UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

☒ ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 20222023

 

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission file number: 001-38063

 

SILVERSUN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

16-1633636

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

120 Eagle Rock Ave

East Hanover, NJ 07936

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(973) 396-1720

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Title of each class 

Trading Symbol(s) 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share  

SSNT 

The NASDAQ Capital Market

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

 

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

 

Accelerated filer ☐

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer ☒

 

Smaller Reporting Company ☒

 

 

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

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

 

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

 

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

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

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 20222023 based on a closing price of $2.71$3.37 was $8,793,622.$10,950,812.

 

As of February 27, 2023,March 13, 2024, the registrant had 5,256,1775,315,581 shares of its common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page No.

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Business

5

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

18

26

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

34

Item 1C.

26Cybersecurity

34

Item 2.

Properties

26

36

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

27

37

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

27

37

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

28

38

Item 6.

Reserved

28

38

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

29

39

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

36

44

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

36

44

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

36

44

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

36

45

Item 9B.

Other Information

37

45

Item 9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

37

45

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

38

46

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

41

49

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

44

53

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

45

54

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

45

54

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules

46

55

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

48

57

 

 

SIGNATURES

49

 

 

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are “forward-looking” statements, as well as historical information. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including matters described in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements include those that use forward-looking terminology, such as the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” “plan,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” and similar expressions, including when used in the negative. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable and achievable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties and we cannot assure you that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect events or circumstances after the date initially filed or published, to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

 

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. The COVID-19 pandemicuncertainty on the economy continues to create uncertainty for the Company in the coming months and quarters. While our Company has not been significantly impacted because of this uncertainty, the potential negative impact on our business, in the future, is impossible to determine at this point, although it is likely that we could suffer negative consequences as many companies go out of business or decrease their technology spending. As such, we need to rely on our own limited resources to weather any economic downturn. Management will continue to monitor developments, explore various cost-cutting measures, and explore other sources of funding, but there is no guarantee we will be successful in doing so. The uncertainty could adversely affect us, our customers, counterparties, employees, and third-party service providers, and the ultimate extent of the impacts on our business, financial position, results of operations, liquidity and prospects are uncertain. In addition, changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies or practices because of, or in response to COVID-19, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways.uncertain It is not possible for us to predict all of those risks, nor can we assess the impact of all of those risks on our business or the extent to which any factor may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on assumptions management believes are reasonable. However, due to the uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and unless required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly update any of them in light of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

From time to time, forward-looking statements also are included in our other periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, in our press releases, in our presentations, on our website and in other materials released to the public. Any or all of the forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any other reports or public statements made by us are not guarantees of future performance and may turn out to be inaccurate. These forward-looking statements represent our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Many of those factors are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning other matters addressed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, or otherwise.

 

For discussion of factors that we believe could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results see “Item 1A — Risk Factors” below.

 

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, “SilverSun”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our” refer to SilverSun Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.

 

4

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business Overview

 

The Company is engaged in providing transformational business management applications and technologies and professional consulting services to small and medium size companies, primarily in the manufacturing, distribution and service industries.

 

We are executing a multi-pronged business strategy centered on cloud-based products, services, recurring revenue, customer retention and on rapidly increasing the size of our installed customer base. The growth of our customer base is accomplished via both our traditional marketing programs and acquisitions. After a customer is secured, our strategy is to up-sell and cross-sell, providing the customer with advanced technologies and third-party add-ons that help them digitally transform their business. These add-on products could include application hosting, cybersecurity, warehouse management, human capital management, payment automation, sales tax compliance or any number of other products or services that we represent. Many of these incremental products and services are billed on a subscription basis, often paying monthly for the service, which increases our monthly recurring revenue (“MRR”). This strategy increases the average revenue per customer, which facilitates our continued growth, and reduces our cost of customer acquisition, which enhances our profitability profile.

 

As a business application, technology and consulting company, we provide strategies and solutions to meet our clients’ information, technology and business management needs. Our services and technologies enable customers to manage, protect and monetize their enterprise assets whether on-premise or in the cloud. As a value-added reseller of business application software, we offer solutions for accounting and business management, financial reporting, Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”), Human Capital Management (“HCM”), Warehouse Management Systems (“WMS”), Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”), and Business Intelligence (“BI”). Additionally, we have our own development staff building software solutions for various ERP enhancements. Our value-added services focus on consulting and professional services, specialized programming, training, and technical support. We have a dedicated Information Technology (“IT”) managed services practice that provides cybersecurity, application hosting, disaster recovery, business continuity, cloud and other services. Our customers are nationwide, with concentrations in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, Arizona, Connecticut, Southern California, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon and Illinois.

 

Our core business is divided into the following practice areas:

 

ERP (Enterprise Resource Management) and Accounting Software

 

We are a value-added reseller for a number of industry-leading ERP applications. We are a Sage Software Authorized Business Partner and Sage Certified Gold Development Partner. We believe we are among the largest Sage partners in North America, with a sales and implementation presence complemented by a scalable software development practice for customizations and enhancements. Due to the growing demand for cloud-based ERP solutions, we also have in our ERP portfolio Acumatica, a browser-based ERP solution that can be offered on premise, in the public cloud, or in a private cloud, and Sage Intacct, a cloud-based ERP software solution. We develop and resell a variety of add-on solutions to all our ERP and accounting packages that help customize the installation to our customers’ needs and streamline their operations.

 

Value-Added Services for ERP

 

We go beyond simply reselling software packages; we have a consulting and professional services organization that manages the process as we move from the sales stage into implementation, go live, and production. We work inside our customers’ organizations to ensure all software and IT solutions are enhancing their business needs. A significant portion of our services revenue comes from continuing to work with existing customers as their business needs change, upgrading from one version of software to another, or providing additional software solutions to help them manage their business and grow their revenue. We have a dedicated help desk team that fields hundreds of calls every week. Our custom programming department builds specialized software packages as well as “off the shelf” enhancements and time and billing software.

 

Network and Managed Services

 

We provide comprehensive IT network and managed services designed to eliminate the IT concerns of our customers. Businesses can focus on their core strengths rather than technology issues. We adapt our solutions for virtually any type of business from product and service providers to small businesses with local customers. Our business continuity services provide automatic on-site and off-site backups, complete encryption, and automatic failure testing. We also provide application hosting, IT consulting and managed network services.

 

5

 

Industry Overview

 

As a value-added reseller of business application software, we offer solutions for accounting and business management, financial reporting, managed services, ERP, HCM, WMS, CRM, and BI. Additionally, we have our own development staff building software solutions for various ERP enhancements. Our value-added services focus on consulting and professional services, specialized programming, training, and technical support. The majority of our customers are small and medium businesses (“SMBs”).

 

Potential Competitive Strengths

 

Independent Software Vendor.  As an independent software vendor we have published integrations between ERPs and third-party products which differentiates us from other business application providers because, as a value-added reseller of the ERPs that our proprietary products integrate with, we have specific software solution expertise in the ERPs we resell, which ensures that our products tightly integrate with the ERPs. We own the intellectual property related to these integrations and sell the solutions both directly and through other software resellers within the Sage network.

 

Sage Certified Gold Development Partner. As a Sage Certified Gold Development Partner, we are licensed to customize the source code of the Sage ERPs. Very few resellers are master developers, and in fact, we provide custom programming services for many other resellers. We have full-time programmers on staff, which provides us with a depth and breadth of expertise that we believe very few competitors can match.

 

Ability to Recruit, Manage and Retain Quality Personnel. We have a track record of recruiting, managing and retaining skilled labor and our ability to do so represents an important advantage in an industry in which a shortage of skilled labor is often a key limitation for both clients and competitors alike. We recruit skilled labor from competitors and from amongst end users with experience using the various products we sell, whom we then train as consultants. We believe our ability to hire, manage and maintain skilled labor gives us an edge over our competitors as we continue to grow.

 

Combination of Hardware/Software Expertise. Many competitors have software solution expertise. Others have network/hardware expertise. We believe we are among the very few organizations with an expertise in both software and hardware, affording us the opportunity to provide turnkey solutions for our customers without the need to bring in additional vendors on a project.

 

Technical Expertise. Our geographical reach and substantial technical capabilities afford our clients the ability to customize and tailor solutions to satisfy all of their business needs.

 

Our Growth Strategy

 

General

 

Our strategy is to grow our business through a combination of organic growth of our software applications, technology solutions and managed services, as well as expansion through acquisitions. We have established a national presence via our internal marketing, sales programs, and acquisitions and now have ERP customers throughout most of the United States.

 

Organic Growth

 

Our organic growth strategy is to increase our market penetration and client retention through the upgrade of, and expanded sales efforts with our existing products and managed services and development of new and enhanced software and technology solutions. Our client retention is sustained by our providing responsive, ongoing software and technical support and monitoring and maintenance services for both the solutions we sell and other client technology needs we provide.

 

Repeat business from our existing customer base has been key to our success and we expect it will continue to play a vital role in our growth. We focus on nurturing long-standing relationships with existing customers while also establishing relationships with new customers.

 

6

 

Acquisitions

 

The markets in which we provide our services are occupied by a large number of competitors, many substantially larger than us, and with significantly greater resources and geographic reach. We believe that to remain competitive, we need to take advantage of acquisition opportunities that arise which may help us achieve greater geographic presence and economies both within our existing footprint and expanded territories. We may also utilize acquisitions, whenever appropriate, to expand our technological capabilities and product offerings. We focus on acquisitions that are profitable and fit seamlessly with our existing operations.

 

We believe our markets contain a number of attractive acquisition candidates. We foresee expanding through acquisitions of one or more of the following types of software and technology organizations:

 

Managed Service Providers (MSPs). MSPs provide their small and medium-sized business clients with a suite of services, which may include application hosting, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, business continuity, data back-up, and the like. There are hundreds of providers of such services in the U.S., most with annual recurring revenue of less than $10 million. We believe that we may be able to consolidate a number of these MSPs with our existing operation in an effort to become one of the more significant providers of these services in the U.S.

 

Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). ISVs are publishers of both stand-alone software solutions and integrations that integrate with other third-party products. Our interest lies with ISVs selling into the small and medium-sized business marketplace, providing applications addressing e-commerce, mobility, security, and other functionalities. Since we have expertise in both selling directly to end-users and selling through a sales channel, we believe we can significantly enhance the sales volume of any potential acquisition via our existing infrastructure, our sales channel, and our internal marketing programs. There are many ISVs in North America, constituting a large and significant target base for our acquisition efforts.

 

Value-Added Resellers (VARs) of ERP, Human Capital Management (HCM), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), CRM and BI Software. VAR’s gross margins are a function of the sales volume they provide a publisher in a twelve (12) month period, and we are currently operating at the highest margins. Smaller resellers who sell less and operate at significantly lower margins, are at a competitive disadvantage to companies such as ours, and are often amenable to creating a liquidity event for themselves by selling to larger organizations. We have benefitted from completing such acquisitions in a number of ways, including but not limited to: (i) garnering new customers to whom we can upsell and cross-sell our broad range of products and services; (ii) gaining technical resources that enhance our capabilities; and (iii) extending our geographic reach.

 

Our business strategy provides that we will examine the potential acquisition of businesses within and outside our industry. In determining a suitable acquisition candidate, we will carefully analyze a target’s potential to add to and complement our product mix, expand our existing revenue base, improve our margins, expand our geographic coverage, strengthen our management team, add technical resources and expertise, and, above all, improve stockholder returns. More specifically, we have identified the criteria listed below, by which we evaluate potential acquisition targets in an effort to gain the synergies necessary for successful growth of the Company:

 

 

Access to new customers and geographic markets;

 

 

Recurring revenue of the target;

 

 

Opportunity to gain operating leverage and increased profit margins;

 

 

Diversification of sales by customer and/or product;

 

 

Improvements in product/service offerings; and

 

 

Ability to attract public capital and increased investor interest.

 

We are unable to predict the nature, size or timing of any acquisition. We can give no assurance that we will reach agreement or procure the financial resources necessary to fund any acquisition, or that we will be able to successfully integrate or improve returns as a result of any such acquisition.

 

7

 

We continue to seek out and hold preliminary discussions with various acquisition candidates.

 

On April 1, 2021, SWK Technologies, Inc. (“SWK”) acquired certain assets of CT-Solution, Inc. (“CTS”), a leading Indianapolis-based reseller of Sage Software solutions. Over the last 20 years, CTS has implemented technology applications at prominent manufacturers, distributors, and professional service organizations throughout the Midwest.

 

On May 1, 2021, SWK acquired certain assets of PeopleSense, Inc. (“PSI”), a leading Chicago-based reseller of Sage Software's human resource management solutions. Over the last 18 years, PSI has implemented HCM solutions to clientele spanning over half of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

On January 1, 2022, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Dynamic Tech Services, Inc (“DTS”), a Georgia corporation pursuant to which SWK acquired from DTS certain assets related to the component of DTS’ operations devoted to selling and supporting Acumatica Enterprise Resource Planning solutions.

 

On January 22, 2022, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets of NEO3, LLC (“NEO3”), an Ohio-based company related to its Sage 100 and Acumatica operations.

 

On November 13, 2023, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with JCS Computer Resource Corporation (“JCS”), an Illinois corporation pursuant to which SWK acquired from JCS certain assets (the “Acquired Assets”) related to the component of JCS’ business devoted to being a value added reseller of Sage 100, Sage 50, and Quickbooks software, together with ancillary consulting services related thereto.

Enterprise Resource Planning Software Strategy

 

Our ERP software strategy is focused on serving the needs of our expansive installed base of customers for our Sage 100, Sage 500, and Sage BusinessWorks practices, while rapidly growing the number of customers using Acumatica. We currently have approximately 8,000 active ERP customers using one of these solutions, including customers using certain add-on support products to these solutions. In the past, we had focused primarily on on-premise mid-market Sage Software solutions. However, we now focus primarily on cloud ERP solutions. This has allowed us to increase our average deal size and to keep pace with the changing trends that we see in the industry.

 

Managed Services Strategy

 

The IT Managed Services market is broadly segmented by types of services, including managed datacenter, managed network, managed mobility, managed infrastructure, managed communications, managed information, managed security and other managed services. In addition, the market is segmented by market verticals, such as public sector, banking, financial services and insurance, education, retail, contact centers and service industries, high tech and telecommunications, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, travel and logistics, manufacturing, energy and utilities among others.

 

The recent trend in the industry shows that there is a high demand for managed services across every industry vertical. The implementation of managed services can reduce IT costs by 30% to 40% in such enterprises. This enables organizations to have flexibility and technical advantage. Enterprises having their services outsourced look forward to risk sharing and to reduce their IT costs and IT commitments, so that they can concentrate on their core competencies. Organizations implementing managed services have reported almost a 50% to 60% increase in the operational efficiency of their outsourced processes. Enterprises have accepted outsourcing services as a means to enable them to reduce their capital expenditures (CapEx) and free up internal sources. Newer managed services that penetrate almost all the industry domains, along with aggressive pricing in services, are being offered. This results in an increase in the overall revenues of the managed services market. With increasing technological advancements and the cost challenges associated with having the IT services in-house, we believe the future seems optimistic for managed services providers.

 

Our strategy is to continue to expand our product offerings to the small and medium sized business marketplace, and to increase our scale and capabilities via acquisition throughout the United States, but initially in those regions where we currently have existing offices.

 

Geographic Expansion

 

Generally, our technology offerings require some on-premise implementation and support. When we expand into new geographic territories, we prefer to find qualified personnel in an area to augment our current staff of consultants to service our business. The need for hands-on implementation and support may also require investment in additional physical offices and other overhead. We believe our approach is conservative.

 

We may accelerate expansion if we find complementary businesses that we are able to acquire in other regions. Our marketing efforts to expand into new territories have included attendance at trade shows in addition to personal contact.

 

8

 

Our Products and Services

 

Enterprise Resource Planning Software

 

Substantially all our initial sales of ERP financial accounting solutions consist of pre-packaged software and associated services to customers in the United States.

 

The Company resells ERP software published by Sage Software, including Sage Intacct, Acumatica and other providers for the financial accounting requirements of small- and medium-sized businesses focused on manufacturing, distribution, and professional services, and the delivery of related services from the sales of these products, including installation, implementation, support and training. The programs perform and support a wide variety of functions related to accounting, including financial reporting, accounts payable and accounts receivable, and inventory management.

 

We provide end-user technical support services through our support/help desk. Our product and technology consultants assist customers calling with questions about product features, functions, usability issues, and configurations. The support/help desk offers services in a variety of ways, including prepaid services, time and materials billed as utilized and annual support contracts. Customers can communicate with the support/help desk through e-mail, telephone, and fax channels. Standard support/help desk services are offered during normal business hours five (5) days per week.

 

Warehouse Management Systems

 

We are resellers of warehouse management software for mid-market distributors. The primary purpose of a WMS is to control the movement and storage of materials within an operation and process the associated transactions. Directed picking, directed replenishment, and directed put-away are the key to WMS. The detailed setup and processing within a WMS can vary significantly from one software vendor to another. However, the basic WMS will use a combination of item, location, quantity, unit of measure, and order information to determine where to stock, where to pick, and in what sequence to perform these operations.

 

The WMS software improves accuracy and efficiency, streamlines materials handling, meets retail compliance requirements, and refines inventory control. Accellos also works as part of a complete operational solution by integrating seamlessly with radio frequency hardware, accounting software, shipping systems and warehouse automation equipment.

 

We market WMS solutions to both our new and existing medium-sized business customers.

 

IT Managed Network Services and Business Consulting

 

We provide IT managed services, cybersecurity, business continuity, disaster recovery, data back-up, network maintenance and service upgrades for our business clients. We are a Microsoft Solutions Provider. Our staff includes engineers who maintain certifications from Microsoft and Sage Software. They are Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers and Microsoft Certified Professionals, and they provide a host of services for our clients, including remote network monitoring, server implementation, support and assistance, operation and maintenance of large central systems, technical design of network infrastructure, technical troubleshooting for large scale problems, network and server security, and backup, archiving, and storage of data from servers. There are numerous competitors, both larger and smaller, nationally and locally, with whom we compete in this market.

 

Cybersecurity

 

We provide enterprise level security services to the mid-market. Our cybersecurity-as-a-service offering includes a security operations center, incident response, cybersecurity assessments, penetration testing, and hacking simulations. The service is particularly well-suited for customers in compliance-driven and regulated industries, including financial services, pension administration, insurance, and the land and title sector.

 

Application Hosting

 

We provide hosting services to customers located throughout the country within our own data centers.

 

9

 

Product Development

 

We are continually looking to improve and develop new products. Our product initiatives include various new product offerings, which generally are extensions of existing products. We are using a dual-shore development approach to keep product development costs at a minimum. All our product development is led by U.S. based employees. The project leaders are technical resources who are involved in developing technical specifications, design decisions, usability testing, and transferring the project knowledge to our offshore development team. Several times per week, the product development leadership team meets with our project leaders and development teams to discuss project status, development obstacles, and project timelines.

 

Arrangements with Principal Suppliers

 

Our revenues are primarily derived from the resale of vendor software products and services. These resales are made pursuant to channel sales agreements whereby we are granted authority to purchase and resell the vendor products and services. Under these agreements, we either resell software directly to our customers or act as a sales agent for various vendors and receive commissions for our sales efforts.

 

We are required to enter into an annual Channel Partner Agreement with Sage Software whereby Sage Software appoints us as a non-exclusive partner to market, distribute, and support Sage 100, Sage 500, and Sage Intacct. The Channel Partner Agreement is for a one-year term, and automatically renews for an additional one-year term on the anniversary of the agreement’s effective date. These agreements authorize us to sell these software products to customers in the United States. There are no clauses in this agreement that limit or restrict the services that we can offer to customers. We also operate a Sage Software Authorized Training Center Agreement and are party to a Master Developers Program License Agreement.

 

For the years ended December 31, 20222023 and 2021,2022, purchases from one supplier through a “channel partner” agreement were approximately 15%16% and 13%15% respectively. This channel partner agreement is for a one-year term and automatically renews for an additional one-year term on the anniversary of the agreements effective date. Generally, the Company does not rely on any one specific supplier for all its purchases and maintains relationships with other suppliers that could replace its existing supplier should the need arise.

 

Customers

 

We market our products primarily throughout North America. For the years ended December 31, 20222023 and 2021,2022, the top ten customers accounted for 9% ($4,869,634) and 7% ($3,147,258) and 9% ($3,644,319), respectively, of total revenues. Generally, we do not rely on any one specific customer for any significant portion of our revenue base. No single customer accounted for ten percent or more of our consolidated revenues base.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We regard our technology and other proprietary rights as essential to our business. We rely on copyright, trade secret, confidentiality procedures, contract provisions, and trademark law to protect our technology and intellectual property. We have also entered into confidentiality agreements with our consultants and corporate partners and intend to control access to, and distribution of our products, documentation, and other proprietary information.

 

Competition

 

Our markets are highly fragmented, and the business is characterized by a large number of participants, including several large companies, as well significant number of small, privately-held, local competitors. A significant portion of our revenue is currently derived from requests for proposals (“RFPs”) and price is often an important factor in awarding such agreements. Accordingly, our competitors may underbid us if they elect to price their services aggressively to procure such business. Our competitors may also develop the expertise, experience and resources to provide services that are equal or superior in both price and quality to our services, and we may not be able to enhance our competitive position. The principal competitive factors for our professional services include geographic presence, breadth of service offerings, technical skills, quality of service and industry reputation. We believe we compete favorably with our competitors on the basis of these factors.

 

10

 

Human Capital

 

As of February 6, 2022,January 31, 2024, we had approximately 172195 full time employees with 4548 of our employees engaged in sales and marketing activities, 97108 employees are engaged in service fulfillment, and 3039 employees performing administrative functions. SilverSun’s future success depends in significant part upon the continued services of its key sales, technical, and senior management personnel and its ability to attract and retain highly qualified sales, technical, and managerial personnel. None of SilverSun’s employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement and SilverSun Holdings has never experienced a work stoppage.

 

Human capital management is critical to our ongoing business success, which requires investing in our people. Our aim is to create a highly engaged and motivated workforce where employees are inspired by leadership, engaged in purpose-driven, meaningful work and have opportunities for growth and development. We are committed to creating and maintaining a work environment in which employees are treated with respect and dignity. We value our diverse employees and provide career and professional development opportunities that foster the success of our company. An effective approach to human capital management requires that we invest in talent, development, culture and employee engagement. We aim to create an environment where our employees are encouraged to make positive contributions and fulfill their potential. We emphasize our core values of innovation, encouragement, motivation, and curiosity with our employees to instill our culture and create an environment of growth and positivity.

 

Our future success depends in significant part upon the continued services of our key sales, technical, and senior management personnel and our ability to attract and retain highly qualified sales, technical, and managerial personnel. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement and we have never experienced a work stoppage.

Our Corporate History

 

We were incorporated on October 3, 2002, as a wholly owned subsidiary of iVoice, Inc. (“iVoice”). On September 5, 2005, we changed our corporate name to Trey Resources, Inc. On February 11, 2004, the Company was spun off from iVoice and became an independent publicly traded company. In March 2004, Trey Resources, Inc. began trading on the OTCBB under the symbol TYRIA.OB. In June 2011, we changed our name to SilverSun Technologies, Inc., trading under the symbol SSNT.

 

Prior to June 2004, we were engaged in the design, manufacture, and marketing of specialized telecommunication equipment. On June 2, 2004, our wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary, SWK Technologies, Inc. (“SWK”) completed its acquisition of SWK, Inc.

 

On June 2, 2006, SWK completed the acquisition of certain assets of AMP-Best Consulting, Inc. (“AMP”) of Syracuse, New York. AMP is an information technology company and value-added reseller of licensed ERP software published by Sage Software. AMP sold services and products to various end users, manufacturers, wholesalers and distribution industry clients located throughout the United States, with special emphasis on companies located in the upstate New York region.

 

During 2011, SWK acquired Sage’s Software’s customer accounts in connection with IncorTech, LLC (“IncorTech”), a Southern California-based Sage business partner. This transaction increased our geographical influence in Southern California for the sale and support of our MAPADOC integrated EDI solution and the marketing of our Sage EM (formerly Sage ERP X3) to both former IncorTech customers as well as new consumers. IncorTech had previously provided professional accounting, technology, and business consulting services to over 300 clients.

 

In June 2012, SWK acquired selected assets and obligations of Hightower, Inc., a Chicago-based reseller of Sage software applications. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits that this acquisition brought to SWK, there was also a substantial suite of proprietary enhancement software solutions.

 

In May 2014, we completed the purchase of selected assets of ESC Software (“ESC”), a leading Arizona-based reseller of Sage Software and Acumatica applications. Founded in 2000, ESC has implemented technology solutions at prominent companies throughout the Southwest. In addition to the strategic benefits of this acquisition, it has given us additional annual revenues, approximately 300 additional Sage Software ERP customers and affords us market penetration in the Southwest.

 

On March 11, 2015, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with 2000 SOFT, Inc. d/b/a Accounting Technology Resource (“ATR”), a California corporation. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from the approximately 250 additional customers.

 

On July 6, 2015, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with ProductiveTech,Productive Tech, Inc. (“PTI”), a New Jersey managed IT service provider.corporation.provider. corporation. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from the approximately 85 additional customers.

 

On October 1, 2015, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with The Macabe Associates, Inc., (“Macabe”) a Washington based reseller of Sage Software and Acumatica applications. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from the approximately 180 additional customers.

 

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On October 19, 2015, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Oates & Company, (“Oates”) a North Carolina reseller of Sage Software applications. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from the approximately 185 additional customers.

 

On May 31, 2018, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Info Sys Management, Inc., (“ISM”) an Oregon based reseller of Sage Software and Acumatica applications. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from the approximately 700 additional customers.

 

In May 2018, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Secure Cloud Services, Inc. (“SCS”), a Nevada corporation, for the purpose of providing application hosting services. On May 31, 2018, Secure Cloud Services entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Nellnube, Inc. (“Nellnube”) an Oregon based application hosting provider.

 

In May 2018, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Critical Cyber Defense Corp. (“CCD”CCDC”), a Nevada corporation, for the purpose of providing cyber defense products and services.

 

On January 1, 2019, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Partners in Technology, Inc.(“PIT”), an Illinois based reseller of Sage Software. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from the approximately 170 additional customers.

 

On August 26, 2019 SWK entered into and closed that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the “MAPADOC Asset Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, SPS Commerce, Inc., as buyer (“SPS”), and SWK as seller, pursuant to which SPS agreed to acquire from SWK substantially all of the assets related to the MAPADOC business.

 

On July 31, 2020, the Company entered into an Asset Agreement to acquire certain assets of Prairie Technology Solutions Group, LLC, (“PT”), a Chicago-based managed services provider ("MSP") which provides managed IT services, cybersecurity, and business continuity and disaster recovery services for small and medium-sized businesses pursuant to an Asset Agreement. This acquisition will help us in our plans to expand our MSP business to other regions where we currently have significant numbers of customers from our other technology businesses, including Phoenix, Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and North Carolina.

 

On October 1, 2020, the Company acquired certain assets of Computer Management Services, LLC (“CMS”) pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement. CMS is in the business of selling and supporting enterprise resource planning and similar software for small and middle market companies. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from its additional customers.

 

On December 1, 2020, the Company acquired certain assets of a company d/b/a Business Software Solutions (“BSS”) pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement. BSS is an Oregon based reseller of Sage Software and Acumatica applications. In addition to the strategic geographic benefits of this acquisition, it has provided additional revenues from its additional customers.

 

On April 1, 2021, SWK acquired certain assets of CT-Solution, Inc. (“CTS”), a leading Indianapolis-based reseller of Sage Software solutions. Over the last 20 years, CT-Solution has implemented technology applications at prominent manufacturers, distributors, and professional service organizations throughout the Midwest.

 

On May 1, 2021, SWK acquired certain assets of PeopleSense, Inc. (“PSI”), a leading Chicago-based reseller of Sage Software's human resource management solutions. Over the last 18 years, PeopleSense has implemented HCM solutions to clientele spanning over half of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

On November 10, 2021, SWK entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with Net@Work, Inc. (“NAW”) pursuant to which NAW acquired from SWK certain assets related to the component of SWK’s business devoted to selling and supporting the Sage X3 software application published by Sage Software, Inc. for small and middle market companies in North America.

 

On January 1, 2022, the CompanySWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Dynamic Tech Services, Inc (DTS”), a Georgia corporation (“DTS”) pursuant to which SWK acquired from DTS certain assets related to the component of DTS’ operations devoted to selling and supporting Acumatica Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning solutions.

 

On January 22, 2022, entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets of NEO3, LLC (“NEO3”), an Ohio-based company related to its Sage 100 and Acumatica operations.

 

On November 13, 2023, SWK entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with JCS Computer Resource Corporation (“JCS”), an Illinois corporation pursuant to which SWK acquired from JCS certain assets (the “Acquired Assets”) related to the component of JCS’ business devoted to being a value-added reseller of Sage 100, Sage 50, and QuickBooks software, together with ancillary consulting services related thereto.

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Recent Events Rhodium Merger Agreement

 

On September 29, 2022, SilverSun entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “Rhodium Merger Agreement”) by and among SilverSun, Rhodium Enterprises Acquisition Corp, Rhodium Enterprises Acquisition LLC and Rhodium Enterprises, Inc., an industrial-scale digital asset technology company utilizing proprietary technologies to mine bitcoin. On October 13, 2023, SilverSun terminated the Rhodium Merger Agreement.

Recent Events Jacobs Private Equity II, LLC (JPE)

On December 3, 2023, SilverSun entered into an Investment Agreement (as it may be amended or supplemented, the “Investment Agreement”), with Jacobs Private Equity II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“JPE”), and the other investors party thereto (the “Other Investors,” and together with JPE, the “Investors”), providing for an aggregate investment by the Investors of $1,000,000,000 in cash in SilverSun, including $900,000,000 from JPE (the “Equity Investment”). The Investment Agreement has been unanimously approved by the SilverSun board of directors. Following the closing (the “Closing”) of the Equity Investment (together with all of the other transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement), JPE will become the controlling stockholder of SilverSun, and Brad Jacobs, the Managing Member of JPE, will become Chairman of the SilverSun board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of SilverSun.

Following the Closing, SilverSun intends to pursue a business strategy of creating a tech-forward leader in the building products distribution industry. After spinning off the existing SilverSun business as described below, the remaining company, which will be renamed QXO, Inc., will be a standalone platform for acquisitions and operations in the building products distribution industry.

At least two days prior to the Closing, SilverSun will amend and restate its certificate of incorporation (the “Charter Amendment”) or the “Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) to, among other things, effect an 8:1 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) with respect to SilverSun’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“SilverSun common stock”). Upon the Closing and giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, SilverSun will issue to the Investors, in the aggregate: (a) 1,000,000 shares of Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of SilverSun (the “Convertible Preferred Stock”) that, in the aggregate, will be convertible into approximately 219 million shares of SilverSun common stock at an initial conversion price of $4.566 per share (equivalent to $0.571 per share pre-Reverse Stock Split), subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments; and (b) warrants to purchase an additional approximately 219 million shares of SilverSun common stock (the “Warrants,” and together with the Convertible Preferred Stock, the “Securities”) at initial exercise prices of $4.566 per share (equivalent to $0.571 per share pre-Reverse Stock Split) with respect to 50% of the Warrants, $6.849 per share (equivalent to $0.856 per share pre-Reverse Stock Split) with respect to 25% of the Warrants, and $13.698 per share (equivalent to $1.712 per share pre-Reverse Stock Split) with respect to the remaining 25% of the Warrants, in each case subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. Following the Closing, the Investors will own approximately 99.85% of SilverSun common stock on an as-converted, as-exercised basis.

The Convertible Preferred Stock will pay quarterly cash dividends equal to the greater of (a) the as-converted dividends on the underlying Company common stock for the relevant quarter and (b) 9% of the then-applicable liquidation preference per annum. Accrued and unpaid dividends for any quarter will accrete to liquidation preference for all purposes. The Convertible Preferred Stock will not be redeemable and will vote together with the Company’s common stock on an as-converted basis on all matters, except as otherwise required by law, and separately as a class with respect to certain matters implicating the rights of holders of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock. The terms of the Convertible Preferred Stock are more fully set forth in Exhibit A to the Investment Agreement filed herewith.

Each Warrant will initially be exercisable at any time and from time to time from the closing date until the tenth anniversary of the Closing date, at the option of the holder thereof, into one share of Company common stock at the exercise prices described above, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. The terms of the Warrants are more fully set forth in Exhibit B to the Investment Agreement that was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to our Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 4, 2023.

Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, SilverSun will, six days after the Closing (the “Distribution Date”), separate the existing SilverSun business (the “Separation”) into SilverSun Technologies Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SilverSun” or the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Rhodium Enterprises Acquisition Corp., a DelawareNevada corporation and directcurrently a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub I”SilverSun Holdings” or “SpinCo), Rhodium Enterprises Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct wholly owned subsidiarydistribute all of the Company (“Merger Sub II”shares of SilverSun Holdings (the “Distribution), and Rhodium Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Rhodium”). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth instockholders of SilverSun as of the Merger Agreement, among other things, (i) Merger Sub I shallclose of business on a record date that is expected to be merged with and into Rhodiumone day prior to the date of closing (the “First Merger”Record Date”) (collectively, the “Spin-Off) in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Lawa separation and distribution agreement to be executed between SilverSun and SilverSun Technologies Holdings on or prior to the Distribution Date (the “DGCL”Separation Agreement). As a resultUpon completion of the First Merger, Merger Sub I shall cease to exist, and Rhodium shall continueDistribution, each SilverSun stockholder as the surviving corporation of the First Merger (the “First Surviving Company”), and (ii) immediately following the First Merger, Rhodium shall be merged with and into Merger Sub II (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”) in accordance with the DGCL and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (“DLLCA”). As a result of the Second Merger, Rhodium shall cease to exist, and Merger Sub II shall continue as the surviving company of the Second Merger (the “Surviving Company”) and as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of SilverSun whichRecord Date will operate the pre-Merger business of Rhodium through its management of Rhodium Technologies LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Technologies”).

Upon consummation of the Mergers, SilverSun will be structured as an umbrella partnership C-corporation and will have two classesreceive eight shares of common stock, outstanding, the SilverSun Class A common stock and the SilverSun Class B common stock. The holders of sharespar value $0.00001 per share, of SilverSun Class AHoldings (“SilverSun Holdings common stock and Class B common stock will be entitled to one vote”), for each share of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, held of record on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally. The SilverSun legacy stockholders and option holders (collectively, the “SilverSun Legacy Stockholders”) will retain approximately 6.22% of the outstanding SilverSun Class A common stock (on a fully diluted basis) which, following the Mergers will be approximately 3.2% of the outstanding SilverSun common stock. The Rhodium legacy stockholders and equity holders (collectively, the “Rhodium Legacy Stockholders”) will receive approximately 93.78% of the SilverSun Class A common stock (on a fully diluted basis) which, following the Mergers, will be approximately 96.8% of the SilverSun common stock. Imperium Investment Holdings LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company and the existing holder of 100% of Rhodium Class B common stock will hold 100% of the SilverSun Class B common stock following the consummation of the Mergers representing approximately 49% of the voting power of the combined company. Upon consummation of the Mergers, SilverSun will become the managing member of Technologies. The parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed that for all purposes of the Merger Agreement: (i) the agreed pro forma net equity value of SilverSun after giving effect to the Mergers is $671,875,172 (the “Pro Forma Valuation”), (ii) based on such Pro Forma Valuation, the agreed value of the consideration to be received by the Rhodium Legacy Stockholders is $650,375,000 (the “Rhodium Valuation”) and the agreed value attributable to the SilverSun Legacy Stockholders is $21,500,172, and (iii) the holders of Rhodium’s simple agreements for future equity (“Rhodium SAFEs”) outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall receive SilverSun Class A common stock at the effective time of the First Merger based on the Rhodium Valuation. Following the Mergers, SilverSun’s Class A common stock shall be listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) and SilverSun shall be renamed Rhodium Enterprises, Inc.

In connection with the Mergers and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement:

• subject to stockholder approval, SilverSun will, prior to the effective time of the First Merger, file an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to, among other things, change its name to “Rhodium Enterprises, Inc.” or such other name agreed to by Rhodium and SilverSun, set forth the number of authorized shares of SilverSun Class A common stock and SilverSun Class B common stock and set forth the rights and preferences of such shares of SilverSun Class A common stock and SilverSun Class B common stock, remove provisions that are no longer applicable following the completion of the Mergers, cancel the designation of the Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and effect, at the discretion of the SilverSun Board, a reverse stock split at a ratio to be determined (the “Reverse Stock Split”);

• prior to the effective time of the Second Merger and immediately following the Reverse Stock Split, by virtue of filing the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and without any additional action on the part of any SilverSun entity, Rhodium or the holders of any securities of SilverSun or Rhodium, including holders of SilverSun common stock, eachevery share of SilverSun common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the filingheld as of the Amended and Restated Certificateclose of Incorporationbusiness on the Record Date. SilverSun Holdings common stock will be automaticallyissued in book-entry form only, which means that no physical share certificates will be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of SilverSun Class A common stock;

• at the effective time of the First Merger, by virtue of the First Merger, each share of Rhodium Class A common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (other than any dissenting shares or the Excluded Rhodium Shares (as such term is defined below)) will automatically be converted into the right to receive a number ofissued. No fractional shares of SilverSun Class AHoldings common stock equal to the Rhodium Class A Exchange Ratio (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement);will be issued.

 

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• each share of Rhodium Class B common stock issued and outstanding immediately priorAlso pursuant to the effective timeInvestment Agreement and the Separation Agreement, SilverSun will declare a $2.5 million aggregate cash dividend to its stockholders of record as of the First Merger (other than any dissenting shares orRecord Date (the “Dividend”). The Dividend will be paid on the Excluded Rhodium Shares) will automatically be converted intoDistribution Date from proceeds received by SilverSun from the right to receive a number of shares of SilverSun Class B common stock equal to the Rhodium Class B Exchange Ratio (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement);Equity Investment.

 

• each Rhodium warrant that is outstandingThe Charter Amendment and unexercised as of immediately priorthe transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement (including the issuance and sale to the First Effective Time will be converted intoInvestors of the Securities), among other matters, were submitted for approval at the Special Meeting of the stockholders of SilverSun held at 9:00 A.M.EST on March 14, 2024 (the “Special Meeting”) as discussed in the definitive proxy statement of SilverSun dated February 13, 2024 and becomewere approved at the Special Meeting. As a warrant to purchase SilverSun Class A common stockresult of the approval of the proposals set forth in such definitive proxy statement and SilverSun will assume each such Rhodium warrant in accordance with its terms;

• each holder of a Rhodium Simple Agreement for Future Equity (“SAFE”) that is outstanding as of immediately priorsubject to the effective time ofclosing under the First Merger will, at the closing,Investment Agreement, eligible shareholders do not need to take any action to receive a certain number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessabletheir shares of SilverSun Class AHoldings common stock equal toin connection with the Purchase Amount (as such termDistribution. It is defined in the Merger Agreement) divided by the per share price implied by the Rhodium Valuation (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement);

• each share of Rhodium common stock held in the treasury of Rhodium, owned by Rhodium or any of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or by SilverSun or any of its affiliates at the effective time of the First Merger (collectively, the “Excluded Rhodium Shares”) if any, will be cancelled automatically and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be paid for those Excluded Rhodium Shares;

• each Rhodium restricted stock unit (“RSU”)expected that is a vested will, as of the effective time of the First Merger , be automatically cancelled without any action on the part of any holder thereof in consideration for the right to receive a number oftheir shares of SilverSun Class AHoldings common stock equal towill trade on the product obtained by multiplying (x) the total numberOTCQX tier of shares of Rhodium Class A common stock subject to such vested RSU immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger by (y) the Rhodium Class A Exchange Ratio (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement). Each Rhodium RSU that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the First MergerOTC Markets and that is not a vested RSU will, as of the effective time of the First Merger , automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into a restricted stock unit award with respect to a number of shares of SilverSun Class A common stock equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the total number of shares of Rhodium Class A common stock subject to such unvested RSU immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger by (y) the Rhodium Class A Exchange Ratio (each, a “Rhodium Adjusted RSU Award”). Each such Rhodium Adjusted RSU Award will continue to have, and will be subject to, the same terms and conditions (including vesting and settlement terms) as applied to the corresponding unvested RSU immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger;

• each SilverSun stock option that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Merger but following the Reverse Stock Split will (A) if the exercise price of such SilverSun stock option is equal to or greater than the Per Share SilverSun Value (as defined below), terminate and be cancelled as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Merger , without any consideration being payable in respect of each such SilverSun stock option, and have no further force or effect, and (B) if the exercise price of such SilverSun stock option is less than the Per Share SilverSun Value, (i) become fully vested as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Merger , (ii) be converted into an option award with respect to a number of shares of SilverSun Class A common stock equal to the total number oftheir shares of SilverSun common stock subjectwill continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Shortly after the Closing, SilverSun is expected to change its name to QXO, Inc. Once renamed, SilverSun is expected to change the ticker symbol of its common stock to “QXO.” Until such time, SilverSun stock option immediatelywill continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SSNT.”

Following the Distribution, SilverSun Holdings will operate through its direct subsidiaries SWK, SCS and CCDC and conduct the business conducted by SilverSun prior to the effective time ofDistribution and the Second Merger but followingClosing under the Reverse Stock Split and (iii) shall automatically expire on the 90ththInvestment Agreement.

One day followingprior to the date of the closing. FollowingDistribution, SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings will enter into an Employee Matters Agreement (the “Employee Matters Agreement”). The Employee Matters Agreement sets forth the effective timeterms and conditions of certain employment, compensation and benefit matters related to the Second Merger , (i) no cancelled SilverSun stock option that was outstanding immediatelyDistribution beyond those covered by the Separation Agreement.

One day prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstandingdate of the Distribution, SilverSun and each holderSilverSun Holdings will also enter into a Tax Matters Agreement (the “Tax Matters Agreement”). The Tax Matters Agreement will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of a cancelled SilverSun stock option will ceaseand SilverSun Holdings after the Distribution with respect to have anytax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, certain indemnification rights with respect to such cancelledtax matters, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings, the intended federal income tax characterization of the Separation and the Distribution and the agreed-upon reporting thereof and certain other tax matters.

The Distribution will have tax consequences to SilverSun and the SilverSun stockholders that receive shares of SilverSun Holdings in the Distribution.

Following the Spin-Off, the Company’s current executive officers and directors, including Mark Meller, SilverSun’s chief executive officer, are expected to continue in their current roles at SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries. SilverSun Holdings will apply for the public quotation of its shares on the OTCQX tier of OTC Markets, which shares will be registered pursuant to a Form 10 registration statement that has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

The Investment Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement have been approved by SilverSun’s board of directors. The approval of the Equity Investment, the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including the 8:1 reverse stock optionsplit contemplated therein) and (ii) each adjusted SilverSun option award will continue to have, and will continue to bethe equity incentive plan proposed by JPE were approved by the stockholders at the Special Meeting. The transactions are also subject to the receipt of necessary antitrust approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Following the Closing of the Equity Investment, the board of directors of SilverSun will be reconstituted such that (a) the number of seats on the board of directors will be as directed by JPE, (b) each of such directors (including Mr. Jacobs) will be individuals designated by JPE, (c) each standing committee of the board of directors of the Company will be reconstituted in a manner designated by JPE and (d) Mr. Jacobs will be appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SilverSun and Chief Executive Officer of SilverSun. For information regarding the expected terms of Mr. Jacobs engagement, see “Jacobs Employment Agreement.”

In addition, the current executive officers of SilverSun will resign and new officers designated by JPE will be appointed, and SilverSun will change its name and trading symbol as determined by JPE.

Under the Investment Agreement, between signing and Closing, the Company will cooperate with JPE in JPE’s efforts for the Company to consummate an acquisition of one or more businesses selected by JPE, the consummation of which will not occur until the closing of the Spin-Off. Such cooperation by the Company will include signing any definitive agreements with respect to such acquisition so long as the closing thereunder does not occur until the Closing. JPE will pay for the expenses of this cooperation until the closing of the Spin-Off, at which point the Company will reimburse JPE for all such expenses (with the intention being that these expenses shall not reduce cash otherwise available to SilverSun Holdings).

If JPE consummates an acquisition of a business or businesses before the Closing, at the sole election of JPE, JPE may contribute such business or businesses to the Company and the Company will cooperate with JPE to effectuate any such contribution. As part of such contribution, the Company will issue to JPE (and as directed by JPE) shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants with a value equal to the amount paid by JPE to purchase such business or businesses contributed by JPE, based on the same terms and conditions (other than asper share of Convertible Preferred Stock/per Warrant prices set forth above, and in such case the previous sentence) as appliedportion of the purchase price otherwise payable by JPE to the corresponding SilverSun stock option as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Merger . For purposes of the foregoing, the “Per Share SilverSun Value” means the volume-weighted average price, rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent, of a share of SilverSun Class A common stock on Nasdaq (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or, if not reported by Bloomberg L.P., in another authoritative source mutually selectedCompany will be reduced by the parties toamount JPE paid for the Merger Agreement) in respect of the five consecutive trading day period beginning at 9:30 am (New York City time) on the first day of such trading day period and ending at 4:00 pm (New York City time) on the fifth full trading day prior to the effective time of the Second Merger ; provided, that such measurement period shall not begin prior to the eighth day prior to the effective time of the Second Merger and will not end after the third day prior to the effective time of the Second Merger , in each case, with such adjustments as necessary to reflect the Reverse Stock Split;contributed business or businesses.

 

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• atUnder the effective timeInvestment Agreement, the Company will be subject to restrictions on its ability to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties and to provide non-public information to and enter into discussions or negotiations with third parties regarding alternative acquisition proposals, subject to the exceptions set forth in the Investment Agreement. The Investment Agreement contains termination rights for both JPE and the Company, including, among others, for the Company if its board changes its recommendation to its stockholders of the Mergers,Equity Investment in connection with a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Investment Agreement) to acquire the Company, and by virtuefor JPE in the event of the Second Merger, without any additional action on the part of any SilverSun entity, Rhodium or the holders of any securities of SilverSun or Rhodium, including holders of SilverSun common stock, each share of capital stock of Rhodium as the surviving companyBoard changing its recommendation to its stockholders of the First Merger will be cancelled and each limited liability company interest of Merger Sub II issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and (to the extent applicable) non-assessable limited liability company interest of Merger Sub II as the surviving companyEquity Investment. Upon termination of the Second Merger,Investment Agreement in connection with a Superior Proposal and certain other circumstances described in the same rights, powers, and privileges asInvestment Agreement, the limited liability company interestsCompany may be obligated to pay JPE a termination fee of Merger Sub II as the surviving company of the Second Merger;$600,000.

 

• SilverSunUnder the Investment Agreement, JPE will cause its sharesbe permitted to delay the Closing of SilverSun Class A common stockthe Equity Investment, on one or more occasions, to be listed on Nasdaq undera date that does not exceed 12 months following the symbol “RHDM”,December 3, 2023 signing (subject to the extent available,continued satisfaction of closing conditions at or aftersuch time). If JPE delays the effective timeClosing by more than 7 months following the signing, JPE will pay the Company the following fees on the first day of each additional month, starting with the first day of the Second Merger.eighth month: (a) month eight (8): $40,000, (b) month nine (9): $40,000, (c) month ten (10): $50,000, (d) month eleven (11): $50,000; and (e) month twelve (12): $50,000.

 

• Merger Sub II will be a wholly owned direct subsidiary of SilverSun and, as a result, Merger Sub II, asConcurrently with the surviving entityClosing of the Second Merger,Equity Investment, the Company and the Investors will operate Rhodium’s current business;enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants and the shares of Company common stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, which agreement will contain, among other customary provisions, the terms set forth on Exhibit C to the Investment Agreement filed herewith. In addition, concurrently with the Closing of the Equity Investment, the Company and the Investors will enter into a stockholders’ agreement in the form attached as Exhibit G to the Investment Agreement filed herewith.

 

• promptly followingUpon the effective timeClosing of the Second Merger,Equity Investment, the SilverSun will distribute a cash dividend (the “Dividend”) in the aggregate amount of approximately $8,500,000 (at least $1.50 per pre-Merger/pre-Reverse Stock Split share) to the pre-Merger holders of SilverSun common stock as of a pre-Merger record date to be determined (the “DividendTechnologies, Inc. 2019 Equity and Distribution Record Date”). The DividendIncentive Plan and all outstanding options issued thereunder, if any, will be paid out of the $10,000,000 cash to be received by SilverSun from Rhodium in connection with the Mergers. The balance of the $10,000,000 will be used by SilverSun to pay certain transaction expenses including tax payments. In connection with the Mergers, Rhodium will also assume approximately $1,000,000 of SilverSun’s income tax liabilities related to the Distribution;terminated.

 

• prior toThe Company and the effective time ofInvestors have made customary representations and warranties and covenants in the First Merger , the SilverSun Board and SilverSun shareholders of record as of the record date for the Special Meeting will (i) adopt the SilverSun Technologies, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan, reserving for issuance a number of shares of SilverSun Class A common stock equal to 10% of the fully diluted capitalization of SilverSun (including SilverSun Class B common stock on an as exchanged basis) immediately following the effective time of the First Merger, and (ii) assume the Rhodium 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan in its then-current form; andInvestment Agreement.

 

• when the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement described below are consummated,Plan of Reorganization

Prior to Closing, SilverSun will contribute to SilverSun Holdings all of the issued and outstanding common stock of SilverSun’s recently created,SWK, SCS, and CCDC to SilverSun Holdings resulting in SWK, SCS and CCDC being direct wholly owned subsidiaries of SilverSun Holdings and SWK Technologies Canada, Inc., an Ontario corporation, which is currently owned by SWK and at the time of such Contribution will continue being owned by SWK, being an indirect wholly owned subsidiary SilverSun Technologies Holdings, Inc.will be distributed to the SilverSun stockholders of record on the Dividend and Distribution Record Date (the “Separation and Distribution”). As a result of this Distribution, SilverSun’s indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, SWK and SCS, will be owned by the SilverSun stockholders indirectly through their shares of SilverSun Holdings.

 

The Merger Agreement contains a number of closing conditions, includingIn addition, at least one day prior to Closing the following conditions that apply to the obligations of each ofEquity Investment, SilverSun Rhodium, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II.

Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Consummate the Transactions

The Merger Agreement contains a number of closing conditions, including the following conditions that apply to the obligations of each of SilverSun, Rhodium, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II:

• SilverSun shall have obtained the approvalwill contribute all of its stockholdersassets, liabilities and employees to adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Mergers;

• Rhodium shall have obtained the approval of its Class B stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement;

• the SilverSun registration statement on Form S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the SilverSun registration statement shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC or its staff and not withdrawn;

• the registration statement on Form 10, as may be amended from time to time, filed by SilverSun with the SEC to effect the registration of the shares of common stock of SilverSun Holdings shall have become effective and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC or its staff and not withdrawn;

• the shares of SilverSun Class A common stock to be issued to Rhodium stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject only to official notice of issuance;

• the parties to the Merger Agreement shall have received all approvals with any governmental body necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), if applicable; and

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• there shall have not been enacted, promulgated or made effective following the date of the Merger Agreement any law or order by a governmental body of competent jurisdiction that enjoins or otherwise prohibits or makes illegal, and there has not been any legal action by any governmental body seeking to enjoin or prohibit or make illegal, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and there is not in effect any injunction (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) by any governmental body of competent jurisdiction that enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

The proposed Mergers are expected to close as soon as possible following regulatory approval, subject to the receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals, the approval of SilverSun's and Rhodium's respective stockholders, and other customary closing conditions.Holdings.

 

Prior to the Mergers,Distribution Date, SilverSun will hold a special meeting of its shareholders as of a pre-Merger record datedeclare the Dividend, and the Dividend will be paid to be determined (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, the SilverSun stockholders will be asked to voteas of the Record Date on the proposals set forth in the Form S-4 Registration Statement of SilverSun (the “Form S-4”) filed on October 19, 2022, as amended on January 9, 2023 and February 14, 2023 and as may be further amended in the future. These proposals include, but are not limited to, approval of (i) the Mergers; (ii) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (and the matters covered thereby including the Reverse Stock Split); (iii) the Separation and Distribution Agreement; (iv) the SilverSun Technologies, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan; (v) the share issuances related to the Mergers requiring Nasdaq approval; and (vi) the post-Merger board nominees. These proposals are set forth in greater detail in the Form S-4. The Mergers are conditioned upon the approval of the Merger Proposal, subject to terms of the Merger Agreement. If the Merger Proposal is not approved, the other proposals (except the adjournment proposal, as described in the S-4) will not be presented to the shareholders for a vote. Similarly, approval of the Merger proposal is subject to the approval of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation proposal, the Separation and Distribution Agreement proposal and the share issuance proposal.

The Merger Agreement may be terminated, whether before or after obtaining the requisite vote of SilverSun shareholders, by mutual written consent of SilverSun and Rhodium.

The Merger Agreement may be terminated, and the transactions abandoned, by either SilverSun or Rhodium at any time before the effective time of the , by written noticeDate from one to the other if (i) the Closing has not occurred on or before March 31, 2023 or such later date mutually agreed toproceeds received by SilverSun and Rhodium (the “Termination Date”), except thatfrom the right to terminate the Merger Agreement for this reason is not available to any party who is then in material breach of the Merger Agreement;(ii) the requisite vote of SilverSun shareholders has not been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the SilverSun Shareholders’ Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement of such meeting) duly convened for such purpose, except that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement for this reason shall not be available to SilverSun where the failure to obtain the requisite vote has been caused by the action or failure to act of any of the SilverSun Entities or such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach by any of the SilverSun Entities of the Merger Agreement; or (iii) any law or order is enacted, issued, promulgated or entered by a governmental authority of competent jurisdiction (including Nasdaq) that permanently enjoins, or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions, and (in the case of any order) such order has become final and non-appealable.

The Merger Agreement may be terminated, and the transactions abandoned, by SilverSun at any time before the First Effective Time, if(i)Rhodium breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, which breach (a) would give rise to the failure to satisfy the general closing conditions or the closing conditions to the obligations of SilverSun at the Closing and (b) such breach cannot be cured by the Termination Date, or, if curable, has not been cured by Rhodium within the earlier of (A) 30 days after Rhodium’s receipt of written notice of such breach from SilverSun and (B) three business days prior to the Termination Date, subject to certain conditions; or (ii) all of the general closing conditions and the closing conditions to the obligations of Rhodium at the Closing have been satisfied (other than any condition the failure of which to be satisfied has been principally caused by the breach of the Merger Agreement by Rhodium or any of its affiliates and conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at Closing and which are, at the time of termination, capable of being satisfied) and Rhodium has failed to fulfill its obligations and agreements contained in the Merger Agreement to consummate the Closing within three business days following written notice of such satisfaction from SilverSun and SilverSun is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing.

If the Merger Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to the termination section of the Merger Agreement, except as provided below, it shall become void and of no further force and effect, with no liability (except as provided below) on the part of any party (or any stockholder, affiliate or representative of such party), exceptthat, if such termination results from (a) fraud or (b) the willful and material (i) failure of any party to perform its covenants, obligations or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement or (ii) breach by any party of its representations or warranties contained in the Merger Agreement, then such party shall be liable for any damages incurred or suffered by the other parties as a result of such failure or breach.

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SilverSun shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Rhodium (or its designee(s)) by wire transfer ofimmediately available funds an amount equal to $5,000,000, if the Merger Agreement is terminated by Rhodium pursuant to the unilateral termination provisions in favor Rhodium described above.

Rhodium shall pay, or cause to be paid, to SilverSun (or its designee(s)) by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount equal to $5,000,000, if the Merger Agreement is terminated by SilverSun pursuant to the unilateral termination provisions in favor of SilverSun described above.

SilverSun Technologies Holdings, Inc. filed its Form 10 with the SEC on December 23, 2022. The Form 10 was withdrawn on February 21, 2023 because the financial statements contained therein were stale. SilverSun Technologies Holdings, Inc. intends to refile a Form 10 containing updated financial statements on or about early March 2023 and expects to be able to request accelerated effectiveness of the Form 10 at its discretion.

If the Mergers are not completed for any reason, SilverSun will remain an independent public company, its common stock will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SSNT and will continue to be registered under the Exchange Act, the distribution and dividend will not take place and SilverSun will continue to file periodic reports with the SEC.

On February 14, 2023, the Company filed Amendment 2 to Form S-4 Registration Statement with the SEC.

The Separation and Distribution AgreementEquity Investment.

 

In connection withaddition, at the mergers, SilverSun Technologies Holdings, Inc., a recently formed Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of SilverSun (“SilverSun Holdings”), will enter into that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”), whereby all of the issued and outstanding common stock of SilverSun Holdings, which owns all of the issued and outstanding common stock of (i) SWK Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of SilverSun (“SWK”), and (ii) Secure Cloud Services, Inc., a Nevada corporation and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of SilverSun (“SCS”), will be distributedEffective Time on a pro rata basis to the stockholders of SilverSun as of a record date to be determined by the SilverSun Board (the “Distribution”). Following the Distribution (a) the businesses of SWK and SCS will continue to be operated consistent with past practices and will be managed by the current management of SilverSun and the current members of the SilverSun Board, and (b) SilverSun Holdings will apply for public listing on the OTCQX of the shares distributed in the Distribution in reliance on a Form 10 registration statement.

In the Distribution, SilverSun stockholders of record on the Dividend and Distribution Record Date, will receive shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock on a pro rata basis. SilverSun Holdings will have 5,256,177 shares of common stock issued and outstanding at the time of the Distribution which is the amount of SilverSun common shares that will be issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, each holder of SilverSun common stock as of the Dividend and Distribution Record Date will receive one shareeight shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock for every share of SilverSun common stock held as of the close of business on the Record Date by such holder immediately prior toof SilverSun common stock as of the Reverse Stock Split.Record Date. No fractional shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock will be issued.

 

Promptly following the Second Merger, SilverSun will issue a cash dividend pro rata in the aggregate amount of approximately $8,500,000 (the “Dividend”) to its pre-Merger SilverSun shareholders of record as of a record date, which shall be prior to the closing date of the Mergers, to be determined by the SilverSun Board, which record date shall be the same date as the record date for the Distribution (the “Dividend and Distribution Record Date”).

Following the Distribution, SilverSun will have no wholly-owned subsidiaries other than Critical Cyber Defense Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“CCDC”). The Separation Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions regarding the separation ofSeparation and the cybersecurity and cloud services businesses from SilverSun.

Prior to the effectiveness of the Form 10, SilverSun will contribute all of the issued and outstanding common stock of its wholly owned subsidiaries, SWK and SCS, to SWK Holdings (the “Contribution”). Following the Mergers, SilverSun will consummate the Distribution to the shareholders of SilverSun as of the Dividend and Distribution Record Date, pursuant to the Merger Agreement and Separation Agreement. Consummation of the Distribution is subject to conditions that must be satisfied or waived by SilverSun prior to the completion of the separation. In addition, SilverSun has the right in its sole and absolute discretion to determine the date and terms of the Distribution and will have the right, at any time until completion of the Distribution, to determine to abandon or modify the Distribution and to terminate the Separation Agreement.

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Distribution. In addition, the Separation Agreement governs the treatment of indemnification, insurance, and litigation responsibility and management of SilverSun Holdings and SilverSun after the date of Distribution. The Separation Agreement provides that SilverSun Holdings will indemnify SilverSun following the Distribution for any obligations and liabilities related to or arising from the SilverSun Holdings’ business, on the one hand, and SilverSun and its wholly owned subsidiary, CCDC, on the other hand, prior to the date of Distribution. Following the Distribution, SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings will indemnify the other party for any obligations and liabilities related to or arising from its respective businesses.

In addition to the Separation Agreement, SilverSun Holdings will enter several other agreements with us to effect the Separation and provide a framework for our relationship with SilverSun Holdings after the Separation including the Tax Matters Agreement and Employee Matters Agreement. These agreements will provide for the allocation between SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and SilverSun and its subsidiaries, on the other hand, of the assets, liabilities, legal entities, and obligations associated with the business application, technology and consulting businesses, on the one hand, and the other SilverSun businesses (including the expected building products distribution business), on the other hand, and will govern the relationship between SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and SilverSun and its subsidiaries, on the other hand, subsequent to the Separation and the Distribution.

The Separation and the Distribution is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. For a more detailed description of these conditions, see “Conditions to the Distribution” filed as Exhibit I to the Investment Agreement filed as Exhibit 2.1 on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 4, 2023. We cannot provide any assurances that SilverSun will complete the Separation and the Distribution.

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Reasons for the Separation

The SilverSun board of directors and its various committees have met regularly; engaged in an extensive evaluation and analysis of the businesses conducted through its subsidiaries; explored opportunities to drive enhanced performance and stockholder value; consulted with financial, legal, tax, and accounting advisors; and engaged in a strategic review of the growth prospects, enterprise value, end-markets, customers, financial market considerations, credit and insurance factors, and business operations in the current market for each business.

Following a strategic review, it was determined that separating the SpinCo Business (as such term is defined in the Separation Agreement) from the building products distribution businesses expected to be conducted by SilverSun following Closing would create two companies with attributes that best position each company for long-term success, including the following:

Distinct Focus. Each company will benefit from a distinct strategic and management focus on its specific operational and growth priorities.

Differentiated Investment Theses. Each company will offer differentiated and compelling investment opportunities based on its particular operating and financial model, allowing it to more closely align with its natural investor type.

Optimized Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation Priorities. Each company will operate with a capital structure and capital deployment strategy tailored to its specific business model and growth strategies without having to compete with the other for investment capital.

Direct Access to Capital Markets. Each company will have its own equity structure that will afford it direct access to the capital markets and allow it to capitalize on its unique growth opportunities appropriate to its business.

Incremental Stockholder Value. Each company will benefit from the investment community’s ability to value its businesses independently within the context of its particular industry with the anticipation that, over time, the aggregate market value of the companies will be higher, on a fully distributed basis and assuming the same market conditions, than if SilverSun were to remain under its current configuration.

The SilverSun board of directors also considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the Separation, including:

Risk of Failure to Achieve Anticipated Benefits of the Separation. We may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the separation for a variety of reasons, including, among others: the Separation will demand significant management resources and require significant amounts of management’s time and effort, which may divert management’s attention from operating our business; following the Separation, we may be more susceptible to market fluctuations, and other events may be more disadvantageous for us than if we were still part of SilverSun, because our business would be less diversified than if the Separation and the Distribution were to not be consummated after the Closing.

Disruptions and Costs Related to the Separation. The actions required to separate the SpinCo Business from SilverSun could disrupt our operations. In addition, in connection with the Separation, we will incur costs that may, in the aggregate, be substantial. These costs may include accounting, tax, legal and other professional services costs, recruiting and relocation costs associated with hiring key senior management personnel who are new to SilverSun and tax costs.

Uncertainty Regarding Stock Prices. We cannot predict with certainty the effect of the Separation on the trading prices of SilverSun Holdings common stock or SilverSun common stock or know whether the combined market value of one share of our common stock and one share of SilverSun common stock will be less than, equal to or greater than the market value of one share of SilverSun common stock prior to the Distribution.

In determining whether to pursue the separation, the SilverSun board of directors concluded the potential benefits of the Separation outweighed the potential negative factors. However, neither we nor SilverSun can assure you that, following the Separation, any of the benefits described above or otherwise will be realized to the extent anticipated or at all. For more information see “Risk Factors.”

Formation of SilverSun Technologies Holdings

SilverSun Technologies Holdings was formed as a Nevada corporation on November 30, 2023 for the purpose of holding the SpinCo Business. As part of SilverSun’s plan to separate the SpinCo Business from the remainder of its business, in connection with the plan of reorganization pursuant to the Separation Agreement, SilverSun plans to transfer the equity interests of certain entities that are expected to operate the SpinCo Business and the assets and liabilities of the SpinCo Business to SilverSun Holdings prior to the Distribution. For additional information, see “Plan of Reorganization.”

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Results of the Distribution

After the Distribution, SilverSun Holdings will be a publicly-traded company. On the Distribution Date and effective as of the Effective Time, SilverSun will distribute all of the issued and outstanding shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock owned by it to the SilverSun stockholders as of the Record Date based on the distribution ratio of eight shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock for every one share of SilverSun common stock held by such holder of SilverSun common stock as of the Record Date. The actual number of shares to be distributed will be determined on the Record Date.

Regulatory Approvals

We must complete the requirements for our common stock, including the shares underlying the Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants, to continue to be approved for listing on Nasdaq and for the common stock of SilverSun Holdings to be quoted on the OTCQX. be approved for quotation on OTCQX. We must also the file a notification and report under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended and satisfy the applicable waiting period thereunder, Other than these requirements, we do not believe that any other material governmental or regulatory filings or approvals will be necessary to close the Investment Agreement and consummate the Distribution.

In addition under the Investment Agreement, SilverSun and the Investors have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to obtain all required governmental approvals in connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement (including the Separation, the Distribution and the Dividend). SilverSun and JPE have determined that a filing under the HSR Act is required in connection with the Equity Investment. We are unaware of any other material federal, state or foreign regulatory requirements or approvals required for completion of the Equity Investment.

Appraisal Rights

No SilverSun stockholder will have any appraisal rights in connection with the Separation or Distribution.

Trading of Our Common Stock

Beginning on the Record Date and continuing up to and including the Distribution Date, we expect that there will be two markets in SilverSun common stock: a “regular-way” market and an “ex-distribution” market. Shares of SilverSun common stock that trade on the “regular-way” market will trade with an entitlement to receive the Dividend and shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock in connection with the Distribution. Shares of SilverSun common stock that trade on the “ex-distribution” market will trade without an entitlement to receive the Dividend and shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock in the Distribution. Therefore, SilverSun shareholders that sell shares of SilverSun common stock on the “regular-way” market after the Record Date and up to and including through the Distribution Date, will be selling their right to receive the Dividend and shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock in connection with the Distribution. If a shareholder owns shares of SilverSun common stock as of the Record Date and sell those shares on the “ex-distribution” market, up to and including through the Distribution Date, the shareholder will still receive the Dividend and the shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock that they would be entitled to receive in respect of your ownership, as of the Record Date, of the shares of SilverSun common stock that they sold.

Furthermore, beginning on the Record Date and continuing up to and including the Distribution Date, we expect there will be a “when-issued” market in SilverSun Holdings’ common stock. “When-issued” trading refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally because the security has been authorized but not yet issued. The “when-issued” trading market will be a market for shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock that will be distributed to SilverSun stockholders on the Distribution Date. If you own shares of SilverSun common stock as of the Record Date, you would be entitled to receive shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock in connection with the Distribution. You may trade this entitlement to receive shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock, without trading the shares of SilverSun common stock you own, in the “when-issued” market. On the first trading day following the Distribution Date, we expect “when-issued” trading with respect to SilverSun Holdings’ common stock will end and “regular-way” trading in SilverSun Holdings’ common stock will begin.

Conditions to the Distribution

The consummation of the Distribution is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by SilverSun in its sole and absolute discretion of the following conditions:

the SEC will have declared effective SilverSun Holdings’ registration statement on Form 10, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement on Form 10 will be in effect; and no proceedings for such purpose will be pending or threatened by the SEC;

this information statement exhibit to the Form 10 will have been mailed or otherwise made available to the holders of SilverSun common stock as of the Record Date;

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the transfer of the SilverSun Holdings assets and the assumption of the SilverSun Holdings liabilities contemplated to be transferred from SilverSun (or the applicable subsidiary of SilverSun) to SilverSun Holdings (or the applicable subsidiary of SilverSun Holdings) on or prior to the Distribution will have occurred, and the transfer of SilverSun retained assets and assumption of the SilverSun retained liabilities contemplated to be transferred from SilverSun Holdings (or the applicable subsidiary of SilverSun Holdings) to SilverSun (or the applicable subsidiary of SilverSun) on or prior to the Distribution Date will have occurred, in each pursuant to the plan of reorganization included in the Separation Agreement and in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Separation Agreement;

each of the other ancillary agreements contemplated by the Separation Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto;

no order, injunction or decree issued by any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Separation, the Distribution or any of the transactions related thereto shall be pending or in effect;

at least two days prior to the Closing, SilverSun shall have filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and had the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation become effective in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as of 11:59 p.m., New York Time, on the date that is two (2) days prior to the Closing;

SilverSun’s common stock, including the shares underlying the Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants, will have been approved for continued listing on Nasdaq and SilverSun Holdings’ common stock to be distributed to the SilverSun stockholders as of the Record Date in connection with the Distribution will have been approved for quotation on the OTCQX, subject to official notice of distribution; and

the Equity Investment will have been consummated.

Agreements with SilverSun

Prior to the Distribution, SilverSun Holdings and SilverSun (which will, shortly after the Closing, be renamed QXO, Inc.) will enter into certain agreements that will affect the separation of SilverSun’s legacy businesses from SilverSun, including by providing for the attribution between SilverSun Holdings and SilverSun of SilverSun’s assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including its investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities), and provide a framework for our relationship following the Distribution with SilverSun Holdings. These agreements are the Separation Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement and the Employee Matters Agreement.

Separation and Distribution Agreement

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities

The Separation Agreement will identify the assets to be transferred, the liabilities to be assumed and the contracts to be transferred to each of SilverSun Holdings and SilverSun as part of the Separation and will provide for when and how these transfers and assumptions will occur. In particular, the Separation Agreement will provide that, among other things, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:

Certain assets related to the SpinCo Business, which we refer to as the “SpinCo Assets,” will be retained by or transferred to SilverSun Holdings or one of its subsidiaries. The SpinCo Assets will consist of:

o

all issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the subsidiaries of SilverSun Holdings that hold the SpinCo Business; and

o

all other assets owned by SilverSun and its subsidiaries immediately prior to 12:01 am, New York City time on the Distribution Date (the “Effective Time”), excluding the Parent Retained Assets (as such term is defined in the Separation Agreement). In addition, the SpinCo Assets will not include any assets related or attributable to, or arising in connection with, taxes or tax returns, which will be exclusively governed by the Tax Matters Agreement.

Certain liabilities related to the SpinCo Business or the SpinCo Assets, which we refer to as the “SpinCo Liabilities,” will be retained by or transferred to SilverSun Holdings. The SpinCo Liabilities will consist of:

o

any and all liabilities of SilverSun and/or its subsidiaries that were liabilities as of immediately prior to (or were incurred prior to or related to any period prior to) the Effective Time, including any and all liabilities of SilverSun and/or its subsidiaries related to the SpinCo Assets or the SpinCo Business, excluding only the Parent Retained Liabilities (as such term is defined in the Separation Agreement); and

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o

any and all liabilities arising out of claims made by any third party (including SilverSun’s or SilverSun Holdings’ respective directors, officers, stockholders, employees and agents) against SilverSun or any subsidiary or SilverSun Holdings or any subsidiary to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Separation Agreement or the Investment Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or the SpinCo Business or the SpinCo Assets. In addition, the SpinCo Liabilities will not include any liabilities to the extent related or attributable to, or arising in connection with, taxes or tax returns, which shall be exclusively governed by the Tax Matters Agreement.

Certain assets will be retained by or transferred to SilverSun, which we refer to as the “SilverSun Retained Assets.”  The SilverSun Retained Assets will consist of:

o

cash in an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price for the Securities (without limiting the obligation of SilverSun to pay the Dividend);

o

any contracts or other assets contributed by JPE to SilverSun at the Closing; and

o

any contracts entered into, or any other assets acquired by, SilverSun on or after the Closing and before the Effective Time at the written direction of JPE or with the approval of the SilverSun board of directors after the Closing (the “New Assets”).

liabilities to the extent relating to the New Assets, which we refer to as the “SilverSun Retained Liabilities,” will be retained by or transferred to SilverSun.

Unless otherwise provided in the Separation Agreement or any of the related ancillary agreements, all assets will be transferred on an “as is, where is” basis. Generally, if the transfer of any assets or any claim or right or benefit arising thereunder requires a consent that will not be obtained before the Distribution, or if the transfer or assignment of any such asset or such claim or right or benefit arising thereunder would be ineffective or would adversely affect the rights of the transferor thereunder so that the intended transferee would not in fact receive all such rights, the party retaining any asset that otherwise would have been transferred will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly transfer, or cause the entity(ies) affiliated with it to promptly transfer, to the other party or the appropriate entity(ies).

Information provided herein with respect to the assets and liabilities of the parties following the Distribution is presented based on the allocation of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the Separation Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires. The Separation Agreement will provide that in the event that the transfer of certain assets and assumption liabilities (or a portion thereof) to SilverSun Holdings or SilverSun, as applicable, does not occur prior to the Effective Time, then until such assets or liabilities (or a portion thereof) are able to be transferred, SilverSun Holdings or SilverSun, as applicable, will hold such assets on behalf and for the benefit of the transferee at the expense of the transferee and will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such transfer of assets or assumption of liabilities as promptly following the Effective Time as will be practicable. In addition, SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings will agree that on and prior to the eighteen (18)-month anniversary following the Effective Time, if any party owns any asset, that, although not transferred pursuant to the Separation Agreement, is mutually agreed by such party and the other party in their good faith judgment to be an asset that more properly (given the intention of the Separation Agreement) belongs to the other party or a subsidiary of the other party (other than (for the avoidance of doubt) any asset acquired from an unaffiliated third party by SilverSun or SilverSun Holdings or any of its subsidiaries following the Effective Time), then the party owning such asset shall, as applicable (i) transfer any such asset to the other party or the subsidiary of the other party identified as the appropriate transferee and following such transfer, such asset will be a Parent Retained Asset or SpinCo Asset, as the case may be, or (ii) grant such mutually agreeable rights with respect to such asset to permit such continued use, subject to, and consistent with the Separation Agreement, including with respect to assumption of associated liabilities.

The Distribution

The Separation Agreement will also govern the rights and obligations of the parties regarding the Distribution following the completion of the Separation. On the Distribution Date, SilverSun will distribute to its stockholders that hold SilverSun common stock as of the Record Date of all of the issued and outstanding shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock on a pro rata basis. SilverSun will not distribute any fractional shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock.

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Releases

The Separation Agreement will provide that, except as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement, SilverSun Holdings and its affiliates will release and discharge SilverSun and its affiliates from all liabilities assumed by SilverSun Holdings as part of the Separation, all liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution, and all liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, facts, or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time, in each case to the extent relating to the SpinCo Business, the assets transferred to SilverSun Holdings as part of the Separation or the liabilities assumed by SilverSun Holdings as part of the Separation. The Separation Agreement will further provide that, except as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement, SilverSun and its affiliates will release and discharge SilverSun Holdings and its affiliates from all liabilities retained by SilverSun as part of the Separation and from all liabilities arising out of acts and events occurring or failing to occur, and all conditions existing, on or before the Effective Time of the Distribution, in each case to the extent relating to the businesses conducted by SilverSun, except the SpinCo Business, the assets retained by SilverSun as part of the Separation or the liabilities retained by SilverSun as part of the Separation.

Indemnification

In the Separation Agreement, SilverSun Holdings will agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless SilverSun, each of SilverSun’s affiliates after giving effect to the Distribution and each of their respective representatives and all persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of SilverSun Holdings or a subsidiary of SilverSun Holdings (after the Distribution) and who are not, as of immediately following the Effective Time, directors, officers or employees of SilverSun Holdings or its subsidiaries from and against all losses to the extent arising out of, relating to or resulting from, directly or indirectly:

the SpinCo Assets, the SpinCo Liabilities or the SpinCo Business;

any breach by SilverSun Holdings or a subsidiary (after the Distribution) of the Separation Agreement;

any failure of SilverSun Holdings, any subsidiary of SilverSun Holdings or any other person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any SpinCo Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, on or after the Effective Time;

any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation, surety bond or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding for the benefit of any subsidiary of SilverSun Holdings by SilverSun that survives following the Distribution; or

all information contained in the Proxy Statement (as defined in the Investment Agreement), registration statement on Form 10 or the information statement exhibit to the Form 10 or the documents incorporated by reference therein (other than any information provided by JPE and as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement), any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

SilverSun will agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless SilverSun Holdings, each of SilverSun Holdings’ subsidiaries, each of the respective representatives of SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries from and against all losses to the extent arising out of, relating to or resulting from, directly or indirectly:

the SilverSun Retained Liabilities;

any breach by SilverSun of the Separation Agreement;

any failure of SilverSun or any other person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any SilverSun Retained Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, on or after the Effective Time; or

solely with respect to information regarding the Investors provided by or on behalf of JPE in writing to SilverSun or SilverSun Holdings expressly for inclusion in the registration statement on Form 10 or this information statement exhibit to Form 10, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

Indemnification with respect to taxes, and the procedures related thereto, will be governed by the Tax Matters Agreement.

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Insurance

SilverSun Holdings and SilverSun will acknowledge that the insurance policies of SilverSun prior to the Separation and the Distribution and insurance coverage maintained in favor of SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries, are part of the corporate insurance program maintained by the SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries and their respective affiliates (the “Corporate Policies”) and such coverage will not be available or transferred to any other subsidiary of SilverSun for any occurrence arising following the Distribution Date. SilverSun Holdings and SilverSun will agree that in no event will SilverSun or any SilverSun Indemnitee have any liability or obligation

whatsoever to SilverSun Holdings or any of its subsidiaries in the event that any Corporate Policies or other Corporate Policy-related contract is terminated or otherwise ceases to be in effect for any reason, is unavailable or inadequate to cover any liability of any SilverSun Holdings or any of its subsidiaries for any reason whatsoever or will not be renewed or extended beyond the current expiration date.

Dispute Resolution

The Separation Agreement will contain provisions that govern, except as otherwise provided in any ancillary agreement, the resolution of disputes, controversies or claims that may arise between SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings related to the Separation or Distribution and that are unable to be resolved through good faith negotiations between SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings. These provisions will contemplate that efforts will be made to resolve disputes, controversies and claims by escalation of the matter to executives of the parties in dispute. If such efforts are not successful, one of the parties in dispute may submit the dispute, controversy or claim to binding alternative dispute resolution, subject to the provisions of the Separation Agreement.

Expenses

The Separation Agreement will provide that all costs and expenses incurred prior to the Closing Date by any of SilverSun or its affiliates (other than those costs and expenses incurred by JPE) or SilverSun Holdings or any of its subsidiaries (whether or not paid on or prior to the Closing Date) relating to or in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, printing and implementation of the Separation Agreement and any ancillary agreement, the registration statement on Form 10, the Contribution, the plan of reorganization, the Separation, the Distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, will be charged to and paid by SilverSun Holdings, and shall be a SpinCo Liability. All costs and expenses incurred on or after the Closing Date by SilverSun or any of its subsidiaries (other than any costs or expenses relating to SilverSun Holdings, any of its subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, advisors or other representatives, the SpinCo Business, the SpinCo Liabilities, the SpinCo Assets, the Separation, the Distribution, the Separation Agreement, the other ancillary agreements or any of the other transactions contemplated thereby or any actions taken by or at the request or direction of or on behalf of SilverSun Holdings, its subsidiaries or its and their respective directors, officers or employees) will be borne by SilverSun, and shall be a liability of SilverSun.

The Investment Agreement and the Meller Letter Agreement (as defined in the Investment Agreement)), provide that SilverSun will pay Mark Meller, as the result of the termination of the Meller SilverSun Employment Agreement, an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 (computed in accordance with the terms of the Meller SilverSun Employment Agreement and Meller Letter Agreement) and that, to the extent that the payment Mark Meller is owed as a result of the termination of the Meller SilverSun Employment Agreement is less than $3,000,000, the difference shall be treated as an additional expense reimbursement payable to SilverSun Holdings. The payment to Mr. Meller thereunder will be $2,854,534, which will be paid by SilverSun. Therefore, SilverSun will reimburse SilverSun Holdings the difference between $3,000,000 and $2,854,534, or $145,466. The forgoing payments will be made by SilverSun from the funds received in the Equity Investment.

Subject to certain exceptions, under the Tax Matters Agreement:

SilverSun Holdings generally will be responsible for (i) taxes of SilverSun, SilverSun Holdings and their respective subsidiaries for tax periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before the Distribution Date, (ii) taxes imposed on SilverSun, SilverSun Holdings, and their respective subsidiaries as a result of, in connection with or relating to the Distribution and certain related transactions, other than the first $1.5 million of such taxes, which will be borne by SilverSun and (iii) taxes of SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries for tax periods (or portions thereof) beginning after the Distribution Date;

SilverSun generally will be responsible for (i) the first $1.5 million of taxes imposed on SilverSun, SilverSun Holdings and their respective subsidiaries as a result of, in connection with or relating to the Distribution and certain related transactions, and (ii) taxes of SilverSun and its subsidiaries for tax periods (or portion thereof) beginning after the Distribution Date.

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Amendment and Termination

The Separation Agreement will provide that the Separation Agreement and the Distribution can only be amended, terminated, modified or abandoned by mutual agreement of SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings. In the event of such termination, neither party will have any liability of any kind to the other party or any other person.

Employee Matters Agreement

As of or prior to the Distribution, SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings will enter into the Employee Matters Agreement which will allocate liabilities and responsibilities relating to employment matters, employee compensation and benefits plans and programs, and other related matters. The Employee Matters Agreement will govern certain compensation and employee benefit obligations with respect to current and former employees and non-employee directors of each company.

The Employee Matters Agreement will provide that for purposes of compensation and benefit matters, unless otherwise specified, SilverSun Holdings will be responsible for liabilities for all current and former employees of SilverSun and its subsidiaries (including SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries) as of the Distribution.

Tax Matters Agreement

As of or prior to the Distribution, SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings will enter into the Tax Matters Agreement which will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of SilverSun and SilverSun Holdings after the Distribution with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, certain indemnification rights with respect to tax matters, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings, the intended federal income tax characterization of the Separation and the Distribution and the agreed-upon reporting thereof and certain other tax matters.

Subject to certain exceptions, under the Tax Matters Agreement:

SilverSun Holdings generally will be responsible for (i) taxes of SilverSun, SilverSun Holdings and their respective subsidiaries for tax periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before the Distribution Date, (ii) taxes imposed on SilverSun, SilverSun Holdings and their respective subsidiaries as a result of, in connection with or relating to the Distribution and certain related transactions, other than the first $1.5 million of such taxes, which will be borne by SilverSun, and (iii) taxes of SilverSun Holdings and its subsidiaries for tax periods (or portions thereof) beginning after the Distribution Date;

SilverSun generally will be responsible for (i) the first $1.5 million of taxes imposed on SilverSun, SilverSun Holdings and their respective subsidiaries as a result of, in connection with or relating to the Distribution and certain related transactions, and (ii) taxes of SilverSun and its subsidiaries for tax periods (or portion thereof) beginning after the Distribution Date.

Investment Agreement

Under the Investment Agreement, until the Closing of the Equity Investment, SilverSun will cooperate with JPE in JPE’s efforts for SilverSun to consummate an acquisition of one or more businesses selected by JPE, the consummation of which will not occur until the consummation of the Separation and the Distribution. Such cooperation by SilverSun will include signing any definitive agreements with respect to such acquisition so long as the closing thereunder does not occur until the Closing. JPE will pay for the expenses of this cooperation until the closing of the Separation and the Distribution, at which point SilverSun will reimburse JPE from the Equity Investment for all such expenses (with the intention being that these expenses will not reduce cash otherwise available to SilverSun Technologies Holdings).

JPE may consummate an acquisition of a business or businesses prior to the Closing, and at, or substantially contemporaneously with, the Closing, at its sole election, JPE may contribute such business or businesses to SilverSun, in which case the Company will be required to cooperate to effectuate such contribution. Such contributed business or businesses would be SilverSun Retained Assets and would remain with SilverSun following the consummation of the Separation and the Distribution.

In addition, the Investment Agreement provides that during the Post-Closing Spin-Off Period (as such term is defined in the Investment Agreement:

neither SilverSun, the SilverSun board of directors, JPE, nor its controlled affiliates, will take any action by or on behalf of us (or any of JPE or its controlled affiliates) that would be likely to delay, compromise or otherwise jeopardize our consummation of the Separation and the Distribution;

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each member of JPE or its controlled affiliates will act in good faith in connection with the continued operation of the SpinCo Business, consistent with past practice in all material respects, and will use his, her, or its reasonable best efforts to cooperate with SilverSun in effecting the Separation and the Distribution; and

no member of JPE or its controlled affiliates will make any material decisions relating to or impacting the SpinCo Business, including without limitation, modifying any of the organizational documents of SpinCo or any of its subsidiaries other than as contemplated by the Investment Agreement, or modifying any contracts to the extent relating to or impacting the legacy businesses, other than as contemplated by the Investment Agreement, without consulting with and obtaining the prior written consent of Mark Meller, the present CEO of SilverSun or in his absence, the then-current CEO of SilverSun Holdings (in each case which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or preventing or terminating the Separation and the Distribution.

In addition, SilverSun, JPE and the Other Investors agreed in the Investment Agreement that SilverSun, JPE, and the SilverSun board of directors will be permitted to operate SilverSun and its subsidiaries (other than SilverSun Holdings and SpinCo Business that has been contributed to SilverSun Holdings) during the Post-Closing Spin-Off Period in any manner SilverSun deems to be appropriate, including consummating an acquisition of one or more businesses or entities; purchasing any assets of one or more businesses or entities, entering into financing transactions, or engaging in any similar transactions and actions in connection with the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, during the Post-Closing Spin-Off Period, no member of JPE or its controlled affiliates will amend or modify (or agree to amend or modify) any terms of any of the agreements or other documents delivered pursuant to the Investment Agreement, in each case without the prior written consent of the CEO or in his absence the then-current CEO of SilverSun Holdings (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed).

If the Closing occurs, JPE will pay up to $900,000 of the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by SilverSun in connection with the Investment Agreement and the transactions and related agreements contemplated thereby, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers, and accountants incurred in connection therewith.

Jacobs Employment Agreement

Effective as of the Closing, the Company will enter into an employment agreement with Brad Jacobs (the “Jacobs Employment Agreement”) in the form directed by JPE in writing prior to the Closing (but in no event earlier than 2 business days prior to the Closing). The expected principal terms of the Jacobs Employment Agreement are described below.

Term

The Jacobs Employment Agreement will provide for a five-year term, commencing on the Closing Date.

Position and Reporting

Mr. Jacobs will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, reporting to the Company Board and, effective on the first day of the term, Mr. Jacobs will also be appointed as a member and Chairman of the Company Board.

Salary and Target Annual Bonus

Mr. Jacobs’ annual base salary will have an initial annual rate of $750,000 and his target annual bonus will initially be 100% of his base salary. Mr. Jacobs’ annual base salary and target annual bonus will increase (but not decrease) each calendar year of the term depending on the Company’s annualized revenue run rate as of the preceding December 31 as follows:

Potential Salary increases based on Annual Revenue Run Rate Band

Annualized Revenue Run Rate Band 

Base Salary

 
$

1 Billion to $5 Billion

 $950,000 
$

5 Billion to $10 Billion

 $1,150,000 
$

10 Billion to $20 Billion

 $1,250,000 
$

20 Billion to $30 Billion

 $1,500,000 
 

Greater than $30 Billion

 $1,700,000 

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Potential Target Bonus Amounts based on Annual Revenue Run Rate Band

Annualized Revenue Run Rate Band

 

Target Bonus
Percentage

 

Target Bonus
Amount

 
$

1 Billion to $5 Billion

 

135% of Base Salary

 $1,282,500 
$

5 Billion to $10 Billion

 

150% of Base Salary

 $1,725,000 
$

10 Billion to $20 Billion

 

165% of Base Salary

 $2,062,500 
$

20 Billion to $30 Billion

 

200% of Base Salary

 $3,000,000 
 

Greater than $30 Billion

 

200% of Base Salary

 $3,400,000 

Termination Event

The Company may terminate Mr. Jacobs’ employment during the term with or without cause and Mr. Jacobs may resign his employment on 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company (or may resign for good reason in certain circumstances as described below). The term will also end upon Mr. Jacobs’ permanent disability or death. The severance payments described below are subject to and conditioned upon Mr. Jacobs (a) signing an irrevocable waiver and general release in favor of the Company and (b) complying with the restrictive covenants contained in the Jacobs Employment Agreement.

Non-CIC Termination. In the event that either prior to a change in control of the Company or more than two years after a change in control of the Company occurs, the Company terminates Mr. Jacobs’ employment without cause, Mr. Jacobs will be entitled to receive:

• a cash payment equal to 12 months of base salary;

• medical and dental coverage for a period of six months from the date of Distribution.termination; and

• vesting of equity-based or other long-term incentive compensation awards solely to the extent set forth in the applicable award agreement.

CIC Termination. In the event that upon or within the two-year period following a change in control of the Company, Mr. Jacobs’ employment is terminated by the Company without cause or he resigns for good reason, Mr. Jacobs will receive:

• 2.99 times the sum of Mr. Jacobs’ annual base salary and target bonus;

a pro rata target bonus for the year of termination;

• medical and dental coverage for a period of 24 months from the date of termination; and

• vesting of equity-based or other long-term incentive compensation awards solely to the extent set forth in the applicable award agreement.

In the event that any benefits due or amounts payable to Mr. Jacobs in connection with a change in control of the Company constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), then any such amounts will be reduced to avoid triggering the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, provided that such reduction will be applied solely if it would result in Mr. Jacobs retaining a greater portion of the payments on a net after-tax basis.

Clawbacks. Mr. Jacobs will be subject to any compensation recovery policy maintained by the Company, as in effect from time to time.

Restrictive Covenants

Mr. Jacobs is generally subject to the following restrictive covenants: employee and customer non-solicitation covenants during his employment and for a period of four years thereafter; confidentiality and mutual non-disparagement covenants during his employment and thereafter; and non-competition covenants during his employment and for a period of 12 months thereafter (during which period the Company will make monthly noncompete payments to Mr. Jacobs equal to one-twelfth of his base salary), except that the Company will have the right (other than following a change in control of the Company) to extend the non-compete for up to three additional one-year periods so long as the Company pays Mr. Jacobs an amount equal to the sum of one-twelfth of his base salary for each month during each applicable one-year extension period.

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Initial Equity Awards

Grant of Initial Equity Awards. In connection with the execution of the Jacobs Employment Agreement, following the Closing on a date selected by the Compensation Committee of the Company Board (which is anticipated to be no later than the 120th day after the Closing), the Company will grant to Mr. Jacobs an award of time-based restricted stock units relating to 3,832,676 shares of Common Stock (the “RSUs”) and an award of performance-based restricted stock units relating to 7,117,828 shares of Common Stock at target (the “PRSUs”). Any RSUs and PRSUs that vest will be settled for Common Stock or, at the Company’s election, an equivalent amount of cash. Except in the event of a change in control of the company, all shares delivered in settlement of RSUs and PRSUs (net of any shares withheld to cover taxes) will be subject to a transfer restriction that prohibits Mr. Jacobs from disposing of such shares prior to December 31, 2029. The Jacobs Employment Agreement does not contemplate that any additional equity awards will be granted to Mr. Jacobs during the five-year term of the Jacobs Employment Agreement.

RSU Vesting. The RSUs will vest in five tranches on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date, with the first tranche covering 15% of the RSUs, each of the next two tranches covering 17.5% of the RSUs, and each of the final two tranches covering 25% of the awards. Vesting of RSUs will generally be subject to Mr. Jacobs’s continued service with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

PRSU Vesting. The PRSUs will be earned based on performance goals relating to the Company’s total stockholder return (“TSR”) compared to the TSR ranking of each company that is in the S&P 500 Index. The PRSUs may be earned at a level ranging from zero to 225% of the target number, depending upon the degree of achievement of the applicable performance goal. The degree of achievement of the Company TSR relative to the S&P 500 companies’ TSR will be measured against a specified payout matrix, pursuant to which Company TSR below the 55th percentile of the S&P 500 companies will result in zero payout, while achievement at the 90th percentile or above will result in a payout of 225% of target. The performance goals for a portion of the PRSUs will be measured over a cumulative performance period beginning on the grant date and ending on December 31, 2028 and the performance goals for the remainder of the PRSUs will be measured based on designated performance periods that occur within such cumulative period. Vesting of the PRSUs will generally be subject to Mr. Jacobs’s continued service through the applicable performance period.

Termination of Employment. The RSUs and PRSUs will be subject to special rules providing for either partial or full vesting on a qualifying termination of employment, including due to death, disability, termination without cause or, during the two years following a change in control, termination for good reason.

Treatment of Equity-Based Compensation

SilverSun, JPE and the Other Investors agreed in the Investment Agreement that effective as of the Closing, each Company stock option that is outstanding and unexercised as of immediately prior to the Closing, if any, will automatically be cancelled without payment or consideration to the holder thereof. In addition, under the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement, the SilverSun Technologies, Inc. 2019 Equity and Incentive Plan will be terminated effective as of immediately prior to the Closing.

Transferability of Shares of SilverSun Holdings Common Stock

The shares of SilverSun Holdings’ common stock that eligible SilverSun shareholders will receive in connection with the Distribution will be freely transferable, unless the recipient is considered an “affiliate” of SilverSun Holdings pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Persons that can be considered SilverSun Holdings’ affiliates after the Separation generally include individuals or entities that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control, are controlled by, or are under common control with SilverSun Holdings, and will include the officers and directors of SilverSun Holdings. Such affiliates may sell shares of our common stock received in connection with the Distribution only:

under a registration statement that the SEC has declared effective under the Securities Act; or

under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, such as the exemption afforded by Rule 144.

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In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, an affiliate will be entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares of our common stock that does not exceed the greater of the following:

one percent of our common stock then outstanding; or

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 for the sale.

Rule 144 also includes notice requirements and restrictions governing the manner of sale for sales by our affiliates. Sales may not be made under Rule 144 unless certain information about us is publicly available.

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

Our website address is www.silversuntech.com. We do not intend our website address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate by reference the contents of the website into this Report. The public may read and copy any materials the Company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0030. The SEC maintains an Internet website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Risks Relating to our BusinessBusiness.

 

We may incur future losses and may be unable to maintain profitability.

 

We may incur net losses in the future. Our ability to achieve and sustain long-term profitability is largely dependent on our ability to successfully market and sell our products and services, control our costs, and effectively manage our growth. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain profitability. In the event we fail to maintain profitability, our stock price could decline.

 

We cannot accurately forecast our future revenues and operating results, which may fluctuate.

 

Our operating history and the rapidly changing nature of the markets in which we compete make it difficult to accurately forecast our revenues and operating results. Furthermore, we expect our revenues and operating results to fluctuate in the future due to a number of factors, including the following:

 

 

the timing of sales of our products and services;

disruption to the Company’s customers and revenue, labor workforce, unavailability of products and supplies used in operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic

 

the timing of product implementation, particularly large design projects;

 

unexpected delays in introducing new products and services;

 

increased expenses, whether related to sales and marketing, product development, or administration;

 

the mix of product license and services revenue; and

 

costs related to possible acquisitions of technology or businesses.

 

We may fail to develop new products or may incur unexpected expenses or delays.

 

Although we currently have fully developed products available for sale, we may need to develop various new technologies, products and product features and remain competitive. Due to the risks inherent in developing new products and technologies — limited financing, loss of key personnel, and other factors — we may fail to develop these technologies and products or may experience lengthy and costly delays in doing so. Although we license some of our technologies in their current stage of development, we cannot assure that we will be able to develop new products or enhancements to our existing products in order to remain competitive.

 

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We may need additional financing which we may not be able to obtain on acceptable terms. If we are unable to raise additional capital, as needed, the future growth of our business and operations could be severely limited.

 

A limiting factor on our growth is our limited capitalization, which could impact our ability to execute on our business plan. If we raise additional capital through the issuance of debt, this will result in increased interest expense. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of the Company held by existing shareholders will be reduced and our shareholders may experience significant dilution. In addition, new securities may contain rights, preferences or privileges that are senior to those of our Common Stock. If additional funds are raised by the issuance of debt or other equity instruments, we may become subject to certain operational limitations (for example, negative operating covenants). There can be no assurance that acceptable financing necessary to further implement our business plan can be obtained on suitable terms, if at all. Our ability to develop our business, fund expansion, develop or enhance products or respond to competitive pressures, could suffer if we are unable to raise the additional funds on acceptable terms, which would have the effect of limiting our ability to increase our revenues or possibly attain profitable operations in the future.

 

The global macroeconomic environment could negatively impact our business and our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

Our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows may be adversely impacted by the global macroeconomic environment, which has experienced, and continues to experience, extraordinary challenges, including high rates of inflation; increasing interest rates; widespread disruptions in supply chains; workforce challenges, including labor shortages; and market volatility. These challenges have, among other things, led to increased costs, labor and supply shortages, and transportation and performance delays and disruptions and have adversely affected us, our industry, our customers and suppliers and others with whom we do business. We (including our suppliers, customer and other partners) have and may continue to experience inflationary pressures, supply chain disruption and labor, material and transportation cost increases at a rate higher than anticipated. As such, we may be unable to recover some of these increased costs or to offset such costs with greater than expected efficiencies. While some aspects of the macroeconomic environment continues to experience challenges, and we have been able to mitigate some of the challenges, other challenges persist. We cannot predict how long these challenges will persist or how they will change over time, or how the macroeconomic environment will evolve and continue to impact us. While we continue to work proactively to mitigate these challenges, if we are unable to do so successfully, our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or to reduce probability of fraud occurrence. Any inability to report and file our financial results accurately and timely could harm our reputation and adversely impact the trading price of our Common Stock.

 

Effective internal control is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. We may not be able to manage our business as effectively as we would if an effective control environment existed, and our business and reputation with investors may be harmed.

 

Management has concluded that the Company did maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022,2023, based on the criteria set forth in 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the COSO.

 

We may fail to recruit and retain qualified personnel.

 

We expect to rapidly expand our operations and grow our sales, development and administrative operations. Accordingly, recruiting and retaining such personnel in the future will be critical to our success. There is intense competition from other companies for qualified personnel in the areas of our activities, particularly sales, marketing and managed services. If we fail to identify, attract, retain and motivate these highly skilled personnel, we may be unable to continue our marketing and managed services activities and service our clients’ needs, and this could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

 

If our technologies and products contain defects or otherwise do not work as expected, we may incur significant expenses in attempting to correct these defects or in defending lawsuits over any such defects.

 

Software products are not currently accurate in every instance and may never be. Furthermore, we could inadvertently release products and technologies that contain defects. In addition, third-party technology that we include in our products could contain defects. We may incur significant expenses to correct such defects. Clients who are not satisfied with our products or services could bring claims against us for substantial damages. Such claims could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and, if successful, could result in the plaintiffs being awarded significant damages. Our payment of any such expenses or damages could prevent us from becoming profitable.

 

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Our success is highly dependent upon our ability to compete against competitors that have significantly greater resources than we have.

 

The ERP software, MSP and business consulting industries are highly competitive, and we believe that this competition will intensify. Many of our competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial, technical, product development and marketing resources, greater name recognition and larger client bases than we do. Our competitors could use these resources to market or develop products or services that are more effective or less costly than any or all of our products or services or that could render any or all of our products or services obsolete. Our competitors could also use their economic strength to influence the market to continue to buy their existing products.

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If we are not able to protect our trade secrets through enforcement of our confidentiality and non-competition agreements, then we may not be able to compete effectively, and we may not be profitable.

 

We attempt to protect our trade secrets, including the processes, concepts, ideas and documentation associated with our technologies, through the use of confidentiality agreements and non-competition agreements with our current employees and with other parties to whom we have divulged such trade secrets. If the employees or other parties breach our confidentiality agreements and non-competition agreements or if these agreements are not sufficient to protect our technology or are found to be unenforceable, our competitors could acquire and use information that we consider to be our trade secrets and we may not be able to compete effectively. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing, technical and manufacturing resources than we have, and we may not be profitable if our competitors are also able to take advantage of our trade secrets.

 

Our failure to secure trademark registrations could adversely affect our ability to market our product candidates and our business.

 

Our trademark applications in the United States and any other jurisdictions where we may file may be denied, and we may not be able to maintain or enforce our registered trademarks. During trademark registration proceedings, we may receive rejections. Although we are given an opportunity to respond to those rejections, we may be unable to overcome such rejections. In addition, with respect to the United States Patent and Trademark Office and any corresponding foreign agencies, third parties are given an opportunity to oppose pending trademark applications and to seek to cancel registered trademarks. Opposition or cancellation proceedings may be filed against our applications and/or registrations, and our applications and/or registrations may not survive such proceedings. Failure to secure such trademark registrations in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions could adversely affect our ability to market our product candidates and our business.

 

We may unintentionally infringe on the proprietary rights of others.

 

Many lawsuits currently are being brought in the software industry alleging violation of intellectual property rights. Although we do not believe that we are infringing on any patent rights, patent holders may claim that we are doing so. Any such claim would likely be time-consuming and expensive to defend, particularly if we are unsuccessful, and could prevent us from selling our products or services. In addition, we may also be forced to enter into costly and burdensome royalty and licensing agreements.

 

Our industry is characterized by rapid technological change and failure to adapt our product development to these changes may cause our products to become obsolete.

 

We participate in a highly dynamic industry characterized by rapid change and uncertainty relating to new and emerging technologies and markets. Future technology or market changes may cause some of our products to become obsolete more quickly than expected.

 

The trend toward consolidation in our industry may impede our ability to compete effectively.

 

As consolidation in the software industry continues, fewer companies dominate particular markets, changing the nature of the market and potentially providing consumers with fewer choices. Also, many of these companies offer a broader range of products than us, ranging from desktop to enterprise solutions. We may not be able to compete effectively against these competitors. Furthermore, we may use strategic acquisitions, as necessary, to acquire technology, people and products for our overall product strategy. The trend toward consolidation in our industry may result in increased competition in acquiring these technologies, people or products, resulting in increased acquisition costs or the inability to acquire the desired technologies, people or products. Any of these changes may have a significant adverse effect on our future revenues and operating results.

 

We face intense price-based competition for licensing of our products which could reduce profit margins.

 

Price competition is often intense in the software market. Price competition may continue to increase and become even more significant in the future, resulting in reduced profit margins.

 

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The software and technology industry is highly competitive. If we cannot develop and market desirable products that the public is willing to purchase, we will not be able to compete successfully. Our business may be adversely affected, and we may not be able to generate any revenues.

 

We have many potential competitors in the software industry. We consider the competition to be competent, experienced, and may have greater financial and marketing resources than we do. Our ability to compete effectively may be adversely affected by the ability of these competitors to devote greater resources to the development, sales, and marketing of their products than are available to us. Some of the Company’s competitors, also, offer a wider range of software products, have greater name recognition and more extensive customer bases than the Company. These competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or changing opportunities, customer desires, as well as undertake more extensive promotional activities, offer terms that are more attractive to customers and adopt more aggressive pricing policies than the Company. We cannot provide any assurances that we will be able to compete successfully against present or future competitors or that the competitive pressure we may encounter will not force us to cease operations.

 

If there are events or circumstances affecting the reliability or security of the internet, access to our website and/or the ability to safeguard confidential information could be impaired causing a negative effect on the financial results of our business operations.

 

Despite the implementation of security measures, our website infrastructure may be vulnerable to computer viruses, hacking or similar disruptive problems caused by members, other internet users, other connected internet sites, and the interconnecting telecommunications networks. Such problems caused by third-parties could lead to interruptions, delays or cessation of service to our customers. Inappropriate use of the internet by third-parties could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential information stored in our computer system, which may deter individuals from becoming customers. Such inappropriate use of the internet includes attempting to gain unauthorized access to information or systems, which is commonly known as “cracking” or “hacking.” Although we have implemented security measures, such measures have been circumvented in the past by hackers on other websites on the internet, although our networks have never been breached, and there can be no assurance that any measures we implement would not be circumvented in the future. Dealing with problems caused by computer viruses or other inappropriate uses or security breaches may require interruptions, delays or cessation of service to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

If we lose the services of any of our key personnel our business may suffer.

 

We are dependent on Mark Meller, our Chief Executive Officer, and other key employees in our operating subsidiary SWK. The loss of any of our key personnel could materially harm our business because of the cost and time necessary to retain and train a replacement. Such a loss would also divert management attention away from operational issues.

 

To service our debt obligations, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control. Any failure to repay our outstanding indebtedness as it matures, could materially adversely impact our business, prospects, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and repay or refinance our maturing indebtedness will depend principally upon our future operating performance.

 

As a result, prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, will affect our ability to make payments on our debt. If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy our debt service obligations, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as refinancing or restructuring our debt, incurring additional debt, issuing equity or convertible securities, reducing discretionary expenditures and selling certain assets (or combinations thereof). Our ability to execute such alternative financing plans will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. In addition, our ability to execute such alternative financing plans may be subject to certain restrictions under our existing indebtedness. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants compared to those associated with any debt that is being refinanced, which could further restrict our business operations. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or our inability to refinance our debt obligations on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Computer Malware, Viruses, Hacking, Phishing Attacks and Spamming Could Harm Our Business and Results of Operations.

 

Computer malware, viruses, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions could lead to interruption and delays in our services and operations and loss, misuse or theft of data. Computer malware, viruses, computer hacking and phishing attacks against online networking platforms have become more prevalent and may occur on our systems in the future.

 

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Any attempts by hackers to disrupt our website service or our internal systems, if successful, could harm our business, be expensive to remedy and damage our reputation or brand. Our network security business disruption insurance may not be sufficient to cover significant expenses and losses related to direct attacks on our website or internal systems. Efforts to prevent hackers from entering our computer systems are expensive to implement and may limit the functionality of our services. Though it is difficult to determine what, if any, harm may directly result from any specific interruption or attack, any failure to maintain performance, reliability, security and availability of our products and services and technical infrastructure may harm our reputation, brand and our ability to attract customers. Any significant disruption to our website or internal computer systems could result in a loss of customers and could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

We have previously experienced, and may in the future experience, service disruptions, outages and other performance problems due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, third-party service providers, human or software errors and capacity constraints. If our services are unavailable when customers attempt to access them or they do not load as quickly as they expect, customers may seek other services.

 

Some errors in our software code may only be discovered after the code has been deployed. Any errors, bugs, or vulnerabilities discovered in our code after deployment, inability to identify the cause or causes of performance problems within an acceptable period of time or difficultly maintaining and improving the performance of our platform, particularly during peak usage times, could result in damage to our reputation or brand, loss of revenues, or liability for damages, any of which could adversely affect our business and financial results.

 

We expect to continue to make significant investments to maintain and improve our software and to enable rapid releases of new features and products. To the extent that we do not effectively address capacity constraints, upgrade our systems as needed and continually develop our technology and network architecture to accommodate actual and anticipated changes in technology, our business and operating results may be harmed.

 

We have a disaster recovery program to transition our operating platform and data to a failover location in the event of a catastrophe and have tested this capability under controlled circumstances, however, there are several factors ranging from human error to data corruption that could materially lengthen the time our platform is partially or fully unavailable to our user base as a result of the transition. If our platform is unavailable for a significant period of time as a result of such a transition, especially during peak periods, we could suffer damage to our reputation or brand, or loss of revenues any of which could adversely affect our business and financial results.

 

We Needneed to Manage Growthmanage growth in Operationsoperations to Realize Our Growth Potentialrealize our growth potential and Achieve Our Expected Revenues,achieve our expected revenues, and Our Failureour failure to Manage Growth Will Causemanage growth will cause a Disruptiondisruption of Our Operations Resultingour operations resulting in the Failurefailure to Generate Revenuegenerate revenue and an Impairmentimpairment of Our Long-Lived Assets.our long-lived assets.

 

In order to take advantage of the growth that we anticipate in our current and potential markets, we believe that we must expand our sales and marketing operations. This expansion will place a significant strain on our management and our operational, accounting, and information systems. We expect that we will need to continue to improve our financial controls, operating procedures and management information systems. We will also need to effectively train, motivate and manage our employees. Our failure to manage our growth could disrupt our operations and ultimately prevent us from generating the revenues we expect.

 

In order to achieve the above-mentioned targets, the general strategies of our Company are to maintain and search for hard-working employees who are innovative and creative, as well as to keep a close eye on expansion opportunities through merger and/or acquisition.

 

There is a risk associated with COVID-19

The Company’s operations may be affected by the recent and ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which in March 2020, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The ultimate disruption which may be caused by the outbreak is uncertain; however, it may result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, operations and cash flows. Possible areas that may be affected include, but are not limited to, disruption to the Company’s customers and revenue, labor workforce, inability of customers to pay outstanding accounts receivable due and owing to the Company as they limit or shut down their businesses, customers seeking relief or extended payment plans relating to accounts receivable due and owing to the Company, unavailability of products and supplies used in operations, and the decline in value of assets held by the Company, including property and equipment.

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We Face Risks Arisingface risks arising from Acquisitions.acquisitions.

 

We may pursue strategic acquisitions in the future. Risks in acquisition transactions include difficulties in the integration of acquired assets into our operations and control environment, difficulties in assimilating and retaining employees and intermediaries, difficulties in retaining the existing clients of the acquired entities, assumed or unforeseen liabilities that arise in connection with the acquired assets or businesses, the failure of counterparties to satisfy any obligations to indemnify us against liabilities arising from the acquired assets or businesses, and unfavorable market conditions that could negatively impact our growth expectations for the acquired assets or businesses. Fully integrating an acquired company or business into our operations may take a significant amount of time. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered with acquisitions and other strategic transactions. These risks may prevent us from realizing the expected benefits from acquisitions and could result in the failure to realize the full economic value of a strategic transaction or the impairment of goodwill and/or intangible assets recognized at the time of an acquisition. These risks could be heightened if we complete a large acquisition or multiple acquisitions within a short period of time.

 

Risks Relating to the Proposed Mergers

There are significant risks associated with the proposed Mergers and the business of Rhodium including the following:

• The value of the shares of SilverSun Class A common stock may decrease following the Mergers.

• The SilverSun Legacy Stockholders will have a significantly reduced ownership and voting interest in SilverSun after the Mergers and will exercise minimal influence over management of the combined company.

• The SilverSun Legacy Stockholders may not realize the value being attributed to their retained SilverSun shares as the result of the Mergers.

• The Mergers are subject to a number of conditions, some of which are beyond the control of the parties to the Merger Agreement.

• The Merger Agreement limits SilverSun’s ability to pursue an alternative acquisition proposal and requires SilverSun to pay a termination fee of $5,000,000 if it does.

• The Mergers will result in Imperium, which is currently Rhodium’s largest and controlling owner and is controlled by Chase Blackmon, Nicholas Cerasuolo and Cameron Blackmon, holding a substantial portion of the common stock of the combined company, with the right to appoint a portion of the combined company board, and its interests may conflict with those of other stockholders.

• The absence of a historical trading market for Rhodium Class A common stock creates uncertainty about future trading prices of the SilverSun Class A common stock following the Mergers.

• Rhodium is subject to a highly evolving regulatory landscape and any adverse changes to, or its failure to comply with, any laws and regulations could adversely affect its business, prospects or operations.

• It may be illegal now, or in the future, to acquire, own, hold, sell or use Bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies, participate in blockchains or utilize similar cryptocurrency assets in one or more countries, the ruling of which would adversely affect Rhodium.

• Rhodium is subject to risks associated with its need for significant electrical power. Government regulators may potentially restrict the ability of electricity suppliers to provide electricity to Bitcoin mining operations, such as Rhodium’s.

• While the Mergers are pending, Rhodium will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions that could adversely affect its business.

• Rhodium’s operations are subject to power risk related to power supply, electricity pricing volatility and hosting services. Rhodium does not have fixed electricity pricing at its Temple Site and there is a risk that it may not have a fixed electricity price at this site.

• Rhodium’s Rockdale Site is subject to access risks which could create a risk of avoidable downtime due to the inability to perform maintenance or make repairs when needed, and a risk of avoidable damage to equipment for the same reason.

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• WhileRisks Related to the MergersSeparation and the Distribution

SilverSun’s separation into two independent, publicly traded companies is complex in nature, and unanticipated developments or changes, including changes in the law, the macroeconomic environment, competitive conditions of SilverSun’s markets, regulatory approvals or clearances, the uncertainty of the financial markets and challenges in executing the Separation, could delay or prevent the completion of the proposed separation, or cause the separation to occur on terms or conditions that are pending, Rhodiumdifferent or less favorable than expected. The process of completing the proposed separation has been and is expected to continue to be time-consuming and involves significant costs and expenses. The Separation costs may be significantly higher than what we currently anticipate and may not yield a discernible benefit if the Separation is not completed or is not well-executed, or the expected benefits of the Separation are not realized. Executing the proposed Separation will also require significant amounts of management’s time and effort, which may divert management’s attention from operating and growing our business. Other challenges associated with effectively executing the separation include attracting, retaining and motivating employees during the pendency of the Separation and following its completion; addressing disruptions to our procurement, sales and distribution, and other operations resulting from separating SilverSun into two independent companies.

We may not realize the anticipated benefits from the Separation and the Distribution, and the Separation and the Distribution could harm our business.

We may not be able to achieve the full strategic and financial benefits expected to result from the Separation and the Distribution and our realization of such benefits may be delayed or not occur at all. The Separation and the Distribution are designed to enhance strategic and management focus, provide a distinct investment identity, and allow us to efficiently allocate resources and deploy capital. We may not achieve these and other anticipated benefits for a variety of reasons, including the following:

the Separation and the Distribution will require significant amounts of management’s time and effort, which may divert management’s attention from operating and growing our business; and

actions required to separate the respective businesses could disrupt our operations.

If we fail to achieve some or all of the benefits expected to result from the Separation and the Distribution, or if such benefits are delayed, our business could be harmed.

In connection with the Separation and the Distribution, we and SilverSun Holdings will indemnify each other for certain liabilities, we may need to divert cash to meet those obligations if we are required to act under these indemnities to SilverSun Holdings, and SilverSun Holdings may not be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations to us in the future.

Pursuant to the Separation Agreement and other agreements with SilverSun Holdings, SilverSun Holdings will agree to indemnify us for certain liabilities and we will agree to indemnify SilverSun Holdings for certain liabilities, as discussed further in “The Separation and the Distribution.” Payments that we may be required to provide under indemnities to SilverSun Holdings may be significant and could negatively affect our business. Third parties could also seek to raise additional funds, finance additional acquisitionshold us responsible for the liabilities that SilverSun Holdings has agreed to retain and, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to continuing contingent liabilities of SilverSun Holdings following the Separation and the Distribution that arise relating to the operations of the spun-out businesses during the time prior to the Separation and the Distribution.

SilverSun Holdings has agreed to indemnify us for such contingent liabilities. While we have no reason to expect that SilverSun Holdings will not be able to support its indemnification obligations to us, we can provide no assurance that SilverSun Holdings will be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations or develop strategic relationships by issuing additional securities,that such indemnity obligations will be sufficient to cover our liabilities for matters which SilverSun Holdings has agreed to retain, including such contingent liabilities. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from SilverSun Holdings any amounts for which we are indemnified, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourselves. Each of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

The one-time and ongoing costs of the Separation and the Distribution may be greater than we expect.

We will incur significant costs in connection with the Separation and the Distribution. These costs, whether incurred before or after the Separation and the Distribution, may be greater than anticipated and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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We will share responsibility for certain of our and SilverSuns Holdings income tax liabilities for tax periods ending prior to or including the Distribution Date.

In connection with the Distribution, we will enter into the Tax Matters Agreement with SilverSun Holdings which will govern our and SilverSun Holdings’ rights and obligations with respect to certain pre-Distribution tax liabilities. To the extent we are responsible for any liability under the Tax Matters Agreement, there could be a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in future reporting periods.

We or SilverSun Holdings may fail to perform under various transaction agreements that will be executed as part of the Separation and the Distribution.

Prior to the Distribution, we and SilverSun Holdings will enter into various transaction agreements related to the Separation and the Distribution. All of these agreements will also govern our relationship with SilverSun Holdings following the Separation and the Distribution. We will rely on SilverSun Holdings to satisfy its performance obligations under these agreements. If we or SilverSun Holdings are unable to satisfy our respective obligations pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement and the Employee Matters Agreement, including indemnification obligations, our business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition could be adversely affected.

The Distribution will be taxable to SilverSun stockholders who receive shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock in the Distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Each U.S. Holder (as defined in the section of this information statement titled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution”) of SilverSun common stock that receives shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock in connection with the Distribution will be treated as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock received. Such distribution generally will be taxed as a dividend to the extent of such holder’s ratable share of SilverSun’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (including the SilverSun’s taxable gain, if any, recognized in connection with the Distribution and the Dividend), with any excess treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of such holder’s basis in its SilverSun common stock and any remaining excess treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of SilverSun common stock.

 

• The combined company post-Closing management team has limited experience managingAlthough SilverSun will be ascribing a public company.value to the shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock in the Distribution for tax purposes, this valuation is not binding on the IRS or any other tax authority. These tax authorities could ascribe a higher valuation to those shares, particularly if shares of SilverSun Holdings common stock trade at prices significantly above the value ascribed to those shares by SilverSun in the period following the Distribution. Such higher valuation may cause a larger reduction in the tax basis of a U.S. Holder’s shares of SilverSun common stock or may cause a U.S. Holder to recognize additional dividend or capital gain income.

 

• Rhodium’s colocation hosting services agreementSilverSun will not be able to advise U.S. Holders of the amount of its earnings and profits until after the end of the calendar year in which the Distribution occurs. However, SilverSun anticipates that it will recognize capital gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes in connection with the Distribution that will have the effect of increasing its ability to commence or continue its operations at its Rockdale Site is dependent on leases between third parties.earnings and profits for the year in which the Distribution occurs.

 

The Rockdale Site where Rhodium is currently conducting operations is subjecttax consequences to possible environmental risks.you related to the Distribution will depend on your particular facts and circumstances. You are urged to consult your tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences to you. Holders who are not U.S. Holders are urged to consult with their tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Distribution and the Dividend.

 

• Rhodium’s mining operations will be heavily dependent on a continuous supplyFollowing the Distribution, certain of large amountsour directors and employees may have actual or potential conflicts of electricity to both the Rockdale and Temple Sites which is subject to disruption. Any such disruptions could resultinterest because of their positions with or financial interests in disruption to Rhodium’s mining operations and affect Rhodium’s ability to operate efficiently and profitably.SilverSun.

 

• DisruptionAfter the Closing, the Investors will own approximately 99.85% of high-speed broad-band Internet accessSilverSun’s common stock on an as-converted, as-exercised basis. Certain of our expected executive officers and directors may continue to own equity interests in SilverSun following the Distribution. These factors could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest to the Rockdale Site and/or Temple Site will resultextent that we and SilverSun Holdings face decisions that could have different implications for the two companies. For example, potential conflicts of interest could arise in disruption to Rhodium’s mining operationsconnection with the resolution of any dispute that may arise between SilverSun Holdings and affect Rhodium’s ability to operate efficientlyus regarding the terms of the agreements governing the Separation and profitably.the relationship thereafter between the companies.

 

• There is a risk that Rhodium will not secure the funds necessary to finance its operations or future purchases

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