nominating and corporate governance committee, so the duties customarily delegated to those committees are performed by the board of directors as a whole, and no director is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the rules and regulations of the securities and exchange commission.
Our Board of Directors consists of four members. The Board of Directors as a whole performs the functions of an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. None of the directors is considered "independent" under Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers listing standards, and neither qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-B. Accordingly, we will not be able to list our common stock with a nationally recognized exchange until we recruit independent directors to the Board and restructure our Board to comply with various requirements currently in place by those self-regulating organizations, and as a result, it may be difficult for you to sell our common stock.
Our business is subject to the potential adverse consequences of exchange rate fluctuations.
We expect to conduct business in various foreign currencies and will be exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and such foreign currencies may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition and could specifically result in foreign exchange gains and losses. The impact of future exchange rate fluctuations on our operations cannot be accurately predicted. To the extent that the percentage of our non-U.S. Dollar revenue derived from international sales increases in the future, our exposure to risks associated with fluctuations in foreign exchange rates will increase further. Moreover, as a result of operating a manufacturing facility in South Korea, a substantial portion of our costs are and will continue to be denominated in the South Korean Won. Adverse changes in the exchange rates of the South Korean Won to the U.S. Dollar will affect our costs of goods sold and operating margins and could result in exchange losses.
The requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including Section 404, are burdensome, and our failure to comply with them could have a material adverse affect on our business and stock price.
Except with respect to the adoption of our Code of Conduct and Ethics and our compliance with certain requirements specifically applicable to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and our other periodic reports, our management has not commenced any specific procedures to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, including, specifically, the process necessary to implement the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires our management to assess the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and include an assertion in our annual report as to the effectiveness of our controls. Beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, unless otherwise amended by the Securities and Exchange Commission, our independent registered accounting firm will be required to attest to whether our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is fairly stated in all material respects and separately report on whether it believes we maintained, in all material respects, effective internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. Because of our management's lack of resources, and our limited operations, we have not commenced the process of preparing the system and process documentation, performing an evaluation of our internal controls required for our management to make this assessment and for the auditors to provide their attestation report, and accordingly, have not begun testing the effectiveness of these internal controls. We expect that this process will require significant amounts of our management’s time and resources, as well as higher expenses in the form of higher audit and review fees, higher legal fees and higher internal costs to document, test and potentially remediate internal controls. Accordingly, with respect to Section 404 in particular, there exists a significant risk that we will not be able to meet all the requirements of Section 404 by the end of fiscal year 2007, when we are required to report on our internal controls and provide our auditor's opinion thereon. Additionally, even in the event we attempt to comply with Section 404, in the course of evaluation and testing, management may identify deficiencies that will need to be addressed and remediated, which could potentially have a material adverse effect on our stock price and could result in significant additional expenditures.
Risks related to our industry
Our failure to comply with current or future governmental regulations could adversely affect our business.
The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, distribution, and sale of functional foods and food additives, such as those sold by us, are subject to regulation by a number of federal, state and local agencies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and the United States Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, as well as government agencies in other countries where we may operate. Among other matters, this regulation is concerned with product safety and claims made with respect to a product's ability to provide health-related benefits. These agencies have a variety of procedures and enforcement remedies available to them, including the following:
· | initiating investigations; |
· | issuing warning letters and cease and desist orders; |
· | requiring corrective labeling or advertising; |
· | requiring consumer redress, such as requiring that we offer to repurchase products previously sold to consumers; |
· | seeking injunctive relief or product seizures; and |
· | imposing civil penalties or commencing criminal prosecution. |
United States federal and state agencies have in the past used these remedies in regulating participants in the dietary supplements industry, including the imposition by federal agencies of civil penalties in the millions of dollars against a few industry participants. In addition, publicity related to dietary supplements may result in increased regulatory scrutiny of the nutritional supplements industry.
Our failure to comply with applicable laws could subject us to severe legal sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. We cannot assure you that the regulatory environment in which we operate will not change or that such regulatory environment, or any specific action taken against us, will not result in a material adverse effect on our business and operations. We cannot assure you that a state will not interpret claims presumptively valid under federal law as illegal under that state's regulations, or that future FDA regulations or FTC decisions will not restrict the permissible scope of such claims. Additionally, we cannot assure you that such proceedings or investigations or any future proceedings or investigations will not have a material adverse effect on our business or operations.
We may be unable to compete effectively with competitors of perceived competing technologies or direct competitors that may enter our market with new technologies.
The market for our products is relatively new. Our ability to increase revenues and generate profitability is directly related to our ability to maintain a competitive advantage. We face potential direct competition from companies that may enter this market with new competing technologies and with greater financial, marketing and distribution resources than us. These greater resources could permit our competitors to introduce new products and implement extensive advertising and promotional programs, with which we may not be able to compete. As a result, we can provide no assurances that we will be able to compete effectively in the future.
If our industry receives unfavorable publicity, our business could be harmed.
We believe that the nutraceutical market is affected by media attention regarding the consumption of dietary supplements and functional goods. Future scientific research or publicity could be unfavorable to the functional nutrition market or any particular product, or inconsistent with earlier favorable research or publicity. Future reports of research that are perceived as less favorable or that question such earlier research could hurt our business. Because of our dependence upon consumer perceptions, adverse publicity associated with adverse effects resulting from the consumption of our products or any similar products distributed by other companies could also hurt our business. Such adverse publicity could arise even if the adverse effects associated with such products resulted from consumers' failure to consume such products as directed. In addition, we may not be able to counter the effects of negative publicity concerning the efficacy of our products.
Risks related to our common stock
We have a limited trading volume and shares eligible for future sale by our current stockholders may adversely affect our stock price.
To date, we have had a very limited trading volume in our common stock. As long as this condition continues, the sale of a significant number of shares of common stock at any particular time could be difficult to achieve at the market prices prevailing immediately before such shares are offered. In addition, sales of substantial amounts of common stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants, under Rule 144 or otherwise could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital at that time through the sale of our securities.
Our common stock price is highly volatile.
The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile as the stock market in general has been highly volatile.
Factors that could cause such volatility in our common stock may include, among other things:
· | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; |
· | announcements of technological innovations; |
· | changes in financial estimates by securities analysts; |
· | conditions or trends in our industry; and |
· | changes in the market valuations of other comparable companies. |
The sale of our common stock on the over-the-counter bulletin board and the potential designation of our common stock as a "penny stock" could impact the trading market for our common stock.
Our securities, as traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, are subject to Securities and Exchange Commission rules that impose special sales practice requirements upon broker-dealers who sell such securities to persons other than established customers or accredited investors. For purposes of the rule, the phrase "accredited investors" means, in general terms, institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000, or individuals having a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or having an annual income that exceeds $200,000 (or that, when combined with a spouse's income, exceeds $300,000). For transactions covered by the rule, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser's written agreement to the transaction prior to the sale. Consequently, the rule may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and also may affect the ability of purchasers to sell their securities in any market that might develop therefor.
In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a number of rules to regulate "penny stock." Because our securities may constitute "penny stock" within the meaning of the rules, the rules would apply to us and to our securities. The rules may further affect the ability of owners of our common stock to sell our securities in any market that might develop for them.
Stockholders should be aware that, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include (i) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (ii) manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (iii) "boiler room" practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (iv) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (v) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, resulting in investor losses.
Our management is aware of the abuses that have occurred historically in the penny stock market. Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established with respect to our securities.
We do not foresee paying dividends in the near future.
We have not paid dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying such dividends in the foreseeable future.
Our officers and directors own a significant portion of our common stock, which could limit our stockholders' ability to influence the outcome of key transactions.
As of June 30, 2006, our officers and directors and their affiliates owned approximately 35.64% of our outstanding voting shares. As a result, our officers and directors are able to exert considerable influence over the outcome of any matters submitted to a vote of the holders of our common stock, including the election of our Board of Directors. The voting power of these stockholders could also discourage others from seeking to acquire control of us through the purchase of our common stock, which might depress the price of our common stock.
Item 3. Controls and Procedures.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, pursuant to Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, were effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires management's review and evaluation of our internal controls, and an attestation of the effectiveness of these controls by our independent registered public accounting firm beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. We plan to dedicate significant resources, including management time and effort, and to incur substantial costs in connection with our Section 404 assessment. The evaluation of our internal controls will be conducted under the direction of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. We will continue to work to improve our controls and procedures, and to educate and train our employees on our existing controls and procedures in connection with our efforts to maintain an effective controls infrastructure.
PART II-OTHER INFORMATION
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Item 6. Exhibits.
The exhibits set forth below are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB:
Exhibit Number | Description |
| |
10.1 | 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2006). |
| |
10.2 | Form of Stock Option Agreement (I) under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2006). |
| |
10.3 | Form of Stock Option Agreement (II) under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2006). |
| |
31.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| |
31.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| |
32.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
| |
32.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)/15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | |
| EUGENE SCIENCE, INC. |
| | |
Date: August 21, 2006 | By: | /s/ SEUNG KWON NOH |
| Seung Kwon NohPresident, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | |
| | |
Date: August 21, 2006 | By: | /s/ JAE HONG YOO |
| Jae Hong YooChief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| |