Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

Byrna Technologies disclosed 53 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Byrna Technologies reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q3, 2024

Risk Distribution

28% Finance & Corporate

23% Production

17% Legal & Regulatory

15% Ability to Sell

9% Tech & Innovation

8% Macro & Political

Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

2020

S&P500 Average

Sector Average

Risks removed

Risks added

Risks changed

Byrna Technologies Risk Factors

New Risk (0)

Risk Changed (0)

Risk Removed (0)

No changes from previous report

The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q3, 2024

Main Risk Category

Finance & Corporate

With 15 Risks

Finance & Corporate

With 15 Risks

Number of Disclosed Risks

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

Recent Changes

0Risks added

0Risks removed

0Risks changed

Since Aug 2024

0Risks added

0Risks removed

0Risks changed

Since Aug 2024

Number of Risk Changed

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 3

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 3

See the risk highlights of Byrna Technologies in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 53

Finance & Corporate

Total Risks: 15/53 (28%)Below Sector Average

Share Price & Shareholder Rights8 | 15.1%

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1

Substantial future sales, or the perception or anticipation of future sales, of shares of our common stock could cause our stock price to decline.

Our stock price could decline as a result of substantial sales of our common stock, or the perception or anticipation that such sales could occur, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers, and significant stockholders, a large number of shares of our common stock becoming available for sale, or the perception in the market that holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares. We may in the future register shares of common stock that we have issued or may issue under our equity compensation plans and shares of common stock that have been issued upon the conversion of certain convertible securities. Accordingly, these shares will be able to be freely sold in the public market upon issuance as permitted by any applicable securities laws, applicable vesting requirements, and the lock-up agreements described above to the extent such shares are held by our executive officers and directors.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2

Our Bylaws, as amended, provide exclusive forum provisions applicable to substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders as well as claims brought under the Securities Act of 1933, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.

Our Bylaws, as amended, provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) is the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (b) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders; (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or Bylaws; or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In addition, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint against us asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions or multiple jurisdictions, which could result in expensive and protracted litigation with potentially conflicting outcomes that could exhaust our insurance coverage leaving us exposed to substantial legal expenses and judgments, or otherwise harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3

Our charter documents and Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us and discourage a takeover.

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, Bylaws, as amended, and Delaware law contain certain provisions that may have the effect of deterring or discouraging, among other things, a non-negotiated tender or exchange offer for shares of common stock, a proxy contest for control of our company, the assumption of control of our company by a holder of a large block of common stock, and the removal of the management of our company. Such provisions also may have the effect of deterring or discouraging a transaction which might otherwise be beneficial to stockholders. Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, also may authorize our board of directors, without stockholder approval, to issue one or more series of preferred stock, which could have voting and conversion rights that adversely affect or dilute the voting power of the holders of common stock. Delaware law also imposes conditions on certain business combination transactions with "interested stockholders." Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes our Board of Directors to fill vacancies or newly created directorships. A majority of the directors then in office may elect a successor to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships. Such provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock and impede the ability of the stockholders to replace management. The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers, and employees under Delaware law and the existence of indemnification rights to our directors, officers, and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers, and employees. We also expect to enter into contractual indemnification obligations under employment agreements with our executive officers. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in our incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit our company and our stockholders.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4

If our analyst coverage decreases or results in negative reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced to some extent by the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us and our business. We do not control these analysts. We have attracted limited research coverage to date. If coverage of our stock continues to be limited or declines, trading volume may not increase materially which could cause stock price or trading value to decline. Further, if analysts publish information about our common stock who have had relatively little experience with us or our industry, this may affect their ability to accurately forecast our results and make it more likely that we fail to meet their estimates. In the event we obtain additional securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us provide inaccurate or unfavorable research or issue an adverse opinion regarding our stock price, our stock price could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to regularly cover us or fail to publish reports, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5

Our directors, executive officers, and significant stockholders may be able to influence us.

Our directors, executive officers, and other holders of more than 5% of our common stock, together with their affiliates, currently own, in the aggregate a significant percentage of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, acting together, may have the ability to influence the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors and any merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, these stockholders, acting together, may be able to influence the management and affairs of our company. Accordingly, this concentration of ownership might decrease the market price of our common stock by: - delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in control of the company;- impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover, or other business combination involving us; or - discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the company.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6

Exercise of options or vesting of restricted stock units may have a dilutive effect on your percentage ownership and may result in a dilution of your voting power and an increase in the number of shares of common stock eligible for future resale in the public market, which may negatively impact the trading price of our shares of common stock.

The exercise of some or all of our outstanding options and the vesting of restricted stock units, could result in significant dilution in the percentage ownership interest of our existing stockholders and in a significant dilution of voting rights and earnings per share.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7

The market price of our common stock may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for purchasers.

The market price for our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile in response to factors including the following: - actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results;- changes in our financial or operational estimates or projections;- conditions in markets generally;- changes in the economic performance or market valuations of companies similar to ours; and - general economic or political conditions in the United States or elsewhere. In addition, if we are unable to successfully meet investor expectations, even if by only a small margin, there could be significant impact on the market price of our common stock. In some cases, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities, stockholders have often instituted class action securities litigation against those companies. Such litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management attention and resources, which could significantly harm our business operations and reputation.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8

We may not maintain qualification for listing on Nasdaq, which may impair your ability to sell your shares.

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Nasdaq Capital Market requires listed companies to meet certain listing criteria including total number of stockholders, Board of Directors independence, minimum stock price, total value of public float, and in some cases total stockholders' equity and market capitalization requirements. If for any reason our common stock does not maintain eligibility for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may list our common stock elsewhere, such as one of the OTC markets, which are generally considered less liquid and more volatile than a national securities exchange, and could mean that certain institutional investors could no longer hold or purchase our stock, and as a result, a purchaser of our common stock may find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the price of their shares. This could materially and adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock.

Accounting & Financial Operations4 | 7.5%

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1

Our business could be harmed if we are unable to accurately forecast our results of operations.

We may not be able to accurately forecast our results of operations and growth rate. Forecasts may be particularly challenging as we expand into new markets and geographies and develop and market new products for which we have no or limited historical data. Our historical sales, expense levels, and profitability may not be an appropriate basis for forecasting future results. Our lack of historical data related to new products makes it particularly difficult to make forecasts related to such products. The lead times and reliability of our suppliers may be affected by global events in the future. These corrections of forecast require a very quick pivot and adjustments to the supply chain, production and marketing. If we are unable to make these changes quickly or at all our inventory, production and sales may be materially affected. Failure to accurately forecast our results of operations and growth rate could cause us to make operating decisions that we may not be able to correct in a timely manner. Consequently, actual results could be materially different than anticipated. Even if the markets in which we compete expand, we cannot assure you that our business will grow at similar rates, if at all.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.

We currently intend to retain any future earnings and do not expect to pay any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend on a number of factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions, and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3

We have a history of operating losses and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to achieve or sustain profitability.

We have recorded a net loss in all fiscal years since our inception. Our net loss for the years ended November 30, 2023 and 2022 was $8.2 million and $7.9 million, respectively, and our accumulated deficit at November 30, 2023 was $69.6 million. There can be no assurance that we will not experience net losses in the future and there can be no assurance of continued profitability.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 4

We have a limited operating history on which you can evaluate our business.

We have a limited operating history on which you can evaluate our business. Although our corporate entity has existed since 2005, we have only been manufacturing and selling the Byrna launchers, our largest source of revenue, since April 2019. Moreover, we have introduced several new products during the past few years, including product lines acquired through acquisitions and sourced from third-party manufacturers with whom we had no prior experience. Most of our senior management team are relatively new to their positions. As a result, our business may be subject to many of the problems, expenses, delays, and risks inherent in the rapid growth of a relatively new business and the integration of key personnel and infrastructure.

Corporate Activity and Growth3 | 5.7%

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1

We may not be able to effectively manage our future growth.

We have experienced rapid growth in our headcount and operations over the last several years, integration of which will continue to place significant demands on our management and our operational and financial infrastructure. Additional growth in the future could increase that demand. We have a limited history operating our business at its current scale. We may experience difficulties in managing this growth and building the appropriate processes and controls. Continued growth (including our expansion in Ft. Wayne, international expansion, and growth associated with new product introduction and successful marketing campaign) may increase the strain on our resources, and we could experience operating difficulties, including difficulties in sourcing, logistics, recruiting, maintaining internal controls, marketing, designing innovative products, and meeting consumer needs. If we do not adapt to meet these evolving challenges, the strength of our brand may erode, the quality of our products may suffer, we may not be able to deliver products on a timely basis to our customers, and our corporate culture may be harmed. We must effectively integrate, develop and motivate a large number of new employees in various locations around the country, in South America, and in South Africa, and we must maintain the beneficial aspects of our corporate culture. We intend to continue to make substantial investments in research and development, marketing and sales, our general and administrative organizations, and our international operations. To attract top talent, we have had to offer, and believe we may need to improve and will need to continue to offer, highly competitive compensation packages before we can validate the productivity of those employees. In addition, fluctuations in the price of our common stock can make it more difficult or costly to use equity compensation to motivate, incentivize and retain our employees. We face significant competition for talent from other high-growth companies, which include both publicly traded and privately-held companies. The risks of over-hiring or over-compensating employees and the challenges of integrating a rapidly growing employee base into our corporate culture may increase our expenses. We may not be able to hire new employees quickly enough to meet our needs. If we fail to effectively manage our hiring needs and successfully integrate our new hires, our efficiency and ability to meet our forecasts and our employee morale, productivity and retention could suffer, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected. As we grow our business, slower growing or reduced demand for our products, increased competition, a decrease in the growth rate of our overall market, failure to develop and successfully market new products, or the maturation of our business or market could harm our business. We expect to make significant investments in research and development and sales and marketing, expand our operations and infrastructure, design and develop or acquire new products, and enhance our existing products. If our sales do not increase at a sufficient rate to offset these increases in our operating expenses, our margins and profitability may decline in future periods. Additionally, if we do not effectively manage the growth of our business and operations, the quality of our products and customer service could suffer, which could negatively affect our brand, operating results and overall business. We have made changes in the past, and will make changes in the future, to our features, products and services that our customers or potential customers may not like, find useful or agree with. We may also decide to discontinue certain features, products or services, or charge for certain features, products or services that are currently free or increase fees for any of our features, products or services. If customers or potential customers are unhappy with these changes, they may decrease or end their engagement on our website, or reduce or stop purchasing our products or services. In addition, they may choose to take other types of action against us such as organizing boycotts or protests focused on our company, our products or any of our services, or filing lawsuits against us. Any of these actions could negatively impact our customer growth, engagement and our brand, which would harm our business. To effectively manage this growth, we will need to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, and our reporting systems and procedures by, among other things: - improving our information technology infrastructure to maintain and improve ease of use, access by consumers, and information security;- enhancing information and communication systems to ensure that our employees and offices are well-coordinated and can effectively communicate with each other and our growing base of retail customers, vendors, and suppliers;- enhancing our internal controls to ensure the security of our data and timely and accurate reporting of all of our operations; and - appropriately documenting our information technology systems and our business and control processes. Continuing systems enhancements and improvements are likely to require significant capital expenditures and allocation of valuable management and employee resources. If we fail to implement these improvements in a timely manner or effectively, our ability to manage our expected growth and comply with the rules and regulations that are applicable to publicly reporting companies will be impaired.

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2

Conducting a portion of our operations through joint ventures exposes us to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and such risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

With respect to our Byrna LATAM joint venture in South America, any differences in views among the joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or in failures to agree on major issues. We also cannot control the actions of our joint venture partners, including any nonperformance, default or bankruptcy of our joint venture partners. As a result, we may be unable to control the quality of products produced by the joint venture or achieve consistency of product quality as compared with our other operations. In addition to net sales and market share, this may have a material negative impact on our brand and how it is perceived thereafter. Moreover, if our partners also fail to invest in the joint venture in the manner that is anticipated or otherwise fail to meet their contractual obligations, the joint venture may be unable to adequately perform and conduct its operations, requiring us to make additional investments or perform additional services to ensure the adequate performance and delivery of products and/or services to the joint venture's customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3

The ongoing requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management's attention, and affect our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified board members.

As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards and other applicable securities laws, rules, and regulations. Our compliance of these laws, rules, and regulations increases our legal and financial compliance costs, makes some activities more difficult, time-consuming, or costly, and increased demand on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business and results of operations. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting. In order to maintain and, if required, improve our disclosure controls and procedures, and our internal control over financial reporting to meet this standard, significant resources and management oversight may be required. As a result, management's attention may be diverted from other business concerns and our costs and expenses will increase, which could harm our business and results of operations. Although we have already hired additional employees to comply with these requirements, we will need to hire more employees in the future or engage outside consultants, which will increase our costs and expenses. Further, because we previously were listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange, we remain subject to the continuing disclosure rules of the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC"), which requires us to make somewhat duplicative filings related to certain matters on SEDAR and SEDI and pay annual fees in certain Canadian jurisdictions until such time as the OSC releases us from those obligations. These requirements are costly, and increase demand on our management, systems and resources. In addition, changing laws, regulations, and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs, and making some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management's time and attention from sales-generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations, and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to their application and practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal, administrative, or other proceedings against us and our business may be harmed. As a result of disclosure of information in filings required of us as a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which could be advantageous to, or harm our relationships with, our competitors, suppliers, manufacturers, retail partners, and customers. These disclosures may also make it more likely that we will experience an increase in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and results of operations could be harmed, and even if the claims are resolved in our favor the time and resources necessary to resolve them could divert the resources of our management and harm our business and results of operations.

Production

Total Risks: 12/53 (23%)Above Sector Average

Manufacturing2 | 3.8%

Manufacturing - Risk 1

Health and safety risks could expose us to potential liability and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Health and safety issues related to our products may arise that could lead to litigation or other action against us, to regulation of certain of its product components, or to negative publicity. We may be required to modify our technology and may not be able to do so. We may also be required to pay damages that may adversely affect our financial condition. Even if these concerns prove to be baseless, the resulting negative publicity could affect our ability to market certain of our products and, in turn, could harm our business and results from operations.

Manufacturing - Risk 2

If we deliver products with defects, we may be subject to product recalls or negative publicity, our credibility may be harmed, market acceptance of our products may decline, and we may be exposed to liability.

We sell complex products including products that are new to the market and without a long performance history. These products may contain certain design and manufacturing defects including defects in materials and components that we purchase from third parties. There can be no assurance we will be able to detect and fix all defects in the products we sell. Accordingly, our products may experience quality and service problems from time to time that could result in decreased sales and operating margin and harm to our reputation.

Employment / Personnel2 | 3.8%

Employment / Personnel - Risk 1

Matters relating to the employment market and prevailing wage standards may adversely affect our business.

Our ability to meet our labor needs on a cost-effective basis is subject to numerous external factors, including the availability of qualified personnel in the workforce in the local markets in which we operate, unemployment levels within those markets, prevailing wage rates, which have increased significantly, health and other insurance costs and changes in employment and labor laws. In the event prevailing wage rates continue to increase in the markets in which we operate, we may be required to concurrently increase the wages paid to our employees to maintain the quality of our workforce and customer service. To the extent such increases are not offset by price increases, our profit margins may decrease as a result. If we are unable to hire and retain employees capable of meeting our business needs and expectations, our business and brand image may be impaired. Any failure to meet our staffing needs or any material increase in turnover rates of our employees may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Further, we rely on the ability to attract and retain labor on a cost-effective basis. The availability of labor in the markets in which we operate has declined in recent years and competition for such labor has increased. Our ability to attract and retain a sufficient workforce on a cost-effective basis depends on several factors. We may not be able to attract and retain a sufficient workforce on a cost-effective basis in the future. In the event of increased costs of attracting and retaining a workforce, our profit margins may decline as a result.

Employment / Personnel - Risk 2

The failure to attract and retain key personnel could have an adverse effect on our operating results.

Our success depends substantially on the efforts and abilities of our senior management and key personnel. The competition for qualified management and key personnel is intense. The loss of services of one or more of our key employees or the inability to hire, train, and retain additional key personnel could delay the development and sale of our products, disrupt our business, and interfere with our ability to execute our business plan. In addition, our ability to maintain our competitive position is dependent to a large degree on the efforts and skills of our senior management team, including Bryan Ganz, our President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, and David North, our Chief Financial Officer. The loss of the services of one or more of our key personnel could materially and adversely affect our operations.

Supply Chain6 | 11.3%

Supply Chain - Risk 1

Sale of our personal security devices and kits depends on the continued availability of our ammunition, some of which is dependent on sole source suppliers.

Our introductory product is purchased most often as a "kit" including the Byrna SD launcher and samples of our various projectiles. Unavailability of projectiles could delay shipment of kits and materially and adversely affect our operations. Moreover, our "razor/razor blade model" which anticipates future orders of ammunition from the owners of our personal security devices could be materially impacted by the unavailability of projectiles. See "We are dependent on our relationships with key third-party suppliers for our business" below. We have experienced actual and threatened shortages of our projectiles and third-party products due to pandemic related factors that affected our suppliers as well as competition and other business specific considerations. Such situations may require a quick pivot on our packaging or bundling of products, marketing or product mix or, even legal action. There are human capital and monetary costs associated with such adaptations, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to successfully meet such challenges in the future or that they will not materially increase costs of production or operations and negatively impact our financial results.

Supply Chain - Risk 2

We are dependent on the quality of parts supplied by and quality controls of our third-party suppliers.

The Byrna SD contains over 80 parts and we rely on third-party suppliers to deliver parts and materials that comply with our specifications. While we test 100% of our finished products, we do not test 100% of the components and materials they contain. We use randomized statistical inspection for components and materials and these protocols, while we believe them to be reliable, have inherent limitations and may miss parts that do not meet specifications. If those parts pass our completed launcher testing but subsequently cause failures of the products in which they are installed, we may need to undertake product recalls or implement protocols for improved performance or safety, which could negatively impact our reputation and business. Moreover, if any such part failure resulted in a physical injury, it could also subject us to the risks of potential product liability actions and, if our stock price were impacted, security class actions.

Supply Chain - Risk 3

We are dependent on our relationships with key third-party suppliers for our business.

We rely on certain third-party suppliers for our business, including sole source suppliers. Our future operating results depend upon our ability to obtain timely delivery of a sufficient amount and a reliable quality of all components on commercially reasonable terms. Failure of a supplier's business or consolidation within the industry could further limit our ability to purchase key components at all (in the case of sole source suppliers) or in sufficient quantities and on commercially reasonable terms. Demands of competitors, including those with larger operations and stronger bargaining power or those or willing to pay a higher price or to accept lower standards, could also limit our ability to purchase key components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms. Failure of our suppliers to provide sufficient quantities of components on favorable terms, meet quality standards, or deliver components on a timely basis has occurred in the past due to industry shortages of certain raw materials or for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and could occur in the future for similar or other reasons. Such failures could delay or stop our production, result in possible lost sales and seriously threaten our liquidity and revenues.

Supply Chain - Risk 4

If our independent suppliers and manufacturing partners do not comply with ethical business practices or with applicable laws and regulations, our reputation, business, and results of operations would be harmed.

Our reputation and our customers' willingness to purchase our products depend in part on our suppliers', manufacturers', and retail partners' compliance with ethical employment practices, such as with respect to child labor, wages and benefits, forced labor, discrimination, safe and healthy working conditions, and with all legal and regulatory requirements relating to the conduct of their businesses. We do not exercise control over our suppliers, manufacturers, and retail partners and cannot guarantee their compliance with ethical and lawful business practices. If our suppliers, manufacturers, or retail partners fail to comply with applicable laws, regulations, safety codes, employment practices, human rights standards, quality standards, environmental standards, production practices, or other obligations, norms, or ethical standards, our reputation and brand image could be harmed and we could be exposed to litigation and additional costs that would harm our business, reputation, and results of operations.

Supply Chain - Risk 5

We rely on a limited number of third parties for shipping, transportation, logistics, marketing and sales of our products and components. A loss of any of such third-party relationships might have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

We rely on third parties to ship, transport, and provide logistics for our products and components. Our dependence on a limited number of third parties for these services leaves us vulnerable due to our need to secure these parties' services on favorable terms. Loss of, or an adverse effect on, any of these relationships or failure of any of these third parties to perform as expected could have a material and adverse effect on our operations, sales, revenue, margins, liquidity, reputation and financial and operating results.

Supply Chain - Risk 6

Our business relationships with third parties could cause us to expend significant resources and incur substantial business risk with no assurance of financial return.

We rely upon business relationships for the manufacturing and distribution of certain products. Our business depends upon our ability to manufacture and sell our products to our customers. We currently do not have the capabilities to manufacture some of our products and product components on our own and are required to enter into agreements with third parties of such services. We also rely upon third parties for materials and components, as well as shipping, certain marketing and sales-related services. There can be no assurance that such business relationships can be maintained, will be extended or renewed, or will achieve their goals. If we are unable to enter into business relationships for distribution and sales or if any of our current business relationships are terminated or fail to achieve their goals, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Costs2 | 3.8%

Costs - Risk 1

We are exposed to operating hazards and uninsured risks that could adversely impact our operating results and financial condition.

Our business is subject to a number of risks and hazards including loss of parts or finished goods in inventory or shipment, labor disputes and changes in the regulatory environment. Such occurrences could delay or halt production or sale of goods, result in damage to equipment, personal injury or death, monetary losses and possible legal liability. Although we currently maintain freight and inventory insurance and general liability insurance in amounts which we consider adequate, the nature of these risks is such that liabilities might exceed policy limits, the liabilities and hazards might not be insurable, or we may elect in the future not to insure against such liabilities due to high premium costs or other reasons, in which event we could incur significant costs that could have a materially adverse effect upon our financial position.

Costs - Risk 2

Higher costs or unavailability of components, freight, materials and accessories, including ammunition, could adversely affect our financial results.

Delays in delivery caused by industry allocations, material shortages (such as plastic or resins), or obsolescence have occurred in recent years, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, may continue and could occur in the future. Such delays may take weeks or months to resolve and may result in increased costs as well as production and product fulfillment delays. In addition, in some cases, parts obsolescence may require a product re-design to ensure quality replacement components. These delays could cause significant delays in manufacturing and loss of sales, leading to adverse effects significantly impacting our financial condition or results of operations and could injure our reputation. Our freight and import costs and the timely delivery of our products could be adversely impacted by a number of factors which could reduce the profitability of our operations, including: higher fuel costs; port closures; theft in transit; permit or customs clearance issues; increased government regulation or changes for imports of foreign products into the United States; delays created by terrorist attacks or threats, public health issues (including new pandemics and epidemics), national disasters or work stoppages; climate change related effects on the availability of raw materials, the operations of our suppliers, or on transportation systems or routes, and other matters. Any interruption of supply for any material components of our products could significantly delay the shipment of our products and have a material adverse effect on our revenues, profitability and financial condition. Additional compliance with existing or new regulations related to climate change could increase production costs of our suppliers and indirectly lead to increased cost to us of components, materials, or accessories. International or domestic geopolitical or other events, including the imposition of new or increased tariffs and/or quotas by the U.S. government on any of these raw materials or components, could adversely impact the supply and cost of these raw materials or components, and could adversely impact the profitability of our operations. In addition, due to rapidly increasing demand for our products, we have faced significant challenges, including production backlogs and resulting customer complaints. All of the forgoing could negatively impact our financial results.

Legal & Regulatory

Total Risks: 9/53 (17%)Below Sector Average

Regulation4 | 7.5%

Regulation - Risk 1

Changes in government policies and legislation could adversely affect our financial results.

The manufacture, sale, purchase, possession and use of weapons (including CO2 powered launchers and chemical irritant devices), ammunitions, firearms, and explosives are subject to federal, state, local, and foreign laws. If such regulation becomes more expansive in the future, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition, and cash flows. Our products are relatively new and may be subject to certain laws and regulations, including those related to CO2 powered launchers, "pepper spray" or "tear gas" devices, and future legislation or regulation. New legislation, regulations, or changes to or new interpretations of existing regulations could impact our ability to manufacture or sell products and our projectiles, or limit their market, which could impact our cost of sales and demand for Byrna products. Similarly changes in laws related to the domestic or international use of chemical irritants by civilians or law enforcement could impact both our cost of sales and the size of the reachable market. We may be subject, both directly and indirectly, to the adverse impact of existing and potential future government regulation of our products, technology, operations and markets. For example, the development, production, (re-)exportation, importation, and transfer of our products and technology is subject to U.S. and foreign export control, sanctions, customs, import and anti-boycott laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (the "EAR") (collectively, "Trade Control Laws"). If one or more of our products or technology, or the parts and components we buy from others, is or becomes subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (the "ITAR") or national security controls or other controls under the EAR, this could significantly impact our operations, for example by severely limiting our ability to sell, (re-)export, or otherwise transfer our products and technology, or to release controlled technology to foreign person employees or others in the United States or abroad. We may not be able to obtain licenses and other authorizations required under the applicable Trade Control Laws. The failure to satisfy the requirements under the Trade Control Laws, including the failure or inability to obtain necessary licenses or qualify for license exceptions, could delay or prevent the development, production, (re-)export, import, and/or in-country transfer of our products and technology, which could adversely affect our revenues and profitability. Failure by us, our employees, or others working on our behalf to comply with the applicable Trade Control Laws could result in administrative, civil, or criminal liabilities, including fines, suspension, debarment from bidding for or performing government contracts, or suspension of our export privileges, which could have a material adverse effect on us. We transact with suppliers and others who are exposed to similar risks. Violations of the Trade Control Laws or other applicable laws and regulations could materially adversely affect our products, technology, brand, growth efforts, employees, and business.

Regulation - Risk 2

We are subject to extensive regulation and could incur fines, penalties and other costs and liabilities under such requirements.

We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental, health and safety legislation and other applicable regulations, laws, and measures relating to the manufacture and sale of our products. There can be no assurance that we will not experience difficulties with our efforts to comply with applicable regulations as they change in the future or that our continued compliance efforts (or failure to comply with applicable requirements) will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, business, prospects and financial condition. Our continued compliance with present and changing future laws could restrict our ability to sell our products and expand our operations.

Regulation - Risk 3

Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other applicable anti-corruption legislation, and export controls and trade sanctions, could result in fines or criminal penalties if we expand our business abroad.

We, our business partners, and the industries in which we operate are subject to continuing scrutiny by regulators, other governmental authorities and private sector entities or individuals in the United States, South Africa, South America, the European Union, China, and other jurisdictions, which may lead to enforcement actions, adverse changes to our business practices, fines and penalties, or the assertion of private litigation claims and damages that could be material. For example, the expansion of our business internationally exposes us to export controls, trade sanctions import and export clearance requirements, customs, tariffs, anti-corruption legislation, anti-boycott requirements and other obligations and restrictions imposed by the United States and other governments. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, State, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other U.S. and foreign agencies and authorities have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against companies for violations of export controls, trade sanctions, import and export clearance requirements, customs regulations, anti-corruption legislation, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-boycott requirements and other federal statutes, sanctions and regulations and, increasingly, similar or more restrictive foreign laws, rules and regulations, which may also apply to us. By virtue of these laws and regulations, and under laws and regulations in other jurisdictions, we may be obliged to limit our business activities, we may incur costs for becoming and staying compliant, and we may be subject to enforcement actions or penalties for noncompliance, including fines, suspension, debarment from bidding for or performing government contracts, or suspension of our export privileges, which could materially adversely affect our business, operations, products, technology, brand, growth efforts, employees, and business partners. In recent years, U.S. and foreign governments have increased their oversight and enforcement activities with respect to these laws and we expect the relevant agencies to continue to increase these activities. A violation of these laws, sanctions or regulations could result in restrictions on our exports, civil and criminal fines or penalties and could adversely impact our business, operating results, and financial condition. There can be no assurance that the risk management and compliance programs we adopt will mitigate legal and compliance risks.

Regulation - Risk 4

Restrictions imposed by advertising and social media platforms that we use may result in decreased sales and market presence.

Our direct-to-consumer sales rely to a significant degree on advertising that we place on advertising platforms, including social media platforms. During 2023, advertising and social media platforms prohibited advertising of any Byrna product and imposed significant restrictions on our ability to advertise on certain platforms. Any prohibitions or restrictions on advertising imposed by these or other platforms, or any changes in the algorithms used by such platforms, may result in reduced direct-to-consumer sales, reduced traffic to our website and a decreased market presence, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities3 | 5.7%

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1

Product liability lawsuits against us could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to limit commercialization of any products that we may develop.

We may be subject to proceedings or claims that may arise in the ordinary course of the business, which could include product and service warranty claims, which could be substantial. If our products fail to perform as warranted and we fail to quickly resolve product quality or performance issues in a timely manner, our reputation may be tarnished, potential sales may be lost, and we may be forced to pay damages. The occurrence of product defects and the inability to correct errors could result in the delay or loss of market acceptance of our products, material warranty expense, diversion of technological and other resources from our product development efforts, and the loss of credibility with customers, manufacturer's representatives, distributors, dealers and end-users, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial conditions. Our products are used in activities and situations that involve risk of personal injury. Our products expose us to potential product liability, warranty liability, and personal injury claims and litigation relating to the use or misuse of our products, including allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product or activities associated with the product, negligence, and strict liability. If successful, any such claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Defects in our products may result in a loss of sales, recall expenses, delay in market acceptance, and damage to our reputation and increased warranty costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. In addition, our reputation may be adversely affected by such claims, whether or not successful, including potential negative publicity about our products. We maintain general liability insurance that includes product liability coverage in amounts that we believe are reasonable, but there is no assurance that we will be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms, if at all, in the future and product liability claims may exceed the amount of insurance coverage.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 2

Our business depends on our ability to prevent or mitigate the effects of commercial crime including theft by employees, forgery and electronic crime.

Our internal protocols and controls cannot prevent all instances of theft, forgery, electronic crime or other criminal activity by dishonest employees or external fraudsters. Our money, securities and other property may be vulnerable to theft, damage, and manipulation both on our premises and in transit through a variety of criminal acts including forgery of authorized signatures on business checks, fraudulent manipulation of our computer systems, those of our third-party partners (including e-commerce and payment service systems), or those of third-party financial institution. Such activities could include an employee or hacker transferring unauthorized funds to an outside account, fraudulent electronic funds transfer instructions sent to our bank, receipt of counterfeit currency, social engineering fraud, or mismanagement or theft by persons handling funds of our qualified employee benefit plan. While we have limited coverage against forgery and employee dishonesty under our general liability policy and persons handling funds for our qualified employee benefit plan will be bonded, we do not currently have a comprehensive commercial crime insurance policy to provide broad protection from financial losses related to business-related crime. Moreover, insofar as we have limited coverage in our general insurance policy, deductibles may apply separately to related losses, a single limit may apply to a series of related losses, such coverage is likely to be inadequate to cover a material theft of this nature, particularly if a series of acts occurs over time prior to being discovered, and such coverage may not cover or be inadequate to cover certain types of losses including such indirect or consequential losses as investigative expense coverage, business interruption, loss of potential income, and legal fees, fines and penalties.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 3

Any future litigation could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

From time to time, we may be subject to litigation including product liability claims, intellectual property claims, employment-related claims, commercial disputes, regulatory and enforcement action and stockholder class and derivative actions. Risks associated with legal liability are difficult to assess and quantify, and their existence and magnitude can remain unknown for significant periods of time. In addition, our reputation could be adversely affected by negative publicity surrounding such events regardless of whether or not claims against us are successful. A successful claim brought against us in excess of available insurance or not covered by insurance or indemnification agreements, or any claim that results in significant adverse publicity against us, could have a material adverse effect on our business and our reputation. Furthermore, the litigation process can put material or excessive demands on the time of management and employees, interfering with performance of regular responsibilities and stressing or delaying business operations, and the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain. We can provide no assurances that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business.

Environmental / Social2 | 3.8%

Environmental / Social - Risk 1

Climate change and associated changes to laws and regulations may increase our operating costs and adversely affect our business and financial results.

Climate change has been identified as resulting in an increase in average temperatures in key places we operate, including in Indiana, Las Vegas, South America, and South Africa. Projected increases in temperature in these locations may impact us in a number of ways including increasing the costs of maintaining comfortable working environments, increasing the risk of fires, increasing the risk of illness and absence as well as turnover, and a corresponding risk of severe storm weather that could lead to flooding and damage to our facilities or the homes and commuting routes of our employees. Climate change is also resulting in extreme rainfall variability and droughts in areas in South Africa which may impact the availability of clean water, cause erosion of transportation routes and effect the health of our employees, each of which could have negative impacts on our operations and could require capital investments to protect their health and maintain safe working conditions. Our Nevada facility is located in a desert where water is scarce and the hot temperatures require heavy use of air conditioning. While we have not experienced any shortages of energy or water in the past, we may in the future. In addition to the specific threat climate change may pose to our operations around the country and abroad, rising temperatures and sea levels, along with increased incidence of extreme weather events, pose a threat to the global economy and may affect our business operations both directly and indirectly. Increased flooding and fires may interfere with transportation routes and indirectly increase our costs. Public expectations for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could result in increased energy, transportation and raw material costs, and may require us to make additional investments in facilities and equipment. Our energy and transportation costs also may rise and negatively impact our operating costs. As a result, the effects of climate change could have a long-term adverse impact on our business and results of operations. The availability and costs of materials, components, and operating and freight costs of our suppliers and suppliers of third-party manufactured products may be similarly impacted by climate change. Our suppliers may pass down such increased costs by raising the price of goods. Further, while we do not anticipate our production facilities being directly affected by existing and future climate change laws, it is impossible to predict whether future laws may negatively impact our operations and we do anticipate them affecting the operations of suppliers of certain of our components and raw materials. The costs of compliance with such future regulation could materially impact the prices charged by certain of our suppliers and even whether they stay in business. Consequential increases in costs of components or materials or reduction of suppliers could materially impact our business and cost of operations.

Environmental / Social - Risk 2

Data privacy and security laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we do business could increase the cost of our operations and subject us to possible sanctions and other penalties.

Our business is subject to a number of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing data privacy and security, including with respect to the collection, storage, use, transmission and protection of personal information. In addition, a number of U.S. states have enacted data privacy and security laws and regulations that govern the collection, use, disclosure, transfer, storage, disposal, and protection of sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers, financial information and other personal information. For example, all 50 states now have data breach laws that require timely notification to individual victims, and at times regulators, if a company has experienced the unauthorized access or acquisition of sensitive personal data. State law developments, which may impose substantial penalties for violations, could impose significant costs for investigations and compliance, allow private class-action litigation and carry significant potential liability for our business. The interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations are uncertain and subject to change, and it may require substantial costs to assess, monitor and implement compliance with any additional requirements. Failure to comply with applicable law, including international data protection laws and regulations could result in government enforcement actions (which could include substantial civil or criminal penalties), private litigation or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business.

Ability to Sell

Total Risks: 8/53 (15%)Above Sector Average

Competition1 | 1.9%

Competition - Risk 1

The less-lethal defense technology industry and security products markets are highly competitive and our success depends upon our ability to effectively compete with numerous worldwide businesses.

We face competition from a number of businesses, including worldwide businesses, many of which have substantially greater financial resources, operating scale, and a broader range of product offerings than we do. In the law enforcement market, in particular, we face competitors who have long-term, established relationships with security professionals who subscribe to an integrated suite of their products, some of which offer features that our current products do not support, and who may have made substantial investments in their hardware, creating a barrier to entry for our competing product. Such competition could adversely affect our ability to win new contracts and sales and renew existing contracts. We operate in a period of intense competition in some key markets, which could affect the profitability of the contracts and sales we do win. If we cannot successfully compete in our industry and business segments, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer.

Demand2 | 3.8%

Demand - Risk 1

Our business could be harmed if we are unable to accurately forecast consumer preferences and retail trends that affect demand for our products.

To ensure adequate inventory supply, we forecast inventory needs and often place orders with our manufacturers before we receive firm orders from our retail partners or customers. If we fail to accurately forecast demand, we may experience excess inventory levels or a shortage of product. If we underestimate the demand for our products, we or our suppliers may not be able to scale to meet our demand, and this could result in delays in the shipment of our products and our failure to satisfy demand, as well as damage to our reputation and retail partner relationships. If we overestimate the demand for our products, we could face inventory levels in excess of demand, which could result in inventory write-downs or write-offs and the sale of excess inventory at discounted prices, which would harm our gross margins. In addition, failures to accurately predict the level of demand for our products could cause a decline in sales and harm our results of operations and financial condition.

Demand - Risk 2

Our revenues and profits depend on the level of customer spending for our products, which is sensitive to general economic conditions and other factors.

Our products are discretionary items for customers. Therefore, the success of our business depends significantly on economic factors and trends in consumer spending. There are a number of factors that influence consumer spending, including actual and perceived economic conditions, consumer confidence, disposable consumer income, consumer credit availability, unemployment, and tax rates in the markets where we sell our products. Consumers also have discretion as to where to spend their disposable income and may choose to purchase other items or services if we do not continue to provide high-quality products at appropriate price points. As global economic conditions continue to be volatile and economic uncertainty remains, trends in consumer discretionary spending also remain unpredictable and subject to declines. Any of these factors could harm discretionary consumer spending, resulting in a reduction in demand for our products, decreased prices for our products, and harm to our business and results of operations.

Sales & Marketing4 | 7.5%

Sales & Marketing - Risk 1

Expansion of sales of our product to schools, law enforcement and other governmental or quasi-governmental entities may require expenditure of resources and lengthen our sale cycle.

Generally, entities such as schools, law enforcement and other governmental or quasi-governmental entities consider a wide range of issues before committing to purchase less-lethal defense products, including product benefits, training costs, the cost to use our products in addition to, or in place of, other products, budget constraints and product reliability, safety and efficacy. Such considerations may result in a sales cycle that is longer than and different from sales process related to dealers and consumers. Adverse publicity surrounding our products or the safety of such products also could lengthen our sales cycle with these customers. In addition, if we successfully expand sales of our products to these customers, we could encounter challenges related to funding of law enforcement and other governmental and quasi-governmental entities generally, states and municipalities that fund such entities and the recent changes in public sentiment around police funding. We may incur substantial selling costs and expend significant effort in connection with the evaluation of our products by such potential customers before they place an order. If these potential customers do not ultimately purchase our products, we will have expended significant resources and received no revenue in return.

Sales & Marketing - Risk 2

Sales transacted at our retail store may be paid for with cash which increases the risk of theft and related legal liability.

We recently opened a small retail store within our Las Vegas sales and marketing office. Customers purchasing product at the store may choose to pay in cash. Though cash receipts are expected to be immaterial in amount and are deposited promptly at a local bank branch, acceptance of cash by our employees and possession of cash on our premises increase the risk of theft and potential related legal liabilities.

Sales & Marketing - Risk 3

We depend on the sale of our personal security devices.

Although we do sell certain other products and we expect to introduce new products, including products being developed and products acquired in connection with acquisitions, our revenue has been derived mainly from the sale of the Byrna SD and its successor, the Byrna LE. The sale of such personal security devices is influenced by a variety of economic, social, and political factors, including without limitation the level of confidence of consumers in our products and in the security and reliability of online shopping and e-commerce on which we significantly rely, which may result in volatile sales. Sales of the Byrna SD, including it's ammunition and accessories, represents most of our revenue. There can be no assurances of continued demand for the Byrna SD, and any change in the factors that impact demand and sales that are likely to materially and adversely affect our prospects.

Sales & Marketing - Risk 4

If we are unable to successfully implement our business plan for the sale of our products, our revenue growth could be slower than we expect and our business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

There can be no assurance that our revenues or revenue growth can be sustained and revenues are not expected to grow at the rates experienced in certain prior years. Revenue growth that we have achieved or may achieve may not be indicative of future operating results. The Byrna line of handheld personal security devices are relatively new products and their long-term adoption by the U.S. consumer market, and by potential other markets including law enforcement, private security, and international markets, remains unknown. We have experienced product development and production delays, as well as unanticipated costs associated with the development and manufacture of new products and material and component availability and costs, air freight availability and costs, volatile demand levels related to unexpected publicity and civil unrest, and backlogs and order cancellations due to our inability to timely fulfill orders, and cancellations of orders. Given our limited sales history, number of new products introduced and planned, these types of factors and events may continue to affect the long term success and growth of our business and ability to sustain our revenues or revenue growth. Further, performance failures, new legislation or regulation, competition, or negative publicity could stall or prevent the success of existing and new products in the market and our generation of revenue. In addition, we have increased and may increase further our operating expenses in order to fund increases in our manufacturing, distribution, and sales and marketing efforts and increase our administrative resources in anticipation of future growth. To the extent that increases in such expenses precede or are not followed by timely increases in our revenues, our business, operating results, margins, growth rates, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.

Brand / Reputation1 | 1.9%

Brand / Reputation - Risk 1

Our business depends on maintaining and strengthening our brand and generating and maintaining demand for our products, and a reduction in such demand could harm our results of operations.

The Byrna name and brand image are integral to the growth of our business, as well as to the implementation of our strategies for expanding our business. Our success depends on the value and reputation of our brand, which, in turn, depends on factors such as the quality, design, performance, functionality, and durability of our products, the image of our e-commerce platform and retail presence, our communication activities, including advertising, social media, brand ambassadors, and public relations, and our management of the customer experience, including direct interfaces through customer service. Maintaining, promoting, and positioning our brand are important to expanding our customer base, and will depend largely on the success of our marketing and merchandising efforts and our ability to provide consistent, high quality customer experiences. We intend to make substantial investments in these areas in order to maintain and enhance our brand, however such investments may not be successful. Ineffective marketing, negative publicity, social media advertising restrictions, product diversion to unauthorized distribution channels, product or manufacturing defects, counterfeit products, unfair labor practices, failure to protect the intellectual property rights in our brand, and inability to provide satisfactory customer service experience as we rapidly expand our business, are some of the potential threats to the strength of our brand, and those and other factors could rapidly and severely diminish customer confidence in us. Furthermore, these factors could cause our customers to lose the personal connection they feel with the Byrna brand. We believe that maintaining and enhancing our brand image in our current markets and in new markets where we have limited brand recognition is important to expanding our customer base. If we are unable to maintain or enhance our brand in current or new markets, our growth strategy and results of operations could be harmed.

Tech & Innovation

Total Risks: 5/53 (9%)Below Sector Average

Innovation / R&D1 | 1.9%

Innovation / R&D - Risk 1

If we are unable to successfully design and develop or acquire new and appealing products, our business may be harmed.

To maintain and increase sales we must continue to introduce new products and improve or enhance our existing products or new products. The success of our new and enhanced products depends on many factors, including anticipating consumer preferences, finding innovative solutions to consumer problems or acquiring new solutions through mergers and acquisitions, differentiating our products from those of our competitors, and maintaining the strength of our brand. The design and development of our products as well as acquisitions of other businesses are costly and we typically have several products in development at the same time. Problems in the design or quality of our products, or delays in product introduction, may harm our brand, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Trade Secrets2 | 3.8%

Trade Secrets - Risk 1

We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which could cause us to incur litigation costs and divert management attention from our business.

While we believe that our products and intellectual property do not infringe upon the proprietary rights of third parties and undertake efforts to design around existing third-party patents or designs that we are aware of, a substantial portion of our commercial success depends upon us not infringing the intellectual property rights of others. We may become subject to claims by third parties that our technology infringes their intellectual property rights. Although all reasonable efforts are made to avoid third-party patents, there is no assurance that, were a lawsuit to be brought by a third party, we would prevail. We may also become subject to these claims through indemnities that we provide to manufacturer's representatives, distributors, dealers, retail partners, and certain service providers and consultants. Any intellectual property infringement claims against us, with or without merit, could be costly and time-consuming to defend and divert our management's attention from our business. If our products were found to infringe a third party's proprietary rights, we could be required to enter into costly royalty or licensing agreements to be able to sell our products, and any allegation of infringement could cause certain reputational damage for us and the Byrna brand. Royalty and licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Trade Secrets - Risk 2

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, we may lose a competitive advantage or incur substantial litigation costs to protect our rights.

Our future success depends upon our proprietary technology. Our protective measures, including patent and trade secret protection and nondisclosure agreements, may prove inadequate to protect our proprietary rights. The right to stop others from misusing our trademarks, service marks, patents, designs and copyright in commerce depends to some extent on our ability to show evidence of enforcement of our rights against such misuse in commerce. Our efforts to stop improper use, if insufficient, may lead to loss of trademark and service mark rights, brand loyalty, and notoriety among our customers and prospective customers. The scope of any patent that we have or may obtain may not prevent others from developing and selling competing products. The validity and breadth of claims covered in technology patents involve complex legal and factual questions, and the resolution of such claims may be highly uncertain, and expensive. In addition, our patents may be held invalid upon challenge, or others may claim rights in or ownership of our patents.

Cyber Security2 | 3.8%

Cyber Security - Risk 1

Our business depends on our ability to prevent or mitigate the effects of a cybersecurity attack.

Our information technology systems, including third-party run e-commerce and payment service systems, may be subject to cyber-attacks, security breaches or computer hacking including a ransomware attack encrypting corporate information technology equipment, a directed attack against us or a data breach or cyber incident happening to a third-party network and affecting us. Regardless of our efforts, there may still be a breach, and the costs to eliminate, mitigate or address the threats and vulnerabilities before or after a cyber-incident could be significant. Any such breaches or attacks could result in interruptions, delays or cessation of operations and loss of existing or potential suppliers or customers. In addition, breaches of our information technology systems or security measures (including those of our third-party partners) and the unauthorized dissemination of sensitive personal, proprietary or confidential information about our business, our business partners, customers or other third parties could expose us to significant potential liability and reputational harm, materially damage our customer and business partner relationships, and subject us to significant reputational, financial, legal, and operational consequences. Moreover, any such breach or attack could result in litigation against us by customers or other third parties whose data is compromised by any such attack.

Cyber Security - Risk 2

The markets for security products and less-lethal defense technology are in a state of technological change which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The markets for security products and less-lethal defense technology, in which our products and services are included, are associated with rapidly changing technology, which could result in product obsolescence or short product life cycles. Accordingly, our success is dependent upon our ability to anticipate technological and other changes and to successfully identify, obtain, develop and market new products that satisfy evolving customer requirements. There can be no assurance that we will successfully develop new products or enhance and improve our existing products or that any new products and enhanced and improved existing products will achieve market acceptance. Further, there can be no assurance that competitors will not market products that have perceived advantages over our products or which render the products currently sold by us obsolete or less marketable. We must commit significant resources to developing new products before knowing whether our investments will result in products the market will accept. To remain competitive, we may be required to invest significantly greater resources then currently anticipated in research and development and product enhancement efforts.

Macro & Political

Total Risks: 4/53 (8%)Below Sector Average

Economy & Political Environment1 | 1.9%

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1

Our performance is influenced by a variety of economic, social, and political factors.

Our performance is influenced by a variety of economic, social, and political factors. General economic conditions and consumer spending patterns can negatively impact our operating results. Economic uncertainty, unfavorable employment levels, declines in consumer confidence, increases in consumer debt levels, increased commodity prices, and other economic factors may affect consumer spending on discretionary items and adversely affect the demand for our products. In times of economic uncertainty, consumers tend to defer expenditures for discretionary items, which could negatively affect demand for our products. Any substantial deterioration in general economic conditions that diminish consumer confidence or discretionary income could reduce our sales and adversely affect our operating results. Political and social factors can affect our performance. Concerns about elections, as well as firearm-related incidents and social reaction thereto, and legislature and policy shifts resulting from those elections can affect the demand for our products. In addition, speculation about control of firearms, firearm products, and ammunition at the federal, state, and local level and heightened fears of terrorism and crime can affect consumer demand for our products. Often, such concerns result in an increase in near-term consumer demand and subsequent softening of demand when such concerns subside. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may negatively impact operating results and cash flow. Federal and state legislatures frequently consider legislation relating to the regulation of CO2 fired launchers. If such legislation develops, we could find it difficult, expensive, or even impossible to comply with them, impeding new product development and distribution of existing products. Conversely, new legislation could increase the demand for less-lethal weapons beyond our current forecasts and strain or exceed production capability, which could harm our reputation and adversely impact our business.

International Operations1 | 1.9%

International Operations - Risk 1

As we seek to expand our business globally, growth opportunities may be impacted by greater political, economic and social uncertainty and the continuing and accelerating globalization of businesses could significantly change the dynamics of our competition, customer base and product offerings.

Our efforts to grow our business depend in part upon access to, and our success in developing, market share and operating profitably in, additional geographic markets including but not limited to the South America, and South Africa. In some cases, countries in these regions have greater political and economic volatility, greater vulnerability to infrastructure and labor disruptions and differing local customer product preferences and requirements than our other markets. Operating and seeking to expand business in a number of different regions and countries exposes us to multiple and potentially conflicting cultural practices, business practices and legal and regulatory requirements that are subject to change, including those related to tariffs and trade barriers, investments, property ownership rights, taxation and repatriation of earnings and advanced technologies. Such expansion efforts may also use capital and other of our resources that could be invested in other areas. Expanding business operations globally also increases exposure to currency fluctuations which can materially affect our financial results. Although we are taking measures to adapt to these changing circumstances, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected should these efforts prove unsuccessful.

Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 1.9%

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1

Epidemic and pandemic diseases (including the COVID-19 pandemic) could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and ability to comply with regulatory requirements.

Outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases, such as COVID-19, could cause disruptions in our business and the businesses of third parties who we depend upon for materials and manufacturing, marketing and other services. These disruptions could include disruptions in our ability to receive materials, manufacture our products, distribute our products, market our products, or obtain services. These disruptions have caused, and could cause further, closures of our facilities or the facilities of our suppliers, manufacturers and dealers, as well as cancellation of events that present significant marketing opportunities such as industry conventions, and trade shows. Any disruption of the businesses of our suppliers, manufacturers or dealers would likely impact our sales and operating results. In addition, a significant outbreak of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could affect demand for our products. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Additionally, such outbreaks could disrupt our ability to timely file periodic reports required by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the stock exchanges on which our common stock is listed, which may lead to the delisting or downgrading of our common stock on such stock exchanges.

Capital Markets1 | 1.9%

Capital Markets - Risk 1

Tariffs, sanctions, restrictions on imports or other trade barriers between the United States and various countries, most significantly China, may impact our revenue and results of operations.

Political changes and trends such as populism, protectionism, economic nationalism and sentiment toward internationally operating companies, and resulting tariffs, export controls, trade sanctions, sanctions blocking statutes, or other trade barriers, or changes to tax or other laws and policies, have been and may continue to be disruptive and costly to our business, and these can interfere with our expanding international sales, supply chain, production costs, customer relationships, and competitive position. For example, general trade tensions between the United States and China began escalating in 2018, with multiple rounds of U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods taking effect. These tariffs currently affect some of the components of our products we import from China, and we may be required to raise our prices on those products due to the tariffs or share the cost of such tariffs with our customers, which could harm our operating performance. We work closely with third parties who monitor, evaluate and keep us informed about the potential impact of the effective and proposed tariffs as well as other recent changes in foreign trade policy on our supply chain, costs, sales and profitability and seek to implement strategies to mitigate such impact, including reviewing sourcing options and working with our vendors and merchants to seek to minimize product coming from China both in existing and new product development and select suppliers in low cost regions where tariff issues are less challenging. Notwithstanding these efforts, it is possible that further tariffs may be imposed on our other imports, or that our business will be impacted by retaliatory trade measures taken by China or other countries in response to existing or future tariffs, causing us to raise prices or make changes to our operations, any of which could materially harm our revenue or operating results. Further escalation of specific trade tensions, such as those between the United States and China, or in global trade conflict more broadly could be harmful to global economic growth, and related decreases in confidence or investment activity in the global markets would adversely affect our business performance. We do business in emerging market jurisdictions, such as South Africa and South America, where economic, political and legal risks are heightened.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?

Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.

They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.

It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.

How do companies disclose their risk factors?

Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.

Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.

Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.

According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.

How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?

Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.

You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.

Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.

A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.

What are all the risk factor categories?

TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.

1. Financial & Corporate

Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.

2. Legal & Regulatory

Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.

3. Production

Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.

4. Technology & Innovation

Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.

5. Ability to Sell

Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.

6. Macro & Political

Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.

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