FORD Forward Industries Inc

NOTE 1          OVERVIEW

Business

Forward Industries, Inc. (“Forward”, “we”, “our” or the “Company”) is a global design, sourcing and distribution company serving top tier medical and technology customers worldwide.

The Company’s design division provides hardware and software product design and engineering services to customers predominantly located in the U.S. The Company’s original equipment manufacturing (“OEM”) distribution division sources and sells carrying cases and other accessories for medical monitoring and diagnostic kits as well as a variety of other portable electronic and non-electronic devices to OEMs or their contract manufacturers worldwide, that either package our products as accessories “in box” together with their branded product offerings or sell them through their retail distribution channels. The Company does not manufacture any of its OEM products and sources substantially all of these products from independent suppliers in China, through Forward Industries Asia-Pacific Corporation, a British Virgin Islands corporation, a related party owned by the Company’s CEO (“Forward China”). See Note 8.

The Company’s shareholders authorized, and the Board of Directors approved, a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, which became effective on June 18, 2024. See Note 6.

Discontinued Operations

In July 2023, the Company decided to cease operations of its retail distribution segment (“Retail Exit”) and is presenting the results of operations for this segment within discontinued operations in the current and prior periods presented herein. Our retail distribution business sourced and sold smart-enabled furniture, hot tubs and saunas and a variety of other products through various online retailer websites to customers predominantly located in the U.S. and Canada. The inventory of the retail segment is presented as discontinued assets held for sale on the balance sheets at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023. Where applicable, certain footnotes exclude the discontinued operations unless otherwise noted. See Note 3 for additional information on discontinued operations.

Liquidity

For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, the Company generated a net loss of $1,307,000, loss from continuing operations of $1,304,000 and used cash flows from operating activities of $72,000. By discontinuing the retail segment, which incurred significant losses, the Company expects improved performance in future periods. The Company’s OEM distribution segment procures substantially all its products through independent suppliers in China through Forward China. In connection with the new sourcing agreement and in order to preserve future liquidity, in November 2023, the Company and Forward China entered into an agreement whereby Forward China agreed to limit the amount of outstanding payables it would seek to collect from the Company to $500,000 in any 12-month period, which the Company agreed to pay within 30 days of any such request (see Note 8). This agreement pertains only to payables that were outstanding at October 30, 2023 of approximately $7,365,000. Purchases from Forward China made after October 30, 2023 are not covered by this agreement and are expected to be paid according to normal payment terms. In order to regain compliance with Nasdaq listing standards, the Company and Forward China entered into an agreement to convert $1,700,000 of the due to Forward China into preferred stock, which became effective July 5, 2024 (See Note 6). Based on our forecasted cash flows, discontinuing our retail segment and the agreements with Forward China, we believe our existing cash balance and working capital will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs through at least August 31, 2025. If necessary to preserve future cash flow and liquidity, we have the ability to implement cost-cutting measures in a timely manner as we have done in prior periods, which may include a reduction in labor force and/or salary reductions for existing personnel as deemed necessary. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

Impact of COVID-19

On May 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the end of the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19; however, the effects of COVID-19 continue to linger throughout the global economy and our businesses. Though the severity of COVID-19 has subsided, new variants, or the outbreak of a new pathogen, could interrupt our business, cause renewed labor and supply chain disruptions, and negatively impact the global and US economy, which could materially and adversely impact our business.

NOTE 2          ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 3           DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

Considering the recurring losses incurred by the retail segment, in July 2023, the Company decided to cease operations of its retail distribution segment (“Retail Exit”). The primary assets of the retail segment are inventory and accounts receivable. The Company has sold, liquidated, or otherwise disposed of all remaining retail inventory as of June 30, 2024, and expects to collect remaining retail accounts receivable by the end of Fiscal 2024. After this time, we expect to have no further significant continuing involvement with the retail distribution segment. The Retail Exit is considered a strategic shift that will have a significant impact on the Company’s operations and financial results. The inventory of the retail segment met the criteria to be considered “held-for-sale” in accordance with ASC 205-20, “Discontinued Operations.” Accordingly, the retail inventory is classified on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as “discontinued assets held for sale” at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, and the results of operations for the retail segment have been classified as “Discontinued Operations” on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. The condensed consolidated balance sheets and results of operations for comparable prior periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation in accordance with the accounting guidance.

The total amount related to the discontinued retail segment included in Due to Forward China on the condensed consolidated balance sheets was approximately $641,000 and $1,002,000 at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

The following table presents the major classes of the Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax” in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

At September 30, 2023, discontinued assets held for sale of $508,000 consisted of the net inventory of the retail segment. This number includes an allowance of $1,464,000 to reduce excess or otherwise unsellable inventory to its estimated net realizable value.

There was no depreciation, amortization, investing or financing cash flow activities, or other significant noncash operating cash flow activities for the retail segment in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023.

NOTE 4          INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

Intangible Assets

The Company’s intangible assets consist of the following:

The Company’s intangible assets resulted from the acquisitions of Kablooe and IPS in Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2018, respectively, and relate to the design segment of our business. Intangible assets are amortized over their expected useful lives of 15 years for the trademarks and eight years for the customer relationships. Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $53,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and $160,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, which is included in general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

At June 30, 2024, estimated amortization expense for the Company’s intangible assets is as follows:

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits of assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified or separately recognized. The Company’s goodwill resulted from the acquisitions of Kablooe and IPS in Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2018, respectively. The goodwill associated with the IPS acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes, but the goodwill associated with the Kablooe acquisition is deductible for tax purposes. All of the Company’s goodwill is held under the design segment of our business.

NOTE 5          SEGMENTS AND CONCENTRATIONS

As a result of discontinuing the retail segment (see Note 3), the Company now has two reportable segments: OEM distribution and design. The results of the retail segment are classified as discontinued operations as discussed in Note 3. Segment information presented herein excludes the results of the retail segment for all periods presented.

Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) regularly reviews revenue and operating income for each segment to assess financial results and allocate resources. For our OEM distribution segment, we exclude general and administrative and general corporate expenses from its measure of profitability as these expenses are not allocated to the segments and therefore not included in the measure of profitability used by the CODM. For the design segment, general and administrative expenses directly attributable to that segment are included in its measure of profitability as these expenses are included in the measure of its profitability reviewed by the CODM. We do not include intercompany activity in our segment results shown below to be consistent with the information that is presented to the CODM. Segment assets consist of accounts receivable and inventory, which are regularly reviewed by the CODM, as well as goodwill and intangible assets resulting from design segment acquisitions.

Information by segment and related reconciliations are shown in tables below:

The Company had certain customers in the OEM distribution segment whose individual percentage of the Company’s consolidated revenues was 10% or greater. Revenues from one customer or their affiliates or contract manufacturers represented 14.7% and 10.3% of the Company’s consolidated net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Revenues from one customer or their affiliates or contract manufacturers represented 12.6% of the Company’s consolidated net revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and revenues from two customers or their affiliates or contract manufacturers represented 21.1% of the Company’s consolidated net revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2023.

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had one customer in the design segment whose individual percentage of the Company’s consolidated revenues was 10% or greater. Revenues from this customer represented 23.9% and 35.0% of the Company’s consolidated net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Revenues from this customer represented 26.3% and 25.4% of the Company’s consolidated net revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

At June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the Company had customers in the OEM distribution segment whose accounts receivable balance accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable. One customer or its affiliate or contract manufacturer represented 17.8% and 12.0% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

At June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the Company had one customer in the design segment whose accounts receivable balance accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable. Accounts receivable from this customer represented 19.7% and 31.1%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023.

In March 2023, the Company’s contract with one of its major diabetic customers in the OEM distribution segment expired. Due to increased pricing pressures, the Company did not extend its contract with this customer. Revenue from this customer approximated 2.0% and 10.0% of our consolidated net revenues for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The Company expects the loss of this customer to continue to cause a significant decline in OEM distribution segment revenues in future periods.

NOTE 6          SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Reverse Stock Split

The Company’s shareholders authorized, and the Board of Directors approved a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, which became effective on June 18, 2024. Any fractional shares that would have otherwise resulted from the reverse stock split were rounded up to the nearest whole share. Accordingly, all references made to shares, per share, or common share amounts in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and applicable disclosures have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split. The reverse stock split did not change the par value of the common stock nor the authorized number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or any series of preferred stock.

Nasdaq

In July 2023, the Company was notified by Nasdaq that it was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum closing bid price requirement (“Bid Price Requirement”). Thereafter, in February 2024, the Company was notified that it was not in compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum $2.5 million shareholders’ equity requirement (“SE Requirement”) (collectively, with the Bid Price Requirement, the “Minimum Requirements”). In April 2024, the Company presented a plan of action to the Nasdaq Hearings Panel to meet compliance with the Minimum Requirements. As a result of the reverse stock split effected in June 2024 and the entrance into the Accounts Payable Conversion Agreement (described in Note 8), the Company regained compliance with the Minimum Requirements in July 2024 and was formally notified by Nasdaq that the Minimum Requirements were met. Until July 24, 2025, the Company is subject to a Nasdaq “Panel Monitor” which provides for in the event the Company fails to satisfy the SE Requirement (not the Bid Price Requirement) during the monitoring period, the Company will be required to request a hearing before the Panel in order to maintain its listing rather than taking the interim step of submitting a compliance plan for the Listing Qualifications Staff’s review or receiving any otherwise applicable grace period.  We can provide no assurance that if the Company falls below the SE Requirement during this period that the Company will be able to maintain its Nasdaq listing.

Preferred Stock

In connection with the Accounts Payable Conversion Agreement with Forward China (“Conversion Agreement”), the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation (the “COD”) designating 1,700 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, with a stated value of $1,000 per share (the “Stated Value”), which became effective on July 5, 2024.

The holders of the Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock have no voting rights and rank senior to all classes or series of the Company’s common stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up. Subject to a 19.9% share cap (as defined in the COD), the Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock shall be convertible into a number of shares of the Company’s common stock as determined by (i) multiplying the number of shares to be converted by the Stated Value, (ii) adding the result of all accrued and accumulated and unpaid dividends on such shares to be converted, and then (iii) dividing the result by the conversion price of $7.50, subject to adjustment as defined in the COD. The Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock is not redeemable.

Stock Options

On October 1, 2023, the Company granted options to three of its non-employee directors to purchase an aggregate of 33,243 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $7.60 per share. The options vest one year from the date of grant, expire five years from the date of the grant and 11,081 were forfeited prior to vesting. The options have a weighted average grant-date fair value of $3.60 per share and an aggregate grant-date fair value of $120,000, which will be recognized, net of forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period.

In May 2023, the Company granted options to three of its non-employee directors to purchase an aggregate of 12,474 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $10.30 per share. The options vested six months from the date of grant and expire five years from the date of grant. The options have a weighted average grant-date fair value of $4.80 per share and an aggregate grant-date fair value of $60,000, which were recognized ratably over the vesting period.

There were no options exercised during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023.

The Company recognized compensation expense for stock option awards of $20,000 and $17,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $81,000 and $56,000 during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which was recorded as a component of general and administrative expenses in its condensed consolidated statements of operations. As of June 30, 2024, there was $20,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock option awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.25 years.

NOTE 7          EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share data for each period presented is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each such period. Diluted earnings per share data is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during each period. Dilutive common-equivalent shares consist of shares that would be issued upon the exercise of stock options and warrants, computed using the treasury stock method. A reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share is as follows:

The following securities were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share in each period because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:

NOTE 8          RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Buying Agency and Supply Agreement

The Company has a Buying Agency and Supply Agreement (the “Supply Agreement”) with Forward China. The Supply Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Forward China will act as the Company’s exclusive buying agent and supplier of Products (as defined in the Supply Agreement) in the Asia-Pacific region. The Company purchases products at Forward China’s cost and through March 2023 paid Forward China a monthly service fee equal to the sum of (i) $100,000, and (ii) 4% of “Adjusted Gross Profit”, which is defined as the selling price less the cost from Forward China. Considering the loss of a significant OEM distribution customer (see Note 5), effective April 1, 2023, the Company and Forward China agreed to reduce the fixed portion of the sourcing fee from $100,000 to $83,333 per month for the remaining term of the Supply Agreement, which expired in October 2023. Effective October 2023, the Company and Forward China entered into a new sourcing agreement under which the fixed portion of the sourcing fee was further reduced to $65,833 per month. Other terms in the agreement are substantially the same as the prior agreement. The new sourcing agreement expires October 31, 2024. The Company recorded service fees to Forward China of $221,000 and $284,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $674,000 and $978,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which are included as a component of cost of sales upon sales of the related products. The Company had purchases from Forward China during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 of approximately $2,149,000 and $2,454,000, respectively, and $5,672,000 and $9,963,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

In order to preserve the Company’s current and future liquidity, in November 2023, the Company and Forward China entered into an agreement whereby Forward China agreed to limit the amount of outstanding payables it would seek to collect from the Company to $500,000 in any 12-month period, which the Company agreed to pay within 30 days of any such request. This agreement pertains only to payables that were outstanding at October 30, 2023 of approximately $7,365,000. Purchases from Forward China made after October 30, 2023 are not covered by this agreement and are expected to be paid according to normal payment terms. At June 30, 2024, the remaining balance covered by this agreement was approximately $7,105,000.

Accounts Payable Conversion Agreement

Effective July 5, 2024, the Company and Forward China entered into a Conversion Agreement. Under the terms of the Conversion Agreement, Forward China agreed to convert $1,700,000 of the Due to Forward China payable into 1,700 shares of the Company’s newly designated Series A-1 convertible preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”) with a stated value of $1,000 per share. See Note 6.

Promissory Note

On January 18, 2018, the Company issued a $1,600,000 unsecured promissory note payable to Forward China to fund the acquisition of IPS. The promissory note bears an interest rate of 8% per annum and had an original maturity date of January 18, 2019. Monthly interest payments commenced on February 18, 2018, with the principal due at maturity. The Company incurred and paid interest associated with this note of $14,000 and $25,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $50,000 and $80,000 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The maturity date of this note was extended to December 31, 2024. The maturity date of this note has been extended on several occasions to assist the Company with liquidity. The Company made principal payments of $500,000 and $200,000 on this note during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and this note has a remaining balance of $600,000 at June 30, 2024.