As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 22 , 2018

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SEC File No. 333-224319

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Danny Gibbs, Director

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Clifford J. Hunt, Esquire

Law Office of Clifford J. Hunt, P.A.

8200 Seminole Boulevard

Seminole, FL 33772

(727) 471-0444

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box: ☒

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

(1) Represents shares of common stock offered for resale by current shareholder, Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P. (“Peak One” or “Selling Shareholder”), which shares are issuable by the registrant pursuant to the Equity Purchase Agreement, dated March 21, 2017 (“Equity Line”), between the registrant and Peak One.  The Company’s calculation of the maximum number of shares that may be registered for resale under the Equity Line pursuant to this Registration Statement is based upon the purchase price per share which shall be 90% of the Market Price on such date on which the Purchase Price is calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Equity Line which is for a maximum of $5,000,000.00.  Market Price shall mean the lesser of the (i) lowest closing price of our shares of common stock on the principal market for any trading day during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the respective put date, or (ii) lowest closing bid price of the common stock on the principal market for any trading day during the valuation period. The Company estimates that the maximum number of shares to be issued under the Equity Line is an additional 3,015,000.  The Company has already issued 110,000 shares to Peak One under the Equity Line, as a commitment fee.

(2) This offering price has been estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock registered hereunder, based upon the price of $0.555, which was the average of the high and low prices for the Company’s common stock on April 12, 2018, as reported on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier.

(3) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.

(4) Computed in accordance with Section 6(b) of the Securities Act as in effect on April 12, 2018.

  

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

  

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE AND THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND WE ARE NOT SOLICITING OFFERS TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 22 , 2018

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

3,125,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

ACACIA DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus.

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is June 22 , 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus.  We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information from the information contained in this prospectus.  The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our common stock.  This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in any circumstances under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.  Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any distribution of securities in accordance with this prospectus shall, under any circumstances, imply that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus.

We will receive proceeds from our sale of our shares of common stock under the Equity Line to Peak One.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

We maintain our web site at www.acaciadiversifiedholdings.com. Information on such web site is not considered a part of this prospectus. Unless specifically set forth to the contrary, when used in this prospectus the terms “Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc.”, “we”, “us”, “our” and similar terms refer to Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc., a Texas corporation.

SUMMARY INFORMATION, RISK FACTORS AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

Past Transactions With Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company entered into a financing agreement with Peak One, whereby the Company may issue unsecured convertible note agreements to the investor in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000 at 10% discount. The financing would be funded in tranches, each with the issuance of a separate convertible note agreement by the Company.  On March 31, 2017, the Company issued the first convertible note agreement (“first note”) in the principal amount of $100,000 at 10% discount. As of the date of filing this registration statement, the principal and interest on the first tranche has been paid in full and there presently are no convertible notes issued or outstanding with Peak One.  See Footnote 9 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more detail. We have no present intention to request any additional funds from Investor pursuant to any convertible debenture and it appears that any opportunity to issue additional convertible debentures under the Securities Purchase Agreement has now expired. Under the circumstances, there will be no shares registered in connection with the convertible debentures and we do not believe that such contractually expired opportunity to deliver any additional convertible debentures should be considered as part of the equity line transaction.

Capital Requirements

Analysis of our current business acquisition and operations cost indicate a reasonable requirement of US $5,000,000 or less.  Based on market response to our products and services, it is management’s opinion that we may require additional funding.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 

About Us

 

Description of business, principal products, services and their markets

Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. (“we”, “us”, the “Company”, or the “Parent Company”) was incorporated in Texas on October 1, 1984 as Gibbs Construction, Inc. (“Gibbs”). The Company changed its name from Gibbs Construction, Inc. to Acacia Automotive, Inc. effective February 20, 2007. On October 18, 2012, the Company changed its name from Acacia Automotive, Inc. to Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. in an effort to exemplify the Company’s desire to expand into alternative industries as well as more diversified service and product offerings.  

On January 15, 2016, the Company acquired the assets and businesses of the MariJ Group of companies that included MariJ Agricultural, JR Cannabis Industries, LLC and Canna-Cures Research & Development Center, LLC.  The transaction has an effective date of January 4, 2016. On January 19, 2016, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the acquisition. The Company subsequently filed expanded and updated information relating to that acquisition on its Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A on April 25, 2016.  That document is available for viewing on the Company’s website at http://www.acacia.bz/sec/sec.htmand on the SEC website at:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001463/000118518516004336/0001185185-16-004336-index.htm

 

In 2016, following the acquisition, the Company formed two new subsidiaries to conduct its new medical federally approved industrial hemp business activities, being MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“MariJ Pharma”) and Canna-Cures Research & Development Center, Inc. (“Canna-Cures”). In 2017, the Company formed a new subsidiary Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc. (“EMT”) to conduct its retail business in the state of Tennessee.

Canna-Cures launched its first research and development center in Colorado. In conjunction with that opening, Canna-Cures officially launched the Dahlia’s Botanicals Endocannabinoid Nutraceuticals product line.  A portion of the proceeds from our Dahlia’s Botanicals line are awarded to the Canna Moms 501(c)(3) organization in support of its continuing public education and awareness campaign.

Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc.

Distribution methods of the products and services

EMT plans to sell medicinal hemp products and dietary supplements primarily through its retail dispensaries in Tennessee and through a dedicated distribution model.

 

Status of any publicly announced new products or services

The Company’s business plan includes developing its proprietary GeoTrackingTechnology that is fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability standard (“HIPAA”) utilizing its “plant to patient” solution. This GeoTraking Technology is designed to provide a full-channel patient care tracking system that is fully compliant under today’s strict HIPAA regulations that require privacy and security of the patient’s information. Beginning with RFID labelling and tracking of every single seed employed in the grow program and continuing through the sale of prescription products in a sophisticated retail Point of Sale delivery system.

The Company also plans to enter into research and development projects with institutions of higher learning in efforts to:  (i) develop new and better strains of medical industrial hemp related products for dispensing as medications, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and potential dietary supplements; and (ii) provide private label packaging services; and (iii) sell additional medical hemp oils, oil-infused products, and other merchandise through its web-based portal or retail dispensaries planned for that purpose; and (iv) sell cosmeceutical and nutraceutical products and dietary supplements containing its high-quality industrial hemp oil extracts.

The Company currently does not have sufficient working capital to pursue our business plan in its entirety as described herein. Our ability to implement our business plan will depend on our ability to obtain sufficient working capital and to fund our operations. No assurance can be given that we will be able to obtain additional capital, or, if available, that such capital will be available at terms acceptable to us, or that we will be able to generate profit from operations, or if profits are generated, that they will be sufficient to carry out our business plans, or that the plans will not be modified.

Competitive business conditions and the Company’s competitive position in the industry and methods of competition

Any industry served by the Company is likely to be highly competitive across the entire United States and the rest of the world. In particular, the industrial hemp industry, being the impetus of all the Company’s attention at this juncture, is very highly competitive and has drawn thousands of competing entities.  While the Company believes its technology, programs, and plans place it in a posture to compete at the highest levels, the sheer numbers of competitors must be recognized. The Company has elected to devote the majority of its efforts on production and sales of its products and services within the continental United States but may institute operations in diverse countries.  Even so, the Company must be considered as currently competing with other companies in diverse countries that can potentially produce and sell competitive products at lower prices.  While the Company believes that there are other hurdles for those foreign entities to overcome, including the high cost of international shipping to U.S. buyers, we believe that they nonetheless can compete with us in our markets.  We will potentially compete with a variety of companies, both domestic and international, and as such will be subject to various levels of competition. There is no assurance the Company will be able to adhere to its plans or to engage in any acquisitions or mergers.  The Company will consider potential opportunities to buy, sell or distribute its products in other countries.

Sources and availability of raw materials and the names of principal suppliers

One of the ingredients used in the extraction process is carbon dioxide. MariJ Pharma depends on a supplier to supply high quality carbon dioxide. This supplier produces the highest quality carbon dioxide for the industrial hemp industry. If MariJ Pharma was not able to continue obtaining carbon dioxide from this supplier, it would need to look to other suppliers to supply this critical ingredient. However, the quality of the ingredient would suffer and the Company may not be able to obtain it at reasonable cost. At the present time, the Company is not anticipating a disruption of service by this supplier, whose identity we choose to keep confidential.

Dependence on one or a few major customers

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s revenues were concentrated on three customers, CBD Rx, Precision Cultivation, Inc. and Blue Circle Development, Inc., who accounted for approximately 33%, 28% and 32%, of the total consolidated revenues, respectively.

Patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises, concessions, royalty agreements or labor contracts, including duration

The Company currently has patents pending, trademarks pending, and no franchises, concessions, royalty agreements or labor contracts. The Company intends to acquire, through its MariJ Pharma subsidiary, portions or complete ownership of licenses and grow operations in one or more states and is seeking to cultivate, organically extract and process its medicinal industrial hemp crops year around in indoor facilities.  The acquisition of these licenses is anticipated to provide the Company with the opportunity to compound medicinal products using mixtures of high cannabinoid profile oils that have very little hallucinogenic properties but have significantly improved medicinal properties.

Effect of existing or probable governmental regulations on the business

 

A majority of the states that have legalized the growing, production, and use of industrial hemp oil have passed legislation authorizing the use of high-CBD content and low-THC content oils.  As a result, and in keeping with regulations and laws in those venues, the Company, through its subsidiaries, intends to concentrate on those products unless and until the laws change to facilitate a wider range of grow and production opportunities.  The Company does have the technology and capability of extracting high-THC oils in those venues that do allow it and will provide services to growers in those areas as contracted. The Company, through its new subsidiaries, will operate in the medical industrial hemp sector.  In order to help our shareholders better understand the products we intend to employ in our business plans, we have provided certain explanations and definitions below.

Unlike THC; CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN do not cause a high or hallucinogenic effect. The reason why CBD is non-psychoactive is due to its lack of affinity for CB1 receptors, such as are found in high concentrations in the brain, and which become the channels through which THC is able to port its psychoactive effects.

However, fewer states have enacted laws dealing with the industry’s impact on water and air quality, but the industry is certainly under more scrutiny. In certain states, producers and processors must pay a fee to their local or state government and submit an application for a permit, provide information on odor control equipment for producing, growing, or processing and solvent usage information for each type.

Number of total employees and number of full-time employees

Most Recent Audited Financial Information

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we generated revenues of $478,231 and incurred a net loss of $1,833,728. We have a cumulative deficit of $4,953,946 at December 31, 2017.

Available Information

 

Our Web address is www.acaciadiversifiedholdings.com. The Company attempts to make its electronic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including all Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and if applicable, amendments to those reports, available free of charge on its Web site as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition, information regarding our board of directors is available on our Web site. The information posted on our Web site is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Any materials that we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet Web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.

Use of Proceeds

We intend to use the proceeds from the Equity Line for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements.

We intend to raise additional capital through equity and debt financing as needed, though there cannot be any assurance that such funds will be available to us on acceptable terms, on an acceptable schedule, or at all. 

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent for our common stock is Pacific Stock Transfer, Inc. at 6725 Via Austi Pkwy, Suite 300, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. The transfer agent’s telephone number is (702) 361-3033.

Financing Transaction Related to the Offering

The Equity Line

On March 31, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P., whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the Buyer is committed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Purchase Shares”) at an aggregate price of up to $5,000,000 (the “Total Commitment Amount”) over the course of its 24-month term. From time to time over the 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, commencing on the date on which a registration statement registering the Purchase Shares (the “Registration Statement”) becomes effective, the Company may, in its sole discretion, provide Peak One with a put notice (each a “Put Notice”) to purchase a specified number of the Purchase Shares (each a “Put Amount Requested”) subject to the limitations discussed below and contained in the Purchase Agreement. Upon delivery of a Put Notice, the Company must deliver the Put Amount Requested as Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) shares to Peak One within two trading days.

The actual amount of proceeds the Company receives pursuant to each Put Notice (each, the “Put Amount”) is to be determined by multiplying the Put Amount Requested by the applicable purchase price. The purchase price for each of the Purchase Shares equals 90% of the “Market Price,” which is defined as the lesser of the (i) lowest closing bid price of our common stock for any trading day during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date of the respective Put Notice, or (ii) lowest closing bid price of the common stock for any trading day during the seven trading days immediately following the clearing date associated with the applicable Put Notice (the “Valuation Period”). Within three trading days following the end of the Valuation Period, Peak One will deliver the Put Amount to the Company via wire transfer.

 

The Put Amount Requested pursuant to any single Put Notice must have an aggregate value of at least $15,000.00 and cannot exceed the lesser of (i) 250% of the average daily trading value of the common stock in the ten trading days immediately preceding the Put Notice or (ii) such number of shares of common stock that has an aggregate value of $150,000.

 

In order to deliver a Put Notice, certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement must be met, as provided therein. In addition, the Company is prohibited from delivering a Put Notice if: (i) the sale of Purchase Shares pursuant to such Put Notice would cause the Company to issue and sell to Buyer, or Buyer to acquire or purchase, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock that, when aggregated with all shares of common stock purchased by Buyer pursuant to all prior Put Notices issued under the Purchase Agreement, would exceed the Total Commitment Amount; or (ii) the sale of the Purchase Shares pursuant to the Put Notice would cause the Company to issue and sell to Buyer, or Buyer to acquire or purchase, an aggregate number of shares of common stock that would result in Buyer beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Unless earlier terminated, the Purchase Agreement will terminate automatically on the earlier to occur of: (i) 24 months after the initial effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which the Buyer has purchased or acquired all of the Purchase Shares, or (iii) the date on which certain bankruptcy proceedings are initiated with respect to the Company. In connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue 110,000 shares of its common stock (the “Commitment Shares”) to Buyer or Buyer’s designee as a commitment fee.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, and in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Buyer whereby the Company is obligated to file the Registration Statement to register the resale of the Commitment Shares and Purchase Shares. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company must (i) file the Registration Statement within thirty calendar days from the Closing Date, (ii) use reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the 90th calendar day following the Closing Date, and (iii) use its reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all of the Commitment Shares and Purchase Shares have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144. 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our Common Stock involves a significant degree of risk. You should not invest in our Common Stock unless you can afford to lose your entire investment. You should consider carefully the following risk factors and other information in this prospectus before deciding to invest in our Common Stock.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

We are dependent upon the proceeds from various offerings to provide funds to develop our business. There are no assurances we will raise sufficient capital to enable us to continue to develop our business.

While this offering will give us capital to implement our immediate strategies we cannot guarantee prospective investors that we will ever generate any significant revenues or report profitable operations, or that our revenues will not decline in future periods.  Until we begin making enough cash flow from our operations we are dependent upon the proceeds from various offerings to provide funds for the development of our business. If we cannot raise sufficient funds, we will have significantly less funds available to us to implement our business strategy, and our ability to generate any revenues may be adversely affected. We do not have any firm commitments to provide capital and we anticipate that we will have certain difficulties raising capital given the development stage of our company, and the lack of a public market for our securities. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that additional working capital as needed will be available to us upon terms acceptable to us. If we do not raise funds as needed, our ability to continue to implement our business model is in jeopardy and we may never be able to achieve profitable operations. In that event, our ability to continue as a going concern is in jeopardy and you could lose all of your investment in our company.

Our management has full discretion regarding the use of proceeds from this offering.

 

We anticipate that the net proceeds from this offering will be used the purposes set forth under “Use of Proceeds” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. We reserve the right, however, to use the net proceeds from this offering for other purposes not presently contemplated which we deem to be in our best interests in order to address changed circumstances and opportunities. As a result of the foregoing, investors in the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be entrusting their funds to our management, upon whose judgment and discretion the investors must depend.

There may not be enough liquidity in the market to sell the shares being registered in this offering.

Our common stock is currently listed on OTCQB. Over the last thirty (30) day period from March 9, 2018, the average daily volume was 17,507 shares traded (as reported on OTC Markets), which may not be adequate to sell any significant number of shares if you wish to sell a significant number of your shares that you may buy through this offering due to that lack of liquidity in our stock in the market. There is no assurance that a more liquid market for our shares would ever develop and if so you may stand to lose your total investment you make buying our stock.

Risks Related to Our Business

 

Our auditors have issued a going concern opinion with respect to our consolidated financial statements, although our financial statements are prepared using generally accepted accounting principles, assuming the Company will continue as a going concern.

Inherent risks currently exist in this industry as a result of the determination by many nationally-chartered banks that they would be operating outside the federal laws by accepting deposits from industrial hemp oil producers.  Many states have legalized the growing, production, sale, and consumption of various industrial hemp related products, but the federal government has continued to take the position that such activities are not legal.  However, the federal government has taken the posture for years that it will defer to the states in those matters insofar as certain products, such as those containing a high concentration of THC, are not transported across state lines.  While the federal government has generally turned a blind eye to these matters in favor of state legislation, it nonetheless sends confusing signals to the industry.  As such, many nationally-chartered banks fear prosecution under money-laundering or other statutes, relegating some businesses to maintain large sums of cash on hand, even meeting payrolls and accounts payable obligations with cash rather than checks.  As a result, those businesses are placed at high risk of internal and external theft and crimes relating to the lack of controls and security afforded by transactional banking.  The Company is currently utilizing credit unions for its deposit needs, but this still creates risks when the proceeds at diverse production locations, are often themselves in cash due to the same issues and cannot be deposited in nearby accessible depositories.  The Company has acquired an armored vehicle for use in the transport of cash and industrial hemp products but believes those risks will not be minimized until national depository institutions allow industrial hemp-related businesses to utilize their facilities.

 

Because we have limited operating history, it is difficult to evaluate our business.

 

On January 15, 2016, the Company acquired certain assets that it will utilize in revenue-producing operations under two new operating subsidiaries related to the medicinal industrial hemp industry.  As a result of our limited operating history in those businesses, you have very little operating and financial data about us upon which to base an evaluation. You should consider our prospects in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties we may encounter, including those frequently encountered by new companies. If we are unable to execute our plans and grow our business, either as a result of the risks identified in this section or for any other reason, this failure would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, business prospects, and financial condition.

The medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp industry faces very uncertain regulation in the light of the continuing deregulation of industrial hemp products in many states, either as high-CBD/low-THC products, or as high-THC products, but the continuing regulation of the industrial hemp industry by the federal government.  While the federal government has for several years chosen to not intervene in the industrial hemp business conducted legally within the states that have legislated such activities, there is nonetheless the potential that the federal government may at any time chose to begin enforcing its rules against the manufacturing, possession, or use of industrial hemp-based products.  Similarly, there is the possibility that the federal government may enact legislation or rules that authorize the manufacturing, possession or use of those products under specific guidelines.  In the event the federal government were to tighten its regulation of the industry, the Company would likely suffer substantial losses.  In the event the federal government were to loosen or change its rules or laws in favor of the industry, the Company would have an opportunity to benefit substantially if it were properly positioned to take advantage of the new opportunities.

As such, the purchase of our securities is a purchase of an interest in what should be considered as a high-risk venture or in a new or “start-up” venture with all the unforeseen costs, expenses, problems, and difficulties to which such ventures are subject.

We also plan to grow through acquisitions.

 

We also plan to grow through expansion of our new operations, creation of new businesses, acquisitions, and/or mergers, and investors have little current basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target businesses’ operations or our ability to identify and integrate acquired operations into our company. Because we intend to develop and expand our business at least in part through selective acquisitions of or mergers with other businesses, there are significant risks that we may not be successful. We may not be able to identify, acquire or profitably manage additional companies or assets or successfully integrate such additional companies or assets into our Company without substantial costs, delays or other problems. In addition, companies we may acquire may not be profitable at the time of their acquisition or may not achieve levels of profitability that would justify our investment. Acquisitions may involve a number of special risks, including but not limited to:

 

·	adverse short-term effects on our reported operating results,

·	diversion of management’s attention,

·	dependence on hiring, training, and retaining key personnel,

·	risks associated with unanticipated problems or legal liabilities,

·	amortization of acquired intangible assets, some or all of which could reflect poorly on our operating results and financial reports,

·	implementation or remediation of controls, procedures and policies appropriate for a public company at companies that, prior to the acquisition, lacked these controls, procedures and policies; and,

·	incursion of debt to make acquisitions or for other operating uses.

To the extent we complete a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its development stage, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations of those entities. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors.

 

We may acquire a business in what may be considered a mature industry in which single-digit or low double-digit growth may occur. Most growth for our Company would, accordingly, occur largely through acquisitions. To the extent that competitors are also seeking to grow through acquisitions, we could encounter competition for those acquisitions or a generally increasing price to acquire going concerns.

A part of the Company’s strategy is to establish revenue through the acquisition of or merger with additional companies or operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify, acquire, combine with, or profitably manage additional companies or successfully integrate the operations of additional companies into those of the Company without encountering substantial costs, delays or other problems. In addition, there can be no assurance that companies acquired in the future will achieve or maintain profitability that justify liabilities that could materially adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or financial condition. The Company may compete for acquisition, merger, and expansion opportunities with companies that have greater resources than the Company. There can be no assurance that suitable acquisition or merger candidates will be available, that purchase terms or financing for acquisitions or mergers will be obtainable on terms acceptable to the Company, that acquisitions or mergers can be consummated, or that acquired businesses can be integrated successfully and profitability into the Company’s operations. Further, the Company’s results of operations in fiscal quarters immediately following a material acquisition or merger could be materially adversely affected while the Company integrates the acquired business into its existing structure.

The Company will attempt to acquire or merge with business entities that are going and functioning concerns with a trailing history of profitability but may acquire or merge with certain businesses that have either been unprofitable, have had inconsistent profitability prior to their acquisition or combination therewith, or that have had no operating history. An inability of the Company to improve the profitability of these acquired businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Finally, the Company’s acquisition and merger strategy places significant demands on the Company’s resources and there can be no assurance that the Company’s management and operational systems and structure can be expanded to effectively support the Company’s acquisition strategy. If the Company is unable to successfully implement its acquisition and merger strategy, this inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, or financial condition. The Company may face the opportunity to enhance shareholder value by being acquired by another company. Upon any acquisition of the Company, the Company would be subject to various risks, including the replacement of its management by persons currently unknown. There can also be no assurance that, if acquired, new management will be successfully integrated or can profitably manage the Company. In addition, any acquisition or merger of or by the Company may involve immediate dilution to existing shareholders of the Company. No assurances can be given that the Company will be able to or desire to be acquired or be able to acquire or merge with additional companies.

 

Need for additional financing.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we generated revenues of $478,231 and incurred a net loss of $1,833,728. We have a cumulative deficit of $4,953,946 at December 31, 2017.  The Company does not have adequate capital or resources to fund its operations and other capital needs for the next six months without new and expanding revenue sources or additional capital infusion, and there can be no assurance that such funds will become available in amounts sufficient to meet the obligations of our business. The Company may require additional amounts of capital for its future expansion and working capital, possibly from private placements of its common stock or borrowing, but there can be no assurance that such financing will be available, or that such financing will be available on acceptable terms.

On March 31, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P., whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the Buyer is committed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Purchase Shares”) at an aggregate price of up to $5,000,000 (the “Total Commitment Amount”) over the course of its 24-month term. From time to time over the 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, commencing on the date on which a registration statement registering the Purchase Shares (the “Registration Statement”) becomes effective, the Company may, in its sole discretion, provide Peak One with a put notice (each a “Put Notice”) to purchase a specified number of the Purchase Shares (each a “Put Amount Requested”). The amount of the shares the Buyer will purchase will depend on the trading volume at that time.

We anticipate we will need approximately $5,000,000 to successfully carry out our business plans, which include legal fees and purchase of assets, including real estate, and build out of our future manufacturing facility. Our ability to utilize the funds under this agreement depends upon the volume of our shares. At the present time, our stock does not trade at the level of volume that enables us to draw funds out of this agreement. If the trading volume remains low, it is not likely that we will be able to access the funds provided by this agreement. We cannot forecast the likelihood that we will have access to the full amount available to us under this arrangement

Dependence on key personnel.

 

Our future performance depends in significant part upon the continued service of our Chief Executive Officer, Richard K. Pertile. The loss of Mr. Pertile’s services could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. The Company does not presently maintain key man life insurance on Mr. Pertile but may obtain such insurance at the discretion of its board of directors for such term as it may deem suitable or desirable. Our future success may depend on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified technical, sales and managerial personnel. The competition for such personnel can be intense, and there can be no assurance that we can attract, assimilate or retain highly qualified technical, sales and managerial personnel for favorable compensations in the future.

 

Our industry is subject to frequent and rapidly changing technologies and any failure of the Company to adapt to and compete with such changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Technology, particularly the ability to (i) stay abreast of and ahead of current production oil extraction technologies; (ii) successfully create and promote new products related to our industry; (iii) continue to take a leading role in maintenance and distribution of our planned GeoTraking technology as it relates to RFID tracking from seed to sale, HIPAA compliance across the board including in its proprietary PoS systems, and otherwise; and (iv) use the Internet to conduct business and allow several management functions, is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, frequent new product and service announcements, introductions and enhancements, and changing customer demands. Our future success will to some degree depend on our ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies, our ability to adapt its solutions to meet evolving industry standards and our ability to improve continually the performance, features and reliability of its solutions.   The failure of the Company to adapt successfully to such changes in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful implementation of solutions, or that any new solutions or enhancements to existing solutions will adequately meet the requirements of its current and prospective customers and achieve any degree of significant market acceptance. If the Company is unable, for technological or other reasons, to develop and introduce new solutions or enhancements to existing solutions in a timely manner or in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, or if its solutions or enhancements do not achieve a significant degree of market acceptance, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

 

The industrial hemp industry is a highly competitive business with many participants worldwide and there can be no assurances that we will be able to compete with other entities domestic and foreign that may be subject to lower regulatory and business costs in this industry.

 

Any industry served by the Company is likely to be highly competitive across the entire United States and the rest of the world. In particular, the industrial hemp industry, being the impetus of all the Company’s attention at this juncture, is very highly competitive and has drawn thousands of competing entities.  While the Company believes its technology, programs, and plans place it in a posture to compete at the highest levels, the sheer numbers of competitors must be recognized. The Company has elected to devote the majority of its efforts on production and sales of its products and services within the continental United States but may institute operations in diverse countries.  Even so, the Company must be considered as currently competing with other companies in diverse countries than can potentially produce and sell competitive products at lower prices.  While the Company believes that there are other hurdles for those foreign entities to overcome, including the high cost of international shipping to U.S. buyers, we believe that they nonetheless can compete with us in our markets.  We will potentially compete with a variety of companies, both domestic and international, and as such will be subject to various levels of competition. There is no assurance the Company will be able to adhere to its plans or to engage in any acquisitions or mergers at all.  The Company will consider fielding opportunities to buy, sell or distribute its products in other countries.  

Control.

 

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors owns or controls a significant percentage of our outstanding voting securities which could reduce the ability of minority shareholders to effect certain corporate actions.

 

As of January 15, 2016, in subsequent actions related to the acquisition of assets of the MariJ Group of companies by the Company, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Richard K. Pertile, was issued 1,014,000 new Common shares of the Company in exchange for his interests in the acquired entities. In addition, he was granted, from the CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Company until that date, Steven L. Sample, the right of first refusal to purchase 2,500,000 shares of Mr. Sample’s Common stock of the Company in a window between April 4 and May 4, 2019 and was also given a proxy to vote those shares in the interim.  As such, following those transactions, Mr. Pertile owned 6.57% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock and controlled through the proxy 2,500,000 additional votes, or 16.20% of the total issued and outstanding voting power of the Company for a combined 3,514,000 votes, or 22.77% of the total. As a result, he currently possesses significant influence and can elect a majority of our board of directors and authorize or prevent proposed significant corporate transactions. His effective control may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a future change in control, impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer.  As of the same date, Mr. Sample, the outgoing CEO and Chairman of the Company, continued to control the dispositive voting power of his remaining personal shares of the Company, after accounting for those votes given to Mr. Pertile by proxy, of 3,015,479 shares, or 19.54% of all issued and outstanding votes of the Company. In the event Mr. Sample were to combine his votes on any issue with the votes held by Mr. Pertile, they would jointly possess 42.31% of the voting power of the Company, allowing them significant influence that could elect a majority of our board of directors and authorize or prevent proposed significant corporate transactions. As of that same date, all officers and directors of the Company owned a combined total 6,809,979 shares representing 44.26% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock and voting power. Based upon the Company’s current business plan, it is anticipated that Mr. Pertile will continue to have substantial influence over, if not effective control over the Company’s operations in the near future, including the election of a majority of its board of directors, the issuance of additional shares of equity securities, and other matters of corporate governance, perhaps even after some potential subsequent issuances by the Company of new common shares for capital raising activities, acquisitions, or merger activities.

 

We may, in the future, issue additional shares of common stock, which would reduce investors’ percentage of ownership and may dilute our share value.

 

Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, authorize the issuance of 150,000,000 shares of common stock.  The future issuance of common stock may result in substantial dilution in the percentage of our common stock held by our then existing shareholders. We may value any common stock issued in the future on an arbitrary basis. The issuance of common stock for future services or acquisitions or other corporate actions may have the effect of diluting the value of the shares held by our investors and might have an adverse effect on any trading market for our common stock.

 

We may not be able to acquire other businesses or assets to implement our growth plans and our inability to successfully manage our anticipated growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our future business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The Company is continually seeking to identify and acquire viable businesses. As a result, the Company must manage relationships with a growing number of third parties as it seeks to accommodate this goal. The Company’s management, personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support the Company’s future operations. The Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively will require it to continue to expand its operating and financial procedures and controls, to replace or upgrade its operational, financial and management information systems and to attract, train, motivate, manage and retain key employees. If the Company’s executives are unable to manage growth effectively, the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. If successful in acquiring or combining with other operations, the Company anticipates it may inherit a substantial portion of the staff necessary to operate the new entities, but there is no assurance that will happen, or that if it does happen, that the staff will remain employed by the Company for any period of time. We may find that some of the personnel and management of any acquisition target(s) may not be suitable for continued employment, while other suitable candidates may elect to discontinue their employment or affiliation with the Company for various reasons. This can create a burden on the Company’s management as it seeks to fill key positions. Failure of the Company to do so in a timely manner can result in disruption of operations, loss of revenues, and an attendant reduction in profits or even substantial losses.

We anticipate there will be various risks associated with expansion and there can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully manage those risks as we expand our line of goods and services into other markets.

 

The Company desires to start, acquire or combine with other businesses, perhaps in diverse locations and markets.  To date, the Company does not have substantial experience in developing services on a regional or national scale. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to deploy successfully its goods or services in those markets. There are certain risks inherent in doing business in several diverse markets, such as; unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, potentially adverse tax consequences, local restrictions, controls relating to inter-company communications and technology, difficulties in staffing and managing distant operations, fluctuations in manpower availability, effects of local competition, weather and climactic trends, and customer preferences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the success of the Company’s operations and, consequently, on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Check, credit card, and other fraud.

 

Our business could be harmed if we experience significant credit, wire transfer, draft, check, credit card, or other fraud. If we fail to adequately control fraudulent transactions, our revenues and results of operations could be harmed. The Company may attempt to obtain insurance as partial protections from such potential losses, but even while the Company’s exposure to loss in this event may be limited by the purchase of any such insurance, losses could nonetheless occur. Any losses sustained as a result of fraud or fraudulent activity would adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations, and its financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

We may be subject to various liability claims from consumers, regulators and other participants in our industry and there can be no assurances that our liability insurance will be sufficient to cover any claim that may arise.

 

The Company may face costly liability claims by consumers or other businesses. Any claim of liability by a client, employee, consumer or other entity against us, regardless of merit, could be costly financially and could divert the attention of our management. It could also create negative publicity, which would harm our business. Although we maintain certain forms of liability insurance, it may not provide protections in the event of certain liability claims or may not be sufficient to cover a covered claim if one is made.

 

The Company may not be able to attain profitability without additional funding, which may be unavailable.

 

The Company has limited capital resources. Unless the Company begins to generate sufficient revenues to finance operations as a going concern, the Company may experience liquidity and solvency problems. Such liquidity and solvency problems may force the Company to cease operations if additional financing is not available. No known alternative resources of funds are available in the event we do not generate sufficient funds from operations.

Our lack of history in our current industry makes evaluating our business difficult.

We have a limited operating history in our current industry and we may not sustain profitability in the future.

To sustain profitability, we must:

 

·	develop and identify new clients in need of our product;

·	economically increase production output;

·	compete with larger, more established competitors in our industry;

·	maintain and enhance our brand recognition; and

·	adapt to meet changes in our markets and competitive developments.

 

We may not be successful in accomplishing these objectives. Further, our lack of operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our business and prospects. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, uncertainties, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stages of development, particularly companies in highly competitive industries. The historical information in this report may not be indicative of our future financial condition and future performance. For example, we expect that our future annual growth rate in revenues will be moderate and likely be less than the growth rates experienced in the early part of our history.

The industrial hemp industry is subject to substantial governmental regulation any change of electorate and/or legislative attitude toward the industry could result in the implementation of statutes, rules and/or regulations that may have a material adverse effect on the entirety of our business.

 

We will seek to implement our acquisition strategy in certain industries that may have unknown risks due to governmental regulation. 

The Company, through its new subsidiaries, will operate in the medicinal industrial hemp sector.  In order to help our shareholders better understand the products it intends to employ in its business plans, we have provided certain explanations and definitions below.

 

Any new legislation or regulation, or the application of laws or regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to the Company’s business could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.  Current federal regulations adverse to the medicinal hemp and industrial hemp industries are generally contradictory to legislated approval of that industry in a number of states.  The disparity in those divergent governmental views has and will continue to lead to conflicts and confusions in the perceived legalities on many operations related to the industry unless they ultimately come to congruence.

  

Expanding our product offerings or number of offices may not be profitable.

We may choose to develop new products to offer. Developing new offerings involves inherent risks, including:

·	our inability to estimate demand for the new offerings;

·	our inability to perfect the new products;

·	our ability to locate and identify new buyers for those products;

·	competition from more established market participants; and

·	a lack of market understanding.

In addition, expanding into new geographic areas and/or expanding current service offerings is challenging and may require integrating new employees into our culture as well as assessing the demand in the applicable market.

Risks Related To Our Common Stock.

 

Risks of low priced stocks.

 

Following its initial public offering of its common stock in 1996, the Company’s shares were originally traded on the NASDAQ Exchange into 2000 as Gibbs Construction, Inc. under the trading symbol GBSE. Gibbs encountered severe financial difficulties in 2000, after which it was moved from the NASDAQ Capital Markets to the OTC Pink Sheets. Following the resurrection of the Company’s operations in 2007 through the intervention and assistance of the Company’s CEO, Mr. Sample, its stock currently trades on the OTCQB exchange under the trading symbol ACCA. Most of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares continue to be restricted shares resulting in a small “float”. For that and other reasons the Company’s securities have been thinly traded, and while a trading market for the Company’s common stock could develop further with its current or new operations and the further release of restrictions on registered shares, there can be no assurance that it will do so.

Following the acquisition of the MariJ Group of companies on January 15, 2016, the Company saw immediate and continuing increased activity in the trading of its stock, with trading volumes exceeding any for at least the past ten years.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or “Commission”) has adopted regulations which define a “penny stock” to be any equity security, such as those of the Company, that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. In the event the Company determined to offer its common stock for sale or elected to utilize its common stock in an acquisition of merger transaction, it would be required to advise the potential purchasers or parties to any such acquisition or merger transaction of the risks of penny stocks. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require the delivery, prior to any transaction involving a penny stock by a retail customer, of a disclosure schedule prepared by the Securities and Exchange commission relating to the penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about commissions payable to both the broker/dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Accordingly, market makers may be less inclined to participate in marketing the Company’s securities, which may have an adverse impact upon the liquidity of the Company’s securities.  

If the Company were successful in identifying a new business opportunity and/or identifying an acquisition or merger target, became successful in actually launching a new business or acquiring or merging with any such target, and was successful in bringing profitable operations to the Company, it would intend to seek to meet the new listing requirements of the NASDAQ Capital market and attempt to return to that Exchange, which listing requirements include minimal capitalization, share price, and other benchmark requirements.  There is no assurance the Company can successfully identify any suitable new business opportunity, acquisition or merger candidate, or if successful in identifying a new business opportunity or merger/acquisition candidate, that it can be successful in developing a new business or completing any acquisition or merger, or if successful in developing a new business or completing any acquisition or merger that the Company could be successful in meeting the new listing requirements of the NASDAQ, or if successful in meeting those requirements, that the NASDAQ would accept the Company as a member, or that if the Company were successful in achieving a listing on the NASDAQ exchange that its share values would improve.  Any attempt to return to the NASDAQ Exchange, even if the Company were successful in meeting the requirements to do so, could take as long as two years or more to complete.

 

We are subject to penny stock regulations and restrictions and you may have difficulty selling shares of our common stock.

 

The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define so-called “penny stocks” to be an equity security that has a market price less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exemptions.  Our common stock is therefore considered a “penny stock”, and we are subject to Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act, or the “Penny Stock Rule”. This rule imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that sell such securities to persons other than established customers. For transactions covered by Rule 15g-9, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and have received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to sale. As a result, this rule may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and may affect the ability of purchasers to sell any of our securities in the secondary market.

 

For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a disclosure schedule prepared by the SEC relating to the penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about sales commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, monthly statements are required to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stock.

 

We have no history of paying any dividends and there can be no assurances that there will be any future payment of dividends.

 

Should the Company acquire additional operations, and should the operations of the Company become profitable, it is likely that the Company would retain much or all of its earnings in order to finance future growth and expansion. Therefore, the Company does not presently intend to pay dividends, and it is not likely that any dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.

 

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows or otherwise raise outside capital to meet our potential future capital needs.

 

The Company may not be successful in generating sufficient cash from its new operations or in raising capital in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms to meet its capital needs. The failure to generate sufficient cash flows or to raise sufficient funds may require the Company to delay or abandon some or all of its development and expansion plans or otherwise forego market opportunities and may make it difficult for the Company to respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition. While the Company may seek to raise capital through the offering of common stock, there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so, or if successful in raising capital that the proceeds in any such offering will be sufficient to permit the Company to implement its proposed business plan, or that any assumptions relating to the implementation of such plan will prove to be accurate. To the extent that the proceeds of any such offering are not sufficient to enable the Company to generate sufficient revenues or achieve profitable operations, the inability to obtain additional financing will have a material adverse effect on the Company. There can be no assurance that any such financing will be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or that the Company will be successful in finding new operations.

  

Our ability to implement our current business plan is dependent on our raising additional working capital and there can be no assurances that such capital can be raise either through business operations or outside financing.

The Company currently does not have sufficient working capital to pursue our business plan in its entirety as described herein. Our ability to implement our business plan will depend on our ability to obtain sufficient working capital and to execute its business plans. No assurance can be given that we will be able to obtain additional capital, or, if available, that such capital will be available at terms acceptable to us, or that we will be able to generate profit from operations, or if profits are generated, that they will be sufficient to carry out our business plans, or that the plans will not be modified.

Our equity line agreement with Peak One could result in the issuance of our common stock at a deep discount to the current price at the time of such issuance and may result in substantial dilution to our shareholders.

On March 31, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P., whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the Buyer is committed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Purchase Shares”) at an aggregate price of up to $5,000,000 (the “Total Commitment Amount”) over the course of its 24-month term. From time to time over the 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, commencing on the date on which a registration statement registering the Purchase Shares (the “Registration Statement”) becomes effective, the Company may, in its sole discretion, provide Peak One with a put notice (each a “Put Notice”) to purchase a specified number of the Purchase Shares (each a “Put Amount Requested”) subject to the limitations discussed below and contained in the Purchase Agreement. Upon delivery of a Put Notice, the Company must deliver the Put Amount Requested as Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) shares to Peak One within two trading days.

 

The actual amount of proceeds the Company receives pursuant to each Put Notice (each, the “Put Amount”) is to be determined by multiplying the Put Amount Requested by the applicable purchase price. The purchase price for each of the Purchase Shares equals 90% of the “Market Price,” which is defined as the lesser of the (i) lowest closing bid price of our common stock for any trading day during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date of the respective Put Notice, or (ii) lowest closing bid price of the common stock for any trading day during the seven trading days immediately following the clearing date associated with the applicable Put Notice (the “Valuation Period”). Within three trading days following the end of the Valuation Period, Peak One will deliver the Put Amount to the Company via wire transfer.

We anticipate we will need approximately $5,000,000 to successfully carry out our business plans which include legal fees, accounting fees and purchase of assets, including real estate, and build out of our future manufacturing facility. The Purchase Agreement provides that we may submit a Put Notice to Peak One from time to time in an amount of no less than $15,000 and a maximum amount equal to the lesser of $150,000 or 250% of the average trading value of our common stock.  Accordingly, our ability to utilize the funds under the Purchase Agreement depends upon the trading volume of our shares. At the present time, our stock does trade at the level of volume and average trading value that enables us to draw funds out of the Purchase Agreement. However, the market price and volume of our stock fluctuates and there can be no assurances that we will be able to deliver Put Notices under the terms of the Purchase Agreement on any continuous basis in the foreseeable future.  We cannot forecast the likelihood that we will have access to the full amount available to us under this arrangement.

Although we anticipate that we will need approximately $5 million to successfully implement our business plan, there can be no assurances that the trading volume of our common stock will remain at levels that would allow us to access funds under the Peak One Purchase Agreement.

We anticipate we will need approximately $5,000,000 to successfully carry out our business plans which include legal fees, accounting fees and purchase of assets, including real estate, and build out of our future manufacturing facility. Our ability to utilize the funds under the Purchase Agreement depends upon the volume of our shares. At the present time, our stock does trade at the level of volume that enables us to draw funds out of the Purchase Agreement.  However, the market price and volume of our stock fluctuates and there can be no assurances that we will be able to deliver Put Notices under the terms of the Purchase Agreement on any continuous basis in the foreseeable future.  We cannot forecast the likelihood that we will have access to the full amount available to us under this arrangement.  Based upon the current market price of $0.22 per share we anticipate being able to raise $663,300 from the sale of 3,015,000 shares under the provisions of the equity line.

 

Legal and Regulatory Risks

 

 

The Industrial Hemp industry is extremely speculative and its legality is uncertain. 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

Various statements in this prospectus contain or may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements were based on various factors and were derived from utilizing numerous assumptions and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors,” which could cause our actual results to differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements we make.

 

Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond our control. You should consider the areas of risk described in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made herein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and readers should carefully review this prospectus in its entirety, including the risks described in “Risk Factors.” Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus, and you should not rely on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business.

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

This Prospectus relates to shares of our common stock that may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholder.  We will only receive proceeds from the sale of the Purchase Shares to Peak One pursuant to the Equity Purchase Agreement.  We intend to use the proceeds that we may receive from the sale of Purchase Shares to Peak One for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements. There can be no assurance that we will sell any of the Purchase Shares.  We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to draw down any or all of the Total Commitment Amount, such that the proceeds received would be a source of financing for us.  We intend to raise additional capital through equity and debt financing, as needed, though there cannot be any assurance that such funds will be available to us on acceptable terms, on an acceptable schedule, or at all.

DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

The offering price has been determined pursuant to the terms of the Equity Purchase Agreement, dated March 31, 2017 (“Equity Line”), between the registrant and the Peak One.  The Company’s calculation of the maximum number of shares that may be registered for resale under the Equity Line pursuant to this Registration Statement is based upon the purchase price per share which shall be 90% of the Market Price on such date on which the Purchase Price is calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Equity Line which is for a maximum of $5,000,000.00.  Market Price shall mean the lesser of the (i) lowest closing price of the common stock on the principal market for any trading day during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the respective put date, or (ii) lowest closing bid price of the common stock on the principal market for any trading day during the valuation period. The Company estimates that the maximum number of shares to be issued under the Equity Line is an additional 3,015,000.  The figure also includes shares held by certain of our current shareholders.  On June 19 , 2018, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $0.22 .

MATERIAL TERMS OF EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH PEAK ONE

The Equity Line

On March 31, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P., whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the Buyer is committed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Purchase Shares”) at an aggregate price of up to $5,000,000 (the “Total Commitment Amount”) over the course of its 24-month term. From time to time over the 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, commencing on the date on which a registration statement registering the Purchase Shares (the “Registration Statement”) becomes effective, the Company may, in its sole discretion, provide Peak One with a put notice (each a “Put Notice”) to purchase a specified number of the Purchase Shares (each a “Put Amount Requested”) subject to the limitations discussed below and contained in the Purchase Agreement. Upon delivery of a Put Notice, the Company must deliver the Put Amount Requested as Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) shares to Peak One within two trading days.

 

The actual amount of proceeds the Company receives pursuant to each Put Notice (each, the “Put Amount”) is to be determined by multiplying the Put Amount Requested by the applicable purchase price. The purchase price for each of the Purchase Shares equals 90% of the “Market Price,” which is defined as the lesser of the (i) lowest closing bid price of our common stock for any trading day during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date of the respective Put Notice, or (ii) lowest closing bid price of the common stock for any trading day during the seven trading days immediately following the clearing date associated with the applicable Put Notice (the “Valuation Period”). Within three trading days following the end of the Valuation Period, Peak One will deliver the Put Amount to the Company via wire transfer.

 

The Put Amount Requested pursuant to any single Put Notice must have an aggregate value of at least $15,000.00 and cannot exceed the lesser of (i) 250% of the average daily trading value of the common stock in the ten trading days immediately preceding the Put Notice or (ii) such number of shares of common stock that has an aggregate value of $150,000.

 

In order to deliver a Put Notice, certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement must be met, as provided therein. In addition, the Company is prohibited from delivering a Put Notice if: (i) the sale of Purchase Shares pursuant to such Put Notice would cause the Company to issue and sell to Buyer, or Buyer to acquire or purchase, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock that, when aggregated with all shares of common stock purchased by Buyer pursuant to all prior Put Notices issued under the Purchase Agreement, would exceed the Total Commitment Amount; or (ii) the sale of the Purchase Shares pursuant to the Put Notice would cause the Company to issue and sell to Buyer, or Buyer to acquire or purchase, an aggregate number of shares of common stock that would result in Buyer beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.  The 3,125,000 shares that are being registered under the equity line represents 16.09% of the total number of 19,420,500 shares of our common stock that are issued and outstanding as of June 21, 2018 .

 

Unless earlier terminated, the Purchase Agreement will terminate automatically on the earlier to occur of: (i) 24 months after the initial effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which the Buyer has purchased or acquired all of the Purchase Shares, or (iii) the date on which certain bankruptcy proceedings are initiated with respect to the Company. In connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue 110,000 shares of its common stock (the “Commitment Shares”) to Buyer or Buyer’s designee as a commitment fee and such shares have been issued.

We anticipate we will need approximately $5,000,000 to successfully carry out our business plans which include legal fees and purchase of assets, including real estate, and build out of our future manufacturing facility. The Purchase Agreement provides that we may submit a Put Notice to Peak One from time to time in an amount of no less than $15,000 and a maximum amount equal to the lesser of $150,000 or 250% of the average trading value of our common stock. Accordingly, our ability to utilize the funds under the Purchase Agreement depends upon the trading volume of our shares. At the present time, our stock trades at a level of volume that would enable us to draw funds out of the Purchase Agreement. However, the trading volume has historically been inconsistent and thus, there can be no assurances that we will be able to continuously access the funds provided by the Purchase Agreement. We cannot forecast the likelihood that we will have access to the full amount available to us under the Purchase Agreement.  Based upon the current market price and trading volume of our common stock as of Tuesday, June 19, 2018 ($0.22 per share), the number of shares of our common stock potentially issuable to Peak One under the Purchase Agreement is 22,727,272. However, this number of shares potentially issuable is also subject to Commission policy regarding limitations on equity line transactions as such limitations relate to the number of shares held by affiliates.  With the limitation amount equal to no more than one-third of non-affiliate shares issued and outstanding (10,890,399), the number of shares that may be issued under the Purchase Agreement is 3,630,132 .

Section 2.1 of the Equity Purchase Agreement states that “the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to direct the Investor, by its delivery to the Investor of a Put Notice from time to time, to purchase Put Shares (i) in a minimum amount not less than $15,000.00 and (ii) in a maximum amount up to the lesser of (a) $150,000.00 or (b) 250% of the Average Daily Trading Value; provided that such minimum amount of Put Shares may be decreased and such maximum amount of Put Shares may be increased subject to the Investor’s written approval.”

Based on the trading volume and share prices for the 10 days preceding June 18, 2018, the maximum dollar amount of a Put Notice is $91,923.76 based on the calculation below:

 

Date		Open				High				Low				Close				Adj Close				Volume
6/6/2018			0.33				0.37				0.3				0.3				0.3				52,200
6/7/2018			0.31				0.38				0.3				0.34				0.34				61,200
6/8/2018			0.38				0.38				0.28				0.28				0.28				56,900
6/11/2018			0.39				0.4				0.27				0.3				0.3				883,300
6/12/2018			0.3				0.3				0.22				0.25				0.25				233,000
6/13/2018			0.25				0.26				0.21				0.23				0.23				104,600
6/14/2018			0.23				0.28				0.23				0.25				0.25				67,100
6/15/2018			0.26				0.27				0.24				0.24				0.24				36,700
6/18/2018			0.27				0.27				0.21				0.25				0.25				65,700
6/19/2018			0.26				0.26				0.209				0.22				0.22				110,641
																		Average volume =					167,134.1
																		Lowest price =				$	0.22
																		Average Trading Daily Value =				$	36,769.50
																							250	%
																						$	91,923.76

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, and in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Buyer whereby the Company is obligated to file the Registration Statement to register the resale of the Commitment Shares and Purchase Shares. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company must (i) file the Registration Statement within thirty calendar days from the Closing Date, (ii) use reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the 90th calendar day following the Closing Date, and (iii) use its reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all of the Commitment Shares and Purchase Shares have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144. 

SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

This prospectus will be used for the offering of shares of our common stock owned by a selling security holder.  Peak One may offer for sale up to 3,125,000 shares of our common stock, only 110,000 shares of which have previously been issued to it pursuant to the terms of the Equity Line.  The shares of common stock were issued pursuant to Regulation D and Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the exempt transaction provisions of applicable state law.  The shareholder is a sophisticated investor who is personally known by our current management. We will only receive proceeds from our sale of our shares of common stock under the Equity Line to Peak One.

The resale of the securities by the selling security holder is subject to the prospectus delivery and other requirements of the Securities Act.  Peak One has been advised to notify any purchaser of its shares that none of the proceeds from the sale of their stock will go to the Company.  All expenses of this offering are being paid for by us on behalf of selling security holder.  The following table sets forth information regarding Peak One.  Explanatory footnotes relating to the footnote references appearing in the headings of this table are set forth below.

The following table details the number of shares owned by Peak One, and the number of shares that may be offered by each Selling Shareholder and Peak One.  Peak One is deemed an underwriter and therefore this offering is also considered an indirect primary offering.  Peak One may sell up to 3,125,000 shares, of which 110,000 have been issued and an additional 3,015,000 shares are issuable upon the exercise of our put rights with Peak One.  Peak One will not assign its obligations under the Equity Line of credit.

The principal of the selling shareholder entity identified above are as follows:

Peak One Investments, LLC – Jason Goldstein, Manager, owner; and

Peak One Opportunity Fund, LLC – Jason Goldstein, Manager, owner.

All of the shares offered by this prospectus may be offered for resale, from time to time, by Peak One, pursuant to this prospectus, in one or more private or negotiated transactions, in open market transactions in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise, or by a combination of these methods, or pursuant to SEC Rule 144.  Peak One may affect these transactions by selling its future shares directly to one or more purchasers or to or through broker-dealers or agents. The compensation to a particular broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of customary commissions.  Peak One is deemed an underwriter and therefore this offering is also considered an indirect primary offering as to such shares.  Peak One may sell up to 3,125,000 shares, only 110,000 shares of which have previously been issued to them pursuant to the terms of the Equity Line and the balance of which are issuable upon the exercise of our put rights with Peak One.  Peak One will not assign its obligations under the Equity Line of credit.

Peak One will pay all commissions, transfer taxes and other expenses associated with its sales.  In the event Peak One sells all of its shares in the secondary offering it will own no shares in the Company upon completion of the secondary offering.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

This prospectus relates to the resale of 3,125,000 Shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, by Peak One, consisting of 3,125,000 shares that are available for sale by Peak One pursuant to the Equity Purchase Agreement.

Peak One may, from time to time, sell any or all of its shares of our common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions.  Peak One may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

·	ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

·	block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

·	purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

·	an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

·	privately negotiated transactions;

·	broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Security Holder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

·	through the writing of options on the shares;

·	a combination of any such methods of sale; and

·	any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

According to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, neither Peak One nor any affiliate of Peak One acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any short sales during the term of this offering.

Peak One may also sell the shares directly to market makers acting as principals and/or broker-dealers acting as agents for themselves or their customers.  Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the sellers and/or the purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal or both, which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions.  Market makers and block purchasers purchasing the shares will do so for their own account and at their own risk.  It is possible that a seller will attempt to sell shares of Common Stock in block transactions to market makers or other purchasers at a price per share which may be below the then market price.  Peak One cannot assure that all or any of the shares available to it and offered in this prospectus will be issued to, or sold by, Peak One.  In addition, Peak One and any brokers, dealers or agents, upon effecting the sale of any of the shares available to Peak One and offered in this prospectus are “underwriters” as that term is defined under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations under such acts. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

 

Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of shares will be borne by Peak One.  Peak One may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares if liabilities are imposed on that person under the Securities Act.

 

We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares of common stock.  Otherwise, all discounts, commissions or fees incurred in connection with the sale of our common stock offered hereby will be paid by the sellers.

 

Peak One acquired the securities offered hereby in the ordinary course of business. Peak One has advised us that it has not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares of common stock, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with a proposed sale of shares of common stock by Peak One.  We will file a supplement to this prospectus if Peak One enters into a material arrangement with a broker-dealer for sale of common stock being registered.  If the any seller uses this prospectus for any sale of the shares of common stock, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, may apply to sales of our common stock and activities of the sellers.  Peak One will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale.

 

Peak One is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with the sale of our common stock under the Equity Purchase Agreement.  For each share of common stock purchased under the Purchase Agreement, Peak One will pay 90% of the lowest Bid Prices during the Valuation Period. On each Closing Date, the number of Put Shares then to be purchased by Peak One shall not exceed the number of such shares that, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Stock then owned by Peak One beneficially or deemed beneficially owned by Peak One, would result in it owning more than 9.99% of all of such Common Stock as would be outstanding on such Closing Date, as determined in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section, in the event that the amount of Common Stock outstanding as determined in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder is greater on a Closing Date than on the date upon which the Put Notice associated with such Closing Date is given, the amount of Common Stock outstanding on such Closing Date shall govern for purposes of determining whether Investor, when aggregating all purchases of Common Stock made pursuant to this Agreement, would own more than 9.99% of the Common Stock following such Closing Date.

 

We will pay all expenses incident to the registration, offering and sale of the shares of our common stock to the public hereunder other than commissions, fees and discounts of underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents.  We have agreed to indemnify Peak One and its controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  We estimate that the expenses of the offering to be borne by us will be approximately $15,000.  We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of any of the shares of our common stock by sellers.  We may, however, receive proceeds from the sale of our common stock under the Equity Line Purchase Agreement.

Sales Pursuant to Rule 144

Any shares of common stock covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as amended, may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

State Securities Laws

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.  In addition, in some states the shares may not be sold unless the shares have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

 

Expenses of Registration

We are bearing all costs relating to the registration of the common stock.  These expenses are estimated to be $15,000 including, but not limited to, legal, accounting, printing and mailing fees.  The sellers, however, will pay any commissions or other fees payable to brokers or dealers in connection with any sale of the common stock.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

General

 

We are authorized to issue an aggregate number of 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share; and (ii) 2,000,000 shares of blank-check preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share.

 

 

We are authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As of the filing date of this prospectus, 19,420,500 shares of the Common Stock are issued and outstanding.

 

Each share of Common Stock shall have one (1) vote per share for all purposes. Our common stock does not provide a preemptive or conversion right and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions or rights. Holders of our Common Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting for election of the Company’s board of directors.

 

The holders of our Common Stock are entitled to dividends out of funds legally available when and as declared by our board of directors. Our board of directors has never declared a dividend and does not anticipate declaring a dividend in the foreseeable future.

 

 

We are authorized to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more classes or series within a class as may be determined by our board of directors, who may establish, from time to time, the number of shares to be included in each class or series, may fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such class or series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. Any preferred stock so issued by the board of directors may rank senior to other existing classes of capital stock with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, or both. Moreover, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock or the existence of the unissued preferred stock might tend to discourage or render more difficult a merger or other change of control. Currently, no shares of our preferred stock have been designated any rights and we have no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

 

 

There are no outstanding warrants to purchase our securities.

 

(1)	The number of Options issued and exercised under the Plan in the years 2007 through 2016 and the increases in securities added to the Plan* for each year are as follows:

 

* The plan was terminated on June 29, 2015.

¹No options were cancelled and 15,000 options were exercised in 2016.

²10,000 options expired and no options were exercised in 2017.

(2)	Of the 75,000 options still active as of December 31, 2016: (i) 10,000 expire at 11-2-2017; (ii) 15,000 expire at 12-31-2018; (iii) 30,000 expire at 11-6-2019; and, (iv) 20,000 expire at 12-23-2020.

(3)	Of the 65,000 options still active as of December 31, 2017: (i) 15,000 expire at 12-31-2018; (ii) 30,000 expire at 11-6-2019; and, (iii) 20,000 expire at 12-23-2020.

In February 2018, the Company adopted the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2018 Stock Grant and Option Plan (“2018 Plan”). The purpose of the 2018 Plan is to offer selected employees, directors and consultants an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company.  Awards that can be granted from the 2018 Plan include registered shares, restricted shares and options as well as the direct award or sale of shares of the Company’s common stock. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to an award shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares of authorized common stock of the Company. Subsequent to the adoption of the 2018 Plan, the Company filed Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to a consulting agreement.

The Company’s board of directors approved issuance of 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to a director for his service as a consultant for the transaction. The Company determined that 16,000 shares of the total number of shares represent non-cash debt issuance costs directly related to the convertible notes financing and the remaining 34,000 shares represent non-cash offering costs directly related the sale of the Company’s common stock to this investor (see NOTE 9). As a result, the debt discount of $10,000, commitment fee of $2,500, legal fee of $2,500, commission to a third-party consultant of $5,950 and the non-cash debt issuance costs of $26,400, totaling $47,350, were recorded as a direct reduction from the carrying value of the principal amount in the consolidated balance sheet at the time of the agreement. These costs were amortized as interest expense immediately upon issuance because the first note was immediately convertible by the note holder. The principle amount of $100,000 was repaid in June 2017 together with interest expense of $5,000.

The Company did not receive additional funding from the investor and therefore, no additional convertible note agreement was issued.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Our transfer agent is Pacific Stock Transfer Company. Its offices are located at 6725 Via Austi Parkway, Suite 300, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. Their telephone number is (702) 361-3033 and their facsimile number is (702) 433-1979.

Section 15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 – “Penny Stock” Disclosure

 

Our shares of Common Stock are “penny stock” covered by Section 15(g) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 15g-1 through 15g-6 promulgated under the Exchange Act. They impose additional sales practice requirements on broker/dealers who sell securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors, which are generally institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly with their spouses. For transactions covered by these rules, the broker/dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchase and have received the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction prior to the sale. Consequently, the rules may affect the ability of broker/dealers to sell our securities and also may affect your ability to resell your shares.

 

Section 15(g) also imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker/dealers who sell penny stock. These rules require a one-page summary of certain essential items. The items include the risk of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and secondary marketing; terms important to an understanding of the function of the penny stock market, such as “bid” and “offer” quotes, a dealers “spread” and broker/dealer compensation; the broker/dealer compensation, the broker/dealer’s duties to its customers, including the disclosures required by any other penny stock disclosure rules; the customers’ rights and remedies in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions; and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s toll-free telephone number and the central number of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), for information on the disciplinary history of broker/dealers and their associated persons. Rules 15g-1 through 15g-6 which apply to broker/dealers but not our company are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The application of the penny stock rules may affect your ability to resell your shares of Common Stock because many brokers are unwilling to buy, sell or trade penny stock as a result of the additional sales practices imposed upon them which are described in this section.

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

Our financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, included in this prospectus have been audited by KWCO, PC of Odessa, Texas, independent registered public accounting firm, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. Our audited financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, included in this prospectus have been prepared by the management of the Company.

 

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Law Office of Clifford J. Hunt, P.A.  The law firm’s principal, Clifford J. Hunt, Esquire, is the beneficial owner of 50,000 shares of our common stock.

 

INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE REGISTRANT

 

Description of business, principal products, services and their markets

Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. (“we”, “us”, the “Company”, or the “Parent Company”) was incorporated in Texas on October 1, 1984 as Gibbs Construction, Inc. (“Gibbs”). The Company changed its name from Gibbs Construction, Inc. to Acacia Automotive, Inc. effective February 20, 2007. On October 18, 2012, the Company changed its name from Acacia Automotive, Inc. to Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. in an effort to exemplify the Company’s desire to expand into alternative industries as well as more diversified service and product offerings.  

On January 15, 2016, the Company acquired the assets and businesses of the MariJ Group of companies that included MariJ Agricultural, JR Cannabis Industries, LLC and Canna-Cures Research & Development Center, LLC.  The transaction has an effective date of January 4, 2016. On January 19, 2016, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the acquisition. The Company subsequently filed expanded and updated information relating to that acquisition on its Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A on April 25, 2016.  That document is available for viewing on the Company’s website at http://www.acacia.bz/sec/sec.htmand on the SEC website at:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001463/000118518516004336/0001185185-16-004336-index.htm

 

In 2016, following the acquisition, the Company formed two new subsidiaries to conduct its new industrial hemp business activities, being MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“MariJ Pharma”) and Canna-Cures Research & Development Center, Inc. (“Canna-Cures”). In 2017, the Company formed a new subsidiary Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc. (“EMT”) to conduct its industrial hemp growing, processing and retail business in the state of Tennessee, under the state’s pilot program.

MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

MariJ Pharma has a proprietary mobile CO2, supercritical (industrial hemp) oil extraction unit which was USDA certified Organic on September 28th, 2016, by OneCert, under the US National Organic Program; 7 CFR PART 205. MariJ Pharma extracts and processes very high quality, high-cannabinoid profile content medical grade hemp oils from medicinal industrial hemp plants.  MariJ specializes in organic strains of the plant where available, setting itself apart from the general producers of non-organic products.    

Canna-Cures launched its first research and development center in Colorado. In conjunction with that opening, Canna-Cures officially launched the Dahlia’s Botanicals Endocannabinoid Nutraceuticals product line.  A portion of the proceeds from our Dahlia’s Botanicals line are awarded to the Canna Moms 501(c)(3) organization in support of its continuing public education and awareness campaign.

Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc.

Distribution methods of the products and services

EMT plans to sell medicinal hemp products and dietary supplements primarily through retail dispensaries in Tennessee and through a dedicated distribution model.

 

Status of any publicly announced new products or services

The Company’s business plan includes developing its proprietary GeoTrackingTechnology that is fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability standard (“HIPAA”) utilizing its “plant to patient” solution. This GeoTraking Technology is designed to provide a full-channel patient care tracking system that is fully compliant under today’s strict HIPAA regulations that require privacy and security of the patient’s information. Beginning with RFID labelling and tracking of every single seed employed in the grow program and continuing through the sale of prescription products in a sophisticated retail Point of Sale delivery system.

The Company also plans to enter into research and development projects with institutions of higher learning in efforts to:  (i) develop new and better strains of medical industrial hemp related products for dispensing as medications, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and potential dietary supplements; and (ii) provide private label packaging services; and (iii) sell additional medical industrial hemp oils, oil-infused products, and other merchandise through its web-based portal or retail dispensaries planned for that purpose; and (iv) sell cosmeceutical and nutraceutical products and dietary supplements containing its high-quality hemp oil extracts.

The Company currently does not have sufficient working capital to pursue our business plan in its entirety as described herein. Our ability to implement our business plan will depend on our ability to obtain sufficient working capital and to fund our operations. No assurance can be given that we will be able to obtain additional capital, or, if available, that such capital will be available at terms acceptable to us, or that we will be able to generate profit from operations, or if profits are generated, that they will be sufficient to carry out our business plans, or that the plans will not be modified.

Competitive business conditions and the Company’s competitive position in the industry and methods of competition

Any industry served by the Company is likely to be highly competitive across the entire United States and the rest of the world. In particular, the industrial hemp industry, being the impetus of all the Company’s attention at this juncture, is very highly competitive and has drawn thousands of competing entities.  While the Company believes its technology, programs, and plans place it in a posture to compete at the highest levels, the sheer numbers of competitors must be recognized. The Company has elected to devote the majority of its efforts on production and sales of its products and services within the continental United States but may institute operations in diverse countries.  Even so, the Company must be considered as currently competing with other companies in diverse countries that can potentially produce and sell competitive products at lower prices.  While the Company believes that there are other hurdles for those foreign entities to overcome, including the high cost of international shipping to U.S. buyers, we believe that they nonetheless can compete with us in our markets.  We will potentially compete with a variety of companies, both domestic and international, and as such will be subject to various levels of competition. There is no assurance the Company will be able to adhere to its plans or to engage in any acquisitions or mergers.  The Company will consider potential opportunities to buy, sell or distribute its products in other countries.

Sources and availability of raw materials and the names of principal suppliers

One of the ingredients used in the extraction process is carbon dioxide. MariJ Pharma depends on a supplier to supply high quality carbon dioxide. This supplier produces the highest quality carbon dioxide for the industrial hemp industry. If MariJ Pharma was not able to continue obtaining carbon dioxide from this supplier, it would need to look to other suppliers to supply this critical ingredient. However, the quality of the ingredient would suffer and the Company may not be able to obtain it at reasonable cost. At the present time, the Company is not anticipating a disruption of service by this supplier, whose identity we choose to keep confidential.

Dependence on one or a few major customers

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s revenues were concentrated on three customers, CBD Rx, Precision Cultivation, Inc. and Blue Circle Development, Inc., who accounted for approximately 33%, 28% and 32%, of the total consolidated revenues, respectively.

Patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises, concessions, royalty agreements or labor contracts, including duration

The Company currently has patents pending, trademarks pending, and no franchises, concessions, royalty agreements or labor contracts. The Company intends to acquire, through its MariJ Pharma subsidiary, portions or complete ownership of licenses and grow operations in one or more states and is seeking to cultivate, organically extract and process its medicinal industrial hemp crops year around in indoor facilities.  The acquisition of these licenses is anticipated to provide the Company with the opportunity to compound medicinal products using mixtures of high cannabinoid profile oils that have very little hallucinogenic properties but have significantly improved medicinal properties.

Effect of existing or probable governmental regulations on the business

 

A majority of the states that have legalized the growing, production, and use of industrial hemp oil have passed legislation authorizing the use of high-CBD content and low-THC content oils.  As a result, and in keeping with regulations and laws in those venues, the Company, through its subsidiaries, intends to concentrate on those products unless and until the laws change to facilitate a wider range of grow and production opportunities.  The Company does have the technology and capability of extracting high-THC oils in those venues that do allow it and will provide services to growers in those areas as contracted. The Company, through its new subsidiaries, will operate in the medical industrial hemp sector.  In order to help our shareholders better understand the products we intend to employ in our business plans, we have provided certain explanations and definitions below.

Unlike THC; CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN do not cause a high or hallucinogenic effect. The reason why CBD is non-psychoactive is due to its lack of affinity for CB1 receptors, such as are found in high concentrations in the brain, and which become the channels through which THC is able to port its psychoactive effects.

 

The medical industrial hemp industry faces very uncertain regulation in the light of the continuing deregulation of industrial hemp products in many states, either as high-CBD/low-THC products, or as high-THC products, but the continuing regulation of the industrial hemp industry by the federal government.  While the federal government has for several years chosen to not intervene in the industrial hemp business conducted legally within the states that have legislated such activities, there is nonetheless the potential that the federal government may at any time choose to begin enforcing its laws against the manufacturing, possession, or use of industrial hemp-based products.  Similarly, there is the possibility that the federal government may enact legislation or rules that authorize the manufacturing, possession or use of those products under specific guidelines.  In the event the federal government was to tighten its regulation of the industry, the Company would likely suffer substantial losses.  In the event the federal government was to loosen or change its rules or laws in favor of the industry, the Company would have an opportunity to benefit substantially if it were properly positioned to take advantage of the new opportunities.

Inherent risks currently exist in this industry as a result of the determination by many nationally-chartered banks that they would be operating outside the federal laws by accepting deposits from industrial hemp oil producers.  Many states have legalized the growing, production, sale, and consumption of various industrial hemp related products, but the federal government has continued to take the position that such activities are not legal.  However, the federal government has taken the posture for years that it will defer to the states in those matters insofar as certain products, such as those containing a high concentration of THC, are not transported across state lines.  As such, many nationally-chartered banks fear prosecution under money-laundering or other statutes, relegating some businesses to maintain large sums of cash on hand, and meeting payrolls and accounts payable obligations with cash rather than checks.  As a result, those businesses are placed at high risk of internal and external theft and crimes relating to the lack of controls and security afforded by transactional banking.  The Company is currently utilizing various financial institutions for its deposit needs, but this still creates risks when the proceeds at diverse production locations, often themselves in cash due to the same issues, cannot be deposited in nearby accessible depositories.  The Company has an armored vehicle for use in the transport of cash and industrial hemp products but believes those risks will not be minimized until national depository institutions allow industrial hemp-related businesses to utilize their facilities.

Estimate of the amount of money spent during each of the last two fiscal years on research and development

The Company spent a de-minimus amount on research and development during its last two fiscal years.

Costs and effects of compliance with environmental laws

The industrial hemp industry, just like other industries, impacts our environment. Environmental laws relating to water rights, energy consumption, pollution, and overall carbon footprint all can and do impact the industrial hemp industry.

However, fewer states have enacted laws dealing with the industry’s impact on water and air quality, but the industry is certainly under more scrutiny. In certain states, producers and processors must pay a fee to their local or state government and submit an application for a permit, provide information on odor control equipment for producing, growing, or processing and solvent usage information for each type.

Number of total employees and number of full-time employees

Most Recent Audited Financial Information

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we generated revenues of $478,231 and incurred a net loss of $1,833,728. We have a cumulative deficit of $4,953,946 at December 31, 2017.

Available Information

 

Our Web address is www.acaciadiversifiedholdings.com. The Company attempts to make its electronic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including all Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and if applicable, amendments to those reports, available free of charge on its Web site as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition, information regarding our board of directors is available on our Web site. The information posted on our Web site is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Any materials that we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet Web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent for our common stock is Pacific Stock Transfer, Inc. at 6725 Via Austi Pkwy, Suite 300, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. The transfer agent’s telephone number is (702) 361-3033.

Financing Transaction Related to the Offering

The Equity Line

On March 31, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Peak One Opportunity Fund, L.P., whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, the Buyer is committed to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Purchase Shares”) at an aggregate price of up to $5,000,000 (the “Total Commitment Amount”) over the course of its 24-month term. From time to time over the 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, commencing on the date on which a registration statement registering the Purchase Shares (the “Registration Statement”) becomes effective, the Company may, in its sole discretion, provide Peak One with a put notice (each a “Put Notice”) to purchase a specified number of the Purchase Shares (each a “Put Amount Requested”) subject to the limitations discussed below and contained in the Purchase Agreement. Upon delivery of a Put Notice, the Company must deliver the Put Amount Requested as Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) shares to Peak One within two trading days.

 

The actual amount of proceeds the Company receives pursuant to each Put Notice (each, the “Put Amount”) is to be determined by multiplying the Put Amount Requested by the applicable purchase price. The purchase price for each of the Purchase Shares equals 90% of the “Market Price,” which is defined as the lesser of the (i) lowest closing bid price of our common stock for any trading day during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date of the respective Put Notice, or (ii) lowest closing bid price of the common stock for any trading day during the seven trading days immediately following the clearing date associated with the applicable Put Notice (the “Valuation Period”). Within three trading days following the end of the Valuation Period, Peak One will deliver the Put Amount to the Company via wire transfer.

 

The Put Amount Requested pursuant to any single Put Notice must have an aggregate value of at least $15,000.00 and cannot exceed the lesser of (i) 250% of the average daily trading value of the common stock in the ten trading days immediately preceding the Put Notice or (ii) such number of shares of common stock that has an aggregate value of $150,000.

 

In order to deliver a Put Notice, certain conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement must be met, as provided therein. In addition, the Company is prohibited from delivering a Put Notice if: (i) the sale of Purchase Shares pursuant to such Put Notice would cause the Company to issue and sell to Buyer, or Buyer to acquire or purchase, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock that, when aggregated with all shares of common stock purchased by Buyer pursuant to all prior Put Notices issued under the Purchase Agreement, would exceed the Total Commitment Amount; or (ii) the sale of the Purchase Shares pursuant to the Put Notice would cause the Company to issue and sell to Buyer, or Buyer to acquire or purchase, an aggregate number of shares of common stock that would result in Buyer beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Unless earlier terminated, the Purchase Agreement will terminate automatically on the earlier to occur of: (i) 24 months after the initial effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which the Buyer has purchased or acquired all of the Purchase Shares, or (iii) the date on which certain bankruptcy proceedings are initiated with respect to the Company. In connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue 110,000 shares of its common stock (the “Commitment Shares”) to Buyer or Buyer’s designee as a commitment fee.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, and in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Buyer whereby the Company is obligated to file the Registration Statement to register the resale of the Commitment Shares and Purchase Shares. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company must (i) file the Registration Statement within thirty calendar days from the Closing Date, (ii) use reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the 90th calendar day following the Closing Date, and (iii) use its reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all of the Commitment Shares and Purchase Shares have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144. 

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s EMT subsidiary purchased a parcel of land in Tennessee. The Company does not currently own any other real properties.

 

The Company rents its administrative office in Clearwater, Florida on a month to month basis and has a two-year lease on its retail space in Nashville, Tennessee.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are currently not involved in litigation that we believe will have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of our company or any of our subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting our company, our common stock, any of our subsidiaries or of our company’s or our company’s subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such, in which an adverse decision is expected to have a material adverse effect.

MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY
AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

 

(a) Market Information

 

Our common stock is presently quoted on the OTCQB of the OTC Markets marketplace under the trading symbol ACCA. Historically, trading in our stock has been very limited and the trades that have occurred cannot be characterized as amounting to an established public trading market. As a result, the trading prices of our common stock may not reflect the price that would result if our stock was actively traded.

The following are high and low closing prices quoted on the OTCQB during the periods indicated.

 

(b) Holders

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 224 registered stockholders of record. The Company believes that it may also have as many as 200 or more additional beneficial shareholders.  The number of both shareholders of record and beneficial shareholders may change on a daily basis and without the Company’s immediate knowledge.  

 

(c) Dividends

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared by our board of directors and, in the event of liquidation, to share pro rata in any distribution of assets after payment of liabilities. The board of directors has sole discretion to determine: (i) whether to declare a dividend; (ii) the dividend rate, if any, on the shares of any class of series of our capital stock, and if so, from which date or dates; and (iii) the relative rights of priority of payment of dividends, if any, between the various classes and series of our capital stock. We have not paid any dividends and do not have any current plans to pay any dividends.

(d) Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

 

At its meeting of directors on February 1, 2007, the Company’s board of directors approved the Acacia Automotive, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan1 (the “Plan”), which was approved by our stockholders on November 2, 2007, reserving 1,000,000 shares to be issued there under in the form of common stock or common stock purchase options.  On July 26, 2012, our shareholders voted to update and extend the Acacia Automotive, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, renaming it the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. Warrants, which may be included as equity compensation of used in other manners, are not a component of the Plan. On June 29, 2015 shareholders holding a majority of the shares of the Company voted to discontinue the Company’s stock incentive plans but shares or options may still be authorized and issued by the Company’s Board of Directors. In resolutions since the implementation of the Plan, the directors granted restricted stock, warrants, and options for compensation summarized as follows as of December 31, 2017:

SUMMARY OF EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

 

(1)	The number of Options issued and exercised under the Plan in the years 2007 through 2016 and the increases in securities added to the Plan* for each year are as follows:

 

* The plan was terminated on June 29, 2015.

¹No options were cancelled and 15,000 options were exercised in 2016.

²10,000 options expired and no options were exercised in 2017.

(2)	Of the 75,000 options still active as of December 31, 2016: (i) 10,000 expire at 11-2-2017; (ii) 15,000 expire at 12-31-2018; (iii) 30,000 expire at 11-6-2019; and, (iv) 20,000 expire at 12-23-2020.

(3)	Of the 65,000 options still active as of December 31, 2017: (i) 15,000 expire at 12-31-2018; (ii) 30,000 expire at 11-6-2019; and, (iii) 20,000 expire at 12-23-2020.

In February 2018, the Company adopted the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2018 Stock Grant and Option Plan (“2018 Plan”). The purpose of the 2018 Plan is to offer selected employees, directors and consultants an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company. Awards that can be granted from the 2018 Plan include registered shares, restricted shares and options as well as the direct award or sale of shares of the Company’s common stock. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to an award shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares of authorized common stock of the Company. Subsequent to the adoption of the 2018 Plan, the Company filed Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to a consulting agreement.

   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the other sections of this Annual Report, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes set forth in Item 8. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, including information about possible or assumed results of our financial condition, operations, plans, objectives and performance that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The actual results may differ materially from those anticipated and set forth in such forward-looking statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks, significant uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed, or implied, by those forward-looking statements.  You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “predicts”, “potential”, “proposed”, or “continue” or the negative of those terms.  These statements are only predictions. In evaluating these statements, you should consider various factors which may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements.  Although we believe that the exceptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.  Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, availability of financing for operations, successful performance of operations, impact of competition and other risks detailed below as well as those discussed elsewhere in this registration statement on Form S-1 and from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports.  In addition, general economic and market conditions and growth rates could affect such statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Executive Overview

 

Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. (“we”, “us”, the “Company”, or the “Parent Company”) was incorporated in Texas on October 1, 1984 as Gibbs Construction, Inc. (“Gibbs”). The Company changed its name from Gibbs Construction, Inc. to Acacia Automotive, Inc. effective February 20, 2007. On October 18, 2012, the Company changed its name from Acacia Automotive, Inc. to Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. in an effort to exemplify the Company’s desire to expand into alternative industries as well as more diversified service and product offerings.  

On January 15, 2016, the Company acquired the assets and businesses of the MariJ Group of companies that included MariJ Agricultural, JR Cannabis Industries, LLC and Canna-Cures Research & Development Center, LLC.  The transaction has an effective date of January 4, 2016.

 

In 2016, following the acquisition, the Company formed two new subsidiaries to conduct its new medical industrial hemp business activities, being MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“MariJ Pharma”) and Canna-Cures Research & Development Center, Inc. (“Canna-Cures”). In 2017, the Company formed a new subsidiary Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc. (“EMT”) to conduct its retail business in the state of Tennessee.

MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

MariJ Pharma engages in the extraction and processing of very high quality, high-CBD/low-THC content medical grade industrial hemp oils from industrial hemp plants.  MariJ Pharma specializes in utilizing organic strains of the hemp plant, setting itself apart from the general producers of non-organic products.  In addition, MariJ Pharma has the technical expertise and capability to process and formulate the oils and to employ them in its compounding operations.  MariJ Pharma will seek to become engaged as owner or co-owner of a grow facility such as to produce its own plants for processing. The Company intends to acquire, through its MariJ Pharma subsidiary, portions or complete ownership of licenses and grow operations in one or more states and seeks to cultivate, organically extract and process its medicinal industrial hemp crops year around in indoor facilities.  The acquisition of these licenses is anticipated to provide the Company with the opportunity to compound medicinal products using mixtures of high cannabinoid profile oils that have very little hallucinogenic properties but have significantly improved medicinal properties. This GeoTraking Technology is designed to provide a full-channel patient care tracking system that is fully compliant under today’s strict HIPAA regulations that require privacy and security of the patient’s information. Beginning with RFID labelling and tracking of every single seed employed in the grow program and continuing through the sale of medicinal products in a sophisticated retail Point of Sale delivery system.

 

MariJ Pharma’s revenues are anticipated to be generated primarily from several activities, including but not limited to the following:

 

 

 

The Company will require additional capital to execute these plans and there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its plans to generate that capital.

Discussion Regarding the Company’s Consolidated Operating Results

The results of operations are based on preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The preparation of financial statements requires management to select accounting policies for critical accounting areas as well as estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.  The Company’s accounting policies are more fully described in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we generated $478,231 of revenue compared to $311,283, an increase of $166,948 or 54%. The increase is as a result of more aggressive advertising and marketing effort which enabled us to obtain additional contracts for extraction services. Costs of goods sold increased by $2,360, or 1%, from $238,983 to $241,343 primarily due to increase in depreciation on extraction equipment. As a result, gross profit increased by $164,588 or 228% from $72,300 to $236,888.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $179,534 or 10% from $1,814,419 to $1,634,885. Employee compensation expenses increased due to the hiring of an administrative assistance and a financial controller in 2017. This increase is offset by the decrease in general and administrative expenses. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to the closing of our retail operations in Colorado in July 2017. In addition, we retained legal counsel in 2016 to assist in obtaining an operating license in the state of Tennessee in addition to our normal and recurring legal expenses. In January 2016, we also merged into a public entity which necessitated significant but non-recurring legal and accounting fees. As part of the merger, we also incurred additional expenses on our former CEO related to him relinquishing controls and resigning from all positions from the Company. These non-recurring events contributed to high selling, general and administrative expenses in 2016.

 

As a result of the above, operating losses decreased by $344,122 or 20% from $1,742,119 to $1,397,997 during the year ended December 31, 2017.

The Company’s other expenses were $435,731 during the year ended December 31, 2017. This is primarily due to cash and non-cash interest expense incurred on note payable with related party and on convertible note and amortization of debt issuance costs. The Company’s other expenses were $42,995 during the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a loss on sale of equipment to a related party of $42,987. Increase in other expenses was $392,744, or 913% during the year ended December 31, 2017.

As a result of the above, our consolidated net loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 amounted to $1,833,728 compared to a consolidated net loss of $1,785,114 for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $48,614 or 3%.

 

Total Assets.  Total assets at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $606,800 and $684,783, respectively.  Total assets consist of current assets of $119,528 and $203,095, respectively, net property and equipment of $483,931 and $480,847, respectively, and deposits of $3,341 and $841, respectively. Total assets decreased by $77,983, or 11% primarily due to a decrease in cash of $15,461 or 35% at December 31, 2017, a decrease in accounts receivable of $12,810 or 36% due to management providing an allowance for doubtful accounts, and a decrease in prepaid expenses of $49,468, or 82% due to curtailing insurance and other subscription expenditures during the year.

Total Liabilities.  Total liabilities at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $1,092,168 and $394,530, respectively. Total liabilities consist of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $452,710 and $390,530, respectively. The increase of $62,180 primarily represents accrued bonus to our current CEO of $59,500, accrued severance to our former CEO of $250,000 and increase in accounts payable to our vendors of $19,829 due to increase in operating activities and increase in payroll taxes payable of $11,092 as a result of timing of our payroll cycle. Payable to related party of $4,000 at December 31, 2016 represents amounts owed to our current CEO for two months of automobile allowance and rental of a small office owned by him, pursuant to his employment agreement with the Company.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we had a net loss of $1,833,729. In light of the continued net losses, our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to begin operations and to achieve a level of profitability. We intend on financing our future development activities and our working capital needs largely from the sale of its common stock with some additional funding from other traditional financing sources such as bridge loans until such time that funds provided by operations are sufficient to fund working capital requirements. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets, or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that might be necessary should we become unable to continue as a going concern.

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we invested $11,284 in the purchase of property and equipment, compared to $35,414 in 2016. Cash investment in property and equipment was lower in current year because of limiting cash flows.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we generated $483,600 from financing activities compared to $846,004 in 2016. In 2017, we obtained working capital largely from issuing note payable to a related party for $405,000 and from issuance of a convertible note to an investor for $79,050 which was paid back in 2017. In 2016, $600,000 was provided from advances from our majority stockholder, $180,854 was provided through the merger and $65,000 was provided from proceeds from issuance of common stock.

As a result of the above, as of December 31, 2017, we had a negative consolidated cash flow of $15,461 for the year compared to a negative consolidated cash flow of $177,296 for the year ended December 31, 2016. 

Discussions Regarding Operating Leases and Commitments

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has the following operating lease obligations.

The Company rents administrative space in Clearwater, Florida at $904 per month on a month to month basis. The Company also entered into a 24 months lease to rent retail space in Nashville, Tennessee at $2,500 per month.

 

On May 1, 2016, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its CEO. The term of the employment is through December 31, 2019 and at a starting salary of $170,000 and annual bonus at 35% of the salary. Any salary and bonus increases must be reviewed and approved by the Company’s board of directors. The Company’s board of directors approved a salary increase for our CEO to $195,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The agreement provides for a monthly reimbursement of $1,000 for the rental of a second office owned by the CEO, which the CEO has asked the Board and the board has agreed to eliminate the second office expense of $1,000 per month as of December 31, 2017 and a monthly automobile allowance of $1,000. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, expenses related to the office rental and automobile allowance totaled $24,000 and $16,000, respectively, of which $10,000 and $4,000 remained owed to the CEO at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As such, the Company is committed to an annual expenditure of $12,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

 

Financing of Planned Expansions and Other Expenditures

 

We anticipate seeking additional capital through the sale of our equity securities in a private placement offering, but no assurance can be made that we will be able to find willing buyers for such securities. Moreover, as we contemplate selling our securities by way of an exemption from registration, there can be no assurance that we can be able to identify a satisfactory number of suitable buyers to whom we may legally offer such securities, or if we are successful in identifying suitable buyers that we will be successful in raising capital, or if successful in raising capital that we can be successful in implementing any plan for acquisitions or adding or expanding any operations. 

We would anticipate using the proceeds from any capital raise to bolster our new operations, pay the costs of adding new equipment and services that could provide revenue streams to meet our expenses, and/or acquire a partial or whole interest in a grow facility.

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

 

We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates that we use to prepare our consolidated financial statements. A complete summary of these policies is included in Note 4 of the notes to our financial statements. We believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgment and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

INVENTORIES – Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined using the average cost method. The Company’s inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods. Finished goods inventories are separated into two discernible product lines of organic and non-organic products. Cost of inventory includes cost of ingredients, labor, quality control and all other costs incurred to bring our inventories to condition ready to be sold.

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT – Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while minor replacements, maintenance and repairs are charged to current operations.  Depreciation is computed by applying the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, which are generally three to fifteen years.  

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS – In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 360-10-05 - Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, long-lived assets such as property, equipment and identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  When required, impairment losses on assets to be held and used are recognized based on the fair value of the asset.  The fair value is determined based on estimates of future cash flows, market value of similar assets, if available, or independent appraisals, if required.  If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount and fair value of the asset.  The Company did not recognize any impairment losses for any periods presented.

DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS - The Company follows Accounting Standard Update 2015-03 – Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires direct costs associated with the issuance of convertible note to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability. These costs are amortized into interest expense over the contractual term of the note or a shorter amortization period when deemed appropriate. The Company amortizes debt issuance costs for its convertible note immediately upon issuance since the note is convertible on demand.

The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met:

STOCK BASED COMPENSATION - The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under Accounting Standards Codification 718 - Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires that all stock-based compensation be recognized as expense in the financial statements and that such cost be measured at the fair value of the award at the grant date and recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services (requisite service period). An additional requirement of ASC 718 is that estimated forfeitures be considered in determining compensation expense. Estimating forfeitures did not have a material impact on the determination of compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.  

 

The Company accounts for stock-based awards based on the fair market value of the instrument using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and utilizing certain assumptions including the followings:

Risk-free interest rate – This is the yield on U.S. Treasury Securities posted at the date of grant (or date of modification) having a term equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense.

Expected life—years – This is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding. Options granted by the Company had a maximum term of ten years. An increase in the expected life will increase compensation expense.

Expected volatility – Actual changes in the market value of stock are used to calculate the volatility assumption.  An increase in the expected volatility will increase compensation expense.

 

Dividend yield – This is the annual rate of dividends per share over the exercise price of the option. An increase in the dividend yield will decrease compensation expense.  The Company does not currently pay dividends and has no immediate plans to do so in the near future.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation issued to non-employees and consultants in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 505-50, Equity – Based Payments to Non-Employees.  Measurement of share-based payment transactions with non-employees is based on the fair value of whichever is more reliably measurable: (a) the goods or services received; or (b) the equity instruments issued.  The value of the common stock is measured at the earlier of (i) the date at which a firm commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached or (ii) the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS

ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Executive Officers and Directors 

The directors and executive officers of the Company, and their respective ages, as of December 31, 2017, and positions held with the Company, were as follows: 

 

Richard K. Pertile, age 56, became CEO, President, a Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company on January 15, 2016. Since 2013 until January 15, 2016 Mr. Pertile served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MariJ Agricultural, Inc.  He founded JR Cannabis Industries, Canna-Tags, and Canna-Cures R&D in Clearwater Florida where he began building a medical industrial hemp consortium.   Born, raised and educated in the Chicago area, he successfully operated his own restaurants, hotel and nightclub.  Relocating to Pinellas County, Florida in 1989, Mr. Pertile joined Cornerstone Marketing of America, a subsidiary of United Insurance Companies, quickly being promoted to Executive Vice-President with responsibility for building its nationwide outside sales team.  By the end of 2003, Mr. Pertile achieved year-over-year compounded growth of 30%, generating more than $1 billion in sales through 8,000 independent contractors in 40 states.  After retiring in 2004, he turned his attention to philanthropy work in helping build a workout facility with the Juvenile Protection Services Program of Florida.  From 2006 to 2010, after re-entering the business sector, he became President and Chief Marketing Officer of Independent Producers of America, a small Texas corporation he lead to becoming a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq Exchange.  Again turning his attention to philanthropies in 2010, he formed the Pertile Family Foundation and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Tampa Chapter of the American Diabetes Association where he concentrated his fundraising activities. Mr. Pertile earned degrees in Business Management and Wastewater Engineering from the College of Lake County, Illinois, and trained under such recognized business leaders as Zig Ziglar, Dr. David Cook, Dr. Rick Jernigan, Brian Flanagan, and Brian Tracy.  Mr. Pertile resides in Florida with his wife of 27 years, Debbie.  They have two sons, both residing in Florida.  Mr. Pertile was deemed to be qualified to be a director for the Company due to his extensive successful business experience in several different industry segments, as described above. Additionally, Mr. Pertile was an officer, director and entrepreneur regarding the above referenced industrial hemp related companies prior to becoming a director of our Company.

Danny R. Gibbs, age 60 was reappointed to the Board of Directors on September 1, 2013 after originally serving from October of 1984 through September 29, 2011.  Mr. Gibbs was the President of Gibbs Construction, Inc. (later becoming Acacia Automotive, Inc. and ultimately Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc.) and a charter member of the Company’s Board of Directors beginning with its formation in October of 1984 until April of 2000, and in February of 2007 Mr. Gibbs agreed to serve on Acacia’s new board, where he served until September 29, 2011. The Company was most pleased to welcome Mr. Gibbs’ return to its Board of Directors as he brings decades of experience in the public domain.  From 2000 through 2003, Mr. Gibbs served as Senior Project Manager for TOC Companies in the Dallas, Texas area. From the beginning of 2004 through the present, he has served in a similar capacity with Dimensional Construction, Inc. Both companies were located in Garland, Texas where Mr. Gibbs resides with his family. Mr. Gibbs was deemed to be qualified to be a director for the Company due to his extensive business experience and the fact that he was a founding member of the Company. His experience as project managers for the aforementioned construction companies demonstrated his leadership abilities and organizational skills that are instrumental to his position on our Board of Directors.

Neil B. Gholson, age 58.  Mr. Gholson’s background is rooted deeply in the financial services and insurance industries since 1988, serving on the board of directors with 4 companies during the last ten years.  Mr. Gholson has been the owner and principal of Long Term Care Financial Solutions, LLC since 2003, and co-owner and principal of Medicare Insurance Consultants, LLC since 2015. He graduated with a BA in History from Atlantic Christian College in 1981 and earned a Certificate in Financial Planning from Florida State University in 2006.  Mr. Gholson resides in Tampa, Florida with wife Michele and 2 daughters.  Mr. Gholson has substantial experience serving on the Board of Directors of four different companies prior to joining our Board of Directors. His background in the financial services and insurance industries was of specific significance in naming him to our Board of Directors as well as qualifying him to serve on our audit and compensation committees.  Additionally, Mr. Gholson was an officer, director and entrepreneur regarding the above referenced industrial hemp related companies prior to becoming a director of our Company.

Gary J. Roberts, Jr., age 51. As a young entrepreneur attending the University of Alabama, Mr. Roberts started and grew various service-oriented companies. Following college, Mr. Roberts played a key role in developing Transplatinum Plus, an electronic fuel card transfer company in Nashville, Tennessee that was eventually sold to Fleet One. For the next eight years Mr. Roberts served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Perma Crete Resurfacing Products in Nashville, Tennessee from 1993 to 2001 where he expanded the operation nationally with an extensive dealership distribution system as well as running a national retail installation department. In 2001, Gary shifted gears and turned his focus to the Health Insurance industry.  He was District Manager with Cornerstone America from 2000 to 2002 while building one of the top teams in the nation. Gary assumed the position of Vice President of the Company’s Southeastern Territory in 2003, maintaining that position through the present. During this time, Mr. Roberts has continued to build it into one the nation’s largest insurance distribution groups, with his territory ranking in the top two USA every year as well as being ranked as the top territory in the USA one of those years.  Mr. Roberts was deemed qualified to be a director of our company based upon his substantial experience as an entrepreneur and background in management of companies with nationwide business operations.  Additionally, Mr. Roberts was an officer, director and entrepreneur regarding the above referenced industrial hemp related companies prior to becoming a director of our Company.

Mrs. Edwards, age 50, was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts until moving to Florida to assume a position in resource and financial management, later managing advisory services for an independent financial firm. Mrs. Edwards subsequently owned and operated retail businesses in Florida. After serving as a Director in the healthcare industry for Independent Producers of America April 2009 through May 2014, Mrs. Edwards joined MariJ Agricultural, Inc. May 2014.  Following the merger between the MariJ Group of companies and Acacia, Mrs. Edwards assumed the duties of Chief Operating Officer of the consolidated entity and was appointed as Vice President of the Company in conjunction with her other duties on August 18, 2016. Mrs. Edwards and her husband of 25 years reside in the Palm Harbor, Florida area with their three children.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Our shares of common stock are registered under the Exchange Act, and therefore our officers, directors and holders of more than 10% of our outstanding shares are subject to the provisions of Section 16(a) which requires them to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and our other equity securities. Officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely upon our review of reports submitted to us during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the following table sets forth the name of any such person that failed to file the required forms on a timely basis, including the number of late reports, the number of transactions not reported on a timely basis and any known failure to file a required form.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

On January 15, 2016, the Company appointed various directors to committees and the chairs thereof as follows:

Board Committees

The Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating Committee. The Board has determined that the Chairs and all non-employee committee members are independent under applicable NASDAQ, NYSE, and SEC rules for committee memberships. The members of the committees are shown in the table below.  The Company’s CEO, Mr. Pertile, as an employee and director of the Company, are considered to be “not independent”.

 

The table below reflects each of the directors and the committee(s) on which they serve.  A committee member who is also the chair of that committee is designated as “Chair” rather than as “Member”. 

 

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee has not yet adopted a written charter. However, the Audit Committee has (i) reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management; (ii) received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (Rule No. 3526, Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence), as may be modified or supplemented; and (iii) recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10–K.

The Company believes the Audit Committee should be responsible primarily for assisting the Board in fulfilling its oversight and monitoring responsibility of reviewing the financial information provided to shareholders and others, appointing the independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing the services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, evaluating the Company’s accounting policies and the system of internal controls established by management and the Board, and reviewing significant financial transactions. The Audit Committee does not itself prepare financial statements or perform audits, and its members are not auditors or certifiers of the Company’s financial statements.

Primary Committee

The Corporation’s Board of Directors determined that it was in the best interests of the Corporation to discontinue its Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan in its entirety, continuing to honor any shares, options, or warrants heretofore issued under the Plan.  The Corporation’s Primary Committee continues to have full authority to issue shares, options, and warrants as it deems necessary without the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan, and unanimously approved those actions in a meeting of the Board of Directors on June 9, 2015.  Those actions were ratified in a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Corporation by the written consent of more than 50% of the shareholders on June 29, 2015.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee is responsible primarily for reviewing the compensation arrangements for the Company’s executive officers, including the CEO, and reviewing the Board’s compensation. It is authorized by the Board of Directors to approve compensation arrangements and employment agreements.  The only employment agreements currently in place is that of Richard K. Pertile, the Company’s current CEO who serves as an employee and a director, and Kim Edwards who serves as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee assists the Board in identifying qualified individuals to become directors and can make recommendations to the Board concerning the size, structure and composition of the Board and its committees. In evaluating potential nominees to the Board, the Nominating Committee considers, among other things, independence, character, ability to exercise sound judgment, demonstrated leadership skills, and experience in the context of the needs of the Board. The Nominating Committee can consider candidates proposed by shareholders and would evaluate them using the same criteria as for other candidates.

Three members of the board of directors are considered to be independent directors, but Mr. Pertile and Ms. Edwards, as current CEO and COO, respectively, of the Company and by virtue of their status as affiliates of the Company, are not considered to be independent.  Thus, there is a potential conflict in that Mr. Pertile and, as a board member who are also part of management, will participate in discussions concerning issues that may affect management decisions.

Code of Ethics

 

On November 6, 2017, the Board of Directors approved, and the Company adopted the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Code of Ethics for the President and Senior Financial Officers.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the compensation earned during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 by the Company’s Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, for whom disclosure is required:

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

				Annual Compensation
Name and Principal Position		Fiscal Year		Salary				Housing/Auto Allowance				Bonus				Value of Stock Issued				Total
Richard K. Pertile (1)		2017		$	195,000			$	24,000			$	68,250			$	-			$	287,250
		2016		$	170,000			$	16,000			$	59,500			$	-			$	245,500
Kim Edwards (2)		2017		$	101,192			$	-			$	35,417			$	-			$	136,609
		2016		$	96,000			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	96,000
Steven Sample, CEO (3)		2017		$	-			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	-
		2016		$	195,000			$	40,000			$	48,000			$	238,000			$	521,000

 

(1)  Mr. Pertile became CEO and CFO of the Company on January 15, 2016 and has continued to serve in that capacity without interruption. Bonus earned in 2016 and 2017 was accrued and has not yet been paid.

(2)  Ms. Edwards became Vice President and COO of the Company on August 18, 2016 and has continued to serve in that capacity without interruption. Bonus earned in 2017 was accrued and has not yet been paid.

(3)  Mr. Sample became CEO of the Company in 2006 and continued to serve in that capacity without interruption until January 15, 2016.  In 2016 Mr. Sample was issued 132,248 shares of our common stock valued at $238,000 pursuant to his anti-dilution agreement with the Company.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not paid any compensation to its officers in the form of common stock, and there is currently no plan to do so.

Option Tables

 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company made during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.

EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION GRANTS

(YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016)

 

Director Compensation

 

Since February 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010 directors of the Company served without compensation except under the Acacia Automotive, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for which each non-employee director of the Company was granted an option to acquire an initial 10,000 shares of common stock upon his appointment or election to the board, and 15,000 additional options were granted upon election to a full term and annually thereafter.  On December 30, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors suspended the issuance of options as compensation to its directors effective January 1, 2011, and as such issued no options as director compensation from that time through December 31, 2017.  The Company did not issue any common stock purchase options for any reason since December 31, 2010. In 2015 the Company paid cash compensation to each of its three non-employee directors in the amount of $10,000 per director for a total of $30,000.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding compensation paid to directors for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

		Dollar Amount Recognized for Financial Reporting Purposes
		2017				2016
Richard K. Pertile (1)		$	-0-			$	-0-
Steven L. Sample (2)			-0-				-0-
Neil B. Gholson (3)(8)			33,000				16,500
Gary J. Roberts, Jr. (4)(8)			33,000				16,500
Danny Gibbs (5)(8)			33,000				16,500
V. Weldon Hewitt (6)			-0-				-0-
Dan L. Rigdon (7)			-0-				-0-
Total		$	99,000			$	49,500

 

Upon a change of control, all outstanding options granted to executive officers and directors vest.  

(1)	Appointed as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors January 15, 2016.

(2)	Served as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors from August 2006 until January 15, 2016, at which time he continued to serve as a director until resigning on January 17, 2017.

(3)	Appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors on January 15, 2016.

(4)	Appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors on January 15, 2016.

(5)	Originally served on the Company’s board of directors from 1984 through August of 2006.  Was again appointed to the Board of Directors on February 1, 2007 where he served until September 29, 2011.  Was reappointed to the Board of Directors on September 1, 2013 and continues to serve.

(6)

Originally served on the Company’s board of directors from 1984 through August of 2006.  Was again appointed to the Board of Directors on February 1, 2007 where he served until September 29, 2011.  Was reappointed to the Board of Directors on September 1, 2013 and served until resigning January 15, 2016.

(7)	Appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors on September 1, 2013 and served until resigning January 15, 2016.

(8)

In each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, directors Neil Gholson, Gary Roberts, Jr. and Danny Gibbs were each issued 10,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock for services performed. These 60,000 shares were valued at $99,000 on commitment date. There was no cash compensation paid to the directors.

Benefit Plans

 

As a part of the changes resulting in the emergence of Acacia Automotive, Inc. from the former Gibbs Construction, Inc. in 2007, all stock option plans and warrants existing prior to the change of name and change of control to Acacia’s management in 2007 were canceled.  At the board of directors meeting held on February 1, 2007, the Company adopted a new stock incentive plan.  Awards of options made after that date were in congruence with the Acacia Automotive, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.  On July 26, 2012, shareholders representing a majority of the votes of the Company voted to extend the Company’s stock incentive plan and rename it the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company provided health, disability, and life insurance plans for its parent Company employees until July 31, 2012 and provided certain additional benefits to its CEO under the terms of his employment agreement. On June 29, 2015 shareholders representing a majority of the votes of the Company voted to terminate the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.  In actions of January 15, 2016 the Company discontinued certain benefits to Mr. Sample following his resignation as CEO, President and Chairman of the Board by granting him a Modified Employment Agreement effective as of that date.  He remained as an employee and a director of the Company until terminating his Employment Agreement and resigning on January 17, 2017.

In February 2018, the Company adopted the Acacia Diversified Holdings, Inc. 2018 Stock Grant and Option Plan (“2018 Plan”). The purpose of the 2018 Plan is to offer selected employees, directors and consultants an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company. Awards that can be granted from the 2018 Plan include registered shares, restricted shares and options as well as the direct award or sale of shares of the Company’s common stock. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to an award shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares of authorized common stock of the Company. Subsequent to the adoption of the 2018 Plan, the Company filed Form S-8 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to a consulting agreement.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2017, the ownership of common stock by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company’s common stock, (ii) each director of the Company, and (iii) all directors and officers as a group.  Except as otherwise indicated, each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole dispositive voting and investment power with respect to its or his shares.

 

 

(1)  Mr. Pertile became the CEO and President of the Company and the Chairman of the Board of Directors on January 15, 2016.  He acquired 1,014,000 shares of the Company’s Common stock in the Asset Purchase Agreement on that same date by and between the Company and the MariJ Group of Companies.  Mr. Pertile also acquired another 1,220,000 shares of the Company’s Common stock in the remainder of 2016. Mr. Pertile was issued 210,000 shares of the restricted Common stock of the Company in 2017 for services and interest on his loans to the Company.  Mr. Pertile had also obtained from Mr. Sample, in conjunction with the acquisition, the right to acquire an additional 2,500,000 shares of Mr. Sample’s Common stock of the Company, and in 2017 Mr. Pertile exercised his option to do so. This resulted in Mr. Pertile’s ownership of 4,944,000 shares of Company’s common stock with a corresponding number of votes, or 28.20% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company. In addition, Mr. Pertile had an option to acquiring an additional 1,000,000 shares of Mr. Sample’s shares in the Company under a separate agreement but did not exercise such option.

(2) Mr. Sample served as the Company’s CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board from 2006 until January 15, 2016, when the Company acquired the MariJ Group of companies and installed that group’s chief executive as Acacia’s. Mr. Sample’s holdings as reflected in the table above excludes 950,000 warrants held by Mr. Sample issued in exchange for converting all his shares of the Company’s preferred stock to common stock in 2010, and not for compensation, at an average exercise price of $3.00 per share. Those warrants expired at December 31, 2016. Further, 2,500,000 of Mr. Sample’s shares in the above table were extended to Mr. Pertile through an offer to purchase in conjunction with the MariJ Asset Purchase Agreement.  Mr. Pertile exercised his right to acquire those shares on January 17, 2017. Mr. Pertile also had an option to acquire an additional 1,000,000 of Mr. Sample’s Acacia shares under a separate agreement. Mr. Pertile did not exercise this option. In subsequent events, Mr. Sample resigned as an employee and director of the Company on January 17, 2017. Mr. Sample disclaims any beneficial ownership of any securities owned by others and disclaims any beneficial ownership by others of any securities he owns.

(3)  Mr. Gholson became a director of the Company on January 15, 2016 and acquired 60,000 shares of the Company’s Common stock in the Asset Purchase Agreement of that same date and purchased an additional 110,000 shares in 2016. In 2017, Mr. Gholson also was issued 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for services performed related to the Company’s Equity Purchase Agreement with Peak One Investments, LLC and Peak One Opportunity Fund, LP and issuance of convertible notes to Peak One Opportunity Fund, LP. In addition, Mr. Gholson was issued 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as compensation for serving as a director of the Company. This resulted in Mr. Gholson’s ownership of 240,000 shares of Company’s common stock with a corresponding number of votes, or 1.37% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company.

(4)  Mr. Roberts became a director of the Company on January 15, 2016 and acquired 102,200 shares of the Company’s Common stock in the Asset Purchase Agreement of that same date and purchased an additional 150,000 shares in 2016.  In 2017, Mr. Roberts acquired another 10,000 shares. In addition, Mr. Roberts was issued 20,000 shares as compensation for serving as a director of the Company, and 95,520 shares for his efforts in acquiring and preparing the properties owned by the Company’s subsidiary Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc. This resulted in Mr. Roberts’s ownership of 377,720 shares of Company’s common stock with a corresponding number of votes, or 2.15% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company.

(5)  Mr. Gibbs is a founder of the Company, first becoming a director in October 1984 before departing in September 2011.  Mr. Gibbs rejoined the board in 2013 and has continued to serve until the present.  Mr. Gibbs purchased 40,000 restricted shares of the Company in 2016 and owned 157,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at December 31, 2016. In 2017, Mr. Gibbs was issued 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as compensation for serving as a director of the Company. This resulted in Mr. Gibbs ownership of 177,500 shares of Company’s common stock with a corresponding number of votes, or 1.01% of the total issued and outstanding shares of the Company. Subsequent to 2017, Mr. Gibbs was issued 36,018 shares of the Company’s common stock as compensation for his efforts in renovating a property owned by the Company’s subsidiary Eufloria Medical of Tennessee, Inc.

Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the above-named individuals is 13575 58^th Street North, Suite 138, Clearwater, Florida, 33760.

 

Change of Control

 

In January 2017, and as a result of the acquisition of significant shares of the Company’s Common stock by its CEO, Mr. Pertile and a significant reduction in ownership of the Company’s Common stock by its previous CEO Mr. Sample, Mr. Pertile became the Company’s largest shareholder with effective control.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN CONTROL PERSONS

Note Payable to Related Party

The following notes and advances, together with accrued interest, were consolidated into one single note payable to the Company’s CEO:

(1) In January 2017, the Company entered into a note agreement in the amount of $300,000 with the Company’s CEO. The note bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum and specifies no due date. The Company accrued interest of $16,504 through September 25, 2017. Concurrently, the board of directors also approved issuance of 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as additional interest. These shares were accounted for as debt issuance costs, valued at $182,000. The costs were expensed at the commitment date of the note as interest expense since the note is a short-term capital advance with no stated term. This note was convertible into the shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.50/share and the note holder did not exercise the conversion option.

Payable to Related Parties

Payable to related parties consisted of the followings at December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

(1) In 2017, the Company received a working capital advance of $74,348 from a related entity. These advances are non-interest bearing and were intended as short-term capital advances. The remaining balances of $41,994 have been included in payable to related parties on the consolidated balance sheet as current liabilities at December 31, 2017.

(2) On May 1, 2016, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its CEO. The term of the employment is through December 31, 2019. The agreement provides for a monthly storage and corporate housing allowance of $1,000 for a property owned by the CEO and a monthly automobile allowance of $1,000. During the year ended December 31, 2017, expenses related to the housing and automobile allowances totaled $24,000, of which $10,000 remained owed to the Company’s CEO at December 31, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016, expenses related to the housing and automobile allowances totaled $16,000, of which $4,000 remained owed to the CEO at December 31, 2016.

In March 2017, the Company’s board of directors approved issuance of 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to a director for his consulting service in a financing transaction and the equity purchase agreement described in NOTES 9 and 10. The Company determined that 16,000 shares of the total number of shares represent non-cash debt issuance costs directly related to the convertible notes financing and the remaining 34,000 shares represent consulting compensation costs directly related to the equity purchase agreement with this investor. These shares were valued at $82,500.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company’s CEO advanced working capital to the Company in multiple tranches that totaled $600,000 to fund operating expenses. In December 2016, the Company issued to the CEO 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.50 per share as payment in full of this advance.

 

Director Independence

We believe that, in accordance with the requirements of the NASDAQ, NYSE and SEC, that Messrs. Gibbs, Gholson, and Roberts are independent directors, those three individuals being a majority of our current Board of Directors. As employee-officers and directors of the Company, Mr. Pertile and Ms. Edwards are not considered to be independent.

Conflicts of Interest.

The Company and its management may be subject to various conflicts of interest policies. The Company’s management is not independent, yet the Company relies solely on management for guiding its day-to-day operations and managing its assets.  As such, certain employees may have conflicts of interest in allocating time, services and functions to the Company in deference to their other activities.

The Company has no other full-time corporate officers except for Mr. Pertile, its President and CEO, and Mrs. Edwards, its Vice President and COO, who devote the majority of their business time and efforts to the management and direction of the Company and its subsidiaries.  The President and CEO of the Company serves as a director of the Company as well as serving as an officer and director of the Company’s subsidiary corporations.  Service in those capacities with the subsidiaries is not considered to constitute a conflict of interest on the part of employees, managers, or directors.  The Company’s CEO and COO continued to serve in those capacities as of December 31, 2016. Mr. Sample resigned as CEO, President and Chairman of the Board of the Company on January 15, 2016 in favor of selection of new officers following the Company’s acquisitions of the MariJ Group of companies on that same date. Mr. Sample remained as a non-officer employee and director of the Company until January 17, 2017, at which time he resigned, effective December 31, 2016. 

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION

FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Our directors and officers are indemnified as provided by Texas law and our bylaws. We have agreed to indemnify each of our directors and certain officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the provisions described above, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than our payment of expenses incurred or paid by our director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

We have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities is asserted by one of our directors, officers, or controlling persons in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our legal counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit the question of whether such indemnification is against public policy to a court of appropriate jurisdiction. We will then be governed by the court’s decision.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC the registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act for the Common Stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and the exhibits filed with it, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. For further information concerning us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer to the registration statement and to the exhibits filed with it. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the content of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete. In each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contracts and/or other documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement.

 

This registration statement on Form S-1, including exhibits, is available over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities:

 

Public Reference Room Office

100 F. Street, N.E., Room 1580

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington D.C. 20549. Callers in the United States can also call 1-202-551-8090 for further information on the operations of the public reference facilities.

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ACACIA DIVERSIFIED HOLDING, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

		March 31,				December 31,
		2018				2017
		(UNAUDITED)				(AUDITED)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash		$	26,470			$	28,417
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $17,450 in 2018 and 2017			1,550				22,820
Inventories			54,462				57,257
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			10,721				11,034
Total Current Assets			93,203				119,528
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net of accumulated depreciation of $191,206 and $172,783 in 2018 and 2017, respectively			466,994				483,931
DEPOSITS			3,341				3,341
TOTAL ASSETS		$	563,538			$	606,800
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
CURRENT LIABILITY:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	481,858			$	452,710
Notes payable to related party			630,400				558,400
Payable to related parties			82,916				81,058
Total Current Liability			1,195,174				1,092,168
Total Liabilities			1,195,174				1,092,168
Commitments and contingencies			-				-
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 18,093,000 and 17,539,982 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively			18,093				17,540
Additional paid-in capital			4,737,007				4,451,038
Accumulated deficit			(5,386,736	)			(4,953,946	)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit			(631,636	)			(485,368	)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT		$	563,538			$	606,800

		March 31,				March 31,
		2018				2017
REVENUE		$	91,914			$	147,646
COSTS OF GOODS SOLD
Costs of goods sold			31,970				76,737
Depreciation expense			17,806				18,004
			49,776				94,741
GROSS PROFIT			42,138				52,905
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Employee compensation expenses			142,369				128,460
General and administrative expenses			320,416				384,095
Depreciation expense			616				1,711
			463,401				514,266
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS			(421,263	)			(461,361	)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense			(11,527	)			(234,150	)
Other income			-				1,000
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE			(11,527	)			(233,150	)
NET LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES		$	(432,790	)		$	(694,511	)
Income taxes			-				-
NET LOSS		$	(432,790	)		$	(694,511	)
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED		$	(0.02	)		$	(0.04	)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING, BASIC AND DILUTED			17,818,766				17,086,228

		March 31,				March 31,
		2018				2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss		$	(432,790	)		$	(694,511	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents used by operating activities:
Depreciation			18,422				19,715
Common stock issued for services			254,870				224,299
Common stock issued from employee stock plan			14,003				11,733
Common stock issued for interest expense			-				208,400
Amortization of debt discount			-				20,950
(Increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable			21,270				2,190
Inventories			2,795				3,019
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			312				48,770
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			29,151				(195,615	)
Payable to related parties			25,506				41,763
Net cash used by operating activities			(66,461	)			(309,287	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment			(1,486	)			(4,045	)
Payment to related party for leasehold improvement			(6,000	)
Net cash used by investing activities			(7,486	)			(4,045	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds  from convertible note payable			-				85,000
Proceeds from note payable to related party			72,000				300,000
Net cash provided by financing activities			72,000				385,000
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(1,947	)			71,668
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year			28,417				43,878
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year		$	26,470			$	115,546
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest		$	-			$	-
Cash paid for income taxes		$	-			$	-
NON-CASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Common stock issued for deferred offering cost		$	-			$	240,900
Common stock issued to related party for leasehold improvement		$	17,649			$	-

Note Date		Note Amount				Accrued Interest				Total
January 2017 (1)		$	300,000			$	16,504			$	316,504
June 2017 (2)			105,000				2,048				107,048
June 2017 (3)			130,050				2,564				132,614
		$	535,050			$	21,116				556,166
Expenses owed to related party											2,234
Principle of note payable to related party after consolidation at December 31, 2017										$	558,400
March 2018 (4)		$	72,000				-				72,000
Principle balance of notes payable to related party at March 31, 2018										$	630,400

		March 31,				December 31,
		2018				2017
Short term loan from related entity (1)		$	61,500			$	41,994
Storage and corporate housing and auto allowances owed to CEO (2)			16,000				10,000
Amount owed to a director (3)			5,416				29,064
		$	82,916			$	81,058

		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Accounts payable to vendors		$	27,333			$	95,444
Payroll taxes payable			29,082				24,727
Accrued salaries and bonuses			402,556				320,667
Accrued interest on note payable to related party			22,887				11,872
		$	481,858			$	452,710

		March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Raw materials		$	46,880			$	46,880
Finished goods			7,582				10,377
		$	54,462			$	57,257