EX-99.1 2 ea024612701ex99-1_realpha.htm ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATM OFFERING

Exhibit 99.1

 

Risks Related to the Company and Our Business

 

Our ongoing disputes with GYBL may be costly, time consuming and, if adversely determined against us, could result in a significant downward adjustment of the GEM Warrants’ exercise price, and potentially other penalties and expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and business operations.

 

On November 1, 2024, we filed a lawsuit against GEM Yield Bahamas Limited (“GYBL”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”), pursuant to which we asserted two causes of action: (i) rescission of the warrants issued to GYBL (the “GEM Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2022 (the “GEM Agreement”), by and among us, GYBL and GEM Global Yield LLC SCS, pursuant to Section 29(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), due to GYBL’s underlying violation of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act for effecting the GEM Warrants as an unregistered dealer, and (ii) in the alternative, a declaratory judgment that the exercise price adjustment calculation of the GEM Warrants is governed by the terms provided in the GEM Warrants, rather than the terms of the GEM Agreement. Following a motion to dismiss filed by GYBL on January 17, 2025, the Court granted such motion to dismiss on March 14, 2025. On April 15, 2025, we filed an appeal of the Court’s decision dismissing our case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit”). The briefing schedule at the Second Circuit is being held in abeyance in order to allow two previously filed appeals, filed by two other public companies on identical issues against other similar investors, be resolved first. However, if and when the appellate briefing moves forward, there is no assurance that it will be successful.

 

Additionally, following the Court’s grant of GYBL’s motion to dismiss our lawsuit, GYBL filed a separate lawsuit against us, in which GYBL is asserting two causes of action against us: (1) breach of the terms of the GEM Warrants, and (2) declaratory relief concerning the validity and enforceability of the GEM Warrants. In addition to the declaratory relief, GYBL is seeking monetary damages in an amount to be determined at trial, specific performance of the GEM Warrants and attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. On June 9, 2025, we filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit from GYBL. The deadline for GYBL to respond to the motion to dismiss is June 23, 2025, though GBYL may request an extension.

 

Given the ongoing disputes with GYBL, including our pending appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the recently filed motion to dismiss, the exercise price of the GEM Warrants have not been adjusted pursuant to the GEM Warrants’ terms while these disputes are pending, and, to the extent any shares of common stock are sold pursuant to an equity offering, for instance, at a price per share that is below the then-current exercise price of the GEM Warrants, we do not plan to adjust the exercise price of the GEM Warrants pending resolution of such disputes. A final adverse ruling against us in pending lawsuits and any subsequent appeals, or in any other claim or counterclaim, as applicable, sought by GYBL, could lead to a significant downward adjustment to the current exercise price of the GEM Warrants, additional expenses incurred related to the lawsuits during the ongoing disputes, including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees, and any other remedies the court may deem just.

 

Further, any lawsuit and subsequent appeals may be expensive, may divert management’s time away from our operations, and may affect the availability and premiums of our liability insurance coverage, regardless of whether our claims are meritorious, or ultimately lead to a judgment against us. We cannot assure you that we will be able to be successful in lawsuits, or any subsequent appeal, against GYBL or resolve any current or future litigation matters, in which case those litigation matters, including the disputes with GYBL, could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

 

 

 

We are permanently barred from raising capital in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to a Consent Order.

 

On April 15, 2022, we entered into a consent order (the “Consent Order”) with the Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Under the Consent Order, the Company is barred from offering or selling securities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and ordered to cease and desist from committing future violations of Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, Mass. Gen. Laws c. 110A (the “Act”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder at 950 Code Mass. Regs. 10.01-14.413. The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996 (“NSMIA”) prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities,” including securities listed on a national securities exchange such as Nasdaq. Because our common stock is listed on Nasdaq, our common stock qualifies as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of covered securities, NSMIA does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. The Consent Order expressly states that it is not intended to be a final order based upon violations of the Act that prohibit fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct. As a result, there is uncertainty as to whether the Consent Order’s prohibition on offers or sales of our securities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is enforceable under federal law. Regardless of this uncertainty, we have not undertaken a legal determination as to the preemption question and are continuing to comply with the Consent Order. To the extent that the Consent Order is enforceable, our ability to sell securities of the Company is limited to the remaining 49 states and expressly excludes natural persons or legal entities that are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Based on information currently available to us, we are not aware of any sales that have been made by the Company in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since we entered into the Consent Order. However, if an offering of our securities were to result in sales to residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, even inadvertently, it could be viewed as a violation of the Consent Order and could subject us to additional regulatory actions or penalties. A regulatory action, even if it does not result in a finding of wrongdoing or penalty, could require substantial expenditures of time, resources, and money, and could potentially damage our reputation. Any such regulatory action or penalty could adversely affect our business, result of operations or access to capital markets.

 

Our business is subject to various laws and regulations, including financial protections and securities laws.

 

We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations relating to financial protection, data privacy, and securities laws. These laws and regulations are constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. Such laws and regulations are numerous, complex, and frequently changing. If we fail to satisfy such laws and regulations, we may face inquiries or investigations or other government actions, which may be costly to comply with, result in negative publicity, require management’s time and attention, and subject us to remedies that may harm our business, including fines or demands or orders that we modify or cease business practices. Additionally, as we depend on third parties for key services, we rely on such third-party service providers’ compliance with laws and regulations regarding privacy, data protection, consumer protection, securities regulation, and other matters relating to our customers and business activities. Should there be deficiencies in our compliance (including by third-party service providers), this could adversely impact our reputation and could also expose us to material liability and responsibility for damages, fines, or penalties.