Our business operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those set forth below:
Risks Associated with Our Business
We Are A Start-Up Stage Company, There Is No Assurance Of Profitability.
Our renewable energy business operations are in the start-up stage only, and are unproven. We may not be successful in implementing our business plan to become profitable. There may be less demand for our services than we anticipate. There is no assurance that this business will succeed.
Changing Consumer Preferences Towards Environmental Issues May Have an Impact on Our Business Decisions.
The decision of a potential client to undergo an environmental audit or review may be based on ethical or commercial reasons. In some instances, or with certain businesses, there may be no assurance that an environmental review will result in any cost savings or increased revenues. As such, unless the ethical consideration is also a material factor, there may be no incentive for such businesses to undertake an environmental review. Changes in consumer and commercial preferences, or trends, toward or away from environmental issues may impact on businesses’ decisions to undergo environmental reviews.
Our Operating Results Will Be Affected By A Wide Variety Of Factors That Could Materially Affect Revenues And Profitability.
Our operating results will be affected by a wide variety of factors that could materially affect revenues and profitability, including the timing and cancellation of customer orders and projects, competitive pressures on pricing, availability of personnel, and market acceptance of our services. As a result, we may experience material fluctuations in future operating results on a quarterly and annual basis which could materially affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
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Fixed Price Contracts May Expose Us To Some Significant Risks Which Could Lead To Losses On Contracts.
Fixed price contracts require the service provider to perform all agreed services for a specified lump-sum amount. We anticipate a material percentage of our services will be performed on a fixed price basis. Fixed price contracts expose us to some significant risks, including under-estimation of costs, ambiguities in specifications, unforeseen costs or difficulties, and delays beyond our control. These risks could lead to losses on contracts which may be substantial and which could adversely affect the results of our operations.
The Future Growth And Profitability Of Our Clean Energy Business Sectors Will Be Dependent In Part On The Effectiveness And Efficiency Of Our Advertising And Promotional Expenditures. The future growth and profitability of our clean energy business sectors will be dependent in part on the effectiveness and efficiency of our advertising and promotional expenditures, including our ability to (i) create greater awareness of our services, (ii) determine the appropriate creative message and media mix for future advertising expenditures, and (iii) effectively manage advertising and promotional costs in order to maintain acceptable operating margins. There can be no assurance that we will experience benefits from advertising and promotional expenditures in the future. In addition, no assurance can be given that our planned advertising and promotional expenditures will result in increased revenues, will generate levels of service and name awareness or that we will be able to manage such advertising and promotional expenditures on a cost-effective basis.
We have a limited operating history with losses and we expect the losses to continue, which raises concerns about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We have generated minimal revenues since our inception and will, in all likelihood, continue to incur operating expenses with minimal revenues until we are able to successfully develop our business. Our business plan will require us to incur further expenses. We may not be able to ever become profitable. These circumstances raise concerns about our ability to continue as a going concern. We have a limited operating history and must be considered in the start-up stage.
We will require additional financing to develop our business plan.
Because we have generated only minimal revenue from our business and cannot anticipate when we will be able to generate meaningful revenue from our business, we will need to raise additional funds to conduct and grow our business. We do not currently have sufficient financial resources to fund the development of our business plan. We anticipate that we will need to raise further financing. We do not currently have any arrangements for financing and we can provide no assurance to investors that we will be able to find such financing if required. The most likely source of future funds presently available to us is through the sale of equity capital. Any sale of share capital will result in dilution to existing security-holders. There is significant uncertainty as to whether we can obtain additional financing.
We may not be able to obtain all of the licenses necessary to operate our business.
Our operations may require licenses and permits from various governmental authorities to build and install alternative energy systems or to conduct energy retrofits. We believe that we will be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits under applicable laws and regulations for our operations and believe we will be able to comply in all material respects with the terms of such licenses and permits. However, such licenses and permits are subject to change in various circumstances. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary licenses and permits.
Changes In Environmental Regulations May Have An Impact On Our Operations
We believe that we currently comply with existing environmental laws and regulations affecting our proposed operations. While there are no currently known proposed changes in these laws or regulations, significant changes have affected the industry in the past and additional changes may occur in the future.
Our operations may be subject to environmental laws, regulations and rules promulgated from time to time by government. In addition, certain types of operations require the submission and approval of environmental impact assessments. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner that means stricter standards and enforcement. Fines and penalties for non-compliance are more stringent. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a heightened degree of responsibility for companies, directors, officers and employees. The cost of compliance with changes in governmental regulations has potential to reduce the profitability of operations. We intend to comply with all environmental regulations in the United States and Canada.
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If we are unable to recruit or retain qualified personnel, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and stock price.
Our success depends in large part on the continued services of our executive officers and third party relationships. We currently do not have key person insurance on these individuals. The loss of these people, especially without advance notice, could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and our stock price. It is also very important that we be able to attract and retain highly skilled personnel, including technical personnel, to accommodate our exploration plans and to replace personnel who leave. Competition for qualified personnel can be intense, and there are a limited number of people with the requisite knowledge and experience. Under these conditions, we could be unable to recruit, train, and retain employees. If we cannot attract and retain qualified personnel, it could have a material adverse impact on our operating results and stock price.
Risks Associated with Our Common Stock
Trading on the OTCBB may be volatile and sporadic, which could depress the market price of our common stock and make it difficult for our stockholders to resell their shares.
Our common stock is quoted on the OTCBB service of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Trading in stock quoted on the OTCBB is often thin and characterized by wide fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors that may have little to do with our operations or business prospects. This volatility could depress the market price of our common stock for reasons unrelated to operating performance. Moreover, the OTCBB is not a stock exchange, and trading of securities on the OTCBB is often more sporadic than the trading of securities listed on a quotation system like Nasdaq or a stock exchange like Amex. Accordingly, shareholders may have difficulty reselling any of the shares.
Our stock is a penny stock. Trading of our stock may be restricted by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s penny stock regulations which may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
Our stock is a penny stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 15g-9 which generally defines "penny stock" to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Our securities are covered by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and "accredited investors". The term "accredited investor" refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly with their spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission which provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our securities. We believe that the penny stock rules discourage investor interest in and limit the marketability of our common stock.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, has adopted sales practice requirements which may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the "penny stock" rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.
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Because we do not intend to pay any dividends on our shares, investors seeking dividend income or liquidity should not purchase our shares.
We have not declared or paid any dividends on our shares since inception, and do not anticipate paying any such dividends for the foreseeable future. Investors seeking dividend income or liquidity should not invest in our shares.
Because we can issue additional shares, purchasers of our shares may incur immediate dilution and may experience further dilution.
We are authorized to issue up to 200,000,000 shares. The board of directors of our company has the authority to cause us to issue additional shares, and to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of such shares, without consent of any of our stockholders. Consequently, our stockholders may experience more dilution in their ownership of our company in the future.
Other Risks
Our By-laws contain provisions indemnifying our officers and directors against all costs, charges and expenses incurred by them.
Our By-laws contain provisions with respect to the indemnification of our officers and directors against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, actually and reasonably incurred by him, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment in a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of his being or having been one of our directors or officers.
Investors’ interests in our company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share if we issue additional shares or raise funds through the sale of equity securities.
Our constating documents authorize the issuance of 200,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001. In the event that we are required to issue any additional shares or enter into private placements to raise financing through the sale of equity securities, investors’ interests in our company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share depending on the price at which such securities are sold. If we issue any such additional shares, such issuances also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other shareholders. Further, any such issuance may result in a change in our control.
Our By-laws do not contain anti-takeover provisions, which could result in a change of our management and directors if there is a take-over of our company.
We do not currently have a shareholder rights plan or any anti-takeover provisions in our By-laws. Without any anti-takeover provisions, there is no deterrent for a take-over of our company, which may result in a change in our management and directors.
As a result of a majority of our directors and officers are residents of other countries other than the United States, investors may find it difficult to enforce, within the United States, any judgments obtained against our company or our directors and officers.
Other than our operations offices in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia, we do not currently maintain a permanent place of business within the United States. In addition, a majority of our directors and officers are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of such persons’ assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to enforce within the United States any judgments obtained against our company or our officers or directors, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.
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Trends, Risks and Uncertainties
We have sought to identify what we believe to be the most significant risks to our business, but we cannot predict whether, or to what extent, any of such risks may be realized nor can we guarantee that we have identified all possible risks that might arise. Investors should carefully consider all of such risk factors before making an investment decision with respect to our common shares.
As a “smaller reporting company”, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Executive Offices
The address of our principal executive office is Suite 950, 1130 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4A4. This space is leased at $650 per month. Our main telephone number is (604) 602-1633. We have a second office located in Kelowna, British Columbia. Our current locations provide adequate office space for our purposes at this stage of our development. Resource Properties
Coteau Lake, Saskatchewan
In connection with the acquisition of Target Energy, we acquired certain working interest in Coteau Lake, Saskatchewan.
Coteau Lake is an exploration property and we have no producing oil or gas wells on this land at this time. The Coteau Lake exploration project covers 1,280 acres of land. Our gross and net interest in this project is 50%. There has been historic oil production on the Coteau Lake project lands.
On November 7, 2007, our subsidiary Target Energy entered into a Letter of Intent (the “LOI”) with Primrose Drilling Ventures Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta. Pursuant to the LOI, our subsidiary Target is the interest title holder of Saskatchewan Crown Land parcels 124, 125 and 126.
Primrose elected to proceed with a 50/50 joint venture with Target by reimbursing Target for 50% of its land cost on parcels 124, 125 and 126 for CAD$26,590 which was paid within 15 days of signing the LOI. Primrose would become operator of the project upon its acceptance of such appointment and agreement to assume the duties, obligations and rights of the operator. A formal Participation Agreement which included an Area of Mutual Interest which would govern future land acquisitions and timeline set out in the LOI. On December 31, 2008, an additional CAD$22,270 was spent on land acquisitions with Primrose Drilling Ventures.
On October 25, 2010, we disposed of the Coteau Lake interests for a cash consideration of $100,000 plus an additional potential payout which shall be based on a 10% profit interest on any and all productive wells drilled on the property up to $150,000. We did not take into consideration of the future potential payout as it cannot reasonably determinable as at August 31, 2012.
Belmont Lake
Effective September 1, 2009, we entered into an assignment agreement with Cheetah Oil & Gas Ltd. The assignment agreement dated August 28, 2009, provides for the purchase by our company of a revenue interest of 40.432% of an 8% share of Cheetah’s net revenue after field operating expenses from the Belmont Lake PP F-12-4 horizontal well, located in Belmont Lake Field, Wilkinson County, Mississippi. As consideration, we agreed to pay to Cheetah 57.76% of Cheetah’s costs currently budgeted at $77,905.36, subject to revision and 57.76% of Cheetah’s 8% share of PP F-12-4 well costs from time to time for infrastructure, pipes, tanks, compressors, trucking, etc. On May 31, 2010, this assigned interest was converted into common shares and warrants of Cheetah Oil & Gas Ltd, leaving our company with no direct interest in this well. As a result, we have 375,000 restricted common shares in the capital of Cheetah and 375,000 share purchase warrants which entitled our company to acquire 375,000 restricted common shares in the capital of Cheetah at a purchase price of US$0.20 per share for a period of two years.
Effective September 1, 2009, we entered into an assignment agreement with Lexaria Corp. The assignment agreement dated August 28, 2009, provides for the purchase by our company of a revenue interest of 13.475% of a 32% share of Lexaria’s net revenue after field operating expenses from the Belmont Lake PP F-12-4 horizontal well, located in Belmont Lake Field, Wilkinson County, Mississippi. As consideration, we agreed to pay to Lexaria 19.25% of Lexaria’s costs currently budgeted at $311,621.44, subject to revision and 19.25% of Lexaria’s 32% share of PP F-12-4 well costs from time to time for infrastructure, pipes, tanks, compressors, trucking, etc. On May 31, 2010, this assigned interest was converted into common shares and warrants of Lexaria Corp, leaving our company with no direct interest in this well. As a result, we have 499,893 restricted common shares in the capital of Lexaria and 499,983 share purchase warrants which entitle our company to acquire 499,983 restricted common shares in the capital of Lexaria at a purchase price of US$0.20 per share for a period of two years. On January 6, 2012, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with a third party (“Purchaser”). The Company has agreed to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser has agreed to purchase from the Company, 250,000 units of Lexaria Corp. at a purchase price of US$0.15 per unit, for a total of US$37,500, by the effective closing date of January 6, 2012. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Purchaser will have an option, at his sole discretion, to pay US$0.25 per unit or approximately US$62,500 to purchase the remaining 249,893 units on or before March 2, 2012. The Purchaser did not exercise the option to purchase the remaining 249,893 units. On July 30, 2012, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with the President of the Company, Robert McAllister. The Company agreed to sell Mr. Robert McAllister, and Robert McAllister has agreed to purchase from the Company, 249,893 shares of Lexaria Corp. at a purchase price of US$0.075 per share, for a total of US$18,741. As a result, as of August 31, 2012 we now own zero shares of Lexaria Corp.
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Copper Hills Project, New Mexico
On January 31, 2011, we entered into a letter of intent and paid US$7,500 deposit to the Wildhorse Copper Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Wildhorse Copper (AZ) Inc. (collectively, the “Optionors”). On April 11, 2011, we signed a Mineral Purchase Option Agreement with Optionors respecting an option to earn a 100% interest, subject to a 1% NSR capped to a maximum of $2,000,000 on one claim, in a property known as the Copper Hills property. The Copper Hills property is comprised of 56 located mining claims covering a total of 1,150 acres located in New Mexico, USA. The Optionors hold the Copper Hills property directly and indirectly through property purchase agreements between the Optionors and third parties (collectively, the “Indirect Agreements”). Pursuant to the Agreement the Optionors have assigned the Indirect Agreements to Enertopia. In order to earn the interest in the Copper Hills property, we are required to make aggregate cash payments of $591,650 over an eight year period and issue an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of its common stock over a three year period. On April 11, 2011, we made aggregate cash payments of $54,150, issued 500,000 shares to the Optionors. As at August 31, 2012, total consideration including cash paid and common stock issued was $196,863; the Company has expensed the exploration costs of $143,680.
The Company has entered into an Option Agreement (“Agreement”) dated April 11, 2011 with Wildhorse Copper Inc, Wildhorse Copper (AZ) Inc., Northern Tiger Resources Inc., and Timber Wolf Minerals Ltd. (the “Optionor”) respecting the assignment of up to 100% interest in approximately 1,150 acres of 56 located mining claims in New Mexico, USA. One of these located mining claims is subject to a 1% NSR capped at US $2,000,000 from commercial production from this located mining claim. The Optionor holds the located mining claims (“the Claims”) directly and indirectly through an option agreement between the Optionor and a third party. The Optionor hereby grants to the Company the sole and exclusive right and option to acquire up to an undivided 100% right, title and interest in and to the Property, free and clear of all charges, encumbrances, claims, liabilities and adverse interests of any nature or kind, except for the Royalty. The Option shall be in good standing and exercisable by the Company by paying the following amounts on or before the dates specified in the following schedule: