LiveOne (351) Risk Analysis

Our common stock is currently listed on Nasdaq, which has qualitative and quantitative listing criteria. In March 2025, we received a notice from the Listing Qualifications Department the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq"), regarding the fact that the market price of our shares of common stock was below the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing (the "Bid Price Rule"), which listing deficiency we cured in September 2025. There can be no assurance that we be able to continue to meet all of the other criteria necessary for Nasdaq to allow us to remain listed, including maintaining minimum levels of shareholders' equity or market values of our common stock. If we fail to satisfy the applicable continued listing requirement and continue to be in non-compliance after notice and the applicable grace period ends, Nasdaq may commence delisting procedures against our Company (during which we may have additional time of up to six months to appeal and correct our non-compliance). At that time, we may appeal the relevant delisting determination to a hearings panel pursuant to the procedures set forth in the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules. However, there can be no assurance that, if we do appeal the delisting determination by Nasdaq to the panel, that such appeal would be successful. On January 15, 2025, the SEC approved an amendment to the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c), which limits the conditions under which a listed company can use a reverse stock split to meet Nasdaq's minimum price criteria. In particular, the amendment provides that if a company executes a reverse stock split to regain compliance with the Listing Rule but its stock price falls below $1.00 per share within one year after a company has completed a reverse split, the company will not be granted a new compliance period to address the bid price deficiency. Instead, Nasdaq will move forward with delisting proceedings. We implemented a reverse stock split on September 26, 2025 to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. If within 12 months of such date we fail to be in compliance with the Bid Price Rule, we would not be eligible for a new compliance period; instead, Nasdaq would proceed with delisting our shares of common stock, and we would not be able to implement a reverse stock split within such 12-month period to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. Furthermore, if in the future we need to implement a reverse stock split, the amendment to such Listing Rule may cause our board of directors to choose a higher reverse stock split ratio than it otherwise would have deemed appropriate and would make it more difficult for us to maintain our Nasdaq listing if our stock price dropped below the Bid Price Rule listing requirements in the future. If we need to seek to implement a reverse stock split in the future in order to remain listed on Nasdaq, the announcement or implementation of such a reverse stock split could negatively affect the price of our common stock. If our common stock is ultimately delisted from Nasdaq, our common stock would likely then trade only in the over-the-counter market and the market liquidity of our common stock could be adversely affected and their market price could decrease. If our common stock were to trade on the over-the-counter market, selling our common stock could be more difficult because smaller quantities of shares would likely be bought and sold, transactions could be delayed, and we could face significant material adverse consequences, including: a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; reduced liquidity with respect to our securities; a determination that our shares are a "penny stock," which will require brokers trading in our securities to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities; a reduced amount of news and analyst coverage for our Company; and a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. These factors could result in lower prices and larger spreads in the bid and ask prices for our common stock and would substantially impair our ability to raise additional funds and could result in a loss of institutional investor interest and fewer development opportunities for us. In addition to the foregoing, if our common stock are ultimately delisted from Nasdaq and they trade on the over-the-counter market, the application of the "penny stock" rules could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and increase the transaction costs to sell those shares. The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define a "penny stock" as an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to specific exemptions. If our common stock are ultimately delisted from Nasdaq and then trade on the over-the-counter market at a price of less than $5.00 per share, our common stock would be considered a penny stock. The SEC's penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, before a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer must also provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and the salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer's account. In addition, the penny stock rules generally require that before a transaction in a penny stock occurs, 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 agreement to the transaction. If applicable in the future, these rules may restrict the ability of brokers-dealers to sell our common stock and may affect the ability of investors to sell their shares, until our common stock is no longer considered a penny stock.

While we currently own Bitcoin or may own other forms of Crypto directly, we may investigate other potential approaches to owning Crypto, including indirect ownership (for example, through ownership interests in a fund that owns bitcoin or other forms of Crypto). If we were to own all or a portion of our Crypto in a different manner, the accounting treatment for our Crypto, our ability to use our Crypto as collateral for additional borrowings, and the regulatory requirements to which we are subject, may correspondingly change. For example, the volatile nature of Crypto may force us to liquidate our holdings to use it as collateral, which could be negatively effected by any disruptions in the Crypto market, and if liquidated, the value of the collateral would not reflect potential gains in market value of Crypto, all of which could negatively affect our business and implementation of our Crypto strategy.

Our crypto holdings may significantly affect our financial results and if we continue to increase our overall holdings of crypto in the future, they will have an even greater impact on our financial results and the market price of our common stock. See "- Our historical financial statements do not reflect the potential variability in earnings that we may experience in the future relating to our crypto holdings" below.

We expect that significant additional capital will be needed in the future to continue our planned operations. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity and/or convertible securities, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution. We may sell or otherwise issue our common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. If we sell or issue our common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in more than one transaction, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent issuances. These issuances may also result in material dilution to our existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights superior to our existing stockholders. We may pay for future acquisitions with additional issuances of shares of our common stock as well, which would result in further dilution for existing stockholders. Pursuant to our 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the "2016 Plan"), there are 17,600,000 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance to our employees, directors and consultants. If our board of directors elects to issue additional shares of our common stock, stock options, restricted stock units and/or other equity-based awards under the 2016 Plan, as amended, our stockholders may experience additional dilution, which could cause our stock price to fall.

The trading price of our common stock may be volatile. Our stock price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including the following: - actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue and other operating results;- actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;- issuance of our equity or debt securities, or disclosure or announcements relating thereto;- the lack of a meaningful, consistent and liquid trading market for our common stock;- additional shares of our common stock being sold into the market by us or our stockholders or the anticipation of such sales;- our convertible debt securities being converted into equity or the anticipation of such conversion;- announcements by us or our competitors of significant events or features, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;- changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of companies in our industry;- price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole;- expiration of the lock-up period, as more fully discussed below;- lawsuits threatened or filed against us;- regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; and - other events or factors, including those resulting from impact of  war or incidents of terrorism, other epidemics, or responses to these events. In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

We have announced that our senior management and/or board of directors has authorized the repurchase up to approximately $12.0 million worth of shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time, subject to a portion of the repurchase program being approved by our board of directors and any other applicable approvals and consents, which LiveOne fully expects to obtain. The timing, price, and quantity of purchases under the program will be at the discretion of our management and will depend upon a variety of factors including share price, general and business market conditions, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, corporate and regulatory requirements, and alternative uses of capital. The program may be expanded, suspended, or discontinued by our board of directors at any time. Although our board of directors has authorized this stock repurchase program, there is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares, if any, that will be repurchased by us, and we may discontinue purchases at any time that management determines additional purchases are not warranted. We cannot guarantee that the program will be consummated, fully or all, or that it will enhance long-term stockholder value. The program could affect the trading price of our common stock and increase volatility, and any announcement of a termination of this program may result in a decrease in the trading price of our common stock. In addition, this program could diminish our cash reserves.

Mr. Ellin, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and his affiliates beneficially owned approximately 21% of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2025 (not including Mr. Ellin's options which have an exercise price substantially above the market price of our common stock as of the date of this Annual Report). Therefore, Mr. Ellin and stockholders affiliated with him may have the ability to influence us through their ownership positions. Mr. Ellin and these stockholders may be able to determine or significantly influence all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, Mr. Ellin and these stockholders, acting together, may be able to control or significantly influence elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you may believe are in your best interest as one of our stockholders.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that sales may have on the prevailing market price of our common stock. Furthermore, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock may elect to convert their shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of our common stock, in addition to any dividends thereunder. Sales of stock by these stockholders and/or holders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

The trading market for our shares of common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us. Securities and industry analysts currently provide publish limited research focused on our Company. If the current securities or industry analysts do not provide extensive coverage or commence coverage of our Company, the price and trading volume of our shares of common stock could be negatively impacted. If other securities or industry analysts initiate coverage and one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares of common stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our Company, the price of our shares of common stock would likely decline. Furthermore, if one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our Company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our shares of common stock could decrease, which might cause the price of our shares of common stock and trading volume to decline.

Because the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates was less than $250 million as of the last business day of our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024, we continue to be a "smaller reporting company" as defined by the SEC's revised rules. As a "smaller reporting company," we (i) are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosures in our filings, (ii) are exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that independent registered public accounting firms provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and (iii) have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in our filings with the SEC, including being required to provide only two years of audited financial statements in our annual reports. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze our results of operations and financial prospects. We will remain a smaller reporting company if we have either (i) a public float of less than $250 million held by non-affiliates as of the last business day of the second quarter of our then current fiscal year or (ii) annual revenues of less than $100 million during such recently completed fiscal year with less than $700 million in public float as of the last business day of the second quarter of such fiscal year.

The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our common stock or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our common stock price would likely decline.