UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
Commission file number: 001-31972
TELKONET, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Utah | 87-0627421 |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 20800 Swenson Drive Suite 175, Waukesha, WI | 53186 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(414) 302-2299
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
| Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| None | None |
Securities Registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $.001 par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes x No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(b) of the Act. o Yes x No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and 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. x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
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 “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)
| Large accelerated filer | o | Accelerated filer | o |
| Non-accelerated filer | þ | Smaller reporting company | þ |
| Emerging growth company | o |
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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) o Yes x No
Aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing sale price of $0.13 per share on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board) of the registrant as of June 30, 2018: $17,418,689.
Number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s par value $0.001 common stock as of March 26, 2019: 134,793,211.
Part III is incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 23, 2019.
TELKONET, INC.
FORM 10-K
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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS.
Some of the statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or financial condition or state other “forward-looking” information. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Telkonet, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) and our management team. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “continues,” “may,” and variations of these words, as well as similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth, trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A of this report. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this report, the inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved.
GENERAL
Business
Telkonet, Inc. (the “Company”, “Telkonet”), formed in 1999 and incorporated under the laws of the state of Utah, is the creator of the EcoSmart smart energy management platform, designed to reduce heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC”) runtimes, reduce energy consumption, and engage users. The platform is deployed primarily in the hospitality, student housing, military barracks, senior living and public housing markets, and is specified by engineers, HVAC professionals, building owners, and building operators. We currently operate in a single reportable business segment.
In October of 2016, the Company, under the direction and authority of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), committed to a plan to offer for sale Ethostream LLC, High-Speed Internet Access (“HSIA”) subsidiary. While EthoStream is one of the largest public HSIA providers in the world, providing services to more than 12.0 million users monthly across a network of approximately 1,800 locations, the Company will focus on its higher growth potential EcoSmart Platform line. As a result of this decision to sell Ethostream LLC, the operating results of Ethostream for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been reclassified as discontinued operations and as assets and liabilities held for sale, as applicable, in the consolidated financial statements. The sale closed on March 29, 2017.
Unless otherwise noted, all financial information in this Form 10-K will reflect results from the Company’s continuing operations.
ECOSMART
Telkonet’s EcoSmart Platform is comprised of four primary pillars:
| · | EcoSmart Product Suite: The suite of intelligent hardware products designed and developed to provide monitoring, management and reporting over individual and grouped energy consumption throughout building environments. Products include thermostats, sensors, switches, and outlets. |
| · | EcoCentral: The cloud-based dashboard that provides visualization and remote management of Telkonet’s monitoring, reporting and analytics through deployed EcoSmart and integrated products. EcoCentral is the intelligence behind the EcoSmart platform. |
| · | EcoCare: Telkonet’s professional support and maintenance services including 24/7 monitoring, engineering, analytics, reporting, software and hardware updates, extended warranty, project and relationship management and onsite support. All professional support and maintenance staff reside in Telkonet’s headquarters. |
| · | EcoSmart Mobile: iOS and Android applications provided by Telkonet to its partners, customers and end users and guests enabling provisioning, management, access and control over EcoSmart deployments and functionality. |
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The EcoSmart Platform provides comprehensive energy and operational savings, management monitoring, reporting, analytics of a property or individual room by adding intelligence to HVAC runtimes and through integrations with door locks, lighting, window coverings, and more end-user attributes. Telkonet has deployed more than 600,000 intelligent devices worldwide in properties and buildings within the hospitality, military, educational, healthcare and other commercial markets. The EcoSmart Platform is rapidly becoming a leading solution for reducing energy consumption, operational costs and carbon footprints, and eliminating the need for new energy generation in these markets – all while engaging and delighting guests.
Controlling energy consumption can make a significant impact on a building’s bottom line, as HVAC costs represent a substantial portion of a facility’s overall utility bill. Hospitality is a key market for Telkonet. According to the EPA EnergySTAR Portfolio Manager 2015 analysis, the median hotel uses approximately 187 kBtu/ft2 from all energy sources.[1] On average, America’s approximately 47,000 hotels spend $2,196 per available room each year on energy, representing 3% - 6% of all operating costs and 60% of carbon emissions[2]. Telkonet approaches the opportunity to reduce consumed energy by adding intelligence to a property’s HVAC and lighting systems.
Energy is often wasted through the lighting, powering, heating and cooling of unoccupied spaces. These spaces with intermittent occupancy constitute Telkonet’s target markets, and our experience, supported by independent research and customer data, suggests these rooms are unoccupied as much as 70% of the time.
EcoSmart Product Suite
| · | EcoTouch Thermostat: As one of the newest additions to Telkonet’s suite of hardware, the EcoTouch is an all touch capacitive thermostat interface available in wired and wireless models offering a premium aesthetic. The EcoTouch allows building owners to match the thermostat with the design of their room by changing the color of the outer edge and by selecting between black or white options. |
| · | EcoInsight Thermostat: A programmable and controllable wired thermostat with over 125 configurable settings used to control the efficiency of HVAC through the use of environment variables and triggers. |
| · | EcoAir Thermostat: A wireless thermostat mirroring the EcoInsight footprint while enabling the relocation of in room controls without the usual construction expense and downtime. |
| · | EcoSource Controller: The remote HVAC control device associated with Telkonet’s thermostat interfaces allowing control while removing the need for expensive rewiring and construction. The EcoSource may also be used for third-party integrations, monitoring and control scenarios. |
| · | EcoSmart VRF Controller: The newest product in the EcoSmart Suite, the VRF Controller works with most of the new variable refrigerant systems coming to market. The devices replace the EcoSource where discrete relays are not available. |
| · | EcoConnect Bridge: An Ethernet to Zigbee bridge that serves as the coordinator for all EcoSmart devices connected to the intelligent automation network, managing approximately 30 - 70 device connections each. |
| · | EcoCommander Gateway: EcoSmart’s network-edge gateway server that provides real-time proactive data aggregation, analytics, reporting and management of the EcoSmart product suite. |
| · | EcoSense Occupancy Sensor: A remote occupancy sensor that monitors environments with ultra, high-sensitive sensors designed to detect motion or body heat. All sensors are programmed to ensure accurate occupancy detection. The EcoSense Occupancy Sensor may be hardwired or programmed to communicate wirelessly and may be battery operated or utilize external power. |
| · | EcoSwitch Light Switch: An EcoSmart energy management product with the appearance of a traditional ‘rocker’ light switch. Turning lights off, even for a short time, saves energy and extends lamp life. The EcoSwitch can be used to compose and automate dramatic lighting scenes in a room. |
| · | EcoGuard Outlet: An EcoSmart control that acts as the replacement for an in-wall outlet and has the ability to monitor and control the flow of power to one or both outlets. Based on occupancy, it can turn off lamps, televisions, appliances, and any other energy-consuming loads that are plugged in, preventing a property from consuming power in an empty room. The EcoGuard completely disconnects devices from the power supply, preventing lights and other in-room electronics from needlessly consuming energy as well as providing monitoring of energy flow and efficiency when a plug is enabled. |
| · | EcoContact Door & Window Sensor: A remote, wireless door/window contact with the ability to provide additional occupancy data and control HVAC operability and other consumption measures when doors or windows are open. |
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[1] Facility Type: Hotels - https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/tools/DataTrends_Hotel_20150129.pdf
[2] Hotels-Energy Star - http://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/buildings/tools/SPP Sales Flyer for Hospitality and Hotels.pdf
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Several of these devices have been recently released in “Plus” models which provide greater functionality and increased capabilities.
EcoCentral
Telkonet’s EcoSmart Platform is a comprehensive solution for intelligent automation and energy management. The platform has a well-developed upgrade path with the final and complete version of the platform offering real-time control and analytics provided through a cloud computing platform called EcoCentral. EcoCentral derives its name through its ability to direct user resources to where they add the most value. From monitoring equipment operation and determining where engineering efforts are needed and notifying staff when performance is degrading, EcoCentral creates a comprehensive tool for providing insights and access for EcoSmart Platform deployments either individually or across an entire building portfolio.
EcoCare
EcoCare is Telkonet’s professional support services including call, email and chat support, repair and replacement services, periodic reporting, communication with customers’ utility and Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) partners and more. Telkonet provides three packages of EcoCare services as well as allows customers to create their own package of services ala carte. EcoCare allows EcoSmart customers to ensure that they continue to recognize the savings estimated and benefit from the intended return on investment (ROI). Typical EcoCare contracts range from one to five years and have automatic renewal terms built into each individual contract. All support staff are located at Telkonet’s Waukesha, Wisconsin headquarters.
EcoSmart Mobile
Telkonet’s EcoMobile tools provide iOS and Android applications for use by partners, customers, end users or guests. These mobile tools extend the value of the EcoSmart Platform and give greater functionality and more efficient commissioning and deployment abilities to the user. We have identified where, by providing more accessibility, we can create additional charged-for services that increase customer savings, improve guest experience and integrate more fully with customer environments to create a tight relationship with our customers.
Intelligent Energy Management
Telkonet’s EcoSmart energy management platform applies and improves building intelligence to deliver energy and cost savings through controlling lighting, plugload and HVAC runtimes. Captured data may be presented on a grouped, property or room-by-room basis, allowing very granular management of in-room energy use and environmental conditions. EcoSmart achieves this by leveraging our device platform, including occupancy sensors and intelligent programmable thermostats connected with packaged terminal air conditioner (“PTAC”) controllers or any other terminal equipment HVAC products and managed wireless light switches and in wall electrical plugs to adjust and maintain energy consumption including a room’s temperature according to occupancy, eliminating wasteful heating and cooling of unoccupied rooms. All of these can be accomplished from the in-room devices or via any web-connected device, such as smart phones, tablets and laptop computers.
EcoSmart is an energy management platform that delivers optimal, individual room energy savings without compromising occupant comfort, due to a proprietary technology named “Recovery Time”.
Recovery Time Technology
EcoSmart’s HVAC controls feature Recovery Time, technology designed to maximize energy efficiency without sacrificing occupant comfort. When a room is occupied, the temperature selected by the occupant will be maintained by the EcoSmart system. Once an EcoSmart occupancy sensor determines that the room is unoccupied, the system adjusts the room temperature using Recovery Time. Unlike other systems, Recovery Time technology constantly performs calculations that evaluate how far each individual room’s temperature can drift from the occupant’s preferred setting (“set-point”), to harvest energy savings while still being able to return to the occupant’s set-point within a customer’s pre-defined period of time.
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When determining the temperature setting, Recovery Time technology considers how long it will take to return the temperature to the occupant’s set-point once they return to their room. The temperature will only drift far enough to ensure the system will return to the occupant’s preferred temperature setting within minutes upon their return to the room. The specific length of recovery time is selected by property management at the time of the installation; however, it can be altered at any time by management.
How Do Other Systems Work?
In competing systems the occupant chooses their preferred temperature. When the occupant leaves, the thermostat reverts to a set-point of a fixed number of degrees different than the preferred set temperature (lower in winter and higher in summer). In some products temperature gap is a fixed temperature selected by the property owner. Because each occupant room will require different lengths of time to return to the occupant’s desired temperature, based on room size and orientation, whether blinds are open, outdoor temperature, sun, and wind, the length of time required for the HVAC to return to temperature can vary dramatically and can often be prohibitive. Additionally, a dirty HVAC filter or coil will reduce heat transfer, increasing that recovery time.
EcoSmart Delivers Room-by-Room Savings
Because each room’s environment is unique, Telkonet’s approach is likewise unique. Rooms are evaluated independently in real-time to determine its energy efficient temperature, or setback. Recovery Time technology constantly calculates in real-time how far the room temperature can drift, by taking into consideration the environmental characteristics that impact the temperature in the room, including:
| · | The occupant’s preferred temperature setting |
| · | The location of the room within the building |
| · | The window placement – facing the sun or shade |
| · | If the drapes are open or closed |
| · | If the climate is dry or humid |
| · | The varying weather conditions throughout the day |
| · | The condition of the HVAC unit, such as age and efficiency |
Through the constant monitoring of the HVAC unit’s ability to drive the temperature and the real-time adjustment of the setback temperature, rooms are never excessively hot or cold when an occupant returns to the room. The room will always be just minutes away from an occupant’s desired comfort setting. As a result, Recovery Time technology delivers room-by-room, occupant-by-occupant savings. The technology also significantly improves the guest experience, driving loyalty to the property and brand, and decreases service calls.
The EcoSmart Platform maximizes energy reductions while at the same time ensuring occupant comfort, maximizing energy savings and extending equipment life expectancy. The technology is particularly attractive to customers in the hospitality industry, as well as the education, healthcare, public housing and government/military markets, who are constantly seeking ways to reduce costs and meet federal and state mandates without impacting building occupant comfort.
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Using standard communication protocols, ensuring widespread adoption and a simple interface, EcoSmart technology may also be integrated with utility controls, property management systems and building automation systems to be used in load shedding initiatives. This feature provides management companies and utilities enhanced opportunities for cost savings, environmental protections and energy management. Additionally, Telkonet’s energy management systems qualify for most state and federal energy efficiency and rebate programs.
Competitive Advantages
We believe our intelligent automation platform, with our proprietary Recovery Time technology, delivers extensive differentiation against competing products, including:
| · | Technology that evaluates each room’s environmental conditions results in maximum energy savings; |
| · | The ability to reduce HVAC runtimes increases overall equipment life; |
| · | Increased occupant control and comfort, driving brand and property loyalty; |
| · | Multiple thermostat options, including wired and wireless, to fit a brand’s image and application; |
| · | Backlight of thermostat improves the experience for the visually impaired; |
| · | Web-based access with extremely powerful and simple dashboard web interface; |
| · | Breadth of HVAC system compatibility; |
| · | Adaptive learning and system programming; |
| · | Utility-integrated events capabilities; |
| · | Remote HVAC control network; |
| · | Expert EcoCare support, staffed in the USA; |
| · | Plug load, lighting and HVAC controls; |
| · | Extensive 3rd-party integrations, including lighting, door locks, and window treatments; |
| · | Industry standard software and communication protocols, Linux and ZigBee; |
| · | Typical two or three-year ROI; and |
| · | Mobile applications provide installation, remote management and end-user accessibility. |
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Our open, scalable and standards-based architecture approach allows for truly custom deployments. The EcoSmart Platform integrates seamlessly with back-office management systems, property management systems, building automation systems, and utility demand/response programs, as well as additional third-party network architecture to recognize increased efficiency and savings.
Based on these platform features and capabilities, we’ve been awarded, and continue to receive, contracts in the hospitality, military, educational, multiple dwelling unit (“MDU”), healthcare and commercial industries. In addition, our relationships with utility-sponsored direct-install and rebate-funded programs provide us with a significant advantage over our competitors in the commercial space.
Given the population growth in the United States and the increasing demand for energy, we forecast additional energy-related infrastructure will be needed. We believe the use of Smart Grid technologies and energy efficiency management platforms are affordable alternatives to building additional power generation through leveraging existing resources and providing enhanced energy savings costs.
Target Markets
Rooms with intermittent occupancy are most commonly found in the following market sectors:
| · | Hospitality: hotels, motels, resorts, timeshares and casinos. |
| · | Educational: residence halls, dormitories and other campus living options. Also K-12 environments with distributed and portable classrooms. |
| · | Military: residence halls, barracks, apartments and other campus living options. |
| · | Health care: medical office buildings, assisted and independent living facilities. |
| · | Public Housing: apartments and other public living options. |
Industry and Market Overview
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 44% of all the energy consumed by commercial buildings in the United States is employed to cool, heat, or light, within commercial buildings. [3] In an effort to remain competitive and manage expenses, governments, building owners, building tenants, and companies in general are looking for ways to become more efficient both fiscally and environmentally. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy reported that the cost of saving one unit of energy through energy efficiency is one-fifth (1/5) the cost required to generate that same unit of energy. As a result, we feel that the growth opportunities in the energy management market are in their infancy.
A 2017 report issued by Navigant Research, titled, “Energy Efficient Buildings Global Outlook”, stated that the global market for energy efficient building technologies is expected to reach nearly $360.6 billion in 2026.[4] The report asserts that the Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) is partly responsible for one of the most dramatic changes to the market landscape in its history, and that OEMs and providers are adjusting their strategies to address specific market needs. HVAC has been identified as one of nine key categories.
Telkonet’s key industries are all prime candidates for energy management, in part due to their utilizing energy “on-demand” or intermittently. Providing energy, and engaging the equipment to supply it, to those rooms and spaces only when occupied results in significant energy savings in addition to affording longer life and reduced maintenance to the HVAC systems.
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[3] U.S Energy Information Administration - www.eia.gov/energyexplained/images/charts/energy_use_commercial_bldgs.jpg
[4] Energy Efficient Buildings: Global Outlook - https://www.navigantresearch.com/research/energy-efficient-buildings-global-outlook
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Education Industry
Telkonet approaches the education industry with strategic relationships with enterprise energy service companies (“ESCOs’) throughout the USA. Telkonet partners with ESCOs to include our EcoSmart energy management platform for deployment within residence halls on university campuses. The ESCOs bundle our technology with other facility improvement measures designed to reduce operating costs across the entire campus, bundling solutions with acceptable ROI and which meet state mandated guidelines. ESCOs also structure self-funding financial transactions called “Performance Contracts” in which the savings are greater than the repayment costs, typically guaranteeing the financial and operational performance in this type of engagement. This type of approach can remove any capital expense barriers and improve adoption.
In addition to an installed base of University of California, Davis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kansas State University, North Carolina State University, University of Notre Dame, US Military Academy at West Point, Columbia University, and Texas A&M University-Commerce, we have recently added University of Houston – Victoria.
The opportunities in this market are not limited to higher education institutions. According to an NRG Business Energy Advisor report, schools in the United States spend $8 billion on energy costs annually, with 73% of natural gas use going towards heating and 35% of electricity consumption going towards cooling. While heating and cooling account for only 2 – 4% of district costs, it is an opportunity for significant impact and gain.
We believe that our EcoSmart Platform is an important tool for participants in the education industry seeking to control student-related energy costs. We have focused our sales efforts on members of the education industry who are seeking to expand their energy efficiency initiatives as well as the ESCOs who target the educational marketplace and have thus far had success with at least one school district installing EcoSmart in each classroom throughout the district.
Hospitality Industry
There is a constant balancing act for hotel operators between managing guest comfort and operating margins. The EcoSmart platform’s Recovery Time allows operators to manage operation costs yet still provide for a comfortable and engaging guest experience. In fact, the EcoSmart platform individual brands and properties can create a desired guest environment, and still allow for energy savings via the Recovery Time algorithm. Telkonet has proven that the EcoSmart platform can deliver a return on investment in less than three years for hospitality customers.
Government & Military Industry
The Department of Defense (“DOD”) is the single largest energy consumer in the United States, accounting for about 90 percent of the federal government’s energy use and using over 30,000 giga-watt hours of electricity per year. [5] Thus, we view this market as strategically significant to Telkonet’s interests.
Our energy management platform is already successfully incorporated into the energy initiatives in several military housing sites, military academies and barracks. Telkonet benefited from and continues to make use of government funding and other government contracts to provide EcoSmart for use on military bases and other facilities, helping both the DOD and the government as a whole achieve their long-term energy efficiency goals.
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[5] http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2007/8/defense%20lengyel/lengyel20070815.pdf
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Healthcare Industry
Healthcare organizations currently spend over $6.5 billion on energy each year, a cost which continues to rise in an effort to meet patient needs. [6] This is viewed as an emerging market for energy management systems. Although hospitals have many specific regulatory mandates, Telkonet has been working closely with operators and developers of healthcare support facilities, like medical office buildings, assisted living and other similar facilities, to integrate our EcoSmart energy management initiatives into efficiency opportunities supported by state and federal energy programs. For example, hospital energy managers can use energy efficiency strategies to offset high costs caused by growing plug loads and rising energy prices. A typical 200,000-square-foot, 50-bed hospital in the U.S. annually spends $680,000, or roughly $13,611 per bed on electricity and natural gas. By increasing energy efficiency, hospitals can improve the bottom line and free up funds to invest in new technologies and improve patient care.
These facilities offer a commercial environment similar to the hospitality or educational housing markets, and the increasing aging population and assisted living markets presents attractive potential for energy efficiency. This market is expected to grow rapidly over the next several years due to its energy savings capabilities and an aging population.
Utility Industry
We continue to strengthen our focus on our targeted market segments in order to expand market share and take advantage of existing incentives for energy management. We expect continued expansion in the space, specifically in commercial segments due to increasing state and federal programs promoting energy efficiency. Our residential initiatives are also key to the future expansion of Telkonet’s EcoSmart programs within the developing Internet-of-Things environment.
Public Housing
Public housing, which are properties owned and managed by the government, is an additional emerging market for energy management solutions. The tenants occupying these properties must meet specific eligibility requirements, and their utility bills are typically paid for by government programs. Many of the ESCO clients that Telkonet supports today have dedicated teams pursuing opportunities with the owners and operators of government-subsidized housing. The EcoSmart platform is an ideal solution for conserving energy, allowing remote monitoring, and improving tenant comfort.
Competition for Markets
We currently compete primarily within commercial and industrial markets, including the hospitality, education, healthcare, public housing, MDU, government, utility and military sectors. Within each target market, we offer savings through our intelligent automation platform. Our products offer significant competitive and complementary benefits when compared with alternative offerings including Building Automation Systems (“BAS”) or Building Management Systems (“BMS”), static temperature occupancy-based systems, scheduling/programmable thermostats and high-efficiency HVAC systems.
We participate in a relatively small competitive field within the hospitality industry, with the majority of the energy management sales handled by fewer than seven manufacturers. The key competitors in the market segment are Inncom by Honeywell and Schneider Electric, with each offering some level of comparable products to our standalone and/or networked products. Telkonet leverages the above-mentioned competitive advantages to successfully compete in these spaces and win business.
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[6] https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/Healthcare.pdf
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The educational space is new to adopt occupancy-based controls. The EcoSmart Platform has been introduced for use within student dormitories, which traditionally had few, if any, controls. More recently we’ve also been requested to install our products into classrooms, which traditionally have been an environment for BAS/BMS. Since the dormitory environment is very similar to the hospitality market, we believe we offer similarly-scaled energy savings. Since the market is still in its infancy, very few comparable offerings have entered the market but competitors within the hospitality segment are beginning to respond. Again, our key differentiators allow us to compete and win business in this space.
The healthcare and government/military markets are very similar in scope, relative to energy management systems. A key differentiator in these environments is the specific implementation being considered. Each market utilizes BAS/BMS for wide scale energy management initiatives. When addressing housing environments, including elderly care and assisted living facilities and military dormitories or barracks, Telkonet’s EcoSmart Platform is able to provide increased energy savings and efficiency. Competitors operating in the BAS/BMS space include Honeywell, Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls, Siemens, Trane and others, many of whom Telkonet partners with to provide a comprehensive and integrated energy management solution to effectively address energy efficiency opportunities in all types of facilities.
Inventory
We are dependent, in certain situations, on a limited number of vendors to provide certain inventory and components. We’ve not experienced significant problems or issues purchasing any essential materials, parts or components, but have experienced gross profit pressure as a result of price increases and the impact of tariffs (discussed below). We contract the majority of our inventory with ATR Manufacturing, based in China, which provides substantially all the manufacturing requirements for Telkonet’s energy management platform.
Customers
We are neither limited to, nor reliant upon, a single or narrowly segmented customer base to derive our revenues. Our current primary focus is in the hospitality, commercial, education, utility, MDU, healthcare and government/military markets and expanding into the consumer market as part of our long term strategic growth.
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no single customer represented 10% or more of our revenues.
Intellectual Property
Telkonet has acquired certain intellectual properties, including but not limited to, Patent No. D569, 279, titled “Thermostat.” Patent No. D569279 issued by the USPTO in May 2008 was granted on the ornamental design of a thermostat device and will expire in May of 2022. The expiration of this patent could allow third parties to launch competing products. While we viewed this patent as valuable, we do not view any single patent as material to the Company as a whole.
There can be no assurance that any of our current or future patent applications will be granted, or, if granted, that such patents will provide necessary protection for our technology or our product offerings, or be of commercial benefit to us.
Government Regulation
As discussed in Part I, Item IA, given we purchase the majority of our inventory from a supplier based in China, we are subject to and have been affected by the tariffs imposed by the United States Federal Government on imports of industrial sector products from China.
In addition, we are subject to regulation in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). FCC rules permit the operation of unlicensed digital devices that radiate radio frequency emissions if the manufacturer complies with certain equipment authorization procedures, technical requirements, marketing restrictions and product labeling requirements.
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Future products designed by us will require testing for compliance with FCC and European Commission (“EC”) standards. Moreover, if in the future, the FCC or EC changes its technical requirements, further testing and/or modifications may be necessary in order to achieve compliance.
Research & Development
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company spent $1,879,676 and $1,770,597, respectively, on research and development activities. Telkonet continues to invest significantly in research & development to maintain and grow our competitive differentiation and customer value. Key initiatives for 2019 include: expanding our EcoTouch product line with WIFI and Bluetooth wireless capabilities; creation of a new Gateway model with cellular wireless capabilities; expanding Symphony Composer development for next generation web management Internet of Things dashboard; and expanding data analytics engine integration into Symphony platform for savings algorithm development.
Additional Information
Employees
As of April 1, 2019, we had 50 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. We will continue to hire additional personnel as necessary to meet future operating requirements. We anticipate that we may need to hire additional staff in the areas of customer support, field services, engineering, sales and marketing, and administration.
Environmental Matters
We do not anticipate any material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position due to compliance with government regulations involving environmental matters.
Discontinued Operations
In October of 2016, the Company decided to offer for sale its Ethostream High-Speed Internet Access (“HSIA”) subsidiary. While EthoStream is one of the largest public HSIA providers in the world, providing services to more than 12.0 million users monthly across a network of approximately 1,800 locations, the Company will focus on its higher growth potential EcoSmart Platform line. The operating results of Ethostream for the years ended December 31, 2017 have been reclassified as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company closed the sale of EthoStream, LLC on March 29, 2017 and the impact on the Company’s liquidity as a result of the proceeds from the sale is expected to allow for greater strategic investment in marketing and research and development by the Company.
Our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows can be adversely affected by various risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the principal factors listed below and the other matters set forth in this annual report on Form 10-K. You should carefully consider all of these risks.
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Risks Relating to Our Financial Results and Need for Financing
We have a history of operating losses and an accumulated deficit and expect to continue to incur operating losses and negative operating cash flows for one year beyond the date of these financial statements, and as a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Since inception through December 31, 2018, we have incurred cumulative losses of $123,171,406 and have never generated enough funds through operations to support our business. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we had an operating cash flow deficit of $3,945,742 from continuing operations. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon generating profitable operations in the future and obtaining the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. We have not identified, and cannot be certain we will be able to identify, a course of action that guarantees the achievement of profitable operations in the foreseeable future. Further, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to secure such financing at commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If cash resources become insufficient to meet the Company’s ongoing obligations, the Company will be required to scale back or discontinue portions of its operations or discontinue operations entirely, whereby, the Company’s shareholders may lose some or all of their investment. Accordingly, and in light of the Company’s historic and continuing losses, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s Board is working with an investment bank to identify strategic alternatives available in an effort to maximize shareholder value, including but not limited to, a sale of the Company, a merger or other business combination, a sale of all or substantially all assets, a joint venture or equity and debt refinancing. At April 1, 2019, no definitive alternatives had been identified.
We have a limited number of shares of common stock available for future issuance which could adversely affect our ability to raise capital or consummate acquisitions.
We are currently authorized to issue 190,000,000 shares of common stock under our Amended Restated and Articles of Incorporation. As of March 2019, we have issued 134,793,211 shares of common stock and have approximately 8,147,955 shares of common stock committed for issuance giving effect to the assumed exercise of all outstanding warrants and options and assumed conversion of preferred stock. Due to the limited number of authorized shares available for issuance, we may not able to raise additional equity capital or complete a merger or other business combination unless we increase the number of shares we are authorized to issue. We would need to seek stockholder approval to increase the number of our authorized shares of common stock. We can provide no assurance that we will succeed in amending our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue.
Our failure to comply with covenants under debt instruments could trigger prepayment obligations or other penalties.
Our failure to comply with the covenants under our debt instruments could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in us being required to repay these borrowings before their due date or could result in other penalties. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to secure financing to refinance these borrowings at commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If we are unable to secure such financing and cash resources become insufficient to meet the Company’s ongoing obligations, the Company will be required to scale back or discontinue portions of its operations or discontinue operations entirely, whereby, the Company’s shareholders may lose some or all of their investment.
If we fail to remain current on our reporting requirements, we could be removed from the OTC Bulletin Board, which would limit the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the secondary market.
Companies trading on the OTC Bulletin Board, such as us, must be reporting issuers under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), and must be current in their reports under Section 13 of the Exchange Act in order to maintain price quotation privileges on the OTC Bulletin Board. If we fail to remain current on our reporting requirements, we could be removed from the OTC Bulletin Board. As a result, the market liquidity for our securities could be adversely affected by limiting the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the secondary market.
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Risks Relating to the Ownership of Our Common Stock
If the Company is unable to continue as a going concern, the Company’s shareholders may lose some or all of their investment.
As discussed above, we have a history of operating losses and an accumulated deficit and expect to continue to incur operating losses and negative operating cash flows for one year beyond the date of these financial statements, and as a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. If cash resources become insufficient to meet the Company’s ongoing obligations and we are unable to secure financing at commercially reasonable terms, if at all, the Company will be required to scale back or discontinue portions of its operations or discontinue operations entirely, whereby, the Company’s shareholders may lose some or all of their investment.
Our common stock is thinly traded and there may not be an active trading market for our common stock.
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB, operated by the OTC Markets Group. However, there is no guarantee that our common stock will be actively traded on the OTCQB, or that the volume of trading will be sufficient to allow for timely trades. Investors may not be able to sell their shares quickly or at the latest market price if trading in our stock is not active or if trading volume is limited. In addition, if trading volume in our common stock is limited, trades of relatively small numbers of shares may have a disproportionate effect on the market price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile.
The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate include:
| · | fluctuations in our quarterly financial and operating results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us; |
| · | changes in estimates of our financial results or recommendations by securities analysts; |
| · | potential deterioration of investor confidence resulting from material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; |
| · | our ability to raise and generate working capital to meet our obligations in the ordinary course of business; |
| · | changes in general economic, industry and market conditions; |
| · | failure of any of our products to achieve or maintain market acceptance; |
| · | changes in market valuations of similar companies; |
| · | failure of our products to operate as advertised; |
| · | success of competitive products; |
| · | changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt; |
| · | announcements by us or our competitors of significant products, contracts, acquisitions or strategic alliances; |
| · | regulatory developments in the United States, foreign countries or both; |
| · | litigation involving our Company, our general industry or both; |
| · | additions or departures of key personnel; and |
| · | investors’ general perception of us. |
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In addition, if the market for technology stocks or the stock market in general experiences a loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, financial condition or results of operations. If any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause our stock price to fall and may expose us to class action lawsuits that, even if unsuccessful, could be costly to defend and a distraction to management.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Utah law could discourage delay or prevent a change of control of our Company and may affect the trading price of our common stock.
We are a Utah corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of the Utah Control Shares Acquisition Act may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control by limiting the voting rights of control shares acquired in a control share acquisition. In addition, our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management or control over us that shareholders may consider favorable. Among other things, our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws:
| · | authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors in response to a takeover attempt; |
| · | provide that vacancies on our board of directors, including newly created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office, except a vacancy occurring by reason of the removal of a director without cause shall be filled by vote of the shareholders; and |
| · | limit who may call special meetings of shareholders. |
These provisions could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, whether or not it is desired by, or beneficial to, our shareholders.
We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock
We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any future dividend payments are within the absolute discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, business opportunities, anticipated cash needs, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. We may not generate sufficient cash from operations in the future to pay dividends on our common stock.
Our common stock is subject to “Penny Stock” restrictions.
As long as the price of our common stock remains at less than $5 per share, we will be subject to so-called “penny stock rules” which could decrease our stock’s market liquidity. The Security and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has adopted regulations which define a “penny stock” to include any equity security that has a market price of less than $5 per share or an exercise price of less than $5 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require the delivery to and execution by the retail customer of a written declaration of suitability relating to the penny stock, which must include disclosure of the commissions payable to both the broker/dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, the broker/dealer must send monthly statements disclosing recent price information for the penny stocks held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks. Those requirements could adversely affect the market liquidity of our common stock. There can be no assurance that the price of our common stock will rise above $5 per share so as to avoid these regulations.
Further issuances of equity securities may be dilutive to current stockholders.
It is possible that we will be required to seek additional capital in the near term. This capital funding could involve one or more types of equity securities, including convertible debt, common or convertible preferred stock and warrants to acquire common or preferred stock. Such equity securities could be issued at or below the then-prevailing market price for our common stock. Any issuance of additional shares of our common stock will be dilutive to existing stockholders and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
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The exercise of conversion rights, options and warrants outstanding and available for issuance may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
As of December 31, 2018, we had outstanding employee options to purchase a total of 3,349,793 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $0.14 to $1.00 per share, with a weighted average exercise price of $0.16. As of December 31, 2018, we had warrants outstanding to purchase a total of 250,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.20 per share. The exercise of outstanding options and warrants and the sale in the public market of the shares purchased upon such exercise could be dilutive to existing stockholders and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Risks Related to Our Business
New tariffs and evolving trade policy between the United States and China may have a material adverse effect on our business.
During 2018, the United States Federal Government imposed significant tariffs on imports from numerous countries, including China. Subsequent to this, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced an initial proposed list of imports from China that could be subject to additional tariffs. The list of imports for which Customs and Border Protection began collecting additional duties during July 2018, focuses on the industrial sector. The Company’s main supplier, accounting for approximately 80% of total purchases, is located in China. The products that the Company purchases from the supplier are subject to up to 25% tariffs. As a result of the tariffs, our cost of sales has increased.
The current administration, along with Congress, has created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to the trade policies, treaties, taxes, government regulations and tariffs that would be applicable. It is unclear what changes might be considered or implemented and what response to any such changes may be by the governments of other countries. These changes have created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and China, as well as other countries, including with respect to the trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs that could apply to trade between the United States and other nations. If significant tariffs or other restrictions are placed on Chinese imports or any related counter-measures are taken by China, our revenue and results of operations may be materially harmed. Even in the absence of further tariffs, the related uncertainty and the market's fear of an escalating trade war might create forecasting difficulties for us and cause our customers and business partners to place fewer orders for our products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition, and/or results of operations.
These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets, and may significantly reduce global trade and, in particular, trade between these nations and the United States. Any of these factors could depress economic activity and restrict our access to suppliers or customers and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and affect our strategy in China and elsewhere around the world. Given the relatively fluid regulatory environment in China and the United States and uncertainty how the U.S. Administration or foreign governments will act with respect to tariffs, international trade agreements and policies, a trade war, further governmental action related to tariffs or international trade policies, or additional tax or other regulatory changes in the future could directly and adversely impact our financial results and results of operations.
We rely on a limited number of third party suppliers. If these companies fail to perform or experience delays, shortages, or increased demand for their products or services, we may face shortages, increased costs, and may be required to suspend deployment of our products and services.
We depend on a limited number of third party suppliers to provide the components and the equipment required to deliver our solutions, with purchases from one supplier comprising approximately 81% of total purchases for the year ended December 31, 2018. If these providers fail to perform their obligations under our agreements with them or we are unable to renew these agreements, we may be forced to suspend the sale and deployment of our products and services and enrollment of new customers, which would have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
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The industry within which we operate is intensely competitive and rapidly evolving.
We operate in a highly competitive, quickly changing environment, and our future success will depend on our ability to develop and introduce new products and product enhancements that achieve broad market acceptance in the markets within which we compete. We will also need to respond effectively to new product announcements by our competitors by quickly developing and introducing competitive products.
Delays in product development and introduction could result in:
| · | loss of or delay in revenue and loss of market share; |
| · | negative publicity and damage to our reputation and the reputation of our product offerings; and |
| · | decline in the average selling price of our products. |
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal controls as of December 31, 2018 that, if not properly remediated, could result in material misstatements in our financial statements.
Based on an evaluation of our disclosure of internal controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018, our management has concluded that, as of such date, there were material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to a lack of segregation of duties due to the limited size of the Company’s accounting department, a failure to implement adequate internal control over financial reporting including in our IT general control environment and the need for a stronger internal control environment particularly in our financial reporting and close process. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements would not be prevented or detected. As disclosed in Item 9A of Part II of this report, because of the material weaknesses identified by the Company, our consolidated financial statements may contain material misstatements that would require restatement of the Company’s financial results in this report. Management of the Company believes that these material weaknesses are due to the small size of the Company’s accounting staff. The small size of the Company’s accounting staff may prevent adequate controls in the future, such as segregation of duties, due to the cost/benefit of such remediation. At present, the Company does not expect to hire additional personnel to remediate these control deficiencies in the near future. We are reviewing other potential actions to remediate the identified material weaknesses.
Until and if these material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting are remediated, there is reasonable possibility that material misstatements of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements could occur and not be prevented or detected by our internal controls in a timely manner. Material misstatements in our financial statements could result in litigation or regulatory enforcement actions, which would require additional financial and management resources; loss of investor confidence; and delays in filing required financial disclosures, one or more of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. The Company believes the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are free of material misstatements.
Government regulation of our products could impair our ability to sell such products in certain markets.
The rules of the FCC permit the operation of unlicensed digital devices that radiate radio frequency emissions if the manufacturer complies with certain equipment authorization procedures, technical requirements, marketing restrictions and product labeling requirements. Differing technical requirements apply to “Class A” devices intended for use in commercial settings, and “Class B” devices intended for residential use to which more stringent standards apply. An independent, FCC-certified testing lab has verified that our product suite complies with the FCC technical requirements for Class A and Class B digital devices. No further testing of these devices is required, and the devices may be manufactured and marketed for commercial and residential use. Additional devices designed by us for commercial and residential use will be subject to the FCC rules for unlicensed digital devices. Moreover, if in the future, the FCC changes its technical requirements for unlicensed digital devices, further testing and/or modifications of devices may be necessary. Failure to comply with any FCC technical requirements could impair our ability to sell our products in certain markets and could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.
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Products sold by our competitors could become more popular than our products or render our products obsolete.
The market for our products and services is highly competitive. Some of our competitors have longer operating histories, greater name recognition and substantially greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources. These competitors may, among other things, undertake more extensive marketing campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies, obtain more favorable pricing from suppliers and manufacturers and exert more influence on the sales channel than we can. As a result, we may not be able to compete successfully with these competitors, and these competitors may develop or market technologies and products that are more widely accepted than those being developed by us or that would render our products obsolete or noncompetitive. We anticipate that competitors will also intensify their efforts to penetrate our target markets. These competitors may have more advanced technology, more extensive distribution channels, stronger brand names, bigger promotional budgets and larger customer bases than we do. These companies could devote more capital resources to develop, manufacture and market competing products than we could. If any of these companies are successful in competing against us, our sales could decline, our margins could be negatively impacted, and we could lose market share, any of which could seriously harm our business, results of operations, and prospects.
We may incur substantial damages due to litigation.
We cannot be certain that our products do not and will not infringe issued patents or other intellectual property rights of others. If it were determined that our products infringe the intellectual property rights of another, we could be required to pay substantial damages or be enjoined from licensing or using the infringing products or technology. Additionally, if it were determined that our products infringe the intellectual property rights of others, we would need to obtain licenses from these parties or substantially re-engineer our products in order to avoid infringement. We might not be able to obtain the necessary licenses on acceptable terms or at all, or to re-engineer our products successfully. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from selling our products.
We depend on a small team of senior management and may have difficulty attracting and retaining additional personnel.
Our future success will depend in large part upon the continued services and performance of senior management and other key personnel. If we lose the services of any member of our senior management team, our overall operations could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, our future success will depend on our ability to identify, attract, hire, train, retain and motivate other highly skilled technical, managerial, marketing, purchasing and customer service personnel when they are needed. Competition for these individuals is intense. We cannot ensure that we will be able to successfully attract, integrate or retain sufficiently qualified personnel when the need arises. Any failure to attract and retain the necessary technical, managerial, marketing, purchasing and customer service personnel could have a negative effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may be affected if the United States participates in wars or other military action or by international terrorism.
Involvement in a war or other military action or acts of terrorism may cause significant disruption to commerce throughout the world. To the extent that such disruptions result in (i) delays or cancellations of customer orders, (ii) a general decrease in consumer spending on information technology, (iii) our inability to effectively market and distribute our services or products or (iv) our inability to access capital markets, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. We are unable to predict whether the involvement in a war or other military action will result in any long-term commercial disruptions or if such involvement or responses will have any long-term material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, or financial condition.
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Cyber security risks and cyber incidents could adversely affect our business and disrupt operations.
Cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. These incidents can include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents could include, but are not limited to, disrupted operations, misstated financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cyber-security protection costs, litigation and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence. We have implemented systems and processes to focus on identification, prevention, mitigation and resolution. However, these measures cannot provide absolute security, and our systems may be vulnerable to cyber-security breaches such as viruses, hacking, and similar disruptions from unauthorized intrusions. In addition, we rely on third party service providers to perform certain services, such as payroll and tax services. Any failure of our systems or third party systems may compromise our sensitive information and/or personally identifiable information of our employees. While we have secured cyber insurance to potentially cover certain risks associated with cyber incidents, there can be no assurance the insurance will be sufficient to cover any such liability.
Our exposure to the credit risk of our customers and suppliers may adversely affect our financial results.
We sell our products to customers that have in the past, and may in the future, experience financial difficulties. If our customers experience financial difficulties, we could have difficulty recovering amounts owed to us from these customers. While we perform credit evaluations and adjust credit limits based upon each customer’s payment history and credit worthiness, such programs may not be effective in reducing our exposure to credit risk. We evaluate the collectability of accounts receivable, and based on this evaluation make adjustments to the allowance for doubtful accounts for expected losses. Actual bad debt write-offs may differ from our estimates, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.
Our suppliers may also experience financial difficulties, which could result in our having difficulty sourcing the materials and components we use in producing our products and providing our services. This risk is increased given we depend on a limited number of third party suppliers to provide the components and the equipment required to deliver our solutions, with purchases from one supplier comprising approximately 81% of total purchases for the year ended December 31, 2018. If we encounter such difficulties, we may not be able to produce our products for our customers in a timely fashion which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Changes in the economy and credit markets may adversely affect our future results of operations.
Our operations and performance depend to some degree on general economic conditions and their impact on our customers’ finances and purchase decisions. As a result of economic events, potential customers may elect to defer purchases of capital equipment items, such as the products we manufacture and supply. Additionally, the credit markets and the financial services industry are subject to change. While the ultimate outcome of these events cannot be predicted, it may have a material adverse effect on our customers’ ability to fund their operations thus adversely impacting their ability to purchase our products or to pay for our products on a timely basis, if at all. These and other economic factors could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products, the collection of payments for our products and on our financial condition and operating results.
We may not be able to obtain payment and performance bonds, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our ability to deploy our EcoSmart Suite of products into the energy management initiatives in federally funded or assisted projects may rely on our ability to obtain payment and performance bonds which may be an essential element to work orders for the installation of our products and services. If we are unable to obtain payment and performance bonds in a timely fashion as required by an applicable work order, we may not be entitled to payment under the work order until such bonds have been provided or until such a requirement is expressly waived. In addition, any delays due to a failure to furnish bonds may not entitle us to a price increase for the work or an extension of time to complete the work and may entitle the other party to terminate our work order without liability and to indemnify such party from damages suffered as a result of our failure to deliver the bonds and the termination of the work order. As a result, the failure to obtain bonds where required could negatively impact our business, results of operations, and prospects.
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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.
In October 2013, the Company entered into a lease agreement for 6,362 square feet of commercial office space in Waukesha, Wisconsin for its corporate headquarters with a term expiration of April 30, 2021. On April 7, 2017, the Company executed an amendment to the existing lease to expand another 3,982 square feet, bringing the total leased space to 10,344 square feet, and extend the lease term from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2026. The commencement date for this amendment was July 15, 2017.
In January 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for 2,237 square feet of commercial office space in Germantown, Maryland for its Maryland employees. In September 2018, the Company entered into a third amendment to the lease agreement extending the lease through the end of January 2022.
In May 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for 5,838 square feet of floor space in Waukesha, Wisconsin for its inventory warehousing operations. The Waukesha lease expires in May 2023.
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business. Although occasional adverse decisions or settlements may occur, the Company believes that the final disposition of such matters should not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
None.
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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “TKOI.” The OTC Bulletin Board is not a stock exchange and any over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Record Holders
As of March 26, 2019, we had 211 holders of record of our common stock and 134,793,211 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
See Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters for information about securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans.
Dividend Policy
The Company has never paid dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. It is also subject to certain contractual restrictions on paying dividends on its common stock under the terms of its Series A and B preferred stock.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
This item is not applicable.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates significant estimates used in preparing its consolidated financial statements including those related to revenue recognition and allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory obsolescence, recovery of long-lived assets, income tax provisions and related valuation allowance, stock-based compensation, and contingencies. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, underlying run rates and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The following are critical judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
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Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606, the Standard”) supersedes nearly all legacy revenue recognition guidance. ASC 606, the Standard outlines a comprehensive five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue based on when it satisfies its performance obligations by transferring control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for said goods or services.
Identify the customer contracts
The Company accounts for a customer contract under ASC 606 when the contract is legally enforceable. A contract is legally enforceable when all of the following criteria are met: (1) the contract has been approved by the Company and the customer and both parties are committed to perform their respective obligations, (2) the Company can identify each party’s rights regarding goods or services transferred, (3) the Company can identify payment terms for goods or services transferred, (4) the contract has commercial substance, and (5) collectability of all the consideration to which the Company is entitled in exchange for the goods or services transferred is probable.
A contract does not exist if each party to the contract has the unilateral right to terminate a wholly unperformed contract without compensating the other party (or parties). Nearly all of the Company’s contracts do not contain such mutual termination rights for convenience. All contracts are in written form.
Identify the performance obligations
The Company will enter into product only contracts that contain a single performance obligation related to the transfer of EcoSmart products to a customer.
The Company will also enter into certain customer contracts that encompass product and installation services, referred to as “turnkey” solutions. These contracts ultimately provide the customer with a solution that enhances the functionality of the customer’s existing equipment. For this reason, the Company has determined that the product and installation services are not separately identifiable performance obligations, but in essence represent one, combined performance obligation (“turnkey”).
The Company also offers post-installation support services to customers. Support services are considered a separate performance obligation.
Determine the transaction price
The Company generally enters into contracts containing fixed prices. It is not customary for the Company to include contract terms that would result in variable consideration. In the rare situation that a contract does include this type of provision, it is not expected to result in a material adjustment to the transaction price. The Company regularly extends pricing discounts; however, they are negotiated up front and adjust the fixed transaction price set out in the contract.
Customer contracts will typically contain upfront deposits that will be applied against future invoices, as well as customer retainage. The intent of any required deposit or retainage is to ensure that the obligations of either party are honored and follow customary industry practices. In addition, the Company will typically be paid in advance at the beginning of any support contracts, consistent with industry practices. None of these payment provisions are intended to represent significant implicit financing. The Company’s standard payment terms are thirty days from invoice date. Products are fully refundable when returned in their original packaging without damage or defacing less a restocking fee. Historical returns have shown to be immaterial. The Company offers a standard one-year assurance warranty. However customers can purchase an extended warranty. Under the new standard, extended warranties are accounted for as a service warranty, requiring the revenue to be recognized over the extended service periods. Contracts involving an extended warranty are immaterial and will continue to be combined with support revenue and recognized on a straight-line basis over the support revenue term.
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Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations
Revenues from customer contracts are allocated to the separate performance obligations based on their relative stand-alone selling price (“SSP”) at contract inception. The SSP is the price at which the Company would sell a promised good or service separately. The best evidence of an SSP is the observable price of a good or service when the entity sells that good or service separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers. However, turnkey solutions are sold for a broad range of amounts resulting from, but not limited to, tiered discounting for value added resellers (“VAR”) based upon committed volumes and other economic factors. Due to the high variability of our pricing, the Company cannot establish a reliable SSP using observable data. Accordingly, the Company uses the residual approach to allocate the transaction price to performance obligations related to its turnkey solutions. When support services are not included within the turnkey solution, the residual method is not utilized and no allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligation is necessary.
All support service agreements, whether single or multi-year terms, automatically renew for one-year terms at a suggested retail price (“SRP”). Support service renewals are consistently priced and therefore would support the use of SRP as the best estimate of an SSP for such performance obligations.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues from product only sales at a point in time, when control over the product has transferred to the customer. As the Company’s principal terms of sale are FOB shipping point, the Company primarily transfers control and records revenue for product only sales upon shipment.
A typical turnkey project involves the installation and integration of 200-300 rooms in a customer-controlled facility and usually takes sixty days to complete. Since control over goods and services transfers to a customer once a room is installed, the Company recognizes revenue for turnkey solutions over time. The Company uses an outputs measure based on the number of rooms installed to recognize revenues from turnkey solutions.
Revenues from support services are recognized over time, in even daily increments over the term of the contract, and are presented as “Recurring Revenue” in the Statement of Operations.
Contract liabilities include monthly support service fees, customer deposits, and billings in advance of revenue recognition. The long term portion of these liability balances represent the amount of revenues that will be recognized after December 31, 2019.
Contract Fulfillment Cost
The Company recognizes related costs of the contract over time in relation to the revenue recognition. Costs included within the projects relate to the cost of material, direct labor and costs of outside services utilized to complete projects. These are presented as “Contract assets” in the consolidated balance sheets.
Transition
The Company adopted ASC 606 using a modified retrospective approach to all contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historic accounting under Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The Company recorded a net decrease to beginning retained earnings of $0.43 million as of January 1, 2018 due to the cumulative impact of adopting ASC 606. The impact to beginning retained earnings was primarily driven by the deferral of revenue for unfulfilled performance obligations related to the Company’s turnkey solutions.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The Company records allowances for doubtful accounts based on customer-specific analysis and general matters such as current assessment of past due balances and economic conditions. The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible. Management identifies a delinquent customer based upon the delinquent payment status of an outstanding invoice, generally greater than 30 days past due date. The delinquent account designation does not trigger an accounting transaction until such time the account is deemed uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined by examining the reserve history and any outstanding invoices that are over 30 days past due as of the end of the reporting period. Accounts are deemed uncollectible on a case-by-case basis, at management’s discretion based upon an examination of the communication with the delinquent customer and payment history. Typically, accounts are only escalated to “uncollectible” status after multiple attempts at collection have proven unsuccessful.
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Inventory Obsolescence
Inventories consist of thermostats, sensors and controllers for Telkonet’s EcoSmart product platform. These inventories are purchased for resale and do not include manufacturing labor and overhead. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value determined by the first in, first out (FIFO) method. The Company’s inventories are subject to technological obsolescence. Management evaluates the net realizable value of its inventories on a quarterly basis and when it is determined that the Company’s carrying cost of such excess and obsolete inventories cannot be recovered in full, a charge is taken against income for the difference between the carrying cost and the estimated realizable amount.
Guarantees and Product Warranties
The Company records a liability for potential warranty claims. The amount of the liability is based on the trend in the historical ratio of claims to sales. The products sold are generally covered by a warranty for a period of one year. In the event the Company determines that its current or future product repair and replacement costs exceed its estimates, an adjustment to these reserves would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company experienced approximately between 1% and 3% of returns related to product warranties. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded warranty liabilities in the amount of $46,103 and $59,892, respectively, using this experience factor range.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740-10. Under this method, deferred income taxes (when required) are provided based on the difference between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and net operating losses at the statutory rates enacted for future periods. The Company has a policy of establishing a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of its deferred income tax assets in the future. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company has recorded all known and estimable impacts of the Tax Act that are effective for 2018.
Stock Based Compensation
We account for our stock based awards in accordance with ASC 718, which requires a fair value measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including employee stock options and restricted stock awards.
We estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This model requires us to make estimates and assumptions including, among other things, estimates regarding the length of time an employee will retain vested stock options before exercising them and the estimated volatility of our common stock price. The fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. Changes in these estimates and assumptions can materially affect the determination of the fair value of stock-based compensation and consequently, the related amount recognized in our consolidated statements of operations.
Recovery of Long -Lived Assets
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC 360-10. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future net undiscounted cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds its fair value.
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Contingent Liabilities - Sales Tax
Unless provided with a resale or tax exemption certificate, the Company assesses and collects sales tax on sales transactions and records the amount as a liability. It is recognized as a liability until remitted to the applicable state. Total revenues do not include sales tax as the Company is considered a pass through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes.
Results of Continuing Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Revenues
The table below outlines our product versus recurring revenues from continuing operations for comparable periods:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product | $ | 7,616,415 | 90% | $ | 7,798,680 | 94% | $ | (182,265 | ) | (2% | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Recurring | 815,564 | 10% | 483,889 | 6% | 331,675 | 69% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,431,979 | 100% | $ | 8,282,569 | 100% | $ | 149,410 | 2% | |||||||||||||||||
Product Revenue
Product revenue principally arises from the sale and installation of the EcoSmart Suite of products consists of thermostats, sensors, controllers, wireless networking products switches, outlets and a control platform.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, product revenue decreased $0.18 million to $7.61 million when compared to the prior year. Product revenue from the hospitality market increased $0.8 million to $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $5.6 million for the prior year. Product revenue from the MDU market remained relatively unchanged at $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the prior year period. Product revenue from the education market decreased $0.8 million to $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $1.5 million for the prior year. Product revenue attributed to sales from channel partnerships and value added resellers increased $1.8 million to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $4.5 million for the prior year period. Product revenue attributed to sales from channel partnerships and value added resellers as a percentage of total revenue was 75% for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 59% for the prior year. The most significant impact to the changes in revenue with the various markets was related to the timing of revenue recognition of the related contracts.
Recurring Revenue
Recurring revenue is attributed to our technical phone support services. The Company recognizes revenue ratably over the service month for monthly support revenues and defers revenue for annual support services over the term of the service period. Recurring revenue consists of Telkonet’s EcoCare service and support program.
For the year end comparison, recurring revenue increased 69% or $0.33 million to $0.82 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $0.48 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The primary reasons for the increase are renewals outpaced cancellations for support services along with organic sales growth.
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Cost of Sales
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product | $ | 4,392,643 | 58% | $ | 4,261,100 | 55% | $ | 131,543 | 3% | |||||||||||||||||
| Recurring | 269,443 | 33% | 176,131 | 36% | 93,312 | 53% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,662,086 | 55% | $ | 4,437,231 | 54% | $ | 224,855 | 5% | |||||||||||||||||
Costs of Product Revenue
Costs of product revenue include equipment and installation labor related to EcoSmart technology. For the year ended December 31, 2018, product costs increased by 3% compared to the prior year. Material costs increased $0.38 million due to price increases. Additionally, freight in increased $0.13 million largely due to increased tariffs related to the Company’s primary supplier. These increases were partially offset by salary and wages decrease of $0.85 million, a decrease in the use of outside services of $0.18 million, a decrease in purchase price variance of $0.03 million, along with other immaterial changes to costs of product revenue.
Costs of Recurring Revenue
Recurring costs are comprised of labor and telecommunication services for our customer service department. For the year ended December 31, 2018, costs of recurring revenue increased by 53% when compared to the prior year. The increase of $0.09 million was driven by an increase in salaries and benefits due to the Company adding support services employees during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Gross Profit
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product | $ | 3,223,772 | 42% | $ | 3,537,580 | 45% | $ | (313,808 | ) | (9% | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Recurring | 546,121 | 67% | 307,758 | 64% | 238,363 | 77% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,769,893 | 45% | $ | 3,845,338 | 46% | $ | (75,445 | ) | (2% | ) | |||||||||||||||
Gross Profit on Product Revenue
Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2018 decreased by 9% when compared to the prior year. The actual gross profit percentages decreased to 42% for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 45% for the year ended December 31, 2017. Contributing to the 3% decrease in gross profit percentage was an increase in customer discounts given on product sales, cost of goods sold and freight in, mainly due to the increased tariffs.
Gross Profit on Recurring Revenue
For the year ended December 31, 2018, our gross profit increased by 77% when compared to the prior year driven by unit sales. The actual gross profit percentages increased to 67% for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 64% for the year ended December 31, 2017.
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Operating Expenses
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,790,642 | $ | 7,334,751 | $ | (544,109 | ) | (7% | ) | |||||||||
The Company’s operating expenses are comprised of research and development, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization expense. During the year ended December 31, 2018, operating expenses decreased by 7% when compared to the prior year as outlined below.
Research and Development
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,879,676 | $ | 1,770,597 | $ | 109,079 | 6% | |||||||||||
Research and development costs are related to both present and future products and are expensed in the period incurred. Current research and development costs are associated with product development and integration. During the year ended December 31, 2018, research and development costs increased 6% when compared to the prior year. The majority of the variance is due to an approximate $0.27 million increase in expenditures for IT consulting. This increase was partially offset by decreases in salary and wages ($0.08 million) and certification expenses ($0.04 million) when compared to the prior year. Key initiatives for 2019 include: expanding our EcoTouch product line with WIFI and Bluetooth wireless capabilities; creation of a new Gateway model with cellular wireless capabilities; expanding Symphony Composer development for next generation web management Internet of Things dashboard; and expanding data analytics engine integration into Symphony platform for savings algorithm development.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,843,859 | $ | 5,512,925 | $ | (669,066 | ) | (12%) | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased for the year ended December 31, 2018 from the prior year by 12%. The decrease was driven by a decrease in salaries and benefits of $0.2 million, a $0.17 million decrease in consulting fees, and an additional decrease in stock option expense of $0.31 million, primarily related to the prior year’s sale of Ethostream.
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variance | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | - | $ | 612,875 | $ | (612,875 | ) | -100% | ||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations decreased $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 over the prior year or 100%. On March 29, 2017, pursuant to the terms and the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, the Company closed on the sale of EthoStream. The income from discontinued operations (net of tax) represents the activity of EthoStream from January 1, 2017 through the date of the sale on March 29, 2017. After March 29, 2017, certain insignificant liabilities retained by the Company have been adjusted as these liability balances were paid. The Company realized a gain from the sale of EthoStream of $6,630,244.
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EBITDA from Continuing Operations
Management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may be useful to investors in certain instances to provide additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a metric used by management and frequently used by the financial community. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations provides insight into an organization’s operating trends and facilitates comparisons between peer companies, since interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation can differ greatly between organizations as a result of differing capital structures and tax strategies. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is one of the measures used for determining our debt covenant compliance. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations excludes certain items that are unusual in nature or not comparable from period to period. While management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace our GAAP financial results. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is not, and should not be considered, an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from operations, or any other measure for determining operating performance of liquidity, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). In assessing the overall health of its business for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company excluded items in the following general categories described below:
| · | Stock-based compensation: The Company believes that because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation and the assumptions and estimates involved in those determinations, the exclusion of non-cash stock-based compensation enhances the ability of management and investors to understand the impact of non-cash stock-based compensation on our operating results. Further, the Company believes that excluding stock-based compensation expense allows for a more transparent comparison of its financial results to the previous year. |
| · | Bonuses paid to executives upon sale of discontinued operations: The Company does not consider the bonuses of $87,750 associated with the sale of Ethostream to be indicative of current or future operating performance. Therefore, the Company does not consider the inclusion of these costs helpful in assessing its current financial performance compared to the previous year. |
RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS FROM
CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Net loss from continuing operations | $ | (3,016,750 | ) | $ | (3,496,741 | ) | ||
| Interest (income) expense, net | (13,622 | ) | (2,434 | ) | ||||
| Provision for income taxes | 9,623 | 9,762 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 67,107 | 51,229 | ||||||
| EBITDA – continuing operations | (2,953,642 | ) | (3,438,184 | ) | ||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 6,405 | 322,888 | ||||||
| Bonuses paid to executives upon sale of discontinued operations | – | 87,750 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA – continuing operations | $ | (2,947,237 | ) | $ | (3,027,546 | ) | ||
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of $3,016,750 and had cash used in operating activities of $3,945,742, and ended the year with an accumulated deficit of $123,171,406 and total current assets in excess of current liabilities of $6,206,299. At December 31, 2018, the Company had $4,678,891 of cash and approximately $500,000 of availability on its credit facility. The credit facility is a $2,000,000 line of credit, which is subject to a borrowing base calculation based on the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and eligible inventory each multiplied by an applicable advance rate, with an overall limitation tied to the Company’s eligible accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2018, we had borrowing capacity of $621,790 and an outstanding balance of $121,474, resulting in the approximate availability of $500,000 on the credit facility.
Since inception, the Company has incurred operating losses and has reported negative cash flows from operating activities. Since 2012, the Company has made significant investments in the engineering, development and marketing of an intelligent automation platform, including but not limited to, hardware and software enhancements, support services and applications. The funding for these development efforts has contributed to the ongoing operating losses and use of cash. Operating losses have been financed by debt and equity transactions, credit facility capacity, the sale of a wholly-owned subsidiary and management of working capital levels. The report from our independent registered public accounting firm on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 stated there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon generating profitable operations in the future and/or securing the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to secure such financing at commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If cash resources become insufficient to meet the Company’s ongoing obligations, the Company will be required to scale back or discontinue portions of its operations or discontinue operations entirely, whereby, the Company’s shareholders may lose some or all of their investment.
We have not identified, and cannot be certain we will be able to identify, a course of action that guarantees the achievement of profitable operations in the foreseeable future. In June 2018, the Company’s Board engaged an investment bank to identify strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including but not limited to, a sale of the Company, an investment in the Company, a merger or other business combination, a sale of all or substantially all assets or a strategic joint venture. At April 1, 2019, no definitive alternatives had been identified.
The Company expects to draw on its’ cash reserves and utilize the credit facility to the extent availability exists to finance its near term working capital needs. We expect to continue to incur operating losses and negative operating cash flows for one year beyond the date of these financial statements. Accordingly, and in light of the Company’s historic and continuing losses, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Working Capital
Our working capital (current assets in excess of current liabilities) from continuing operations decreased by $3,274,266 during the year ended December 31, 2018 from a working capital of $9,480,565 at December 31, 2017, to $6,206,299 at December 31, 2018. The majority of the decrease was due to the operating losses for 2018.
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Revolving Credit Facility
On September 30, 2014, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, EthoStream, as co-borrowers (collectively, the “Borrowers”), entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Heritage Bank Loan Agreement”), with Heritage Bank of Commerce, a California state chartered bank (“Heritage Bank”), governing a new revolving credit facility in a principal amount not to exceed $2,000,000 (the “Credit Facility”). Following the sale of EthoStream in March of 2017, it was removed as a co-borrower. Availability of borrowings under the Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculation based on the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and eligible inventory each multiplied by an applicable advance rate, with an overall limitation tied to the Company’s eligible accounts receivable. The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement is available for working capital and other general business purposes. The outstanding principal balance of the Credit Facility bears interest at the Prime Rate plus 3.00%, which was 8.50% at December 31, 2018 and 7.50% at December 31, 2017. On October 9, 2014, as part of the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement, Heritage Bank was granted a warrant to purchase 250,000 shares of Telkonet common stock. The warrant has an exercise price of $0.20 and expires October 9, 2021. On February 13, 2019, the tenth amendment to the Credit Facility was executed extending the maturity date to September 30, 2020, unless earlier accelerated under the terms of the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement.
The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants that place restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt, granting of liens and sale of assets. The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants, including a maximum EBITDA loss covenant, measured quarterly, a minimum asset coverage ratio, measured monthly, and a minimum unrestricted cash balance of $2 million. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company and Heritage Bank entered into several amendments to the Credit Facility to adjust these covenant levels. As long as the Company maintains the minimum unrestricted cash balance of $2 million, a violation of the minimum EBITDA level will not trigger an event of default. A violation of any of these covenants could result in an event of default under the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement. Upon the occurrence of such an event of default or certain other customary events of defaults, payment of any outstanding amounts under the Credit Facility may be accelerated and Heritage Bank’s commitment to extend credit under the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement may be terminated. The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement contains other representations and warranties, covenants, and other provisions customary to transactions of this nature.
The outstanding balance on the Credit Facility was $121,474 and $682,211 at December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the remaining available borrowing capacity was approximately $499,000 and $202,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.
Cash Flow from Continuing Operations Analysis
Cash used in operating activities of continuing operations was $3,945,742 and $3,594,906 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, our primary capital needs included costs incurred to increase energy management sales, inventory procurement, and managing current liabilities. The working capital changes during the year ended December 31, 2018 were primarily related to an approximate $570,000 decrease in accounts payable, a $512,000 decrease in deferred revenues, a $434,000 increase in prepaid expenses, a $401,000 increase in inventories and a $124,000 decrease in customer deposits. The cash outlays were partially offset by an approximate $144,000 expense related to stock compensation, a $454,000 increase in contract liabilities and a $474,000 decrease in accounts receivable. The primary working capital change during the year ended December 31, 2017 were primarily related to an approximate $594,000 increase in inventory, a $242,000 increase in accounts receivable, a $213,000 increase in accounts payable, a $207,000 increase in deferred revenue, a $41,000 decrease in customer deposits, a $97,000 decrease in related party payable and a $257,000 decrease in accrued liabilities and expenses. Accounts receivable fluctuates based on the negotiated billing terms with customers and collections. We purchase inventory based on forecasts and orders, and when those forecasts and orders change, the amount of inventory may also fluctuate. Accounts payable fluctuates with changes in inventory levels, volume of inventory purchases, and negotiated supplier and vendor terms.
Cash used by investing activities was $10,225 and cash provided by investing activities was $11,861,319 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the cash used by investing activities reflects the purchases of property and equipment. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the cash provided by investing activities reflects the proceeds less adjustments of $12,072,811 associated with the sale of the assets and certain liabilities assumed of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, EthoStream. A decrease of $211,492 was associated with the purchase of computer equipment and furniture, fixtures and equipment. Due to the sale of EthoStream, the Company extended the Waukesha lease in 2017, as discussed in Note M, and refurbished the corporate office to accommodate employee’s previously working at the Milwaukee operations office.
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Cash used by financing activities was $560,737 and $379,918 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2018, $3,720,000 was drawn from the line of credit and $4,280,737 was paid on the line of credit. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement for the Company’s line of credit included the Company and EthoStream as co borrowers. Upon closing the EthoStream sale transaction on March 29, 2017, the entire balance outstanding on the Credit Facility, $1,062,129, was repaid and a net balance of $379,918 was subsequently paid during the year ended December 31, 2017.
We are working to manage our current liabilities while we continue to make changes in operations to improve our cash flow and liquidity position.
Management expects that global economic conditions, in particular the decreasing price of energy, along with competition will continue to present a challenging operating environment through 2019; therefore working capital management will continue to be a high priority for 2019. The Company’s estimated cash requirements for our operations for the next 12 months is not anticipated to differ significantly from our present cash requirements for our continuing operations.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If our costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of new accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
This item is not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
See the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto commencing on Page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
This item is not applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Due to the lack of a segregation of duties and the failure to implement adequate internal control over financial reporting, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements of the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
With the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Based on our evaluation and the material weaknesses described below, management concluded that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 based on the COSO framework criteria.
Management did not properly design or maintain effective controls over the control environment and monitoring components of COSO. We did not have a sufficient complement of accounting and financial personnel with an appropriate level of knowledge to address technical accounting and financial reporting matters in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Company’s overall financial reporting requirements. We also lack sufficient information technology resources to address our IT general control environment requirements. The failures within the control environment and monitoring components contributed to the following control activity level material weaknesses:
| · | Revenues – We did not properly design or maintain effective controls over the recording of revenue recognition for contracts whose performance obligations are fulfilled over time. | |
| · | Financial Statement Close and Reporting – We did not properly design or maintain effective controls over the period end financial close and reporting process. Specifically, we lacked control over the review of account reconciliations, journal entries, identification of related party transactions, and reporting of our financial results and disclosures. | |
| · | Information Technology – We did not properly design or maintain effective controls to prevent unauthorized access to certain systems, programs and data, and provide for periodic review and monitoring of access and changes in programs, including review of security logs and analysis of segregation of duties conflicts. | |
| · | Segregation of Duties – We did not maintain adequate segregation of duties within the Company’s business processes, financial applications, and IT systems. Specifically, we did not have appropriate controls in place to adequately assess the segregation of job responsibilities and system user access for initiating, authorizing, and recording transactions. |
These control deficiencies could result in a misstatement of account balances resulting in a more than remote likelihood that a material misstatement to our financial statements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Accordingly, we have determined that these control deficiencies as described above constitute material weaknesses.
We are reviewing actions to remediate the identified material weaknesses. As we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal controls over financial reporting, our senior management may determine to take additional measures to address deficiencies or modify the remediation efforts. Until the remediation efforts that our senior management identifies as necessary, are completed, tested and determined effective, the material weaknesses described above will continue to exist. At present, the Company does not expect to hire additional personnel to remediate these control deficiencies in the near future.
In light of these material weaknesses, we performed additional analyses and procedures in order to conclude that our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were fairly stated in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, management believes that despite our material weaknesses, our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 are fairly stated, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP.
Under applicable Securities Law, the Company is not required to obtain an attestation report from the Company's independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting, and accordingly, such an attestation has not been obtained or included in this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Controls
Other than the material weaknesses discussed above, during the year ended December 31, 2018, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting.
None.
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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3), information on directors and executive officers of the Registrant and corporate governance matters is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the annual shareholder meeting to be held on May 23, 2019.
Code of Ethics
The Board has approved, and Telkonet has adopted, a Code of Ethics that applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company. A copy of the Company’s Code of Ethics was filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2004). In addition, the Company will provide a copy of its Code of Ethics free of charge upon request to any person submitting a written request to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3), information on executive compensation is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the annual shareholder meeting to be held on May 23, 2019.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Pursuant to General Instructions G(3), information on security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters are incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the annual shareholder meeting to be held on May 23, 2019.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information concerning securities authorized for issuance pursuant to equity compensation plans approved by the Company’s stockholders and equity compensation plans not approved by the Company’s stockholders as of December 31, 2018.
| 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 compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | ||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 3,599,793 | $ | 0.16 | 1,606,549 | ||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | – | – | – | |||||||||
| Total | 3,599,793 | $ | 0.16 | 1,606,549 | ||||||||
| 31 |
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3), information on certain relationships and related transactions and director independence is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the annual shareholder meeting to be held on May 23, 2019.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3), information on principal accounting fees and services is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for the annual shareholder meeting to be held on May 23, 2019.
| 32 |
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
| (a) | Documents filed as part of this report. | |
| (1) | Financial Statements. The following financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: Report of BDO USA, LLP on Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 | |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 | ||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 | ||
| Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 | ||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 | ||
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | ||
| (2) | Financial Statement Schedules | |
| Additional Schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or related notes. | ||
| (3) | Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K | |
| 33 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are included herein or incorporated by reference:
Exhibit Number |
Description Of Document | |
| 2.1 | Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Smart Systems International, dated as of February 23, 2007 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on March 2, 2007) | |
| 2.2 | Unit Purchase Agreement by and among Telkonet, Inc., EthoStream, LLC and the members of EthoStream, LLC dated as of March 15, 2007 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on March 19, 2007) | |
| 2.3 | Asset Purchase Agreement by and among EthoStream, LLC, Telkonet, Inc., and DCI-Design Communications, dated as of March 28, 2017 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on March 31, 2017) | |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to our Form S-8 (File No. 333-47986), filed on October 16, 2000) | |
| 3.2 | Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1(File No. 333-108307), filed on August 28, 2003 | |
| 3.3 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972), filed November 18, 2009) | |
| 3.4 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on August 9, 2010) | |
| 3.5 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on April 13, 2011) | |
| 4.1 | Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on November 18, 2009) | |
| 4.2 | Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on August 9, 2010) | |
| 4.3 | Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on April 13, 2011) | |
| 10.1 | Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-161909), filed on September 14, 2009) | |
| 10.4 | Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock Securities Purchase Agreement, dated November 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on November 18, 2009) | |
| 10.5 | Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on November 18, 2009) | |
| 10.6 | Form of Executive Officer Reimbursement Agreement (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on November 18, 2009) | |
| 10.7 | Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to our Form 10-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on March 31, 2010) | |
| 10.8 | Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on August 9, 2010) | |
| 10.9 | Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on August 9, 2010) | |
| 10.10 | Form of Director Reimbursement Agreement (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on August 9, 2010) | |
| 10.11 | Form of Transition Agreement and Release (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on August 9, 2010) | |
| 10.12 | 2010 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement filed on Form S-8 (File No. 333-175737) filed July 22, 2011) | |
| 10.13 | Securities Purchase Agreement, dated April 8, 2011, by and among Telkonet, Inc. and the parties listed therein, (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on April 13, 2011) | |
| 10.14 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 8, 2011, by and among Telkonet, Inc. and the parties listed therein, (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed on April 13, 2011) | |
| *10.15 | Employment Agreement by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Jason L. Tienor, dated as October 1, 2018 | |
| *10.16 | Employment Agreement by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Jeffrey J. Sobieski, dated as of October 1, 2018 |
| 34 |
| *10.17 | Employment Agreement by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Richard E. Mushrush, dated as of October 1, 2018 | |
| 10.18 | Loan and Security Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed October 2, 2014) | |
| 10.19 | First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated February 17, 2016, by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed February 23, 2016) | |
| 10.20 | Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 27, 2016, by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed October 28, 2016) | |
| 10.21 | 2010 Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan (amended and restated effective as of November 17, 2016, incorporated by reference as an exhibit to Form 10-K (File No. 001-31972) filed April 3, 2017) | |
| 10.22 | Sixth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 23, 2017, by and between Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed October 26, 2017) | |
| 10.23 | Seventh Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement entered into as of February 2, 2018, by and among Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-31972) filed November 14, 2018) | |
| 10.24 | Eighth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement entered into as of April 5, 2018, by and among Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-31972) filed November 14, 2018) | |
| 10.25 | Ninth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement entered into as of November 7, 2018, by and among Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-31972) filed November 14, 2018) | |
| 10.26 | Tenth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement entered into as of February 12, 2019, by and among Telkonet, Inc. and Heritage Bank of Commerce (incorporated by reference to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-31972) filed February 14, 2019 | |
| 14 | Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to our Form 10-KSB (File No. 001-31972), filed on March 30, 2004) | |
| 21 | Telkonet, Inc. Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to our Form 10-K (File No. 001-31972) filed March 16, 2007) | |
| 23 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
| 31.1 | Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Jason L. Tienor | |
| 31.2 | Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Richard E. Mushrush | |
| 32.1 | Certification of Jason L. Tienor pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 32.2 | Certification of Richard E. Mushrush pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document | |
| 101.SCH | XBRL Schema Document |
* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
None.
| 35 |
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| TELKONET, INC. | |
| Dated: April 1, 2019 | /s/ Jason L. Tienor |
Jason L. Tienor Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
| Name | Position | Date | ||
| /s/ Jason L. Tienor | Chief Executive Officer and Director | April 1, 2019 | ||
| Jason Tienor | (principal executive officer) | |||
| /s/ Richard E. Mushrush | Chief Financial Officer | April 1, 2019 | ||
| (principal financial officer) | ||||
| /s/Arthur E. Byrnes | Chairman of the Board | April 1, 2019 | ||
| Arthur E. Byrnes | ||||
| /s/ Tim S. Ledwick | Director | April 1, 2019 | ||
| Tim S. Ledwick | ||||
|
/s/ Peter T. Kross |
Director | April 1, 2019 | ||
| Peter T. Kross | ||||
| /s/ Leland D. Blatt | Director | April 1, 2019 | ||
| Leland D. Blatt |
| 36 |
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
FORMING A PART OF ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
TELKONET, INC.
| F-1 |
TELKONET, INC.
Index to Financial Statements
| F-2 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Shareholders and Board of Directors
Telkonet, Inc.
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Telkonet, Inc. (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Uncertainty
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note A to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations, has negative operating cash flow and is dependent upon its ability to generate profitable operations in the future and/or obtain additional financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note A. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Change in Accounting Principles – Related to Revenue Recognition
As discussed in Notes A, B and C to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for revenue from contracts with customers in the year 2018 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 1, 2019
| F-3 |
TELKONET, INC.
DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,678,891 | $ | 8,385,595 | ||||
| Restricted cash on deposit | – | 810,000 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 1,081,291 | 1,610,286 | ||||||
| Inventories | 1,790,919 | 1,259,536 | ||||||
| Contract assets | 314,749 | – | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 577,386 | 143,566 | ||||||
| Income taxes receivable | 19,695 | 17,300 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 8,462,931 | 12,226,283 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 247,289 | 304,170 | ||||||
| Other assets: | ||||||||
| Deposits | 17,130 | 17,130 | ||||||
| Total other assets | 17,130 | 17,130 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 8,727,350 | $ | 12,547,583 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 408,045 | $ | 978,207 | ||||
| Accrued liabilities | 656,611 | 668,814 | ||||||
| Line of credit | 121,474 | 682,211 | ||||||
| Contract liabilities – current | 1,070,502 | – | ||||||
| Deferred revenue – current | – | 292,106 | ||||||
| Customer deposits | – | 124,380 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 2,256,632 | 2,745,718 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities: | ||||||||
| Contract liabilities – long term | 162,121 | – | ||||||
| Deferred revenue - long term | – | 219,960 | ||||||
| Deferred lease liability - long term | 71,877 | 48,839 | ||||||
| Total long-term liabilities | 233,998 | 268,799 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 2,490,630 | $ | 3,014,517 | ||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Series A, par value $.001 per share; 215 shares issued, 185 shares outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, preference in liquidation of $1,600,168 and $1,526,141 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively | 1,340,566 | 1,340,566 | ||||||
| Series B, par value $.001 per share; 538 shares issued, 52 shares outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, preference in liquidation of $435,081 and $414,258 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively | 362,059 | 362,059 | ||||||
| Common stock, par value $.001 per share; 190,000,000 shares authorized; 134,793,211 and 133,695,111 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively | 134,792 | 133,695 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 127,570,709 | 127,421,402 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (123,171,406 | ) | (119,724,656 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 6,236,720 | 9,533,066 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | 8,727,350 | $ | 12,547,583 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
| F-4 |
TELKONET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Revenues, net: | ||||||||
| Product | $ | 7,616,415 | $ | 7,798,680 | ||||
| Recurring | 815,564 | 483,889 | ||||||
| Total Net Revenues | 8,431,979 | 8,282,569 | ||||||
| Cost of Sales: | ||||||||
| Product | 4,392,643 | 4,261,100 | ||||||
| Recurring | 269,443 | 176,131 | ||||||
| Total Cost of Sales | 4,662,086 | 4,437,231 | ||||||
| Gross Profit | 3,769,893 | 3,845,338 | ||||||
| Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 1,879,676 | 1,770,597 | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 4,843,859 | 5,512,925 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 67,107 | 51,229 | ||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 6,790,642 | 7,334,751 | ||||||
| Operating Loss | (3,020,749 | ) | (3,489,413 | ) | ||||
| Other Income: | ||||||||
| Interest income, net | 13,622 | 2,434 | ||||||
| Total Other Income | 13,622 | 2,434 | ||||||
| Loss from Continuing Operations before Provision for Income Taxes | (3,007,127 | ) | (3,486,979 | ) | ||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | 9,623 | 9,762 | ||||||
| Net loss from continuing operations | (3,016,750 | ) | (3,496,741 | ) | ||||
| Discontinued Operations: | ||||||||
| Gain from sale of discontinued operations (net of tax) | – | 6,630,244 | ||||||
| Income from Discontinued Operations (net of tax) | – | 612,875 | ||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | (3,016,750 | ) | $ | 3,746,378 | |||
| Net income (loss) per common share: | ||||||||
| Basic - continuing operations | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | ||
| Basic - discontinued operations | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.05 | ||||
| Basic - net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.03 | |||
| Diluted - continuing operations | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | ||
| Diluted - discontinued operations | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.05 | ||||
| Diluted - net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.03 | |||
| Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding used in computing basic net loss per share | 134,055,098 | 133,116,491 | ||||||
| Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding used in computing diluted net loss per share | 134,055,098 | 133,116,491 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
| F-5 |
TELKONET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
| Series A Preferred Stock | Series A Preferred Stock | Series B Preferred Stock | Series B Preferred Stock | Common | Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated | Total Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2017 | 185 | $ | 1,340,566 | 52 | $ | 362,059 | 132,744,475 | $ | 132,774 | $ | 126,955,435 | $ | (123,471,034 | ) | $ | 5,319,800 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued to directors at $0.15 per share | – | – | – | – | 920,636 | 921 | 143,079 | – | 144,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options | – | – | – | – | – | – | 322,888 | – | 322,888 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3,746,378 | 3,746,378 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | 185 | $ | 1,340,566 | 52 | $ | 362,059 | 133,695,111 | $ | 133,695 | $ | 127,421,402 | $ | (119,724,656 | ) | $ | 9,533,066 | ||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
| F-6 |
TELKONET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
| Series A Preferred Stock | Series A Preferred Stock | Series
B Preferred Stock |
Series
B Preferred Stock |
Common | Common
Stock |
Additional
Paid-in |
Accumulated | Total
Stockholders’ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2018 | 185 | $ | 1,340,566 | 52 | $ | 362,059 | 133,695,111 | $ | 133,695 | $ | 127,421,402 | $ | (119,724,656 | ) | $ | 9,533,066 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2018, Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle related to ASC 606, net of tax | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (430,000 | ) | (430,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued to directors | – | – | – | – | 1,098,100 | 1,097 | 142,903 | – | 144,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6,404 | – | 6,404 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | (3,016,750 | ) | (3,016,750 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | 185 | $ | 1,340,566 | 52 | $ | 362,059 | 134,793,211 | $ | 134,792 | $ | 127,570,709 | $ | (123,171,406 | ) | $ | 6,236,720 | ||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
| F-7 |
TELKONET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (3,016,750 | ) | $ | 3,746,378 | |||
| Less: Net income from discontinued operations | – | (612,875 | ) | |||||
| Gain on sale of discontinued operations | – | (6,630,244 | ) | |||||
| Net loss from continuing operations | (3,016,750 | ) | (3,496,741 | ) | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) from continuing operations to cash used in operating activities of continuing operations: | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 6,404 | 322,888 | ||||||
| Stock issued to directors as compensation | 144,000 | 144,000 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 67,107 | 51,229 | ||||||
| Provision for doubtful accounts, net of recoveries | 55,152 | 35,187 | ||||||
| Reserve for inventory obsolescence | (130,749 | ) | 111,400 | |||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 473,845 | (241,701 | ) | |||||
| Inventories | (400,637 | ) | (593,734 | ) | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (433,820 | ) | 61,762 | |||||
| Deposits and other long term assets | – | (17,130 | ) | |||||
| Accounts payable | (570,162 | ) | 212,590 | |||||
| Accrued liabilities and expenses | (12,203 | ) | (256,767 | ) | ||||
| Contract liability | 453,623 | – | ||||||
| Deferred revenue | (512,066 | ) | 206,852 | |||||
| Related party payable | – | (97,127 | ) | |||||
| Customer deposits | (124,380 | ) | (41,450 | ) | ||||
| Contract assets | 34,251 | – | ||||||
| Income taxes receivable | (2,395 | ) | (17,300 | ) | ||||
| Deferred lease liability | 23,038 | 21,136 | ||||||
| Net Cash Used In Operating Activities of Continuing Operations | (3,945,742 | ) | (3,594,906 | ) | ||||
| Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities of Discontinued Operations | – | 517,242 | ||||||
| Net Cash Used In Operating Activities | (3,945,742 | ) | (3,077,664 | ) | ||||
| Cash Flows From Investing Activities: | ||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (10,225 | ) | (211,492 | ) | ||||
| Net proceeds from sale of subsidiary | – | 12,072,811 | ||||||
| Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Investing Activities of Continuing Operations | (10,225 | ) | 11,861,319 | |||||
| Cash Flows From Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from line of credit | 3,720,000 | 4,373,600 | ||||||
| Payments on line of credit | (4,280,737 | ) | (4,753,518 | ) | ||||
| Net Cash Used In Financing Activities of Continuing Operations | (560,737 | ) | (379,918 | ) | ||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (4,516,704 | ) | 8,403,737 | |||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period | 9,195,595 | 791,858 | ||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period | $ | 4,678,891 | $ | 9,195,595 | ||||
| Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the consolidated balance sheets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,678,891 | $ | 8,385,595 | ||||
| Restricted cash | – | 810,000 | ||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 4,678,891 | $ | 9,195,595 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
| F-8 |
TELKONET, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information: | ||||||||
| Cash transactions: | ||||||||
| Cash paid during the year for interest | $ | 32,662 | $ | 17,173 | ||||
| Cash paid during the year for income taxes, net of refunds | 12,410 | 139,823 | ||||||
Non-cash transactions: | ||||||||
| Issuance of stock to directors | $ | 144,000 | $ | 144,000 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
| F-9 |
TELKONET, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017
NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows.
Business and Basis of Presentation
Telkonet, Inc. (the “Company”, “Telkonet”), formed in 1999 and incorporated under the laws of the state of Utah, is the creator of the EcoSmart Platform of intelligent automation solutions designed to optimize energy efficiency, comfort and analytics in support of the emerging Internet of Things (“IoT”).
In 2007, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Smart Systems International (“SSI”), which was a provider of energy management products and solutions to customers in the United States and Canada and the precursor to the Company’s EcoSmart platform. The EcoSmart platform provides comprehensive savings, management reporting, analytics and virtual engineering of a customer’s portfolio and/or property’s room-by-room energy consumption. Telkonet has deployed more than a half million intelligent devices worldwide in properties within the hospitality, military, educational, healthcare and other commercial markets. The EcoSmart platform is recognized as a solution for reducing energy consumption, operational costs and carbon footprints, and eliminating the need for new energy generation in these marketplaces – all whilst improving occupant comfort and convenience.
On March 28, 2017, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary, EthoStream, LLC. Refer to Note P for further details.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Telkonet Communications, Inc., and EthoStream, LLC. The accounts of EthoStream, LLC have been classified as discontinued operations on the consolidated statement of operations and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company deconsolidated EthoStream, LLC on March 29, 2017, when the Company had sold its controlling financial interest in this subsidiary, refer to Note P for further discussion on discontinued operations and the sale of EthoStream, LLC. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We currently operate in a single reportable business segment.
Unless otherwise noted, all financial information in the consolidated financial statement footnotes reflect the Company’s results from continuing operations.
Going Concern and Management’s Plan
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes the Company will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future and, thus, do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
Since inception through December 31, 2018, we have incurred cumulative losses of $123,171,406 and have never generated enough funds through operations to support our business. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we had an operating cash flow deficit of $3,945,742 from continuing operations. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon generating profitable operations in the future and obtaining the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities arising from normal business operations when they come due. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to secure such financing at commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If cash resources become insufficient to meet the Company’s ongoing obligations, the Company will be required to scale back or discontinue portions of its operations or discontinue operations entirely, whereby, the Company’s shareholders may lose some or all of their investment.
| F-10 |
We have not identified, and cannot be certain we will be able to identify, a course of action that guarantees the achievement of profitable operations in the foreseeable future. In June 2018, the Company’s Board engaged an investment bank to strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including but not limited to, a sale of the Company, an investment in the Company, a merger or other business combination, a sale of all or substantially all assets or a strategic joint venture. At April 1, 2019, no definitive alternatives had been identified.
At December 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $4,678,891 of cash and approximately $500,000 of availability on its credit facility. The Company currently expects to draw on these cash reserves and utilize the credit facility to finance its near term working capital needs. It expects to continue to incur operating losses and negative operating cash flows for one year beyond the date of these financial statements. Accordingly, and in light of the Company’s historic and continuing losses, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments and related items, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company places its cash and temporary cash investments with credit quality institutions. At times, such investments may be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances. With respect to trade receivables, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial conditions and limits the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary. The Company provides credit to its customers primarily in the United States in the normal course of business. The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of its customers and, as a consequence, believes its trade receivables credit risk exposure is limited.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The Company records allowances for doubtful accounts based on customer-specific analysis and general matters such as current assessment of past due balances and economic conditions. The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $65,542 and $22,173 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Management identifies a delinquent customer based upon the delinquent payment status of an outstanding invoice, generally greater than 30 days past due date. The delinquent account designation does not trigger an accounting transaction until such time the account is deemed uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined by examining the reserve history and any outstanding invoices that are over 30 days past due as of the end of the reporting period. Accounts are deemed uncollectible on a case-by-case basis, at management’s discretion based upon an examination of the communication with the delinquent customer and payment history. Typically, accounts are only escalated to “uncollectible” status after multiple attempts at collection have proven unsuccessful.
The allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Beginning balance | $ | 22,173 | $ | 34,573 | ||||
| Provision charged to expense | 55,152 | 35,187 | ||||||
| Deductions | (11,783 | ) | (47,587 | ) | ||||
| Ending balance | $ | 65,542 | $ | 22,173 | ||||
| F-11 |
Inventories
Inventories consist of thermostats, sensors and controllers for Telkonet’s EcoSmart product platform. These inventories are purchased for resale and do not include manufacturing labor and overhead. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value determined by the first in, first out (FIFO) method. The Company’s inventories are subject to technological obsolescence. Management evaluates the net realizable value of its inventories on a quarterly basis and when it is determined that the Company’s carrying cost of such excess and obsolete inventories cannot be recovered in full, a charge is taken against income for the difference between the carrying cost and the estimated realizable amount. The reserve for inventory obsolescence balance was approximately $114,000 and $245,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
Property and Equipment
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ASC 360 “Property Plant and Equipment”, property and equipment is stated at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives range from 2 to 10 years.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company accounts for the fair value of financial instruments in accordance with ASC 820, which defines fair value for accounting purposes, established a framework for measuring fair value and expanded disclosure requirements regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as an exit price, which is the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Financial assets and liabilities with readily available, actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and require less judgment in measuring fair value. Conversely, financial assets and liabilities that are rarely traded or not quoted have less price observability and are generally measured at fair value using valuation models that require more judgment. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency of the asset, liability or market and the nature of the asset or liability. The Company categorizes financial assets and liabilities that are recurring, at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in accordance with these provisions.
| · | Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; | |
| · | Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; or | |
| · | Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and are unobservable. |
The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash on deposit, accounts receivable, accounts payable, line of credit, and certain accrued liabilities. The carrying amounts of these assets and liabilities approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments (Level 1 instruments), except for the line of credit. The carrying amount of the line of credit approximates fair value due to the interest rate and terms approximating those available to the Company for similar obligations (Level 2 instruments).
Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC 360-10. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future net cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Based on the assessment for impairment performed during 2018 and 2017, no impairment was recorded.
| F-12 |
Income (Loss) per Common Share
The Company computes earnings per share under ASC 260-10, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted average shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes that the proceeds to be received on exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants are used to repurchase shares of the Company at the average market price of the common shares for the year. Dilutive common stock equivalents consist of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Company's outstanding stock options and warrants. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were 3,599,793 and 4,626,474 shares of common stock underlying options and warrants excluded due to these instruments being anti-dilutive, respectively.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States of America (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used when accounting for items and matters such as revenue recognition and allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory obsolescence, depreciation and amortization, long-lived assets, taxes and related valuation allowance, income tax provisions, stock-based compensation, and contingencies. The Company believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions are reasonable, based on information available at the time they are made. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740-10 “Income Taxes.” Under this method, deferred income taxes (when required) are provided based on the difference between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and net operating losses at the statutory rates enacted for future periods. The Company has a policy of establishing a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of its deferred income tax assets in the future.
The Company adopted ASC 740-10-25, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC 740-10-25 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, treatment of interest and penalties, and disclosure of such positions. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 to address uncertainty regarding the application of ASC 740 to the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017. The bulletin provides a measurement period (not to exceed one year from the Tax Act enactment date) for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects is incomplete, but is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act. The company was able to make reasonable estimates of certain effects and, therefore, recorded non-material provisional adjustments.
The revaluation of the net deferred tax assets resulted in an increase to tax expense of $12.72 million. This was offset by the revaluation of the valuation allowance of $13.71 million. The sale of EthoStream generated income, resulting in an increase to tax expense of $1.067 million. Tax credits generated during the year resulted in a tax benefit of $.07 million.
The provision for income taxes was $.001 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, relatively unchanged from the prior year amount of $.001 million. The effective income tax rate was 0.3% for the year ended December 31, 2018 similarly to 0.3% for the prior year. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), which effectively lower the federal tax rate from 35% to 21%. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company has recorded all known and estimable impacts of the Tax Act that are effective for 2018.
| F-13 |
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606, the Standard”) supersedes nearly all legacy revenue recognition guidance. ASC 606, the Standard outlines a comprehensive five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue based on when it satisfies its performance obligations by transferring control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for said goods or services.
Identify the customer contracts
The Company accounts for a customer contract under ASC 606 when the contract is legally enforceable. A contract is legally enforceable when all of the following criteria are met: (1) the contract has been approved by the Company and the customer and both parties are committed to perform their respective obligations, (2) the Company can identify each party’s rights regarding goods or services transferred, (3) the Company can identify payment terms for goods or services transferred, (4) the contract has commercial substance, and (5) collectability of all the consideration to which the Company is entitled in exchange for the goods or services transferred is probable.
A contract does not exist if each party to the contract has the unilateral right to terminate a wholly unperformed contract without compensating the other party (or parties). Nearly all of the Company’s contracts do not contain such mutual termination rights for convenience. All contracts are in written form.
Identify the performance obligations
The Company will enter into product only contracts that contain a single performance obligation related to the transfer of EcoSmart products to a customer.
The Company will also enter into certain customer contracts that encompass product and installation services, referred to as “turnkey” solutions. These contracts ultimately provide the customer with a solution that enhances the functionality of the customer’s existing equipment. For this reason, the Company has determined that the product and installation services are not separately identifiable performance obligations, but in essence represent one, combined performance obligation (“turnkey”).
The Company also offers technical phone support services to customers. This service is considered a separate performance obligation.
Determine the transaction price
The Company generally enters into contracts containing fixed prices. It is not customary for the Company to include contract terms that would result in variable consideration. In the rare situation that a contract does include this type of provision, it is not expected to result in a material adjustment to the transaction price. The Company regularly extends pricing discounts; however, they are negotiated up front and adjust the fixed transaction price set out in the contract.
Customer contracts will typically contain upfront deposits that will be applied against future invoices, as well as customer retainage. The intent of any required deposit or retainage is to ensure that the obligations of either party are honored and follow customary industry practices. In addition, the Company will typically be paid in advance at the beginning of any support contracts, consistent with industry practices. None of these payment provisions are intended to represent significant implicit financing. The Company’s standard payment terms are thirty days from invoice date. Products are fully refundable when returned in their original packaging without damage or defacing less a restocking fee. Historical returns have shown to be immaterial. The Company offers a standard one-year assurance warranty. However customers can purchase an extended warranty. Under the new standard, extended warranties are accounted for as a service warranty, requiring the revenue to be recognized over the extended service periods. Contracts involving an extended warranty are immaterial and will continue to be combined with support revenue and recognized on a straight-line basis over the support revenue term.
| F-14 |
Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations
Revenues from customer contracts are allocated to the separate performance obligations based on their relative stand-alone selling price (“SSP”) at contract inception. The SSP is the price at which the Company would sell a promised good or service separately. The best evidence of an SSP is the observable price of a good or service when the entity sells that good or service separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers. However, turnkey solutions are sold for a broad range of amounts resulting from, but not limited to, tiered discounting for value added resellers (“VAR”) based upon committed volumes and other economic factors. Due to the high variability of our pricing, the Company cannot establish a reliable SSP using observable data. Accordingly, the Company uses the residual approach to allocate the transaction price to performance obligations related to its turnkey solutions. When support services are not included within the turnkey solution, the residual method is not utilized and no allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligation is necessary.
All support service agreements, whether single or multi-year terms, automatically renew for one-year terms at a suggested retail price (“SRP”). Support service renewals are consistently priced and therefore would support the use of SRP as the best estimate of an SSP for such performance obligations.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues from product only sales at a point in time, when control over the product has transferred to the customer. As the Company’s principal terms of sale are FOB shipping point, the Company primarily transfers control and records revenue for product only sales upon shipment.
A typical turnkey project involves the installation and integration of 200-300 rooms in a customer-controlled facility and usually takes sixty days to complete. Since control over goods and services transfers to a customer once a room is installed, the Company recognizes revenue for turnkey solutions over time. The Company uses an outputs measure based on the number of rooms installed to recognize revenues from turnkey solutions.
Revenues from support services are recognized over time, in even daily increments over the term of the contract, and are presented as “Recurring Revenue” in the Statement of Operations.
Contract liabilities include deferrals for the monthly support service fees. Long-term contract liabilities represent support service fees that will be recognized as revenue after December 31, 2019.
Contract Fulfillment Cost
The Company recognizes related costs of the contract over time in relation to the revenue recognition. Costs included within the projects relate to the cost of material, direct labor and costs of outside services utilized to complete projects. . These are presented as “Contract assets” in the consolidated balance sheets.
Transition
The Company adopted ASC 606 using a modified retrospective approach to all contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historic accounting under Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. The Company recorded a net decrease to beginning retained earnings of $0.43 million as of January 1, 2018 due to the cumulative impact of adopting ASC 606. The impact to beginning retained earnings was primarily driven by the deferral of revenue for unfulfilled performance obligations related to the Company’s turnkey solutions.
Sales Taxes
Unless provided with a resale or tax exemption certificate, the Company assesses and collects sales tax on sales transactions and records the amount as a liability. It is recognized as a liability until remitted to the applicable state. Total revenues do not include sales tax as the Company is considered a pass through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes.
Guarantees and Product Warranties
The Company records a liability for potential warranty claims in cost of sales at the time of sale. The amount of the liability is based on the trend in the historical ratio of claims to sales, the historical length of time between the sale and resulting warranty claim, new product introductions and other factors. The products sold are generally covered by a warranty for a period of one year. In the event the Company determines that its current or future product repair and replacement costs exceed its estimates, an adjustment to these reserves would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company experienced returns of approximately 1% to 3% of material’s included in cost of sales. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded warranty liabilities in the amount of $46,103 and $59,892, respectively, using this experience factor range.
| F-15 |
Product warranties for the years ended December 31 is as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Beginning balance | $ | 59,892 | $ | 95,540 | ||||
| Warranty claims incurred | (28,000 | ) | (84,087 | ) | ||||
| Provision charged to expense | 14,211 | 48,439 | ||||||
| Ending balance | $ | 46,103 | $ | 59,892 | ||||
Advertising
The Company follows the policy of charging the costs of advertising to expenses as incurred. The Company incurred $108,632 and $33,520 in advertising costs during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Research and Development
The Company accounts for research and development costs in accordance with the ASC 730-10, “Research and Development”. Under ASC 730-10, all research and development costs must be charged to expense as incurred. Accordingly, internal research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Third-party research and development costs are expensed when the contracted work has been performed or as milestone results have been achieved. Company-sponsored research and development costs related to both present and future products are expensed in the period incurred. Total expenditures on research and product development for 2018 and 2017 were $1,879,676 and $1,770,597, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based awards in accordance with ASC 718-10, “Share-Based Compensation”, which requires a fair value measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to the Company’s employees and directors, including employee stock options and restricted stock awards. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This model requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions including, among other things, estimates regarding the length of time an employee will hold vested stock options before exercising them, the estimated volatility of the Company’s common stock price and the number of options that will be forfeited prior to vesting. The fair value is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. Changes in these estimates and assumptions can materially affect the determination of the fair value of stock-based compensation and consequently, the related amount recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
The expected term of the options represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. For 2018 and prior years, expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock for the related expected term.
Stock-based compensation expense in connection with options granted to employees for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $6,405 and $322,888, respectively.
Deferred Lease Liability
Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Rent escalations and rent abatement periods during the term of the lease create a deferred lease liability which represents the excess of cumulative rent expense recorded to date over the actual rent paid to date.
Reclassification
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
| F-16 |
NOTE B – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 provides guidance for estimating credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables, by introducing an approach based on expected losses. The expected loss approach will require entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. ASU 2016-13 also amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance requires a modified retrospective transition method and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-13 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), subsequently amended in 2018 by ASU 2018-10, ASU 2018-11 and ASU 2018-20 and codified in ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). ASC 842 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods thereafter. Earlier application is permitted, however the Company will not do so. ASC 842 supersedes current lease guidance in ASC 840 and requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability for substantially all leases. The lease liability will be equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments while the right-of-use asset will be similarly calculated and then adjusted for initial direct costs. In addition, ASC 842 expands the disclosure requirements to increase the transparency and comparability of the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.
We will elect available practical expedients permitted under the guidance, which among other items, allow the Company to carry forward its historical lease classification and not reassess leases for the definition of lease under the new standard. Upon the adoption of ASC 842, we do not expect to record a right-of-use asset and related lease liability for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and we plan to account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
ASU 2016-02 may be applied using either an optional alternative approach, under which all years included in the financial statements will be presented under the revised guidance, a modified retrospective approach, under which financial statements will be prepared under the revised guidance for the year of adoption, but not for prior years, or a new transition alternative approach, under which the standard is adopted and measured from the first date of the fiscal year under adoption, in this case January 1, 2019. We adopted the new transition alternative approach, where entities will measure current leases from date of adoption, January 1, 2019. Initial direct costs are to be recognized as a cumulative catch-up adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings on January 1, 2019. The Company did not incur any initial direct costs upon the initial assessment of leases and thus will not be require a cumulative catch-up adjustment.
We expect to recognize additional lease assets and liabilities of approximately $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively, to reflect the present value of remaining lease payments under existing leasing arrangements. The cumulative impact of adopting ASC 842 is based on the Company’s best estimates at the time of the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. Our conclusions are preliminary and subject to change as we finalize our analysis. Changes in our lease population or changes in incremental borrowing rates may alter these estimates. We will expand our consolidated financial statement disclosure upon adoption of the new standard. We do not expect significant changes to our business processes, systems, or internal controls as a result of implementing the standard.
Accounting Standards Recently Adopted
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company has adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606, the Standard”), which supersedes nearly all legacy revenue recognition guidance. ASC 606 outlines a comprehensive five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue based on when an it satisfies its performance obligations by transferring control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for said goods or services. Refer to Note C for further consideration of the recently adopted standard.
| F-17 |
In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash, (“Update 2016-18”). Update 2016-18 provides guidance on the classification of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments in Update 2016-18 should be adopted on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this amendment increased the beginning cash balance by $810,000 as of January 1, 2018 in our statement of cash flows, due to the reclassification of $810,000 of restricted cash into the cash and cash equivalents category.
Management has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe any will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
NOTE C– REVENUE
The following table presents the Company’s product and recurring revenues disaggregated by industry for the year ended December 31, 2018.
| Hospitality | Education | Multiple Dwelling Units | Government | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Product | $ | 6,410,615 | $ | 652,019 | $ | 472,462 | $ | 81,319 | $ | 7,616,415 | ||||||||||||
| Recurring | 668,039 | 128,872 | 18,653 | – | 815,564 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ | 7,078,654 | $ | 780,891 | $ | 491,115 | $ | 81,319 | $ | 8,431,979 | |||||||||||||
Sales taxes and other usage-based taxes are excluded from revenues.
Contract assets
Contracts are billed in accordance with the terms and conditions, either at periodic intervals or upon substantial completion. This can result in billing occurring subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets. Contract assets are presented as current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The balance of contract assets as of December 31, 2018 and at the date of adoption of ASC 606 was $0.31 million and $0.35 million, respectively. There were approximately $0.03 million of costs incurred to fulfill a contract in the closing balance of contract assets.
Contract liabilities
Contracts are billed in accordance with the terms and conditions, either at periodic intervals or upon substantial completion. Often, the Company will require customers to pay a deposit upon contract signing that will be applied against work performed or products shipped. In addition, the Company will often invoice the full term of support at the start of the support period. Billings that occur prior to revenue recognition result in contract liabilities. As of December 31, 2018 and at the date of adoption of ASC 606, contract liabilities were $1.23 million and $0.78 million, respectively. The change in the contract liability balance during the 12 month period ended December 31, 2018 is the result of cash payments received and billing in advance of satisfying performance obligations, previously unrecognized cost of goods sold proportionate with the related percentage of completion, and customer deposits.
Contract costs
Costs to fulfill a turnkey contract primarily relate to the materials cost and direct labor and are recognized proportionately as the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company will defer cost to fulfill a contract when materials have shipped (and control over the materials has transferred to the customer), but an insignificant amount of rooms have been installed. The Company will recognize any deferred costs in proportion to revenues recognized from the related turnkey contract. The Company does not expect deferred contract costs to be long-lived since a typical turnkey project takes sixty days to complete. Deferred contract costs are generally presented as other current assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
| F-18 |
The Company incurs incremental costs to obtain a contract in the form of sales commissions. These costs, whether related to performance obligations that extend beyond twelve months or not, are immaterial and will continue to be recognized in the period incurred within selling, general and administrative expenses.
The tables below present the impacts of our adoption of the new revenue standard on our income statement and balance sheet.
For the 12 Months Ended December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
| As Reported |
Pro-Forma as if Previous Accounting Guidance was in Effect (Unaudited) | Effect of Change Higher/(Lower) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| Income Statement: | ||||||||||||
| Sales | $ | 8,431,979 | $ | 9,254,508 | $ | (822,529 | ) | |||||
| Cost of Goods Sold | 4,662,086 | 4,878,490 | (216,403 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (3,016,750 | ) | $ | (2,410,624 | ) | $ | 606,126 | ||||
As of December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
| As Reported |
Pro-Forma as if Previous Accounting Guidance was in Effect (Unaudited) | Effect of Change Higher/(Lower) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| Balance Sheet: | ||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||
| Contract Assets | $ | 314,749 | – | $ | 314,749 | |||||||
| Inventories | 1,790,992 | 1,585,124 | 205,798 | |||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Contract Liabilities - ST | 1,070,502 | – | 1,070,502 | |||||||||
| Contract Liabilities - LT | 162,121 | – | 162,121 | |||||||||
| Customer Deposits | – | 751,801 | (751,801 | ) | ||||||||
| Deferred Revenue - Current | – | 233,122 | (233,122 | ) | ||||||||
| Deferred Revenue – Long Term | – | 162,121 | (162,121 | ) | ||||||||
| Equity | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated Deficit | $ | (123,171,406 | ) | (122,565,280 | ) | $ | 606,126 | |||||
The table below presents the cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2018 after the adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).
| December 31, 2017 | Transition Adjustments | January 1, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Balance Sheet: | ||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||
| Contract Assets | $ | – | 349,000 | $ | 349,000 | |||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Contract Liabilities | – | 1,415,446 | 1,415,446 | |||||||||
| Customer Deposit | 124,380 | (124,380 | ) | – | ||||||||
| Deferred Revenue – Current | 292,106 | (292,106 | ) | – | ||||||||
| Deferred Revenue – Long Term | 219,960 | (219,960 | ) | – | ||||||||
| Equity | ||||||||||||
| Accumulated Deficit | $ | (119,724,656 | ) | (430,000 | ) | $ | (120,154,656 | ) | ||||
| F-19 |
Remaining performance obligations
As of December 31, 2018, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $1.68 million. Except for support services, the Company expects to recognize 100% of the remaining performance obligations over the next six months.
NOTE D – ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Components of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable | $ | 1,146,832 | $ | 1,632,459 | ||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | (65,542 | ) | (22,173 | ) | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net | $ | 1,081,291 | $ | 1,610,286 | ||||
NOTE E – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
The Company’s property and equipment as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 consists of the following:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Development test equipment | $ | 19,110 | $ | 19,110 | ||||
| Computer software | 76,134 | 76,134 | ||||||
| Office equipment | 61,367 | 51,142 | ||||||
| Office fixtures and furniture | 330,568 | 330,568 | ||||||
| Leasehold improvements | 18,016 | 18,016 | ||||||
| Total | 505,195 | 494,970 | ||||||
| Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (257,907 | ) | (190,800 | ) | ||||
| Total property and equipment | $ | 247,289 | $ | 304,170 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense included as a charge to income was $67,107 and $51,229 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
NOTE F – ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES
Accrued liabilities and expenses as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Accrued liabilities and expenses | $ | 325,855 | $ | 294,709 | ||||
| Accrued payroll and payroll taxes | 241,253 | 230,931 | ||||||
| Accrued sales taxes, penalties, and interest | 43,400 | 83,282 | ||||||
| Product warranties | 46,103 | 59,892 | ||||||
| Total accrued liabilities and expenses | $ | 656,611 | $ | 668,814 | ||||
| F-20 |
NOTE G – DEBT
Revolving Credit Facility
On September 30, 2014, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, EthoStream, as co-borrowers (collectively, the “Borrowers”), entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Heritage Bank Loan Agreement”), with Heritage Bank of Commerce, a California state chartered bank (“Heritage Bank”), governing a new revolving credit facility in a principal amount not to exceed $2,000,000 (the “Credit Facility”). Following the sale of EthoStream in March of 2017, it was removed as a co-borrower. Availability of borrowings under the Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base calculation based on the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and eligible inventory each multiplied by an applicable advance rate, with an overall limitation tied to the Company’s eligible accounts receivable. The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement is available for working capital and other general business purposes. The outstanding principal balance of the Credit Facility bears interest at the Prime Rate plus 3.00%, which was 8.50% at December 31, 2018 and 7.50% at December 31, 2017. On October 9, 2014, as part of the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement, Heritage Bank was granted a warrant to purchase 250,000 shares of Telkonet common stock, for further information on the accounting for warrants, refer to Note J. The warrant has an exercise price of $0.20 and expires October 9, 2021. On February 13, 2019, the tenth amendment to the Credit Facility was executed extending the maturity date to September 30, 2020, unless earlier accelerated under the terms of the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement.
The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants that place restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt, granting of liens and sale of assets. The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants, including a maximum EBITDA loss covenant, measured quarterly, a minimum asset coverage ratio, measured monthly, and a minimum unrestricted cash balance of $2 million. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company and Heritage Bank entered into several amendments to the Credit Facility to adjust these covenant levels. As long as the Company maintains the minimum unrestricted cash balance of $2 million, a violation of the minimum EBITDA level will not trigger an event of default. A violation of any of these covenants could result in an event of default under the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement. Upon the occurrence of such an event of default or certain other customary events of defaults, payment of any outstanding amounts under the Credit Facility may be accelerated and Heritage Bank’s commitment to extend credit under the Heritage Bank Loan Agreement may be terminated. The Heritage Bank Loan Agreement contains other representations and warranties, covenants, and other provisions customary to transactions of this nature.
The outstanding balance on the Credit Facility was $121,474 and $682,211 at December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the remaining available borrowing capacity was approximately $499,000 and $202,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.
NOTE H – REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK
Series A
The Company has designated 215 shares of preferred stock as Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A”). Each share of Series A is convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.363 per share. On November 16, 2009, the Company sold 215 shares of Series A with attached warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,628,800 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.33 per share. The Series A shares were sold at a price per share of $5,000 and each Series A share is convertible into approximately 13,774 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $0.363 per share. The Company received $1,075,000 from the sale of the Series A shares. In prior years, 30 of the preferred shares issued on November 16, 2009 were converted to shares of the Company’s common stock. In a prior year, the redemption feature available to the Series A holders expired.
| F-21 |
Series B
The Company has designated 538 shares of preferred stock as Series B Preferred Stock (“Series B”). Each share of Series B is convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.13 per share. On August 4, 2010, the Company sold 267 shares of Series B with attached warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,134,626 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.13 per share. The Series B shares were sold at a price per share of $5,000 and each Series B share was convertible into approximately 38,461 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $0.13 per share. The Company received $1,335,000 from the sale of the Series B shares on August 4, 2010. On April 8, 2011, the Company sold 271 additional shares of Series B with attached warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,211,542 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.13 per share. The Series B shares were sold at a price per share of $5,000 and each Series B share was convertible into approximately 38,461 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $0.13 per share. The Company received $1,355,000 from the sale of the Series B shares on April 8, 2011. In prior years, 486 of the preferred shares issued on August 4, 2010 and April 8, 2011 were converted to shares of the Company’s common stock. In a prior year, the redemption feature available to the Series B holders expired.
Preferred stock carries certain preference rights as detailed in the Company’s Amended Articles of Incorporation related to both the payment of dividends and as to payments upon liquidation in preference to any other class or series of capital stock of the Company. As of December 31, 2018, the liquidation preference of the preferred stock is based on the following order: first, Series B with a preference value of $435,081, which includes cumulative accrued unpaid dividends of $175,081, and second, Series A with a preference value of $1,600,168, which includes cumulative accrued unpaid dividends of $675,168. As of December 31, 2017, the liquidation preference of the preferred stock is based on the following order: first, Series B with a preference value of $414,258, which includes cumulative accrued unpaid dividends of $154,258, and second, Series A with a preference value of $1,526,141, which includes cumulative accrued unpaid dividends of $601,141.
NOTE I – CAPITAL STOCK
The Company has authorized 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock (designated and undesignated), with a par value of $.001 per share. The Company has designated 215 shares as Series A preferred stock and 538 shares as Series B preferred stock. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were 185 shares of Series A and 52 shares of Series B outstanding, respectively.
The Company has authorized 190,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $.001 per share. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had 134,793,211 and 133,695,111 common shares issued and outstanding, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company issued 1,098,100 and 920,636 shares of common stock, respectively to directors for services performed during 2018 and 2017. These shares were valued at $144,000 and $144,000, respectively, which approximated the fair value of the shares when they were issued.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no warrants were exercised. These warrants were originally granted to shareholders of the April 8, 2011 Series B preferred stock issuance.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no shares of Series A or B preferred stock were converted to shares of common stock.
| F-22 |
NOTE J – STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Stock Options
The Company maintains an equity incentive plan (the “Plan”). The Plan was established in 2010 as an incentive plan for officers, employees, non-employee directors, prospective employees and other key persons. The Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or the compensation committee, which is comprised of not less than two non-employee directors who are independent. A total of 10,000,000 shares of stock were reserved and available for issuance under the Plan. The exercise price per share for the stock covered by a stock option granted shall be determined by the administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value on the date of grant. The term of each stock option shall be fixed by the administrator, but no stock option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the stock option is granted. As of December 31, 2018, there were approximately 1,606,549 shares remaining for issuance in the Plan.
It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a better alignment of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders.
The following table summarizes the changes in options outstanding and the related prices for the shares of the Company’s common stock issued to employees of the Company under the Plan as of December 31, 2018.
| Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise Prices | Number Outstanding | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Number Exercisable | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||||||||||||
| $ | 0.01 - $0.15 | 2,000,000 | 8.01 | $ | 0.14 | 2,000,000 | $ | 0.14 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 0.16 - $1.00 | 1,349,793 | 4.84 | 0.18 | 1,134,950 | 0.18 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3,349,793 | 6.73 | $ | 0.16 | 3,134,950 | $ | 0.16 | ||||||||||||||||
Transactions involving stock options issued to employees are summarized as follows:
| Number of Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share | |||||||
| Outstanding at January 1, 2017 | 2,832,725 | $ | 0.18 | |||||
| Granted | 3,000,000 | 0.14 | ||||||
| Exercised | – | – | ||||||
| Cancelled or expired | (1,456,251 | ) | 0.17 | |||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 4,376,474 | $ | 0.16 | |||||
| Granted | 67,394 | 0.17 | ||||||
| Exercised | – | – | ||||||
| Cancelled or expired | (1,094,075 | ) | 0.14 | |||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2018 | 3,349,793 | $ | 0.16 | |||||
| F-23 |
The expected life of awards granted represents the period of time that they are expected to be outstanding. The Company determines the expected life based on historical experience with similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules, exercise patterns and pre-vesting and post-vesting forfeitures. The Company estimates the volatility of the Company’s common stock based on the calculated historical volatility of the Company’s common stock using the share price data for the trailing period equal to the expected term prior to the date of the award. The Company bases the risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term equal to the expected life of the award. The Company has not paid any cash dividends on the Company’s common stock and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, the Company uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and records share-based compensation for those awards that are expected to vest. In accordance with ASC 718-10, the Company calculates share-based compensation for changes to the estimate of expected equity award forfeitures based on actual forfeiture experience.
The following table summarizes the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted during the years ended December 2018 and 2017, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Expected life of option (years) | 10 | 7 | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 2.80% | 1.22% | ||||||
| Assumed volatility | 87% | 81% | ||||||
| Expected dividend rate | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Expected forfeiture rate | 65% | 10% | ||||||
The total estimated fair value of the options granted during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $244 and $360,000. The total fair value of underlying shares related to options that vested during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $6,811 and $368,544. Future compensation expense related to non-vested options at December 31, 2018 was $18,724 and will be recognized over the next 3.0 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of the vested options was zero as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Total stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $6,404 and $322,888, respectively.
Warrants
The following table summarizes the changes in warrants outstanding and the related exercise prices for the warrants issued to the debt holder in relation to the revolving credit facility, see Note G.
| Warrants Outstanding | Warrants Exercisable | |||||||||||||||||
| Exercise Prices | Number Outstanding | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Number Exercisable | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||||||||||
| $ | 0.20 | 250,000 | 3.02 | $ | 0.20 | 250,000 | 0.20 | |||||||||||
| F-24 |
Transactions involving warrants are summarized as follows:
| Number of Shares | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share | |||||||
| Outstanding at January 1, 2017 | 300,000 | 0.20 | ||||||
| Issued | – | – | ||||||
| Exercised | – | – | ||||||
| Cancelled or expired | (50,000 | ) | 0.18 | |||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2017 | 250,000 | $ | 0.20 | |||||
| Issued | – | – | ||||||
| Exercised | – | – | ||||||
| Cancelled or expired | – | – | ||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2018 | 250,000 | $ | 0.20 | |||||
There were no warrants granted, exercised, cancelled or forfeited during the year ended December 31, 2018. There were no warrants granted or exercised and 50,000 cancelled or forfeited during the year ended December 31, 2017.
NOTE K – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company agreed to issue common stock in the amount of $144,000 and $144,000 to the Company’s non-employee directors as compensation for their attendance and participation in the Company’s Board of Director and committee meetings.
NOTE L – INCOME TAXES
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the Internal Revenue Code. The Tax Act is generally applicable for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, but certain provisions of the Tax Act have an impact upon the Company’s financial statements for 2017, such as the reduction of the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 to address uncertainty regarding the application of ASC 740 to the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017. The bulletin provides a measurement period (not to exceed one year from the Tax Act enactment date) for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects is incomplete, but is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act.
Such measurement period is deemed to end when all necessary information has been obtained, prepared and analyzed such that a final accounting determination can be concluded, but in no event should the period extend beyond one year. If a company does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act, SAB 118 allows a company to report provisional numbers and adjust those amounts during the measurement period not to extend beyond one year. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company has recorded all known and estimable impacts of the Tax Act that are effective for 2018.
| F-25 |
The Company follows ASC 740-10 “Income Taxes” which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statement or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between financial statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
A reconciliation of tax expense computed at the statutory federal tax rate on income (loss) from operations before income taxes to the actual income tax (benefit) / expense is as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Tax provision (benefits) computed at the statutory rate | $ | (631,497 | ) | $ | 1,000,507 | |||
| State taxes | 6,874 | 8,419 | ||||||
| Tax credits | – | (67,357 | ) | |||||
| Book expenses not deductible for tax purposes | 2,882 | 6,782 | ||||||
| Tax Cut and Jobs Act impact | – | 12,721,278 | ||||||
| Sale of subsidiary | – | 45,327 | ||||||
| Other(prior period adjustments) | (27,286 | ) | 5,750 | |||||
| (649,027 | ) | 13,720,706 | ||||||
| Change in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets | 658,650 | (13,710,944 | ) | |||||
| Income tax expense | $ | 9,623 | $ | 9,762 | ||||
Deferred income taxes include the net tax effects of net operating loss (NOL) carry forwards and the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets are as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Deferred Tax Assets: | ||||||||
| Net operating loss carry forwards | $ | 20,342,559 | 21,077,944 | |||||
| Intangibles | 318,178 | 422,955 | ||||||
| Credits | 112,086 | 67,357 | ||||||
| Other | 613,202 | 512,796 | ||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | 21,386,025 | 22,081,052 | ||||||
| Deferred Tax Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Intangibles | – | – | ||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | – | – | ||||||
| Valuation allowance | (21,386,025 | ) | (22,081,052 | ) | ||||
| Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | – | – | |||||
A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets depends on the ability of the Company to generate sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in the future and in the appropriate taxing jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s valuation allowance, established for the tax benefit that may not be realized, totaled approximately $21,390,000 and $22,080,000, respectively. The overall decrease in the valuation allowance is related to insignificant fluctuations in the temporary differences and federal and state net operating losses.
| F-26 |
At December 31, 2018 the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $90,100,000 and $46,500,000 for federal and state income tax purposes which will expire at various dates from 2019 through 2038.
The Company’s NOL and tax credit carryovers may be significantly limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). NOL and tax credit carryovers are limited under Section 382 when there is a significant “ownership change” as defined in the IRC. During 2005 and in prior years, the Company may have experienced such ownership changes that could have imposed such limitations.
The limitation imposed by Section 382 would place an annual limitation on the amount of NOL and tax credit carryovers that can be utilized. When the Company completes the necessary studies, the amount of NOL carryovers available may be reduced significantly. However, since the valuation allowance fully reserves for all available carryovers, the effect of the reduction would be offset by a reduction in the valuation allowance.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company is generally no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014 and various states before 2014. Although these years are no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and various state taxing authorities, net operating loss carryforwards generated in those years may still be adjusted upon examination by the IRS or state taxing authorities if they have been or will be used in a future period.
The Company follows the provisions of uncertain tax positions as addressed in FASB Accounting Standards Codification 740-10-65-1. The Company recognized no change in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. The Company has no tax positions at December 31, 2018 or 2017 for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expense. No such interest or penalties were recognized during the periods presented. The Company had no accruals for interest and penalties at December 31, 2018 or 2017. The Company’s utilization of any net operating loss carryforwards may be unlikely due to its continuing losses.
NOTE M – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Office Leases Obligations
In October 2013, the Company entered into a lease agreement for 6,362 square feet of commercial office space in Waukesha, Wisconsin for its corporate headquarters. The Waukesha lease would have expired in April 2021, but was subsequently amended and extended through April 2026. On April 7, 2017 the Company executed an amendment to its’ existing lease in Waukesha, Wisconsin to expand another 3,982 square feet, bringing the total leased space to 10,344 square feet. In addition, the lease term was extended from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2026. The commencement date for this amendment was July 15, 2017.
In January 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for 2,237 square feet of commercial office space in Germantown, Maryland for its Maryland employees. The Germantown lease as amended was set to expire at the end of January 2018. In November 2017, the Company entered into a second amendment to the lease agreement extending the lease through the end of January 2019. In November 2018, the Company entered into a third amendment to the lease agreement extending the lease through the end of January 2022.
In May 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for 5,838 square feet of floor space in Waukesha, Wisconsin for its inventory warehousing operations. The Waukesha lease expires in May 2024.
| F-27 |
Commitments for minimum rentals under non-cancelable leases as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:
Years ending December 31,
| 2019 | $ | 211,448 | ||||
| 2020 | 223,417 | |||||
| 2021 | 242,785 | |||||
| 2022 | 195,176 | |||||
| 2023 | 193,169 | |||||
| 2024 and thereafter | 380,714 | |||||
| Total | $ | 1,446,708 |
Rental expenses charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $342,975 and $284,714, respectively.
Employment and Consulting Agreements
The Company has employment agreements with certain of its key employees which include non-disclosure and confidentiality provisions for protection of the Company’s proprietary information.
Jason L. Tienor, President and Chief Executive Officer, is employed pursuant to an employment agreement with us dated October 1, 2018. Mr. Tienor’s employment agreement has a term of two (2) years, which will automatically renew for a period of an additional twelve (12) months, and provides for a base salary of $222,800 per year and bonuses and benefits based upon the Company’s internal policies and participation in the Company’s incentive and benefit plans. The agreement also calls for a bonus to be paid upon the sale of the Company. The bonus will be equal to $20,000 if The Company’s shares are valued at minimum $0.20 per share, $35,000 if shares are valued at minimum $0.225 per share, or $50,000 if shares are valued at minimum $0.25 per share. If sale price exceeds $0.25 per share, Mr. Tienor is eligible to receive an additional $6,000 for every $0.01 above a share price of $0.25.
Jeffrey J. Sobieski, Chief Technology Officer, is employed pursuant to an employment agreement with us dated October 1, 2018. Mr. Sobieski’s employment agreement has a term of two (2) years, which will automatically renew for a period of an additional twelve (12) months, and provides for a base salary of $211,625 per year and bonuses and benefits based upon the Company’s internal policies and participation in the Company’s incentive and benefit plans. The agreement also calls for a bonus to be paid upon the sale of the Company. The bonus will be equal to $20,000 if the Company’s shares are valued at minimum $0.20 per share, $35,000 if shares are valued at minimum $0.225 per share, or $50,000 if shares are valued at minimum $0.25 per share. If sale price exceeds $0.25 per share, Mr. Sobieski is eligible to receive an additional $6,000 for every $0.01 above a share price of $0.25.
Richard E. Mushrush, Chief Financial Officer, is employed pursuant to an employment agreement with us dated October 1, 2018. Mr. Mushrush’s employment agreement has a term of two (2) years, which will automatically renew for a period of an additional twelve (12) months, and provides for a base salary of $122,000 per year and bonuses and benefits based upon the Company’s internal policies and participation in the Company’s incentive and benefit plans. The agreement also calls for a bonus to be paid upon the sale of the Company. The bonus will be equal to $20,000 if the Company’s shares are valued at minimum $0.20 per share, $35,000 if shares are valued at minimum $0.225 per share, or $50,000 if shares are valued at minimum $0.25 per share. If sale price exceeds $0.25 per share, Mr. Mushrush is eligible to receive an additional $6,000 for every $0.01 above a share price of $0.25.
In addition to the foregoing, stock options are periodically granted to employees under the Company’s 2010 equity incentive plan at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Executives of the Company are eligible to receive stock option grants, based upon individual performance and the performance of the Company as a whole.
| F-28 |
Litigation
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business. Although occasional adverse decisions or settlements may occur, the Company believes that the final disposition of such matters should not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Indemnification Agreements
On March 31, 2010, the Company entered into Indemnification Agreements with executives Jason L. Tienor, President and Chief Executive Officer and Jeffrey J. Sobieski, then Chief Operating Officer. On April 24, 2012, the Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with director Timothy S. Ledwick. On July 1, 2016, the Company entered into Indemnification Agreements with director’s Arthur E. Byrnes, Peter T. Kross and Leland D. Blatt. On January 1, 2017, the Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with Chief Financial Officer Richard E. Mushrush.
The Indemnification Agreements provide that the Company will indemnify the Company's officers and directors, to the fullest extent permitted by law, relating to, resulting from or arising out of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation by reason of the fact that such officer or director (i) is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or (ii) is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, the Indemnification Agreements provide that the Company will make an advance payment of expenses to any officer or director who has entered into an Indemnification Agreement, in order to cover a claim relating to any fact or occurrence arising from or relating to events or occurrences specified in this paragraph, subject to receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized under the Indemnification Agreement.
Sales Taxes
Unless provided with a resale or tax exemption certificate, the Company assesses and collects sales tax on sales transactions and records the amount as a liability. It is recognized as a liability until remitted to the applicable state. Total revenues do not include sales tax as the Company is considered a pass through conduit for collecting and remitting sales taxes.
The following table sets forth the change in the sales tax accrual during the years ended December 31:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Balance, beginning of year | $ | 83,282 | $ | 274,869 | ||||
| Sales tax collected | 101,144 | 297,673 | ||||||
| Provisions (reversals) | 30,465 | (33,000 | ) | |||||
| Interest and penalties | – | (5,890 | ) | |||||
| Payments | (171,492 | ) | (450,370 | ) | ||||
| Balance, end of year | $ | 43,400 | $ | 83,282 | ||||
| F-29 |
NOTE N – BUSINESS CONCENTRATION
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no single customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s total net revenues.
As of December 31, 2018, three customers accounted for 47% of the Company’s net accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2017, three customers accounted for 54% of the Company’s net accounts receivable.
Purchases from one supplier approximated $3,622,000, or 81%, of total purchases for the year ended December 31, 2018 and approximately $2,796,000, or 79%, of total purchases for the year ended December 31, 2017. Deposits paid to this vendor were in excess of total accounts payable due to this supplier in the amount of $320,352 as of December 31, 2018 and total due to this supplier, net of deposits, was $202,258 as of December 31, 2017.
NOTE O – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company has an employee savings plan covering substantially all employees who are at least 21 years of age and have completed at least 3 months of service. The plan provides for matching contributions equal to 100% of each dollar contributed by the employee up to 4% of the employee’s salary. The Company’s matching contributions vest immediately. The Company may also elect to make discretionary contributions. The Company made contributions to the plan of approximately $116,000 and $123,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
NOTE P – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In October of 2016, the Company, under the direction and authority of the Board of Directors, committed to a plan to offer for sale EthoStream, the Company’s wholly–owned High-Speed Internet Access (“HSIA”) subsidiary. As a result of this decision to sell EthoStream, the operating results of EthoStream as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016 were reclassified as discontinued operations and as assets and liabilities held for sale in the consolidated financial statements as detailed in the table below. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company, and EthoStream, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with DCI-Design Communications LLC (“DCI”), a Delaware limited liability company, whereby DCI acquired all of the assets and certain liabilities of EthoStream for a base purchase price of $12,750,000. The Purchase Agreement includes that proceeds of $900,000 are to be withheld from the $12,750,000 base purchase price and placed into an escrow account to support potential indemnification obligations of up to $800,000 and net working capital adjustments of up to $100,000. The escrow amount, net of potential claims, would be fully released after an escrow period not to exceed 12 months after closing. The assets included, among other items, certain inventory, contracts and intellectual property. DCI acquired only the liabilities provided for in the Purchase Agreement.
On March 29, 2017, pursuant to the terms and the conditions of the Purchase Agreement, the Company closed on the sale.
On September 27, 2017, the Company reached a final settlement with DCI on net working capital as set forth in the Purchase Agreement and subsequently received $100,000 from the escrow account for the portion of the escrow account set aside for net working capital adjustments and cash proceeds of $311,000 from DCI in the settlement of net working capital adjustments. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a gain from the sale of EthoStream (net of tax) of $6,630,244.
For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no balance sheet balances from discontinued operations.
| F-30 |
The following table summarizes the statements of operations information for discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Revenues, net: | ||||||||
| Product | $ | – | $ | 653,839 | ||||
| Recurring | – | 925,837 | ||||||
| Total Net Revenues | – | 1,579,676 | ||||||
| Cost of Sales: | ||||||||
| Product | – | 393,804 | ||||||
| Recurring | – | 209,868 | ||||||
| Total Cost of Sales | – | 603,672 | ||||||
| Gross Profit | – | 976,004 | ||||||
| Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | – | – | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | – | 252,378 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | – | 60,420 | ||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | – | 312,798 | ||||||
| Income from Discontinued Operations before Provision for Income Taxes | – | 663,206 | ||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | – | 50,331 | ||||||
| Income from Discontinued Operations (net of tax) | $ | – | $ | 612,875 | ||||
The consolidated statements of cash flows do not present the cash flows from discontinued operations for investing activities or financing activities because there were no investing or financing activities associated with the discontinued operations in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
| F-31 |