As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2016October 16, 2020

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

             

 

 

FormUNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Ecoark Holdings, Inc.

ECOARK HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Namename of Registrantregistrant as Specifiedspecified in Its Charter)its charter)

 

Nevada 39-2075693308930-0680177

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)No.)

 

3333 S Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Suite 2205899 Preston Road #505, Frisco, TX

Rogers, AR 72758

(479) 259-2977

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’sregistrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Randy S. May

Randy May

Chief Executive Officer

3333 S Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Suite 220Ecoark Holdings, Inc.

Rogers, AR 727585899 Preston Road #505, Frisco, TX

(479) 259-2977

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

 

CopyCopies to:

Peter DiChiara, Esq.

Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP

261 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Telephone: (212) 658-0458

Facsimile: (646) 381-1314

 

Michael D. Harris, Esq.

Elizaveta Ivanova, Esq.

Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A.

3001 PGA Blvd., Suite 305

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

(561) 686-3307

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement becomes effective. statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Formform are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.

 

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,other than securities offering only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, 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, of 1933, 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, of 1933, 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 registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See

Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer ☒Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2registrant has not elected 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 Exchange Act of 1934.Act. ☐

 

Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company ☒

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of
securities to be registered
 Amount
to be
registered
(1)(2)(3)
  Proposed
maximum
offering
price
per unit
(3)
  Maximum
aggregate
offering
price
(3)(4)(5)
  Amount of
registration
fee
(3)
 
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share            
Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share                
Title of Securities to be Registered (1) 

Proposed
Maximum

Aggregate
Offering Price
(2)

 

Amount of
Registration Fee
(3)

 
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share  -   - 
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share  -   - 
Warrants                  -   - 
Units (6)(4)                  -   - 
Total         $80,000,000  $8,056  $80,000,000  $8,728 

 

(1)Includes an indeterminate aggregate principal amount and numberThis registration statement includes $80,000,000 of securities of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $80,000,000, which may be offeredissued by the registrant from time to time in unspecified numbersindeterminable amounts and at indeterminable times. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. Including also such indeterminate prices,amounts and numbers of securities as may be issued in primary offerings or upon conversion, redemption, repurchase,exercise, or exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder that provide for exercise, or exchange, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Except as provided in Rule 426(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, in no event will the aggregate offering price of all types of securities issued by the registrant pursuant to this registration statement exceed $80,000,000.anti-dilution provisions of any such securities.

(2)Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.

(3)Pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3, the table lists each of the classes of securities being registered and the aggregate proceeds to be raised, but does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered,The proposed maximum offering price per unit, or proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

(4)The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solelyshare will be determined from time to calculatetime by the registration feeregistrant in accordanceconnection with Rule 457(o)the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder. Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.D to Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933.

(5)Includes consideration
(3)Calculated pursuant to be received by the registrant, if applicable, for registered securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other registered securities.

(6)Consisting of some or allRule 457(o) of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act of 1933.
(4)

Each unit will represent an interest in two or more other securities, listed above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock and warrants.which may or may not be separable from one another.

 

The Registrantregistrant hereby amends this Registration Statementregistration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrantregistrant 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 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. WeThese securities may not sell these securitiesbe sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission of which this prospectus is a part becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we areit is not soliciting offersan offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 17, 2016Subject to Completion, dated October 16, 2020

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

$80,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

FromEcoark Holdings, Inc. intends to offer and sell from time to time we may offer up to $80,000,000the securities described in this prospectus. The total offering price of our common stock; preferred stock, warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or any combinationthe securities described in this prospectus will not exceed a total of these securities; and units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, warrants or any combination of these securities, in one or more transactions. We may also offer common stock upon conversion of preferred stock.$80,000,000.

 

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that apply to the securities. We will provide specific terms of these offerings andany securities we may offer in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement, and any documents incorporated by reference, may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus theand any applicable prospectus supplement any documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus carefully before buying any of the securities being offered. you invest. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained or incorporated in this prospectus.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers andbrokers or agents, or directly to purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement also will set forth the price to the public of the securities and the net proceeds that we expect to receive from the sale of such securities.

 

Our common stock tradesis quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “EARK.“ZEST.The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. As of August 16, 2016, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $298,355,437 based on 25,943,951 shares of outstanding common stock and a price of $11.50 per share, which wasOn October 15, 2020, the last reported salesales price of our common stock as reported on the OTCQB on August 16, 2016.was $2.20 per share.

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. YOU SHOULD REVIEW CAREFULLY THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DESCRIBED HEREIN UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” AND UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND ANY RELATED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS, AND UNDER SIMILAR HEADINGS IN THE OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.Investing in our securities involves risks. You should read carefully and consider “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and on page 3 of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement before investing in our securities.

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is , 2016.
_________, 2020

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
About this Prospectus1
About Ecoark Holdings Inc.2
   
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsPROSPECTUS SUMMARY 21
   
Risk FactorsCAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS 32
   
Description of Securities We May OfferRISK FACTORS 103
   
Description of Capital StockUSE OF PROCEEDS 1123
   
Description of WarrantsDESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 1324
   
Description of UnitsDESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 1425
   
Use of ProceedsDESCRIPTION OF UNITS 1526
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
Plan of DistributionCERTAIN PROVISIONS OF NEVADA LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS 1527
   
Legal MattersPLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 1729
   
ExpertsLEGAL MATTERS 1732
   
Limitation on Liability and Disclosure of SEC Position on Indemnification for Securities Act LiabilitiesEXPERTS 1732
   
Where You Can Find Additional InformationINCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 17
Incorporation of Information by Reference1832

You should rely only on information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus. We are not offering to sell or seeking offers to buy shares of common stock or other securities in jurisdictions where offers and sales are not permitted. 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 or other securities. We are responsible for updating this prospectus to ensure that all material information is included and will update this prospectus to the extent required by law.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This documentsummary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. It may not contain all of the information that is called aimportant to you. You should carefully read the entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus before deciding whether to invest in our securities. Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement hereto references to “Ecoark,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Ecoark Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

About This Prospectus

This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC,(the “Commission”). By using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process,statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series warrants to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in units, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in amountsthis prospectus. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we will determinehave summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from time to time, up to a total dollar amountthe Commission as indicated under the section entitled “Incorporation of $80,000,000.Certain Information by Reference.”

 

This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series ofsell securities, described in this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, containing morecontains specific information about the terms of the securities that we are offering. Wethose securities. The prospectus supplement also may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings and securities. This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus supplements, any information incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectuses, includes all material information relating to these offerings and securities. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including without limitation, a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to these offerings or securities or the specific plan of distribution.prospectus. If there is anyan inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and aany prospectus supplement, or information incorporated by reference having a later date, you should rely on the information in thatthe prospectus supplement or incorporated information having a later date. We urge you tosupplement. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the additional information incorporated herein by reference as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additionalsection entitled “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference. before buying any of the securities being offered.

 

We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.

Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. You should assume that the information in this prospectus any applicableor a prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of any date other than the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.document.

 

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “ourOur Company” and “EARK” refer to Ecoark Holdings, Inc.

All dollar amounts, except per share amounts, included in the body of this Prospectus are rounded to thousands.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT ECOARK HOLDINGS, INC

 

Ecoark Holdings, Inc. (“Ecoark Holdings”) is, a Nevada corporation, incorporatedis a diversified holding company with operations in three areas: (i) oil and gas, including exploration, production and drilling operations on November 19, 2007. Ecoark Holdings is an innovative, emerging growth companyover 20,000 cumulative acres of active mineral leases in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and transportation services, (ii) post-harvest shelf-life and freshness food management technology, and (iii) financial services. Since the acquisition of Banner Midstream Corp. (“Banner Midstream”) on March 27, 2020, which currently comprises our exploration, production and drilling operations (the “Banner Acquisition”), the Company has focused its efforts to a considerable extent on expanding its exploration and production footprint and capabilities by acquiring real property and working interests in oil and gas mineral leases, including the following transactions:

acquisition on June 11, 2020 of certain energy assets, including 262 total wells in Mississippi and Louisiana, approximately 9,000 acres of active mineral leases, and drilling production materials and equipment, from SR Acquisition I, LLC as part of the ongoing bankruptcy reorganization of Sanchez Energy Corporation. The acquired wells included 57 active producing wells, 19 active disposal wells, 136 shut-in with future utility wells, and 50 shut-in pending plugging wells;

acquisition on June 18, 2020 of certain energy assets, including wells, active mineral leases, and drilling production materials and equipment, from SN TMS, LLC as part of the ongoing bankruptcy reorganization of Sanchez Energy Corporation;

acquisition of certain real property and working interests in oil and gas mineral leases pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement with Rabb Resources, Ltd., dated August 14, 2020;

1

acquisition of certain additional working interests in the Harry O’Neal oil and gas mineral lease, the related well bore, crude oil inventory and equipment, pursuant to three Asset Purchase Agreements, dated September 30, 2020; and

participation agreement entered into on October 9, 2020 with BlackBrush Oil & Gas, L.P. related to a joint drilling venture in the Austin Chalk formation and the acquisition in connection therewith of two contiguous oil and gas mineral leases in the Austin Chalk formation, including shallow and deep drilling rights.

Our efforts with respect to the freshness food management solution offered through Zest Labs, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary (“Zest”), have been focused on preparing for trial in our previously disclosed lawsuit against Walmart, Inc., which is scheduled to begin in late March 2021 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

In its most recent quarter ended September 30, 2020, almost all of the developmentCompany’s revenues came from the oil and deployment ofgas business solutions and products to the retail, agriculture, food service, commercial real estate and architecture, engineering and construction end markets. Ecoarkwith a minor contribution from its advisory business, Trend Discovery Holdings has assembled a team and portfolio of proprietary, patented technologies to address the waste in operations, logistics and supply chain. Ecoark Holdings accomplishes this through two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, Ecoark, Inc. (“Ecoark”) and Magnolia Solar, Inc. (“Magnolia Solar”). Further, Ecoark has three operating entities: Intelleflex, Eco3D and Pioneer Products.

Corporate Information

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 3333 S Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Suite 220, Rogers, Arkansas 72758,5899 Preston Road #505, Frisco, Texas 75034, and our telephone number is (479) 259-2977. Our website address is http://ecoarkusa.com/. www.ecoarkusa.com. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website willis not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and are not considered part of,into this prospectus. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision to purchase our common stock.

 

On January 29, 2016, we entered into a Merger Agreement (“Merger Agreement”) with Ecoark, Inc. providing, among other things, for the acquisition of Ecoark, Inc. in a share exchange pursuant to which it was contemplated that at the closing Ecoark, Inc. shareholders would own approximately 95% of our outstanding shares. On March 18, 2016, in a special meeting, our shareholders approved proposals necessary to complete the Merger (“Merger”).

On March 24, 2016, the Merger was closed. Thereafter, we changed our name to Ecoark Holdings, Inc. The transaction was accounted for as a reverse acquisition. Further, our Articles of Incorporation were amended to increase the authorized shares of common stock to 100,000,000 shares, to effect the creation of 5,000,000 shares of "blank check" preferred stock, and to approve a reverse stock split of our pre-merger common stock of 1 for 250. On March 24, 2016, FINRA corporate action announced the approval of the reverse split and the name change which became effective in the market on March 28, 2016. The Company stock now trades under the symbol “EARK.”

In conjunction with the Merger, we offered units consisting of a share and a warrant at a price of $4.00 per unit for a maximum of $20,000 in a private placement offering. Each unit consisted of one share of MSC (now Ecoark Holdings) common stock (par value $0.001 per share) and a warrant to purchase one share of MSC (now Ecoark Holdings) common stock exercisable on or before December 31, 2018 at a price of $5.00 per share. The units were offered to an unlimited number of Accredited Investors until the earlier of the date upon which subscriptions for the maximum offering had been received and accepted; March 31, 2016, subject to a 60-day extension at the option of Ecoark Holdings; or the date upon which the offering was terminated by the Company. The Company received proceeds of $17,347 as a result of the subscriptions to the offering. The offering was terminated on April 28, 2016.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKINGFORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus including the documents incorporated by reference contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA).forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federalfacts, including statements regarding our future financial position, liquidity, business strategy and state securities laws, including: any projections of earnings, revenues or other financial items; any statements of the plans strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include theoperations, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan” or “anticipate”“expect” and other similar words. Suchexpressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may beaffect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs.

The results anticipated by any or all of these forward-looking statements might not occur. Important factors, uncertainties and risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are contained in the sections “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussionrisk factors that follow and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business,” among other placeselsewhere in this prospectus.

Although we believe thatprospectus and the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in this prospectus.documents incorporated by reference. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

statements, whether as the result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information regarding some of the ongoing risks and uncertainties of our business, see the risk factors that follow and or that are disclosed in our incorporated documents.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS2

 

RISK FACTORS

 

There are numerous risks affecting our business, some of which are beyond our control. An investmentInvesting in our common stock involves a high degree of riskrisk. You should carefully consider the following information about these risks, together with the other information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and may not be appropriate for investors who cannot affordthe information set forth in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K incorporated herein by reference, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, before deciding to lose their entire investment. Ifinvest in our common stock. For a description of these reports and documents, and information about where you can find them, see “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference.” The occurrence of any of the following risks actually occur,could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition, or operating results could be materially harmed. This could causeof operations and future growth prospects, as well as our ability to accomplish our strategic objectives. As a result, the trading price of our common stock tocould decline and you maycould lose all or part of your investment. In addition to the risks outlined below,Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently considerdeem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Potential risksoperations and uncertainties that could affect our operating results and financial condition include, without limitation, the following:stock price.

 

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO OUR OPERATIONSRisk Factors Relating to Our Financial Condition

 

We have experienced losses since our founding. A failure to obtain profitability and achieve consistent positive cash flows would have a significant adverse effect on our business.

We have incurred operatingnet losses since our inception including a reported net loss of $10,473 and $14,264 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and an operating loss of $7,899 for the six months ended June 30, 2016. Cash used in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $7,671 and $8,012, respectively. We expect tomay continue to incur operatingexperience losses through at least fiscal 2016. and negative cash flow in the future.

As of December 31, 2015,October 12, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents(including restricted cash) of $1,962, a working capital deficitapproximately $1,123,127. Prior to the acquisition of $2,153, an accumulated deficit of $36,587, and a stockholders’ deficit of $913. To date,Banner Midstream, we have funded our operations principally through the sale of our capital stock and debt instruments. We have also raised substantial operating cash through the exercise of our warrants issued in capital raises over the past two years. Banner Midstream had financed its operations primarily through the issuance of debt securities. We have incurred operating losses since our inception, including a net loss of approximately $21,181,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately $1,646,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Approximately 95% of our most recently reported net loss was non cash including a $17,393,000 from a change in the fair value of our warrant derivative liabilities. While our warrant derivative liabilities cause us to incur a non cash loss if our stock price goes up in a given quarter or a non cash gain if it goes down in a quarter, we have experienced substantial exercises since the date of our July 28, 2020 prospectus registering the underlying shares of common stock. As of October 10, 2020, only 1,236,178 warrants remained unexercised out of 5,882,358 warrants covered by the prospectus. We have an additional 1,500,000 warrants which have derivative liabilities that will impact our future operating results. Although we expect our revenues to increase from our energy business, we will likely continue to incur losses and experience negative cash flows from operations for the foreseeable future. If we cannot achieve positive cash flow from operations or net income, it may make it more difficult to raise capital based on our common stock on acceptable terms.

Because we require additional capital to fund our business and support our growth, our inability to generate and obtain such capital on acceptable terms, or at all, could harm our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.

We do not have sufficient working capital and are dependent upon completing a financing to meet our working capital needs over the next 12 months. Since the Banner Acquisition, we have increased our operating expenses in supporting its underlying business and consummating acquisitions of oil and gas properties. We intend to continue to make substantial investments to fund our business and support our growth. Among other things, we need to raise capital through the issuance of equity or debt in order to fund the drilling of oil wells for our recently announced joint venture with a Texas exploration company. In addition to seeking a debt facility to support our growth and acquisition strategy, we are seeking to fund our growth through equity offerings at opportune times when the price of our common stock and external factors provide an opportunity. Any future equity financing will be dependent upon the capital markets in general and those for lower priced issuers in general as well as a variety of other factors which may affect the price of our common stock including:

The impact of the presidential election on the stock market;

The effect of the presidential election on the regulatory climate including factors which directly affect our business such as climate change, oil and gas drilling, fracking, the growing market for electric vehicles and efforts to ban fossil fuels, and legislation such as California’s AB5 which causes us to treat our owner-operators in our trucking business as employees, which will tend to increase our expenses;

The current growth of the alternative-energy markets with so-called “green” funds trading at record highs; and

International factors including political unrest which may reduce the prices of oil and gas.


We may not be able to obtain such additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth and to respond to business challenges could be significantly impaired, and our business may be adversely impacted. In addition, our inability to generate or obtain the financial resources needed may require us to delay, scale back, or eliminate some or all of our operations, which may have a significant revenuesadverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Further, if we raise additional funds through future issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity or debt securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to achieve profitability,those of holders of our common stock. Any debt financing that we may secure in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic has had a material adverse effect on crude oil prices and the economy, the uncertainty relating to its continuation may have a future adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and future prospects.

The global COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented actions taken by U.S. federal, state and local governments and governments around the world in order to stop the spread of the virus have had and continue to have a profound impact on the U.S. and global economy, disrupting global supply chains and creating significant volatility in the financial markets. The contraction of the economy caused by the pandemic has, among other things, severely impacted demand for fossil fuels resulting in sharp decline in oil and gas prices. Oil demand significantly deteriorated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding preventative measures taken around the world to mitigate its spread, including “shelter-in-place” orders, quarantines, executive orders and similar government orders and restrictions for their residents to control the spread of COVID-19.

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, OPEC and other oil producing nations were initially unable to reach an agreement on production levels for crude oil, at which point Saudi Arabia and Russia initiated efforts to aggressively increase production. The convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the crude oil production increases caused the significant dual impact of global oil demand decline and the risk of a substantial increase in supply. While OPEC and other oil producing nations agreed in April 2020 to cut production, downward pressure on commodity prices has remained and could continue for the foreseeable future. 

Disruptions and/or uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic for a sustained period of time could have a material adverse impact on our business, our ability to execute on our strategy and to realize the full benefits of the Banner Midstream acquisition. Our production and transportation businesses will likely be significantly affected due to the reduction in oil prices and demand for our services, in the event of a global recession caused by the ongoing effects of COVID-19. 

Furthermore, the effect of the pandemic on financial markets and on our Company may limit our ability to raise additional capital in the future on the terms acceptable to us at the time we need it, or at all.

Because of the delay in closing of a $35 million secured loan transaction, we may need additional capital to support our operations and growth.

We have had preliminary conversations about a future financing but have not reached an agreement on terms pending the filing of the registration statement which contains this prospectus. If we are able to close an equity financing, it may be very dilutive to our existing stockholders. We cannot assure you that we will ever realize revenues at such levels. If we do achieve profitabilitycomplete any financing in any period,which case we may not be ablehave to sustainreduce our operations or increase our profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.

sell assets.

 


We may require additional financingThe Company has secured a commitment for a $35 million long-term loan to supportbe provided to Banner Midstream by a project finance company which would permit us to expand our oil and gas operations. Such financing may only be available on disadvantageous terms, or mayHowever, the definitive agreement is still pending and is not be available at all. Any new equity financing could haveguaranteed to close. The loan will provide the lender with a substantial dilutive effect on our existing stockholders.

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 we had cashpledge of $8,403 and $1,962, respectively and investments of $3,500 at June 30, 2016. WorkingBanner Midstream capital improved from a deficit of $2,153 at December 31, 2015 to a working capital surplus of $8,893 at June 30, 2016. The increasestock, will result in working capital was principally due to the $17,347 raised in the successful private offering that was completed in April 2016. While we closed a $17,347 Private Offering on April 28, 2016, our cash position may decline in the future,increased fixed payment obligations, and we may not be successful in maintaining an adequate level of cash resources. We may be required to seekagree to certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire or equitysell other entities and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. We continue to seek additional financing in order to support current operations as well as execute on our growing operations. growth strategy.

We may not be able to obtain additional financing in sufficient amounts or on satisfactory terms acceptable to us, if at all. We could also be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or otherwise at all,an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable, and we may be required to relinquish rights to some of our current master service agreements or otherwise agree to terms unfavorable to us, any new equity financing couldof which may have a substantial dilutivematerial adverse effect on our existing stockholders. Ifbusiness, operating results and prospects. Even if we cannot obtain additional financing, we will not be able to achieve the sales growthbelieve that we need to coverhave sufficient funds for our costs, and our results of operations would be negatively affected.current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital if market conditions are favorable or if we have specific strategic considerations.

 

If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of the lines of operations of our wholly owned subsidiaries or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot predict our future results because we have a limited operating history.

 

Our direct wholly-owned subsidiaries, EcoarkWe acquired our oil and Magnolia Solar were formedgas business on November 28, 2011 and January 8, 2008, respectively. Ecoark began realizing revenues from operations in 2012.March 27, 2020, which currently accounts for almost all of our revenues. Given our limited operating history, it may be difficult for you to evaluate our future performance or prospects. You should consider the uncertainties that we may encounter as a company that should still be considered an early stage company. These uncertainties include:

 

our ability to market our services and products for a profit;

our ability to recruit and retain skilled personnel;
our ability to secure and retain key customers; and

our evolving business model.

 

If we are not able to address successfully some or all of these uncertainties, we may not be able to expand our business, compete effectively or achieve profitability.

 

5

Because we must periodically evaluate our goodwill for impairment, we could be required to recognize non cash impairment charges in future periods which could have a material adverse impact on our operating results.

A considerable portion of our consolidated assets consists of goodwill. The Company recorded approximately $3.2 million of goodwill in connection with the Trend Holdings acquisition in May 2019, and approximately $7.0 million in connection with the Banner Midstream acquisition in March 2020. We assess goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth fiscal quarter and whenever facts or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill may be impaired. Impairment analysis involves comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, we record an impairment charge. Determination of fair value requires considerable judgment and is sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates and market factors. Those assessments may be affected by (i) positive or negative reserve adjustments, (ii) results of drilling activities, (iii) management’s outlook for commodity prices and costs and expenses, (iv) changes in our market capitalization, (v) changes in our weighted average cost of capital and (vi) changes in income taxes. If we are required to recognize noncash charges related to impairment of goodwill, our results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

Risk Factors Relating to Our Exploration and Production and Transportation Operations

Our energy business will be significantly affected by fluctuations in natural gas and oil prices and future prices will greatly affect our revenues, potential profits, liquidity, growth, and ability to repay our debt.

Our revenues, profitability, liquidity, growth, ability to repay our debt and the value of our assets greatly depend on prices for oil and natural gas.  The markets for these commodities are volatile, and we expect that volatility to continue.  According to The Wall Street Journal, as of October 12, 2020 oil prices declined 34% in 2020 with alternative-energy stocks trading at record highs. The prices of oil and natural gas fluctuate in response to changes in supply and demand (global, regional and local), transportation costs, market uncertainty and other factors that are beyond our control.  Short- and long-term prices are subject to a myriad of factors such as:

overall demand, including the relative cost of competing sources of energy or fuel;

overall supply, including costs of production;

economic factors which depress the economy including COVID-19;

the availability, proximity and capacity of pipelines, other transportation facilities and gathering, processing and storage facilities;

regional basis differentials;

national and worldwide economic and political conditions;

weather conditions and seasonal trends;

government regulations, such as regulation of natural gas transportation and price controls;

inventory levels; and

market perceptions of future prices, whether due to the foregoing factors or others.

Oil and gas prices have generally been in a down cycle for over five years even when the economy in the United States grew rapidly. While lower oil prices are helpful to our transportation business since it reduces our costs, it has an inverse effect on our exploration and production business.


Competition in the oil and natural gas industry is intense, making it more difficult for us to market oil and gas we produce, to acquire interests in new leases, to secure trained personnel and appropriate services, and to raise capital.

Banner Midstream is a relatively small participant in its industry and we face significant competition from major energy companies with substantial financial, management, technical and other resources as well as large and other privately held businesses which have competitive advantages. Our cost of operations is highly dependent on third-party services, and competition for these services can be significant, especially in times when commodity prices are rising.  Similarly, we compete for trained, qualified personnel, and in times of lower prices for the commodities we produce, we and other companies with similar production profiles may not be able to attract and retain this talent.  Our ability to acquire and develop reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment for acquiring properties, marketing oil and gas and securing trained personnel.  Also, there is substantial competition for capital available for investment in the oil and gas industry.  Our competitors may be able to pay more for personnel, property and services and to attract capital at lower rates.  This may become more likely if prices for natural gas increase faster than prices for oil, as oil comprises a greater percentage of our overall production and transportation business. Because of our small size, we may be more affected than larger competitors.

If we fail to successfully integrate the operations of Banner Midstream with our legacy operations, it may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Since March 27, 2020 when we completed the Banner Acquisition, we have been acquiring oil and gas properties. In addition, we are seeking to acquire additional energy assets in the future. The integration of Banner Midstream and any other assets and businesses we may acquire in the future may be complex and time-consuming and we may encounter difficulties related to such integration, including, among other things:

integration of new employees and management into our culture while maintaining focus and providing a consistent, high-quality level of service;

unanticipated issues in integrating logistics, information, communications and other systems;

diversion of our management’s time and attention particularly with the problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic;

potential unknown liabilities and liabilities larger than anticipated or unforeseen expenses or delays associated with the acquisition and the integration process; and

complexity associated with managing our combined company.

Some of these factors are outside our control including the impact from COVID-19. Our failure to successfully integrate these acquisitions, or otherwise realize any of the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions, could adversely affect our future results of operations. The integration process may be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than we anticipate, which could cause our stock price to decline.

Unless we replace our reserves with new reserves and develop those reserves, our reserves and production will decline, which would adversely affect our future cash flows and results of operations.

Producing oil reservoirs generally are characterized by declining production rates that vary depending upon reservoir characteristics and other factors. Unless we conduct successful ongoing exploration and development activities or continually acquire properties containing proved reserves, our proved reserves will decline as those reserves are produced. Our future reserves and production, and therefore our future cash flow and results of operations, are highly dependent on our success in efficiently developing our current reserves and economically finding or acquiring additional recoverable reserves. We may not be able to develop, find or acquire sufficient additional reserves to replace our current and future production. If we are unable to replace our current and future production, the value of our reserves will decrease, and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.


Drilling for and producing crude oil involves significant risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our drilling and production activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that we will not discover commercially productive reservoirs. Drilling for crude oil can be unprofitable, not only from dry holes, but from productive wells that do not produce sufficient revenues to return a profit. In addition, our drilling and producing operations may be curtailed, delayed or cancelled as a result of other factors, including but not limited to:

 3unusual or unexpected geological formations and miscalculations;
 
fires;
explosions and blowouts;
pipe or cement failures;
environmental hazards, such as natural gas leaks, oil spills, pipeline and tank ruptures, encountering naturally occurring radioactive materials, and unauthorized discharges of toxic gases, brine, well stimulation and completion fluids, or other pollutants into the surface and subsurface environment;
loss of drilling fluid circulation;
title problems for the properties on which we drill and resulting restrictions or termination of lease for oil drilling and production operations;
facility or equipment malfunctions;
unexpected operational events, especially the need to drill significantly deeper than originally contemplated or finding, despite an engineering study to the contrary, that the drilling site is a dry hole that produces no appreciable amounts of crude oil or no crude oil;
shortages of skilled personnel or unexpected loss of key drilling and production workers;
shortages or delivery delays of equipment and services or of water used in hydraulic fracturing activities;
compliance with environmental and other regulatory requirements and any unexpected remedial requirements for violations of environmental or other regulatory requirements;
stockholder  activism and activities by non-governmental organizations to restrict the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas so as to minimize emissions of greenhouse gases of “GHG’s”;
natural disasters; and
adverse weather conditions.

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Any of these risks can cause substantial losses, including personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution, environmental contamination, clean-up responsibilities, loss of wells, repairs to resume operations; and regulatory fines or penalties. Further, our exposure to operational risks may increase as our drilling activity expands.


We may not be insured or fully insured against certain of the above operational risks, either due to unavailability of such insurance or the high premiums and deductibles. The occurrence of an event that is not covered in full or in part by insurance could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Climate change legislation or regulations governing the emissions of greenhouse gases could result in increased operating costs and reduce demand for fossil fuels and concern in financial and investment markets over greenhouse gasses and fossil fuel production could adversely affect our access to capital and the price of our common stock.

In response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases present an endangerment to human health and the environment, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the Clean Air Act that, among other things, establish Prevention of Significant Deterioration (the “PSD”), construction and Title V operating permit reviews for certain large stationary sources.  Facilities required to obtain PSD permits for their greenhouse gas emissions also will be required to meet “best available control technology” standards that will be established on a case-by-case basis.  EPA rulemakings related to greenhouse gas emissions could adversely affect our operations and restrict or delay our ability to obtain air permits for new or modified sources.

The EPA also has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from specified onshore and offshore natural gas and oil production sources in the United States on an annual basis, which include certain of our operations.  In May 2016, the EPA finalized additional regulations to control methane and volatile organic compound emissions from certain oil and gas equipment and operations.  However, in September 2018 and August 2019, the EPA issued proposed revisions to those regulations, which, if finalized, would reduce certain obligations thereunder.

Although Congress from time to time has considered legislation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, there has not been significant activity in the form of adopted legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the federal level in recent years.  In the absence of such federal climate legislation, a number of states, including states in which we operate, have enacted or passed measures to track and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, primarily through the planned development of greenhouse gas emission inventories and regional greenhouse gas cap-and-trade programs.  Most of these cap-and-trade programs require major sources of emissions or major producers of fuels to acquire and surrender emission allowances, with the number of allowances available for purchase reduced each year until the overall greenhouse gas emission reduction goal is achieved.  These reductions may cause the cost of allowances to escalate significantly over time.

The adoption and implementation of regulations that require reporting of greenhouse gases or otherwise limit emissions of greenhouse gases from our equipment and operations could require us to incur costs to monitor and report on greenhouse gas emissions or install new equipment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases associated with our operations.  In addition, these regulatory initiatives could drive down demand for our products by stimulating demand for alternative forms of energy that do not rely on combustion of fossil fuels that serve as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  At the same time, new laws and regulations are prompting power producers to shift from coal to natural gas, which is increasing demand.

In December 2015, over 190 countries, including the United States, reached an agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions (the “Paris Agreement”).  The Paris Agreement entered into force in November 2016 after more than 70 nations, including the United States, ratified or otherwise indicated their intent to be bound by the agreement.  In June 2017, President Trump announced that the United States intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and to seek negotiations either to reenter the Paris Agreement on different terms or a separate agreement.  In August 2017, the U.S. Department of State officially informed the United Nations of the intent of the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.  In November 2019, the United States formally initiated the process for withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, which would result in an effective exit date of November 2020.  The United States’ adherence to the exit process and/or the terms on which the United States may re-enter the Paris Agreement or a separately negotiated agreement are unclear at this time.  To the extent that the United States and other countries implement this agreement or impose other climate change regulations on the oil and natural gas industry, or that investors insist on compliance regardless of legal requirements, it could have an adverse effect on our business.


The energy business has benefited from the Trump Administration’s de-regulatory push. On the other hand, if President Trump is not re-elected next month, it seems likely that the Biden administration will aggressively seek to regulate the energy industry and seek to eliminate in time the use of fossil fuels. This regulatory push will be magnified if the Democrats control both houses of Congress.

We will be further subject to our regulatory efforts such as California announced goal of eliminating the sale of vehicles which use gas by 2035.

Federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory initiatives in the United States relating to hydraulic fracturing or fracking could result in decreased demand for our transportation services, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Although we do not rely on hydraulic fracturing or fracking techniques in our exploration and production operations, our transportation business, which accounted for approximately 79% of our operating revenue in the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020, depend to a considerable extent on a continued use of such techniques. We expect to continue to derive a substantial portion of our revenue from our transportation operations for the foreseeable future.

In the United States, hydraulic fracturing is currently generally exempt from regulation under the Underground Injection Control program established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions or similar agencies. From time to time, the U.S. Congress has considered adopting legislation intended to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the additives used in the hydraulic-fracturing process. In addition, certain states have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that could impose new or more stringent permitting, disclosure, disposal and well-construction requirements on hydraulic-fracturing operations. The adoption of any federal, state or local laws or the implementation of regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing could cause a decrease in the completion of new oil and gas wells and an associated decrease in demand for our transportation services, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Our operating results fluctuate due to the effect of seasonality in the oil and gas industry.

Operating levels of the oil industry have historically been lower in the winter months because of adverse weather conditions. Accordingly, our revenue generally follows a seasonal pattern. Revenue can also be affected by other adverse weather conditions, holidays and the number of business days during a given period because revenue is directly related to the available working days. From time to time, we may also suffer short-term impacts from severe weather and similar events, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, ice storms, floods, fires, earthquakes, and explosions that could harm our results of operations or make our results of operations more volatile.

We may be subject to various claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of business, and increases in the amount or severity of these claims and lawsuits could adversely affect us.

We are exposed to various claims and litigation related to commercial disputes, personal injury, property damage, environmental liability and other matters. Proceedings include claims by third parties, and certain proceedings have been certified or purport to be class actions. Developments in regulatory, legislative or judicial standards, material changes to litigation trends, or a catastrophic accident or series of accidents, involving any or all of property damage, personal injury, and environmental liability could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and liquidity.

The extension of our active oil and gas mineral leases may be subject to performing continuous drilling operations.

Our oil and gas mineral leases may contain acreage that is either held by production or not. In order to extend the leased acreage not held by production, the Company must maintain minimum continuous drilling operations in order to extend these leases to future periods. The Company’s inability to perform operations during any given period could result in the Company’s losing the rights to future operations on that lease.


The potential lack of availability of, or cost of, drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, personnel and crude oil field services could adversely affect our ability to execute on a timely basis our exploration and development plans within our budget.

When the prices of crude oil increase, or the demand for equipment and services is greater than the supply in certain areas, we could encounter an increase in the cost of securing drilling rigs, equipment and supplies. In addition, larger producers may be more likely to secure access to such equipment by offering more lucrative terms. If we are unable to acquire access to such resources, or can obtain access only at higher prices, our ability to convert our reserves into cash flow could be delayed and the cost of producing those reserves could increase significantly, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our exploration and production operations are subject to stringent environmental, oil and gas-related and occupational safety and health laws and regulations, and noncompliance with such laws and regulations could expose it to material costs and liabilities.

Our exploration and production operations are subject to stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, the drilling activities, production rates, the size and shape of drilling and spacing units or proration units, the transportation and sale of crude oil, gas, and the discharging of materials into the environment and environmental protection. These laws and regulations may limit the amount of oil and gas we can produce or limit the number of wells or the locations where we can drill.

Further, we are required to obtain and maintain numerous environmental and oil and gas-related permits, approvals and certificates from various federal, state and local governmental agencies in connection with our exploration and production operations, and may incur substantial costs in doing so. The need to obtain permits could potentially delay, curtail or cease the development of oil and gas projects. The Company may in the future be charged royalties on gas emissions or required to incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air emissions-related issues. Additionally, our operations are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations, including the federal occupational safety and health and comparable state statutes, aimed at protecting the health and safety of employees.

Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may subject the Company to sanctions, including administrative, civil or criminal penalties, remedial cleanups or corrective actions, delays in permitting or performance of projects, natural resource damages and other liabilities. In addition, these laws and regulations may be amended and additional laws and regulations may be adopted in the future with more stringent legal requirements.

Because oil prices are highly volatile, any sustained decline in oil prices could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to meet our capital expenditure obligations and financial commitments.

Our future revenues from exploration and production operations, profitability, cash flows, future growth and carrying value of our oil and gas properties will depend on oil prices. Commodity prices, including oil, are highly volatile and may fluctuate widely in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand and market uncertainty. Additional factors which may affect oil prices and which are beyond our control include but are not limited to, the following factors:

worldwide and regional economic conditions impacting the global supply of and demand for oil, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

the price and quantity of foreign imports of oil;

political and economic conditions in or affecting other producing regions or countries, including the Middle East, Africa, South America and Russia;

actions of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, its members and other state-controlled oil companies relating to oil price and production controls;


the level of global exploration, development and production;

the level of global inventories;

prevailing prices on local price indexes in the area in which we operate;

the proximity, capacity, cost and availability of gathering and transportation facilities;

localized and global supply and demand fundamentals and transportation availability;

the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and transporting reserves;

weather conditions and other natural disasters;

technological advances affecting energy consumption;

the price and availability of alternative fuels;

expectations about future commodity prices; and

U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. governmental regulation and taxes.

Lower commodity prices may reduce our cash flows and borrowing ability. If we are unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms, our ability to develop future reserves could be adversely affected. Also, using lower prices in estimating proved reserves may result in a reduction in proved reserve volumes due to economic limits.

If we are required to curtail our drilling program, we may be unable to continue to hold leases that are scheduled to expire, which may further reduce our reserves. As a result, a substantial or extended decline in commodity prices may materially and adversely affect our future business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to finance planned capital expenditures.

Conservation measures and technological advances could reduce demand for oil and natural gas.

Fuel conservation measures, alternative requirements, future legislation and regulation increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil, and natural gas, technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices could reduce demand for oil. The impact of the changing demand for oil may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We may be required to record significant non-cash impairment charges related to a reduction in the carrying value of our proved oil and gas properties, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

We will perform assessments of our oil and gas properties whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable. In order to perform these assessments, management will use various observable and unobservable inputs, including management’s outlooks for (i) proved reserves and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves, (ii) commodity prices, (iii) production costs, (iv) capital expenditures and (v) production. Significant or extended price declines could result in the need to adjust the carrying value of our proved oil and gas properties by recording non-cash impairment charges. To the extent such assessments indicate a reduction of the estimated useful life or estimated future cash flows, the carrying value of the oil and gas properties may not be recoverable and therefore we may be required to record an impairment charge reducing the carrying value of the proved properties to their fair value. Due to the recent decline in the oil and natural gas prices, we may be required to record impairment charges related to the oil and gas properties acquired as part of the Banner Acquisition, which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations in the period incurred.


We have significant ongoing capital requirements that could affect our profitability if we are unable to generate sufficient cash from operations or obtain financing on favorable terms.

Our transportation business is capital intensive and asset heavy, and our policy of maintaining a young, technology-equipped fleet requires us to expend significant amounts in capital expenditures annually. We expect to pay for projected capital expenditures with cash flows from operations, proceeds from equity sales or financing available under our existing debt instruments. If we were unable to generate sufficient cash from operations, we would need to seek alternative sources of capital, including financing, to meet our capital requirements. In the event that we are unable to generate sufficient cash from operations or obtain financing on favorable terms in the future, we may have to limit our fleet size, enter into less favorable financing arrangements or operate our revenue equipment for longer periods, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our profitability.

Our future revenue will depend upon the size of the markets which we target and our ability to achieve continuous and sufficient market acceptance.

Even if we enter all necessary agreements with key customers in the oil industry and purchase enough equipment to satisfy the demand for freight services in the market, our future revenue will depend upon the size of the markets which we target and our ability to achieve continuous and sufficient market acceptance, and such factors as pricing, reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share for our services at the target markets.

We anticipate that the Banner Midstream expenses will increase substantially if and as they:

continue the research of the market and potential private companies to acquire;
expand the scope of our operations on the Territory;
establish a supply-demand chain and a respective trucking infrastructure to commercialize our market opportunities;
acquire existing businesses and revitalize their operations with the Companies framework;
seek to maintain, protect, and expand the Territory;
seek to attract and retain skilled personnel; and
create additional infrastructure to support our operations as a public company and plan future commercialization efforts.

We may not be able to successfully identify acquisition targets and complete strategic acquisitions to execute our growth strategy, and even if we are able to do so, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions.

As part of our growth strategy we intend to pursue opportunities to acquire companies or assets that will enable us to expand our product and service offerings and to increase our geographic footprint. We routinely review potential acquisitions. However, identifying suitable acquisition targets can be difficult, costly and time-consuming, and we may not be able to do so or complete acquisitions in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis or at all. Even if completed, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions. Our acquisitions have previously required, and any similar future transactions may also require, significant efforts and expenditures, in particular with respect to integration of acquired assets and business into our legacy operations. We may encounter unexpected difficulties, or incur unexpected costs, in connection with strategic acquisitions and integration efforts, including without limitation:

difficulties in the post-acquisition integration of operations and systems;
the termination of relationships with key personnel and customers of the acquired company;


a failure to add additional employees to manage the increased volume of business;
additional post acquisition challenges and complexities in areas such as tax planning, treasury management, financial reporting and legal compliance;
risks and liabilities from our acquisitions, some of which may not be discovered during the pre-acquisition due diligence process;
a disruption of our ongoing business or an inability of our ongoing business to receive sufficient management attention; and
a failure to realize the cost savings or other financial benefits we anticipated prior to acquisition.

Failure to successfully identify suitable acquisition targets, complete strategic acquisitions, or realize the anticipated benefits of completed acquisitions, would undermine our ability to execute on our growth strategy, which would in its turn have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and future prospects.

Our near-term success will depend upon our ability to grow our oilfield services and transportation operations.

Our success will depend, in part, upon our ability to grow our oilfield and transportation services operations. Attracting new customers and joining networks and demand-supply chains requires substantial time and expense. Any failure to commence operations timely would adversely affect our operating results. Many factors could affect the market acceptance and commercial success of our services, including:

our ability to convince our potential customers of the advantages, logistic and economic benefits of our services over competitors;
the niche scope of our product menu relative to competitors;
changes to policies, procedures or currently accepted best practices in transportation business, cargo, and transportation sectors;
changes to policies, procedures or currently accepted best practices in the transportation and logistics-industry; and
the extent and success of our marketing and sales efforts.

Because we have limited experience operating the recently acquired oil and gas exploration and transportation businesses, our failure to effectively manage the risks and challenges inherent in such businesses could adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and growth prospects.

Until we acquired Banner Midstream on March 27, 2020, we had no experience in operating its oil and gas businesses, although Jay Puchir, Banner Midstream’s Chief Executive Officer joined us as our Chief Accounting Officer and continues as Banner Midstream’s Chief Executive Officer. Accordingly, we have limited experience operating these businesses, and, as a result, may encounter challenges and risks inherent in operating such businesses. If we fail to effectively manage the risks and challenges inherent in such businesses, our business, operating results, financial condition and growth prospects would be materially and adversely affected.

Our transportation business is affected by industry-wide economic factors that are largely outside our control.

With the exception of minimal revenue from our investment advisory business, our revenue is from customers in the oil exploration and production industry. As such, our volumes are largely dependent on the economy and our results may be more susceptible to trends in unemployment and how it affects oil prices than carriers that do not have this focus. We believe that some of the most significant factors beyond our control that may negatively impact our operating results are economic changes that affect supply and demand in transportation markets.


The risks associated with these factors are heightened when the United States economy is weakened. Some of the principal risks during such times are as follows:

low overall demand levels, which may impair our asset utilization;

customers with credit issues and cash flow problems we are not currently aware of;

customers bidding out our services or selecting competitors that offer lower rates, in an attempt to lower their costs, forcing us to lower our rates or lose revenue; and

more unbilled miles incurred to obtain loads.

Economic conditions that decrease shipping demand or increase the supply of capacity in the trucking transportation industry on the Territory can exert downward pressure on rates and equipment utilization, thereby decreasing asset productivity. Declining freight levels and rates, a prolonged recession or general economic instability could result in declines in our results of operations, which declines may be material.

We also are subject to cost increases outside our control that could materially reduce our profitability if we are unable to increase our rates sufficiently. Such cost increases include, but are not limited to, fuel and energy prices, driver wages, taxes and interest rates, tolls, license and registration fees, insurance premiums, regulations, revenue equipment and related maintenance costs and healthcare and other benefits for our associates. We cannot predict whether, or in what form, any such cost increase or event could occur. Any such cost increase or event could adversely affect our profitability.

In addition, events outside our control, such as strikes or other work stoppages at our facilities or at customer, port, border or other shipping locations, weather, actual or threatened armed conflicts or terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against a foreign state or group located in a foreign state or heightened security requirements could lead to reduced economic demand, reduced availability of credit or temporary closing of shipping locations or United States borders. Such events or enhanced security measures in connection with such events could impair our operations and result in higher operating costs.

Fluctuations in the price or availability of fuel, the volume and terms of diesel fuel purchase commitments and surcharge collection may increase our costs related to our transportation operations, which could materially and adversely affect our margins.

Fuel represents a significant expense for our transportation business while the sale of oil and to a lesser extent natural gas provides revenues for our business. Diesel fuel prices fluctuate greatly due to factors beyond our control, such as political events, terrorist activities, armed conflicts, depreciation of the dollar against other currencies and weather, such as hurricanes, and other natural or man-made disasters, each of which may lead to an increase in the cost of fuel. Fuel prices also are affected by the rising demand in developing countries and could be adversely impacted by diminished drilling activity and by the use of crude oil and oil reserves for other purposes. Such events may lead not only to increases in fuel prices, but also to fuel shortages and disruptions in the fuel supply chain. Because our operations are dependent upon diesel fuel, and a portion of our business is based on fuel purchased on the spot market at prevailing market rates, significant diesel fuel cost increases, shortages or supply disruptions could materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Increases in fuel costs, to the extent not offset by rate per mile increases or fuel surcharges, have an adverse effect on our operations and profitability. While a portion of our fuel costs are covered by pass-through provisions in customer contracts and compensatory fuel surcharge programs, we also incur fuel costs that cannot be recovered even with respect to customers with which we maintain fuel surcharge programs, such as those associated with unbilled miles, or the time when our engines are idling. Because our fuel surcharge recovery lags behind changes in fuel prices, our fuel surcharge recovery may not capture the increased costs we pay for fuel, especially when prices are rising, leading to fluctuations in our levels of reimbursement. Further, during periods of low freight volumes, shippers can use their negotiating leverage to impose less compensatory fuel surcharge policies. In addition, the terms of each customer’s fuel surcharge agreement vary, and customers may seek to modify the terms of their fuel surcharge agreements to minimize recoverability for fuel price increases. Such fuel surcharges may not be maintained indefinitely or may not be sufficiently effective. As of the date of this prospectus, we had no derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations.


If we fail to retain and attract qualified drivers, including owner-operators, it could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

In our transportation operations, we rely almost exclusively on the fleet of vehicles owned and operated by independent contractors. These independent contractors are responsible for maintaining and operating their own equipment and paying their own fuel, insurance, licenses and other operating costs. Due to high turnover rates, the pool of qualified independent contractor drivers is often limited, which increases competition for their services, especially during times of increased economic activity. We currently face and may in the future continue to face from time- to-time, difficulty in attracting and retaining sufficient number of qualified independent contractor drivers. Additionally, our agreements with independent contractor drivers are terminable by either party without penalty and upon short notice. Our specialty equipment services targeting servicing oil exploration and oil development industries require special training to handle unique operating requirements. We may be legally obligated or otherwise subjected by the industry standards to use physical function tests and hair follicle and urine testing to screen and test all driver applicants, which we believe is a rigorous standard and could decrease the pool of qualified applicants available to us. If we are unable to retain our existing independent contractor drivers or recruit new qualified independent contractor drivers, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

The rates we offer our independent contractor drivers are subject to market conditions. Accordingly, we may be required to increase owner-operator compensation or take other measures to retain existing and attract new qualified independent contractor drivers. If we are unable to continue to attract and retain a sufficient number of independent contractor drivers, we could be required to increase our mileage rates and accessorial pay or operate with fewer trucks and face difficulty meeting our clients’ demands, which would in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

If owner-operators and their drivers that we rely upon in our transportation business were to be classified as employees instead of independent contractors, our business would be materially and adversely affected.

A number of companies in the logistics industry have been faced with legislation that requires that many independent contractors be treated as employees and receive benefits only available to employees which increases costs. To date, this legislation has been limited to California and is being considered in states where we do not operate. Some companies recently been involved in lawsuits, including class actions, and state tax and other administrative proceedings that claim that owner-operators or their drivers should be treated as employees, rather than independent contractors. These lawsuits and proceedings involve substantial monetary damages (including claims for unpaid wages, overtime, failure to provide meal and rest periods, unreimbursed business expenses and other items), injunctive relief, or both. While we believe that owner-operators and their drivers are properly classified as independent contractors rather than as employees, if their independent contractor status is challenged, we may not be successful in defending against such challenges in some or all jurisdictions in which we offer transportation services. We also may encounter a risk if the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) were to pass a rule to this effect, which could occur if the Democratic nominee is elected President next month. Furthermore, the costs associated with defending or resolving lawsuits relating to the independent contractor status of owner-operators and their drivers could be material to our business.

If legislation is passed in states where we operate, the NLRB passes a rule, or a court or an administrative agency were to determine that owner-operators and their drivers must be classified as employees rather than independent contractors, we could become subject to additional regulatory requirements, including but not limited to tax, wages, and wage and hour laws and requirements (such as those pertaining to minimum wage and overtime); employee benefits, social security, workers’ compensation and unemployment; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under civil rights laws; claims under laws pertaining to unionizing, collective bargaining, and other concerted activity; and other laws and regulations applicable to employers and employees. Compliance with such laws and regulations would require us to incur significant additional expenses, potentially including without limitation, expenses associated with the application of wage and hour laws (including minimum wage, overtime, and meal and rest period requirements), employee benefits, social security contributions, taxes, and penalties. Additionally, any such reclassification would require us to change our business model, and consequently have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

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Similar to many companies, we have experienced a spike in our insurance costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Insurance premiums have recently escalated, and we are facing a similar increase in our insurance costs. Our future insurance and claims expense might exceed historical levels, which could reduce our earnings. We self-insure or maintain a high deductible for a portion of our claims exposure resulting from workers’ compensation, auto liability, general liability, cargo and property damage claims, as well as associate health insurance. Estimating the number and severity of claims, as well as related judgment or settlement amounts is inherently difficult. This, along with legal expenses, incurred but not reported claims and other uncertainties can cause unfavorable differences between actual claim costs and our reserve estimates. We plan to reserve for anticipated losses and expenses and periodically evaluate and adjust our claims reserves to reflect our experience. However, ultimate results may differ from our estimates, which could result in losses over our reserved amounts.

We maintain insurance with licensed insurance carriers above the amounts which we retain. Although we believe our aggregate insurance limits should be sufficient to cover reasonably expected claims, the amount of one or more claims could exceed our aggregate coverage limits. If any claim were to exceed our coverage, we would be required to bear the excess, in addition to our other self-insured/retained amounts. As a result, our insurance and claims expense could increase, or we could raise our self-insured retention or deductible when our policies are renewed or replaced. Our operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected if (i) cost per claim, premiums, or the number of claims significantly exceed our estimates, (ii) there is one or more claims in excess of our coverage limits, (iii) our insurance carriers refuse to pay our insurance claims or (iv) we experience a claim for which coverage is not provided.

Because our transportation operations are subject to various environmental laws and regulations, violations could result in substantial fines or penalties.

We are subject to various environmental laws and regulations dealing with the hauling and handling of hazardous materials, air emissions from our vehicles and facilities, and engine idling and discharge. Our transportation operations often involve traveling on unpaved roads located in rural areas, increasing the risk of accidents, and our staging pads often are located in areas where groundwater or other forms of environmental contamination could occur. Our operations involve the risks of environmental damage and hazardous waste disposal, among others. If we are involved in an accident involving hazardous substances, if there are releases of hazardous substances we transport, if soil or groundwater contamination is found at our facilities or results from our operations, or if we are found to be in violation of applicable environmental laws or regulations, we could owe cleanup costs and incur related liabilities, including substantial fines or penalties or civil and criminal liability, any of which could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operating results.

Risks Factors Relating to Our Technology Solutions

Our ability to execute our strategy with respect to our technology segment, depends to a large extent on the outcome of the litigation related to protection of our intellectual property rights.

As previously disclosed, we have filed a complaint against Walmart Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Western Division. The complaint includes claims for violation of the Arkansas Trade Secrets Act, violation of the Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, breach of contract, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, conversion and fraud. The case is scheduled for trial on March 29, 2021. The Complaint seeks $2 billion in damages. Intellectual property and similar litigation is subject to uncertainty and Walmart is vigorously defending the suit. We cannot assure you we will be successful or if we are, how much we will recover.

If we are unable to develop and generate additional demand for our technology services or products, we will likely suffer serious harm to our business.

 

We have invested significant resources in developing and marketing our technology services and products. Some of our services and products are often considered complex and often involve a new approach to the conduct of business by our customers. As a result, intensive marketing and sales efforts may be necessary to educate prospective customers regarding the uses and benefits of our services and products in order to generate additional demand. The market for our services and products may weaken, competitors may develop superior offerings, or we may fail to develop acceptable solutions to address new market conditions. Any one of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.

 


Undetected errors or failures in our software, products or services could result in loss or delay in the market acceptance for our products or lost sales.

 

Because our software services and products, and the environments in which they operate, are complex, our software and products may contain errors that can be detected at any point in its lifecycle. While we continually test our services and products for errors, errors may be found at any time in the future. Detection of any significant errors may result in, among other things, loss of, or delay in, market acceptance and sales of our services and products, diversion of development resources, injury to our reputation, increased service and warranty costs, license terminations or renegotiations or costly litigation. Additionally, because our services and products support or rely on other systems and applications, any software or hardware errors or bugsdefects in these systems or applications may result in errors in the performance of our service or products, and it may be difficult or impossible to determine where the error resides.

 

We may not be competitive, and increased competition could seriously harm our business.

Relative to us, some of our current competitors or potential competitors of our products and services may have one or more of the following advantages:

longer operating histories;
greater financial, technical, marketing, sales and other resources;
positive cash flows from operations;
greater name recognition;
a broader range of products to offer;
an established intellectual property portfolio;
a larger installed base of customers; and,
competitive product pricing.

Although no single competitive factor is dominant, current and potential competitors may establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties to enhance their offerings that are competitive with our products and services, which may result in increased competition.

Sales to many of our target customers involve long sales and implementation cycles, which may cause revenues and operating results to vary significantly.

 

A prospective customer’s decision to purchase our services or products may often involve lengthy evaluation and product qualification processes. Throughout the sales cycle, we anticipate often spending considerable time educating and providing information to prospective customers regarding the use and benefits of our services and products. Budget constraints and the need for multiple approvals within these organizations may also delay the purchase decision. Failure to obtain the timely required approval for a particular project or purchase decision may delay the purchase of our services or products. As a result, we expect that the sales cycle for some of our services and products will typically range from 90 days to more than 360 days, depending on the availability of funding to the prospective customer. These long cycles may cause delays in any potential sale, and we may spend a large amount of time and resources on prospective customers who decide not to purchase our services or products, which could materially and adversely affect our business.

 

Additionally, some of our services and products are designed for corporate customers, which requireswill require us to maintainrecruit a sales force that understands the needs of these customers, engagesengage in extensive negotiations and provides high-levelprovide support to complete sales. If we do not successfully market our services and products to these targeted customers, our operating results will be below our expectations and the expectations of investors and market analysts, which would likely cause the price of our common stock to decline.

 

Patents, trademarks, copyrights and licenses are important to our technology business, and the inability to defend, obtain or renew such intellectual property could adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

Through Zest Labs, the Company currently holds rights to patents and copyrights relating to certain aspects of its RFID technology, software, and services. In addition, the Company has registered, and/or has applied to register trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and a number of foreign countries for “Intelleflex,” the Intelleflex logo, “Zest,” “Zest Data Services”, the Zest logo, and numerous other trademarks and service marks. Although the Company believes the ownership of such patents, copyrights, trademarks and service marks is an important factor in its business and that its success does depend in part on the ownership thereof, the Company relies primarily on the innovative skills, technical competence, and marketing abilities of its personnel. Loss of a significant number of licenses may have an adverse effect of the Company’s operations.

Many of Zest Labs’ products are designed to include intellectual property obtained from third parties. While it may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of its products and business methods, the Company believes, based upon past experience and industry practice, such licenses generally could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms; however, there is no guarantee that such licenses could be obtained at all.

The Company relies on licenses to third-party patents and intellectual property, and the Company’s future results could be materially adversely affected if it is alleged or found to have infringed intellectual property rights.

Many of Zest Labs’ products are designed to use third-party intellectual property, and it may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of its products and business methods. Although the Company believes that, based on past experience and industry practice, such licenses generally could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms, there is no assurance that the necessary licenses would be available on acceptable terms or at all.

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We will not be able to develop or continue our business ifIf we fail to attract and retain key personnel.

Our future success depends on our ability to attract, hire, train and retain a number of highly skilled employees and on the service and performance of our senior management team and other key personnel. The loss of the services of our executive officers or other key employees could adversely affect our business. Competition for qualified personnel possessing the skills necessary to implement our strategy is intense, and we may fail to attract or retain the employees necessary to execute our business model successfully. We have obtained “key person” life insurance policies covering three of our employees.

Our success will depend to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our key management, engineering and other personnel, many of whom would be difficult to replace. In particular, we believe that our future success is highly dependent on Randy May, our Chief Executive Officer, Peter Mehring, President of Intelleflex and Ken Smerz, President of Eco3D. If Messrs. May, Mehring or Smerz, or any other key members of our management team, leave our employment, our business could suffer and the share price of our common stock would likely decline. Although we have entered into an employment agreement with each of Messrs. May, Mehring and Smerz, one or more of them may voluntarily terminate his services at any time.

If we do not protect our proprietary information and prevent third parties from making unauthorized use of our products and technology, our financial results could be harmed.

 

MostMuch of our software and underlying technology is proprietary. We seek to protect our proprietary rights through a combination of confidentiality agreements and through copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret laws. However, all of these measures afford only limited protection and may be challenged, invalidated, or circumvented by third parties. Any patent licensed by us or issued to us could be challenged, invalidated or circumvented or rights granted there underthereunder may not provide a competitive advantage to us. Furthermore, patent applications that we file may not result in issuance of a patent or, if a patent is issued, the patent may not be issued in a form that is advantageous to us. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, others may independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or design around our patents and other rights. In addition, it is difficult to monitor compliance with, and enforce, our intellectual property in a cost-effective manner.

 

Third parties claiming that we infringe on their proprietary rights could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and prevent us from selling our products and services.

 

From time to time, we might receive claimsthird parties may claim that we have infringed theon their intellectual property rights, of others, including claims regarding patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Because of constant technological change in the markets in which we compete, the extensive patent coverage of existing technologies, and the rapid rate of issuance of new patents, it is possible that the number of these claims may grow.In addition, former employers of our former, current, or future employees may assert claims that such employees have improperly disclosed to us the confidential or proprietary information of these former employers. Any such claim, with or without merit, could result in costly litigation and distract management from day-to-day operations. If we are not successful in defending such claims, we could be required to stop selling, delay shipments of, or redesign our products, pay monetarysignificant amounts as monetary damages, enter into royalty or licensing arrangements, or satisfy indemnification obligations that we have with some of our customers. We cannot assure you that any royaltyRoyalty or licensing arrangements that we may seek in such circumstances willmay not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. We may incur significant expenditures to investigate, defend and settle claims related to the use of technology and intellectual property rights as part of our strategy to manage this risk.

 

PeriodsWe rely on third-party manufacturers for the final assembly of sustained economic adversity and uncertainty could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Demand for our services and products depend in large part upon the level of capital and maintenance expenditures by manycertain of our customers. Lower budgets could have a material adverse effectproduct related to our technology offerings. If these third-party manufacturers were to become unavailable, we may not be able to replace them on the demand for our services and products,economical terms or at all, and our business results of operations, cash flow and overall financial condition would suffer.be harmed.

 

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DisruptionsA failure by such manufacturers to provide manufacturing services to us, or any disruption in such manufacturing services, may adversely affect our business. We may incur increased business disruption risk due to the dependence on these third-party manufacturers, as we are not able to exercise direct control over the assembly or related operations of certain of our products. If these third-party manufacturers experience financial marketsdifficulties or fail to meet our manufacturing needs, then we may be unable to satisfy customer product demands, lose sales, and be unable to maintain customer relationships. Longer production lead times may result in shortages of certain products and inadequate inventories during periods of unanticipated higher demand. Without such third parties continuing to manufacture our products, we may have an adverse impact on regional and world economies and credit markets, which could negatively impact the availability and costno other means of capital for us and our customers. These conditions may reduce the willingness or abilityfinal assembly of certain of our customersproducts until we are able to secure the manufacturing capability at another facility or develop an alternative manufacturing facility. This transition could be costly and prospective customers to commit funds to purchase our services or products, or their ability to pay for our services after purchase. These conditions could result in bankruptcy or insolvency for some customers, which would impact our revenue and cash collections. These conditions could also result in pricing pressure and less favorable financial terms in our contracts and our ability to access capital to fund our operations.time consuming.

 

Patents, trademarks, copyrights and licenses are important to the Company’s business, and the inability to defend, obtain or renew such intellectual property could adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

The Company currently holds rights to patents and copyrights relating to certain aspects of its solar panel technology, Radio-Frequency Identification (“RFID”) technology, software, and services. In addition, the Company has registered, and/or has applied to register trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and a number of foreign countries for "Intelleflex," the Intelleflex logo, "ZEST," "ZEST Data Services," "ZEST Fresh," and numerous other trademarks and service marks. Although the Company believes the ownership of such patents, copyrights, trademarks and service marks is an important factor in its business and that its success does depend in part on the ownership thereof, the Company relies primarily on the innovative skills, technical competence, and marketing abilities of its personnel.

Many of the Company's products are designed to include intellectual property obtained from third-parties. While it may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of its products and business methods, the Company believes, based upon past experience and industry practice, such licenses generally could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms; however, there is no guarantee that such licenses could be obtained at all.

Failure of information technology systems and breaches in data security could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and operating results.

Information technology system failures and breaches of data security could disrupt the Company's operations by causing delays or cancellation of customer orders, impeding the manufacture or shipment of products, or resulting in the unintentional disclosure of customer or Company information. Management has taken steps to address these concerns by implementing sophisticated network security and internal control measures. There can be no assurance, however, that a system failure or data security breach will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and operating results.

The Company is subject to risks associated with laws, regulations and industry-imposed standards related to wireless communications devices.

Laws and regulations related to wireless communications devices in the many jurisdictions in which the CompanyZest Labs operates and seeks to operate are extensive and subject to change. Such changes, which could include but are not limited to restrictions on production, manufacture, distribution, and use of the device, may have a material adverse effect on the Company'sCompany’s financial condition and operating results.

 

Wireless communication devices, such as RFID readers, are subject to certification and regulation by governmental and standardization bodies. These certification processes are extensive and time consuming, and could result in additional testing requirements, product modifications or delays in product shipment dates, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company'sCompany’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company relies on access to third-party patents and intellectual property, and the Company's future results could be materially adversely affected if it is alleged or found to have infringed intellectual property rights.

Many of the Company's products are designed to include third-party intellectual property, and it may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of its products and business methods. Although the Company believes that, based on past experience and industry practice, such licenses generally could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms, there is no assurance that the necessary licenses would be available on acceptable terms or at all.

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Because of technological changes in the business software, web and device applications, sensors and sensor-based devices, and RFID and wireless communication industries, current extensive patent coverage, and the rapid issuance of new patents, it is possible that certain components of the Company'sZest Labs’ products and business methods may unknowingly infringe the patents or other intellectual property rights of third parties. From time to time, the Company has beenZest Labs may be notified that it may be infringing such rights. Responding to such claims, regardless of their merit, can consume significant time and expense. In certain cases, the Company may consider the desirability of entering into licensing agreements, although no assurance can be given that such licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or that litigation will not occur. If there is a temporary or permanent injunction prohibiting the Company from marketing or selling certain products or a successful claim of infringement against the Company requires it to pay royalties to a third party, the Company'sCompany’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

 


The inability to obtain certain raw materialscomponents could adversely impact the Company’s ability to deliver on its contractual commitments which could negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows.

 

Although most components essential to the Company'sCompany’s business are generally available from multiple sources, certain key components including, but not limited to, microprocessors, enclosures, certain RFID custom integrated circuits, and application-specific integrated circuits ("ASICs") are currently obtained by the Company from single or limited sources. Magnolia Solar is also developing nanostructured optical coating technology to improve the solar cell performance. The raw materials for this effort are glass, quartz, silicon wafers and nitrogen gas. Some key components, while currently available to the Company from multiple sources, are at times subject to industry-wide availability constraints and pricing pressures. If the supply of a key or single-sourced component to the Company were to be delayed or curtailed or in the event a key manufacturing vendor delayed shipment of completed products to the Company, the Company'sCompany’s ability to ship related products in desired quantities, and in a timely manner, could be adversely affected. The Company'sCompany’s business and financial performance could also be adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source. Continued availability of these components may be affected if suppliers were to decide to concentrate on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet the Company'sCompany’s requirements. The Company attempts to mitigate these potential risks by working closely with these and other key suppliers on product introduction plans, strategic inventories, coordinated product introductions, and internal and external manufacturing schedules and levels. Consistent with industry practice, the Company acquires components through a combination of formal purchase orders, supplier contracts, and open orders based on projected demand information. However, adverse changes in the supply chain of the Company’s vendors may adversely impact the supply of key components.

 

Our solar products have never been sold on a commercial basis, and we do not know whether they will be accepted by the market.Other Risks That May Affect Us

 

According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy published in 2015, the installed solar PV capacity was about 180 Gigawatt hours at the end of 2014. Total global production of electricity was about 23,536 terawatt hours in 2014. Thus, at the end of 2014 less than 1 percent electric power came from solar photovoltaic sources. Even with many advances in the solar photovoltaic technology, adoption of solar photovoltaic power technology by energy users remains low and the total solar electricity production capacity remains well below one percent of the world consumption of electricity. Thus, the solar energy market is at a relatively early stage of development and the extent to which solar modules will be widely adopted is uncertain. If our products are not accepted by the market, our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition will suffer. Moreover, demand for solar modules in our targeted markets may not develop or may develop to a lesser extent than we anticipate. The development of a successful market for our proposed products and our ability to sell them at a lower price per watt may be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

failure to produce solar power products that compete favorably against other solar power products on the basis of cost, quality and performance;

competition from conventional energy sources and alternative distributed generation technologies, such as wind energy;

failure to develop and maintain successful relationships with suppliers, distributors and strategic partners; and

customer acceptance of our products.

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If our proposed products fail to gain sufficient market acceptance, our business plans, prospects, results of operations and financial condition may suffer.

Our ability to manufacture and distribute commercially viable solar cells is unproven, which could have a detrimental effectfuture success depends on our ability to generate or sustain revenues.retain and attract high-quality personnel, and the efforts, abilities and continued service of our senior management.

 

Our future success depends on our ability to attract, hire, train and retain a number of highly skilled employees and on the service and performance of our senior management team and other key personnel, including service center managers. The technologies we will use to manufacture solar cells have never been utilized on a commercial basis. Our technology, while intended to create a highly efficient solar cells may never achieve technical or commercial viability. Allloss of the tests conductedservices of our executive officers or other key employees and inadequate succession planning could cause substantial disruption to date by us with respectour business operations, deplete our institutional knowledge base and erode our competitive advantage, which would adversely affect our business. Competition for qualified personnel possessing the skills necessary to implement our strategy is intense, and we may fail to attract or retain the technologyemployees necessary to execute our business model successfully. We do not have been performed in“key person” life insurance policies covering any of our executive officers, other than Peter Mehring, the president of Zest Labs.

Our success will depend to a limited scale environmentsignificant degree upon the continued efforts of our key management, engineering and other personnel, many of whom would be difficult to replace. In particular, we believe that our future success is highly dependent on Randy May, our Chief Executive Officer, William Hoagland, our Chief Financial officer, Jay Puchir, our Chief Accounting Officer, and Peter Mehring, President of Zest Labs. If any members of our management team leave our employment, our business could suffer, and the same or similar results may not be obtainable at competitive costs on a large-scale commercial basis. We have never utilized technology under the conditions or in the volumes that will be required for us to be profitable and cannot predict all of the difficulties that may arise. Accordingly, our technology may not perform successfully on a commercial basis and may never generate any revenues or be profitable.

The reduction or elimination of government subsidies and economic incentives for on-grid solar electricity applications could reduce demand for our solar modules and harm our business plans.

The reduction, elimination or expiration of government subsidies and economic incentives for solar electricity could result in the diminished competitiveness of solar energy relative to conventional and non-solar renewable sources of energy, which would negatively affect the growth of the solar energy industry overall. We believe that the near-term growth of the market for on-grid applications, where solar energy is used to supplement the electricity a consumer purchases from the utility network, depends significantly on the availability and size of government and economic incentives. Currently the cost of solar electricity substantially exceeds the retailshare price of electricity in every significant market in the world. As a result, federal, state and local governmental bodies in many countries have provided subsidies in the form of tariffs, rebates, tax write-offs and other incentives to end-users, distributors, systems integrators and manufacturers of photovoltaic products. Many of these government incentives could expire, phase-out over time, exhaust the allocated funding or require renewal by the applicable authority. Even though the price of electricity from conventional sources continues to rise, a reduction, elimination or expiration of government subsidies and economic incentives for solar electricity could result in the diminished competitiveness of solar energy, which would in turn hurt our sales and financial condition.

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO OUR COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS

We have a substantial number of authorized common and preferred shares available for future issuance that could cause dilution of our stockholders’ interest and adversely impact the rights of holders of our common stock.stock could decline.

If we cannot manage our growth effectively, our results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

 

We have recently experienced significant growth commencing with and following the Banner Acquisition. Our business model relies on our rapidly growing our oil and gas drilling and transportation businesses. Businesses that grow rapidly often have difficulty managing their growth while maintaining their compliance and quality standards. If we continue to grow as rapidly as we anticipate, we will need to expand our management by recruiting and employing additional executive and key personnel capable of providing the necessary support. There can be no assurance that our management, along with our staff, will be able to effectively manage our growth. Our failure to meet the challenges associated with rapid growth could materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.


If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which requires, among other things, that public companies maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.

Our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2020 due to inadequate segregation of duties consistent with control objectives. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a totalrestatement of 100,000,000our financial statements for prior periods. If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired, which could result in loss of investor confidence and could have an adverse effect on our stock price.

Failure of our information technology systems or data security breaches, including as the result of cyber security attacks, affecting us or our business associates, may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

We depend on information technology systems and services in conducting our business. We use these technologies for internal purposes, including data storage and processing, transmissions, as well as in our interactions with our business associates. Examples of these digital technologies include analytics, automation, and cloud services. If any of our financial, operational, or other data processing systems are compromised, fail or have other significant shortcomings, it could disrupt our business, result in potential liability or reputational damage or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock and Warrants

Because our common stock trades on the OTCQB, we are subject to the unwillingness of most institutional investors to purchase our common stock as well as the general limited liquidity of that trading market.

Our common stock is currently traded on the OTCQB, which is not a national securities exchange. Most institutional investors will only purchase securities which trade on one of the markets operated by the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange. As a result, the OTCQB is generally less liquid then the leading stock exchanges. While the market for our common stock has been relatively active, we believe our failure to be listed on a leading national securities exchange has reduced our liquidity. We cannot assure you that our recent liquidity will be maintained or that investors will not encounter difficulties in selling their common stock in the future at present levels or if the absence of sufficient liquidity will harm our stockholders in the future.

Future sales of our common stock in the public market could lower the price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise funds in future securities offerings.

Of the 106,255,723 shares of common stock and 5,000,000outstanding as of October 12, 2020, 85,046,310 are held by investors who are not our affiliates or holders of restricted stock. All of these shares of preferredunrestricted stock authorized for issuance. Asare freely tradeable. The remaining shares may be sold subject to the volume limits of August 16, 2016, weRule 144 which limits sales by any affiliate to 1% of outstanding shares in any three-month period. In addition, there were as of October 12, 2020 1,236,178 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants which shares may be sold pursuant to our July 28, 2020 prospectus which covered a total of 5,882,358 shares; the remaining shares have 36,021,210 shares of common stockbeen issued and outstanding and no preferred shares issued or outstanding. As of August 16, 2016, we had 63,978,790 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock available for issuance. Further, outfollowing exercise of the 63,978,790 unissued shares of common stock, as of August 16, 2016, we have reserved 4,336,625 shares of our common stock for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, 1,500,000 shares of our common stock upon conversion of outstanding convertible notes, and 5,497,142 additional shares available for future grants under our stock incentive plan and no shares reserved for conversion of our preferred stock. We may seek financing that could result in the issuance of additional shares of our capital stock and/or rights to acquire additional shares of our capital stock. We may also make acquisitions that result in issuances of additional shares of our capital stock. Those additional issuances of capital stock would result in a significant reduction of your percentage interest in us. Furthermore, the book value per share of our common stock may be reduced. This reduction would occur if the exercise price of any issued warrants, the conversion price of any convertible notes or the conversion ratio of any issued preferred stock is lower than the book value per share of our common stock at the time of such exercise or conversion.

The additionwarrants. Future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock intoin the public market, or by the registration of any of our other securities under the Securities Actperception that such sales may significantly and negativelyoccur, could adversely affect the then prevailing market price for our common stock. The future sales of shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and options may have a depressive effect on the market price of our common stock and could make it more difficult for us to raise funds in the future through an offering of our securities.

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

Our common stock is subject to the requirements of Rule 15(g)-9, promulgated under the Exchange Act as such warrants and options would be more likely to be exercised at a time whenlong as the price of our common stock is greaterbelow $5.00 per share and is not traded on a leading stock exchange. Under such rule, broker-dealers who recommend low-priced securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors must satisfy special sales practice requirements, including a requirement that they make an individualized written suitability determination for the exercise price.purchaser and receive the purchaser’s consent prior to the transaction. The required penny stock disclosures include the delivery, prior to any transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated with it. Such requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of our common stock and the ability of purchasers to sell their common stock.

 

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We effected our 1-for-250 reverse stock split on March 18, 2016. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to comply with the minimum price requirements of the NASDAQ Capital Market.

We effected our 1-for-250 reverse stock split on March 18, 2016, with the intent to list the common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market. We effectuated the reverse stock split in order to achieve the requisite increase in the marketThe price of our common stock is subject to be in compliance with the minimum price requirements of the NASDAQ Capital Market. We cannot assure you that the marketvolatility, including for reasons unrelated to our operating performance, which could lead to losses by investors and costly securities litigation.

The trading price of our common stock following the reverse stock split will remain at the level required for continuing compliance with that requirement. It is not uncommon for the market price of a company’s common stocklikely to decline in the period following a reverse stock split. If the market price of our common stock declines following the effectuation of the reverse stock split, the percentage decline may be greater than would occur in the absence of the reverse stock split. In any event, other factors unrelated to the number of shares of our common stock outstanding, such as negative financial or operational results,highly volatile and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and jeopardize our ability to maintain the NASDAQ Capital Market’s minimum price requirements.

There may not be an active market for shares of our common stock.

Our common stock is quoted OTCQB maintained by the OTC Market Group Inc. under the symbol “EARK”. However, no assurance can be given that an active trading market for our common stock will develop and continue. As a result, you may find it more difficult to purchase, dispose of and obtain accurate quotations as to the value of our common stock. If we are unable to achieve the NASDAQ Capital Market listing requirements, our common stock would continue to trade on the OTCQB.

Following the reverse stock split, the resulting market price of our common stock may not attract new investors, including institutional investors, and may not satisfy the investing requirements of those investors. Consequently, the trading liquidity of our common stock may not improve.

Although we believe that a higher market price of our common stock may help generate greater or broader investor interest, we cannot assure you that the reverse stock split will attract new investors, including institutional investors. In addition, there can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will satisfy the investing requirements of those investors. As a result, the trading liquidity of our common stock may not necessarily improve.

Our stock could be subject to volatility.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, some of which are beyondmay be outside our control, including:including but not limited to, the following factors:

 

actual or anticipated fluctuationsvariations in our quarterlyoperating results;

changes in market valuations of companies in the oil and annual results;gas industry;

announcements of developments by us or our competitors;

 

announcements by us or our competitors of new strategies, significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic relationships,partnerships, joint ventures, capital commitments, significant contracts, or other material developments that may affect our prospects;

 

shortfallsthe results of the Walmart litigation;

uncertainty following the November 3rd presidential election;

the results of the election;

the continuation of the economic slump;

the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns in the Territory;

adoption of new accounting standards affecting our operating results from levels forecasted by company management;industry;

 

additions or departures of our key personnel;

 

sales of our capitalcommon stock or other securities in the future;

liquidity or cash flow constraints;open market; and

 

fluctuations in stock market prices and volume,other events or factors, many of which are particularly common for the securities of emerging technology companies, such as us.beyond our control.

 

We may not pay dividends on our commonThe stock market is subject to significant price and volume fluctuations. In the past, following periods of volatility in the foreseeable future.

We havemarket price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been initiated against such a company. Litigation initiated against us, whether or not paid any dividends on our common stock. We might pay dividends in the future at the discretion of our Board of Directors. We are unlikely to pay dividends at any time in the foreseeable future; rather, we are likely to retain earnings, if any, to fund our operations and to develop and expand our business.

Future sales and issuances of our capital stock or rights to purchase capital stock could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our stock price to decline.

We may issue additional securities following the completion of this offering. Future sales and issuances of our capital stock or rights to purchase our capital stocksuccessful, could result in substantial dilutioncosts and diversion of our management’s attention and Company resources, which could harm our business and financial condition.

Future changes in the fair value of outstanding warrants could result in volatility of our reported results of operations.

Because of the derivative liability caused by our outstanding warrants, the increase or decrease in our common stock price each quarter (measured from the first day to the last day) is either a non-cash expense or income. If the price rises as it did in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, we are required to report the expense, which increases our actual operating loss. Contrarily a price decrease in a given quarter will cause to report income. The risk is investors will react to our existing stockholders. We may sell commonreported bottom line, which will increase volatility in our stock convertible securities and other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner asprice.  

Because we may determine from time to time. If we sell any such securities in subsequent transactions, our stockholders may be materially diluted. New investors in such subsequent transactionscan issue “blank check” preferred stock without stockholder approval, it could gainadversely impact the rights preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaningUnder our Articles of the Private Securities Litigation Reform ActIncorporation our Board of 1995 (PSLRA). All statements other than statementsDirectors may approve an issuance of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposesup to 5,000,000 shares of federal and state securities laws, including: any projections“blank check” preferred stock without seeking stockholder approval. Any additional shares of earnings, revenues or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan” or “anticipate” and other similar words. Such forward-looking statements may be containedpreferred stock that we issue in the sections “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business,” among other places in this prospectus.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in this prospectus. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may offer from time to time under this prospectus, in amounts we will determine from time to time and at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering, sharesrank ahead of our common stock in terms of dividend or liquidation rights and may have greater voting rights than our common stock. In addition, such preferred stock various seriesmay contain provisions allowing those shares to be converted into shares of warrantscommon stock, which could dilute the value of common stock to purchasecurrent stockholders and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our Company. Although we have no present intention to issue any additional shares of such securities, either individually or in units. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. See “Description of Capital Stock,” Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Units” below. Each time we offer a type or series of securities,authorized preferred stock, there can be no assurance that we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describenot do so in the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

designation or classification;
aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price;
maturity, if applicable;
rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any;
redemption, conversion or sinking fund terms, if any;
voting or other rights, if any;
conversion prices, if any; and
important federal income tax considerations.

future. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus also may supplement, or, as applicable, add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part.part, permits us to issue preferred stock including blank check preferred stock.

 

The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities by us to usprovide additional funds for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities will be containeddetermined at the time of such offering and will be described in the prospectusaccompanying supplement information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating to such offering.this prospectus.


DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

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Description of Capital Stock

The description below of our capital stock and provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended,We are summaries and are qualified by referenceauthorized to the articles of incorporation and bylaws. These documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Our articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 100,000,000issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Common Stock

We are authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights preferences, privileges and restrictionshave no right to convert their common stock into any other securities and there are no redemption provisions applicable to our common stock.

The holders of common stock are entitled to any dividends that may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for payment of dividends subject to the prior rights of holders of preferred stock and any contractual restrictions we have against the payment of dividends on common stock. We have not paid dividends on our common stock since inception and do not plan to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

As of October 12, 2020, we had 106,255,723 shares of common stock outstanding. In addition, as of that date, there were 14,944,023 shares underlying our outstanding warrants and stock options.

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences as may be establisheddetermined from time to time by our boardBoard of directors.Directors. As the date of the close of business on August 16, 2016, there were 36,021,210 shares of common stock issued and outstanding andthis prospectus, we had no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

 

Common Stock

Holders of shares of our commonPreferred stock are entitled to: (i) one vote per share on all matters requiring a shareholder vote; (ii) a ratable distribution of dividends, if and when, declared by our Board of Directors; and (iii) in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Ecoark Holdings, to share ratable in all assets remaining after all of our indebtedness has been provided for or satisfied. Holders of Common Stock do not have preemptive rights to acquire any of our additional, unissued or treasury shares or our securities convertible into or carrying a right to subscribe for or acquire our shares of capital stock. Holders of Common Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting.

As of August 16, 2016, 36,021,210 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding.

Preferred Stock

Our authorized capital also consists of 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001. The unissued preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, and our Board of Directors is authorized to issue such stock in one or more series and to fix from time to time the number of shares to be included in any series and the designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of all shares of such series.

We believe that the availability of the preferred stock under our articles of incorporation provides us with flexibility in addressing corporate issues that may arise. Having these authorized shares available for issuance allows us to issue shares of preferred stock without the expensepossible future financings or acquisitions and delay of a special stockholders’ meeting. The authorized shares of preferred stock, as well as shares of common stock, will be available for issuancegeneral corporate purposes without further action byauthorization of our stockholders unless actionsuch authorization is required by applicable law, or the rules of any stocksecurities exchange or market on which our securities may be listed. Thestock is then listed or admitted or trading.

Our Board of Directors hasmay authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power subjector other rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes could, under some circumstances, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company. For a description of how future issuances of our preferred stock could affect the rights of our stockholders, see “Certain Provisions of Nevada Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws – Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws,” below.

A prospectus supplement relating to applicable law, to issueany series of preferred stock that could, depending on thebeing offered will include specific terms of the series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then prevailing market price of the stock.

Options

As of August 16, 2016, there are options outstanding that have been issued to our officers, directors, employees and independent contractors to purchase 659,000 shares of our common stock pursuantrelating to the Ecoark, Inc. 2013 Stock Option Plan.

Anti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our articles of incorporation contain provisions that could make it more difficult to acquire control of our company by means of a tender offer, open market purchases, a proxy contest or otherwise. A description of these provisions is set forth below.

Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board or the President.

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Anti-takeover Effects of Nevada Law

Business Combinations

The “business combination” provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, of the Nevada Revised Statutes, or NRS, prohibit a Nevada corporation with at least 200 stockholders from engaging in various “combination” transactions with any interested stockholder: for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained such status; or after the expiration of the three-year period, unless:offering. Such prospectus supplement will include:

 

-the transaction is approved by the board of directorstitle and stated or a majoritypar value of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders, orpreferred stock;
  
-if the consideration to be paid by the interested stockholder is at least equal to the highest of: (a) the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the three years immediately preceding the datenumber of the announcement of the combination or in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, (b) the market value per share of common stock on the date of announcement of the combination and the date the interested stockholder acquired the shares whichever is higher, or (c) for holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock if it is higher.offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of the preferred stock;

A “combination” is defined to include mergers or consolidations or any sale, lease exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, with an “interested stockholder” having: (a) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation, (b) an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation, or (c) 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation.

In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire our company even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.

Control Share Acquisitions

The “control share” provisions of Sections 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, of the NRS, which apply only to Nevada corporations with at least 200 stockholders, including at least 100 stockholders of record who are Nevada residents, and which conduct business directly or indirectly in Nevada, prohibit an acquirer, under certain circumstances, from voting its shares of a target corporation’s stock after crossing certain ownership threshold percentages, unless the acquirer obtains approval of the target corporation’s disinterested stockholders. The statute specifies three thresholds: one-fifth or more but less than one-third, one-third but less than a majority, and a majority or more, of the outstanding voting power. Once an acquirer crosses one of the above thresholds, those shares in an offer or acquisition and acquired within 90 days thereof become “control shares” and such control shares are deprived of the right to vote until disinterested stockholders restore the right. These provisions also provide that if control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired a majority or more of all voting power, all other stockholders who do not vote in favor of authorizing voting rights to the control shares are entitled to demand payment for the fair value of their shares in accordance with statutory procedures established for dissenters’ rights.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Our independent stock transfer agent is Island Stock Transfer, Inc., 15500 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 301, Clearwater, Florida 33760. Phone (727) 289-00104

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the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to the preferred stock;
 
whether dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate;
the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;
any voting rights of the preferred stock;
the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;
any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;
the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, including the conversion price or the manner of calculating the conversion price and conversion period;
if appropriate, a discussion of federal income tax consequences applicable to the preferred stock; and
any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock.


TABLEDESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS

Description of WarrantsWARRANTS

The Company issued 4,336,625 warrants as part of the private placement that was completed on April 28, 2016. The 4,336,625 are the only warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2016. These warrants have a strike price of $5.00 per share and expire on December 31, 2018.

 

We may issue warrants tofor the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or any combination of these securities. Westock. Warrants may issue the warrantsbe issued independently or together with any underlyingother securities and the warrants may be attached to or separate from the underlyingany offered securities. We may also issue aEach series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following descriptionagreement. Set forth below is a brief summary of selectedthe general terms and provisions relating toof the warrants that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When warrants are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extentissue from time to which these general provisions may apply. The specifictime. Additional terms of the warrants asand the applicable warrant agreement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The following descriptions, and any description of the warrants included in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplementmay not be complete and if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.

This summary and any description of warrants in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the terms and provisions of any specific warrant document or agreement. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of warrants. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Information by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copy of a warrant document when it is filed.

When we refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part of the same series under the applicable warrant agreement.agreement, which we will file with the Commission in connection with any offering of warrants.

 

TermsGeneral

 

The applicable prospectus supplement information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, mayrelating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of anythe warrants, that we may offer, including but not limited to the following:

 

the title of the warrants;
  
the total number of warrants;offering price for the warrants, if any;
  
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
the price or prices at which the warrants may be exercised;
the currency or currencies that investors may use to pay foraggregate number of the warrants;
  
the exercise price of the warrants;
 
the terms of the security that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;
if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;
the datedates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
  
whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
  
if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security;
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable;
if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
  
if applicable, the terms of redemptionanti-dilution provisions of the warrants;
the identity of the warrant agent,warrants, if any;
  
the procedures and conditions relatingredemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the exercise of the warrants; and
  
any otheradditional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

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Warrant AgreementsExercise of warrants

 

We may issue the warrants in one or more series under one or moreEach warrant agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may add, replace, or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of our subsidiaries to do so.

The warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement. Any holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We may issue the warrants in registered form or bearer form. Warrants issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will beentitle the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue warrants in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any warrants are issued in non-global form, warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or exercise their warrants at the warrant agent’s office or any other office indicatedto purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus.

Prior toat the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of preferred stock or common stock will not have any rights of holders of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon such exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as describedwe describe in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus. Warrantssupplement. Holders may be exercisedexercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable offering material.prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will becomebe void. WarrantsHolders may be redeemedexercise warrants as set forth in the applicable offering material.

Warrants may be exercisedprospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered. Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase any securities underlying the warrants, the holder will not have any rights as set forth in the applicable offering material. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust officea holder of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable offering material, we will forward, as soon as practicable, theunderlying securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than allby virtue of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remainingownership of warrants.


Description of UnitsDESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may issue units composedcomprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus or any combination of our common stock, preferred stock and warrants. Weprospectus supplement in any combination. Each unit will issue each unitbe issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder, of each security included in the unit. As a result, the holder of a unit will havewith the rights and obligations of a holder, of each security included security.in the unit. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any timetimes before a specified date.

The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to units that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When units are offered indate or upon the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the units as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.

This summary and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of units. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Information by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copyoccurrence of a document when it is filed.specified event or occurrence.

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The applicable prospectus supplement information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus maywill describe:

 

the designation and the terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
   
any unit agreement under which the units will be issued;
any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities composingcomprising the units; and
   
whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; and
any other terms of the units.form.

 

Transfer Agent

We have appointed Philadelphia Stock Transfer, Inc. as our transfer agent. Their contact information is: 2320 Haverford Rd., Suite 230 Ardmore, PA 19003.


CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF NEVADA LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

Anti-Takeover Effects of Nevada Law

We may currently be, or in the future become, subject to the provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes regarding the acquisition of controlling interest (the “Controlling Interest Law”). A corporation is subject to the Controlling Interest Law if it has more than 200 stockholders of record, at least 100 of whom are residents of Nevada, and if the corporation does business in Nevada, directly or through an affiliated corporation. The applicable provisions describedControlling Interest Law may have the effect of discouraging corporate takeovers. As of October 12, 2020, we had three stockholders of record who are residents of Nevada.

The Controlling Interest Law focuses on the acquisition of a “controlling interest,” which means the ownership of outstanding voting shares that would be sufficient, but for the operation of law, to enable the acquiring person to exercise the following proportions of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors: (1) one-fifth or more but less than one-third; (2) one-third or more but less than a majority; or (3) a majority or more. The ability to exercise this section,voting power may be direct or indirect, as well as those described above under “— Description of Capital Stock”, and “— Description of Warrants”, will apply to each unit and to each security includedindividual or in each unit, respectively.association with others.

 

USE OF PROCEEDSThe effect of the Controlling Interest Law is that an acquiring person, and those acting in association with such person, will obtain only such voting rights in the controlling interest as are conferred by a resolution of (1) a majority of the stockholders of the corporation and, if applicable (2) a majority of each class or series of outstanding shares of which the acquisition would adversely affect or alter a preference or relative or other right, approved at a special or annual stockholders’ meeting. The Controlling Interest Law contemplates that voting rights will be considered only once by the other stockholders. Thus, there is no authority to take away voting rights from the control shares of an acquiring person once those rights have been approved in accordance with the Controlling Interest Law. However, if the stockholders do not grant voting rights to the shares acquired by an acquiring person, those shares do not become permanent non-voting shares. The acquiring person is free to sell the shares to others, and so long as the subsequent buyer or buyers of those shares themselves do not acquire a controlling interest, those shares would not be governed by the Controlling Interest Law.

 

Unless otherwise indicatedIf control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired control shares with a majority or more of the voting power, a stockholder of record, other than the acquiring person, who did not vote in favor of approval of voting rights, is entitled to dissent to the acquisition and demand fair value for such stockholder’s shares pursuant to applicable provisions of Chapter 92 of the Nevada Revised Statutes governing rights and procedures for dissenting stockholders.

In addition to the Controlling Interest Law, Nevada has a business combination law, which prohibits certain business combinations between Nevada publicly traded corporations and any “interested stockholder” for two years after the interested stockholder first becomes an interested stockholder, unless the board of directors of the corporation approved the combination before the person became an interested stockholder or the corporation’s board of directors approves the transaction and at least 60% of the corporation’s disinterested stockholders approve the combination at an annual or special meeting thereof. For purposes of Nevada law, an interested stockholder is any person who is: (a) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (b) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the previous two years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of “combination” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intendstatute is sufficiently broad to cover virtually any kind of transaction that would allow a potential acquirer to use the net proceedscorporation’s assets to finance the acquisition or otherwise to benefit its own interests rather than the interests of the corporation and its other stockholders.


The effect of Nevada’s business combination law is to potentially discourage parties interested in taking control of the Company from doing so if they cannot obtain the sale of securities under this prospectus to fund working capital and general corporate purposes, including the executionapproval of our long term growth strategy. We will set forth inBoard of Directors or stockholders.

In addition, under Nevada law directors may be removed only by the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus our intended use forvote of stockholders representing not less than two-thirds of the net proceeds we receive fromvoting power of the saleissued and outstanding stock entitled to vote, which could also have an anti-takeover effect.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Provisions of our securities thereunder. Pendingarticles of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our control or change in our management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares, or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these provisions could adversely affect the uses described above, we plan to invest the net proceedsprice of this offering in short-our common stock. Among other things, our articles of incorporation and medium-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.bylaws:

 

permit our Board to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without further action by the stockholders, with any rights, preferences and privileges as our Board may designate, including the right to approve an acquisition or other change in control;

provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by a resolution adopted by a majority of our stockholders or a majority of the whole Board;

provide that, for interim periods before the next meeting of the stockholders held for the election of directors, all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;

do not provide for cumulative voting rights (therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose);

provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the directors or by any officer instructed by the directors to call the meeting;

provide advance notice provisions applicable to a stockholder who wishes to nominate a director or propose other business to be considered at a stockholders’ meeting.


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

 

through agents;underwriters or brokers;
  
to or through underwriters;
through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal);
directly by us to purchasers (including our affiliates and shareholders), through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise;
through a combination of any such methods of sale; or
through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement.

The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:

block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on any organized market where the securities may be traded;
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement;
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
  
in a rights offering;
 
sales “atin “at-the-market” offerings, within the market”meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;
through agents;
in block trades;
through a combination of any of these methods; or
through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in a prospectus supplement.

In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution to our existing stockholders or other security holders.

The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities will include the following information:

the terms of the offering;
the names of any underwriters or agents;
the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
the purchase price or initial public offering price of the securities;
the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;
any delayed delivery arrangements;
any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to brokers;
any commissions paid to agents; and
  
sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.
any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

 


The securities may be sold at a fixed priceSale through Underwriters or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.

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We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing shareholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.

Some or all of the securities that we offer through this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.

Agents may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter of the securities.Brokers

 

If underwriters are used in an offering, securities will be acquired bythe sale, the underwriters for their own account and may be resold,resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securitiessale. Underwriters may be offeredoffer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are usedUnless we inform you otherwise in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any applicable free writing prospectus will be used bythe obligations of the underwriters to resellpurchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to brokers.

We will describe the name or names of any underwriters, brokers or agents and the purchase price of the securities in a prospectus supplement relating to the securities.

 

If a dealer is used inIn connection with the sale of the securities, we,underwriters may receive compensation from us or an underwriter, willfrom purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through brokers, and these brokers may receive compensation in the dealer,form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as principal. The dealer may then resellagents, which is not expected to exceed that customary in the types of transactions involved. Underwriters, brokers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities to the public at varying pricesmay be deemed to be determinedunderwriters, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us, and any profit on the resale of the securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. The prospectus supplement will identify any underwriter or agent and will describe any compensation they receive from us.

Underwriters could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering, sales made directly on OTCQB, the dealer atexisting trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on OTCQB. The name of any such underwriter or agent involved in the timeoffer and sale of resale. Toour securities, the extent required, weamounts underwritten, and the nature of its obligations to take our securities will set forthbe described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, the nameeach series of the dealer and the termssecurities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our shares of common stock, which are currently traded on OTCQB. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of the securities, but underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we can give no assurance about the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Under agreements we may enter into, we may indemnify underwriters, brokers, and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, brokers or agents may be required to make.

Any compensation we pay underwriters or brokers will be subject to the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. We will disclose the compensation in any applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to brokers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.


From time to time, we may engage in transactions with these underwriters, brokers, and agents in the ordinary course of business.

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

 

We may directly solicit offers to purchasesell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We also may sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may make sales ofsell the securities directly to institutional investors or others. These personsothers who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resalesale of thethose securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable,We will describe the terms of any such sales includingof these securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Remarketing Arrangements

Securities also may be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, bidding or auction process, if used.with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Agents,Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or brokers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and dealersdelivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

General Information

We may be entitled underhave agreements that may be entered into with usthe underwriters, brokers, agents and remarketing firms to indemnification by usindemnify them against specifiedcertain civil liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by uscontribute with respect to payments theythat the underwriters, brokers, agents or remarketing firms may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the termsmake. Underwriters, brokers, agents and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliatesremarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.their businesses.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

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Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as the case may be.

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(h).

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of our common stock to be issued in this offeringsecurities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by our counsel, Carmel, MilazzoNason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & DiChiara LLP, New York, New York.Fumero, P.A., Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Ecoark Holdings, Inc.the Company as of and for the yearfiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of RBSM LLP.

The audited consolidated financial statements of Banner Midstream Corp. as of and for the years ended December 31, 2015, appearing in2019 and 2018, the audited financial statements of Shamrock Upstream Energy LLC as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the audited combined financial statements of White River Operating LLC and White River Energy LLC as of June 30, 2019 and for the period from April 1, 2019 (inception) through June 30, 2019, which were acquired by the Company on March 27, 2020, filed as exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A have been audited by KBL LLP, as set forth in its report thereon, included therein, andon June 14, 2020, incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated in reliance upon such report given on the authorityreports of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. RBSM LLP.

 

LIMITATION ON LIABILITY AND DISCLOSUREINCORPORATION OF SEC POSITION ON

INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIESCERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

Our articles of incorporationThe documents listed below are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020 filed on June 29, 2020;
Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 filed on August 13, 2020, as amended;
Our current reports on Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2020, as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on July 14, 2020, April 7, 2020, May 11, 2020, August 20, 2020, September 11, 2020, October 15, 2020 and October 16, 2020; and
The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 333-151633), filed under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on August 1, 2008, including any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such description.

All reports and bylaws provideother documents that we file with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act before the completion or termination of the offering of the securities hereunder, including all such reports and documents we may file with the Commission after the date of the initial filing of and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, will indemnifyalso be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of the filing of these reports and documents, and will supersede the information herein; provided, however, that all reports or portions thereof that we “furnish” to the Commission will not be considered incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

We undertake to provide without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) who receives a copy of this prospectus, upon written or oral request, a copy of all of the preceding documents that are incorporated by reference (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents). You may request a copy of these materials by contacting us at:

Ecoark Holdings, Inc.

5899 Preston Road #505, Frisco, TX

(479) 259-2977

We are an Exchange Act reporting company and are required to file periodic reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The Commission maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission, including the Company at www.sec.gov. You may also access our directorsExchange Act reports and officers,proxy statements free of charge at our website, www.ecoarkusa.com/investor-relations.

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INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereunder. All of the amounts shown are estimates, except for the Commission Registration Fees.

Commission registration fees $8,728 
Printing expenses $(1)
Accounting fees and expenses $(1)
Legal fees and expenses $(1)
Miscellaneous $(1)
Total $(1)

(1) These fees are dependent on the type and number of securities offered and cannot be determined at this time. Additional information regarding estimated fees and expenses will be provided at the time that such information is required to be included in a prospectus supplement.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 78.7502(1) of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) provides that a corporation may indemnify our employeesany person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (except an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person: (i) is not liable for a breach of fiduciary duties that involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law; or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

NRS Section 78.7502(2) further provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other agents,enterprise, against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if such person: (i) is not liable for a breach of fiduciary duties that involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law; or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (1) and (2) of NRS Section 78.7502, as described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation shall indemnify him or her against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense.

II-1

Article VI of the amended and restated bylaws of the Company provides that the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes. NRS, as now or hereafter in effect, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the Company, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he: (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS Section 78.138; or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we havethe Company has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC,Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibitsExhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. A copy of the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement may be inspected without charge at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov.

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the Public Reference Room and website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at http://www.ecoarkusa.com. You may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below as well as any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, from the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, and any filings made after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016 (as amended on July 6, 2016);
Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on May 16, 2016 (as amended on May 16, 2016 and July 7, 2016) and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 12, 2016.
Our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016 (amended March 31, 2016, May 10, 2016, July 6, 2016 and July 27, 2016), April 6, 2016 (amended May 4, 2016), April 14, 2016, May 9, 2016 (amended June 15, 2016, July 27, 2016 and August 4, 2016) and May 16, 2016; and
The description of our capital stock contained in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on April 29, 2016 (amended on May 13, 2016, June 17, 2016, July 6, 2016 and July 27, 2016) (File No. 333-211045), including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

Additionally, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any documents or portions of such documents that are furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of a current report on Form 8-K and any exhibits included with such Items) after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement; and (ii) the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of this offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus.

We hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to our Investor Relations Department at 3333 S Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Suite 220, Rogers, Arkansas 72758, and telephone number is (479) 259-2977.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUSFinancial Statement Schedules.

 

Item 14.Exhibit No.Other ExpensesDescription
1.1Form of IssuanceUnderwriting Agreement**
2.1Stock Purchase and DistributionSale Agreement by and between Ecoark Holdings, Inc. and Banner Energy Services Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2020)
3.1Articles of Incorporation, as amended*
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2017)
4.1Specimen Common Stock Certificate*
4.2Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock**
4.3Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate**
5.1Legal Opinion of Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A.*
23.1Consent of RBSM LLP – Ecoark Holdings, Inc.*
23.2Consent of RBSM LLP – Banner Midstream Corp.*
23.3Consent of RBSM LLP – Shamrock Upstream Energy LLC*
23.4Consent of RBSM LLP – White River*
23.5Consent of Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.1)*

 

The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered are as follows:

SEC Registration Fee $8,056 
Printing Expenses* $5,000 
Legal Fees and Expenses* $15,000 
Accounting Fees and Expenses* $5,000 
Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses* $2,500 
Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses* $2,500 
     
Total $38,056 

*     Estimated solely for the purposes of this Item. Actual expenses may vary.

Item 15.*Indemnification of Directors and OfficersFiled herewith.
**To be filed by amendment or by Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Section 78.138 of the NRS provides that a director or officer will not be individually liable unless it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law.II-2

Section 78.7502 of NRS permits a company to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the officer or director (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner the officer or director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, if a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the officer or director was unlawful.

Section 78.751 of NRS permits a Nevada company to indemnify its officers and directors against expenses incurred by them in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the company. Section 78.751 of NRS further permits the company to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation or bylaws or otherwise.

Section 78.752 of NRS provides that a Nevada company may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the company has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

Our Articles of Incorporation provide that no director or officer of our company will be personally liable to our company or any of its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing violation of law, or (ii) the unlawful payment of dividends. In addition, our bylaws permit for the indemnification and insurance provisions in Chapter 78 of the NRS.

Insofar as indemnification by us for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, 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 by such director, officer or controlling person of us 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 offered, 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 us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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At the present time, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer, employee or other agent of ours in which indemnification would be required or permitted. We are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding, which may result in a claim for such indemnification.Undertakings

 

Further, in the normal course of business, we may have in our contracts indemnification clauses, written as either mutual where each party will indemnify, defend, and hold each other harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations or covenants, or out of intellectual property infringement or other claims made against certain parties; or single where we have agreed to hold certain parties harmless against losses etc.

Item 16.Exhibits

The attached Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17.Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:statement;

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in th+ethe registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SECCommission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change toin such information in the registration statement,statement;

 

Provided,provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrantregistrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement,registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(i)(A) Each prospectus filed by thea registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

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(ii)(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which thatthe prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to thesuch effective date; ordate.

 

(5)

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That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrantregistrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrantregistrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrantregistrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrantregistrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrantregistrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrantregistrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrantregistrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant;registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrantregistrant to the purchaser.

 

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(7) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(8) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant 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, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant toIn accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Frisco, State of Texas, on this 17th day of August, 2016.October 15, 2020.

 

 Ecoark Holdings, Inc.
   
 By:/s/ Randy S. May
  Randy S. May
  Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Randy May, and each of them severally, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, eachIn accordance with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

indicated.

 

Signature Title Date
     
/s/ Randy S. May Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman August 17, 2016October 15, 2020
Randy S. MayChairman of the Board of Directors
/s/ William B. Hoagland Chief Financial OfficerOctober 15, 2020
William B. Hoagland (Principal ExecutiveFinancial Officer)  
     
/s/ Yash R. PuriJay Puchir  Chief FinancialAccounting Officer and Director August 17, 2016October 15, 2020
Dr. Yash R. PuriJay Puchir (Principal Financial and AccountingOfficer)  
     
/s/ Greg LandisSteven K. Nelson  Secretary and Director August 17, 2016October 15, 2020
Greg LandisSteven K. Nelson    
     
/s/ Gary MetzgerPeter A. Mehring  Director August 17, 2016October 15, 2020
Peter A. Mehring
/s/ Gary M. Metzger DirectorOctober 15, 2020
Gary M. Metzger    

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit NumberDescription
3.1Articles of Incorporation (1)
3.2Certificate of Change (2)
3.3Amended and Restated Bylaws (2)
3.3.1Amendment to Restated Bylaws (3)
3.4Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (4)
3.5Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (5)
4.1 *Form of Certificate of Designation
4.2 *Form of Preferred Stock Certificate
4.3 *Form of Warrant Agreement
4.4 *Form of Warrant Certificate
4.5 *Form of Stock Purchase Agreement
4.6 *Form of Certificate of Designation
5.1 #Legal Opinion of Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP
23.1#Consent of KBL LLP
23.2#Consent of Carmel, Milazzo & DiChiara LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

*To be filed by amendment
#Filed herewith
   
(1)/s/ John P. Cahill Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on June 13, 2008.
(2)Director Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2010.October 15, 2020
(3)John P. Cahill Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 14, 2016.
(4) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2010.
(5)Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016, as amended.

 

 

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