CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “would,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
There are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following:
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our limited operating history;
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the fact that we have incurred net losses in the past, may incur net losses in the future, and may not achieve profitability;
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risks associated with operating a coffee trading business and a coffee-exporting business;
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the volatility and increases in the cost of green coffee, tea and other ingredients and packaging, and our inability to pass these costs on to customers;
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our inability to secure an adequate supply of key raw materials, including green coffee and tea, or disruption in our supply chain;
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deterioration in general macroeconomic conditions;
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disruption in operations at any of our production and distribution facilities;
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climate change, which may increase commodity costs, damage our facilities and disrupt our production capabilities and supply chain;
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failure to retain key personnel or recruit qualified personnel;
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our inability to hedge commodity risks;
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consolidation among our distributors and customers or the loss of any key customer;
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complex and evolving U.S. and international laws and regulations, and noncompliance therewith subjecting us to criminal or civil liability;
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future acquisitions of businesses, which may divert our management’s attention, prove difficult to effectively integrate and fail to achieve their projected benefits;
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our inability to effectively manage the growth and increased complexity of our business;
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our inability to maintain or grow market share through continued differentiation of our product and competitive pricing;
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our inability to secure the additional capital needed to operate and grow our business;
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future litigation or legal disputes, which could lead us to incur significant liabilities and costs or harm our reputation;
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a material failure, inadequacy or interruption of our information technology systems;
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the unauthorized access, theft, use or destruction of personal, financial or other confidential information relating to our customers, suppliers, employees or business;