UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019

 

or

 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from               to

 

Commission file number:000-31355001-38322

 

FTE NETWORKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada 81-0438093
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

 

237 W. 35th St., Ste 601,Ste. 806, New York, NY 10001
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:1-877-878-81361-800-320-1911

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value.FTNWNYSE American

 

Securities registered pursuant of section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 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 [X] No

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “larger 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 [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller Reporting Company [X]
  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. [  ]

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

 

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2019, was approximately $10.1 million.

 

On May 1,October 31, 2020, there were 25,572,148 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

FTE NETWORKS, INC.

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
Forward-Looking Statements 
  
 PART I 
   
Item 1.Business.54
Item 1A.Risk Factors.1210
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments.2527
Item 2.Properties.2627
Item 3.Legal Proceedings.2628
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.2629
   
 PART II 
   
Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.2729
Item 6.Selected Financial Data.2830
Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.2930
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.3538
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.3538
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.3538
Item 9A.Controls and Procedures.3839
Item 9B.Other Information.41
   
 PART III 
   
Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.3841
Item 11.Executive Compensation.4344
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.4648
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.4849
Item 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services.5153
   
 PART IV 
   
Item 15.Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.5153
Item 16.Form 10-K Summary.54
Signatures 55

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “2018 Form 10-K”) contains a restatement of the consolidated financial statements of FTE Networks, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed (and amended on April 30, 2018) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 18, 2018 (the “2017 Form 10-K”).

The decision to restate these financial statements stems from an announcement on April 2, 2019 on Form 8-K in which the Company determined that the previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and interim reviews to the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2018 and 2017, should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion to prevent future reliance on the aforementioned financial statements resulted from the determination that such financial statements failed to properly account for certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities.

Accordingly, the Company is filing this 2018 Form 10-K pursuant to Rule 8-02 of Regulation S-K and including the audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. Therefore, any effects of error from the period prior to January 1, 2017 have been restated as of January 1, 2017, in the balance sheet. We have also restated the unaudited interim quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017 which are included in the footnotes to the financial statements filed within this 2018 Form 10-K. The sole purpose of these restatements is to correct the consolidated balance sheets and the statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows and related footnote disclosures as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and as of and for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017, for the following:

conversion features arising from notes and debentures issued by the Company which should have been accounted for as a non-cash embedded derivatives;
non-cash derivative accounting for warrants issued in 2017 and 2018 which should have been accounted for as derivative liabilities due to down round and full ratchet provisions;
reversal of unbilled accounts receivables previously recorded in revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015;
equity grants issued to management expensed in the period of grant; and
other adjustments to the financial statements and related footnote disclosures for certain other corrections.

See Part 1, Item 1 Business, Recent Developments “Internal Investigation

Additionally, as of the filing date of this report, the business of the Company has substantially changed as described in Part I, Item 1 of this report under the heading “Business”.

PART I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words “FTE”, the “Company”, the “Registrant”, “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer to FTE Networks, Inc. and, except as otherwise specified herein, to our subsidiaries.

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all of which are based upon various estimates and assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable as of the date hereof. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

 We have a history of net losses and expectOur ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future;operations;
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness;
 Our ability to raise capital when needed and on acceptable terms and conditions;
 Difficulties in implementing uniform controls, procedures and policies in our single-family rental properties and real estate, or in remediating control deficiencies;
Our current insurance coverage may not be adequate, and we may be unable to obtain additional layers of coverage at acceptable rates;
Uncertainties relating to the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and employees;
 Our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity;
We are past due in payment of our 2015 payroll taxes;
A significant slowdown or the continuing decline in economic conditions could adversely impact our results of operations;
Interruption or failure of our technology and communication systems could impair our ability to provide services;
The possibility that our current insurance coverage may not be adequate or that we may not be able to obtain a policy at acceptable rates;
Disagreements with taxing authorities with regard to tax positions we have adopted;
 Interruptions to our information systems and cyber security or data breaches;
 Liabilities under laws and regulations protecting the environment;
 Loss of key personnel and effective transition of new management;
 Our ability to successfully implement our strategic initiatives and achieve their anticipated impact;
 The impact of changes to the supply of value of and returns on single-family rental assets;
 Our ability to successfully integrate our single-family rental property business into our corporate organization;
Our ability to successfully integrate newly acquired properties into our portfolio of single-family rental properties;
 Changes in the market value of our single-family rental properties and real estate owned;
Changes in interest rates;estate;
 The impact of adverse real estate, mortgage or housing markets; and
 The impact of adverse legislative, regulatory or tax changes.

 

You should understand that the foregoing, as well as other risk factors discussed in this document, including those listed in Part I, Item 1A of this report under the heading “Risk Factors”, could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those experienced previously or those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any information, including information concerning its net operating losses, borrowing availability or cash position, or any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this report. Forward-looking statements are provided in this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of the estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and risks described herein.

Item 1. Business.

 

The following historical business description should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Our Corporate History and Current Business

 

The Company was originally incorporated in the state of Nevada in May 2000 as Galaxy Specialties, Inc.2000. On March 13, 2014, following a series of mergers, acquisitions and business combinations, the Company changed its name from Beacon Enterprise Solutions Group, Inc. to FTE Networks, Inc. The Company is headquartered in New York, New York.

 

Prior to October 2019, the Company was a provider of end-to-end design, construction management, build and support solutions for networks, data centers, residential, and commercial properties and services at Fortune 100/500 companies (our “Historical Business”). The Company’s primary activities included engineering, building, installation, maintenance and support solutions for state-of-the-art networks and commercial properties, including the following services: data-center infrastructure, fiber optics, wireless integration, network engineering, internet service provider, general contractingconstruction management and general contracting.

 

The Company had three operating subsidiaries:subsidiaries (one of which is still an operating subsidiary):

 

 (i)Benchmark Builders, Inc. (“Benchmark”) was a leading full-service general construction management subsidiary that provided general contracting and construction management services on interior commercial spaces in the New York City market. As the primary operating subsidiary, Benchmark was spun outdivested in October 2019 in connection withas a result of a strict foreclosure onby  the part of theCompany’s senior creditors in exchange for the cancellation of the senior secured debt and other debt (the “Benchmark Foreclosure”), as discussed in detail in “Recent Developments – “Foreclosure by Senior Secured Lenders.
   
 (ii)CrossLayer, Inc. (“CrossLayer”), the managed network provider subsidiary, was designed to equip commercial real estate property owners and businesses with custom platforms that enabled them to introduce and deliver managed network service to their tenants, while creating monetization opportunities previously available only to network operators.tenants. In an effort to stimulate revenue growth and reduce operating expenses,losses, and in connection with a reoriented corporate strategy stemming from the Company’s acquisition of a large rental home portfolio (discussed in “Recent Developments – “Acquisition of Vision Property Assets”), FTE sold CrossLayerdivested itself of CrossLayer’s assets on January 16, 2020.
   
 (iii)

Jus-Com, Inc. (dba “FTE Network Services” or “Jus-Com”) is part of the Company’s core legacy business which focusedfocuses on telecommunications solutions in the wireline and wireless telecommunications industry. Jus-Com provided outside plant solutions (“OSP”), that included all forms and methods of connecting the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure, and inside plant operations (“ISP”) which consisted of cable rack, wiring build-outs, infrastructure build-outs and cable installation, among other things. Jus-Com is still an operating subsidiary; however, itsJus-Com’s OSP component was wound down in the first half of 2019; thehowever, its ISP component remains an operating subsidiary.

 

Our Current Business and Corporate Strategy

Following a year of corporate and financial restructuring in response to the findings of an internal investigation (see Item 1. Business “Recent Developments”) which examined the acts and omissions of certain former officers and directors, and the loss of our principal operating subsidiary through a foreclosure by our former senior secured lenders, the Company was presented with an opportunity to acquire a real estate portfolio consisting of approximately 3,200 rental homes across the United States moving FTE into a new direction which current management believes offers substantial opportunity for the benefit of shareholders. Accordingly, onOn December 30, 2019, FTE acquired nearly 3,200 real estate properties by andthe Company, through its newest subsidiary US Home Rentals LLC, (the “Vision Transaction”(“US Home Rental”). acquired a portfolio of approximately 3,200 rental home properties across the United States, and became a major owner, operator and investor of affordable rental housing in tier 3 and 4 markets.

The Company seeks to become a leading provider of affordable rental housing nationwide and with a focus on renovating its existing rental home portfolio and operating high quality single-family homes, which we expect will attract a strong resident base and yield long-term demand. The Company is continuing to evaluate real estate acquisitions with a view towards maximum portfolio optimization. The Company is headquartered in New York, New York.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

 

2019 Internal Investigation

 

In current reports on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2019 and March 22,During 2019, the Company disclosed that it had enteredlaunched an internal investigation into (among other things) the acts of certain securities purchase agreements (the “Purchase Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Investors”), whichmembers of former management who caused the Company sold an aggregate principal amountissuance of approximately $22,700,000 in convertible notes (the “Notes”) between January 2017 and January 2019. Approximately $9,800,000 of principal and interest had been converted into 5,186,306 shares of common stock to investors without the approval of the Company’s common stock through March 19, 2019. These issuances were not supported by a listing application with the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange’Board of Directors (the “Board”), which resulted in the Company receiving a public reprimand letter from the NYSE Regulation Staff of the Exchange on March 25, 2019. On March 22, 2019, the Company announced the initiation of an independent investigation (the “Investigation”) of these issuances and engaged K&L Gates LLP and Credibility International, LLC, an independent forensic accounting firm (together, the “Team”) to conduct the Investigation.

Scope of the Investigation

The Investigation focused primarily on the following areas: (i) whether prior management, including former Chief Executive Officer (“former CEO”), Michael Palleschi, and former Chief Financial Officer (“former CFO”), David Lethem, had proper authorization to issue the Notes; (ii)as well as whether the Company properly accounted for and disclosed certain expenses incurred by prior management; (iii) the use of personal credit cards by employees to pay routine Company expenses; (iv) whether the Company properly entered into and discloseddisclosed: (i) certain related party transactions, (v) whether certain transactions were improperly reported(ii) expenses by and compensation to increase revenue; (vi) the payment of certain wage and salary amounts to employees; (vii) the Company’s interactions with its external auditors and (viii) issues related to Mr. Palleschi’s compensation.

In connection with the Investigation, the Team visited the Company’s Naples, Florida office and collected hard copy documents, created images of electronic equipment belonging to various members of the prior management team, copied many folders from the Company’s SharePoint database, conducted interviews with sixteen individuals, and collected and processed over four hundred thousand e-mails and documents.

Findings of the Investigation

The Team found the following:

1. Issuances of the Notes.

In numerous instances, prior FTE management, including Mr. Palleschi and Mr. Lethem, caused the Company to issue the Notes as well as other financings without proper Board authorization. Specifically, the Team found: (i) several issuances for which the supporting resolutions did not comply with Nevada state law and the Company’s bylaws; (ii) several issuances for which there were no Board resolutions; and (iii) several issuances for which the supporting resolutions had been falsified. Moreover, the prior management caused the Company to make incomplete disclosures about the Notes in its required SEC filings for fiscal year 2017 and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2018. Notably, because of the prior management, the Company did not disclose that each of the Notes contained a conversion feature that allowed the holders of the Notes to convert the debt into the Company’s common stock.

2. Reimbursement of Expenses and the Use of Personal Credit Cards for Business Expenses.

The Investigation revealed that prior management misused Company funds for personal expenses, including charter flights and automobile leases. The Team also found that prior management instructed FTE employees to charge FTE-related business expenses to their personal credit cards from 2018 forward. However, the Team found that the expenses charged pursuant to such instruction were largely business-related.

3. Related Party Transactions.

The Team found that prior management caused the Company to engage in numerous related party transactions, some of which were implemented to the Company’s detriment and were not disclosed properly or were not disclosed at all. Such transactions included loans provided to the Company by former officers and directors, as well as instances of deferred salary or deferred bonus pay. The Team identified transactions between the Company and former officers or directors, as well as between the Company and entities controlled by former officers or directors.

4. Revenue Recognition and Interaction with Auditors

The Team found that prior management caused the Company to improperly recognize revenue in 2016 and 2017. The revenue was recorded to unbilled Accounts Receivable and later written off in three separate transactions during 2018. The Team also found that members of prior management, provided inaccurate and incomplete statements to(iii) interactions with the Company’s former independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), regardingaudit firm. Information about the basis for recognizing the revenue.

5. Paymentscope of Certain Wages, Salary Amounts, and Payroll Expenses

The Team found that the Company’s former CEO, Mr. Palleschi, engaged in improper conduct in connection with his compensationthis investigation, including the following: (i) Mr. Palleschi, without proper authorization, caused the Company to amend his employment agreement, significantly increasing his salary and bonus pay; (ii) Mr. Palleschi, without proper authorization, caused the Company to grant him deferred compensation and to issue “demand notes,” which characterized the deferred compensation as debt of the Company owed to Mr. Palleschi, this mischaracterization resulted in the Company making three substantial wire transfers to Mr. Palleschi to pay him the amounts he was owed on the “demand notes; and (iii) Mr. Palleschi, without proper authorization, caused the Company to enter into a release agreement under which the Company agreed to pay amounts purportedly owed to Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem, in exchange for a mutual release. The Team also found that each of the payments noted above were made without the required withholding of income taxes. In addition, the Team identified multiple instances where Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem made or attempted unsupported cash payments to themselves and certain family members, through direct wire transfers, PayPal and other means. Furthermore, the Team identified three instances in which the Company paid each of its employees through direct wire transfer rather than through its outside payroll processing firm. In each instance the Company wired the amount due, net of income taxes, but failed to remit payroll taxes.

Further to the findings of the investigation as noted above,and the Company also has found that former management created and distributed false and misleading documents to its internal accounting staff resulting in improper accounting for (i) convertible notes by removing certain language regarding conversion features and registration rights, (ii) revenue recognition by falsifying support for unbilled revenue, (iii) compensation and characterization of certain cash disbursements, (iv) related party transactions and (v) equity issuances which were later determined to be improperly authorized, and other issues. The Company also found that former management withheld requested documentation and similarly provided false and misleading documents to its former independent registered public accounting firm.

Remediation

The Company self-reported the matters raisedCompany’s remedial actions, are more fully described in the Investigation to bothCompany’s Form 10-K for the U.S.fiscal year ended 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”(the “SEC”) andon May 11, 2020. As of the date of this filing, the Company is continuing to cooperate with the SEC, the New York County District Attorney’s Office (“NYCDA”), and kept both agencies, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”), updated on its progress throughout the Investigation. The Company continues to cooperate with all three agencies.

The Company has also taken numerous remedial actions in response to the findings of the Investigation. Most notably, the Company has made dramatic changes to its management team, completely replacing senior management, including Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem as well as a majority of the former Board of Directors. The Company has also restated its financial statements for fiscal year 2017 and the periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2018 and 2017, as discussed below. Among other things, the restatement corrects the improperly recognized revenue identified by the Investigation and accounts for the convertible feature of the Notes. In addition, the Company has taken significant steps to improve its policies and procedures and internal controls relating to, among other things, the following: (i) tracking, approving and disclosing all issuances of equity and debt; (ii) its expense reimbursement policy; and (iii) tracking, approving and disclosing related party transactions. See “Item 9A Controls and Procedures”.

Finally, to remedy deficiencies in its equity issuances, the Board of Directors held a total of four special meetings on April 29, May 7, May 8, and May 13, 2019, respectively, at which it reviewed all equity issuances and decided which issuances were (i) valid; (ii) noncompliant but should be ratified; (iii) noncompliant but would not be challenged; and (iv) noncompliant and should be nullified. As a result, certain issuances to convertible noteholders, current and former personnel and related parties were nullified. Additionally, the Company sent a letter to its shareholders, dated May 23, 2019, to notify them of noncompliant issuances that were approved and validated during the Board’s review.their respective investigations into these matters.

 

Departure and Appointment of Executive Officers

On January 17,Throughout 2019, Lynn Martin, the Company’s then-Chief Operating Officer, resigned from the Company effective January 25, 2019.

On January 19, 2019, Michael Palleschi, was grantedhad a temporary leaveseries of absence byofficer departures and interim appointments, including the Board. On Mayresignation of its former Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), David Lethem, on March 11, 2019 Mr.and the termination of its former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Michael Palleschi, notified the Company of his resignation from the Company’s Board and as the Company’s CEO. On May 13, the Board accepted Mr. Palleschi’s resignation from the Board, without compensation and without a release, and terminated his employment as the Company’s CEO on May 13, 2019.

On January 19, There were several interim CEO appointments in 2019, Anthony Sirotka,culminating in the Company’s former Chief Administrative Officer,appointment of Michael P. Beys as interim CEO on December 11, 2019. Additionally, Ernest Scheidemann was appointed as the Company’s Interim CEO. On June 27, 2019, Mr. Sirotka was placedinterim CFO on administrative leave. Mr. Sirotka resigned on October 2, 2019.

May 5, 2020. A complete list of the departures and interim officer appointments can be found in Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” of this Form 10-K.

 

On March 11, 2019, David Lethem, the former CFO, resigned fromSeptember 25, 2020, the Company entered into an executive employment agreement with Munish Bansal to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, US Home Rentals, effective March 11, 2019.September 28, 2020 (the “Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Bansal will transition to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the resumption of trading of the Company’s common stock on an over-the-counter market. Michael P. Beys will continue to serve as the Company’s interim Chief Executive Officer until such time. There is currently no trading market for the Company’s common stock and there can be no assurance that trading in the Company’s common stock will resume.

 

Non-RelianceDeparture and Appointment of Board Members

The composition of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) also underwent several changes in 2019. Luisa Ingargiola, Christopher Ferguson, Patrick O’Hare, and Brad Mitchell resigned on May 29, 2019. Fred Sacramone remained on the Board at that time and was joined by James E. Shiah, Jeanne Kingsley, Stephen Berini, Irving Rothman, and Richard Omanoff between April 2019 and June 2019. All of these Board members subsequently resigned in October 2019 and were replaced with the Company’s current Board, which, as of the date of this filing consists of Michael P. Beys, Joseph F. Cunningham, Jr., Richard de Silva, and Peter Ghishan.

Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements

The Company announcedissued two announcements on April 2, 2019 and June 11, 2019 in which it disclosed that the Audit Committee (“Audit(the “Audit Committee”) of FTE,, following a communication bywith Marcum, LLP, the Company’sits former registered independent public accounting firm, concluded that previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and interim reviews of the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017, should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion to prevent future reliance on the aforementioned financial statements resulted from the determination that such financial statements failed to properly account for certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities. Specifically, the Company identified a potential issue related to the accounting related to certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities the Company issued in 2017, 2018, and during January of 2019.


On June 11, 2019, the Audit Committee, following a communication by Marcum, concluded that the Company’s previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and completed interim reviews for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016 should no longer be relied upon.

The conclusion on June 11, 2019 to addCompany completed its restatement of the aforementioned 2016subject financial statements to those statements which should no longer be relied upon resulted from determinations madeand filed its restatement as part of its annual report for the Company’s ongoing restatement effort that certain items, including revenues originally recognized in 2016, should no longer be recognized.fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 with the SEC on May 11, 2020.

5

 

Amendment and Cancelation of Senior Credit Facility

Amendment No. 4 to Lateral Credit Agreement

 

On February 12, 2019, the Company and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into Amendment No. 4 (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the credit agreement dated October 28, 2015, by and among Jus-Com, Inc., certain other Company subsidiaries, Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC (“Lateral”) and several lenders party thereto (together with Lateral, the “Lenders”) (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”). The Fourth Amendment provided for, among other things, $12,632,000 in delayed draw loans (the “Delayed Draw Term Loans”). The Delayed Draw Term Loans had a maturity date of March 31, 2019, and an interest rate of 12% and 4% of paid in kind interest, payable quarterly in arrears according to the terms of the Credit Agreement.Agreement and 4% of paid in kind interest. In addition, the Company and the Lenders agreed to enter into a restructuring services agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders in their sole discretion, on or prior to February 28, 2019, which date was extended on several occasions by the parties.agreement. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, who joined the Company’s Board of Directors on October 18, 2019.

 

The Fourth Amendment also provided for (i) amendments to the employment agreements between Benchmark, our former principal operating subsidiary, and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon, the foundersprincipals of Benchmark who sold Benchmark to the Company in April of 2017 (the “Benchmark Sellers”); (ii) the issuance of a promissory note to Fred Sacramone for cash received in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “Sacramone Bridge Note”), which note originally matured on March 31, 2019, and was subsequently amended and restated on July 2, 20202019 to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2020, and for which Mr. Sacramone was issued 356,513 shares of the Company’s common stock; (iii) the appointment of a finance transformation officer (who was acting in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer from January 23, 2019 through July 15, 2019); and (iv) the issuance of an aggregate of 1,698,580 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Lenders. During 2019, Mr. Sacramone served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company.

 

Restructuring of Lateral Credit Agreement and Designation of Series H Preferred Stock

On July 2, 2019, the Company completed the debt restructuring contemplated under the Fourth Amendment by entering into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) among the Company, Lateral and several Lenders. The Company also amended and restated the Series A convertible notes (as amended, the “Series A Notes”), and the Series B promissory notes (as amended, the “Series B Notes”) issued to the Benchmark Sellers, and the Sacramone Bridge Note (together with the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes, the “Benchmark Notes”).

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Summary

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Delayed Draw Term Loans, which were continued as super senior term loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $12,900,000 (the “Super Senior Term Loans”) were amended to: (i) extend the maturity to September 30, 2020; (ii) amend the interest rate to 12% per annum payable in cash; (iii) add a 4% extension fee to the principal amount (subject to reduction); and (iv) provide for monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow. In addition, the existing term loans under the Credit Agreement, with an aggregate balance of approximately $37,900,000 (“Lateral’s Existing Term Loans”) were amended to: (i) extend the maturity to April 30, 2021; (ii) amend the interest rate to 12% per annum payable in cash; (iii) add a 4% extension fee to the principal amount thereof (subject to reduction); and (iv) include monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow.

 

As consideration for the Amended and Restated Credit Amendment, the Company issued to the Lenders 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and warrants (the “Warrants”) exercisable to purchase 3,173,731 shares of the Company’s common stock (collectively, the “Lender Securities”) with an initial exercise price of $3.00 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, in the event the Super Senior Term Loans were not paid and satisfied by October 31, 2019, the exercise per share of half of the Warrants would be automatically reset to $0.01 and in the event the Super Senior Term Loans were not paid by December 31, 2019, the exercise per share of the other half of the Warrants would be automatically reset to $0.01. The Company also agreed that on December 31, 2019, the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants would be automatically adjusted on December 31, 2019 such that that Lateral and its affiliates would beneficially own, in the aggregate, inclusive of all shares of the Company’s common stock previously issued, 25% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis as of December 31, 2019, subject to certain exceptions.

 

As additional consideration for the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Company and Lateral entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) whereby the Company agreed to register the Company’s common stock issued to Lateral. The Company and Lateral also entered into an investor rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) whereby the Company agreed that within sixty days of its execution, the Company would set the number of directors on its Board of Directors at seven and Lateral would be entitled to nominate one of such seven directors.

Series A Notes and Series B Notes &and Designation of Series H Preferred Stock

 

TheIn July 2019, the Series A Notes and Series B Notes were also amended to extend the maturity date to July 30, 2021 and to amend the interest rate to 8% per annum to be paid in kind until the borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement were repaid in full. TheAt the same time the Sacramone Bridge Note was amended to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2020, to capitalize the accrued interest as of July 2, 2019 and to provide for monthly cash interest payments. Additionally, all of the foregoing notes were amended to provide for monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow.

 

As consideration for amending and restating the Benchmark Notes, the Company entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) pursuant to which it issued to the Benchmark Sellers an aggregate of 1,951 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and 296 shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Series A Preferred”), which the Benchmark Sellers immediately exchanged, pursuant to exchange agreements (the “Exchange Agreements”), for an aggregate of 100 shares of a new series of preferred stock (the “Series H Preferred,” and together with the Series A Preferred, the “Preferred Stock”). The Series H Preferred had no dividend rights, no liquidation preference, was not convertible and had perpetual voting rights equivalent to 51% of the total number of votes that could be cast by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

Foreclosure by Senior Secured Lenders

During July 2019, the Company was notified that judgments had been entered against the Company in favor of six holders of the Company’s convertible notes in the state of New York. Certain of these convertible noteholders sought to levy against the bank account of the Company’s former subsidiary, Benchmark, and filed an order directing the Company to turn over all of the Company’s assets. The Company’s failure to satisfy, vacate or stay these judgments constituted an event of default under the Credit Agreement.

 

As a result, onOctober 10, 2019, the Company consented to a Proposal for Surrender of Collateral and Strict Foreclosure (the “Foreclosure Proposal”), from Lateral, Lateral Builders LLC (“Lateral Builders”) and Benchmark Holdings, LLC (“Benchmark Holdings” and together with Lateral Recovery LLC (“Lateral Recovery”), the (“Foreclosing Lenders”)), pursuant to which the Foreclosing Lenders took possession and ownership of the Subject Collateral (see below) by means of a strict foreclosure by the Foreclosing Lenders (the “Benchmark Foreclosure”).

 

Pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, the Company transferred; (i) to Benchmark Holdings all of its (a) equity interests in Benchmark, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, and (b) cash on hand in excess of levels specified in the Foreclosure Proposal; and (ii) to Lateral Recovery, all of the Credit Parties’ interests in certain commercial tort litigation claims, fraud claims, and insurance claims as specified in the Foreclosure Proposal (collectively, the “Subject Collateral”).

 

Also pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, Benchmark transferred $3,000,000 of cash to the Company. Additionally, Benchmark agreed to make a monthly cash payment to the Company, in the amount of $300,000 per month (the “Working Capital Cash Payments”), for purposes of funding certain of the Company’s remaining obligations related to accounts payable, indebtedness for borrowed money, convertible note obligations and other matters specified in the Foreclosure Proposal (the “Remainder Obligations”). Working Capital Cash Payments were to continue until the earlier of (i) October 10, 2021, (ii) the repayment in full of the Remainder Obligations or (iii) the occurrence of a Working Capital Termination Event (as defined in the Foreclosure Proposal). The cash infusion and Working Capital Cash Payments provided the opportunity for the Company to receive total cash payments of up to $10,200,000 over the next 24 months.Benchmark made a total of two Working Capital Cash Payments to the Company—one in each of the months of November and December of 2019—for aggregate Working Capital Cash Payments of $600,000.

 

Benchmark Holdings, as the holder of the following of the Company’s obligations, absolutely and unconditionally released and forever discharged the Company and the other Credit Parties from certain indebtedness previously held by Niagara Nominee L.P. totaling $4,900,000, Lateral’s Existing Term Loans totaling $42,300,000 and the Super Senior Term Loans totaling $13,500,000 as each such term is defined in the Credit Agreement. Accordingly, Lateral’s Existing Term Loans and the Super Senior Term Loans were deemed fully paid and satisfied.

Additionally, pursuant to an Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock (the “Debt and Series H Agreement”), datedentered into October 10, 2019, entered into between the Company and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon, Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon released the Company and its affiliates from (i) all obligations represented by the Sacramone Bridge Note per the Credit Agreement, which had an outstanding amount equal to approximately $1,030,000 and (ii) indebtedness represented by the Series B Notes in the amount of $19,000,000.$18,982,640. As a result, the total amount remaining outstanding under the Series A Notes and Series B Notes was $28,000,000$28,895,711 (the “Remaining Indebtedness”) with a due date of December 31, 2019.

 

The total debt relief provided pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal and the related agreements and arrangements equaled an aggregate of $80,700,000.$81,065,348.

 

In accordance with the Debt and Series H Agreement, the Remaining Indebtedness was to be automatically released and discharged as of December 31, 2019 unless (i) on or before November 10, 2019, the Company entered into a business combination transaction that enabled the Company’s common stock to remain listed on the NYSE American Exchange or any other U.S. national securities exchange and (ii) such business combination transaction was consummated on or before December 31, 2019 (such transaction, a “Qualified Business Combination”). Additionally, the Debt and Series H Agreement also required Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon to sell their shares of Series H Preferred Stock to the Company for a nominal price in the event an agreement for a Qualified Business Combination was entered into on or before November 10, 2019, and such Qualified Business Combination was consummated on or before December 31, 2019.

 

On November 8, 2019, the Company and Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon entered into an amendment to the Debt and Series H Agreement, pursuant to which the parties agreed to extendextending the date by which an agreement for a Qualified Business Combination must be entered into from November 10, 2019 to December 31, 2019 and to extendextending the date by which a Qualified Business Combination must close from December 31, 2019 to February 28, 2020.

 

On December 23, 2019, the Company entered into a separate agreementagreements with Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon pursuant to which the Company repurchased all outstanding shares of its Series H Preferred Stock from Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon for a payment of $1.00 per share, as a result of which no shares of Series H Preferred Stock remain outstanding.

The Remaining Indebtedness remains an unpaid and outstanding Company liability. As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding balance of the Remaining Indebtedness was $28,280,465, including principal of $28,000,000 and paid in kind interest of $280,465 (subject to the adjustment described below).

 

In January 2020, in order to facilitate the continued inflow of additional cash infusions from Benchmark and other agreements pertaining to the Remaining Indebtedness (as further explained below), the Board also determined that, as result of the completion of the Vision Transaction,Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, Benchmark would no longer be obligated to continue making Working Capital Cash Payments to the Company. On January 10, 2020, Benchmark loaned $300,000 to the Company with a maturity date of October 1, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Furthermore,Shortly thereafter, on January 27, 2020, the Company issued two senior promissory notes to Benchmark, one in the principal amount of $4,129,000 and the other in the principal amount of $600,000 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”), each such note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets. The $4,129,000 note which matures onwas issued in consideration of an additional $6,000,000 reduction to the $28,895,711 Remaining Indebtedness, provided for a maturity date of December 1, 2020, and hasbore interest at an interestannual rate of 10%, obligates and obligated the Company to repay all monies previously paid or transferred to the Company pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, including (i) $3,000,000 in cash; (ii) two Working Capital Cash Payments totaling $600,000; and (iii) approximately $500,000$529,000 in cash remaining in a Benchmark bank account, was issued in consideration of a $6,000,000 reduction to the $28,000,000 Remaining Indebtedness.account. The $600,000 note, which matures on December 1, 2020 and has an interest rate of 10%, was issued to evidence the loan received by Benchmark on January 10, 2020 in the principal amount of $300,000 and an additional $300,000 loan from Benchmark received on January 27, 2020. As ofIn summary, the date of this filingCompany issued promissory notes to Benchmark totaling $4,729,000 and released Benchmark from the obligation to make an additional $6,600,000 in Working Capital Cash Payments in exchange for a $6,000,000 reduction in the Remaining Indebtedness is $22,228,356 which includes $22,000,000 of principal, $155,106 of paid in kind interest and accrued interest of $73,250.Indebtedness.

 

On May 1, 2020, the parties entered into a second amendment to the Debt and Series H Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) pursuant to which Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon agreed to release and forever discharge the Remaining Indebtedness on the date on which the NYSE American Exchange files a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), delisting the Company’s common stock (the “Termination Date”), provided that in no event shall the Termination Date be any sooner than July 1, 2020 or any later than October 1, 2020.

Appointment of New Board and Committee Members

On April 1, 2019, James E. Shiah was appointed to the Board, effective April 15, 2019. Mr. Shiah joined then-directors Luisa Ingargiola, Christopher Ferguson, Patrick O’Hare, Brad Mitchell, and Fred Sacramone.

On May 29, 2019, Ms. Ingargiola and Messrs. Ferguson, O’Hare, and Mitchell resigned from the Board.

Jeanne Kingsley and Stephen Berini were appointed to the Board, effective June 10, 2019. Ms. Kingsley and Mr. James Shiah were appointed to the Audit Committee, which committee Mr. Shiah chaired. Mr. Shiah was also appointed to the Company’s Compensation Committee and its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. On June 24, 2019, Richard Omanoff was appointed to the Board and to be chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Omanoff was joined by Irving Rothman, who was appointed to the Board, effective June The NYSE American Exchange filed a Form 25 2019 and was appointed to the Company’s Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

On September 16, 2019, Irving Rothman resigned from the Board, followed by James Shiah, Jeanne Kingsley, and Stephen Berini who all resigned from the Board effective October 9, 2019.

On October 18, 2019, concurrent with the resignation of Fred Sacramone and Richard Omanoff, the Board appointed Michael P. Beys, Joseph F. Cunningham, Jr., Richard de Silva and Peter Ghishan as directors. The Board determined that each of Messrs. Beys, Cunningham and Ghishan is “independent” under NYSE American listing standards and other governing laws and applicable regulations, including Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly,Messrs. Cunningham and Ghishan were appointed to serve on the Audit Committee. Mr. Cunningham was appointed to serve as the chair of the Audit Committee and the Board determined that he was financially sophisticated as defined in the NYSE American governance standards. Messrs. Beys and Cunningham were appointed to serve on the Compensation Committee and Messrs. Beys and Ghishan were appointed to serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Appointment of Interim CEO

On June 13, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Fred Sacramone as the Company’s Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer. On June 27, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Sacramone as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sacramone resigned on October 21, 2019, concurrent with the appointment of Stephen M. Goodwin.

Appointment of Interim CEO

On October 21, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Stephen M. Goodwin as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Goodwin replaced Fred Sacramone, who resigned concurrent with Mr. Goodwin’s appointment.

Appointment of Interim CEO

On December 11, 2019, the Board of Directors appointedMichael P. Beys as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Beys replaced Stephen M. Goodwin, who resigned concurrent with Mr. Beys appointment. The Board of Directors appointed Mr. Goodwin as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Operations. Upon Mr. Beys’ appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors determined that he no longer qualified as “independent” under NYSE American listing standards and applicable regulations, including Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly, the Board of Directors replaced Mr. Beys on the Compensation Committee with Mr. Ghishan and replaced Mr. Beys on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with Mr. Cunningham.

Suspension of Trading of Common Stock

During March 2019, the Company received a series of letters from the NYSE American concerning its failure to comply with various continued listing requirements under the NYSE American Company Guide. On December 17, 2019, the Company received a letter from the staff of NYSE Regulation (the “Staff”), on behalf of the Exchange, stating that it had determined to commence proceedings to delistSEC delisting the Company’s common stock fromon May 21, 2020. Accordingly, the Exchange because, according to the Exchange, the Company or its management had engaged in operations that, in the opinionRemaining Indebtedness was released and discharged effective as of the Exchange, were contrary to the public interest. On December 17, 2019 at market close, the Company’s common stock was suspended from trading on the NYSE American Market. The Company appealed this determination to the NYSE Listing Qualifications Panel (the “Panel”) of the Exchange’s Committee for Review, and a hearing regarding the Company’s continued listing was held on February 13,July 1, 2020. On March 9, 2020, the NYSE Office of General Counsel notified the Company that the Panel had determined to affirm the Staff’s decision to delist the Company’s shares from NYSE. The Company has since initiated steps to seek review of and/or appeal the Panel’s determination.

As of the date of the filing of this report, the Company’s common stock was listed on the NYSE American Market under the symbol FTNW but continued to be suspended from trading. In the event the common stock is delisted from the NYSE American Market, the Company intends to pursue other opportunities to have the common stock traded on a stock market, which may include one of the trading platforms operated by OTC Markets Group or another stock market.

Acquisition of Vision Property AssetsRental Home Portfolio

On December 20, 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Vision“Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement”) with (i) US Home Rentals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct wholly owned subsidiary of FTE (“Acquisition Sub”), (ii) the holders (the “Equity Sellers”) of 100% of the equity interests in entities owned by the Equity Sellers that collectively hold a real estate asset portfolio consisting of 3,184approximately 3,200 rental homes located across the United States (the “Entities”), (iii) Vision Property Management, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company (“Vision” and together with the Equity Sellers, the “Sellers”“Rental Home Portfolio Sellers”), and (iv) Alexander Szkaradek, in his capacity as the representative of the Rental Home Portfolio Sellers (the “Sellers’ Representative”). On December 30, 2019, the parties amended the VisionRental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”) in order to address certain changes to the VisionRental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement, including, among other things, to allow the $9,750,000 balance of the cash portion of the purchase price to be paid in cash or short-term promissory notes,notes(resulting in the issuance of a $4,875,000 note to Alex Szkaradek and a $4,875,000 note to Antoni Szkaradek (collectively, the “Szkaradek Notes”) , and to reduce the Rental Home Portfolio Sellers’ indemnification deductible to $100,000. On December 30, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of the Entities pursuant to the VisionRental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement, as amended.

 

Pursuant to the VisionRental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement, as amended, Acquisition SubUS Homes Rentals LLC purchased (a) all of the equity interests in the Entities and (b) all of Vision’s assets that are related to its business, including certain assumed contracts and assumed intellectual property, excluding certain specified assets, for aggregate consideration of $350,000,000, consisting of (i) $250,000 of cash; (ii) $9,750,000 in promissory notes, payable on or before January 31, 2020, which date was extended to March 31, 2020 as extended bypursuant to a 60-day forbearance that was included in the forbearance period;promissory notes; (iii) the amount of outstanding indebtedness of the Entities, which iswas calculated at approximately $80,000,000; (iv) 4,222,474 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001, which the parties valued at $32,000,000; and (v) shares of a newly designated Series I Non-Convertible Preferred Stock having an aggregate stated value equal to $228,000,000,228,000,000, which is subject to adjustment. See Part II Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3 “Asset Acquisition”

 

Divestiture of CrossLayer, Inc.

On January 16, 2020, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “CrossLayer Purchase Agreement”) with CBFA Corporation, pursuant to which CBFA acquired the customer agreements which were of nominal value and largely cancelable without penalty, in exchange for agreeing to perform all of CrossLayer’s obligations under those agreements plus the assumption of approximately $73,000 in accounts payable and approximately $100,000 in long-term supplier contracts.

 

Delisting of Common Stock from the NYSE American Exchange

During 2019, the Company received a series of letters from the NYSE American concerning the Company’s failure to comply with various continued listing requirements under the NYSE American Company Guide. On December 17, 2019, as a result of a calculation error resulting in the issuance of more than 20% of the Company’s outstanding common stock without the requisite shareholder approval, the staff of NYSE Regulation (the “Staff”) notified the Company of its determination to initiate proceedings to delist the Company’s common stock from the Exchange and suspended trading of the Company’s common stock on the same day, citing public interest reasons.

The Company challenged the Staff’s decision as unfairly punitive in relation to the Company’s mistake, especially given that the Company took prompt and effective remedial actions to undo the issuance, rescinded the underlying agreement, and established new controls around the issuance of stock. Despite the Company’s efforts and repeated requests for reconsideration, and after exhausting multiple levels of appeal, on May 21, 2020, the Staff filed a Form 25 with the SEC to remove the Company’s common stock from listing and registration on the Exchange. The delisting became effective 10 days following the date of the Staff’s filing.

As of the date of the filing, the Company’s common stock is not quoted or trading on any stock market. The Company solicited the assistance of a prospective market maker who has expressed interest in sponsoring the Company’s Form 211 application with FINRA (subject to completing their due diligence) which would enable the Company’s common stock to resume trading on a trading platform operated by OTC Markets Group.

Appointment

Notice of Interim CFODefault from Inmost Partners LLC

On July 1, 2020, the Company received a written notice of default (the “Notice of Default”) from Inmost Partners LLC in its capacity as Noteholder Agent (“Inmost”) to issuer noteholders who, collectively, hold approximately $51,564,000 in secured notes that the Company assumed from the Rental Home Portfolio Sellers in connection with the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement. Inmost asserted that certain events of default had occurred with respect to certain Note Issuance and Purchase Agreements each dated as of July 10, 2017 by and among, inter alia, certain Entities acquired by the Company, Inmost, and issuer noteholders named therein (the “Note Purchase Agreements”). Specifically, Inmost claimed that the Company (i) failed to satisfy the loan-to-value test (the “LTV Test”) as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements and (ii) failed to obtain consent from the Noteholder Agent before transferring the equity interests of certain Entities to US Home Rentals LLC (the “Equity Interest Transfer”) pursuant to the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement. The Notice of Default also included certain demands by Inmost for additional capital contributions by the Company and Alex and Antoni Szkaradek (the “Guarantors”). 

As of the date of this filing, the Company has cured the defaults associated with the LTV Test. Additionally, on November 3, 2020, Inmost granted its consent to the Equity Interest Transfer and rescinded the Default Notice in exchange for (i) a new guaranty agreement under which FTE Networks, Inc. and US Home Rentals LLC will jointly and severally guarantee the obligations of certain Entities under the Note Purchase Agreements, (ii) amendments to the Limited Liability Company Agreements for each of the subject Entities to provide for the appointment of a second manager of Noteholder Agent’s choosing, and (iii) amendments to the Note Purchase Agreements.

DLP Financing

 

On May 5,August 26, 2020, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Board“Borrowers”) of Directors formally appointed Ernest J. ScheidemannUS Home Rentals entered into seven separate loan agreements as part of a tranche of financing with DLP Lending Fund, LLC (the “Lender”) (each a “Loan Agreement” and collectively, the Company’s interim CFOLoan Agreements”). The Lender had previously loaned an aggregate of $21,184,906 to the Equity Sellers. Pursuant to the Loan Agreements, the Borrowers issued promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $23,453,699 (the “DLP Tranche”). Proceeds from the DLP Tranche were used to refinance certain of the Borrower’s properties, pay outstanding property taxes, and principal financial officer. Inother costs and expenses incurred in connection with his formal appointment, Mr. Scheidemannthe Loan Agreements. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the financing.

The Borrowers’ obligations to pay principal, interest and other amounts under the DLP Tranche are evidenced by promissory notes executed by the Borrowers as of August 26, 2020 (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”). Each Note is secured by a first priority lien mortgage on certain of the Borrowers’ properties (the “Mortgaged Properties”) and confessions of judgment. Each Note will mature on August 31, 2021, subject to one-year extensions at the Borrowers’ option and other conditions. The Borrowers may prepay the outstanding loan amount in whole or in part by written notice of such prepayment to Lender, subject to certain conditions. The Company also executed certain Environmental Indemnity Agreements and certain Guaranty Agreements in connection with each Loan Agreement in favor of the Lenders pursuant to which the Company intend on entering into an Interim CFO Services Agreement. Mr. Scheidemann is a Certified Public Accountant. He holds a Certified Global Management Accountant and Certified Financial Forensics designation issued fromGuarantors agreed to indemnify the American Institute of CPAs. Mr. Scheidemann received a BA in Accounting from William Paterson UniversityLenders for certain environmental risks and MBA in Finance and International Business from Seton Hall University.guaranty the Borrowers’ obligations under the Loan Agreements.

 

Employees

 

As of DecemberOctober 31, 2018, the Company, together with its subsidiaries, employed 289 full-time employees and 1 part-time employees. The number of employees varied according to the level of the Company’s work in progress. The Company maintained a nucleus of technical and managerial personnel to supervise all projects and added employees as needed to complete specific projects.

As of May 1, 2020, the Company, together with its subsidiaries, has 4466 full-time employees and contractor staff and no part-time employees. The number of employees and job-site contractors varies according to the level of the Company’s work in progress. The Company maintains a nucleus of technical and managerial personnel to supervise all projects and adds employees and job-site contractors as needed to complete specific projects.

 

Intellectual Property

 

The Company has trademarks, trade names and licenses that it believes are necessary for the operation of its business as it is currently conducted. The Company does not consider its trademarks, trade names or licenses to be material to the operation of the business.

 

Available Information

 

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). Accordingly, the Company files periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information may be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE., Washington, D.C. 20549 or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

The Company makes available, free of charge on its website, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, Current Reports on Forms 8-K and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as practicable after we electronically file these documents with, or furnish them to, the SEC. These documents may be accessed through the Company’s website atwww.ftenetwork.comwww.ftenetworks.com under “Investor Relations.” The information posted or linked on the website is not part of this report. The Company also makes its Annual Report available in printed form upon request at no charge. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding FTE Networks and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

The Company also makes available on its website, as noted above, or in printed form free of charge upon request, the Company’s Code of Ethics and the charters for the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees of the Board of Directors.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

 

The following discussion identifies the most significant risks or uncertainties that could (i) materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or prospects or (ii) cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results or other expectations. The following information should be read in conjunction with the other portions of this report, including “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes. Please note that the following discussion is not intended to comprehensively list all risks or uncertainties faced by us. Our operations or actual results could also be similarly impacted by additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us, that we currently deem to be immaterial, that may arise in the future or that are not specific to us, such as general economic conditions. If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risks occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

10

 

Risks Related to Our Financial Results, Financing Plans and Indebtedness

 

We have limited capital resources and business operations,, and we will need additional funds in order to continue as a viable enterprise. There is no guarantee that we will be able to generate those funds from our limited business operations.

 

As previously disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 11,of December 31, 2019, the Company acceptedhad $93,561,120, in negative working capital and $789,390 in cash and cash equivalents. The Company has limited capital resources following a foreclosure proposal by the Company’s lenders under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2019, which proposal included the strict foreclosure by the lenders of all of the Company’s equity interests in Benchmark which was(among other assets), our former primary operating subsidiary, by the Company’s senior lenders (See “Recent Developments – “Foreclosure by Senior Secured Lenders”). As a result, the Company currently conducts operations through two subsidiaries, US Home Rentals and certain other assets of the Company.Jus-Com, Inc. .

 

At DecemberAs of October 31, 2018,2020, the Company had $95,502,000 in negative working capital and $12,170,000$73,870 in cash and cash equivalents. Following the foreclosure, the Company has very limited capital resources and limited business operations, which only include our subsidiaries Jus-Com, Inc. and US Home Rentals LLC.

As of the date of this filing, our cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to sustain operations in the near term. We have substantial cash requirements, which consist of payment obligations under existing indebtedness, settlement agreements for indebtedness to third parties incurred by former management, promissory notes issued as part of the purchase consideration for the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, indebtedness secured by the real estate properties we acquired in the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, payroll, and other corporate expenses.

Our ability to conduct equity financings has been hampered by, among other things, our delinquent Exchange Act reports, leaving us with very limited financing options. Currently, our primary sources of cash have been from short-term borrowingsbridge loans and financings, which prospects have been hampered as a result of thedebt financings. The uncertainty as to the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (which has led to disruption and volatility in the financial and real estate markets). And even though we have already taken measures has also weakened our short-term financing prospects. We are continuing to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on our business, including negotiatingnegotiate extensions and/or deferrals onforbearances with debt holders and critical vendors with significant outstanding debt and placing certain employees in impacted markets on furlough,payables; however, there is no assurance that these efforts will be enoughmet with success or that we will obtain financing to support our daily operations in the near term without additional financing.term.

 

In additionWe applied for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (“EIDL”) pursuant to the above-mentioned mitigating strategies, weCARES Act through the U.S. Small Business Association programs and received net proceeds of $979,316 in May 2020 under the PPP and $150,000 in June of 2020 under the EIDL program. We are consideringalso continuing to explore and actively pursuingpursue various types of financing alternatives, including financings that leverage unencumbered properties in our real estate portfolio and have applied for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (“EIDL”) pursuant to the recently enacted CARES Act through the U.S. Small Business Association programs. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain PPP or EIDL proceeds as a result of program limitations, our credit profile or other factors or that we will be able to secure additional financing on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.portfolio. We believe our debt and equity financing prospects will improve once we are current in our Exchange Act filings and we are able to resume trading on a national stock exchange or on an over-the-counter market, although no assurances can be provided in that regard either. And while we believe in the viability of our strategy to increase revenues and raise additional funds, we are unable to predict the continued impact of COVID-19 on our operations and liquidity, and depending on the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, such impact may be material.

 

If we are required to repay our outstanding notes and settlement agreements, we would need to raise additional funds. Failure to repay our notes could subject us to legal action, including, but not limited to, judgments being entered against us.

We entered into settlement agreements with certain holders of convertible notes, whose notes were deemed to have been issued without the requisite corporate authorization following the findings of the independent investigation announced on June 13, 2019 (See Item 1 Business, Recent Development “Internal Investigation”). Of the noteholders with whom we were unable to reach settlement terms, six filed purported confessions of judgment. We have since entered into settlement agreements with all holders of judgments previously entered against us, which require us to make monthly payments in accordance with respective payout schedules. Throughout 2019, we were successful in negotiating several forbearances/deferrals on certain of the monthly payments owed in connection with these settlement agreements. As a result of our persistent liquidity constraints, we have not secured additional forbearances for approximately $1,294,262 past due and owing payments under these settlement agreements. As of the date of this filing, there is an aggregate balance owing of approximately $5,135,142 to these noteholders . The noteholders of the obligations currently past due, or those that become past due as a result of our inability to resume our payout schedules or secure the necessary forbearances, could commence legal action against us to recover the amounts due, including filing confessions of judgment and attaching them to our bank accounts. Any such action would restrict our ability to conduct business and would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, we issued $9,750,000 of promissory notes payable to the Szkaradeks’ as part of the purchase consideration for the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase , which were payable in full on March 31, 2020. As of the date of this filing, we have made some payments for the account of the Szkaradeks’ which could result in decreasing the outstanding balance of the Szkaradek Notes; however, we have been unable to repay the Szkaradek Notes in full by their stated maturity date. We have subsequently received forbearance agreements for the Szkaradek Notes extending the maturity date through January 1, 2021. We are actively pursuing multiple potential sources of additional debt and equity capital to fund repayment of the Szkaradek Notes. There is, however, no assurance that we will be successful in securing suitable financing. The Szkaradeks’ may seek to enforce their rights under the Szkaradek Notes through the judicial process, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our current insurance coverage may not be adequate: insurance premiums for such coverage have increased and may continue to increase and we may not be able to obtain insurance at acceptable rates, or at all.

In light of substantial increases in premiums payable for Directors and Officers insurance coverage, we have chosen to reduce coverage limits. These insurance policies may not be adequate to protect us from liabilities that we incur in our business. In addition, in the future our insurance premiums may increase, and we may not be able to obtain similar levels of insurance on reasonable terms, or at all. Any such inadequacy of, or inability to obtain insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our failure to successfully implement our growth plan may adversely affect our financial performance.

We are prone to all of the risks inherent in growing a business. You should consider the likelihood of our future success to be highly speculative in light of the limited resources, problems, expenses, risks and complications frequently encountered by entities at our current stage of development. As our growth plan is pursued, we may encounter difficulties expanding and improving our operating and financial systems to maintain pace with the increased complexity of the expanded operations and management responsibilities.

To address these risks, we must, among other things:

 

implement and successfully execute our business and marketing strategy;
continue to develop new products and upgrade our existing products;
respond to industry and competitive developments;
attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel; and
 obtain equity or debt financing on satisfactory terms and in timely fashion in amounts adequate to implement our business plan and meet our obligations.
implement and successfully execute our business and marketing strategy;
respond to industry and competitive developments; and
attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel.

 

We may not be successful in addressing these risks and if we do not, our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.

Debt financing agreements we enter into may contain a number of restrictive covenants which will limit our ability to finance future operations, acquisitions or capital needs or engage in other business activities that may be in our interest.

If the Company has the need forneeds additional liquidity through debt financing,financing; however, any related credit arrangements and indentures may contain a number of significant covenants that could impose operating and other restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. Such restrictions could affect, and in many respects could limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability and the ability of some of our subsidiaries to:

 

 incur additional indebtedness;
   
 create liens;
   
 pay dividends and make other distributions in respect of our equity securities;
   
 redeem or repurchase our equity securities;
   
 distribute excess cash flow from foreign to domestic subsidiaries;
   
 make investments or other restricted payments;
   
 sell assets; and
   
 effect mergers or consolidations.

 

These restrictions could limit our ability to plan for or react to market or economic conditions or meet capital needs or otherwise restrict our activities or business plans, and could adversely affect our ability to finance our operations, acquisitions, investments or strategic alliances or other capital needs or to engage in other business activities that would be in our interest.

 

IfOur litigation can be time-consuming, costly, and we are required to repay our outstanding notes, we would need to raise additional funds. Failure to repay our notes could subject us to legal action, including, but not limited to, judgements being entered against us.cannot anticipate the results.

 

We entered into settlement agreements with certain holders of convertible notes, whose notes were deemed to have been issued without the requisite corporate authorization following the findingsspent a significant amount of our independent investigation announced on June 13, 2019 (See Item 1 Business, Recent Development “Internal Investigation”). Offinancial and management resources defending litigation against third parties. We believe this litigation, and other litigation matters that we may in the noteholders with whomfuture determine to pursue, will continue to consume management and financial resource for long periods of time. There can be no assurance that our current or future litigation matters will ultimately result in a favorable outcome for us or that our financial resources will not be exhausted before achieving a favorable outcome. In addition, even if we were unable to reach settlement terms, six filed purported confessions of judgment. We have since entered into settlement agreements with all holders of judgments previously entered against us, which require us to make monthly paymentsobtain favorable interim rulings or verdicts in accordance with respective payout schedules. To date, we have requested and received several forbearances/deferrals on certainparticular litigation matters, they may not be predictive of the monthly payments owed in connection with these settlements and may have to request additional forbearances and/or deferrals in the future. Asultimate resolution of the datematter. Unfavorable outcomes could result in exhaustion of this filing, there is an aggregate balance owing of approximately $4,471,000 to these noteholders, exclusive of the convertible redeemable note in the amount of $1,800,000 to GS Capital Partners, LLC (“GS Capital”) issued on March 10, 2020. If we were unable to repay these notes when required, the noteholdersour financial resources and could commence legal action against us to recover the amounts due, including possibly filing confessions of judgment. Any such action would have ana material adverse effectimpact on our financial condition, and results of operations.Additionally, we issued $9,750,000 of promissory notes as part of the of the purchase consideration for the Vision Transaction, which notes were payable in full on March 31, 2020 (the “Vision Notes”). As of the date of this filing, we have made partial payments against the Vision Notes but we were unable to repay the Vision Notes by their stated maturity date. We are currently negotiating forbearance agreements and are actively pursuing multiple potential sources of additional debt and equity capital to fund repayment of the Vision Notes. There is, however, no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining forbearance agreements or securing suitable financing. If we are not able to obtain forbearance agreements and/or do not succeed in raising additional capital in a timely fashion, the Vision noteholders may seek to enforce their rights under the Vision Notes through the judicial process, which could result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.business prospects. See Item 3 Legal Proceedings.

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Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

Our common stock was delisted from the NYSE American and quotation of our common stock has not resumed on an over-the-counter market. As a result, there is currently no active public trading market for our common stock and there can be no assurances that any established market will develop or that our common stock will be quoted for trading.

During 2019, we received a series of letters from the NYSE American concerning our failure to comply with various continued listing requirements under the NYSE American Company Guide. On December 17, 2019, as a result of a calculation error resulting in the issuance of more than 20% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, the staff of NYSE Regulation (the “Staff”) notified the Company of its determination to initiate proceedings to delist the Company’s common stock from the Exchange and suspended trading of the Company’s common stock on the same day, citing public interest reasons.

We challenged the Staff’s decision as unfairly punitive in relation to the Company’s mistake, especially given we took prompt and effective remedial actions to undo the issuance, rescind the underlying agreement, and establish new controls around the issuance of stock. Despite these efforts and repeated requests for reconsideration, and after exhausting multiple levels of appeal, on May 21, 2020, the Staff filed a Form 25 with the SEC to remove the Company’s common stock from listing and registration on the Exchange. The delisting became effective 10 days following the date of the Staff’s filing.

As of the date of the filing, our common stock is not quoted or trading on any stock market.

Because our common stock did not automatically resume trading on the over-the-counter market, we solicited the assistance of a market maker who has agreed to sponsor our Form 211 application with the Financial Industry National Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in order to apply for the inclusion of our common stock in one of the over-the-counter price-quotation platforms maintained by the OTC Markets Group (subject to completing their due diligence). No estimate may be given as to the time that this application process will require. Moreover, our efforts may not be successful, and our shares may never be approved for quotation and owners of our common stock may not have a market in which to sell the shares.

Even if our common stock is quoted and granted a listing, a market for our common shares may not develop, resulting in major fluctuations and volatility in the price of our common stock.

The market for purchases and sales of our common stock may be so limited that the sale of a relatively small number of shares could cause the price of our common stock to fall sharply. Accordingly, it may be difficult to sell shares quickly without significantly depressing the value of our common stock. Unless we are successful in developing and maintaining investor interest in our common stock, sales of our common stock could result in major fluctuations in the price of our common stock. Additionally, if our revenues do not grow or grow more slowly than we anticipate, or, if operating or capital expenditures exceed our expectations and cannot be adjusted accordingly, or if some other event adversely affects us, the market price of our common stock could decline. Fluctuations in our stock price may be influenced by, among other things, general economic and market conditions, conditions or trends in our industry, changes in the market valuations of other residential real estate rental companies announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships or other strategic initiatives, and trading volumes. Many of these factors are beyond our control but may cause the market price of our common stock to decline, regardless of our operating performance. Moreover, if the stock market in general experiences a loss in investor confidence or otherwise fails, the market price of our common stock could fall for reasons unrelated to our business, results of operations and financial condition. The market price of our common stock also might decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry even if these events do not directly affect us.

Our insiders and affiliated parties beneficially own a significant portion of the aggregate voting power of our capital stock.

As of the date of hereof, our executive officers, directors, their affiliated parties and holders of 10% or more of our common stock beneficially own approximately 41.1%33.5% of our common stock. As a result, our officers, directors, their affiliated parties and holders of 10% or more of our common stock will have a controlling interest and the ability to:

 

 elect or defeat the election of our directors;
   
 amend or prevent amendment of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, or bylaws;
   
 effect or prevent a merger, sale of assets or other corporate transaction; and
   
 affect the outcome of any other matter submitted to the stockholders for vote.

 

Affiliated party stock ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempt to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce the price of our common stock or prevent our stockholders from realizing any gains from our common stock. In addition, any sale of a significant amount of our common stock held by our directors, executive officers, and affiliated parties, or the possibility of such sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

The market for our common stock is limited and you may not be able to sell your common stock.

Our common stock is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The NYSE American has suspended the trading of our common stock and commenced delisting proceedings of our common stock. We are appealing the NYSE American delisting proceedings, but there can be no assurance our common stock will resume trading or that our common stock will continue to be listed. If we are unsuccessful in our appeal of the NYSE American hearing panel’s decision to delist our common stock, or if our appeal is successful and thereafter we are unable to meet the NYSE American continued listing requirements, the NYSE American may delist our common stock, which could have an adverse impact on us and the liquidity and market price of our stock. Even if we remain listed and trading of our common stock resumes, we expect the market for purchases and sales of our common stock will be limited and therefore the sale of a relatively small number of shares could cause the price to fall sharply. Accordingly, it may be difficult to sell shares quickly without significantly depressing the value of our common stock. Unless we are successful in developing continued investor interest in our common stock, sales of our common stock could result in major fluctuations in the price of our common stock.

The price of our common stock is likely to be volatile and subject to fluctuations.

If our revenues do not grow or grow more slowly than we anticipate, or, if operating or capital expenditures exceed our expectations and cannot be adjusted accordingly, or if some other event adversely affects us, the market price of our common stock could decline. Fluctuations in our stock price may be influenced by, among other things, general economic and market conditions, conditions or trends in our industry, changes in the market valuations of other telecommunications companies, announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships or other strategic initiatives, and trading volumes. Many of these factors are beyond our control but may cause the market price of our common stock to decline, regardless of our operating performance. Moreover, if the stock market in general experiences a loss in investor confidence or otherwise fails, the market price of our common stock could fall for reasons unrelated to our business, results of operations and financial condition. The market price of our common stock also might decline in reaction to events that affect other companies in our industry even if these events do not directly affect us.

Investors may experience dilution of their ownership interests because of the future issuance of additional shares of our common stock.

In the future, weWe may need to issue additional authorized but previously unissued equity securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of our present stockholders. We may also issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock in connection with hiring or retaining employees, future acquisitions, future sales of our securities for capital raising purposes, or for other business purposes. The future issuance of any such additional shares of common stock may have rights, preferences, and privileged more favorable than those of our common stock and may create downward pressure on the trading price of the common stock. There can be no assurance that we will not be required to issue additional shares, warrants or other convertible securities in the future in conjunction with any capital raising efforts.

As a result, holders of our common stock will bear the risk that our future capital raising efforts will reduce the market price of our common stock and dilute the value of their stockholdings.

Stockholders who hold unregistered shares of our common stock may be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, due to the fact that we are deemed to be a former “shell company.”

Pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), a “shell company” is defined as a company that has no or nominal operations and either (i) no or nominal assets, (ii) assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents or (iii) assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets. While we do not believe that we are currently a “shell company,” we were previously a “shell company” and are deemed to be a former “shell company” pursuant to Rule 144, and as such, sales of our securities pursuant to Rule 144 may not be able to be made unless we continue to be subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and have filed all of our required periodic reports for at least the previous one year period prior to any sale pursuant to Rule 144. As a result, it may be harder for us to fund our operations and pay our consultants with our securities instead of cash. Our status as a former “shell company” could prevent us from raising additional funds, engaging consultants, and using our securities to pay for any acquisitions.

If we are unsuccessful in our appeal of the NYSE American decision to delist our common stock, or if our appeal is successful and we are thereafter unable to meet the NYSE American continued listing standards, our common stock may be delisted from the NYSE American equitiesAny market which would likely cause the liquidity and market price of our common stock to decline.

Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE American. The NYSE American has suspended the trading of our common stock and is engagedthat develops in delisting proceedings of our common stock. We are appealing the NYSE American hearing panel’s determination to delist our common stock, but there can be no assurance that our appeal will be successful, that our common stock will resume trading or that our common stock will continue to be listed. If we are unsuccessful in our appeal of the NYSE American hearing panel’s decision to delist our common stock, or if our appeal is successful and thereafter if we cannot meet the NYSE American continued listing requirements, the NYSE American may delist our common stock, which could have an adverse impact on us and the liquidity and market price of our stock.

Our business has been and may continue to be affected by worldwide macroeconomic factors, which include uncertainties in the credit and capital markets. External factors that affect our stock price, such as liquidity requirements of our investors, as well as our performance, could impact our market capitalization, revenue and operating results, which, in turn, could affect our of the NYSE American hearing panel’s decision to delist our common stock or, if our appeal is successful, our ability to meet the NYSE American’s listing standards. The NYSE American has the ability to suspend trading in our common stock or remove our common stock from listing on the NYSE American if in the opinion of the exchange: (a) the financial condition and/or operating results of the Company appear to be unsatisfactory; or (b) it appears that the extent of public distribution or the aggregate market value of our common stock has become so reduced as to make further dealings on the exchange inadvisable; or (c) we have sold or otherwise disposed of our principal operating assets, or have ceased to be an operating company; or (d) we have failed to comply with our listing agreements with the exchange (which include that we receive additional listing approval from the exchange prior to us issuing any shares of common stock, something we have inadvertently failed to comply with in the past); or (e) any other event shall occur or any condition shall exist which makes further dealings on the exchange unwarranted.

Commencing in March 2019, we received a series of letters from the NYSE American concerning the failure to comply with various continued listing requirements. On December 17, 2019, we received a letter from the NYSE American stating that it had determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company’s common stock from the Exchange, and our common stock was suspended from trading on NYSE American at market close on the same date. Additionally, we were out of compliance with the NYSE American’s continued listing requirements under the timely filing criteria outlined in Section 1007 of the NYSE American Listed Company Guide as a result of our failure to timely file our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Additionally, in the past we have been out of compliance with the NYSE American’s continued listing standards when, on each of October 9, 2019 and May 30, 2019, certain members of the Board of Directors resigned and we received notification from the NYSE American that (1) the Company’s Audit Committee was no longer compliant with Section 803B(2)(c) and Section 803B(2)(a)(iii) of the Company Guide as it was no longer composed of two independent members and did not have a financially sophisticated audit committee member and (2) and the Company’s Compensation Committee was no longer compliant with the requirements set forth in Section 805(a) of the Company Guide. On May 30, 2019, we also received notification that the Company’s Nominating Committee was no longer compliant with the requirements set forth in Section 804 of the Company Guide. In each instance, in order to regain compliance with these listing requirements, the Board appointed additional members and made appropriate committee appointments.

A delisting of our common stock could negatively impact us by, among other things, reducing the liquidity and market price of our common stock and reducing the number of investors willing to hold or acquire our common stock, which could negatively impact our ability to raise equity financing. In addition, delisting from the NYSE American might negatively impact our reputation and, as a consequence, our business. Additionally, if we were delisted from the NYSE American and we are not able to list our common stock on another national exchange we will no longer be eligible to use Form S-3 registration statements and will instead be required to file a Form S-1 registration statement for any primary or secondary offerings of our common stock, which would delay our ability to raise funds in the future, may limit the type of offerings of common stock we could undertake, and would increase the expenses of any offering, as, among other things, registration statements on Form S-1 are subject to SEC review and comments whereas take downs pursuant to a previously filed Form S-3 are not. Because of the lateness of certain of our filings with the SEC, we are not currently eligible to use Form S-3, but if we file our periodic reports with the SEC in a timely manner for 12 months and otherwise satisfy the eligibility requirements, we will be eligible to use Form S-3 for public offerings of our common stock.

If shares of our common stock cease towill be listed on a national exchange they may become subject to the “penny stock” rules of the SEC and the trading market in our securities may become limited, which will make transactions in our stock cumbersome and may reduce the value of an investment in the stock.

 

If shareswe are able to resume trading in the short-term, it will be on one of the over-the-counter price-quotation platforms maintained by the OTC Markets Group. As a result, investors may find it difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the price of our common stock. Additionally, our common stock cease to be listed on the NYSE American or another national exchange, they may will be subject to regulation as a “penny stock” under Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act. That rule establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that is no longer trading on a national exchange and has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require: (a) that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks; and (b) the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.

 

In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must: (a) obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person and (b) make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form: (a) sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and (b) confirms that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction.

 

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about the commissions payable to both the broker or dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

 

Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the “penny stock” rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our common stock and cause a decline in the market value of our common stock.

15

 

If sharesAny trading market that may develop may be restricted by virtue of our common stock ceasestate securities “Blue Sky” laws that prohibit trading absent compliance with individual state laws. These restrictions may make it difficult or impossible to be listed on a national exchange our securities will not be eligible for federal preemption rights and be subject to state “blue sky” laws which may affect our capabilities of raising capital.raise capital in those states.

 

Each state has its own securities laws, often called “blue sky” laws, which (i) limit sales of securities to a state’s residents unless the securities are registered in that state or qualify for an exemption from registration, and (ii) govern the reporting requirements for broker-dealers doing business directly or indirectly in the state. Before a security is sold in a state, there must be a registration in place to cover the transaction, or the transaction must be exempt from registration. The applicable broker must be registered in that state. We do not know whether securities will be registered or exempt from registration under the laws of any state. If our securities cease to be listed on the national exchange, aA determination regarding registration will be made by those broker-dealers, if any, who agree to serve as the market-makers for our common stock. Registering or qualifying shares with states can be time consuming. Compliance and regulatory costs may vary from state to state and may adversely affect future financings and our ability to raise capital.

 

If our common stock is delisted from a national exchange some institutional investors may not be allowed to purchase our shares and may be required to liquidate their current positions in our stock which could negatively affect the price and volatility of our shares.

Institutional investors may be restricted by their investment policies from investing in shares of companies that are not listed on a national exchange and may be required to liquidate their positions if our securities are delisted from a national exchange. Liquidations, should they occur, may increase volatility and cause wide fluctuations and further declines in the prices of our securities.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our common stock adversely, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our shares of common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. If any of the analysts who may cover us change their recommendation regarding our common stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our share price would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, and any return on investment may be limited to potential future appreciation on the value of our common stock.

 

We currently intend to retain any future earnings to support the development and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future. Our payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including without limitation, our financial condition, operating results, cash needs, growth plans and the terms of any credit agreements or other debt instruments that we may be a party to at the time. To the extent we do not pay dividends, our shares of common stock may be less valuable because a return on investment will only occur if and to the extent our stock price appreciates, which may never occur. In addition, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation as the only way to realize their investment, and if the price of our common stock does not appreciate, then there will be no return on investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.

 

Risks Related to Our Industry and Business

 

The current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, and the future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases, could materially and adversely impact or disrupt our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance.

 

Since being reported in December 2019, COVID-19 has spread globally, including to every state in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and another pandemic in the future could have, repercussions across regional and global economies and financial markets. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries has significantly adversely impacted global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving and, as cases of COVID-19 have continued to be identified in additional countries, many countries, including the United States, have reacted by instituting quarantines, mandating business and school closures and restricting travel.

Certain states and cities, including where we own rental homes, have also reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “shelter in place” rules, restrictions on types of business that may continue to operate. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting almost every industry directly or indirectly. We expect that a significant number of our tenants will suffer economic dislocation, such as through job furloughs or job loss, which will adversely impact their ability to pay rent to the Company. Some of our tenants have already requested rent deferral or rent abatement during this pandemic. Many experts predict that the outbreak will trigger, or even has already triggered, a period of global economic slowdown or a global recession, which would further adversely impact the ability of our tenants to pay rent to the Company. TheMoreover, the weekly $600 federal unemployment benefit as part of the CARES ACT COVID-19 relief package has ended. On August 8, 2020, there was an extension of federal benefits by executive order through the Lost Wages Assistance program which provided an additional $300 weekly supplement to unemployment benefits, this program expired. This reduction or termination of benefits may limit our tenants’ ability to pay rent to us (to the extent they were relying on this benefit as a primary source of income).The COVID-19 pandemic, or a future pandemic, could have material and adverse effects on our ability to successfully operate and on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows due to, among other factors:

 

 a complete or partial closure of, or other operational issues at, our corporate headquarters,offices, rental and associated property management business from government or tenant action;
   
 the reduced economic activity severely impacts our tenants’ livelihoods, financial condition and liquidity and may cause them to be unable to meet their obligations to us in full, or at all, or to otherwise seek modifications of such obligations;
   
 difficulty accessing debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, and a severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may affect our access to capital necessary to fund business operations or address existing and anticipated liabilities on a timely basis;
   
 a general decline in business activity and demand for real estate transactions could adversely affect our ability or desire to grow our portfolio of properties;
   
 a deterioration in our ability to operate in affected areas or delays in the supply of products or services to us from vendors that are needed for our efficient operations could adversely affect our operations; and
   
 the potential negative impact on the health of our personnel, particularly if a significant number of them are impacted, could result in a deterioration in our ability to ensure business continuity during a disruption; and
   
 the inability of our business to secure financing or grants through the U.S. Small Business Association programs, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program, or other similar offerings, each as a result of program limitations, our credit profile, or other factors; and
   
 the inability of state or federal jurisdictions to mandate coverage under business interruption insurance policies which contain pandemic exclusions or our inability to otherwise secure recoveries from such insurance coverages should they become available.

 

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our operations and thosethe financial health of our tenants will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions (both at a state and federal level) taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. The inability of our tenants to pay rent to us, and early terminations by our tenants of their leases, could continue to reduce our cash flows, which could have a material adverse impact on our performance, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance. The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the full adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance.

 

Our results of operations will likely be diminished as a result of the foreclosure on the equity of Benchmark Builders, Inc., down-sizing of Jus-Com and divestiture of CrossLayer as well as our reliance on other operating subsidiaries. We may not be able to effectively manage the transition of our business.

 

As discussed above, our lenders previously foreclosed on the equity in Benchmark, previously our primary operating subsidiary, as well as other assets. Additionally, the Company restructured and down-sized the Jus-Com businesses in 2019, completed the acquisition of entities that collectively hold a real estate asset portfolio consisting of 3,184approximately 3,200 rental homes located across the United States (the “Vision“Rental Home Portfolio Properties”), and completed the divestiture of CrossLayer in January 2020. Due to the Benchmark foreclosure, the down-sizing of the Jus-Com businesses and the divestiture of CrossLayer, the Company is now reliant on the businesses of our remaining operating subsidiaries, primarily the U.S. Home Rental properties.

 

Moreover, whereas our Historical BusinessesBusiness operated in the construction management and general contracting industry and telecommunications industry, our primary current business operates in the single-family residential property industry. As we are transitioning our business to focus primarily on single-family residential properties, this business model transition may lead to fluctuations in revenue that will make it more difficult to accurately project our operating results or plan for future growth. If we are unable to effectively manage these changes, our growth and ability to achieve long-term projections may be negatively impacted, and our business and operating results will be adversely affected.

Our integration of the operations of VisionRental Home Portfolio Properties into our operations may be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than expected, and the anticipated benefits and cost savings of these acquisitions by the Company may not be realized.

 

During 2019, pursuant to the Vision Purchase Agreement, as amended, we completed theOur acquisition of the Vision Properties. The acquisition of the VisionRental Home Portfolio Properties in December 2019 represented the Company’s pivot to owning and managing a portfolio of single-family residential properties. The success of the acquisition, including anticipated benefits, will depend, in part, on the Company’s ability to successfully combine and integrate the businesses within the Company’s projected timeframe in a manner that permits growth opportunities. A number of factors could affect the Company’s ability to successfully combine its business with acquired businesses, including the following:

 

 the potential for unexpected costs, delays and challenges that may arise in integrating the VisionRental Home Portfolio Properties into the Company’s business;
   
 unexpected obstacles to the Company’s ability to realize the expected cost savings and synergies from the acquisition;
   
 the Company’s ability to retain key employees and maintain relationships;
   
 diversion of management’s attention and resources during integration efforts;
   
 challenges related to operating a new business and in new states; and
   
 discovery following the acquisition of previously unknown liabilities associated with the VisionRental Home Portfolio Properties.

 

We have encountered a number of integration challenges, all of which have caused us to incur varying levels of costs, including costs associated with assimilating and integrating personnel, financial systems and procedures, and unique operation and reporting structures. We have also experienced significant delays in establishing internal controls over the financial reporting on a consolidated basis, which in turn has limited our ability to manage risks, reduce costs, and improve overall operational performance. If the Company encounterscontinues to encounter these and other significant difficulties in the integration process, the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized fully, or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition in the timeframe projected by the Company could result in increased costs and decreased revenues. This could have a dilutive effect on the Company’s earnings per share. If the Company is unable to successfully integrate the business it acquired, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

Liabilities and obligations assumed in connection with our acquisition of VisionRental Home Portfolio Properties may result in a material adverse effect to our business and financial condition.

 

Uncertainty of Common Stock Value.Our common stock, par value $0.001 (the “Common Stock”) was suspended from trading on the NYSE American exchange effective December 17, 2019 and continues to be suspended from trading as of the date of the filing of the Form 10-K. As a result, there is currently no public market for our Common Stock and investors in our Common Stock have limited liquidity. The aggregate value of the Common Stock Consideration issuable pursuant to the Amended Purchase Agreement was determined through negotiations between the Company and the Sellers based on a number of factors, including the estimated book value of the Company after giving effect to the Transaction. Due to its limited liquidity and lack of a current active trading market, the fair value of our Common Stock is uncertain and may not be equal to the agreed-upon valuation of the Common Stock Consideration. Although the Company is appealing its suspension from trading on the NYSE American exchange, there can be no assurance that its appeal will be successful.

Risk of Default under Entities’ Indebtedness.The entitiesEntities that we acquired in the Vision Properties transaction,Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, which own all of the properties that were subject to the acquisition, are subject to substantialapproximately $80,284,086 of indebtedness (the “Entities’ Indebtedness”), which was assumed by the Company as described in “Item 1. Business – Recent Developments.Developments – Acquisition of Rental Home Portfolio Property Assets.” The Entities’ Indebtedness is subject to certain conditions and covenants, including the requirement that the Entities obtain the consent of the lender before taking certain actions. Any failureFailure to comply with the conditions and covenants in the financing agreements governing the Entities’ Indebtedness that is not consented to or waived by the lenderlenders or otherwise cured could lead to a termination of such debt facilities, acceleration of all amounts due under such debt facilities, or other actions by the lender. The consentlenders. On July 1, 2020, we received a written notice of default (the “Notice of Default”) from Inmost, in its capacity as Noteholder Agent to issuer noteholders of the lender may have been requiredEntities’ Indebtedness. Inmost asserted that certain events of default had occurred with respect to certain Note Issuance and Purchase Agreements each dated as of July 10, 2017 by and among, inter alia, certain Entities acquired by the Transaction,Company, Inmost, and althoughissuer noteholders named therein (the “Note Purchase Agreements”). Specifically, Inmost claimed that the Sellers have engagedCompany (i) failed to satisfy the loan-to-value test (the “LTV Test”) as defined in negotiations with the lender seekingNote Purchase Agreements and (ii) failed to obtain such consent priorfrom the Noteholder Agent before transferring the equity interests of certain Entities to US Home Rentals LLC (the “Equity Interest Transfer”) pursuant to the Closing, such consent has not been obtained asRental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement. The Notice of Default also included certain demands by Inmost for additional capital contributions by the Company and Guarantors. 

As of the date of filing of this Form 10-K. Whilefiling, the Company intendshas cured the defaults associated with the LTV Test. Additionally, on November 3, 2020, Inmost granted its consent to continuethe Equity Interest Transfer and rescinded the Default Notice in exchange for (i) a new guaranty agreement under which FTE Networks, Inc. and US Home Rentals LLC will jointly and severally guarantee the obligations of certain Entities under the Note Purchase Agreements, (ii) amendments to seek to obtain the consent from the lender regarding the Transaction, we cannot guarantee that such consent will be received.

Existing Default under Purchase Price Promissory Notes. The $9,750,000 of promissory notes issued as partLimited Liability Company Agreements for each of the purchase consideration insubject Entities to provide for the Vision Properties acquisition were payable in full on March 31, 2020,appointment of a second manager of Noteholder Agent’s choosing, and while partial payments have been made against the notes, we were unable to pay the notes in full by the maturity date. We are currently negotiating forbearance agreements and are actively pursuing multiple potential sources of additional debt and equity capital to fund repayment of the amounts due pursuant(iii) amendments to the Notes and our ongoing operating expenses. We may not be successful in obtaining forbearance agreements or securing suitable financing in the time period required. If we are not able to obtain forbearance agreements and/or do not succeed in raising additional capital in a timely fashion, our resources will not be sufficient to fund the repayment of the notes. The noteholders may seek to enforce their rights under the promissory notes through the judicial process, which could result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.Note Purchase Agreements.

We could be harmed by security breaches or other significant disruptions or failures of networks, information technology infrastructure or related systems owned or installed by us.

 

We are materially reliant upon our networks, information technology infrastructure and related technology systems (including our billing and provisioning systems) to manage our operations and affairs. We face the risk, as does any company, of a security breach or significant disruption of our information technology infrastructure and related systems. Moreover, in connection with processing and storing sensitive and confidential data on our networks, we face a risk that a security breach or disruption could result in unauthorized access to our customers’ or their customers’ proprietary information.

We strive to maintain the security and integrity of information and systems under our control and maintain contingency plans in the event of security breaches or other system disruptions. Nonetheless, we cannot assure you that our security efforts and measures will prevent unauthorized access to our systems, loss or destruction of data (including confidential customer information), account takeovers, unavailability of service, computer viruses, malware, ransomware, distributed denial-of-service attacks, or other forms of cyber-attacks or similar events. These threats may derive from human error, hardware or software vulnerabilities, aging equipment or accidental technological failure. These threats may also stem from fraud, malice or sabotage on the part of employees, third parties or foreign nations, including attempts by outside parties to fraudulently induce our employees or customers to disclose or grant access to our data or our customers’ data, potentially including information subject to stringent domestic and foreign data protection laws governing personally identifiable information, protected health information or other similar types of sensitive data. These threats may also arise from failure or breaches of systems owned, operated or controlled by other unaffiliated operators to the extent we rely on such other systems to deliver services to our customers. Each of these risks could further intensify to the extent we maintain information in digital form stored on servers connected to the Internet.

 

Additional risks to our network, infrastructure and related systems include, among others:

 

 capacity or system configuration limitations, including those resulting from changes in usage patterns, the introduction of new technologies or products, or incompatibilities between newer and older systems;
   
 theft or failure of our equipment;
   
 software or hardware obsolescence, defects or malfunctions;
   
 power losses or power surges;
   
 physical damage, whether caused by fire, flood, adverse weather conditions, terrorism, sabotage, vandalism or otherwise;
   
 deficiencies in our processes or controls;
 our inability to hire and retain personnel with the requisite skills to adequately design, install, maintain or improve our products;
   
 programming, processing and other human error; and
   
 inadequate building maintenance by third-party landlords or other service failures of our third-party vendors.

 

Due to these factors, from time to time in the ordinary course of our business we experience disruptions in our service and could experience more significant disruptions in the future.

 

Disruptions, security breaches and other significant failures of the above-described networks and systems could:

 

 disrupt the proper functioning of these networks and systems;
   
 result in the unauthorized access to, and destruction, loss, theft, misappropriation or release of proprietary, confidential, sensitive, classified or otherwise valuable information of ours;
   
 require us to notify customers, regulatory agencies or the public of data breaches;
   
 subject us to claims for damages, fines, penalties, termination or other remedies under our customer contracts or service standards set by regulators, which in certain cases could exceed our insurance coverage;
   
 result in a loss of business, damage our reputation among our customers and the public generally; or
   
 

require significant management attention or financial resources to remedy the resulting damages or to change our systems, including expenses to repair systems, add new personnel or develop additional protective systems.

 

Any or all of the foregoing developments could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on our customers’ businesses.

Adverse changes in economic conditions have in the past resulted and may in the future result in lower spending among our customers and contribute to decreased sales. Further, our business may be adversely affected by factors such as downturns in economic activity in specific geographic areas or in the telecommunications industry; social, political or labor conditions; trade restrictions such as tariffs or changes imposed on international trade agreements; or adverse changes in the availability and cost of capital, interest rates, tax rates, or regulations. These factors are beyond our control, but may result in decreases in spending among customers and softening demand for our products and services. Declines in demand for our products and services will adversely affect our sales. Further, challenging economic conditions also may impair the ability of our customers to pay for products and services they have purchased. As a result, our cash flow may be negatively impacted and our allowance for doubtful accounts and write-offs of accounts receivable may increase.

The CompanyWe may experience interruptions to its business operations due toarising out of events beyond itsour control, and insurance may not cover the full extent of damages.

A catastrophic event beyond our control, such as a natural disaster, health pandemic, cyber-attack, adverse weather event or act of terrorism, that results in the destruction or disruption of any of our critical business systems or operations could harm itsour ability to conduct normal business operations and, itsin turn our operating results.

 

While we maintain business continuity plans that are intended to allow us to continue operations or mitigate the effects of events that could disrupt our business, we cannot provide assurances that our plans would fully protect us from all such events. In addition, insurance maintained by us to protect against property damage, loss of business and other related consequences resulting from catastrophic events is subject to coverage limitations, depending on the nature of the risk insured. This insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our damages or damages to others in the event of a catastrophe. In addition, insurance related to these types of risks may not be available now or, if available, may not be available in the future at commercially reasonable rates.

 

Due to our size, we depend on key personnel and other skilled employees.

Our employees are key to the growth and success of our business and our continued success depends to a large extent on our ability to recruit, train, and retain skilled employees, particularly executive management and technical employees. If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our operating results could be adversely affected.

Additionally, the Company’s ability to retain skilled workforce and its success in attracting and hiring new skilled employees will be a critical factor in determining whether the Company will be successful in the future. The Company faces competition for qualified individuals and may be unable to attract and retain suitably qualified individuals. The Company’s failure to do so could have an adverse effect on its ability to implement the business plan.

 

Future litigation may impair our reputation or lead us to incur significant costs, and the costs of such litigation may exceed our insurance coverage.

We are currently party to several lawsuits and may become party to various lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business, which may include lawsuits or claims relating to contracts, third party contract manufacturers, intellectual property, product recalls, product liability, false or deceptive advertising, employment matters, environmental matters or other aspects of our business. Negative publicity resulting from allegations made in lawsuits or claims asserted against us, whether or not valid, may adversely affect our reputation. In addition, we may be required to pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The outcome of litigation is often difficult to predict, and the outcome of pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We maintain general and excess liability, cyber security, workers’ compensation and medical insurance, all in amounts consistent with industry practice and as part of our overall risk management strategy. Further, our policies are held with financially stable coverage providers, often in a layered or quota share arrangement which reduces the likelihood of an interruption or impact to operations. Although we have various insurance programs in place, the potential liabilities associated with potential litigation matters, or those that could arise in the future, could be excluded from coverage or, if covered, could exceed the coverage provided by such programs. In addition, insurance carriers may seek to rescind or deny coverage with respect to pending or future claims or lawsuits. If we do not have sufficient coverage under our policies, or if coverage is denied, we may be required to make material payments to settle litigation or satisfy any judgment. Any of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

The rent-to-own business model has been the subject of increased regulatory scrutiny, and, as we begin to move away from this business model to a standard rental business model, we may encounter problems which might make it difficult to predict our future performance, may limit our ability to conduct business and adversely affect our ability to execute on our long-term strategy.

The rent-to-own industry has been the subject of increased regulatory scrutiny over the last decade. Vision Property Management, our predecessor in interest, has faced (and is continuing to face) allegations of violations of consumer protection laws and other lending regulations arising out of this business model. Most of these legacy matters involve lawsuits brought by attorneys general from states where our properties are located and have either been settled or are in advanced settlement discussions. See Part 1 - Item 3. Legal Proceedings. We are operating in an emerging industry, and the long-term viabilityprocess of our investment strategy on an institutional scaletransitioning away from the rent-to-own model; however, there is unproven.

Large-scale institutional investment in single-family residential (“SFR”) homes for rent isno assurance that we will be able to fully transition to a relatively recent phenomenon that has emerged out of the mortgage and housing crisis that began in late 2007. Prior to that time, SFR homes were generally not viewed as viable assets for investment on a large scale by institutional investors. Consequently, the long-term viability of the SFRstrictly rental property investment strategy on an institutional scale has not yet been proven. As a participant in this emerging industry, we are subject to the risk that SFR properties may not prove to be a viable long-term investment strategy on an institutional scale for a permanent capital vehicle. If it turns out that this investment strategy is not a viable one, we would be materially and adversely affected,business financial model and we may not be able to sustain the growth of our assets and results from operations that we seek.

 

Our failure to effectively perform property management functions or to effectively manage our portfolio and operations could materially and adversely affect us.

 

We have direct responsibility for the management of the properties in our SFRsingle family residential (“SFR”) portfolio, including, without limitation, renovations, maintenance and certain matters related to leasing, such as marketing and selection of tenants. If our internal property manager is unable to effectively perform property management services at the level and/or the cost that we expect or if we fail to allocate sufficient resources to meet our property management needs, it wouldmay adversely affect our performance.performance and we may need to outsource property management functions at a higher cost. In addition, we will be responsible for ensuring the compliance of our internal property manager with governmental laws, regulations and covenants that are applicable to our homes, our tenants and our prospective tenants, including, without limitation, permitting, licensing and zoning requirements and tenant relief laws, such as laws regulating evictions, rent control laws and other regulations that limit our ability to increase rental rates.

 

Our ability to perform the property management services will be affected by various factors, including, among other things, our ability to maintain sufficient personnel and retain key personnel and the number of our SFR properties that we manage. No assurance can be made that we will continue to be successful in attracting and retaining skilled personnel or in integrating any new personnel into our organization.

 

Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to successfully monitor our operations, costs, regulatory compliance and service quality and maintain other necessary internal controls. Our inability to effectively perform the property management services on the properties managed by us, or to effectively manage our portfolio and operations could materially adversely affect our business, financial results and share price.

 

We may incur significant costs in renovating our properties or turning vacant properties, and we may underestimate the costs or amount of time necessary to complete restorations or unit turns.

 

While a substantial portion of the SFR properties we have acquired to date meet our rental specifications at the time of acquisition, properties frequently require additional renovations prior to renting. Beyond customary repairs, we may undertake improvements designed to optimize the overall property appeal and increase the value of the property. Though we endeavor to conduct property inspections and due diligence prior to acquiring new SFR portfolios, we expect that nearly all of our rental properties will require some level of renovation immediately upon their acquisition or in the future following expiration of a lease or otherwise. We may acquire properties that we plan to extensively renovate and restore. In addition, in order to reposition properties in the rental market, we will be required to make ongoing capital improvements and may need to perform significant renovations and repairs from time to time. Consequently, we are exposed to the risks inherent in property renovation, including potential cost overruns, increases in labor and materials costs, delays by contractors in completing work, delays in the timing of receiving necessary work permits and certificates of occupancy and poor workmanship. If our assumptions regarding the cost or timing of renovations across our properties prove to be materially inaccurate, it may be more costly or take significantly more time than anticipated to develop and grow our SFR portfolio, which could materially and adversely affect us.

 

In addition,We may incur significant costs in preparing newly vacant homes for occupancy as we do not collect security or damage deposits on our rental homes.

While we anticipate a minimum level of effort will be required to prepare a newly vacant property to be made ready for occupancy by a new tenant, we may find that the newly vacant property may require extensive repairs and/or improvements which costs may be solely borne by us, given we do not collect security or damage deposits from tenants at the time the rental property is leased. Accordingly, the cost of maintaining and preparing rental properties may be higher than originally anticipated. Additionally, we are exposed to risks of cost overruns, increases in costs of materials or labor, delays in the completion of work and other factors. If we are unable to perform unit turns efficiently or in a timely manner, we would experience decreased revenue, increased expenses or both.

 

The availability of portfolios of single-family residential properties for purchase on favorable terms may decline as market conditions change, our industry matures and/or additional purchasers for such portfolios emerge, and the prices for such portfolios may increase, any of which could materially and adversely affect us.

 

In recent years, there has been an increase in supply of SFR property portfolios available for sale. Because we operate in an emerging industry, market conditions may be volatile, and the prices at which portfolios of SFR properties can be acquired may increase from time to time, or permanently, due to new market participants seeking such portfolios, a decrease in the supply of desirable portfolios or other adverse changes in the geographic areas that we may target from time to time. For these reasons, the supply of SFR properties that we may acquire may decline over time, which could materially and adversely affect us and our growth prospects.

Portfolios of properties that we have acquired or may acquire may include properties that do not fit our investment criteria, and divestiture of such properties may be costly or time consuming or both, which may adversely affect our operating results.

We have acquired, and expect to continue to acquire, portfolios of SFR properties, many of which are, or will be, subject to existing leases. We may be subject to a variety of risks, including risks relating to the condition of the properties, the credit quality and employment stability of the tenants and compliance with applicable laws, among others. In addition, financial and other information provided to us regarding such portfolios during our due diligence may be inaccurate, and we may not be able to obtain relief under contractual remedies, if any. Currently, approximately 1/3 of our SFR portfolio is comprised of properties that may not fit our target investment criteria and/or may require extensive renovations and repairs. If we conclude that certain properties acquired as part of a portfolio do not fit our investment criteria or that the scope of renovation and repair exceeds our cost estimates, we may decide to sell such properties and may be required to renovate the properties prior to sale, to hold the properties for an extended marketing period and/or sell the property at an unfavorable price, any of which could materially and adversely affect us.

Competition in identifying and acquiring residential rental assets could adversely affect our ability to implement our business strategy, which could materially and adversely affect us.

We face competition from various sources for investment opportunities, including REITs, hedge funds, private equity funds, partnerships, developers and others. Some third-party competitors have substantially greater financial resources and access to capital than we do and may be able to accept more risk than we can. Competition from these companies may reduce the number of attractive investment opportunities available to us or increase the bargaining power of asset owners seeking to sell, which would increase the prices of assets. If such events occur, our ability to implement our business strategy could be adversely affected, which could materially and adversely affect us. Given the existing competition, complexity of the market and requisite time needed to make such investments, no assurance can be given that we will be successful in acquiring investments that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. Furthermore, there is no assurance that such investments, once acquired, will perform as expected.

 

We may be materially and adversely affected by risks affecting the single-family rental properties in which our investments may be concentrated at any given time as well as from unfavorable changes in the related geographic regions.

 

Our assets are not subject to any geographic diversification requirements or concentration limitations, and, as a result, circumstances or events that impact a geographic region in which we have a significant concentration of properties, including a downturn in regional economic conditions or natural disasters, could materially and adversely affect us. Entities that sell residential rental portfolios may group the portfolios by location or other metrics that could result in a concentration of our portfolio by geography, SFR property characteristics and/or tenant demographics. Such concentration could increase the risk of loss to us if the particular concentration in our portfolio is subject to greater risks or undergoing adverse developments. In addition, adverse conditions in the areas where our properties or tenants are located (including business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, changing demographics, oversupply, reduced demand and other factors) may have an adverse effect on the value of our investments. A material decline in the demand for single-family housing or rentals in the areas where we own assets may materially and adversely affect us. Lack of diversification can increase the correlation of non-performance and foreclosure risks among our investments.

 

Short-term leases of residential property expose us more quickly to the effects of declining market rents.

 

The majority of our leases to tenants of SFR properties will be for a term of one year. As these leases permit the residents to leave at the end of the lease term without penalty, we anticipate our rental revenues will be affected by declines in market rents more quickly than if our leases were for longer terms. Short-term leases may result in high turnover, resulting in additional cost to renovate and maintain the property and lower occupancy levels. Because we have a limited operating history, our tenant turnover rate and related cost estimates may be less accurate than if we had more operating data upon which to base these estimates.

 

We may be unable to secure funds for property restoration or other capital improvements, which could limit our ability to attract, retain or replace tenants.

When we acquire or otherwise take title to single-family properties or when tenants fail to renew their leases or otherwise vacate their space, we may be required to expend funds for property restoration and leasing commissions in order to lease the property. If we have not collected or maintained tenant damage deposits or established reserves or set aside sufficient funds for such expenditures, we may have to obtain financing from other sources, as to which no assurance can be given. We may also have future financing needs for other capital improvements to restore our properties. If we need to secure financing for capital improvements in the future but are unable to secure such financing on favorable terms or at all, we may be unable or unwilling to make capital improvements or may choose to defer such improvements. If this happens, our properties may suffer from a greater risk of obsolescence or decreased marketability, a decline in value or decreased cash flow as a result of fewer potential tenants being attracted to the property or existing tenants not renewing their leases. If we do not have access to sufficient funding in the future, we may not be able to make necessary capital improvements to our properties, and our properties’ ability to generate revenue may be significantly impaired.

Our revenue and expenses are not directly correlated, and, because a large percentage of our costs and expenses are fixed and some variable expenses may not decrease or may increase over time, we may not be able to adapt our cost structure to offset any declines in our revenue.

 

Many of the expenses associated with our business, such as acquisition costs, restoration and maintenance costs, HOAHome Owners Association (“HOA”) fees, personal and real property taxes, insurance, compensation and other general expenses are fixed and would not necessarily decrease proportionally with any decrease in revenue. Our assets also will likely require a significant amount of ongoing capital expenditure. Our expenses, including capital expenditures, will be affected by, among other things, any inflationary increases, and cost increases may exceed the rate of inflation in any given period. Certain expenses, such as HOA fees, taxes, insurance and maintenance costs are recurring in nature and may not decrease on a per-unit basis as our portfolio grows through additional property acquisitions. By contrast, our revenue is affected by many factors beyond our control, such as the availability and price of alternative rental housing and economic conditions in our markets. As a result, we may not be able to fully, or even partially, offset any increase in our expenses with a corresponding increase in our revenues. In addition, state and local regulations may require us to maintain our properties, even if the cost of maintenance is greater than the potential benefit.

Competition could limit our ability to lease single-family rental properties or increase or maintain rents.

 

Our SFR properties compete with other housing alternatives to attract residents, including rental apartments, condominiums and other single- family homes available for rent as well as new and existing condominiums and single-family homes for sale. Our competitors’ properties may be of better quality, in a more desirable location or have leasing terms more favorable than we can provide. In addition, our ability to compete and generate favorable returns depends upon, among other factors, trends of the national and local economies, the financial condition and liquidity of current and prospective renters, availability and cost of capital, taxes and governmental regulations. Given significant competition, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in acquiring or managing SFR properties that generate favorable returns.

 

If rents in our markets do not increase sufficiently to keep pace with potential rising costs of operations, our operating results and cash available for distribution will decline.

 

The success of our business model will substantially depend on conditions in the SFR property market in our geographic markets. Our asset acquisitions are premised on assumptions about, among other things, occupancy and rent levels. If those assumptions prove to be inaccurate, our operating results and cash available for distribution will be lower than expected, potentially materially. Rental rates and occupancy levels have benefited in recent periods from macroeconomic trends affecting the U.S. economy and residential real estate and mortgage markets in particular, including a tightening of credit and increases in interest rates that has made it more difficult to finance a home purchase, combined with efforts by consumers generally to reduce their exposure to credit. A decrease in rental rates would have a material adverse effect on the performance of our SFR portfolio or could cause a default of our obligations under one or more financing agreements, and our business, results of operations and financial condition would therefore be materially harmed.

 

If the current trend favoring renting rather than homeownership reverses, the single-family rental market could decline.

 

The SFR market is currently significantly larger than in historical periods. We do not expect the favorable trends in the SFR market to continue indefinitely. Eventually, continued strengthening of the U.S. economy and job growth, together with the large supply of foreclosed SFR properties, the current availability of low residential mortgage rates and government sponsored programs promoting home ownership, may contribute to a stabilization or reversal of the current trend that favors renting rather than homeownership. In addition, we expect that as investors increasingly seek to capitalize on opportunities to purchase undervalued housing properties and convert them to productive uses, the supply of SFR properties will decrease and the competition for tenants will intensify. A softening of the rental property market in our markets would adversely affect our operating results and cash available for distribution, potentially materially.

 

Suboptimal tenant underwriting and defaults by our tenants may materially and adversely affect us.

 

Our success depends, in large part, upon our ability to attract and retain qualified tenants for our properties. This depends, in turn, upon our ability to screen applicants, identify good tenants and avoid tenants who may default. We may make mistakes in our selection of tenants, and we may rent to tenants whose default on our leases or failure to comply with the terms of the lease or HOA regulations could materially and adversely affect us. For example, tenants may default on payment of rent; make unreasonable and repeated demands for service or improvements; make unsupported or unjustified complaints to regulatory or political authorities; make use of our properties for illegal purposes; damage or make unauthorized structural changes to our properties that may not be fully covered by security deposits; refuse to leave the property when the lease is terminated; engage in domestic violence or similar disturbances; disturb nearby residents with noise, trash, odors or eyesores; fail to comply with HOA regulations; sub-let to less desirable individuals in violation of our leases or permit unauthorized persons to live with them. The process of evicting a defaulting tenant from a family residence can be adversarial, protracted and costly. Furthermore, some tenants facing eviction may damage or destroy the property. Damage to our properties may significantly delay re-leasing after eviction, necessitate expensive repairs, reduce the rental revenue generated by the property or impair its value. In addition, we will incur turnover costs associated with re-leasing the properties, such as marketing expenses and brokerage commissions, and will not collect revenue while the property is vacant. Although we will attempt to work with tenants to prevent such damage or destruction, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in all or most cases. Such tenants will not only cause us not to achieve our financial objectives for the properties in which they live, but may subject us to liability and may damage our reputation with our other tenants and in the communities where we do business.

 

A significant uninsured property or liability loss could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

We carry commercial general liability insurance and property insurance with respect to our SFR properties on terms we considered commercially reasonable. However, many of the policies covering casualty losses are subject to substantial deductibles and exclusions, and we will be self-insured up to the amount of the deductibles and exclusions. For example, we may not always be fully insured against losses arising from floods, windstorms, fires, earthquakes, acts of war or terrorism or civil unrest because they are either uninsurable or the cost of insurance makes it economically impractical. If an uninsured property loss or a property loss in excess of insured limits were to occur, we could lose our capital invested in a property or group of properties as well as the anticipated future revenues from affected SFR properties or groups of properties. Further, inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors might also prevent us from using insurance proceeds to replace or renovate a property after it has been damaged or destroyed.

In the event that we incur a casualty loss that is not fully covered by insurance, the value of our assets will be reduced by the amount of any such uninsured loss, and we could experience a significant loss of capital invested and potential revenues in these properties and could potentially remain obligated under any recourse debt associated with the property. Further, if an uninsured liability to a third party were to occur, we would incur the cost of defense and settlement with or court ordered damages to that third party. A significant uninsured property or liability loss could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, cash flows and ability to make distributions on our common stock.

 

We rely on information supplied by prospective tenants in managing our business.

 

We rely on information supplied to us by prospective tenants in their rental applications as part of our due diligence process to make leasing decisions, and we cannot be certain that this information is accurate. In particular, we rely on information submitted by prospective tenants regarding household income, tenure at current job, number of children and size of household. Moreover, these applications are submitted to us at the time we evaluate a prospective tenant, and we do not require tenants to provide us with updated information during the terms of their leases, notwithstanding the fact that this information can, and frequently does, change over time. Even though this information is not updated, we will use it to evaluate the overall average credit characteristics of our portfolio over time. If tenant-supplied information is inaccurate or our tenants’ creditworthiness declines over time, we may make poor leasing decisions, and our portfolio may contain more credit risk than we believe.

 

Our single-family residential properties are not liquid assets, which could limit our ability to vary our portfolio or to realize the value at which such assets are carried if we are required to dispose of them.

 

Our SFR properties are not liquid assets, which could limit our ability to vary our portfolio or to realize the value at which such assets are carried if we are required to dispose of them. Our inability to sell individual or portfolios of SFR properties on acceptable terms and/or in accordance with our anticipated timing could materially and adversely affect our financial condition.

Changes in global economic and capital market conditions, including periods of generally deteriorating occupancy and real estate industry fundamentals, may materially and adversely affect us.

 

There are risks to the ownership of real estate and real estate related assets, including decreases in residential property values, changes in global, national, regional or local economic, demographic and real estate market conditions as well as other factors particular to the locations of our investments. A prolonged recession and a slow recovery could materially and adversely affect us as a result of, among other items, the following:

 

 joblessness or unemployment rates that adversely affect the local economy;
   
 an oversupply of or a reduced demand for SFR properties for rent;
   
 a decline in employment or lack of employment growth;
   
 the inability or unwillingness of residents to pay rent increases or fulfill their lease obligations;
   
 a decline in rental rate, which may be accentuated since we expect to generally have rent terms of one year;
   
 rent control or rent stabilization laws or other laws regulating housing that could prevent us from raising rents to offset increases in operating costs;
   
 changes in interest rates and availability and terms of debt financing; and
   
 economic conditions that could cause an increase in our operating expenses such as increases in property taxes, utilities and routine maintenance.

 

These conditions could also adversely impact the financial condition and liquidity of the renters that will occupy our real estate properties and, as a result, their ability to pay rent to us.

 

Residential properties that are subject to eviction are subject to risks of theft, vandalism or other damage that could impair their value.

 

When a residential property is subject to an eviction, it is possible that the tenant may cease to maintain the property adequately or that the property may be abandoned by the tenant and become susceptible to theft or vandalism. Lack of maintenance, theft and vandalism can substantially impair the value of the property. To the extent we initiate eviction proceedings, some of our properties could be impaired.

Contingent or unknown liabilities associated with respect to our prior acquisitions of portfolios of properties could expose us to material litigation and unanticipated costs, which could adversely affect our financial condition, cash flows and operating results.

 

Assets and entities that we have acquired in connection with prior SFR portfolio or operating entity acquisitions may be subject to unknown or contingent liabilities for which we may have limited or no recourse against the sellers. Unknown or contingent liabilities might include liabilities for or with respect to liens attached to properties; unpaid real estate tax, utilities or HOA charges for which a subsequent owner remains liable; clean-up or remediation of environmental conditions or code violations; claims of customers, vendors or other persons dealing with the acquired entities; or tax liabilities. Purchases of single-family properties in portfolio purchases typically involve limited representations or warranties with respect to the properties and may allow us limited or no recourse against the sellers. Such properties also often have unpaid tax, utility and HOA liabilities for which we may be obligated but fail to anticipate. As a result, the total amount of costs and expenses that we may incur with respect to liabilities associated with prior SFR property or entity acquisitions may exceed our expectations, which may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. Additionally, such prior SFR property acquisitions may be subject to covenants, conditions or restrictions that restrict the use or ownership of such properties, including prohibitions on leasing. We may not have discovered such restrictions during the acquisition process, and such restrictions (including undisclosed or contingent liabilities) may subject us to material litigation and cause us to experience significant losses, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and may adversely affect our ability to operate such properties as we intend.

The costs and amount of time necessary to secure possession and control of certain properties may exceed our assumptions, which would delay our receipt of revenue from, and return on, the property.

 

A majority of the SFR properties we have acquired have had an existing tenant at the time of acquisition. However, certain SFR properties require us to secure possession. In certain circumstances, we may have to evict occupants who are in unlawful possession before we can secure possession and control of the property. The holdover occupants may be the former owners or tenants of a property, or they may be squatters or others who are illegally in possession. Securing control and possession from these occupants can be both costly and time consuming. If these costs and delays exceed our expectations, our financial performance may suffer because of the increased expenses incurred or the unexpected delays in turning the properties into revenue-producing rental properties.

 

Eminent domain could lead to material losses on our investments.

 

It is possible that governmental authorities may exercise eminent domain to acquire land on which our properties are built in order to build roads or other infrastructure. Any such exercise of eminent domain would allow us to recover only the fair value of the affected properties, which we believe may be interpreted to be substantially less than the actual value of the property. Several cities are also exploring proposals to use eminent domain to acquire residential loans to assist borrowers to remain in their homes, potentially reducing the supply of single-family properties for sale in our markets. Any of these events can cause a material loss to us.

 

We likely will incur costs due to litigation, including but not limited to, class actions, tenant rights claims and consumer demands, which could directly limit and constrain our operations and may result in significant litigation expenses and reputational harm.

 

There are numerous tenants’ rights and consumer rights organizations throughout the country. As we grow in scale, we may attract attention from some of these organizations and become a target of legal demands or litigation. Many such consumer organizations have become more active and better funded in connection with mortgage foreclosure-related issues and displaced home ownership. Some of these organizations may shift their litigation, lobbying, fundraising and grass roots organizing activities to focus on landlord-tenant issues as more entities engage in the SFR property market. Additional actions that may be targeted at us include eviction proceedings and other landlord-tenant disputes, challenges to title and ownership rights (including actions brought by prior owners alleging wrongful foreclosure by their lender or servicer) and issues with local housing officials arising from the condition or maintenance of an SFR property. While we intend to conduct our rental business lawfully and in compliance with applicable landlord-tenant and consumer laws, such organizations might work in conjunction with trial and pro bono lawyers in one state or multiple states to attempt to bring claims against us on a class action basis for damages or injunctive relief. We cannot anticipate what form such legal actions might take or what remedies they may seek. Any of such claims may result in a finding of liability that may materially and adversely affect us. We were named as a successor defendant in a class action lawsuit filed in Michigan federal court arising out of alleged actions that occurred prior to the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase. We intend to vigorously defend our interests in this lawsuit and believe we have valid defenses. However, because litigation is inherently uncertain, there are no assurances that we will prevail, and any judgment or injunctive relief entered against us or any adverse settlement could adversely impact our business, financial condition, and operating results (See Item 3 - Legal Proceedings).

 

Additionally, these organizations may lobby local county and municipal attorneys or state attorneys general to pursue enforcement or litigation against us or may lobby state and local legislatures to pass new laws and regulations to constrain our business operations. If they are successful in any such endeavors, they could directly limit and constrain our business operations and impose on us significant litigation expenses, including settlements to avoid continued litigation or judgments for damages or injunctions. Any of the above-described occurrences may materially and adversely affect us.

 

ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

ITEM 2. Properties.

 

On April 4, 2019, we moved our corporate headquarters to 237 W. 35th St., Suite 601,806, New York, NY 10001. Our current lease expires on October 31, 2021 and has 4,340 square feet which it subleases from Benchmark Builders, LLC under the terms of the Transition Support Agreement which was entered into and is included indisclosed as part of the 11,000 square foot New York, NY office lease noted in the table below.Strict Foreclosure. Our subsidiaries leased five additional office/warehouse facilities throughout the United States, which is summarized below.

Location: Usage  Square
Footage
  Lease Start
Date
  Lease End
Date
  Monthly Obligation 
Naples, FL  Office   5,377   11/01/2015   11/30/2022  $20,445 
Naples, FL  Warehouse   4,500   11/1/2018   10/31/2021  $5,438 
Indianapolis, IN  Office   2,500   12/1/2018   2/28/2022  $1,550 
Boise, ID  Office   1,500   7/1/2017   7/31/2020  $2,668 
New York, NY  Office   11,000   10/1/2010   10/31/2021  $38,665 
Woodinville WA  Office   1,480   1/1/2017   1/1/2020  $6,250 
Long Island City, NY  Warehouse   1,000   2/1/2018   2/1/2019  $2,850 
Location: Usage  Square
Footage
  Lease Start
Date
 Lease End
Date
 Monthly Obligation 
Naples, FL1  Office   5,377  11/01/2015 11/30/2022 $20,445 
Indianapolis, IN  Office   2,500  12/1/2018 2/28/2022 $1,550 
Boise, ID2  Office   1,500  7/1/2017 7/31/2020 $2,668 
New York, NY3  Office   4,340  10/1/2010 10/31/2021 $20,249 
Columbia, SC4  Office   3,000  N/A N/A $3,000 

 

As of April 5, 2020, we have exited all office/warehouse facilities above with the exception of Indianapolis, IN and the above referenced corporate headquarters in New York, NY. N/A – Not applicable

1The Company is currently in default on the Naples office lease. We recorded the future rent, interest and penalties as accrued expenses on our consolidated balance sheet.
2The Company paid rent on the Boise ID office space through January 2020 and owes approximately $20,000 through the lease termination date of July 31, 2020.
3The Company paid rent on its New York office space through January 2020 and owes approximately $141,000 to Benchmark Builders, LLC through August 31, 2020.
4The Company is currently occupying office space at 16 Berryhill Road, Columbia SC, on a month to month basis.

We believe our properties are suitable and adequate for our business needs.

 

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, and we may in the future be subject to additional legal proceedings and disputes.

The following is a summary of material legal proceedings as of December 31, 2018:2019:

 

On May 10, 2018, Vista Capital Investments, LLC (“Vista”) filed suit against the Company for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing arising out of a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) and a convertible note in the principal amount of $275,000 in the Superior Court of California for the county of San Diego. Vista alleges damages in excess of $9,000,000 stemming from the Company’s purported dilutive issuances of Company common stock. Vista was the holder of a convertible note for which there was no prior Board authorization (See Item 1, Recent Developments “Internal Investigation”). The Company and Vista are continuingreached a tentative settlement framework (subject to discuss terms of settlement.final documentation), following which the court dismissed this matter without prejudice.

 

Additionally, see Part 1,On March 28, 2019, the Company obtained a temporary restraining order against Nevada Agency and Transfer Company (“NATCO”) in the Second Judicial District Court for the State of Nevada, enjoining NATCO, the Company’s transfer agent, from processing or issuing any conversion requests submitted on behalf of convertible noteholders whose notes were determined to have been issued without requisite Board approval (See Item 1, – Business, Recent DevelopmentsInternal Investigation”Investigation for information regarding”). The Company obtained a preliminary injunction on April 11, 2019 and filed an amended complaint on January 23, 2020 adding Michael Palleschi (the Company’s former CEO) and certain related parties as defendants, seeking (among other damages) a declaratory judgment that the findingsshares of Company stock issued to Mr. Palleschi and statusrelated parties were unauthorized and to compel the return of our internal investigation.

these shares to the Company’s authorized capital stock. The following is a summarymatter remains pending in Nevada and has been delayed because of material legal proceedings as of the date of this filing:COVID-19.

 

On April 11, 2019, the Company received a demand for arbitration, which was filed with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Case No. 01-19-0001-0962,on behalf of Michael Palleschi, the former CEO, alleging a breach of his employment agreement and seeking $11,300,000 in damages. The Company has asserted counterclaims and affirmative defenses to Mr. Palleschi’s claims and intends to vigorously defend this matter. Discovery is pending.This matter has been placed in abeyance, to be reopened upon motion and payment of panel deposit.

 

On June 26, 2019, Efraim Barenbaum filed a shareholder derivative suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain of the Company’s former directors and executive officers, alleging claims for breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, waste, and violations of Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company was named as a nominal defendant only. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on September 23, 2019. In response to the motion, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint on November 1, 2019, but the causes of action remained equally deficient. Having found the claims in the amended complaint also to be baseless, the Company filed a motion to dismiss that pleading as well on January 27, 2020. Motion practice is ongoing. On September 30, 2020, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s compliant with prejudice.

 

On August 17, 2019, Auctus Fund, LLC (“Auctus”) filed suit against the Company alleging, among other things, breach of contract and violations of state and federal securities laws, arising out of a securities purchase agreement and a convertible note in the principal amount of $525,000. Auctus is the holder of a convertible note for which there was no prior Board authorization (See Item 1, Recent Developments “Internal Investigation”). The Company denies any alleged wrongdoing and intends to vigorously defend against these claims. The matter is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The parties are continuing to negotiate the terms of a settlement.

 

On November 5, 2019, St. George Investments LLC (“St. George”) filed suit against the Company in the Third Judicial District Court for Salt Lake County in the state of Utah to compel arbitration, alleging, among other things, breach of contract arising out of a securities purchase agreement and convertible note in the principal amount of $2,315,000. St. George is the holder of a convertible note for which there was no prior Board authorization (See Item 1, Recent Developments “Internal Investigation”). On June 4, 2020, the Company learned that the arbitrator, following a hearing on St. George’s motion for partial summary judgment, granted St. George’s motion and requested relief of approximately $2.7 million. The Company believes the arbitrator’s decision is inconsistent with the underlying facts and applicable law and has filed papers to vacate the arbitration award, among other relief. On October 21, 2020, the district court granted St. George’s motion to confirm the arbitration award and denied the Company’s motion to vacate the arbitration award and its motion for leave to amend its answer. The Company is vigorously defendingcurrently evaluating its interests in this matter.legal options.

On November 26, 2019, David Lethem (the Company’s former CFO) filed a complaint against the Company in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court for Lee county in the State of Florida for breach of contract arising out of a transition, separation and general release agreement. The Company filed a counterclaim to rescind the agreement based on fraudulent inducement. Discovery is proceedingongoing in this case and the Company intendscontinues to vigorously defend its interests in this matter.

 

On January 3, 2020, CBRE, Inc. (“CBRE”) filed suit against the Company’s subsidiary, CrossLayer, Inc., for breach of contract arising out of a program participation agreement in the Superior Court of the state of Delaware. CBRE is alleging damages of $1,333,333.$1,333,000. The Company considers CBRE’s claims to be without merit and has engaged counsel who is vigorously disputing this matter. On April 29, 2020, CBRE filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice.

On June 5, 2020, certain former directors of the Company (Christopher Ferguson, Luisa Ingargiola, Brad Mitchell, and Patrick O’Hare) filed suit against the Company in the District Court for Clark County in the State of Nevada to recover indemnification costs arising out of indemnification agreements. The Company denies any alleged wrongdoing and is defending its interests in this matter. The Company continues to assess and discuss terms of a possible settlement.

On September 29, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities, including the Company and US Home Rentals LLC, as successor defendants, in connection with claims arising out of various regulations, including the Fair Housing Act, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and the Truth in Lending Act. The Company is evaluating this action and intends to vigorously defend its interests in this matter  . Moreover, the Company plans to seek indemnification from the Rental Home Portfolio Sellers for this and the legacy matters listed below pursuant to its indemnification rights under the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement.

Additionally, there are legal proceedings arising out of the legacy Vision business that implicate certain of our existing rental properties. A brief summary of these matters follows:

-In November 2016, the State of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities owning properties within the state, in connection with claims arising out of state landlord-tenant laws. This matter was settled in December 2018, pending a final agreement regarding fines and restitution.
-In March 2017, the State of Maryland filed a lawsuit against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities owning properties within the state, in connection with claims arising out of state lead paint laws. This matter was settled in December 2017, subject to the payment of fines, which remain outstanding as of the date of this filing.
-On August 1, 2018, the State of New York filed a lawsuit against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities owning properties within the state, alleging violations of state lending laws in connection with claims arising out of certain lease-to-own agreements. This matter was settled in December 2019.
-

On August 31, 2018, a private class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey (not yet certified) against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities owning properties within the state, in connection with claims arising out of state landlord-tenant laws. The case remains pending and settlement negotiations are underway.

-On October 10, 2019, the State of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities owning properties within the state claims arising out of certain lease-to-own agreements. The case remains pending and settlement negotiations are ongoing.

There can be no assurance with respect to the outcome of any current or future litigation brought against us, and we may not have sufficient liquidity to fund the defense of any such litigation. An adverse outcome of any of the foregoing legal proceedings, or the inability to settle any such legal proceedings on favorable terms, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

PART II

 

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

As ofOn December 31, 2018,17, 2019, trading in our common stock was trading onsuspended from the NYSE American Market (See “Item 1. Business – Recent Developments – Delisting of Common Stock from NYSE American”). Prior to this date, our stock had been trading under the symbol FTNW.

 

As of the date of the filing, of this report, ourthe Company’s common stock was listedis not quoted or trading on the NYSE American Market under the symbol FTNW but was suspended from trading. any stock market.

See “Item 1. Business – Recent Developments – Suspension of TradingDelisting of Common Stock.Stock from NYSE American.

 

Stockholders of Record

 

There were approximately 431435 holders of record of our common stock as of April 20,October 31, 2020.

 

Dividends

 

We have not declared or paid any dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We plan to retain any future earnings for use in our business operations. Any decisions as to future payments of cash dividends will depend on our earnings and financial position and such other factors as the Board deems relevant. Under our Articles of Incorporation, we may not declare or pay any dividends on any shares of common stock without the affirmative vote or written consent of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A and Series A-1 Preferred Stock and even then, not unless we have paid in full the aggregate accrued dividends upon such preferred stock and such amounts that the holders of such preferred stock would receive if they were to convert their shares of preferred stock into shares of common stock. Additionally, certain of our debt include covenants that prohibit us from paying dividends on our common stock.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation ArrangementsPlans.

 

Our Board of Directors approved the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Incentive Plan”) which reserves 3,000,000 shares of our common stock for issuance to enable us to attract and retain highly qualified personnel who will contribute to the Company’s success and provide incentives to participants in the 2017 Incentive Plan that are linked directly to increases in stockholder value. The 2017 Incentive Plan was approved by a majority of the holders of our outstanding capital stock via written consentstockholders on November 8, 2017.

 

The following table illustrates the common shares remaining available for future issuance under the 2017 Incentive Plan:Plan as of December 31, 2019:

 

 Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity plans
  Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
  Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity plans
 
Plan Category:                        
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders  342,093  $15.77   2,965,797   340,388  $15.82   2,659,612 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders         
Total  342,093  $15.77   2,965,797   340,388  $15.82   2,659,612 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, there were no purchases of our equity by us or any “affiliated purchaser.”

 

ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

Not required for a smaller reporting company.

ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements and the related notes contained elsewhere in this report.

 

Overview

 

Prior to October 2019, we were a provider of end-to-end design, construction management, build and support solutions for networks, data centers, residential, and commercial properties and services at Fortune 100/500 companies (our “Historical Business”). Our primary activities included engineering, building, installation, maintenance and support solutions for state-of-the-art networks and commercial properties, including the following services: data center infrastructure, fiber optics, wireless integration, network engineering, internet service provider, general contractingconstruction management and general contracting.

Wehadcontracting under three operating subsidiaries:

(i)Benchmark Builders, Inc. (“Benchmark”) was our full-service general construction management subsidiary that provided general contracting and construction management services on interior commercial spaces in the New York City market. As our primary operating subsidiary, Benchmark was spun out in October 2019 in connection with a strict foreclosure on the part of our senior creditors in exchange for the cancellation of the senior secured debt and other debt (the “Benchmark Foreclosure”).
(ii)CrossLayer, Inc. (“CrossLayer”) was our managed network provider subsidiary which was designed to equip commercial real estate property owners and businesses with custom platforms that enabled them to introduce and deliver managed network service to their tenants, while creating monetization opportunities previously available only to network operators. In an effort to stimulate revenue growth and reduce operating expenses, and in connection with a reoriented corporate strategy, we sold CrossLayer on January 16, 2020.
(iii)

Jus-Com, Inc. (dba “FTE Network Services”) is part of our core legacy business which focused on telecommunications solutions in the wireline and wireless telecommunications industry. Jus-Com provided outside plant solutions (“OSP”) and inside plant operations (“ISP”) which consisted of cable rack, wiring build-outs, infrastructure build-outs and cable installation, among other things. Jus-Com is still an operating subsidiary; however, its OSP component was wound down in the first half of 2019; the ISP component remains an operating subsidiary.

subsidiaries, Benchmark, CrossLayer and FTE Network Services.

Our Current Business and Corporate Strategy

 

Following a year of corporate and financial restructuring in response to the findings of an internal investigation (see below) that examined the acts and omissions of certain former officers and directors, and the loss of our principal operating subsidiary through a foreclosure by our former senior secured lenders, we were presented with an opportunity to acquire a real estate portfolio consisting of approximately 3,200 rental homes across the United States moving us into a new direction which our current management believes offers substantial opportunity for the benefit of shareholders. Accordingly, on December 30, 2019, we acquired nearlyclosed on the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement, acquiring approximately 3,200 real estate properties by and through our newestnew subsidiary, US Home Rentals, LLC (the “Vision Transaction”).Rentals.

 

Internal Investigation

In current reports on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2019 and March 22, 2019, we disclosed that we had entered into certain securities purchase agreements (the “Purchase Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we sold an aggregate principal amount of $22,700,000 in convertible notes (the “Notes”) between January 2017 and January 2019. Approximately $9,800,000 of principal and interest had been converted into 5,186,306 shares of our common stock through March 19, 2019. These issuances were not supported by a listing application with the Exchange, which resulted in us receiving a public reprimand letter from the NYSE Regulation Staff of the Exchange on March 25, 2019. On March 22, 2019, we announced the initiation of an independent investigation (the “Investigation”) of these issuances and engaged K&L Gates LLP and Credibility International, LLC, an independent forensic accounting firm (together, the “Team”) to conduct the Investigation.

The investigation found that:

in numerous instances, prior management, including Michael Palleschi and David Lethem, caused the issuance the Notes as well as other financings without proper Board authorization;
prior management misused corporate funds for personal expenses, including for charter flights and automobile leases;
prior management engaged in numerous related party transactions, some of which were implemented to our detriment and were not disclosed properly or were not disclosed at all; and
the Team found that prior management recognized false unbilled revenue in 2016 and 2017. The revenue was booked to unbilled Accounts Receivable and later written off in three separate transactions in 2018.

29

Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements

On April 2, 2019, we announced that our Audit Committee, following a communication by Marcum, our former independent registered public accounting firm, concluded that previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and interim reviews of the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017, should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion to prevent future reliance on the aforementioned financial statements resulted from the determination that such financial statements failed to properly account for certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities. Specifically, we identified a potential issue related to the accounting related to certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities the Company issued in 2017, 2018, and during January of 2019.


On June 11, 2019, the Audit Committee, following a communication by Marcum, concluded that the Company’s previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and completed interim reviews for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016 should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion on June 11, 2019 to add the aforementioned 2016 financial statements to those statements which should no longer be relied upon resulted from determinations made asFTE Network Services, part of our ongoing restatement effort that certain items, including revenues originally recognized in 2016, should no longer be recognized.

See Part 1. Business, “Recent Developmentscore legacy business, continues to provide ISP services, which consist of rack, wiring build-outs, infrastructure build-outs and Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2. “Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements.cable installation, among other things.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and judgments are based on historical information, information that is currently available to us and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our key estimates include: the recognition of revenue and project profit or loss (which we define as project revenue less project costs of revenue, including project-related depreciation), in particular, on construction contracts accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method, for which the recorded amounts require estimates of costs to complete projects, ultimate project profit and the amount of probable contract price adjustments as inputs; allowances for doubtful accounts; estimated fair values of acquired assets; asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization; share-based compensation; other reserves and accruals; accounting for income taxes.

 

Revenue and Cost of Goods Sold Recognition

 

We recognize revenuesRental income from fixed-pricerental home operations are recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the respective lease when collectability is reasonably assured and modified fixed-price construction contracts on the percentage-of-completion method, measured bytenant has taken possession or controls the percentagephysical use of cost incurred to date to estimated total cost for each contract. That method is used because management considers total cost to be the best available measure of progress on the contracts. Because of inherent uncertainties in estimated costs, it is at least reasonably possible that the estimates used will change within the near term. Contract cost of sales include all direct material and labor costs and those indirect costsrental home. Tenant recoveries related to contract performance, suchreimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, and other expense are recognized as subcontractor commitments, indirect labor, supplies, tools and repairs. Selling, general, and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are maderevenue in the period in which such lossesthe applicable costs are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions,incurred. We did not recognize any revenue from rental operations during the years ended December 31, 2019 and estimated profitability may result in revisions to costs and income, which are recognized in2018 as the period in whichassets were not acquired until the revisions are determined. Changes in estimated job profitability resulting from job performance, job conditions, contract penalty provisions, claims, change orders, and settlements, are accounted for as changes in estimates in the current period. The asset, “Costs and estimated earnings in excessend of billings on uncompleted contracts,” represents revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed. The liability, “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts,” represents billings in excess of revenues recognized.2019.

 

Due toRevenue from telecommunication services are derived from short-term projects performed under master and other service agreements as well as from contracts for specific projects or jobs requiring the installation of an entire infrastructure system or specified units within an entire infrastructure system. We have determined that these short-term natureprojects provide a distinct service and, therefore, qualify as one performance obligation. We provide services under unit-price or fixed-price master service or other service agreements under which we furnish specified units of our network construction contracts,service for a fixed-price per unit of service and revenue is recognized once 100%upon completion of a contract segment is completed. A contract may have many segments, of which, once a segment is completed; the revenue for the segment is recognized and no further obligation exists. Our construction contracts or segments of contracts typically can range from several daysdefined project due to two to four months. Contract costs may be billed as incurred. Contract costs include all direct material and labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract performance, such as indirect labor, supplies, tools and repairs. Selling, general and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred. We begin recognizing revenue on a project as project costs are incurred and revenue recognition criteria are met.

Provisions for losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period such losses are known. Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions, changes in raw materials costs, and final contract settlements may result in revisions to revenue, costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.its short-term nature.

 

Valuation of Long-lived Assets

 

We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with related accounting standards. Assets to be held and used (including projects under development as well as property and equipment), are reviewed for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. If an indicator of impairment exists, we first group our assets with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities (the “asset group”). Secondly, we estimate the undiscounted future cash flows that are directly associated with and expected to arise from the completion, use and eventual disposition of such asset group. We estimate the undiscounted cash flows over the remaining useful life of the primary asset within the asset group. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then an impairment is measured based on fair value compared to carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model. If an asset is still under development,Upon foreclosure by our senior lender of our assets, the associated long-lived intangible assets were fully impaired as there are no future cash flows include remaining construction costs. There were no impairments duringassociated with the periods presented.

intangible assets.

Income Taxes

 

We record income taxes under the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and attributable to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Accounting standards regarding income taxes requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance, if based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed at each reporting period based on a more-likely-than-not realization threshold. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards not expiring unused, and tax planning alternatives.

 

Significant judgment is required in evaluating our tax positions and determining our provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Accounting standards regarding uncertainty in income taxes provides a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely, based solely on the technical merits, of being sustained on examinations. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating our tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments, and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

We adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) standard related to fair value measurement at inception. The standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure of fair value measurements. The standard applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and, accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements. The standard clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The recorded values of long-term debt approximate their fair values, as interest approximates market rates. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the standard established a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

 

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

Our financial instruments consist of accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable, and notes payable. The recorded values of accounts receivable, other current assets, and accounts payable fair values due to the short maturities of such instruments. Recorded values for notes payable and related liabilities approximate fair values, since their amortization of deferred financing cost stated or imputed interest rates are commensurate with prevailing market rates for similar obligations.

Derivatives

 

We account for derivative instruments in accordance with applicable accounting standards and all derivative instruments are reflected as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the balance sheet.

 

We use estimates of fair value to value our derivative instruments. Fair value is defined as the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing and able market participants. In general, our policy in estimating fair values is to first look at observable market prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets, where available. When these are not available, other inputs are used to model fair value such as prices of similar instruments, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, default rates and credit spreads (including for our liabilities), relying first on observable data from active markets. We categorize our fair value estimates in accordance with ASC No.Accounting Standard Codification 820, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, based on the hierarchical framework associated with the three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value as discussed above.

 

Warrant Liability

 

We account for certain common stock warrants outstanding as a liability at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

Embedded Conversion Features

 

We evaluate embedded conversion features within convertible debt to determine whether the embedded conversion feature(s) should be bifurcated from the host instrument and accounted for as a derivative at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in our statements of operations. If the conversion feature does not require recognition of a bifurcated derivative, the convertible debt instrument is evaluated for consideration of any beneficial conversion feature requiring separate recognition.

 

In this section, we discuss the results of our operations for the year ended December 31, 20182019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2017. For a discussion of the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, please refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.

 

Consolidated Results of Operations

(dollars in thousands)

 

Overview

 

For the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, we reported a net loss of $15,440 and $46,592 which includes the loss from continuing operations of $29,694 and $92,083,$65,552, respectively, a decreaseand income from discontinued operations of $45,491 or 49%. $14,254 and $18,960, The discontinued operations represent the assets foreclosed upon by our senior lender. See Item 1. Business– “Recent Developments –Amendment and Cancelation of Senior Credit Facility – Foreclosure by Senior Secured Lenders.

The decrease in the net loss was attributable to a reduction in non-operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to December 31, 2017, partially offset by an increase in operating expenses. The reduction in non-operating expenses wasfrom continuing operations of $35,858 or 54.7%, is primarily due to the following: (i) a gain in the fair value of the debt derivative and warrant liability of $62,224 (ii) an increase in the gain on debt extinguishment of $26,052 (iii) an increase on the loss of debt issuance of $18,871 (iv) partially offset by an increase in amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount. The reduction in non-operating expenses were partially offset by an increasedecrease in operating expenses of $50,360, which was primarily due to an$34,632 and total other expenses of $2,631, partially offset by the increase in selling, general and administrative expensesgross deficit of $26,769 and compensation expense of $23,182 expenses.$1,405.

 

Revenues and Gross Profit

 

Our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 20182019 were $384,755,$7,518 as compared to revenues of $215,509$15,103 for the year ended December 31, 2017, resulting in an increase2018, a decrease of $169,246. The increase in revenues was primarily attributable to the acquisition of Benchmark which was included in the results for a full year in 2018 compared to the period from April 21, 2017 through December 31, 2017. Although our$7,585 or 50.2%. Our cost of revenues increaseddecreased by $146,716, our$6,180 or 45% year-over-year. Our gross (deficit) profit margin was approximately 14%(0.3)% and 9.2% for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017.

respectively.

Operating Expenses

 

Our operating expenses were $91,180$25,041 and $40,820$59,673 for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, representing an increasea decrease of $50,360.$34,632 or 58.4% The increasedecrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the following: i) an increasethe decrease in compensation expense of $21,714 of which $17,375 was attributable to share-based compensation and $4,159 in salaries and wages due to the reduction in headcount during 2019, and ii) the decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of $26,769, resulting from an increase$17,0384 which was primarily attributable to a decrease of $8,490 in consulting expenses of $9,380, $5,603fees, $6,128 of expenses related to the write-off of the CrossLayer network platform, $2,414 in bad debt expense and travel expenses of $1,382; ii)$1,274 in depreciation and amortization expense, partially offset by an increase in compensationinsurance expense of $23,182 resulting from the issuance of share- based compensation to$897 and certain employees of $13,983 and an increaseother expenses; these decreases in salaries and wages of $8,940; and iii) an increase in amortization expense of $1,154 related to the intangible assets acquired in the Benchmark acquisition;operating expenses were partially offset by a decreasethe increase of $3,708 in transaction expenses of $701 incurred fromloss on lease termination due to the acquisition of Benchmark in 2017.default on our Naples, FL office space.

 

Operating Loss

 

The operating loss increaseddecreased by $27,830,$33,226, from an operating loss of $10,463 for the year ended December 31, 2017 to an operating loss of $38,293$58,290 for the year ended December 31, 2018 to an operating loss of $25,063 for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due fromto the increasedecrease in total operating expenses.

 

Other (Expense) Income

 

Other expense(expense) income, net was $7,213$(4,631) for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to $(7,262) for the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to $81,060 for the year ended December 31, 2017, a decrease of $73,847$2,631 or 91%36.2%. The decrease in expense is primarily due to the favorable change in fair value of the debt derivative and warrant liability of $62,224 year-over-year, which was partially offset by an increase in thedecrease of: (i) amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discountsdiscount of $33,169 year-over-year. Interest expense increased$21,075; (ii) the gain on senior lender foreclosure of $31,538; and (iii) loss on issuance notes of $5,324. The decreases are partially offset by $2,758 for the year ended December 31, 2018 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2017 due to the increase in borrowings.(i) gain on convertible derivative liability of $18,779; (ii) gain on warrant derivative liability of $12,104; (iii) the extinguishment loss of $28,005; and (vii) increase in interest expense of $1,288.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

(dollars in thousands)

 

Overview

 

As of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, we had total assets of $164,290$235,435 and $168,695,$164,290, current assets of $96,186$3,531 and $88,910,$161,043, total liabilities of $223,749$160,809 and $239,500,$223,749, and current liabilities of $191,687$97,091 and $175,175,$193,328, respectively.

 

Current assets consistsconsist of operating cash of $12,170$789 and $15,642,$342, restricted cash of $1,351 and $-0- accounts receivable of $74,048$742 and $61,699, costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts of $5,974 and $5,286 and$1,449, other current assets of $3,994$649 and $6,283$1,575 and assets of discontinued operations of $-0- and $157,677 as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. Current liabilities consists of accounts payable $2,986 and $3,402, accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $87,426$12,836 and $54,082, billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts of $34,690 and $37,531, Senior$4,964, senior notes payable of $-0- and $34,322, convertible notes payable, merchant credit agreements, and notes payable and right-of-use and capital leases of $44,182$34,612 and $10,299,$10,239, related party notes payable of $10,750 and payables$-0-, notes payable to related partiesBenchmark sellers of $13,793$25,049 and $8,576, conversion$13,397, debt and warrant derivative liabilities of $10,858 and $11,596 and $64,687liabilities of discontinued operations of $-0- and $115,408 as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, we had negative working capital of $95,501$93,561 and $86,265,$32,285, respectively. As of October 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $74 in cash and cash equivalents . As of the date of this filing, our cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to sustain operations in the near term. We have substantial cash requirements, which consist of payment obligations under existing indebtedness, settlement agreements for indebtedness to third parties incurred by former management, promissory notes issued as part of the purchase consideration for the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, indebtedness in place at the real estate entities we acquired in the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, payroll and other corporate expenses. expenses

Currently, our primary sources of cash have been from short-term borrowings and financings, which prospects have been hampered as a result of the uncertainty as to the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (which has led to disruption and volatility in the financial and real estate markets). And even though we have already taken measures to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on our business, including negotiating extensions or deferrals on outstanding debt and placing certain employees in impacted markets on furlough, there is no assurance that these efforts will be enough to supportcontinue supporting our daily operations in the near term without additional financing.

In additionWe applied for loans under the PPP and EIDL pursuant to the above-mentioned mitigating strategies, weCARES Act through the U.S. Small Business Association programs and received net proceeds of $979 in May 2020 and $150 in June 2019, respectively. We are consideringalso continuing to explore and actively pursuingpursue various types of financing alternatives, including financings that leverage unencumbered properties in our real estate portfolio and have applied for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (“EIDL”) pursuant to the recently enacted CARES Act through the U. S. Small Business Association programs. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain PPP or EIDL proceeds as a result of program limitations, our credit profile or other factors or that we will be able to secure additional financing on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.portfolio. We believe our debt and equity financing prospects will improve once we are current in our Exchange Act filings and we are able to resume trading on a national stock exchange or on an over-the-counter market, although no assurances can be provided in that regard either. And while we believe in the viability of our strategy to increase revenues and raise additional funds, we are unable to predict the impact of COVID-19 on our operations and liquidity, and depending on the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, such impact may be material.

 

Liquidity

 

DuringSources of liquidity in 2019 and 2018 included cash receipts from telecommunication service revenues, as well as funds from issuances of debt and equity securities in private financings. As of and during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, we incurred net losses of $46,592 and $92,083 and had an accumulated deficit of $190,072 and $174,632 and $128,040,incurred net losses of $15,440 and $46,592, respectively. On April 20, 2017,We expect our liquidity needs to include the payment of interest and principal on our indebtedness, capital expenditures, income taxes and other operating expenses. We use our cash inflows to manage the temporary increases in conjunction with the acquisition of Benchmark,cash demand and utilize our senior lender amended its existing credit facilityborrowings to provide for approximately $10,100 towards the cash purchase price and extension of the maturity date of the existing credit facility to March 31, 2019. Additionally, we incurred approximately $50,000 of debt as part of the Benchmark acquisition, of which $7,500 matured on October 20, 2018, which was paidmanage more significant fluctuations in full as of that date, and $12,500 which was to mature on April 20, 2019 and $30,000 which was to mature on April 20, 2020. All of the debt incurred in connection with the Benchmark acquisition was considered to be fully paid and satisfied as a result of the Benchmark Foreclosure, see Item 1. Business, “Recent Developments, Foreclosure.liquidity.

 

OtherFuture sources of liquidity could include additional potential public or private issuances of debt or equity securities in public or private financings.equity. However, there is no assurance that additional financing will be available ifwhen needed or that managementwe will be able to obtain and close financing on terms acceptable to us, or whether our anticipated future profitable and positive operating cash flow generated through itsour backlog and rents will coincide with itsour debt service requirements and debt maturity schedule. If we are unable to raise sufficient additional funds or generate positive operating cash flow when required, we may need to develop and implement a plan which may include but may not be limited to such measures as extending payables, renegotiating debt facilities, extending debt maturities, the sale of SFR assets and reducing overhead, until sufficient additional capital is raised to support further operations. There can be no assurance that such a plan will be successful.

 

Cash Flows

We expect our liquidity needs to include the payment of interest and principal on our indebtedness, capital expenditures, income taxes and other operating expenses. We use our cash inflows to manage the temporary increases (in cash demand and utilize our credit facility to manage more significant fluctuations in liquidity.thousands)

 

The following table summarizes our cash flow for 20182019 and 2017:2018:

 

 For Year Ended December 31,  For Year Ended December 31, 
 2018 2017 Increase (Decrease)  2019 2018 Increase (Decrease) 
    (As Restated)               
Net cash provided by (used in):                        
Operating activities $17,854  $3,960  $13,894   351% $(4,297) $17,854  $(22,151)  (124.1)%
Investing activities  (631)  (18,570) $17,939   (97)%  (6,841) (631) $(6,210) N/M*
Financing activities  (20,695)  28,840  $(49,535)  (22)%  1,108  (20,695) $21,803  (105.4)%
(Decrease) increase in cash $(3,472) $14,230  $(17,702)  (22)% $(10,030) $(3,472) $(6,558)  230.9%

 

*N/M – notNot meaningful

 

Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018

 

Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided byused in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2018 was $17,854 as compared to $3,960 for the year ended December 31, 2017.2019 was $4,297 as compared to net cash provided by $17,854 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The $13,894,unfavorable change in net cash from operating activities of $(22,151), or approximately 351% increase,(124.1)%, is mainly due to the following: i) the net $18,710 increase$(29,038) decrease in operating assets and liabilities, primarily due to the decrease in accounts payable of $(64,973) and decrease in accounts receivable of $45,461$28,578, as a result of the foreclosure of Benchmark, and ii) the net $(24,265) decrease in net loss,non-cash operating expenses, partially offset by a $50,307the decrease in non-operating expense add-backs.the net loss of $31,152.

 

Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, was $6,841 and 2017, decreased by $17,939 to $631, from $18,570, or approximately 97%.respectively, an increase in net cash used of $6,210. The changeincrease in the use of cash fromin investing activities was primarily due to the net cash paidreturned to Benchmark due to the foreclosure of $8,029 partially offset by the decrease in cash used for the acquisitionpurchase of Benchmark totaling $14,834 (cash paidproperty and equipment of $17,250 less$609 and payment of $250 for the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition , partially offset by the cash received of $2,416)$1,460 from the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition.

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $1,108 for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the decrease in capital expenditures of $3,105 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

Net2019 as compared to cash used in financing activities wasof $20,695 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to cash provided by financing activitiesa favorable change of $28,840 for$21,803. During the year ended December 31, 2017.2019, we received total cash proceeds of $21,772 and made total cash payments of $20,664 on the issuance of convertible notes and repayments of merchant credit agreements, senior notes and other payables. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we received total cash proceeds of $35,347 and made total cash payments of $63,434 on the issuance of convertible notes, merchant credit agreements and senior notes and other payables.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we received total cash proceeds of $31,408 and made total cash payments of $5,385$63,974 on convertible notes, merchant credit agreements, senior notes Series C notes and other notes payable.

During the years ended December 31, 2017payable and 2018, we made cash payments for deferred financing costs of $540 and $521, respectively. 

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, we received cashproceeds from the issuancesale of common stock of $7,370 and $562 from the exercise of common stock warrants of $7,932 and $3,338, respectively.warrants.

 

While it is often difficult for us to predict the impact of general economic conditions on our business, we believe that we will be able to meet our current and long-term cash requirements primarily through our operating cash flows and anticipate that we will be able to plan for and match future liquidity needs with future internal and available external resources.

 

We periodically seek to add growth initiatives by either expanding our network or our markets through organic or internal investments or through strategic acquisitions. We feel we can adjust the timing or the number of our initiatives according to any limitations which may be imposed by our capital structure or sources of financing.

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

On October 28, 2015, we entered into an $8,000 senior credit facility (“Facility”) with Lateral and certain other Lenders. The Facility had a two-year term, and interest payments(dollars in the amount of 12%, paid quarterly in arrears. Additionally, there is a “payment in kind” (“PIK”) provision providing a 4% per annum increase in the principal balance monthly. The Facility was secured by all of our assets.

On April 5, 2016, we entered into an amendment agreement (“Amendment No.1”) to the Facility, amending select provisions of the original credit agreement, including equity raises and changes to certain financial and operational covenants. On September 30, 2016, we entered into a second amendment agreement (“Amendment No. 2”) to consolidate a series of short-term bridge loans which were granted to us from time to time during the second and third quarters of 2016 into a $5,000 loan, with a maturity date of April 30, 2017, bearing interest at 12% and a PIK provision of 4%. Amendment No. 2 also amended certain covenants. During March 2017, the Company borrowed an additional $1,500 under the terms of the Facility, originally due April 30, 2017, but subsequently extended to March 31, 2019.

On April 20, 2017, as part of the Benchmark acquisition, the Facility was amended (“Amendment No. 3”) to provide for an additional $11,480 of which approximately $10,100 was applied to the cash purchase price and extended the maturity date of the Facility to March 31, 2019. We issued 256,801 shares of our common stock to the senior lender with a fair value of $5,649 as a term of Amendment No. 3. The value of the shares was recorded as a debt discount. During the year ended December 31, 2017, $2,048 was included in amortization of debt discount costs, and $3,601 remained unamortized as of December 31, 2017. Amendment No. 3 included certain covenants regarding debt coverage, EBITDA and revenue.

During April 2017, we incurred an extension fee of $480 to extend the terms of the Facility to March 31, 2019. This amount was added to the principal amount of the Facility and interest will accrue at stated rate of the Facility.

Additionally, in October and November 2017, we borrowed an additional $1,600 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019.

During December 2017, we incurred a $42 penalty related to loan non-compliance, which was added to the principal amount of the Facility and incurs interest under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019.

During January 2018, we received cash of $23 for a note under the terms of the facility and converted $867 in PIK interest and $110 in debt discount into principal, all due March 31, 2019.

During April 2018, we borrowed a total of $1,025 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019. We recognized an original issuance discount of $103 and deferred finance costs of $10 on the note.

During September 2018, we borrowed a total of $2,188 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019. The borrowing consisted of $1,949 in accrued interest conversion, an original issuance discount of $219 and fees of $20.

During October 2018, we borrowed $1,300 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019. The borrowing consisted of $1,170 in cash and an original issuance discount of $130.thousands)

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had several debt covenant violations primarily related to our various financing arrangements which were prohibited by the Facility, for which we received waivers from its lenders under the Facility.

As of December 31, 2018, total outstanding indebtedness under the Facility was $36,441. As of December 31, 2019, all indebtedness under the Facility was fully paid and discharged a result of the Benchmark Foreclosure.

See Part I — Item 1. Business, “Recent Developments,” for further information regarding the current status of the Facility and the underlying indebtedness.

Senior Secured Promissory Notes

 

On January 27, 2020, we issued two senior promissory notes to Benchmark, one in the principal amount of $4,129 and the other in the principal amount of $600 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”), each such note secured by all of our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith. The $4,129 note, which matures on December 1, 2020 and has an annual interest rate of 10%, obligates us to repay certain monies previously paid or transferred to us at the time of the Foreclosure Proposal, including (i) $3,000 in cash; (ii) two Working Capital Cash Payments totaling $600; and (iii) approximately $500$529 in cash remaining in a Benchmark bank account, was issued in consideration of a $6,000 reduction to the $28,000 Remaining Indebtedness.)Indebtedness). The $600 note, which has a maturity date of December 1, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%, was issued to evidence the loan advanced by Benchmark on January 10, 2020 in the principal amount of $300 and an additional $300 loan from Benchmark advanced on January 27, 2020.

On April 20, 2017, in conjunction with our acquisition of Benchmark, we issued convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $12,500 and promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000 to certain stockholders of Benchmark, which matured on April 20, 2020.Pursuant to the Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock on October 10, 2019, we were released from $19,000 in principal, leaving the remaining amount due, inclusive of interest and paid in-kind interest of $28,000 at December 31, 2019.In conjunction with the Senior Secured Promissory notes discussed above, the amount was given a reduction of in the balance, leaving a balance of approximately $22,000 as of the date of this filing.

 

On February 12, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $800, consisting of approximately $550 in expenses and advances previously made by Lateral on behalf of us and an additional $250 loan from Lateral. The $800 note is secured by all of our non-real estate assets pursuant to security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.

 

On February 27, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $75 for working capital purposes. The $75 note is secured by all of our non-real estate assets pursuant to security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.

 

On April 29, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $200 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. The note including interest was paid in full on May 8, 2020.

 

On July 22, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $100 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.

On August 3, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $250 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.

On August 21, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $150 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all the non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.

On October 1, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral Recovery, LLC in the principal amount of $300 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral Recovery, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of our Board of Directors.

VisionRental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition Promissory Notes and Notes Payable

 

On December 30, 2019, in conjunction with the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”), the parties amended the Agreement to, among other things, deliver $9,750 in promissory notes to the Szkaradeks’ in satisfaction of the cash portion of the purchase price under the Agreement. Accordingly, we issued $9,750 in promissory notes payable to the Szkaradeks’ with a January 31, 2020 maturity date , which date was extended to March 31, 2020 pursuant to a built in 60-day forbearance period and was further extended through January 1, 2021. As of the date of this filing, the Szkaradek Notes have not been repaid. See Part II, Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14 “Related Party.”

On December 30, 2019, in conjunction with our closing under the VisionAgreement, we assumed $51,564 in notes payable, secured by certain of our rental properties (the “Secured Notes Payable”). On July 1, 2020, we received a written notice of default (the “Notice of Default”) from Inmost Partners LLC, in its capacity as Noteholder Agent (“Inmost”) to issuer noteholders of the Secured Notes Payable, asserting that certain events of default had occurred with respect to certain Note Issuance and Purchase Agreements each dated as of July 10, 2017 by and among, inter alia, certain Entities we acquired, Inmost, and the issuer noteholders named therein (the “Note Purchase Agreements”). Specifically, Inmost claimed that (i) we failed to satisfy the loan-to-value test (the “LTV Test”) as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements and that (ii) we failed to obtain consent from the Noteholder Agent before transferring the equity interests of certain Entities to US Home Rentals (the “Equity Interest Transfer”) pursuant to the Rental Home Asset Purchase Agreement the parties amended the Vision Purchase Agreement to, among other things, allow the $9,750 balancedated December 20, 2019. The Notice of the cash portion of the purchase price to be paid in cash or short-term promissory notes. Accordingly, we issued $9,750 in promissory notes payable, due on or before March 31, 2020 as extendedDefault also includes certain demands by the forbearance period.Inmost for additional capital contributions by us and Guarantors. As of the date of this filing, there is $9,750 duewe have cured defaults associated with the LTV Test. Additionally, on these short-term promissory notes.November 3, 2020, Inmost granted its consent to the Equity Interest Transfer and rescinded the Default Notice in exchange for (i) a new guaranty agreement under which FTE Networks, Inc. and US Home Rentals LLC will jointly and severally guarantee the obligations of certain Entities under the Note Purchase Agreements, (ii) amendments to the Limited Liability Company Agreements for each of the subject Entities to provide for the appointment of a second manager of Noteholder Agent’s choosing, and (iii) amendments to the Note Purchase Agreements.

 

Convertible Notes Payable

 

During March 2018, we issued a convertible redeemable note in the principal amount of $2,315. The note was due September 2018, accrues interest at 4% per annum and was secured by shares of our common stock. The note is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a price equal to 50% of the lowest trading prices of our common stock during the prior twenty-one consecutive trading days. As of the date of this filing, the outstanding balance, including penalties and interest, is approximately $2,525,$2,522, which is past due. We are pursuing a settlement of all amounts due. See Part 1 Item 1. Business, Recent Developments 2019 Internal Investigation and Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

During September 2018, we issued a convertible redeemable note in the principal amount of $525. The note was due September 2019, accrues interest at 4% per annum and was secured by shares of our common stock. The note is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a price equal to 65% of the lowest trading prices of our common stock during the prior twenty-one consecutive trading days. As of the date of this filing, the outstanding balance including penalties and interest, is approximately $525$1,749 which is past due. We are pursuing a settlement of all amounts due.

See Part 1 Item 1. Business, Recent Developments 2019 Internal Investigation and Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

During March 2020, we issued a convertible redeemable note in the principal amount of $1,800. The note is due May 10, 2021, accrues interest at 6% per annum and is secured by shares of our common stock.a mortgage covering certain real property. The note is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a price equal to 66% of the average of the two lowest daily volume weighted average trading prices of our common stock during the prior twelve consecutive trading days. The outstanding balance is approximately $1,800 as of the date of this filing.

 

Between April and October 2019, we entered into settlement and release agreements with nine convertible note holders to settle thirteen convertible notes, whereby, we agreed to pay the holders a total of $5,511 in monthly payments through Jan 20112021 to settle all existing convertible note principal and interest amounts and remove any conversion features. The balance outstanding on these settlement agreements is approximately $3,042$3,335 as of the date of this filing.

 

Promissory Notes

 

During February 2019, Company signed a term note for $5,000, payable in monthly installments over twenty- two months bearing interest at a rate of 22% per annum. The term note has a balance of approximately $3,620 as of the date of this filing.

On AprilJuly 16, 2020, we issuedCobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by our interim CEO, loaned us $70 for working capital purposes, evidenced by a demand promissory notes,note in the principal amount of $100, for working capital.$70. The note is unsecured, due on demand, accruebears an annual interest at the rate of 10% per annum and was paid in full with interestmatures on May 8,November 15, 2020.

 

On July 31, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by our interim CEO loaned us $250 for working capital purposes, evidenced by a demand note in the principal amount of $250.The note bears annual interest of 10% and matures on November 15, 2020.

The Company is a party to pending legal proceedings arising out of certain of the foregoing loan arrangements. See Part I — Item 3. Legal Proceedings,” for further information regarding the Company’s pending legal proceedings.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

None.

 

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

FTE Networks, Inc. is a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Regulations S-K and as such, is not required to provide the information contained in this item pursuant to Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The financial statements required to be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K appear immediately following the signature page to this Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning on page F-1.

 

ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

On February 21, 2020, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors dismissed Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

The audit reports of Marcum on the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. Marcum did not provide a report on the Company’s financial statements during fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019, and the subsequent period through February 21, 2020, there were (i) no disagreements between the Company and Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused Marcum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in Marcum’s reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except as described below.

 

As previously reported in Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company on April 4, 2019 and June 13, 2019, Marcum had informed the Company that Marcum’s audit reports included in the Company’s previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and Marcum’s interim reviews of the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016, should no longer be relied upon. The Company identified a number of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as disclosed in Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2017, as well as several Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for quarterly periods during 2017 and 2018. The Audit Committee discussed these matters with Marcum.

On February 27, 2020, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approved the appointment of Turner, Stone & Company, L.L.P. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, as well as the year ending December 31, 2020.

 

ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Background

Prior to the filing of this Form 10-K, the Company has neither issued audited financial statements, nor filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, since our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Consequently, management previously had not evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures since September 30, 2018, or our internal controls over financial reporting since December 31, 2017. As disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2019, management’s and its former independent auditor’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 should no longer be relied upon.

As more fully explained in our Explanatory Note, the remedial measures undertaken in response to the Internal Investigation and the non-investigatory issues that were identified by current management and our independent auditor during the audit process, and the conclusions that our current management reached in its evaluations of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, are described below.

Notwithstanding the material weaknesses described with this item 9A, our management, including our interim Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that the consolidated financial statements and related financial information included in this Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Management’s belief is based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

The completion of the Audit Committee’s investigation and the substantial resources expended (including the use of external consultants) and the resulting adjustments we made to our previously issued financial statements, including the restatement of our fiscal year 2017 audited financial statements and our unaudited quarterly and year-to-date financial statements for March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017, September 31, 2017, March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018.
The subsequent identification by management and our independent auditor during the audit process of non-investigatory issues, leading to the adjustment of our previously issued and non-issued financial statements and our quarterly and year-to-date financial statements for December 31, 2016, March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017, September 31, 2017, March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018.
Based on the actions described above, we have updated, and in some cases corrected, our accounting policies and have applied those to our previously issued financial statements and to our fiscal year 2017 and 2018 financial statements; and
Certain remedial actions we have undertaken to address the identified material weaknesses, as discussed below.

Internal Investigation

On March 22, 2019, the Company announced the initiation of an independent investigation, based upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, consisting of independent legal and forensic accounting advisor was in the process of conducting an internal investigation of current and prior period matters relating to the issuance of certain securities purchase agreements with certain investors which the Company entered into, including the proper authorization to enter into these security purchase agreements and convertible notes, the creation and distribution of falsified security purchase agreements and corresponding convertible note documents to the internal accounting group, the resulting accounting treatment, financial reporting and internal controls related to such falsified documents. The Internal Investigation focused principally on security purchase agreements entered into by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. As a result of the investigation, the Company’s management proposed certain adjustments to previously reported financial statements related to fiscal quarters occurring during the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years of the Company.

The Company announced on April 2, 2019 that the Audit Committee, following a communication by Marcum, concluded that previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and interim reviews of the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017, should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion to prevent future reliance on the aforementioned financial statements resulted from the determination that such financial statements failed to properly account for certain security purchase agreements, convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities. Specifically, the Company identified a potential issue related to the accounting related to certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities the Company issued in 2017, 2018, and during January of 2019.

On June 11, 2019, the Audit Committee, following a communication by Marcum, concluded that the Company’s previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and completed interim reviews for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016 should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion on June 11, 2019 to add the aforementioned 2016 financial statements to those statements which should no longer be relied upon resulted from determinations made as part of the Company’s ongoing restatement effort that certain items, including revenues originally recognized in 2016, should no longer be recognized.

The investigatory adjustments are further discussed in Note 2, “Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, located in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Non-Investigatory Adjustments Identified During the Audit Process

During the audit process, financial reporting issues were identified by current management, including our new interim Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), which were unrelated to the internal investigation and which resulted in further adjustments to the Company’s previously issued or prior fiscal years’ unissued financial statements. These issues were due to the lack of supporting evidence and authorizations for various historical accounting journal entries or accounting policies, failure to adequately and consistently complete the financial integration of Benchmark, and the inadequate performance of our internal controls during the 2017 and 2018 fiscal year.

The non-investigatory adjustments are further discussed in Note 2, “Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, located in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The current interim Chief Executive Officer and current interim Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the Company’sWe maintain disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018. Based on this evaluation, they conclude(as that because of the material weaknessesterm is defined in our internal control over financial reporting discussed below, the disclosure controlsRules 13a-15(e) and procedures were not effective as required under Rule 13a-15(e)15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Disclosure controls and procedures1934 (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to ensureprovide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in theour reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’sU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and to ensure that such information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company’sour management, including its principalour interim chief executive officer (“CEO”) and principalinterim chief financial officers, or persons performing similar functions,officer (“CFO”) as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

In connection with the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including our CEO and CFO, as of December 31, 2019, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that as of December 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because of the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below.

Notwithstanding the existence of the material weaknesses described below, management performed additional analysis and other procedures to ensure that our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, management believes that the consolidated financial statements and disclosures included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly present, in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

 

Management’s Assessment ofManagement Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The Company’s ManagementOur management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in the 2013Internal Control-Integrated Frameworkissued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, Management has determined that our internal control over financial reporting waswere not effective as of December 31, 2018,2019, and the periods covered under this Annual Report on Form 10-K due to the material weaknesses described below.

 

Disclosure controls are procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Principal ExecutiveCEO and Accounting Officer,CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Internal controls are procedures which are designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that (1) our transactions are properly authorized, recorded and reported; and (2) our assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use, to permit the preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States generally accepted accounting principles.

of America.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

The Company’s management assessedManagement, under the supervision of our CEO and CFO, and oversight of the board of directors, conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission’s 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on its assessment, as well as factors identified during the Audit Committee investigation, Internal Investigation and subsequent audit process, management has concluded that that our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, were not effective due2019, based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control–Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO 2013 Framework). Based on this assessment, management has identified deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that contributed to the existence of theidentified material weaknesses described below  :

We lacked sufficient controls over the bank accounts and disposition and transfer of properties acquired from the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition to protect the company’s assets from misappropriation by third parties;

We lacked a sufficient number of resources with assigned responsibility and accountability to ensure the application of generally accepted accounting principles and financial reporting and related internal controls over complex, significant non-routine transactions and routine transactions, which includes the integration of US Home Rentals LLC ;

We did not have an effective risk assessment process to identify and analyze changes in business operations resulting from complex, significant non-routine transactions and, in turn, completeness and adequacy of required disclosures;

We did not have an effective internal and external information and communication process to ensure that relevant and reliable information was communicated timely across the organization, to enable financial personnel to effectively carry out their financial reporting and internal control roles and responsibilities; and

The Company did not design, implement and operate effective monitoring activities over account reconciliations, review and approval of manual journal entries, significant non-routine transaction such as troubled debt restructuring or the asset foreclosure and the timely preparation of financial statements.

The control deficiencies create a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Therefore, we concluded that these control deficiencies are material weaknesses and our internal control over financial reporting described below from the former Board and senior management.

is not effective as of December 31, 2019.

 

Material Weaknesses IdentifiedManagement’s Remediation Plan

We have taken steps to enhance our internal control over financial reporting and Remedial Measures Implemented Based Upon Internal Investigation and Management Findingsplan to take additional steps to remediate the material weaknesses. Specifically, the following:

 

1.LackManagement has closed a significant number of the acquired bank accounts and opened new accounts which require review and approval of disbursements and (2) approvers signatures. Management believes this process will be complete by the December 31, 2020. Management is in the process of setting the proper Board authorizationauthorizations and approvals for the entry into security purchase agreementsdisposition and issuancetransfer of the corresponding convertible notes and warrants;
2.Lack of Board and senior management oversight and adherence to processes  resulting in the misuse of company funds for personal expenses by the former senior management;
3.Lack of Board and senior management oversight and adherence to processes resulting in the non-reporting or improper recording of related party transactions;
4.Override of accounting policies by senior management in the proper recognition of revenue; and
5

Senior management did not follow policies with regards to the proper authorization of compensation, deferred salary and certain payroll transactions, including non-reporting payroll taxes.

assets.

 

Management will review the assignment of roles and responsibilities of accounting personnel to ensure the proper matching of technical accounting skills to complex non-routine transactions and financial reporting requirements to ensure our financial reporting objectives are met.

As previously reported,

Management will document and assess key policies and internal control procedures to strengthen our identification of and accounting for complex, significant non-routine transactions and routine transactions.

Management will ensure key process owners and other relevant personnel are adequately trained on our financial reporting processes and internal controls to ensure such processes and controls are performed timely and supported with adequate documentation evidencing control performance.

Management will enhance internal communication processes through the formalization of internal control documentation and related documentation standards.

Management will formalize and strengthen our oversight and monitoring controls to assess the effective functioning of controls over all components and functional areas of the organization and to monitor compliance with policies and procedures.

Our management will continue to monitor and as more fully described below,evaluate the current Board determined to implement significant remedial measures to address the findingseffectiveness of the Internal Investigation. The Company has substantially completed the implementation of the remedial measures as identified in the Internal Investigation and believes that the implementation of these measures will effectively address the tonal issues identified by the Internal Investigation and provide for a sustained culture of compliance.

The Company has also taken numerous remedial actions in response to the findings of the Internal Investigation and Non-Investigatory Adjustments Identified During the Audit Process. Most notably, the Company has made dramatic changes to its management team, completely replacing senior management, including Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem as well as its former Board of Directors. The Company has also restated its financial statements for fiscal year 2017 and the periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2018 and 2017. The restatement corrects the improperly recognized revenue identified by the Internal Investigation and accounts for the embedded derivatives contained in the convertible notes. In addition, the Company has taken significant steps to improve its policiesour internal controls and procedures and our internal controls relatingover financial reporting on an ongoing basis and is committed to among other things,taking further action and implementing additional enhancements or improvements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the following: (i) tracking, approvingrisk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations and disclosing all issuances of equityvulnerabilities. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and debt, (ii) its expense reimbursement policy and (iii) tracking, approving and disclosing related party transactions.presentation.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Other than describedExcept for the material weaknesses discussed above in thethis Item 9A Controls and Procedures,that were identified in the fourth quarter (and that arose in an earlier period), there has beenwere no changechanges in our internal control over financial reporting in our most recent fiscalduring the fourth quarter of 2019 that hashave materially affected, or isare reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. Other Information.

 

None.

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

As ofFor the Fiscal YearsYear Ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 20172019

Set forth below is information regarding the executive officers and directors for each of the fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:2019:

 

Name Age Titles
Michael Palleschi 44 Former Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board
David Lethem 61 Former Chief Financial Officer
Lynn Martin 52 Former Chief Operating Officer
Luisa Ingargiola 52 Former Director and Audit Committee Chair
Christopher Ferguson 52 Former Director and Compensation Committee Chair
Patrick O’Hare 52 Former Director and Nominating and Corporate Governance Chair
Brad Mitchell 60 Former Director
Fred Sacramone 50 Former Director and Former Interim Chief Executive Officer
James Shiah60Former Director and Audit Committee Chair
Stephen Berini71Former Director
Irving Rothman73Former Director and Compensation Committee Chair
Jeanne Kingsley51Former Director
Richard Omanoff78Former Director and Nominating and Corporate Governance Chair

 

41

As of the filing of this Annual Report

 

Set forth below is information regarding our current executive officers and directors as of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

 

Name Age Titles Date of Appointment
Michael P. Beys 48 Interim Chief Executive Officer, President and Director 

October 18, 2019 as Director

December 11, 2019 as Interim CEO

Munish Bansal49CEO of US Home Rentals LLC and CEO-Elect of FTE Networks, Inc.September 25, 2020 as CEO of US Home Rentals LLC
Ernest J. Scheidemann 5960 InterimChief Financial Officer May 5, 2020
Richard de Silva 47 Director October 18, 2019
Peter Ghishan 42 Director and Compensation Committee Chair October 18, 2019
Joseph Cunningham 72 Director and Audit Committee Chair October 18, 2019

Michael Palleschi,Former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board(resigned from the Board on May 11, 2019 and terminated as CEO on May 13, 2019)

Michael Palleschi served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors from January 2014 to May 2019. From June 2007 through 2010, he was the Director of Infrastructure Services for a South Florida facilities-based telecommunications company start-up. From 2000 through 2007, he held several Senior Management positions at Level 3 Communications in New York and Georgia. Mr. Palleschi has also held several Senior Management/Executive roles at major telecommunications companies such as Qwest Communications and MCI. Mr. Palleschi received a degree in Engineering and Business Management for The State University of New York.

David Lethem,Former Chief Financial Officer(resigned on March 12, 2019)

David Lethem served as the Company’s CFO from June 2014 to March 2019. Prior to joining FTE, Mr. Lethem was the Director of Finance and Audit for Audit Management Solutions, Incorporated from November of 2007 to April 2014. He was responsible for the financial, operational, and audit management of both public and private companies working in the banking, telecommunications, mobile marketing, manufacturing, and finance sectors. Mr. Lethem received his BA from the University of Dubuque and MBA from California Coast University. His is also holds the following certifications, CIA and CRMA.

Lynn Martin,Former Chief Operating Officer(resigned on January 25, 2019)

Lynn Martin served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer from September 2016 to January 2019. Prior to joining FTE, Mr. Martin was Senior Vice President of the communications, software, and technology division of Nexius where he was responsible for growing the business by delivering end-to-end network solutions for emerging technologies, such as Open Source/NFV/SDN and infrastructure services that provided relevant value to customers and helped them to optimize their businesses. Mr. Martin also served as Executive Director of Telcordia Technologies, managing the company’s next generation software product line, a senior strategist in Accenture’s Network Practice, and as Vice President of Operational Integration and Process Management at Level 3 Communications for more than 10 years.

Luisa Ingargiola,Former Director and Audit Committee Chair(resigned as Audit Chair on May 13, 2019 and resigned as a Director on May 29, 2019)

Luisa Ingargiola served as director of the Company’s board and chair of the audit committee from February 2016 to May 2019. Ms. Ingargiola previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for Magne Gas, a NASDAQ listed technology company, which produces a plasma-based system for the gasification and sterilization of liquid waste. Ms. Ingargiola also served as a director for The JBF Foundation Worldwide and CES Synergies, Inc., where she served as the audit chair. Prior to joining Magne Gas, Ms. Ingargiola worked as a Budget and Expense Manager for MetLife Insurance Company. In this capacity, she managed a $30,000,000 annual budget. Her responsibilities included budget implementation, expense and variance analysis and financial reporting. Ms. Ingargiola previously served as a director and audit chair for CBD Energy Limited in 2014. Ms. Ingargiola received BA from Boston University and MA from the University of South Florida.

Christopher Ferguson,Former Director and Compensation Committee Chair(resigned as Compensation Chair on May 13, 2019 and resigned as a Director on May 29, 2019)

Christopher Ferguson served as a director of the Company’s board and chair of the compensation committee from February 2016 to May 2019. Mr. Ferguson serves as the Managing Director of Tern Capital Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm founded by Mr. Ferguson in 2013. In 2010, Mr. Ferguson co-founded a company in the fiber network industry, and he served as CEO of the company until June 2013. In addition to his duties at Tern Capital, Mr. Ferguson serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Pennsylvania Youth Theater, a non-profit children’s theater based in Bethlehem, PA, and as a member of the non-profit organization Embrace Your Dreams, which teaches life skills to at risk children through golf and tennis programs. In August 2001, Mr. Ferguson co-founded Mercer, a provider of innovative workforce management solutions to a variety of industries including transportation and engineering, with co-founder, Michael Traina. Prior to founding Mercer, Mr. Ferguson and former New Jersey Governor, James J. Florio, co-founded The Florio Group, a private equity investment company. In addition, Mr. Ferguson served as Chief Financial Officer for Cabot Marsh Corporation in 1995 and remained as a director for the company until 1999. Mr. Ferguson has been a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars since 1994. He received a J.D. from Widener University School of Law in May and BA from Villanova University.

Patrick O’Hare,Former Director and Nominating and Corporate Governance Chair(resigned on May 29, 2019)

Patrick O’Hare served as a director of the Company’s board and chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee from March 2016 to May 2019. Mr. O’Hare has over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry and is currently the Senior Vice President of Operations at ZenFi Networks, Inc. where he is responsible for network planning, engineering, operations, and service delivery. Prior to ZenFi, Mr. O’Hare was the Senior Vice President of Operations and Engineering at Sidera Networks where he led all operations, service delivery and engineering functions and was instrumental in the company’s acquisition by Berkshire Partners. Previously, he was Vice President of Field Operations for Zayo Bandwidth, where he was responsible for all aspects of field operations and the company’s fiber to the tower deployments. Prior to that, Mr. O’Hare was Vice President for Field Operations for Level 3 Communications, where he was responsible for all field operations for the East region of North America. During his tenure at Level 3, Mr. O’Hare also held responsibility nationally for the company’s Customer Program Management organization. Before joining Level 3, he held several management positions of increasing responsibility at Verizon’s predecessor companies; New York Telephone, NYNEX and Bell Atlantic. Mr. O’Hare received an MBA from Long Island University and a BA from the State University of New York - University at Albany.

Brad Mitchell,Former Director(resigned on May 29, 2019)

Brad Mitchell served as a director of the Company’s board from February 2016 to May 2019. Mr. Mitchell serves as President of TelePacific Communications Texas, where he is responsible for TelePacific’s operations across the state of Texas. Mr. Mr. Mitchell returned to TelePacific after previously serving as Senior Vice President - Field Operations and was instrumental in creating TelePacific’s customer-centric structure by leading the TelePacific’s sales operations during TelePacific’s early years. Prior to TelePacific, Mr. Mitchell served as Area Vice President at Sprint PCS, where he launched and operated several markets in the southeast, including New Orleans and Atlanta. More recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Cable & Wireless’ International Accounts. Mr. Mitchell received a BA from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta.

Fred Sacramone,Former Director and Former Interim CEO, (resigned on October 18, 2019)

Fred Sacramone served as a director of the Company’s board from April 2017 (following the Company’s acquisition of Benchmark Builders, Inc. in April 2017) to October 2019. He was also appointed by the Board to serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer from June 2019 to October 2019, until a new Board was constituted in October 2019. Mr. Sacramone was a co-founder of Benchmark in 2008, and served as the company’s president, continuing in that role following the transaction with FTE while becoming a member of the FTE Networks Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. Sacramone held senior roles in project management, overseeing large and complex projects, including work for Rockefeller Group, Simpson Thatcher, Trinity Real Estate, Del Friscos, Depository Trust, and NBC. He received a BBA from the University of Massachusetts.

 

Michael P. Beys, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Mr. Beys is a partner with the law firm Beys Liston & Mobargha LLP, which he founded in 2009. He focuses his practice on federal criminal defense, complex commercial litigation and real estate litigation. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Beys served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where he was the lead counsel in over 100 federal prosecutions and investigations involving racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, narcotics trafficking, violent crimes and terrorism. Mr. Beys is also currently a director of Secure Property Development & Investment, PLC, a publicly listed (London’s AIM) owner and operator of commercial and industrial properties in Eastern Europe. In 2005, he co-founded Aristone Capital, a real estate investment firm which provided mezzanine debt financing to New York area real estate developers. In 1999, he founded Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., a real-estate development business which has invested in, or actively managed, numerous conversion and new construction projects in downtown Manhattan. Mr. Beys received a B.A. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

 

Munish Bansal, Chief Executive Officer of US Home Rentals LLC; CEO-Elect of FTE Networks, Inc.

Mr. Bansal was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of US Home Rentals LLC, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary on September 25, 2020. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Bansal will transition to the role of Chief Executive Officer of FTE Networks, Inc. following the resumption of trading of the Company’s common stock on an over-the-counter market. Mr. Bansal previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Home Partners of America, a single-family rental real estate investment trust, from May 2016 to June 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Bansal served as the portfolio manager and Treasurer for the JP Morgan Chase Mortgage business unit. Mr. Bansal received a B.E.E. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India and an M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India.

Ernest J. Scheidemann, Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

Mr. Scheidemann was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer on May 5, 2020. Mr. Scheidemann was the CFO of Benchmark from April 2017 through November 2018. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Scheidemann was CFO of a private global software company. Prior to that, Mr. Scheidemann was the Treasurer and CFO of WCI Communities, a $2.0 billion publicly traded homebuilder from 2004 to 2008 and held various progressive finance and accounting leadership roles with AT&T Corp from 1984 through 1999. Mr. Scheidemann is a Certified Public Accountant. He holds a Certified Global Management Accountant and Certified Financial Forensics designation issued from the American Institute of CPAs. Mr. Scheidemann received a BAB.A. in Accounting from William Paterson University and MBAM.B.A. in Finance and International Business from Seton Hall University.

 

Richard de Silva, Director

Mr. de Silva serves as Managing Partner of Lateral Investment Management, LLC, a California-based credit and growth equity firm, which he joined in 2014. Mr. De Silva is responsible for leading the day to day investment activities and operations of the firm, which include investment origination, underwriting, asset management and fundraising. Mr. de Silva was previously a General Partner at Highland Capital Partners, a private equity firm. He joined Highland in 2003 and focused on investments in growth-stage technology companies. Mr. de Silva has also held operating roles in several companies as an entrepreneur and senior executive including as co-founder of IronPlanet, a marketplace for construction equipment. He received a B.A. from Harvard College, a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from Cambridge University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

 

42

Peter Ghishan, Director and Compensation Committee Chair

 

Mr. Ghishan is a partner at CPNV, a global real estate development and construction firm based in Nevada. Mr. Ghishan began his career as an attorney working for a regional media holding company based in Las Vegas from August 2002 to February 2005. In February 2005, Mr. Ghishan moved to real estate full time with Andiamo Ventures, LLC, where through September 2009, he developed nearly $10,000,000 in residential projects in Lake Tahoe, overseeing all aspects of development project underwriting, financing, negotiating all entitlements, construction management and sales oversight. In his role as a commercial real estate broker with Commercial Partners of Nevada from February 2007 to June of 2018, Peter assisted a number of developers, lenders and investors in their acquisition and disposition of more than $50,000,000 in commercial real estate assets. Mr. Ghishan received a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law. Mr. Ghishan holds his New Mexico, California, and Nevada real estate broker licenses and is an active member of the State Bar of Nevada and an inactive member of the State Bars of Arizona, California, and Montana.

 

Joseph Cunningham, Director and Audit Committee Chair

 

Mr. Cunningham serves as President of Liberty Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, a private mortgage lender arranging commercial mortgage-backed securities and bridge financing, which he co-founded in 1992. In 2009, Mr. Cunningham co-founded Renew Lending, Inc., a residential mortgage banking firm. Mr. Cunningham left the firm in 2017. Prior to 2009, Mr. Cunningham served as Chief Operating Officer of Colwell Financial Corporation, where he was responsible for all divisions including residential production, secondary marketing, construction lending, joint ventures, commercial real estate brokerage, loan servicing, insurance, underwriting, personnel, REO, finance and administration, and legal activities. Mr. Cunningham also previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Granite Financial Corporation, a boutique mortgage banking firm. Earlier in his career, Mr. Cunningham practiced as a CPA in the Boston office of PwC. Mr. Cunningham received a B.S. in Accounting from Boston College.

 

Term of Office

 

Our directorsDirectors are appointed for a one-year term to hold office until the next annual general meeting of our stockholders or until removed from office in accordance with our bylaws. Our officers are appointed by our board of directors and hold office until removed by the board.Board.

 

All current officers and directorsDirectors will remain in office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. There are no agreements with respect to the election of Directors.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among the Company’s current directorsDirectors or officers.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

During the past ten (10) years, none of our current officers have been involved in any legal proceeding that are material to the evaluation of their ability or integrity relating to any of the items set forth under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K. None of our current officers is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any material proceeding or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our securities (“Reporting Persons”), to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. To our knowledge, and based solely on our review of the reports electronically filed by the Reporting Persons, the Company believes that all reports of securities ownership and changes in such ownership required to be filed during the yearsyear ended December 31, 2018 and 20172019 were timely filed, except that one Form 4 for each of the following:following former directors was not timely filed, in each case with respect to shares they received in connection with their respective separation agreements: Luisa Ingargiola, Christopher Ferguson, Patrick O’Hare, and Brad Mitchell and one Form 3 and one Form 4 by TTP8, LLC.

 

  December 31, 2018  December 31, 2017 
Name Number of Late Insider Reports  Transactions Not Timely Reported  

Known

Failures

  Number of Late Insider Reports  Transactions Not Timely Reported  Known Failures
Michael Palleschi, (D,O)(1)  1   1   1 (Form 5)        1(Form 5)
David
Lethem (O)(2)
  1   1   1 (Form 5)        1 (Form 5)
Lynn
Martin (O)(3)
        1 (Form 5)        1(Form 5)
Kirstin
Gooldy (O)(4)
                1 (Form 5)
Anthony Sirotka (O)(5)  1   1   1 (Form 5)        1 (Form 5)
Brian McMahon (10%)(6)        1 (Form 5)        
Fred Sacramone (D)(7)         1 (Form 5)         
Christopher Ferguson (D)(8)        1(Form 5)        1(Form 5)
Luisa Ingargiola (D)(9)  2   2   1  (Form 5)        2 (Form 3 and Form 5)
Patrick
O’Hare (D)(10)
  2   2   1(Form 5)        1 (Form 5)
Brad
Mitchell (D)(11)
  1   1   1 (Form 5)        1 (Form 5)
TLP Investments LLC (10%)(12)     1            1 (Form 5)

(1)In 2016, Mr. Palleschi failed to file five (5) reports on Form 4 disclosing the issuance of certain shares of Series F Preferred stock and shares of common stock. He also failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017 and one (1) report on Form 4 in 2018 in respect of certain common stock issuances. Mr. Palleschi did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(2)In 2016, Mr. Lethem failed to file five (5) reports on Form 4 disclosing the issuance of certain shares of Series F Preferred stock and shares of common stock. He also failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017 and one (1) report on Form 4 in 2018 disclosing the issuance of certain shares of common stock. Mr. Lethem did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(3)Mr. Martin failed to file four (4) reports on Form 4 disclosing the issuance of certain shares of common stock in 2016 and failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017. Mr. Martin did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017 or 2018.
(4)Ms. Gooldy failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2016 and failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017. Ms. Gooldy did not file a Form 5 within the required time frame for any of the foregoing transactions to regain compliance in 2017, or 2018 or 2019.
(5)Mr. Sirotka failed to file three (3) reports on Form 4 in 2016, failed to file two (2) reports on Form 4 in 2017, and failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2018, disclosing the issuance of certain shares of Series F Preferred stock and common stock. Mr. Sirotka did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(6)Mr. McMahon failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017 to disclose a grant of stock options. Mr. McMahon did not file a Form 5 for the foregoing transaction within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2018 or 2019.
(7)Mr. Sacramone failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017 to disclose a grant of stock options. Mr. Sacramone did not file a Form 5 for the foregoing transaction within the required time frame; however, he did file a Form 5 on February 14, 2019 to report the issuance.
(8)Mr. Ferguson failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2016 to disclose the conversion of certain shares of Series F Preferred stock into shares of common stock and one (1) report on Form 4 in 2017 to disclose the issuance of certain shares of common stock. Mr. Ferguson did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(9)In 2016, Ms. Ingargiola failed to file one (1) Form 3following her appointment as a director; she failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to disclose the conversion of certain shares of Series F Preferred Stock into shares of common stock; and failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to report the issuance of certain shares of common stock. In 2017, Ms. Ingargiola failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to disclose the issuance of certain shares of common stock. In 2018, Ms. Ingargiola failed to file two (2) reports on Form 4 to disclose the issuance of certain shares of common stock. Ms. Ingargiola did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(10)In 2016, Mr. O’Hare failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to disclose the conversion of certain shares of Series F Preferred Stock in shares of common stock. In 2017, Mr. O’Hare failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to disclose the issuance of certain shares of common stock. In 2018, Mr. O’Hare failed to file two (2) reports on Form 4 to report the issuance of certain shares of common stock. Mr. O’Hare did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(11)In 2016, Mr. Mitchell failed to file two (2) reports on Form 4 to disclose the conversion of certain shares of Series F Preferred Stock into shares of common stock and the issuance of certain other shares of common stock. In 2017, Mr. Mitchell failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to disclose the issuance of certain shares of common stock. In 2018, Mr. Mitchell failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 to disclose the issuance of certain shares of common stock. Mr. Mitchell did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
(12)TLP investments LLC failed to file two (2) reports on Form 4 in 2016 and failed to file one (1) report on Form 4 in 2018. TLP did not file a Form 5 for any of the foregoing transactions was within the required time frame to regain compliance in 2017, 2018 or 2019.

4243
 

 

Code of Ethics

 

Each of the Company’s directors and employees, including its executive officers, are required to conduct themselves in accordance with ethical standards set forth in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Board of Directors on January 5, 2015, superseding the prior code of ethics filed as Exhibi1 14.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on January 13, 2009.2015.

 

A copy of the Company’s current Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website atwww.ftenet.comwww.ftenet.com.and is attached as Exhibit 14.4 to this Annual Report.

 

Director Nominations

 

We made no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors.

 

Audit Committee

 

Our Board has a separately designated standing audit committee, established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. It is governed by a charter, a copy of which is available on our website,www.ftenet.com. The current members of the audit committee are Joseph Cunningham (Chair) and Peter Ghishan each of whom is considered “independent” under the rules of the SEC and the listing standards of NYSE American.SEC. Each member of our audit committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements in accordance with audit committee requirements and our board of directors has determined that Mr. Cunningham is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, based upon past employment experience in finance and other business experience requiring accounting knowledge and financial sophistication. Our Board also has a standing compensation and nominating and corporate governance committee, comprised as set forth in the table below:

 

Audit Committee Compensation Committee Nominating and Governance Committee
Joseph Cunningham* Peter Ghishan* Joseph Cunningham
Peter Ghishan Joseph Cunningham Peter Ghishan
* Chairperson of the committee    

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to compensation, in accordance with Regulation S-K, for the years ended December 31, 2019 2018 and 20172018 paid to all who served as our chief executive officer and our two most highly compensated executive officers, other than our chief executive officer, whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 (the “named executive officers” or “NEO’s”), including the aggregate fair value of large grants of common stock issued to certain NEO’s. Some of these shares of common stock have either been cancelled and returned to shares to be issued for lack of Board authorization or are the subject matter of a judicial action seeking their return.

See Part 1 Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal   Salary(1)  Bonus  Stock awards  Stock options  All other compensation  Total 
Position Year $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Michael Palleschi,Former Chief Executive Officer 2019  58,192            51,761   109,953(2)
  2018  1,164,572   850,000   16,278,843      2,623,370   20,916,785(3)
  2017  255,962      1,726,331       821,432   2,803,725(4)
                           
David Lethem,Former Chief Financial Officer 2019  91,163               53,211   144,374(5)
  2018  282,692       3,564,798       741,676   4,589,166(6)
  2017  166,154       954,663       169,917   1,290,734(7)
                           
Lynn Martin,Former Chief Operating Officer 2019  48,660       138,979           187,639(8)
  2018  356,731               395,400   752,132(9)
  2017  291,268               23,343   314,611(10)
                           
Anthony Sirotka,Former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer 2019  351,346   150,000         22,188   504,304(11)
  2018  486,538      3,565,150      136,457   4,188,145(12)
  2017  193,269      302,025      78,112   573,406(13)
                           
Fred Sacramone,Former Chief Executive Officer 2019  173,077            11,094   184,171(14)
                           
Stephen Goodwin,Former Chief Executive Officer 2019  18,469                18,469(15)
                           
Michael P. Beys,Current Chief Executive Officer 2019                  (16)
Name and Principal    Salary(1)  Bonus  Stock awards  Stock options  All other compensation  Total 
Position Year  $  $  $  $  $  $ 
Michael Palleschi, Former Chief Executive Officer 2019   58,192            51,761   109,953(2)
  2018   1,164,572   850,000   16,278,843      2,623,370   20,916,785(3)
                            
David Lethem, Former Chief Financial Officer 2019   91,163               53,211   144,374(4)
  2018   282,692       3,564,798       741,676   4,589,166(5)
                            
Lynn Martin, Former Chief Operating Officer 2019   48,660       138,979           187,639(6)
  2018   356,731               395,400   752,132(7)
                            
Anthony Sirotka, Former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer 2019   351,346   150,000         22,188   504,304(8)
  2018   486,538      3,565,150      136,457   4,188,145(9)
                            
Fred Sacramone, Former Chief Executive Officer 2019   173,077            11,094   184,171(10)
                            
Stephen Goodwin, Former Chief Executive Officer 2019   18,469                18,469(11)
                            
Michael P. Beys, Current Chief Executive Officer 2019                   (12)

 

(1)Amounts reflect net salary (pro-rated in some instances) paid for the respective fiscal year.
(2)Mr. Palleschi’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2019 included: (i) a net salary of $58,192, pro-rated to reflect actual time served; and (ii) approximately $51,761 in perquisites, including automobile and storage allowances. Mr. Palleschi was placed on leave without pay on January 19, 2019 and was subsequently terminated as CEO on May 13, 2019. On April 9, 2019, Mr. Palleschi served the Company with a demand for arbitration alleging a breach of his employment agreement and seeking approximately $11,300,000 in damages. The Company is vigorously contesting the allegations and its liability for any damages.damages and has filed defenses and counterclaims in respect of same. The arbitration is currently pending in the stateState of Florida.
(3)Mr. Palleschi’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2018 included:

a.A net salary of $1,164,572;$1,164,572 and $2,623,370 in perquisites, including health, life, dental, disability and vision benefits, automobile and storage allowances, private jet services, personal security, and certain other personal expenses. These and other forms of compensation are in dispute and are the subject of the pending arbitration;
b.A purported bonus of $850,000 which was paid in 850 shares of Series A Preferred Stock;
c.905,770 shares of Company common stock issued on or about August 24, 2018 to TLP Investments, LLC (an entity controlled by Mr. Palleschi and/or his spouse) with a fair value of $12,217,931 and 400,524 shares of Company common stock issued on or about October 11, 2018 to Mr. Palleschi with a fair value of $4,060,912. The Company’s board of directors nullified the foregoing issuances to Mr. Palleschi and related parties and is presently engaged in litigation to secure their return to shares to be issued); and
d.$2,623,370 in perquisites, including health, life, dental, disability and vision benefits, automobile and storage allowances, private jet services, personal security, and certain other personal expenses.

(4)Mr. Palleschi’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2017 included: (i) a net salary of $255,962; (ii) approximately $821,432 in perquisites, including health, life, dental, disability, and vision benefits, automobile and storage allowances, private jet services, and certain other personal expenses; and (iii) 69,053 shares of Company common stock issued on or about March 17, 2017 with a fair value of $1,726,331.
(5)Mr. Lethem’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2019 included: (i) a net salary of $91,163, pro-rated to reflect actual time served; (ii) approximately $53,211 in perquisites, including a vehicle allowance and certain other personal expenses.
(6)(5)Mr. Lethem’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2018 included: (i) a net salary of $282,692; (ii) approximately $741,676 in perquisites, including health, life, dental, disability, and vision benefits, private jet services, automobile allowance, payments to him and his spouse, and certain other personal expenses; and (iii) 351,558 shares of Company common stock issued on or around October 11, 2018 with a fair value of $3,564,798.
(7)Mr. Lethem’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2017 included: (i) a net salary of $166,154; (ii) approximately $169,917 in perquisites, including health, life, dental, disability, and vision benefits, private jet services, an automobile allowance, payments to him and his spouse, and certain other personal expenses; and (iii) 38,187 shares of Company common stock issued on or around March 17, 2017 with a fair value of $954,663.

(8)(6)Mr. Martin’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2019 included: (i) a net salary of $48,660, pro-rated to reflect actual time served as Chief Operating Officer; and (ii) 40,063 shares of Company common stock issued on or around January 8, 2019 with a fair value of $139,019. Mr. Martin resigned as Chief Operating Officer on January 25, 2019.
(9)(7)Mr. Martin’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2018 included: (i) a net salary of $356,731; and (ii) approximately $395,400 in perquisites including medical, dental, and vision benefits and other wages and advances.
(10)Mr. Martin’s total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2017 included: (i) a net salary of $271,154; and (ii) $43,457 in perquisites including medical, dental, and vision benefits and other advances.
(11)(8)Mr. Sirotka served as interim CEO from January 19, 2019 until his resignation on October 2, 2019, during which time his compensation included (i) a net salary of $351,346, pro-rated to reflect actual time served; (ii) $22,188.60 in perquisites, including medical, dental and vision benefits; and (iii) a $150,000 bonus in consideration for providing a personal guaranty on certain Company debts.
(12)(9)Prior to serving as interim CEO, Mr. Sirotka served as the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Mr. Sirotka’s total compensation for his service as CAO for the year ended December 31, 2018 included: (i) a net salary of $486,538; (ii) $136,457 in perquisites, including medical, dental, and vision benefits, an automobile allowance, and certain other personal expenses; and (iii) 351,558 shares of Company common stock issued on or around October 11, 2018 with a fair value of $3,565,150.$3,565,150, which Mr. Sirotka returned in 2019.
(13)Mr. Sirotka’s total CAO compensation for the year ended December 31, 2017 included: (i) a net salary of $193,269; (ii) $78,112 in perquisites, including medical, dental, and vision benefits, an automobile allowance, and certain other personal expenses; and (iii) 12,081 shares of Company common stock issued on or around October 11, 2018 with a fair value of $302,025.
(14)(10)Mr. Sacramone served as interim CEO from June 13, 2019 until his resignation on October 21, 2019, during which time his compensation included (i) a net salary of $173,077, pro-rated to reflect actual time served; and (ii) $11,094 in perquisites, including medical, dental, and vision benefits.
(15)(11)Mr. Goodwin served as interim CEO from October 21, 2019 until his resignation on December 11, 2019. He was paid a total of $18,469 for his service. He currently serves as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Operations.
(16)(12)Mr. Beys was appointed as interim CEO on December 11, 2019 and currently serves in this capacity. He has not yet received any compensationearned $30,000 pro-rated for his service as the Company’s interim CEO.CEO in 2019, which was paid on May 12, 2020.

 

Employment Agreements

 

Below is a summary of the employment agreements with named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2018.2019.

 

On June 13, 2014, FTE Networks entered into an employment agreement with Michael Palleschi to serve as its Chief Executive Officer in consideration of a salary of $250,000 per year, with standard employee insurance and other benefits through June 13, 2017, including a mandatory arbitration provision. On October 26, 2015, the employment agreement was amended to extend the term through the end of June 13, 2019. Mr. Palleschi was placed on unpaid leave on January 19, 2019 and later served the Company with a demand for arbitration alleging a breach of his employment agreement on April 9, 2019. On April 11, 2019, theseeking damages of approximately $11,900,000. The Company notifiedterminated Mr. Palleschi that it would not be renewing his employment agreement and terminated hisPalleschi’s employment on May 13, 2019. The Company continues to challenge2019and has challenged the allegations set forth in the demand for arbitration andincluding its liability for any damages thereunder.thereunder, and has filed defenses and counterclaims in respect of same. The arbitration is pending in the state of Florida.

 

On June 2, 2014, the Company entered into an employment agreement with David Lethem to serve as its Chief Financial Officer in consideration of a salary of $120,000 per year. The employment agreement had an initial term of three years and was continued on a year-to-year basis thereafter. Mr. Lethem resigned on March 11, 2019 in connection with a transition, separation and general release agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay Mr. Lethem a severance payment of $87,500. In addition to certain releases and post-employment covenants, Mr. Lethem also returned 466,151 shares of Company common stock. The Company is actively litigating a dispute that arose in connection with thisMr. Lethem’s transition, separation, and general release agreement in the stateState of Florida.

 

On May 2, 2016, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Lynn Martin to serve as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer in consideration of a salary of $250,000 per year. The employment agreement had an initial term of three years and was continued on a year-to-year basis thereafter. Mr. Martin resigned on January 25, 2019.

 

The Company has not entered into an employment agreement with Michael Beys in connection with his service as interim CEO; however, the Company’s compensation committee has approved a cash component of Mr. Beys’ overall compensation package which provides for a monthly salary of $50,000 for the duration of his service as interim CEO of which $150,000 has been paid to Mr. Beys for services rendered in 2020.

Munish Bansal, Chief Executive Officer of US Home Rentals LLC; CEO-Elect of FTE Networks, Inc.

On September 25, 2020, Munish Bansal was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of US Home Rentals LLC, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, pursuant to an executive employment agreement. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Bansal will transition to the role of Chief Executive Officer of FTE Networks, Inc. following the resumption of trading of the Company’s common stock on an over-the-counter market. Mr. Bansal is to receive, among other things and subject to certain exceptions and conditions set forth therein, (i) an annual base salary of $500,000 (pro-rated for 2020), which salary Mr. Bansal has agreed to defer until the earlier of the closing of an equity capital raise of at least $25 million, or six (6) months, but in no event later than March 15, 2021; (ii) a target bonus equal to 100% of his annual base salary upon the achievement of a performance milestone specified in the Employment Agreement (and the opportunity to earn future cash bonuses equal to 100% of his annual base salary based on performance metrics to be determined annually by the Compensation Committee) (iii) a restricted stock grant pursuant to the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), equal to six percent (6%) of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock, calculated on a fully-diluted basis and subject to certain exceptions and acceleration provisions; (iv) future performance stock awards of up to eight percent (8%) of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock under the 2017 Plan upon the achievement of certain milestones and subject to certain exceptions and acceleration provisions; (v) customary non-solicitation, non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions; (vi) and a severance for a termination without “cause” or for “good reason.”

Pursuant to the formula set forth in Appendix A of Mr. Bansal’s employment agreement, Mr. Bansal received 1,784,104 shares of restricted common stock as an initial inducement grant, which was calculated based on 25,572,148 shares of issued and outstanding common stock. This amount, however, does not currently account for all the Company’s issued and outstanding securities.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

 

There were no grants of plan-based equity awards or non-equity awards to named executives during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

2019.

Director Compensation

 

The following table provides the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our Board of Directors for each of the fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, including the aggregate fair value of large grants of common stock issued to certain non-employee directors, which shares have been cancelled and returned to shares to be issued as of the date of this filing.2019.

 

Name Year 

Fees earned

or paid

in cash

($)

 

Stock

awards
($)

 

Option

awards
($)

 

All other compensation

($)

  Total
($)
  Year  

Fees earned

or paid

in cash

($)

 

Stock

awards

($)

 

Option

awards

($)

 

All other compensation

($)

 

Total

($)

 
Luisa Ingargiola 2018  132,421   4,891,117(1)        5,023,537  2019            49,500(1)   
Patrick O’Hare 2019            99,000(2)   
Brad Mitchell 2019            49,500(3)   
Christopher Ferguson 2019            49,500(4)   
Directors appointed in the latter half of 2019                       
Irving Rothman 2019   21,500(5)           21,500 
 2017  141,084   2,365         102,722                        
Patrick O’Hare 2018  47,500   4,717,897(2)        4,765,397 
Richard Omanoff 2019   21,500(6)           21,500 
 2017  10,000   2,365         12,365                        
Brad Mitchell 2018  22,500   2,344,632(3)        2,367,132 
Jeanne Kingsley 2019   17,500(7)           17,500 
 2017  10,000   2,365         12,365                        
Christopher Ferguson 2018  86,500   6,761,464(4)        6,847,964 
Stephen Berini 2019   17,500(8)           17,500 
 2017  84,000   2,365         86,365                        
James Shiah 2019   51,000(9)           51,000 
                       
Joseph Cunningham 2019   30,000(10)           30,000 
                       
Michael Beys 2019   35,211(11)           35,211 
                       
Peter Ghishan 2019   24,329(12)           24,329 
                       
Richard de Silva 2019   24,329(13)           24,329 

 

(1)Compensation paid to Ms. Ingargiola during fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 consisted of cash paid in respect of director fees, expenses, consulting services, medical benefits, and 465,05150,000 shares of FTECompany common stock, with an aggregatea fair value of $4,891,117. These shares have been cancelled and returned to shares to be issued as$49,500, in connection with the terms of the date of this filing.a separation agreement dated May 23, 2019.
(2)Compensation paid to Mr. O’Hare during fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 consisted of a cash paid in respectpayment of director fees$22,500 and 463,051100,000 shares of FTECompany common stock, with an aggregatea fair value equal to $4,717,897. These shares have been cancelled and returned to shares to be issues as of $99,000, in connection with the dateterms of this filing.a separation agreement dated May 23, 2019.
(3)Compensation paid to Mr. Mitchell during fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 consisted of a cash paid in respectpayment of director fees$21,692 and 231,22650,000 shares of FTECompany common stock, with a fair value equal to $2,344,632. These shares have been cancelled and returned to shares to be issued as of $49,500, in connection with the dateterms of this filing.a separation agreement dated May 23, 2019.
(4)Compensation paid to Mr. Ferguson during fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 consisted of 50,000 shares of Company common stock, with a fair value of $49,500, in connection with the terms of a separation agreement dated May 23, 2019.
(5)Compensation paid to Mr. Rothman during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of cash paid for his service on the Board and as chair of the Board’s Compensation Committee.
(6)Compensation paid to Mr. Omanoff during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of cash paid for her service on the Board and as chair of the Board’s Nominating and Corporation Governance Committee.
(7)Compensation paid to Ms. Kingsley during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of cash paid for her service on the Board.
(8)Compensation paid to Mr. Berini during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of cash paid for his service on the Board.
(9)Compensation paid to Mr. Shiah during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of cash paid for his service on the Board, as chair of the Board’s Audit Committee, and as Lead Independent Director.
(10)Compensation paid to Mr. Cunningham during fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of cash paid for his service on the Board and as chair of the Board’s Audit Committee.
(11)As of fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Mr. Beys had earned and accrued fees for his service on the Board and chair of the Board’s Compensation Committee (pro-rated for time served as a director in respect of director fees and other services and 666,811 shares of FTE common stock issued to TBK327 Partners, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Ferguson’s spouseQ4 2019) in connection with a fair value equal to $6,761,464. These shares have been cancelledNon-Employee Director Compensation Policy approved by the Board on January 13, 2020, with an effective date of October 18, 2019.
(12)As of fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Mr. Ghishan had earned and returned to shares to be issuedaccrued fees for his service on the Board and as chair of the Board’s Compensation Committee (pro-rated for time served as a director in Q4 2019) in connection with a Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy approved by the Board on January 13, 2020 with an effective date of this filing.October 18, 2019.
(13)As of fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Mr. de Silva had earned and accrued fees for his service on the Board (pro-rated for time actually served as a director in Q4 2019) in connection with a Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy approved by the Board on January 13, 2020 with an effective date of October 18, 2019.

 

*Board members who are also employees of FTE Networks, Inc. do not receive additional compensation for their service on the board. Accordingly, Michael Palleschi and Fred Sacramone did not receive compensation in connection with their service on the board for either fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.2019.

 

Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans

 

As the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, there were no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers. We have no material bonus or profit sharing plans to which cash or non-cash compensation is or may be paid to our directors or executive officers, except that stock options may be granted at the discretion of the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth, as of May 1,October 31, 2020, certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (i) each person known to us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each director of our company, (iii) the executive officers of our company, and (iv) all directors and officers of our company as a group. Unless otherwise indicated on the table or the footnotes below, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o FTE Networks, Inc., 237 West 35th Street, Suite 806, New York, NY 10001.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of Common Stock that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 20,October 31, 2020 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities and for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner Common Stock Beneficially
Owned(1)
  

%

of

Class

  

Common Stock Beneficially

Owned (1)

 

%

of

Class

 
Directors and Officers                
Michael P. Beys, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director  -       -   - 

Ernest J. Scheidemann, Interim Chief Financial Officer

  -       -   - 
Richard de Silva, Director(2)  6,321,329   *   6,321,329   24.7%
Joseph Cunningham, Director  -   *   -   * 
Peter Ghishan, Director  -   *   -   * 
All Directors and Officers as a group (5 persons)  6,321,329   24.7%  6,321,329   24.7%
                
5% Shareholders                
Lateral Investment Management (Lateral Entities)(3)  6,321,329   24.7%  6,321,329   24.7%
TTP8, LLC(4)  4,193,684   16.4%
Suneet Singal (4)  2,255,832   8.8%

 

* Less than 1%.

 

(1)Based on 25,572,148 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of May 1,September 30, 2020. This table does not include shares that will be issued to the Rental Home Portfolio Sellers in connection with the Rental Home Portfolio Acquisition, the inducement grant of restricted common stock issued to Munish Bansal in connection with his executive employment agreement and the grant of restricted common stock to each of Messrs. de Silva, Cunningham, and Ghishan pursuant to the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.
  
(2)Mr. de Silva, as managing partner of Lateral Investment Management may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by the Lateral Entities. This amount does not include a total of 3,935,480 warrants held by the Lateral Entities.
  
(3)The Lateral Entities are comprised of Lateral FTE Feeder LLC, Lateral BVM Feeder LLC, Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC, Lateral Partners LLC, Lateral SMA Agent LLC, Lateral US Credit Opportunities Fund, L.P, WVP Emerging Manager Private Onshore Fund, LLC, and Niagara Nominee LP. This amount does not include a total of 3,935,480 warrants held by the Lateral Entities. The address for Lateral Entities is 400 South El Camino Real, Suite 1100, San Mateo, CA 94402.
  
(4)This amount includes shares beneficially owned by Mr. Singal’s spouse and TTP8, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Singal. The address for TTP8 is 2355 Gold Meadow Way, Suite 160, Gold River, CA 95670.

 

We know of no arrangements, including pledges, by or among any of the forgoing persons, the operation of which could result in a change of control of us.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Transactions with Related Persons

 

TheExcept as disclosed below, none of the following discussion relates to types of transactions involvingparties has, during our company and any of our executive officers, directors, director nominees or five percent (5%) stockholders, each of whom we refer to as a “related party.” For purposes of this discussion, a “related-party transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship:

-in which we participate;

-that involves an amount in excess of the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years; and

-in which a related party has a direct or indirect material interest.

From January 1, 2017last two fiscal years through the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, there have been no related-party transactions, excepthad any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction with us or in any presently proposed transaction that has or will materially affect us, in which the Company is a participant and the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of the Company’s total assets for the executive officer and director compensation arrangements described in the section “Executive Compensation” and as described below:last two completed fiscal years:

 

-(i)The former CEO, Michael Palleschi, provided cash advances witnessed by interest-bearing notes totaling $0 and $583,000, asAny of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and provided cash advances totaling approximately $0 and $80,000, as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Additionally, the former CEO provided a personal credit card account for the purchase of goods and services by FTE. While the credit card balances are reflected in the Company’s books and records, the former CEO was personally liable for the payment of the entire amount of the open credit obligation, which was approximately $0 and $18,000 as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.our directors or officers;
   
-(ii)The Company entered into several secured equipment financing arrangements with total obligations of approximately 79,000 and $132,000Any person proposed as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, that required the guaranty of a company officer, which was provided by him.nominee for election as a director;
   
(iii)Any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 5% of the voting rights attached to our outstanding common shares;
(iv)Any of our promoters; and
(v)Any relative or spouse of any of the foregoing persons who has the same house as such person.

Compensation Arrangements - See “Executive Compensation – Summary Compensation Table” and “Executive Compensation – Director Compensation.”

Related Party Transactions:

-The

Our former CFO, provided an unsecured, interest-bearing note totaling $150 during the year ended December 31, 2017. The balance on the note was approximately $0 and $80,000 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Additionally, the former CFODavid Lethem, personally guaranteed several secured equipment financing arrangements, with totalwhich obligations still had a balance of approximately $291,000$157,000 and $371,000$291,000 as of December 31, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively.

  
-The former CFO also provided a personal credit card account for the purchase of goods and services by FTE. While the credit card balances are included in our books and records, the former CFO was personally liable for the payment of the entire amount of the open credit obligation, which was approximately $0 and $14,000 at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
-

The CompanyWe issued two promissory notes to TBK327 Partners, LLC, an entity controlled by Christopher Ferguson, a former member of our Board of Directors Christopher Ferguson.who resigned in mid-2019. The first note was issued in or around January 23, 2014 in the principal amount of $177,000 and the second note was issued in or around May 16, 2014 in the principal amount of $80,000 (collectively the “TBK Notes”). AtAs of December 31, 2019, and 2018, and 2017, the CompanyTBK Notes had an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $237,000, respectively, on the TBK Notes.for each year.

  
-The Company

We issued twoa promissory notesnote to SRM Entertainment Group, LLC, an entity controlled by a former member of our Board of Directors, Christopher Ferguson. The first note was issued in or around May 5, 2017 in the principal amount of $50,000 (the “May SRM Note”) and the second note was issuedFerguson in or around July 6, 2017 in the principal amount of $137,000 (the “July SRM“SRM Note”). As of December 31, 2019, and 2018, the July SRM Note had an outstanding principal balance of $137,000 and the May SRM Note had been paid in full.for each year.

  
-Christopher Ferguson, a member of the Board of Directors, loaned the Company $10,000, the amount was outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.
-

On April 20, 2017, in connection with the CompanyCompany’s acquisition of Benchmark Builders, Inc. (“Benchmark”), we issued 1,069,538 shares of the Company’sour common stock to theFred Sacramone (former director) and Brian McMahon, former ownersprincipals of Benchmark, for the acquisition of Benchmark.our former primary operating subsidiary. The shares were valued at $21,658,000 and were part of the purchase price consideration. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data Note 5.Acquisitions.

-On April 20, 2017, the CompanyAdditionally, we issued Series A convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $12,500,000, to the former owners of Benchmark and significant shareholders of our company, maturing on April 20, 2019. Interest is computed at the rate of 5% percent per annum on the outstanding principal, Interest expense was approximately $695,000 and $442,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. This Note is convertible into conversion shares of common stock at the holder’s option, upon an event of default at a conversion price per share of $11.88.
-On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series B Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000, to the former owners of Benchmark and significant shareholders of the Company, which mature on April 20, 2020. Interest is computed at the rate of 3% per annum on the outstanding principal is payable in arrears quarterly, commencing June 30, 2017 by capitalizing it to the outstanding principal amount. Interest expense was $929,000 and $633,000 of the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
-

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series C Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $7,500,000 to the former ownersMessrs. Sacramone and McMahon. The Series A and Series B notes each had a maturity date of BenchmarkApril 20, 2020 and significant shareholdersaccrued interest at an annual rate of the Company, one of whom was a director, which5% and 3%, respectively. The Series C Notes matured on October 20, 2018. Interest computed2018 and accrued interest at thea rate of 3% per annumannum. The remaining indebtedness was discharged on the outstanding principal, was payable in arrears quarterly, commencing June 30, 2017 by capitalizing it to the outstanding principal amount.

July 1, 2020.
-

During October 2018, the Company paid the remaining principal and accumulated in-kind interest balance totaling $4,891,000 on its Series C Notes.

-

On or about February 8, 2019, the Companywe entered into an agreement for the purchase and sale of $4,000,000 of itsour future receipts with CFG Merchant Solutions, LLC. This loan was secured by a personal guaranty from theour former Interim CEO, Anthony Sirotka.

  
-

On February 12, 2019, Lateral U.S. Credit Opportunities Fund, L.P. (“Lateral Fund”) received 1,429,638 and Niagara Nominee, LP (a Lateral affiliate) received 268,942 shares of Company common stock, pursuant to the Fourth Amendment to the Lateral Credit Agreement.

  
-

On February 12, 2019, the Companywe issued a promissory note, for cash received, to Fred Sacramone in the principal amount of $1,000,000 pursuant to the Fourth Amendment to the Lateral Credit Agreement and was issued 356,513 shares of Common Stock.

the Company’s common stock.
  
-

On February 20, 2019, Niagara Nominee, LP received 1,005,751 shares of the Company’s common stock for its role as a co-guarantor on a term note issued to LeoGroup Private Investment Access, LLC in the principal amount of $5,000,000, which loan was secured by a personal guaranty from the former Interim CEO, Anthony Sirotka.

  
-On July 2, 2019, Brian McMahon acquired 1,351 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 197 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock as partial consideration for restructuring certain of the Mr. McMahon’s promissory notes in conjunction with the Company’s debt restructuring.
  
-On July 2, 2019, the Companywe entered into an Agreement to Exchange Series A and Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock for Series H Preferred Stock (the “Exchange Agreement”), with Mr. McMahon. The Exchange Agreement provided for the exchange by Mr. McMahon of 1,351 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and 197 shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock for 67 shares of Series H Preferred Stock.
  
-On July 2, 2019, Fred Sacramone acquired 650 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 99 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock as partial consideration for restructuring certain of the Mr. Sacramone’s promissory notes in conjunction with to the Company’s debt restructuring.
  
-On July 2, 2019, the Companywe entered into an Agreement to Exchange Series A and Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock for the Exchange Agreement, with Mr. Sacramone. The Exchange Agreement provided for the exchange by Mr. McMahon of 650 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and 99 shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock for 33 shares of Series H Preferred Stock.
  
-

On July 2, 2019, Lateral Fund received 1,049,285 shares of Company common stock and an additional 2,470,220 shares of the Company common stock underlying warrants with an exercise price of $3.00 per share (subject to adjustment); other funds managed by Lateral Management received 450,715 shares of Company common stock and an additional 703,510 shares of Company common stock underlying warrants with an exercise price of $3.00 per share (subject to adjustment); and Niagara received 505,724 shares of Company common stock; in each case, in connection with the extension of additional credit under the Lateral Credit Agreement.

  
-

On October 10, 2019, the Companywe entered into an Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock with Mr. McMahon and Mr. Sacramone pursuant to which Mr. McMahon released the Company and its affiliates from $18,982,640 in the aggregate of the indebtedness represented by the Amended Series B Benchmark Note (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Company held by Mr. McMahon, which had an outstanding amount equal to $21,823,620 at such time.

-

On October 10, 2019, the Company entered into a Standstill Agreement with each of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Sacramone.

-On October 10, 2019, the Companywe entered into an Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock with Mr. Sacramone and Mr. McMahon pursuant to which Mr.Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon released the Company and its affiliates from (i) all obligations represented by a promissory note of the Company in favor of Mr. Sacramone, which had an outstanding amount equal to $1,030,000.$1,030,000 and (ii) indebtedness represented by the Series B Notes in the amount of approximately $19,000,000. As a result, the total amount remaining outstanding under the Series A Notes and Series B Notes was $28,000,000 (the “Remaining Indebtedness”). The Remaining Indebtedness was discharged on July 1, 2020.

-On October 10, 2019, we entered into a Standstill Agreement with each of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Sacramone.
-

In October and November 2019, the Board approved a transaction pursuant to which the Company would issue shares of its common stock in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of four promissory notes issued or guaranteed by the Company and held by TTP8, LLC (“TTP8”) as assignee (such notes, the “Promissory Notes”) with aggregate principal and accrued interest outstanding of approximately $3.9 million. On November 15, 2019, the Company, for purposes of effecting the exchange of the Promissory Notes, issued an aggregate of 5,468,379 shares of its common stock to TTP8. Due to a misunderstanding of the operation of Rule 713(a) of the NYSE American Company Guide, the number of shares of common stock issued to TTP8 in connection with the exchange transaction amounted to 26% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding prior to the transaction.

After becoming aware of this error, the Board immediately took steps to rescind the original transaction and, concurrently with the execution of a rescission agreement, on December 13, 2019, the Company entered into a Note Exchange Agreement with TTP8 LLC (“TTP8”) pursuant to which TTP8 agreed to surrender for cancellation four promissory notes originally issued or guaranteed by the Company, and held by TTP8 as assignee, in exchange for the issuance by the Company of 4,193,684 shares of our common stock, which was equal to 19.9% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding prior to the transaction.transaction and represents an exchange rate of $0.9346.

  
-On December 23, 2019, the Companywe entered into a Preferred Stock Repurchase Agreement with Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon, pursuant to which the Mr. Sacramone sold to the Company all of the shares of Series H Preferred Stock owned by Mr. Sacramone for aan aggregate purchase price equal to $33.00.
  
-On December 23, 2019, the Companywe entered into a Preferred Stock Repurchase Agreement with Brian McMahon and Fred Sacramone pursuant to which the Mr. McMahon sold to the Company all of the shares of Series H Preferred Stock owned by Mr. McMahon for aan aggregate purchase price equal to $67.00.
  
-

On January 27, 2020, the Companywe issued two senior promissory notes to Benchmark Builders, LLC, one in the principal amount of $4,129,000 and the other in the principal amount of $600,000 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”), each such note is secured by all of the Company’sour non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of the same date. The $4,129,000 note, which matures on December 1, 2020 and has an annual interest rate of 10%, and obligates the Companyus to repay certain monies previously paid or transferred to the Company at the time of the Foreclosure Proposal, including (i) $3,000,000 in cash; (ii) two Working Capital Cash Payments totaling $600,000; and (iii) approximately $500,000$529,000 in cash remaining in a Benchmark bank account, was issued in consideration of a $6,000,000 reduction to the $28,000,000 Remaining Indebtedness. The $600,000 note, which has a maturity date of December 1, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%, was issued to evidence the loan advanced by Benchmark on January 10, 2020 in the principal amount of $300,000 and an additional $300,000 loan from Benchmark advanced on January 27, 2020. Benchmark Builders, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of theour Board of Directors.

On September 30, 2020, the terms of these Senior Notes were amended to add a cross-default provision and were assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
-On January 27, 2020, Alexander Szkaradek, one of the Equity Sellers and current noteholder, loaned the Company, $100,000 for working capital purposes pursuant to an unsecured demand note at 0% interest per annum. The note is due upon demand.
  
-On February 12, 2020, the Companywe issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $800,000, consisting of approximately $550,000 in expenses and advances previously made by Lateral on behalf of the Company and an additional $250,000 loan from Lateral. The $800,000 note is secured by all of the Company’sour non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral SMA Agent, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
  
-On February 27, 2020, the Companywe issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $75,000 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’sour non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral SMA Agent, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of our Board of Directors. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
  
-

On March 4, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member theof our Board of Directors, loaned the Company $100,000 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 5% per annum. The note, together with accrued interest of $166.67, was repaid on March 16, 2020.

  
-

On March 5, 2020, Mr. Ghishan, a member of theour Board of Directors, loaned the Company $30,000 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 5% per annum. The note, together with accrued interest of $45.83, was repaid on March 16, 2020.

  
-

On April 16, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member of our Board of Directors, loaned the Company $100,000 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 10% per annum. The note, together with accrued interest of $611.11, was repaid on May 8, 2020.

  
 -On April 29, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $200,000 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’sour non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. The note, together with accrued interest of $444.44, was repaid on May 8, 2020. Lateral SMA Agent, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of our Board of Directors. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
-On July 16, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member of our Board of Directors, loaned us $70,000 for working capital purposes, evidenced by a demand note in the principal amount of $70,000. The note bears an annual interest rate of 10% per annum and matures on November 15, 2020.
-On July 22, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $100,000 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral SMA Agent, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of our Board of Directors. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
-On July 31, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member of our Board of Directors, loaned us $250,000 for working capital purposes, evidenced by a demand note in the principal amount of $250,000. The note bears an annual interest rate of 10% interest and matures on November 15, 2020.
-On August 3, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $250,000 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral SMA Agent, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of our Board of Directors. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
-On August 21, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $150,000 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral SMA Agent, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of our Board of Directors. On September 30, 2020, this note was amended to add a cross-default provision and was assigned to Lateral Home Agent, LLC, an entity controlled by Richard de Silva.
On October 1, 2020, we issued a senior promissory note to Lateral Recovery, LLC in the principal amount of $300,000 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all our non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral Recovery, LLC is an affiliate of Lateral, which is controlled by Richard de Silva.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

Any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, principal stockholder, or any of such persons’ immediate family members or affiliates, in which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years must first be presented to our Audit Committee for review, consideration and approval. All of our directors, executive officers and employees will be required to report to our Audit Committee any such related party transaction. In approving or rejecting the proposed agreement, our Audit Committee will consider the relevant facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant to the Audit Committee, including, but not limited to, the risks, costs and benefits to us, the terms of the transaction, the availability of other sources for comparable services or products, and, if applicable, the impact on a director’s independence. Our Audit Committee will approve only those agreements that, in light of known circumstances, are in, or are not inconsistent with, our best interests, as our Audit Committee determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The Audit Committee of the Board appointed Turner Stone LLP (“Turner StoneStone”) as the Company’s independent registered public accountants on February 27, 2020, to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Company paid Turner Stone $275,000$413,500 in audit fees and $30,000 in audit related fees as of April 20,August 31, 2020.

 

Prior to Turner Stone’s appointment, the Company used Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) as its independent registered public accountant for many years prior thereto, including the fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.2018. Accordingly, the aggregate fees billed for the fiscal yearsyear ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 for professional services rendered by Marcum during these past two fiscal yearsDecember 31, 2018 are described below:

 

Fee Category December 31, 2018  December 31, 2017 
Audit fees(1) $442,300  $461,306 
Audit related fees $464,011(2) $60,622(3)
Tax fees $  $ 
All other fees $  $118,965(4)
  $906,311  $640,893 
Fee Category December 31, 2019  December 31, 2018 
Audit fees (1) $  $442,300 
Audit related fees (2) $  $464,011(2)
Total $  $906,311 

 

(1)Aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed by the principal accountant for the audit of the annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in the registrant’s form 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the last two fiscal years.
  
(2)Audit related fees consist of fees billed for services rendered in connection with the restatement of the financial statements from December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
(3)Audit related fees consist of fees billed for services rendered in connection with the acquisition of Benchmark and our Form 8-K filing.
(4)Acquisition audits of Benchmark

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)No financial statement schedules are provided because the information called for is not required or is shown either in the financial statements or notes thereto.
  
(b)The following exhibits are provided as required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K (§229.601 of this chapter):

 

Exhibit Number Description
   
2.3Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 19, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 25, 2013).
2.4 Purchase Agreement dated as of December 20, 2019, by and among (i) FTE Networks Inc., (ii) US Home Rentals LLC, (iii) Alexander Szkaradek, (iv) Antoni Szkaradek, (v) VPM Holdings, LLC, (vi) Kaja 3, LLC, (vii) Kaja 2, LLC, (viii) Kaja, LLC, (ix) Dobry Holdings Master LLC, (x) Vision Property Management, LLC and (xi) Alexander Szkaradek, in his capacity as the representative of the sellers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2019).
3.1 Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation increasing the aggregate number of shares the Company is authorized to issue (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 17, 2018).

3.2 Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 25, 2013).
3.3Articles of Merger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed March 19, 2014).
3.4Certificate of Designated of Series H Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2019).
3.5 Certificate of Designation of the Series I Non-Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 30, 2019).
4.1 Description of Securities*Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed on May 11, 2020 (the “2018 Form 10-K”).

4.2 Form of warrant to purchase common stock granted to Lenders in connection with a debt restructuring (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2019).
10.1Employment Agreement between the Company and David Lethem dated June 2, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 3, 2014).
10.2Employment Agreement between the Company and Michael Palleschi dated June 13, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s report on Form 10/A, Amendment 2, filed on June 30, 2015).
10.3Offer of Settlement by and between the SEC and the Company dated September 8, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2014).
10.4Supporting documents and Credit Agreement dated April 20, 2017 for the acquisition of Benchmark Builders Inc between the Company, Benchmark Builders Incorporated, and Lateral Investment Management Services, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company’s 8-K filed on April 24, 2017).
10.5Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among the Company and its subsidiaries, Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC and several lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2019).
10.6Registration Rights Agreement dated July 2, 2019 by and among the Company and its subsidiaries, Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC and several lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2019).
10.7Investor Rights Agreement dated July 2, 2019 by and between the Company and Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2019).
10.8Form of Exchange Agreement dated July 2, 2019 by and among the Company, Brian McMahon and Fred Sacramone in connection with a restructuring of debt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2019).
10.9 Proposal for Surrender of Collateral and Strict Foreclosure dated as of October 10, 2019 from Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC, as Administrative Agent, Lateral Builders LLC, Benchmark Holdings, LLC and the other Lenders named therein, accepted and consented to by FTE Networks, Inc. and the other Credit Parties named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 11, 2019).
10.10Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock, dated as of October 10, 2019, by and between FTE Networks, Inc. and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 11, 2019).
10.11

Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock, dated November 8, 2019, by and between FTE Networks, Inc. and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 12, 2019).

10.12Preferred Stock Repurchase Agreement dated as of December 23, 2019 by and among the Company, Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon( incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 30, 2019).
10.13 Senior Secured Promissory Note dated January 27, 2020, issued to Benchmark Builders, LLC in the principal amount of $4,129,000.*$4,129,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.14 Senior Secured Promissory Note dated January 27, 2020, issued to Benchmark Builders, LLC in the principal amount of $600,000.* $600,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.15 Senior Secured Promissory Note dated February 12, 2020, issued to Lateral SMA, Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $800,000.* $800,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.16 Senior Secured Promissory Note dated February 27, 2020, issued to Lateral SMA, Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $75,000*$75,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.17 Demand note dated March 4, 2020, issued to Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. in the principal amount of $100,000.*$100,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.18 Demand note dated March 5, 2020, issued to Peter Ghishan in the principal amount of $30,000.*$30,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.19 Demand note dated April 16, 2020, issued to Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. in the principal amount of $100,000.*$100,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.20 Senior Secured Promissory Note dated April 29, 2020, issued to Lateral SMA, Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $200,000*$200,000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.21 

Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock, dated as of May 1, 2020, by and between FTE Networks, Inc. and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon*McMahon (incorporated by reference to the 2018 Form 10-K.)

10.22Demand note dated July 16, 2020, issued to Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. in the principal amount of $70,000.*
10.23Senior Secured Promissory Note dated July 22, 2020, issued to Lateral SMA, Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $100,000.*
10.24Demand note dated July 31, 2020, issued to Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. in the principal amount of $250,000.*
10.25Senior Secured Promissory Note dated August 3, 2020, issued to Lateral SMA, Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $250,000.*
10.26Senior Secured Promissory Note dated August 21, 2020, issued to Lateral SMA, Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $150,000.*
10.27Senior Secured Promissory Note dated October 1, 2020, issued to Lateral Recovery, LLC in the principal amount of $300,000.*
10.28FTE Networks, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.*
10.29Loan Agreement 1 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.30Promissory Note 1 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
10.31Loan Agreement 2 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.32Promissory Note 2 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
10.33Loan Agreement 3 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.34Promissory Note 3 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
10.35Loan Agreement 4 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.36Promissory Note 4 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
10.37Loan Agreement 5 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.38Promissory Note 5 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
10.39Loan Agreement 6 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.40Promissory Note 6 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
10.41Loan Agreement 7 dated August 26, 2020 by and among DLP Lending Fund LLC and certain Company Borrowers.*
10.42Promissory Note 7 dated August 26, 2020 by the Company in favor of DLP Lending Fund LLC.*
14.1 Securities Trading Policy adopted by the Board of Directors April 14, 2017*2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
14.2 Code of Ethics superseding(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.2 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
10.43Executive Employment Agreement dated September 25, 2020, between FTE Networks, Inc. and replacing the Code of Ethics filed asMunish Bansal (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.110.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K8-K filed on January 13, 2009*October 1, 2020).
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.*Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 to the 2018 Form 10-K.)
23.1 Consent of Independent Auditor*
31.1 Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2 Certification of the Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1 Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002***
32.2 Certification of the Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002***
101.INS XBRL Instance Document*
101.SCH XBRL Schema Document*
101.CAL XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document*
101.DEF XBRL Definition Linkbase Document*
101.LAB XBRL Label Linkbase Document*
101.PRE XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document*

 

* Filed herewith

 

** Denotes compensatory plan or management contract

 

*** Furnished herewith

 

ITEM 16. Form 10-K Summary.

 

Not Applicable.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 FTE NETWORKS, INC.
   
Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Michael P. Beys
   
  Principal Executive Officer
   
Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Ernest Scheidemann
   
  Principal Financial Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Michael P. Beys
  Michael P. Beys
  InterimChief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
   
Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Ernest Scheidemann
  Ernest Scheidemann
  Interim Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)
   
Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Joseph Cunningham
  Joseph Cunningham
  Director
   
Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Peter Ghishan
  Peter Ghishan
 

 

Director
   
Date: May 11,November 5, 2020By:/s/ Richard de Silva
  Richard de Silva
 

 

Director

 

55

 

FTE NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 20182019 AND 20172018 
  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmF-2
  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20182019 and 20172018F-3
  
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017 and separate Statement of Operations of Predecessor for the Period from January 1, 2017 to April 20, 20172018F-4
  
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the Years Ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018F-5
  
Separate Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) of Predecessor for the Period from January 1, 2017 to April 20, 2017

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017 and separate Statement of Cash Flows of Predecessor for the Period from January 1, 2017 to April 20, 20172018F-7F-6
  
Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsF-8F-7

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMReport of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the ShareholdersStockholders and Board of Directors of

FTE Networks Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FTE Networks, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the two years then ended and the related notes. We have audited Benchmark Builders, Inc. (the “Predecessor”) statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from January 1, 2017 to April 20, 2017. The financial statements and notes of the Company and the Predecessor are collectively(collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position offor the Company as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the Predecessor for the two years and for the period from January 1, 2017 to April 20, 2017,then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Emphasis of Matter

The financial statements of FTE Networks, Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and for the year then ended have been restated from the previously filed financial statements as further discussed in Note 2.

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement,misstatements, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ Turner, Stone & Company, LLP

 

Dallas, Texas

May 11,November 5, 2020

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.

FTE NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 2018  2017  2019 2018 
    (As Restated, Note 2)      
ASSETS                
Current assets:                
        
Cash and cash equivalents $12,170  $15,642  $

789

  $342 
Restricted cash  

1,351

   

 
Accounts receivable, net  74,048   61,699   742   1,449 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  5,974   5,286 
Other current assets  3,994   6,283   649   1,575 
Assets of discontinued operations     157,677 
Total current assets  96,186   88,910   3,531   161,043 
                
Investment in single-family residential properties        
Land  48,264    
Buildings  181,564    
Total investment in single-family residential properties  229,828    
Property and equipment, net  3,405   7,082   1,038   3,247 
Intangible assets, net  19,692   27,696 
Goodwill  45,007   45,007 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  1,038    
Total assets $164,290  $168,695  $235,435  $164,290 
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable  77,076   43,894   2,986   3,402 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  34,690   37,531 
Due to related parties  17    
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  10,350   10,188   12,836   4,964 
Operating lease liabilities, current portion  557    
Financing lease liabilities, current portion  69    
Senior note payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  34,322         34,322 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  4,498   2,391   4,147   4,498 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  2,102   4,239      2,102 
Notes payable and capital leases, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  3,260   3,669 
Notes payable, related parties, current  13,776   8,576 
Debt derivative liabilities  8,038   48,195 
Warrant derivative liabilities  3,558   16,492 
Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  29,839   3,639 
Notes payable, Benchmark Sellers, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  25,049   13,397 
Notes payable, related party, current portion, net of original issue discount  10,750    
Debt derivative liability  4,169   8,038 
Warrant derivative liability  6,689   3,558 
Liabilities of discontinued operations     115,408 
Total current liabilities  191,687   

175,175

   97,091   193,328 
                
Notes payable and capital leases, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  1,268   1,830 
Notes payable, related parties, non-current, net of debt discount  29,153   38,530 
Senior note payable, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs     23,405 
Deferred tax liability  1,641   560 
Notes payable and financing leases, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  62,962   1,268 
Notes payable, Benchmark Sellers, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs     29,153 
Notes payable, related party, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  230    
Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion  482    
Financing lease liabilities, non-current portion  44    
Total liabilities  223,749   

239,500

   160,809   223,749 
                
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)        
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)        
                
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):                
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:                
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively (liquidation preference $1,536)      
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively (liquidation preference $948)      
Series G convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 1,780 shares designated and -0- shares and 1,780 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively      
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 12,286,847 and 5,620,281 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively  12   6 
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (liquidation preference $1,586)      
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively (liquidation preference $973)      
Series I convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 2,500 shares designated and -0- shares and -0- shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively      
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized 21,218,464 and 12,286,847 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively  21   12 
Additional paid-in capital  113,881   56,979   131,366   113,881 
Shares to be issued  1,280   250   133,311   1,280 
Accumulated deficit  (174,632)  (128,040)  (190,072)  (174,632)
Total stockholders’ deficit  (59,459)  (70,805)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)  74,626   (59,459)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit) $164,290  $168,695  $235,435  $164,290 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

FTE NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 For the Years Ended December 31,  For the Period Ended
April 20, 2017
  For the Year Ended December 31, 
 2018  2017  (Predecessor)  2019 2018 
    (As Restated, Note 2)         
Revenues, net of discounts $384,755  $215,509  $35,191 
Revenue, net of discounts $7,518  $15,103 
Cost of revenues  331,868   185,152   31,387   7,540   13,720 
Gross profit  52,887   30,357   3,804 
Gross (deficit) profit  (22)  1,383 
                    
Operating expenses                    
Compensation expense  47,155   23,973   5,550   6,869   28,583 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  40,287   13,518   2,438   14,065   31,103 
Amortization of intangible assets  3,751   2,597    
(Gain) loss on sale of asset  (13)  31    
Transaction expenses     701    
Loss (gain) on sale of asset  399   (13)
Loss on lease termination (Note 9)  3,708    
Total operating expenses  91,180   40,820   7,988   25,041   59,673 
Operating loss  (38,293)  (10,463)  (4,184)  (25,063)  (58,290)
                    
Other expenses            
Other income (expenses)        
Interest expense  (9,067)  (6,309)     (10,355)  (9,067)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (48,248)  (15,079)     (27,173)  (48,248)
Gain (loss) on debt derivative  

17,177

   (35,012)   
(Loss) gain on debt derivative  (1,602)  17,177 
Change in warrant fair value  11,678   (357)     (426)  11,678 
Loss on issuance of notes  (5,391)  (24,262)   
Extinguishment gain  

26,718

   666    
(Loss) on issuance of debt  (67)  (5,391)
Gain on troubled debt restructuring  5,028    
Gain on senior lender foreclosure  31,538    
Extinguishment (loss) gain  (1,287)  26,718 
Other (expense) income, net  (80)  (707)  5   (287)  (129)
Total other expenses, net  (7,213)  (81,060)  5 
Loss before provision for income taxes  (45,506)  (91,523)  (4,179)
Provision for income taxes  1,086   560    
Total other income (expenses), net  (4,631)  (7,262)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes  (29,694)  (65,552)
Income taxes expense      
Net loss from continuing operations  (29,694)  (65,552)
Discontinued operations, net of tax  14,254   18,960 
Net loss  (46,592)  (92,083)  (4,179)  (15,440)  (46,592)
Preferred stock dividends  (80)  (80)     (80)  (80)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(46,672) $(92,163) $(4,179) $(15,520) $(46,672)
                    
Loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(6.07) $(19.38)    
Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share        
Continuing operations $(1.57) $(8.53)
Discontinued operations $0.75  $2.47 
Net loss per common share $(0.82) $(6.06)
                    
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                    
Basic and diluted  7,688,796   4,756,049       18,964,886   7,688,796 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

FTE NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 20182019 and 20172018

(in thousands, except for share information)

 

           Shares     Total 
  Preferred stock  Common stock  Paid in  to be  Accumulated  Equity 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Issued  Deficit  (Deficit) 
January 1, 2017 (as Restated, Note 2)(1)  795  $   3,121,254  $3  $18,134  $  $(35,957) $(17,820)
Stock incentive to investors        221,511      2,713   (2,136)     577 
Common shares issued to employees        164,610      3,780         3,780 
Common shares issued to senior lender        256,801   1   5,649         5,650 
Common shares issued to investor relations firm        12,346      211         211 
Common shares issued to consultant        93,959      1,321         1,321 
Common shares issued to Benchmark sellers        1,069,538   1   21,657         21,658 
Common shares issued to convert debt        170,765      1,587         1,587 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement,        27,970      347         347 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – conversion        200,470      1,925         1,925 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – financing, settlement and prepayment        6,800      117         117 
Common shares issued to settle a legal matter        836      9         9 
Common shares issued for board fee        800      9         9 
Reclassification from temporary equity        444,275   1   437         438 
Warrant exercise        6,346      94         94 
Exchange of common stock for Series G convertible preferred stock  1,780      (178,000)               
Share-based compensation              590         590 
Shares to be issued              (1,521)  2,386       865 
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (80)        (80)
Net loss                    (92,083)  (92,083)
December 31, 2017(As Restated, Note 2)  2,575  $   5,620,281  $6  $56,979  $250  $(128,040) $(70,805)
Common shares issued to investors        902,784   1   7,100   (6,306)     795 
Common shares issued to employees        1,328,663   1   16,605         16,606 
Common shares issued to convert debt        1,901,520   2   16,336         16,338 
Common shares issued to consultant        810,106   1   8,686         8,687 
Common shares issued board fee        33,000      533         533 
Common shares issued to Senior Lender        854,599   1   1,096         1,097 
Common shares issued to settle legal matter        58,083      553         553 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        199,379      2,156         2,156 
Common shares issue to settle debt        40,000      919         919 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – financing, settlement and prepayment        11,519      185         185 
Warrants exercised        429,027      1,818         1,818 
Exchange of Series G convertible preferred stock for common stock  (1,780)     178,000                
Share- based compensation              1,831         1,831 
Shares to be issued              (761)  7,336      6,575 
Shares returned to outstanding        (80,114)     (75)        (75)
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (80)        (80)
Net Loss                    (46,592)  (46,592)
December 31, 2018  795  $   12,286,847  $12  $113,881  $1,280  $(174,632) $(59,459)

Predecessor

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

For the Period from January 1, 2017 to April 20, 2017

(in thousands)

           Shares     Total 
  Preferred stock  Common stock  Paid in  to be  Accumulated  Equity 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Issued  Deficit  (Deficit) 
January 1, 2018  2,575  $   5,620,281  $6  $56,979  $250  $(128,040) $(70,805)
Common shares issued to investors        902,784   1   7,100   (6,306)     795 
Common shares issued to employees        1,328,663   1   16,605         16,606 
Common shares issued to consultants        810,106   1   8,686         8,687 
Common shares issued to board of directors        33,000      533         533 
Common shares issued to settle legal matter        58,083      553         553 
Common shares issued to settle debt        40,000      919         919 
Common shares issued to Senior Lender        854,599   1   1,096         1,097 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        199,379      2,156         2,156 
Common shares issued to convert debt        1,901,520   2   16,336         16,338 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – financing, settlement and prepayment        11,519      185         185 
Warrants exercised        429,027      1,818         1,818 
Exchange of Series G convertible preferred stock for common stock  (1,780)     178,000                
Share-based compensation              1,831         1,831 
Shares to be issued              (761)  7,336      6,575 
Shares returned to outstanding        (80,114)     (75)        (75)
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (80)        (80)
Net loss                    (46,592)  (46,592)
December 31, 2018  795  $   12,286,847  $12  $113,881  $1,280  $(174,632) $(59,459)
Common shares issued to investors        160,000      1,280   (1,280)      
Common shares issued to employees        62,839      218         218 
Common shares issued to board of director        250,000      248         248 
Common shares issued to a note guarantor        1,005,751   1   1,960         1,961 
Common shares issued to a lender        356,513      613         613 
Common shares issued to Senior lender        3,704,304   4   5,044         5,048 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        35,056      94         94 
Common shares issued to convert debt        3,123,548   3   6,783         6,786 
Common shares issued in the settlement of convertible debt          353,202   1   155         156 
Common shares to be issued for the acquisition                 15,385      15,385 
Series I preferred shares to be issued for the acquisition                 117,926      117,926 
Shares returned to outstanding        (119,596)               
Share-based compensation              1,170         1,170 
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (80)        (80)
Net loss                    (15,440)  (15,440)
December 31, 2019  795  $   21,218,464  $21  $131,366  $133,311  $(190,072) $74,626 

 

  Common  Retained  Total Stockholders’ 
  Stock  Earnings  Equity (Deficit) 
Balance, December 31, 2016 $10  $1,851  $1,861 
Distribution to Stockholders  -   (5,349)  (5,349)
Net loss  -   (4,179)  (4,179)
Balance, April 20, 2017 $10   (7,677) $(7,667)
F-5

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

FTE NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

  

Years Ended

December 31,

  For the Period Ended 
  2018  2017  April 20, 2017 
     (As Restated, Note 2)  (Predecessor) 
Cash flows from operating activities:            
Net loss $(46,592) $(92,083) $(4,179)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:            
Depreciation expense  934   760   6 
Amortization of intangible assets  8,004   8,976    
Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs  52,259   12,914    
Provision for bad debts  (351)  551    
(Gain) loss on sale and disposal of asset  3,310   (31)   
Late fee on senior debt     541    
Payment in-kind interest-debt on notes payable  2,167   1,595    
Payment in-kind interest on related party notes payable  1,730   1,310    
Share-based compensation  18,438   4,343    
Common shares issued for board of director fees  533       
Common shares issued for convertible note modifications, amendments, redemption agreements and settlements  805   103    
Common shares issued for consulting services  8,686       
Convertible note issued for consulting expenses  -   400     
Loss on issuance of convertible debt  5,319   24,262    
Prepayment penalties on convertible note payments  1,078       
Gain on extinguishment of debt  (35,425)  (666)   
Gain on extinguishment of related party debt  (530)      
Loss on merchant credit and note payable settlement, net  987       
(Gain) loss on warrant derivative liabilities  (11,678)  357    
(Gain) loss on convertible derivative liabilities  (17,177)  35,012    
Accrued dividends, preferred stock  (80)  (80)   
Benefit from deferred income taxes  1,591   560    
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable  (11,998)  (46,408)  37,933 
Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  (3,530)  21,060   9,814 
Other current assets  3,229   (468)  (1,061)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  36,120   31,061   (39,470)
Due to related party  25   (109)   
Net cash provided by operating activities  17,854   3,960   3,043 
             
Cash flows from investing activities:            
Net cash paid for Benchmark Builders, Inc. acquisition     (14,834)   
Purchase of property and equipment  (631)  (3,736)  (30)
Net cash used in investing activities  (631)  (18,570)  (30)
             
Cash flows from financing activities:            
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes  15,226   4,095    
Payments on convertible notes  (5,947)  (1,426)   
Proceeds from issuance of merchant credit agreements  17,356   5,718    
Payments on merchant credit agreements  (47,545)  (2,624)   
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable, net  650   1,400    
Payments on notes payable, capital leases and settlement notes  (1,981)  (1,335)   
Proceeds from issuance of senior note payable, net  2,115   12,695    
Proceeds from issuance of Series C notes     7,500    
Payment of Series C notes  (7,541)      
Payments on notes payable – related parties  (420)  -    
Proceeds from sale of common stock  7,370   3,338    
Proceeds from exercise of warrants  562       
Payment of deferred financing costs  (540)  (521)   
Distribution to stockholders        (5,349)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities  (20,695)  28,840   (5,349)
             
Net change in cash  (3,472)  14,230   (2,336)
Cash, beginning of period  15,642   1,412   4,752 
Cash, end of period $12,170  $15,642  $2,416 
             
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:            
Cash paid for interest $5,083  $1,959  $ 
Cash paid for income taxes        1,187 
             
Non-cash investing and financing activities:            
Common shares issued for convertible note conversions $16,338  $1,925  $ 
Common shares issued for convertible note inducement  2,156   347    
Common shares issued to noteholder for debt discount  1,097   11    
Common shares issued for note payable and other accrued debt conversions  853   1,595    
Common shares issued to senior lender for note inducement     5,650    

Common shares issued for services to Board members and outside consultants for accrued services

     825    
Common shares reclassified from temporary equity     437    
Common stock issued for cashless warrant exercise  1,256   94    
Debt discount and deferred financing costs from issuance of merchant credit agreements  34,602   4,221    
Debt discount and deferred financing costs from issuance of convertible notes payable  2,082   658    
Debt discount from warrant and conversion derivative liability  14,647   3,543    
Debt discount and deferred financing costs from issuance of notes payable  741   8,093     
Issuance of notes payable and capital leases for the purchase of fixed assets  25   561    
Receivable from merchant credit agreement overdraw  885       
Senior lender accrued interest converted to principal  2,816       
             

  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2019  2018 
       
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net loss $(15,440) $(46,592)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation expense  1,562   934 
Amortization of intangible assets  6,759   8,004 
Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs  27,172   52,259 
Provision for bad debts  (101)  (351)
Gain on disposal of assets - foreclosure  (31,538)   
Loss on sale and disposal of asset  399   3,310 
Payment in-kind interest- convertible debt  860   2,167 
Payment in-kind interest, Benchmark Sellers  2,711   1,730 
Share-based compensation  1,388   18,438 
Common shares issued for board of director fees  248   533 
Common shares issued for convertible note modifications, amendments, redemption agreements and settlements     805 
Common shares issued for consulting services     8,686 
Loss on issuance of convertible debt  67   5,319 
Prepayment and late fee penalties on convertible note payments  2,728   1,078 
Loss on debt conversion and repayment  3,741    
Gain on troubled debt restructuring, net  (5,028)   
Gain on extinguishment of debt     (35,425)
Gain on extinguishment of Benchmark Sellers notes     (530)
(Loss) gain on merchant credit and note payable settlement, net  (288)  987 
(Gain) loss on warrant derivative liability  426   (11,678)
Loss (gain) on convertible derivative liability  1,601   (17,177)
Loss on lease termination  3,708    
Accrued dividends, preferred stock  (80)  (80)
Benefit from deferred income taxes     1,591 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Decrease (increase) in receivables  16,580   (11,998)
Decrease (increase) in cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  6,210   (3,530)
Net decrease in other current assets  871   3,229 
Net (decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities  (28,853)  36,120 
Increase in due to related party     25 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities  (4,297)  17,854 
         
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Net cash paid for US Home Rentals asset acquisition  (250)   
Net cash received from US Home Rentals asset acquisition  

109

    
Net restricted cash received from US Home Rentals asset acquisition  

1,351

    
Purchase of property and equipment  (22)  (631)
Cash transferred to Benchmark Builders upon foreclosure  (8,029)   
Net cash used in investing activities  (6,841)  (631)
         
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes  550   15,226 
Payments on convertible notes  (952)  (5,947)
Proceeds from issuance of merchant credit agreements  2,755   17,356 
Payments on merchant credit agreements  (13,957)  (47,545)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable, net  5,835   650 
Payments on notes payable, financing leases and settlement notes  (3,850)  (1,981)
Proceeds from issuance of senior note payable, net  12,632   2,115 
Payment of Benchmark Seller notes     (7,541)
Payments on notes payable – related parties  (16)  (420)
Proceeds from sale of common stock     7,370 
Proceeds from exercise of warrants     562 
Payment of deferred financing costs  (1,889)  (540)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  1,108   (20,695)
         
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (10,030)  (3,472)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year  12,170   15,642 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year  2,140   12,170 
         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:        
Cash paid for interest $1,114  $5,083 
Cash paid for income taxes $  $ 
         
Non-cash investing and financing activities:        
Debt issued for US Home Rentals asset acquisition $85,507  $ 
Related party debt issued for acquisition of US Home Rentals asset acquisition $10,980  $ 
Preferred Series I shares to be issued for acquisition of US Home Rentals asset acquisition $117,782  $ 
Common shares to be issued for acquisition of US Home Rentals asset acquisition $15,529  $ 
Common shares issued for convertible note conversions $3,045  $16,338 
Common shares issued for convertible note inducement $94  $2,156 
Common shares issued to noteholder for debt discount $7,009  $1,097 
Common shares issued for note payable and other accrued debt conversions and inducement $613  $853 
Common shares issued for cashless warrant exercise $  $1,256 
Common shares issued to investors held in shares to be issued $1,280  $ 
Common shares issued for debt modification $156  $ 
Note payable issued for settlement of convertible notes $5,012  $ 
Note payable issued for settlement of litigation $60  $ 
Debt discount and deferred financing costs from issuance of merchant credit agreements $1,535  $34,602 
Debt discount and deferred financing costs from issuance of convertible notes payable $591  $2,082 
Debt discount from warrant and conversion derivative liability $2,264  $14,647 
Debt discount and deferred financing costs from issuance of notes payable $166  $741 
Issuance of notes payable and financing leases for the purchase of fixed assets $  $25 
Receivable from merchant credit agreement overdraw $131  $885 
Senior lender accrued interest converted to principal $  $2,816 
Effect of adopting the new leasing standard $2,242  $ 
Notes payable classification from related party $48,169  $ 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

FTE NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands)

 

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

Description of Business

FTE Networks, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, “FTE” or the “Company”), by and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, US Home Rentals, LLC, (“USHR”) is a leading providermajor owner and operator of innovative technology-oriented solutions for smart platforms, network infrastructuresingle-family rental homes in tier 3 and buildings throughout4 markets. With approximately 3,200 rental home properties across the United States, across a rangeFTE seeks to transform its sizeable rental home portfolio into high quality single-family homes to meet the demands and needs of industries. The Company’s primary activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenancean evolving real estate market and support solutions for state-of-the-art networks and commercial properties and the following services, data center infrastructure, fiber optics, wireless integration, network engineering, internet service provider, general contracting management and general contracting.demographic.

 

On April 20, 2017, FTE acquired Benchmark Builders, Inc. (“Benchmark” or “Predecessor”). Benchmark is a full-service general contracting management and general contracting firm in the New York metropolitan area. See Note 5. The Company and Benchmark operate in similar segments. Audited predecessor financial statements have been provided in these consolidated financial statements since the operations of the company before the acquisition of Benchmark were insignificant relative to the operations acquired.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all accounts of the Company and its wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiaries. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U. S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and judgments are based on historical information, information that is currently available to the Company and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Key estimates include: the recognition of revenue and project profit or loss (which the Company defines as project revenue less project costs of revenue, including project-related depreciation), in particular, on construction contracts accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method, for which the recorded amounts require estimates of costs to complete projects, ultimate project profit and the amount of probable contract price adjustments as inputs; allowances for doubtful accounts; estimated fair values of acquired assets; asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization; share-based compensation; other reserves and accruals; accounting for income taxes. While management believes that such estimates are reasonable when considered in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations taken as a whole, actualActual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

SegmentsReclassification

 

The Company operates in two segments in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280 “Segment Reporting”, (“ASC No. 280”). Operating segments as defined in ASC No. 280, are components of public entities that engage in business activities from which they may earn revenues and incur expenses for which separate financial information is available and which is evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in deciding how to assess performance and allocate resources. The two primary segments are the infrastructure segment and technology segment. The Company is reporting as one segment per ASC No. 280 as the revenue, profit and loss, and assets of the technology segment are immaterial.

Reverse stock split

On November 6, 2017, the Company’s board of directors approved, without action by the shareholders of the Company, a Certificate of AmendmentCertain reclassifications have been made to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation2018 consolidated financial statement presentation to implement a 25-for-1 reverse stock split of the Company’s Common Stock with an effective date of November 6, 2017. On the effective date of the reverse split each 25 shares of issued Common Stock were converted automatically into one share of Common Stock. The number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock was reduced from 200,000,000 shares to 8,000,000 shares. All Common Stock shares and per-share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to give effectcorrespond to the reverse split.current year’s presentation. Reclassifications primarily relate to related party borrowings as of December 31, 2018, which are no longer considered related party borrowings as of December 31, 2019, due to the disposition of Benchmark Builders, Inc. (“Benchmark”) on October 10, 2019. (see Notes 4 and 12). Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) and net loss are unchanged due to these reclassifications.

F-8

Liquidity and Managements’ Plans

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. In accordance with Accounting Standards Update, (“ASU”), 2014-15,Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) (“ASC 205-40”), the Company has the responsibility to evaluate whether conditions and/or events raise substantial doubt about its ability to meet its future financial obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. This evaluation requires management to perform two steps. First, management must evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Second, if management concludes that substantial doubt is raised, management is required to consider whether it has plans in place to alleviate that doubt. As required by ASC 205-40, this evaluation shall initially not take into consideration the potential mitigating effects of plans that have not been fully implemented as of the date the financial statements are issued. Disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements are required if management concludes that substantial doubt exists or that its plans alleviate the substantial doubt that was raised.

The Company’s ultimate success is dependent on its ability to obtain additional financing and generate sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations on a timely basis. The Company’s business will require significant amounts of capital to sustain operations and the Company will need to make the investments it needs to execute its longer-term business plan. Absent generation of sufficient revenue from the execution of the Company’s long-term business plan, the Company will need to obtain debt or equity financing, especially if the Company experiences downturns in its business that are more severe or longer than anticipated, or if the Company experiences significant increases in expense levels resulting from being a publicly-traded company or operations. Such additional debt or equity financing may not be available to the Company on favorable terms, if at all.

 

At December 31, 2018,2019, the Company had $12,170$2,140 in cash and a working capital deficit of $95,501.$93,561. The Company has classified all amounts outstanding to the Senior Lender totaling $34,322 as current liabilities as they mature during 2019. See Note 14. Also, the Company has reported aggregated net losses from continuing operations of $138,675$95,246 for the two-year period ended December 31, 2018.2019.

 

Management has assessed the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in accordance with the requirement of ASC 205-40.Management believes the Company’s present cash flows from operations will not enable it to meet its obligations for the twelve months from the date these consolidated financial statements are available to be issued. Management currently has available certain bridge financing from a significant shareholder to fund its operations, but is actively seeking new sources of financing at more favorable terms and conditions, that will enable the Company to meet its obligations for the twelve-month period from the date the financial statements are available to be issued. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assumingThere is no assurance that the Companymanagement will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.be successful in raising additional funds.

NOTE 2. RESTATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Overview

This Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 contains our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, of which the audited consolidated financial statements from December 31, 2018 have not previously been filed, as well as restatements of the following previously filed consolidated financial statements: (i) our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017; and (ii) our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, June 30, 2018 and 2017 and September 30, 2018 and 2017, in Note 25.

We have not filed and do not intend to file amendments to any of our previously filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods affected by the restatements of our consolidated financial statements. We have not timely filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the Fiscal Year 2019 Form 10-Qs as a result of the internal investigation of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) and the subsequent restatement of certain of our prior period financial statements as more fully described below.

Background

On April 2, 2019, the Company announced that the Audit Committee following a communication with the Company’s former independent registered public accounting firm concluded that previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and interim reviews of the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017, should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion to prevent future reliance on the aforementioned financial statements resulted from the determination that such financial statements failed to properly account for certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities. Specifically, the Company identified a potential issue related to the accounting related to certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities the Company issued in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Further, the independent investigation announced on March 22, 2019 is also focused on issues related to the accounting for and disclosure of certain expenses incurred by management, as well as the appropriateness and disclosure of certain related party transactions. To date, the investigation team has found what it believes are significant personal expenses incurred by former officers that were charged to the Company, including: multiple trips on chartered jets to vacation destinations in the U.S., South America and Europe, as well as to a family home; the use of Company vehicles largely if not solely for personal purposes; incidental personal charges on Company credit cards; and Company payments for credit card bills in the names of former officers. The investigation also found at least one large share issuance to a related party that was not reported timely. Further, the investigation team also found instances in which cash transfers were made to former officers with little or no support. However, this work is ongoing, and further findings may change our preliminary assessments described above. The investigation team is working with the Company to ensure that its findings are appropriately reflected in the Company’s restatement and in its next Form 10-K.

On June 11, 2019, the Audit Committee, following a communication by its former independent auditors, Marcum, concluded that the Company’s previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and completed interim reviews for the periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016 should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion on June 11, 2019 to add the aforementioned 2016 financial statements to those statements which should no longer be relied upon resulted from determinations made as part of the Company’s ongoing restatement effort that certain items, including revenues originally recognized in 2016, should no longer be recognized.

In addition to the Audit Committee investigation matter described above, the Company also corrected for (i) out of period adjustments and errors related to the Company’s acquisition and revenue and costs and (ii) out of period adjustments and errors identified during management’s review of significant accounts and transactions.

The significant account and transaction review adjustments referred to in (ii) above were made in the restatement and relate to revenue recognition (Note 4), accounts receivable (Note 6), merchant account agreements (Note 11), convertible notes payable (Note 12), notes payable (Note 13) debt derivative liabilities (Note 16), warrant liabilities (Note 16), stockholders’ equity (Note 20), stock awards (Note 21) and various other matters.

Effect of Restatement on Previously Filed December 31, 2017 Form 10-K

The restatement adjustments related to the year ended December 31, 2016 are reflected in the beginning accumulated deficit balance in the consolidated financial statements for 2017. The cumulative impact of these adjustments increased accumulated deficit by approximately $16,906 at the beginning of 2017. The 2016 adjustments principally related to $6,840 of unbilled revenue that was unsubstantiated and subsequently reversed during 2017 and 2018, $8,767 of compensation expense for executive management and certain employees, $614 for interest, fines and penalties for prior period unpaid payroll taxes, $476 of selling, general and administration expenses for professional fees and $165 for directors fees. The restatement adjustments were tax effected and any tax adjustments reflected in the consolidated financial statements for 2017 relate entirely to the tax effect on the restatement adjustments.

The tables below present the effect of the financial statement adjustments related to the restatement discussed above of the Company’s previously reported financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is as follows:

  As of December 31, 2017 

(dollarsin thousands, except per share data)

 As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (Unaudited)  

(Unaudited)

    
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $15,642  $  $15,642 
Accounts receivable, net  62,199   (500)  61,699 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contract  11,226   (5,940)  5,286 
Other current assets  7,256   (973)  6,283 
Total current assets  96,323   (7,413)  88,910 
             
Property and equipment, net  7,955   (873)  7,082 
Intangible assets, net  27,696      27,696 
Goodwill  35,672   9,335   45,007 
Total assets $167,646  $1,049  $168,695 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable $35,134  $8,760  $43,894 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  30,304   7,227   37,531 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  9,973   215   10,188 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     2,391   2,391 
Merchant credit agreements     4,239   4,239 
Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  10,488   (6,819)  3,669 
Notes payable, related parties, current portion  8,526   50   8,576 
Debt derivative liabilities     48,195   48,195 
Warrant derivative liabilities     16,492   16,492 
Total current liabilities  94,425   80,750   175,175 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  1,955   (125)  1,830 
Notes payable, related parties, non-current, net of debt discount  38,530      38,530 
Senior note payable, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  24,143   (738)  23,405 
Deferred tax liability  560      560 
Total liabilities  159,613   

79,887

   239,500 
             
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017         
Series G convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 1,780 shares designated and 1,780 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 5,620,281 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017  6      6 
Additional paid-in capital  49,381   7,598   56,979 
Shares to be issued  625   (375)  250 
Subscriptions receivable  (3,675)  3,675    
Accumulated deficit  (38,304)  (89,736)  (128,040)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)  8,033   (78,838)  (70,805)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit) $167,646  $1,049  $168,695 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:

   Year ended December 31, 2017 

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

  As Previously Reported    Adjustments  As Restated 
  (Unaudited)  

(Unaudited)

    
Revenues, net of discounts $243,409  $(27,900) $215,509 
Cost of revenues  206,394   (21,242)  185,152 
Gross profit  37,015   (6,658)  30,357 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  19,413   4,560   23,973 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  14,934   (1,416)  13,518 
Amortization of intangible assets  2,597      2,597 
Loss on sale of asset  31      31 
Transaction expenses  1,666   (965)  701 
Total operating expenses  38,641   2,179   40,820 
Operating loss  (1,626)  (8,837)  (10,463)
             
Other expenses            
Interest expense  (5,819)  (490)  (6,309)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (6,349)  (8,730)  (15,079)
Loss on conversion derivative liability     (35,012)  (35,012)
Loss on warrant derivative liability     (357)  (357)
Other expense, net  (123)  (584)  (707)
Loss on issuance of notes     (24,262)  (24,262)
Extinguishment gain     666   666 
Financing costs  (5,552)  5,552    
Total other expenses, net  (17,843)  (63,217)  (81,060)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (19,469)  (72,054)  (91,523)
Provision for income taxes  560      560 
Net loss  (20,029)  (72,054)  (92,083)
Preferred stock dividends  (80)     (80)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(20,109) $(72,054) $(92,163)
             
Loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(4.23) $(15.15) $(19.38)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  4,748,563   4,756,049   4,756,049 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:

  Year ended December 31, 2017 
(dollars in thousands) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)    
Cash flows from operating activities:            
Net loss $(20,029) $(72,054) $(92,083)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:            
Depreciation  870   (110)  760 
Amortization of intangible assets  8,976      8,976 
Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs  8,010   4,904   12,914 
Provision for bad debts  551      551 
Loss (gain) on sale of asset  31   (62)  (31)
Late fee on senior debt  541      541 
Payment in kind interest-debt on notes payable  934   661   1,595 
Payment in kind interest on related party notes payable  1,310      1,310 
Share-based compensation  1,681   2,662   4,343 
Common shares issued for convertible notes modifications, amendments, redemption agreements and settlements     103   103 
Convertible note issued for consulting expenses     400   400 
Loss on issuance of convertible debt     24,262   24,262 
Gain on extinguishment of debt     (666)  (666)
Loss on warrant derivative liabilities     357   357 
Loss on convertible derivative liabilities     35,012   35,012 
Debt financing expense  531   (531)   
Accrued dividends, preferred stock     (80)  (80)
Benefit from deferred income taxes  (599)  1,159   560 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable  (41,106)  (5,302)  (46,408)
Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  19,078   1,982   21,060 
Other current assets  5,888   (6,356)  (468)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  17,463   13,598   31,061 
Due to related party     (109)  (109)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  4,130   (170)  3,960 
             
Cash flows from investing activities :            
Net cash paid for Benchmark Builders, Inc. acquisition  (14,834)     (14,834)
Purchase of property and equipment  (5,208)  1,472   (3,736)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (20,042)  1,472   (18,570)
             
Cash flows from financing activities :            
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes     4,095   4,095 
Payments on convertible notes     (1,426)  (1,426)
Proceeds from issuance of merchant credit agreements     5,718   5,718 
Payments on merchant credit agreements     (2,624)  (2,624)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable, net  12,158   (10,758)  1,400 
Payments on notes payable  (5,342)  4,007   (1,335)
Proceeds from issuance of senior note payable, net  13,210   (515)  12,695 
Proceeds from issuance of Series C notes  7,500      7,500 
Payments on notes payable – related parties  (112)  112    
Proceeds from sale of common stock  3,338      3,338 
Payment of deferred financing costs  (610)  89   (521)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  30,142   (1,302)  28,840 
             
Net change in cash  14,230      14,230 
Cash, beginning of period  1,412      1,412 
Cash, end of period $15,642  $  $15,642 

 

NOTE 3.2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT POLICIES

Acquisition of Real Estate Assets

Upon the acquisition of real estate assets, the Company evaluates its acquired single-family residential properties for purposes of determining whether a transaction should be accounted for as an asset acquisition or business combination. The Company expects that substantially all of its transactions will be accounted for as asset acquisitions. The Company’s purchase of the residential real estate was treated as an asset acquisition and recorded at fair value at the acquisition date, which is allocated between land and building, based upon their relative fair values as of the date of acquisition.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash consisting of interest-bearing demand deposits is carried at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company considers cash in banks and holdings of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash or cash equivalents. At various times throughout the year, and as of December 31, 2019, some accounts held at financial institutions were in excess of the federally insured limit of $250. The Company reduces its exposure to credit risk by maintaining its cash deposits with major financial institutions and monitoring their credit ratings. The Company has not experienced any losses on these accounts and believes credit risk to be minimal.

As a condition of certain loan arrangements associated with the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, the Company is restricted as to use of funds of certain bank accounts without the approval of the lender. (See Note 4). These balances have been excluded from the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance and are classified as restricted cash in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses due to the inability of its customers and lessees to make the required payments. Management analyzes the collectability of rents, trade accounts and other receivables and the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts on a regular basis taking into consideration the aging of the account balances, historical bad debt experience, customer concentration, customer credit-worthiness, customer financial condition and credit report and the current economic environment. In addition, an allowance is established when it is probable that a specific receivable is not collectible, and the loss can be reasonably estimated. Amounts are written off against the allowance when they are considered to be uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations

Deferred Financing Costs and Amortization of Deferred Financing Cost

Deferred financing costs relate to the Company’s debt instruments, the short- and long-term portions of which are reflected as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt instruments, including the Company’s Senior Debt. Deferred financing costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the related debt instrument which approximates the effective interest method.

Long-Lived Assets- Impairments

The Company’s long-lived assets consist primarily of its investment in real estate and property and equipment. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the remaining useful lives of the related tangible assets. Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Property and equipment under capital leases are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The carrying amount of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated in the year of disposal, with resulting gains or losses on disposition of property and equipment included in other income or expense. When the Company identifies assets to be sold, those assets are valued based on their estimated fair value less costs to sell, classified as held-for-sale and depreciation is no longer recorded. Estimated losses on disposals are included within operating expenses.

The carrying amounts of long-lived assets are periodically reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable.

 

Revenue and Cost of Goods Sold Recognition

 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606,ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, (“ASC 606”ASU 2014-09”). Under ASC 606, and all subsequent amendments, which (i) creates a single framework for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers that fall within its scope and (ii) revises when it is appropriate to recognize a gain (loss) from the transfer of nonfinancial assets. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that revenue is recognized when a customer obtains controlthe transfer of promised goods or services to customers occurs in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entityCompany expects to receivebe entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To determineASU 2014-09 requires the disclosure of sufficient information to enable readers of the Company’s consolidated financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue recognitionand cash flows arising from customer contracts. ASU 2014-09 also requires disclosure of information regarding significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract.

The Company recognizes revenue from continuing operations from two sources, rental income and telecommunications services.

Rental Income

Rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the respective leases when collectability is reasonably assured, and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased assts. Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance and other expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable costs are incurred.

Telecommunications Services

Revenue from telecommunication services are derived from short-term projects performed under master and other service agreements as well as from contracts for arrangementsspecific projects or jobs requiring the installation of an entire infrastructure system or specified units within an entire infrastructure system. The Company has determined that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606,these short-term projects provide a distinct service and, therefore, qualify as one performance obligation. The Company provides services under unit-price or fixed-price master service or other service agreements under which the Company performsfurnishes specified units of service for a fixed-price per unit of service and revenue is recognized upon completion of the following five steps: (i) identifydefined project due to its short-term nature.

The Company also derives service revenues by managing wireless networks for customers to offer to their tenants and bills monthly in advance for the contract(s) withmonth’s services. The Company determined the wireless service contracts cover a customer; (ii) identify thesingle performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction priceobligation and transfer control of access to the performance obligations inwireless service continuously as the contract;customer simultaneously receives and (v) recognizeconsumes the benefits. Therefore, the revenue when (or as)for the entity satisfies a performance obligation. A performance obligationmonthly wireless service is a promise in a contractconsidered to transfer a distinct good or servicebe recognized over time.

Discontinued Operation

Prior to the customerstrict foreclosure of the Company’s equity interests in Benchmark on October 10, 2020, which is classified as discontinued operations on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and is the unitstatement of account in ASC 606. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606,operations, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes asderived revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company does not collect sales, value add, and other taxes collected on behalf of third parties.

Revenues derived from construction services at Benchmark are derived from short-term construction projects ranging from 6 to 12 months in duration under fixed-price contracts. The Company has determined that these short-term construction projects provideprovided a distinct service and, therefore, qualifyqualified as one performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services iswere not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, not distinct. Revenue from fixed-price contracts provideprovided for a fixed amount of revenue for the entire project, subject to certain additions for modified scope or specifications to the original project. Revenue iswas recognized over time, because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer as all the work is performed at the customer’s site and, therefore, the customer controls the asset as it is being constructed. This continuous transfer of control to the customer is further supported by clauses in the contract that allow the customer to unilaterally terminate the contract for convenience, pay us for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit and take control of any work in process.

 

Under ASC 606, the cost-to-cost measure of progress continues to best depict the transfer of control of assets to the customer, which occurs as wethe Company incur costs. Contract costs include labor, material, and other direct costs. Contract modifications are routine in the performance of the contracts. Contracts are often modified to account for changes in the contract specifications or requirements. In most instances, contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct, therefore, accounted for as part of the existing contract. Cost to obtain contracts (pre-contract costs) are generally charged to expense as incurred and included in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Certain construction contracts include retention provisions to provide assurance to the customers that the Company will perform in accordance with the contract terms and therefore, not considered a financing benefit. The balances billed but not paid by customers pursuant to these provisions generally become due upon completion and acceptance of the project work or products by the customer. The Company has determined that there are no significant financing components in its contracts during the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Costs to mobilize equipment and labor to a job site prior to substantive work beginning are capitalized as incurred and amortized over the expected duration of the contract. On December 31, 2018 and January 1, 2018, the Company had no material capitalized mobilization costs.

 

Revenue from telecommunication services are derived from short-term projects performed under master and other service agreements as well as from contracts for specific projects or jobs requiring the installation of an entire infrastructure system or specified units within an entire infrastructure system. The Company has determined that these short-term projects provide a distinct service and, therefore, qualify as one performance obligation. The Company provides services under unit-price or fixed-price master service or other service agreements under which the Company furnishes specified units of service for a fixed-price per unit of service and revenue is recognized upon completion of the defined project due to its short-term nature.

The Company also derives service revenues by managing wireless networks for customers to offer to their tenants and bills monthly in advance for the month’s services. The Company determined the wireless service contracts cover a single performance obligation and transfer control of access to the wireless service continuously as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits. Therefore, the revenue for the monthly wireless service is considered to be recognized over time.

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts and Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

In accordance with normal practice in the construction industry, the Company includes asset and liability accounts relating to construction contracts in current assets and liabilities even when such amounts are realizable or payable over a period in excess of one year. For the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company has included retainage payable as part of accounts payable. Retainage payable is anticipated to be paid within the next twelve months. The Company has also included any unbilled retainage receivable as part of accounts receivable and such amounts are also expected to be billed and collected within the next twelve months.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash consisting of interest-bearing demand deposits is carried at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company considers cash in banks and holdings of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash or cash equivalents. At various times throughout the year, and as of December 31, 2018, some accounts held at financial institutions were in excess of the federally insured limit of $250. The Company reduces its exposure to credit risk by maintaining its cash deposits with major financial institutions and monitoring their credit ratings. The Company has not experienced any losses on these accounts and believes credit risk to be minimal.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses due to the inability of its customers to make the required payments. Management analyzes the collectability of trade accounts and other receivables and the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts on a regular basis taking into consideration the aging of the account balances, historical bad debt experience, customer concentration, customer credit-worthiness, customer financial condition and credit report and the current economic environment. In addition, an allowance is established when it is probable that a specific receivable is not collectible and the loss can be reasonably estimated. Amounts are written off against the allowance when they are considered to be uncollectible.

If estimates of collectability of trade accounts and other receivables change or should customers experience unanticipated financial difficulties, additional allowances may be required. Management monitors and evaluates the allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly and is adjusted to maintain the allowance at a level considered adequate to provide for uncollectible amounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is included in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Deferred Financing Costs and Amortization of Deferred Financing Cost

Deferred financing costs relate to the Company’s debt instruments, the short and long-term portions of which are reflected as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt instruments, including the Company’s senior debt. Deferred financing costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the related debt instrument which approximates the effective interest method.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company’s long-lived assets consist primarily of property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets. Property and equipment are stated at cost or if acquired in a business combination, at the acquisition date fair value. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Property and equipment under capital leases are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The carrying amount of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated in the year of disposal, with resulting gains or losses on disposition of property and equipment included in other income or expense. When the Company identifies assets to be sold, those assets are valued based on their estimated fair value less costs to sell, classified as held-for-sale and depreciation is no longer recorded. Estimated losses on disposals are included within operating expenses.

Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis, which are generally based on contractual terms or legal rights. Customer relationships acquired through business combinations are amortized over the estimated remaining useful life of the acquired customer base. This remaining useful life is based on historical customer retention and attrition rates. Contracts in progress acquired through business combinations are amortized over the estimated duration of the underlying projects. Trademarks and tradenames acquired through business combinations are amortized over the estimated useful life that such trademarks and tradenames are expected to be used. Non-compete arrangements entered into in connection with business combinations are amortized over the contractual life of the arrangements. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates the estimated remaining useful life of acquired intangible assets and whether events or changes in circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. The carrying amounts of long-lived assets are periodically reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company has goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets that have been recorded in connection with the acquisition of a business. Goodwill and indefinite-lived assets are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the estimated fair value of the underlying net tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company tests goodwill resulting from acquisitions for impairment annually on March 1, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment. For purposes of the goodwill impairment test, the Company has determined that it currently operates as a single reporting unit. If it is determined that an impairment has occurred, the Company adjusts the carrying value accordingly, and charges the impairment as an operating expense in the period the determination is made. Although the Company believes goodwill is appropriately stated in the consolidated financial statements, changes in strategy or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments and require an adjustment to the recorded balance. There were no impairments during the periods presented.

Income Taxes

 

The Company records income taxes under the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and attributable to operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Accounting standards regarding income taxes requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance, if based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed at each reporting period based on a “more likely than not” realization threshold. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Company’s experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards not expiring unused, and tax planning alternatives.

Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company’s tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Accounting standards regarding uncertainty in income taxes provides a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely, based solely on the technical merits, of being sustained on examinations. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.

Stock-Based Compensation

Compensation expense for all stock-based employee and director compensation awards granted is based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 718,Stock Compensation(“ASC 718”). The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term. Vesting terms vary based on the individual grant terms. These costs are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based compensation awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. This method considers among other factors, the expected term of the award and the expected volatility of the Company’s stock price. Expected terms are calculated using the SimplifiesSimplified Method, volatility is determined based on the Company’s historical stock price and the discount rate is based upon treasure taresU.S. treasury rates with instruments of similar expected terms.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Under ASC Topic 820,Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), the Company uses inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy to measure its financial assets and liabilities. The three levels are as follows:

 

Level 1- Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

Level 2- Inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).

 

Level 3- Inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company’s assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company develops these inputs based on the best information available.

Derivatives

 

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with ASC Topic 815,Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”) and all derivative instruments are reflected as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the balance sheet.

 

The Company uses estimates of fair value to value its derivative instruments. Fair value is defined as the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing and able market participants. In general, Thethe Company’s policy in estimating fair values is to first look at observable market prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets, where available. When these are not available, other inputs are used to model fair value such as prices of similar instruments, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, default rates and credit spreads (including for Thethe Company’s liabilities), relying first on observable data from active markets. Additional adjustments may be made for factors including liquidity, credit, bid/offer spreads, etc., depending on current market conditions. Transaction costs are not included in the determination of fair value. When possible, Thethe Company seeks to validate the model’s output to market transactions. Depending on the availability of observable inputs and prices, different valuation models could produce materially different fair value estimates. The values presented may not represent future fair values and may not be realizable. The Company categorizes its fair value estimates in accordance with ASC 820 based on the hierarchical framework associated with the three levels of price transparency utilized in measuring financial instruments at fair value as discussed above.

Warrant Liability

 

The Company accounts for certain common stock warrants outstanding as a liability at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of the warrants issued by the Company has been estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation and or a Black Scholesthe Black-Scholes-Merton model.

 

Leases

The Company leases corporate and regional office space and related office equipment. Certain vehicle leases, subject to purchase options are leased under finance leases. As of January 1, 2019, these leases are accounted for under the ASC 842, Leases ( See Note 3).

The Company accounts for leases for the corporate and regional offices as operating leases. The lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise that option. For leases with initial terms greater than 12 months, we record operating lease right-of-use assets and corresponding operating lease liabilities. Operating lease right-of-use assets represent our right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent our obligation to make the related lease payments. These assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments.

We have elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for our office equipment leases and therefore do not record these leases on our consolidated balance sheets. These office equipment leases are not material to our consolidated financial statements.

Embedded Conversion Features

 

The Company evaluates embedded conversion features within convertible debt to determine whether the embedded conversion feature(s) should be bifurcated from the host instrument and accounted for as a derivative at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the Statement of Operations.Operations in accordance with ASC 815. If the conversion feature does not require recognition of a bifurcated derivative, the convertible debt instrument is evaluated for consideration of any beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) requiring separate recognition. When the Company recordrecords a BCF, the intrinsic value of the BCF is recorded as a debt discount against the face amount of the respective debt instrument (offset to additional paid-in capital) and amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.

 

Sequencing

 

As of October 13, 2016, the Company adopted a sequencing policy whereby all future instruments may be classified as a derivative liability with the exception of instruments related to share-based compensation issued to employees or directors and convertible preferred stock.

Equity Preferred Stock

 

The Company applies the classification and measurement principles enumerated in accordance with ASC 815 with respect to accounting for its issuance of preferred stock. The Company evaluates convertible preferred stock at each reporting date for appropriate balance sheet classification.

Segments

The Company operates in two segments in accordance with the ASC Topic 280 “Segment Reporting”, (“ASC 280”). Operating segments as defined in ASC 280, are components of public entities that engage in business activities from which they may earn revenues and incur expenses for which separate financial information is available and which is evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in deciding how to assess performance and allocate resources. The two primary segments are the infrastructure segment and real estate segment. The Company is reporting one segment as the acquisition of the real estate segment occurred on December 30, 2019, no results from operations or cash flows were recorded in the Company’s financial statement during 2019 for the real estate segment.

Advertising

 

Advertising costs, if any, are expensed as incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, the CompanyCompany’s spending on advertising was not material.immaterial.

 

Concentration of LaborCustomer Concentrations

Approximately 21%For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 17%2018, the Company had three customers that exceeded 10% of revenues from the infrastructure segment. These customers accounted for 75% and 68% of revenues in each of the Company’s labor force is covered under union agreements in the United States atyears ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively. These agreements

(in thousands) Revenues  % of Total Revenue 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
Customer A $2,620  $4,368   35%  29%
Customer B $1,963  $2,816   26%  20%
Customer C $1,081  $1,952   14%  13%

(in thousands) Accounts Receivable  % of Accounts Receivable 
  2019  2018  2019  2018 
Customer A $325  $552   44%  38%
Customer B $267  $   36%  %
Customer C $  $216   %  15%
Customer D $   

153

      

10

The Company’s infrastructure segment customer base is highly concentrated. Revenues are renegotiated when their terms expire between 2020 and 2021.non-recurring, project-based revenues, therefore, it is not unusual for significant period-to-period shifts in customer concentrations. Revenue may significantly decline if the Company were to lose one or more of its significant customers, or if the Company were not able to obtain new customers upon the completion of significant contracts.

 

Net Loss Per Common Share

 

Basic net lossincome (loss) per share is computed by dividing net lossincome (loss) attributable to common stockholders (the numerator) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period (the denominator). Diluted net lossincome per common share attributable to common shareholders is computed by dividing net lossincome by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted for the dilutive effects of common stock equivalents. In periods when losses from continuing operations are reported, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and 2017 no dilutive effect for common stock equivalents was considered in the calculation of diluted loss per share as their effect was anti-dilutive.

The Company had the following common stock equivalents at December 31, 20182019 and 2017.2018.

 

 2018  2017  2019 2018 
Convertible preferred stock, Series A  2,395,830   1,146,797   1,548,666   2,395,830 
Convertible preferred stock, Series A-1  767,040   727,703   975,508   767,040 
Convertible preferred stock, Series G  

   

178,000

 
Convertible preferred stock, Series H      
Convertible notes  21,303,158   1,847,057   8,686,546   21,303,158 
Common stock warrants  287,484   330,856      287,484 
Options  19,010   1,318      19,010 
Total potentially dilutive shares  24,772,522   4,231,731   11,210,720   24,772,522 

The above table excludes any common shares related to the convertible debt for the Series A and Series B notes since such debt is only convertible at the then prevailing market price upon default.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements AdoptedStandards

In January 2017,February 2016, the FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2017-04:IntangiblesNo. 2016-02GoodwillLeases (Topic 842), (“ASU 2016-02”). For all leases with terms greater than 12 months, the new guidance requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and Other (Topic 350): Simplifyingcorresponding lease liabilities on the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”), which removes Step 2 frombalance sheet and to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about lease transactions. The new standard maintains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases. As a result, the goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment would be measured aseffect of the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceednew guidance on leases in the carrying valuestatement of goodwill. Itoperations and statement of cash flows is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment test performed with a measurement date afterlargely unchanged.

Effective January 1, 2017.2019, the Company adopted the requirements of ASU 2016-02 using the transition provisions at the date of adoption instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Accordingly, comparative financial statements for periods prior to the date of adoption were not adjusted. The Company doeselected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance. Utilizing the practical expedients, the Company did not anticipate that this standard willreassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, or (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases.

The impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets resulted in recording operating right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $2,032 and $2,032, respectively, at January 1, 2019.Comparative periods presented reflect the former lease accounting guidance and the required comparative disclosures are included in Note 3. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 did not have a material impact on its financial statements. We early adopted ASU 2017-4 for impairment tests to be performed on testing dates after June 30, 2018, which did not impact our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The standard introduces a screen for determining when assets acquired are not a business and clarifies that a business must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that contribute to an output to be considered a business. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The impact of this standard will be limited to future business acquisitions.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15,Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 clarifies and provides specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues that are not currently addressed in U.S. GAAP and will thereby reduce the current diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for public business entities for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early application permitted. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018, without a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09,Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ASU 2016-09. The standard is intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements, including the income tax impact, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, with different methodologies for each aspect of the standard. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2017, without a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“the New Standard”). The New Standard provides a single model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. The New Standard also requires expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the nature, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows rising from contracts with customers. The Company adopted the New Standard on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historic revenue recognition methodology under ASC 605. See Note 4.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued

The Company is evaluating whether the effects of the following recent accounting pronouncements, or any other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, resultsstatements of operations or cash flows.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-09,Codification Improvements. These amendments provide clarifications and corrections to certain ASC subtopics includingCompensation – Stock Compensation – Income Taxes (Topic 718-740),Business Combinations – Income Taxes (Topic 805-740) andFair Value Measurement – Overall (Topic 820-10). The majority of the amendments in ASU 2018-09 will be effective in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating and assessing the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07,Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting.Accounting, (“ASU 2018-07”). The standard simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees for goods and services. Under theIn accordance with ASU 2018-07, most of the guidance on such payments to nonemployees would be aligned with the requirements for share-based payments granted to employees. The changes take effect for public companies for fiscal years starting after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company expects that the adoption of this ASU will2018-07 on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.statements of operation or cash flows.

 

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11 – Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. ASU 2017-11 is intended to reduce the complexity associated with the issuer’s accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. Specifically, the Board determined that a down round feature (as defined) would no longer cause a freestanding equity-linked financial instrument (or an embedded conversion option) to be accounted for as a derivative liability at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. ASU 2017-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company expects that the adoption of this ASU will201-11 on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.statements of operation or cash flows.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-09, Codification Improvements. These amendments provide clarifications and corrections to certain ASC subtopics including Compensation – Stock Compensation – Income Taxes (Topic 718-740), Business Combinations – Income Taxes (Topic 805-740) and Fair Value Measurement – Overall (Topic 820-10). The adoption of ASU 2018-09 on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the consolidated statements of operation or cash flows.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13,Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The new guidance requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This replaces the existing incurred loss model and is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost. This pronouncement will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating and assessing the impact this guidance will haveeffect of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2016,December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02,2019-12 – LeasesIncome Taxes (Topic 842)740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes , which will require, among other items, lessees(“ASU 2019-12”). The amendments in ASU 2019-12 simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions regarding the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocations, deferred tax liabilities for equity method investments, and general methodology calculations when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss. Additionally, ASU 2019-12 further simplifies accounting for income taxes by requiring certain franchise taxes to recognizebe accounted for as income-based tax or non-income-based tax, requiring evaluation of the tax basis of goodwill in business combinations, specifying the requirements and elections for allocating consolidated current and deferred tax expense to legal entities separately not subject to tax and requiring reflection of the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The various amendments can be applied on a right of use asset and a related lease liability for most leasesretrospective, modified retrospective, or prospective basis, depending on the balance sheet. Qualitative and quantitative disclosures will be enhanced to better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.amendment. The Company adopted this new guidance on January 1, 2019, usingis currently evaluating the optional modified retrospective transition method. The Company expectseffect of the adoption to result in gross upstandard on its consolidated balance sheets from the recognition of assets and liabilities arising out of operating leases. The Company will recognize assets for the right to use the underlying leased property during the lease term and will recognize liabilities for the corresponding financial obligation to make lease payments to the lessor.statements.

The Company plans to elect the transition package of practical expedients permitted within the standard, which eliminates the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. The Company’s operating leases primarily comprise of office facilities, with the most significant leases relating to corporate headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania and an office in San Francisco, California. The Company is in the process of finalizing changes to its systems and processes in conjunction with its review of lease agreements and will disclose the actual impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 in its interim report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

 

NOTE 4. REVENUE RECOGNITION3. LEASES

 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC 606. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company does not collect sales, value add, and other taxes collected on behalf of third parties.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table details the revenue from customers disaggregated by source of revenue.

  December 31, 2018 
Major Sources of Revenue    
Infrastructure $383,778 
Technology  977 
Total $384,755 

Infrastructure revenue

Revenues in the Infrastructure segment are derived from construction services, which in Benchmark are derived from short-term construction projects ranging from 6 to 12 months in duration under fixed-price contracts. The Company has determined that these short-term construction projects provide a distinct service and, therefore, qualify as one performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, not distinct. Revenue from fixed-price contracts provide for a fixed amount of revenue for the entire project, subject to certain additions for modified scope or specifications to the original project. Revenue is recognized over time, because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer as all the work is performed at the customer’s site and, therefore, the customer controls the asset as it is being constructed. This continuous transfer of control to the customer is further supported by clauses in the contract that allow the customer to unilaterally terminate the contract for convenience, pay us for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit and take control of any work in process.

Under ASC 606, the cost-to-cost measure of progress continues to best depict the transfer of control of assets to the customer, which occurs as we incur costs. Contract costs include labor, material, and other direct costs. Contract modifications are routine in the performance of the contracts. Contracts are often modified to account for changes in the contract specifications or requirements. In most instances, contact modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct, therefore, accounted for as part of the existing contract. Cost to obtain contracts (pre-contract costs) are generally charged to expense as incurred and included in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.

Certain construction contracts include retention provisions to provide assurance to the customers that the Company will perform in accordance with the contract terms and, therefore, not considered a financing benefit. The balances billed but not paid by customers pursuant to these provisions generally become due upon completion and acceptance of the project work or products by the customer. The Company has determined that there are no significant financing components in its contracts during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Costs to mobilize equipment and labor to a job site prior to substantive work beginning are capitalized as incurred and amortized over the expected duration of the contract. As of December 31, 2018,2019, operating leases and January 1, 2018,finance leases are included in the Company had no material capitalized mobilization costs.Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:

 

  Classification   
Lease assets      
Operating right-of-use assets, net   $1,038 
Finance right-of-use assets, net Property, plant and equipment, net   
Total lease assets   $1,038 
Lease Liabilities      
Operating lease liabilities, current   $557 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current    482 
Finance lease liabilities, current Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing fees  69 
Finance lease liabilities, non-current Notes payable and financing leases, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing fees  44 
Total lease liabilities   $1,152 

RevenueRental expense, resulting from telecommunication services from FTE Network Services are derived from short-term projects performed under master and other serviceproperty lease agreements, as well as from contracts for specific projects or jobs requiring the installation of an entire infrastructure system or specified units within an entire infrastructure system. The Company has determined that these short-term projects provide a distinct service and, therefore, qualify as one performance obligation. The Company provides services under unit-price or fixed-price master service or other service agreements under which the Company furnishes specified units of service for a fixed-price per unit of service and revenue is recognized upon completion of the defined project due to its short-term nature.

Technology revenue

The Company also derives service revenues by installing and managing wireless networks for customers to offer to their tenants and bills monthly in advance for the month’s services. The Company determined the wireless service contracts cover a single performance obligation and transfer control of access to the wireless service continuously as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits. Therefore, the revenue for the monthly wireless service, is considered to be recognized over time.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, retainage receivable and costs and estimated earning in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts (contract assets) on the consolidated balance sheet. In the infrastructure segment, amounts are billed as work in progress in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms at periodic intervals. Sometimes, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets. However, the Company generally receives advances or deposits from its customers, before revenue is recognized, resulting in billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts (contract liabilities). These assets and liabilities are reported on the consolidated balance sheet on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of the reporting period. Changes in the contract asset and liability balances for the year ended December 31, 2018 was approximately $1,373. Operating lease costs are recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The components of lease cost from continuing operations recognized within the Consolidated Statements of Operations were not materially impacted by any other factors.

The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers:

  January 1, 2018  December 31, 2018 
Trade receivables $61,699  $74,048 
Contract assets $5,286  $5,974 
Contract liabilities $46,254  $45,166 

As of January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, contract liabilities consisted of accrued subcontract costs, therefore, no amounts were recognized in revenue duringas follows for the year ended December 31, 2018, related to its contract liabilities.2019:

 

Operating leases    
Operating lease costs $657 
Variable lease costs   
Short-term lease costs   
Total operating lease costs $657 

Contract Acquisition Costs

Maturities of lease liabilities as of December 31, 2019 are as follows:

 

The Company does not have material commission programs or incur other contract fulfilment costs in obtaining new contracts. All personnel costs were expensed as current period costs.

  Operating  Finance  Total 
Year ended December 31, 2020 $909  $76  $985 
Year ended December 31, 2021  762   31   793 
Year ended December 31, 2022  239   15   254 
Year ended December 31, 2023         
Year ended December 31, 2024         
Year ended December 31, 2025 and Thereafter         
Total lease payments  1,910   122   2,032 
Less imputed lease interest  (871)  (9)  (880)
Total lease liabilities $1,039  $113  $1,152 

 

Contract Estimates

Accounting for long-term contracts and programs involves the useMinimum lease payments under ASC 840, Leases, as of techniques to estimate total contract revenue and costs. Transaction price for contracts may include variable consideration, which includes increases to transaction price for approved and change orders, claims and other contract provisions. The Company includes variable consideration in the estimated transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur or when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in transaction price are based largely on an assessment of the anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company. The effect of variable consideration on the transaction price of a performance obligation is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. To the extent unapproved change orders and claims reflected in transaction price are not resolved in the Company’s favor, or to the extent other contract provisions reflected in the transaction price are not earned, there could be reductions in or reversals of, previously recognized revenue. No adjustment on any one contract was material to the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018, and 2017.are as follows:

 

2019  402 
2020  280 
2021  269 
2022  239 
2023   
Thereafter   
Total Lease Obligations $1,190 

Transaction Price Allocated

Additional information related to the Remaining Performance Obligationsour leasing arrangements is presented as follows:

 

On December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $132,523 of estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied).

  Year ended December 31, 2019 
  Operating leases  Financing leases 
Weighted average remaining lease term  1.74  $1.78 
Weighted average discount rate  16%  8%
Operating cash flows from operating leases  746    
Financing cash flows from financing leases     (527)

 

NOTE 5. ACQUISITIONS4. ASSET ACQUISITION

 

On December 20, 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement”) with (i) USHR, (ii) the holders (the “Equity Sellers”) of 100% of the equity interests in the entities owned by the Equity Sellers that collectively hold a real estate asset portfolio consisting of 3,184 rental homes located across the United States (the “Entities”), (iii) Vision Property Management, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company (“Vision” and together with the Equity Sellers, the “Sellers”), and (iv) Alexander Szkaradek, in his capacity as the representative of the Sellers (the “Sellers’ Representative”). On December 30, 2019, the parties amended the Rental Home Portfolio Agreement in order to address certain changes to the Rental Home Portfolio Agreement, including, among other things, to allow the $9,750 balance of the cash portion of the purchase price to be paid in cash or short-term promissory notes, and to reduce the Equity Sellers’ indemnification deductible to $100. On December 30, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of the Entities pursuant to the Rental Home Portfolio Agreement, as amended. The Company accounted for the asset acquisition in accordance with ASC 350, 2017 AcquisitionIntangibles-Goodwill and Other, whereby the purchase price was allocated to the individual assets purchased and liabilities assumed based on their fair value.

On April 20, 2017, FTE acquiredPursuant to the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase, as amended, USHR purchased (a) all of the issuedequity interests in the Entities and (b) all of rental home portfolio assets that are related to its business, including certain assumed contracts and assumed intellectual property, excluding certain specified assets. The fair value of consideration transferred was $229,828 consisting of (i) $250 of cash; (ii) $9,750 in promissory notes payable on or before March 31, 2020 as extended by the forbearance period; (iii) the amount of outstanding indebtedness of the Entities, of $86,737, of which $1,230 was due to related parties; (iv) 4,222,474 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001, which had a fair value at the time of Benchmark Builders, Inc. (“Benchmark”), The purchase price consistedacquisition of (i) cash consideration of approximately $17,250 (ii) 1,069,538$15,385; and (v) shares of FTE common stock witha newly designated Series I Non-Convertible Preferred Stock having a fair value of $21,658, (iii) convertible promissory notes in$117,926 at the aggregate principal amount of $12,500 to certain stockholders of Benchmark (the “Series A Notes”, which mature on April 20, 2019) and (iv) promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000 to certain stockholders of Benchmark (the “Series B Notes”, which mature on April 20, 2020). On April 20, 2017, the Company’s senior lender, amended the original credit agreement to provide for approximately $10,100 towards the cash purchase price of the Benchmark acquisition, refinancing this new advance with the existing debt and extending the maturity date of the facility to March 31, 2019. See Note 14. In addition, certain sellers of Benchmark provided approximately $7,500 towards the cash purchase price for which they received promissory notes (the “Series C Notes”, which mature on October 20, 2018). The acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC Topic 805. Benchmark is a full-service general contracting management and general contracting firm, significantly expanding the Company’s presence in the New York area.acquisition.

 

The following table summarizes the fair value of the consideration transferred for the acquisition of Benchmark:Rental Home Portfolio Assets:

 

Cash consideration $17,250 
Shares of common stock  21,658 
Series A notes*  11,263 
Series B notes*  24,574 
Less: Receivable from Benchmark  (500)
Merger consideration $74,245 
Cash $250 
Promissory notes payable, related party  9,750 
Assumed indebtedness  85,507 
Assumed indebtedness, related party  1,230 
Assumed legal settlements  1,240 
Common stock  15,385 
Series I non-convertible preferred stock  117,926 
Less: Cash received  (109)
Restricted cash received (1)  

(1,351

)
Consideration paid $229,828 

 

*: Series A

(1)The Company is required to keep certain accounts at the issuing bank for one of the assumed notes payable for the i) aggregate amount of interest due and Bpayable under all outstanding issuer notes were recorded at fair value.on the next monthly payment date, and ii) the estimated costs and expenses related to the ownership, servicing, operation and maintenance of the purchased assets and iii) reserve for applicable tax liabilities, with cash balances temporarily restricted for regular business operations.

 

The following table summarizes the acquisition date fair value of the purchase price allocation assigned to each major class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of April 20, 2017,December 30, 2019, the closing date for Benchmark:the Rental Home Portfolio Assets:

 

ASSETS ACQUIRED   
Cash $2,416 
Accounts receivable  20,577 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  3,870 
Other current assets  4,235 
Property and equipment  47 
Total identifiable assets acquired  31,145 
Fair value of intangible assets acquired:    
Contracts in progress  10,632 
Trademarks and tradenames  2,749 
Customer relationships  22,743 
Non-compete  548 
Total fair value of intangible assets acquired  36,672 
     
Goodwill  45,007 
Total Assets Acquired  112,824 
     
LIABILITIES ASSUMED    
Accounts payable  20,098 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contract  16,303 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  2,178 
Total Liabilities Assumed  38,579 
     
Total consideration transferred $74,245 
ASSETS ACQUIRED    
Single-home residential rental properties $  
Land  48,264 
Buildings  181,564 
Total Assets Acquired  229,828 
     
LIABILITIES ASSUMED    
Notes payable  85,507 
Notes payable, related party  1,230 
Legal settlements  1,240 
Total Liabilities Assumed  87,977 
     
Total consideration transferred $141,851 

 

GoodwillThe fair values are based on management’s analysis, including work performed by third-party valuation specialists. A number of $45,007significant assumptions and estimates were involved in the application of the valuation methods, including revenues, royalty rates, expenses, tax rates, capital spending, discount rates, and working capital changes. Cash flow forecasts were generally based on USHR forecasts. Valuation methodologies used for the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed utilize Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 inputs including quoted prices in active markets and discounted cash flows using current interest rates. See Note 15.

F-16

NOTE 5. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

During July 2019, the Company was recorded relatednotified that judgments had been entered against the Company in favor of six holders of the Company’s convertible notes in the state of New York. Certain of these convertible noteholders sought to this acquisition.levy against the bank account of the Company’s former subsidiary, Benchmark, and filed an order directing the Company to turn over all Company’s assets. The Company’s failure to satisfy, vacate or stay these judgments constituted an event of default under the Credit Agreement. As a result, on October 10, 2019, the Company believesconsented to a Proposal for Surrender of Collateral and Strict Foreclosure (the “Foreclosure Proposal”), from Lateral, Lateral Builders LLC (“Lateral Builders”) and Benchmark Holdings, LLC (“Benchmark Holdings” and together with Lateral Recovery LLC (“Lateral Recovery”), the goodwill related(“Foreclosing Lenders”)), pursuant to which the Lenders took possession and ownership of the Subject Collateral (see below) by means of a strict foreclosure by the Foreclosing Lenders (the “Benchmark Foreclosure”).

On October 10, 2019, pursuant to the acquisitionForeclosure Proposal, the Company transferred: (i) to Benchmark Holdings all of its (a) equity interests in Benchmark, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, and (b) cash on hand in excess of levels specified in the Foreclosure Proposal; and, (ii) to Lateral Recovery, all of the Credit Parties’ interests in certain commercial tort litigation claims, fraud claims, and insurance claims as specified in the Foreclosure Proposal. Accordingly, a total of $56,156 in Lateral Existing Term Loans and the Super Senior Term Loan principal and interest, as well as $6,416 in unamortized deferred finance costs, was removed from the Company books. See Note 13.

As a result of the expected growth platform to be used for expandingactions taken in accordance with the business. AsForeclosure Proposal, on October 10, 2019, the Company removed the debts and its investment in its wholly-owned subsidiary Benchmark of April 20, 2017, goodwill is expected to be fully deductible for tax purposes$44,262 and will be amortized over 15 years.recognized a gain on the foreclosure of $31,538.

 

The disposition of Benchmark qualified as discontinued operations, as it represented a significant strategic shift of the Company’s operations and financial results. In addition, the operations and cash flows of Benchmark could be distinguished, operationally and for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the Company.

The historical balance sheet and statements of operations of the Benchmark business have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the foreclosure. Discontinued operations include the results of Benchmark, except for certain allocated corporate overhead costs and certain costs associated with transition services provided by the Company to Benchmark. Certain of these previously allocated costs remain part of continuing operations.

The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities of the Company’s discontinued operations as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:

Cash $11,828 
Accounts receivable  72,599 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  5,974 
Other current assets  2,418 
Current assets of discontinued operations  92,819 
Property, plant and equipment  159 
Intangible assets  19,692 
Goodwill  45,007 
Total assets of discontinued operations $157,677 
     
Accounts payable $73,674 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contract  34,690 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  5,403 
Current liabilities of discontinued operations  113,767 
Deferred tax liabilities, net  1,641 
Total liabilities of discontinued operations $115,408 

The operating results of Benchmark for the period from April 21, 2017 to December 31, 2017 included revenuesCompany’s discontinued operations through the date of $201,681the foreclosure are as follows:

  Year Ended 
  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
Major line items constituting income from discontinued operations        
Revenues, net of discounts $245,352  $369,652 
Cost of revenue  215,423   318,148 
Gross profit  29,929   51,504 
Compensation expense  7,985   18,572 
Selling, general and administrative  4,844   9,184 
Amortization of intangible assets  2,813   3,751 
Other (income)     (49)
Income from discontinued operations before provision for income taxes  14,287   20,046 
Provision for income taxes  33   1,086 
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax $14,254  $18,960 

The significant operating and net incomeinvesting cash and noncash items of $15,315 and arethe discontinued operations included in the consolidated statementsConsolidated Statements of operationsCash Flows for the yearyears ended December 31, 2017. The net income in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations reflects $8,976 of amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2017, in connection with Benchmark’s intangible assets. The Company incurred a total of $701 in transaction costs in connection with the acquisition, which are included in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, respectively. See Note 9.Goodwill2019 and Intangible Assets, for information regarding the goodwill and intangible assets of the Benchmark acquisition.2018 were as follows:

 

Unaudited Supplemental Pro Forma Information

The pro forma results presented below include the effects of the Company’s 2017 acquisition of Benchmark as if the acquisition occurred on January 1, 2017. The pro forma net loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes the additional depreciation and amortization resulting from the adjustments to the value of property and equipment and intangible assets resulting from purchase accounting and elimination of transaction costs. The pro forma results also include interest expense associated with debt used to fund the acquisitions. The pro forma results do not include any anticipated synergies or other expected benefits of the acquisitions. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of either future results of operations or results that might have been achieved had the acquisitions been consummated as of January 1, 2017.

The unaudited pro forma combined results, which assumes the transaction was completed on January 1 are as follows for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017:

  Revenue  Net Loss  Loss per Share  Weighted
Average
Shares
 
2017 supplemental pro forma from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 $250,700   (103,596)  (21.77)  4,756,049 
  Year Ended 
  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
Depreciation and amortization $6,780  $8,027 
Capital expenditures $  $113 

 

NOTE 6. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

The following table presents accounts receivable, net for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017:2018:

 

 December 31  December 31 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
Uncompleted contracts $44,227  $36,464 
Completed contracts  13,184   13,865  $749  $1,598 
Unbilled receivable  16,957   12,040 
Allowance for doubtful accounts  (320)  (670)  (7)  (149)
Accounts receivable, net $74,048  $61,699  $742  $1,449 

 

Accounts receivable from customers are generated from revenues earned after the installation or service for a job has been completed, inspected and approval has been obtained by its customer. The Company segments some of its large contracts into smaller more manageable contracts which allows for certain jobs to be completed, inspected and approved for payment by the customer in less time than non-segmentation. Unbilled Accounts Receivable are generally invoiced when authorized by the service provider typically within 90 to 180 days after the Company completes its performance obligation. The payment terms are generally 30 days.

 

NOTE 7. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

Other current assets consist of the following:

 

 December 31  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
          
Notes receivables, promissory note $885  $  $  $885 
Receivable for the sale of assets  112    
Prepaid insurance  625   1,398   210   65 
Prepaid city and state taxes  1,858   2,318 
Prepaid contract costs for work in process     84 
Prepaid legal  212    
Prepaid operating expenses  626   2,483   115   625 
Other current assets $3,994  $6,283  $649  $1,575 

NOTE 8. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment, net consist of the following:

 

  Estimated 

 

December 31

 
  Life      
  (in years) 2018  2017 
         
Machinery and equipment 6-8 $1,598  $1,686 
Vehicles and trailers 7-10  2,276   2,276 
Network services platform 5     3,438 
Computer equipment and software 2-5 years  1,281   1,150 
Leasehold improvements 2-5 years  647   183 
Furniture and fixtures 2-5 years  56   33 
     5,858   8,766 
Less: accumulated depreciation    (2,453)  (1,684)
Property and equipment, net   $3,405  $7,082 

The Company completed the development of the new network infrastructure services platform on October 11, 2017, due to market conditions during 2018 this platform was determined to be obsolete and was written off to selling, general and administration costs for the year ended December 31, 2018.

  Estimated Life December 31, 
  (in years) 2019  2018 
         
Machinery and equipment 6-8 $192  $1,851 
Vehicles and trailers 7-10  860   2,276 
Computer equipment and software 2-5 years  721   749 
Leasehold improvements 2-5 years  602   603 
Furniture and fixtures 2-5 years  36   36 
     2,411   5,515 
Less: accumulated depreciation    (1,373)  (2,268)
Property and equipment, net   $1,038  $3,247 

 

Depreciation expense from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, was $811 and 2017, was $934 and $760,$895, respectively.

 

The Company leases various equipment under capitalfinancing leases. Assets held under capitalfinancing leases are included in property and equipment as follows:

 

  December 31, 
  2018  2017 
Machinery & equipment $1,375  $1,548 
Less: accumulated depreciation  (575)  (438)
  $800  $1,110 

NOTE 9. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, goodwill was $45,007, and the activity within those years was as follows:

  December 31 
  2018  2017 
       
Beginning balance $45,007  $ 
Acquisition     45,007 
Ending balance $45,007  $45,007 

The goodwill is assessed for impairment on an annual basis and also on an interim basis when indicators of impairment exist. The Company completed its goodwill assessment on March 1, 2018, and determined the goodwill was not impaired.

The fair value of identifiable intangible assets consisted of the following at December 31, 2018:

  Weighted average
remaining useful
life (months)
  Gross
Carrying
Amount
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net
Carrying
Amount
 
Definite- Lived Intangibles                
Trademarks and tradenames  63.7   2,749   665   2,084 
Customer relationships  

63.7

   22,743   5,497   17,246 
Contracts in progress  

   10,632   10,632    
Non-compete  

39.7

   548   186   362 
Total Intangible Assets     $36,672  $16,980  $19,692 

The fair value of identifiable intangible assets consisted of the following at December 31, 2017:

  Weighted average
remaining useful
life (months)
  Gross
Carrying
Amount
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net
Carrying
Amount
 
Definite- Lived Intangibles                
Trademarks and tradenames  75.7   2,749   272   2,477 
Customer relationships  75.7   22,743   2,247   20,496 
Contracts in progress  9.7   10,632   6,379   4,253 
Non-compete  51.7   548   78   470 
Total Intangible Assets     $36,672  $8,976  $27,696 

Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $8,004 and $8,976, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2018, amortization expense of $3,751 was charged to operating expenses and $4,253 was charged to cost of revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2017, amortization expense of $2,597 was charged to operating expenses and $6,379 was charged to cost of revenues.

Expected future amortization expense consists of the following for each of the following years ended December 31:

2019 $3,751 
2020  3,751 
2021  3,751 
2022  3,675 
2023  3,642 
Thereafter  1,122 
Total $19,692 
  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
Machinery & equipment $323  $1,375 
Less: accumulated depreciation  (123)  (575)
  $200  $800 

 

NOTE 10.9. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
          
Accrued interest payable[1] $1,673  $2,456  $2,431  $1,673 
Accrued dividends payable  690   610   769   690 
Accrued compensation expense[2]  3,942   4,264   2,029   2,495 
Accrued bonuses  3,939   2,587 
Accrued rent [3]  4,350    
Accrued legal settlement expense [4]  1,240     
Accrued legal expense  1,836    
Accrued taxes payable  76   182   76   76 
Other accrued expense  30   89   105   30 
Accrued expenses, current $10,350  $10,188  $12,836  $4,964 

 

[1]Accrued interest payable as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 includes $1,735 and 2017 includes $1,461, and $1,188, respectively, of estimated penalties and interest associated with prior period unpaid payroll taxes.
[2]Accrued compensation includes $1,868 in both December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, associated with prior period unpaid payroll taxes.
[3]Accrued rent is due to the default on the lease of the Company’s former office space in Naples, FL. The default terms include accruing interest monthly at 18% on the outstanding balance.
[4]Accrued legal settlement expense includes legal settlements that were outstanding at the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase date, as amended on December 30, 2019 in excess of the $100 indemnification. (See Note 4 and 17).

F-19

 

NOTE 11:10: MERCHANT ACCOUNT AGREEMENTS

2019

During February 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement for future receivables, whereby, for receipt of $2,755 in cash, the Company agreed to repay the holder a total of $4,290 in four monthly payments of $382 and twenty nine weekly payments of $95. During October 2019, after repaying $3,147 in cash payments, the remaining $1,143 balance was written off to gain on foreclosure as part of the foreclosure of certain Company assets and extinguishment of debts (See Note 5).

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company paid $8,804 in principal payments, $2,005 in debt settlement payments, reclassified $131 of overpayments to a short term receivable account and recognized a $288 loss on debt settlement on the remaining eighteen merchant account agreements with outstanding principal balances of $11,228. As of December 31, 2019, there were no merchant account agreements outstanding.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $10,197 and $30,008, respectively, in amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts from the amortization of original issuance discounts and deferred debt issuance costs on the straight-line method over the term of the related merchant account agreement, which approximates the effective interest method.

 

2018

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company entered into 65 merchant account agreements, whereby the Company agreed to borrow an aggregate of $70,947, net of $25,126 in original issue discounts and $6,914 in deferred financing costs, in exchange for daily repayment funded through the Company’s future receivables. The merchant account agreements arewere collateralized by the assets of the Company and are due in terms between one and six months. As of December 31, 2018, there were 18 merchant account agreements with an aggregate balance of $11,228, net of original issue discount of $6,746 and deferred financing costs of $2,380.

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized $30,008 and $401, respectively, in amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts from the amortization of original issuance discounts and deferred debt issuance costs on the straight-line method over the term of the related merchant account agreement, which approximates the effective interest method.

2017

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company entered into 24 merchant account agreements, whereby the Company agreed to borrow an aggregate of $11,632, net of $3,549 in original issue discounts and $672 in deferred financing costs, in exchange for daily repayment funded through the Company’s future receivables. The merchant account agreements are collateralized by the assets of the Company and are due in terms between one and six months. As of December 31, 2017, there were 12 merchant account agreements outstanding with an aggregate balance of $7,315, net of original issue discount of $2,576 and deferred financing costs of $500.

 

NOTE 12:11: CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE

2019

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company entered into three convertible notes payable, borrowing an aggregate of $618, net of original issuance discounts of $40 and deferred financing costs of $28, recognized paid-in kind interest principal additions of $7, late fees, prepayment and settlement expenses of $3,439; and, as inducement, the Company issued a total of 35,056 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $94. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repaid convertible note principal of $902, prepayment penalties of $50 and accrued interest of $16 on five convertible notes and issued a total of 3,123,548 shares of the Company’s common stock for the conversion of $2,988 in convertible debt principal and $57 in accrued interest.

During April 2019, a convertible note with a principal balance of $525 was restructured to remove all conversion rights and replace it with a new non-convertible promissory note requiring twelve equal monthly payments of $44 beginning April 2019 and ending February 2020. As a result of the restructure, the Company derecognized the related conversion option derivative liability of $554 and accrued interest payable of $22, resulting in a $576 gain during the year ended December 31, 2019. The balance of the note is $88 as of December 31, 2019.

During April 2019, a holder agreed to terminate two convertible notes with principal balances totaling $337 in exchange for a termination fee of $17 for accrued and interim default interest through April 1, 2019 and a new note payable in the amount of $337. The new note payable bears interest at the rate of 23% per annum and is due in monthly payments of interest and principal through October 2021, including lump sum principal payments of $84 due May 1, 2020 and a final balloon payment of $251 due October 1, 2021. As a result of the convertible notes debt modification, the Company derecognized the related conversion option derivative liability in the amount of $335 and recognized a $88 gain on extinguishment during the year ended December 31, 2019. The balance of the note is $336 at December 31, 2019.

During September 2019, holders of three convertible notes with principal balances totaling $1,521 were restructured to remove all conversion rights and replace the existing convertible notes and accrued interest and penalties with new non-convertible promissory notes having principal balances totaling $1,693. As a result of the restructure, the Company derecognized the related conversion option derivative liabilities totaling $1,510 and accrued interest payable of $182 resulting in a $1,520 gain during the year ended December 31, 2019. The balance of the notes total $974 at December 31, 2019.

During October 2019, holders of eight convertible notes with principal balances totaling $2,629 were restructured to remove all conversion rights and replace the existing convertible notes and accrued interest and penalties with new non-convertible promissory notes having principal balances totaling $2,956. Additionally, the holders were issued a total of 353,202 shares of common stock as inducement valued at $156. As a result of the restructure, the Company derecognized related conversion option derivative liabilities totaling $2,616, accrued interest payable of $327, and recognized new debt discounts totaling $156. As a result of the convertible note debt modifications, The Company recognized gains of $2,616 during the year ended December 31, 2019. The balance of the notes totals $2,324 at December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company has two past-due outstanding convertible notes payable with principal balances totaling $4,147. The outstanding convertible notes of the Company are unsecured, bear interest at 4% per annum, with default rates of 22% and 24% per annum. The convertible notes had original maturity terms of six months and one year, are past-due and are convertible at variable rates of 50% and 65% of the quoted market prices of the Company’s common stock. The conversion options contained in the convertible notes were evaluated for derivative accounting (see Note 15). Aggregate amortization of the debt discounts and deferred financing costs on convertible debt for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $2,731.

 

2018

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company entered into 39 convertible notes payable, borrowing an aggregate of $17,307, net of original issuance discounts of $1,556 and deferred financing costs of $526. Additionally, as inducement, the Company issued a total of 198,746 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $2,563. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company repaid $5,231 of the convertible notes in cash and issued a total of 1,889,144 shares of the Company’s common stock for the conversion of $6,668 in convertible debt principal and $242 in accrued interest.

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 25 outstanding convertible notes payable totaling $9,042, net of unamortized original issuance discounts and deferred financing costs of $4,544. The outstanding convertible notes of the Company are unsecured, bear interest between 4% and 12% per annum or require a one-time payment of 4% of principal in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock. The convertible notes have original maturity terms between six months and one year and are convertible at variable rates between 50% and 75% of the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock. All notes that contained convertible terms during the year ended December 31, 2018 were evaluated for derivative accounting (see Note 16)15). Aggregate amortization of the debt discounts and deferred financing costs on convertible debt for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $17,304.

 

During February2018,, the Company entered into an amendment to extend two past due convertible promissory notes held by one holder with an outstanding principal balance of $900. The amendment extended the maturity date and provided a conversion standstill for 72 days in exchange for a principal payment of $150. During February 2018, the Company entered into a second amendment to the convertible promissory notes extending the maturity date another 89 days in exchange for imposing a floor price of no less than 50% of the closing trade price of the Company’s common stock and a cash payment right to elect to pay conversion notices in cash, for a 10% cash payment premium.

 

During August 2018, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with a holder of a convertible promissory note in the amount of $556, whereby, the Company agreed to a $44 increase in the principal balance and allowing immediate conversion by the holder in the exchange for waivers of certain events of default and a leak-out provision, limiting the holder’s sale of the Company’s common stock to 10% of the average daily share trading volume. As a result of the modification, the Company recognized a derivative liability of $99 as a result of the conversion allowance and a loss on debt modification of $408.

2017

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company entered into 29 convertible notes payable, borrowing an aggregate of $5,153, net of original issuance discounts of $543 and deferred financing costs of $115. Additionally, as inducement, the Company granted a total of 250,771 warrants to purchase common stock with an aggregate issuance value of $11,642 and issued a total of 27,970 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $418. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company repaid $1,426 of the convertible notes in cash and issued a total of 250,771 shares of the Company’s common stock for the conversion of $643 in convertible debt principal and $11 in accrued interest.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 14 outstanding convertible notes payable totaling $3,205, net of unamortized original issuance discounts and deferred financing costs of $814. The outstanding convertible notes of the Company are unsecured, bear interest between 4% and 12% per annum or require a one-time payment of 4% of principal in the form of shares of the Company’s common stock. The convertible notes have original maturity terms between three months and three years and are convertible at variable rates between 50% and 80% of the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock. All notes that contained convertible terms during the year ended December 31, 2017 were evaluated for derivative accounting (see Note 16). Aggregate amortization of the debt discounts and deferred financing costs on convertible debt for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $564.

During February 2017, the Company entered into an amendment to a convertible promissory note whereby, in exchange for the issuance of 2,000 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $35, the holder agreed to waive certain events of default under the note. The value of the issued common stock was accounted for as additional debt discount on the convertible promissory note.

During May 2017, the Company entered into a second amendment to the above mentioned convertible promissory note, whereby, in exchange for the payment of $50 in cash, a $50 principal addition and the issuance of 2,000 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $42, the holder agreed to waive certain events of default under the note. The amendment was accounted for as a debt modification, resulting in the recognition of a $137 increase in note principal value, $11 increase in debt discount and the recognition of $199 loss on extinguishment of debt.

Outstanding convertible notes payable consist of the following at December 31, 20182019 and 2017:2018:

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
Name 2018 2017  2019 2018 
Note 1 $365  $  $  $365 
Note 2  800      2,449   800 
Note 3  310         310 
Note 4  211         211 
Note 5  165         165 
Note 6  263         263 
Note 7  525         525 
Note 8  315         315 
Note 9  211         211 
Note 10  660         660 
Note 11  525         525 
Note 12  525      1,698   525 
Note 13  158         158 
Note 14  130         130 
Note 15  211         211 
Note 16  100         100 
Note 17  1,070         1,070 
Note 18  1,070         1,070 
Note 19  281         281 
Note 20  168         168 
Note 21  168         168 
Note 22  281         281 
Note 23  168         168 
Note 24  321         321 
Note 25  41         41 
Note 26     448 
Note 27     316 
Note 28     95 
Note 29     805 
Note 30     585 
Note 31     113 
Note 32     144 
Note 33     144 
Note 34     83 
Note 35     56 
Note 36     125 
Note 37     128 
Note 38     110 
Note 39     53 
Total  9,042   3,205   4,147   9,042 
Less: Unamortized discount  (4,544)  (814)     (4,544)
Net $4,498  $2,391  $4,147  $4,498 

 

NOTE 13:12: NOTES PAYABLE AND CAPITALFINANCING LEASES PAYABLE

Benchmark Builders Seller Notes

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series A convertible promissory notes (“Series A Notes”), in the aggregate principal amount of $12,500 to the Benchmark Sellers (“Benchmark Sellers”), which matured on April 20, 2019. These notes were convertible into conversion shares, at the holder’s option, upon an event of default at a conversion price per share of $11.88. Interest was computed at the rate of 5% percent per annum on the outstanding principal through July 2, 2019, when it was increased to 8% as discussed below. Interest expense was $900 and $695 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series B Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000 to the Benchmark Sellers, which mature on April 20, 2020. Interest was computed at the rate of 3% per annum on the outstanding principal through July 2, 2019, when it was increased to 8% as discussed below. Interest expense was $1,934 and $929 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series C Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $7,500 to the Benchmark Sellers, which matured on October 20, 2018 and were repaid in full. Interest was computed at the rate of 3% per annum on the outstanding principal. Interest expense was $138 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

On February 12, 2019, in conjunction with the Amendment No. 4 of the Senior Credit Facility (see Note 13), the Company issued a promissory note to Fred Sacramone, a Benchmark Seller, for cash received in the principal amount of $1,000 (the “Sacramone Bridge Note”), which note originally matured on March 31, 2019, incurred interest at 12% per annum and was unsecured. The default interest rate on the note was 15%, which began accruing April 1, 2019. As inducement, Mr. Sacramone was issued 356,513 shares of Common Stock valued at $613, or $1.72 per share, which was deferred and amortized to expense through the maturity date of March 31, 2019.

On July 2, 2019, in conjunction with the Amendment No. 5 of the Senior Credit Facility (see Note 13), the Series A Notes and Series B Notes were amended to extend the maturity dates to July 30, 2021 and change the interest rate to 8% per annum to be paid in kind until the borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement were repaid in full. Additionally, the Sacramone Bridge Note was amended to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2020, to capitalize the accrued interest as of July 2, 2019 and to provide for monthly cash interest payments.

As consideration for amending and restating the Series A and Series B Notes, the Company entered into subscription agreements for 1,951 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and 296 shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Series A Preferred”), which the Benchmark Sellers immediately exchanged, pursuant to exchange agreements, for an aggregate of 100 shares of a new series of preferred stock, Series H Preferred Stock (See Note 19). The Series H Preferred Stock had no dividend rights, no liquidation preference, was not convertible and had perpetual voting rights equivalent to 51% of the total number of votes that could be cast by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

On October 10, 2019, as part of the Foreclosure Proposal (see Note 13) and pursuant to an Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock (the “Debt and Series H Agreement”) between the Company and the Benchmark Sellers. The Benchmark Sellers released the Company from (i) all obligations represented by the Sacramone Bridge Note, which had an outstanding amount equal to approximately $1,097 and (ii) indebtedness represented by the Series B Notes in the amount of $18,983. The remaining indebtedness was to be automatically released and discharged as of December 31, 2019 unless (i) on or before November 10, 2019, the Company entered into a business combination transaction that enabled the Company’s common stock to remain listed on the NYSE American Exchange or any other U.S. national securities exchange and (ii) such business combination transaction was consummated on or before December 31, 2019 (such transaction, a “Qualified Business Combination”). Additionally, the Debt and Series H Agreement also required Benchmark Sellers to sell their shares of Series H Preferred Stock to the Company for a nominal price in the event an agreement for a Qualified Business Combination was entered into on or before November 10, 2019, and such Qualified Business Combination was consummated on or before December 31, 2019.

On November 8, 2019, the Company and Benchmark Sellers entered into an amendment to the Debt and Series H Agreement, pursuant to which the parties agreed to extend the date by which an agreement for a Qualified Business Combination must be entered into from November 10, 2019 to December 31, 2019 and to extend the date by which a Qualified Business Combination must close from December 31, 2019 to February 28, 2020.

On December 23, 2019, the Company entered into a separate agreement with Benchmark Sellers pursuant to which the Company repurchased all outstanding shares of its Series H Preferred Stock for $1.00 per share, as a result of which no shares of Series H Preferred Stock remain outstanding at December 31, 2019.

The following is a summary of the balance of Benchmark Seller Notes as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

  December 31 
  2019  2018 
       
Series A Notes $14,506  $13,603 
Series B Notes  14,390   31,564 
         
Total Benchmark Seller Notes  28,896   45,167 
Less: discount on Benchmark Seller Notes  (3,847)  (2,617)
Benchmark Seller Notes, net of discount  25,049   42,550 
Less: current portion  (25,049)  (13,397)
Total non-current Benchmark Seller Notes $  $29,153 

( See Note 22)

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $2,415 and $1,730 in interest expense and $3,474 and 2,427 in amortization expense on debt discount and deferred finance costs on the Benchmark Seller Notes, respectively.

Promissory Notes and Other Notes Payable

 

Outstanding promissory notes, obligations under capital leases and other notes payable consist of the following:

 

 December 31, 
 2018  2017  December 31, 
      2019 2018 
Notes payable bearing interest at stated rates between 4% and 12% per annum. Terms range from 3 to 36 months $3,019  $3,404  $2,941  $3,019 
Obligations under capital leases, bearing interest rates between 4.1% and 8.2% per annum, secured by equipment having a value that approximates the debt value. Terms range from 48 to 60 months.  320   695 
Various Equipment notes, bearing interest rates between 2% and 41% per annum, secured by equipment having a value that approximates the debt value. Terms range from 30 to 72 months  1,189   1,425 
Total Notes Payables  4,528   5,524 
Notes payable issued for settlement of convertible notes payable, payable in scheduled weekly and monthly payments including interest at rate between 0% and 23% over terms ranging from 10 – 17 months (See Note 10)  3,722    
Notes payable, former related parties, past due, unsecured, accrue interest at 6% per annum (See Note 14)  379   379 
Secured promissory notes payable assumed for the acquisition of assets (see Note 4), notes bear interest between 4% and 12.25%, are secured by certain assets of the Company and are due over terms ranging from 7 to 37 months  85,507    
Obligations under former capital leases, bearing interest rates between 4.1% and 8.2% per annum, secured by equipment having a value that approximates the debt value.     320 
Various equipment notes, bearing interest rates between 2% and 41% per annum, secured by equipment having a value that approximates the debt value. Terms range from 30 to 72 months  362   1,189 
Total notes payable  92,911   4,907 
Less: Original issue discount and deferred financing costs     (25)  (110)   
Notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  4,528   5,499   92,801   4,907 
Less: Current portion  (3,260)  (3,669)  (29,839)  (3,639)
Total Notes non-current portion $1,268  $1,830 
Total notes payable, non-current portion $62,962  $1,268 

 

Fair Value of Debt

  December 31, 2019 
  Carrying Amount  Fair
Value
 
Secured promissory notes $79,063  $85,507 

The Company used the market approach to value the secured promissory notes using the services of a third-party valuation specialists to determine the fair value of these debt instruments. Based on the assumptions used to value these liabilities at fair value, these debt instruments are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Debt Maturities Schedule

The required principal payments for all borrowings for each of the five years following the balance sheet date are as follows:

 

2019  3,260 
2020  776   29,839 
2021  352   59,361 
2022  133   51 
2023  7   3,550 
2024   
Thereafter      
Total $4,528  $92,801 

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $1,315 and $704 in interest expense and $753 and $0 in amortization expense on debt discount and deferred finance costs on notes payable, respectively, and have included $571 and 84 in accrued expenses at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

NOTE 14.13. SENIOR DEBT

Credit Facility

 

On October 28, 2015, the Company entered into an $8,000 senior credit facility (“Facility”). The Facility had a two-year term and provided for cash interest payments in the amount of 12%, paid quarterly in arrears. Additionally, there isarrears and a PIK provision providing a 4% per annum increase in the principal balance monthly. The Facility iswas secured by all assets of the Company. As a condition of the Facility, the Company issued 163,441 shares of its Series D Preferred Stock and 391,903 shares of its Series F Preferred Stock to the lender. A market valuation was performed on this transaction by a qualified third-party valuation firm, an original issue discount of $437 was recorded and is being amortized on a straight-line method, approximating the interest rate method, over twenty-four months to Interest Expense on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, $0 and $182, respectively, was included in amortization of debt discount, and none remained unamortized.

 

On April 5, 2016, the Company entered into an amendment agreement (“Amendment No.1”) to the Facility amending select provisions of the original credit agreement, includingto include equity raises and changes to certain financial and operational covenants. On September 30, 2016, the Company entered into a second amendment agreement, (“Amendment No. 2”) to consolidateamending certain covenants, consolidating a series of short-term bridge loans which were granted to the Company from time to time during the second and third quarters of 2016 into a $5,000 loan, with a maturity date of April 30, 2017 bearing interest at 12% and a PIK provision of 4%. Amendment No. 2 also amended certain covenants.

In conjunction with Amendment No. 2, the Company issuedand issuing warrants to purchase 93,750 shares of the Company’s common stock at any time for five years at an initial exercise price of $20 per share. The $322 value of the warrants was recorded as debt discount and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the Facility.

During November 2016, the Company borrowed a total of $1,000 under the terms of the Facility and issued warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at any time for five years at an initial exercise price of $10 per share. The $430 value of the warrants was recorded as debt discount and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the Facility.

During December 2016, the Company borrowed a total of $1,500 under the terms of the Facility and issued warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at any time for five years at an initial exercise price of $10 per share. The $519 value of the warrants was recorded as debt discount and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the Facility.

During March 2017, the Company borrowed an additional $1,500 under the terms of the Facility, originally due April 30, 2017, but subsequently extended to March 31, 2019.

 

On April 20, 2017, as part of the Benchmark acquisition, the Facility was amended (“Amendment No. 3”) to provide for an additional $11,480 extend the maturity date of the Facility to March 31, 2019 and add certain covenants regarding debt coverage, EBITDA and revenue. Approximatelywhich approximately $10,100 was applied to the cash purchase price and extended the maturity date of the Facility to March 31, 2019. The CompanyWe issued 256,801 shares of Common Stockour common stock to the senior lender with a fair value of $5,649 as a term of Amendment No. 3. The value of the shares wasamendment which were recorded as a debt discount.

 

DuringBetween April and December 2017, we borrowed an additional $1,600 under the Companyterms of the Facility and incurred a $480 extension feefees and penalties totaling $552 to extend the terms of the Facility to March 31, 2019. This amount2019, which was added to the principal amount of the Facility and incurs interest under the terms of the Facility.

 

The Company’s senior lender became a greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company’s common stock on May 15, 2017.

DuringBetween January and October and November 2017,2018, the Company borrowed areceived total cash of $1,600$4,536 for advances under the terms of the Facility due March 31, 2019.2019, converted $867 in accrued interest into principal and recognized a total of $562 in debt discounts and $30 in deferred finance costs.

 

During December 2017,On February 12, 2019, the Company incurredentered into an Amendment No. 4 (“Amendment No. 4”) to the Facility to provide for an additional $12,632 in funding, the “Super Senior Term Loans”. As part of Amendment No. 4, the Company issued 1,698,580 shares of its common stock to the lenders valued at $2,922 and paid $1,301 in fees to the lender. The Amendment No. 4 was recognized as a $42 penalty relateddebt extinguishment, with the carrying value of the Facility being derecognized and recorded at fair value by present valuing the expected future cash flows discounted at the Company’s estimated effective borrowing rate as of the amendment date, resulting in the recognition of a loss on extinguishment of $2,547 during the year ended December 31, 2019.

On July 2, 2019, the Company entered into Amendment No. 5 to loan non-compliance,the Facility (“Amendment No. 5”). Pursuant to Amendment No. 5, the Super Senior Term Loans were amended to: (i) extend the maturity to September 30, 2019; (ii) amend the interest rate to 12% per annum payable in cash; (iii) add a 4% extension fee to the principal amount; and (iv) provide for monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow. In addition, the existing term loans under the Credit Agreement, with an aggregate balance of approximately $37,900 (“Existing Term Loans”) were amended to: (i) extend the maturity to April 30, 2021; (ii) amend the interest rate to 12% per annum payable in cash; (iii) add a 4% extension fee to the principal amount totaling $2,114, which was added to the existing outstanding principal at the time of the amendment; and (iv) include monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow. In addition, accrued interest of $2,234 on the existing Term Loans was converted into principal and accrued interest on the Super Senior Term Loans totaling $592 was paid in cash. Amendment No. 5 was recognized as a troubled debt restructuring; however, no adjustment to the carrying amount of the Facilityexisting Term Loans was required as total undiscounted future cash payments of the amended Term Loans exceeding the carrying amount of the existing Term Loans. Fees paid to the lenders, including common stock, warrants and incurs interest underthe extension fees were capitalized and amortized over the remaining term of the Super Senior Term Loans through September 30, 2019.

As consideration for the Amended and Restated Credit Amendment, the Company issued to the Lenders 2,055,724 shares of its common stock valued at $2,126 and warrants to purchase 3,173,730 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $2,705 with an initial exercise price of $3.00 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the Facility, due MarchWarrants, in the event the Super Senior Term Loans were not paid and satisfied by October 31, 2019.2019, the exercise per share of half of the Warrants would be automatically reset to $0.01 and in the event the Super Senior Term Loans were not paid by December 31, 2019, the exercise per share of the other half of the Warrants would be automatically reset to $0.01. The Company also agreed that on December 31, 2019, the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants would be automatically adjusted such that Lateral and its affiliates would beneficially own, in the aggregate, inclusive of all shares of common stock previously issued, 25% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis, subject to certain exceptions.

 

As additional consideration for the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Company and Lateral entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) whereby the Company agreed to register the common stock issued to Lateral. The Company and Lateral also entered into an investor rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) whereby the Company agreed that within sixty days of its execution, the Company would set the number of directors on its Board of Directors at seven and Lateral would be entitled to nominate one of such seven directors.

Foreclosure Proposal

During July 2019, the Company was notified that judgments had been entered against the Company in favor of six holders of the Company’s convertible notes in the state of New York. Certain of these convertible noteholders sought to levy against the bank account of the Company’s former subsidiary, Benchmark, and filed an order directing the Company to turn over all Company’s assets. The Company’s failure to satisfy, vacate or stay these judgments constituted an event of default under the Credit Agreement. As a result, on October 10, 2019, the Company consented to the Foreclosure Proposal, the Foreclosing Lenders, pursuant to which the Lenders took possession and ownership of the Subject Collateral (see below) by means of a strict foreclosure by the Foreclosing Lenders.

On October 10, 2019, pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, the Company transferred: (i) to Benchmark Holdings all of its (a) equity interests in Benchmark, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, and (b) cash on hand in excess of levels specified in the Foreclosure Proposal; and, (ii) to Lateral Recovery, all of the Credit Parties’ interests in certain commercial tort litigation claims, fraud claims, and insurance claims as specified in the Foreclosure Proposal. Accordingly, a total of $56,156 in Lateral Existing Term Loan and Super Senior Term Loan principal and interest, as well as $6,416 in unamortized deferred finance costs, was removed from the Company books.

Additional terms of the Foreclosure Proposal provided for: (i) the forgiveness of a note payable and accrued interest due to the Company’s former interim CEO totaling $1,097; (ii) the forgiveness of $18,993 in principal balance on a Series B Promissory Note issued as part of the acquisition of Benchmark in 2017; (iii) the transfer to Benchmark Holdings of a merchant credit agreement with a principal balance of $1,143 and unamortized deferred finance costs of $418; and, (iv) the transfer to Benchmark Holdings of a promissory note with a balance of $3,686 and unamortized deferred finance costs of $1,374.

As a result of the above-mentioned Foreclosure Proposal actions, on October 10, 2019, the Company removed the above-mentioned debts and its investment in its wholly-owned subsidiary Benchmark of $44,261 and recognized a gain on foreclosure of $31,538 as part of discontinued operations.

As part of the Foreclosure Proposal, Benchmark Holdings agreed to provide working capital cash payments to the Company of $3,000 on October 21, 2019 and monthly payments of $300 per month. Benchmark Holdings made two monthly payments to the Company in 2019 totaling $600. The above cash payments, as well as $529 in additional freed up restricted cash due under the foreclosure agreement, were recorded as cash totaling $4,129 for the year ended December 31, 2017,2019. During January 2020, the Company reclassified 444,275 shares of Common Stock held by its senior lenderentered into a note payable with a fair value of $438 from temporary equity to permanent equity which is included in the Stockholders’ Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017. The temporary equity was reclassified due to the put provision included in the original Facility being removed upon the execution of Amendment No. 3 resulting from the Benchmark acquisition on April 20, 2017.Builders for $4,129 (see Note 22).

 

During January 2018,The following table summarizes the Company received cash of $23 for a note under the terms of the facility and converted $867 in PIK interest and $110 inremaining balances on Senior debt discount into principal, all due March 31, 2019.as of:

 

  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
Senior note payable $  $36,441 
Less: Original issue discount     (1,768)
Less: Deferred financing cost     (351)
Total Senior Debt $  $34,322 

During April 2018, the Company borrowed a total of $1,025 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019. The Company recognized an original issuance discount of $103 and deferred finance costs of $10 on the note.

During September 2018, the Company borrowed a total of $2,188 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019. The borrowing consisted of $1,949 in accrued interest conversion, an original issuance discount of $219 and fees of $20.

During October 2018, the Company borrowed $1,300 under the terms of the Facility, due March 31, 2019. The borrowing consisted of $1,170 in cash and an original issuance discount of $130.

During the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the Company recognized $4,540$6,937 and $2,678$4,540 in original issuance discounts and deferred finance costs additions on related senior debt issuances respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized $8,492$5,753 and $548$5,835 in amortization expense on the straight-line method over the term of the Facility, respectively, which approximates the effective interest method. The unamortized original issuance discount and deferred finance costs balance was $2,118$0 and $3,452$2,118 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively.

  December 31, 
  2018  2017 
Senior note payable $36,441  $29,475 
Less: Original issue discount  (1,768)  (4,715)
Less: Deferred financing cost  (351)  (1,355)
Total Senior Debt $34,322  $23,405 

The Senior Notes payments all come due in 2019, the outstanding balance is reflected as current on the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2018. See Note 26.

 

NOTE 15.14. RELATED PARTY

 

Guarantees/Related Party AdvancesRental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition

The former CEO, Michael Palleschi, provided cash advances witnessed by interest-bearing notes totaling $0 and $536, for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, the former CEO provided a personal credit card account for the purchase of goods and services by FTE. While the credit card balances are reflected in the Company’s books and records, the former CEO is personally liable for the payment of the entire amount of the open credit obligation, which was $0 and $18 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Additionally, the Company entered into several secured equipment financing arrangements with total obligations of approximately $79 and $132 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, that required the guaranty of a Company officer, which was provided by Mr. Palleschi.

The former CFO, David Lethem, provided an unsecured, interest-bearing note totaling $150 during the year ended December 31, 2017. Additionally, the former CFO personally guaranteed several secured equipment financing arrangements with total obligations of approximately $291 and $371 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The former CFO also provided a personal credit card account for the purchase of goods and services by FTE. While the credit card balances are reflected in the Company’s books and records, the former CFO is personally liable for the payment of the entire amount of the open credit obligation, which was $14 as of December 31, 2017. There was no balance outstanding at December 31, 2018.

The Company issued two promissory notes to TBK327 Partners, LLC, an entity controlled by a former member of the Company’s Board of Directors, Christopher Ferguson. The first note was issued in or around January 23, 2014 in the principal amount of $177 and the second note was issued in or around May 16, 2014 in the principal amount of $80 (collectively the “TBK Notes”). As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had an outstanding principal balance of $237 for the TBK Notes.

The Company issued two promissory notes SRM Entertainment Group, LLC, an entity controlled by a former member of our Board of Directors, Christopher Ferguson. The first note was issued in or around May 5, 2017 in the principal amount of $50 (the “May SRM Note”) and the second note was issued in or around July 11, 2017 in the principal amount of $137 (the “July SRM Note”). As of December 31, 2018, the May SRM Note had been repaid in full and the July SRM Note had an outstanding principal balance of $137.

Related Party Commissions

The Predecessor used the services of HKSE Inc. (“HKSE”) as a consulting firm. HKSE is a company wholly owned and operated by a stockholder of Benchmark and current stockholder of the Company. HKSE is paid commissions computed as a percent of the total annual billings of Benchmark to its clients. This agreement was cancelled in April 2017. For the period from January 1, 2017 through April 20, 2017 (Predecessor), HKSE received commissions totaling $285.

Mr. Christopher Ferguson, a member of the Board of Directors, was owed Board of Directors’ fees in the amount of $5 for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

As noted above in the discussion of the Internal Investigation, prior management caused the Company to engage in these related party transactions, some of which were implemented to the Company’s detriment and were not disclosed properly or were not disclosed at all.

Common Stock

During the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company issued a total of 33,000 and 800 shares of common stock to members of the Company’s Board of Directors having a fair value of $533 and $8, respectively, to satisfy accrued directors’ fees.

Benchmark Acquisition:

 

On April 20, 2017,December 30, 2019, as consideration for the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition, the Company issued 1,069,538 sharesagreed to issue 4,222,474 of the Company’s common stock valued at $15,385 and Series I, nonconvertible preferred stock valued at $117,926 to the former owners forSzkaradeks’. (See Note 4).

The Company also issued two promissory notes, in the aggregate principal amount of $9,750 to the Szkaradeks’ which accrue interest at the rate of 8% per annum and mature on January 31, 2020 with a forbearance through January 1, 2021. (See Note 22).

As part of the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition, the Company assumed notes with a fair value totaling $86,737, of which, $1,230 were related party notes payable from the Szkaradeks’. (See Note 4).

The following is a summary of the balances of related party notes assumed in the acquisition of Benchmark. Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition as of December 31, 2019

  December 31 
  2019 
Promissory note payable to Alexander Szkaradek, assumed for the acquisition of the assets (see Note 4), bears interest at 8% and matures on January 31, 2020 $4,875 
Promissory note payable to Antoni Szkaradek, assumed for the acquisition of the assets (see Note 4), bears interest at 8% and matures on January 31, 2020  4,875 
Alexander Szkaradek, unsecured borrowings due upon demand, no stated interest rate  600 
Antoni Szkaradek, $400 unsecured borrowings due upon demand, no stated interest rate and $205 bearing interest at 8% and is due on January 1, 2021  605 
Maria Szkaradek, bears interest at 8% and is due on June 30, 2021  25 
Total notes payable, related party  10,980 
Less: current portion  (10,750)
Total non-current notes, related party $230 

The shares were valued at $21,658 and were partfollowing is a summary of the purchase price consideration. Seefair value of the related party notes assumed is the acquisition of Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition as of December 31, 2019.

  December 31, 2019 
  Carrying Amount  Fair
Value
 
Secured promissory notes $1,221  $1,230 

The required principal payments for all borrowings for each of the five years following the balance sheet date are as follows:

2020  10,750 
2021  230 
2022   
2023   
Thereafter   
Total $10,980 

Benchmark Sellers

As of the October 10, 2019, the date of the senior lender foreclosure, the Benchmark Sellers were no longer considered to be related parties. (See Note 5.12).

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series A convertible promissory notes, in the aggregate principal amount of $12,500 to the former owners of Benchmark and to significant shareholders stockholders of the Company, which matured on April 20, 2019. Interest is computed at the rate of 5% percent per annum on the outstanding principal. Interest expense was $695 and $442 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.2018. These notes shall be convertible into conversion shares, at the holder’s option, upon an event of default at a conversion price per share of $11.88.

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series B Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000 to the former owners of Benchmark and to significant shareholders of the Company, which mature on April 20, 2020. Interest is computed at the rate of 3% per annum on the outstanding principal. Interest expense was $929 and $633 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.2018.

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company issued Series C Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $7,500 to the former owners of Benchmark and to significant shareholders of the Company, which matured on October 20, 2018. Interest is computed at the rate of 3% per annum on the outstanding principal. Interest expense was $138 and $153 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.2018.

 

The following is a summary of the balance of related party notes as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:2018:

 

 December 31  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2018 
FormerCEO and board member cash advance $380  $1,093 
FormerCFO cash advance     80 
Series A notes  13,603   12,942  $13,603 
Series B notes  31,564   30,633   31,564 
Series C notes     7,403 
Total notes payable, related party  45,547   52,151   45,167 
Less: discount on notes payable, related party  

(2,618

)  

(5,045

)  (2,617)
Notes payable, net of discount  

42,929

   

47,106

   42,550 
Less: current portion  (13,776)  (8,576)  (13,379)
Total non-current notes, related party $29,153  $38,530  $29,153 

 

During October 2018, the Company paid the remaining principal and accumulated in-kind interest balance totaling $4,891 on its Series C Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $7,500 to the former owners of Benchmark.

The required principal payments for all borrowings for each of the five years following the balance sheet date are as follows:

2019 $13,603 
2020  31,564 
2021   
2022   
2023   
Thereafter   
Total $45,547 

 

NOTE 16.Note 15. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

In accordance with ASC No. 820 (Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures), the Company uses various inputs to measure the outstanding warrants and certain embedded conversion feature associated with convertible debt on a recurring basis to determine the fair value of the liability. ASC No. 820 also establishes a hierarchy categorizing inputs into three levels used to measure and disclose fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. An explanation of each level in the hierarchy is described below:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments that are accessible by the Company on the measurement date

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs which are either directly or indirectly observable

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the instrument requiring the development of assumptions by the Company

The following table classifies the Company’s liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017:2018:

 

 December 31, 2018  December 31, 2019 
 Fair value at December 31, 2018 Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
  Fair value at
December 31,
2019
 Quoted
prices in
active
markets
(Level 1)
 Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Secured promissory notes $85,507 $ $85,507 $ 
Secured promissory notes, related party 1,230  1,230  
Warrant derivative liability $3,558  $  $  $3,558  6,689   6,689 
Debt derivative liability  8,038         8,038   4,169      4,169 
Total fair value $11,596  $  $  $11,596  $97,595 $ $86,737 $10,858 

 

 December 31, 2017  December 31, 2018 
 Fair value at December 31, 2017 Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
  Fair value at
December 31,
2018
 Quoted
prices in
active
markets
(Level 1)
 Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 
Warrant derivative liability $16,492  $  $  $16,492  $3,558 $ — $     — $3,558 
Debt derivative liability  

48,195

         48,195   8,038      8,038 
Total fair value $64,687  $  $  $64,687  $11,596 $ $ $11,596 

 

There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 during the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017.2018.

 

The following table presents changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017.2018. Both observable and unobservable inputs were used to determine the fair value of positions that the Company has classified within the Level 3 category. Unrealized gains and losses associated with liabilities within the Level 3 category include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable (e.g., changes in market interest rates) and unobservable (e.g., changes in unobservable long- dated volatilities) inputs.

 

  Warrant Liability  Debt Derivative Liability  Total 
Balance – December 31, 2016 $1,437  $  $1,437 
Additional warrant liability  14,698      14,698 
Additional derivative liability from issuance of convertible notes     15,817   15,817 
Extinguishment of derivative liabilities related to debt conversion and repayment     (2,634)  (2,634)
Change in fair value  357   

35,012

   35,369 
Balance – December 31, 2017  16,492   48,195   64,687 
Additional derivative liability from issuance of convertible notes     17,882   17,882 
Extinguishment of warrant liabilities related to warrants exercise  (1,256)     (1,256)
Extinguishment of derivative liabilities related to debt conversion and repayment     (40,862)  (40,862)
Change in fair value  (11,678)  (17,177)  (28,855)
Balance – December 31, 2018  3,558   8,038   11,596 

  Warrant
Liability
  Debt
Derivative
Liability
  Total 
Balance – December 31, 2017 $16,492  $48,195  $64,687 
Additional derivative liability from issuance of convertible notes     17,882   17,882 
Extinguishment of warrant liabilities related to warrants exercise  (1,256)     (1,256)
Extinguishment of derivative liabilities related to debt conversion and repayment     (40,862)  (40,862)
Change in fair value  (11,678)  (17,177)  (28,855)
Balance – December 31, 2018  3,558   8,038   11,596 
Additional derivative liability from issuance of convertible notes     523   523 
Extension of derivative liability     1,955   1,955 
Additional derivative warrant liabilities related to issuance of warrants  2,705      2,705 
Extinguishment of derivative liabilities related to debt conversion and repayment     (2,932)  (2,2,932)
Gain on troubled debt restructuring     (5,016)  5,016 
Change in fair value  426   1,601   2,027 
Balance – December 31, 2019  6,689   4,169   10,858 

A summary of the weighted average (in aggregate) significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs) used in measuring the Company’s warrant liabilities and embedded conversion feature that are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 is as follows:

 

 As of December 31, 2018 As of December 31, 2017  As of December 31, 2019 As of December 31, 2018 
  Embedded  Embedded    Embedded   Embedded 
 

Warrant

Liability

 Conversion Feature 

Warrant

Liability

 Conversion Feature  

Warrant

Liability

 Conversion
Feature
 

Warrant

Liability

 Conversion
Feature
 
Strike price $7.80  $2.61  $5.93  $3.47  $4.76 $2.85 $7.80 $2.61 
Contractual term (years)  2.7   0.6   3.2   0.8  3.3 1.5 2.7 0.6 
Volatility (annual)  91.2%  91.2%  135.5%  135.5% 152.2% 127.7% 91.2% 91.2%
Risk-free rate  2.24%  2.36%  1.98%  1.55% 1.6% 1.5% 2.24% 2.36%
Dividend yield (per share)  0%  0%  0%  0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

 

NOTE 17.16. BENEFIT PLANS

 

Defined Contribution Plan

 

The Company has a defined contribution plan covering all full-time employees qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which the Company matches a portion of an employee’s salary deferral. The Company’s contributions to this plan were $78$128 and $50,$78, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively.respectively

The Predecessor has a defined contribution plan covering all full-time employees qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which the Predecessor matches a portion of an employee’s salary deferral. The Company’s contributions to this plan were $721 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Predecessor instituted a cash balance for its employees in 2016, the cash balance plan expense totaled $808 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The Company and the Predecessor combined their defined contributions plans as of November 1, 2018.

 

NOTE 18.17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Property Lease Obligations

Rental expense, resulting from property lease agreements, for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, was approximately $1,373 and $1,167, respectively.

The remaining aggregate commitment for lease payments under the operating lease for the facilities as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:

2019  402 
2020  280 
2021  269 
2022  239 
2023   
Thereafter   
Total Lease Obligations $1,190 

Legal Matters

 

The Company is involved in litigation claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Legal fees and other costs associated with such actions are expensed as incurred. In addition, the Company assesses, in conjunction with its legal counsel, the need to record a liability for litigation and contingencies. The Company reserves for costs relating to these matters when a loss is probable, and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

 

On May 10, 2018, Vista Capital Investments, LLC (“Vista”) filed suit against the Company for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing arising out of a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) and a convertible note in the principal amount of $275 in the Superior Court of California for the county of San Diego. Vista alleges damages in excess of $9,000 stemming from the Company’s purported dilutive issuances of Company common stock. Vista was the holder of a convertible note for which there was no prior Board authorization See Note 2.)2). The Company and Vista are continuingreached a tentative settlement framework (subject to discuss termsfinal documentation), following which the court dismissed this matter without prejudice.

On March 28, 2019, the Company obtained a temporary restraining order against Nevada Agency and Transfer Company (“NATCO”) in the Second Judicial District Court for the State of settlement.Nevada, enjoining NATCO, the Company’s transfer agent, from processing or issuing any conversion requests submitted on behalf of convertible noteholders whose notes were determined to have been issued without requisite Board approval (See Item 1, Recent Developments “Internal Investigation”). The Company obtained a preliminary injunction on April 11, 2019 and filed an amended complaint on January 23, 2020 adding Michael Palleschi (the Company’s former CEO) and certain related parties as defendants, seeking (among other damages) a declaratory judgment that the shares of Company stock issued to Mr. Palleschi and related parties were unauthorized and to compel the return of these shares to the Company’s authorized capital stock. The matter remains pending in Nevada and has been delayed as a result of COVID-19.

 

On April 11, 2019, the Company received a demand for arbitration, which was filed with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Case No. 01-19-0001-0962,on behalf of Michael Palleschi, the Company’s former CEO, alleging a breach of his employment agreement and seeking $11,300 in damages. The Company has asserted counterclaims and affirmative defenses to Mr. Palleschi’s claims and intends to vigorously defend this matter. Discovery is pending. This matter has been placed in abeyance, to be reopened upon motion and payment of panel deposit.

 

On June 26, 2019, Efraim Barenbaum filed a shareholder derivative suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain of the Company’s former directors and executive officers, alleging claims for breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, waste, and violations of Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company was named as a nominal defendant only. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on September 23, 2019. In response to the motion, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint on November 1, 2019, but the causes of action remained equally deficient. Having found the claims in the amended complaint also to be baseless, the Company filed a motion to dismiss that pleading as well on January 27, 2020.

Motion practice is ongoing. On September 30, 2020, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s compliant with prejudice.

On August 17, 2019, Auctus Fund, LLC (“Auctus”) filed suit against the Company alleging, among other things, breach of contract and violations of state and federal securities laws, arising out of a securities purchase agreement and a convertible note in the principal amount of $525. Auctus is the holder of a convertible note for which there was no prior Board authorization. See Note 26. The Company denies any alleged wrongdoing and intends to vigorously defend against these claims. The matter is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The parties are presently engaged in settlement discussions.

 

On November 5, 2019, St. George Investments LLC (“St. George”) filed suit against the Company in the Third Judicial District Court for Salt Lake County in the state of Utah to compel arbitration, alleging, among other things, breach of contract arising out of a securities purchase agreement and convertible note in the principal amount of $2,315. St. George is the holder of a convertible note for which there was no prior Board authorization. See Note 26.. The Company is vigorously defending its interests in this matter. On June 4, 2020, the Company learned that the arbitrator, following a hearing on St. George’s motion for partial summary judgment, granted St. George’s motion and requested relief of approximately $2.7 million. The Company believes the arbitrator’s decision is inconsistent with the underlying facts and applicable law and has filed papers to vacate the arbitration award, among other relief. There has been no decision rendered on the briefs and the matter remains pending.

 

On November 26, 2019, David Lethem, the Company’s former CFO, filed a complaint against the Company in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court for Lee county in the State of Florida for breach of contract arising out of a transition, separation and general release agreement. The Company filed a counterclaim to rescind the agreement based on fraudulent inducement. Discovery is proceedingongoing in this case and the Company intendscontinues to vigorously defend its interests in this matter.

 

On January 3, 2020, CBRE, Inc. (“CBRE”) filed suit against the Company’s subsidiary, CrossLayer, Inc., for breach of contract arising out of a program participation agreement in the Superior Court of the state of Delaware. CBRE is alleging damages of $1,333. The Company considers CBRE’s claims to be without merit and has engaged counsel who is vigorously disputing this matter. On April 29, 2020, CBRE filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice. This matter is, effectively, closed.

 

On June 5, 2020, certain former directors of the Company (Christopher Ferguson, Luisa Ingargiola, Brad Mitchell, and Patrick O’Hare) filed suit against the Company in the District Court for Clark County in the State of Nevada to recover indemnification costs arising out of indemnification agreements. The Company denies any alleged wrongdoing and is defending its interests in this matter. The Company continues to assess and discuss terms of a possible settlement.

On September 29, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Vision Property Management, LLC and related entities, including the Company and US Home Rentals LLC, as successor defendants, in connection with claims arising out of various regulations, including the Fair Housing Act, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and the Truth in Lending Act. The Company is evaluating this action and intends to vigorously defend its interests in this matter.

Additionally, there are legal proceedings arising out of the legacy Vision business that implicate certain of our existing rental properties. Most of these matters have either settled or are close to settling based on an agreed upon settlement structure. The Company has accrued $1,240 in legal settlement expense in its Consolidated Balance Sheets as part of its current liabilities and on its Statement of Operations as part of its general and administrative total.

NOTE 19.18. INCOME TAXES

 

The Company is required to file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return and various state tax returns.

 

The components ofCompany has accumulated net losses for the past two years and has not recorded an income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:

  December 31 
  2018  2017 
Current:        
Federal $  $ 
State and local  82    
   82    
Deferred:        
Federal  731   356 
State and local  273   204 
   1,004   560 
Change in valuation allowance      
Income tax provision (benefit) $1,086  $560 

The Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $1,641 and $560 as ofprovision or benefit from continuing operations during the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017, respectively, related to the acquisition of Benchmark Builders, Inc. This deferred tax liability was recorded to account for the book vs. tax basis difference related to the goodwill intangible asset, which was recorded in connection with the acquisition. This deferred tax liability was excluded from sources of future taxable income, as the timing of its reversal cannot be predicted due to the indefinite life of the goodwill. As such, this deferred tax liability cannot be used to offset the valuation allowance.2018.

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company’s deferred tax assets relate primarily to its net operating loss carryforwards and other balance sheet basis differences. In accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” the Company recorded a valuation allowance to fully offset the gross deferred tax asset, because it is not more likely than not that the Company will realize future benefits associated with these deferred tax assets at December 31, 20182019 and 2017.

On December 22, 2017, new legislation was signed into law, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included, among other things, a provision to reduce the federal corporate income tax rate to 21%. Under ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, the enactment of the Tax Act also requires companies, to recognize the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities and the retroactive effects of changes in tax laws in the period in which the new legislation is enacted. There is no further change to its assertion on maintaining a full valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. The Company’s gross deferred tax assets have been revalued from 34% to 21% with a corresponding offset to the valuation allowance and any potential other taxes arising due to the Tax Act will result in reductions to its net operating loss carryforward and valuation allowance. The reduction of the corporate tax rate resulted in a write-down of the gross deferred tax asset of approximately $4,700, and a corresponding write-down of the valuation allowance. Upon completion of our 2017 U.S. income tax return in 2018 the Company may identify additional remeasurement adjustments to our recorded deferred tax liabilities. We will continue to assess our provision for income taxes as future guidance is issued, but do not currently anticipate significant revisions will be necessary. Any such revisions will be treated in accordance with the measurement period guidance outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118.2018.

 

At December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the Company had net deferred tax assets from continuing operations of $39,500$52,252 and $22,125,$41,121, respectively, against which a full valuation allowance of $41,100$52,252 and $21,700,$41,121, respectively, had been recorded. The determination of this valuation allowance did not take into account the Company’s deferred tax liability for goodwill assigned an indefinite life for book purposes, also known as a “naked credit” in the amount of $1,640 and $560 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The change in the valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 20182019 was an increase of $19,400.$11,131. The increase in the valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2019 was mainly attributable to the net operating losses. The increase in the valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2018 was mainly attributable to increases in net operating losses and accrued liabilities.

The increaseCompany recorded a deferred tax liability of $1,641 as of December 31, 2018, related to the acquisition of Benchmark Builders, Inc. This deferred tax liability was recorded to account for the book vs. tax basis difference related to the goodwill intangible asset, which was recorded in connection with the acquisition. This deferred tax liability was excluded from sources of future taxable income, as the timing of its reversal cannot be predicted due to the indefinite life of the goodwill. As such, this deferred tax liability cannot be used to offset the valuation allowance forallowance. This deferred tax liability is recorded in Liabilities of discontinued operation on the year endedConsolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 was mainly attributable to increases in net operating losses2018 and accrued liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in the gross deferred tax assets caused by the decrease in the corporate tax rate.

has been disposed of as of December 31, 2019.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets at December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 are as follows:

 

 December 31  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
Deferred tax assets:             
Net operating loss carryforwards $39,996  $18,587  $48,121 $39,996 
Interest expense limitation  1,983     4,394 1,983 
Accrued liabilities  1,442   1,139  2,126 1,442 
Stock-based compensation 1,740 1,395 
Intangible assets  1,201   1,119  96 1,201 
Stock-based compensation  1,395   1,061 
Reserves  95   219   17  95 
Gross deferred tax assets  46,112   22,125  56,494 46,112 
Valuation allowance  (41,121)  (21,682)  (52,252)  (41,121)
Gross deferred tax assets after valuation allowance  4,991   443  4,242 4,991 
Deferred tax liability – unrealized gains  (4,557)    (4,185) (4,557)
Deferred tax liability – goodwill  (1,641)  (560)
     
Deferred tax liability – property and equipment  (434)  (443)  (57)  (434)
Net deferred tax liability $(1,641) $(560) $ $ 

 

A reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate and the effective tax rates from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 is as follows:

 

 December 31  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
U.S federal statutory rate  21.0%  34.0% 21.0% 21.0%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit  6.5%  1.7% 1.1% 6.5%
Nondeductible – meals & entertainment  (0.1)%  (0.1)% % (0.1)%
Warrant derivative gains or losses  4.2%  (0.1)% 0.1% 3.7%
Impact of tax law change  %  (15.5)%
Change in valuation allowance  (32.9)%  (20.9)% (22.2)% (29.7)%
Other  (0.6)  0.2%  %  (1.4)%
Effective tax rate  (1.9)%  (0.7)%  %  %

 

The Company had approximately $166,300$206,650 and $83,700$166,300 of available gross net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards (federal and state) as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, which begin to expire in 2032.2023. However, the Company has not yet filed its tax returns for its fiscal years ended September 30, 2013, September 30, 2014, September 30, 2015, September 30, 2016, December 31, 2016, December 31, 20172018 or December 31, 2018.2019. Therefore, the Company’s NOLs will not be available to offset future taxable income, if any, until the returns are filed.

 

Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, and similar state regulations, contain provisions that may limit the NOL carryforwards available to be used to offset income in any given year upon the occurrence of certain events, including changes in the ownership interests of significant stockholders. In the event of a cumulative change in ownership in excess of 50% over a three-year period, the amount of the NOL carryforwards that the Company may utilize in any one year may be limited. Beacon had generated approximately $25,000 of NOLs prior to the Beacon Merger, which the Company’s preliminary analysis indicates would be subject to significant limitations pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 382, such that no deferred tax asset has been reflected herein related to the Beacon NOLs.

 

The Company has not yet assessed whether an ownership change under Section 382 occurred during the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017.2018. If an ownership change occurred, there is a potential that a portion of the Company’s NOLs could be limited. However, since there is a full valuation allowance offsetting the deferred tax asset related to the NOL, a limitation should not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company will continue to monitor its ownership changes for purposes of Section 382.

During the period of September 30, 2014 through December 31, 2017, the Company operated primarily in Florida, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Colorado, Texas, Iowa, Washington, Missouri, Georgia, and New York. If the Company is required to pay income taxes or penalties in the future, penalties will be recorded in general and administrative expenses and interest will be separately stated as interest expense. The Company has not yet filed its tax returns for its fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, September 30, 2013, September 30, 2014, September 30, 2015, September 30, 2016, December 31, 2016, December 31, 20172018 or December 31, 2018,2019, but has engaged an accounting firm to begin to compile the past due returns. The Company’s tax returns for the periods from October 1, 2012 through December 31, 20182019 remain subject to examination and may be subject to penalties for late filing.

 

The Company does not have any uncertain tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits will increase or decrease within 12 months as of December 31, 2018.2019. The unrecognized tax benefits may increase or change during the next year for items that arise in the ordinary course of business.

Income Taxes (Predecessor)

The Predecessor was taxed as a Sub Chapter S-Corporation in 2016 and the period from January 1, 2017 through April 20, 2017 which is a non-taxing entity for Federal income tax purposes. With the exception of the New York State minimum tax, the shareholders of Benchmark include their respective share of the income or loss in their personal income tax returns accordingly. New York City does not acknowledge S-Corp status and assesses taxes at the corporate level. Local income taxes incurred amounted to $240 for the period from January 1, 2017 through April 20, 2017.

Benchmark is current with respect to its Federal, State and City income tax filing requirements. Management is not aware of any issues or circumstances that would unfavorably impact its tax status. Management has determined that Benchmark had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition. The Company is a non-taxing entity for both Federal and State income tax purposes and its temporary differences between financial statement carrying amount and income tax bases are not material. Therefore, no deferred tax was calculated. The Company’s effective local tax rate was 7.5% and 48.6% for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the period from January 1, 2017 through April 20, 2017, respectively. The effective rate is less than the statutory rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 due to an immaterial under accrual of local taxes and more than the statutory rate for the period from January 1, 2017 through April 20, 2017 due to an immaterial over accrual of local taxes which the effective rate is also impacted due to the short tax period.

 

NOTE 20.19. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Authorized Capital

 

The Company is currently authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which the following series have been designated: 4,500 shares of Series A, 1,000 shares of Series A-1, 4,0001,780 shares of Series B, 400G, 100 shares of Series C-1,H and 2,000 shares of Series C-2, 110 shares of Series C-3, and 2,000,000 shares of Series D, 1,980,000 of Series F and 1,780 shares of Series G.I.

 

Common Stock

 

The Company is presently authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 12,286,84721,218,464 and 5,798,28112,286,847 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. The holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends equally when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available.

 

The holders of the Company’s common stock have sole voting rights, one vote for each share held of record, and are entitled upon liquidation of the Company to share ratably in the net assets of the Company available for distribution after payment of all obligations of the Company and after provision has been made with respect to each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock, currently including the Company’s preferred stock. The shares of common stock are not redeemable and have no preemptive or similar rights.

 

Equity Transactions (in whole dollars)

 

2019

Investors

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 160,000 shares of common stock to individual investors. Net proceeds of $1,280,000 were received by the Company during 2018 and the unissued shares were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Shares to be Issued until the shares of common stock were issued in 2019.

Share-Based Compensation

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued shares 62,839 of common stock with a fair value of $218,052 to employees.

Board of Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock with a fair value of $247,500 as settlement with our former board of directors.

Senior Lender

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,698,580 shares of common stock with a fair value of $2,921,557 to its Senior Lender in accordance with Amendment No. 4 to the Lateral Credit Agreement dated February 12, 2019.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,500,000 shares of common stock with a fair value of $1,590,000 to its Senior Lender in accordance with the Lateral Credit Agreement dated July 2, 2019.

Board of Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 356,513 shares of common stock with a market value of $613,202 to a member of the Board of Directors who was also an employee for providing the Company with $1,000,000 bridge note on February 12, 2019.

Other

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,005,751 shares of common stock with a fair value of $1,961,214 to an affiliate of the Senior Lender to co-guarantee on a term note issued on February 20, 2019.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 505,724 shares of common stock with a fair value of $536,067 to an affiliate of its Senior Lender in connection with the extension of additional credit under the Lateral Credit Agreement dated July 2, 2019.

Convertible Notes – Conversions, Inducements and Related Costs

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 35,056 shares of common stock with a fair value of $93,788 for inducement shares to certain convertible note holders.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 3,123,548 shares of common stock with a fair value of $6,786,311 for conversion shares to certain convertible note holders.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 353,202 shares of common stock with a market value of $155,754 in accordance with certain Settlement Agreements made with certain of the convertible note holders.

Shares Returned

During the year ended December 31. 2019, 119,593 shares of its common stock were returned to the Company from an employee as a term of a separation agreement.

2018

Settlement of Legal Matters

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 58,083 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $553 for settlement of legal matters.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 836 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $8$552,962 for settlement of legal matters.

 

Investors

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 902,784 shares of its common stock to individual investors, which resulted in net proceeds to the Company of $6,232.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 211,511 shares of its common stock to individual investors, which resulted in net proceeds to the Company of $577.$6,232,273.

 

Consultants

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 810,106 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $8,686 pursuant to consulting agreements.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 93,959 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $1,321$8,686,205 pursuant to consulting agreements.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 1,328,663 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $16,606$16,606,729 to employees.

 

Board of Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 33,000 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $533$532,680 to board of directors.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 800 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $9 tocertain board of directors.

 

Senior Lender

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 854,599 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $1,097 to its Senior Lender.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 256,801 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $5,650$1,096,575 to its Senior Lender.

 

Settlement of Debt and Related Costs

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 40,000 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $919$919,200 to settle debt having an approximate value.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 170,765 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $1,587 to settle debt having an approximate value.$314.

 

Convertible Notes – Conversions, Inducements and Related Costs

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 1,901,520 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $16,338$16,338,223 to its convertible note holders upon conversion of outstanding convertible notes to common shares.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 199,376 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $2,156$2,156,227 to its convertible note holders as an inducement upon the funding of the respective convertible notenote.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 11,519 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $185$18,923 to its convertible note holders as certain financing, settlement and prepayment costs.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 200,470 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $1,925 to its convertible note holders upon conversion of outstanding convertible notes to common shares.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 27,970 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $347 to its convertible note holders as an inducement upon the funding of the respective convertible note

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 6,800 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $114 to its convertible note holders as certain financing, settlement and prepayment costs.

Exercise of Warrant Shares

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued 429,027 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $1,818$1,818,700 for the exercise of warrant shares.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 6,346 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $94 for the exercise of warrant shares.

Shares Returned

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, 80,114 shares of its common stock was returned to the Company with a fair value of $75.$74,990.

 

Benchmark Acquisition

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 1,069,538 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $21,658Shares to the former owners for the acquisition of Benchmark. See additional details in Note 5Acquisitions.be issued

Employees

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 164,610 shares of its common stock with a fair value of $3,780 to employees.

Investor Relations Firm

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017,2019, the Company issued 12,346acquired the assets of USHR, as part of the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition, 4,222,474 shares of its common stock with a market value of $15,384,954 are to be issued to the seller. As of December 31, 2019, the fair value of $211the shares to an investor relations firm for services rendered.issued is recorded as Shares to be Issued on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue a total of 5,000,000 shares of convertible preferred stock with such designations, rights, preferences and/or limitations as may be determined by the Board, and as expressed in a resolution thereof.

 

The following table presents the convertible preferred stock activity for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017.2018.

 

  Series A  Series A-1  Series G  Total Preferred Stock 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
12/31/2016 Balance  500  $   295  $     $   795  $ 
2017 Grant              1,780      1,780    
12/31/2017 Balance  500  $   295  $   1,780  $   2,575  $ 
Exchange  to  common shares              (1,780) $   (1,780)   
12/31/2018 Balance  500  $   295  $     $   795  $ 
  Series A  Series A-1  Series G  Series H  Preferred Stock 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Balance, December 31, 2017  500  $   295  $ �� 1,780  $     $   2,575  $ 
Exchange to common shares              (1,780)           (1,780)   
Balance, December 31, 2018  500  $   295  $     $     $   795  $ 
Issuance of Series A and A-1  1,951      296                  2,247    
Exchange of Series A and Series A-1 to Series H  (1,951)     (296)           100      (2,147)   
Repurchase of Series H                          (100)      (100)    
Balance, December 31, 2019  500  $   295  $     $     $   795  $ 

 

Dividend charges recorded during the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 are as follows:

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
Series             
A $50  $50  $50 $50 
A-1  30   30   30  30 
Total $80  $80  $80 $80 

 

Accrued dividends payable in accrued expenses at December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 are as follows:

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
 2018  2017  2019 2018 
Series             
A $410  $360  $460 $410 
A-1  280   250   310  280 
Total $690  $610  $770 $690 

 

Series A and Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock

 

The Company has designated 4,500 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A”) and 1,000 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A-1”), of which 500 and 295 shares, respectively, are currently issued and outstanding. Holders of the Series A and Series A-1 are entitled to receive contractual cumulative dividends in preference to any dividend on the common stock at the rate of 10% per annum on the initial investment amount commencing on the date of issue. Such dividends are payable on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, upon the declaration of payment by the Board of Directors.

The Series A and Series A-1 shares also contain a right of redemption in the event of liquidation or a change in control. The redemption feature provides for payment of a liquidation fee of 110% of the face value of the Series A shares and 125% of the face value of the series A-1 shares plus any accrued unpaid dividends in the event of bankruptcy, change of control, or any actions to take the Company private.

 

On July 2, 2019, as consideration for amending and restating the Benchmark Notes, the Company entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) pursuant to which it issued to Benchmark Sellers an aggregate of 1,951 shares of the Company’s Series B ConvertibleA Preferred Stock

The Company previously designated 4,000 and 296 shares of the Company’s Series B ConvertibleA-1 Preferred Stock (“Series B”(collectively, the “Series A Preferred”), which the Benchmark Sellers immediately exchanged, pursuant to exchange agreements , for an aggregate of which no shares are currently issued and outstanding.

Series C-1, Series C-2 and Series C-3 Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company previously designated 400, 2,000 and 110100 shares of a new series of preferred stock ( Series C-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C-1”), Series C-2 Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C-2”) and SeriesC-3 Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C-3), respectively. There are no shares of Series C-1, Series C-2 or Series C-3 currently issued or outstanding.H Preferred).

 

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company previously designated 2,000,000 shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D”), of which no shares are currently issued and outstanding as ofDuring the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company accrued $80 and 2017.

Series F Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company previously designated 1,980,000 shares$80 of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series F”), of which none were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,preferred stock dividends, respectively.

 

Series G Convertible Preferred Stock

 

The Board of Directors of the Company authorized the designation of a new series of preferred stock, the Series G Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series G”), out of its available “blank check preferred stock” and authorized the issuance of up to 1,780 shares of the Series G Convertible Preferred Stock.1,780. A Certificate of Designation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on December 4, 2017. The Series G Convertible Preferred Stock had various rights, privileges and preferences, including conversion into 100 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustments) upon the filing of an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation incorporating a reverse stock split and theSeries G rights are junior and subordinate to any shares of Preferred Stock issued prior to thisits issuance.

On December 4, 2017, an Agreement to Exchange Common Stock for Series G Convertible Preferred Stock (“Exchange Agreement”) was entered in between the Company and an affiliate. The Company and the affiliate agreed to the exchange of 178,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for 1,780 shares of the Company’s Series G Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series G Preferred Stock”). The affiliate transferred and assigned 178,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and the Company issued the affiliate 1,780 shares of the Company Series G Preferred Stock.

 

On September 13, 2018, the affiliate converted 1,780 shares of the Series G Preferred Stockwere converted into 178,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. AsNo shares of Series G were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Series H Convertible Preferred Stock

The Board of Directors of the Company authorized the designation of a new series of preferred stock, the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series H”), out of its available “blank check preferred stock” and authorized the issuance of up to 100 shares. A Certificate of Designation was filed with the Secretary of the State of Nevada on June 28, 2019. Series H had no dividend rights, no liquidation preference, was not convertible and had perpetual voting rights equivalent to 51% of the total number of votes that could be cast by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company. On December 23, 2019, the Company entered into a Preferred Stock Repurchase Agreement (“Repurchase Agreement”) with the Benchmarks Sellers in which the Company repurchased 100 shares of the Series G Preferred StockH for an aggregate price of $100, the 100 shares represented all of the issued and outstanding shares of Series H. No shares of Series H were outstanding.issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019.

F-37

 

Series I Preferred Stock Transactions

 

During eachThe Board of Directors of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017,Company authorized the Company accrued an additional $80designation of a new series of preferred stock, the Series I Preferred Stock (“Series I”), out of its available “blank check preferred stock” and authorized the issuance of up to 2,000 shares of the Series I. A Certificate of Designation was filed with the Secretary of the State of Nevada on December 19, 2019. Series I has no voting rights, no conversion rights, is not entitled to dividends respectively.paid on Common Stock, in the event of liquidation the holders Series I Preferred Shares by reason of their ownership are eligible to receive $100 per share after payment is made to Senior Securities but before any payment is made to holders of Common Stock. There were 2,000 shares of Series I shares issued during 2019 as part of the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Acquisition (See Note 4).

 

NOTE 21.20. STOCK-BASED AWARDS

StockOptions

 

Stock options are granted at exercise prices equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The options typically vest over a three-year period and each option, if not exercised or terminated, expires on the seventh anniversary of the grant date.

 

The Company estimates the grant date fair value of the stock options it grants using athe Black-Scholes valuationoption pricing model. The Company’s assumption for expected volatility is based on its historical volatility data related to market trading of its own common stock. The Company bases its assumptions for expected life of the new stock option grants on the life of the option granted, and if relevant, its analysis of the historical exercise patterns of its stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on dividends expected to be paid over the expected life of the stock option. The risk-free interest rate assumption is determined by using the U.S. Treasury rates of the same period as the expected option term of each stock option.

 

The fair value of the options granted during the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 was determined using the following assumptions:

 

  For the year ended December 31, 
  2019*  2018 
Stock option assumptions:        
Risk-free interest rate  %  2.41%
Expected life (years)     10 
Expected volatility  %  328%
Expected dividends  0%  0%

  For the year ended December 31, 
  2018  2017 
Stock option assumptions:        
Risk-free interest rate  2.41%  1.5%-1.98%
Expected life (years)  10   5 
Expected volatility  328%  330%-379%
Expected dividends  0%  0%

*No options were issued during the year ended December 31, 2019.

The following tables provide information about outstanding options for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017:2018:

 

 Stock Options  Stock Options 
 Shares  Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
  Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual
Life(In years)
  

Intrinsic Value

(In thousands)

  Shares Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life(In years)
  

Intrinsic
Value

(In thousands)

 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016            
Granted  94,666  $16.55       
Options exercised            
Forfeited            
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017  94,666   16.55   9.57   64  94,666 16.55 9.57 64 
Granted  250,000   15.84        250,000 15.84   
Options exercised                 
Forfeited  (2,573)  8.75         (2,573)  8.75     
Outstanding as of December 31, 2018  342,093   15.79   9.17     342,093 15.79 9.17  
Granted     
Options exercised     
Forfeited  (1,705)  8.75     
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019  340,388  15.82  8.17   
                         
Exercisable options as of December 31, 2018  111,404  $16.05   9.07    
Exercisable options as of December 31, 2019  188,816 $15.96  8.12   

 

Stock compensation expense related to the options totaled approximately $1,808$1,162 and $563$1,808 for the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.

 

At December 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options, of $2,692$1,523 and $556,$2,692, respectively. This expense will be recognized over a weighted-average number of years of 1.6,1.1 years, based on the average remaining service periods for the awards.

 

The aggregate intrinsic values presented above represent the total pre-tax intrinsic values (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price of $2.34$-0- and $9.92$2.34 on the last trading day of 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on the last trading day during 20182019 and 2017.2018. The amount of aggregate intrinsic value will change based on the price of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

The weighted average grant date fair value per share of Company’s stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $-0- and 2017 was $15.84, and $12.50, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1,169 and 2017 was $1,276, and -0- , respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2018,2019, there were 2,657,9072,659,612 common shares available for issuance under the 2017 Plan.

 

Warrants

 

The Company accounts for common stock warrants as either equity instruments or derivative liabilities depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreement. Stock warrants are accounted for as derivative liabilities if the warrants allow for cash settlement or provide for modification of the warrant exercise price in the event subsequent sales of common stock by the Company are at a lower price per share than the then-current warrant exercise price. The Company classifies derivative warrant liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value and changes in the fair value during the periods presented in the statement of operations, which is revalued at each balance sheet date subsequent to the initial issuance of the stock warrant.

All warrants outstanding as of December 31, 20182019 were exercisable. The following table shows exercise prices and expiration dates for warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2018:2019:

 

Issued to Amount  Issue Date Expiration Date Exercise Price  Amount Issue Date Expiration Date Exercise Price 
Investment Bank  97  10/31/2014 10/31/2021 $5.00  97 10/31/2014 10/31/2021 $5.00 
Equity Investors  60  9/1/2016 9/1/2021 $10.00  60 9/1/2016 9/1/2021 $10.00 
Equity Investors  6  3/29/2017 3/29/2022 $10.00  6 3/29/2017 3/29/2022 $10.00 
Equity Investors  99  9/8/2016 9/8/2021 $20.00  99 9/8/2016 9/8/2021 $20.00 
Equity Investors  97  9/29/2016 9/29/2021 $20.00  97 9/29/2016 9/29/2021 $20.00 
Equity Investor  94  9/30/2016 9/30/2021 $20.00 
Equity Investors  104  10/12/2016 10/12/2021 $20.00  104 10/12/2016 10/12/2021 $20.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 94 9/30/2016 9/30/2021 $20.00 
Term Note Lender (1)  100  11/11/2016 11/11/2021 $10.00  100 11/11/2016 11/11/2021 $10.00 
Term Note Lender (1)  150  12/23/2016 12/23/2021 $10.00  150 12/23/2016 12/23/2021 $10.00 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  5  1/17/2017 1/17/2020 $62.50  5 1/17/2017 1/17/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  5  1/18/2017 1/18/2020 $62.50  5 1/18/2017 1/18/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  4  2/17/2017 2/17/2020 $62.50  4 2/17/2017 2/17/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (5)  4  2/17/2017 2/17/2020 $62.50  4 2/17/2017 2/17/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  5  2/23/2017 2/23/2020 $62.50  5 2/23/2017 2/23/2020 $62.50 
Term Note Lender (1)  150  3/28/2017 3/28/2022 $10.00  150 3/28/2017 3/28/2022 $10.00 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  5  5/19/2017 5/19/2020 $62.50  5 5/19/2017 5/19/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  4  5/17/2017 5/17/2020 $62.50  4 5/17/2017 5/17/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  4  5/17/2017 5/17/2020 $62.50  4 5/17/2017 5/17/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  90  6/1/2017 6/1/2022 $25.00  125 6/1/2017 6/30/2022 $25.00 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  160  6/2/2017 6/30/2020 $62.50  160 6/2/2017 6/30/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  483  6/8/2017 6/30/2020 $62.50  483 6/8/2017 6/30/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  2  6/21/2017 6/21/2020 $62.50  2 6/21/2017 6/21/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  3  6/21/2017 6/21/2020 $62.50  3 6/21/2017 6/21/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  3  6/21/2017 6/21/2020 $62.50  3 6/21/2017 6/21/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  11  8/2/2017 8/2/2020 $62.50  11 8/2/2017 8/2/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  11  8/2/2017 8/2/2020 $62.50  11 8/2/2017 8/2/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  2  8/14/2017 8/14/2020 $62.50  2 8/14/2017 8/14/2020 $62.50 
Convertible Note Holder (1)  2  8/14/2017 8/14/2020 $62.50  2 8/14/2017 8/14/2020 $62.50 
Equity Investor  14  8/27/2017 8/27/2020 $16.50  14 8/27/2017 8/27/2020 $16.50 
Term Note Lender (1)  20  11/8/2017 11/8/2022 $10.00  20 11/8/2017 11/8/2022 $10.00 
Term Note Lender (1)  140  11/8/2017 11/8/2022 $10.00  140 11/8/2017 11/8/2022 $10.00 
Equity Investors  41  4/1/2018 4/1/2023 $15.00  41 4/1/2018 4/1/2023 $15.00 
Equity Investors  41  4/1/2018 4/1/2023 $15.00  41 4/1/2018 4/1/2023 $15.00 
Equity Investors  90  10/25/2018 10/25/2019 $6.00 
Term Note Lender (1)  108  10/30/2018 10/30/2023 $6.00  108 10/30/2018 10/30/2023 $6.00 
  2,214         
Term Note Lender (1) 251 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 251 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 30 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 30 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 71 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 70 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1) 1,235 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Term Note Lender (1)  1,235 7/2/2019 7/2/2024 3.00 
Total Warrants  5,332       

 

(1)Warrant was determined to be a derivative subject to fair value accounting and is recorded as a warrant liability.

A summary of the warrant activity the years ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 is as follows:

 

    Weighted Weighted     Weighted Weighted 
    Average Average     Average Average 
 Number of Exercise Remaining  Number of Exercise Remaining 
 Warrants  Price  Life in Years  Warrants Price Life in Years 
Outstanding, December 31, 2016  1,020  $18.04   4.45 
Issued  1,348   27.84    
Exercised  (125)  62.50    
Outstanding, December 31, 2017  2,243   29.52   3.32  2,243 $29.52 3.32 
Issued  416   4.68      416 $4.68   
Exercised  (445)  13.95       (445) $13.95   
Outstanding, December 31, 2018  2,214  $28.93   2.59   2,214 $28.93 2.59 
Issued 3,174 $3.00   
Exercised/Expired (90) $6.00   
Price reset provision  34 $25.00    
Outstanding, December 31, 2019  5,332 $13.86  3.3 

 

The Company has assessed its outstanding equity-linked financial statements issued with the term loans, see Note 1413 and the convertible notes, see Note 1211 and has concluded that the warrants are subject to derivative accounting as a result of certain anti-dilution provisions contained in the warrant agreements. The value of these warrants at issuance are classified as a fee and are being amortized over the life of the respective loan or convertible note. The fair value of these warrants is classified as a liability in the financial statements, with the change in fair value during the future periods being recorded in the statement of operations. See Note 1615.

NOTE 22. CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

Accounts receivable and revenue from the Company’s major customers as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

(in thousands) Revenues  % of Total Revenue 
  2018  2017  2018  2017 
Customer A $47,664  $   12%  %
Customer B $  $49,307   %  21%
Customer C $31,512  $29,972   8%  14%

(in thousands) Revenues (Predecessor)  % of Total Revenue 
  For the period Ended April 21, 2017  

For the period
Ended April 21, 2017

 
Customer D $7,382   21%
Customer E $6,752   19%
Customer F $4,048   12%

(in thousands) Accounts Receivable  % of Accounts Receivable 
  2018  2017  2018  2017 
Customer B $  $18,477   %  30%
Customer G $7,724  $   10%  %
Customer C $  $7,513   %  12%
Customer D $8,334  $   11%  %

The Company’s customer base is highly concentrated. Revenues are non-recurring, project-based revenues, therefore, it is not unusual for significant period-to-period shifts in customer concentrations. Revenue may significantly decline if the Company were to lose one or more of its significant customers, or if the Company were not able to obtain new customers upon the completion of significant contracts.

NOTE 23. COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts are as follows:

  December 31, 
  2018  2017 
       
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts  283,833  $101,785 
Estimated earnings  16,568   

5,916

 
   300,401   

107,701

 
Billings to date  (329,117)  

(139,946

)
   (28,716) $(32,245)
Included in the accompanying balance sheets:        
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings  5,974   5,286 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings  (34,690)  (37,531)
Total  (28,716) $(32,245)

NOTE 24. BACKLOG (UNAUDITED)

The following is a reconciliation of backlog representing signed contracts in progress at December 31, 2018:

Balance – December 31, 2017 $244,645 
New contracts and adjustments  257,529 
   502,174 
Less contract revenues earned for the year ended December 31, 2018  (369,651)
Balance – December 31, 2018 $132,523 

NOTE 25.21. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY DATA

 

 Three months ended  Three months ended 
($ in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2018
(As Restated)
  June 30, 2018
(As Restated)
  September 30, 2018
(As Restated)
  December 31, 2018  March 31,
2019
 June 30,
2019
 September 30,
2019
 December 31,
2019
 
 (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)  (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) 
Revenue $90,453  $83,525  $88,837  $121,940  $3,123  $1,827  $1,657  $911 
Gross profit $12,230  $13,076  $18,696  $8,885 
Gross (loss) profit $(6) $(139) $174  $(51)
Operating loss $(149) $(2,358) $(12,264) $(23,522) $(5,467) $(5,145) $(4,243) $(10,208)
Net (loss) income from continuing operations $(29,756) $(10,209) $(8,051) $18,322 
Net (loss) income $(1,087) $7,501  $(12,987) $(40,019) $(25,484) $(5,710) $(2,727) $18,481 
Cumulative preferred dividends $(20) $(20) $(20) $(20)
Preferred stock dividends $(20) $(20) $(20) $(20)
Net (loss) income applicable to common shares $(1,107) $7,481  $(13,007) $(40,039) $(25,504) $(5,730) $(2,747) $18,461 
Continuing operations (loss) income per common share – basic $(1.91) $(0.55) $(0.39) $0.87 
Continuing operations (loss) income per common share – diluted $(1.91) $(0.55) $(0.39) $0.60 
                
Net (loss) income per common share – basic $(0.19) $1.13  $(1.68) $(3.79) $(1.63) $(0.31) $(0.13) $0.88 
Net (loss) income per common share – diluted $(0.19) $

0.50

  

$

(1.68) 

$

(3.79) $(1.63) $(0.31) $(0.13) $0.61 
                
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic  5,851,288   6,601,685   7,745,537   10,577,376   15,588,749   18,449,541   20,721,616   21,117,727 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted  5,851,288   14,996,607   7,745,537   10,577,376 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic  15,588,749   18,449,541   20,721,616   30,474,798 

 

  Three months ended 
($ in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2017
(As Restated)
  June 30, 2017
(As Restated)
  September 30, 2017
(As Restated)
  December 31, 2017
(As Restated)
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenue $5,443  $42,581  $96,827  $70,658 
Gross profit (loss) $2,750  $9,255  $23,776  $(5,424)
Operating (loss) income $(2,658) $220  $14,161  $(22,185)
Net loss $(12,351) $(34,524) $(1,748) $(43,460)
Cumulative preferred dividends $(20) $(20) $(20) $(20)
Net loss applicable to common shares $(12,371) $(34,544) $(1,768) $(43,480)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted $(3.73) $(7.22) $(0.33) $(7.83)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted  3,312,373   4,787,556   5,367,966   5,552,429 

  Three months ended 
($ in thousands, except per share data) March 31,
2018
  June 30,
2018
  September 30,
2018
  December 31,
2018
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenue $3,510  $3,249  $5,670  $2,674 
Gross profit $(233) $190  $2,065  $(639)
Operating loss $(5,075) $(8,386) $(20,916) $(23,913)
Net (loss) income from continuing operations $(5,444) $1,308  $(21,005) $(40,411)
Net (loss) income $(1,084) $7,498  $(12,987) $(40,019)
Preferred stock dividends $(20) $(20) $(20) $(20)
Net (loss) income applicable to common shares $(1,104) $7,478  $(13,007) $(40,039)
Continuing operations (loss) income per common share – basic $(0.93) $0.20  $(2.71) $(3.82)
Continuing operations (loss) income per common share – diluted $(0.93) $0.09  $(2.71) $(3.82)
Net (loss) income per common share – basic $(0.19) $1.14  $(1.68) $(3.79)
Net (loss) income per common share – diluted $(0.19) $0.50  $(1.68) $(3.79)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic  5,851,288   6,601,865   7,745,537   10,577,376 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted  5,851,288   14,996,607   7,745,537   10,577,376 

Explanatory Note:

 

The Company is providing restated quarterly and year-to-date unaudited consolidated financial information for interim periods occurring within years ended December 31, 20182019 and 20172018 in order to comply with SEC requirements. See Note 2 for further background concerning the events preceding the restatement of financial information in this Form 10-K.

As discussed in Note 2, the Audit Committee and the Company identified certain errors that are corrected through adjustments made as part of the restatement. These adjustments include corrections related to the investigation of convertible notes that was conducted, as well as (i) corrections related to the Company’s convertible notes and (ii) corrections resulting from management’s review of significant accounts and transactions.

 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidatedquarterly balance sheet for the period ended March 31, 2018 issheets are as follows:

 

  As of March 31, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $9,638  $24  $9,662 
Accounts receivable, net  78,251   (17,166)  61,085 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  4,552   (1,107)  3,445 
Other current assets  9,782   (273)  9,509 
Total current assets  102,223   (18,522)  83,701 
             
Property and equipment, net  8,121   (1,466)  6,655 
Intangible assets, net  25,443      25,443 
Goodwill  35,672   9,335   45,007 
Total assets  171,459   (10,653)  160,806 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable  46,095   (366)  45,729 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  18,516   8,588   27,104 
Due to related party  28      28 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  7,259   282   7,541 
Senior notes payable, current portion net of original discount and deferred financing costs     25,807   25,807 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     3,548   3,548 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     2,369   2,369 
Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  10,182   (6,910)  3,272 
Notes payable, related parties, current portion  7,603      7,603 
Debt derivative liability     22,077   22,077 
Warrant liability     29,897   29,897 
Total current liabilities  89,683   85,292   174,975 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  1,934   (125)  1,809 
Notes payable, related parties, non-current net of debt discount  39,523      39,523 
Senior note payable, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  26,408   (26,408)   
Deferred tax liability  1,122   (39)  1,083 
Total liabilities  158,670   

58,720

   

217,390

 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018         
Series G convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 1,780 shares designated and 1,780 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized 6,136,059 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018, respectively  6      6 
Additional paid-in capital  57,792   8,436   66,228 
Shares to be issued  6,681   (375)  6,306 
Subscriptions receivable  (3,222)  3,222    
Accumulated deficit  (48,468)  (80,656)  (129,124)
Total stockholders’ deficit  12,789   (69,373)  (56,584)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit  171,459   (10,653)  160,806 

  As of 
($ in thousands, except per share data) March 31,
2019
  June 30,
2019
  September 30,
2019
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS         
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $267  $46  $55 
Accounts receivable, net  876   1,765   1,570 
Other current assets  448   565   474 
Assets of discontinued operation  149,516   151,369   127,771 
Total current assets  151,107   153,745   129,870 
             
Property and equipment, net  2,978   2,762   2,605 
Right of use asset  2,097   1,294   1,168 
Total assets  156,182   157,801   133,643 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable  3,384   2,878   2,925 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  5,807   7,898   7,289 
Senior notes payable, current portion net of original discount and deferred financing costs  49,518   49,451   47,844 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost  3,282   4,305   5,046 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost  2,599   1,613   815 
Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  7,964   8,876   10,134 
Notes payable, Benchmark Sellers, current portion  13,771   13,994   41,608 
Operating lease liabilities, current portion  776   596   613 
Debt derivative liability  7,836   6,250   4,705 
Warrant liability  2,163   1,744   5,631 
Liabilities of discontinued operation  98,741   105,888   83,508 
Total current liabilities  195,841   203,443   210,118 
             
Notes payable and financing leases, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  1,002   504   436 
Notes payable, Benchmark Sellers, non-current net of debt discount  29,838   30,528    
Operating lease liabilities, non-current  1,577   842   685 
Total liabilities  228,258   235,317   211,239 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2019, respectively         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2019, respectively         
Series H convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 100 shares designated and -0-, -0- and 100 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2019, respectively         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 18,449,541, 18,449,541 and 20,865,265 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2019, respectively  18   18   21 
Additional paid-in capital  126,743   127,013   130,937 
Shares to be issued  1,280   1,280    
Accumulated deficit  (200,117)  (205,827)  (208,554)
Total stockholders’ deficit  (72,076)  (77,516)  (77,596)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $156,182  $157,801  $133,643 
  As of 
($ in thousands, except per share data) March 31,
2018
  June 30,
2018
  September 30,
2018
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS         
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $579  $1,106  $776 
Accounts receivable, net  1,933   2,069   1,789 
Other current assets  6,059   4,697   2,721 
Assets held for sale  145,647   143,445   141,348 
Total current assets  154,218   151,317   146,634 
             
Property and equipment, net  6,588   6,725   6,441 
Total assets  160,806   158,042   153,075 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable  3,805   3,065   2,862 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  4,878   6,268   6,362 
Senior notes payable, current portion net of original discount and deferred financing costs  25,807   28,210   30,858 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost  3,548   4,576   9,387 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost  2,369   2,683   3,620 
Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  4,148   4,455   3,507 
Notes payable, Benchmark Sellers, current portion  6,727   16,745   17,954 
Debt derivative liability  22,077   8,416   11,885 
Warrant liability  29,897   26,793   11,522 
Liabilities held for sale  72,802   72,504   67,194 
Total current liabilities  176,058   173,715   165,151 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  1,809   1,618   1,414 
Notes payable, Benchmark Sellers, non-current net of debt discount  39,523   27,775   28,463 
Total liabilities  217,390   203,108   195,028 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, respectively         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, respectively         
Series G convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 1,780 shares designated and 1,780, 1,780 and 1,780 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, respectively         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 6,136,059, 7,225,158 and 8,605,021 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, respectively  6   7   8 
Additional paid-in capital  66,228   76,553   92,652 
Shares to be issued  6,306       
Accumulated deficit  (129,124)  (121,626)  (134,613)
Total stockholders’ deficit  (56,584)  (45,066)  (41,953)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $160,806  $158,042  $153,075 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidatedCompany’s quarterly statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 isare as follows:

 

  Three Months ended March 31, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
          
Revenues, net of discounts $85,145  $5,308  $90,453 
Cost of revenues  73,654   4,569   78,223 
Gross profit  11,491   

739

   12,230 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  5,638   224   5,862 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  4,639   907   5,546 
Amortization expense  938      938 
Loss on sale of asset  33      33 
Transaction expenses  93   (93)   
Total operating expenses  11,341   1,038   12,379 
Operating income (loss)  150   (299)  (149)
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (913)  (122)  (1,035)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (5,912)  (2,215)  (8,127)
Gain on debt derivative liability     11,759   11,759 
Loss on warrant liability     (13,821)  (13,821)
Other (expense) income, net  (597)  (190)  (787)
Extinguishment loss  (322)  14,823   14,501 
Loss on issuance of notes     (2,860)  (2,860)
Financing costs  (2,002)  2,002    
Total other expenses, net  (9,746)  9,376   (370)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (9,596)  9,077   (519)
Provision for income taxes  568      568 
             
Net loss  (10,164)  9,077   (1,087)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)     (20)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(10,184) $9,077  $(1,107)
             
Loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(2.09) $1.55  $(0.19)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  4,876,131   5,851,288   5,851,288 

  Three months ended, 
($ in thousands, except per share data) June 30,
2019
  September 30,
2019
  December 31,
2019
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $1,827  $1,657  $911 
Cost of revenues  1,966   1,483   962 
Gross (loss) profit  (139)  174   (51)
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  1,653   1,794   885 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  4,071   2,621   4,447 
Loss on sale of asset  (718)  2   1,116 
Loss on lease termination        3,708 
Total operating expenses  5,006   4,417   10,157 
Operating loss  (5,145)  (4,243)  (10,208)
             
Other expenses            
Interest expense  (3,058)  (3,724)  (1,557)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (3,656)  (5,344)  (943)
Gain on debt derivative liability  435   1,990   (2,081)
Gain on warrant liability  418   (1,182)  (1,057)
             
Gain on trouble debt restructuring  554   4,362   2,659 
Gain on senior lender foreclosure        31,538 
Extinguishment gain  243   90   (29)
Total other expenses, net  (5,064)  (3,808)  28,530)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (10,209)  (8,051)  18,322 
Provision for income taxes         
Net loss from continuing operations  (10,209)  (8,051)  18,322 
Net income from discontinued operations  4,499   5,324   159 
Net (loss) income  (5,710)  (2,727)  18,481 
Preferred stock dividends  (20)  (20)  (20)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(5,730) $(2,747) $18,461 
             
Continuing operations loss per common share:            
Basic $(0.55) $(0.39) $0.87 
 Diluted  (0.55) $(0.39) $0.60 
Net (loss) income per common share:            
Basic $(0.31) $(0.13) $0.88 
Diluted  (0.31) $(0.13) $0.61 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic  18,449,541   20,721,616   21,117,727 
Diluted  18,449,541   20,721,616   30,474,798 
  Three months ended, 
($ in thousands, except per share data) June 30,
2018
  September 30,
2018
  December 31,
2018
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $3,249  $5,670  $2,674 
Cost of revenues  3,059   3,605   3,313 
Gross profit (loss)  190   2,065   (639)
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense -selling general and administrative  3,361   15,296   8,076 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  5,262   7,685   15,198 
Loss on sale of asset  (47)      
Total operating expenses  8,576   22,981   23,274 
Operating loss  (8,386)  (20,916)  (23,913)
             
Other expenses            
Interest expense  (2,960)  (2,214)  (2,858)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (7,144)  (8,377)  (24,601)
Gain on debt derivative liability  6,313   (2,627)  1,732 
(Loss) gain on warrant liability  2,748   14,787   7,964 
Other (expense) income, net  721   29   (93)
Loss on issuance of notes  (1,591)  (203)  (737)
Extinguishment gain  11,607   (1,484)  2,095 
             
Total other expenses, net  9,694   (89)  (16,498)
Loss before provision for income taxes  1,308   (21,005)  (40,411)
Provision for income taxes         
Net income (loss) from continuing operations  1,308   (21,005)  (40,411)
Net income from discontinued operations  6,190   8,018   392 
Net income (loss)  7,498   (12,987)  (40,019)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)  (20)  (20)
Net income loss attributable to common shareholders $7,478  $(13,007) $(40,039)
             
Continuing operations income (loss) per common share:            
Basic $0.20  $(2.71) $(3.82)
Diluted $0.09  $(2.71) $(3.82)
Net income (loss) per common share:            
Basic $1.14  $(1.68) $(3.79)
Diluted $0.50  $(1.68) $(3.79)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic  6,601,685   7,745,537   10,577,376 
Diluted  14,996,607   7,745,537   10,577,376 

The effectCompany’s year-to-date statement of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated balance sheet for the period ended June 30, 2018 isoperations are as follows:

 

  As of June 30, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $12,884  $2  $12,886 
Accounts receivable, net  72,693   (12,779)  59,914 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contract  2,206   1,023   3,229 
Other current assets  8,814   (1,796)  7,018 
Total current assets  96,597   (13,550)  83,047 
             
Property and equipment, net  9,165   (2,367)  6,798 
Intangible assets, net  23,190      23,190 
Goodwill  35,672   9,335   45,007 
Total assets  164,624   (6,582)  158,042 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable  40,175   (477)  39,698 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  21,754   10,498   32,252 
Due to related parties  89      89 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  7,141   1,651   8,792 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     4,591   4,591 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     2,668   2,668 
Senior notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  28,661   (451)  28,210 
Notes payable and capital leases, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  14,343   (11,466)  2,877 
Notes payable, related party  19,173   (850)  18,323 
Debt derivative liability     8,416   8,416 
Warrant liability     26,793   26,793 
Total current liabilities  131,336   41,373   172,709 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  1,617      1,617 
Notes payable, non-current portion, related parties net of debt discount  27,775      27,775 
Deferred tax liability  1,007      1,007 
Total liabilities  161,735   41,373   203,108 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018         
Series G convertible preferred stock, $0.001 stated value, 1,780 shares designated and 1,780 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 7,225,158 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2018  7      7 
Additional paid-in capital  67,677   8,876   76,553 
Subscriptions receivable  (2,769)  2,769    
Accumulated deficit  (62,026)  (59,600)  (121,626)
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity  2,889   (47,955)  (45,066)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity 

$

164,624  

$

(6,582) 

$

158,042 

($ in thousands, except per share data) Three months
ended
March 31,
2019
  Six months
ended
June 30,
2019
  Nine months
ended
September 30,
2019
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $3,123  $4,950  $6,607 
Cost of revenues  3,129   5,095   6,578 
Gross (loss) profit  (6)  (145)  29 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense -selling general and administrative  2,536   4,189   5,983 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  2,925   6,996   9,617 
Loss on sale of asset     (718)  (716)
Total operating expenses  5,461   10,467   14,884 
Operating loss  (5,467)  (10,612)  (14,855)
             
Other expenses            
Interest expense  (2,016)  (5,074)  (8,798)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (17,230)  (20,886)  (26,230)
(Loss) gain on debt derivative liability  (1,945)  (1,510)  480 
Gain on warrant liability  1,395   1,813   631 
Other (expense) income, net  (287)  (287)  (287)
Loss on issuance of notes  (67)  (67)  (67)
Gain on trouble debt restructuring  (2,547)  (1,993)  2,369 
Extinguishment (loss) gain  (1,591)  (1,348)  (1,258)
Total other expenses, net  (24,288)  (29,352)  (33,160)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (29,755)  (39,964)  (48,015)
Provision for income taxes         
Net loss from continuing operations  (29,755)  (39,964)  (48,015)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net  4,270   8,769   14,093 
Net loss  (25,485)  (31,195)  (33,922)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)  (40)  (60)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(25,505) $(31,235) $(33,982)
             
Continuing operations loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(1.91) $(2.35) $(2.63)
             
Net loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted  (1.63)  (1.83)  (1.86)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  15,588,749   17,027,048   18,272,104 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidatedCompany’s year-to-date statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2018 isare as follows:

 

  Three Months ended June 30, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $86,367  $(2,842) $83,525 
Cost of revenues  72,415   (1,966)  70,449 
Gross profit  13,952   (876)  13,076 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  6,856   757   7,613 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  5,855   1,075   6,930 
Amortization of intangible assets  938      938 
Loss on sale of asset  (47)     (47)
Transaction expenses  33   (33)   
Total operating expenses  13,635   1,799   15,434 
Operating income (loss)  317   (2,675)  (2,358)
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (2,889)  (71)  (2,960)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (3,458)  (3,685)  (7,143)
Gain on debt derivative liability     6,313   6,313 
Gain on warrant liability     2,748   2,748 
Other income, net  (1,421)  2,191   770 
Loss on issuance of notes     (1,591)  (1,591)
Gain on extinguishment of debt     

11,607

   11,607 
Financing costs  (6,214)  6,214    
Total other (expenses) income, net  (13,982)  23,726   9,744 
(Loss) income before provision for income taxes  (13,665)  21,051   7,386
(Benefit) for income taxes  (107)  (8)  (115)
             
Net (loss) income  (13,558)  21,059   7,501
Preferred stock dividends  (20)     (20)
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders $(13,578) $21,059  $

7,481

             
(Loss) income per common share:            
Basic $(2.26) $3.19  $1.13

Diluted

 $(2.26 $

1.40

  $

0.50

 
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic  5,997,856   

6,601,685

   

6,601,685

 

Diluted

  

5,997,856

   

14,996,607

   

14,996,607

 
($ in thousands, except per share data) Three months
ended
March 31,
2018
  Six months
ended
June 30,
2018
  Nine months
ended
September 30,
2018
 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $3,510  $6,759  $12,429 
Cost of revenues  3,743   6,802   10,407 
Gross profit (loss)  (233)  (43)  2,022 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense -selling general and administrative  1,851   5,212   20,508 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  2,957   8,219   15,904 
Loss (gain) on sale of asset  34   (13)  (13)
Total operating expenses  4,842   13,418   36,399 
Operating loss  (5,075)  (13,461)  (34,377)
             
Other income (expenses)            
Interest expense  (1,035)  (3,995)  (6,209)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (8,127)  (15,271)  (23,648)
Gain on debt derivative liability  11,759   18,072   15,445 
Gain on warrant liability  (13,821)  (11,073)  3,714 
Other (expense) income, net  (786)  (65)  (36)
Loss on issuance of notes  (2,860)  (4,451)  (4,654)
Extinguishment gain  14,501   26,108   24,624 
Total other income (expenses), net  (369)  9,325   9,236 
Loss before provision for income taxes  (5,444)  (4,136)  (25,141)
Provision for income taxes         
Net loss from continuing operations  (5,444)  (4,136)  (25,141)
Net income from discontinued operations  4,360   10,550   18,568 
Net loss  (1,084)  6,414   (6,573)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)  (40)  (60)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(1,104) $6,374  $(6,633)
             
Continuing operations loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(0.93) $(0.66) $(3.73)
             
Net (loss) income per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(0.19)  1.03   (0.98)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  5,851,288   6,228,555   6,739,771 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidatedCompany’s statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 iscash flows are as follows:

 

  Six Months ended June 30, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $171,511  $2,467  $173,978 
Cost of revenues  146,069   2,603   148,672 
Gross profit  25,442   (136)  25,306 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  12,494   981   13,475 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  10,494   1,982   12,476 
Amortization of intangible assets  1,876      1,876 
Loss on sale of asset  (13)  (1)  (14)
Transaction expenses  125   (125)   
Total operating expenses  24,976   2,837   27,813 
Operating loss  466   (2,973)  (2,507)
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (3,802)  (193)  (3,995)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (9,370)  (5,900)  (15,270)
Gainon conversion derivative liability     18,072   18,072 
Loss on warrant derivative liability     (11,073)  (11,073)
Other expense, net  (1,744)  1,727   (17)
Loss on issuance of debt     (4,451)  (4,451)
Extinguishment gain     26,108   26,108 
Financing costs  (8,812)  8,812    
Total other expenses, net  (23,728)  33,102   9,374 
Loss before provision for income taxes  (23,262)  30,129   6,867 
Provision for income taxes  460   (7)  453 
             
Net loss  (23,722)  30,136   6,414 
Preferred stock dividends  (40)     (40)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(23,762) $30,136  $6,374 
             
Loss per common share:            
Basic $(4.53) $4.84  $1.02 
Diluted $(4.53) $2.06  $0.44 
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic  5,249,808   6,228,559   6,228,559 
Diluted  5,249,808   14,632,985   14,632,985 

  Period ended 
(dollars in thousands) March 31,
2019
  June 30,
2019
  September 30,
2019
 
  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Cash flows from operating activities:            
Net loss $(25,485) $(31,195) $(33,922)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:            
Depreciation  485   905   1,238 
Amortization of intangible assets  2,253   4,506   6,759 
Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs  17,230   20,886   26,230 
Loss (gain) on sale of asset  6   (718)  (716)
Payment in kind interest-debt on notes payable  280   819   859 
Payment in kind interest on Benchmark Builders notes payable  401   811   1,723 
Share-based compensation  512   802   1,095 
Common shares issued for board of director fees        248 
Prepayment and late fee penalties on convertible note payments        2,728 
Loss on issuance of convertible debt  67   67   67 
Loss on debt conversion and repayment  2,322   1,704   344 
Gain on troubled debt restructuring, net  2,547   1,993   (2,369)
Gain on merchant credit settlements  (288)  (288)  (288)
Gain on warrant derivative liabilities  (1,395)  (1,813)  (631)
Loss (gain) on convertible derivative liabilities  1,945   1,510   (480)
Accrued dividends, preferred stock  (20)  (40)  (60)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable  (2,845)  (10,520)  16,179 
Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  9,488   19,652   6,210 
Other current assets  1,231   1,558   421 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  (22,670)  (22,989)  (31,143)
Net cash used in operating activities  (13,936)  (12,350)  (5,508)
             
Cash flows from investing activities :            
Purchase of property and equipment  (34)  (60)  (60)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (34)  (60)  (60)
             
Cash flows from financing activities :            
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes  550   550   550 
Payments on convertible notes  (695)  (952)  (952)
Proceeds from issuance of merchant credit agreements  2,755   2,755   2,755 
Payments on merchant credit agreements  (11,191)  (12,623)  (13,861)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable, net  4,835   4,835   4,835 
Payments on notes payable  (552)  (1,153)  (3,573)
Proceeds from issuance of senior note payable, net  12,632   12,632   12,632 
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable – Benchmark Builders  1,000   1,000   1,000 
Payments on notes payable – Benchmark Builders  (11)  (11)  (16)
Payment of deferred financing costs  (1,301)  (1,869)  (1,889)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  8,022   5,164   1,481 
             
Net change in cash  (5,948)  (7,246)  (4,087)
Cash, beginning of period  12,170   12,170   12,170 
Cash, end of period $6,222  $4,924  $8,083 
             
Cash Reconciliation:            
Cash from continuing operations $267  $46  $55 
Cash of discontinued operations  5,955   4,878   8,028 
Total cash $6,222  $4,924  $8,083 
  Period ended 
(dollars in thousands) March 31,
2018
  June 30,
2018
  September 30,
2018
 
  (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Cash flows from operating activities:            
Net loss $(1,084) $6,414  $(6,573)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:            
Depreciation  446   920   1,310 
Amortization of intangible assets  2,253   4,506   6,759 
Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs  8,127   15,014   23,277 
Loss (gain) on sale of asset  34   (13)  (13)
Payment in kind interest-debt on notes payable  754   1,673   1,530 
Payment in kind interest on Benchmark Builders notes payable     874   1,303 
Share-based compensation  61   1,234   1,861 
Common shares issued for board fees  429   430   533 
Common shares issued for convertible notes modifications, amendments, redemption agreements and settlements  38   171   171 
Common shares issued for consulting services  2,459   1,096   1,769 
Common shares issued to employees     281   12,500 
Loss on issuance of convertible debt  2,860   4,451   4,654 
Prepayment and late fee penalties on convertible note  1,078   1,078   1,059 
Gain on extinguishment of debt  (11,542)  (31,172)  (26,215)
Gain on extinguishment of Benchmark Builders debt  (555)      
(Loss) gain on merchant credit and note payable settlement, net        (2,224)
Loss (gain) on warrant derivative liabilities  13,821   11,073   (3,714)
Loss on convertible derivative liabilities  (11,759)  (18,072)  (15,445)
Accrued dividends, preferred stock  (20)  (40)  (60)
Benefit from deferred income taxes  567   453   1,087 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable  614   1,785   (3,934)
Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts  (8,587)  (3,222)  691 
Other current assets  (2,520)  (1,117)  39 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  48   (4,919)  (13,241)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  (2,478)  (7,102)  (12,876)
             
Cash flows from investing activities:            
Purchase of property and equipment     (623)  (793)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities     (623)  (793)
             
Cash flows from financing activities :            
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes     9,270   11,871 
Payments on convertible notes  (891)  (1,281)  (1,281)
Proceeds from issuance of merchant credit agreements  2,481   2,481   9,089 
Payments on merchant credit agreements  (10,194)  (8,786)  (18,792)
Payments on notes payable  (472)  (759)  (1,044)
Proceeds from issuance of senior note payable, net  23   935   935 
Payments on notes payable – related parties     (2,650)  (3,276)
Proceeds from sale of common stock  5,638   5,976   6,476 
Payment of deferred financing costs  (87)  (217)  (227)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  (3,502)  4,969   3,751 
             
Net change in cash  (5,980)  (2,756)  (9,918)
Cash, beginning of period  15,642   15,642   15,642 
Cash, end of period $9,662  $12,886  $5,724 
             
Cash Reconciliation:            
Cash from continuing operations $579  $1,106  $776 
Cash of discontinued operations  9,083   11,780   4,948 
Total cash $9,662  $12,886  $5,724 

The effectCompany’s statement of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated balance sheetstockholders’ equity (deficit) for the periodyears ended September 30,December 31, 2019 and 2018 isare as follows:

 

  As of September 30, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $5,722  $2  $5,724 
Accounts receivable, net  75,812   (10,179)  65,633 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contract  4,362   (1,434)  2,928 
Other current assets  6,416   (173)  6,243 
Total current assets  92,312   (11,784)  80,528 
             
Property and equipment, net  9,956   (3,353)  6,603 
Intangible assets, net  20,937      20,937 
Goodwill  35,672   9,335   45,007 
Total assets  158,877   (5,802)  153,075 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current liabilities:            
Accounts payable  29,307   (389)  28,918 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  27,984   7,881   35,865 
Due to related parties  56      56 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  9,160   778   9,938 
Senior notes payable, current, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  31,122   (264)  30,858 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     8,186   8,186 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     4,821   4,821 
Notes payable and capital leases, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  17,474   (14,347)  3,127 
Notes payable, current portion, related parties  18,334      18,334 
Debt derivative liability     11,885   11,885 
Warrant liability     11,522   11,522 
Total current liabilities  133,437   30,073   163,510 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  1,414      1,414 
Notes payable, non-current portion, related parties net of debt discount  28,463      28,463 
Deferred tax liability  1,128   513   1,641 
Total liabilities  164,442   30,586   195,028 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 8,605,021 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018  8      8 
Additional paid-in capital  71,421   21,231   92,652 
Shares to be issued         
Subscriptions receivable  (2,941)  2,941    
Accumulated deficit  (74,053)  (60,560)  (134,613)
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity  (5,565)  (36,388)  (41,953)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity $158,877  $(5,802) $153,075 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows:

  Three Months ended September 30, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $92,224  $(3,387) $88,837 
Cost of revenues  76,311   (6,170)  70,141 
Gross profit  15,913   2,783   18,696 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  9,283   11,038   20,321 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  9,045   656   9,701 
Amortization of intangible assets  938      938 
Transaction expenses         
Total operating expenses  19,266   11,694   30,960 
Operating loss  (3,353)  (8,911)  (12,264)
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (2,140)  (74)  (2,214)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (4,318)  (4,059)  (8,377)
(Loss)on debt derivative liability     (2,627)  (2,627)
Gainon warrant liability     14,787   14,787 
Other (expense) income, net  (572)  602   30 
Loss on issuance of notes     (203)  (203)
Extinguishment loss     (1,485)  (1,485)
Financing costs  (1,374)  1,374    
Total other (expenses) income, net  (8,404)  8,315   (89)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (11,757)  (596)  (12,353)
Provision for income taxes  268   366   634 
             
Net loss  (12,025)  (962)  (12,987)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)     (20)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(12,045) $(962) $(13,007)
             
Income per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(1.89) $(0.12) $(1.68)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  6,372,775   7,745,537   

7,745,537

 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows:

  Nine Months ended September 30, 2018 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $263,735  $(920) $262,815 
Cost of revenues  222,380   (3,567)  218,813 
Gross profit  41,355   2,647   44,002 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense -selling general and administrative  21,777   12,019   33,796 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  19,653   2,524   22,177 
Amortization of intangible assets  2,813   1   2,814 
Loss on sale of asset     (14)  (14)
Transaction expenses         
Total operating expenses  44,243   14,530   58,773 
Operating loss  (2,888)  (11,883)  (14,771)
             
Other expenses            
Interest expense  (5,942)  (267)  (6,209)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (13,688)  (9,959)  (23,647)
Gain on debt derivative liability     15,445   15,445 
Gainon warrant liability     3,714   3,714 
Other (expense) income, net  (2,316)  2,329   13 
Loss on issuance of notes     (4,654)  (4,654)
Extinguishment gain     24,623   24,623 
Financing costs  (10,187)  10,187    
Total other expenses, net  (32,133)  41,418   9,285 
Loss before provision for income taxes  (35,021)  29,535   (5,486)
Provision for income taxes  728   359   1,087 
             
Net loss  (35,749)  29,176   (6,573)
Preferred stock dividends  (60)     (60)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(35,809) $29,176  $(6,633)
             
Loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(6.36) $4.33  $(0.98)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  5,630,556   6,739,775   6,739,775 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated balance sheet for the period ended March 31, 2017 is as follows:

  As of March 31, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $2  $  $2 
Accounts receivable, net  9,985   (5,446)  4,539 
Other current assets  3,649   (1,443)  2,206 
Total current assets  13,636   (6,889)  6,747 
             
Property and equipment, net  4,300   (25)  4,275 
Total assets  17,936   (6,914)  11,022 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable  2,332   (148)  2,184 
Due to related party  190   (35)  155 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  3,508   784   4,292 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     175   175 
Merchant credit agreements, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     36   36 
Notes payable, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  5,431   3,754   9,185 
Notes payable, related parties, current portion  791   35   826 
Debt derivative liability     2,773   2,773 
Warrant liability  3,357   5,060   8,417 
Total current liabilities  15,609   12,434   28,043 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  7,300   (5,171)  2,129 
Senior note payable, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  5,082   (1,113)  3,969 
Total liabilities  27,991   6,150   34,141 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Temporary equity:            
Common stock; $0.001 par value, subject to put provision, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 444,275 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017  437      437 
Total temporary equity  437      437 
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized 3,536,096 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017  88   (85)  3 
Additional paid-in capital  17,484   6,648   24,132 
Shares to be issued  615      615 
Subscriptions receivable  (5,658)  5,658    
Accumulated deficit  (23,021)  (25,285)  (48,306)
Total stockholders’ deficit  (10,492)  (13,064)  (23,556)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit $17,936  $(6,914) $11,022 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is as follows:

  Three Months ended March 31, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  

(unaudited)

 
Revenues, net of discounts $5,086  $357  $5,443 
Cost of revenues  2,678   15   2,693 
Gross profit  2,408   342   2,750 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  1,187   3,040   4,227 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  1,187   (198)  989 
Loss on sale of asset     (8)  (8)
Transaction expenses  11   189   200 
Total operating expenses  2,385   3,023   5,408 
Operating income (loss)  23   (2,681)  (2,658)
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (734)  (123)  (857)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (397)  (857)  (1,254)
Gain on debt derivative liability     97   97 
Loss on warrant liability  (2,200)  (2,450)  (4,650)
Other (expense) income, net  (100)  156   56 
Loss on issuance of notes     (3,085)  (3,085)
Financing costs  (563)  563    
Total other expenses, net  (3,994)  (5,699)  (9,693)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (3,971)  (8,380)  (12,351)
Provision for income taxes         
             
Net loss  (3,971)  (8,380)  (12,351)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)     (20)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(3,991) $(8,380) $(12,371)
             
Loss per common share:      .     
Basic and diluted $(1.09) $(2.53) $(3.73)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  3,677,614   3,312,373   3,312,373 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated balance sheet for the period ended June 30, 2017 is as follows:

  As of June 30, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $7,835  $  $7,835 
Accounts receivable, net  36,707   (1,705)  35,002 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contract  5,966   (1,313)  4,653 
Other current assets  6,736   (1,224)  5,512 
Total current assets  57,244   (4,242)  53,002 
             
Property and equipment, net  5,556   (106)  5,450 
Intangible assets, net  29,320      29,320 
Goodwill  46,922   9,790   56,712 
Total assets  139,042   5,442  144,484 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current Liabilities:            
Accounts payable  22,255   4,005   26,260 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  15,380   7,209   22,589 
Due to related parties  154   (43)  111 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  6,609   750   7,359 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     813   813 
Merchant credit agreement, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     57   57 
Notes payable and capital leases, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  12,012   (7,753)  4,259 
Notes payable, current portion, related party  791   7,293   8,084 
Debt derivative liability     13,467   13,467 
Warrant liability  2,336   24,874   27,210 
Total current liabilities  59,537   50,672   110,209 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  46,981   (44,959)  2,022 
Notes payable, non-current portion, related party     42,500   42,500 
Senior note payable, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  19,951   (238)  19,713 
Total liabilities  126,469   47,975   174,444 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 5,208,185 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017  130   (115)  15 
Additional paid-in capital  43,011   7,104   50,115 
Shares to be issued  2,201   550   2,751 
Subscriptions receivable  (4,656)  4,656    
Accumulated deficit  (28,113)  (54,728)  (82,841)
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity  12,573   (42,533)  (29,960)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity $139,042  $5,442 $144,484 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2017 is as follows:

  Three Months ended June 30, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $50,697  $(8,116) $42,581 
Cost of revenues  42,377   (9,051)  33,326 
Gross profit  8,320   935   9,255 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  4,169   380   4,549 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  4,000   14   4,014 
Amortization of intangible assets  589      589 
Loss on sale of asset  429   (801)  (372)
Transaction expenses  1,409   (1,154)  255 
Total operating expenses  10,596   (1,561)  9,035 
Operating (loss) income  (2,276)  2,496   220 
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (1,793)  (131)  (1,924)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (1,934)  (1,743)  (3,677)
Gain on debt derivative liability     498   498 
Gain (loss) on warrant liability  1,021   (8,684)  (7,663)
Other income, net  10   (1,390)  (1,380)
Loss on issuance of notes     (23,350)  (23,350)
Extinguishment gain     2,873   2,873 
Total other expenses, net  (2,696)  (31,927)  (34,623)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (4,972)  (29,431)  (34,403)
Provision for income taxes  121      121 
             
Net loss  (5,093)  (29,431)  (34,524)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)     (20)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(5,113) $(29,431) $(34,544)
             
Loss per common share:      .     
Basic and diluted $(1.02) $(6.15) $(7.22)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  4,989,451   4,787,556   4,787,556 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 is as follows:

  Six Months ended June 30, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $55,783  $(7,759) $48,024 
Cost of revenues  45,055   (9,036)  36,019 
Gross profit  10,728   1,277   12,005 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  5,356   3,420   8,776 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  5,188   (185)  5,003 
Amortization of intangible assets  589      589 
Loss on sale of asset  472   (852)  (380)
Transaction expenses  1,419   (964)  455 
Total operating expenses  13,024   1,419   14,443 
Operating loss  (2,296)  (142)  (2,438)
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (2,527)  (254)  (2,781)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (2,331)  (2,600)  (4,931)
Gainon conversion derivative liability     595   595 
Loss on warrant derivative liability  (1,179)  (11,134)  (12,313)
Other expense, net  (46)  (1,278)  (1,324)
Loss on issuance of notes     (23,350)  (23,350)
Extinguishment loss     (212)  (212)
Financing costs  (563)  563    
Total other expenses, net  (6,646)  (37,670)  (44,316)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (8,942)  (37,812)  (46,754)
Provision for income taxes  121      121 
             
Net loss  (9,063)  (38,812)  (46,875)
Preferred stock dividends  (40)     (40)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(9,103) $(38,812) $(46,915)
             
Loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(2.11) $(9.33) $(11.57)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  4,305,814   4,054,039   4,054,039 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated balance sheet for the period ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:

  As of September 30, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $3,154  $  $3,154 
Accounts receivable, net  51,791   212   52,003 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contract  6,773   1,035   7,808 
Other current assets  7,727   (1,270)  6,457 
Total current assets  69,445   (23)  69,422 
             
Property and equipment, net  7,101   (130)  6,971 
Intangible assets, net  26,306      26,306 
Goodwill  46,922   9,790   56,712 
Total assets  149,774   9,637   159,411 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)            
Current liabilities:            
Accounts payable  33,531   6,103   39,634 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts  7,378   512   7,890 
Due to related parties  343   (254)  89 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  9,931   704   10,635 
Convertible notes payable, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     1,818   1,818 
Merchant credit agreement, net of original issue discount and deferred financing cost     482   482 
Notes payable and capital leases, current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  14,022   (9,713)  4,309 
Notes payable, current portion, related parties  791   5,087   5,878 
Debt derivative liability     36,482   36,482 
Warrant liability  303   14,543   14,846 
Total current liabilities  66,299   55,764   122,063 
             
Notes payable, non-current portion  46,899   (45,013)  1,886 
Notes payable, non-current portion, related party     42,500   42,500 
Senior note payable, non-current portion, net of original issue discount and deferred financing costs  20,022   3,539   23,561 
Total liabilities  133,220   56,790   190,010 
             
Commitments and contingencies            
             
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit):            
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized:         
Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 4,500 shares designated and 500 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017         
Series A-1 convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value, 1,000 shares designated and 295 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017         
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 5,435,083 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017  5      5 
Additional paid-in capital  45,625   8,101   53,726 
Shares to be issued  75   175   250 
Subscriptions receivable  (3,588)  3,588    
Accumulated deficit  (25,563)  (59,017)  (84,580)
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity  16,554   (47,153)  (30,599)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity $149,774  $9,637  $

159,411

 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:

  Three Months ended September 30, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $79,083  $17,744  $96,827 
Cost of revenues  63,553   9,498   73,051 
Gross profit  15,530   8,246   23,776 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense  5,312   716   6,028 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  4,414   (1,605)  2,809 
Amortization of intangible assets  768      768 
Gain on sale of assets     (236)  (236)
Transaction expenses  246      246 
Total operating expenses  10,740   (1,125)  9,615 
Operating income  4,790   9,371   14,161 
             
Other (expenses) income            
Interest expense  (1,824)  (82)  (1,906)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (1,332)  (1,569)  (2,901)
Losson debt derivative liability     (22,133)  (22,133)
Gainon warrant liability  2,033   10,398   12,431 
Other (expense) income, net  (7)  301   294 
Loss on issuance of notes     (911)  (911)
Extinguishment gain     190   190 
Financing costs  (139)  139    
Total other expenses, net  (1,269)  (13,667)  (14,936)
Lossbefore provision for income taxes  3,521   (4,296)  (775)
Provision for income taxes  972   1   973 
             
Net loss  2,549   (4,297)  (1,748)
Preferred stock dividends  (20)     (20)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $2,529  $(4,297) $(1,768)
             
Lossper common share:            
Basic and diluted $0.47  $(0.80) $(0.33)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  5,367,208   5,367,966   5,367,966 

The effect of the restatement on the previously filed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:

  Nine Months ended September 30, 2017 
($ in thousands, except per share data) As Previously Reported  Adjustments  As Restated 
  (unaudited)  (unaudited)  (unaudited) 
Revenues, net of discounts $134,866  $9,985  $144,851 
Cost of revenues  108,608   462   109,070 
Gross profit  26,258   9,523   35,781 
             
Operating expenses            
Compensation expense -selling general and administrative  10,668   4,136   14,804 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  9,696   (1,884)  7,812 
Amortization of intangible assets  1,358      1,358 
Loss on sale of asset  376   (992)  (616)
Transaction expenses  1,666   (965)  701 
Total operating expenses  23,764   295   24,059 
Operating loss  2,494   9,228   11,722 
             
Other expenses            
Interest expense  (4,351)  (335)  (4,686)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  (3,663)  (4,169)  (7,832)
Losson debt derivative liability     (21,539)  (21,539)
Gain (loss) on warrant liability  854   (736)  118 
Other (expense) income, net  (52)  (977)  (1,029)
Loss on issuance of notes     (24,262)  (24,262)
Extinguishment loss     (21)  (21)
Financing costs  (702)  702    
Total other expenses, net  (7,914)  (51,337)  (59,251)
Loss before provision for income taxes  (5,420)  (42,109)  (47,529)
Provision for income taxes  1,093   1   1,094 
             
Net loss  (6,513)  (42,110)  (48,623)
Preferred stock dividends  (60)     (60)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(6,573) $(42,110) $(48,683)
             
Loss per common share:            
Basic and diluted $(1.40) $(9.36) $(10.83)
             
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding            
Basic and diluted  4,699,369   4,496,828   4,496,828 
           Shares     Total 
  Preferred stock  Common stock  Paid in  to be  Accumulated  Equity 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Issued  Deficit  (Deficit) 
January 1, 2019  795  $   12,286,847  $12  $113,881  $1,280  $(174,632) $(59,459)
Common shares issued to employees        62,839      218         218 
Common shares issued to convert debt        3,123,548   3   6,783         6,786 
Common shares issued to Senior Lender        1,698,580   2   2,920         2,922 
Common shares issued to note guarantor        1,005,751   1   1,960         1,961 
Common shares issued to lender        356,513      613         613 
Common shares issued for convertible notes –inducement        35,056      94         94 
Share-based compensation              294         294 
Shares returned to outstanding        (119,593)               
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net loss                    (25,485)  (25,485)
March 31, 2019  795      18,449,541   18   126,743   1,280   (200,117)  (72,076)
Share-based compensation              290         290 
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net loss                    (5,710)  (5,710)
June 30, 2019  795      18,449,541   18   127,013   1,280   (205,827)  (77,516)
Common shares issued to investors        160,000      1,280   (1,280)      
Common shares issued board fee        250,000   1   247         248 
Common shares issued to Senior Lender        2,005,724   2   2,124         2,126 
Issuance of Series H convertible preferred stock to Series A and B Noteholders  100                      
Share-based compensation              293         293 
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net loss                    (2,727)  (2,727)
September 30, 2019  895      20,865,265   21   130,937      (208,554)  (77,596)
Common shares issued for convertible notes –settlement        353,202      156         156 
Common shares issued in acquisition                  15,385      15,385 
Redemption of Series H  (100)                     
Series I preferred shares issued in acquisition                  117,926      117,926 
Share-based compensation              293         293 
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net income                    18,482   18,482 
December 31, 2019  795  $   21,218,467   21  $131,366  $133,311  $(190,072) $74,626 
           Shares     Total 
  Preferred stock  Common stock  Paid in  to be  Accumulated  Equity 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Issued  Deficit  (Deficit) 
January 1, 2018  2,575  $   5,620,281  $6  $56,979  $250  $(128,040) $(70,805)
Common shares issued to investors        26,667      200         200 
Common shares issued to convert debt        284,334      5,755         5,755 
Common shares issued to consultants        135,750      2,459         2,459 
Common shares issued board fee        25,000      429         429 
Common shares issued to settle legal matter        677      16         16 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        31,100      514         514 
Common shares issued for convertible notes –settlement        1,500      38         38 
Warrants exercised        14,750      416         416 
Share-based compensation              61         61 
Shares to be issued              (619)  6,056      5,437 
Shares returned to outstanding        (4,000)               
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net loss                    (1,084)  (1,084)
March 31, 2018  2,575      6,136,059   6   66,228   6,306   (129,124)  (56,584)
Common shares issued to investors        846,531   1   6,400   (6,306)     95 
Common shares issued to employees        18,003      281         281 
Common shares issued to convert debt        83,278      1,625         1,625 
Common shares returned to outstanding from consultants        (77,794)     (1,362)        (1,362)
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        50,538      820         820 
Common shares issued to settle debt        40,000      919         919 
Common shares issued for convertible notes –prepayment        8,260      133         133 
Warrants exercised        185,767      356         356 
Share-based compensation              1,173         1,173 
Shares returned to outstanding        (65,484)               
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net income                    7,498   7,498 
June 30, 2018  2,575      7,225,158   7   76,553      (121,626)  (45,066)
Common shares issued to investors        29,586      500         500 
Common shares issued to employees        905,770   1   12,218         12,219 
Common shares issued to convert debt        116,637      1,643         1,643 
Common shares issued to consultants        60,650      673         673 
Common shares issued board fee        8,000      104         104 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        16,900      193         193 
Warrants exercised        64,950      484         484 
Exchange of Series G convertible preferred stock for common stock  (1,780)     178,000                
Share-based compensation              303         303 
Shares returned to outstanding        (630)               
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net loss                    (12,987)  (12,987)
September 30, 2018  795      8,605,021   8   92,652      (134,613)  (41,953)
Common shares issued to employees        404,890      4,106         4,106 
Common shares issued to convert debt        1,417,271   2   7,313         7,315 
Common shares issued to consultants        691,500   1   6,916         6,917 
Common shares issued to Senior Lender        854,599   1   1,096         1,097 
Common shares issued to settle legal matter        57,406      537         537 
Common shares issued for convertible notes – inducement        100,841      629         629 
Common shares issued for convertible notes –settlement        1,759      14         14 
Warrants exercised        163,560      562         562 
Share-based compensation              294         294 
Shares to be issued              (142)  1,280      1,138 
Shares returned to outstanding        (10,000)     (75)        (75)
Accrued dividends -preferred stock              (20)        (20)
Net loss                    (40,019)  (40,019)
December 31, 2018  795  $   12,286,847   12  $113,881  $1,280  $(174,632) $(59,459)

NOTE 26.22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Internal Investigation

In current reports on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2019 and March 22, 2019, the Company disclosed that it had entered into certain securities purchase agreements (the “Purchase Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Investors”), which the Company sold an aggregate principal amount of $22,700 in convertible notes (the “Notes”) between January 2017 and January 2019. Approximately $9,800 of principal and interest had been converted into 5,186,306 shares of the Company’s Common Stock through March 19, 2019. These issuances were not supported by a listing application with the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange’), which resulted in the Company receiving a public reprimand letter from the NYSE Regulation Staff of the Exchange on March 25, 2019. On March 22, 2019, the Company announced the initiation of an independent investigation (the “Investigation”) of these issuances and engaged K&L Gates LLP and Credibility International, LLC, an independent forensic accounting firm (together, the “Team”) to conduct the Investigation.

Scope of the Investigation

The Investigation focused primarily on the following areas: (i) whether prior management, including former Chief Executive Officer, (“former CEO”), Michael Palleschi, and former Chief Financial Officer (“former CFO”), David Lethem, had proper authorization to issue the Notes; (ii) whether the Company properly accounted for and disclosed certain expenses incurred by prior management; (iii) the use of personal credit cards by employees to pay routine Company expenses; (iv) whether the Company properly entered into and disclosed certain related party transactions (v) whether certain transactions were improperly reported to increase revenue; (vi) the payment of certain wage and salary amounts to employees; (vii) the Company’s interactions with its external auditors; and (viii) issues related to Mr. Palleschi’s compensation.

In connection with the Investigation, the Team visited the Company’s Naples, Florida office and collected hard copy documents, created images of electronic equipment belonging to various members of the prior management team, copied many folders from the Company’s SharePoint database, conducted multiple interviews with sixteen individuals, and collected and processed over four hundred thousand e-mails and documents.

Findings of the Investigation

The Team found the following:

1. Issuances of the Notes.

In numerous instances, prior FTE management, including Mr. Palleschi and Mr. Lethem, caused the Company to issue the Notes as well as other financings without proper Board authorization. Specifically, the Team found: (i) several issuances for which the supporting resolutions did not comply with Nevada state law and the Company’s bylaws; (ii) several issuances for which there were no Board resolutions; and (iii) several issuances for which the supporting resolutions had been falsified. Moreover, the prior management caused the Company to make incomplete disclosures about the Notes in its required SEC filings for fiscal year 2017 and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2018. Notably, because of the prior management, the Company did not disclose that each of the Notes contained a conversion feature that allowed the holders of the Notes to convert the debt into the Company’s Common Stock.

2. Reimbursement of Expenses and the Use of Personal Credit Cards for Business Expenses.

The Investigation revealed that prior management misused Company funds for personal expenses, including charter flights and automobile leases. The Team also found that prior management instructed FTE employees to charge FTE-related business expenses to their personal credit cards from 2018 forward. However, the Team found that the expenses charged pursuant to such instruction were largely business-related.

3. Related Party Transactions.

The Team found that prior management caused the Company to engage in numerous related party transactions, some of which were implemented to the Company’s detriment and were not disclosed properly or were not disclosed at all. Such transactions included loans provided to the Company by former officers and directors, as well as instances of deferred salary or deferred bonus pay. The Team identified transactions between the Company and former officers or directors, as well as between the Company and entities controlled by former officers or directors.

4. Revenue Recognition and Interaction with Auditors

The Team found that prior management caused the Company to improperly recognize revenue in 2016 and 2017. The revenue was recorded to unbilled Accounts Receivable and later written off in three separate transactions during 2018. The Team also found that members of prior management provided inaccurate and incomplete statements to the Company’s former independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP, (“Marcum”) regarding the basis for recognizing the revenue.

5. Payment of Certain Wages, Salary Amounts and Payroll Expenses

The Team found that the Company’s former CEO, Mr. Palleschi, engaged in improper conduct in connection with his compensation including the following: (i) Mr. Palleschi, without proper authorization, caused the Company to amend his employment agreement, significantly increasing his salary and bonus pay; (ii) Mr. Palleschi, without proper authorization, caused the Company to grant him deferred compensation and to issue “demand notes,” which characterized the deferred compensation as debt of the Company owed to Mr. Palleschi, this mischaracterization resulted in the Company making three substantial wire transfers to Mr. Palleschi to pay him the amounts he was owed on the “demand notes; and (iii) Mr. Palleschi, without proper authorization, caused the Company to enter into a release agreement under which the Company agreed to pay amounts purportedly owed to Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem, in exchange for a mutual release. The Team also found that each of the payments noted above were made without the withholding of income taxes. In addition, the Team identified multiple instances where Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem made or attempted unsupported cash payments to themselves and certain family members, through direct wire transfers, PayPal and other means. Furthermore, the Team identified three instances in which the Company paid each of its employees through direct wire transfer rather than through its outside payroll processing firm. In each instance the Company wired the amount due, net of income taxes, but failed to remit payroll taxes.

Further to the findings of the Investigation as noted above, the Company also has found that former management created and distributed false and misleading documents to its internal accounting staff resulting in improper accounting for (i) convertible notes by removing certain language regarding conversion features and registration rights, (ii) revenue recognition by falsifying support for unbilled revenue, (iii) compensation and characterization of certain cash disbursements, (iv) related party transactions and (v) equity issuances which were later determined to be improperly authorized, and other issues. The Company also found that former management withheld requested documentation and similarly provided false and misleading documents to its former independent registered public accounting firm.

Remediation

The Company self-reported the matters raised in the Investigation to both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the New York County District Attorney’s Office (“NYCDA”), and kept both agencies, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”), updated on its progress throughout the Investigation. The Company continues to cooperate with all three agencies.

The Company has also taken numerous remedial actions in response to the findings of the Investigation. Most notably, the Company has made dramatic changes to its management team, completely replacing senior management, including Messrs. Palleschi and Lethem as well as the majority of its former Board of Directors. The Company has also restated its financial statements for fiscal year 2017 and the periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2018 and 2017, as discussed below. Among other things, the restatement corrects the improperly recognized revenue identified by the Investigation and account for the convertible feature of the Notes. In addition, the Company has taken significant steps to improve its policies and procedures and internal controls relating to, among other things, the following: (i) tracking, approving and disclosing all issuances of equity and debt; (ii) its expense reimbursement policy; and (iii) tracking, approving and disclosing related party transactions. See “Item 9A Controls and Procedures”.

Finally, to remedy deficiencies in its equity issuances, the Board of Directors held a total of four special meetings on April 29, May 7, May 8, and May 13, 2019, respectively, at which it reviewed all equity issuances and decided which issuances were (i) valid; (ii) noncompliant but should be ratified; (iii) noncompliant but would not be challenged; and (iv) noncompliant and should be nullified. As a result, certain issuances to convertible noteholders, current and former personnel and related parties were nullified. Additionally, the Company sent a letter to its shareholders, dated May 23, 2019, to notify them of noncompliant issuances that were approved and validated during the Board’s review.

Departure of Executive Officers

On January 17, 2019, Lynn Martin, the Company’s then-Chief Operating Officer, resigned from the Company, effective January 25, 2019.

On January 19, 2019, Michael Palleschi, was granted a temporary leave of absence by the Board. On May 11, 2019, Mr. Palleschi notified the Company of his resignation from the Company’s Board and as the Company’s CEO. On May 13, the Board accepted Mr. Palleschi’s resignation from the Board, without compensation and without a release, and terminated his employment as the Company’s CEO on May 13, 2019.

On January 19, 2019, Anthony Sirotka, the Company’s former Chief Administrative Officer, was appointed as the Company’s Interim CEO. On June 27, 2019, Mr. Sirotka was placed on administrative leave. Mr. Sirotka resigned on October 2, 2019.

On March 11, 2019, David Lethem, the former CFO, resigned from the Company, effective March 11, 2019.

Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements

The Company announced on April 2, 2019, that the Audit Committee (“Audit Committee”) of FTE, following a communication by Marcum, LLP, the Company’s former registered independent public accounting firm, concluded that previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and interim reviews of the financial statements for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018 and 2017, should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion to prevent future reliance on the aforementioned financial statements resulted from the determination that such financial statements failed to properly account for certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities. Specifically, the Company identified a potential issue related to the accounting related to certain convertible notes and other potentially dilutive securities the Company issued in 2017, 2018, and during January of 2019.


F-57

On June 11, 2019, the Audit Committee, following a communication by Marcum, concluded that the Company’s previously issued audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and completed interim reviews for the periods ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2018, 2017 and 2016 should no longer be relied upon. The conclusion on June 11, 2019 to add the aforementioned 2016 financial statements to those statements which should no longer be relied upon resulted from determinations made as part of the Company’s ongoing restatement effort that certain items, including revenues originally recognized in 2016, should no longer be recognized.

See Note 2 and Note 25 for the impacts on the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 as well as the impacts on the quarterly financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Amendment No. 4 to Lateral Credit Agreement

On February 12, 2019, the Company and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into Amendment No. 4 (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the credit agreement dated October 28, 2015, by and among Jus-Com, Inc., certain other Company subsidiaries, Lateral Juscom Feeder LLC (“Lateral”) and several lenders party thereto (together with Lateral, the “Lenders”) (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”). The Fourth Amendment provided for, among other things, $12,632 in delayed draw loans (the “Delayed Draw Term Loans”). The Delayed Draw Term Loans had a maturity date of March 31, 2019, and an interest rate of 12% and 4% of paid in kind interest, payable quarterly in arrears according to the terms of the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Company and the Lenders agreed to enter into a restructuring services agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders in their sole discretion, on or prior to February 28, 2019, which date was extended on several occasions by the parties. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, who joined the Company’s Board of Directors on October 18, 2019

The Fourth Amendment also provided for (i) amendments to the employment agreements between Benchmark, our former principal operating subsidiary, and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon, the founders of Benchmark who sold Benchmark to the Company in April of 2017 (the “Benchmark Sellers”); (ii) the issuance of a promissory note to Fred Sacramone for cash received in the principal amount of $1,000 (the “Sacramone Bridge Note”), which note originally matured on March 31, 2019, and was subsequently amended and restated on July 2, 2020 to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2020, and for which Mr. Sacramone was issued 356,513 shares of Common Stock; (iii) the appointment of a finance transformation officer (who was acting in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer from January 23, 2019 through July 15, 2019); and (iv) the issuance of an aggregate of 1,698,580 shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the Lenders.

Restructuring of Lateral Credit Agreement and Designation of Series H Preferred Stock

 

On July 2, 2019, the Company completed the debt restructuring contemplated under the Fourth Amendment by entering into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) among the Company, Lateral and several Lenders. The Company also amended and restated the Series A convertible notes (as amended, the “Series A Notes”), Series B promissory notes (as amended, the “Series B Notes”) issued to the Benchmark Sellers, and the Sacramone Bridge Note (together with the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes, the “Benchmark Notes”).

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Summary

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Delayed Draw Term Loans, which were continued as super senior term loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $12,900 (the “Super Senior Term Loans”) were amended to: (i) extend the maturity to September 30, 2020; (ii) amend the interest rate to 12% per annum payable in cash; (iii) add a 4% extension fee to the principal amount (subject to reduction); and (iv) provide for monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow. In addition, the existing term loans under the Credit Agreement, with an aggregate balance of approximately $37,900 (“Lateral’s Existing Term Loans”) were amended to: (i) extend the maturity to April 30, 2021; (ii) amend the interest rate to 12% per annum payable in cash; (iii) add a 4% extension fee to the principal amount thereof (subject to reduction); and (iv) include monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow.

As consideration for the Amended and Restated Credit Amendment, the Company issued to the Lenders 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and warrants (the “Warrants”) exercisable to purchase 3,173,731 shares of the Company’s common stock (collectively, the “Lender Securities”) with an initial exercise price of $3.00 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, in the event the Super Senior Term Loans were not paid and satisfied by October 31, 2019, the exercise per share of half of the Warrants would be automatically reset to $0.01 and in the event the Super Senior Term Loans were not paid by December 31, 2019, the exercise per share of the other half of the Warrants would be automatically reset to $0.01. The Company also agreed that on December 31, 2019, the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants would be automatically adjusted on December 31, 2019 such that that Lateral and its affiliates would beneficially own, in the aggregate, inclusive of all shares of common stock previously issued, 25% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis, subject to certain exceptions.

As additional consideration for the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Company and Lateral entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) whereby the Company agreed to register the common stock issued to Lateral. The Company and Lateral also entered into an investor rights agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”) whereby the Company agreed that within sixty days of its execution, the Company would set the number of directors on its Board of Directors at seven and Lateral would be entitled to nominate one of such seven directors.

Series A Notes and Series B Notes & Designation of Series H Preferred Stock

The Series A Notes and Series B Notes were also amended to extend the maturity date to July 30, 2021 and to amend the interest rate to 8% per annum to be paid in kind until the borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement were repaid in full. The Sacramone Bridge Note was amended to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2020, to capitalize the accrued interest as of July 2, 2019 and to provide for monthly cash interest payments. Additionally, all of the foregoing notes were amended to provide for monthly amortization payments based on available cash flow.

As consideration for amending and restating the Benchmark Notes, the Company entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) pursuant to which it issued to the Benchmark Sellers an aggregate of 1,951 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and 296 shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Series A Preferred”), which the Benchmark Sellers immediately exchanged, pursuant to exchange agreements (the “Exchange Agreements”), for an aggregate of 100 shares of a new series of preferred stock (the “Series H Preferred,” and together with the Series A Preferred, the “Preferred Stock”). The Series H Preferred had no dividend rights, no liquidation preference, was not convertible and had perpetual voting rights equivalent to 51% of the total number of votes that could be cast by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

Foreclosure by Senior Secured Lenders

During July 2019, the Company was notified that judgments had been entered against the Company in favor of six holders of the Company’s convertible notes in the state of New York. Certain of these convertible noteholders sought to levy against the bank account of the Company’s former subsidiary, Benchmark, and filed an order directing the Company to turn over all of the Company’s assets. The Company’s failure to satisfy, vacate or stay these judgments constituted an event of default under the Credit Agreement.

As a result, onOctober 10, 2019, the Company consented to a Proposal for Surrender of Collateral and Strict Foreclosure (the “Foreclosure Proposal”), from Lateral, Lateral Builders LLC (“Lateral Builders”) and Benchmark Holdings, LLC (“Benchmark Holdings” and together with Lateral Recovery LLC (“Lateral Recovery”), the (“Foreclosing Lenders”)), pursuant to which the Lenders took possession and ownership of the Subject Collateral (see below) by means of a strict foreclosure by the Foreclosing Lenders (the “Benchmark Foreclosure”).

Pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, the Company transferred; (i) to Benchmark Holdings all of its (a) equity interests in Benchmark, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary, and (b) cash on hand in excess of levels specified in the Foreclosure Proposal; and (ii) to Lateral Recovery, all of the Credit Parties’ interests in certain commercial tort litigation claims, fraud claims, and insurance claims as specified in the Foreclosure Proposal (collectively, the “Subject Collateral”).

Also pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, Benchmark transferred $3,000 of cash to the Company. Additionally, Benchmark agreed to make a monthly cash payment to the Company, in the amount of $300 per month (the “Working Capital Cash Payments”), for purposes of funding certain of the Company’s remaining obligations related to accounts payable, indebtedness for borrowed money, convertible note obligations and other matters specified in the Foreclosure Proposal (the “Remainder Obligations”). Working Capital Cash Payments were to continue until the earlier of (i) October 10, 2021, (ii) the repayment in full of the Remainder Obligations or (iii) the occurrence of a Working Capital Termination Event (as defined in the Foreclosure Proposal). The cash infusion and Working Capital Cash Payments provided the opportunity for the Company to receive total cash payments of up to $10,200 over the next 24 months.Benchmark made a total of two Working Capital Cash Payments to the Company—one in each of the months of November and December of 2019—for aggregate Working Capital Cash Payments of $600.

Benchmark Holdings, as the holder of the following of the Company’s obligations, absolutely and unconditionally released and forever discharged the Company and the other Credit Parties from certain indebtedness previously held by Niagara Nominee L.P. totaling $4,900, the Lateral’s Existing Term Loans totaling $42,300 and the Super Senior Term Loans totaling $13,500 as each such term is defined in the Credit Agreement. Accordingly, Lateral’s Existing Term Loans and the Super Senior Term Loans were deemed fully paid and satisfied.

Additionally, pursuant to an Agreement Regarding Debt and Series H Preferred Stock (the “Debt and Series H Agreement”), dated October 10, 2019, entered into between the Company and Fred Sacramone and Brian McMahon, Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon released the Company and its affiliates from (i) all obligations represented by the Sacramone Bridge Note per the Credit Agreement, which had an outstanding amount equal to approximately $1,000 and (ii) indebtedness represented by the Series B Notes in the amount of $19,000. As a result, the total amount remaining outstanding under the Series A Notes and Series B Notes was $28,000 (the “Remaining Indebtedness”) with a due date of December 31, 2019.

The total debt relief provided pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal and the related agreements and arrangements equaled an aggregate of $80,700.

In accordance with the Debt and Series H Agreement, the Remaining Indebtedness was to be automatically released and discharged as of December 31, 2019 unless (i) on or before November 10, 2019, the Company entered into a business combination transaction that enabled the Company’s common stock to remain listed on the NYSE American Exchange or any other U.S. national securities exchange and (ii) such business combination transaction was consummated on or before December 31, 2019 (such transaction, a “Qualified Business Combination”). Additionally, the Debt and Series H Agreement also required Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon to sell their shares of Series H Preferred Stock to the Company for a nominal price in the event an agreement for a Qualified Business Combination was entered into on or before November 10, 2019, and such Qualified Business Combination was consummated on or before December 31, 2019.

On November 8, 2019, the Company and Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon entered into an amendment to the Debt and Series H Agreement, pursuant to which the parties agreed to extend the date by which an agreement for a Qualified Business Combination must be entered into from November 10, 2019 to December 31, 2019 and to extend the date by which a Qualified Business Combination must close from December 31, 2019 to February 28, 2020.

On December 23, 2019, the Company entered into a separate agreement with Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon pursuant to which the Company repurchased all outstanding shares of its Series H Preferred Stock from Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon for a payment of $1.00 per share, as a result of which no shares of Series H Preferred Stock remain outstanding.

The Remaining Indebtedness remains an unpaid and outstanding Company liability. As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding balance of the Remaining Indebtedness was $28,000 (subject to the adjustment described below).

In order to facilitate the continued inflow of additional cash infusions from Benchmark and other agreements pertaining to the Remaining Indebtedness, the Board also determined that, as result of the completion of the Vision Transaction, Benchmark would no longer be obligated to continue making Working Capital Cash Payments to the Company. On January 10, 2020, Benchmark loaned $300 to the Company with a maturity date of October 1, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Furthermore, on January 27, 2020, the Company issued two senior promissory notes to Benchmark, one in the principal amount of $4,129 and the other in the principal amount of $600 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”), each such note secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets. The $4,129 note, which matures on December 1, 2020 and has an interest rate of 10%, obligates the Company to repay all monies previously paid or transferred to the Company pursuant to the Foreclosure Proposal, including (i) $3,000 in cash; (ii) two Working Capital Cash Payments totaling $600; and (iii) approximately $500 in cash remaining in a Benchmark bank account, was issued in consideration of a $6,000 reduction to the $28,000 Remaining Indebtedness. The $600 note, which matures on December 1, 2020 and has an interest rate of 10%, was issued to evidence the loan received by Benchmark on January 10, 2020 in the principal amount of $300 and an additional $300 loan from Benchmark received on January 27, 2020. As of the date of this filing the Remaining Indebtedness is $22,000.

On May 1, 2020, the parties entered into a second amendment to the Debt and Series H Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) pursuant to which Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon agreed to release and forever discharge the Remaining Indebtedness on the date on which the NYSE American Exchange files a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), delisting the Company’s common stock (the “Termination Date”), provided that in no event shall the Termination Date be any sooner than July 1, 2020 or any later than October 1, 2020.

F-60

Appointment of New Board and Committee Members

On April 1, 2019, James E. Shiah was appointed to the Board, effective April 15, 2019. Mr. Shiah joined then-directors Luisa Ingargiola, Christopher Ferguson, Patrick O’Hare, Brad Mitchell, and Fred Sacramone.

On May 29, 2019, Ms. Ingargiola and Messrs. Ferguson, O’Hare, and Mitchell resigned from the Board.

Jeanne Kingsley and Stephen Berini were appointed to the Board, effective June 10, 2019. Ms. Kingsley and Mr. James Shiah were appointed to the Audit Committee, which committee Mr. Shiah chaired. Mr. Shiah was also appointed to the Company’s Compensation Committee and its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. On June 24, 2019, Richard Omanoff was appointed to the Board and to be chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Omanoff was joined by Irving Rothman, who was appointed to the Board, effective June 25, 2019 and was appointed to the Company’s Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

On September 16, 2019, Irving Rothman resigned from the Board, followed by James Shiah, Jeanne Kingsley, and Stephen Berini who all resigned from the Board effective October 9, 2019.

On October 18, 2019, concurrent with the resignation of Fred Sacramone and Richard Omanoff, the Board appointed Michael P. Beys, Joseph F. Cunningham, Jr., Richard de Silva and Peter Ghishan as directors. The Board determined that each of Messrs. Beys, Cunningham and Ghishan is “independent” under NYSE American listing standards and other governing laws and applicable regulations, including Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly, Messrs. Cunningham and Ghishan were appointed to serve on the Audit Committee. Mr. Cunningham was appointed to serve as the chair of the Audit Committee and the Board determined that he was financially sophisticated as defined in the NYSE American governance standards. Messrs. Beys and Cunningham were appointed to serve on the Compensation Committee and Messrs. Beys and Ghishan were appointed to serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Appointment of Interim CEO

On June 13, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Fred Sacramone as the Company’s Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer. On June 27, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Sacramone as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sacramone resigned on October 21, 2019, concurrent with the appointment of Stephen M. Goodwin.

Appointment of Interim CEO

On October 21, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Stephen M. Goodwin as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Goodwin replaced Fred Sacramone, who resigned concurrent with Mr. Goodwin’s appointment.

Appointment of Interim CEO

On December 11, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Michael P. Beys as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Beys replaced Stephen M. Goodwin, who resigned concurrent with Mr. Beys’s appointment. The Board of Directors appointed Mr. Goodwin as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Operations. Upon Mr. Beys’ appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors determined that he no longer qualified as “independent” under NYSE American listing standards and applicable regulations, including Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Accordingly, the Board of Directors replaced Mr. Beys on the Compensation Committee with Mr. Ghishan and replaced Mr. Beys on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with Mr. Cunningham.

Suspension of Trading of Common Stock

During March 2019, the Company received a series of letters from the NYSE American concerning its failure to comply with various continued listing requirements under the NYSE American Company Guide. On December 17, 2019, the Company received a letter from the staff of NYSE Regulation (the “Staff”), on behalf of the Exchange, stating that it had determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company’s Common Stock from the Exchange because, according to the Exchange, the Company or its management had engaged in operations that, in the opinion of the Exchange, were contrary to the public interest. On December 17, 2019 at market close, the Company’s Common Stock was suspended from trading on the NYSE American Market. The Company appealed this determination to the NYSE Listing Qualifications Panel (the “Panel”) of the Exchange’s Committee for Review, and a hearing regarding the Company’s continued listing was held on February 13, 2020. On March 9, 2020, the NYSE Office of General Counsel notified the Company that the Panel had determined to affirm the Staff’s decision to delist the Company’s shares from NYSE. The Company has since initiated steps

On May 21, 2020, the Staff filed Form 25 with the SEC to seek review of and/or appeal the Panel’s determination.

As of the date of the filing of this report,remove the Company’s Common Stock was listedfrom listing and registration on the NYSE American Market underNYSE. The delisting became effective 10 days following the symbol FTNW but continued to be suspended from trading. Indate that the event the common stock is delisted from the NYSE American Market, the Company intends to pursue other opportunities to have the common stock traded on a stock market, which may include one of the trading platforms operated by OTC Markets Group or the over-the-counter market.Form 25 was filed.

 

Acquisition of Vision Property Assets

On December 20, 2019,The Company is continuing to review its options to list on other exchanges and other available markets for the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Vision Purchase Agreement”) with (i) US Home Rentals LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct wholly owned subsidiary of FTE (“Acquisition Sub”), (ii) the holders (the “Equity Sellers”) of 100% of the equity interests in entities owned by the Equity Sellers that collectively hold a real estate asset portfolio consisting of 3,184 rental homes located across the United States (the “Entities”), (iii) Vision Property Management, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company (“Vision” and together with the Equity Sellers, the “Sellers”), and (iv) Alexander Szkaradek, in his capacity as the representative of the Sellers (the “Sellers’ Representative”). On December 30, 2019, the parties amended the Vision Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”) in order to address certain changes to the Vision Purchase Agreement, including, among other things, to allow the $9,750 balance of the cash portion of the purchase price to be paid in cash or short-term promissory notes, and to reduce the Sellers’ indemnification deductible to $100. On December 30, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of the Entities pursuant to the Vision Purchase Agreement, as amended.

Pursuant to the Vision Purchase Agreement, as amended, Acquisition Sub purchased (a) all of the equity interests in the Entities and (b) all of Vision’s assets that are related to its business, including certain assumed contracts and assumed intellectual property, excluding certain specified assets for aggregate consideration of $350,000, consisting of (i) $250 of cash; (ii) $9,750 in promissory notes payable on or before March 31, 2020 as extended by the forbearance period; (iii) the amount of outstanding indebtedness of the Entities, which is approximately $80,000, (iv) 4,222,474 sharestrading of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001, which the parties valued at $32,000 which the Company is obligated to issue, and (v) shares of a newly designated Series I Non-Convertible Preferred Stock having an aggregate stated value equal to $228,000 which the Company is obligated to issue.

Stock.

 

Divestiture of CrossLayer, Inc.

On January 16, 2020, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “CrossLayer Purchase Agreement”) with CBFA Corporation, pursuant to which CBFA acquired the customer agreements which were of nominal value and largely cancelable without penalty, in exchange for agreeing to perform all of CrossLayer’s obligations under those agreements plus the assumption of approximately $73 in accounts payable and approximately $100 in long-term supplier contracts.

 

Appointment of Interim CFO

 

On May 5, 2020, the Board of Directors appointed Ernest J. Scheidemann as the Company’s Interim CFO and Principal Financial Officer. In connection with his appointment, Mr. Scheidemann and the Company intend to enter into an Interim CFO Services Agreement. Mr. Scheidemann is a Certified Public Accountant. He holds a Certified Global Management Accountant and Certified Financial Forensics designation issued from the American Institute of CPAs. Mr. Scheidemann received a BA in Accounting from William Paterson University and MBA in Finance and International Business from Seton Hall University.

 

Subsequent Debt and Equity Transactions

 

Merchant Account Agreements

During January to March 2019, the Company paid $8,804 in principal payments, $2,005 in debt settlement payments and recognized a $419 gain on debt settlement on the remaining eighteen merchant account agreements with outstanding principal balances of $11,228 as of December 31, 2018.

Convertible Notes Payable

During January 2019, the Company entered into three convertible notes payable, borrowing an aggregate of $618, net of original issuance discounts of $40 and deferred financing costs of $28. Additionally, as inducement, the Company issued a total of 35,056 shares of the Company’s common stock with a market value of $113,042 on the date of issuance.

 

On March 10, 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreementsecurities purchase agreement with GS Capital Partners, LLC (“GS Capital”), to purchase an aggregate of $1,800 principal amount of a 6% Convertible Redeemable Note (“Note”), with a $125 original issue discount for a net purchase price of $1,675. Additionally, the Company issued 185,000 shares of its common stock as debt commitment shares. Interest may be paid in cash or shares at the option of the Company and GS Capital at its option may convert any or all of the principal face amount of Note outstanding into shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Between January 20192020 and AprilAugust 2020, the Company repaid $6,292$5,390 of convertible note principal in cash and issued a totalcash. There were no conversions of 3,123,548outstanding convertible debt to shares of the Company’s common stock for the conversion of $3,036 in convertible debt principalbetween January 2020 and $57 in accrued interest.August 2020.

 

Between April 2019 and October 2019, the Company entered into settlement agreements with 9 holders of 14 individual convertible notes with outstanding principal balances of $5,010 as of December 31, 2018. The agreements provide for various settlement terms to consolidate outstanding principal and interest, add interest and penalties, remove conversion features and set new repayment schedules, the last of which endsPromissory Notes

On January 2021. As part of four of the convertible note settlement agreements,27, 2020, the Company issued two senior promissory notes to Benchmark, one in the principal amount of $4,129 and the other in the principal amount of $600 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”), each such note secured is by all of the non-real estate assets pursuant to a totalsecurity agreement executed on the same date. The $4,129 note, which matures on December 1, 2020 and has an annual interest rate of 353,202 shares10%, obligates the Company to repay certain monies previously paid or transferred to the Company at the time of FTE common stock withthe Foreclosure Proposal, including (i) $3,000 in cash; (ii) two Working Capital Cash Payments totaling $600; and (iii) approximately $529 in cash remaining in a market valueBenchmark bank account, was issued in consideration of $378,416a $6,000 reduction to the $28,000 Remaining Indebtedness). The $600 note, which has a maturity date of December 1, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%, was issued to evidence the loan advanced by Benchmark on January 10, 2020 in the principal amount of $300 and an additional $300 loan from Benchmark advanced on January 27, 2020.

On May 1, 2020, a second amendment to the Debt and Series H Agreement was entered into pursuant to which Messrs. Sacramone and McMahon agreed to release and forever discharge the Remaining Indebtedness on the date of issuance.

Notes and Capital Leases Payable

During April 2019, The Company entered into an Agreement to Participate in Sales Proceeds in regard toon which the NYSE American Exchange filed a sale of certain equipment with underlying notes payable and capital lease obligations totaling $837, with a total net book value of $1,926 as of December 31, 2018. As a result of the agreement, the Company received cash of $276, repaid debt totaling $752 and recognized a loss on sale of assets of $390.

On February 20, 2019, Company signed a 22-month term note (“Term Note”) with LeoGroup Private Investment Access, LLC (the “Noteholder”). The Term Note was for $5,000, payable in monthly installments over twenty- two months bearing interest at a rate of 22% per annum. The Term Note was personally guaranteed by Anthony Sirotka, the Company’s former interim Chief Executive Officer, and is secured by the assets of the Company, subject to any senior rights or claims by the Company’s senior secured lender.

In connectionForm 25 with the Term Note, the Company also agreed to issue 1,005,751 shares ofSEC, delisting the Company’s common stock to Niagara Nominee, LP (“Niagara”). Niagara was issuedprovided that in no event would that date be any sooner than July 1, 2020 or any later than October 1, 2020. The NYSE American Exchange filed a Form 25 with the Shares for its role as co-guarantor of the Term Note to the investors of the Noteholder. Niagara is an affiliate of Lateral,SEC delisting the Company’s senior secured lender.common stock on May 21, 2020. Accordingly, the Remaining Indebtedness was released and discharged effective as of July 1, 2020. (See Note 12)

On January 27, 2020, the Company refinanced a promissory note with DLP Lending Fund LLC extending the maturity date through January 27, 2021.

 

Related Party Notes

On January 27, 2020, Alexander Szkaradek, loaned the Company, $100 for working capital purposes pursuant to an unsecured demand note at 0% interest per annum. The note is due upon demand.

On January 31, 2020, the Equity Sellers agreed to forbear until March 31, 2020 the payment of the two promissory notes and the forbearance date has been extended through January 1, 2021. The two promissory notes are included in the current liabilities section of the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. (See Note 14).

 

On February 12, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $800, consisting of approximately $550 in expenses and advances previously made by Lateral on behalf of the Company and an additional $250 loan from Lateral. The $800 note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

On February 27, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $75 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

 

On March 4, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member the Board, loaned the Company $100 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 5% per annum. The note, together with accrued interest, was repaid on March 16, 2020.

 

On March 5, 2020, Mr. Ghishan, a member of the Board, loaned the Company $30 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 5% per annum. The note, together with accrued interest, was repaid on March 16, 2020.

 

On April 16, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member the Board, loaned the Company loaned the Company $100 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 10% per annum. The note, together with accrued interest, was repaid on May 8, 2020.

 

On April 29, 2020, wethe Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $200 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. The note, together with accrued interest, was repaid on May 8, 2020. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

On July 16, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member the Board, loaned the Company loaned the Company $70 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 10% per annum. The note plus accrued interest is outstanding.

On July 22, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $100 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

On July 31, 2020, Cobblestone Ventures, Inc. an entity controlled by Michael Beys, the Company’s interim CEO and a member the Board, loaned the Company loaned the Company $250 for working capital purposes, pursuant to a demand note at 10% per annum. The note plus accrued interest is outstanding.

On August 3, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $250 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

On August 21, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral SMA Agent, LLC in the principal amount of $150 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all the non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement of even date therewith and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

On October 1, 2020, the Company issued a senior promissory note to Lateral Recovery, LLC in the principal amount of $300 for working capital purposes. The note is secured by all of the Company’s non-real estate assets pursuant to a security agreement and has a maturity date of November 15, 2020 and an annual interest rate of 10%. Lateral is controlled by Richard de Silva, a member of the Board.

 

Stock Issuances 2019

The Company issued 35,056 sharesExecutive Employment Agreement of common stock with a market valueChief Executive Officer of $113 for inducement shares to certain convertible note holders.US Home Rentals LLC, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary

 

The Company issued 3,123,548 shares of common stock with a market value of $6,534 for conversion shares to certain convertible note holders.

The Company issued 353,202 shares of common stock with a market value of $378 in settlements with certain convertible note holder

The Company issued shares 62,839 of common stock with a market value of $218 to employees.

The Company issued 356,513 shares of common stock with a market value of $613 to an employee for providingOn September 25, 2020, the Company entered into an executive employment agreement with $1,000 bridge note on February 12, 2019.

The Company issued 1,698,580 sharesMunish Bansal to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of common stock with a market value of $2,922 to it Senior Lender in accordance with Amendment No. 4the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, US Home Rentals LLC, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary (“US Home Rentals”), effective September 28, 2020 (the “Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Lateral CreditEmployment Agreement, dated February 12, 2019.

The Company issued 1,005,751 shares of common stock with a market value of $1,960, to a co-guarantor on a term note issued on February 20, 2019.

The Company issued 1,500,000 shares of common stock with a market value of $1,588 to its Senior Lender in accordance with the Credit Agreement dated July 2, 2019.

The Company issued 505,724 shares of common stock with a market value of $534 to a co-guarantor in accordance with the Credit Agreement dated July 2, 2019.

The Company issued 160,000 shares of common stock to individual investors, which resulted in net proceedsMr. Bansal will transition to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the resumption of $1,138.

The Company issued 250,000 shares of common stock with a market value of $248 as settlement with our former board of directors.

119,593 sharestrading of the Company’s common stock were returnedon an over-the-counter market. Michael P. Beys will continue to outstandingserve as the Company’s interim Chief Executive Officer until such time.

Notice of Default

On July 1, 2020, the Company received a written notice of default from Inmost Partners LLC in its capacity as Noteholder Agent to issuer noteholders who, collectively, hold approximately $51,564,000 in secured notes that the Company assumed from the Rental Home Portfolio Sellers in connection with the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement. Inmost asserted that certain events of default had occurred with respect to certain Note Issuance and Purchase Agreements each dated as of July 10, 2017 by and among, inter alia, certain Entities the Company acquired, Inmost, and issuer noteholders named therein (the “Note Purchase Agreements”). Specifically, Inmost claimed that the Company (i) failed to satisfy the loan-to-value test (the “LTV Test”) as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements and (ii) failed to obtain consent from the Noteholder Agent before transferring the equity interests of certain Entities to US Home Rentals (the “Equity Interest Transfer”) pursuant to the Rental Home Portfolio Asset Purchase Agreement. The Notice of Default also included certain demands by Inmost for additional capital contributions by the Company and Guarantors.

As of the date of this filing, the Company has cured the defaults associated with the LTV Test. Additionally, on November 3, 2020,Inmost granted its consent to the Equity Interest Transfer and rescinded the Default Notice in exchange for (i) a new guaranty agreement under which FTE Networks, Inc. and US Home Rentals LLC will jointly and severally guarantee the obligations of certain Entities under the Note Purchase Agreements, (ii) amendments to the Limited Liability Company Agreements for each of the subject Entities to provide for the appointment of a second manager of Noteholder Agent’s choosing, and (iii) amendments to the Note Purchase Agreements.

DLP Financing

On August 26, 2020, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Borrowers”) of US Home Rentals, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into seven separate loan agreements as part of a settlement agreement.tranche of financing with DLP Lending Fund, LLC (the “Lender”) (each a “Loan Agreement” and collectively, the Loan Agreements”), pursuant to which the Borrowers issued promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $23,453,699 (the “DLP Tranche”). Proceeds from the DLP Tranche were used to refinance certain of the Borrower’s properties, pay outstanding property taxes, and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Loan Agreements. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the financing. The Borrowers’ obligations to pay principal, interest and other amounts under the DLP Tranche are evidenced by certain promissory notes executed by the Borrowers as of August 26, 2020 (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”). Each Note is secured by a first priority lien mortgage on certain of the Borrowers’ properties (the “Mortgaged Properties”) and confessions of judgment. Each Note will mature on August 31, 2021, subject to one-year extensions at Borrowers’ option and other conditions. The Borrowers may prepay the outstanding loan amount in whole or in part by written notice of such prepayment to Lender, subject to certain conditions. The Company also executed certain Environmental Indemnity Agreements and certain Guaranty Agreements in connection with each Loan Agreement in favor of the Lenders pursuant to which the Company and certain affiliated individuals agreed to indemnify the Lenders for certain environmental risks and guaranty the Borrowers’ obligations under the Loan Agreements.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Loans

On May 8, 2020, JusCom, Inc. received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES” Act) in the amount of $622. Additionally, on May 13, 2020, the Company received a PPP loan in the amount of $357. In accordance with the CARES Act, the Company will use the proceeds from the PPP loan primarily for payroll costs. The PPP loans are scheduled to mature on May 8, 2022 and May 13, 2022, respectively, and bear a fixed interest rate of 1%. The promissory note evidencing the PPP loans contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults and provisions of the promissory note. The loans may be forgiven, in part or whole, if the proceeds are used to retain and pay employees and for other qualifying expenditures. The Company expects that the full proceeds of the PPP loans will be eligible for forgiveness.

On May 20, 2020, the Company received an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) in the amount of $150. The EIDL loan is scheduled to mature on May 20, 2050 and bear a fixed interest rate of 3.75%. The EIDL loan is secured by the non-real estate assets of the Company. The promissory note evidencing the EIDL loan contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults and provisions of the promissory note.

Stock Issuances 2020

 

The Company issued 4,193,684 shares of common stock as part of the Note Exchange with TTP8, see Item 13.Certain Relationship with Related Parties.

 

The Company issued 185,000 shares of common stock with market value of $278 to Convertible Note holder as debt commitment shares.

 

A former board member returned 25,000 shares of common stock on March 17, 2020.

F-63F-54