Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.20.2
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Legal Matters

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in litigation related to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. Other than the matter discussed below, as of September 30, 2020, the Company is not involved in any other pending or threatened legal proceedings that it believes could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

Roy Duplantier and Sleeping Creek Partners vs. C-Bond Systems LLC; Court Filed: Harris County, Texas, Precinct 7; Small Claims Case Number: 207100033133; Date Filed: January 24, 2020.

 

On January 24, 2020, Roy Duplantier and Sleeping Creek Partners ("Plaintiff") filed a Citation (Small Claims Case) against C-Bond Systems LLC. Pursuant to the Small Claims Case, the Plaintiff demanded $10,000 for unpaid commissions and damages. On August 11, 2020, the lawsuit was adjudicated in favor of the Company.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On October 18, 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Scott Silverman, pursuant to which he serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company for an initial term of three years that extends for successive one-year renewal terms unless either party gives 30-days' advance notice of non-renewal. As consideration for these services, the employment agreement provides Mr. Silverman with the following compensation and benefits:

 

  An annual base salary of $300,000, with a 10% increase on each anniversary date contingent upon achieving certain performance objectives as set by the Board. Until the Company raises $1,000,000 in debt or equity financing after entering into this agreement, Mr. Silverman will receive ½ of the base salary on a monthly basis with the other ½ being deferred. Upon the financing being raised, Mr. Silverman will receive the deferred portion of his compensation and his base salary will be paid in full moving forward.

 

  After the first $500,000 of equity investments is raised by the Company, after entering into this employment agreement, Mr. Silverman will receive a capital raise success bonus of 5% of all equity capital raised from investors/lenders introduced by him to the Company.
     
  Annual cash performance bonus opportunity as determined by the Board.
     
  An option to acquire 3,000,000 common shares of the Company, with a strike price of $0.31 per unit. These options will vest pro rata on a monthly basis for the term of the employment agreement. On each anniversary, Mr. Silverman will be eligible to be granted a minimum of 500,000 stock options of the Company at a strike price of $0.85 per common unit contingent upon the achievement of certain performance objectives.
     
  Certain other employee benefits and perquisites, including reimbursement of necessary and reasonable travel and participation in retirement and welfare benefits.

 

The April 25, 2018 financing received of $1,240,000 triggered the right of the employee to receive the deferred salary and the 5% bonus provision disclosed above.

 

Mr. Silverman's employment agreement provides that, in the event that his employment is terminated by the Company without "cause" (as defined in his employment agreement), or if Mr. Silverman resigned for "good reasons" (as defined in his new employment agreement), subject to a complete release of claims, he will be entitled to (i) retain all stock options previously granted; and (ii) receive any benefits then owed or accrued along with one year of base salary and any unreimbursed expenses incurred by him. All amounts shall be paid on the termination date. In the event that Mr. Silverman's employment is terminated by the Company for "cause" (as defined in his employment agreement), or if Mr. Silverman resigned without "good reasons" (as defined in his employment agreement), subject to a complete release of claims, he will be entitled to receive any unpaid base salary and benefits then owed or accrued and any unreimbursed expenses incurred by him. Additionally, if a change of control (as defined in his employment agreement) occurs during the term of this agreement, all unvested stock options will vest in full and if the valuation of the Company in the change of control transaction is greater than $0.85 per common share, then Mr. Silverman shall be paid a bonus equal to two times his minimum base salary and minimum target bonus. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Silverman will be subject to a confidentiality covenant, a two-year post-termination non-competition covenant and a two-year post-termination non-solicitation covenant. On June 30, 2020, the Company amended the employment agreement of Mr. Silverman to provide for successive one-year extensions until either the executive or the Board of Directors of the Company gives notice to terminate the employment agreement per its terms. This employment agreement amendment also includes an allowance of up to $10,000 per year to cover uncovered medical/dental expenses for Mr. Silverman and his family.

 

On March 27, 2019 and effective March 1, 2019, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Vincent Pugliese. Pursuant to this employment agreement, he serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The employment agreement shall terminate on the earliest of a) the third anniversary or b) terminated pursuant to terms in the employment agreement. As consideration for these services, the employment agreement provided Mr. Pugliese with the following compensation and benefits:

 

  An annual base salary of $240,000.
     
  Annual cash performance bonus opportunity as determined by the Board.
     
  Annual stock grant as determined by the Board.
     
  Certain other employee benefits and perquisites, including reimbursement of necessary and reasonable travel.

 

In the event that the Company terminates the term of Mr. Pugliese's employment hereunder without Cause or for "good reason" (as defined in this employment agreement) by Mr. Pugliese, then in such event:

 

  (A) Mr. Pugliese will retain and vest immediately all stock options/grants previously granted and will be exercisable over a ten-year period;

 

  (B) the Company shall pay any benefits but not limited to accrued and deferred base salary, commissions and expense reimbursements then owed or accrued plus eighteen (18) months of the current Base Salary, and any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid on the termination date (in cash and/or stock as mutually agreed between the Parties)

 

In the event of a change of control (as defined in this employment agreement), all unvested stock options/grants of Mr. Pugliese shall vest in full, and Mr. Pugliese will be entitled to receive, subject to a complete release of all claims, a lump sum payment equal to two times his current annual base salary upon closing of the change in control transaction, and then this employment agreement shall terminate. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Pugliese will be subject to a confidentiality covenant, a two-year post-termination non-competition covenant and a two-year post-termination non-solicitation covenant. All unvested stock will expire upon termination unless termination is with cause for incapacity for physical or mental illness, without cause or change of control as defined in the employment agreement.

 

On April 28, 2020, the Company's board of directors approved a bonus to officers and an employee of the Company in the aggregate amount of $280,000 which shall be deferred and was recorded as an accrued liability.

 

Licensing Agreement

 

Pursuant to an agreement dated April 8, 2016, between the Company and Rice University, Rice University has granted a non-exclusive license to the Company, in nanotube-based surface treatment for strengthening glass and related materials under Rice's intellectual property rights, to use, make, distribute, offer and sell the licensed products specified in the agreement. In consideration for which, the Company had to pay a one-time non-refundable license fee of $10,000 and royalty payments of 5% of net sales of the licensed products during the term of the agreement and a sell-off period of 180 days from termination, In addition, the Company is required to pay for the maintenance of the patents, This agreement will continue until the expiration of the last to expire of the licensed property rights, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the agreement. There have been no royalty payments paid or due through September 30, 2020.

 

Anti-Dilution Rights Related to C-Bond Systems, LLC

 

Prior to the Merger, C-Bond Systems, LLC entered into certain contracts, described below, which provided certain anti-dilution protection to the counterparties to those contracts. The Company believes that these contracts do not apply to any future issuances of equity by C-Bond Systems, Inc.

 

In 2013, pursuant to a subscription agreement, the Company's subsidiary. C-Bond Systems, LLC issued 2,425,300 common shares. To the extent that during the term of the agreement C-Bond Systems, LLC issues any "down-round" or subsequent investments based upon an enterprise value of less than $2,000,000 ("Dilutive Transaction") (other than an issuance pursuant to an option agreement with an employee or otherwise to compensate an employee, or incident to an acquisition of assets by C-Bond Systems, LLC in which common units were issued to the seller of such assets) contemporaneously with the Dilutive Transaction, the contract obligated C-Bond Systems, LLC to issue the investor additional common units in C-Bond Systems, LLC in an amount which would provide them with the ownership percentage interest which they would have held in C-Bond Systems, LLC represented by the common units purchased by them on this date.

 

In 2015, pursuant to a subscription agreement, C-Bond Systems, LLC issued 3,880,480 common shares to an entity at $0.77 per common share. This agreement entitled the subscriber to anti-dilution protection to the extent that C-Bond Systems, LLC issued any equity in a "down-round" based upon a value of less than $0.77 per common unit of C-Bond Systems, LLC (other than an issuance pursuant to an option agreement with an employee or consultant or otherwise to compensate an employee or consultant, or incident to an acquisition of assets by C-Bond Systems, LLC in which common units are issued to the seller of such assets ("Dilutive Transaction")). Contemporaneously with the Dilutive Transaction the contract obligated C-Bond Systems, LLC to issue the Subscriber additional common units in C-Bond Systems, LLC in an amount which would provide the investor with the ownership percentage interest in C-Bond Systems, LLC on a fully diluted basis which Subscriber held immediately prior to the Dilutive Transaction.

 

In 2016, pursuant to a subscription agreement, C-Bond Systems, LLC issued 1,175,902 common shares to an entity at $0.85 per common share. This agreement entitled this investor to customary broad-based weighted average anti-dilution protection to the extent that after the date of this subscription agreement C-Bond Systems, LLC issued any equity in a "down round" based upon a value of less than $0.85 per common share, including the issuance of options with an exercise price per share of less than $0.85 to compensate employees or consultants ("Dilutive Transaction"), subject to exclusions for issuances of common shares or options in connection with strategic partnerships, equity kickers to lenders or vendors, mergers or acquisitions. The agreement obligated C-Bond Systems, LLC to give to this investor written notice (an "Issuance Notice") of any proposed issuance by C-Bond Systems, LLC of any C-Bond Systems, LLC common units, or other form of equity interest (excluding issuances of C-Bond Systems, LLC options or other equity to compensate employees or consultants and the issuance of shares in connection with strategic partnerships, equity kickers to lenders or vendors, mergers or acquisitions) at least ten business days prior to the proposed issuance date. This contract entitled the investor to purchase their pro rata portion of such shares or other equity interest of C-Bond Systems, LLC at the price and on the other terms and conditions specified in the issuance notice.

 

COVID-19

 

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The Company is monitoring this closely, and although operations have not been materially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak to date, the ultimate duration and severity of the outbreak and its impact on the economic environment and the Company's business is uncertain. As of November 16, 2020, the Company's facilities are open. However, the Company has seen a material decrease in sales from its international customers as a result of the unprecedented public health crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in domestic sales due to a decrease in business spending on discretionary items. As a result, the Company's international customers have delayed the ordering of products and have delayed payment of balances due to the Company. Accordingly, the Company anticipates that there will be an impact on its operations. The Company cannot estimate the duration of the pandemic and potential impact on its business if customer's business remains closed or if customers are otherwise unable or unwilling to make payments to the Company. In addition, a severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to the Company's business, including weakened demand for its products and a decreased ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate the impact of this event on its operations.