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. As of March 31, 2022, other than discussed below, 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.

On January 20, 2022, we received an Order Directing Examination and Designating Officers to Take Testimony (a “Formal Order”) from the SEC. The Formal Order authorizes that an examination be made to determine whether a stop order should be issued under Section 8(d) of the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, and any supplements and amendments thereto. The Formal Order indicates that the Form S-1 may be deficient in that it may contain untrue statements of material fact or omit to state material facts necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading concerning, among other things, the Company’s revenue and financial condition.

On March 8, 2021, a former officer of the Company resigned. Both parties alleged certain claims against the other, including certain compensation claims, and are in discussion regarding resolution. Neither party has filed litigation. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against any possible claims and assert any relevant claims against the former executive and believes it will prevail.

In July 2021, a former employee of the Company filed a small claims case for approximately $16,000 in Harris County, TX, and the Company filed its response in August 2021.  There has been no further communication from the Court. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the claim made and believes it will prevail. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has accrued compensation of $18,250 to this former employee, which is included in accrued compensation on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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: 

The receipt of $1,240,000 in connection with the April 25, 2018 financing 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 January 18, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a bonus to officers and an employee of the Company in the aggregate amount of $330,000 which deferred and recorded as accrued compensation on the bonus approval date.

On July 21, 2021, the Company entered into the Employment Agreement with Mr. Wanke, the President of Mobile, to serve as the President of C-Bond’s Safety Solutions Group. Under the three-year Employment Agreement, Mr. Wanke will receive a base salary of $240,000 per year, which may be increased from time to time with the approval of the board of directors. In addition, Mr. Wanke may receive an annual bonus as determined by the board of directors. It is understood that although Mr. Wanke’s base salary will be paid by Mobile, 50% of the base salary will be allocated to the expenses of Mobile, and the other 50% of the base salary will be allocated to the expenses of the Company. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of July 21, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) and shall end on the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with the Employment Agreement. This Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provide notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. All unvested shares of stock and stock options shall expire upon such termination, if any. The Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus payment in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Bonus”). The Bonus shall be determined and payable based on the achievement of certain performance objectives of the Company as established by the Board and communicated to and agreed to by the Executive in writing as soon as practicable after commencement of the year in respect of which the Bonus is paid. The Bonus, if earned, is payable in cash and/or restricted stock at the discretion of the Board. It is understood between the Parties that the target bonus for each year shall be up to 50% of the Base Salary.

On December 8, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a bonus to certain officers in the aggregate amount of $309,615 which is equal to 50% of their annual compensation. This bonus will be paid 10% in cash ($30,962) which was paid in December 2021 and 90% in equity amounting $278,653 which as of December 31, 2021 had been accrued and as of December 31, 2021, was included in accrued compensation on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheet. On January 6, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company agreed to satisfy $278,653 of the bonus owed to its executive officers (collectively, the “Management”). Management agreed to accept 278 shares of the Company’s Series B convertible preferred stock in settlement of this accrued compensation.

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 March 31, 2022.

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.