Aura Systems, Inc., (“Aura”,
“We” or the “Company”) a Delaware corporation, was founded to engage in the development, commercialization,
and sales of products, systems, and components, using its patented and proprietary electromagnetic technology. Aura develops and
sells AuraGen® axial flux mobile induction power systems to the industrial, commercial, and defense mobile power
generation markets. In addition, the Company has also developed and patented High Force Electromagnetic Linear Actuators which
it has sold in prior years.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying
balance sheets and related interim statements of income and comprehensive income, and cash flows include all adjustments, consisting
only of normal recurring items, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full
year. The information included in this Amended Form 10-Q/A, should be read in conjunction with information included in the Company’s
Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended February 28, 2019 filed on October 24, 2019 with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The preparation of financial statements
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No.
2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease
liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 affects any entity that enters
into a lease, with some specified scope exemptions. The guidance in this Update supersedes Topic 840, Leases. The core principle
of Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. A lessee should recognize in
the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing
its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For public companies, the amendments in this Update are effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company evaluated the
impact of the adoption of Topic 842 effective for the nine-months ended November 30, 2019 and the impact was none on the Condensed
Financial Statements.
The Company adopted Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) 606. ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, establishes principles for reporting information
about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from the entity’s contracts to provide
goods or services to customers. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or
services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those
goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied.
The Company has assessed the impact of
the guidance by performing the following five steps analysis:
Certain reclassifications have been made
to the comparative financial statements to conform to the current period presentation. The balance sheet as of February 28, 2019,
presented herein, includes a reclassification of $1,008,328 for accrued expense in relation to a related party obligation from
accrued expenses to a separate caption accrued expenses-related party.
The accompanying financial statements have
been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. During the nine months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018,
the Company reported net losses of $1,660,997 and $3,715,207, respectively, and had negative cash flows from operating activities
of $490,578 and $1,902,151, respectively. The Company reclassified in the three-months ended November 30, 2019 approximately $0.3
million related to the shares issued to the Company’s president in August 2019 as other expense (see Note 5).
If the Company is unable to generate profits
on a sustained basis and is unable to continue to obtain financing for its working capital requirements, it may have to curtail
its business sharply or cease business altogether.
Substantial additional capital resources
will be required to fund continuing expenditures related to our research, development, manufacturing and business development activities.
The Company’s continuation as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its
obligations on a timely basis, to retain its current financing, to obtain additional financing, and ultimately to attain profitability.
The accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which
contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments
relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that
could result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Beginning with the second quarter of fiscal
year 2020, we increased operations of our AuraGen®/VIPER business and during the second and third quarters of fiscal
2020, the Company recognized approximately $745,000 in revenue as compared to approximately $39,000 of revenue in the nine-month
period ended November 30, 2018. We plan to lease or acquire a new facility of approximately 50,000 square feet to support operations
during the remainder of fiscal 2020.
NOTE 4 – NOTES PAYABLE
Notes payable consisted of the following:
|
|
November 30,
2019
|
|
|
February 28,
2019
|
|
Demand promissory notes payable with six individuals, carrying an interest rate of 10% (see Demand Promissory Notes below)
|
|
$
|
768,537
|
|
|
$
|
777,537
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note payable – related party, carrying an interest rate of 5% - see note 6, Breslow Note, for further details
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible Promissory Note dated August 10, 2012, due August 10, 2017, convertible into shares
of our common stock at a price of $0.76 per share. The note carries an interest rate of 7% with interest only payments due on
the 10th of each month with the principal payment due on the maturity date. On January 30, 2017, this note was amended
providing, among other things, for the conversion of 80% of the principal and accrued interest into common stock at $1.386 per
share conditioned on the occurrence of certain future events the last of which was completed on February 14, 2018. See 7% Convertible
Promissory Notes – Dalrymple August 2012 for further details.
|
|
|
264,462
|
|
|
|
264,462
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible Promissory Note dated October 2, 2012, due October 2, 2017, convertible into shares
of our common stock at a price of $0.76 per share. The note carries an interest rate of 7% with interest only payments due on
the 2nd of each month with the principal payment due on the maturity date. On January 30, 2017, this note was amended
providing, among other things, for the conversion of 80% of the principal and accrued interest into common stock at $1.386 per
share conditioned on the occurrence of certain future events the last of which was completed on February 14, 2018. See 7% Convertible
Promissory Notes – Dalrymple October 2012 for further details.
|
|
|
133,178
|
|
|
|
133,178
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior secured convertible notes dated May 7, 2013, due May 7, 2014, convertible into shares of our common stock at a price of $0.75 per share. The notes carry an interest rate of 12% with interest due on the last day of the month. On January 30, 2017, this note was amended providing, among other things, for the conversion of 80% of the principal and accrued interest into common stock at $1.386 per share conditioned on the occurrence of certain future events the last of which was completed on February 14, 2018. See Convertible Debt – Kenmont Capital Partners, LPD Investments and Guenther for further details.
|
|
|
945,825
|
|
|
|
945,825
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior secured convertible notes dated June 20, 2013, due June 20, 2014, convertible into shares of our common stock at a price of $0.50 per share. On January 30, 2017, this note was amended providing, among other things, for the conversion of 80% of the principal and accrued interest into common stock at $1.386 per share conditioned on the occurrence of certain future events the last of which was completed on February 14, 2018. See Convertible Debt – Dresner and Lempert for further details.
|
|
|
59,506
|
|
|
|
78,182
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,402,971
|
|
|
$
|
1,421,647
|
|
In 2016, the Company and the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, Melvin Gagerman, were named among several other defendants in a lawsuit filed by two secured creditors demanding repayment of loans totaling $125,000 plus accrued interest and exemplary damages. In January 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with all secured creditors other than the two plaintiffs. In September 2018 the court entered a judgment of approximately $235,000 plus legal fees in favor of the two secured creditors. The Company subsequently appealed this judgment and, in September 2019, reached a settlement agreement with these creditors for an aggregate principal amount of $315,000, including $80,000 of plaintiff’s legal expenses, and initial payment of $20,000, a payment schedule for monthly repayments of $10,000 commencing on October 15, 2019 and continuing for 12 months, and a final payment due on November 15, 2020.
|
|
|
245,180
|
|
|
|
285,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On November 20, 2019, the Company entered into a preliminary agreement with Jiangsu Shengfeng, the Company’s Chinese joint venture (see Note 9), to return $700,000 previously advanced to the Company in September 2018 and recorded as part of customer advance on the balance sheet as of February 28, 2019. Following this agreement which consists of a non-interest bearing promissory note and a payment plan pursuant to which the $700,000 is paid over a 12-month period beginning March 15, 2020 through February 15, 2021. In the balance sheet as of November 30, 2019, the amount of $700,000 was reclassified to notes payable.
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,116,688
|
|
|
$
|
5,484,184
|
|
Less: Current portion
|
|
$
|
1,167,536
|
|
|
$
|
847,537
|
|
Long-term portion
|
|
$
|
4,949,152
|
|
|
$
|
4,636,647
|
|
DEMAND PROMISSORY NOTES
The Demand Promissory Notes are six individual
notes issued in 2015 that are payable on demand with an interest rate of 10% per annum. At February 28, 2019, the principal amount
of each note and the person/entity they are payable to are as follows: $10,000 Mr. Zeitlin, a former director of the Company; $30,000
Mr. Sook; $461,537 Mr. Macleod, a former president of the Company; $4,500 Mr. Howsmon, a former director of the Company; $4,500
El Pais, an entity controlled by Salvador Diaz, a current director of the Company (see Note 8). In November 2019, the principle
and accrued interest owed to Messrs. Howsmon and Diaz, respectively, in the amounts of $4,500 and $2,079, respectively, were settled
by the issuance of 32,895 shares of common stock to each person by applying a price of $0.20 per share.
In February 2018, the Company issued 192,641
shares of its common stock to Steven Veen in satisfaction of $267,000 in debt. Despite this issuance, Mr. Veen claims to continue
to be entitled to repayment of the $267,000 debt. Mr. Veen has, to-date, not surrendered the shares issued to him in fulfillment
of the debt he claims to be still owed and continues to own the 192,641 shares as of the date of this filing. The Company’s
new management team is in the process of investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr. Veen.
CONVERTIBLE
DEBT
Kenmont
Capital Partners
On
May 7, 2013, the Company transferred 4 notes payable with a total principal value of $1,000,000 together with accrued interest,
and consulting fees to a senior secured convertible note with a principal value of $1,087,000 (“New Kenmont Note”)
and warrants to Kenmont Capital Partners LP. The New Kenmont Note had a 1-year maturity date and was convertible into shares of
common stock at the conversion price of $0.75 per share. The warrants were subsequently exercised. The Company recorded $342,020
as a discount, which has been fully amortized. There is a remaining principal balance of $549,954 as of November 30, 2019.
LPD
Investments
On
May 7, 2013, the Company transferred 2 note payables with a total principal value of $550,000 together with accrued interest to
a senior secured convertible note with a principal value of $558,700 (“New LPD Note”) and warrants to LPD Investments,
Ltd. The New LPD Note had a 1-year maturity date and was convertible into shares of common stock at the conversion price of $0.75
per share. The warrants were subsequently exercised. The Company recorded $175,793 as a discount, which has been fully amortized.
There is a remaining principal balance of $163,677 as of November 30, 2019.
Guenther
On
May 7, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with an individual, Mr. Guenther, for the sale of $750,000 of secured convertible
note payable (the “Note”) and warrants. The Note had a 1-year maturity date and was convertible into shares of common
stock at the conversion price of $0.75 per share. The warrants entitle the holder to acquire 1,000,000 shares and have an initial
exercise price of $0.75 per share and have a 7-year term. The Company recorded $235,985 as a discount, which has been fully amortized.
There is a remaining principal balance of $232,194 as of November 30, 2019.
Dresner
and Lempert
On
June 20, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with two individuals, Mr. Dresner and Mr. Lempert, a current board member,
for the sale of $200,000 of secured convertible notes payable (the “Notes”) and warrants. The Notes had a 1-year maturity
date and were convertible into shares of common stock at the conversion price of $0.50 per share. The warrants were subsequently
exercised. The Company recorded $39,152 as a discount, which has been fully amortized. There is a remaining principal balance
of $59,506 as of November 30, 2019. On November 27, 2019, the principal amount owed to Mr. Lempert of $18,676 and accrued interest
of $1,825 were settled by the issuance of 102,503 shares of common stock to Mr. Lempert at the price of $0.20 per share (see Note
8).
Abdou
and Abdou
On
June 20, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with two individuals, Mr. M. Abdou and Mr. W. Abdou, for the sale of $125,000
of secured convertible notes payable (the “Notes”) and warrants. The Notes had a 1-year maturity date and were convertible
into shares of common stock at the conversion price of $0.50 per share. The warrants were subsequently exercised. The Company
recorded $24,470 as a discount, which has been fully amortized. There is a remaining balance of $125,000 as of February 28, 2018.
In 2016, the Company and the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, Melvin Gagerman, were named among several other defendants
in a lawsuit filed by the Messrs. Abdou demanding repayment of loans totaling $125,000 plus accrued interest and exemplary damages.
In January 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with all secured creditors other than Mr. W. Abdou and Mr. M. Abdou. In
September 2018 the court entered a judgment of approximately $235,000 plus legal fees in favor of the Messrs. Abdou. The Company
subsequently appealed this judgment and, in September 2019, reached a settlement agreement with these creditors for an aggregate
principal amount of approximately $315,000. There is a remaining principal balance of approximately $245,000 as of November 30,
2019 following principal payments of aggregate $40,000 during the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and the proceeds from the November
2019 sales of approximately 111,000 shares held by Messrs. Abdou in the amount of $30,000 applied to the principle amount of the
note.
Kopple
Notes
On
August 19, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with Robert Kopple, a former member of its Board of Directors for the sale
of $2,500,000 of convertible notes payable (the “Kopple Notes”) that were subsequently adjusted in 2014 to $2,000,000
of convertible notes and related warrants. The Kopple Notes carry a base interest rate of 9.5%, have a 4-year maturity date and
are convertible into shares of common stock at the conversion price of $3.50 per share. The warrants were subsequently exercised.
The Company recorded $667,118 as a discount, which has been fully amortized. The Company also entered into a demand note payable
with this individual in the amount of $20,000, which bears interest at a rate of 5%. As of November 30, 2019, the balance of the
$2,000,000 note including interest is $3,849,978, and the balance of the demand note payable including interest is $23,173. The
total owed under these two notes is $3,873,151.
7%
Convertible Promissory Notes:
Dalrymple
– August 2012
On
August 10, 2012 the Company entered into an agreement with an individual, Mr. Dalrymple, for the sale of $1,000,000
of unsecured Convertible Promissory Note. The Convertible Promissory Note balance together with all accrued interest thereon was
due and payable on August 10, 2017 and the annual interest rate was 7% per annum and was due to be repaid 5 years from the closing
date. The Company recorded $310,723 as a debt discount, which will be amortized over the life of the note. There
is a remaining principal balance of $264,462 as of November 30, 2019
Dalrymple
– October 2012
On
October 2, 2012 the Company entered into an agreement with an individual, Mr. Dalrymple, for the sale of $500,000 of
unsecured Convertible Promissory Note. This Convertible Promissory Note balance together with all accrued interest thereon was
due and payable on October 2, 2017 and the annual interest rate was 7% per annum and was due to be repaid 5 years from the closing
date. The Company recorded $137,583 as a debt discount, which will be amortized over the life of the note. There is a remaining
principal balance of $133,178 as of November 30, 2019.
On
January 30, 2017 the Company entered into an agreement entitled First Amendment to Transaction Documents with five of seven secured
creditors holding a security interest in all of the Company’s assets except for its patents and other intellectual properties.
These creditors are the seven listed above under Convertible Debt and include the following: Kenmont Capital Partners, LPD Investments,
Guenther, Dresner, Lempert and Mr. M. Abdou and Mr. W. Abdou. All of the creditors entered into the January 30, 2017 agreement
with the exception of the Messrs. Abdou. The original agreement dated May 7, 2013 provided that if at least 75% of the stock issuable
upon conversion of the convertible notes votes to amend the agreement and/or waive any conditions or defaults, then any such amendments
or waivers shall be binding on all secured creditors. The five secured creditors signing the amendment total in excess of 95%
of the issuable stock upon conversion and, therefore the agreement is binding on all seven of the secured creditors. The agreement
provided that all accrued and unpaid interest will be added to the principal amount. The amended note provided for no interest
from November 1, 2016 to February 14, 2018, the date at which the 1-for-7 reverse stock split became effective at which time 80%
of the total debt including accrued interest was converted into shares of common stock and a new five year 5% per annum convertible
note was issued for the remainder. The new amended and restated senior convertible notes have a maturity date of January 30, 2022.
The five creditors and the Company entered into a Second Amendment to Transaction Documents on March 14, 2017 and a Third Amendment
to Transaction Documents on April 8, 2017, both of which extended the required date of the stockholder approval of the 1-for-7
reverse stock split, which was completed on February 14, 2018. The amended and restated senior convertible notes also require
the Company to make a “Required Cash Payment” as defined in the agreement if the Company receives at least $4,000,000
in aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of equity securities (including securities convertible into equity securities) of the
Company in one or a series of related transactions. The Required Cash Payment is equal to the current outstanding balance of the
notes, which was $1,092,542 at November 30, 2019, plus any outstanding accrued interest.
NOTE
5 – ACCRUED EXPENSES (restated)
Accrued
expenses consisted of the following:
|
|
November 30,
2019
|
|
|
February 28,
2019
|
|
Accrued
payroll and related expenses
|
|
$
|
1,840,903
|
|
|
$
|
1,723,691
|
|
Accrued interest
|
|
|
681,586
|
|
|
|
428,625
|
|
Other
|
|
|
51,839
|
|
|
|
44,812
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,574,328
|
|
|
$
|
2,197,128
|
|
Accrued
payroll and related expenses consist primarily of salaries and vacation time accrued but not paid to employees due to our lack
of financial resources. Also, on August 28, 2019, the board approved a stock issuance of 1,030,385 to Cipora Lavut, the Company’s
President, at a fair value of $329,723, for full satisfaction of prior amounts owed to her up to August 28, 2019. This amount
was recorded as a reduction of accrued payroll expense in the second quarter but determined in the third quarter of 2020 to be
accounted for as other expense.
NOTE
6 – INVENTORY
During
fiscal 2019 and at February 28, 2019, the Company fully reserved its usable inventory on the basis that production and revenues
during the fiscal years 2017 to 2019 were nil and future production requirements were uncertain. During fiscal 2020, the Company
has increased production of its AuraGen product and has generated approximately $745,000 in current year revenues. As a result,
the Company recognized approximately $53,000 of inventory on its balance sheet as of November 30, 2019 consisting of $44,500 of
raw materials, $4,600 of work in process and $3,900 of finished goods inventory.
NOTE
7 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (restated)
Common
Stock
During
the nine months ended November 30, 2019, the Company issued 2,581,875 shares of common stock for $658,737, of which 1,030,385
was issued in satisfaction of amounts owed to Cipora Lavut of $329,723, 168,475 shares were issued to three persons in settlement
of $33,660 of debt principle and accrued interest, and 1,383,015 shares and 10,000 warrants were issued for cash in the amount
of $295,354. The aggregate 10,000 warrants were issued to three investors with immediate vesting, an exercise price of $1.40,
and a 5-year term. In October 2019, 1,065,051 shares previously issued in error to a former debtholder were cancelled.
During
the six months ended August 31, 2018 (restated), the Company issued 7,364,735 shares of common stock, valued at $2,280,964, in
fulfillment of a contractual obligation owed to BetterSea, LLC. The number of shares issued was based on the then-outstanding
closing quote of the stock. The issuance of the shares was previously reported by the Company. The Company also paid $20,000 in
legal fees related to legal expense associated with the Company’s delays in the issuance of the stock.
During
the nine months ended November 30, 2018, the Company issued 742,857 warrants to a member of its board of directors. The warrants
have a term of five years and an exercise price of $1.40. The Company recorded an expense of $312,072 for the issuance of these
warrants. During the nine months ended November 30, 2018, the Company re-priced to $1.40 all outstanding employee stock options
and warrants that had a previous exercise price greater than $1.40. The Company recorded an expense of $105,352 as a result of
the re-pricing.
Employee
Stock Options
The
2006 Employee Stock Option Plan
In
September 2006, our Board of Directors adopted the 2006 Employee Stock Option Plan, subject to shareholder approval, which was
obtained at a special shareholders meeting in 2009. Under the 2006 Plan, the Company may grant options for up to the greater of
Three Million (3,000,000) or 10% of the number of shares of the Common Stock of Aura from time to time outstanding. The shares
of Common Stock available under the 2006 Plan was increased to the greater of Ten Million shares (10,000,000) or 15% of the number
of shares of Common Stock of Aura from time to time outstanding at the October 2011 shareholders meeting. The exercise price of
each option shall be at least equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date of grant. The term of the options may
not be greater than ten years, and they typically vest over a three-year period. No options were issued during the nine-month
period ended November 30, 2019. Activity in the plan for the nine-month period ended November 30, 2019 is as follows:
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
|
Exercise
Prices
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Intrinsic
Value
|
|
Outstanding,
February 28, 2019
|
|
|
647,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
(75,000
|
)
|
|
|
1.40
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outstanding,
November 30, 2019
|
|
|
572,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Information
regarding the options outstanding and exercisable as of November 30, 2019 follows:
Options
Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercisable
Options
|
|
|
Range
of
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
|
572,000
|
|
|
|
.25
Yr
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
.25 Yr
|
|
|
|
572,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
The
2011 Director and Executive Officers Stock Option Plan
In
October 2011 shareholders approved the 2011 Director and Executive Officers Stock Option Plan at the Company’s annual meeting.
Under the 2011 Plan, the Company may grant options for up to 15% of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company from time
to time outstanding. Pursuant to this plan, the Board or a committee of the Board may grant an option to any person who is elected
or appointed a director or executive officer of the Company. The exercise price of each option shall be at least equal to the
fair market value of such shares on the date of grant. The term of the options may not be greater than five years. Activity in
the plan for the nine-month period ended November 30, 2019 is as follows:
Warrants
Activity
in issued and outstanding warrants is as follows:
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
|
Exercise
Prices
|
|
Outstanding,
February 28, 2019
|
|
|
7,490,987
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
1.40
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
(85,714
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Outstanding,
November 30, 2019
|
|
|
7,415,273
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
Information
regarding the warrants outstanding and exercisable as of November 30, 2019 follows
Range
of
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Stock
Warrants
Outstanding
|
|
|
Stock
Warrants
Exercisable
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price of
Warrants
Outstanding
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price of
Warrants
Exercisable
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
|
7,415,273
|
|
|
|
7,415,273
|
|
|
|
2.76
Yrs.
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
NOTE
8 – RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS
Breslow
Note
On
January 24, 2017 the Company entered into a Debt Refinancing Agreement with Mr. Breslow, a former Director of the Company. Pursuant
to the agreement, both Mr. Breslow and the Company acknowledged that total debt owed to Mr. Breslow was $23,872,614 including
$8,890,574 of accrued interest. Mr. Breslow agreed to cancel and forgive all interest due, waive all events of default and sign
a new five-year convertible note in the amount of $14,982,041 providing for no interest for nine months and interest of 5% per
annum thereafter payable monthly in arrears. The note also provides various default provisions. In accordance with the agreement,
on February 14, 2018, the effective date of the 1-for-7 reverse stock split, $11,982,041 of the note was converted into 7,403,705
shares of common stock and the then accrued interest of $9,388,338 was forgiven. A new $3,000,000 five-year note representing
the remaining balance was entered into. The note bears interest at a rate of 5% per annum payable monthly in arrears.
Kopple
Note
At
November 30, 2019, the balance in notes payable and accrued interest-related party, current of $6,551,591, consists primarily
of the Kopple (a former Board member) note of $6,415,109 and the Gagerman note of $136,482 (see below). The Kopple note has a
principal balance of $3,587,322 plus accrued interest of $2,827,787. At November 30, 2019, the balance in convertible notes payable
and accrued interest-related party consists of $2,000,000 of unsecured convertible notes payable plus accrued interest of $1,849,978
and an unsecured convertible note of $20,000 plus accrued interest of $3,173 to Mr. Kopple.
Gagerman
Note
The
notes payable and accrued interest-related party, currrent balance also includes $82,000 of unsecured notes payable plus accrued
interest of $54,482 owed to Melvin Gagerman, the Company’s former CEO and CFO, pursuant to a demand note entered into on
April 5, 2014.
Other
Related Party Transactions
In
November 2019, two members of the board of directors, Messrs. Diaz-Verson and Lempert, agreed to cancel their outstanding debt
with the Company in the amounts of $6,579 and $20,500, respectively, in exchange for 32,895 and 102,503 shares of common stock
at a conversion price of $0.20 per share. On the dates of the exchange, November 26 and November 27, 2019, respectively, the closing
prices of the Company’s common stock was $0.21 and $0.22 per share, respectively (see Note 4). The loss on extinguishment
of debt of approximately $2,700 was recorded as part of additional paid-in-capital.
NOTE
9 – COMMITMENTS & CONTINGENCIES
Leases
Our
facilities consist of approximately 20,000 square feet in Stanton, California and an additional storage facility in Santa Clarita,
California. The Stanton facility is used for some assembly and testing of AuraGen®/VIPER systems and is rented
on a month-to-month basis. The rent for the Stanton facility is $10,000 per month and the storage facility is an additional $5,000
per month, both on a month-to-month basis. Our current Stanton facility is not sufficient to support the expected operations and
the Company is evaluating new facility options to be used for limited production, testing, warehousing and engineering, as well
as needed office space for support staff. The Company also rents temporary storage space on a month-to-month basis. Commencing
in February 2019, the Company began renting approximately 300 square feet of office space in Irvine, California at a cost of $
2,350 per month on a month-to-month basis. In July 2019, the Company ceased renting this office space.
Following
the adoption of Topic 842, Leases, as of the start of fiscal year 2020, the Company determined that there was no impact on its
Condensed Financial Statements during the nine-month period ended November 30, 2019. The standard requires entities to evaluate
all lease transactions including leases previously classified as operating leases, and, if required under Topic 842, a right-to-use
asset and a corresponding lease liability may be recorded on the balance sheet in the period in which a lease commences.
Joint
Venture
In
March 2017 the Company entered into a joint venture with a Chinese partner to form Jiangsu Shengfeng Mobile Power Technology Co.,
Ltd. (“Jiangsu Shengfeng”) to address the Chinese market. Under the Jiangsu Shengfeng joint venture agreement, Aura
owns 49% of the venture and our Chinese partner owns 51%. The Chinese partner is to contribute approximately $9.25 million to
the venture –– principally in the form of facilities and equipment as wells as approximately $500,000 in cash. The
Company contributed to the venture in the form of $250,000 in cash as well as a limited license to the joint venture to manufacture,
sell and service the AuraGen® products within China. The limited license sold to the Jiangsu Shengfeng joint venture,
however, does not permit Jiangsu Shengfeng to manufacture the AuraGen® rotor; rather, the joint venture is required
to purchase all rotor subassemblies as well as certain software elements directly from the Company. Jiangsu Shengfeng’s
board of directors consists of three members appointed by the Company and three appointed by our Chinese partner; Jiangsu Shengfeng’s
CEO is appointed by our Chinese partner while its CFO and director for quality assurance and control are appointed by Aura.
In
addition, Jiangsu Shengfeng is required to purchase a minimum of $1,250,000 of product from the Company supported by letters of
credit for distribution until their factory is built, equipment installed, and staff hired and properly trained by Aura personnel.
During fiscal 2019, Jiangsu Shengfeng placed a $1,000,000 order with the Company including a $700,000 advance payment. Aura has
also committed to supply personnel for nine months at no cost other than to be reimbursed for travel, room and board. This commitment
has been fulfilled and Aura is under no further obligation to supply personnel at no cost. The agreement was subject to the approval
of the Chinese Government which was received in April 2017. Mr. Song, the majority shareholder of the Chinese partner of the joint
venture, invested $2,000,000 in Aura’s common shares at a price of $1.40 per share. On November 20, 2019, the Company reached
a preliminary agreement with Jiangsu Shengfeng, the Company’s Chinese joint venture regarding the return of $700,000 previously
advanced to the Company in September 2018 and previously recorded as a customer advance on the balance sheet as of February 28,
2019. The preliminary agreement reached consists of a non-interest-bearing promissory note and a payment plan pursuant to which
the $700,000 is paid over a 12-month period beginning March 15, 2020 and February 15, 2021. In the balance sheet as of November
30, 2019, the amount of $700,000 was reclassified to notes payable.
Contingencies
We
are subject to the legal proceedings and claims discussed below as well as certain other legal proceedings and claims that have
not been fully resolved and that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. Our management evaluates our exposure to these
claims and proceedings individually and in the aggregate and evaluates potential losses on such litigation if the amount of the
loss is estimable and the loss is probable. However, the outcome of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company is
subject to significant uncertainty. Although management considers the likelihood of such an outcome to be remote, if one or more
of these legal matters were resolved against the Company for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, the Company’s
consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected. The Company settled certain
matters subsequent to year end that did not individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on the Company’s financial
condition or operating results.
In
2017, the Company’s former COO was awarded approximately $238,000 in accrued salary and related charges by the California
labor board. The Company believes that this award does not reflect the amount owed which is significantly lower and is exploring
all its options and available remedies and is working toward an offer to settle this matter.
The
Company is presently engaged in a dispute with one of its former directors, Robert Kopple, relating to approximately $10 million
and approximately 3.15 million warrants which Mr. Kopple claims to be owed to him and his affiliates by the Company. In July 2017,
Mr. Kopple filed suit against the Company as well as against current director Mr. Diaz-Verson and former directors Mr. Breslow
and Mr. Howsmon, as well as Mr. Gagerman, the former CEO (not a director) in connection with these allegations. In 2018, the Court
sustained demurrers by Mr. Diaz-Verson, Mr. Breslow, Mr. Howsmon and Mr. Gagerman and as a result of these successful demurrers,
all four of these defendants have been dismissed from the suit. While the Company believes that it has certain valid defenses
in these matters, the Company is currently in settlement discussions with Mr. Kopple.
In
April 2018, the Company filed suit against its former counsel, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP alleging various acts of
malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty committed by the firm in connection with its representation of Aura. In June 2018, Kilpatrick
Townsend & Stockton LLP filed a cross-complaint against the Company claiming in excess of $400,000 in allegedly unpaid legal
fees. In January 2019, the Company reached a settlement with Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, pursuant to which, among
other things, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP agreed to dismiss its cross-complaint and waive all unpaid legal fees. The
action and the cross-complaint were both subsequently dismissed.
In
February 2018, the Company failed to issue shares of stock contractually owed to BetterSea, LLC. On August 15, 2018, 7,364,735
restricted shares were issued in fulfillment of this contractual obligation based on the then-outstanding closing quote of the
stock. The issuance of the shares was previously reported by the Company. The Company also paid $20,000 in legal fees related
to legal expense associated with the Company’s delays in the issuance of the stock.
In
May 2018, Shelley Scholnick dba JB Transporters brought suit against the Company claiming ongoing fees in excess of $52,000 owed
for the storage of the Company’s property. Notably, in June 2017, the Company had brought suit against J.B. Moving &
Delivery, a business operated and controlled by a relative of Scholnick, Jacob Binstok, for damages suffered by the Company as
a result of the defendant’s improper storage of the Company’s property and improper refusal to return such property.
In 2018, the Company successfully received a judgment against J.B. Moving & Delivery in the amount of approximately $114,000.
The Company disputes that any amount is now owed to Scholnick.
On
March 26, 2019, various stockholders of the Company controlling a combined total of more than 27.5 million shares delivered a
signed written consent to the Company removing Ronald Buschur as a member of the Company’s Board and electing Cipora Lavut
as a director of the Company. On March 27, 2019, those same stockholders delivered a further signed written consent to the
Company removing William Anderson and Si Ryong Yu as members of the Company’s Board and electing Robert Lempert and David
Mann as directors of the Company. These written consents represented a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s
common stock as of March 26, 2019 and March 27, 2019, respectively. Because of Aura’s refusal to recognize the
legal effectiveness of the consents, on April 8, 2019 the stockholders filed suit in the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware pursuant to Section 225 of the Delaware General Corporations Law, seeking an order confirming the validity of the
consents and declaring that Aura’s Board consists of Ms. Lavut, Mr. Mann, Mr. Lempert, Mr. Douglas and
Mr. Diaz-Versón, Jr. On July 8, 2019 the Court of Chancery entered final judgment in favor of the stockholder
plaintiffs, confirming that (a) Ronald Buschur, Si Ryong Yu and William Anderson had been validly removed by the holders of a
majority of the Company’s outstanding stock acting by written consent (b) Ms. Lavut, Mr. Mann and Mr. Lempert had been validly
elected by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding stock acting by written consent, and (c) the Company’s
Board of Directors validly consists of Cipora Lavut, David Mann, Robert Lempert, Gary Douglas and Salvador Diaz-Versón,
Jr.