AUSI Aura Systems Inc (PK)

See accompanying notes to these unaudited financial statements.

See accompanying notes to these unaudited financial statements.

See accompanying notes to these unaudited financial statements.

See accompanying notes to these unaudited financial statements.

AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

Aura Systems, Inc., (“Aura”, “We” or the “Company”) a Delaware corporation, was founded to engage in the development, commercialization, and sale 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.

Basis of Presentation 

In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. However, the results of operations included in such financial statements may not necessary be indicative of annual results.

The Company uses the same accounting policies in preparing quarterly and annual financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2021 (“Fiscal 2021”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 1, 2021 (“2021 Form 10-K.”).

Our fiscal year ends on the last day of February. Accordingly, the current fiscal year is ending on February 28, 2022; we refer to the current fiscal as Fiscal 2022. The prior fiscal year is Fiscal 2021.

Significant Accounting Policies

For a detailed discussion about the Company’s significant accounting policies, refer to Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in our financial statements included in Company’s 2021 Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates

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.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance, including requirements such as tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, ownership changes in investments, and interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law. The amendment will be effective for public companies with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020; early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of this amendment on its financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) (“ASU 2020-01”), which is intended to clarify the interaction of the accounting for equity securities under Topic 321 and investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting in Topic 323 and the accounting for certain forward contracts and purchased options accounted for under Topic 815. ASU 2020-01 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-02, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842) - Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 and Update to SEC Section on Effective Date Related to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which amends the effective date of the original pronouncement for smaller reporting companies. ASU 2016-13 and its amendments will be effective for the Company for interim and annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company believes the adoption will modify the way the Company analyzes financial instruments, but it does not anticipate a material impact on results of operations. The Company is in the process of determining the effects adoption will have on its financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815 – 40), (“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. The ASU2020-06 amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.

NOTE 2 – GOING CONCERN

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.  During the twelve-month period ended February 28, 2021 and the six-month period ended August 31, 2021, the Company reported net loss of approximately $2.1 million, had negative cash flows from operating activities of approximately $1.3 million, and at August 31, 2021 had a working capital deficit of approximately $15.8 million. In the event the Company is unable to generate profits and is unable to obtain financing for its working capital requirements, it may have to curtail its business further or cease business altogether. These factors raise substantial doubts about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

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.

During the next twelve months we intend to continue to attempt to increase the Company’s operations and focus on the sale of our AuraGen^®®/VIPER products both domestically and internationally and to add to our existing management team. In addition, we plan to complete the move to our new facility for operations, rebuild the engineering and sales teams, and to the extent appropriate, utilize third party contractors to support the operation. We anticipate being able to obtain new sources of funding to support these actions in the upcoming fiscal year.

Demand Promissory Note and Notes Payable

Demand promissory note in the amount of $10,000 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021 is for Mr. Zeitlin, a former director of the Company, with an interest rate of 10% per annum.

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 was a remaining balance of $125,000 as of February 28, 2019. 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 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 of in favor of the Messrs. Abdou. The Company subsequently appealed this judgment and, in September 2019, reached a settlement agreement with these creditors for a principal amount of $325,000, of which approximately $60,000 and $120,000 were outstanding as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

Paycheck Protection Plan Loans

During April 2020, the Company ceased operations for approximately 6 weeks in compliance with State of California and the County of Orange public health pronouncements associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 23, 2020, we obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan in the amount of approximately $74,400 pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). Interest on the loan is at the rate of 1% per year, and all loan payments are deferred for six-months, at which time the balance is payable in 18 monthly installments if not forgiven in accordance with the CARES Act and the terms of the promissory note executed by the Company in connection with the loan. The promissory note contains events of default and other provisions customary for a loan of this type. As required, the Company used the PPP loan proceeds for payroll, healthcare benefits, rent and other qualifying expenses. The program provides that the use of PPP Loan amount shall be limited to certain qualifying expenses and may be partially or wholly forgiven in accordance with the requirements set forth in the CARES Act. On April 1, 2021, the company received notification that the principal amount of $74,400 and accrued interest of approximately $700 were forgiven under the terms of the loan program and were recorded as forgiveness of debt on the Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and six-months ended August 31, 2021.

On March 3, 2021, the Company received $91,235 pursuant to Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw (“PPP2”) in accordance with legislation approved in December 2020. The terms and conditions of this loan is the same as PPP with the principal amount of $91,235 recognized as part of notes payable, non-current on the balance sheet as of August 31, 2021.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Entities negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible to apply for loans sponsored by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL Loan”) program. On July 1, 2020, the Company received cash proceeds of $149,900 under this program. The proceeds can be used to fund payroll, healthcare benefits, rent and other qualifying expenses, and the loan is not subject to a loan forgiveness provision. The standard EIDL Loan repayment terms include interest accrues at 3.75% per annum effective July 1, 2020; the payment schedule contains a one-year deferral period on initial principal and interest payments; the loan term is thirty years; The Company pledged the assets of the Company as collateral for the loan; and there is no prepayment penalty or fees. As of August 31 and February 28, 2021, the amounts outstanding, including accrued interest of $6,696 and $3,768, respectively, are $156,596 and $153,668, respectively, and are classified as part of notes payable, non-current on the August 31 and February 28, 2021 balance sheets. On January 6, 2021, the SBA announced a one-year extension of the deferral period for loans that commenced in 2020 delaying payments of principal and interest to July 2022.

Convertible Notes Payable

Kenmont Capital Partners

On May 7 and September 25, 2013, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements for senior convertible notes in the aggregate amount of approximately $1,807,000 (“New Kenmont Notes”) and warrants to Kenmont Capital Partners LP. The New Kenmont Notes had a 1-year maturity date and were convertible into shares of common stock at the conversion price of $0.75 per share. The warrants were subsequently exercised. On October 31, 2016, the Securities Purchase Agreements were amended and restated to include a provision for mandatory redemption in which 80% of the principal and accrued interest amount of approximately $2,750,000, or approximately $2,200,000, was converted into common shares at a conversion price of $0.75 per share. There was a remaining balance of $549,954 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

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 balance of $163,677 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

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 balance of $232,194 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

Dresner and Lempert

On June 20, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with two individuals, Mr. Dresner and Dr. Lempert, 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. During Fiscal 2020, Dr. Lempert converted his share of the amount outstanding into common shares and the balance outstanding of $59,506 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively, is for Dresner exclusively.

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. On January 11, 2018, the note was renegotiated with a final payment date of January 11, 2023 with an annual interest rate of 5%.  The Company recorded $310,723 as a debt discount, which will be amortized over the life of the note. There is a remaining balance of $264,462 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

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. On January 11, 2018, the note was renegotiated with a final payment date of January 11, 2023 with an annual interest rate of 5%. The Company recorded $137,583 as a debt discount, which will be amortized over the life of the note. There is a remaining balance of $133,178 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

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. All of the creditors entered into the January 30, 2017 agreement with the exception of Mr. W. Abdou and Mr. M. 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 approval was obtained in January 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 approximately $1,005,000 as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively, plus any outstanding accrued interest.

Accrued payroll and related expenses consist primarily of salaries and vacation time accrued in prior years but not paid to employees due to our lack of financial resources (see Note 7). Accrued interest consists of amounts due (see Note 3) to holders of convertible promissory notes of $1.4 million and for demand and other promissory notes of approximately $0.3 million at August 31, 2021. The accrued interest-related party is related to principal amount due to Mr. Breslow of $3.0 million as of August 31 and February 28, 2021 (see Note 6). Other accrued expenses consists primarily of unbilled professional fees of $98,000.

NOTE 5 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock

During the three and six-months ended August 31, 2021, the Company issued approximately 2,787,000 and 4,653,000 shares of common stock for $705,000 and $988,000 in cash, respectively. Also, issued in the three-months ended August 31, 2021, approximately 1,571,400 shares of common stock were issued for settlement of outstanding liabilities of $550,000.

During the three and six-months ended August 31, 2020, the Company issued approximately 3,867,000 and 5,225,000 shares of common stock for $580,000 and $815,000 in cash, respectively. Also, issued in the three-months ended August 31, 2020, approximately 267,000 shares of common stock were issued for settlement of outstanding liabilities of approximately $192,600.

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, with a contractual option term of five-years, and a vesting period not less than six-months and one day following date of grant. In the three-months ended August 31, 2020, the Board of Directors approved grants of 250,000 stock options to each board member for an aggregate of 1,250,000 options, with an exercise price of $0.25 per option and at a market price of $0.16 on March 19, 2020, the date of grant.

The aggregate fair value of the 1,250,000 options granted in March 2020 is approximately $194,000, or $0.155 per option, with $96,500 and $174,000 recorded as part of sales, general and administration expense during the three and six-months ended August 31, 2020.

On February 25, 2021 and during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2021, the Board approved the grant of 500,000 stock options to our president with an exercise price of $0.50, vesting in equal increments over a twelve-month period and a five-year contractual term. On December 10, 2020 and during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2021, the Board approved aggregate grants of 1,000,000 stock options to the four other board members with an exercise price of $0.25, vesting in equal increments over a twelve-month period and a five-year contractual term.

The aggregate fair value of the 1,500,000 options granted in December 2020 and February 2021 is approximately $382,500, or $0.255 per option, with $95,600 and $246,300 recorded as part of sales, general and administration expense during the three and six-months ended August 31, 2021.

The following tables provide additional information regarding stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2011 Director and Executive Officers Stock Option Plan for the six-months ended August 31, 2021:

Warrants

Historically, warrants have been issued to investors and others for services and enticements to invest funds with the Company. Generally, these warrants fully vest immediately or within a 90-day period from the date of grant and have an expiration date of five-years from the date of grant. With grants dated prior to Fiscal 2021, an exercise price of $1.40 has been used with all warrants. No warrants were issued in the three and six-months ended August 31, 2021.

Activity in issued and outstanding warrants is as follows for the six-months ended August 31, 2021:

Warrants outstanding

The weighted average remaining contractual life was 1.46 years as of August 31, 2021.

NOTE 6 – RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS

Notes payable-related party, non-current - $3,000,000 on the condensed balance sheets as of August 31 and February 28, 2021 consists of the Breslow Note as described below:

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 six-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 convertible five-year note representing the remaining balance was entered into at a conversion rate of $1.40. The note bears interest at a rate of 5% per annum payable monthly in arrears with accrued interest of $488,527 and $412,911 recorded as accrued interest-related party (see Note 4) as of August 31 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

Notes payable and accrued interest-related party, current - $12,583,957 on the condensed balance sheet as of August 31, 2021 and $12,165,015 as of February 28, 2021 consists of the Kopple Notes, the Gagerman Note and the Jiangsu Shengfeng Note as set forth below:

Kopple Notes

As of November 30, and February 28, 2021, the principal amount owed to Robert Kopple (former Vice-Chairman of our Board) of $5,607,323 was unchanged. As of August 31, 2021, accrued interest of $6,125,274 was owed to Mr. Kopple for a total balance of $11,732,597. As of February 28, 2021, accrued interest of $5,710,464 was owed to Mr. Kopple for a total balance of $11,317,787.

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”) and warrants. The Kopple Notes carried a base interest rate of 9.5%, have a 4-year maturity date and were convertible into shares of common stock at the conversion price of $3.50 per share (conversion feature expired in 2017). 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% per annum.

Gagerman Note

On August 31, 2021, the Gagerman note consisted of $82,000 of unsecured note payable plus accrued interest of $69,360 for a total owed to Melvin Gagerman of $151,360, the Company’s former CEO and CFO, pursuant to a demand note entered into on April 5, 2014. Interest accrues at 10% per annum. On February 28, 2021, the amount owed to Gagerman was $147,227.

Jiangsu Shengfeng Note

On November 20, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with Jiangsu Shengfeng, the Company’s Chinese joint venture, 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 would consists of a non-interest-bearing promissory note and a payment plan pursuant to which the $700,000 would be paid over a 12-month period. Principal loan amount on August 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021 was $700,000, respectively, and is classified as part of notes payable and accrued interest-related party, current on the balance sheets as of August 31, 2021.

NOTE 7 – COMMITMENTS & CONTINGENCIES

Leases

Prior to Fiscal 2022, our facilities consisted primarily of approximately 20,000 square feet in Stanton, California and a storage facility in Santa Clarita, California. Effective February 28, 2021, we vacated both facilities and consolidated our administrative offices, operations including warehousing within a 17,700 square foot facility in Lake Forest, California under a 66-month rental agreement covering March 1, 2021 through August 31, 2026, with an initial monthly rental rate of approximately $22,000 increasing to a monthly rate of approximately $26,000 in 2026. At February 28, 2021, in accordance with ASC Topic 842, we recognized a right of use (“ROU”) asset and an operating lease liability of approximately $1.2 million, respectively, of which approximately $0.1 million was classified as a current liability and $1.1 million as non-current liability at February 28, 2021. The lease liability is determined by discounting the future lease payments under the lease terms and applying a 10% per annum discount rate to determine the current lease liability. Operating expenses estimated to be approximately $4,000 per month are considered a variable lease component and excluded from the determination of the ROU asset and the lease liability. Other operating expenses, such as utilities and property taxes, are similarly excluded in the calculation of the ROU as they do not represent goods and services provided by the lessor under the terms of the lease. At August 31, 2021, the ROU asset balance was approximately $1,087,000 and the total lease liability was approximately $1,114,000, of which approximately $154,000 was classified as a current liability.

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 financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

In 2017, the Company’s former COO was awarded approximately $238,000 in accrued salary and related charges by the California labor board. In August 2021, the Company reached a settlement by which the Company agreed to pay approximately $330,000, representing the principal award plus accrued interest. As of the time of this filing, the Company has paid approximately $79,000 toward the settlement amount. The remaining balance of approximately $251,000 is to be paid no later than September 1, 2022 and accrues interest of 10% per annum until paid.

The Company is presently engaged in a dispute with one of its former directors, Robert Kopple, relating to approximately $11.7 million (representing approximately $5.4 million loaned to the Company over the course of 2013 to 2016; approximately $170,000 Mr. Kopple claims to have advanced or paid to third parties on Aura’s behalf; and approximately $6.1 million Mr. Kopple claims to be owed for interest, loan fees and late payment charges) and approximately 3.33 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, our former CEO and a former director, in connection with these allegations. In 2018, the Court dismissed Mr. Diaz-Verson, Mr. Breslow, Mr. Howsmon and Mr. Gagerman 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. However, to-date, no settlement has been reached in large part because Mr. Kopple continues to demand that as part of any such settlement, he receive unilateral control over significant aspects of the Company’s financial and management functions such as, but not limited to, the right to unilaterally direct the Company’s ordinary business expenditures and requiring the Company to seek his approval for the hiring of nearly all personnel, all to the exclusion of the Company’s management team and stockholder-elected Board of Directors. The Company believes that allowing Mr. Kopple such level of operational control over the Company without any accountability would be highly detrimental to the Company and is incompatible with the Board of Directors’ duties to shareholders and creditors as a whole.

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, Dr. 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 Dr. 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. As a result of prior management’s unsuccessful opposition to this stockholders’ action filed in the Court of Chancery, such stockholders may be potentially entitled to recoup their litigation costs from the Company under Delaware’s corporate benefit doctrine and/or other legal provisions. To-date, no final determination has been made as to the amount of recoupment, if any, to which such stockholders may be entitled.