UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

(Mark one)

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission file number: 000-55209

Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(212) 739-7700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: N/A

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by the check mark whether the registration has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act): Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates (7,039,832 shares) computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold as of June 30, 2021, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter ($5.13), was $36,114,338. Solely for the purposes of this calculation, shares held by directors, executive officers and 10% owners of the registrant have been excluded. Such exclusion should not be deemed a determination or an admission by the registrant that such individuals are, in fact, affiliates of the registrant.

As of April 11, 2022, there were 12,232,768 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

Explanatory Note

Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) on Form 10-K/A to amend its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2022 (the “Original 10-K”), for the purposes of:

The Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the date of the filing of the Original 10-K or modify or update any of the other disclosures contained therein in any way.

INDEX

Forward Looking Statements

PART I

Certain statements included or incorporated by reference in this annual report constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained in this annual report that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “shall” and other similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). All forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the assumption was made. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but on management’s expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those implied by forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report or incorporated by reference herein are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this annual report or as of the date specified in the documents incorporated by reference herein, as the case may be. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this annual report.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

In evaluating the Company, its business and any investment in the Company, readers should carefully consider the following factors:

Risk Factors Summary

Please see Item 1A “Risk Factors” for more details.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and currently intend to rely on the following provisions of the JOBS Act that contain exceptions from disclosure and other requirements that otherwise are applicable to companies that conduct initial public offerings and file periodic reports with the SEC. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

We will remain an emerging growth company until:

We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in this prospectus and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in our future filings with the SEC. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than what you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.

We have elected to avail ourselves of the provision of the JOBS Act that permits emerging growth companies to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards until those standards apply to private companies. As a result, we will not be subject to new or revised accounting standards at the same time as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

For additional information, see the section titled “Risk Factors — Risks of being an Emerging Growth Company — We are an “emerging growth company” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

The current corporate organizational structure of GGH and how we have operated substantially for the past year appears below.

Recent Business Developments

For a more thorough discussion of the Company’s business, see Item 1 “Business” and Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis - Recent Developments and Trends”.

Company Overview

Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on April 5, 1999, Effective October 1, 2018, the Company changed its name from Algodon Wines & Luxury Development, Inc. to Algodon Group, Inc., and effective March 11, 2019, the Company changed its name from Algodon Group, Inc. to Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. (“GGH”). Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, GGH invests in, develops and operates real estate projects in Argentina. GGH operates a hotel, golf and tennis resort, vineyard and producing winery in addition to developing residential lots located near the resort. In 2016, GGH formed a new subsidiary, Gaucho Group, Inc. and in 2018, established an e-commerce platform for the manufacture and sale of high-end fashion and accessories. In February 2022, the Company acquired 100% of Hollywood Burger Argentina, S.R.L., now Gaucho Development S.R.L (“GD”), through InvestProperty Group, LLC and Algodon Wine Estates S.R.L., which is an Argentine real estate holding company. In addition to GD, the activities in Argentina are conducted through its operating entities: InvestProperty Group, LLC, Algodon Global Properties, LLC, The Algodon – Recoleta S.R.L, Algodon Properties II S.R.L., and Algodon Wine Estates S.R.L. Algodon distributes its wines in Europe under the name Algodon Wines (Europe). On March 20, 2020, the Company formed a wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary corporation, Bacchus Collection, Inc., which was dissolved on March 23, 2021. On June 14, 2021, the Company formed a wholly-owned Delaware limited liability company subsidiary, Gaucho Ventures I – Las Vegas, LLC (“GVI”), for purposes of holding the Company’s interest in LVH Holdings LLC.

GGH’s mission is to increase our scalability, diversify the Company’s assets, and minimize our political risk. We believe our goal of becoming the LVMH of South America (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) can help us to achieve that. While we continue making excellent wine, upgrading our rooms at the Algodon Mansion, and completing the infrastructure at the vineyard, our growth area is in e-commerce through Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ because of the potential for immediate revenues and growth/scale on a global basis. The Gaucho brand also diversifies our business outside of Argentina and helps insulate us from political risk. Together with our wines, these aspects of our business have the potential to insulate us from both the economic and political fluctuations in Argentina. However, we also refer to our Risk Factors in Item 1A regarding the minimal revenues of the Gaucho—Buenos Aires™ brand and its ability to generate revenue in the future.

The below table provides an overview of GGH’s operating entities.

*As of March 28, 2022, the Company acquired the remaining 21% of GGI. Please see Item 9B for additional information.

As noted above, Algodon Wine Estates S.R.L. Algodon distributes its wines in Europe under the name Algodon Wines (Europe). The previous entity acting as the Company’s wine distributor in Europe, Algodon Europe Ltd., was dissolved on August 13, 2019. In addition, one of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Bacchus Collection, Inc., was dissolved on March 23, 2021.

Gaucho - Buenos Aires™

Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ is a luxury leather goods and accessories brand, with a strategic focus on growing its e-commerce business, that is the result of more than a decade’s investment in Argentina’s heart and soul, featuring luxury products that merge the traditional Gaucho style with a modern twist, infused with uniqueness and modern Buenos Aires glamour. With Gaucho – Buenos Aires, GGH adds a high-end leather goods, accessories, and home decor e-commerce sector to its collection of luxury assets. Our e-commerce platform is able to process and fulfill orders in the United States and internationally, and we believe this asset has the potential to achieve significant scale and add value to our company. Gaucho – Buenos Aires connects buyers with some of Argentina’s best creative talents that harness the country’s unique heritage and artisanship of products such as woven fabrics, leather goods and precious metal jewelry.

Once dubbed the “Paris of South America” for its exquisite Belle Époque style, we believe that evolving politics and tastes suggest the time is now for Buenos Aires to once again align itself with Milan, New York, Paris and London as a global fashion capital – and for Gaucho – Buenos Aires to become its ambassador. With Argentina beginning to regain its status as a global cultural enclave, we believe it is entering a new golden age. We believe there may be a sizeable appetite in the USA and beyond for our luxury products, such as fine leather goods, accessories and apparel, that deliver and reflect a unique and unmistakable Argentine point of view.

Seen in the intricate stitching of handmade leather, or the workmanship of an embossed belt buckle, the “Gaucho” style is a world-renowned symbol of Argentine craftsmanship. Though rooted in the traditions of Argentine culture, Gaucho – Buenos Aires intends to become a brand in which Argentine luxury finds its contemporary expression: merging the traditional Gaucho style with a modern twist, infused with uniqueness and modern Buenos Aires glamour.

We believe that Gaucho – Buenos Aires reflects the very spirit of Argentina – its grand history and its revival as a global center of luxury. Our goal is to reintroduce the world to the grandeurs of the city’s elegant past, intertwined with an altogether deeper cultural connection: the strength, honor and integrity of the Gaucho.

Gaucho Buenos Aires brand milestones include:

Our Products

GGI’s Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ primarily sells what Argentina is well known for: leather goods and accessories, all defining the style, quality, and uniqueness of Argentina.

Gaucho – Buenos Aires’s fully optimized e-commerce platform (www.gauchobuenosaires.com) offers a commercial line of designer clothing, with an emphasis on leather goods accessories, including leather jackets, branded hoodies, t-shirts, polo shirts and ponchos. In the first quarter of 2022, Gaucho launched its home and living décor collection, Gaucho Casa, which challenges traditional lifestyle collections with its luxury textiles and home accessories rooted in the singular spirit of the gaucho aesthetic. Using the highest-quality natural materials ethically sourced from countries that are pioneers in the field of eco production, such as New Zealand, Iceland and, of course, Argentina, each piece within the line embodies the rarefied heritage of Buenos Aires and its deep-rooted connection to artisanship. In the following 18 months, we also anticipate a strategic roll-out introducing other new products such as fragrances, a Gaucho Kids clothing line, and Gaucho Residences as the natural evolution of the brand’s growth.

Blending the quality of a bygone era with what we believe to be a sophisticated, modern, global outlook, the brand’s handcrafted clothing and accessories herald the birth of what we hope will become Argentina’s finest designer label.

Fragrances: Homme (Men), Femme (Women), Vamos Sport (Unisex)

The fragrance collection of Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ was created by Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned company in the fragrance and flavor business. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1895, it has created many of the world’s best-known perfumes that consumers the world over enjoy each day, including Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Kenzo, and Dolce & Gabbana. Its passion for smell and taste is at the heart of its success. It is renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its thought leadership in sustainability and exceptional understanding of consumer trends. Each year, it invests 10% of its revenues in research and innovation, reflecting its continuous desire to understand, develop and distill the best that nature has to offer.

Gaucho – Buenos Aires has three fragrances ready for packaging, including a men’s fragrance Homme, a women’s fragrance Femme, and a unisex fragrance Vamos Sport.

Sales and Marketing Strategy / Competitive Edge

During the economic crisis in Argentina, iconic international fashion chains left the country. As scarcity is the mother of invention, this gave rise to local brands that made up for that absence. Despite the fact that, in our view, Argentina’s fashion scene is today thriving, the country lacks any international mainstream exposure. Argentina’s continuing challenges with inflation and unemployment have made it difficult for local labels to break into the global fashion landscape, and today there is not a single Argentine fashion brand that is a household name. We believe Gaucho – Buenos Aires has the ability to fill that void. Our intention is to become the leading fashion and leather accessories brand out of South America.

We have assembled a talented team who speak in the unique voice most representative of Argentina’s local fashion scene, and we believe we have the opportunity, the aptitude and the vision not only to successfully introduce this voice to the world’s fashion scene, but to become a major player in that landscape.

Our U.S.-based e-commerce website has been designed to deliver Argentine luxury goods to the U.S. marketplace and elsewhere around the globe. We believe the devaluation of the peso can have positive ramifications for the tourism industry (and Algodon’s hospitality businesses). Tourists from outside Argentina can spend more money at hotels, restaurants and other attractions with a favorable exchange rate. We intend to take advantage of the historic low and deep devaluation of the Argentine peso by producing many of our products and wine in Argentina, thereby paying for product and labor in pesos, we then intend to sell to consumers at a favorable exchange rate in USD to the U.S. and the world.

Currently, one of the few ways to buy Argentina goods is to travel there and buy local. We want to change that, and in a favorable economic and political climate, we seek to be in the forefront of opening Argentina’s luxury market to the millions of potential customers around the globe interested in luxury items from Argentina.

Our target market is upper and upper-middle class female and male millennials in urban areas of the United States and Europe. Millennials have the potential to become the largest spending generation in history, and with the popularity of midrange to high end fashion brands such as Gucci, Armani, Lululemon, and many others, we believe our millennial target market appreciates high quality clothing and accessories and is willing to spend above the average market price for such quality items in the “affordable luxury” category.

Business Advisors

John I. Griffin, Board Advisor. Mr. Griffin is Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and the sole shareholder of Maurice Pincoffs Company, Inc. headquartered in Houston, Texas USA. Pincoffs began product trading operations in 1880 and today specializes in international trade, marketing, and distribution of various products. Following 13 years of active and reserve duty, he retired from the United States Navy as Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Griffin was employed by Corning Glass Works where he was involved in plant management and international business activities and then worked outside of the United States for 13 years, first in Tokyo as President of Graco Japan K.K., a metal related manufacturing and marketing joint venture. This was followed by seven years in Paris as Vice President of Graco Inc. where he managed manufacturing and marketing companies throughout Europe as President Directeur General of Graco France S.A. and Fogautolube S.A. (France). Stationed in Brussels for two years, Mr. Griffin was President of Monroe Auto Equipment S.A. with manufacturing facilities in Belgium and Spain and marketing companies throughout Europe and the Middle East. With the acquisition of Maurice Pincoffs Company in 1978, he assumed his current position.

During his stay in Europe, Mr. Griffin was a partner in a Haut Medoc vineyard, Le Fournas Bernadotte. For several years Pincoffs was heavily involved in the wine import business as the third largest importer in Texas. Mr. Griffin served for a number of years as Founder and President of the American Institute for International Steel (Washington D.C.) and the American Institute for Imported Steel (New York City) as well as serving as a Director of the West Coast Metal Importers Association (Los Angeles). Active in the Greater Houston Partnership, Mr. Griffin was a Director of the World Trade Division and served as Chairman of the Africa Committee. He was a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations and the World Affairs Council of Houston, and a past Director of The Houston World Trade Association and the Armand Bayou Nature Center.

Juliano de Rossi, Creative Solutions Consultant. Juliano serves as a consultant providing valuable guidance to the GGI team, having significant experience in the high-end fashion world. We entered into an oral consulting contract with Juliano on an independent contractor basis in July 2017 for project-based work. The amount paid to Juliano is not considered material because of the project-by-project basis. He currently serves as Creative Solutions Consultant to the Net-a-Porter Group. De Rossi has 15 years’ experience in marketing and advertising for global brands and luxury retailers. He has resided in London for the past five years, working in marketing, content production and brand partnership campaigns for MatchesFashion.com and at the YOOX Net-a-Porter Group where he was responsible for leading the in-house creative solutions (design and production teams) managing multiple content productions served across all YOOX Net-a-Porter Group digital platforms, print publications and social channels. At Mr. Porter, Net-A-Porter, Porter Magazine and Matchesfashion.com, he oversaw the production of top-rate campaigns, driving the content vision for the management of branded content productions including fashion shoots and video series productions for brands such as BMW, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, American Express, Piaget, Cartier, IWC, Marc Jacobs, Burberry Prorsum, Fendi, Lanvin, Crème De La Mer, Chloe, Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, and Helmut Lang.

Marketing Strategy

Our digital marketing efforts will include ongoing search engine optimization (“SEO”) campaigns and initiatives to increase website conversions and brand awareness, social media marketing via Instagram, Facebook, Amazon and Google Marketplace using micro and macro/celebrity influencers, and public relations firms specializing in the international fashion scene.

Our Public Relations firm, Tara Ink, is currently creating an action plan to generate buzz about our brand, our designers, and our e-commerce platform. Social media star, Neels Visser, is also contacting his broad network of social influencers and micro influencers to lay the groundwork for potential partnerships and brand affiliates/ambassadors.

GGI’s Gaucho – Buenos Aires is primarily an e-commerce store targeting U.S. customers. However we do plan on pursuing reselling retail venues both online and brick and mortar. For example, in the wake of our press launch, we received unsolicited inquiries from several high-end boutiques in Brazil interested in carrying the Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ line. There are of course numerous avenues for us to explore involving brick and mortar opportunities alone, via agencies or direct solicitation.

Online reselling avenues we expect to pursue include Net-a-Porter, MatchesFashion and at least six other high-end, reputable venues with whom we already have an established foot in the door via our networking channels.

We anticipate our marketing strategy will include popup shops in cities such as Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City and Aspen. With popup shops, we can for example, work with local PR companies to get the word out, as these opportunities are typically promoted via direct mail, PR and digital marketing efforts, as well as word of mouth and strategic geographic positioning.

Our online marketing efforts include SEO initiatives, social media marketing via Instagram, Facebook, Amazon and Google Marketplace, and retargeting ads.

Post-COVID-19, we anticipate presenting at fashion shows in in New York City, London, Paris, Milan and several other targeted cities. Gaucho – Buenos Aires presents an opportunity for global press to talk about Argentina finding its foothold once again on the global fashion scene, spotlighting our designers, our designs, and our concentration on leather goods. As there are few brands launching out of Argentina, and certainly fewer with global intentions, the press reaction to Gaucho – Buenos Aires has been extremely positive and encouraging.

Press

In early 2019, Gaucho – Buenos Aires garnered the front cover pages of Marie Claire Argentina and Vogue Italia, one of the most iconic fashion magazines on the globe, who states that Gaucho – Buenos Aires is currently “among the most interesting brands on the Argentinian scene.” Our recent press clippings since our Argentina debut in October 2018 include appearances in some of the most widely read fashion magazines in Latin American fashion, including Forbes Argentina, Revista L’Officiel, Revista Luz, Women’s Wear Daily, Nista, and others.

Gaucho – Buenos Aires Trademarks

We filed a U.S. Trademark Application (Serial No. 87743647) for the Gaucho – Buenos Aires in January 2018, and in February 2019, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance for this mark. This application covers goods and services such as apparel, leather accessories and other products, jewelry, cosmetic fragrances and home goods.

The Company intends to promote Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ so that its name and logo collectively become a recognizable trademark with international appeal. We anticipate seeking trademark protection for other marks as we develop our business and product lines.

Within six months of the Notice of Allowance date, or August 12, 2019, we were required to file a satisfactory Statement of Use if use has occurred, or file for an extension of time. The mark was then in use with some of the goods, but not others. As a result, on August 6, 2019, we filed to divide the application for the goods that were in use for which a Statement of Use was filed, and filed an Extension Request in the existing application for the remaining goods. As the mark was put into use with other of the remaining goods, we filed Statements of Use on August 12, 2020 and August 12, 2021. On April 28, 2020, and October 20, 2020, and October 12, 2021, the trademarks were officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The details of the registrations are:

Registration No. 6,043,175

Registration Date: April 28, 2020

Classes: 18, 25 and 33

Class 25 - T-shirts; tops; shirts; sweaters; hoodies; ponchos; pants; bottoms; shorts; skirts; dresses; jackets; coats; scarves; pocket squares; ties; belts; hosiery; underwear; gloves; footwear; shoes; headwear; hats; caps being headwear

Class 33 – Wines

Registration No. 6,180,633

Registration Date: October 20, 2020

Corrected: February 8, 2022

Classes: 3 and 24

Class 24 – Bed and table linen; bed blankets; bed sheets; pillowcases; comforters; duvets; bath linen

Below are additional marks the Company made filings for in 2021:

Registration No. 6,521,054

Registration Date: October 12, 2021

Classes: 14 and 21

Class 21 – Beverageware; cups; coffee services in the nature of tableware; tea services in the nature of tableware; saucers; serving trays

MAISON GAUCHO – App. No. 90869612 filed August 6, 2021 for:

Class 41 - Casinos

Class 43 - Hotel services; restaurant services; bar services; bar and cocktail lounge services; night club services; dance club services

GAUCHO CASA BUENOS AIRES – App. No. 90869668 filed August 6, 2021 for:

Class 4 - Candles; scented candles

Class 8 - Flatware, namely, forks, knives and spoons; table cutlery; knives; tableware, namely, forks, knives and spoons that are made of precious metals or are precious metal-plated; champagne sabres

Class 11 - Lamps

Class 20 - Furniture; mirrors; picture frames; drapery hardware, namely, traverse rods, poles, curtain hooks, curtain rods and finials

Class 27 - Rugs; wallpapers

PIMA – App. No. 97161615 filed December 8, 2021 for:

Class 3 – Fragrances

MAISON CASABLANCA – App. No. 97161621 filed December 8, 2021 for:

Class 3 – Fragrances

VAMOS SPORT – App. No. 97163672 filed December 9, 2021 for:

Class 3 – Fragrances

GAUCHO FUEGO – App. No. 97182237 filed December 21, 2021 for:

Class 3 – Fragrances

GAUCHO FIRE – App. No. 97182241 filed December 21, 2021 for:

Class 3 – Fragrances

In August 2019, the Company received a notice from Markaria S.A. regarding the use of Gaucho—Buenos Aires in Argentina alleging that such mark may infringe with Markaria’s work clothing brand Gaucho. Markaria has only requested a nullity of the company’s trademark application in Argentina. The Company worked with its Argentine legal counsel to negotiate, distinguish and defend its use of Gaucho—Buenos Aires in Argentina, however it was ultimately agreed that the Company must give up its trademark application and claim in Argentina. The Company instead filed an unopposed trademark application in Argentina for the marks Maison Gaucho Buenos Aires and for Gaucho Casa Buenos Aires. The dispute with Markaria is now resolved, and the use of the Gaucho—Buenos Aires mark in the United States has not been affected, which is the targeted market for the Company.

Argentina Activities

GGH, through its wholly-owned subsidiary and holding company, InvestProperty Group (“IPG”), identifies and develops specific investments in the boutique hotel, hospitality and luxury property markets and in other lifestyle businesses such as wine production and distribution, golf, tennis and real estate development. GGH also operates hotel, hospitality and related properties and is actively seeking to expand its real estate investment portfolio by acquiring additional properties and businesses in Argentina, or by entering into strategic joint ventures. Using GGH’s fine wines as its ambassador, GGH’s mission is to develop a group of real estate projects under its ALGODON® brand with the goal of developing synergies among its luxury properties.

In 2016, GGH formed a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Gaucho Group, Inc. (“GGI”), and in 2019, the entity began developing a platform and infrastructure to manufacture, distribute and sell high end products created in Argentina under the brand name Gaucho – Buenos Aires™. See Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ .

GGH’s senior management is based in Miami. GGH’s local operations are managed by professional staff with substantial hotel, hospitality and resort experience in Buenos Aires and San Rafael, Argentina.

Until May 31, 2020, the Company’s senior management was based at its corporate office in New York City. Due to COVID-19, we have terminated the corporate office lease and senior management works remotely. GGH’s local operations are managed by professional staff with substantial hotel, hospitality and resort experience in Buenos Aires and San Rafael, Argentina.

GGH’s Concept and Business: Repositioning of Hotel Properties, Luxury Destinations and Residential Properties

GGH, through IPG, focuses on opportunities that create value through repositioning of underperforming hotel and commercial assets such as hotel/residential/retail destinations. Repositioning means we are working to gradually increment our average fares to solidify our position as a luxury option. This trend has been well received in large metropolitan areas which have become quite competitive. We believe that the trend is now trickling down to secondary metropolitan, resort and foreign markets where there is significantly less competition from the established major operators. We continue to seek opportunities where value can be added through re-capitalization, repositioning, expansion, improved marketing and/or professional management. We believe that GGH can increase demand for all of a property’s various offerings, from its rooms, to its dining, meeting and entertainment facilities, to its retail establishments through careful branding and positioning of properties. While the maxim remains true that the three most important factors in real estate are “location, location, location,” management believes that “style and superior service” have grown in importance and can lead to increased operating revenues and capital appreciation.

Both pre- and post-COVID-19, we aim at increasing our activity, occupancy and presence in the market by using direct marketing actions (Facebook and Google Ads, Trip Advisor, Online Travel Agencies, internet presence), and expanding our net of travel agencies and operators, introducing effective changes in our direct sales capacity (new sales-oriented webpages, joint ventures with other hotel organizations, training of our reservations employees, implementing new reservation software). We have also reached out to travel industry media operators to develop new strategic relationships and we are implementing a new commercial management operation for a more aggressive approach with a sales-oriented objective. GGH has built a team of industry professionals to assist in implementing its vision toward repositioning real estate assets. See Item 10 - “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance”.

Plan of Operations

GGH continues to implement its growth and development strategy that includes a luxury boutique hotel, a resort estate, vineyard and winery, the sale of high-end fashion, leather goods and accessories, and a large land development project including residential houses within the vineyard. See “Algodon Wine Estates” below.

Long Term Growth Strategy

Our desire is to follow in the footsteps of global leading luxury brands such as Chanel from Paris, Burberry from London, Tom Ford from New York, and Gucci from Milan, and to establish Gaucho as “the Spirit of Argentina” representing Buenos Aires. In doing so, our mission is also to work with the intention of building a multi-billion dollar brand. We believe that through our e-commerce website, we have the potential to achieve significant scale, and add value to our company.

Roll-up Strategy

We believe we are now positioned to utilize the Company’s listing on Nasdaq in a sort of “roll-up strategy” to acquire other companies that fall squarely within or complement the Company’s existing and planned lines of business. For example, we might seek to acquire businesses that offer high-end fashion and accessories, or other luxury products and/or experiential hospitality experiences, the quality of which is consistent with the GGH brand. We seek to become the LVMH (“Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy”) of South America, with the goal of becoming its most well-known luxury brand.

The Company hopes to continue to self-finance future acquisition and development projects because in countries like Argentina, having cash available to purchase land and other assets provides an advantage to buyers. Bank financing in such countries is often difficult or impossible to obtain. To be able to grow our business and expand into new projects, the Company would first want to deploy excess cash generated by operations, but significant amounts of excess cash flow is not anticipated for at least a number of years. Another option would be obtaining new investment funds from investors, including public offerings, and/or borrowing from institutional lenders. GGH may also be able to acquire property for stock instead of cash.

Cobranding and Strategic Alliances

One of GGH’s goals includes positioning its brand ALGODON® as one of luxury. In the past we have formed strategic alliances with well-established luxury brands that have strong followings to create awareness of the GGH brand and help build customer loyalty. Since its inception, GGH has been associated or co-branded with several world-class luxury brands including Relais & Châteaux, Veuve Clicquot Champagne (owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), Nespresso, Porsche, Chanel, Hermès, Art Basel, and Andrew Harper Travel.

Catalysts for Growth

Gaucho Casa Residences

As Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ continues to expand its recognition on a domestic and international basis, another area that we can potentially create value and scale is by licensing our brand to commercial, and residential real estate developments. Current examples of such co-branded developments include: Aston Martin Residences in Miami, Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai, Fendi Chateau Residences in Bal Harbour, Residences by Armani Casa in Miami, Mercedes House in New York, as well Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach.

These fashion houses and automobile manufactures license their brand’s unique styles and unmistakable names to real estate developers, in an effort to create business opportunity. The mutually beneficial model could be a medium through which Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ makes its imprint on the global market. By using our distinct style – employing fine leathers, metals, and natural stones – in the design and construction of such a project, Gaucho – Buenos Aires could add intrinsic value to the parties involved. This creates potential for licensing fees, as well a portion of proceeds from property sales.

Gaucho Casa

Gaucho Casa is a home & living décor brand, owned and operated entirely by GGI, which operates as a sub-brand nestled under Gaucho – Buenos Aires.

Gaucho Casa challenges traditional lifestyle collections with its luxury textiles and home accessories rooted in the singular spirit of the gaucho aesthetic. Using high-quality natural materials sourced from countries that are pioneers in the field of eco production, such as New Zealand, Iceland and, of course, Argentina, each piece within the line embodies the rarefied heritage of Buenos Aires and its deep-rooted connection to artisanship.

Celebrating the equestrian culture that “gaucho country” is world-renowned for, we believe that the collection’s silver-plated trays, bottle accessories and more elegant homeware pieces featuring elaborate horn detailing are a perfect embodiment of the contemporary glamour of Buenos Aires. Naturally, the epic wild landscapes have had their own influences, with a curated edit of sheepskin rugs, Tibetan cashmere cushions, mohair throws and Brazilian cow-hide cushions, providing the perfect partnership of form and function – and a chic complement to the more modern details in your home. Whether you’re looking to embrace the gaucho lifestyle or bring a touch of the country to the city, Gaucho Casa offers an organic design DNA for every interior space, ideal for modern living.

In recent years, there has been a rise of boutique hotel home goods collections such as by Marriott, who led the way with its debut of Autograph Collection. Others that have followed include Curio by Hilton (Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio), and The Unbound Collection (part of the Hyatt Hotels group). We envision the possibility of Gaucho – Buenos Aires utilizing Algodon Mansion as a launch point for a collection of hotel bedding, pillows, linens and robes. Likewise, Argentina’s “La Belle Époque” could serve as a reliable source of inspiration for a multitude of luxury consumer goods, including home soft-furnishings. Argentina’s rich Polo heritage might also serve as a reliable foundation for a collection of high-end, contemporary leather home furnishings for anything from armchairs and sofas to lamps and photo frames.

Gaucho – Kids Collection

We envision the possibility of a designer baby and kids’ clothes collection at Gaucho – Buenos Aires, so that parents who love our brand can treat their children to a luxury line of fun, Gaucho-inspired clothing for kids . We envision building this line around the idea of creating comfy, well-made garments that allow kids to be creative in the way they dress. Gaucho Kids may include, for example, branded onesies and toddler t-shirts, whimsical prints that foster imagination and individuality, and other unique printed separates for kids who don’t mind standing out in a crowd.

Gaucho – Buenos Aires Boutique at Algodon Mansion

Located in the ground floor lobby of Algodon Mansion, the future location (anticipated opening in the fourth quarter of 2021) of our boutique store is just a stroll away from the city’s main shopping boulevards on Alvear. The Gaucho – Buenos Aires boutique will be open to receive direct foot traffic from shoppers along Montevideo. Emulating the great boutiques and ateliers of Europe’s fashion capitals, we believe that Algodon Mansion is an inspiring space in which to shop our collection. Built in 1912, the building connects us to the bygone glamor of the city’s golden age – and plays an important role in defining Gaucho Buenos Aires’ ethos and aesthetic.

Popup Shops

Popup shops are a popular trend that can be a low cost means of creating a temporary store front focusing on spreading brand awareness, communicating brand values, collecting customer data, and providing personalized experiences. This can also provide a way for Gaucho – Buenos Aires build a relationship with customers in person, while driving conversion on more cost-effective digital channels. We envision popup shops in U.S. cities such as Aspen, Austin, Dallas and Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, Berlin and Barcelona. With popup shops, we can work with local PR companies to get the word out, as these opportunities are typically promoted via direct mail, PR and digital marketing efforts, as well as word of mouth and strategic geographic positioning. We also anticipate installing a popup shop during the summer season in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, which is a popular vacation spot for wealthy Argentines and other Latin Americans.

Currency Devaluation

A currency devaluation can help Argentina tourism, enticing foreign holidaymakers seeking to make their vacation money stretch further. Vacationers looking for the most representative souvenirs of Argentina and its culture may know the country is best known for its leather. With hundreds of domestic tanneries, Argentina’s has high quality production of cow, sheep and goat leather goods such as jackets, shoes and handbags.

A devalued peso may also aid Argentina’s wine exporters by improving market competitiveness and leading to higher revenues. Additionally, non-leveraged real estate can be a hedge against inflation, and we believe that over time our land values may perform well.

While our contracts and vendors are largely payable in pesos, which is favorable to us given the current exchange rate of the peso against the U.S. dollar, the downside is that the Argentine market is somewhat closed off for our Gaucho brand goods and our wines. Even though we produce some Gaucho goods in Argentina and we are able to realize a higher margin by selling outside of Argentina, we also do have some goods produced in the U.S. at a higher cost and our margins are therefore much lower.

Further, our real estate and hotel operations are stated in U.S. dollars, which can be seen as less desirable than stating in pesos and could have a negative effect on demand for those parts of our business.

The ALGODON® Brand

We believe that the force and power of brand is of paramount importance in the luxury real estate/hotel market. GGH has developed the ALGODON® brand, which is inspired by both the Cotton Club days of the Roaring 20’s and the distinctive style and glamour of the 50’s Rat Pack when travel and leisure was synonymous with cultural sophistication. This brand concept was taken from the Spanish word for “cotton” and we believe that this connotes a clean and pure appreciation for the good life, a sense of refined culture, and ultimately a destination where the best elements of the illustrious past meet the affluent present. GGH is looking to attract attention and upscale demographic visitors to the ALGODON® properties and to round out the brand experience in various other forms including music, dining, wine, sports and apparel, by marketing themes that highlight active lifestyles and the pleasures of life. Management believes that these types of brand extensions will serve to reinforce the overall brand recognition and further build upon GGH’s presence in the luxury hotel segment.

Description of Specific Investment Projects

GGH has invested in two ALGODON® brand properties located in Argentina. The first property is Algodon Mansion, a Buenos Aires-based luxury boutique hotel that opened in 2010 and is owned by IPG’s subsidiary, The Algodon – Recoleta S.R.L. (“TAR”). The second property, owned by Algodon Wine Estates S.R.L., is a Mendoza-based winery and golf resort called Algodon Wine Estates, consisting of 4,138 acres, which was subdivided for residential development and expanded by acquiring adjoining wine producing properties.

Algodon Mansion

The Company, through TAR, has renovated a hotel in the Recoleta section of Buenos Aires called Algodon Mansion, a six-story mansion (including roof-top facilities and basement) located at 1647 Montevideo Street, a tree-lined street in Recoleta, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. The property is approximately 20,000 square feet and is a ten-suite high-end luxury hotel with a lounge/living room area, a patio area featuring a glass ceiling and fireplace, and a private wine tasting room. The property also includes a rooftop that houses an open-air lounge and terrace pool. Each guest room is an ultra-luxury two-to-three room suite, each approximately 510-1,200 square feet. Recoleta is Buenos Aires’ embassy and luxury hotel district and has fashionable boutiques, high-end restaurants, cafés, art galleries, and opulent belle époque architecture.

Below is a table showing occupancy data, average daily rate and revenue per available room (“RevPAR”) for Algodon Mansion:

⁽¹⁾Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been updated such that the occupancy rates are based only on the rooms or beds available during the year, excluding rooms or beds unavailable due to COVID-19 closures and restrictions.

Past guests of Algodon Mansion include President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, Roger Federer, Bobby Flay, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Mardy Fish, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Maguy Maccario Doyle, the Principality of Monaco’s Ambassador to the United States. Algodon Mansion was featured in an article by Huffington Post in January 2018, which praised the luxurious accommodations, impressive suites, and fine amenities of the hotel.

In both 2019 and 2018, Algodon Mansion was inducted to TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame, a distinction given to recognize hotels that have won its Certificate of Excellence award for five consecutive years. Algodon Mansion won the Certificate of Excellence award for the years 2014 through 2019. The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates businesses that have continually delivered a quality customer experience, taking into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

Algodon Wine Estates

Algodon Wine Estates S.R.L. (“AWE”) is 4,138-acre area located in the Cuadro Benegas district of San Rafael, Mendoza, now known as Algodon Wine Estates. The resort property is part of the Mendoza wine region nestled in the foothills of the Andes mountain range. This property includes a winery (whose vines date back to the mid-1940’s), a 9-hole golf course, tennis, restaurant and hotel. The estate is situated on Mendoza’s Ruta del Vino (Wine Trail). The 4,138-acre property has an impressive lineage, both in terms of wine production and golf, and features structures on the property that date back to 1921.

Algodon Wine Estates features Algodon Villa, a private lodge originally built in 1921, that has been fully restored and refurbished to its original farmhouse design of adobe walls and cane roof. The lodge offers three suites, a gallery for private gatherings, a living area that may also serve as a dining and conference room, swimming pool, and adjacent vine-covered picnic area. The Algodon Villa offers five-star service and is situated for vacationing families, business conferences, retreat travelers, golfing companions, or wine route globe trekkers. Algodon Wine Estates has also recently completed the construction of a new lodge which lies adjacent to the original one. The new lodge features six additional suites and a gallery with two fireplaces and a bar.

Below is a table showing occupancy data, ADR and RevPAR for Algodon Wine Estates:

⁽¹⁾Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been updated such that the occupancy rates are based only on the rooms or beds available during the year, excluding rooms or beds unavailable due to COVID-19 closures and restrictions.

In 2018, Algodon Wine Estates was inducted to TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame, a distinction given to recognize hotels that have won its Certificate of Excellence award for five consecutive years. Algodon Wine Estates won the Certificate of Excellence award for the years 2014 through 2019. The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates businesses that have continually delivered a quality customer experience, taking into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

Algodon Fine Wines

Algodon Wine Estates contains a vineyard with 290 acres of vines. Over 60 acres have been cultivated since the 1940’s, and approximately 20 acres since the 1960’s. The property produces eight varieties of grapes, including Argentina’s signature varietal, Malbec, as well as Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Semillon. The primary difference between the old and new vines is the style of pruning. Algodon Wine Estates utilizes a boutique wine making process, typified by production of a low volume of premium wines sold at a higher than average price in the market.

In an effort to increase distribution of its wines, Algodon Wine Estates is working with a number of importers operating in some of the world’s chief markets for premium wines. In Europe, Algodon Wine Estates warehouses its wines in Amsterdam for central distribution to clients in Germany and in the U.K. through Condor Wines (www.condorwines.co.uk), which works with regional distribution partners throughout the U.K. such as hotel and restaurant chains, regional and national brewers, pub companies, wholesalers and wine merchants. In the United States, Algodon Fine Wines is available for sale online at Sherry-Lehmann.com (which ships to 39 states), at Sherry-Lehmann’s iconic retail store in New York City, at Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods retail stores in Texas, and Wally’s Wine & Spirits retail store located in Los Angeles. GGH’s Fine Wine’s Malbec has been featured on the esteemed wine lists of West London’s The Fat Duck, a Michelin 3-Star Restaurant, and arguably the U.K.’s most famous eatery, as well as London’s Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, A Michelin 3-Star Restaurant, also the exclusive London wine club, 67 Pall Mall, and the exclusive wine list of Buenos Aires’ fine dining restaurant, Parrilla Don Julio, one of Argentina’s most high-profile eateries.

Founded in 2013, Seaview Imports is a national importer of fine wines from France, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile. Headquartered in Port Washington, NY, the company distributes its products in twenty-five select states through wholesalers and state boards. Their producers are leaders in their regions and their portfolios are all exceptional in quality and value. For further information, please visit www.seaviewimports.com.

Seaview’s philosophy in building Algodon as a brand in the United States has been to select high-profile, quality-oriented retailers whom we believe have high credibility in speaking to their wine constituency. We believe it is reasonable to conclude that consumer confidence (within the fine wine industry) can be positively influenced by the endorsement of a well-respected wine merchant. These “Algodon Brand Ambassadors” can not only promote Algodon, its history and vision, but can serve as the go-to wine shop for the shareholders, friends and family of Algodon aficionados. In tandem with building a network of brand ambassador retailers, an additional initiative is to engage a fine wine distributor in select cosmopolitan markets that can provide smaller independent retail and on-premise (restaurant) coverage.

Current Distribution Markets (as of the first quarter of 2022)

Markets - scheduled by Seaview for 2022

None of the understandings with wine importers constitute a binding commitment by either party to produce, import or export the Company’s wines; performance by any of the parties is dependent upon numerous factors such as economic and political climate, consumer spending, weather, the Company’s ability to continue wine production operations, the market acceptance of the Company’s products, and other matters described in Item 1A - “Risk Factors”.

AWE uses microvinification (barrel fermentation) for its premium varietals and blends. Microvinification is commonly used in France, but is uncommon in Argentina, and Algodon Wine Estates is one of the few wineries in the country to implement this specialized process.

James Galtieri holds the title of Senior Wine Advisor on GGH’s Advisory Board. James is a founding partner and former President/CEO of Pasternak Wine Imports, a renowned national wine importer and distributor, founded in 1988 in partnership with Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). He currently maintains an advisory role to Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), and he is the current President/CEO at Seaview Imports LLC., a national wine importer (based in New York) covering the U.S. market with high-quality, exclusive wine brands. James has considerable background and experience in wine knowledge and wine market dynamics, and he is specialized in corporate management in the wine & spirit industry.

In the third quarter of 2020, Algodon Fine Wines launched e-commerce websites in both the U.S. and Argentina.

In September 2020, Algodon Fine Wines announced the launch of an e-commerce initiative servicing patrons in Argentina, at AlgodonWines.com.ar. The e-commerce store sells and ships Algodon wines direct from its San Rafael, Mendoza winery to consumers living in Argentina. This debut is part of an expanded effort to rollout the brand’s premium Malbec-based wines, as well as the rest of the Algodon portfolio of award-winning varietals and blends.

In September 2020, Algodon Fine Wines also launched an e-commerce initiative servicing the United States, with the backend warehousing and fulfillment provided by the California-based distributer VinPorter Wine Merchants, at AlgodonFineWines.com. The e-commerce store, powered by VinPorter, links to a virtual storefront showcasing the Algodon wines currently distributed in the U.S. This debut is part of an expanded U.S. rollout for Premium Malbec-based wines, as well as the rest of the Algodon portfolio of award-winning varietals and blends. In addition to the Algodon Fine Wines site powered by VinPorter, Algodon wines are also available throughout the U.S. both in-store and online at such retailers as Spec’s, Sherry-Lehmann, The Noble Grape and Wine-Searcher.com (among others).

Algodon’s premium wines have received a number of top awards and ratings from the world’s foremost tasting competitions including Gold Medals from the prestigious Global Masters Wine Competition, comprised of master sommeliers. Algodon’s Black Label Reserves represent the best selection from Algodon with 100% microvinified blends whose low yield produces full concentration of fruit and flavor. Algodon’s complete portfolio of fine wines is currently available in wine bars, wine shops, restaurants and hotels in Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Germany, Switzerland, Guernsey, U.K., the Netherlands and the United States.

Algodon Wine Estates – Real Estate Development

AWE has acquired a total of 4,138 acres of contiguous real estate surrounding its project in Mendoza, Argentina. This land was purchased with the purpose of developing a vineyard-resort and attracting investment in second or third homes for the well-to-do from around the world. GGH continues to invest in the ongoing costs of building out infrastructure and anticipates that sales of lots will gradually improve and accelerate as worldwide economic conditions improve.

GGH is currently marketing portions of the property to be developed into luxury residential homes and vineyard estates. Management believes that the power of the ALGODON® brand combined with an attractive package of amenities will promote interest in the surrounding real estate. The estate’s master plan features a luxury golf and vineyard living community, made up of six distinct village sectors, with 610 home sites ranging in size from 0.2 to 2.8 hectares (0.5 to 7 acres) for private sale and development. The development’s village sectors have been designed and named in accordance with their characteristic surroundings and landscape: the Wine & Golf Village, the Polo & Equestrian Village, the Sierra Pintada Village, The North Vineyard & Orchard Village, The South Vineyard & Orchard Village, and the Desert Vista Village. The development is located fifteen minutes from both the local airport and city center.

In April 2019, GGH announced that it reached an agreement with Compass Real Estate to market and sell home sites at Algodon Wine Estates. Compass Real Estate (www.compass.com), dubbed “the country’s fastest-growing luxury real estate technology brokerage company” by Forbes Magazine, is set to revamp Algodon Wine Estates’ marketing and global sales initiatives by utilizing its network of 7,000 agents and over 1,000 employees. Compass’ business model has attracted investment capital from Fidelity, Softbank, Goldman Sachs, and several other corporations and individuals.

GGH is developing lots for sale to third party builders and is not engaged in any construction activity. To date, twenty-five lots have been sold. The Company has closed on the sale of all 25 lots and recorded revenue of $1,468,000. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has $622,453 of deposits for pending sales. There are 320 lots that remain unsold as of March 30, 2021.

Potential Value Creation

After an official “arm’s length” evaluation of the entire property (including the additional recently acquired 2,000 acres), we estimate the discovery and potential development of underground aquifers could help increase the value of the parcel. Due to the prohibition of developing new wells in Mendoza City Metro Area, it may be positive to take advantage of the lack of regulations in San Rafael. Additionally, the current administration of Mendoza Province has asked (upon approval of the Company) to construct a major road through the far reaches of the property in an effort to link the popular tourist destinations of Valle Grande, and Los Reyunos. This development could in effect raise the commercial value of the land significantly, as well as open up potential rental-income opportunities from storefronts, gas stations, and other businesses.

In November 2020, we began the process of drilling two water wells at Algodon Wine Estates, which we believe can significantly increase the value of the land. This initiative can allow us direct access to natural aquifers that can be utilized for a variety of infrastructural and landscape initiatives including crop production capabilities, residential and commercial development potential, or property resale. We received approval for, and have completed drilling, two wells, and are currently awaiting approval for a third well. In the future, we intend to apply for permits to add three additional water wells throughout the 4,138 acre property.

Owning real estate in Argentina is subject to risk. For more information see “Risk Factors.”

Hollywood Burger Argentina

In September 2021, Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. announced that its shareholders had approved the purchase of additional land holdings in Argentina in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.4 million. The purchase price was determined from an evaluation of the real estate performed by an independent third-party.

Located in Argentina, the properties were acquired from the related, but independent entity, Hollywood Burger Holdings, Inc. (“HBH”). One of the property lots is located in the San Rafael, Mendoza region of Argentina, and the other in Córdoba, Argentina, with the estimated fair market value of the combined properties totaling approximately $2.4 Million. Both properties are located on major thoroughfares, seeing significant foot and street traffic, and both with ample parking, a feature considered a rare benefit in Argentine cities.

For more information see Item 9B.

Projects and Business Initiatives in Development

GGH’s luxury branded assets include fine experiences through our award-winning wines and exceptional luxury destinations. Our U.S.-based e-commerce website GauchoBuenosAires.com is designed to deliver Argentine luxury goods to the U.S. marketplace and elsewhere around the globe. We believe the potential for scale here is particularly significant as Argentina is now making noteworthy re-entry to international trade. With Argentina in the process of re-opening its borders, we believe it is poised to regain its status as a cultural and fashion exporter, and that there may be a sizeable appetite in the U.S. and elsewhere for luxury products that feature a distinctly Argentine point of view. We are excited about the potential for scale here.

Competition

The online luxury fashion business is highly competitive. The apparel industry is characterized by rapid shifts in fashion, consumer demand, and competitive pressures, resulting in both price and demand volatility. We believe that our emphasis on fine leather goods, accessories and apparel mitigates these factors.

We believe that the fit and quality of our garments, as well as the broad variety of colors and styles, our Gaucho and distinctly Argentine inspiration, as well as the contemporary luxury garments and accessories that we offer helps to differentiate us. We compete against a wide variety of smaller, independent specialty stores, as well as department stores and national and international specialty chains. Companies that operate in this space include, but are not limited to, Rag & Bone, Theory, Maison Kitsune, Vince, and All Saints. Many of these companies have substantially greater name recognition than Gaucho – Buenos Aires. Many of these companies also have greater financial, marketing, and other resources when compared to Gaucho – Buenos Aires.

Along with the competitive factors noted above, other key competitive factors for Gaucho – Buenos Aires online e-commerce operations include the success or effectiveness of customer mailing lists, advertising response rates, merchandise delivery, web site design and web site availability. The online e-commerce operations compete against numerous web sites, many of which may have a greater volume of web traffic, and greater financial, marketing, and other resources.

Government Regulation

With respect to the Company’s clothing line, pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission, clothing exported from Argentina to the U.S. must have a label that contains the country of origin and the composition of the item. Additional information can be found here: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/threading-your-way-through-labeling-requirements-under-textile.

With respect to the Company’s wine production, please see Item 1A - “Risk Factors”. Additional information may be found here: https://www.ttb.gov/itd/international-imports-exports-requirements.

Human Capital Resources

Our experienced employees and management team are some of our most valuable resources, and we are committed to attracting, motivating, and retaining top professionals. Including the operating subsidiaries in Argentina, as of the date of this annual report, the Company has approximately 80 full-time employees. In Argentina, GGH also employs temporary, seasonal employees during the busy harvest season. In the United States, GGH employs approximately 5 full-time employees as of the date of this annual report. None of the employees in the United States are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and management believes it has good relations with its employees.

Our success is directly related to the satisfaction, growth, and development of our employees. We strive to offer a work environment where employee opinions are valued and allow our employees to use and augment their professional skills. To achieve our human capital goals, we intend to remain focused on providing our personnel with entrepreneurial opportunities to expand our business within their areas of expertise and continue to provide our personnel with personal and professional growth. The Company emphasizes several measures and objectives in managing our human capital assets, including, among others, employee safety and wellness, talent acquisition and retention, employee engagement, development and training, diversity and inclusion, and compensation and pay equity.

COVID-19 and Employee Safety and Wellness. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented significant changes that we determined were in the best interest of our employees as well as the communities in which we operate. These measures include allowing all employees to work from home. We believe in supporting our employees’ health and well-being. Our goal is to help employees make informed decisions about their health by providing the tools and resources necessary to achieve a healthier lifestyle. We offer our employees a wide array of benefits such as life and health (medical, dental, and vision) insurance, paid time off and retirement benefits, as well as emotional well-being services through our health insurance program.

Diversity and Inclusion and Ethical Business Practices. We believe that a company culture focused on diversity and inclusion is a crucial driver of creativity and innovation. We also believe that diverse and inclusive teams make better business decisions, ultimately driving better business outcomes. We are committed to recruiting, retaining, and developing high-performing, innovative and engaged employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This commitment includes providing equal access to, and participation in, equal employment opportunities, programs, and services without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, stereotypes, or assumptions based thereon. We welcome and celebrate our teams’ differences, experiences, and beliefs, and we are investing in a more engaged, diverse, and inclusive workforce.

We also foster a strong corporate culture that promotes high standards of ethics and compliance for our business, including policies that set forth principles to guide employee, officer, director, and vendor conduct, such as our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We also maintain a whistleblower policy and anonymous hotline for the confidential reporting of any suspected policy violations or unethical business conduct on the part of our businesses, employees, officers, directors, or vendors.

Due to the pandemic, on May 31, 2020 Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. terminated its office lease at 135 Fifth Avenue in New York City. All senior management of Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. have been working remotely since then. The Company’s principal office is currently located at 112 NE 41st Street, Suite 106, Miami, Florida 33137. The telephone number remains the same at +1-212-739-7700. The Company is licensed to do business in New York and Florida.

Ticker Symbol

The Company uplisted its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) effective as of February 16, 2021, and the common stock commenced trading on Nasdaq effective as of February 17, 2021 under the symbol “VINO”.

Available Information

Effective upon the uplist of the Company’s common stock to Nasdaq, we have updated our corporate governance policies. We maintain a website at http://www.gauchogroup.com. The information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available on our website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish those reports to, the SEC.

In addition, we maintain our corporate governance documents on our website here: https://ir.gauchoholdings.com/corporate-governance/governance-documents, including:

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves certain risks relating to our structure and investment objective. The risks set forth below are the risks we have identified and which we currently deem material or predictable. We also may face additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or which as of the date of this Annual Report we might not consider significant, which may adversely affect our business. In general, you take more risk when you invest in the securities of issuers in emerging markets such as Argentina than when you invest in the securities of issuers in the United States. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, our net asset value and the price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

In evaluating the Company, its business and any investment in the Company, readers should carefully consider the following factors:

Risks Relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic

We face significant business disruption and related risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We temporarily closed our hotel, restaurant, winery operations, and golf and tennis operations. On October 19, 2020, we re-opened our winery and golf and tennis facilities with COVID-19 measures implemented. Most recently, we reopened the Algodon Mansion as of November 11, 2020 with COVID-19 measures implemented. Due to COVID-19, construction on homes was temporarily halted from March to September but has resumed. As of January 1, 2022, fully vaccinated individuals may enter Argentina as tourists without needing to quarantine.

On April 8, 2021, GGI entered into a seven-year lease for retail space located at 112 N.E. 41^st Street, Suite 106, in Miami, Florida to sell its Gaucho – Buenos Aires™ products. The space is approximately 1,530 square feet. The Company reduced expenses by negotiating an early termination of our office lease at 135 Fifth Avenue in New York City, and all employees and contractors are currently working from home. In addition, we are reviewing our labor needs to run the administrative side of the Company in Miami.

Beginning Monday, April 13, 2020, GGI’s warehouse and fulfillment center, Bergen Logistics, announced it would operate on a four-day schedule from Monday through Thursday, allowing for a 72-hour window from Friday through Sunday for any possible surface viruses to self-eliminate. On June 12, 2020 Bergen Logistics announced that it would increase its warehouse operations to a Sunday through Friday schedule. The warehouse stores and ships items that are for sale on our e-commerce website. Any e-commerce orders that might have been received during the time of shutdown could only be fulfilled once the fulfillment center re-opened. Likewise, during their shutdown, the warehouse was not able to receive and process any returned merchandise from customers, nor could the warehouse receive any merchandise from our manufacturers. Bergen is currently operating on a normal schedule, from 7am through 6pm, Monday through Saturday.

Throughout the pandemic, we also experienced significant delays in product development, production, and shipping from our overseas manufacturing partners, many of whom have been on complete lockdown for the safety of their workers. Some of our manufacturing partners have even had to close permanently. Because of this, we have had to pursue relationships with new vendors.

Due to the events stated above, it was necessary for us to reduce our email marketing efforts to our customer database, as we were not able to fulfill orders. This resulted in a significant reduction in our web traffic and sales.

The Company is continuing to monitor the outbreak of COVID-19 and the related business and travel restrictions, and changes to behavior intended to reduce its spread, and the related impact on the Company’s operations, financial position and cash flows, as well as the impact on its employees. Due to the rapid development and fluidity of this situation, the magnitude and duration of the pandemic and its impact on the Company’s future operations and liquidity is uncertain. While there could ultimately be a material impact on operations and liquidity of the Company, as of the date of this annual report, the impact cannot be determined at this time.

Due to the economic hardships presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we obtained a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP Loan”) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). We are not entitled to forgiveness under state law for the PPP Loan which could negatively impact our cash flow.

On May 6, 2020, the Company received a loan from the SBA pursuant to the PPP enacted by Congress under the CARES Act, resulting in net proceeds of $242,487. To facilitate the PPP Loan, the Company entered into a note payable agreement with Santander Bank, N.A. as the lender. On March 26, 2021, the SBA forgave the PPP Loan in full and will not be taxed on the federal level. However, we will be taxed on the forgiveness of the proceeds under Florida tax law.

War in the Ukraine may impact the business of the Company and the financial markets in which the Company needs to raise capital.

Political turmoil, warfare, or terrorist attacks in Ukraine could negatively affect our business. Political and military events in Ukraine, including the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as ongoing tensions and intermittent warfare between Ukraine may have an adverse impact on our ability to grow our business and negatively affect our results of operations.

The uncertainty impacting and potential interruption in supply chains resulting from military hostilities in Europe and the response of the United States and other countries to it by means of trade and economic sanctions, or other actions, may give rise to increases in costs of goods and services generally and may impact the market for our products as prospective customers reconsider additional capital expenditure, or other investment plans until the situation becomes clearer.

 For so long as the hostilities continue and perhaps even thereafter as the situation in Europe unfolds, we may see increased volatility in financial markets and a flight to safety by investors, which may impact our stock price and make it more difficult for the Company to raise additional capital at the time when it needs to do so, or for financing to be available upon acceptable terms. All or any of these risks separately, or in combination could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. We cannot predict the timing, strength, or duration of any economic slowdown, instability or recovery.

Risks Relating to Argentina

As of the date of this annual report, the majority of our operations, property and sales are located in Argentina. As a result, the quality of our assets, our financial condition and the results of our operations are dependent upon the macroeconomic, regulatory, social and political conditions prevailing in Argentina from time to time. These conditions include growth rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, taxes, foreign exchange controls, changes to interest rates, changes to government policies, social instability, and other political, economic or international developments either taking place in, or otherwise affecting, Argentina.

Economic and political instability in Argentina may adversely and materially affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Argentine economy has experienced significant volatility in recent decades, characterized by periods of low or negative GDP growth, high and variable levels of inflation and currency depreciation and devaluation. The economy has experienced high inflation and GDP growth has been sluggish in the last few years. In October of 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published the “World Economic Outlook” report. The IMF report suggests that after contracting 9.9 percent in 2020, the Argentine Real GDP is expected to have grown by 7.5 percent in 2021, with a growth of 2.5 percent forecasted in 2022.

In its October 12, 2020 Staff Statement on Argentina, the IMF noted that Argentina is facing economic and social difficulties relating to the unprecedented health crisis created by COVID-19. The IMF stated that the resulting recession is contributing to an increase in already elevated poverty and unemployment levels.

According to a Fourth Quarter 2021 Argentina Economic Outlook published by BBVA Research on October 27, 2021, inflation would reach 50% in 2021, and was further forecasted to reach 54% in 2022.

The operating environment in Argentina continues to be a challenging business environment, including the continuing significant devaluation of Argentina’s currency, high inflation and economic recession. Volatility and declines in the exchange rate are expected in the future, which could have an adverse impact on our Argentine revenues, net earnings, cash flows and net monetary asset position.

On December 10, 2015, Mauricio Macri took office as the new president of Argentina, along with his former finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay and Luis Caputo, who replaced Prat-Gay in late 2016. President Macri has made a number of decisions in pursuit of economic reform, including removing currency controls. Following Prat-Gray’s December 2015 announcement that the currency controls would be lifted, the exchange rate of the peso fell from 9.8 pesos per U.S. dollar to 14 pesos per U.S. dollar, resulting in a 30% devaluation of the peso. By August 2019, inflation had risen to more than 50%. Mr. Macri’s approach to the economy has been one of gradualism, but the economy has suffered and his structural economic reforms have hurt poor and middle-class families in Argentina. As a result, Alberto Fernández won the election as President on October 27, 2019 and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner won as Vice President and both took office on December 10, 2019. In late December of 2019, President Fernández’s emergency economic reform package was passed by Congress and was intended to decrease poverty and reduce inflation. The economic reform package included, among other things, tax increases, restrictions on the currency market, and debt renegotiations.

Given the political climate and the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, it is not certain what other changes may take place or what the impact of the changes may be on the economy of Argentina. Our discussion below is based on recent history.

Economic and Political Risks Specific to Argentina

The Argentinian economy has been characterized by frequent and occasionally extensive intervention by the Argentinian government and by unstable economic cycles. The Argentinian government has often changed monetary, taxation, credit, tariff and other policies to influence the course of Argentina’s economy, and taken other actions which do, or are perceived to weaken the nation’s economy especially as it relates to foreign investors and other overall investment climate. The Argentine peso has devalued significantly against the U.S. dollar, from about 6.1 Argentine pesos per dollar in December 2013 to approximately 106.67 pesos per dollar in February 2022.

In June 24, 2021, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) index stated that it would reclassify the Argentina Index from Emerging Markets to Standalone Market status during its November index review. Investors considering an investment in GGH should be mindful of these potential political and financial risks.

Argentina’s economy may not support foreign investment or our business.

Currently there is significant inflation, labor unrest, and currency deflation, in addition to a potential recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. There has also been significant governmental intervention into the Argentine economy, including price controls, foreign currency restrictions, and debt restructuring negotiations. As a result, uncertainty remains as to whether economic growth in Argentina is sustainable and whether foreign investment will be successful.

Since July 1, 2018, Argentina has had a highly inflationary economy, which may continue to increase our accounting and legal costs.

The International Practices Task Force (“IPTF”) of the Center for Audit Quality discussed the inflationary status of Argentina at its meeting on May 16, 2018 and, as further described in its May 16, 2018 Document for Discussion, it categorized Argentina as a country with a projected three-year cumulative inflation rate greater than 100%. Therefore, the Company transitioned its Argentine operations to highly inflationary status as of July 1, 2018. As a result, the Company was required to change the functional currency of its Argentine operations to the U.S. dollar, effective as of July 1, 2018. For operations in highly inflationary economies, monetary asset and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. Income and expense accounts are translated at the weighted average exchange rate in effect during the period. Translation adjustments are reflected in loss on foreign currency translation on the accompanying statements of operations.

Past efforts by Argentina to nationalize businesses.

In April 2012, then Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced her decision to nationalize YPF, the country’s largest oil company, from its majority stakeholder, thus contributing to declining faith from foreign investors in the country and again resulting in a downgrade by Standard and Poor’s of Argentina’s economic and financial outlook to “negative”. There were other discussions in Argentina about the possibility of nationalizing other businesses and industries under former President Kirchner, and she was elected a Senator in late 2017. She has made several public statements about her intent to debate everything and take firm positions on her political ideals.

As a result of the primary held in August 2019, where Mr. Macri earned only 32% of the vote in primary elections due to voters’ anger over austerity measures, the deep recession and soaring inflation, the peso fell about 17% against the dollar and Argentina’s bonds and stocks plunged. On October 27, 2019, Alberto Fernández won as President of Argentina with Ms. de Kirchner becoming Vice President. Ms. de Kirchner has remained a prominent political figure in Argentina, and there has been speculation surrounding the influence that Ms. de Kirchner may have over Mr. Fernández’s policies. In June of 2020, President Fernández announced his plan to nationalize Vicentin SAIC, a major Argentine soybean processor. There is no assurance that any investment in GGH will be safe from government control or nationalization.

Due to the Company’s operations in Argentina, the Company is exposed to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates.

Due to the international nature of Gaucho Group Holdings’ business, movements in foreign exchange rates may impact the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated balance sheets and cash flows of the Company. Since almost all of the Company’s sales are located in Argentina, the Company’s consolidated net sales are impacted negatively by the strengthening or positively by the weakening of the U.S. dollar as compared to Argentina’s currencies. Additionally, movements in the foreign exchange rates may unfavorably or favorably impact the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. In October 2020, Argentina’s central bank introduced measures to tighten controls on the movement of foreign currency, which resulted in a decline of the Argentine peso. The Argentine peso is stated at approximately 106.67 Argentine pesos per US dollar as of February 2022.

Argentina’s ability to obtain financing from international markets is limited, which may impair its ability to implement reforms and foster economic growth.

After the economic crisis in 2002, the Argentine government has maintained a policy of fiscal surplus. To be able to repay its debt, the Argentine government may be required to continue adopting austere fiscal measures that could adversely affect economic growth.

In 2005 and 2010, Argentina restructured over 91% of its sovereign debt that had been in default since the end of 2001. Some of the creditors who did not participate in the 2005 or 2010 exchange offers continued their pursuit of a legal action against Argentina for the recovery of debt.

A U.S. Court of Appeals blocked the most recent debt payment made by Argentina in June 2014 because it was improperly structured, giving Argentina through the end of July 2014 to find a way to pay to fulfill its obligations. In March 2015, more than 500 creditors, separate from the hedge fund creditors, filed suit against Argentina for payment on the debt of $5.4 billion. Argentina filed a motion opposing those claims noting that there were now $10 billion in judgments and claims before the court. In February 2016, Argentina and four of its major bond creditors entered into a settlement agreement whereby Argentina agreed to pay roughly $4.65 billion to those creditors to resolve the fifteen-year litigation. Subsequently, Argentina has also entered into settlement agreements with other bond default creditors who were not party to the original settlement which, in the aggregate, could have an estimated dollar value upwards of $10 billion.

As a result of Argentina’s default and its aftermath of litigation, the government may not have the financial resources necessary to implement reforms and foster economic growth, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the country’s economy and, consequently, our businesses and results of operations. Furthermore, Argentina’s inability to obtain credit in international markets could have a direct impact on our own ability to access international credit markets to finance our operations and growth.

In April of 2016, after settling the litigation, Argentina was able to return to the international debt markets with a $16.5 billion century bond. The attractiveness of a century bond is debatable amongst investment advisers and its impact over the long-term in is this case unknown. In 2017, Argentina engaged in additional sales of bonds on international markets for around $13.4 billion. There can be no assurance that the Argentine government will not default on its obligations under these or any of its bonds if it experiences another economic crisis or has a change in political control. A new default by the Argentine government could lead to a new recession, even higher inflation, restrictions on Argentine companies access to financing and funds, limit the operations of Argentine companies in the international markets, higher unemployment and social unrest, which would negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2018, the Argentine Government entered into a US$50 billion, 36-month stand-by arrangement with the IMF. This measure was intended to halt the significant depreciation of the peso during the first half of 2018. In December 2018, the IMF completed a second review under the stand-by arrangement and although there were indications that the financial markets in Argentina have stabilized since the end of September 2018 following the adoption of the new monetary policy framework, the IMF noted that external risks are centered around an unanticipated tightening of global financial conditions, which could resurface concerns about Argentina’s ability to meet its large gross financing needs. The IMF also warned that greater than expected inertia in the inflation process may delay the expected easing of monetary policy and generate a greater economic loss during the needed disinflation and that a deeper recession or more persistent inflation could generate a more forceful opposition to the policies underpinning the program and hinder their implementation.

In August 2020, Argentina reported that it had successfully negotiated a restructuring of close to $65 billion in debt with large US investment firms. The government predicted that the deal will bring in billions of dollars in financial relief over the 2020-2030 term and help cut interest rates on foreign bonds by 4%. However, only weeks after the restructuring, investors criticized the Argentine government’s mismanagement of the economy, and bonds issued in September had already fallen 25 percent. Most recently, Argentina has begun working with the IMF to repackage close to $45 billion of debt owed to the fund. In a January 28, 2022 IMF Staff Statement on Argentina, the IMF stated that the parties have reached an understanding on key policies of an IMF-supported program, and they will continue working toward reaching an agreement.

The Argentine government may again place currency limitations on withdrawals of funds.

Through 2015, the Argentine government, led by then president Cristina Fernández, instituted economic controls that included limiting the ability of individuals and companies to exchange local currency (Argentine peso) into U.S. dollars and to transfer funds out of the country. At the time, public reports stated that government officials were micromanaging money flows by limiting dollar purchases and discouraging dividend payments and international wire transfers. As a result of these controls, Argentine companies had limited access to U.S. dollars through regular channels (e.g., banks) and consumers faced difficulty withdrawing and exchanging invested funds. Given the Company’s investment in Argentine projects and developments, its ability to mobilize and access funds may be adversely affected by the above-mentioned political actions, despite the efforts to repeal economic controls in the recent past.

In December 2015, newly elected President Mauricio Macri ended the central bank’s support of the peso and removed the currency controls that limited the ability of Argentines to buy dollars, resulting in a 30% devaluation of the Argentine peso. In January 2017, the country lifted the 120-day holding period for incoming funds hoping to increase the flow of money into the country and ease access for tourists, citizens and businesses. However, Argentina is still feeling the impact of removing currency controls and continued experiencing a decrease in the value of the Argentine peso throughout 2019.

In 2020, the Argentine central bank has restricted access to dollars, prohibiting private citizens from buying more than $200 in foreign currency per month on the official exchange market. Argentine officials have suggested that they will relax controls when the economic has stabilized. These restrictions may have a negative effect on the economy and on our business if imposed in an economic environment where access to local capital is constrained.

The stability of the Argentine banking system is uncertain.

Adverse economic developments, even if not related to or attributable to the financial system, could result in deposits flowing out of the banks and into the foreign exchange market, as depositors seek to shield their financial assets from a new crisis. Any run on deposits could create liquidity or even solvency problems for financial institutions, resulting in a contraction of available credit.

Additionally, unrest among the employment sector of the banking industry has led to strikes led by strong labor unions. This makes it difficult for citizens and businesses to conduct banking activities and decreases the level of trust people put into the Argentine banking system.

In the event of a future shock, such as the failure of one or more banks or a crisis in depositor confidence, the Argentine government could impose further exchange controls or transfer restrictions and take other measures that could lead to renewed political and social tensions and undermine the Argentine government’s public finances, which could adversely affect Argentina’s economy and prospects for economic growth which could adversely affect our business.

Government measures to preempt or respond to social unrest may adversely affect the Argentine economy and our business.

The Argentine government has historically exercised significant influence over the country’s economy. Additionally, the country’s legal and regulatory frameworks have at times suffered radical changes, due to political influence and significant political uncertainties. Future government policies to preempt, or in response to, social unrest may include expropriation, nationalization, forced renegotiation or modification of existing contracts, suspension of the enforcement of creditors’ rights, new taxation policies, including royalty and tax increases and retroactive tax claims, and changes in laws and policies affecting foreign trade and investment. Such policies could destabilize the country and adversely and materially affect the economy, and thereby our business.

The Argentine economy could be adversely affected by economic developments in other global markets.

Financial and securities markets in Argentina are influenced, to varying degrees, by economic and market conditions in other global markets. Although economic conditions vary from country to country, investors’ perception of the events occurring in one country may substantially affect capital flows into other countries. Lower capital inflows and declining securities prices negatively affect the real economy of a country through higher interest rates or currency volatility.

In addition, Argentina is also affected by the economic conditions of major trade partners, such as Brazil and/or countries that have influence over world economic cycles, such as the United States. If interest rates rise significantly in developed economies, including the United States, Argentina and other emerging market economies could find it more difficult and expensive to borrow capital and refinance existing debt, which would negatively affect their economic growth. In addition, if these developing countries, which are also Argentina’s trade partners, fall into a recession the Argentine economy would be affected by a decrease in exports. All of these factors would have a negative impact on us, our business, operations, financial condition and prospects.

The Argentine government may order salary increases to be paid to employees in the private sector, which would increase our operating costs.

There have been nationwide strikes in Argentina over wages and benefits paid to workers which workers believe to be inadequate in light of the high rate of inflation and rising utility rates. In the past, the Argentine government has passed laws, regulations and decrees requiring companies in the private sector to maintain minimum wage levels and provide specified benefits to employees and may do so again in the future. In the aftermath of the Argentine economic crisis, employers both in the public and private sectors have experienced significant pressure from their employees and labor organizations to increase wages and to provide additional employee benefits. Due to the high levels of inflation, the employees and labor organizations have begun again demanding significant wage increases. It is possible that the Argentine government could adopt measures mandating salary increases and/or the provision of additional employee benefits in the future. Any such measures could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. To management’s knowledge, currently there are no pending measures.

Restrictions on the supply of energy could negatively affect Argentina’s economy.

As a result of a prolonged recession, and the forced conversion into pesos and subsequent freeze of gas and electricity tariffs in Argentina, there has been a lack of investment in gas and electricity supply and transport capacity in Argentina in recent years. At the same time, demand for natural gas and electricity has increased substantially, driven by a recovery in economic conditions and price constraints, which has prompted the government to adopt a series of measures that have resulted in industry shortages and/or cost increases. In 2017, the government increased the tariffs on electricity and gas hoping to spur an increase in domestic energy production which increased the cost for these utilities for citizens. Scheduled increases in electricity tariffs in May and August 2019 were canceled and the government committed to no further gas tariff increases in 2019.

The federal government has been taking a number of measures, including the tariff increase, to alleviate the short-term impact of energy shortages on residential and industrial users. If these measures prove to be insufficient, or if the investment that is required to increase natural gas production and transportation capacity and energy generation and transportation capacity over the medium-and long-term fails to materialize on a timely basis, economic activity in Argentina could be limited, which could have a significant adverse effect on our business.

We are exposed to risks in relation to compliance with foreign and domestic anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations.

Our operations are subject to various foreign and domestic anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations, including the Argentine Corporate Criminal Liability Law 27,401 effective March 1, 2018 (the “Corporate Criminal Liability Law”) and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”). Both the Corporate Criminal Liability Law and the FCPA impose liability against companies who engage in bribery of government officials, either directly or through intermediaries. The Corporate Criminal Liability Law establishes a system of criminal liability of private legal persons which include companies created under any legal form (LLCs, PLCs, partnerships, etc.) whether of national or foreign capital for criminal offenses against public administration and national and cross-border bribery committed by, among others, its shareholders, attorneys-in-fact, directors, managers, employees, or representatives. Such anti-corruption laws generally prohibit providing anything of value to government officials for the purposes of obtaining or retaining business or securing any improper business advantage. In January of 2019, the National Executive enacted Emergency Decree No. 62/2019, which allows for the confiscation of assets that were acquired from drug trafficking, smuggling, money laundering, and other corruption crimes, where there is proof that the assets do not reasonably correspond to the person’s income. Additionally, on April 10, 2019, President Macri approved Decree No. 258/2019, which implemented the National Anti-corruption Plan (2019-2023). The plan is intended to consolidate progress in fighting corruption, and includes various initiatives divided into three main categories: (1) initiatives on transparency and open government; (2) initiatives to prevent money laundering; and (3) investigation and sanctions initiatives. As part of our business, we may deal with entities in which the employees are considered government officials. We have a compliance program that is designed to manage the risks of doing business in light of these new and existing legal and regulatory requirements.