EX-15.1 6 ex15-1.htm

 

Exhibit 15.1

 

Draganfly Inc. (the “Company”)

Notice to Reader

 

The Company has amended and restated its management’s discussion & analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the ‎‎”2023 MD&A”) because the change described below was made to the Consolidated Statement of Cashflows related to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023:

 

The presentation of the proceeds received and share issue costs paid related to the October 30, 2023 share issuance has been updated. The Company determined that in the presentation of the year end Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, some of the proceeds net of related costs were split between financing and operating activities. In the revised Consolidated Statement of Cashflows, the entire proceeds and all the share issue costs paid during the year have been allocated to the financing activities section.

 

Accordingly, the Company has amended and restated its 2023 MD&A to add additional risk factor disclosure on pages 45 and 46 relating to the change above. No other changes to the 2023 MD&A have been made. There was no impact to the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss, Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder’s Equity, or cash position of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023. The only change was with respect to a reclassification between operating and financing activities within the Statement of Cashflows as described above and there have been no other changes to the 2023 Financial Statements.

 

 
 

 

 

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

 
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

This Amended and Restated Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is presented and dated as of May 14, 2024, and should be read in conjunction with the amended and restated annual consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company’s audited amended and restated consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a “going concern” basis, which presumes that the Company will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future.

 

The operations of the Company have been primarily funded through its Regulation A+ Offering of units, its Nasdaq prospectus financing, internally generated cashflow and private placements of equity and convertible debentures. The continued operations of the Company are dependent on the Company’s ability to generate profitable operations in the future, develop and execute a sufficient financing plan for future operations and receive continued financial support from shareholders and other providers of finance.

 

The amended and restated consolidated financial statements do not reflect the adjustments, if any, or changes in presentation that may be necessary should the Company not be able to continue on a going concern basis.

 

All currency amounts in the accompanying amended and restated consolidated financial statements and this amended and restated management discussion and analysis are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

 

This Amended and Restated Management Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to provide readers with the information that management believes is required to gain an understanding of the current results of Draganfly Inc. (the “Company” or “Draganfly”) and to assess the Company’s future prospects. Accordingly, certain sections of this report, other than statements of historical fact, may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current plans and expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.

 

The statements we make regarding the following matters are forward-looking by their nature and are based on certain of the assumptions noted below:

 

the intentions, plans and future actions of the Company;
statements relating to the business and future activities of the ‎Company;
anticipated developments in operations of the Company;
market position, ability to compete and future ‎financial or operating performance of the Company;
the timing and amount of funding required to execute the ‎Company’s business plans;
capital expenditures;
the effect on the Company of any changes to existing or new ‎legislation or policy or government regulation;
‎the availability of labor;
requirements for additional capital;
goals, strategies and future ‎growth;
the adequacy of financial resources;
expectations regarding revenues, ‎expenses and anticipated cash needs‎;
general market conditions and macroeconomic trends driven by geopolitical conflicts, including supply chain disruptions, market volatility, inflation, and labor challenges, among other factors.

 

2
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are made as of the date hereof, and we have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, changes or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

These statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These include, without limitation, the Company’s current and planned operations and the expected results of new operations and new clients. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not restricted to:

 

The Company’s history of losses;
The dilution of holdings in the Company’s securities;
Research and development costs;
The failure of new business models to produce financial returns;
Operational risks for which the Company may not be adequately insured;
The Company operates in an evolving market that makes it difficult to evaluate business and future prospects;
Competitive market conditions and challenges from competitors;
The pace of technological change and the Company’s ability to stay on top of market and technology changes;
The failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and permits or limitations placed on the development, operation, and sale of unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) by governments;
Risks associated with any particular future acquisitions that would allow the company to provide additional product or service offerings;
The Company’s ability to retain key employees and personnel and the Company’s ability to manage growth;
Adverse economic changes;
Negative macroeconomic and geopolitical trends that could restrict the Company’s ability to access capital;
Uncertainties associated with operations in foreign countries;
Adverse tax policies;
An inability to access critical components or raw materials used to manufacture the Company’s products and supply chain disruptions;
Weather and other natural outdoor conditions that can imperil the use of UAVs;
The Company’s products may be subject to recalls or returns or defective products or services that could negatively affect the Company’s operating results;
An inability to secure adequate funding for research and development;
Export controls or restrictions on the Company’s ability to deliver its product outside of Canada;
Consumer perception regarding the use and safety of UAVs;
A failure to successfully market the Company’s products;
Security risks associated with electronic communications and IT infrastructure;
Inadequate consumer protection and data privacy practices;
An inability of our business partners to fulfill their obligations to us or to secure company information;
A failure to protect the Company’s intellectual property, proprietary rights, and trade secrets, including through a failure to adequately apply for or seek such protections;
Failure to adhere to financial reporting obligations and mandates associated with being a public company;
The Company’s limited experience operating as publicly traded corporation;
Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to ‎complex accounting matters;
Write-downs of goodwill or other intangible assets;
Legal proceedings in which the Company may become involved;
Conflicts of interests among our directors and officers;

 

3
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Volatility related to our share price;
A failure to maintain an active trading market for our common shares;
The Company may never pay dividends, and a return on an investment in the Company will depend upon an appreciation in the price of our shares after purchase;
The Company may be classified as a “passive foreign investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
United States investors may not be able to obtain an enforcement of civil liabilities against the Company
The Company’s status as an “emerging growth company”;
Increased costs and compliance matters related to our status as a public company in the United States; and
The Company’s status as a “foreign private issuer.”

 

Readers are cautioned to read more about the potential risks the Company faces under the heading “Business Risks” at the end of this MD&A.

 

Non-GAAP Measures and Additional GAAP Measures

 

In this MD&A we describe certain income and expense items that are unusual or non-recurring. There are terms not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Our usage of these terms may vary from the usage adopted by other companies. Specifically, Gross profit, Gross margin and Cash flow from operations are undefined terms by IFRS that may be referenced herein. We provide this detail so that readers have a better understanding of the significant events and transactions that have had an impact on our results.

 

Throughout this document, reference is made to “gross profit,” “gross margin,” and “working capital”, which are non-IFRS measures. Management believes that gross profit, defined as revenue less operating expenses, is a useful supplemental measure of operations. Gross profit helps provide an understanding on the level of costs needed to create revenue. Gross margin illustrates the gross profit as a percentage of revenue. Management believes that working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, is an indicator of the Corporation’s liquidity and its ability to meet its current obligations. Readers are cautioned that these non-IFRS measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Readers are also cautioned not to view these non-IFRS financial measures as an alternative to financial measures calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).

 

Core Business and Strategy

 

Draganfly creates quality, cutting-edge unmanned and remote data collection and analysis platforms and systems that are designed to revolutionize the way companies do business. The Company is incorporated under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act and has its registered office located at suite 2700 - 1133 Melville Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 4E5 with a head office at 235 103rd St. E, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 1Y8.

 

Recognized as being at the forefront of UAV (“unmanned aerial vehicle”) technology for over two decades, Draganfly is an award-winning, industry-leading manufacturer, contract engineering, and product development company within the commercial UAV space serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, and mapping and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity, and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money, and lives.

 

Founded in 1998, Draganfly is recognized as one of the first commercial multi-rotor manufacturers and has a legacy for its innovation and superior customer service. The company has sold products and services to over 50 countries.

 

4
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Draganfly can provide its customers with an entire suite of products and services that include quad-copters, fixed-wing aircrafts, ground based robots, handheld controllers, flight training, and software used for tracking, live streaming, data collection, and health monitoring. The integrated UAV system is equipped for automated take-offs and landings with altitude and return to home functions as well as in-house created survey software. Draganfly’s standard features combined with custom fit camera payloads ranging from multi-spectral, hyper-spectral, LIDAR, thermal, and infrared allows Draganfly to offer a truly unique solution to clients.

 

With 23 issued and one pending fundamental UAV patents in the portfolio, Draganfly will continue to expand and grow its intellectual property portfolio.

 

Historically, the main business of the Company was as a manufacturing company offering commercial UAVs directly to its customer base across various industry verticals. The Company has evolved to offer drone solutions, including continuing to sell and develop its own OEM products, providing engineering procurement, drone services, and reselling third party products.

 

Draganfly works with its customers to customize a product or platform from idea to research and development (R&D) to completion and testing. A work plan is created with timelines and budgets which includes materials, travel, testing, and engineering time. The work plan is approved by the customer before work begins. To date, the majority of this work is considered proprietary in nature and is protected by trade secrets and other intellectual property protections.

 

The Company’s scope includes providing custom built parts, accessories, drone services, and the ability to sell third-party manufactured UAVs along with support services.

 

On February 26, 2024, the Company completed an underwritten share placement of 11,200,000 units with each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant to purchase one common share and 2,200,000 units consisting of one pre-funded warrant to purchase one common share and one warrant to purchase one common share. Each unit was sold at a price of $0.27 USD for gross proceeds of $3,617,780 million ($4,075,946 million CAD). Net proceeds of $3,289,520 million USD ($4,433,831 million CAD) was received after share issue costs of $328,260 USD ($442,450 thousand CAD). The pre-funded warrants have an exercise price of $0.0001 USD and were exercised on the date of issue bringing the total gross proceeds to $3,618,000 USD. The remaining warrants have an exercise price of $0.36 USD and are exercisable immediately with a term of 5 years. As part of this transaction 670,000 warrants were issued to the underwriter with an exercise price of $0.3375 USD and will have a term of 3 years.

 

On October 30, 2023, the Company completed a public offering and issued 6,400,000 share units at an offering price of USD $0.55 per unit for gross proceeds of USD $3,520,000. The units were issued as follows: 4,800,000 units comprised of one share and one warrant and 1,600,000 units comprised of one pre-funded warrant with an exercise price of $0.0001 USD and have no expiry date, and one warrant. The warrants had an exercise price of USD $0.61 per share, are exercisable immediately and expire five years from the date of issuance.

 

March 31, 2023 the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 8,000,000 common shares at a price of $1.00 USD per share for total gross proceeds of $8,000,000 USD ($10,856,166 million CAD) with share issue costs of $1,443,163 USD ($1,953,032 million CAD) for net proceeds of $6,556,837 ($8,903,134 million CAD).

 

On January 31, 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement. The agreement will allow the Company from time to time, to distribute in an at-the-market offering (“ATM”) up to $15,000,000 (USD) in common shares. Draganfly intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM for general corporate ‎purposes, including to fund ongoing operations, growth initiatives and/or ‎for working capital requirements ‎including the continuing development and marketing of the Company’s ‎core products, potential acquisitions and ‎research and development‎.

 

From February 1, 2023 to February 17, 2023, the Company distributed 650,759 ATM shares under the ATM offering at an average price of $2.69 per share for net proceeds of $1,526,810.

 

5
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

On July 30, 2021, the Company’s shares began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “DPRO”. The Company’s shares continue to trade on the Canadian Stock Exchange (the “CSE”), however, as of July 30, 2021 they now trade under the symbol “DPRO” on that exchange as well. The Company’s shares also trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the Symbol “3U8A”.

 

In order to become compliant with Nasdaq regulations, the company also underwent a stock consolidation. Effective July 29, 2021, the Company consolidated its issued and outstanding common shares on a 5 to 1 basis, which resulted in 27,045,909 common shares outstanding post-consolidation.

 

Additional information relating to the Company may be found at the Company’s website, www.draganfly.com.

 

2023 Highlights

 

2023 Total Revenues of $6,554,842 with Product Sales of $5,287,093

 

2023 revenues decreased by $1,050,217 from $7,605,059 in 2022 to $6,554,842 with the bulk of this decrease coming from provision of services. Service revenue decreased by $786,878 from $2,054,627 in 2022 to $1,267,749 in 2023.

 

Gross Profit was $2,064,114 with a Gross Margin increase of 21.1% in 2023 compared to 2022.

 

In 2023, the Company’s total gross margin was 31.5% compared to 10.4% in 2022. Gross margin excluding the non-cash write down of inventory of $331,671 (2022 - $1,976,514) would have been 36.5% (2022 - 36.4%). The non-cash write down of inventory for 2022 was primarily related to a product line that is no longer a focus for the Company.

 

Continued Diversification of its Product and Services Offering

 

Given the Company’s deep engineering talent, the Company continues to expand its product and services available to its customers. Doing this leverages the Company’s core skill set of innovation that tends to lead to future projects, bringing in more consistent revenue. The Company continues to increase its scope of products and service to include the sale of third-party manufactured UAVs and drone-as-a-service type work. Having a larger breadth of products and services, in part, mitigates some risk for the Company given its offering covers a broader market.

 

Functional Reorganization

 

The Company has undertaken an effort to reorganize its functions into departments such as Finance, Sales and Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, etc. with the key goal of obtaining efficiencies by streamlining processes and procedures at a corporate shared service level as opposed to segmenting departments at the subsidiary level.

 

6
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Risks Related to Operations

 

The Company’s UAVs are sold in rapidly evolving markets. The commercial UAV market is in early stages of customer adoption. Accordingly, the Company’s business and prospects may be difficult to evaluate. The Company cannot accurately predict the extent to which demand for its products and services will increase, if at all. The challenges, risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in rapidly evolving markets could impact the Company’s ability to do the following:

 

generate sufficient revenue to maintain profitability;
acquire and maintain market share;
achieve or manage growth in operations;
develop and renew contracts;
attract and retain additional engineers and other highly qualified personnel;
successfully develop and commercially market new products;
adapt to new or changing policies and spending priorities of governments and government agencies; and
access additional capital when required and on reasonable terms.

 

For further and more detailed risk disclosure, please reference “Business Risks” at the end of this MD&A.

 

Outlook and Guidance

 

General

 

The Company believes that drone regulations are gradually evolving in favor of additional use cases, which could lead to more revenue opportunities from a greater pool of customers. The Company is positioned properly to take advantage of this dynamic given its legacy and ongoing innovative product development coupled with being publicly traded providing greater market awareness than its private competitors. The Company will increasingly focus on some of its growth initiatives beyond Canada and into the United States and abroad. All else being equal, accessing more capital will help the Company expand and diversify its engineering and drone services businesses. The Company has already built the infrastructure including human resources from an oversight, sales and engineering perspective. Further, the Company will continue to focus on innovation, product development, and expanding its hardware offerings opportunistically into niche segments of the UAV and related sectors. Finally, the Company has considered providing various other non-engineering services and it may make more sense to buy an existing industry player than to build out this offering. The Company expects to be active in this regard reviewing partnerships and acquisitions in the current fiscal year and the near future.

 

7
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Selected Financial Information

 

The following selected financial data has been extracted from the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, for the fiscal years indicated and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. All earnings per share calculations are shown post-consolidation.

 

For the year ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Total revenues  $6,554,842   $7,605,059   $7,053,965 
Gross Profit (as a % of revenues) (1)   31.5%   10.4%   37.5%
Net (loss) income   (23,611,810)   (27,654,364)   (16,202,972)
Net (loss) income per share ($)               
- Basic   (0.56)   (0.82)   (0.58)
- Diluted   (0.56)   (0.82)   (0.58)
Comprehensive (loss) income   (23,709,851)   (27,305,305)   (16,399,137)
Comprehensive (loss) income per share ($)               
- Basic   (0.56)   (0.81)   (0.59)
- Diluted   (0.56)   (0.81)   (0.59)
Change in cash and cash equivalents  $(4,801,169)  $(15,180,932)  $21,093,297 

 

 

(1)Gross Profit (as a % of revenues) would have been 36.5% (2022 – 36.4%; 2021 – 37.5%) not including a non-cash write down of inventory for $331,671 (2022 - $1,976,514; 2021 - $nil)).

 

The net loss and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, includes non-cash changes comprised of a change in fair value of derivative liability of $211,110 (2022 - $5,502,688; 2021 - $8,149,812), an expense for impairment of notes receivable of $101,351 (2022 - $309,385;2021 - $891,471), a write down of inventory of $331,671 (2022 - $1,976,514; 2021 - $nil)), and an expense for goodwill and intangibles impairment of $87,415 (2022 - $6,454,914; 2021 - $4,579,763) and would otherwise have been a net loss of $23,302,483 (2022 - $24,416,239; 2021 – $18,881,550), and comprehensive loss of $23,400,524 (2022 - $24,067,180; 2021 - $19,077,715).

 

As at 

December 31, 2023

   December 31, 2022 
Total assets  $8,330,292   $14,638,533 
Working capital   (717,017)   10,168,800 
Total non-current liabilities   523,584    249,740 
Shareholders’ equity  $407,716   $11,040,881 
           
Number of shares outstanding   49,229,563    34,270,579 

 

Shareholders’ equity and working capital as at December 31, 2023, includes a fair value of derivative liability of $4,196,125 ($57,314 – 2022) and would otherwise be $4,603,841 ($11,098,195 – 2022) and $3,479,108 ($10,226,114 - 2022) respectively.

 

8
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Results of Operations

 

Revenue

 

For the year ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Product sales  $5,287,093   $5,550,432   $5,103,399 
Provision of services   1,267,749    2,054,627    1,950,466 
Total revenue  $6,554,842   $7,605,059   $7,053,865 

 

Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, decreased by $1,050,217 or 13.8% as compared to 2022. The decrease in revenue is largely due to a decrease in services in Dronelogics.

 

Product sales decreased $263,339 or 4.7% in 2023 as compared to 2022. The small decrease in revenue is largely due to decreased product sales from Dronelogics.

 

Services revenue decreased by $786,878 or 38.3% in 2023 as compared to 2022. The decrease was due primarily to fewer arrangements for services in Dronelogics.

 

Costs of Goods Sold/Gross Margin

 

For the year ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Cost of goods sold(1)  $(4,490,728)  $(6,814,384)  $(4,410,777)
Gross profit  $2,064,114   $790,675   $2,643,088 
Gross margin (%)   31.5%   10.4%   37.5%

 

 

(1)Cost of goods sold would have been $4,159,057 (2022 - $4,837,870; 2021 - $4,410,777) not including a non-cash write down of inventory for $331,671 (2022 - $1,976,514; 2021 - $nil).

 

Gross profit is the difference between the revenue received and the direct cost of that revenue. Gross margin is gross profit divided by revenue and is often presented as a percent.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s Gross Profit increased by $1,273,439 or 161.1% compared to 2022. As a percentage of sales, gross margin increased from 10.4% in 2022 to 31.5% in 2023.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, not including the non-cash write down of inventory of $331,671 (2022 - $1,976,514) the Company’s Gross Profit decreased by $371,404 (2022 - $124,101) or 18.5% (2022 – increased 4.7%) compared to 2022. As a percentage of sales, adjusted gross margin increased from 36.4% in 2022 to 36.5% in 2023 (2022 – decrease from 37.5% in 2021 to 36.4% in 2022).

 

9
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Selling, General and Administrative

 

For the year ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Insurance  $1,825,137   $3,722,237   $2,962,767 
Office and Miscellaneous   6,303,879    5,397,961    6,455,998 
Professional Fees   4,145,586    6,821,583    4,445,949 
Research and development   1,554,823    651,302    510,895 
Share-based payments   2,021,664    3,311,024    3,952,595 
Travel   704,994    396,388    143,904 
Wages and salaries   6,976,792    6,105,020    2,768,010 
Total  $23,532,875   $26,405,515   $21,240,118 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, SG&A expenses decreased by 10.9%, from $26,405,515 in 2022 to $23,532,875 in 2023. The largest contributors to the decrease are insurance cost, professional fees expense and share-based payments.

 

Net and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

For the year ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Loss from operations  $(22,616,331)  $(26,909,948)  $(19,278,188)
Change in fair value of derivative liability   211,110    5,502,688    8,149,812 
Finance and other costs   83,280    44,345    5,074 
Foreign exchange (loss) gain   (249,563)   745,102    362,448 
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets   (944)   (10,755)   - 
Impairment of notes receivable   (101,351)   (309,385)   (891,471)
Impairment of goodwill   -    (6,454,914)   (4,579,763)
Income from government assistance   5,232    2,446    24,148 
Write down of deposit   -    (228,572)   - 
Other (loss) income   (943,243)   (35,371)   4,968 
Net loss   (23,611,810)   (27,654,364)   (16,202,972)
Cumulative translation differences   (94,861)   447,542    136,475 
Unrealized gain on investments available for sale   (3,180)   (98,483)   (332,640)
Comprehensive loss  $(23,709,851)  $(27,305,305)  $(16,399,137)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a comprehensive loss of $23,709,851 compared to $27,305,305 in 2022.

 

The net and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, includes non-cash changes comprised of a loss in fair value of derivative liability of $211,110, an expense on impairment for notes receivable of $101,351, a write down of inventory of $331,671, and an expense for goodwill and intangibles impairment of $87,415 and would otherwise be losses of $23,302,483 and $23,410,524 respectively. The net and comprehensive loss the for the same period last year, includes non-cash changes comprised of a gain in fair value of derivative liability of $5,502,688, an expense on impairment for notes receivable of $309,385, a write down of inventory of $1,976,514, and an expense for goodwill and intangibles impairment of $6,454,914 and would otherwise be losses of $24,416,239 and $24,067,180 respectively.

 

10
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Authorized share capital

 

Unlimited number of common shares without par value.

 

Issued share capital

 

During the year ended December 31, 2023,

 

The Company issued 1,508,255 common shares for the vesting of restricted share units.
The Company issued 8,000,000 common shares in a financing for $10,856,166 with share issuance costs of $1,786,980 for net proceeds of $9,069,186.
The Company issued 650,729 common shares in an ATM (“At - the - market”) financing for $1,748,946 with share issuance costs of $222,136 for net proceeds of $1,526,810.
The Company issued 4,800,000 common shares in a financing for proceeds of $4,858,995 with share issuance costs of $889,623 for net proceeds of $3,969,372. Of the total share issuance costs $793,979 were expensed in other income (expense).

 

During the year ended December 31, 2022:

 

The Company issued 16,538 common shares for the exercise of warrants for $87,170.
The Company issued 12,500 common shares for the exercise of stock options for $26,875.
The Company issued 1,072,595 common shares for the vesting of Restricted Share Units.

 

Summary of Quarterly Results

 

The following selected quarterly financial data has been extracted from the financial statements, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

Total revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2023, decreased by $397,863 or 30.2% as compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease was due to lower product sales.

 

SG&A expenses decreased 52.5% compared to the same period in 2022 due to lower professional fees, wage costs, and lower share based compensation charges. These are partially offset by an increase in travel costs. The other income (expense) and comprehensive loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 includes non-cash changes comprised of a fair value derivative liability gain of $153,798, and would otherwise be an other expense of $1,122,810 and comprehensive loss of $4,345,594, respectively.

 

Total revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2023, decreased by $1,221,718 or 57.1% as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The primary decrease in revenue is due to the decrease in product revenue as well as service sales. Product sales decreased by $981,303 or 59.4% in the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to the third quarter of 2023 primarily due to delayed timing of certain product orders as well as increased competition. Service revenue decreased by $240,415 or 49.6% in the fourth quarter or 2023 as compared to the third quarter of 2023 primarily due to fewer service arrangements.

 

SG&A expenses decreased by $2,884,538 or 47.6% compared to the third quarter of 2023 due to decreased office and miscellaneous costs, professional fees, salaries and wages and share-based payments, partially offset by an increase in research and development.

 

11
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

The table below summarizes the quarterly results over the past eight fiscal quarters. All earnings per share calculations are shown post-consolidation.

 

   2023 Q4   2023 Q3   2023 Q2   2023 Q1 
Revenue  $916,299   $2,138,018   $1,899,039   $1,601,486 
Cost of goods sold(2)  $(657,420)  $(1,243,334)  $(1,431,922)  $(1,158,052)
Gross profit(3)  $258,879   $894,683   $467,117   $443,434 
Gross margin – percentage   28.3%   41.8%   24.6%   27.7%
Operating expenses  $(3,482,141)  $(6,356,138)  $(7,234,034)  $(7,608,132)
Operating income (loss)  $(3,223,262)  $(5,461,456)  $(6,766,917)  $(7,164,697)
Operating loss per share - basic  $(0.08)  $(0.13)  $(0.15)  $(0.20)
Operating loss per share - diluted  $(0.08)  $(0.13)  $(0.15)  $(0.20)
Other income (expense)  $(965,072)  $14,569   $(142,046)  $97,073 
Change in fair value of derivative liability (1)  $153,798   $-   $-   $57,312 
Other comprehensive income (loss)  $(3,461)  $(83,363)  $18,152   $(29,369)
Comprehensive income (loss)  $(4,191,796)  $(5,530,248)  $(6,890,812)  $(7,096,995)
Comprehensive income (loss) per share - basic  $(0.10)  $(0.13)  $(0.15)  $(0.18)
Comprehensive income (loss) per share - diluted  $(0.10)  $(0.13)  $(0.15)  $(0.18)

 

   2022 Q4   2022 Q3   2022 Q2   2022 Q1 
Revenue  $1,314,162   $1,876,221   $2,370,115   $2,044,562 
Cost of goods sold(4)  $(2,980,133)  $(1,249,313)  $(1,356,526)  $(1,228,412)
Gross profit(5)  $(1,665,971)  $626,908   $1,013,589   $816,150 
Gross margin – percentage   -126.8%   33.4%   42.8%   39.9%
Operating expenses  $(7,342,669)  $(7,007,691)  $(7,176,445)  $(6,173,819)
Operating loss  $(9,008,640)  $(6,380,783)  $(6,162,856)  $(5,357,669)
Operating loss per share - basic  $(0.26)  $(0.19)  $(0.19)  $(0.16)
Operating loss per share - diluted  $(0.26)  $(0.19)  $(0.19)  $(0.16)
Other income (expense)  $(7,575,889)  $1,039,968   $6,638,171   $(846,666)
Change in fair value of derivative liability (1)  $334,016   $305,094   $6,094,438   $(1,230,860)
Other comprehensive income (loss)  $(76,073)  $348,282   $165,009   $(88,159)
Comprehensive income (loss)  $(16,660,602)  $(4,992,533)  $640,324   $(6,292,494)
Comprehensive income (loss) per share - basic  $(0.49)  $(0.15)  $0.02   $(0.19)
Comprehensive income (loss) per share - diluted  $(0.49)  $(0.15)  $0.02   $(0.19)

 

  (1) Included in other income (expense).
  (2) Cost of goods sold includes non-cash inventory write downs of $77,047 in Q1 2023, $122,600 in Q2 2023, $8,600 in Q3 2023 and $123,424 in Q4 2023 and would have been $1,081,005 in Q1 2023, $1,309,322 in Q2, $1,234,734 in Q3, and $533,996 in Q4 2023 before these write downs.
  (3) Gross profit would have been $520,481 in Q1 2023, $589,717 in Q2 2023, $903,283 in Q3 2023 and $382,303 in Q4 2023 without the write downs. Gross profit would have been $310,543 in Q4 of 2022 without the write downs.
  (4) Cost of goods sold in Q4 2022 would have been $1,003,619 not including a non-cash write down of inventory for $1,976,514.
  (5) Gross profit for Q4 2022 would have been $310,543 not including a non-cash write down of inventory for $1,976,514.

 

12
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s liquidity risk is derived from its loans, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, as it may encounter difficulty discharging those obligations, but the Company endeavors to mitigate that risk through the careful management of its debt holders and the assertive pursuit of capital inflow for its operations. The Company’s working capital shortfall of $(717,017) as at December 31, 2023, would be increased to an excess of $3,479,108, if the non-cash derivative liability was excluded. The Company’s working capital as at December 31, 2022 was $10,168,800.

 

The Company considers the items included in capital to include shareholders’ equity. The Company manages its capital structure and adjusts it in light of changes in economic and business conditions, financing environment, and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. The Company does not have any contracted or committed capital expenditures as of the date of this MD&A. The Company utilizes its credit card facilities from time to time to make various purchases for their operations.

 

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain additional financing and or achieve profitable operations in the future. These factors indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Based on the Company’s existing operations, the Company will need to raise additional capital during the next twelve months and beyond to support its business plan.

 

Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company closed an underwritten public offering and issued 13,400,000 share units at an offering price of $0.27 per unit for gross proceeds of $3,618,000 USD. Gross proceeds in local currency resulted in $4,876,282 with share issue costs of $442,450, netting $4,433,831.

 

Subsequent to December 31, 2023, 1,600,000 pre-funded warrants were exercised for proceeds of $160 USD ($216 CAD) and an equal number of shares were issued at a value of $578,200 USD ($773,624 CAD).

 

On October 30, 2023 the Company entered into a public offering and issued 6,400,000 share units at an offering price of $0.55 per unit for gross proceeds of USD $3,520,000. Gross proceeds in local currency resulted in $4,858,995 with share issuance costs of $493,109, netting $4,365,886.

 

On March 31, 2023, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of its common shares in the United States for gross proceeds of USD $8,000,000. Gross proceeds in local currency resulted in $10,856,166 with share issuance costs of $1,953,032, netting $8,903,134.

 

On January 31, 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement. The agreement allowed the Company, from time to time, to distribute in an at-the-market offering for up to USD $15,000,000 in common shares. From February 1, 2023 to February 17, 2023, the Company distributed 650,729 ATM shares under the ATM offering at an average price of 2.69 per share for gross proceeds in local currency of $1,748,976 with share issuance costs of $222,136, netting $1,526,810.

 

Draganfly intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including to fund operations, growth initiative and/or for capital requirements including the continuing development and marketing of the Company’s core products, potential acquisitions and research and development.

 

Further, in order to maintain or adjust its capital structure, the Company may issue new shares, new debt, or scale back the size and nature of its operations. The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements. As at December 31, 2023, shareholders’ equity was $407,716 and at December 31, 2022, shareholder’s equity was $11,040,881. The Company’s shareholder’s equity at December 31, 2023 would be $4,603,841 ($11,098,195 – 2022) if the non-cash derivative liability was considered equity.

 

13
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

We expect, from time to time, to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, intellectual property, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used. There is always the potential that any acquisition or investment in a company or product has a negative impact on future cash flows of the Company.

 

Our plan of operations for the next year includes the following: (i) ensure production capacity is adequate to meet demand for products; (ii) continuing to hone existing product offerings; (iii) streamline workflow efficiencies; (iv) diversifying and expanding business lines organically and by potential acquisitions; (v) continuing to patent innovative ideas for new products; and (vi) developing and increasing current product offering to various niche industries that are not currently being served.

 

As of the date of the MD&A, we cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds received from the closing of past financings. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may very significantly depending on numerous factors.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has no material undisclosed off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on our results of operations, financial condition, revenues or expenses, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

14
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As of December 31, 2023, and as of the date of this MD&A, and in the normal course of business, the following is a summary of the Company’s material obligations to make future payments, representing contracts, and other commitments that are known and committed.

 

Right of Use Asset

 

   Total 
Cost     
Balance at December 31, 2021 and 2022  $683,117 
Additions   740,355 
Lease adjustment   - 
Balance at December 31, 2023  $1,423,472 
      
Accumulated depreciation     
Balance at December 31, 2021  $215,011 
Charge for the year   123,360 
Balance at December 31, 2022  $338,371 
Charge for the year   363,086 
Foreign exchange   328 
Balance at December 31, 2023  $701,785 
      
Net book value:     
December 31, 2022  $344,746 
December 31, 2023  $721,687 

 

The statement of financial position shows the following amounts related to leases:

 

   2023   2022 
Buildings  $721,687   $342,361 
Vehicles   -    2,385 
   $721,687   $344,746 

 

Additions to the right of the assets during the 2023 financial year were $740,355 (2022 - $nil).

 

Lease Liability

 

   Total 
Balance at December 31, 2021  $489,123 
Interest expense   39,795 
Lease payments   (150,275)
Balance at December 31, 2022  $378,643 
Additions   734,903 
Interest expense   96,423 
Lease payments   (423,410)
Foreign exchange   3,464 
Balance at December 31, 2023  $790,023 

 

15
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Which consists of:

 

   December 31, 2023   December 31, 2022 
Current lease liability  $362,001   $133,962 
Non-current lease liability   428,022    244,681 
Balance at December 31, 2023  $790,023   $378,643 

 

Maturity analysis  December 31, 2023   December 31, 2022 
Less than one year  $429,948   $147,340 
One to three years   355,879    209,078 
Four to five years   141,519    83,850 
Total undiscounted lease liabilities   927,346    440,268 
Amount representing interest   (137,323)   (61,625)
   $790,023   $378,643 

 

Variable lease payments of $43,542 (2022 - $22,539) have been recognized in profit and loss.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

On August 1, 2019, the Company entered in a business services agreement (the “Agreement”) with Business Instincts Group

(“BIG”), a company that Cameron Chell, CEO and director has a material interest in that he previously controlled, to provide: corporate development and governance, strategic facilitation and management, general business services, office space, corporate business development video content, website redesign and management, and online visibility management at fees set out in the Agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the company incurred fees of $429,766 (December 31, 2022 - $442,485) which are included in professional fees. As at December 31, 2023, the Company was indebted to this company in the amount of $3,780 (December 31, 2022 - $30,804).

 

On October 1, 2019, the Company entered into an independent consultant agreement (“Consultant Agreement”) with

1502372 Alberta Ltd, a company controlled by Cameron Chell, CEO and director, to provide executive consulting services to the Company and all fees are set in the Consultant Agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred fees of $592,500 (December 31, 2022 - $566,487) included in professional fees. As at December 31, 2023, the Company was indebted to this company in the amount of $35,417 (December 31, 2022 - $nil).

 

On July 3, 2020, the Company entered into an executive consultant agreement (“Executive Agreement”) with Scott Larson, a

director of the Company, to provide executive consulting services, as President, to the Company. On May 9, 2022, Scott Larson ceased to be President of the Company and entered into an agreement to provide executive consulting services to the Company and all fees are set in the consulting agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred fees of $215,019 (December 31, 2022 - $383,288) included in professional fees. As at December 31, 2023, the Company was indebted to this company in the amount of $9,287 (December 31, 2022 - $20,745).

 

Trade receivables/payables and accrued receivables/payables:

 

As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $nil (December 31, 2022 - $nil) receivable from related parties outstanding that were included in accounts receivable and $190,664 (December 31, 2022 - $51,549) payable from related parties that was included in accounts payable. The balances outstanding are unsecured, non-interest bearing and due on demand.

 

16
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Key management compensation

 

Key management personnel include those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company as a whole. Compensation awarded to key management for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 included:

 

For the years ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Director fees  $600,933   $522,349   $370,094 
Salaries   979,154    843,917    722,068 
Share-based payments   1,109,232    2,106,906    2,475,949 
   $2,689,319   $3,473,172   $3,568,111 

 

Other related parties

 

For the years ended December 31,  2023   2022   2021 
Management fees paid to a company controlled by CEO and director  $592,500   $466,487   $290,225 
Management fees paid to a company that the CEO holds an economic interest in   429,766    442,485    315,643 
Management fees paid to a company controlled by a director   215,019    383,288    205,691 
   $1,237,285   $1,392,260   $811,559 

 

Share Capital

 

Common shares issued

 

   Number of Common Shares   Share Capital 
Balance, December 31, 2021   33,168,946   $81,038,365 
Shares issued for exercise of warrants   16,538    87,170 
Share issue costs   -    (5,122)
Shares issued for exercise of RSUs   1,072,595    2,427,801 
Shares issued for exercise of stock options   12,500    51,875 
Balance, December 31, 2022   34,270,579   $83,600,089 
Shares issued for financing   13,450,729    13,125,176 
Share issue costs       (2,295,022)
Shares issued for exercise of RSU’s   1,508,255    2,640,733 
Balance, December 31, 2023   49,229,563   $97,070,976 

 

17
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Stock options

 

The following is the summary of the Company’s stock option activity. Number of options and weighted average exercise prices in the table below are shown as they were outstanding, forfeited, granted, and exercised:

 

   Number of Options   Weighted Average Exercise Price 
Outstanding, December 31, 2021   1,035,991   $4.60 
Exercised   (12,500)   2.15 
Forfeited   (146,334)   4.77 
Outstanding, December 31, 2022   877,157   $4.60 
Exercised   (9,999)   3.77 
Forfeited   30,000    0.63 
Outstanding, December 31, 2023   897,158   $4.48 

 

Restricted Share Units (RSUs)

 

The following is the summary of the Company’s RSU activity. Number of RSUs in the table below are shown as they were outstanding, exercised, forfeited, and granted:

 

   Number of RSUs 
Outstanding, December 31, 2021   514,832 
Exercised   (1,072,595)
Issued   1,820,972 
Forfeited   (64,334)
Outstanding, December 31, 2022   1,198,875 
Exercised   (1,508,255)
Issued   1,685,316 
Forfeited   (262,969)
Outstanding, December 31, 2023   1,112,967 

 

Warrants

 

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 1,600,000 pre-funded warrants for a purchase price of $0.5499USD with an exercise price of $0.0001USD per unit. The Company also issued 6,400,000 warrants at an exercise price $0.6123USD. Being in a currency that is not the Company’s functional currency these warrants are required to be recorded as a financial liability. As a financial liability, the portion of the warrants related to the future exercise price will be revalued on every reporting period to fair market value with the change in fair value being recorded in profit or loss. All of the above warrants have a 5 year term, expiring October 30, 2028 and vest immediately. 320,000 underwriter warrants were issued as part of the transaction with an exercise price of $0.6875USD and a term of 3 years. These warrants were treated as share issue costs.

 

To reach a fair value of the USD Warrants, a Black Scholes calculation is used, calculated in USD as the Company also trades on the Nasdaq. The Black Scholes value per USD Warrant is then multiplied by the number of outstanding warrants and then multiplied by the foreign exchange rate at the end of the period. At the date of issue the warrants were valued with a risk free rate of 4.8%, volatility of 115.35%, expected life of 5 years and an expected dividend yield rate of 0%. The broker warrants were valued with a risk free rate of 4.87%, volatility of 138.83%, expected life of 3 years and an expected dividend yield of 0%.

 

18
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Warrant Derivative Liability

 

Balance at December 31, 2021  $4,865,772 
Change in fair value of warrants outstanding   (4,865,772)
Balance at December 31, 2022  $- 
Warrants issued   3,985,015 
Change in fair value of warrants outstanding   211,110 
Balance at December 31, 2023  $4,196,125 

 

Derivative liability balance at  December 31, 2023   December 31, 2022 
Warrants  $4,196,125   $- 
Contingent consideration   -    57,314 
Ending balance  $4,196,125   $57,314 

 

The derivative financial liability consists of the fair value of the non-compensatory share purchase warrants that have exercise prices that differ from the functional currency of the Company and are within the scope of IAS 32 “Financial Instruments: Presentation”. Details of these warrants and their fair values are as follows:

 

Issue Date  Exercise Price  Number of Warrants Outstanding at December 31, 2023   Fair Value at December 31, 2023   Number of Warrants Outstanding at December 31, 2022   Fair Value at December 31, 2022 
February 5, 2021 (1)  USD$ 3.55   -   $-    1,319,675   $- 
March 5, 2021 (2)  USD$ 3.55   -    -    5,142,324    - 
October 30, 2023 (3)  USD$ 0.6123   6,400,000    3,180,543    -    - 
October 30, 2023 (4)  USD$ 0.0001   1,600,000    1,015,582    -    - 
         8,000,000   $4,196,125    6,461,999   $     - 

 

  1) The warrants expired on February 5, 2023.
  2) The warrants expired on March 5, 2023.
  3) The warrants expire October 30, 2028
  4) The warrants have no expiry date

 

The following is the summary of the Company’s warrant activity. Number of warrants and weighted average exercise prices in the table below are shown as they were outstanding, exercised, forfeited, and granted:

 

   Number of Warrants   Weighted Average Exercise Price 
Outstanding, December 31, 2021   8,414,819   $4.99 
Exercised   (16,538)   4.51 
Expired   (481,484)   4.61 
Outstanding, December 31, 2022   7,917,797   $5.08 
Issued   8,320,000    0.50 
Expired   (7,661,999)   5.89 
Outstanding, December 31, 2023   8,574,798   $0.63 

 

19
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

As at December 31, 2023, the Company had the following warrants outstanding:

 

Date issued  Expiry date  Exercise price  Number of warrants outstanding 
July 29, 2021  July 29, 2024  US$ 5.00   250,000 
September 14, 2021  September 14, 2024  US$ 5.00   4,798 
October 30, 2023  October 30, 2026  US$ 0.6875   320,000 
October 30, 2023  October 30, 2028  US$ 0.6123   6,400,000 
October 30, 2023  No expiry date  US$ 0.0001   1,600,000 
            8,574,798 

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life of warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023, was 4.63 years (December 31, 2022 – 0.47 years).

 

There were 1,200,000 warrants issued on March 22, 2021 to acquire Vital. At December 31, 2022 900,000 of the warrants are currently held in escrow, to be released upon completion of the milestones. The milestones were related to the recognition of revenue on the related acquisition in range of $2,000,000 to $6,000,000 which was not met. The warrants expired on March 25, 2023.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Significant estimates and assumptions

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions about reported amounts at the date of the consolidated financial statements and in the future. The Company’s management reviews these estimates and underlying assumptions on an ongoing basis, based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Revisions to estimates are adjusted for prospectively in the period in which the estimates are revised.

 

Share-based payments

 

The cost of share-based payment transactions with directors, officers and employees are measured by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments. Estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions requires determining the most appropriate valuation model, which is dependent on the terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determining and making assumptions about the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model including the expected life, volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected forfeiture rate and dividend yield.

 

Income taxes

 

Provisions for income taxes are made using the best estimate of the amount expected to be paid based on a qualitative assessment of all relevant factors. The Company reviews the adequacy of these income tax provisions at the end of each reporting period. However, it is possible that at some future date an additional liability could result from audits by tax authorities. Where the final outcome of these tax-related matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will affect the tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made. Deferred tax assets are recognized when it is determined that the Company is likely to recognize their recovery from the generation of taxable income.

 

20
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Inventory

 

Inventory is valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is determined with reference to the estimated selling price less costs to sell. The Company estimates selling price based upon assumptions about future demand and current and anticipated retail market conditions. The future realization of these inventories may be affected by future technology or other market- driven changes that may reduce future selling prices.

 

Investments in Private companies

 

Where the fair value of investments in private companies recorded on the consolidated statement of financial position cannot be derived from active markets, they are determined using a variety of valuation techniques. The inputs to these models are derived from observable market data where possible, but where observable market data is not available, judgment is required to

establish fair value and this value may not be indicative of the eventual recoverable value.

 

Expected credit losses on trade receivables and notes receivable

 

When determining expected credit losses (“ECLs”), the Company considers the historic credit losses observed by the Company, customer-specific payment history and economic conditions. When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating ECL’s, the Company considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort. This includes both quantitative and qualitative information and analysis, based on the Company’s historical experience, informed credit assessment and forward-looking information.

 

Useful lives of equipment and intangible assets

 

Estimates of the useful lives of equipment and intangible assets are based on the period over which the assets are expected to be available for use. The estimated useful lives are reviewed annually and are updated if expectations differ from previous estimates due to physical wear and tear, technical or commercial obsolescence, and legal or other limits on the use of the relevant assets. In addition, the estimation of the useful lives of the relevant assets may be based on internal technical evaluation and experience with similar assets. It is possible, however, that future results of operations could be materially affected by changes in the estimates brought about by changes in the factors mentioned above. The amounts and timing of recorded expenses for any period would be affected by changes in these factors and circumstances. A reduction in the estimated useful lives of the equipment would increase the recorded expenses and decrease the non-current assets.

 

Other Significant judgements

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the Company to make judgments, apart from those involving estimates, in applying accounting policies. The most significant judgments applied to the Company’s consolidated financial statements include:

 

  The assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and whether there are events or conditions that may give rise to significant uncertainty;
  the classification of financial instruments;
  the assessment of revenue recognition using the five-step approach under IFRS 15 and the collectability of amounts receivable;
  |the determination of whether a set of assets acquired and liabilities assumed constitute a business; and
  the determination of the functional currency of each entity in the group.

 

21
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Foreign currency translation

 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at rates of exchange at the time of such transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the reporting period rate of exchange. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. Gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange adjustments are included in profit or loss.

 

The functional currencies of the parent company and each subsidiary are as follows:

 

Draganfly Inc. Canadian Dollar
Draganfly Innovations Inc. Canadian Dollar
Draganfly Innovations USA, Inc. US Dollar
Dronelogics Systems Inc. Canadian Dollar

 

Financial statements of subsidiaries for which the functional currency is not the Canadian dollar are translated into Canadian dollars as follows: all asset and liability accounts are translated at the year-end exchange rate and all revenue and expense accounts and cash flow statement items are translated at average exchange rates for the year. The resulting translation gains and losses are recorded as exchange differences on translation of foreign operations in other comprehensive loss.

 

Share-based payments

 

The Company may grant stock options or restricted share units (“RSU’s”) to its directors, officers, employees and consultants. The Company records share-based compensation related to stock options using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.

 

The RSU’s granted entitle an employee, director or officer to either the issuance of common shares or cash payments payable upon vesting with terms determined by the Company’s Board of Directors at the time of the grant. If on the grant date it is determined there is an obligation to settle in cash, the RSU’s are accounted for as liabilities, with the fair value remeasured at the end of each reporting period and on the settlement date. Changes in fair value are recognized in profit and loss. Expense is recognized over the vesting period.

 

The Company has a present obligation to settle in cash if the choice of settlement in shares has no commercial substance, or the Company has a past practice or a stated policy of setting in cash, or generally settles in cash whenever the counterparty asks for cash settlement. If no such obligation exists, RSUs are accounted for as equity settled share-based payments and are valued using the share price on grant date. Upon settlement:

 

a) If the Company elects to settle in cash, the cash payment is accounted for as the repurchase of an equity interest (i.e. as a deduction from equity), except as noted in (c) below.
b) If the Company elects to settle by issuing shares, the value of RSUs initially recognized in reserves is reclassified to share capital, except as noted in (c) below.
c) If the Company elects the settlement alternative with the higher fair value, as at the date of settlement, the Company recognizes an additional expense for the excess value given (i.e. the difference between the cash paid and the fair value of shares that would otherwise have been issued, or the difference between the fair value of the shares and the amount of cash that would otherwise have been paid, whichever is applicable).

 

The aggregate sales price or amount of common shares issued during any consecutive 12-month period will not exceed the greatest of the following: (i) USD $1,000,000; (ii) 15% of the total assets of the Company, measured at the Company’s most recent balance sheet date; or (iii) 15% of the outstanding amount of the common shares of the Company, measured at the Company’s most recent balance sheet date. At the election of the Board of Directors, upon each vesting date, participants receive (a) the issuance of common shares from treasury equal to the number of RSUs vesting, or (b) a cash payment equal to the number of vested RSUs multiplied by the fair market value of a common share, calculated as the closing price of the common shares on the CSE for the trading day immediately preceding such payment date; or (c) a combination of (a) and (b).

 

In conjunction with private placements or brokered financings, the Company may issue compensatory warrants to agents as consideration for services provided. Awards of grants are accounted for in accordance with the fair value method of accounting and result in an increase in share issue costs and a credit to warrants within shareholders’ equity when warrants are issued.

 

22
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Loss per share

 

Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the year.

 

Diluted income per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to common shareholders of the parent by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of common shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential common shares into common shares. The Company had 8,574,798 warrants, 897,158 options and 1,112,967 RSU’s that would be potentially dilutive if the Company were not in a loss position and were to calculate diluted income per share.

 

Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement. A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity.

 

Financial assets/liabilities   Classification
Cash and cash equivalents   Fair value through profit or loss
Receivables   Amortized cost
Notes receivable   Fair value through profit or loss
Investments   Fair value through other comprehensive income
Trade payables   Amortized cost
Customer deposits   Amortized cost
Loans payable   Amortized cost
Derivative liability   Fair value through profit or loss

 

a) Financial assets

 

Classification and measurement

 

The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVTOCI”) or at amortized cost. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.

 

The classification of debt instruments is driven by the business model for managing the financial assets and their contractual cash flow characteristics. Debt instruments are measured at amortized cost if the business model is to hold the instrument for collection of contractual cash flows and those cash flows are solely principal and interest. If the cash flows are not solely principal and interest, it is classified as FVTPL. Financial assets with embedded derivatives are considered in their entirety when determining whether their cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest.

 

Equity instruments that are held for trading (including all equity derivative instruments) are classified as FVTPL, for other equity instruments, on the day of acquisition the Company can make an irrevocable election (on an instrument by-instrument

basis) to designate them as at FVTOCI.

 

23
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Financial assets at FVTPL

 

Financial assets carried at FVTPL are initially recorded at fair value and transaction costs are recorded to profit or loss. Realized and unrealized gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial assets held at FVTPL are included in the profit or loss in the period in which they arise. Derivatives are also categorized as FVTPL unless they are designated as hedges.

 

Financial assets at FVTOCI

 

Financial assets carried at FVTOCI are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs. Subsequently they are measured at fair value, with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income. There is no subsequent reclassification of fair value gains and losses to profit or loss following the derecognition of the investment.

 

Financial assets at amortized cost

 

Financial assets at amortized cost are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently carried at amortized cost less any impairment. They are classified as current assets or non-current assets based on their maturity date.

 

Impairment of financial assets at amortized cost

 

The Company recognizes a loss allowance for expected credit losses on financial assets that are measured at amortized cost. At each reporting date, the loss allowance for the financial asset is measured at an amount equal to the lifetime expected credit losses if the credit risk on the financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition. If at the reporting date, the financial asset has not increased significantly since initial recognition, the loss allowance is measured for the financial asset at an amount equal to twelve month expected credit losses. For trade receivables the Company applies the simplified approach to providing for expected credit losses, which allows the use of a lifetime expected loss provision.

 

Impairment losses on financial assets carried at amortized cost are reversed in subsequent periods if the amount of the loss decreases and the decrease can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized.

 

Derecognition of financial assets

 

Financial assets are derecognized when the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred. Gains and losses on derecognition of financial assets classified as FVTPL or amortized cost are recorded to profit or loss. Gains or losses on financial assets classified as FVTOCI remain within accumulated other comprehensive loss.

 

b) Financial liabilities

 

The Company classifies its financial liabilities into one of two categories as follows:

 

FVTPL - This category comprises derivatives and financial liabilities incurred principally for the purpose of selling or repurchasing in the near term. They are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss.

 

Other financial liabilities - This category consists of liabilities carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Trade payables, customer deposits and loans payable are included in this category.

 

Derecognition of financial liabilities

 

Financial liabilities are derecognized when its contractual obligations are discharged, cancelled, or expire. The Company also derecognizes a financial liability when the terms of the liability are modified such that the terms and/or cash flows of the modified instrument are substantially different, in which case a new financial liability based on the modified terms is recognized at fair value. Gains and losses on derecognition are recognized in profit or loss.

 

24
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Impairment of non-financial assets

 

The carrying amounts of the non-financial assets are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If indicators exist, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. The recoverable amounts of the following types of intangible assets are measured annually, whether or not there is any indication that it may be impaired:

 

an intangible asset with an indefinite useful life; and
an intangible asset not yet available for use;

 

The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit (“CGU”) is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.

 

If there is an indication that a corporate asset may be impaired, then the recoverable amount is determined for the CGU to which the corporate asset belongs.

 

An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognized in respect of CGUs are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU, and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the CGU on a pro rata basis.

 

In respect of assets other than goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives, impairment losses recognized in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed in a subsequent period when there has been an increase in the recoverable amount of a previously impaired asset or CGU. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 

Income taxes

 

Current income tax

 

Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current period are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted, at the reporting date, in the countries where the Company operates and generates taxable income.

 

Current income taxes relating to items recognized directly in other comprehensive income or equity is recognized in other comprehensive income or equity and not in profit or loss. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in the tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation and establishes provisions where appropriate.

 

Deferred income tax

 

Deferred income tax is recognized, using the asset and liability method, on temporary differences at the reporting date arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting. The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and recognized only to the extent that it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset to be utilized. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against current income tax liabilities and the deferred income taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

 

25
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Inventory

 

Inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods for manufacturing of multi-rotor helicopters, industrial areal video systems, civilian small unmanned aerial systems or vehicles, health monitoring equipment, and wireless video systems. Inventory is initially valued at cost and subsequently at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in-first-out method. The cost of inventories comprises all costs of purchase, costs of conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition. The costs of purchase include the purchase price, import duties and non-recoverable taxes and transport, handling and other costs directly attributable to the acquisition of finished goods, materials or services. The costs of conversion include direct materials and labour costs and a systematic allocation of fixed and variable overheads incurred in converting materials into finished goods. The Company reviews inventory for obsolete and slow-moving goods and any such inventory is written-down to net realizable value.

 

Revenue recognition

 

Revenue comprises the fair value of consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and consulting services in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. Revenue is shown net of return allowances and discounts.

 

Sales of goods

 

The Company manufactures and sells a range of multi-rotor helicopters, industrial aerial video systems, and civilian small unmanned aerial systems or vehicles. Sales are recognized at a point-in-time when control of the products has transferred. The control transfer for Dronelogics Systems Inc. (“Dronelogics”) and Draganfly Innovations USA, Inc. is when the products are shipped to the customer and there is no unfulfilled obligation that could affect the customer’s acceptance of the products. At this point revenue is recognized. For Draganfly Innovations Inc. transfer occurs for sales outside of North America when shipped and for sales within North America on delivery which occurs in proximity to shipping. Revenue is recognized when the transfer of control has occurred.

 

Revenue from these sales is recognized based on the price specified in the contract, net of the estimated discounts and returns. Accumulated experience is used to estimate and provide for the discounts and returns, using the expected value method, and revenue is only recognized to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal will not occur. To date, returns have not been significant. No element of financing is deemed present as the sales are made with a credit term of 30 days, which is consistent with market practice.

 

Some contracts include multiple performance obligations, such as the sale of hardware and support or maintenance. Where support or maintenance is performed by another party and does not include an integration service it is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. In this case, the transaction price will be allocated to each performance obligation based on stand-alone selling price. Where the stand-alone selling price is not directly observable, the price is estimated based on expect cost plus margin. Where the support or maintenance is provided by the Company, the contract is analyzed to identify the performance obligations and transaction price. The price is then allocated across the obligations identified in the contract. Revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

 

Services

 

The Company provides consulting, custom engineering, drones as a service, and investigating and solving on a project-by-project basis under fixed-price and variable price contracts. Revenue from providing services is recognized over time as the services are rendered.

 

The Company provides rental of equipment which is measured based on rates through contracts or other written agreements with customers. Revenue is recognized in the period when services are performed and only when there is reasonable assurance that the revenue will be collected.

 

26
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Deferred Income

 

A payment received is included as deferred revenue when products have yet be shipped to the customers as of the period end or there are unfulfilled obligations related to the revenue received. The amount to be recognized within twelve months following the year-end date is classified as current.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of sales includes the expenses incurred to acquire and produce inventory for sale, including product costs, freight costs, as well as provisions for reserves related to product shrinkage, or lower of cost and net realizable value adjustments as required.

 

Intangible Assets

 

An intangible asset is an identifiable asset without physical substance. An asset is identifiable if it is separable, or arises from contractual or legal rights, regardless of whether those rights are transferrable or separable from the Company or from other rights and obligations. Intangible assets include intellectual property, which consists of patent and trademark applications, brands and software.

 

Intangible assets acquired externally are measured at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. The cost of a group of intangible assets acquired is allocated to the individual intangible assets based on their relative fair values. The cost of intangible assets acquired externally comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable cost of preparing the asset for its intended use. Research and development costs incurred subsequent to the acquisition of externally acquired intangible assets and on internally generated intangible assets are accounted for as research and development costs.

 

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected life of each intellectual property to write off the cost of the assets from the date they are available for use.

 

Class of intangible asset   Useful live
Customer relationship   5 years
Brand   5 years
Software   5 years
Patents   5 years

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the value of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the net identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is allocated to the cash generating unit to which it relates.

 

Equipment

 

Equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

 

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Company and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss during the financial period in which they are incurred.

 

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.

 

27
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Depreciation is generally calculated on a declining balance method to write off the cost of the assets to their residual values over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation for leasehold improvements is fully expensed over the expected term of the lease. The depreciation rates applicable to each category of equipment are as follows:

 

Class of equipment   Depreciation rate
Computer equipment   30%
Furniture and equipment   20%
Leasehold improvements   Expected lease term
Vehicles   30%

 

Research and development expenditures

 

Expenditures on research are expensed as incurred. Research activities include formulation, design, evaluation and final selection of possible alternatives, products, processes, systems or services. Development expenditures are expensed as incurred unless the Company can demonstrate all of the following:

 

(i)the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;
(ii)its intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;
(iii)its ability to use or sell the intangible asset;
(iv)how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits. The Company can also demonstrate the existence of a market for the output of the intangible asset or the intangible asset itself or, if it is to be used internally, the usefulness of the intangible asset;
(v)the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset; and
(vi)its ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.

 

Government assistance

 

Government grants are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and all attached conditions will be complied with. When the grant relates to an expense item, it is recognized as income on a systematic basis over the period that the related costs, for which it is intended to compensate, are expensed. When the grant relates to an asset, the cost of the asset is reduced by the amount of the grant and the grant is recognized as income in equal amounts over the expected useful life of the asset.

 

Leases

 

A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. At the commencement date, the lease liability is recognized at the present value of the future lease payments and discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. A corresponding right-of-use (“ROU”) asset will be recognized at the amount of the lease liability, adjusted for any lease incentives received and initial direct costs incurred. Over the term of the lease, financing expense is recognized on the lease liability using the effective interest rate method and charged to net income, lease payments are applied against the lease liability and depreciation on the ROU asset is recorded by class of underlying asset.

 

The lease term is the non-cancellable period of a lease and includes periods covered by an optional lease extension option if reasonably certain the Company will exercise the option to extend. Conversely, periods covered by an option to terminate are included if the Company does not expect to end the lease during that time frame. Leases with a term of less than twelve months or leases for underlying low value assets are recognized as an expense in net income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

28
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

A lease modification will be accounted for as a separate lease if it materially changes the scope of the lease. For a modification that is not a separate lease, on the effective date of the lease modification, the Company will remeasure the lease liability and corresponding ROU asset using the interest rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Any variance between the remeasured ROU asset and lease liability will be recognized as a gain or loss in net income to reflect the change in scope.

 

Business Risks

 

The Company does engage in significant transactions and activities in currencies other than its functional currency. Depending on the timing of the transactions and the applicable currency exchange rates such conversions may positively or negatively impact the Company.

 

An investment in the Company’s Common Shares is highly speculative and involves significant risks. In addition to the other ‎information contained in this MD&A and the documents incorporated by ‎reference herein and therein, you should review and carefully consider the risks described herein. The risks described herein are not the only risk factors facing us and should not be ‎considered exhaustive. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently ‎consider immaterial, may also materially and adversely affect our business, operations and condition, financial ‎or otherwise.‎

 

Risks Related to the Company, its Business and Industry

 

The Company has a history of losses.

 

The Company has incurred net losses since its inception. The Company cannot assure that it can ‎become profitable or avoid net losses in the future or that there will be any earnings or revenues in any ‎future quarterly or other periods. The Company expects that its operating expenses will increase as it ‎grows its business, including expending substantial resources for research, development and marketing. ‎As a result, any decrease or delay in generating revenues could result in material operating losses.‎

 

A shareholder’s holding in the Company may be diluted if the Company issues additional Common ‎Shares or other securities in the future.‎

 

The Company may issue additional Common Shares or other securities in the future, which may dilute a ‎‎shareholder’s holding in the Company. ‎The Company’s articles permit the issuance of an unlimited ‎‎number of Common Shares, and shareholders have no pre-emptive rights in connection with further ‎‎issuances of any securities. The directors of the Company have the discretion to ‎determine if an ‎‎issuance of Common Shares or other securities is warranted, the price at which any such securities are ‎‎issued and the other ‎terms of issue of Common Shares or securities. In addition, the Company may ‎‎issue additional Common Shares upon the exercise of incentive stock options to ‎acquire Common ‎‎Shares under its share compensation plan or upon the exercise or conversion of other outstanding ‎convertible securities of the Company, which will result in further dilution to shareholders. In addition, ‎the ‎issuance of Common Shares or other securities in any potential ‎future acquisitions, if any, may also ‎‎result in further dilution to shareholder interests.‎‎

 

29
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

The Company expects to incur substantial research and development costs and devote significant resources to ‎identifying and commercializing new products and services, which could significantly reduce its profitability and ‎may never result in revenue to the Company.‎

 

‎The Company’s future growth depends on penetrating new markets, adapting existing products to new ‎applications, ‎and introducing new products and services that achieve market acceptance. The Company ‎plans to incur ‎substantial research and development costs as part of its efforts to design, develop and ‎commercialize new ‎products and services and enhance its existing products. The Company believes that ‎there are significant opportunities in a number of business areas. Because the Company accounts for ‎research and development costs as ‎operating expenses, these expenditures will adversely affect its ‎earnings in the future. Further, the Company’s ‎research and development programs may not produce ‎successful results, and its new products and services may not ‎achieve market acceptance, create any ‎additional revenue or become profitable, which could materially harm the ‎Company’s business, ‎prospects, financial results and liquidity.‎

 

Shortfalls in available external research and development funding could adversely affect the Company.‎

 

‎The Company depends on its research and development activities to develop the core technologies ‎used in its UAV ‎products and for the development of the Company’s future products. A portion of the ‎Company’s research and ‎development activities can depend on funding by commercial companies and ‎the Canadian government. Canadian ‎government and commercial spending levels can be impacted by a ‎number of variables, including general ‎economic conditions, specific companies’ financial performance ‎and competition for Canadian government ‎funding with other Canadian government-sponsored programs ‎in the budget formulation and appropriation ‎processes. Moreover, the Canadian, federal and provincial ‎governments provide energy rebates and incentives to ‎commercial companies, which directly impact the ‎amount of research and development that companies ‎appropriate for energy systems. To the extent that ‎these energy rebates and incentives are reduced or eliminated, ‎company funding for research and ‎development could be reduced. Any reductions in available research and ‎development funding could ‎harm the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.‎

 

The Company’s adoption of new business models could fail to produce any financial returns.‎

 

‎Forecasting the Company’s revenues and profitability for new business models is inherently uncertain ‎and ‎volatile. The Company’s actual revenues and profits for its business models may be significantly ‎less ‎than the Company’s forecasts. Additionally, the new business models could fail for one or more of ‎the ‎Company’s products and/or services, resulting in the loss of Company’s investment in the ‎development and ‎infrastructure needed to support the new business models, and the opportunity cost of ‎diverting management and ‎financial resources away from more successful businesses.‎

 

The Company will be affected by operational risks and may not be adequately insured for certain risks.‎

 

‎ The Company will be affected by a number of operational risks and the Company may not be adequately ‎insured ‎for certain risks, including: labour disputes; catastrophic accidents; fires; blockades or other ‎acts of social activism; ‎changes in the regulatory environment; impact of non-compliance with laws and ‎regulations; natural phenomena, ‎such as inclement weather conditions, floods, earthquakes and ground ‎movements. There is no assurance that the ‎foregoing risks and hazards will not result in damage to, or ‎destruction of, the Company’s technologies, personal ‎injury or death, environmental damage, adverse ‎impacts on the Company’s operation, costs, monetary losses, ‎potential legal liability and adverse ‎governmental action, any of which could have an adverse impact on the ‎Company’s future cash flows, ‎earnings and financial condition. Also, the Company may be subject to or affected ‎by liability or sustain ‎loss for certain risks and hazards against which the Company cannot insure or which the ‎Company may ‎elect not to insure because of the cost. This lack of insurance coverage could have an adverse ‎impact ‎on the Company’s future cash flows, earnings, results of operations and financial condition.‎

 

30
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

The Company operates in evolving markets, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company’s business and ‎future prospects.‎

 

‎The Company’s unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) are sold in rapidly evolving markets. The commercial UAV market is in early stages of ‎customer adoption. Accordingly, the Company’s business and future prospects may be difficult to evaluate. The ‎Company cannot accurately predict the extent to which demand for its products and services will increase, if at all. ‎The challenges, risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in rapidly evolving markets could ‎impact the Company’s ability to do the following:‎

 

  generate sufficient revenue to reach and maintain profitability;
  acquire and maintain market share;‎
  achieve or manage growth in operations;‎
  develop and renew contracts;‎
  attract and retain additional engineers and other highly-qualified personnel;‎
  successfully develop and commercially market new products;‎
  adapt to new or changing policies and spending priorities of governments and government agencies; and
  access additional capital when required and on reasonable terms.‎

 

If the Company fails to address these and other challenges, risks and uncertainties successfully, its business, results ‎of operations and financial condition would be materially harmed.‎

 

The Company operates in a competitive market.

 

The Company faces competition and new competitors will continue to emerge throughout the world. ‎Services offered by the Company’s competitors may take a larger share of consumer spending than ‎anticipated, which could cause revenue generated from the Company’s products and services to fall ‎below expectations. It is expected that competition in these markets will intensify.

 

‎If competitors of the Company develop and market more successful products or services, offer ‎competitive products or services at lower price points, or if the Company does not produce consistently ‎high-quality and well-received products and services, revenues, margins, and profitability of the ‎Company will decline.‎

 

‎The Company’s ability to compete effectively will depend on, among other things, the Company’s pricing ‎of services and equipment, quality of customer service, development of new and enhanced products ‎and services in response to customer demands and changing technology, reach and quality of sales and ‎distribution channels and capital resources. Competition could lead to a reduction in the rate at which the ‎Company adds new customers, a decrease in the size of the Company’s market share and a decline in ‎its customers. Examples include but are not limited to competition from other companies in the UAV ‎industry.‎

 

In addition, the Company could face increased competition should there be an award of additional ‎licenses in jurisdictions in which the Company operates in.‎

 

The markets in which the Company competes are characterized by rapid technological change, which requires ‎the Company to develop new products and product enhancements and could render the Company’s existing ‎products obsolete. ‎

 

‎Continuing technological changes in the market for the Company’s products could make its products ‎less ‎competitive or obsolete, either generally or for particular applications. The Company’s future ‎success will depend ‎upon its ability to develop and introduce a variety of new capabilities and ‎enhancements to its existing product and ‎service offerings, as well as introduce a variety of new product ‎offerings, to address the changing needs of the ‎markets in which it offers products. Delays in ‎introducing new products and enhancements, the failure to choose ‎correctly among technical alternatives ‎or the failure to offer innovative products or enhancements at competitive ‎prices may cause existing and ‎potential customers to purchase the Company’s competitors’ products.‎

 

31
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

If the Company is unable to devote adequate resources to develop new products or cannot otherwise ‎successfully ‎develop new products or enhancements that meet customer requirements on a timely basis, ‎its products could lose ‎market share, its revenue and profits could decline, and the Company could ‎experience operating losses.‎

 

Failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals from Transport Canada or other governmental agencies, or ‎limitations put on the use of small UAV in response to public privacy concerns, may prevent the Company from ‎expanding sales of its small UAV to non-military customers in Canada.‎

 

‎Transport Canada is responsible for establishing, managing, and developing safety and security ‎standards and regulations for civil aviation in Canada, and includes unmanned civil aviation ‎‎(drones). Civil operations include law enforcement, scientific research, or use by private sector ‎companies for commercial purposes. The Canadian Aviation Regulations (“CARs”) govern civil ‎aviation safety and security in Canada, and by extension govern operation of drones in Canada ‎to an acceptable level of safety.‎

 

While Transport Canada has been a leader in the development of regulations for the commercial ‎use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (“RPAS”) and continues to move forward rapidly with its regulatory development, it has ‎acknowledged the challenge of regulations keeping pace with the rapid development in ‎technology and the growing demand for commercial RPAS use, particularly in the beyond visual ‎line-of-sight environment. In 2012, the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council UAS ‎working group released its Phase 2 report which outlined a proposed set of revision to the CARs ‎to permit beyond visual line of sight operations. This report was the basis for the recently released Notice of Proposed Amendment (“NPA”) by Transport Canada on lower ‎risk beyond visual line-of-sight.‎

 

Failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals from Transport Canada or other governmental ‎agencies, including the granting of certain Special Flight Operations Certificates (“SFOCs”), or limitations put on the use of RPAS in ‎response to public safety concerns, may prevent the Company from testing or operating its ‎aircraft and/or expanding its sales which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s ‎business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.‎

 

There are risks associated with the regulatory regime and permitting requirements of the Company’s business.‎

 

‎A significant portion of the Company’s business is based on the operation of RPAS. The operation of ‎‎RPAS poses a risk or hazard to airspace users as well as personnel on the ground. As ‎the RPAS ‎‎industry is rapidly developing, the regulatory environment for RPAS is constantly evolving to keep pace. ‎‎‎As such, whenever a policy change with respect to operating regulations occurs, there is a risk that the ‎‎Company ‎could find itself to be in non-compliance with these new regulations. While the Company ‎‎endeavours to take all ‎necessary action to reduce the risks associated with the operations of RPAS and ‎‎to remain well-informed and up-‎to-date on any addendums and changes to the applicable regulations, ‎‎there is no assurance that an incident ‎involving an RPAS or the Company’s non-compliance would not ‎‎create a significant current or future liability for ‎the company.‎

 

The regulation of RPAS operations within the Canadian Domestic Airspace (“CDA”) is still evolving and is expected ‎to continue to change ‎with the proliferation of RPAS, advancements in technology, and standardization within the ‎industry. ‎Changes to the regulatory regime may be disruptive and result in the Company needing to adopt ‎‎significant changes in its operations and policies, which may be costly and time-consuming, and may ‎materially ‎adversely affect the Company’s ability to manufacture and make delivery of its products and ‎services in a timely ‎fashion.‎

 

The Company’s business and research and development activities are subject to oversight by Transport ‎‎Canada, the federal ‎institution responsible for transportation policies and programs, including the rules in ‎‎the CARs. Currently, Transport Canada requires that any non-recreational operators of RPAS have a ‎‎‎SFOC. The Company’s ability to develop, test, demonstrate, and sell products and ‎services depends on ‎‎its ability to acquire and maintain a valid SFOC.‎

 

32
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

‎In addition, there exists public concern regarding the privacy implications of Canadian commercial and ‎‎law ‎enforcement use of small UAV. This concern has included calls to develop explicit written policies ‎‎and procedures ‎establishing UAV usage limitations. There is no assurance that the response from ‎‎regulatory agencies, customers and ‎privacy advocates to these concerns will not delay or restrict the ‎‎adoption of small UAV by prospective non-military customers‎.‎

 

The Company may be subject to the risks associated with future acquisitions.

 

As part of the Company’s overall business strategy, the Company may pursue select strategic ‎acquisitions that would provide additional product or service offerings, additional industry expertise, and ‎a stronger industry presence in both existing and new jurisdictions. Any such future acquisitions, if ‎completed, may expose the Company to additional potential risks, including risks associated with: (a) ‎the integration of new operations, services and personnel; (b) unforeseen or hidden liabilities; (c) the ‎diversion of resources from the Company’s existing business and technology; (d) potential inability to ‎generate sufficient revenue to offset new costs; (e) the expenses of acquisitions; or (f) the potential loss ‎of or harm to relationships with both employees and existing users resulting from its integration of new ‎businesses. In addition, any proposed acquisitions may be subject to regulatory approval.‎

 

The Company’s inability to retain management and key employees could impair the future success of the Company.

 

The Company’s future success depends substantially on the continued services of its executive officers ‎and its key development personnel. If one or more of its executive officers or key development ‎personnel were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, the Company might not be able ‎to replace them easily or at all. In addition, if any of its executive officers or key employees joins a ‎competitor or forms a competing company, the Company may lose experience, know-how, key ‎professionals and staff members as well as business partners. These executive officers and key ‎employees could develop drone technologies that could compete with and take customers and market ‎share away from the Company.‎

 

The Company faces uncertainty and adverse changes in the economy.‎

Adverse changes in the economy could negatively impact the Company’s business. Future economic ‎distress may ‎result in a decrease in demand for the Company’s products, which could have a material ‎adverse impact on the ‎Company’s operating results and financial condition. Uncertainty and adverse ‎changes in the economy could also ‎increase costs associated with developing and publishing products, ‎increase the cost and decrease the availability of ‎sources of financing, and increase the Company’s ‎exposure to material losses from bad debts, any of which could ‎have a material adverse impact on the ‎financial condition and operating results of the Company.‎

 

The Company is subject to certain market-based financial risks associated with its operations.

 

The Company could be subject to interest rate risks, which is the risk that the value of a financial ‎instrument might be adversely affected by a change in the interest rates. In seeking to minimize the risks ‎from interest rate fluctuations, the Company manages exposure through its normal operating and ‎financing activities, however market fluctuations could increase the costs at which the Company can ‎access capital and its ability to obtain financing and the Company’s cash balances carry a floating rate ‎of interest. In addition, the Company engages in transactions in currencies other than its functional ‎currency. Depending on the timing of these transactions and the applicable currency exchange rates, ‎conversions to the Company’s functional currency may positively or negatively impact the Company.‎

 

33
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Negative macroeconomic and geopolitical trends could affect demand for the Company’s products and its ability ‎to access sources of ‎capital.‎

 

‎ ‎There can be no assurance that the Company’s business and corresponding financial performance will not be ‎adversely affected by general negative economic or consumer trends or events, including pandemics, public health ‎crises, weather catastrophes, acts of terrorism, war, and political instability. In particular, global economic markets ‎have seen extensive volatility over the past few years owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war ‎between Russia and Ukraine, and the war between Israel and Hamas, the closing of certain financial institutions by ‎regulators in March 2023, and political instability. These events have created, and may continue to create, ‎significant disruption of the global economy, supply chains and distribution channels, and financial and labor ‎markets. If such conditions continue, recur or worsen, this may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ‎business, financial condition and results of operations as consumer demand and its ability to access capital on ‎favorable terms, or at all, could be negatively impacted as a result of such conditions and consequences. ‎Furthermore, such economic conditions have produced downward pressure on share prices and on the availability ‎of credit for financial institutions and corporations while also driving up interest rates, further complicating ‎borrowing and lending activities. If current levels of market disruption and volatility continue or increase, the ‎Company might experience reductions in business activity, increases in funding costs, decreases in asset values, ‎additional write-downs and impairment charges and lower profitability.‎

 

The Company may be subject to the risks associated with foreign operations in other countries.

 

The Company’s primary revenues are expected to be achieved in Canada and the US. However, the ‎Company may expand to markets outside of North America and become subject to risks normally ‎associated with conducting business in other countries. As a result of such expansion, the Company ‎may be subject to the legal, political, social and regulatory requirements and economic conditions of ‎foreign jurisdictions. The Company cannot predict government positions on such matters as foreign ‎investment, intellectual property rights or taxation. A change in government positions on these issues ‎could adversely affect the Company’s business.‎

 

If the Company expands its business to foreign markets, it will need to respond to rapid changes in ‎market conditions, including differing legal, regulatory, economic, social and political conditions in these ‎countries. If the Company is not able to develop and implement policies and strategies that are effective ‎in each location in which it does business, then the Company’s business, prospects, results of ‎operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.‎

 

There are tax risks the Company may be subject to in carrying on business in Canada.

 

The Company is a resident of Canada for purposes of the Income ‎Tax Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”). Since the ‎Company ‎is operating in a new and developing industry there is a risk that ‎foreign governments may look to ‎‎increase their tax revenues or levy additional taxes to level the playing ‎field for perceived disadvantages ‎to ‎traditional brick and mortar businesses. There is no guarantee that ‎governments will not impose such ‎additional ‎adverse taxes in the future‎.‎

 

If critical components or raw materials used to manufacture the Company’s products become scarce or ‎unavailable, then the Company may incur delays in manufacturing and delivery of its products, which could ‎damage its business.‎

 

‎The Company obtains hardware components, various subsystems and systems from a limited group of ‎suppliers. ‎The Company does not have long-term agreements with any of these suppliers that obligate it ‎to continue to sell ‎components, subsystems, systems or products to the Company. The Company’s ‎reliance on these suppliers ‎involves significant risks and uncertainties, including whether its suppliers will ‎provide an adequate supply of ‎required components, subsystems, or systems of sufficient quality, will ‎increase prices for the components, ‎subsystems or systems and will perform their obligations on a ‎timely basis.‎

 

34
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

‎The global supply chain has experienced significant disruptions recently, caused by the COVID-19 ‎pandemic and ‎by geopolitical conflict, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the possibility of widening conflict in the ‎Middle East. These disruptions have impacted a ‎variety of products and goods and have had various downstream ‎effects, making it more difficult to ‎reliably and timely source and supply goods and has also resulted in shortages of ‎labor and equipment. ‎The macroeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts, including the ‎disruption of global shipping lanes in the Middle East, have contributed to ‎inflationary pressure, rising interest rates, ‎and increased market volatility, adding additional pricing uncertainty. These ‎conditions, if not mitigated or ‎remedied in a timely manner, could delay or preclude delivery of raw ‎materials needed to manufacture the ‎Company’s products or delivery of its products to customers, ‎particularly in international markets. If the ‎Company ‎is unable to obtain components from third-party ‎suppliers in the quantities and of the quality that it ‎requires, on a ‎timely basis and at acceptable prices, ‎then it may not be able to deliver its products on a timely or ‎cost-effective ‎basis to its customers, or at ‎all, which could cause customers to terminate their contracts with the Company, ‎‎increase the Company’s ‎costs and seriously harm its business, results of operations and financial condition. ‎‎Moreover, if any of ‎the Company’s suppliers become financially unstable, then it may have to find new suppliers. ‎‎It may take ‎several months to locate alternative suppliers, if required, or to redesign the Company’s products to ‎‎‎accommodate components from different suppliers. The Company may experience significant delays in ‎‎‎manufacturing and shipping its products to customers and incur additional development, manufacturing ‎and other ‎‎costs to establish alternative sources of supply if the Company loses any of these sources or ‎is required to redesign ‎‎its products. The Company cannot predict if it will be able to obtain replacement ‎components within the time ‎‎frames that it requires at an affordable cost, if at all.‎

 

Natural outdoor elements such as wind and precipitation may have a material adverse effect on the ‎use and effectiveness of the Company’s products.

 

The Company’s business will involve the operation and flying of UAVs, a technology-based product ‎‎used outside. As such, the business is subject to various risks inherent in a technology-based ‎‎businesses operated in outdoor conditions, including faulty parts, breakdowns and crashes. Although ‎‎the Company anticipates the use of its UAVs in good climactic conditions and that adequate flying ‎‎conditions will be monitored by trained personnel, there can be no assurance that unpredictable natural ‎‎outdoor elements, which could be exacerbated due to risks associated with climate change, will not have a material adverse effect on the use and effectiveness of its products.‎

 

The Company’s products may be subject to recall or return.

 

Manufacturers and distributors of products are sometimes subject to the recall or return of their products ‎‎‎for a variety of reasons, including product defects, safety concerns, packaging issues and inadequate ‎‎or inaccurate ‎labeling disclosure. If any of the Company’s equipment were to be recalled due to an ‎‎alleged product ‎defect, safety concern or for any other reason, the Company could be required to incur ‎‎unexpected expenses of the recall ‎and any legal proceedings that might arise in connection with the ‎‎recall. The Company may lose a significant ‎amount of sales and may not be able to replace those sales ‎‎at an acceptable margin or at all. In ‎addition, a product recall may require significant management time ‎‎and attention. Additionally, product recalls may lead to ‎increased scrutiny of the Company’s operations ‎‎by Transport Canada or other regulatory agencies, requiring ‎further management time and attention and ‎‎potential legal fees, costs and other expenses.‎‎

 

‎‎If the Company releases defective products or services, its operating results could suffer.‎

 

‎Products and services designed and released by the Company involve extremely complex software ‎‎programs and ‎are difficult to develop and distribute. While the Company has quality controls in place to ‎‎detect and prevent defects in its ‎products and services before they are released, these quality controls ‎‎are subject to human error, ‎overriding, and reasonable resource constraints. Therefore, these quality ‎‎controls and preventative measures may ‎not be effective in detecting and preventing defects in the ‎‎Company’s products and services before they have been released into ‎the marketplace. In such an ‎‎event, the Company could be required, or decide voluntarily, to suspend the availability of the product or ‎‎services, which could significantly harm its business and operating results‎.‎

 

35
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

‎The Company’s products and services are complex and could have unknown defects or errors, which may give ‎rise to legal claims against the Company, diminish its brand or divert its resources from other purposes.‎

 

The Company’s UAVs rely on complex avionics, sensors, user-friendly interfaces and tightly integrated, ‎‎electromechanical designs to accomplish their missions. Despite testing, the Company’s products have ‎contained ‎defects and errors and may in the future contain defects, errors or performance problems ‎when first introduced, ‎when new versions or enhancements are released, or even after these products ‎have been used by the Company’s ‎customers for a period of time. These problems could result in ‎expensive and time-consuming design modifications ‎or warranty charges, delays in the introduction of ‎new products or enhancements, significant increases in the ‎Company’s service and maintenance costs, ‎exposure to liability for damages, damaged customer relationships and ‎harm to the Company’s ‎reputation, any of which could materially harm the Company’s results of operations and ‎ability to achieve ‎market acceptance. In addition, increased development and warranty costs could be substantial ‎and ‎could significantly reduce the Company’s operating margins.‎

 

‎The existence of any defects, errors, or failures in the Company’s products or the misuse of the ‎Company’s ‎products could also lead to product returns, recalls, or liability claims or lawsuits against it. A defect, error or ‎failure in one of the ‎Company’s UAV could result in injury, death or property damage and significantly ‎damage the Company’s ‎reputation and support for its UAV in general. The Company anticipates this risk ‎will grow as its UAV begins to be ‎used in Canadian domestic airspace and urban areas. The Company’s ‎UAV test systems also have the potential to ‎cause injury, death or property damage in the event that ‎they are misused, malfunction or fail to operate properly ‎due to unknown defects or errors.‎ Although the ‎Company maintains insurance policies, it cannot provide any assurance that this insurance will be ‎‎adequate to protect the Company from all material judgments and expenses related to potential future ‎claims or ‎that these levels of insurance will be available in the future at economical prices or at all. A ‎successful product ‎liability claim could result in substantial cost to us. Even if the Company is fully ‎insured as it relates to a particular claim, the ‎claim could nevertheless diminish the Company’s brand and ‎divert management’s attention and resources, which ‎could have a negative impact on the Company’s ‎business, financial condition and results of operations.‎

 

The Company could be prohibited from shipping its products to certain countries if it is unable to obtain ‎Canadian government authorization regarding the export of its products, or if current or future export laws limit ‎or otherwise restrict the Company’s business.‎

 

The Company must comply with Canadian federal and provincial laws regulating the export of its ‎products. In ‎some cases, explicit authorization from the Canadian government is needed to export its ‎products. The export ‎regulations and the governing policies applicable to the Company’s business are ‎subject to change. The Company ‎cannot provide assurance that such export authorizations will be ‎available for its products in the future. ‎Compliance with these laws has not significantly limited the ‎Company’s operations or sales in the recent past, but ‎could significantly limit them in the future. Non-‎compliance with applicable export regulations could potentially ‎expose the Company to fines, penalties ‎and sanctions. If the Company cannot obtain required government ‎approvals under applicable ‎regulations, the Company may not be able to sell its products in certain international ‎jurisdictions, which ‎could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.‎

 

36
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Negative consumer perception regarding the Company’s products‎ could have a material adverse effect on the demand for the Company’s ‎products and the business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Company.

 

The Company believes the UAV industry is highly dependent upon consumer perception regarding the ‎‎safety, efficacy, and quality of the UAV used. Consumer perception of these products can be ‎‎significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory investigations, litigation, media ‎attention, ‎and other publicity regarding the use of UAV. There can be no assurance that future scientific ‎research, ‎findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention, or other research findings or ‎publicity will be ‎favourable to the UAV market. Future research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, ‎litigation, media ‎attention or other publicity that are perceived as less favourable than, or that question, ‎earlier research ‎reports, findings or publicity could have a material adverse effect on the demand for the ‎Company’s ‎products and the business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the ‎Company. The ‎dependence upon consumer perceptions means that adverse scientific research reports, ‎findings, ‎regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity, whether or not accurate or ‎with merit, ‎could have a material adverse effect on the Company, the demand for the Company’s ‎products, and the ‎business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Company. ‎Further, adverse ‎publicity reports or other media attention regarding the safety, the efficacy, and quality ‎of UAV based surveys in general, or the Company’s products specifically, ‎could have a material adverse ‎effect.‎

 

If the Company fails ‎‎to successfully promote its product brand, this could have a material adverse ‎effect on the Company’s business, prospects, ‎‎financial condition and results of operations‎.

 

The Company believes that brand recognition is an important factor to its success. If the Company fails ‎‎‎to promote its brands successfully, or if the expenses of doing so are disproportionate to any increased ‎‎‎net sales it achieves, it would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, ‎‎‎financial condition and results of operations. This will depend largely on the Company’s ability to ‎‎‎maintain trust, be a technology leader, and continue to provide high-quality and secure technologies, ‎‎‎products and services. Any negative publicity about the Company or its industry, the quality and ‎reliability of the Company’s technologies, products and services, the Company’s risk management ‎‎‎processes, changes to the Company’s technologies, products and services, its ability to effectively ‎‎‎manage and resolve customer complaints, its privacy and security practices, litigation, regulatory ‎activity, and the experience of sellers and buyers with the Company’s products or services, could ‎adversely affect the Company’s reputation and the confidence in and use of the ‎‎Company’s ‎technologies, products and services. Harm to the Company’s brand can arise from ‎‎many sources, ‎including; failure by the Company or its partners to satisfy expectations of service and quality; ‎inadequate protection of sensitive information; compliance failures and claims; litigation and ‎‎other ‎claims; employee misconduct; and misconduct by the Company’s partners, service ‎‎providers, or other ‎counterparties. If the Company does not successfully maintain a strong and trusted brand, its business ‎could be materially and adversely affected.‎ ‎

 

The Company may be subject to electronic communication security risks.

 

A significant potential vulnerability of electronic communications is the security of transmission of ‎confidential ‎information over public networks. Cyberattacks could result in unauthorized access to the ‎Company’s computer ‎systems or its third-party IT service provider’s systems and, if successful, ‎misappropriate personal or confidential ‎information. Anyone who is able to circumvent the Company’s ‎security measures could misappropriate proprietary ‎information or cause interruptions in its operations. ‎The Company may be required to expend capital and other ‎resources to protect against such security ‎breaches or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches.‎

 

‎The last few years have seen an increase in the volume and sophistication ‎of targeted cyber-attacks. A failure of ‎the Company’s IT ‎infrastructure could severely limit the Company’s ability ‎to conduct ordinary operations or ‎expose the ‎Company to liability. To date, the Company’s systems have functioned capably, and it has not ‎‎experienced a material impact to its ‎operations as a result of an IT infrastructure issue. Data security breaches ‎suffered by well-known companies and institutions have attracted a substantial amount of media attention, ‎prompting new foreign, federal, provincial and state laws and legislative proposals addressing data privacy and ‎security. As a result, the Company may become subject to more extensive requirements to protect the customer ‎information that it processes in connection with the purchase of its products, resulting in increased compliance ‎costs.‎

 

37
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

While the Company has taken measures to protect against cyberattacks, even the most well-protected IT networks, ‎systems and facilities remain potentially vulnerable because ‎the techniques used in attempted security breaches are ‎continually evolving and generally are not ‎recognized until launched against a target or, in some cases, are designed ‎not to be detected and, in ‎fact, may not be detected. Any such compromise of the Company’s or its third party’s IT ‎service ‎providers’ data security and access, public disclosure, or loss of personal or confidential business ‎‎information, could result in legal claims and proceedings, liability under laws to protect privacy of ‎personal ‎information, and regulatory penalties, and could disrupt the Company’s operations, require significant ‎‎management attention and resources to remedy any damages that result, and damage its reputation and ‎customers ‎willingness to transact business with us, any of which could adversely affect our business.‎ ‎

 

The Company’s business could be adversely affected if its consumer protection and data privacy practices are not ‎perceived as adequate or there are breaches of its security measures or unintended disclosures of its consumer data.‎

 

‎The rate of privacy law-making is accelerating globally and interpretation and application of consumer ‎protection ‎and data privacy laws in Canada, the United States, Europe and elsewhere are often uncertain, ‎contradictory and in ‎flux. As business practices are being challenged by regulators, private litigants, and ‎consumer protection agencies ‎around the world, it is possible that these laws may be interpreted and ‎applied in a manner that is inconsistent with ‎the Company’s data and/or consumer protection practices. If ‎so, this could result in increased litigation government ‎or court-imposed fines, judgments or orders ‎requiring that the Company change its practices, which could have an ‎adverse effect on its business and ‎reputation. Complying with these various laws could cause the Company to incur ‎substantial costs or ‎require it to change its business practices in a manner adverse to its business.‎

 

The Company relies on its business partners, and they may be given access to sensitive and proprietary ‎information in order to provide services and support to the Company’s teams.‎

 

‎The Company relies on various business partners, including third-party service providers, vendors, ‎licensing partners, ‎development partners, and licensees, among others, in some areas of the Company’s ‎business. In some cases, these ‎third parties are given access to sensitive and proprietary information in ‎order to provide services and support to the ‎Company’s teams. These third parties may misappropriate ‎the Company’s information and engage in ‎unauthorized use of it. The failure of these third parties to ‎provide adequate services and technologies, or the failure ‎of the third parties to adequately maintain or ‎update their services and technologies, could result in a disruption to ‎the Company’s business ‎operations. Further, disruptions in the financial markets and economic downturns may ‎adversely affect ‎the Company’s business partners and they may not be able to continue honoring their obligations ‎to the ‎Company. Alternative arrangements and services may not be available to the Company on commercially ‎‎reasonable terms or the Company may experience business interruptions upon a transition to an ‎alternative partner ‎or vendor. If the Company loses one or more significant business partners, the ‎Company’s business could be ‎harmed.‎

 

38
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

If the Company fails to protect, or incurs significant costs in defending, its intellectual property and other ‎proprietary rights, the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially ‎harmed.‎

 

‎The Company’s success depends, in large part, on its ability to protect its intellectual property and other ‎proprietary ‎rights. The Company relies primarily on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and ‎unfair competition laws, ‎as well as license agreements and other contractual provisions, to protect the ‎Company’s intellectual property and ‎other proprietary rights. However, a portion of the Company’s ‎technology is not patented, and the Company may ‎be unable or may not seek to obtain patent ‎protection for this technology. Moreover, existing Canadian legal ‎standards relating to the validity, ‎enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights offer only ‎limited protection, may ‎not provide the Company with any competitive advantages, and may be challenged by ‎third parties. The ‎laws of countries other than Canada may be even less protective of intellectual property rights. ‎‎Accordingly, despite its efforts, the Company may be unable to prevent third parties from infringing ‎upon or ‎misappropriating its intellectual property or otherwise gaining access to the Company’s ‎technology. Unauthorized ‎third parties may try to copy or reverse engineer the Company’s products or ‎portions of its products or otherwise ‎obtain and use the Company’s intellectual property. Moreover, ‎many of the Company’s employees have access to ‎the Company’s trade secrets and other intellectual ‎property. If one or more of these employees leave to work for ‎one of the Company’s competitors, then ‎they may disseminate this proprietary information, which may as a result ‎damage the Company’s ‎competitive position. If the Company fails to protect its intellectual property and other ‎proprietary rights, ‎then the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially ‎harmed. ‎From time to time, the Company may have to initiate lawsuits to protect its intellectual property and other ‎‎proprietary rights. Pursuing these claims is time consuming and expensive and could adversely impact ‎the ‎Company’s results of operations.‎

 

‎In addition, affirmatively defending the Company’s intellectual property rights and investigating whether ‎the ‎Company is pursuing a product or service development that may violate the rights of others may ‎entail significant ‎expense. Any of the Company’s intellectual property rights may be challenged by others ‎or invalidated through ‎administrative processes or litigation. If the Company resorts to legal proceedings ‎to enforce its intellectual property ‎rights or to determine the validity and scope of the intellectual property ‎or other proprietary rights of others, then the ‎proceedings could result in significant expense to the ‎Company and divert the attention and efforts of the ‎Company’s management and technical employees, ‎even if the Company prevails.‎

 

Obtaining and maintaining the Company’s patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document ‎submission, fee payment, and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and its patent ‎protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.‎

 

‎The Canadian Intellectual ‎Property Office (“CIPO”), the United States Patent and ‎Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and various foreign national or international patent agencies ‎require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment, and other similar provisions during ‎the patent application process. Periodic maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the CIPO, the USPTO and ‎various foreign national or international patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of the patent. While an ‎inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the ‎applicable rules, there are situations in which non-compliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or ‎patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Non-compliance ‎events that could result in abandonment or lapse of patent rights include, but are not limited to, failure to timely file ‎national and regional stage patent applications based on the Company’s international patent application, failure to respond to ‎official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees, and failure to properly legalize and submit ‎formal documents. If the Company fails to maintain the patents and patent applications covering its product candidates, its ‎competitors might be able to enter the market, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. ‎

 

While a patent may be granted by a national patent office, there is no guarantee that the granted patent ‎is valid. ‎Options exist to challenge the validity of a patent which, depending upon the jurisdiction, may ‎include re-‎examination, opposition proceedings before the patent office, and/or invalidation proceedings ‎before the relevant ‎court. Patent validity may also be the subject of a counterclaim to an allegation of ‎patent infringement.‎

 

39
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Pending patent applications may be challenged by third parties in protest or similar proceedings. Third ‎parties can ‎typically submit prior art material to patentability for review by the patent examiner. Regarding ‎Patent Cooperation ‎Treaty applications, a positive opinion regarding patentability issued by the ‎International Searching Authority does ‎not guarantee allowance of a national application derived from the ‎Patent Cooperation Treaty application. The ‎coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly ‎reduced before the patent is issued, and the patent’s ‎scope can be modified after issuance. It is also ‎possible that the scope of claims granted may vary from jurisdiction ‎to jurisdiction.‎

 

The grant of a patent does not have any bearing on whether the invention described in the patent ‎application would ‎infringe the rights of earlier filed patents. It is possible to both obtain patent protection ‎for an invention and yet still ‎infringe the rights of an earlier granted patent.‎

 

The Company may be sued by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights, which could be ‎costly, time-consuming and limit the Company’s ability to use certain technologies in the future.‎

 

‎The Company may become subject to claims that its technologies infringe upon the intellectual property ‎or other ‎proprietary rights of third parties. Any claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming ‎and expensive, and ‎could divert the Company’s management’s attention away from the execution of its ‎business plan. Moreover, any ‎settlement or adverse judgment resulting from these claims could require ‎the Company to pay substantial amounts ‎or obtain a license to continue to use the disputed technology, ‎or otherwise restrict or prohibit the Company’s use of ‎the technology. The Company cannot assure that it ‎would be able to obtain a license from the third party asserting ‎the claim on commercially reasonable ‎terms, if at all, that the Company would be able to develop alternative ‎technology on a timely basis, if at ‎all, or that the Company would be able to obtain a license to use a suitable ‎alternative technology to ‎permit the Company to continue offering, and the Company’s customers to continue ‎using, the ‎Company’s affected product. An adverse determination also could prevent the Company from offering ‎‎its products to others. Infringement claims asserted against the Company may have a material adverse ‎effect on its ‎business, results of operations or financial condition.‎

 

‎The Company may not be able to protect its intellectual property rights throughout the world.‎

 

‎Filing, prosecuting, and defending patents on all of the Company’s product candidates throughout the world would be ‎prohibitively expensive. Therefore, the Company has filed applications and/or obtained patents only in key markets ‎including the United States and Canada. Competitors may use the Company’s technologies in jurisdictions where it has not ‎obtained patent protection to develop their own products and their products may compete with products of the Company.‎‎

If the Company is required to write down goodwill and other intangible assets, the Company’s financial ‎condition and results could be negatively affected. ‎

Goodwill impairment arises when there is deterioration in the capabilities of acquired assets to generate ‎cash flows, ‎and the fair value of the goodwill dips below its book value. The Company is required to ‎review its goodwill for ‎impairment at least annually. Events that may trigger goodwill impairment include ‎deterioration in economic ‎conditions, increased competition, loss of key personnel, and regulatory ‎action. Should any of these occur, an impairment of ‎goodwill relating to the acquisition of Dronelogics ‎Systems Inc. could have a negative effect on the assets of the ‎Company.‎

 

From time to time, the Company may become involved in legal proceedings, which could adversely affect the ‎Company.‎

 

‎The Company may, from time to time in the future, become subject to legal proceedings, claims, ‎litigation and ‎government investigations or inquiries, which could be expensive, lengthy, and disruptive ‎to normal business ‎operations. In addition, the outcome of any legal proceedings, claims, litigation, ‎investigations or inquiries may be ‎difficult to predict and could have a material adverse effect on the ‎Company’s business, operating results, or ‎financial condition.‎

 

40
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

The Company’s directors and officers may have conflicts of interest in conducting their duties.

 

Because directors and officers of the Company are or may become directors or officers of other ‎‎reporting companies or have significant shareholdings in other technology companies, the directors and ‎‎officers of the Company may have conflicts of interest in conducting their duties. The Company and its ‎‎directors and officers will attempt to minimize such conflicts. In the event that such a conflict of interest ‎‎arises at a meeting of the directors of the Company, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from ‎‎voting for or against a particular matter in which the director has the conflict. In appropriate cases, the ‎‎Company will establish a special committee of independent directors to review a particular matter in ‎‎which several directors, or officers, may have a conflict. In determining whether or not the Company will ‎‎participate in a particular program and the interest therein to be acquired by it, the directors will primarily ‎‎consider the potential benefits to the Company, the degree of risk to which the Company may be ‎‎exposed and its financial position at that time. Other than as indicated, the Company has no other ‎‎procedures or mechanisms to deal with conflicts of interest.‎

 

‎The Company’s Articles ‎provide that the Company must indemnify a director or former director against all judgments, ‎penalties ‎or fines to which such person is or may be liable by reason of such person being or having ‎been a director of the ‎Company and the executive officers and directors may also have rights to ‎indemnification from the Company, ‎including ‎pursuant to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance ‎policies, that will survive termination of their ‎‎agreements‎.‎

 

Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by ‎management ‎related to ‎complex accounting matters could significantly affect the Company’s ‎reported financial results ‎or financial condition.‎

 

Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by ‎management ‎related to ‎complex accounting matters could significantly affect the Company’s ‎reported financial results ‎or financial condition.

‎Generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting pronouncements, implementation ‎‎guidelines and ‎interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to the Company’s ‎‎business, including but not limited to ‎revenue recognition, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, ‎‎inventory, income taxes and litigation, are highly ‎complex and involve many subjective assumptions, ‎‎estimates and judgments. Changes in these rules or their ‎interpretation or changes in underlying ‎‎assumptions, estimates or judgments could significantly change the Company’s reported ‎financial ‎‎performance or financial condition in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.‎

 

Risks Related to Our Common Shares

 

The market price of the Common Shares may be highly volatile.

 

The market price of the Common Shares is highly volatile and has been subject to wide fluctuations ‎in response to a number of factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including but not limited ‎to‎

 

  revenue or results of operations in any quarter failing to meet the expectations, published or otherwise, of ‎the investment community;‎
  actual or anticipated changes or fluctuations in its results of operations;‎
  announcements by us or the Company’s competitors of new products or new or terminated significant contracts, ‎commercial relationships or capital commitments;‎
  rumors and market speculation involving it or other companies in its industry;‎
  changes in its executive management team or the composition of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”);‎
  fluctuations in the share prices of other companies in the technology and emerging growth sectors;‎
  general market conditions and macroeconomic trends driven by factors outside the Company’s control, such as pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, market volatility, inflation, rising interest rate, political instability, and labor challenges, among other factors;
  actual or anticipated developments in its business or its competitors’ businesses or the competitive ‎landscape generally;‎

 

41
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

  litigation involving us, the Company’s industry or both, or investigations by regulators into its operations or those of ‎competitors;‎
  announced or completed acquisitions of businesses or technologies by the Company or its competitors;‎
  new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to its ‎business;‎
  shareholder activism and related publicity;‎
  foreign exchange rates; and
  other risk factors as set out in this Annual Report and in the documents incorporated by ‎reference into this Annual Report.‎

 

If the market price of the Company’s Common Shares drops significantly, shareholders could institute securities class action ‎lawsuits against it, regardless of the merits of such claims. Such a lawsuit could cause it to incur substantial ‎costs and could divert the time and attention of management and other resources from the Company’s business, which ‎could harm its business, results of operations and financial condition.‎

 

There is no guarantee that an active trading market for the Company’s Common Shares will be maintained on ‎the CSE and/or Nasdaq. Investors may not be able to sell their Common Shares quickly or at the ‎latest market price if the trading in our Common Shares is not active.‎

 

The Company’s Common Shares are currently listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (“CSE”), the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”), and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ‎however, it shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of Common Shares into the public ‎‎trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of their Common Shares, or at all and there ‎can be no guarantee that an active trading market for the Common Shares ‎may be maintained. There can ‎be no assurance that ‎there will be sufficient liquidity of its Common Shares on the trading market, and ‎that we will continue to meet ‎the listing requirements of the CSE, Nasdaq or any other public listing ‎exchange.‎

 

Failure to meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements could result in the delisting of the Company’s Common Shares, negatively impact the price of the Company’s Common Shares and negatively impact its ability to raise additional capital.

 

If the Company fails to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq, such as corporate governance requirements or the minimum closing bid price requirement, the exchange may take steps to delist the Company’s Common Shares. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of the Company’s Common Shares and would impair shareholders’ ability to sell or purchase its Common Shares when they wish to do so.

 

As previously disclosed, on September 22, 2023, the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications ‎Department of Nasdaq notifying the Company of its noncompliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid ‎Price Rule”) by failing to maintain a minimum bid price for the Company’s common shares of at least $1.00 per ‎share for 30 consecutive business days. The Company was allowed an initial 180-day grace period, or until March ‎‎20, 2024, (the “Bid Price Compliance Period”), to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. To regain compliance ‎with the Bid Price Rule the closing bid price of the Company’s common shares needed to be at least $1.00 per share ‎for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the Bid Price Compliance Period.

 

42
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

On March 21, 2024, the Company received notification that it had failed to regain compliance with the Bid Price ‎Rule and is not eligible for a second 180 day compliance period because of its failure to comply with the $5 million ‎minimum stockholders’ equity initial listing requirement for the period ended September 30, 2023. Unless the ‎Company timely requests a hearing before an independent Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Nasdaq Panel”), the ‎Company’s securities will be subject to delisting. Accordingly, the Company will request a hearing before the ‎Nasdaq Panel. The hearing request will automatically stay any suspension or delisting action pending the hearing ‎and the expiration of any additional extension period granted by the Nasdaq Panel following the hearing. In that ‎regard, pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Bid Price Rules, the Nasdaq Panel has the discretion to grant an additional ‎extension period that can expire as late as September 17, 2024. At the hearing, the Company will be asked to ‎provide a plan to regain compliance to the Nasdaq Panel. The Company intends to present a plan to regain ‎compliance with the Bid Price Rule and request the continued listing of its common shares on Nasdaq pending such ‎compliance. However, there can be no assurance that the Nasdaq Panel will grant the Company’s request or that ‎the Company will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq.‎

 

Future issuances of equity securities by us or sales by the Company’s existing shareholders may cause the price ‎of its Common Shares to fall.‎

 

The market price of the Company’s Common Shares could decline as a result of issuances of securities or sales by its ‎existing shareholders in the market, including by its directors, executive officers and significant ‎shareholders, or ‎the perception that these sales could occur. Sales of the Company’s Common Shares by ‎shareholders might also make it ‎more difficult for it to sell Common Shares at a time and price that it ‎deems appropriate. The Company also expects to ‎issue Common Shares in the future. Future issuances of Common ‎Shares, or the perception that such issuances ‎are likely to occur, could affect the prevailing trading ‎prices of the Common Shares.‎

 

We may never pay dividends over the foreseeable future.‎

 

Investors should not rely on an investment in the Company’s Common Shares to provide dividend ‎income. The ‎Company does not anticipate that it will pay any cash dividends to holders of its Common ‎Shares in the ‎foreseeable future. Instead, the Company plans to retain any earnings to maintain and expand ‎its ‎operations. In addition, any future debt financing arrangement may contain terms prohibiting or limiting ‎‎the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on its Common Shares. Accordingly, investors ‎must ‎rely on sales of their Common Shares after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only ‎way to ‎realize any return on their investment. As a result, investors seeking cash dividends should not ‎purchase the ‎Company’s Common Shares.‎

 

United States investors may not be able to obtain enforcement of civil liabilities against us.

The Company is incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada, and its principal executive offices are located in Canada. Most of the Company’s directors and officers and most of the experts named in this Annual Report reside outside of the United States and all or a substantial portion of the Company’s assets and the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. Consequently, it may not be possible for an investor to effect service of process within the United States on the Company or those persons. Furthermore, it may not be possible for an investor to enforce judgments obtained in United States courts based upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws or other laws of the United States against those persons or the Company. There is doubt as to the enforceability, in original actions in Canadian courts, of liabilities based upon United States federal securities laws and as to the enforceability in Canadian courts of judgments of United States courts obtained in actions based upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws. Therefore, it may not be possible to enforce those actions against the Company, certain of the Company’s directors and officers or the experts named in this Annual Report.

 

43
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

We are an emerging growth company and intend to take advantage of reduced disclosure requirements ‎applicable to emerging growth companies, which could make the Company’s Common Shares less attractive to ‎investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth ‎company until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross ‎revenue of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) December 31, 2026 (the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth ‎anniversary of the date of the completion of the first sales of its common equity pursuant to an effective ‎registration statement under the Securities Act); (iii) ‎the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-‎year period; or (iv) the date we qualify as a “large accelerated filer” under the rules of the SEC, which means the ‎market value of the Company’s Common Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of ‎its most recently completed second fiscal quarter after we have been a reporting company in the United States ‎for at least 12 months. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted to and intend to ‎rely upon exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that ‎are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include not being required to comply with the auditor ‎attestation requirements of Section 404 (“Section 404”) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002), as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).‎

 

We may take advantage of some, but not all, of the available exemptions available to emerging growth ‎companies. ‎We cannot predict whether investors will find the Company’s Common Shares less attractive if it relies on these ‎‎exemptions. If some investors find the Company’s Common Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less ‎active ‎trading market for its Common Shares and the price of its Common Shares may be more volatile. ‎

 

We will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company in the United States ‎and the ‎Company’s management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.‎

 

As a U.S. public company, particularly if or when we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as ‎defined ‎‎under the JOBS Act, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses, in addition to ‎those we ‎incur as a ‎Canadian public company, that we did not incur prior to being listed on Nasdaq. In ‎‎addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley ‎Act, and rules implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq impose various other ‎‎requirements on public companies, and ‎the Company spends time and resources to ensure compliance with its ‎‎reporting obligations in both Canada and the ‎United States.‎

 

For example, pursuant to Section 404, we are required to furnish a report by our management on our ‎internal ‎control over financial reporting (“ICFR”), which, if or when we are no longer an emerging growth ‎company, must ‎be accompanied by an attestation report on ICFR issued by our independent registered ‎public accounting firm. ‎To achieve compliance with Section 404, we must document and evaluate our ‎ICFR, ‎which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we must dedicate internal resources, ‎potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the ‎‎adequacy of our ICFR, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through ‎testing that ‎controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and ‎improvement process for ‎ICFR. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that neither we nor our independent ‎registered public accounting firm will ‎be able to conclude that our ICFR is effective as required by ‎Section 404. This ‎could result in a determination that there are one or more material weaknesses in our ‎ICFR, which could cause an ‎adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the ‎reliability of our consolidated ‎financial statements.‎

 

In addition, becoming a public company in the United States has increased legal and financial ‎compliance as well ‎as regulatory costs, such as additional Nasdaq fees, and has made some of our ‎public company obligations ‎more time consuming. We invest resources to comply with evolving laws, ‎regulations and standards in ‎both Canada and the United States, and this investment results in increased ‎general and administrative ‎expenses and increased diversion of management’s time and attention from ‎revenue-generating activities to ‎compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with public company laws, ‎regulations and standards in the ‎United States are insufficient, regulatory authorities may initiate legal ‎proceedings against us and our business ‎may be harmed.‎

 

44
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

Being a public company in the United States and complying with applicable rules and ‎regulations also ‎makes it more expensive for us to obtain sufficient levels of director and officer liability insurance ‎‎coverage. This factor may also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified executive ‎officers and ‎members of our Board of Directors.‎

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different U.S. securities laws and rules than a domestic U.S. ‎issuer, which may limit the information publicly available to the Company’s U.S. shareholders.‎

 

We currently qualify as a “foreign private issuer” under applicable U.S. federal securities laws and, therefore, are ‎not required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and related rules and regulations. As a result, we do ‎not file the same reports that a U.S. domestic issuer ‎would file with the SEC, although we are required to file ‎with or furnish to the SEC the continuous ‎disclosure documents that we are required to file in Canada under ‎Canadian securities laws. In addition, ‎the Company’s officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the ‎reporting and “short swing” profit ‎recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Therefore, the Company’s ‎shareholders may not know on as ‎timely a basis when its officers, directors and principal shareholders purchase ‎or sell our securities as ‎the reporting periods under the corresponding Canadian insider reporting requirements are ‎longer. In ‎addition, as a foreign private issuer, the Company is exempt from the proxy rules under the Exchange Act. The Company is ‎also exempt from Regulation FD, which prohibits issuers from making selective disclosures of material ‎non-‎public information. While the Company expects to comply with the corresponding requirements relating to proxy ‎statements ‎and disclosure of material non-public information under Canadian securities laws, these ‎requirements differ from ‎those under the Exchange Act and Regulation FD and shareholders should not ‎expect to receive in every case the ‎same information at the same time as such information is provided ‎by U.S. domestic issuers.

In addition, as a foreign private issuer, we have the option to follow certain Canadian corporate ‎governance ‎practices, except to the extent that such laws would be contrary to U.S. federal securities ‎laws and Nasdaq ‎listing rules and provided that we disclose the requirements we are not following and ‎describe the Canadian ‎practices we follow instead. We rely on this exemption in part. As a result, the Company’s ‎shareholders may not have ‎the same protections afforded to shareholders of U.S. domestic issuers that ‎are subject to all U.S. corporate ‎governance requirements.

 

At some point in the future, we may cease to be a foreign private issuer. If we cease to ‎qualify, we will ‎be subject to the same reporting requirements and corporate governance requirements as a U.S. ‎‎domestic issuer, which may increase the Company’s costs of being a public company in the ‎United States.

 

We have identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting with respect to the review of the treatment of a unit share issuance as of the end of the period covered by this Form 20-F/A. Our business and share price may be adversely affected if we fail to implement and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.

 

For the period ended December 31, 2023, our management identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness identified in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, are described in Part II, Item 15, “Controls and Procedures” of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F/A. While we believe we will be able to remediate the material weakness, we cannot provide assurance that this will not be an isolated incident. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is subject to various inherent limitations, including cost limitations, judgments used in decision making, assumptions about the likelihood of future events, the possibility of human error and the risk of fraud. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements in our financial statements due to error or fraud may occur and require restatement, such as the error that resulted in the restatement of the Company’s previously issued Consolidated Statement of Cashflows described herein.

 

45
 

Draganfly Inc.

Amended and Restated Management Discussion and Analysis

For the year ended December 31, 2023

 

The material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting will not be considered remediated until the controls operate for a sufficient period and management has concluded testing that these controls operate effectively. If we are unable to remediate the material weakness or identify additional material weakness in the future, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, which could cause our financial results to be materially misstated and require restatement. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also result in regulatory action by regulatory authorities, potential litigation, or other disputes, contractual claims or other claims arising from the restatement and the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements. Any such litigation or dispute, whether successful or not, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Loss of investor confidence, harm to our reputation and financial condition, diversion of financial and management resources from the operation of our business, and the market price of our common stock may also decline as a result. We cannot assure you that the remediation measures that we may take in the future will be sufficient to avoid future material weaknesses.

 

REGULATORY POLICIES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures (“DC&P”) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that all material information is gathered and reported on a timely basis to senior management so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosure and that information required to be disclosed by the issuer under securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in securities legislation. The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), along with other members of management, have designed, or caused to be designed under the CEO and CFO’s supervision, DC&P and established processes to ensure that they are provided with sufficient knowledge to support the representations made in the interim certificates required to be filed under National Instrument 52-109.

 

Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

The CEO and CFO, along with participation from other members of management, are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate Internal Control over Financial Reporting (“ICFR”) to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. During the year ended December 31, 2023, there has been no change in the Company’s ICFR that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s ICFR, except as otherwise disclosed herein.

 

Limitations of Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s management, including its CEO and CFO, believe that any DC&P or ICFR, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgements in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Other Information

 

Additional information about the Company is available at www.draganfly.com

 

Approval

 

This MD&A is authorized for issue by the Board on May 14, 2024

 

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