SurgePays, Inc.: Form 10-K for the period ended Dec 31, 2021

Business Overview

SurgePays, Inc. (“SurgePays”, “we”, “our” or “the Company”), incorporated in Nevada on August 18, 2006, is a technology and telecommunications company providing essential financial services and prepaid products to the underbanked and underserved communities.

About SurgePays, Inc.

SurgePays, Inc. is a financial technology and telecom company focused on providing essential services to the underbanked community. The Company’s blockchain fintech platform utilizes a suite of financial and prepaid products to convert corner stores into tech-hubs for underbanked neighborhoods. The Company’s telecom subsidiaries provide mobile broadband, voice and SMS text messaging to both subsidized and direct retail prepaid customers.

SurgePhone Wireless and LocoRabbit Wireless

SurgePhone, a wholly owned subsidiary of SurgePays, is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) company with 2 branded channels of business. SurgePhone is licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) to provide subsidized mobile broadband services to consumers qualifying under the federal guidelines of the Affordable Connectivity Program (the “ACP”). The ACP (the successor program, as of March 1, 2022 to the Emergency Broadband Benefit program) provides SurgePhone up to a $100 reimbursement for the cost of each tablet device distributed and a $30 per customer, per month subsidy for mobile broadband (internet connectivity) services. SurgePhone has received approval to offer subsidized mobile broadband in these 14 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas.

LocoRabbit is the retail pure prepaid wireless offering with talk, text, and 4G LTE data at prices that are lower than other well-known prepaid competitors. Available nationwide, LocoRabbit is sold online direct to consumers through the nationwide network of convenience stores, gas stations, mini-marts, bodegas and tiendas connected to the SurgePays software platform. The SIM kits usually hang from a peg hook on the SurgePays gift card rack. Due to owning the payment platform, SurgePays is able to exclusively offer an industry high commission to the retailer for top-ups paid monthly at the client’s store.

SurgePays Fintech (ECS Business)

We refer to the collective operations of ECS Prepaid, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, Electronic Check Services, Inc., a Missouri corporation, and Central States Legal Services, Inc., a Missouri corporation, as “SurgePays Fintech.” This was previously referred to as the “ECS Business.”

SurgePays Fintech has been a financial technology tech and wireless top-up platform for over 15 years. Through a series of transactions between October 2019 and January 2020, we acquired the ECS Business primarily for the favorable ACH banking relationship; a fintech transactions platform processing over 20,000 transactions a day at approximately 8,000 independently owned retail stores. The goal was to incorporate our blockchain components into the existing ECS Business network. As of January 1, 2021, we believe the ECS Business platform has been successfully merged into our platform with secure ledger data backups and will continue to serve as the proven backbone for wireless top-up transactions and wireless product aggregation for the SurgePays nationwide network.

Surge Blockchain

SurgePays Blockchain Software is a back-office marketplace platform offering wholesale consumable goods direct to convenience stores, bodegas, minimarts, tiendas and other corner stores who are transacting on the SurgePays Fintech platform. The wholesale e-commerce platform is easily accessed through the secure app interface – similar to a website. We believe what makes this sales platform unique is that it also offers the merchant the ability to order wholesale consumable goods at a significant discount from traditional distributors with one touch ease. We are able to sell products at a significant discount by using on demand Direct Store Delivery (DSD.) Our platform is connected directly to manufactures, who ship products direct to the store while cutting out the middleman. The goal of the SurgePays Portal is to leverage the competitive advantage and efficiencies of e-commerce to provide as many commonly sold consumable products as possible to convenience stores, corner markets, bodegas, and supermarkets while increasing profit margins for these stores. These products include herbal stimulants, energy pills and shot drinks, dry foods, communication accessories, novelties, PPP products, bagged snacks, processed meats, automotive parts and many more goods, all in one convenient wholesale e-commerce platform.

LogicsIQ, Inc.

LogicsIQ, Inc. is a software development company providing marketing business intelligence (“BI”), lead generation, and case management solutions primarily to law firms in the mass tort industry. The company’s CRM “Intake Logics” facilitates the entire life cycle of converting a potential lead into a signed retainer client integrated into the law firms case management software. Our proven strategy of delivering cost-effective retained cases to our attorney and law firm clients means those clients are better able to manage their media and advertising budgets and reach targeted audiences more quickly and effectively when utilizing our proprietary data driven analytics dashboards. Our ability to deliver transparent results has bolstered our reputation as an industry leader and solidified a solid client base.

On February 14, 2022, we confidentially submitted an amended draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC relating to an initial public offering of LogicsIQ’s common stock. If, after the SEC completes its review process, and subject to market and other conditions, the registration statement is declared effective and the initial public offering closes, LogicsIQ will still remain majority owned by SurgePays.

Centercom

Since 2019, we have owned a 40% equity interest in Centercom Global, S.A. de C.V. (“Centercom”). Centercom is a bilingual operations center providing the Company with sales support, customer service, IT infrastructure design, graphic media, database programming, software development, revenue assurance, lead generation, and other various operational support services. Centercom is based in El Salvador.

As the Company announced on March 24, 2022 via the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K, Anthony P. Nuzzo, Jr., the Company’s President, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), and the Chief Executive Officer of LogicsIQ, a subsidiary of which we own over 90%, died suddenly on March 18, 2022. The entire Company mourns this terrible loss.

Mr. Nuzzo owned 50% of Centercom.

The strategic acquisition of a bilingual operations hub has powered the Company’s rapid growth and revenue. After acquiring ownership in Centercom, SurgePays has built out the infrastructure required to scale in synergy and efficiency to support the Company’s hyper growth sales and customer growth.

Experienced Leadership Team

Our management team consists of 3 executives with over 20 years in the prepaid wireless, underbanked and convenience store distribution industry while presiding over companies with a collective revenue run of over $2 Billion. Our finance team is led by a CFO with a background in private equity backed, and publicly traded companies ranging from $100 million to over $1.3 billion in annual revenue while our software development team is led by a CTO who got his start in the early days of operating systems. We believe the combination of operating skills from our management team with the experience of successfully leading major multi-million-dollar, multinational companies give our organization a significant strength relative to most small- and medium-sized beverage companies.

Growth Strategies

We have different strategies for each of our revenue drivers:

SurgePays Fintech

• Rollout a national sales team of in-house salespeople incentivized to add stores and sales per store.
• Acquire other companies offering prepaid products to an existing base of convenience stores to deploy our comprehensive fintech suite to maximize the value of the existing relationships.
• Continue to add value driven products such as digital currency to differentiate and offer a competitive advantage over single product companies.
• Integrate with companies to activate and load value onto cards (such as mass transit loadable cards) as we continue to become a cashless society.

SurgePays Blockchain

• Rollout a national sales team of in-house salespeople incentivized to add stores and sales per store.
• Acquire other companies offering prepaid products to an existing base of convenience stores to deploy our comprehensive fintech suite to maximize the value of the existing relationships.
• Integrate with more manufacturers of commonly sold consumable items to drive interest, sales and revenue.
• Increase efforts in rural America where many distributors do not have routes to deliver affordable wholesale goods.

SurgePhone

Subsidized Mobile Broadband

• Expand into all 50 states.
• Enhance our offering by adding devices such as smartphones.
• Increase the sales team nationally beyond.

Retail Prepaid Wireless

• Leverage the volume of buying power for wholesale carrier minutes/texts/data to build market low plans to offer customers using SIM kits in convenience stores transacting on the SurgePays network.
• Penetrate rural America where there is less competition.
• Offer incentivized family plans to the rapidly growing base of subsidized customer households.

LogicsIQ

• Hire regional salespeople nationwide.
• Rollout software products in the pipeline for law firms, investment funds and hedge funds.
• Expand target market of licensable software products to other industries beyond law firms.

3

Competition

Many of our current and potential competitors are well established and have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial and operational resources, and name recognition than we have. Most traditional convenience store distributors are companies that have been in business for over 50 years and utilize the historical “manufacturing plant to truck to warehouse to truck to store” logistics model. However, we believe that with our diverse product line, better efficiencies resulting in lower wholesale cost of goods sold, we have the ability to obtain a large market share and continue to generate sales growth and compete in the industry. The principal competitive factors in all our product markets are technical features, quality, availability, price, customer support, and distribution coverage. The relative importance of each of these factors varies depending on the region. We believe using our direct store distribution model nationwide will open significant opportunities for growth.

There are many competitors in the prepaid wireless and mobile broadband industry. We feel what makes SurgePhone different is we are a grassroots company with our products placed in the neighborhood stores where the underbanked shop. We can offer wireless services, through the corner stores, at a lower price to customers since we own the transaction software processing the activations and top-ups.

The markets in which we operate can be generally categorized as highly competitive. In order to maximize our competitive advantages, we continue to expand our product portfolio to capitalize on market trends, changes in technology and new product releases. Based on available data for our served markets, we estimate that our market share of the convenience store sales business at this time is less than 1%. A substantial acquisition would be necessary to meaningfully and rapidly change our market share percentage.

Distributors generally do not have a broad set of product and service offerings or capabilities, and no single distributor currently provides all the top selling consumables while offering products and services to enhance the lifestyle of the underbanked such as prepaid wireless, gift cards, bill payment and reloadable debit cards. We believe this creates a significant opportunity for a dynamic paradigm shift to a nationwide wholesale e-commerce platform.

Nationwide Product Deployment

The SurgePays Blockchain platform streamlines the process for bringing products directly to the retail store. Our sales protocols have been tested and proven transferable from one product offering to another while ultimately providing our network of stores with better pricing and a larger product selection.

Competitive Edge

Our competitive edge is simple: we have the ability through our software platform, along with our relationships, capacity, efficiency, economies of scale and experience necessary to bring our financial services and prepaid products to the underbanked market in an effective and efficient manner to ensure success. Our sales protocols have been tested and proven transferable from one product offering to another while ultimately improving our target stores with better pricing and more product selection.

Our strategy for increasing revenues is based on developing, maintaining, and expanding our nationwide network of retail stores. Our relationship-driven approach to selling along with providing many of the top selling c-store products at a wholesale discount greater than traditional distributors gives management confidence of continued growth into the foreseeable future.

We have established relationships with distribution companies delivering significant sales per day for our subsidized mobile broadband product. This should increase as we add more states.

Research and Development Activities

We conduct research and development on an ongoing basis, including new and existing products to offer and software product development to ensure we are delivering the most efficient, secure, and fast transactions at the store level. The SurgePays software platform is housed on the Amazon Web Service Cloud for redundancy, stability, and reliability. Traditionally, convenience stores are high volume and fast paces stores where space at the register is at a premium, thus leaving no room for a computer so wireless top-ups or cell phone activations are done over a Verifone terminal traditionally used for processing credit cards. We believe that our future success will depend in part upon our ability to continue the enhancement of our software platform and application to transact via tablets and other smaller devices while developing new products that meet or anticipate such changes in our served markets. Many of the stores we serve are now connected to the internet. This has allowed us to innovate our software to be more adaptive to equipment that is more compatible with the space constraints of the register area in a store.

Much of the development for specific products we offer is done by the manufacturers and is dictated by market conditions. For example: When the iPhone 12 was released, we simply added iPhone 12 chargers and adapters to its suite of smartphone accessories. Our continuity is secure due to our ability to adapt through adding new products seamlessly.

Seasonality

We experience some seasonality whereby the peak tax season months show a higher level of sales and consumption. However, the structure of our business and range of products in our portfolio mitigate any major fluctuations. Our revenue during the peak tax season months in the spring have historically been approximately 5% greater than the peak other months, and as our product portfolio continues to expand, the level of seasonal peaks we expect to diminish.

Employees

As of March 22, 2022, our human capital resources consist of thirty-two (32) employees and approximately eight (8) independent contractors. Historically all salaries have been consolidated under SurgePays while contractor expenses are paid by the appropriate subsidiary. Since January 1, 2021, all salaries are allocated to the appropriate subsidiary.

We believe that our future success will depend in part on our continued ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel. Our human capital resources objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and new employees, advisors and consultants. The principal purposes of our equity and cash incentive plans are to attract, retain and reward personnel through the granting of stock-based and cash-based compensation awards, in order to increase stockholder value and the success of our company by motivating such individuals to perform to the best of their abilities and achieve our objectives.

Closing of Underwritten Offering, Nasdaq Listing, and Reverse Stock Split

On November 1, 2021, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) who acted as the underwriter (the “Underwriter”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to the Underwriter in a firm commitment underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) an aggregate of 4,600,000 units, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one warrant (“Warrants”, and collectively with the Common Stock, the “Units”), each to purchase one share of Common Stock, at a public offering price of $4.30 per Unit. The Warrants included in the Units are exercisable immediately, have an exercise price of $4.73 per share, which represents 110% of the price per Unit sold in the Offering, and expire three years from the date of issuance. The Common Stock and the Warrants began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols SURG and SURGW, respectively, on November 2, 2021.

The Units were offered and sold to the public pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-233726), initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on September 12, 2019, and declared effective on November 1, 2021 (the “Initial Registration Statement”), and a registration statement relating to the Initial Registration Statement, as amended, filed on November 1, 2021 pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and which became automatically effective upon filing (File No. 333-260672).

On November 4, 2021, the Company entered into a warrant agency agreement (the “Warrant Agency Agreement”) with VStock Transfer, LLC, a California corporation (“VStock”), to serve as the Company’s warrant agent for the Warrants.

The Offering closed on November 4, 2021. Upon the closing of the Offering, VStock issued the Warrants.

In this Annual Report, we refer to the Offering closing and the listing of the Common Stock and Warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market collectively as the “Uplisting.”

On November 4, 2021, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company issued warrants to the Underwriter to purchase up to an aggregate of 230,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Underwriter’s Warrants”). The Underwriter’s Warrants are exercisable beginning on May 1, 2022, until November 1, 2026. The initial exercise price of Representative’s Warrants is $4.73 per share, which equals 110% of the public offering price per Unit in the Offering.

In addition, on November 4, 2021, the Underwriter partially exercised its over-allotment option by purchasing additional Warrants to purchase 690,000 shares of Common Stock.

On November 1, 2021, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in connection with a 1-for-50 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Reverse Split”). The Reverse Split became effective on November 2, 2021.

All references in this Annual Report, including in our financial statements, to our Common Stock, share data, per share data and related information has been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split.

Corporate Information

We were previously known as North American Energy Resources, Inc. and KSIX Media Holdings, Inc. Prior to April 27, 2015, we operated solely as an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties and the production of oil and natural gas through its wholly owned subsidiary, NAER. On April 27, 2015, NAER entered into a Share Exchange Agreement with KSIX Media whereby KSIX Media became a wholly-owned subsidiary of NAER and which resulted in the shareholders of KSIX Media owning approximately 90% of the voting stock of the surviving entity. While we continued the oil and gas operations of NAER following this transaction, on August 4, 2015, we changed its name to KSIX Media Holdings, Inc. On December 21, 2017, we changed its name to Surge Holdings, Inc. to better reflect the diversity of its business operations. We changed its name to SurgePays, Inc. on October 29, 2020.

Historically, we operated through these direct and indirect subsidiaries: (i) KSIX Media, Inc., incorporated in Nevada on November 5, 2014; (ii) KSIX, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company that was formed on September 14, 2011; (iii) Surge Blockchain, LLC, formerly Blvd. Media Group, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company that was formed on January 29, 2009; (iv) DigitizeIQ, LLC an Illinois limited liability company that was formed on July 23, 2014; (v) Surge Cryptocurrency Mining, Inc., formerly North American Exploration, Inc., a Nevada corporation that was incorporated on August 18, 2006 (this has been a dormant entity that does not own any assets since January 1, 2019); (vi) LogicsIQ, Inc., a Nevada corporation that was formed on October 2, 2018; (vii) True Wireless, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (formerly True Wireless, LLC); (viii) Surge Payments, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; (ix) Surgephone Wireless, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; and (x) SurgePays Fintech, Inc., a Nevada limited liability company. On January 22, 2021, the issued and outstanding equity securities of DIQ and KSIX were transferred to LogicsIQ and became wholly-owned subsidiaries of LogicsIQ.

On May 7, 2021, the Company disposed of its subsidiary True Wireless, Inc., however we retained $1,097,659 in liabilities which consisted of $1,077,659 in accounts payable and accrued expenses as well as $20,000 in related party loans. In connection with the sale, the Company received an unsecured note receivable for $176,851, bearing interest at 0.6%, with a default interest rate of 10%. The Company will receive 25 payments of principal and accrued interest totaling $7,461 commencing in June 2023.

On January 30, 2020, the Company acquired ECS Prepaid, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, Electronic Check Services, Inc., a Missouri corporation, and Central States Legal Services, Inc., a Missouri corporation.

Our executive offices are located at 3124 Brother Blvd, Suite 410, Bartlett, TN 38133, and our telephone number is (800) 760-9689. Our website is www.surgepays.com (http://www.surgepays.com). Our website and the information contained in, or accessible through, our website will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Annual Report and does not constitute part of this Annual Report.

Investing in our securities involves a great deal of risk. Careful consideration should be made of the following factors as well as other information included in this Annual Report before deciding to purchase our securities. There are many risks that affect our business and results of operations, some of which are beyond our control. Our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially harmed by any of these risks. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks that we do not yet know of or that we currently think are immaterial may also affect our business and results of operations.

Risks Related to Government Regulation and Legal Proceedings

Changes in the regulatory framework under which we operate could adversely affect our business prospects or results of operations.

Our operations are subject to regulation by the FCC and other federal, state and local agencies. These regulatory regimes frequently restrict or impose conditions on our ability to operate in designated areas and provide specified products or services. We are frequently required to maintain licenses for our operations and conduct our operations in accordance with prescribed standards. We are often involved in regulatory and other governmental proceedings or inquiries related to the application of these requirements. It is impossible to predict with any certainty the outcome of pending federal and state regulatory proceedings relating to our operations, or the reviews by federal or state courts of regulatory rulings. Without relief, existing laws and regulations may inhibit our ability to expand our business and introduce new products and services. Similarly, we cannot guarantee that we will be successful in obtaining the licenses needed to carry out our business plan or in maintaining our existing licenses. For example, the FCC grants wireless licenses for terms generally lasting ten (10) years, subject to renewal. The loss of, or a material limitation on, certain of our licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

New laws or regulations or changes to the existing regulatory framework at the federal, state and local level, such as those described below, could restrict the ways in which we manage our wireline and wireless networks and operate our business, impose additional costs, impair revenue opportunities and potentially impede our ability to provide services in a manner that would be attractive to us and our customers.

• Privacy and data protection - we are subject to federal, state and international laws related to privacy and data protection.
• Regulation of broadband Internet access services - On June 11, 2018, the repeal of the FCC’s “net neutrality” rules took effect and returned to a “light-touch” regulatory framework. The prior rules were designed to ensure that all online content is treated the same by internet service providers and other companies that provide broadband services. Additionally, California and a number of other states are considering or have enacted legislation or executive actions that would regulate the conduct of broadband providers. We cannot predict whether the FCC order or state initiatives will be modified, overturned, or vacated by legal action of the court, federal legislation, or the FCC. With the repeal of net neutrality rules in effect, we could incur greater operating expenses, which could harm our results of operations.
• “Open Access” - we hold certain wireless licenses that require us to comply with so-called “open access” FCC regulations, which generally require licensees of particular spectrum to allow customers to use devices and applications of their choice. Moreover, certain services could be subject to conflicting regulation by the FCC and/or various state and local authorities, which could significantly increase the cost of implementing and introducing new services.

The further regulation of broadband, wireless and our other activities and any related court decisions could restrict our ability to compete in the marketplace and limit the return we can expect to achieve on past and future investments in our networks.

We could be impacted by unfavorable results of legal proceedings, and may, from time to time, be involved in future litigation in which substantial monetary damages are sought.

We are currently subject to a number of litigations as described under the heading “Legal Proceedings.” In connection with certain of these litigations, we may be required to pay significant monetary damages. Defending against the current litigations is or can be time-consuming, expensive and cause diversion of our management’s attention.

In addition, we may from time to time be involved in future litigation in which substantial monetary damages are sought. Litigation claims may relate to intellectual property, contracts, employment, securities and other matters arising out of the conduct of our current and past business activities. Any claims, whether with or without merit, could be time consuming, expensive to defend and could divert management’s attention and resources. We may maintain insurance against some, but not all, of these potential claims, and the levels of insurance we do maintain may not be adequate to fully cover any and all losses.

With respect to any litigation, our insurance may not reimburse us, or may not be sufficient to reimburse us, for the expenses or losses we may suffer in contesting and concluding such lawsuit. The results of any future litigation or claims are inherently unpredictable and substantial litigation costs, including the substantial self-insured retention that we are required to satisfy before any insurance applies to a claim, unreimbursed legal fees or an adverse result in any litigation may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash from operating activities or financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Business, Industry and Operations

If we are not able to adapt to changes and disruptions in technology and address changing consumer demand on a timely basis, we may experience a decline in the demand for our services, be unable to implement our business strategy and experience reduced profits.

Our industries are rapidly changing as new technologies are developed that offer consumers an array of choices for their communications needs and allow new entrants into the markets we serve. In order to grow and remain competitive, we will need to adapt to future changes in technology, enhance our existing offerings and introduce new offerings to address our customers’ changing demands. If we are unable to meet future challenges from competing technologies on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost, we could lose customers to our competitors. We may not be able to accurately predict technological trends or the success of new services in the market. In addition, there could be legal or regulatory restraints on our introduction of new services. If our services fail to gain acceptance in the marketplace, or if costs associated with the implementation and introduction of these services materially increase, our ability to retain and attract customers could be adversely affected. Additionally, we must phase out outdated and unprofitable technologies and services. If we are unable to do so on a cost-effective basis, we could experience reduced profits. In addition, there could be legal or regulatory restraints on our ability to phase out current services.

Effects of the COVD-19 Pandemic on Our Business

Since March 2020 there has been, and there continues to be, a significant and growing volatility and uncertainty in the global economy due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic affecting all business sectors and industries. Broadly, negative global and national economic trends, such as decreased consumer and business spending, high unemployment levels and declining consumer and business confidence, pose challenges to our business and could result in declining revenues, profitability and cash flow.

The main specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business was on SurgePays Fintech. Its revenues went down by $10,234,095 in 2021 as compared to 2020. This was partly related to the impact of COVID-19 on SurgePays Fintech. During the economic lock-down of 2020 and 2021, the inability of our independent representatives to visit existing stores and seek out new stores, limited our revenue growth, both existing and new revenue. Combined with a shift of prepaid wireless payments at stores to subsidized wireless expansion at the federal level, resulted in the lower revenue in 2021.

At this time, we cannot accurately predict whether there will be further effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.

Failure to develop new products, such as cross-media solutions, that are compelling for the marketplace in the expected time frame may adversely affect the combined company’s future results.

As the media and advertising industry looks to evaluate investments such as advertising campaigns across various forms of media, such as television, radio, online, and mobile, the ability to measure the combined size and composition of audiences across platforms is increasingly important and demanded. A primary strategic reason for this business combination is to allow our companies to more quickly and effectively develop cross-media capabilities using the combined talents and assets of the two companies to meet a growing market demand. The management of the combined company may face significant challenges in developing new products while integrating existing products and technologies. If the companies are not successful in developing credible products in the expected timeframe, the anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected.

We may expand through investments in, acquisitions of, or the development of new products with assistance from, other companies, any of which may not be successful and may divert our management’s attention.

In the past, we completed several strategic acquisitions. We also may evaluate and enter into discussions regarding an array of potential strategic transactions, including acquiring complementary products, technologies or businesses. An acquisition, investment or business relationship may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. In particular, we may encounter difficulties integrating the businesses, technologies, products, personnel or operations of the acquired companies, particularly if the key personnel of the acquired company choose not to be employed by us, and we may have difficulty retaining the customers of any acquired business due to changes in management and ownership. Acquisitions may also disrupt our ongoing business, divert our resources and require significant management attention that would otherwise be available for ongoing development of our business. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, investment or business relationship would be realized timely, if at all, or that we would not be exposed to unknown liabilities. In connection with any such transaction, we may:

• encounter difficulties retaining key employees of the acquired company or integrating diverse business cultures;
• incur large charges or substantial liabilities, including without limitation, liabilities associated with products or technologies accused or found to infringe on third-party intellectual property rights or violate existing or future privacy regulations;
• issue shares of our capital stock as part of the consideration, which may be dilutive to existing stockholders;
• become subject to adverse tax consequences, legal disputes, substantial depreciation or deferred compensation charges;
• use cash that we may otherwise need for ongoing or future operation of our business;
• enter new geographic markets that subject us to different laws and regulations that may have an adverse impact on our business;
• experience difficulties effectively utilizing acquired assets;
• encounter difficulties integrating the information and financial reporting systems of acquired businesses, particularly those that operated under accounting principles other than those generally accepted in the U.S. prior to the acquisition by us; and
• incur debt, which may be on terms unfavorable to us or that we are unable to repay.

Our business could be adversely affected if we fail to implement and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.

If we are unable to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures, or if there are identified significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the future, our ability to produce accurate and timely financial statements and public reports could be impaired, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition. In addition, investors may lose confidence in our reported information and the market price of our Common Stock may decline.

Our success is substantially dependent on the continued service of our senior management.

Our success is substantially dependent on the continued service of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO), Kevin Brian Cox and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Anthony Evers. We do not carry key person life insurance on any of its management, which would leave us uncompensated for the loss of any of its management. The loss of the services of any of our senior management could make it more difficult to successfully operate our business and achieve our business goals. In addition, competition in our industry for senior management and other key personnel is intense. If we are unable to retain our existing personnel, or attract and train additional qualified personnel, either because of competition in our industry for such personnel or because of insufficient financial resources, our product development capabilities and customer and employee relationships growth may be harmed and overall growth may limited.

We may not have sufficient resources to effectively introduce and market our services and products, which could materially harm our operating results.

Continuation of market acceptance for our existing services and products require substantial marketing efforts and will require our sales account executives and contract partners to make significant expenditures of time and money. In some instances, we will be significantly or totally reliant on the marketing efforts and expenditures of our contract partners, outside sales agents and distributors.

Because we currently have very limited marketing resources and sales capabilities, commercialization of our products, some of which require regulatory clearance prior to market entrance, we must either expand our own marketing and sales capabilities or consider collaborating with additional third parties to perform these functions. We may, in some instances, rely significantly on sales, marketing and distribution arrangements with collaborative partners and other third parties. In these instances, our future revenue will be materially dependent upon the success of the efforts of these third parties.

Should we determine that expanding our own marketing and sales capabilities is required, we may not be able to attract and retain qualified personnel to serve in our sales and marketing organization, to develop an effective distribution network or to otherwise effectively support our commercialization activities. The cost of establishing and maintaining a more comprehensive sales and marketing organization may exceed its cost effectiveness. If we fail to further develop our sales and marketing capabilities, if sales efforts are not effective or if costs of increasing sales and marketing capabilities exceed their cost effectiveness, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

Risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s foreign operations could negatively impact the Company’s operating results.

Centercom, an entity that we own 40% of, operates in El Salvador. Doing business in El Salvador, and in Latin America generally, involves increased risks related to geo-political events, political instability, corruption, economic volatility, property crime, drug cartel and gang-related violence, social and ethnic unrest including riots and looting, enforcement of property rights, governmental regulations, tax policies, banking policies or restrictions, foreign investment policies, public safety, health and security, anti-money laundering regulations, interest rate regulation and import/export regulations among others. As in many developing markets, there are also uncertainties as to how both local law and U.S. federal law is applied, including areas involving commercial transactions and foreign investment. As a result, actions or events could occur in El Salvador that are beyond the Company’s control, which could restrict or eliminate the Company’s ability to operate in El Salvador or significantly reduce customer traffic, product demand and the expected profitability of such operations.

We operate in a highly competitive industry.

We may encounter competition from local, regional or national entities, some of which have superior resources or other competitive advantages in the larger wireless services space. Intense competition may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. These competitors may be larger and more highly capitalized, with greater name recognition. We will compete with such companies on brand name, quality of services, level of expertise, advertising, product and service innovation and differentiation of product and services. As a result, our ability to secure significant market share may be impeded.

The report of our independent registered public accounting firm contains an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

We have incurred significant losses since our inception and have not demonstrated an ability to generate sufficient revenues from the sales of our products and services to achieve profitable operations. Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 were prepared under the assumption that we would continue our operations as a going concern. Our independent registered public accounting firm has included a “going concern” explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. We believe that we will continue to see increased revenues from the ACP that started in August of 2021 and that we will have net income in the coming months and throughout 2022 as our ACP related revenues increase. It is the expectation that the expansion will be the catalyst in the Company no longer having a “going concern” explanation in the notes to the unaudited financial statements to be filed in one or more Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in calendar year 2022. There can be no assurance, however, that profitable operations could ever be achieved, or if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis.

Risks Related to Our Securities

Our CEO and Chairman, Kevin Brian Cox, has significant control over shareholder matters and the minority shareholders will have little or no control over our affairs.

Mr. Cox currently owns approximately 42% of our outstanding voting equity and, on a fully diluted basis, based on the conversion feature of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, approximately 39% of our shares outstanding. Subject to any fiduciary duties owed to our other stockholders under Nevada law, Mr. Cox is able to exercise significant influence over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, and will have some control over our management and policies. Mr. Cox may have interests that are different from yours. For example, Mr. Cox may support proposals and actions with which you may disagree. The concentration of ownership could delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or otherwise discourage a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of our Company, which in turn could reduce the price of our stock. In addition, Mr. Cox could use his voting influence to maintain our existing management and directors in office, delay or prevent changes in control of our Company, or support or reject other management and board proposals that are subject to stockholder approval, such as amendments to our employee stock plans and approvals of significant financing transactions.

Sales of a significant number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market or the perception of such possible sales, could depress the market price of our Common Stock.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public markets, which include an offering of our preferred stock or Common Stock could depress the market price of our Common Stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity or equity-related securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our Common Stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our Common Stock.

Our share price could be volatile and our trading volume may fluctuate substantially.

The price of our Common Stock has been and may in the future continue to be extremely volatile. Many factors could have a significant impact on the future price of our shares of Common Stock, including:

• our inability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, whether through the issuance of equity securities or debt;
• our failure to successfully implement our business objectives;
• compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements;
• market acceptance of our products;
• changes in government regulations;
• general economic conditions and other external factors including, as of March 22, 2022, the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine (which has resulted in various countries, including the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union, issuing broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia) may have adverse effects on regional and global economic markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets, potentially making it more difficult for us to obtain additional funds and increasing the volatility of our share price;
• actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial and operating results; and
• the degree of trading liquidity in our shares of Common Stock.

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A decline in the price of our shares of Common Stock could affect our ability to raise further working capital and adversely impact our ability to continue operations.

The relatively low price of our shares of Common Stock, and a decline in the price of our shares of Common Stock, could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our Common Stock and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. Because a significant portion of our operations has been and will continue to be financed through the sale of equity securities, a decline in the price of our shares of Common Stock could be especially detrimental to our liquidity and our operations. Such reductions and declines may force us to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may have a significant negative effect on our business plans and operations, including our ability to continue our current operations. If the price for our shares of Common Stock declines, it may be more difficult to raise additional capital. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital, and we are unable to generate funds from operations sufficient to meet our obligations, we will not have the resources to continue our operations.

The market price for our shares of Common Stock may also be affected by our ability to meet or exceed expectations of analysts or investors. Any failure to meet these expectations, even if minor, may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our shares of Common Stock.

We currently do not intend to pay dividends on our Common Stock. As result, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment is if the price of our Common Stock appreciates.

We currently do not expect to declare or pay dividends on our Common Stock. In addition, in the future we may enter into agreements that prohibit or restrict our ability to declare or pay dividends on our Common Stock. As a result, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment will be if the market price of our Common Stock appreciates and you sell your shares at a profit.

We could issue additional Common Stock, which might dilute the book value of our Common Stock.

The Board has authority, without action or vote of our shareholders, to issue all or a part of our authorized but unissued shares. Such stock issuances could be made at a price that reflects a discount or a premium from the then-current trading price of our Common Stock. In addition, in order to raise capital, we may need to issue securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock. These issuances would dilute the percentage ownership interest, which would have the effect of reducing your influence on matters requiring shareholders vote and might dilute the book value of our Common Stock. You may incur additional dilution if holders of stock warrants or options, whether currently outstanding or subsequently granted, exercise their options, or if warrant holders exercise their warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock.

Future Issuance of Our Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Options and Warrants Could Dilute the Interests of Existing Stockholders.

We may issue additional shares of our Common Stock, preferred stock, options and warrants in the future. The issuance of a substantial amount of Common Stock, options and warrants could have the effect of substantially diluting the interests of our current stockholders. In addition, the sale of a substantial amount of Common Stock or preferred stock in the public market, or the exercise of a substantial number of warrants and options either in the initial issuance or in a subsequent resale by the target company in an acquisition which received such Common Stock as consideration or by investors who acquired such Common Stock in a private placement could have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock.

We presently occupy space at 3 locations: 3124 Brother Blvd, Suite 410, Bartlett, TN 38133 (this building is owned by an entity owned by Mr. Cox, our CEO and Chairman), 1375 E Woodfield Road, Schaumburg IL 60173 and1615 S Ingram Mill, Building B, Springfield, Missouri 65804.

We will acquire additional office space as needed.

(1) On January 15, 2020, the Company and Carter Matzinger (formerly a member of the Board) (collectively, the “Surge Party”), and the former owners of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, DigitizeIQ, LLC (collectively, the “DigitizeIQ Party” and, together with the Surge Party, the “Parties”), entered into a settlement agreement (the “DigitizeIQ Settlement Agreement”) to settle any claims the Parties may have had against each other. The parties made claims against each other with regard to alleged breaches of an Exchange Agreement, a Non-Compete Agreement, and promissory notes issued by the Company to the DigitizeIQ Party (the “Digitize Promissory Notes”). Pursuant to the DigitizeIQ Settlement Agreement, the Parties, in addition to releasing all claims against each other, agreed to cooperate to ensure the complete transfer and assignment of the domain “digitizeiq.com” to the Company and agreed that the DigitizeIQ Promissory Notes are deemed terminated. As a result of the DigitizeIQ Promissory Notes being terminated, the Company reduced its liabilities by approximately $580,000.

(2) Regulatory matter before the Corporation Commission of Oklahoma (the “OCC”): Oklahoma Corporate Commission v True Wireless: Complaint Filed Feb 14, 2020. Compliance dispute. OCC has taken issue with some subscribers outside the designated service area. Seeking fines and other penalties up to an including revocation of license. Interim recommendation by ALJ is fine and revocation of license in OK. The May 7, 2021 sale of True Wireless took place subject to settlement of this matter with the OCC. The OCC and True Wireless’ new owner have concluded a settlement of this matter on September 8, 2021.

(3) Global Reconnect, LLC and Terracom, Inc. v. Jonathan Coffman, Jerry Carroll, True Wireless, & Surge Holdings: In the Chancery Court of Hamilton County, TN, Docket # 20-00058, Filed Jan 21, 2020. On January 21, 2020, a complaint was filed related to a noncompetition dispute. Terracom believes Mr. Coffman and Mr. Carroll are in violation of their non-compete agreements by working for us and True Wireless, Inc. Oklahoma and Tennessee state law does not recognize non-compete agreements and are not usually enforced in the state courts of these states, as such we believe True Wireless has a strong case against Terracom. The matter is entering the discovery process. Both Mr. Carroll and Mr. Coffman are no longer working for True Wireless in sales. Mr. Carroll is off the payroll and Mr. Coffman works for SurgePays, Inc., but not in wireless sales. The complaint requests general damages plus fees and costs for tortious interference with a business relationship in their prayer for relief. They have made no written demand for damages at this point in time. The Company believes this matter is simply an anti-competitive attempt by Terracom to cause distress to True Wireless.

(4) Juno Financial v. AATAC and Surge Holdings Inc. AND Surge Holdings Inc. v. AATAC; Circuit Court of Hillsborough County, Florida, Case # 20-CA-2712 DIV A: Breach of Contract, Account Stated and Open Account claims against Surge by a factoring company. Surge has filed a cross-complaint against defendant AATAC for Breach of Contract, Account Stated, Open Account and Common Law Indemnity. Case is in discovery. Following analysis by our litigation counsel stating that there is a good defense, management has decided that a reserve is not necessary.

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(5) On July 9, 2020, the Company entered into a settlement and release agreement with Unimax Communications, LLC (“Unimax”). The settlement is related to a complaint filed by Unimax alleging the Company is indebted pursuant to a purchase order and additional financing terms. The Company agreed to pay Unimax the total sum of $785,000 over a 24-month period. The settlement amount is included accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. The balance was repaid in April 2021.

(6) Glen Eagles Litigation

SurgePays, Inc., formerly named as Surge Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation, Plaintiff, vs. Glen Eagles Acquisition LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Defendant; District Court Clark County, Nevada; Case No.: A-21-831204-B

ALTCORP TRADING, LLC, a Costa Rica limited liability company; et al, Plaintiffs, vs. Surge Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation; VSTOCK Transfer, LLC, a California limited liability company, et al; District Court Clark County, Nevada; Case No.: A-20-823039-B

These two lawsuits involved AltCorp Trading, LLC, Stanley Hills, LLC, and Glen Eagles Acquisition LP (the “AltCorp Parties.”). Each of these lawsuits were ultimately disputes relating to the total consideration the Company paid to GBT Technologies, Inc. (“GBT”) to acquire all of the assets of the entities that comprise SurgePays Fintech (prior to the Company’s January 2020 acquisition of the entities themselves).

On October 18, 2021, the AltCorp Parties, GBT, and the Company entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) to set up a framework for an attempt to settle the two lawsuits.

On December 22, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), pursuant to the framework in the MOU, the AltCorp Parties, Igor 1 Corp. (an entity related to the AltCorp Parties), the Company, ECS Prepaid, LLC (“ECS LLC”), and, in his individual capacity, Kevin Brian Cox (the Company’s Chief Executive Officer), entered into a Resolution of Purchase, Mutual Release, and Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) to settle the two lawsuits and resolve all disputes related to the consideration paid by the Company to GBT. This Settlement Agreement was entered into pursuant to a resolution of the Board authorizing the negotiation of and entry into of such agreement.

As part of this agreement, the Company has acquired GBT’s rights to a certain Master Distribution and Service Agreement between Interactive Communications International, Inc. and W.L. Petrey Wholesale Company, Inc., d/b/a UGO-HUB dated August 29, 2016 (the “MDA”), as amended. The MDA contains sales channel access to a variety of unique wholesale prepaid products with approximately $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 in monthly revenue. The MDA is the subject of a lawsuit between GBT and Robert Warren Jackson, RWJ Advanced Marketing LLC, and Gregory Bauer int federal district court in Nevada (the “GBT Lawsuit”).

If the result of the GBT Lawsuit is an assignment of the MDA to GBT or that GBT or an affiliate of GBT is the legal owner of the MDA, GBT or such affiliate will assign the MDA to Surge and GBT shall be entitled to receive the Escrow Amount. If the result of the GBT Lawsuit is a monetary judgment without the assignment or legal decree of ownership of the MDA, GBT shall be entitled to receive the Escrow Amount and shall assign and timely pay to the Company the first one million dollars ($1,000,000) GBT recovers from the defendants in the GBT Lawsuit. In the event that GBT does not prevail in the GBT Lawsuit then it shall be entitled to release of the Escrow Amount but shall be responsible for any fees and costs obligation sought by the defendants in the GBT Lawsuit.

The Company agreed to make total payments of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) to Stanley Hills, LLC on or prior to January 7, 2022. This $4.2 million amount consists of a total of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) paid by the Company in November and December 2021, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to be paid on or about January 4, 2022, and three million six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,650,000) to be paid on or prior to January 7, 2022 of which three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($375,000) will be held in escrow (the “Escrow Amount”). The last payment was made on January 7, 2022.

In addition, Igor 1 Corp. as of the Effective Date, held one hundred ten thousand (110,000) shares of the Company’s common stock that has a restrictive legend (the “Igor Shares”). The owner of Igor 1 Corp. will be responsible for and shall pay for attempting to have the restrictive legend from the Igor Shares removed (with the Company agreeing to pay seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) to help pay for the legal opinion required). If Igor 1 Corp. is unable to have the legend removed prior to January 30, 2022, the Company will pay Igor 1 Corp. five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) within five (5) trading days to purchase the Igor Shares back and then cancel them. As of February 4, 2022 (five trading days after January 30th), the Company was not asked to pay Igor 1 Corp. any funds related to this possible share cancellation.

Glen Eagles and a related entity, as of the Effective Date, held three thousand (3,000) shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Glen Eagles Shares”). The Glen Eagles shares shall be sold on the open market within thirty (30) days following the Effective Date. If for any reason the consideration for the Glen Eagles shares is less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), the Company will have the obligation to compensate Glen Eagles for the difference between the actual amount received and $15,000. Such difference shall be paid within five (5) days of Glen Eagles providing written proof of the proceeds of the sale of the Glen Eagles Shares. Glen Eagles was paid $8,552.25 on February 16, 2022 for full settlement of this difference.

The Settlement Agreement replaces all prior agreements between the parties. In addition, within three (3) trading days of the last payment related to the $4.2 million payment to Stanley Hills being made, the parties shall make filings with the state District Court in Clark County, Nevada to dismiss both lawsuits, including, regarding the lawsuit filed by AltCorp Trading, LLC, the dismissal of the lawsuit as to VStock Transfer, LLC, to which the Company owed certain indemnification obligations. The parties agreed to a full mutual release of any disputes or claims between the parties. All matters were dismissed by stipulation of the parties on January 12, 2022.

(7) Crystal Chapman, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated, Plaintiff versus SurgePays, Inc., Defendant; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No.: 1:21-cv-04272. On August 11, 2021, the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act as a putative class action. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and an order enjoining the Company or their agents from making autodialed calls. The case alleges contact to consumer(s) whose telephone numbers are on the Federal Do Not Call list, without their consent. There are no other counts under the TCPA or any other statute or tort. The Company vigorously disputes the allegations in this complaint as the Company only contacts consumers who have provided express written consent to be contacted. The Company believes it uses the leading software in the industry for lead verification and believes it can prove consent for all called parties. This matter was resolved fully and amicably without any admission of fault. The Company paid attorney fees and an amount to Ms. Chapman that, in combination, was not material to the Company.

(8) On December 17, 2021, Ambess Enterprises, Inc. v SurgePays, Inc., Blair County Pa. case number 2021 GN 3222. Plaintiff alleges breach of contract and prays for damages of approximately $73,000.00, plus fees, costs and interest. Litigation counsel is managing the motion practice and discovery process.

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(9) Blue Skies Connections, LLC, and True Wireless, Inc. v. SurgePays, Inc., et. al.: In the District Court of Oklahoma County, OK, CJ-2021-5327, filed on December 13, 2021. Plaintiffs’ petition alleges breach of a Stock Purchase Agreement by SurgePays, SurgePhone Wireless, LLC, and Kevin Brian Cox, and makes other allegations related to SurgePays’ consulting work with Jonathan Coffman, a True Wireless employee. Blue Skies believes the Defendants are in violation of their non-competition and non-solicitation agreements related to the sale of True Wireless from SurgePays to Blue Skies. Oklahoma state law does not recognize non-compete agreements and non-solicitation agreements in the manner alleged by Plaintiffs, as such we believe SurgePays, SurgePhone, and Mr. Cox have a strong defense against the claims asserted by Blue Skies and True Wireless. Mr. Coffman works for SurgePays, but not in wireless sales. The matter is in the early stages of the discovery process. Mr. Coffman is no longer working for True Wireless. The petition requests injunctive relief, general damages, punitive damages, attorney fees and costs for alleged breach of contract, tortious interference with a business relationship, and fraud. Plaintiffs have made a written demand for damages and the parties continue to discuss a potential resolution. The Company believes this matter is an anti-competitive attempt by Blue Skies and True Wireless to damage SurgePays, SurgePhone, and Cox.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to those set forth in “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Business Overview

We were incorporated in Nevada on August 18, 2006 and a technology and telecommunications company focused on the on underbanked and underserved communities.

SurgePhone wireless companies provide mobile broadband (internet connectivity) to low-income consumers nationwide. SurgePays Fintech platform utilizes a suite of financial and prepaid products to convert corner stores and bodegas into tech-hubs for underbanked neighborhoods. We are aggressively cornering the underbanked market directly to the consumer and in the stores they shop.

Please see the description in Item 1 of this Annual Report for a description of our SurgePhone Wireless, Surge Blockchain, SurgePays Fintech (ECS Business), LogicsIQ, and Centercom operations.

COMPARISON OF YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

Revenues during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:

Revenue decreased overall by $3,346,199 (6%) from year ended December 31, 2020 to year ended December 31, 2021. The breakout was as follows:

SurgePhone Wireless revenues (inclusive of Surge Blockchain and Other revenues as detailed in Notes 2 and 10 of the financial statements) increased by $6,686,251 related to the additional revenue stream generated by the Emergency Broadband Benefit and Affordable Connectivity programs (the “ACP”) started in August of 2021. LogicsIQ revenues increased by $1,416,641 related to the increase of focusing on the retained case revenue stream. SurgePays Fintech (ECS) revenues decreased by $10,234,095 due to Covid-19 impact and the shifting of customers to the ACP from wireless prepaid services at our stores. True Wireless revenues decreased by $1,214,996 as a result of the May 7, 2021 disposition.

Operating loss improved overall by $4,153,100 (41%) from year ended December 31, 2020 to year ended December 31, 2021, primarily as a result of an increase in operating profit of $1,785,104 in SurgePhone Wireless, , and an increase in operating profit of $636,895 in LogicsIQ, both a direct result of the increase in revenue year over year. The increase in operating profit of $1,804,224 in True Wireless was a result of the disposition of the entity.

General and administrative during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:

The reduction in depreciation and amortization costs for 2021 is the result of assets becoming fully depreciated in 2020, reducing the cost in 2021 compared to 2020.

Selling, general and administrative expenses during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:

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Selling, general and administrative costs (S, G & A) decreased by $37,812 (.3%). The changes are discussed below:

• Contractors and consultants expense increased by $113,856 or 5% from $2,170,279 in 2020 to $2,284,135 in 2021.
• Professional services increased $714,596 in 2021 primarily due to an increase in legal fees of $787,565. Legal proceedings and the Uplisting were the main reason for the increase year over year.
• Compensation increased from $3,605,624 in 2020 to $3,857,480 in 2021 primarily as a result of the increase in staff support positions to support the expected increase in revenue during 2021 in SurgePhone Wireless and LogicsIQ.
• Webhosting/internet costs decreased less than 19% to $552,455 in 2021 from $683,276 in 2020.
• Advertising and marketing costs increased to $661,238 in 2021 from $273,031 in 2020 primarily due to the Company increasing the expenditures related to marketing.
• Bad debt expense decreased to $4,257 in 2021 from $1,750,239 in 2020 primarily due to the Company’s 2020 evaluation of the receivables generated during the initial rollout of the SurgePays portal and providing an appropriate allowance for bad debts.
• Other costs increased to $2,285,514 in 2021 from $1,915,068 in 2020 primarily due to an increase in the various insurance coverage of $380,607.

Other (expense) income during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following:

Interest expense decreased to $3,840,616 in 2021 from $4,801,520 in 2020 primarily due to the payoff of various debt instruments in 2021 as a result of the cash raised from the Uplisting.

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded a change in fair of derivative liabilities of $1,806,763 and $577,936, respectively. These amounts reflect a mark to market adjustment recorded to the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, in connection with the repayment of convertible notes which contained embedded conversion features, the related derivative liabilities ceased to exist.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the derivative liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Changes in fair value of derivative liabilities are included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded a derivative expense of $1,775,057 and $566,789, respectively.

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded a gain of $1,428,015 and $279,573, respectively, related to the settlement of convertible debt which contained an embedded conversion feature and was separately bifurcated and classified as a derivative liability. The Company has recorded these gains in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as a component of gain on settlement of liabilities.

The gain on equity investment in Centercom decreased to $28,676 in 2021 compared to $210,912 in 2020.

In connection with the Uplisting, 433,017 warrants were repriced at a lower exercise price to better reflect the current market offering. No other terms had been modified. As a result, the Company recorded a warrant modification expense of $74,476 in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations with an offsetting increase to additional paid in capital.

During 2021, the Company settled outstanding liabilities through the issuance of 17,500 shares of Common Stock and recorded a loss on settlement of $481,187. During 2020, the Company settled outstanding liabilities through the issuance of 163,000 shares of Common Stock and recorded a gain on settlement of $2,556,979.

LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND GOING CONCERN

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, our current assets were $13,892,681 and $1,251,029, respectively, and our current liabilities were $9,998,194 and $15,660,748, respectively, which resulted in a working capital surplus of $3,894,487 and working capital deficit of $14,409,719, respectively. The increase in current assets is a result of the closing of the Offering, whereby the Company issued 4,600,000 units consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant and 690,000 over-allotment warrants. The units were sold at $4.30 per unit for gross proceeds of $19,786,900 ($19,780,000 from the sale of 4,600,000 units at $4.30 and $6,900 from the sale of 690,000 over-allotment warrants at $0.01). The warrants are exercisable immediately at $4.73/share and expire three (3) years from the issuance date. The decrease in current liabilities is the result of using some of the proceeds from the November 4 transaction to pay off all outstanding derivative liabilities. In addition, notes receivable increased to $176,851 as of December 31, 2021, as a result of the disposition of True Wireless.

Total assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020 amounted to $19,500,202 and $7,325,071, respectively. The increase in total assets is a result of the closing of the Offering. The units were sold at $4.30 per unit for gross proceeds of $19,786,900 ($19,780,000 from the sale of 4,600,000 units at $4.30 and $6,900 from the sale of 690,000 over-allotment warrants at $0.01). The warrants are exercisable immediately at $4.73/share and expire three (3) years from the issuance. Total assets increased by $12,175,131 from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. At December 31, 2021, assets consisted of current assets of $13,892,681, net property and equipment of $200,448, net intangible assets of $3,433,484, goodwill of $866,782, equity investment in Centercom of $443,288, notes receivable of $176,851 and operating lease right of use asset of $486,668, as compared to current assets of $1,251,029, net property and equipment of $236,810, net intangible assets of $4,125,742, goodwill of $866,782, equity investment in Centercom of $414,612 and operating lease right of use asset of $368,638 at December 31, 2020. The operating lease right of use increased related to a new lease acquired in the ECS assets purchase agreement.

At December 31, 2021, our total liabilities of $15,948,881 decreased $2,102,156 from $18,051,037 at December 31, 2020. The proceeds from the closing of the Offering allowed the Company to repay all outstanding derivative liabilities.

At December 31, 2021, our total stockholders’ surplus was $3,551,321 as compared to a deficit of $10,725,966 at December 31, 2020. The principal reason for the increase in stockholders’ equity was the closing of the Offering.

We do not expect to incur net losses going forward and expect a positive cash flow from operations in the first quarter of 2022 and for the entire year. Revenue streams are expecting to increase to cover the overall general and administrative expenses of the Company. We believe the ACP will continue to grow quarter over quarter in 2022. This revenue stream is expected deliver a positive net income as soon as the first quarter of 2022.

The following table sets forth the major sources and uses of cash for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

As a result of increased financing activities in 2021, the cash increased in 2021 by $5,609,501.

At December 31, 2021, the Company had the following material commitments and contingencies.

Notes payable – related party - See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Notes payable and long-term debt - See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Convertible promissory notes - See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Related party transactions - See page F-25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Cash requirements and capital expenditures – At the current level of operations, the Company does not anticipate borrowing funds to meet basic operating costs. The Company may need to borrow funds to meet the hyper-growth expected to occur in the ACP in 2022.

Known trends and uncertainties – The Company is planning to acquire other businesses with similar business operations. The uncertainty of the economy may increase the difficulty of raising funds to support the planned business expansion.

Our independent registered public accounting firm has included a “going concern” explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. We expect to continue to see increased revenues from the ACP that started in August of 2021 and we expect to show a positive net income in the coming months and throughout 2022 as our ACP related revenues increase. It is the expectation that the expansion could be the catalyst in the Company no longer having a “going concern” explanation in the notes to the unaudited financial statements the Company expect to file in one or more Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in calendar year 2022.

a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of December 31, 2021, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Management identified no material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our control over financial reporting based on the 2013 framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2021, management identified no weaknesses.

Pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 308(b), as the Company is not an accelerated filer nor a large accelerated filer, this Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their cost.

c) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting, which were identified in connection with our management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to have a materially affect, on our internal control over financial reporting.