Innovative Eyewear, Inc. Announces Closing of Exercise of Warrants

Rhea-AI Summary

Innovative Eyewear, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUCY), a developer of smart eyewear, has announced the closing of a warrant exercise transaction, raising approximately $633,495 in gross proceeds. This brings the company's total fundraising to about $8 million since the beginning of Q2 2024. The transaction involved the exercise of warrants to purchase 126,699 shares of common stock at a reduced price of $5.00 per share.

CEO Harrison Gross stated that the recent financings have significantly strengthened the company's balance sheet. The funds will be used for upcoming product launches, including the Armor Smart Safety Glasses in Q4 2024 and Reebok ChatGPT-enabled sports glasses in Q1 2025, as well as marketing initiatives and general corporate purposes.

Positive

• Raised approximately $633,495 in gross proceeds from warrant exercise
• Total fundraising of about $8 million since the beginning of Q2 2024
• Strengthened company's balance sheet
• Planned launch of Armor Smart Safety Glasses in Q4 2024
• Planned launch of Reebok ChatGPT-enabled sports glasses in Q1 2025
• Expansion of marketing efforts for branded products on major e-commerce platforms

Negative

• Dilution of existing shareholders due to issuance of new shares
• Issuance of new warrants that could lead to further dilution if exercised

Financial Analyst

Innovative Eyewear's recent warrant exercise has injected $633,495 into the company, contributing to a total of $8 million raised since Q2 2024. This capital infusion strengthens their balance sheet, providing important funding for upcoming product launches and marketing initiatives.

The reduced warrant exercise price from $21.00 to $5.00 per share indicates a significant discount, potentially reflecting current market conditions or a strategic move to encourage exercise. While this dilutes existing shareholders, it also demonstrates investor confidence in the company's future.

The issuance of new Series A and B warrants at $5.00 per share could lead to further dilution but also provides additional funding potential. Investors should monitor the company's ability to leverage this capital for growth and product development, particularly in the competitive smart eyewear market.

Market Research Analyst

Innovative Eyewear's strategy to launch Armor Smart Safety Glasses and Reebok ChatGPT-enabled sports glasses shows a focus on diversifying their product line and tapping into niche markets. The safety glasses sector, in particular, represents a growing market with potential for tech integration.

The company's expansion to major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, BestBuy.com and Target.com indicates a push for broader market penetration. This multi-channel approach could significantly increase brand visibility and sales potential for their Lucyd, Nautica and Eddie Bauer branded products.

However, success will depend on effective marketing strategies and product differentiation in a competitive wearable tech landscape. Investors should closely monitor sales performance and consumer adoption rates following these launches.

Tech Expert

Innovative Eyewear's venture into ChatGPT-enabled sports glasses marks an intriguing fusion of AI and wearable technology. This could potentially revolutionize the sports eyewear market by offering real-time, AI-powered insights to athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

The company's diverse brand portfolio, including Lucyd, Nautica, Eddie Bauer and Reebok, positions them well to cater to various consumer segments. However, the technical challenges of integrating advanced AI capabilities into eyewear while maintaining comfort, style and affordability should not be underestimated.

The success of these products will hinge on factors like battery life, AI responsiveness and user interface design. Investors should keep an eye on early product reviews and adoption rates as indicators of long-term viability in this nascent market.

Raises approximately $8 million since the beginning of the second quarter of 2024

MIAMI, Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Eyewear, Inc. ("Innovative Eyewear" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: LUCY), the developer of smart eyewear under the Lucyd®, Nautica®, Eddie Bauer® and Reebok® brands, announced today that it closed its previously announced transaction involving the exercise of certain outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 126,699 shares of the Company's common stock originally issued by the Company on June 26, 2023, each having an original exercise price of $21.00 per share, at a reduced exercise price of $5.00 per share.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.

The shares of common stock issued upon exercise of the warrants are registered pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-272737).

The gross proceeds to the Company from the exercise of the warrants were approximately $633,495, prior to deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.

Including the gross proceeds from this offering, the Company has raised approximately $8 million in gross proceeds since the beginning of the second quarter of 2024. Chief Executive Officer, Harrison Gross, commented: "the net proceeds from the financings in the last few months have greatly strengthened the Company's balance sheets. We intend to utilize these net proceeds for our upcoming Armor Smart Safety Glasses product line, expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2024, Reebok ChatGPT-enabled sports glasses, expected to launch in the first quarter of 2025, marketing of Lucyd, Nautica and Eddie Bauer branded products on Amazon, BestBuy.com, and Target.com and for working capital and general corporate purposes."

In consideration for the immediate exercise of the warrants for cash, the Company issued new unregistered Series A warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 126,699 shares of common stock and new unregistered Series B warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 126,699 shares of common stock. The new Series A and Series B warrants have an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The new Series A warrants are exercisable immediately and will expire five and one-half years from the date of issuance and the new Series B warrants are exercisable immediately and will expire eighteen months from the date of issuance.

The new warrants described above were offered in a private placement and, along with the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the new warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the new warrants and shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the new warrants may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and such applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Innovative Eyewear, Inc. 

Innovative Eyewear is a developer of cutting-edge ChatGPT enabled smart eyewear, under the Lucyd®, Nautica®, Eddie Bauer® and Reebok® brands. True to our mission to Upgrade Your Eyewear®, our Bluetooth audio glasses allow users to stay safely and ergonomically connected to their digital lives and are offered in hundreds of frame and lens combinations to meet the needs of the optical market. To learn more and explore our continuously evolving collection of smart eyewear, please visit www.lucyd.co.

Forward Looking Statements 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those relating to the intended use of proceeds from the offerings completed since the beginning of the second quarter of 2024 and the planned launch of the Company's new product lines. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe-harbor for forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "future," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, market and other conditions, and other factors and risks identified from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors" filed with the SEC on March 25, 2024.

Investor Relations Contacts:

Innovative Eyewear, Inc.
Scott Powell
Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC
Office: +1 (646) 893-5835
Email: scott@skylineccg.com

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SOURCE Innovative Eyewear, Inc.

FAQ

How much did Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) raise in its recent warrant exercise?

Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) raised approximately $633,495 in gross proceeds from the recent warrant exercise transaction.

What is the total amount Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) has raised since Q2 2024?

Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) has raised approximately $8 million in gross proceeds since the beginning of the second quarter of 2024.

When is Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) planning to launch its Armor Smart Safety Glasses?

Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) is planning to launch its Armor Smart Safety Glasses product line in the fourth quarter of 2024.

What new product is Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) planning to launch in Q1 2025?

Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) is planning to launch Reebok ChatGPT-enabled sports glasses in the first quarter of 2025.