1847 Holdings LLC - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One) 

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

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2019

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

For the transition period from ____________ to _____________

Commission File No. 333-193821

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Shares

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ 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 Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ 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). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not 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, a smaller reporting company, or 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.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

As of June 28, 2019 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common shares held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing price of such shares as reported on OTC Pink Market) was approximately $406,250.  Shares held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding common shares have been excluded from the calculation in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 As of March 27, 2020, there were a total of 3,165,625 common shares of the registrant issued and outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

1847 Holdings LLC

Annual Report on Form 10-K

Year Ended December 31, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY NOTES

Use of Terms

Except as otherwise indicated by the context and for the purposes of this report only, references in this report to “we,” “us,” “our” and “our company” are to 1847 Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its consolidated subsidiaries,

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains, in addition to historical information, certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation: statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts for our business, financial and operating results and future economic performance; statements of management’s goals and objectives; trends affecting our financial condition, results of operations or future prospects; statements regarding our financing plans or growth strategies; statements concerning litigation or other matters; and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes” and “estimates,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times, or by which, that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management’s good faith beliefs as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to:

Potential investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Potential investors should not make an investment decision based solely on our projections, estimates or expectations.

The specific discussions herein about our company include financial projections and future estimates and expectations about our business. The projections, estimates and expectations are presented in this report only as a guide about future possibilities and do not represent actual amounts or assured events. All the projections and estimates are based exclusively on our management’s own assessment of our business, the industry in which we work and the economy at large and other operational factors, including capital resources and liquidity, financial condition, fulfillment of contracts and opportunities. The actual results may differ significantly from the projections.

PART I

OVERVIEW OF OUR BUSINESS

Overview

We are an acquisition holding company focused on acquiring and managing a group of small businesses, which we characterize as those that have an enterprise value of less than $50 million, in a variety of different industries headquartered in North America. To date, we have completed two acquisitions.

In March 2017, our subsidiary, 1847 Neese Inc., or 1847 Neese, acquired Neese, Inc., or Neese. Headquartered in Grand Junction, Iowa and founded in 1991, Neese is an established business specializing in providing a wide range of land application services and selling equipment and parts, primarily to the agricultural industry, but also to the construction and lawn and garden industries.

In April 2019, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Goedeker Television Co., or Goedeker Television, through our subsidiary 1847 Goedeker Inc., or Goedeker, which now operates the prior business of Goedeker Television, a Missouri corporation founded in 1951. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Goedeker is a one-stop e-commerce destination for home furnishings, including appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods.

Through our structure, we plan to offer investors an opportunity to participate in the ownership and growth of a portfolio of businesses that traditionally have been owned and managed by private equity firms, private individuals or families, financial institutions or large conglomerates. We believe that our management and acquisition strategies will allow us to achieve our goals to begin making and growing regular distributions to our common shareholders and increasing common shareholder value over time.

We seek to acquire controlling interests in small businesses that we believe operate in industries with long-term macroeconomic growth opportunities, and that have positive and stable earnings and cash flows, face minimal threats of technological or competitive obsolescence and have strong management teams largely in place. We believe that private company operators and corporate parents looking to sell their businesses will consider us to be an attractive purchaser of their businesses. We intend to make these future businesses our majority-owned subsidiaries and intend to actively manage and grow such businesses. We expect to improve our businesses over the long term through organic growth opportunities, add-on acquisitions and operational improvements.

We have engaged 1847 Partners LLC, which we refer to as our manager, to manage our day-to-day operations and affairs, oversee the management and operations of our businesses and perform certain other services on our behalf, subject to the oversight of our board of directors. We believe our manager’s expertise and experience will be a critical factor in executing our strategy to begin making and growing distributions to our common shareholders and increasing common shareholder value over time.

Market Opportunity

We seek to acquire and manage small businesses, which we characterize as those that have an enterprise value of less than $50 million. We believe that the merger and acquisition market for small businesses is highly fragmented and provides significant opportunities to purchase businesses at attractive prices. For example, according to GF Data, platform acquisitions with enterprise values greater than $50.0 million commanded valuation premiums 30% higher than platform acquisitions with enterprise values less than $50.0 million (8.2x trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) versus 6.3x trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA, respectively).

We believe that the following factors contribute to lower acquisition multiples for small businesses:

We believe that our management team’s strong relationships with business brokers, investment and commercial bankers, accountants, attorneys and other potential sources of acquisition opportunities offers us substantial opportunities to purchase small businesses. See “—Our Manager—Key Personnel of our Manager” for more information about our management team.

We also believe that significant opportunities exist to improve the performance of the businesses upon their acquisition. In the past, our manager has acquired businesses that are often formerly owned by seasoned entrepreneurs or large corporate parents. In these cases, our manager has frequently found that there have been opportunities to further build upon the management teams of acquired businesses. In addition, our manager has frequently found that financial reporting and management information systems of acquired businesses may be improved, both of which can lead to substantial improvements in earnings and cash flow. Finally, because these businesses tend to be too small to have their own corporate development efforts, we believe opportunities exist to assist these businesses in meaningful ways as they pursue organic or external growth strategies that were often not pursued by their previous owners.

Our long-term goals are to begin making and growing regular distributions to our common shareholders and to increase common shareholder value over the long-term. We acquired Neese and all of the assets of Goedeker Television primarily so that we can achieve a base of cash flow to build our company and begin making and growing regular distributions to our common shareholders. We believe that these acquisitions will help us achieve our long-term goals.

We plan to continue focusing on acquiring other businesses. Therefore, we intend to continue to identify, perform due diligence on, negotiate and consummate platform acquisitions of small businesses in attractive industry sectors.

Unlike buyers of small businesses that rely on significant leverage to consummate acquisitions (as demonstrated by the data below), we plan to limit the use of third party (i.e., external) acquisition leverage so that our debt will not exceed the market value of the assets we acquire and so that our debt to EBITDA ratio will not exceed 1.25x to 1 for our operating subsidiaries. We believe that limiting leverage in this manner will avoid the imposition on stringent lender controls on our operations that would otherwise potentially hamper the growth of our operating subsidiaries and otherwise harm our business even during times when we have positive operating cash flows. Additionally, in our experience, leverage rarely leads to “break-out” returns and often creates negative return outcomes that are not correlated with the profitability of the business.

Source: GF Data M&A Report (May 2019)

Source: GF Data Leverage Report (May 2019)

Management Strategy

Our management strategy involves the identification, performance of due diligence, negotiation and consummation of acquisitions. After acquiring businesses, we will attempt to grow the businesses both organically and through add-on or bolt-on acquisitions. Add-on or bolt-on acquisitions are acquisitions by a company of other companies in the same industry. Following the acquisition of companies, we will seek to grow the earnings and cash flow of acquired companies and, in turn, begin making and growing regular distributions to our common shareholders and to increase common shareholder value over time. We believe we can increase the cash flows of our businesses by applying our intellectual capital to improve and grow our future businesses.

We will seek to acquire and manage small businesses. We believe that the merger and acquisition market for small businesses is highly fragmented and provides opportunities to purchase businesses at attractive prices. We believe we will be able to acquire small businesses for multiples ranging from three to six times EBITDA. We also believe, and our manager has historically found, that significant opportunities exist to improve the performance of these businesses upon their acquisition.

In general, our manager will oversee and support the management team of our future platform businesses by, among other things:

We also believe that our long-term perspective provides us with certain additional advantages, including the ability to:

We intend to continually increase our intellectual capital as we operate our businesses and acquire new businesses and as our manager identifies and recruits qualified operating partners and managers for our businesses.

Acquisition Strategy

Our acquisition strategies involve the acquisition of small businesses in various industries that we expect will produce positive and stable earnings and cash flow, as well as achieve attractive returns on our invested capital. In this respect, we expect to make acquisitions in industries wherein we believe an acquisition presents an attractive opportunity from the perspective of both (i) return on assets or equity and (ii) an easily identifiable path for growing the acquired businesses. We believe that attractive opportunities will increasingly present themselves as private sector owners seek to monetize their interests in longstanding and privately-held businesses and large corporate parents seek to dispose of their “non-core” operations.

We believe that the greatest opportunities for generating consistently positive annual returns and, ultimately, residual returns on capital invested in acquisitions will result from targeting capital light businesses operating in niche geographical markets with a clearly identifiable competitive advantage within the following industries: business services, consumer services, consumer products, consumable industrial products, industrial services, niche light manufacturing, distribution, alternative/specialty finance and in select cases, specialty retail. While we believe that the professional experience of our management team within the industries identified above will offer the greatest number of acquisition opportunities, we will not eschew opportunities if a business enjoys an inarguable moat around its products and services in an industry which our management team may have less familiarity.

From a financial perspective, we expect to make acquisitions of small businesses that are stable, have minimal bad debt, and strong accounts receivable. In addition, we expect to acquire companies that have been able to generate positive pro forma cash available for distribution for a minimum of three years prior to acquisition. Our previous acquisitions of Neese and Goedeker met these acquisition criteria.

We expect to benefit from our manager’s ability to identify diverse acquisition opportunities in a variety of industries. In addition, we intend to rely upon our management teams’ experience and expertise in researching and valuing prospective target businesses, as well as negotiating the ultimate acquisition of such target businesses. In particular, because there may be a lack of information available about these target businesses, which may make it more difficult to understand or appropriately value such target businesses, we expect our manager will:

We expect the process of acquiring new businesses to be time-consuming and complex. Our manager has historically taken from 2 to 24 months to perform due diligence on, negotiate and close acquisitions. Although we expect our manager to be at various stages of evaluating several transactions at any given time, there may be significant periods of time during which it does not recommend any new acquisitions to us.

Upon an acquisition of a new business, we intend to rely on our manager’s experience and expertise to work efficiently and effectively with the management of the new business to jointly develop and execute a business plan.

While we will primarily seek to acquire controlling interests in a business, we may also acquire non-control or minority equity positions in businesses where we believe it is consistent with our long-term strategy.

As discussed in more detail below, we intend to raise capital for additional acquisitions primarily through debt financing, primarily at our operating company level, additional equity offerings by our company, the sale of all or a part of our businesses or by undertaking a combination of any of the above.

Our primary corporate purpose is to own, operate and grow our operating businesses.  However, in addition to acquiring businesses, we expect to sell businesses that we own from time to time. Our decision to sell a business will be based upon financial, operating and other considerations rather than a plan to complete a sale of a business within any specific time frame.  We may also decide to own and operate some or all of our businesses in perpetuity if our board believes that it makes sense to do so. Upon the sale of a business, we may use the resulting proceeds to retire debt or retain proceeds for future acquisitions or general corporate purposes. Generally, we do not expect to make special distributions at the time of a sale of one of our businesses; instead, we expect that we will seek to gradually increase regular common shareholder distributions over time.

There are several risks associated with our acquisition strategy, including the following risks, which are described more fully in Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Structure”:

Strategic Advantages

Based on the experience of our manager and its ability to identify and negotiate acquisitions, we expect to be strongly positioned to acquire additional businesses. Our manager has strong relationships with business brokers, investment and commercial bankers, accountants, attorneys and other potential sources of acquisition opportunities. In negotiating these acquisitions, we believe our manager will be able to successfully navigate complex situations surrounding acquisitions, including corporate spin-offs, transitions of family-owned businesses, management buy-outs and reorganizations.

We expect that the flexibility, creativity, experience and expertise of our manager in structuring transactions will provide us with strategic advantages by allowing us to consider non-traditional and complex transactions tailored to fit a specific acquisition target.

Our manager also has a large network of deal intermediaries who we expect to expose us to potential acquisitions. Through this network, we expect to have a substantial pipeline of potential acquisition targets. Our manager also has a well-established network of contacts, including professional managers, attorneys, accountants and other third-party consultants and advisors, who may be available to assist us in the performance of due diligence and the negotiation of acquisitions, as well as the management and operation of our businesses once acquired.

Valuation and Due Diligence

When evaluating businesses or assets for acquisition, we will perform a rigorous due diligence and financial evaluation process. In doing so, we will seek to evaluate the operations of the target business as well as the outlook for the industry in which the target business operates. While valuation of a business is, by definition, a subjective process, we will be defining valuations under a variety of analyses, including:

One outcome of this process is an effort to project the expected cash flows from the target business as accurately as possible. A further outcome is an understanding of the types and levels of risk associated with those projections. While future performance and projections are always uncertain, we believe that our detailed due diligence review process allows us to more accurately estimate future cash flows and more effectively evaluate the prospects for operating the business in the future. To assist us in identifying material risks and validating key assumptions in our financial and operational analysis, in addition to our own analysis, we intend to engage third-party experts to review key risk areas, including legal, tax, regulatory, accounting, insurance and environmental. We may also engage technical, operational or industry consultants, as necessary.

A further critical component of the evaluation of potential target businesses will be the assessment of the capability of the existing management team, including recent performance, expertise, experience, culture and incentives to perform. Where necessary, and consistent with our management strategy, we will actively seek to augment, supplement or replace existing members of management who we believe are not likely to execute the business plan for the target business. Similarly, we will analyze and evaluate the financial and operational information systems of target businesses and, where necessary, we will actively seek to enhance and improve those existing systems that are deemed to be inadequate or insufficient to support our business plan for the target business.

Financing

We will finance future acquisitions primarily through additional equity and debt financings. We believe that having the ability to finance most, if not all, acquisitions with the general capital resources raised by our company, rather than financing relating to the acquisition of individual businesses, provides us with an advantage in acquiring attractive businesses by minimizing delay and closing conditions that are often related to acquisition-specific financings. In this respect, we believe that, at some point in the future, we may need to pursue additional debt or equity financings, or offer equity in our company or target businesses to the sellers of such target businesses, in order to fund acquisitions.

Our Competitive Advantages

We believe that our manager’s collective investment experience and approach to executing our investment strategy provide our company with several competitive advantages. These competitive advantages, certain of which are discussed below, have enabled our management to generate very attractive risk- adjusted returns for investors in their predecessor firms.

Robust Network. Through their activities with their predecessor firms and their comprehensive marketing capabilities, we believe that the management team of our manager has established a “top of mind” position among investment bankers and business brokers targeting small businesses. By employing an institutionalized, multi-platform marketing strategy, we believe our manager has established a robust national network of personal relationships with intermediaries, seasoned operating executives, entrepreneurs and managers, thereby firmly establishing our company’s presence and credibility in the small business market. In contrast to many other buyers of and investors in small businesses, we believe that we can buy businesses at value-oriented multiples and through our asset management activities with a group of professional, experienced and talented operating partners, create appreciable value. We believe our experience, track record and consistent execution of our marketing and investment activities will allow us to maintain a leadership position as the preferred partner for today’s small business market.

Disciplined Deal Sourcing. We employ an institutionalized, multi-platform approach to sourcing new acquisition opportunities. Our deal sourcing efforts include leveraging relationships with more than 3,000 qualified deal sources through regular calling, mail and e-mail campaigns, assignment of regional marketing responsibilities, in-person visits and high-profile sponsorship of important conferences and industry events. We supplement these activities by retaining selected intermediary firms to conduct targeted searches for opportunities in specific categories on an opportunistic basis. As a result of the significant time and effort spent on these activities, we believe we established close relationships and unique “top of mind” awareness with many of the most productive intermediary sources for small business acquisition opportunities in the United States. While reinforcing our market leadership, this capability enables us to generate a large number of attractive acquisition opportunities.

Differentiated Acquisition Capabilities in the Small Business Market. We deploy a differentiated approach to acquiring businesses in the small business market. Our management concentrates their efforts on mature companies with sustainable value propositions, which can be supported by our resources and institutional expertise. Our evaluation of acquisition opportunities typically involves significant input from a seasoned operating partner with relevant experience, which we believe enhances both our diligence and ongoing monitoring capabilities. In addition, we approach every acquisition opportunity with creative structures, which we believe enables us to engineer mutually attractive scenarios for sellers, whereas competing buyers may be limited by their rigid structural requirements. We believe our commitment to conservative capital structures and valuation will enhance each acquired operating subsidiary’s ability to deliver consistent levels of cash available for distribution, while additionally supporting reinvestment for growth.

Value Proposition for Business Owners. We employ a creative, flexible approach by tailoring each acquisition structure to meet the specific liquidity needs and certain qualitative objectives of the target’s owners and management team. In addition to serving as an exit pathway for sellers, we seek to align our interests with the sellers by enabling them to retain and/or earn (through incentive compensation) a substantial economic interest in their businesses following the acquisition and by typically allowing the incumbent management team to retain operating control of the acquired operating subsidiary on a day-to-day basis. We believe that our company is an appealing buyer for small business owners and managers due to our track record of capitalizing portfolio companies conservatively, enhancing our ability to execute on its strategic initiatives and adding equity value. As a result, we believe business owners and managers will find our company to be a dynamic, value-added buyer that brings considerable resources to achieve their strategic, capital and operating needs, resulting in substantial value creation for the operating subsidiary.

Operating Partner. Our manager has consistently worked with a strong network of seasoned operating partners - former entrepreneurs and executives with extensive experience building, managing and optimizing successful small businesses across a range of industries. We believe that our operating partner model will enable our company to make a significant improvement in the operating subsidiary, as compared to other buyers, such as traditional private equity firms, which rely principally upon investment professionals to make acquisition/investment and monitoring decisions regarding not only the business, financial and legal due diligence aspects of a business but also the more operational aspects including industry dynamics, management strength and strategic growth initiatives. We typically engage an operating partner soon after identifying a target business for acquisition, enhancing our acquisition judgment and building the acquisition team’s relationship with the subsidiary’s management team. Operating partners usually serve as a member of the board of directors of an operating subsidiary and spend two to four days per month working with the subsidiary’s management team. We leverage the operating partner’s extensive experience to build the management team, improve operations and assist with strategic growth initiatives, resulting in value creation.

Small Business Market Experience. We believe the history and experience of our manager’s partnering with companies in the small business market allows us to identify highly attractive acquisition opportunities and add significant value to our operating subsidiaries. Our manager’s investment experience in the small business market prior to forming our company has further contributed to our institutional expertise in the acquisition, strategic and operational decisions critical to the long-term success of small businesses. Since 2000, the management team of our manager has collectively been presented with several thousand investment opportunities and actively worked with more than 30 small businesses on all facets of their strategy, development and operations, which we have successfully translated into unique, institutionalized capabilities directed towards creating value in small businesses.

Intellectual Property

Our manager owns certain intellectual property relating to the term “1847.” Our manager has granted our company a license to use the term “1847” in its business.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019, the only full-time employee of our company is Ellery W. Roberts, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer.

OUR CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND HISTORY

Our company is a Delaware limited liability company that was formed on January 22, 2013. Your rights as a holder of common shares, and the fiduciary duties of our board of directors and executive officers, and any limitations relating thereto, are set forth in the operating agreement governing our company and may differ from those applying to a Delaware corporation. However, subject to certain exceptions, the documents governing our company specify that the duties of our directors and officers will be generally consistent with the duties of directors and officers of a Delaware corporation.

Our company is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under the partnership income tax provisions, our company will not incur any U.S. federal income tax liability; rather, each of our shareholders will be required to take into account his or her allocable share of company income, gain, loss, and deduction. As a holder of our shares, you may not receive cash distributions sufficient in amount to cover taxes in respect of your allocable share of our company’s net taxable income. Our company will file a partnership return with the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, and will issue tax information, including a Schedule K-1, to you that describes your allocable share of our company’s income, gain, loss, deduction, and other items. The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply to partnerships are complex and complying with the reporting requirements may require significant time and expense. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” included in our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-236041), for more information.

Our company currently has two classes of limited liability company interests - the common shares and the allocation shares. In connection with the offering described under Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Regulation A Offering” below, we will also establish series A preferred shares. All of our allocation shares have been and will continue to be held by our manager. See “Description of Securities” included in our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-236041), for more information about our shares.

On March 3, 2017, our newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary 1847 Neese acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Neese for an aggregate purchase price of $6,655,000, consisting of: (i) $2,225,000 in cash (subject to certain adjustments); (ii) 450 shares of the common stock of 1847 Neese, valued by the parties at $1,530,000, constituting 45% of its capital stock; (iii) the issuance of a vesting promissory note in the principal amount of $1,875,000 (which was determined to have a fair value of $395,634) due June 30, 2020; and (iv) the issuance of a short-term promissory note in the principal amount of $1,025,000 due March 3, 2018. As a result of this transaction, we own 55% of 1847 Neese, with the remaining 45% held by third parties. 1847 Neese was formed in the State of Delaware on October 11, 2016 and Neese was formed in the State of Iowa in January 1993.

On January 10, 2019, we formed Goedeker as a wholly-owned subsidiary in the State of Delaware. On March 20, 2019, we formed 1847 Goedeker Holdco Inc., or 1847 Goedeker, as a wholly-owned subsidiary in the State of Delaware and then we transferred all of our shares in Goedeker to 1847 Goedeker, such that Goedeker became a wholly-owned subsidiary of 1847 Goedeker.

On April 5, 2019, Goedeker acquired substantially all of the assets of Goedeker Television for an aggregate purchase price of $6,200,000 consisting of: (i) $1,500,000 in cash, subject to adjustment; (ii) the issuance of a promissory note in the principal amount of $4,100,000; and (iii) up to $600,000 in earn out payments. As additional consideration, 1847 Goedeker agreed to issue to each of the stockholders of Goedeker Television a number of shares of its common stock equal to a 11.25% non-dilutable interest in all of the issued and outstanding stock of 1847 Goedeker as of the closing date. As a result of this transaction, we own 70% of 1847 Goedeker, with the remaining 30% held by third parties.

The following chart depicts our current organizational structure:

See “—Our Manager” for more details regarding the ownership of our manager.

OUR MANAGER

Overview of Our Manager

Our manager, 1847 Partners LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company. It has two classes of limited liability interests known as Class A interests and Class B interests. The Class A interests, which give the holder the right to the profit allocation received by our manager as a result of holding our allocation shares, are owned in their entirety by 1847 Partners Class A Member LLC; and the Class B interests, which give the holder the right to all other profits or losses of our manager, including the management fee payable to our manager by us, are owned in their entirety by 1847 Partners Class B Member LLC. 1847 Partners Class A Member LLC is owned 52% by Ellery W. Roberts, our Chief Executive Officer, 38% by 1847 Founders Capital LLC, which is owned by Edward J. Tobin, and approximately 9% by Louis A. Bevilacqua, the managing member of Bevilacqua PLLC, outside counsel to our company, with the balance being owned by a former contractor to such law firm. 1847 Partners Class B Member LLC is owned 54% by Ellery W. Roberts, 36% by 1847 Founders Capital LLC and 10% by Louis A. Bevilacqua. Mr. Roberts is also the sole manager of both entities. In the future, Mr. Roberts may cause 1847 Partners Class A Member LLC or 1847 Partners Class B Member LLC to issue units to employees of our manager to incentivize those employees by providing them with the ability to participate in our manager’s incentive allocation and management fee.

Key Personnel of Our Manager

The key personnel of our manager are Ellery W. Roberts, our Chief Executive Officer, and Edward J. Tobin. Please see Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for a description of the business experience of these individuals. Each of these individuals will be compensated entirely by our manager from the management fees it receives. As employees of our manager, these individuals devote a substantial majority of their time to the affairs of our company.

Collectively, the management team of our manager has more than 60 years of combined experience in acquiring and managing small businesses and has overseen the acquisitions and financing of over 50 businesses.

Acquisition and Disposition Opportunities

Our manager has exclusive responsibility for reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to acquisition and disposition opportunities. If our manager does not originate an opportunity, our board of directors will seek a recommendation from our manager prior to making a decision concerning such opportunity. In the case of any acquisition or disposition opportunity that involves an affiliate of our manager or us, our nominating and corporate governance committee, or, if we do not have such a committee, the independent members of our board of directors, will be required to authorize and approve such transaction.

Our manager will review each acquisition or disposition opportunity presented to our manager to determine if such opportunity satisfies the acquisition and disposition criteria established by our board of directors. The acquisition and disposition criteria provide that our manager will review each acquisition opportunity presented to it to determine if such opportunity satisfies our company’s acquisition and disposition criteria, and if it is determined, in our manager’s sole discretion, that an opportunity satisfies the criteria, our manager will refer the opportunity to our board of directors for its authorization and approval prior to the consummation of any such opportunity.

Our investment criteria include the following:

We believe we will be able to acquire small businesses for multiples ranging from three to six times EBITDA. With respect to investment opportunities that do not fall within the criteria set forth above our manager must first present such opportunities to our board of directors. Our board of directors and our manager will review these criteria from time to time and our board of directors may make changes and modifications to such criteria as our company makes additional acquisitions and dispositions.

If an acquisition opportunity is referred to our board of directors by our manager and our board of directors determines not to timely pursue such opportunity in whole or in part, any part of such opportunity that our company does not promptly pursue may be pursued by our manager or may be referred by our manager to any person, including affiliates of our manager. In this case, our manager is likely to devote a portion of its time to the oversight of this opportunity, including the management of a business that we do not own.

If there is a disposition, our manager must use its commercially reasonable efforts to manage a process through which the value of such disposition can be maximized, taking into consideration non-financial factors such as those relating to competition, strategic partnerships, potential favorable or adverse effects on us, our businesses, or our investments or any similar factors that may reasonably perceived as having a short- or long-term impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Management Services Agreement

The management services agreement sets forth the services to be performed by our manager. Our manager will perform such services subject to the oversight and supervision of our board of directors.

In general, our manager will perform those services for our company that would be typically performed by the executive officers of a company. Specifically, our manager will perform the following services, which we refer to as the management services, pursuant to the management services agreement:

Our company and our manager have the right at any time during the term of the management services agreement to change the services provided by our manager. In performing management services, our manager will have all necessary power and authority to perform, or cause to be performed, such services on behalf of our company, and, in this respect, our manager will be the only provider of management services to our company. Nonetheless, our manager will be required to obtain authorization and approval of our board of directors in all circumstances where executive officers of a corporation typically would be required to obtain authorization and approval of a corporation’s board of directors, including, for example, with respect to the consummation of an acquisition of a target business, the issuance of securities or the entry into credit arrangements.

While our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ellery W. Roberts, intends to devote substantially all of his time to the affairs of our company, neither Mr. Roberts, nor our manager, is expressly prohibited from investing in or managing other entities. In this regard, the management services agreement will not require our manager and its affiliates to provide management services to our company exclusively.

Secondment of Our Executive Officers

In accordance with the terms of the management services agreement, our manager may second to our company our executive officers, which means that these individuals will be assigned by our manager to work for us during the term of the management services agreement. Our board of directors has appointed Mr. Roberts as an executive officer of our company. Although Mr. Roberts is an employee of our manager, he will report directly, and be subject, to our board of directors. In this respect, our board of directors may, after due consultation with our manager, at any time request that our manager replace any individual seconded to our company and our manager will, as promptly as practicable, replace any such individual; however, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roberts, controls our manager, which may make it difficult for our board of directors to completely sever ties with Mr. Roberts. Our manager and our board of directors may agree from time to time that our manager will second to our company one or more additional individuals to serve on behalf of our company, upon such terms as our manager and our board of directors may mutually agree.

Indemnification by our Company

Our company has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless our manager and its employees and representatives, including any individuals seconded to our company, from and against all losses, claims and liabilities incurred by our manager in connection with, relating to or arising out of the performance of any management services. However, our company will not be obligated to indemnify or hold harmless our manager for any losses, claims and liabilities incurred by our manager in connection with, relating to or arising out of (i) a breach by our manager or its employees or its representatives of the management services agreement, (ii) the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith or reckless disregard of our manager or its employees or representatives in the performance of any of its obligations under the management services agreement, or (iii) fraudulent or dishonest acts of our manager or its employees or representatives with respect to our company or any of its businesses.

Termination of Management Services Agreement

Our board of directors may terminate the management services agreement and our manager’s appointment if, at any time:

In addition, our manager may resign and terminate the management services agreement at any time upon 120 days prior written notice to our company, and this right is not contingent upon the finding of a replacement manager. However, if our manager resigns, until the date on which the resignation becomes effective, it will, upon request of our board of directors, use reasonable efforts to assist our board of directors to find a replacement manager at no cost and expense to our company.

Upon the termination of the management services agreement, seconded officers, employees, representatives and delegates of our manager and its affiliates who are performing the services that are the subject of the management services agreement will resign their respective position with our company and cease to work at the date of such termination or at any other time as determined by our manager. Any director appointed by our manager may continue serving on our board of directors, subject to the terms of the operating agreement.

If we terminate the management services agreement, our company and its businesses have agreed to cease using the term “1847”, including any trademarks based on the name of our company that may be licensed to them by our manager, under the licensing provisions of the management services agreement, entirely in their businesses and operations within 180 days of such termination. Such licensing provisions of the management services agreement would require our company and its businesses to change their names to remove any reference to the term “1847” or any reference to trademarks licensed to them by our manager. In this respect, our right to use the term “1847” and related intellectual property is subject to licensing provisions between our manager, on the one hand, and our company and our businesses, on the other hand.

Except with respect to the termination fee payable to our manager due to a termination of the management services agreement based solely on a vote of our board of directors and our shareholders, no other termination fee is payable upon termination of the management services agreement for any other reason. See “—Our Manager as a Service Provider—Termination Fee” for more information about the termination fee payable upon termination of the management services agreement.

While termination of the management services agreement will not affect any terms and conditions, including those relating to any payment obligations, that exist under any offsetting management services agreements or transaction services agreements, such agreements will be terminable by future businesses that we acquire upon 60 days prior written notice and there will be no termination or other similar fees due upon such termination. Notwithstanding termination of the management services agreement, our manager will maintain its rights with respect to the allocation shares it then owns, including its rights under the supplemental put provision of our operating agreement. See “—Our Manager as an Equity Holder—Supplemental Put Provision” for more information on our manager’s put right with respect to the allocation shares.

Our Relationship with Our Manager, Manager Fees and Manager Profit Allocation

Our relationship with our manager is based on our manager having two distinct roles: first, as a service provider to us and, second, as an equity holder of the allocation shares.

As a service provider, our manager performs a variety of services for us, which entitles it to receive a management fee. As holder of our company’s allocation shares, our manager has the right to a preferred distribution in the form of a profit allocation upon the occurrence of certain events. Our manager paid $1,000 for the allocation shares. In addition, our manager will have the right to cause our company to purchase the allocation shares then owned by our manager upon termination of the management services agreement.

These relationships with our manager are governed principally by the following agreements:

We also expect that our manager will enter into offsetting management services agreements and transaction services agreements with our businesses directly. These agreements, and some of the material terms relating thereto, are discussed in more detail below. The management fee, profit allocation and put price under the supplemental put provision will be payment obligations of our company and, as a result, will be paid, along with other company obligations, prior to the payment of distributions on the series A preferred shares, if and when they are issued, or distributions to common shareholders.

The following table provides a simplified description of the fees and profit allocation rights held by our manager. Further detail is provided in the following subsections.

Our Manager as a Service Provider

Management Fee

Our company will pay our manager a quarterly management fee equal to 0.5% (2.0% annualized) of its adjusted net assets, as discussed in more detail below.

Subject to any adjustments discussed below, for performing management services under the management services agreement during any fiscal quarter, our company will pay our manager a management fee with respect to such fiscal quarter. The management fee to be paid with respect to any fiscal quarter will be calculated as of the last day of such fiscal quarter, which we refer to as the calculation date. The management fee will be calculated by an administrator, which will be our manager so long as the management services agreement is in effect. The amount of any management fee payable by our company as of any calculation date with respect to any fiscal quarter will be (i) reduced by the aggregate amount of any offsetting management fees, if any, received by our manager from any of our businesses with respect to such fiscal quarter, (ii) reduced (or increased) by the amount of any over-paid (or under-paid) management fees received by (or owed to) our manager as of such calculation date, and (iii) increased by the amount of any outstanding accrued and unpaid management fees.

As an obligation of our company, the management fee will be paid prior to the payment of distributions on the series A preferred shares, if and when they are issued, or distributions to our common shareholders. If we do not have sufficient liquid assets to pay the management fee when due, we may be required to liquidate assets or incur debt in order to pay the management fee.

Offsetting Management Services Agreements

Pursuant to the management services agreement, we have agreed that our manager may, at any time, enter into offsetting management services agreements with our businesses pursuant to which our manager may perform services that may or may not be similar to management services. Any fees to be paid by one of our businesses pursuant to such agreements are referred to as offsetting management fees and will offset, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the management fee otherwise due and payable by our company under the management services agreement with respect to a fiscal quarter. The management services agreement provides that the aggregate amount of offsetting management fees to be paid to our manager with respect to any fiscal quarter shall not exceed the management fee to be paid to our manager with respect to such fiscal quarter.

Our manager entered into offsetting management services agreements with 1847 Neese and Goedeker and may enter into offsetting management services agreements with our future subsidiaries, which agreements would be in the form prescribed by our management services agreement.

The services that our manager will provide to future subsidiaries under the offsetting management services agreements will include: conducting general and administrative supervision and oversight of the subsidiary’s day-to-day business and operations, including, but not limited to, recruiting and hiring of personnel, administration of personnel and personnel benefits, development of administrative policies and procedures, establishment and management of banking services, managing and arranging for the maintaining of liability insurance, arranging for equipment rental, maintenance of all necessary permits and licenses, acquisition of any additional licenses and permits that become necessary, participation in risk management policies and procedures; and overseeing and consulting with respect to our business and operational strategies, the implementation of such strategies and the evaluation of such strategies, including, but not limited to, strategies with respect to capital expenditure and expansion programs, acquisitions or dispositions and product or service lines. If our manager and the subsidiary do not enter into an offsetting management services agreement, our manager will provide these services for our subsidiaries under our management services agreement.

The offsetting management fee paid to our manager for providing management services to a future subsidiary will vary.

On March 3, 2017, 1847 Neese entered into an offsetting management services agreement with our manager and on April 5, 2019, Goedeker entered into an offsetting management services agreement with our manager. Pursuant to the offsetting management services agreements, each of 1847 Neese and Goedeker appointed our manager to provide certain services to it for a quarterly management fee equal to $62,500 per quarter (in the case of Goedeker, such fee is equal to the greater of $62,500 or 2% of Adjusted Net Assets (as defined in the management services agreement)); provided, however, that (i) pro rated payments shall be made in the first quarter and the last quarter of the term, (ii) if the aggregate amount of management fees paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to any fiscal year exceeds, or is expected to exceed, 9.5% of our gross income with respect to such fiscal year, then the management fee to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker for any remaining fiscal quarters in such fiscal year shall be reduced, on a pro rata basis determined by reference to the management fees to be paid to our manager by all of the subsidiaries of our company, until the aggregate amount of the management fee paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to such fiscal year, does not exceed 9.5% of our gross income with respect to such fiscal year, and (iii) if the aggregate amount the management fee paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to any fiscal quarter exceeds, or is expected to exceed, the aggregate amount of the management fee (before any adjustment thereto) calculated and payable under the management services agreement, which we refer to as the parent management fee, with respect to such fiscal quarter, then the management fee to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker for such fiscal quarter shall be reduced, on a pro rata basis, until the aggregate amount of the management fee paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to such fiscal quarter, does not exceed the parent management fee calculated and payable with respect to such fiscal quarter.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, under terms of a term loan from Home State Bank, no fees may be paid to our manager under the Neese offsetting management services agreement without permission of the bank, which our does not expect to be granted within the forthcoming year. In addition, payment of the management fee under the Goedeker offsetting management services agreement is subordinated to the payment of interest on a promissory note issued to Goedeker Television, such that no payment of the management fee may be made if Goedeker is in default under such note with regard to interest payments and, for the avoidance of doubt, such payment of the management fee will be contingent on Goedeker being in good standing on all associated loan covenants. In addition, during the period that that any amounts are owed under the note or the earn out payments under the asset purchase agreement with Goedeker Television, the annual management fee shall be capped at $250,000. In addition, the rights of our manager to receive payments under the Goedeker offsetting management services agreement are subordinate to the rights of Burnley Capital LLC and Small Business Community Capital II, L.P. under separate subordination agreements that Goedeker entered into with them on April 5, 2019.

Each of 1847 Neese and Goedeker shall also reimburse our manager for all of its costs and expenses which are specifically approved by its board of directors, including all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, which are actually incurred by our manager or its affiliates on behalf of 1847 Neese or Goedeker in connection with performing services under the offsetting management services agreements.

The services provided by our manager include: conducting general and administrative supervision and oversight of day-to-day business and operations, including, but not limited to, recruiting and hiring of personnel, administration of personnel and personnel benefits, development of administrative policies and procedures, establishment and management of banking services, managing and arranging for the maintaining of liability insurance, arranging for equipment rental, maintenance of all necessary permits and licenses, acquisition of any additional licenses and permits that become necessary, participation in risk management policies and procedures; and overseeing and consulting with respect to business and operational strategies, the implementation of such strategies and the evaluation of such strategies, including, but not limited to, strategies with respect to capital expenditure and expansion programs, acquisitions or dispositions and product or service lines.

Example of Calculation of Management Fee with Adjustment for Offsetting Management Fees

In order to better understand how the management fee is calculated, we are providing the following example:

The foregoing example provides hypothetical information only and does not intend to reflect actual or expected management fee amounts.

For purposes of the calculation of the management fee:

Transaction Services Agreements

Pursuant to the management services agreement, we have agreed that our manager may, at any time, enter into transaction services agreements with any of our businesses relating to the performance by our manager of certain transaction-related services in connection with the acquisitions of target businesses by our company or its businesses or dispositions of our company’s or its businesses’ property or assets. These services may include those customarily performed by a third-party investment banking firm or similar financial advisor, which may or may not be similar to management services, in connection with the acquisition of target businesses by us or our subsidiaries or disposition of subsidiaries or any of our property or assets or those of our subsidiaries. In connection with providing transaction services, our manager will generally receive a fee equal to the sum of (i) 2.0% of the aggregate purchase price of the target business up to and equal to $50 million, plus (ii) 1.5% of the aggregate purchase price of the target business in excess of $50 million and up to and equal to $100 million, plus (iii) 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price over $100 million, subject to annual review by our board of directors. The purchase price of a target business shall be defined as the aggregate amount of consideration, including cash and the value of any shares issued by us on the date of acquisition, paid for the equity interests of such target business plus the aggregate principal amount of any debt assumed by us of the target business on the date of acquisition or any similar formulation. The other terms and conditions relating to the performance of transaction services will be established in accordance with market practice.

Our manager may enter into transaction services agreements with our subsidiaries and future subsidiaries, which agreements would be in the form prescribed by our management services agreement.

The services that our manager will provide to our subsidiaries and future subsidiaries under the transaction services agreements will include the following services that would be provided in connection with a specific transaction identified at the time that the transaction services agreement is entered into: reviewing, evaluating and otherwise familiarizing itself and its affiliates with the business, operations, properties, financial condition and prospects of the future subsidiary and its target acquisition and preparing documentation describing the future subsidiary’s operations, management, historical financial results, projected financial results and any other relevant matters and presenting such documentation and making recommendations with respect thereto to certain of our manager’s affiliates.

Any fees received by our manager pursuant to such a transaction services agreement will be in addition to the management fee payable by our company pursuant to the management services agreement and will not offset the payment of such management fee. A transaction services agreement with any of our businesses may provide for the reimbursement of costs and expenses incurred by our manager in connection with the acquisition of such businesses.

Transaction services agreements will be reviewed, authorized and approved by our company’s board of directors on an annual basis.

Reimbursement of Expenses

Our company will be responsible for paying costs and expenses relating to its business and operations. Our company agreed to reimburse our manager during the term of the management services agreement for all costs and expenses of our company that are incurred by our manager or its affiliates on behalf of our company, including any out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services under the management services agreement, and all costs and expenses the reimbursement of which are specifically approved by our company’s board of directors.

Our company will not be obligated or responsible for reimbursing or otherwise paying for any costs or expenses relating to our manager’s overhead or any other costs and expenses relating to our manager’s conduct of its business and operations. Also, our company will not be obligated or responsible for reimbursing our manager for costs and expenses incurred by our manager in the identification, evaluation, management, performance of due diligence on, negotiation and oversight of potential acquisitions of new businesses for which our company (or our manager on behalf of our company) fails to submit an indication of interest or letter of intent to pursue such acquisition, including costs and expenses relating to travel, marketing and attendance of industry events and retention of outside service providers relating thereto. In addition, our company will not be obligated or responsible for reimbursing our manager for costs and expenses incurred by our manager in connection with the identification, evaluation, management, performance of due diligence on, negotiating and oversight of an acquisition by our company if such acquisition is actually consummated and the business so acquired entered into a transaction services agreement with our manager providing for the reimbursement of such costs and expenses by such business. In this respect, the costs and expenses associated with the pursuit of add-on acquisitions for our company may be reimbursed by any businesses so acquired pursuant to a transaction services agreement.

All reimbursements will be reviewed and, in certain circumstances, approved by our company’s board of directors on an annual basis in connection with the preparation of year-end financial statements.

Termination Fee

We will pay our manager a termination fee upon termination of the management services agreement if such termination is based solely on a vote of our company’s board of directors and our shareholders; no other termination fee will be payable to our manager in connection with the termination of the management services agreement for any other reason. The termination fee that is payable to our manager will be equal to the product of (i) two (2) multiplied by (ii) the sum of the amount of the quarterly management fees calculated with respect to the four fiscal quarters immediately preceding the termination date of the management services agreement. The termination fee will be payable in eight equal quarterly installments, with the first such installment being paid on or within five (5) business days of the last day of the fiscal quarter in which the management services agreement was terminated and each subsequent installment being paid on or within five (5) business days of the last day of each subsequent fiscal quarter, until such time as the termination fee is paid in full to our manager.

Our Manager as an Equity Holder

Manager’s Profit Allocation

Our manager owns 100% of the allocation shares of our company, which generally will entitle our manager to receive a 20% profit allocation as a form of preferred distribution. Upon the sale of a company subsidiary, our manager will be paid a profit allocation if the sum of (i) the excess of the gain on the sale of such subsidiary over a high water mark plus (ii) the subsidiary’s net income since its acquisition by our company exceeds the 8% hurdle rate. The 8% hurdle rate is the product of (i) a 2% rate per quarter, multiplied by (ii) the number of quarters such subsidiary was held by our company, multiplied by (iii) the subsidiary’s average share (determined based on gross assets, generally) of our consolidated net equity (determined according to GAAP with certain adjustments). In certain circumstances, after a subsidiary has been held for at least 5 years, our manager may also trigger a profit allocation with respect to such subsidiary (determined based solely on the subsidiary’s net income since its acquisition). The calculation of the profit allocation and the rights of our manager, as the holder of the allocation shares, are governed by the operating agreement.

Our board will have the opportunity to review and approve the calculation of manager’s profit allocation when it becomes due and payable. Our manager will not receive a profit allocation on an annual basis. Instead, our manager will be paid a profit allocation only upon the occurrence of one of the following events, which we refer to collectively as the trigger events:

We believe this payment timing, rather than a method that provides for annual allocation payments, more accurately reflects the long-term performance of each of our businesses and is consistent with our intent to hold, manage and grow our businesses over the long term. We refer generally to the obligation to make this payment to our manager as the “profit allocation” and, specifically, to the amount of any particular profit allocation as the “manager’s profit allocation.”

Definitions used in, and an example of the calculation of profit allocation, are set forth in more detail below.

The amount of our manager’s profit allocation will be based on the extent to which the “total profit allocation amount” (as defined below) with respect to any business, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter in which a trigger event occurs, which date we refer to as the “calculation date”, exceeds the relevant hurdle amounts (as described below) with respect to such business, as of such calculation date. Our manager’s profit allocation will be calculated by an administrator, which will be our manager so long as the management services agreement is in effect, and such calculation will be subject to a review and approval process by our company’s board of directors. For this purpose, “total profit allocation amount” will be equal to, with respect to any business as of any calculation date, the sum of:

Specifically, manager’s profit allocation will be calculated and paid as follows:

The administrator will calculate our manager’s profit allocation on or promptly following the relevant calculation date, subject to a “true-up” calculation upon availability of audited or unaudited consolidated financial statements, as the case may be, of our company to the extent not available on such calculation date. Any adjustment necessitated by the true-up calculation will be made in connection with the next calculation of manager’s profit allocation. Because of the length of time that may pass between trigger events, there may be a significant delay in our company’s ability to realize the benefit, if any, of a true-up of our manager’s profit allocation.

Once calculated, the administrator will submit the calculation of our manager’s profit allocation, as adjusted pursuant to any true-up, to our company’s board of directors for its review and approval. The board of directors will have ten business days to review and approve the calculation, which approval shall be automatic absent disapproval by the board of directors. Our manager’s profit allocation will be paid ten business days after such approval.

If the board of directors disapproves of the administrator’s calculation of manager’s profit allocation, the calculation and payment of manager’s profit allocation will be subject to a dispute resolution process, which may result in manager’s profit allocation being determined, at our company’s cost and expense, by two independent accounting firms. Any determination by such independent accounting firms will be conclusive and binding on our company and our manager.

We will also pay a tax distribution to our manager if our manager is allocated taxable income by our company but does not realize distributions from our company at least equal to the taxes payable by our manager resulting from allocations of taxable income. Any such tax distributions will be paid in a similar manner as profit allocations are paid.

For any fiscal quarter in which a trigger event occurs with respect to more than one business, the calculation of our manager’s profit allocation, including the components thereof, will be made with respect to each business in the order in which controlling interests in such businesses were acquired or obtained by our company and the resulting amounts shall be aggregated to determine the total amount of manager’s profit allocation. If controlling interests in two or more businesses were acquired at the same time and such businesses give rise to a calculation of manager’s profit allocation during the same fiscal quarter, then manager’s profit allocation will be further calculated separately for each such business in the order in which such businesses were sold.

As obligations of our company, profit allocations and tax distributions will be paid prior to the payment of distributions to our shareholders. If we do not have sufficient liquid assets to pay the profit allocations or tax distributions when due, we may be required to liquidate assets or incur debt in order to pay such profit allocation. Our manager will have the right to elect to defer the payment of our manager’s profit allocation due on any payment date. Once deferred, our manager may demand payment thereof upon 20 business days’ prior written notice.

Termination of the management services agreement, by any means, will not affect our manager’s rights with respect to the allocation shares that it owns, including its right to receive profit allocations, unless our manager exercises its put right to sell such allocation shares to our company.

Example of Calculation of Manager’s Profit Allocation

Our manager will receive a profit allocation at the end of the fiscal quarter in which a trigger event occurs, as follows (all dollar amounts are in millions):

Assumptions

Year 1:

Acquisition of Company A

Acquisition of Company B

Year 4

Company A (or assets thereof) sold for $25 capital gain (as defined below) over its net book value of assets at time of sale, which is a qualifying trigger event

Company A’s average allocated share of our consolidated net equity over its ownership is $50

Company A’s holding period in quarters is 12

Company A’s contribution-based profit since acquisition is $5

Year 6:

Company B’s contribution-based profit since acquisition is $7

Company B’s average allocated share of our consolidated net equity over its ownership is $25

Company B’s holding period in quarters is 20

Company B’s cumulative gains and losses are $20

Manager elects to have holding period measured for purposes of profit allocation for Company B

For purposes of calculating profit allocation:

Supplemental Put Provision

In addition to the provisions discussed above, in consideration of our manager’s acquisition of the allocation shares, our operating agreement contains a supplemental put provision pursuant to which our manager will have the right to cause our company to purchase the allocation shares then owned by our manager upon termination of the management services agreement.

If the management services agreement is terminated at any time or our manager resigns, then our manager will have the right, but not the obligation, for one year from the date of such termination or resignation, as the case may be, to elect to cause our company to purchase all of the allocation shares then owned by our manager for the put price as of the put exercise date.

For purposes of this provision, the “put price” is equal to, as of any exercise date, (i) if we terminate the management services agreement, the sum of two separate, independently made calculations of the aggregate amount of manager’s profit allocation as of such exercise date or (ii) if our manager resigns, the average of two separate, independently made calculations of the aggregate amount of manager’s profit allocation as of such exercise date, in each case, calculated assuming that (x) all of the businesses are sold in an orderly fashion for fair market value as of such exercise date in the order in which the controlling interest in each business was acquired or otherwise obtained by our company, (y) the last day of the fiscal quarter ending immediately prior to such exercise date is the relevant calculation date for purposes of calculating manager’s profit allocation as of such exercise date. Each of the two separate, independently made calculations of our manager’s profit allocation for purposes of calculating the put price will be performed by a different investment bank that is engaged by our company at its cost and expense. The put price will be adjusted to account for a final “true-up” of our manager’s profit allocation.

Our manager and our company can mutually agree to permit our company to issue a note in lieu of payment of the put price when due; provided, that if our manager resigns and terminates the management services agreement, then our company will have the right, in its sole discretion, to issue a note in lieu of payment of the put price when due. In either case the note would have an aggregate principal amount equal to the put price, would bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 4.0% per annum, would mature on the first anniversary of the date upon which the put price was initially due, and would be secured by the then-highest priority lien available to be placed on our equity interests in each of our businesses.

Our company’s obligations under the put provision of our operating agreement are absolute and unconditional. In addition, our company will be subject to certain obligations and restrictions upon exercise of our manager’s put right until such time as our company’s obligations under the put provision of our operating agreement, including any related note, have been satisfied in full, including:

Our company also has agreed to indemnify our manager for any losses or liabilities it incurs or suffers in connection with, arising out of or relating to its exercise of its put right or any enforcement of terms and conditions of the supplemental put provision of our operating agreement.

As an obligation of our company, the put price will be paid prior to the payment of distributions to our shareholders. If we do not have sufficient liquid assets to pay the put price when due, we may be required to liquidate assets or incur debt in order to pay the put price.

Termination of the management services agreement, by any means, will not affect our manager’s rights with respect to the allocation shares that it owns. In this regard, our manager will retain its put right and its allocation shares after ceasing to serve as our manager. As a result, if we terminate our manager, regardless of the reason for such termination, it would retain the right to exercise the put right and demand payment of the put price.

LAND MANAGEMENT SERVICE BUSINESS

Overview

On March 3, 2017, we completed the acquisition of Neese. Headquartered in Grand Junction, Iowa and founded in 1991, Neese is an established business specializing in providing a wide range of land application services and selling equipment and parts, primarily to the agricultural industry, but also to the construction and lawn and garden industries. Neese’s revenue mix is composed of waste disposal and a variety of agricultural services, wholesaling of agricultural equipment and parts, local trucking services, various shop services, and other products and services. Services to the local agricultural and farming communities include manure spreading, land rolling, bin whipping, cleaning of bulk storage bins and silos, equipment rental, trucking, vacuuming, building erection, and others.

Neese carries high-quality farm and ranch equipment from prominent manufacturers, including Buhler Versatile Tractors, Harvest International, Nuhn Industries Ltd., Twinstar, Fantini, Loftness, Roto-Grind, Sage Oil Vac, Dixie Chopper, and many others.

Products and Services

Waste Disposal and Land Application Services

Neese’s largest revenue source is providing waste disposal and land application services, primarily for the agricultural industry, and to a lesser extent, industrial and municipal customers. Services to the local agricultural and farming communities include manure spreading and land rolling. Neese also has a fleet of trucks that haul products for a variety of customers. Service revenues accounted for approximately 65.9% and 63.2% of Neese’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Equipment and Parts Sales

Neese sells a wide range of farm and agricultural equipment. Some of the major brands offered include, but are not limited to, the following:

Other Products and Services

Neese provides a variety of services to the local agricultural and farming communities, including bin whipping, cleaning all types of bulk storage bins and silos, equipment rental, trucking, vacuuming, building erection, and other services.

Pricing

Neese prices its products and services at what the market will bear. Pricing is generally determined by product and service mix, supply and demand, wholesale prices on equipment/parts, competitive forces, and other factors.

Supplier Relationships

Neese employs a variety of suppliers with two suppliers representing 10% or more of our total purchases. Neese maintains close relationships with its suppliers. Neese’s key vendors and suppliers are listed in the table below.

Products are purchased from these suppliers on an at-will basis. Such manufacturers could discontinue sales to Neese at any time or upon short notice. If any of these suppliers discontinued selling or were unable to continue selling to Neese, there could be a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Relationships with suppliers are subject to change from time to time. Changes in Neese’s relationships with suppliers occur periodically, and could positively or negatively impact our net sales and operating profits. Please see Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Land Management Services Business—We depend upon manufacturers who may be unable to provide products of adequate quality or who may be unwilling to continue to supply products to us.” However, we believe that we can be successful in mitigating negative effects resulting from unfavorable changes in the relationships between Neese and its suppliers through, among other things, the development of new or expanded supplier relationships.

Sales and Marketing

Neese relies primarily on the following methods to generate new business:

We believe that Neese’s growth to date is also the result of the creation and maintenance of an excellent reputation with numerous farms and other players throughout the agricultural community of central Iowa. In addition, we believe that the founders have been instrumental in building the account base through extensive industry experience and product knowledge. Neese has a firm commitment to product quality and timely delivery, and customer satisfaction.

Customers and Markets

Neese currently serves approximately 580 active accounts. The end user market is the agricultural industry (livestock and crop production markets). Neese also performs work for and sells to industrial and municipal customers. The general service area is within a 60-mile radius of Neese’s headquarters in Grand Junction, Iowa.

We believe that Neese’s established customer base is a strong asset that contributes to its stability and presents opportunities for sales growth. Neese has a diversified customer base without reliance on several large customers. For the year ended December 31, 2019, one customer accounted for more than 10% of sales, and the next largest customer accounted for 3.4% of sales.

Competition

The U.S. farm and garden equipment wholesalers industry includes manufacturers’ wholesale sales branches as well as retail dealers in farm equipment, which are grouped with wholesalers because their products are sold primarily for business use rather than personal or household use. Large distributors have few economies of scale but can offer customers a wider range of products. Small distributors can compete successfully by holding exclusive territory rights to popular products.

Neese competes with numerous companies that offer similar products and/or services. We believe that Neese’s primary competitive advantage is its decades-long, superior reputation for high quality products, service, reliability and stability, and safety record. Additionally, Neese is located in central Iowa, a strategic location due to its proximity to the State’s agricultural industry and its easy access to Interstate 35.

Competitive Strengths

Based on our management’s belief and experience in the industry, we believe that the following competitive strengths enable Neese to compete effectively.

Growth Strategies

We will strive to grow Neese’s business by pursuing the following growth strategies.

Intellectual Property

We do not own or license any material intellectual property in connection with the operation of Neese.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019, Neese employed 29 full-time employees, as depicted in the table below.

None of Neese’s employees are represented by labor unions, and Neese believes that it has an excellent relationship with its employees.

Regulation

Neese is subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations, which historically have not had a material effect on our business. For example, most of the products sold and service provided are regulated by a host of state and federal agencies, including, one or more of the following: the Environmental Protection Agency, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Since we are a wholesaler (and not a manufacturer) of these products, responsibility for compliance generally falls upon the manufacturer. Neese is required to hold a commercial manure handler license which requires an annual training program.

RETAIL AND APPLIANCES BUSINESS

Overview

On April 5, 2019, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Goedeker Television through our subsidiary Goedeker, which now operates the prior business of Goedeker Television, a Missouri corporation founded in 1951. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Goedeker is a one-stop e-commerce destination for home furnishings, including appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods. Goedeker has evolved from a local brick and mortar operation serving the St. Louis metro area to a large nationwide omnichannel retailer. While Goedeker still maintains its St. Louis showroom, over 90% of sales are placed through its website at www.goedekers.com. Goedeker offers over 227,000 SKUs organized by category and product features, providing visitors to the site an easy to navigate shopping experience.

Through its e-commerce business model, Goedeker offers a one-stop online marketplace for consumers looking for variety, style, service and value when shopping for nearly any home product need. Goedeker is focused on bringing its customers an experience that is at the forefront of shopping online for the home. Goedeker has built a large online selection of appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods. It is able to offer this vast selection of products because it holds minimal inventory. Goedeker specializes in the home category and this has enabled it to build a shopping experience and logistics infrastructure that is tailored to the unique characteristics of its market.

The delivery experience and overall customer service that Goedeker offers its shoppers are central to its business. Goedeker purchases inventory only after a sale has been made through its website. This allows Goedeker to tightly manage its inventory and warehouse space while still providing customers quick delivery times and control over the entire process. About 90% of appliances flow through Goedeker’s warehouse while almost all furniture is drop shipped to the customer. All inventory is managed with a barcode system and is automatically tracked through Goedeker’s Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP system.

Products

Appliances

The appliance category is Goedeker’s largest revenue source, with a long history of selling these products and serving the distinct needs of consumers looking to replace or add to their home appliances. Goedeker offers roughly 22,000 appliance SKUs from all mainline original equipment manufacturers, including refrigerators, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, washers and dryers. Sales of appliances accounted for approximately 82.2% of Goedeker’s revenues for the period from acquisition (April 5, 2019) to December 31, 2019.

Furniture

Goedeker began selling furniture online in 2015 and currently offers approximately 148,000 SKUs from over 340 furniture vendors. Furniture is the second largest product category. The organization of product by type and characteristics makes for a rich and pleasurable shopping experience in a complicated product category. Sales of furniture accounted for approximately 12.7% of Goedeker’s revenues for the period from acquisition (April 5, 2019) to December 31, 2019.

Other Products

Goedeker offers a broad assortment of products in the décor, bed & bath, lighting, outdoor living and electronics categories. While these are not individually high-volume categories, they complement the appliance and furniture categories to produce a one-stop home goods offering for customers. Other sales accounted for approximately 5.1% of Goedeker’s revenues for the period from acquisition (April 5, 2019) to December 31, 2019.

Pricing

We believe that Goedeker’s pricing model is one of its largest competitive differentiators as Goedeker strives to be the low price in the market. Goedeker’s team tracks pricing daily on more than 22,000 appliance SKUs, comparing prices withal major online competitors. Adjustments are made daily to ensure Goedeker has the low-price option in the market and is best positioned to convert customers once they arrive at Goedeker.

Vendor/Supplier Relationships

Goedeker offers more than 1,000 vendors and over 227,000 SKUs available for purchase through www.goedekers.com. This depth of vendor relationships gives consumers numerous options in all product categories resulting in a true one-stop shopping destination. Goedeker’s key vendors and suppliers are listed in the table below.

Products are purchased from these suppliers on an at-will basis. Relationships with suppliers are subject to change from time to time. Changes in Goedeker’s relationships with suppliers occur periodically and could positively or negatively impact its net sales and operating profits. Please see Item 1A. “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Retail and Appliances Business.” However, we believe that Goedeker can be successful in mitigating negative effects resulting from unfavorable changes in the relationships between Goedeker and its suppliers through, among other things, the development of new or expanded supplier relationships.

Sales and Marketing

Email

Goedeker leverages its extensive data base of approximately 198,000 past and potential opt in customers with email marketing to produce targeted messaging at a mass level. The marketing team produces three new email messages per week, utilizing in-house graphic design, copy and editing resources. The messaging ranges from themes such as seasonal, category and product messaging to a simple thank you note shortly after a purchase is made. Not all people in the data base receive all emails, but roughly 1/3 of them will receive at least one e-mail per week. The messaging is targeted based on past order activity, order frequency, customer preferences of product or category and shopping cart abandonment.

As an incentive for opting into Goedeker’s mailing list, it provides customers with a $20 discount coupon on orders of $850 or more. Because a vast majority of new subscribers are one step away from making a purchase, Goedeker has been successful with this promotion in converting “browsers” to “buyers.”

Social Media

Goedeker has utilized social media sparingly to drive traffic and build brand awareness, primarily through Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Goedeker believes that there is great potential with social media as a brand-building tool, but has been reluctant to increase spending in this area as the marketing focus has been on conversions and sales over brand. However, Goedeker anticipates that social media will become a growing focus for its marketing spend.

Social Media Paid Advertising

Goedeker currently utilizes paid advertising on Google, Facebook and Bing. The majority of its add spending is centered on Google Shopping which lets Goedeker leverage its competitive pricing in the final stage of a customer’s buying journey. Goedeker utilizes Facebook Ads largely as a retargeting platform to stay in touch with recent website browsers as well as past customers.

Affiliate Marketing

Goedeker has invested in affiliate marketing in the past, but has since scaled back this effort. Certain states have been targeting online companies and charging sales tax on sales passed through by affiliate residents of such state. Goedeker found that the administrative burden and tax impact of revenue generated by many of the affiliates outweighed the benefits. As of the date of this report, Goedeker has only one affiliate marketing relationship remaining with 200 affiliate publishers.

Customers and Markets

Goedeker has an extensive data base of approximately 198,000 past and potential opt in customers. Goedeker caters to highly educated, mature individuals with disposable income. The average shopper is between 40 and 60 years old, lived in a single-family domicile and is a home owner. Approximately one-half of Goedeker’s clientele has an annual income in excess of $100,000, which allows them to take advantage of Goedeker’s premium product offerings.

Competition

Goedeker competes with numerous companies that offer similar products. We believe that Goedeker’s primary competitive advantage is its decades-long, superior reputation for high quality products, service, and reliability.

Appliances

The U.S. appliance market in general is highly fragmented with thousands of local and regional retailers competing for share in what has historically been a high touch sale process with strict showroom requirements. Goedeker’s main competitors in the appliance market include Lowe’s, Home Depot, AJ Madison, Appliance Connection, and US Appliance.

While the broader consumer electronics category is fairly cyclical following general economic waves, the major appliance category is a very steady performer within this group. The shifting landscape to online sales in the segment is providing a significant market share capture and positioning opportunity for companies. Goedeker has and is continuing to capitalize on this market shift.

Furniture and Homewares

Although consolidation in the U.S. furniture and homeware market continues to progress, the industry is still relatively fragmented compared to other retail subsectors of similar market value. Goedeker’s main competitors in the furniture and homewares market include Wayfair and Ashley Home Stores.

Much like the appliance market, the shifting landscape to online sales in the segment is providing a significant market share capture and positioning opportunity for companies, led by giants such as Wayfair and Amazon. Goedeker has and is continuing to capitalize on this market shift.

Competitive Strengths

Based on management’s belief and experience in the industry, we believe that the following competitive strengths enable Goedeker to compete effectively.

Growth Strategies

We will strive to grow Goedeker’s business by pursuing the following growth strategies.

Intellectual Property

Goedeker has several domain names, including for its www.goedekers.com website. It does not own or license any other material intellectual property in connection with the operation of Goedeker.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019, Goedeker employed 72 full-time employees.

None of Goedeker’s employees are represented by labor unions, and we believe that it has an excellent relationship with its employees.

Regulation

Goedeker’s business is subject a variety of laws and regulations applicable to companies conducting business on the Internet. Jurisdictions vary as to how, or whether, existing laws governing areas such as personal privacy and data security, consumer protection or sales and other taxes, among other areas, apply to the Internet and e-commerce, and these laws are continually evolving. For example, certain applicable privacy laws and regulations require Goedeker to provide customers with its policies on sharing information with third parties, and advance notice of any changes to these policies. Related laws may govern the manner in which Goedeker stores or transfers sensitive information or impose obligations on Goedeker in the event of a security breach or inadvertent disclosure of such information. Additionally, tax regulations in jurisdictions where Goedeker does not currently collect state or local taxes may subject it to the obligation to collect and remit such taxes, or to additional taxes, or to requirements intended to assist jurisdictions with their tax collection efforts. New legislation or regulation, the application of laws from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to Goedeker’s business, or the application of existing laws and regulations to the Internet and e-commerce generally could result in significant additional taxes on Goedeker’s business. Further, Goedeker could be subject to fines or other payments for any past failures to comply with these requirements. The continued growth and demand for e-commerce is likely to result in more laws and regulations that impose additional compliance burdens on e-commerce companies.

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider all of the risks described below, together with all of the other information contained or referred to in this report, before making an investment decision with respect to our securities. If any of the following events occur, our financial condition, business and results of operations (including cash flows) may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the market price of our shares could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business and Structure

We may not be able to effectively integrate the businesses that we may acquire.

Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions will depend on our ability to integrate those businesses with our own. The combination of multiple independent businesses is a complex, costly and time-consuming process and there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully integrate businesses into our business, or if such integration is successfully accomplished, that such integration will not be costlier or take longer than presently contemplated. Integration of future acquisitions may include various risks and uncertainties, including the factors discussed in the paragraph below. If we cannot successfully integrate and manage the businesses within a reasonable time, we may not be able to realize the potential and anticipated benefits of the such acquisitions, which could have a material adverse effect on our share price, business, cash flows, results of operations and financial position.

We will consider other acquisitions that we believe will complement, strengthen and enhance our growth. We evaluate opportunities on a preliminary basis from time to time, but these transactions may not advance beyond the preliminary stages or be completed. Such acquisitions are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including:

We are a new company with limited history and we may not be able to manage our future businesses on a profitable basis.

We were formed on January 22, 2013 and operated a management consulting business from inception through October 3, 2017. On March 3, 2017, we acquired Neese, which is a business that provides a wide range of products and services for the agriculture, construction, lawn and garden industries. On April 5, 2019, we acquired the assets of Goedeker Television, a one-stop e-commerce destination for home furnishings, including appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods. We plan to acquire additional operating businesses in the future. Our manager will manage the day-to-day operations and affairs of our company and oversee the management and operations of our future businesses, subject to the oversight of our board of directors. If we do not develop effective systems and procedures, including accounting and financial reporting systems, to manage our operations as a consolidated public company, we may not be able to manage the combined enterprise on a profitable basis, which could adversely affect our ability to pay distributions to our shareholders.

Our future success is dependent on the employees of our manager, our manager’s operating partners and the management team of our business, the loss of any of whom could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

Our future success depends, to a significant extent, on the continued services of the employees of our manager. The loss of their services may materially adversely affect our ability to manage the operations of our businesses. The employees of our manager may leave our manager and go to companies that compete with us in the future. In addition, we will depend on the assistance provided by our manager’s operating partners in evaluating, performing diligence on and managing our businesses. The loss of any employees of our manager or any of our manager’s operating partners may materially adversely affect our ability to implement or maintain our management strategy or our acquisition strategy.

The future success of Neese, Goedeker and our future businesses also depends on the respective management teams of those businesses because we intend to operate our businesses on a stand-alone basis, primarily relying on their existing management teams for day-to-day operations. Consequently, their operational success, as well as the success of any organic growth strategy, will be dependent on the continuing efforts of the management teams of our future businesses. We will seek to provide these individuals with equity incentives in our company and to have employment agreements with certain persons we have identified as key to their businesses. However, these measures may not prevent these individuals from leaving their employment. The loss of services of one or more of these individuals may materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

We may experience difficulty as we evaluate, acquire and integrate businesses that we may acquire, which could result in drains on our resources, including the attention of our management, and disruptions of our on-going business.

We intend to acquire small businesses in various industries. Generally, because such businesses are privately held, we may experience difficulty in evaluating potential target businesses as much of the information concerning these businesses is not publicly available. Therefore, our estimates and assumptions used to evaluate the operations, management and market risks with respect to potential target businesses may be subject to various risks and uncertainties. Further, the time and costs associated with identifying and evaluating potential target businesses and their industries may cause a substantial drain on our resources and may divert our management team’s attention away from the operations of our businesses for significant periods of time.

In addition, we may have difficulty effectively integrating and managing acquisitions. The management or improvement of businesses we acquire may be hindered by a number of factors, including limitations in the standards, controls, procedures and policies implemented in connection with such acquisitions. Further, the management of an acquired business may involve a substantial reorganization of the business’ operations resulting in the loss of employees and customers or the disruption of our ongoing businesses. We may experience greater than expected costs or difficulties relating to an acquisition, in which case, we might not achieve the anticipated returns from any particular acquisition.

We face competition for businesses that fit our acquisition strategy and, therefore, we may have to acquire targets at sub-optimal prices or, alternatively, forego certain acquisition opportunities.

We have been formed to acquire and manage small businesses. In pursuing such acquisitions, we expect to face strong competition from a wide range of other potential purchasers. Although the pool of potential purchasers for such businesses is typically smaller than for larger businesses, those potential purchasers can be aggressive in their approach to acquiring such businesses. Furthermore, we expect that we may need to use third-party financing in order to fund some or all of these potential acquisitions, thereby increasing our acquisition costs. To the extent that other potential purchasers do not need to obtain third-party financing or are able to obtain such financing on more favorable terms, they may be in a position to be more aggressive with their acquisition proposals. As a result, in order to be competitive, our acquisition proposals may need to be aggressively priced, including at price levels that exceed what we originally determined to be fair or appropriate. Alternatively, we may determine that we cannot pursue on a cost-effective basis what would otherwise be an attractive acquisition opportunity.

We may not be able to successfully fund future acquisitions of new businesses due to the unavailability of debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, which could impede the implementation of our acquisition strategy.

In order to make future acquisitions, we intend to raise capital primarily through debt financing, primarily at our operating company level, additional equity offerings, the sale of equity or assets of our businesses, offering equity in our company or our businesses to the sellers of target businesses or by undertaking a combination of any of the above. Because the timing and size of acquisitions cannot be readily predicted, we may need to be able to obtain funding on short notice to benefit fully from attractive acquisition opportunities. Such funding may not be available on acceptable terms. In addition, the level of our indebtedness may impact our ability to borrow at our company level. The sale of additional shares of any class of equity will also be subject to market conditions and investor demand for such shares at prices that may not be in the best interest of our shareholders. These risks may materially adversely affect our ability to pursue our acquisition strategy.

We may change our management and acquisition strategies without the consent of our shareholders, which may result in a determination by us to pursue riskier business activities.

We may change our strategy at any time without the consent of our shareholders, which may result in our acquiring businesses or assets that are different from, and possibly riskier than, the strategy described in this report. A change in our strategy may increase our exposure to interest rate and currency fluctuations, subject us to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which we refer to as the Investment Company Act, or subject us to other risks and uncertainties that affect our operations and profitability.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results and prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential shareholders could lose confidence in our financial statements, which would harm the trading price of our common shares.

Companies that file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including us, are subject to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX 404. SOX 404 requires management to establish and maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting and annual reports on Form 10-K filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, to contain a report from management assessing the effectiveness of a company’s internal control over financial reporting. Separately, under SOX 404, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, public companies that are large accelerated filers or accelerated filers must include in their annual reports on Form 10-K an attestation report of their regular auditors attesting to and reporting on management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting. Non-accelerated filers and smaller reporting companies, like us, are not required to include an attestation report of their auditors in annual reports.

A report of our management is included under Item 9A. “Controls and Procedures.” We are a smaller reporting company and, consequently, are not required to include an attestation report of our auditor in our annual report. However, if and when we become subject to the auditor attestation requirements under SOX 404, we can provide no assurance that we will receive a positive attestation from our independent auditors.

During its evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, management identified material weaknesses. These material weaknesses were associated with our lack of (i) appropriate policies and procedures to evaluate the proper accounting and disclosures of key documents and agreements, (ii) adequate segregation of duties with our limited accounting personnel and reliance upon outsourced accounting services and (iii) sufficient and skilled accounting personnel with an appropriate level of technical accounting knowledge and experience in the application of GAAP commensurate with our financial reporting requirements. We are undertaking remedial measures, which measures will take time to implement and test, to address these material weaknesses. There can be no assurance that such measures will be sufficient to remedy the material weaknesses identified or that additional material weaknesses or other control or significant deficiencies will not be identified in the future. If we continue to experience material weaknesses in our internal controls or fail to maintain or implement required new or improved controls, such circumstances could cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations or result in material misstatements in our financial statements, or adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and, if required, annual auditor attestation reports. Each of the foregoing results could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and lead to a decline in our share price.

Because our Chief Executive Officer controls our manager and owns a controlling interest in our company, he is able to designate our directors and officers and control all major decisions and corporate actions and, so long as our Chief Executive Officer retains ownership of a majority of our outstanding common shares and control over our manager, you will not be able to elect any directors or have a meaningful say in any major decisions or corporate actions, which could decrease the price and marketability of our shares.

Our Chief Executive Officer owns 2,625,000 common shares, or approximately 82.92% of our outstanding common shares. Our Chief Executive Officer also controls our manager. As a result, our Chief Executive Officer is able to elect all of our directors, appoint all of our officers, control the shareholder vote on any major decision or corporate action and control our operations. Our Chief Executive Officer can unilaterally decide major corporate actions such as mergers, acquisitions, future securities offerings, amendments to our operating agreement and other significant company events. Our Chief Executive Officer’s unilateral control over us could decrease the price and marketability of our common shares.

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from the anticipated future dividends and interest payments that we expect to receive from Neese, Goedeker or our future businesses, we may not be able to make distributions to our shareholders.

We expect that our company’s primary business will be the holding and managing of controlling interests in Neese, Goedeker and the other operating businesses that we expect to acquire in the future. Therefore, we will be dependent upon the ability of our businesses to generate cash flows and, in turn, distribute cash to us in the form of interest and principal payments on indebtedness and distributions on equity to enable us, first, to satisfy our financial obligations including payment of the distributions on the series A preferred shares if and when they are issued and, second, to make other distributions to our common shareholders. The ability of our future businesses to make payments to us may also be subject to limitations under laws of the jurisdictions in which they are incorporated or organized. If, as a consequence of these various restrictions or otherwise, we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from our businesses, we may not be able to declare, or may have to delay or cancel payment of, distributions on the series A preferred shares, if and when they are issued, and distributions to our common shareholders.

In addition, the put price and profit allocation will be payment obligations of our company and, as a result, will be senior in right to the payment of any distributions to our shareholders. Further, we are required to make a profit allocation to our manager upon satisfaction of applicable conditions to payment. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder” for more information about our manager’s put right and profit allocation.

Our existing master lease agreement contains certain terms that could limit our ability to operate and could materially adversely affect our financial condition.

The cash portion of the acquisition of Neese was financed under a capital lease transaction for Neese’s equipment with Utica Leaseco, LLC, pursuant to a master lease agreement, as amended in October 2017, for the purchase of equipment used in our business, under which we are obligated to repay Utica Leaseco, LLC for certain of Neese’s equipment that it leases to 1847 Neese and Neese. In connection with the master lease agreement, we granted Utica Leaseco, LLC a security interest in and lien on all of Neese’s equipment, accounts receivable, general intangibles, inventory and certain other properties.

The master lease agreement contains customary events of default, including non-payment of rent or other payment within five (5) days of the due date, failure to maintain, use or operate the equipment in compliance with applicable law, or failure to perform any other terms, covenants or conditions under the master lease agreement. If an event of default were to occur, Utica Leaseco, LLC may pursue all remedies available to it, including terminating our right to use the equipment and other rights but not our obligations under the master lease agreement, and recover liquidating damages. The loss of our ability to use the equipment could limit our ability to operate and could materially adversely affect our financial condition.

Our revolving loans and term loans contain certain terms that could materially adversely affect our financial condition.

We and our subsidiaries are parties to certain revolving loans and term loans with third parties, which are secured by the assets of our subsidiaries.  The loans agreements contain customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative financial and other covenants. If an event of default were to occur under any of these loans, the lender thereto may pursue all remedies available to it, including declaring the obligations under its respective loan immediately due and payable, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further discussion regarding our borrowing activities.

In the future, we may seek to enter into other credit facilities to help fund our acquisition capital and working capital needs. These credit facilities may expose us to additional risks associated with leverage and may inhibit our operating flexibility and reduce cash flow available for payment of the distributions on the series A preferred shares and for other distributions to our shareholders.

We may seek to enter into other credit facilities with third-party lenders to help fund our acquisitions. Such credit facilities will likely require us to pay a commitment fee on the undrawn amount and will likely contain a number of affirmative and restrictive covenants.

If we violate any such covenants, our lenders could accelerate the maturity of any debt outstanding and we may be prohibited from making any distributions to our shareholders. Such debt may be secured by our assets, including the stock we may own in businesses that we may acquire in the future and the rights we have under intercompany loan agreements that we may enter into in the future with our businesses. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations may be affected by events beyond our control and will depend primarily upon cash produced by businesses that we currently manage and may acquire in the future and distributed or paid to our company. Any failure to comply with the terms of our indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

In addition, we expect that such credit facilities will bear interest at floating rates which will generally change as interest rates change. We will bear the risk that the rates that we are charged by our lenders will increase faster than we can grow the cash flow from our businesses or businesses that we may acquire in the future, which could reduce profitability, materially adversely affect our ability to service our debt, cause us to breach covenants contained in our third-party credit facilities and reduce cash flow available for distribution.

We may engage in a business transaction with one or more target businesses that have relationships with our executive officers, our directors, our manager, our manager’s employees or our manager’s operating partners, or any of their respective affiliates, which may create or present conflicts of interest.

We may decide to engage in a business transaction with one or more target businesses with which our executive officers, our directors, our manager, our manager’s employees, our manager’s operating partners, or any of their respective affiliates, have a relationship, which may create or present conflicts of interest. Regardless of whether we obtain a fairness opinion from an independent investment banking firm with respect to such a transaction, conflicts of interest may still exist with respect to a particular acquisition and, as a result, the terms of the acquisition of a target business may not be as advantageous to our shareholders as it would have been absent any conflicts of interest.

The operational objectives and business plans of our businesses may conflict with our operational and business objectives or with the plans and objective of another business we own and operate.

Our businesses will operate in different industries and face different risks and opportunities depending on market and economic conditions in their respective industries and regions. A business’ operational objectives and business plans may not be similar to our objectives and plans or the objectives and plans of another business that we own and operate. This could create competing demands for resources, such as management attention and funding needed for operations or acquisitions, in the future.

If, in the future, we cease to control and operate our businesses or other businesses that we acquire in the future or engage in certain other activities, we may be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

We have the ability to make investments in businesses that we will not operate or control. If we make significant investments in businesses that we do not operate or control, or that we cease to operate or control, or if we commence certain investment-related activities, we may be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Our decision to sell a business will be based upon financial, operating and other considerations rather than a plan to complete a sale of a business within any specific time frame. If we were deemed to be an investment company, we would either have to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, obtain exemptive relief from the SEC or modify our investments or organizational structure or our contract rights to fall outside the definition of an investment company. Registering as an investment company could, among other things, materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations, materially limit our ability to borrow funds or engage in other transactions involving leverage and require us to add directors who are independent of us or our manager and otherwise will subject us to additional regulation that will be costly and time-consuming.

Risks Related to Our Relationship with Our Manager

Termination of the management services agreement will not affect our manager’s rights to receive profit allocations and removal of our manager may cause us to incur significant fees.

Our manager owns all of our allocation shares, which generally will entitle our manager to receive a profit allocation as a form of preferred distribution. In general, this profit allocation is designed to pay our manager 20% of the excess of the gains upon dispositions of our subsidiaries, plus an amount equal to the net income of such subsidiaries since their acquisition by our company, over an annualized hurdle rate. If our manager resigns or is removed, for any reason, it will remain the owner of our allocation shares. It will therefore remain entitled to all profit allocations while it holds our allocation shares regardless of whether it is terminated as our manager. If we terminate our manager, it may therefore be difficult or impossible for us to find a replacement to serve the function of our manager, because we would not be able to force our manager to transfer its allocation shares to a replacement manager so that the replacement manager could be entitled to a profit allocation. Therefore, as a practical matter, it may be difficult for us to replace our manager without its cooperation. If it becomes necessary to replace our manager and we are unable to replace our manager without its cooperation, we may be unable to continue to manage our operations effectively and our business may fail.

If we terminate the management services agreement with our manager, any fees, costs and expenses already earned or otherwise payable to our manager upon termination would become immediately due. Moreover, if our manager were to be removed and our management services agreement terminated by a vote of our board of directors and a majority of our common shares other than common shares beneficially owned by our manager, we would also owe a termination fee to our manager on top of the other fees, costs and expenses. In addition, the management services agreement is silent as to whether termination of our manager “for cause” would result in a termination fee; there is therefore a risk that the agreement may be interpreted to entitle our manager to a termination fee even if terminated “for cause”. The termination fee would equal twice the sum of the amount of the quarterly management fees calculated with respect to the four fiscal quarters immediately preceding the termination date of the management services agreement. As a result, we could incur significant management fees as a result of the termination of our manager, which may increase the risk that our business may be unable to meet its financial obligations or otherwise fail.

Mr. Ellery W. Roberts, our Chief Executive Officer, director and majority shareholder, controls our manager. If some event were to occur to cause Mr. Roberts (or his designated successor, heirs, beneficiaries or permitted assigns) not to control our manager without the prior written consent of our board of directors, our manager would be considered terminated under our agreement. In addition, in his capacity as one of our directors and our majority shareholder, Mr. Roberts has the power to cause us to voluntarily terminate the management services agreement, although such voluntary termination would also require the vote of a majority of our board of directors. As such, Mr. Roberts may directly or jointly cause the adverse consequences from termination of our manager discussed above to occur.

Our manager and the members of our management team may engage in activities that compete with us or our businesses.

Although our Chief Executive Officer intends to devote substantially all of his time to the affairs of our company and our manager must present all opportunities that meet our company’s acquisition and disposition criteria to our board of directors, neither our manager nor our Chief Executive Officer is expressly prohibited from investing in or managing other entities. In this regard, the management services agreement and the obligation to provide management services will not create a mutually exclusive relationship between our manager and its affiliates, on the one hand, and our company, on the other. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager” for more information about our relationship with our manager and our management team.

Our manager need not present an acquisition opportunity to us if our manager determines on its own that such acquisition opportunity does not meet our company’s acquisition criteria.

Our manager will review any acquisition opportunity to determine if it satisfies our company’s acquisition criteria, as established by our board of directors from time to time. If our manager determines, in its sole discretion, that an opportunity fits our criteria, our manager will refer the opportunity to our board of directors for its authorization and approval prior to signing a letter of intent, indication of interest or similar document or agreement. Opportunities that our manager determines do not fit our criteria do not need to be presented to our board of directors for consideration. In addition, upon a determination by our board of directors not to promptly pursue an opportunity presented to it by our manager, in whole or in part, our manager will be unrestricted in its ability to pursue such opportunity, or any part that we do not promptly pursue, on its own or refer such opportunity to other entities, including its affiliates. If such an opportunity is ultimately profitable, we will have not participated in such opportunity. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Acquisition and Disposition Opportunities” for more information about our company’s current acquisition criteria.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ellery W. Roberts, controls our manager and, as a result we may have difficulty severing ties with Mr. Roberts.

Under the terms of the management services agreement, our board of directors may, after due consultation with our manager, at any time request that our manager replace any individual seconded to our company, and our manager will, as promptly as practicable, replace any such individual. However, because Mr. Roberts controls our manager, we may have difficulty completely severing ties with Mr. Roberts absent terminating the management services agreement and our relationship with our manager. Further, termination of the management services agreement could give rise to a significant financial obligation of our company, which may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager” for more information about our relationship with our manager.

If the management services agreement is terminated, our manager, as holder of the allocation shares, has the right to cause our company to purchase its allocation shares, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

If: (i) the management services agreement is terminated at any time other than as a result of our manager’s resignation, subject to (ii); or (ii) our manager resigns, our manager will have the right, but not the obligation, for one year from the date of termination or resignation, as the case may be, to cause our company to purchase the allocation shares for the put price. The put price shall be equal to, as of any exercise date: (i) if we terminate the management services agreement, the sum of two separate, independently made calculations of the aggregate amount of the “base put price amount” as of such exercise date; or (ii) if our manager resigns, the average of two separate, independently made calculations of the aggregate amount of the “base put price amount” as of such exercise date. If our manager elects to cause our company to purchase its allocation shares, we are obligated to do so and, until we have done so, our ability to conduct our business, including our ability to incur debt, to sell or otherwise dispose of our property or assets, to engage in certain mergers or consolidations, to acquire or purchase the property, assets or stock of, or beneficial interests in, another business, or to declare and pay distributions, would be restricted. These financial and operational obligations of our company may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business and results of operations. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder—Supplemental Put Provision” for more information about our manager’s put right and our obligations relating thereto, as well as the definition and calculation of the base put price amount.

If the management services agreement is terminated, we will need to change our name and cease our use of the term “1847”, which in turn could have a material adverse impact upon our business and results of operations as we would be required to expend funds to create and market a new name.

Our manager controls our rights to the term “1847” as it is used in the name of our company. Our company and any businesses that we acquire must cease using the term “1847,” including any trademark based on the name of our company that may be licensed to them by our manager under the license provisions of our management services agreement, entirely in their businesses and operations within 180 days of our termination of the management services agreement. The sublicense provisions of the management services agreement would require our company and its businesses to change their names to remove any reference to the term “1847” or any reference to trademarks licensed to them by our manager. This also would require us to create and market a new name and expend funds to protect that name, which may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We have agreed to indemnify our manager under the management services agreement that may result in an indemnity payment that could have a material adverse impact upon our business and results of operations.

The management services agreement provides that we will indemnify, reimburse, defend and hold harmless our manager, together with its employees, officers, members, managers, directors and agents, from and against all losses (including lost profits), costs, damages, injuries, taxes, penalties, interests, expenses, obligations, claims and liabilities of any kind arising out of the breach of any term or condition in the management services agreement or the performance of any services under such agreement except by reason of acts or omissions constituting fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence. If our manager is forced to defend itself in any claims or actions arising out of the management services agreement for which we are obligated to provide indemnification, our payment of such indemnity could have a material adverse impact upon our business and results of operations.

Our manager can resign on 120 days’ notice and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement within that time, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations, as well as the market price of our shares.

Our manager has the right, under the management services agreement, to resign at any time on 120 days written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not. If our manager resigns, we may not be able to contract with a new manager or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 120 days, or at all, in which case our operations are likely to experience a disruption, our financial condition, business and results of operations, as well as our ability to pay distributions are likely to be materially adversely affected and the market price of our shares may decline. In addition, the coordination of our internal management, acquisition activities and supervision of our business is likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the experience and expertise possessed by our manager and its affiliates. Even if we are able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, the integration of such management and their lack of familiarity with our businesses may result in additional costs and time delays that could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations as well as the market price of our shares.

The amount recorded for the allocation shares may be subject to substantial period-to-period changes, thereby significantly adversely impacting our results of operations.

Our company will record the allocation shares at the redemption value at each balance sheet date by recording any change in fair value through its income statement as a dividend between net income and net income available to common shareholders. The redemption value of the allocation shares is largely related to the value of the profit allocation that our manager, as holder of the allocation shares, will receive. The redemption value of the allocation shares may fluctuate on a period-to-period basis based on the distributions we pay to our common shareholders, the earnings of our businesses and the price of our common shares, which fluctuation may be significant, and could cause a material adverse effect on our company’s results of operations. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder” for more information about the terms and calculation of the profit allocation and any payments under the supplemental put provisions of our operating agreement.

We cannot determine the amount of management fee that will be paid to our manager over time with certainty, which management fee may be a significant cash obligation of our company and may reduce the cash available for operations and distributions to our shareholders.

Our manager’s management fee will be calculated by reference to our company’s adjusted net assets, which will be impacted by the following factors:

We cannot predict these factors, which may cause significant fluctuations in our adjusted net assets and, in turn, impact the management fee we pay to our manager. Accordingly, we cannot determine the amount of management fee that will be paid to our manager over time with any certainty, which management fee may represent a significant cash obligation of our company and may reduce the cash available for our operations and distributions to our shareholders.

We must pay our manager the management fee regardless of our performance. Therefore, our manager may be induced to increase the amount of our assets rather than the performance of our businesses.

Our manager is entitled to receive a management fee that is based on our adjusted net assets, as defined in the management services agreement, regardless of the performance of our businesses. In this respect, the calculation of the management fee is unrelated to our company’s net income. As a result, the management fee may encourage our manager to increase the amount of our assets by, for example, recommending to our board of directors the acquisition of additional assets, rather than increase the performance of our businesses. In addition, payment of the management fee may reduce or eliminate the cash we have available for distributions to our shareholders.

The management fee is based solely upon our adjusted net assets; therefore, if in a given year our performance declines, but our adjusted net assets remain the same or increase, the management fee we pay to our manager for such year will increase as a percentage of our net income and may reduce the cash available for distributions to our shareholders.

The management fee we pay to our manager will be calculated solely by reference to our company’s adjusted net assets. If in a given year the performance of our company declines, but our adjusted net assets remain the same or increase, the management fee we pay to our manager for such year will increase as a percentage of our net income and may reduce the cash available for distributions to our shareholders. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as a Service Provider—Management Fee” for more information about the terms and calculation of the management fee.

The amount of profit allocation to be paid to our manager could be substantial. However, we cannot determine the amount of profit allocation that will be paid over time or the put price with any certainty.

We cannot determine the amount of profit allocation that will be paid over time or the put price with any certainty. Such determination would be dependent on, among other things, the number, type and size of the acquisitions and dispositions that we make in the future, the distributions we pay to our shareholders, the earnings of our businesses and the market value of common shares from time to time, factors that cannot be predicted with any certainty at this time. Such factors will have a significant impact on the amount of any profit allocation to be paid to our manager, especially if our share price significantly increases. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder—Manager’s Profit Allocation” for more information about the calculation and payment of profit allocation. Any amounts paid in respect of the profit allocation are unrelated to the management fee earned for performance of services under the management services agreement.

The management fee and profit allocation to be paid to our manager may significantly reduce the amount of cash available for distributions to shareholders and for operations.

Under the management services agreement, our company will be obligated to pay a management fee to and, subject to certain conditions, reimburse the costs and out-of-pocket expenses of our manager incurred on behalf of our company in connection with the provision of services to our company. Similarly, our businesses will be obligated to pay fees to and reimburse the costs and expenses of our manager pursuant to any offsetting management services agreements entered into between our manager and our businesses, or any transaction services agreements to which such businesses are a party. In addition, our manager, as holder of the allocation shares, will be entitled to receive a profit allocation upon satisfaction of applicable conditions to payment and may be entitled to receive the put price upon the occurrence of certain events. While we cannot quantify with any certainty the actual amount of any such payments in the future, we do expect that such amounts could be substantial. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager” for more information about these payment obligations of our company. The management fee, put price and profit allocation will be payment obligations of our company and, as a result, will be senior in right to the payment of any distributions to our shareholders. Likewise, the profit allocation may also significantly reduce the cash available for operations.

Our manager’s influence on conducting our business and operations, including acquisitions, gives it the ability to increase its fees and compensation to our Chief Executive Officer, which may reduce the amount of cash available for distributions to our shareholders.

Under the terms of the management services agreement, our manager is paid a management fee calculated as a percentage of our company’s adjusted net assets for certain items and is unrelated to net income or any other performance base or measure. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as a Service Provider—Management Fee” for more information about the calculation of the management fee. Our manager, which Ellery W. Roberts, our Chief Executive Officer, controls, may advise us to consummate transactions, incur third-party debt or conduct our operations in a manner that may increase the amount of fees paid to our manager which, in turn, may result in higher compensation to Mr. Roberts because his compensation is paid by our manager from the management fee it receives from our company.

Fees paid by our company and our businesses pursuant to transaction services agreements do not offset fees payable under the management services agreement and will be in addition to the management fee payable by our company under the management services agreement.

The management services agreement provides that businesses that we may acquire in the future may enter into transaction services agreements with our manager pursuant to which our businesses will pay fees to our manager. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as a Service Provider” for more information about these agreements. Unlike fees paid under the offsetting management services agreements, fees that are paid pursuant to such transaction services agreements will not reduce the management fee payable by our company. Therefore, such fees will be in addition to the management fee payable by our company or offsetting management fees paid by businesses that we may acquire in the future.

The fees to be paid to our manager pursuant to these transaction service agreements will be paid prior to any principal, interest or dividend payments to be paid to our company by our businesses, which will reduce the amount of cash available for distributions to our shareholders.

Our manager’s profit allocation may induce it to make decisions and recommend actions to our board of directors that are not optimal for our business and operations.

Our manager, as holder of all of the allocation shares in our company, will receive a profit allocation based on the extent to which gains from any sales of our subsidiaries plus their net income since the time they were acquired exceed a certain annualized hurdle rate. As a result, our manager may be encouraged to make decisions or to make recommendations to our board of directors regarding our business and operations, the business and operations of our businesses, acquisitions or dispositions by us or our businesses and distributions to our shareholders, any of which factors could affect the calculation and payment of profit allocation, but which may otherwise be detrimental to our long-term financial condition and performance.

The obligations to pay the management fee and profit allocation, including the put price, may cause our company to liquidate assets or incur debt.

If we do not have sufficient liquid assets to pay the management fee and profit allocation, including the put price, when such payments are due and payable, we may be required to liquidate assets or incur debt in order to make such payments. This circumstance could materially adversely affect our liquidity and ability to make distributions to our shareholders. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager” for more information about these payment obligations of our company.

Risks Related to Taxation

Our shareholders will be subject to taxation on their share of our company’s taxable income, whether or not they receive cash distributions from our company.

Our company is a limited liability company and will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, our shareholders will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation and, possibly, state, local and foreign income taxation on their share of our company’s taxable income, whether or not they receive cash distributions from our company. There is, accordingly, a risk that our shareholders may not receive cash distributions equal to their portion of our company’s taxable income or even in an amount sufficient to satisfy the tax liability that results from that income. This risk is attributable to a number of variables, such as results of operations, unknown liabilities, government regulations, financial covenants relating to the debt of our company, funds needed for future acquisitions and/or to satisfy short- and long-term working capital needs of our businesses, and the discretion and authority of our company’s board of directors to make distributions or modify our distribution policy.

As a partnership, our company itself will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (except as may be imposed under certain recently enacted partnership audit rules), although it will file an annual partnership information return with the IRS. The information return will report the results of our company’s activities and will contain a Schedule K-1 for each company shareholder reflecting allocations of profits or losses (and items thereof) to members of our company, that is, to the shareholders. Each partner of a partnership is required to report on his or her income tax return his or her share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, and other items of the partnership (in each case, as reflected on such Schedule K-1) without regard to whether cash distributions are received. Each holder will be required to report on his or her tax return his or her allocable share of company income, gain, loss, deduction, credit and other items for our company’s taxable year that ends with or within the holder’s taxable year. Thus, holders of common shares will be required to report taxable income (and thus be subject to significant income tax liability) without a corresponding current receipt of cash if our company were to recognize taxable income and not make cash distributions to the shareholders.

Generally, the determination of a holder’s distributive share of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of a partnership is governed by the operating agreement. The income tax laws governing the allocation of company income, gains, losses, deductions or credits set forth in a particular Schedule K-1 are complex and there can be no assurance that the IRS would not successfully challenge any allocation set forth in any such Schedule K-1. Whether an allocation set forth in any particular K-1 issued to a shareholder will be accepted by the IRS depends on a facts and circumstances analysis of the underlying economic arrangement of our company’s shareholders. If the IRS were to prevail in challenging the allocations provided by the operating agreement, the amount of income or loss allocated to holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes could be increased or reduced or the character of the income or loss could be modified. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” included in our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-236041), for more information.

All of our company’s income could be subject to an entity-level tax in the United States, which could result in a material reduction in cash flow available for distribution to shareholders and thus could result in a substantial reduction in the value our shares.

Based on the number of shareholders we have and because our shares are listed for trading on the over-the-counter market, we believe that our company will be regarded as a publicly-traded partnership. Under the federal tax laws, a publicly-traded partnership generally will be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A publicly-traded partnership will be treated as a partnership, however, and not as a corporation, for U.S. federal tax purposes, so long as 90% or more of its gross income for each taxable year in which it is publicly traded constitutes “qualifying income” within the meaning of section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and our company is not required to register under the Investment Company Act. Qualifying income generally includes dividends, interest (other than interest derived in the conduct of a lending or insurance business or interest the determination of which depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person), certain real property rents, certain gain from the sale or other disposition of real property, gains from the sale of stock or debt instruments which are held as capital assets, and certain other forms of “passive-type” income. Our company expects to realize sufficient qualifying income to satisfy the qualifying income exception. Our company also expects that we will not be required to register under the Investment Company Act.

In certain cases, income that would otherwise qualify for the qualifying income exception may not so qualify if it is considered to be derived from an active conduct of a business. For example, the IRS may assert that interest received by our company from its subsidiaries is not qualifying income because it is derived in the conduct of a lending business. If our company fails to satisfy the qualifying income exception or is required to register under the Investment Company Act, our company will be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal (and certain state and local) income tax purposes, and shareholders of our company would be treated as shareholders in a domestic corporation. Our company would be required to pay federal income tax at regular corporate rates on its income. In addition, our company would likely be liable for state and local income and/or franchise taxes on its income. Distributions to the shareholders would constitute ordinary dividend income (taxable at then existing ordinary income rates) or, in certain cases, qualified dividend income (which is generally subject to tax at reduced tax rates) to such holders to the extent of our company’s earnings and profits, and the payment of these dividends would not be deductible to our company. Taxation of our company as a corporation could result in a material reduction in distributions to our shareholders and after-tax return and, thus, would likely result in a substantial reduction in the value of, or materially adversely affect the market price of, our shares.

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our shares may be modified by administrative, legislative, or judicial interpretation at any time, and any such action may affect investments previously made. For example, changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the qualifying income exception for our company to be classified as a partnership, and not as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, necessitate that our company restructure its investments, or otherwise adversely affect an investment in our shares.

In addition, our company may become subject to an entity level tax in one or more states. Several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise, or other forms of taxation. If any state were to impose a tax upon our company as an entity, our distributions to you would be reduced.

Complying with certain tax-related requirements may cause our company to forego otherwise attractive business or investment opportunities or enter into acquisitions, borrowings, financings, or arrangements our company may not have otherwise entered into.

In order for our company to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and not as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, our company must meet the qualifying income exception discussed above on a continuing basis and our company must not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. In order to effect such treatment, our company may be required to invest through foreign or domestic corporations, forego attractive business or investment opportunities or enter into borrowings or financings our company (o any of our subsidiaries, as the case may be) may not have otherwise entered into. This may adversely affect our ability to operate solely to maximize our cash flow. In addition, our company may not be able to participate in certain corporate reorganization transactions that would be tax free to our shareholders if our company were a corporation.

Non-corporate investors who are U.S. taxpayers will not be able to deduct certain fees, costs or other expenses for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Our company will pay a management fee (and possibly certain transaction fees) to our manager. Our company will also pay certain costs and expenses incurred in connection with activities of our manager. Our company intends to deduct such fees and expenses to the extent that they are reasonable in amount and are not capital in nature or otherwise nondeductible. It is expected that such fees and other expenses will generally constitute miscellaneous itemized deductions for non-corporate U.S. taxpayers who hold our shares. Under current law that is in effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, non-corporate U.S. taxpayers may not deduct any such miscellaneous itemized deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A non-corporate U.S. taxpayer’s inability to deduct such items could result in such holder reporting as his or her share of company taxable income an amount that exceeds any cash actually distributed to such U.S. taxpayer for the year. Corporate U.S. holders of our shares generally will be able to deduct these fees, costs and expenses in accordance with applicable U.S. federal income tax law.

A portion of the income arising from an investment in our shares may be treated as unrelated business taxable income and taxable to certain tax-exempt holders despite such holders’ tax-exempt status.

Our company expects to incur debt that would be treated as “acquisition indebtedness” under section 514 of the Code with respect to certain of its investments. To the extent our company recognizes income from any investment with respect to which there is “acquisition indebtedness” during a taxable year, or to the extent our company recognizes gain from the disposition of any investment with respect to which there is “acquisition indebtedness,” a portion of the income received will be treated as unrelated business taxable income and taxable to tax-exempt investors. In addition, if the IRS successfully asserts that we are engaged in a trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes (for example, if it determines we are engaged in a lending business), then tax-exempt and in certain cases non-U.S. holders would be subject to U.S. income tax on any income generated by such business. The foregoing only applies if the amount of such business income does not cause our company to fail to meet the qualifying income test (which would happen if such income exceeded 10% of our gross income, and in which case such failure would cause us to be taxable as a corporation).

A portion of the income arising from an investment in our shares may be treated as income that is effectively connected with our conduct of a U.S. trade or business, which income would be taxable to holders who are not U.S. taxpayers.

If the IRS successfully asserts that we are engaged in a trade or business in the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes (for example, if it determines we are engaged in a lending business), then in certain cases non-U.S. holders would be subject to U.S. income tax on any income that is effectively connected with such business. It could also cause the non-U.S. holder to be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a sale of his or her interest in our company under recently enacted tax law. The foregoing only applies if the amount of such business income does not cause our company to fail to meet the qualifying income test (which would happen if such income exceeded 10% of our gross income, and in which case such failure would cause us to be taxable as a corporation).

Risks related to recently enacted legislation.

The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. No assurance can be given as to whether, when or in what form the U.S. federal income tax laws applicable to us and our shareholders may be enacted. Changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations of U.S. federal income tax laws could adversely affect an investment in our shares.

We cannot predict whether, when or to what extent new U.S. federal tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rulings will be issued, nor is the long-term impact of recently enacted tax legislation clear. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of potential changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws on an investment in our shares.

Risks Related to Land Management Services Business

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is growing and its impacts may cause a material adverse effect on Neese’s business.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19, was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread to over 150 countries. COVID-19 has also spread to every state in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.

The potential impact and duration of COVID-19 could have repercussions across regional and global economies and financial markets. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries continues to adversely impact global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets and supply chains. The continued spread of COVID-19 has had, and could have a significantly greater, material adverse effect on the U.S. economy as a whole, as well as the local economy where Neese conducts its operations.

Many states and cities have reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “stay at home” rules, and restrictions on the types of business that may continue to operate. Many non-essential businesses have been forced to close. Although governmental officials in Iowa, where Neese conducts its business, have not yet instated these measures, we expect that they may do so in the near future. These restrictions, if implemented, will likely have a negative impact on business activity and the local economy and may adversely impact Neese’s operations.

Furthermore, Neese is dependent upon manufacturers to provide it with all of the equipment and parts that it sells, and several have notified it of disruptions to their production and/or supply chain related to the virus outbreak. Any business disruption or failure of these suppliers to meet delivery requirements and commitments may cause delays in future shipments and potential lost or delayed revenue.

The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, COVID-19 and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in the global supply chain and other areas present material uncertainty and risk with respect to Neese’s performance, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Adverse weather conditions, including as a result of future climate change, may adversely affect the availability, quality and price of agricultural commodities and agricultural commodity products, which may impact Neese’s business, as well as our operations and operating results.

Adverse weather conditions have historically caused volatility in the agricultural commodity industry by causing crop failures or significantly reduced harvests, which may affect the supply and pricing of agricultural commodities, and result in reduce demand for our products and services and negatively affect the creditworthiness of agricultural producers who do business with us.

Severe adverse weather conditions, such as hurricanes or severe storms, may also result in extensive property damage, extended business interruption, personal injuries and other loss and damage to agricultural producers who do business with us. Our operations also rely on dependable and efficient transportation services. A disruption in transportation services, as a result of weather conditions or otherwise, may also significantly adversely impact our operations.

Additionally, the potential physical impacts of climate change are uncertain and may vary by region. These potential effects could include changes in rainfall patterns, water shortages, changing sea levels, changing storm patterns and intensities, and changing temperature levels that could adversely impact our costs and business operations, the location and costs of global agricultural commodity production and the supply and demand for agricultural commodities. These effects could be material to our results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.

Government policies and regulations, particularly those affecting the agricultural sector and related industries, could adversely affect our operations and profitability.

Agricultural commodity production and trade flows are significantly affected by government policies and regulations. Governmental policies affecting the agricultural industry, such as taxes, tariffs, duties, subsidies, import and export restrictions on agricultural commodities and commodity products and energy policies (including biofuels mandates), can influence industry profitability, the planting of certain crops versus other uses of agricultural resources, the location and size of crop production, whether unprocessed or processed commodity products are traded and the volume and types of imports and exports. In addition, international trade disputes can adversely affect agricultural commodity trade flows by limiting or disrupting trade between countries or regions.

Increases in prices for, among other things, food, fuel and crop inputs, such as fertilizers, have become the subject of significant discussion by governmental bodies and the public throughout the world in recent years. In some countries, this has led to the imposition of policies such as price controls, tariffs and export restrictions on agricultural commodities. Future governmental policies, regulations or actions affecting our industries may adversely affect the supply of, demand for and prices of our products and services, restrict our ability to do business and cause our financial results to suffer.

We depend upon manufacturers who may be unable to provide products of adequate quality or who may be unwilling to continue to supply products to us.

We do not manufacture any products we sell, and instead purchase our products from manufacturers. Since we purchase products from many manufacturers under at-will contracts and contracts which can be terminated without cause upon 90 days’ notice or less, or which expire without express rights of renewal, manufacturers could discontinue sales to us immediately or upon short notice. In lieu of termination, a manufacturer may also change the terms upon which it sells, for example, by raising prices or broadening distribution to third parties. For these and other reasons, we may not be able to acquire desired merchandise in sufficient quantities or on acceptable terms in the future.

Any significant interruption in the supply of products by manufacturers could disrupt our ability to deliver merchandise to our customers in a timely manner, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Manufacturers are subject to certain risks that could adversely impact their ability to provide us with their products on a timely basis, including industrial accidents, environmental events, strikes and other labor disputes, union organizing activity, disruptions in logistics or information systems, loss or impairment of key manufacturing sites, product quality control, safety, and licensing requirements and other regulatory issues, as well as natural disasters and other external factors over which neither they nor we have control. In addition, our operating results depend to some extent on the orderly operation of our receiving and distribution processes, which depend on manufacturers’ adherence to shipping schedules and our effective management of our distribution facilities and capacity.

If a material interruption of supply occurs, or a significant manufacturer ceases to supply us or materially decreases its supply to us, we may not be able to acquire products with similar quality as the products we currently sell or to acquire such products in sufficient quantities to meet our customers’ demands or on favorable terms to our business, any of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Competition in Neese’s business and the agricultural equipment industry could adversely affect our business.

Neese sells products and services into a regional market. The principal competitive factors in our regional market includes product performance, innovation and quality, distribution, customer service and price. The competitive environment in the Neese’s business and the agricultural equipment industry includes global competitors and many regional and local competitors. These competitors have varying numbers of product lines competing with our products and services and each has varying degrees of regional focus. An important part of the competition within the agricultural equipment industry during the past decade has come from a variety of short-line and specialty manufacturers, as well as indigenous regional competitors, with differing manufacturing and marketing methods. Due to industry conditions, including the merger of certain large integrated competitors, we believe the agricultural equipment business continues to undergo change and is becoming more competitive.  Our inability to successfully compete with respect to product performance, innovation and quality, distribution, customer service and price could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Risks Related to Retail and Appliances Business

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is growing and its impacts may cause a material adverse effect on Goedeker’s business.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19, was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread to over 150 countries. COVID-19 has also spread to every state in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19.

The potential impact and duration of COVID-19 could have repercussions across regional and global economies and financial markets. The outbreak of COVID-19 in many countries continues to adversely impact global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets and supply chains. The continued spread of COVID-19 has had, and could have a significantly greater, material adverse effect on the U.S. economy as a whole, as well as the local economy where Goedeker conducts its operations.

Many countries, states and cities have reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, “stay at home” rules, and restrictions on the types of business that may continue to operate. On March 21, 2020, the government of St. Louis County, Missouri, where Goedeker operates, announced a stay at home order that went into effect on March 23, 2019 and will last for 30 days. Pursuant to this order, non-essential business, including Goedeker, were forced to close. Although much of Goedeker’s sales are completed online, these restrictions have had a negative impact on business activity and may adversely impact Goedeker’s operations.

Furthermore, Goedeker is dependent upon suppliers to provide it with all of the products that it sells. These restrictions, which may expand depending on the progression of the pandemic, have impacted and may continue to impact suppliers and manufacturers of certain of Goedeker’s products. As a result, Goedeker has faced and may continue to face delays or difficulty sourcing certain products, which could negatively affect its business and financial results. Even if Goedeker is able to find alternate sources for such products, they may cost more, which could adversely impact Goedeker’s profitability and financial condition. At this time, there is significant uncertainty relating to the potential effect of COVID-19 on Goedeker’s business and the costs that it may incur as a result. Infections have become more widespread, which may worsen the supply shortage or restrict third-party manufacturing or other operations.

Further, customers’ financial condition may be adversely impacted as a result of the impacts of COVID-19 and efforts taken to prevent its spread, which could result in reduced demand for Goedeker’s products and services.

The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, COVID-19 and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in the global supply chain and other areas present material uncertainty and risk with respect to Goedeker’s performance, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

If we fail to acquire new customers or retain existing customers, or fail to do so in a cost-effective manner, we may not be able to achieve profitability.

Our success depends on our ability to acquire and retain customers in a cost-effective manner. In order to expand our customer base, we must appeal to and acquire customers who have historically used other means of commerce to purchase home goods and may prefer alternatives to our offerings, such as the websites of our competitors or our suppliers’ own websites. We have made significant investments related to customer acquisition and expect to continue to spend significant amounts to acquire additional customers. Our advertising efforts consist primarily of email marketing, affiliate marketing, and to a lesser extent, social media. These efforts are expensive and may not result in the cost-effective acquisition of customers. We cannot assure you that the net profit from new customers we acquire will ultimately exceed the cost of acquiring those customers. If we fail to deliver a quality shopping experience, or if consumers do not perceive the products we offer to be of high value and quality, we may not be able to acquire new customers. If we are unable to acquire new customers who purchase products in numbers sufficient to grow our business, we may not be able to generate the scale necessary to drive beneficial network effects with our suppliers or efficiencies in our logistics network, our net revenue may decrease, and our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

We believe that many of our new customers originate from word-of- mouth and other non-paid referrals from existing customers. Therefore, we must ensure that our existing customers remain loyal to us in order to continue receiving those referrals. If our efforts to satisfy our existing customers are not successful, we may not be able to acquire new customers in sufficient numbers to continue to grow our business, or we may be required to incur significantly higher marketing expenses in order to acquire new customers.

Our success depends in part on our ability to increase our net revenue per active customer. If our efforts to increase customer loyalty and repeat purchasing as well as maintain high levels of customer engagement are not successful, our growth prospects and revenue will be materially adversely affected.

Our ability to grow our business depends on our ability to retain our existing customer base and generate increased revenue and repeat purchases from this customer base, and maintain high levels of customer engagement. To do this, we must continue to provide our customers and potential customers with a unified, convenient, efficient and differentiated shopping experience by:

If we fail to increase net revenue per active customer, generate repeat purchases or maintain high levels of customer engagement, our growth prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Our business depends on our ability to build and maintain strong brands. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our brands if we receive unfavorable customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects.

Maintaining and enhancing our brands is critical to expanding our base of customers and suppliers. Our ability to maintain and enhance our brand depends largely on our ability to maintain customer confidence in our product and service offerings, including by delivering products on time and without damage. If customers do not have a satisfactory shopping experience, they may seek out alternative offerings from our competitors and may not return to our sites as often in the future, or at all. In addition, unfavorable publicity regarding, for example, our practices relating to privacy and data protection, product quality, delivery problems, competitive pressures, litigation or regulatory activity, could seriously harm our reputation. Such negative publicity also could have an adverse effect on the size, engagement, and loyalty of our customer base and result in decreased revenue, which could adversely affect our business and financial results. A significant portion of our customers’ brand experience also depends on third parties outside of our control, including suppliers and logistics providers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, the U.S. Postal Service and other third-party delivery agents. If these third parties do not meet our or our customers’ expectations, our brands may suffer irreparable damage.

In addition, maintaining and enhancing these brands may require us to make substantial investments, and these investments may not be successful. If we fail to promote and maintain our brands, or if we incur excessive expenses in this effort, our business, operating results and financial condition may be materially adversely affected. We anticipate that, as our market becomes increasingly competitive, maintaining and enhancing our brands may become increasingly difficult and expensive. Maintaining and enhancing our brands will depend largely on our ability to provide high quality products to our customers and a reliable, trustworthy and profitable sales channel to our suppliers, which we may not be able to do successfully.

Customer complaints or negative publicity about our sites, products, delivery times, customer data handling and security practices or customer support, especially on blogs, social media websites and our sites, could rapidly and severely diminish consumer use of our sites and consumer and supplier confidence in us and result in harm to our brands.

Our efforts to expand our business into new brands, products, services, technologies, and geographic regions will subject us to additional business, legal, financial, and competitive risks and may not be successful.

Our business success depends to some extent on our ability to expand our customer offerings by launching new brands and services and by expanding our existing offerings into new geographies. Launching new brands and services or expanding geographically requires significant upfront investments, including investments in marketing, information technology, and additional personnel. We may not be able to generate satisfactory revenue from these efforts to offset these costs. Any lack of market acceptance of our efforts to launch new brands and services or to expand our existing offerings could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Further, as we continue to expand our fulfillment capability or add new businesses with different requirements, our logistics networks become increasingly complex and operating them becomes more challenging. There can be no assurance that we will be able to operate our networks effectively.

We have also entered and may continue to enter into new markets in which we have limited or no experience, which may not be successful or appealing to our customers. These activities may present new and difficult technological and logistical challenges, and resulting service disruptions, failures or other quality issues may cause customer dissatisfaction and harm our reputation and brand. Further, our current and potential competitors in new market segments may have greater brand recognition, financial resources, longer operating histories and larger customer bases than we do in these areas. As a result, we may not be successful enough in these newer areas to recoup our investments in them. If this occurs, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

If we fail to manage our growth effectively, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed.

To manage our growth effectively, we must continue to implement our operational plans and strategies, improve and expand our infrastructure of people and information systems and expand, train and manage our employee base. We have rapidly increased employee headcount since our inception to support the growth in our business. To support continued growth, we must effectively integrate, develop and motivate a large number of new employees. We face significant competition for personnel. Failure to manage our hiring needs effectively or successfully integrate our new hires may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Additionally, the growth of our business places significant demands on our operations, as well as our management and other employees. For example, we typically launch hundreds of promotional events across thousands of products each month on our sites via emails and personalized displays. These events require us to produce updates of our sites and emails to our customers on a daily basis with different products, photos and text. Any surge in online traffic and orders associated with such promotional activities places increased strain on our operations, including our logistics network, and may cause or exacerbate slowdowns or interruptions. The growth of our business may require significant additional resources to meet these daily requirements, which may not scale in a cost-effective manner or may negatively affect the quality of our sites and customer experience. We are also required to manage relationships with a growing number of suppliers, customers and other third parties. Our information technology systems and our internal controls and procedures may not be adequate to support future growth of our supplier and employee base. If we are unable to manage the growth of our organization effectively, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

Our ability to obtain continued financing is critical to the growth of our business. We will need additional financing to fund operations, which additional financing may not be available on reasonable terms or at all.

Our future growth, including the potential for future market expansion will require additional capital. We will consider raising additional funds through various financing sources, including the procurement of additional commercial debt financing. However, there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If such financing is not available on satisfactory terms, we may be unable to execute our growth strategy, and operating results may be adversely affected. Any additional debt financing will increase expenses and must be repaid regardless of operating results and may involve restrictions limiting our operating flexibility.

Our ability to obtain financing may be impaired by such factors as the capital markets, both generally and specifically in our industry, which could impact the availability or cost of future financings. If the amount of capital we are able to raise from financing activities, together with our revenues from operations, are not sufficient to satisfy our capital needs, we may be required to decrease the pace of, or eliminate, our future product offerings and market expansion opportunities and potentially curtail operations.

Our business is highly competitive. Competition presents an ongoing threat to the success of our business.

Our business is rapidly evolving and intensely competitive, and we have many competitors in different industries. Our competition includes furniture stores, big box retailers, department stores, specialty retailers, and online retailers and marketplaces in the U.S., including:

We expect competition in e-commerce generally to continue to increase. We believe that our ability to compete successfully depends upon many factors both within and beyond our control, including:

Many of our current competitors have, and potential competitors may have, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition, larger fulfillment infrastructures, greater technical capabilities, faster and less costly shipping, significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources and larger customer bases than we do. These factors may allow our competitors to derive greater net revenue and profits from their existing customer base, acquire customers at lower costs or respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies and changes in consumer habits. These competitors may engage in more extensive research and development efforts, undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns and adopt more aggressive pricing policies, which may allow them to build larger customer bases or generate net revenue from their customer bases more effectively than we do.

Our success depends, in substantial part, on our continued ability to market our products through search engines and social media platforms.

The marketing of our products depends on our ability to cultivate and maintain cost-effective and otherwise satisfactory relationships with search engines and social media platforms, including those operated by Google, Facebook, Bing and Yahoo! These platforms could decide to change their terms and conditions of use at any time (and without notice) and/or significantly increase their fees. No assurances can be provided that we will be able to maintain cost-effective and otherwise satisfactory relationships with these platforms and our inability to do so in the case of one or more of these platforms could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We obtain a significant number of visits via search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo! Search engines frequently change the algorithms that determine the ranking and display of results of a user’s search and may make other changes to the way results are displayed, which can negatively affect the placement of links and, therefore, reduce the number of visits to our website. The growing use of online ad-blocking software may also impact the success of our marketing efforts because we may reach a smaller audience and fail to bring more customers to our website, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

System interruptions that impair customer access to our sites or other performance failures or incidents involving our logistics network, our technology infrastructure or our critical technology partners could damage our business, reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and results of operations.

The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our sites, transaction processing systems, logistics network, and technology infrastructure are critical to our reputation and our ability to acquire and retain customers, as well as maintain adequate customer service levels.

For example, if one of our data centers fails or suffers an interruption or degradation of services, we could lose customer data and miss order fulfillment deadlines, which could harm our business. Our systems and operations, including our ability to fulfill customer orders through our logistics network, are also vulnerable to damage or interruption from inclement weather, fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorist attacks, labor disputes, cyber-attacks, data loss, acts of war, break-ins, earthquake and similar events. In the event of a data center failure, the failover to a back-up could take substantial time, during which time our sites could be completely shut down. Further, our back-up services may not effectively process spikes in demand, may process transactions more slowly and may not support all of our site’s functionality.

We use complex proprietary software in our technology infrastructure, which we seek to continually update and improve. We may not always be successful in executing these upgrades and improvements, and the operation of our systems may be subject to failure. In particular, we have in the past and may in the future experience slowdowns or interruptions on some or all of our sites when we are updating them, and new technologies or infrastructures may not be fully integrated with existing systems on a timely basis, or at all. Additionally, if we expand our use of third-party services, including cloud-based services, our technology infrastructure may be subject to increased risk of slowdown or interruption as a result of integration with such services and/or failures by such third-parties, which are out of our control. Our net revenue depends on the number of visitors who shop on our sites and the volume of orders we can handle. Unavailability of our sites or reduced order fulfillment performance would reduce the volume of goods sold and could also materially adversely affect consumer perception of our brand.

We may experience periodic system interruptions from time to time. In addition, continued growth in our transaction volume, as well as surges in online traffic and orders associated with promotional activities or seasonal trends in our business, place additional demands on our technology platform and could cause or exacerbate slowdowns or interruptions. If there is a substantial increase in the volume of traffic on our sites or the number of orders placed by customers, we may be required to further expand and upgrade our technology, logistics network, transaction processing systems and network infrastructure. There can be no assurance that we will be able to accurately project the rate or timing of increases, if any, in the use of our sites or expand and upgrade our systems and infrastructure to accommodate such increases on a timely basis. In order to remain competitive, we must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness, functionality and features of our sites, which is particularly challenging given the rapid rate at which new technologies, customer preferences and expectations and industry standards and practices are evolving in the e-commerce industry. Accordingly, we redesign and enhance various functions on our sites on a regular basis, and we may experience instability and performance issues as a result of these changes.

Any slowdown, interruption or performance failure of our sites and the underlying technology and logistics infrastructure could harm our business, reputation and our ability to acquire, retain and serve our customers, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

Our failure or the failure of third-party service providers to protect our sites, networks and systems against security breaches, or otherwise to protect our confidential information, could damage our reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and operating results.

We collect, maintain, transmit and store data about our customers, employees, contractors, suppliers, vendors and others, including credit card information and personally identifiable information, as well as other confidential and proprietary information. We also employ third-party service providers that store, process and transmit certain proprietary, personal and confidential information on our behalf. We rely on encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties in an effort to securely transmit, encrypt, anonymize or pseudonymize certain confidential and sensitive information, including credit card numbers. Advances in computer capabilities, new technological discoveries or other developments may result in the whole or partial failure of this technology to protect transaction and personal data or other confidential and sensitive information from being breached or compromised. Our security measures, and those of our third-party service providers, may not detect or prevent all attempts to hack our systems, denial-of-service attacks, viruses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, social engineering, security breaches or other attacks and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of information stored in or transmitted by our sites, networks and systems or that we or our third-party service providers otherwise maintain, including payment card systems and human resources management platforms. We and our service providers may not anticipate or prevent all types of attacks until after they have already been launched, and techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers. In addition, security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including intentional or inadvertent breaches by our employees or by persons with whom we have commercial relationships.

Breaches of our security measures or those of our third-party service providers or cyber security incidents could result in unauthorized access to our sites, networks and systems; unauthorized access to and misappropriation of personal information, including consumers’ and employees’ personally identifiable information, or other confidential or proprietary information of ourselves or third parties; limited or terminated access to certain payment methods or fines or higher transaction fees to use such methods; viruses, worms, spyware or other malware being served from our sites, networks or systems; deletion or modification of content or the display of unauthorized content on our sites; interruption, disruption or malfunction of operations; costs relating to breach remediation, deployment or training of additional personnel and protection technologies, responses to governmental investigations and media inquiries and coverage; engagement of third party experts and consultants; litigation, regulatory action and other potential liabilities. If any of these breaches of security occur, our reputation and brand could be damaged, our business may suffer, we could be required to expend significant capital and other resources to alleviate problems caused by such breaches and we could be exposed to a risk of loss, litigation or regulatory action and possible liability. In addition, any party who is able to illicitly obtain a customer’s password could access that customer’s transaction data or personal information. Any compromise or breach of our security measures, or those of our third-party service providers, could violate applicable privacy, data security and other laws, and cause significant legal and financial exposure, adverse publicity and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. We may need to devote significant resources to protect against security breaches or to address problems caused by breaches, diverting resources from the growth and expansion of our business.

We may be subject to product liability and other similar claims if people or property are harmed by the products we sell.

Some of the products we sell may expose us to product liability and other claims and litigation (including class actions) or regulatory action relating to safety, personal injury, death or environmental or property damage. Some of our agreements with members of our supply chain may not indemnify us from product liability for a particular product, and some members of our supply chain may not have sufficient resources or insurance to satisfy their indemnity and defense obligations. Although we maintain liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all.

Risks associated with the suppliers from whom our products are sourced could materially adversely affect our financial performance as well as our reputation and brand.

We depend on our ability to provide our customers with a wide range of products from qualified suppliers in a timely and efficient manner. Political and economic instability, the financial stability of suppliers, suppliers’ ability to meet our standards, labor problems experienced by suppliers, the availability or cost of raw materials, merchandise quality issues, currency exchange rates, trade tariff developments, transport availability and cost, transport security, inflation, and other factors relating to our suppliers are beyond our control.

Our agreements with most of our suppliers do not provide for the long-term availability of merchandise or the continuation of particular pricing practices, nor do they usually restrict such suppliers from selling products to other buyers. There can be no assurance that our current suppliers will continue to seek to sell us products on current terms or that we will be able to establish new or otherwise extend current supply relationships to ensure product acquisitions in a timely and efficient manner and on acceptable commercial terms. Our ability to develop and maintain relationships with reputable suppliers and offer high quality merchandise to our customers is critical to our success. If we are unable to develop and maintain relationships with suppliers that would allow us to offer a sufficient amount and variety of quality merchandise on acceptable commercial terms, our ability to satisfy our customers’ needs, and therefore our long-term growth prospects, would be materially adversely affected.

Further, we rely on our suppliers’ representations of product quality, safety and compliance with applicable laws and standards. If our suppliers or other vendors violate applicable laws, regulations or our supplier code of conduct, or implement practices regarded as unethical, unsafe, or hazardous to the environment, it could damage our reputation and negatively affect our operating results. Further, concerns regarding the safety and quality of products provided by our suppliers could cause our customers to avoid purchasing those products from us, or avoid purchasing products from us altogether, even if the basis for the concern is outside of our control. As such, any issue, or perceived issue, regarding the quality and safety of any items we sell, regardless of the cause, could adversely affect our brand, reputation, operations and financial results. 

We also are unable to predict whether any of the countries in which our suppliers’ products are currently manufactured or may be manufactured in the future will be subject to new, different, or additional trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. or foreign governments or the likelihood, type or effect of any such restrictions. Any event causing a disruption or delay of imports from suppliers with international manufacturing operations, including the imposition of additional import restrictions, restrictions on the transfer of funds or increased tariffs or quotas, could increase the cost or reduce the supply of merchandise available to our customers and materially adversely affect our financial performance as well as our reputation and brand. Furthermore, some or all of our suppliers’ foreign operations may be adversely affected by political and financial instability, resulting in the disruption of trade from exporting countries, restrictions on the transfer of funds or other trade disruptions.

In addition, our business with foreign suppliers may be affected by changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other foreign currencies. For example, any movement by any other foreign currency against the U.S. dollar may result in higher costs to us for those goods. Declines in foreign currencies and currency exchange rates might negatively affect the profitability and business prospects of one or more of our foreign suppliers. This, in turn, might cause such foreign suppliers to demand higher prices for merchandise in their effort to offset any lost profits associated with any currency devaluation, delay merchandise shipments, or discontinue selling to us altogether, any of which could ultimately reduce our sales or increase our costs.

Our vendors have imposed conditions in our business arrangements with them. If we are unable to continue satisfying these conditions, or such vendors impose additional restrictions with which we cannot comply, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our vendors have strict conditions for doing business with them. Several are sizeable such as General Electric, Whirlpool and DMI.  If we cannot satisfy these conditions or if they impose additional or more restrictive conditions that we cannot satisfy, our business would be materially adversely affected. It would be materially detrimental to our business if these vendors decided to no longer do business with us, increased the pricing at which they allow us to purchase their goods or impose other restrictions or conditions that make it more difficult for us to work with them. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to source new suppliers or strengthen our relationships with current suppliers.

We have relationships with over 1,000 suppliers. Our agreements with suppliers are generally terminable at will by either party upon short notice. If we do not maintain our existing relationships or build new relationships with suppliers on acceptable commercial terms, we may not be able to maintain a broad selection of merchandise, and our business and prospects would suffer severely.

In order to attract quality suppliers, we must:

If we are unable to provide our suppliers with a compelling return on investment and an ability to increase their sales, we may be unable to maintain and/or expand our supplier network, which would negatively impact our business.

We depend on our suppliers to perform certain services regarding the products that we offer.

As part of offering our suppliers’ products for sale on our sites, suppliers are often responsible for conducting a number of traditional retail operations with respect to their respective products, including maintaining inventory and preparing merchandise for shipment to our customers. In these instances, we may be unable to ensure that suppliers will perform these services to our or our customers’ satisfaction in a manner that provides our customer with a unified brand experience or on commercially reasonable terms. If our customers become dissatisfied with the services provided by our suppliers, our business, reputation and brands could suffer.

We depend on our relationships with third parties, and changes in our relationships with these parties could adversely impact our revenue and profits.

We rely on third parties to operate certain elements of our business. For example, carriers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service deliver many of our small parcel products and larger products are often delivered by third party national, regional, and local transportation companies. As a result, we may be subject to shipping delays or disruptions caused by inclement weather, natural disasters, system interruptions and technology failures, labor activism, health epidemics or bioterrorism. We are also subject to risks of breakage or other damage during delivery by any of these third parties. We also use and rely on other services from third parties, such as retail partner services, telecommunications services, customs, consolidation and shipping services, as well as warranty, installation and design services.

We may be unable to maintain these relationships, and these services may also be subject to outages and interruptions that are not within our control. For example, failures by our telecommunications providers have in the past and may in the future interrupt our ability to provide phone support to our customers. Third parties may in the future determine they no longer wish to do business with us or may decide to take other actions or make changes to their practices that could harm our business. We may also determine that we no longer want to do business with them. If products are not delivered in a timely fashion or are damaged during the delivery process, or if we are not able to provide adequate customer support or other services or offerings, our customers could become dissatisfied and cease buying products through our sites, which would adversely affect our operating results.

The seasonal trends in our business create variability in our financial and operating results and place increased strain on our operations.

We experience surges in orders associated with promotional activities and seasonal trends. This activity may place additional demands on our technology systems and logistics network and could cause or exacerbate slowdowns or interruptions. Any such system, site or service interruptions could prevent us from efficiently receiving or fulfilling orders, which may reduce the volume or quality of goods or services we sell and may cause customer dissatisfaction and harm our reputation and brand.

Our business may be adversely affected if we are unable to provide our customers a cost-effective shopping platform that is able to respond and adapt to rapid changes in technology.

The number of people who access the Internet through devices other than personal computers, including mobile phones, smartphones, handheld computers such as notebooks and tablets, video game consoles, and television set-top devices, has increased dramatically in the past few years. We continually upgrade existing technologies and business applications to keep pace with these rapidly changing and continuously evolving technologies, and we may be required to implement new technologies or business applications in the future. The implementation of these upgrades and changes requires significant investments and as new devices and platforms are released, it is difficult to predict the problems we may encounter in developing applications for these alternative devices and platforms. Additionally, we may need to devote significant resources to the support and maintenance of such applications once created. Our results of operations may be affected by the timing, effectiveness and costs associated with the successful implementation of any upgrades or changes to our systems and infrastructure to accommodate such alternative devices and platforms. Further, in the event that it is more difficult or less compelling for our customers to buy products from us on their mobile or other devices, or if our customers choose not to buy products from us on such devices or to use mobile or other products that do not offer access to our sites, our customer growth could be harmed and our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

Significant merchandise returns could harm our business.

We allow our customers to return products, subject to our return policy. If merchandise returns are significant, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed. Further, we modify our policies relating to returns from time to time, which may result in customer dissatisfaction or an increase in the number of product returns. Many of our products are large and require special handling and delivery. From time to time our products are damaged in transit, which can increase return rates and harm our brand.

Uncertainties in economic conditions and their impact on consumer spending patterns, particularly in the home goods segment, could adversely impact our operating results.

Consumers may view a substantial portion of the products we offer as discretionary items rather than necessities. As a result, our results of operations are sensitive to changes in macro-economic conditions that impact consumer spending, including discretionary spending. Some of the factors adversely affecting consumer spending include levels of unemployment; consumer debt levels; changes in net worth based on market changes and uncertainty; home foreclosures and changes in home values or the overall housing, residential construction or home improvement markets; fluctuating interest rates; credit availability, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; government actions; fluctuating fuel and other energy costs; fluctuating commodity prices and general uncertainty regarding the overall future economic environment. Adverse economic changes in any of the regions in which we sell our products could reduce consumer confidence and could negatively affect net revenue and have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Our business relies heavily on email and other messaging services, and any restrictions on the sending of emails or messages or an inability to timely deliver such communications could materially adversely affect our net revenue and business.

Our business is highly dependent upon email and other messaging services for promoting our sites and products. Daily promotions offered through emails and other messages sent by us, or on our behalf by our vendors, generate a significant portion of our net revenue. We provide daily emails to customers and other visitors informing them of what is available for purchase on our sites that day, and we believe these messages are an important part of our customer experience and help generate a substantial portion of our net revenue. If we are unable to successfully deliver emails or other messages to our subscribers, or if subscribers decline to open our emails or other messages, our net revenue and profitability would be materially adversely affected. Changes in how webmail applications organize and prioritize email may also reduce the number of subscribers opening our emails. For example, in 2013 Google Inc.’s Gmail service began offering a feature that organizes incoming emails into categories (for example, primary, social and promotions). Such categorization or similar inbox organizational features may result in our emails being delivered in a less prominent location in a subscriber’s inbox or viewed as “spam” by our subscribers and may reduce the likelihood of that subscriber opening our emails. Actions by third parties to block, impose restrictions on or charge for the delivery of emails or other messages could also adversely impact our business. From time to time, Internet service providers or other third parties may block bulk email transmissions or otherwise experience technical difficulties that result in our inability to successfully deliver emails or other messages to third parties. Changes in the laws or regulations that limit our ability to send such communications or impose additional requirements upon us in connection with sending such communications would also materially adversely impact our business. Our use of email and other messaging services to send communications about our sites or other matters may also result in legal claims against us, which may cause us increased expenses, and if successful might result in fines and orders with costly reporting and compliance obligations or might limit or prohibit our ability to send emails or other messages. We also rely on social networking messaging services to send communications and to encourage customers to send communications. Changes to the terms of these social networking services to limit promotional communications, any restrictions that would limit our ability or our customers’ ability to send communications through their services, disruptions or downtime experienced by these social networking services or decline in the use of or engagement with social networking services by customers and potential customers could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We are subject to risks related to online payment methods.

We accept payments using a variety of methods, including credit card, debit card, PayPal, credit accounts and gift cards. As we offer new payment options to consumers, we may be subject to additional regulations, compliance requirements and fraud. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time and raise our operating costs and lower profitability. We are also subject to payment card association operating rules and certification requirements, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. As our business changes, we may also be subject to different rules under existing standards, which may require new assessments that involve costs above what we currently pay for compliance. If we fail to comply with the rules or requirements of any provider of a payment method we accept, if the volume of fraud in our transactions limits or terminates our rights to use payment methods we currently accept, or if a data breach occurs relating to our payment systems, we may, among other things, be subject to fines or higher transaction fees and may lose, or face restrictions placed upon, our ability to accept credit card and debit card payments from consumers or to facilitate other types of online payments. If any of these events were to occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

We occasionally receive orders placed with fraudulent credit card data. We may suffer losses as a result of orders placed with fraudulent credit card data even if the associated financial institution approved payment of the orders. Under current credit card practices, we may be liable for fraudulent credit card transactions. If we are unable to detect or control credit card fraud, our liability for these transactions could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with these regulations could substantially harm our business and results of operations.

We are subject to general business regulations and laws as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. Existing and future regulations and laws could impede the growth of the Internet, e- commerce or mobile commerce. These regulations and laws may involve taxes, tariffs, privacy and data security, anti-spam, content protection, electronic contracts and communications, consumer protection, Internet neutrality and gift cards. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes and consumer privacy apply to the Internet as the vast majority of these laws were adopted prior to the advent of the Internet and do not contemplate or address the unique issues raised by the Internet or e-commerce. It is possible that general business regulations and laws, or those specifically governing the Internet or e-commerce, may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other rules or our practices. We cannot be sure that our practices have complied, comply or will comply fully with all such laws and regulations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with any of these laws or regulations could result in damage to our reputation, a loss in business and proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others. Any such proceeding or action could hurt our reputation, force us to spend significant amounts in defense of these proceedings, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, decrease the use of our sites by consumers and suppliers and may result in the imposition of monetary liability. We may also be contractually liable to indemnify and hold harmless third parties from the costs or consequences of non-compliance with any such laws or regulations. Adverse legal or regulatory developments could substantially harm our business. Further, if we enter into new market segments or geographical areas and expand the products and services we offer, we may be subject to additional laws and regulatory requirements or prohibited from conducting our business, or certain aspects of it, in certain jurisdictions. We will incur additional costs complying with these additional obligations and any failure or perceived failure to comply would adversely affect our business and reputation.

Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, could adversely affect our business and our financial condition.

A variety of laws and regulations govern the collection, use, retention, sharing, export and security of personal information. Laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection are evolving and subject to potentially differing interpretations. These requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another or may conflict with other rules or our practices. As a result, our practices may not comply, or may not comply in the future with all such laws, regulations, requirements and obligations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any applicable privacy or consumer protection- related laws, regulations, industry self-regulatory principles, industry standards or codes of conduct, regulatory guidance, orders to which we may be subject or other legal obligations relating to privacy or consumer protection could adversely affect our reputation, brand and business, and may result in claims, proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others or other liabilities or require us to change our operations and/or cease using certain data sets. Any such claim, proceeding or action could hurt our reputation, brand and business, force us to incur significant expenses in defense of such proceedings, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, result in a loss of customers and suppliers and may result in the imposition of monetary penalties. We may also be contractually required to indemnify and hold harmless third parties from the costs or consequences of non-compliance with any laws, regulations or other legal obligations relating to privacy or consumer protection or any inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure of data that we store or handle as part of operating our business.

Federal, state and international governmental authorities continue to evaluate the privacy implications inherent in the use of proprietary or third-party “cookies” and other methods of online tracking for behavioral advertising and other purposes. U.S. and foreign governments have enacted, have considered or are considering legislation or regulations that could significantly restrict the ability of companies and individuals to engage in these activities, such as by regulating the level of consumer notice and consent required before a company can employ cookies or other electronic tracking tools or the use of data gathered with such tools. Additionally, some providers of consumer devices and web browsers have implemented, or announced plans to implement, means to make it easier for Internet users to prevent the placement of cookies or to block other tracking technologies, which could if widely adopted significantly reduce the effectiveness of such practices and technologies. The regulation of the use of cookies and other current online tracking and advertising practices or a loss in our ability to make effective use of services that employ such technologies could increase our costs of operations and limit our ability to acquire new customers on cost-effective terms and consequently, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

In addition, various federal, state and foreign legislative and regulatory bodies, or self-regulatory organizations, may expand current laws or regulations, enact new laws or regulations or issue revised rules or guidance regarding privacy, data protection and consumer protection. Any such changes may force us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices. This could compromise our ability to pursue our growth strategy effectively and may adversely affect our ability to acquire customers or otherwise harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

Changes in tax treatment of companies engaged in e-commerce may adversely affect the commercial use of our sites and our financial results.

Due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that various states or foreign countries might attempt to impose additional or new regulation on our business or levy additional or new sales, income or other taxes relating to our activities. Tax authorities at the international, federal, state and local levels are currently reviewing the appropriate treatment of companies engaged in e-commerce. New or revised international, federal, state or local tax regulations or court decisions may subject us or our customers to additional sales, income and other taxes. For example, on June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a 5-4 majority decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., 17-494 where the Court held, among other things, that a state may require an out-of-state seller with no physical presence in the state to collect and remit sales taxes on goods the seller ships to consumers in the state, overturning existing court precedent. Other new or revised taxes and, in particular, sales taxes, value added tax and similar taxes could increase the cost of doing business online and decrease the attractiveness of selling products over the Internet. New taxes and rulings could also create significant increases in internal costs necessary to capture data and collect and remit taxes. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

We rely on the performance of members of management and highly skilled personnel, and if we are unable to attract, develop, motivate and retain well-qualified employees, our business could be harmed.

We believe our success has depended, and continues to depend, on the members of our senior management team. The loss of any of our senior management or other key employees could materially harm our business. Our future success also depends on our continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified and skilled employees, particularly mid-level managers and merchandising and technology personnel. The market for such positions is competitive. Qualified individuals are in high demand, and we may incur significant costs to attract them. Our inability to recruit and develop mid-level managers could materially adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan, and we may not be able to find adequate replacements. All of our officers and other U.S. employees are at-will employees, meaning that they may terminate their employment relationship with us at any time, and their knowledge of our business and industry would be extremely difficult to replace. If we do not succeed in attracting well-qualified employees or retaining and motivating existing employees, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights.

We regard our customer lists, domain names, trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technology and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we rely on trade secret protection, agreements and other methods with our employees and others to protect our proprietary rights. We might not be able to obtain broad protection for all of our intellectual property. For example, we are the registrant of the Internet domain name for our website of www.goedekers.com, as well as various related domain names. However, we might not be able to prevent third parties from registering, using or retaining domain names that interfere with our consumer communications or infringe or otherwise decrease the value of our marks, domain names and other proprietary rights.

The protection of our intellectual property rights may require the expenditure of significant financial, managerial and operational resources. We may initiate claims or litigation against others for infringement, misappropriation or violation of our intellectual property rights or proprietary rights or to establish the validity of such rights. Any litigation, whether or not it is resolved in our favor, could result in significant expense to us and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel, which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Moreover, the steps we take to protect our intellectual property may not adequately protect our rights or prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating our proprietary rights, and we may not be able to broadly enforce all of our intellectual property rights. Any of our intellectual property rights may be challenged by others or invalidated through administrative process or litigation. Additionally, the process of obtaining intellectual property protections is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to pursue all necessary or desirable actions at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. Even if issued, there can be no assurance that these protections will adequately safeguard our intellectual property, as the legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of patent and other intellectual property rights are uncertain. We also cannot be certain that others will not independently develop or otherwise acquire equivalent or superior technology or intellectual property rights. We may also be exposed to claims from third parties claiming infringement of their intellectual property rights, or demanding the release or license of open source software or derivative works that we developed using such software (which could include our proprietary code) or otherwise seeking to enforce the terms of the applicable open source license. These claims could result in litigation and could require us to purchase a costly license, publicly release the affected portions of our source code, be limited in or cease using the implicated software unless and until we can re-engineer such software to avoid infringement or change the use of the implicated open source software.

We may be accused of infringing intellectual property rights of third parties.

The e-commerce industry is characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights, which has resulted in protracted and expensive litigation for many companies. We may be subject to claims and litigation by third parties that we infringe their intellectual property rights. The costs of supporting such litigation and disputes are considerable, and there can be no assurances that favorable outcomes will be obtained. As our business expands and the number of competitors in our market increases and overlaps occur, we expect that infringement claims may increase in number and significance. Any claims or proceedings against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in considerable litigation costs, require significant amounts of management time or result in the diversion of significant operational resources, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We have received in the past, and we may receive in the future, communications alleging that certain items posted on or sold through our sites violate third-party copyrights, designs, marks and trade names or other intellectual property rights or other proprietary rights. Brand and content owners and other proprietary rights owners have actively asserted their purported rights against online companies. In addition to litigation from rights owners, we may be subject to regulatory, civil or criminal proceedings and penalties if governmental authorities believe we have aided and abetted in the sale of counterfeit or infringing products.

Such claims, whether or not meritorious, may result in the expenditure of significant financial, managerial and operational resources, injunctions against us or the payment of damages by us. We may need to obtain licenses from third parties who allege that we have violated their rights, but such licenses may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. These risks have been amplified by the increase in third parties whose sole or primary business is to assert such claims.

We are engaged in legal proceedings that could cause us to incur unforeseen expenses and could occupy a significant amount of our management’s time and attention.

From time to time, we are subject to litigation or claims that could negatively affect our business operations and financial position. Litigation disputes could cause us to incur unforeseen expenses, result in site unavailability, service disruptions, and otherwise occupy a significant amount of our management’s time and attention, any of which could negatively affect our business operations and financial position. We also from time to time receive inquiries and subpoenas and other types of information requests from government authorities and we may become subject to related claims and other actions related to our business activities. While the ultimate outcome of investigations, inquiries, information requests and related legal proceedings is difficult to predict, such matters can be expensive, time-consuming and distracting, and adverse resolutions or settlements of those matters may result in, among other things, modification of our business practices, reputational harm or costs and significant payments, any of which could negatively affect our business operations and financial position.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Shares

Our common shares are quoted on the Pink Market, which may have an unfavorable impact on our share price and liquidity.

Our common shares are quoted on the Pink Market operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. The Pink Market is a significantly more limited market than the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market. The quotation of our shares on the Pink Market may result in a less liquid market available for existing and potential shareholders to trade our common shares, could depress the trading price of our common shares and could have a long-term adverse impact on our ability to raise capital in the future.

We cannot predict the extent to which an active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained. If an active public trading market does not develop or cannot be sustained, you may be unable to liquidate your investment in our common shares.

At present, there is minimal public trading in our common shares. We cannot predict the extent to which an active public market for our common shares will develop or be sustained due to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors, and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our common shares until such time as we became more seasoned and viable. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our common shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot give you any assurance that an active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained. If such a market cannot be sustained, you may be unable to liquidate your investment in our common shares.

If an active public market develops, the market price, trading volume and marketability of our common shares may, from time to time, be significantly affected by numerous factors beyond our control, which may materially adversely affect the market price of your common shares, the marketability of your common shares and our ability to raise capital through future equity financings.

The market price and trading volume of our common shares may fluctuate significantly. Many factors that are beyond our control may materially adversely affect the market price of your common shares, the marketability of your common shares and our ability to raise capital through equity financings. These factors include the following:

Future sales of common shares may affect the market price of our common shares.

We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our common shares, or the availability of common shares for future sale, will have on the market price of our common shares. Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could materially adversely affect the market price of our common shares and may make it more difficult for you to sell your common shares at a time and price which you deem appropriate.

Rule 144 sales in the future may have a depressive effect on our share price.

All of the outstanding common shares held by the present officers, directors, and affiliate shareholders are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. As restricted shares, these shares may be resold only pursuant to an effective registration statement or under the requirements of Rule 144 or other applicable exemptions from registration under the Act and as required under applicable state securities laws. Rule 144 provides in essence that a person who is an affiliate or officer or director who has held restricted securities for six months may, under certain conditions, sell every three months, in brokerage transactions, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of 1.0% of a company’s outstanding common shares. There is no limitation on the amount of restricted securities that may be sold by a non-affiliate after the owner has held the restricted securities for a period of six months if our company is a current, reporting company under the Exchange Act. A sale under Rule 144 or under any other exemption from the Securities Act, if available, or pursuant to subsequent registration of common shares of present shareholders, may have a depressive effect upon the price of the common shares in any market that may develop.

Our series A preferred shares will have distribution and liquidation rights that will be senior to our common shares.

On November 6, 2019, we launched an offering of series A preferred shares under Regulation A of Section 3(6) of the Securities Act for Tier 2 offerings, pursuant to which we are offering a minimum of 54,000 and up to a maximum of 320,000 of series A preferred shares at an offering price of $25.00 per share. As of the date of this report, we have not yet completed a closing of this offering and no series A preferred shares have been issued. If and when any series A preferred shares are issued, they will rank senior to our common shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. The holders of series A preferred shares will be entitled to quarterly distributions at a rate of 12% per annum. In addition, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, or deemed liquidation event (e.g., sale of our company), each holder of outstanding series A preferred shares shall be entitled to receive an amount of cash equal to $25.00 per share plus an amount of cash equal to all accumulated accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not declared), before any payment shall be made to our common shareholders. The payment of this liquidation preference could result in common shareholders not receiving any consideration upon a liquidation or deemed liquidation event. The existence of the distribution and liquidation preferences may also reduce the value of our common shares, make it harder for us to sell shares of common shares in offerings in the future, or prevent or delay a change of control.

We may issue additional debt and equity securities, which are senior to our common shares as to distributions and in liquidation, which could materially adversely affect the market price of our common shares.

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by entering into additional debt or debt-like financing that is secured by all or up to all of our assets, or issuing debt or equity securities, which could include issuances of commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior notes, subordinated notes or shares. In the event of our liquidation, our lenders and holders of our debt securities would receive a distribution of our available assets before distributions to our shareholders. Any preferred securities, if issued by our company, may have a preference with respect to distributions and upon liquidation, which could further limit our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. Because our decision to incur debt and issue securities in our future offerings will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings and debt financing.

Further, market conditions could require us to accept less favorable terms for the issuance of our securities in the future. Thus, you will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the value of your common shares and diluting your interest in us. In addition, we can change our leverage strategy from time to time without approval of holders of our common shares, which could materially adversely affect the market share price of our common shares.

Our potential future earnings and cash distributions to our shareholders may affect the market price of our common shares.

Generally, the market price of our common shares may be based, in part, on the market’s perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future cash distributions, whether from operations, sales, acquisitions or refinancings, and on the value of our businesses. For that reason, our common shares may trade at prices that are higher or lower than our net asset value per share. Should we retain operating cash flow for investment purposes or working capital reserves instead of distributing the cash flows to our shareholders, the retained funds, while increasing the value of our underlying assets, may materially adversely affect the market price of our common shares. Our failure to meet market expectations with respect to earnings and cash distributions and our failure to make such distributions, for any reason whatsoever, could materially adversely affect the market price of our common shares.

Were our common shares to be considered penny stock, and therefore become subject to the penny stock rules, U.S. broker-dealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in our common shares.

Our common shares may be subject to the penny stock rules under the Exchange Act. These rules regulate broker-dealer practices for transactions in “penny stocks.” Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 per share. The penny stock rules require broker-dealers that derive more than 5% of their customer transaction revenues from transactions in penny stocks to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks, and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market, to any non-institutional customer to whom the broker-dealer recommends a penny stock transaction. The broker-dealer must also provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to completing the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction, the broker and/or dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. The transaction costs associated with penny stocks are high, reducing the number of broker-dealers who may be willing to engage in the trading of our shares. These additional penny stock disclosure requirements are burdensome and may reduce all the trading activity in the market for our common shares. As long as our common shares are subject to the penny stock rules, holders of our common shares may find it more difficult to sell their common shares.

Holders of our common shares may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under our operating agreement, which could result in less favorable outcomes to the plaintiffs in any such action.

Our operating agreement governing our common shares provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of our common shares waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us arising out of or relating to our operating agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws.

If we opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court. However, we believe that a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision is generally enforceable, including under the laws of the State of Delaware, which govern our operating agreement, by a federal or state court in the State of Delaware, which has non-exclusive jurisdiction over matters arising under the operating agreement. In determining whether to enforce a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision, courts will generally consider whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. We believe that this is the case with respect to our operating agreement. It is advisable that you consult legal counsel regarding the jury waiver provision before entering into the operating agreement.

If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of our common shares bring a claim against us in connection with matters arising under our operating agreement, including claims under federal securities laws, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us. If a lawsuit is brought against us under our operating agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have, including results that could be less favorable to the plaintiffs in any such action.

Nevertheless, if this jury trial waiver provision is not permitted by applicable law, an action could proceed under the terms of the operating agreement with a jury trial. No condition, stipulation or provision of the operating agreement serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of our common shares or by us of compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Not applicable.

Our principal office is located at 590 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10022. We entered into an office service agreement with Regus Management Group, LLC for use of office space at this location effective January 22, 2013. Under the agreement, in exchange for our right to use the office space at this location, we are required to pay a monthly fee of $479 (excluding taxes).

Neese is headquartered at 303 Division St. E., Grand Junction, Iowa 50107. Neese operates from one facility totaling 9,150-square feet on an eight-acre property. The layout consists of a 5,400-square foot wash bay and 3,750-square feet of shop and office space. Neese leases this facility pursuant to an agreement of lease entered into with K&A Holdings, LLC, which is owned by Neese’s founders, on March 3, 2017. The lease is for a term of ten (10) years and provides for a base rent of $8,333 per month. In the event of late payment, interest shall accrue on the unpaid amount at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum. The agreement of lease contains customary events of default, including if Neese shall fail to pay rent within five (5) days after the due date, or if Neese shall fail to perform any other terms, covenants or conditions under the agreement of lease, and other customary representations, warranties and covenants.

Goedeker is headquartered at 13850 Manchester Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63011. Goedeker operates from one facility totaling 50,000 square feet, which houses its corporate headquarters, warehouse and showroom. Goedeker leases this facility pursuant to a lease agreement entered into with S.H.J., L.L.C., a Missouri limited liability company and affiliate of Goedeker Television, on April 5, 2019. The lease is for a term five (5) years and provides for a base rent of $45,000 per month. In addition, Goedeker is responsible for all taxes and insurance premiums during the lease term. In the event of late payment, interest shall accrue on the unpaid amount at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum. The lease contains customary events of default, including if: (i) Goedeker shall fail to pay rent within five (5) days after the due date; (ii) any insurance required to be maintained by Goedeker pursuant to the lease shall be canceled, terminated, expire, reduced, or materially changed; (iii) Goedeker shall fail to comply with any term, provision, or covenant of the lease and shall not begin and pursue with reasonable diligence the cure of such failure within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof to Goedeker; (iv) Goedeker shall become insolvent, make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or file a petition under any section or chapter of the Bankruptcy Code, or under any similar law or statute of the United States of America or any State thereof; or (v) a receiver or trustee shall be appointed for the leased premises or for all or substantially all of the assets of Goedeker.

We believe that all our properties have been adequately maintained, are generally in good condition, and are suitable and adequate for our businesses.

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise, in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these, or other matters, may arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Not applicable.

PART II

Market Information

Our common shares are eligible for quotation on the Pink Market under the symbol “EFSH.” Prior to 2019, there were few public trades in our common shares. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices of our common shares. These prices reflect inter-dealer prices, without retain mark-up or commission, and may not represent actual transactions.

Approximate Number of Holders of Our Common Shares

As of March 27, 2020, there were approximately 34 shareholders of record of our common shares. In computing the number of holders of record of our common shares, each broker-dealer and clearing corporation holding shares on behalf of its customers is counted as a single shareholder.

Dividend Policy

We intend to pursue a policy of making regular monthly distributions on our outstanding common shares, subject to our operating subsidiaries generating sufficient cash flow to support such regular cash distributions and subject to our making current quarterly payment on our series A preferred shares, if and when they are issued.

On November 6, 2019, we launched an offering of series A preferred shares under Regulation A of Section 3(6) of the Securities Act for Tier 2 offerings. As of the date of this report, we have not yet completed a closing of this offering and no series A preferred shares have been issued. Distributions on the series A preferred shares, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, will be payable quarterly on January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 of each year at a rate per annum equal to 12%. If quarterly distributions are not paid in full for any quarterly period for a total of four consecutive or non-consecutive quarterly periods, then until all accrued but unpaid distributions have been paid in full and we have paid accrued distributions for all distribution periods during the two most recently completed quarterly periods, the rate will increase to 14%.

Our distribution policy will be based on the liquidity and capital of our businesses and on our intention to pay out as distributions to our shareholders most of the cash resulting from the ordinary operation of the businesses, and not to retain significant cash balances in excess of what is prudent for our company or our businesses, or as may be prudent for the consummation of attractive acquisition opportunities. If our strategy is successful, we expect to maintain and increase the level of monthly distributions to common shareholders in the future.

The declaration and payment of the distributions on our series A preferred shares and any monthly distribution to our common shareholders will be subject to the approval of our board of directors. Our board of directors will take into account such matters as general business conditions, our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and any contractual, legal and regulatory restrictions on the payment of distributions by us to our shareholders or by our subsidiaries to us, and any other factors that the board of directors deems relevant. However, even if our board of directors were to decide to declare and pay distributions, our ability to pay such distributions may be adversely impacted due to unknown liabilities, government regulations, financial covenants of the debt of our company, funds needed for acquisitions and to satisfy short- and long-term working capital needs of our businesses, or if our operating subsidiaries do not generate sufficient earnings and cash flow to support the payment of such distributions. In particular, we may incur debt in the future to acquire new businesses, which debt will have substantial debt commitments, which must be satisfied before we can make distributions. These factors could affect our ability to continue to make the distribution payment on our series A preferred shares or the monthly distributions to our common shareholders.

We may use cash flow from our operating subsidiaries, capital resources of our company, including borrowings under any third-party credit facilities that we establish, or reduction in equity to pay a distribution. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” included in our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-236041), for more information about the tax treatment of distributions to our shareholders.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

We do not have in effect any compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

We have not sold any equity securities during the 2019 fiscal year that were not previously disclosed in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or a current report on Form 8-K that was filed during the 2019 fiscal year.

Purchases of Equity Securities

No repurchases of our common stock were made during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Not applicable.

The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations provides information that management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our plans and financial condition. The following selected financial information is derived from our financial statements and should be read in conjunction with such financial statements and notes thereto set forth elsewhere herein and the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” explanation included in the “Introductory Notes” herein.

Overview

We are an acquisition holding company focused on acquiring and managing a group of small businesses, which we characterize as those that have an enterprise value of less than $50 million, in a variety of different industries headquartered in North America. To date, we have completed two acquisitions.

In March 2017, our subsidiary 1847 Neese acquired Neese. Headquartered in Grand Junction, Iowa and founded in 1991, Neese is an established business specializing in providing a wide range of land application services and selling equipment and parts, primarily to the agricultural industry, but also to the construction and lawn and garden industries. Neese’s revenue mix is composed of waste disposal and a variety of agricultural services, wholesaling of agricultural equipment and parts, local trucking services, various shop services, and other products and services. Services to the local agricultural and farming communities include manure spreading, land rolling, bin whipping, cleaning of bulk storage bins and silos, equipment rental, trucking, vacuuming, building erection, and others.

In April 2019, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Goedeker Television through our subsidiary Goedeker, which now operates the prior business of Goedeker Television, a Missouri corporation founded in 1951. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Goedeker is a one-stop e-commerce destination for home furnishings, including appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods.

Through our structure, we plan to offer investors an opportunity to participate in the ownership and growth of a portfolio of businesses that traditionally have been owned and managed by private equity firms, private individuals or families, financial institutions or large conglomerates. We believe that our management and acquisition strategies will allow us to achieve our goals to begin making and growing regular distributions to our common shareholders and increasing common shareholder value over time.

We seek to acquire controlling interests in small businesses that we believe operate in industries with long-term macroeconomic growth opportunities, and that have positive and stable earnings and cash flows, face minimal threats of technological or competitive obsolescence and have strong management teams largely in place. We believe that private company operators and corporate parents looking to sell their businesses will consider us to be an attractive purchaser of their businesses. We intend to make these future businesses our majority-owned subsidiaries and intend to actively manage and grow such businesses. We expect to improve our businesses over the long term through organic growth opportunities, add-on acquisitions and operational improvements.

Management Fees

We entered into a management services agreement with our manager on April 15, 2013, pursuant to which we are required to pay our manager a quarterly management fee equal to 0.5% (2.0% annualized) of our adjusted net assets for services performed.

In addition, 1847 Neese entered into an offsetting management services agreement with our manager on March 3, 2017 and Goedeker entered into an offsetting management services agreement with our manager on April 5, 2019. Pursuant to the offsetting management services agreements, 1847 Neese appointed our manager to provide certain services to it for a quarterly management fee equal to $62,500 per quarter and Goedeker appointed our manager to provide certain services to it for a quarterly management fee equal to the greater of $62,500 or 2% of adjusted net assets (as defined in the management services agreement); provided, however, that (i) pro rated payments shall be made in the first quarter and the last quarter of the term, (ii) if the aggregate amount of management fees paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to any fiscal year exceeds, or is expected to exceed, 9.5% of our gross income with respect to such fiscal year, then the management fee to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker for any remaining fiscal quarters in such fiscal year shall be reduced, on a pro rata basis determined by reference to the management fees to be paid to our manager by all of the subsidiaries of our company, until the aggregate amount of the management fee paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to such fiscal year, does not exceed 9.5% of our gross income with respect to such fiscal year, and (iii) if the aggregate amount the management fee paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to any fiscal quarter exceeds, or is expected to exceed, the aggregate amount of the management fee (before any adjustment thereto) calculated and payable under the management services agreement, which we refer to as the parent management fee, with respect to such fiscal quarter, then the management fee to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker for such fiscal quarter shall be reduced, on a pro rata basis, until the aggregate amount of the management fee paid or to be paid by 1847 Neese or Goedeker, together with all other management fees paid or to be paid by all other subsidiaries of our company to our manager, in each case, with respect to such fiscal quarter, does not exceed the parent management fee calculated and payable with respect to such fiscal quarter.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, under terms of the term loan from Home State Bank described below, no fees may be paid to our manager under the Neese offsetting management services agreement without permission of the bank, which our manager does not expect to be granted within the forthcoming year.

In addition, payment of the management fee under the Goedeker offsetting management services agreement is subordinated to the payment of interest on the 9% subordinated promissory note described below, such that no payment of the management fee may be made if Goedeker is in default under the note with regard to interest payments and, for the avoidance of doubt, such payment of the management fee will be contingent on Goedeker being in good standing on all associated loan covenants. In addition, during the period that that any amounts are owed under the 9% subordinated promissory note or the earn out payments to Goedeker Television described below, the annual management fee shall be capped at $250,000.

The rights of our manager to receive payments under the Goedeker offsetting management services agreement are also subordinate to the rights of Burnley Capital LLC and Small Business Community Capital II, L.P. under separate subordination agreements that our manager entered into with them on April 5, 2019.

Accordingly, $514,461 due our manager is classified as an accrued liability as of December 31, 2019.

Segments

We have two reportable segments: land management services and retail and appliances. Additionally, unallocated shared-service costs, which include various corporate level expenses and other governance functions, are presented as corporate services.

The land management services segment, operated by Neese, is comprised of an established business specializing in providing a wide range of land application services and selling equipment and parts, primarily to the agricultural industry in Iowa, but also to the construction and lawn and garden industries. The land management services segment is composed of waste disposal and a variety of agricultural services, wholesaling of agricultural equipment and parts, local trucking services, various shop services, and other products and services.

The retail and appliances segment, operated by Goedeker, is comprised of retail store and an e-commerce destination for home furnishings, including appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth key components of our results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, both in dollars and as a percentage of our revenue.

Total revenue. Our land management services segment generates revenue through the provision of waste disposal and a variety of land application services, wholesaling of agricultural equipment and parts, local trucking services, various shop services, and other products and services. Our retail and appliances segment generates revenue through the sales of home furnishings, including appliances, furniture, bath and kitchen fixtures, décor, lighting and home goods. Our total revenue was $41,048,138 for the year ended December 31, 2019, including $34,668,113 from our new retail and appliances segment from the date of acquisition on April 5, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to $7,333,847 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Revenue from the land management segment decreased by $953,822, or 13.0%, to $6,380,025 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $7,333,847 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Such decrease resulted from a $523,729 decrease in sales of parts and equipment and by a $430,093 decrease in services revenue. The decline in service revenue was attributable to a decline in trucking revenue, which was partially offset by an increase in bin cleaning revenue. Trucking revenue declined from a reduction in business from a few large customers.

Cost of sales. Cost of sales for the land management services segment consist of the direct costs of our equipment and parts. Cost of sales for the retail and appliances segment consist of the cost of purchased merchandise plus the cost of delivering merchandise and where applicable installation, net of promotional rebates and other incentives received from vendors. Our total cost of sales was $30,426,194 for the year ended December 31, 2019, including $28,596,127 from our new retail and appliances segment from the date of acquisition on April 5, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to $2,370,757 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Cost of sales for the land management services segment decreased by $540,690, or 22.8%, to $1,830,067 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $2,370,757 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in cost of sales results from the decreased sales noted above, offset by an increase in gross margin. The increase in gross profit is the result of a slight increase in gross profit on equipment sales and a significant increase in gross profit on parts sales, although on a smaller amount of sales.  Gross profit varies among the different products that we sell resulting in differences in gross profit percentages from period to period.

Personnel costs. Personnel costs include employee salaries and bonuses plus related payroll taxes. It also includes health insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions, and training costs. Our total personnel costs were $5,137,946 for the year ended December 31, 2019, including $2,909,752 from our new retail and appliances segment from the date of acquisition on April 5, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to $2,269,059 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Personnel costs for the land management services segment decreased by $40,865, or 1.8%, to $2,228,194 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $2,269,059 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Fuel costs. Fuel costs, which are attributable to our land management services segment, include fuel for our on-road trucking and off-road manure spreading services. Our fuel costs decreased by $155,692 or 17.8 %, to $718,495 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $874,187 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in fuel is the result of a slight decline in market prices for fuel and the timing of fuel purchases, as well as the decline in trucking revenue and a slight decline in hauling revenue.

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of professional advisor fees, bad debts reserve, rent expense, advertising, bank fees, insurance, and other expenses incurred in connection with general operations. Our total general and administrative expenses increased by $4,281,047, or 225.7%, to $6,177,588 for the year ended December 31, 2019, including $4,618,112 from our new retail and appliances segment from the date of acquisition on April 5, 2019 to December 31, 2019, from $1,896,541 for the year ended December 31, 2018. As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expenses were 15.0% and 25.9% for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

General and administrative expenses for the land management services segment decreased by $168,983, or 10.7%, to $1,407,708 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $1,576,691 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The primary changes were a decrease in professional fees of $156,057, an increase in repair and maintenance of $151,194 and a decrease in other general and administrative expenses of $161,916. The other general and administrative expenses were primarily impacted by adjustments to inventory obsolescence decrease of $48,000, a reduction of bad debt of $15,000, a decrease of shop supplies $41,000 and a decrease of general insurance of $15,000. As a percentage of revenue for the land management services segment, general and administrative expenses amounted to 22.1% and 21.5% for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

General and administrative expenses for our holding company decreased by $158,409, or 49.5%, to $161,441 for the year ended December 31, 2019, from $319,850 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was due to a decrease in professional fees compared to the prior year.

Total other income (expense). We had $1,547,793 in total other expense, net, for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to total other expense, net, of $804,478 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Total other expense, net, in the year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of financing costs of $552,561 and interest expense of $1,206,991, offset by a change in warrant liability of $106,900, write-off of contingent consideration of $32,246, other income of $15,010 and a gain on sale of fixed assets of $57,603, while other expense in the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted of financing costs of $536,491, primarily related to debt restructuring, interest expense of $562,629, and loss on asset write-down of $129,400, offset by $395,634 upon the write-off of the contingent consideration in the vesting note payable to $0 and gain on sale of fixed assets of $28,408.

Net loss attributable to company shareholders. As a result of the cumulative effect of the factors described above, our net loss attributable to our shareholders increased by $1,251,599, or 125.7%, to $2,246,959 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $995,360 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $238,760. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash proceeds from financing activities, borrowings and equity contributions by our shareholders.

Although we do not believe that we will require additional cash to continue our operations over the next twelve months (i.e., we do not believe that there is a going concern issue), we do believe additional funds are required to execute our business plan and our strategy of acquiring additional businesses. The funds required to execute our business plan will depend on the size, capital structure and purchase price consideration that the seller of a target business deems acceptable in a given transaction. The amount of funds needed to execute our business plan also depends on what portion of the purchase price of a target business the seller of that business is willing to take in the form of seller notes or equity of our company or one of our subsidiaries. Given these factors, we believe that the amount of outside additional capital necessary to execute our business plan on the low end (assuming target company sellers accept a significant portion of the purchase price in the form of seller notes or equity in our company or one of our subsidiaries) ranges between $100,000 to $250,000. If, and to the extent, that sellers are unwilling to accept a significant portion of the purchase price in seller notes and equity, then the cash required to execute our business plan could be as much as $5,000,000. We will seek growth as funds become available from cash flow, borrowings, additional capital raised privately or publicly, or seller retained financing.

Our primary use of funds will be for future acquisitions, public company expenses including regular distributions to our shareholders, investments in future acquisitions, payments to our manager pursuant to the management services agreement, potential payment of profit allocation to our manager and potential put price to our manager in respect of the allocation shares it owns. The management fee, expenses, potential profit allocation and potential put price are paid before distributions to shareholders and may be significant and exceed the funds held by our company, which may require our company to dispose of assets or incur debt to fund such expenditures. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager” for more information concerning the management fee, the profit allocation and put price.

At December 31, 2019, Goedeker did not meet certain loan covenants under the loan and security agreements with Burnley Capital LLC and Small Business Community Capital II, L.P. The agreements require compliance with the following ratios as a percentage of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019. The table below shows the required ratio and actual ratio for such period.

In addition, Goedeker was not in compliance with a requirement with respect to the liquidity ratio, which is the ratio of cash and available borrowings to customer deposits. At December 31, 2019, the actual ratio was .012x compared to a requirement of 0.60x.

Accordingly, our company is in technical, not payment default, on these loan and security agreements and has classified such debt as a current liability. We have developed plans that will return us to full compliance including a recently received proposal from a new asset-based lender. In addition to the proposal from a new asset-based lender, we have taken the following two steps that we believe will positively impact our retail and appliance business:

We believe these efforts and others will increase revenue and allow us to regain compliance with our debt covenants.

There are no cross-default provisions that would require any other long-term liabilities to be classified as current. Although the 9% subordinated promissory note described below contains a cross default provision that is triggered by the acceleration of the senior debt, such cross default provision would only be triggered for a technical default like the one that occurred if the senior lender accelerated the senior debt, which has not happened.

The amount of management fee paid to our manager by our company is reduced by the aggregate amount of any offsetting management fees, if any, received by our manager from any of our businesses. As a result, the management fee paid to our manager may fluctuate from quarter to quarter. The amount of management fee paid to our manager may represent a significant cash obligation. In this respect, the payment of the management fee will reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to shareholders. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as a Service Provider—Management Fee” for more information on the calculation of the management fee.

Our manager, as holder of 100% of our allocation shares, is entitled to receive a twenty percent (20%) profit allocation as a form of preferred equity distribution, subject to an annual hurdle rate of eight percent (8%), as follows. Upon the sale of a company subsidiary, the manager will be paid a profit allocation if the sum of (i) the excess of the gain on the sale of such subsidiary over a high water mark plus (ii) the subsidiary’s net income since its acquisition by the company exceeds the 8% hurdle rate. The 8% hurdle rate is the product of (i) a 2% rate per quarter, multiplied by (ii) the number of quarters such subsidiary was held by the company, multiplied by (iii) the subsidiary’s average share (determined based on gross assets, generally) of our company’s consolidated net equity (determined according to GAAP. with certain adjustments). In certain circumstances, after a subsidiary has been held for at least 5 years, the manager may also trigger a profit allocation with respect to such subsidiary (determined based solely on the subsidiary’s net income since its acquisition). The amount of profit allocation may represent a significant cash payment and is senior in right to payments of the distributions on the series A preferred and other distributions to our shareholders. Therefore, the amount of profit allocation paid, when paid, will reduce the amount of cash available to our company for its operating and investing activities, including future acquisitions. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder—Manager’s Profit Allocation” for more information on the calculation of the profit allocation.

Our operating agreement also contains a supplemental put provision, which gives our manager the right, subject to certain conditions, to cause our company to purchase the allocation shares then owned by our manager upon termination of the management services agreement. The amount of put price under the supplemental put provision is determined by assuming all of our subsidiaries are sold at that time for their fair market value and then calculating the amount of profit allocation would be payable in such a case. If the management services agreement is terminated for any reason other than the manager’s resignation, the payment to our manager could be as much as twice the amount of such hypothetical profit allocation. As is the case with profit allocation, the calculation of the put price is complex and based on many factors that cannot be predicted with any certainty at this time. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder—Supplemental Put Provision” for more information on the calculation of the put price. The put price obligation, if the manager exercises its put right, will represent a significant cash payment and is senior in right to payments of distributions to our shareholders. Therefore, the amount of put price will reduce the amount of cash available to our company for its operating and investing activities, including future acquisitions.

Summary of Cash Flow

The following table provides detailed information about our net cash flow for all financial statement periods presented in this report:

Cash Flow

Net cash used in operating activities was $1,923,293 for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to $127,005 for the year ended December 31, 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the net loss of $3,381,423, an increase in accounts receivable of $1,447,705, a decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and accrued interest of $1,012,226, and an increase in uncertain tax position and deferred taxes of $1,008,104, offset by a decrease in inventory of $723,509, depreciation and amortization of $1,623,908, and an increase in customer deposits of $1,855,989, were the primary drivers of the net cash used in operating activities. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the net loss of $1,541,873, a decrease in deferred tax liability and prepaid tax of $742,000, a loan contingency write-down of $395,634, a gain on sale of fixed assets of $28,408, and an increase in accounts receivable of $239,205, offset by depreciation and amortization of $1,441,898, loss of extinguishment of debt of $536,534, a loss on write-off of assets of $129,400, amortization of financing costs of $29,239, an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $433,736, and a decrease of inventory of $240,353, were the primary drivers of the used in by operating activities.

Net cash used in investing activities was $47,321 for the year ended December 31, 2019, consisting of proceeds from sale of property and equipment of $143,711, offset by the purchase of equipment in the amount of $191,032. Net cash provided by investing activities was $309,968 for the year ended December 31, 2018, consisting of $320,775 of proceeds from sale of fixed assets, offset by purchase of equipment in the amount of $10,807.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $1,875,494 for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $350,505 for the year ended December 31, 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash provided by financing activities consisted of proceeds of convertible promissory note of $650,000, proceeds from notes payable of $1,527,000, proceeds from related party note payable of $2,400, and proceeds, net of repayments, from lines of credit of $1,339,430, offset by payments on notes payable of $661,259, floor plan repayments of $98,519, repayments on capital lease obligations of $524,058 and financing costs of $359,500. For the year ended December 31, 2018, net cash used in financing activities consisted of proceeds from short-term borrowings and notes payable in the amount of $479,434 and proceeds from related party notes payable in the amount of $117,000, offset by principal payments on the capital lease of $596,405, repayment to line of credit in the amount of $275,000, and repayments of notes payable of $75,534.

Regulation A Offering

On November 6, 2019, we launched an offering of series A preferred shares under Regulation A of Section 3(6) of the Securities Act for Tier 2 offerings. We are offering a minimum of 54,000 and up to a maximum of 320,000 of series A preferred shares at an offering price of $25.00 per share for minimum gross proceeds of $1,350,000 and up to a maximum of $8,000,000. Please see “Description of Securities” included in our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-236041), for a description of the terms of our series A preferred shares. As of the date of this report, we have not yet completed a closing of this offering and no series A preferred shares have been issued.

Grid Promissory Note

On January 3, 2018, we issued a grid promissory note to our manager in the initial principal amount of $50,000. The note provides that we may from time to time request additional advances from our manager up to an aggregate additional amount of $100,000, which will be added to the note if our manager, in its sole discretion, so provides. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid portion of the principal amount and the unpaid portion of all advances outstanding at a fixed rate of 8% per annum, and along with the outstanding portion of the principal amount and the outstanding portion of all advances, shall be payable in one lump sum due on the maturity date, which was the first anniversary of the date of the note. The maturity date of the grid promissory note was extended until January 3, 2021. If all or a portion of the principal amount or any advance under the note, or any interest payable thereon is not paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum. The note is unsecured and contains customary events of default. As of December 31, 2019, our manager has advanced $119,400 of the promissory note and we have accrued interest of $17,115.

Revolving Loan - Burnley

On April 5, 2019, Goedeker, as borrower, and 1847 Goedeker entered into a loan and security agreement with Burnley Capital LLC, or Burnley, for revolving loans in an aggregate principal amount that will not exceed the lesser of (i) the borrowing base or (ii) $1,500,000 (provided that such amount may be increased to $3,000,000 in Burnley’s sole discretion) minus reserves established Burnley at any time in accordance with the loan and security agreement. The “borrowing base” means an amount equal to the sum of the following: (i) the product of 85% multiplied by the liquidation value of Goedeker’s inventory (net of all liquidation costs) identified in the most recent inventory appraisal by an appraiser acceptable to Burnley (ii) multiplied by Goedeker’s eligible inventory (as defined in the loan and security agreement), valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined on a first-in-first-out basis. In connection with the closing of the acquisition of Goedeker Television on April 5, 2019, Goedeker borrowed $744,000 under the loan and security agreement and issued a revolving note to Burnley in the principal amount of up to $1,500,000. There is no available borrowing base and the balance of the line of credit amounts to $571,997 as of December 31, 2019, comprised of principal of $660,497, net of unamortized debt discount of $88,500.

The revolving note matures on April 5, 2022, provided that at Burnley’s sole and absolute discretion, it may agree to extend the maturity date for two successive terms of one year each. The revolving note bears interest at a per annum rate equal to the greater of (i) the LIBOR Rate (as defined in the loan and security agreement) plus 6.00% or (ii) 8.50%; provided that upon an event of default (as defined below) all loans, all past due interest and all fees shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the foregoing rate plus 3.00%. Goedeker shall pay interest accrued on the revolving note in arrears on the last day of each month commencing on April 30, 2019.

Goedeker may at any time and from time to time prepay the revolving note in whole or in part. If at any time the outstanding principal balance on the revolving note exceeds the lesser of (i) the difference of the total loan amount minus any reserves and (ii) the borrowing base, then Goedeker shall immediately prepay the revolving note in an aggregate amount equal to such excess. In addition, in the event and on each occasion that any net proceeds (as defined in the loan and security agreement) are received by or on behalf of Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker in respect of any prepayment event following the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, Goedeker shall, immediately after such net proceeds are received, prepay the revolving note in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such net proceeds. A “prepayment event” means (i) any sale, transfer, merger, liquidation or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any property of Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker; (ii) a change of control (as defined in the loan and security agreement); (iii) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property of Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker with a fair value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $25,000; (iv) the issuance by Goedeker of any capital stock or the receipt by Goedeker of any capital contribution; or (v) the incurrence by Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker of any indebtedness (as defined in the loan and security agreement), other than indebtedness permitted under the loan and security agreement.

Under the loan and security agreement, Goedeker is required to pay a number of fees to Burnley, including the following:

The loan and security agreement contains customary events of default, including, among others: (i) for failure to pay principal and interest on the revolving note when due, or to pay any fees due under the loan and security agreement; (ii) if any representation, warranty or certification in the loan and security agreement or any document delivered in connection therewith is incorrect in any material respect; (iii) for failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in the loan and security agreement or any document delivered in connection therewith; (iv) for the occurrence of any default in respect of any other indebtedness of more than $100,000; (v) for any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution; (vi) for the occurrence of one or more judgments, non-interlocutory orders, decrees or arbitration awards involving in the aggregate a liability of $25,000 or more; (vii) if Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker, or officer thereof, is charged by a governmental authority, criminally indicted or convicted of a felony under any law that would reasonably be expected to lead to forfeiture of any material portion of collateral, or such entity is subject to an injunction restraining it from conducting its business; (viii) if Burnley determines that a material adverse effect (as defined in the loan and security agreement) has occurred; (ix) if a change of control (as defined in the loan and security agreement) occurs; (x) if there is any material damage to, loss, theft or destruction of property which causes, for more than thirty consecutive days beyond the coverage period of any applicable business interruption insurance, the cessation or substantial curtailment of revenue producing activities; (xi) if there is a loss, suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew any permit if it could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect; and (xii) for the occurrence of any default or event of default under the term loan with SBCC, the 9% subordinated promissory note issued to Goedeker Television, the secured convertible promissory note issued to Leonite (as defined below) or any other debt that is subordinated to the revolving loan.

The loan and security agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative financial and other covenants for a loan of this type. The revolving note is secured by a first priority security interest in all of the assets of Goedeker and 1847 Goedeker. In connection with such security interest, on April 5, 2019, (i) 1847 Goedeker entered into a pledge agreement with Burnley, pursuant to which 1847 Goedeker pledged the shares of Goedeker held by it to Burnley, and (ii) Goedeker entered into a deposit account control agreement with Burnley, Small Business Community Capital II, L.P. and Montgomery Bank relating to the security interest in Goedeker’s bank accounts.

In addition, on April 5, 2019, we entered into a guaranty with Burnley to guaranty the obligations under the loan and security agreement upon the occurrence of certain prohibited acts described in the guaranty.

The rights of Burnley to receive payments under the revolving note are subordinate to the rights of Northpoint (as defined below) under a subordination agreement that Burnley entered into with Northpoint.

As noted above, our company is in technical, not payment default, on this loan and security agreement and has classified such debt as a current liability.

Revolving Loan – Northpoint

On June 24, 2019, Goedeker, as borrower, entered into a loan and security agreement with Northpoint Commercial Finance LLC, or Northpoint, for revolving loans up to an aggregate maximum loan amount of $1,000,000 for the acquisition, financing or refinancing by Goedeker of inventory at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 7.99%. The balance of the line of credit amounts to $678,933 as of December 31, 2019.

Pursuant to the loan and security agreement, Goedeker shall pay the following fees to Northpoint: (i) an audit fee for each audit conducted as determined by Northpoint, equal to the out-of-pocket expense incurred by Northpoint plus any minimum audit fee established by Northpoint; (ii) a fee for any returned payments equal to the lesser of the maximum amount permitted by law or $50; (iii) a late fee for each payment not received by the 25^th day of a calendar month, and each month thereafter until such payment is paid, equal to the greater of 5% of the amount past due or $25; (iv) a billing fee equal to $250 for any month for which Goedeker requests a paper billing statement; (v) a live check fee equal to $50 for each check that Goedeker sends to Northpoint for payment of obligations under the loan and security agreement; (vi) processing fees to be determined by Northpoint; and (vii) any additional fees that Northpoint may implement from time to time.

The loan and security agreement contains customary events of default, including in the event of (i) non-payment, (ii) a breach by Goedeker of any of its representations, warranties or covenants under the loan and security agreement or any other agreement entered into with Northpoint, or (iii) the bankruptcy or insolvency of Goedeker.  The loan and security agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative financial and other covenants for a loan of this type.

The Northpoint loans are secured by a security interest in all of the inventory of Goedeker that is manufactured or sold by vendors identified in the loan and security agreement. In connection with the loan and security agreement, on June 24, 2019, 1847 Goedeker entered into a guaranty in favor of Northpoint, to guaranty the obligations of Goedeker under the loan and security agreement.

Term Loan - SBCC

On April 5, 2019, Goedeker, as borrower, and 1847 Goedeker entered into a loan and security agreement with Small Business Community Capital II, L.P., or SBCC, for a term loan in the principal amount of $1,500,000, pursuant to which Goedeker issued to SBCC a term note in the principal amount of up to $1,500,000 and a ten-year warrant to purchase shares of the most senior capital stock of Goedeker equal to 5.0% of the outstanding equity securities of Goedeker on a fully-diluted basis for an aggregate price equal to $100. We classified the warrant as a derivative liability on the balance sheet of $122,344 and subject to remeasurement on every reporting period. The balance of the note amounts to $999,201 as of December 31, 2019, comprised of principal of $1,312,500, capitalized PIK interest of $21,204, and net of unamortized debt discount of $144,625 and unamortized warrant feature of $189,879.

The term note matures on April 5, 2023 and bears interest at the sum of the cash interest rate (defined as 11% per annum) plus the PIK interest rate (defined as 2% per annum); provided that upon an event of default all principal, past due interest and all fees shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the cash interest rate and the PIK interest rate, in each case plus 3.00%. Interest accrued at the cash interest rate shall be due and payable in arrears on the last day of each month commencing May 31, 2019. Interest accrued at the PIK interest rate shall be automatically capitalized, compounded and added to the principal amount of the term note on each last day of each quarter unless paid in cash on or prior to the last day of each quarter; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to an event of default shall be payable on demand, and (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid (including interest accrued at the PIK interest rate and not yet added to the principal amount of term note) shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all interest on term note, whether accrued at the cash interest rate or the PIK interest rate, shall be due and payable in cash on the maturity date unless payment is sooner required by the loan and security agreement.

Goedeker must repay to SBCC on the last business day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the last business day of June 2019, an aggregate principal amount of the term note equal to $93,750, regardless of any prepayments made, and must pay the unpaid principal on the maturity date unless payment is sooner required by the loan and security agreement.

Goedeker may prepay the term note in whole or in part from time to time; provided that if such prepayment occurs (i) prior to the first anniversary of the closing date, Goedeker shall pay SBCC an amount equal to 5.0% of such prepayment, (ii) prior to the second anniversary of the closing date and on or after the first anniversary of the closing date, Goedeker shall pay SBCC an amount equal to 3.0% of such prepayment, or (iii) prior to the third anniversary of the closing date and on or after the second anniversary of the closing date, Goedeker shall pay SBCC an amount equal to 1.0% of such prepayment, in each case as liquidated damages for damages for loss of bargain to SBCC. In addition, in the event and on each occasion that any net proceeds (as defined in the loan and security agreement) are received by or on behalf of Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker in respect of any prepayment event following the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, Goedeker shall, immediately after such net proceeds are received, prepay the term note in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such net proceeds. A “prepayment event” means (i) any sale, transfer, merger, liquidation or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any property of Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker; (ii) a change of control (as defined in the loan and security agreement); (iii) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property of Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker with a fair value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $25,000; (iv) the issuance by Goedeker of any capital stock or the receipt by Goedeker of any capital contribution; or (v) the incurrence by Goedeker or 1847 Goedeker of any indebtedness (as defined in the loan and security agreement), other than indebtedness permitted under the loan and security agreement.

The loan and security agreement with SBCC contains the same events of default as the loan and security agreement with Burnley, provided that the reference to the term loan in the cross default provision refers instead to the revolving loan.

The loan and security agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative financial and other covenants for a loan of this type. The term note is secured by a second priority security interest (subordinate to the revolving loan) in all of the assets of Goedeker and 1847 Goedeker. In connection with such security interest, on April 5, 2019, (i) 1847 Goedeker entered into a pledge agreement with SBCC, pursuant to which 1847 Goedeker pledged the shares of Goedeker held by it to SBCC, and (ii) Goedeker entered deposit account control agreement with Burnley, SBCC and Montgomery Bank relating to the security interest in Goedeker’s bank accounts.

In addition, on April 5, 2019, we entered into a guaranty with SBCC to guaranty the obligations under the loan and security agreement upon the occurrence of certain prohibited acts described in the guaranty.

The rights of SBCC to receive payments under the term note are subordinate to the rights of Northpoint and Burnley under separate subordination agreements that SBCC entered into with them.

As noted above, our company is in technical, not payment default, on this loan and security agreement and has classified such debt as a current liability.

Term Loan - Home State Bank

On June 13, 2018, Neese entered into a term loan agreement with Home State Bank, pursuant to which Neese issued a promissory note to Home State Bank in the principal amount of $3,654,074 with an annual interest rate of 6.85% with covenants to maintain a minimum debt coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.25. Neese did not comply with this covenant for the year ended December 31, 2019. Accordingly, because of the violation of this covenant and because the loan matures July 20, 2020, the loan is classified as a current liability in the December 31, 2019 balance sheet. Home State Bank has not made any commitments, but we believe that it will renew the loan at maturity.

Pursuant to the terms of the note, Neese will make semi-annual payments of $302,270 beginning on January 20, 2019 and continuing every six months thereafter until July 20, 2020, the maturity date; provided however, that Neese will pay the note in full immediately upon demand by Home State Bank. The balance of the note amounts to $3,299,264 as of December 31, 2019, comprised of principal of $3,309,537 and net of unamortized debt discount of $10,173.

The loan agreement contains customary representations and warranties. Pursuant to the terms of the loan agreement and the note, an “event of default” includes: (i) if Neese fails to make any payment when due under the note; (ii) if Neese fails to comply with or to perform any other term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in the note or in any of the related documents or to comply with or to perform any term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in any other agreement between Home State Bank and Neese; (iii) if Neese defaults under any loan, extension of credit, security agreement, purchase or sales agreement, or any other agreement, in favor of any other creditor or person that may materially affect any of Home State Bank’s property or Neese’s ability to repay the note or perform Neese’s obligations under the note or any of the related documents; (iv) if any warranty, representation or statement made or furnished to Home State Bank by Neese or on Neese’s behalf under the note or the related documents is false or misleading in any material respect; (v) upon the dissolution or termination of Neese’s existence as a going business, the insolvency of Neese, the appointment of a receiver for any part of Neese’s property, any assignment for the benefit of creditors, any type of creditor workout, or the commencement of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws by or against Neese, (vi) upon commencement of foreclosure or forfeiture proceedings by any creditor of Neese or by any governmental agency against any collateral securing the loan; and (vii) if a material adverse change occurs in Neese’s financial condition, or Home State Bank believes the prospect of payment or performance of the note is impaired. If any event of default occurs, all commitments and obligations of Home State Bank immediately will terminate and, at Home State Bank’s option, all indebtedness immediately will become due and payable, all without notice of any kind to Neese. Additionally, upon an event of default, the interest rate on the note will be increased by 3 percentage points. However, in no event will the interest rate exceed the maximum interest rate limitations under applicable law.

The loan is secured by inventory, accounts receivable, and certain fixed assets of Neese. The loan agreement limited the payment of interest on the 8% vesting promissory note and 10% promissory note described below to $40,000 annually or fees to our manager. We continue to accrue interest and management fees at the contractual amounts. Such accruals (in excess of $40,000 in interest on the promissory notes) are shown as long-term accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.

Secured Convertible Promissory Note

On April 5, 2019, our company, 1847 Goedeker and Goedeker (which are collectively referred to herein as 1847) entered into a securities purchase agreement with Leonite Capital LLC, or Leonite, pursuant to which 1847 issued to Leonite a secured convertible promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $714,286. As additional consideration for the purchase of the note, (i) our company issued to Leonite 50,000 common shares, (ii) our company issued to Leonite a five-year warrant to purchase 200,000 common shares at an exercise price of $1.25 per share (subject to adjustment), which may be exercised on a cashless basis, and (iii) 1847 Goedeker issued to Leonite shares of common stock equal to a 7.5% non-dilutable interest in 1847 Goedeker.

The note carries an original issue discount of $64,286 to cover Leonite’s legal fees, accounting fees, due diligence fees and/or other transactional costs incurred in connection with the purchase of the note. Therefore, the purchase price of the note was $650,000. We amortized $319,031 of financing costs related to the common shares and warrants in the year ended December 31, 2019. The remaining net balance of the note at December 31, 2019 is $584,943, comprised of principal of $714,286 and net of unamortized original issuance discount interest of $14,451, financing costs of $38,125 and unamortized debt discount warrant feature of $76,767.

The note bears interest at the rate of the greater of (i) 12% per annum and (ii) the prime rate as set forth in the Wall Street Journal on April 5, 2019 plus 6.5% guaranteed over the holding period on the unconverted principal amount, on the terms set forth in the note (which is referred to as the Stated Rate). Any amount of principal or interest on the note which is not paid by the maturity date shall bear interest at the rate at the lesser of 24% per annum or the maximum legal amount permitted by law (which is referred to as the Default Interest).

Beginning on May 5, 2019 and on the same day of each and every calendar month thereafter throughout the term of the note, 1847 shall make monthly payments of interest only due under the note to Leonite at the Stated Rate as set forth above. 1847 shall pay to Leonite on an accelerated basis any outstanding principal amount of the note, along with accrued, but unpaid interest, from: (i) net proceeds of any future financings by our company, but not its subsidiaries, whether debt or equity, or any other financing proceeds, except any transaction having a specific use of proceeds requirement that such proceeds are to be used exclusively to purchase the assets or equity of an unaffiliated business and the proceeds are used accordingly; (ii) net proceeds from any sale of assets of 1847 or any of its subsidiaries other than sales of assets in the ordinary course of business or receipt by 1847 or any of its subsidiaries of any tax credits, subject to rights of Goedeker, or other financing sources of 1847 (including its subsidiaries) existing prior to the date of the note; and (iii) net proceeds from the sale of any assets outside of the ordinary course of business or securities in any subsidiary.

The note will mature 12 months from the issue date, or April 5, 2020, at which time the principal amount and all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and other fees relating to the note, will be due and payable. Unless an event of default as set forth in the note has occurred, 1847 has the right to prepay principal amount of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, the note at any time prior to the maturity date at 115% of the principal amount, or the Premium, provided, however, that if the prepayment is the result of any of the occurrence of any of the transactions described in subparagraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) above then such prepayment shall be the unpaid principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts due but without the Premium.

The note contains customary events of default, including in the event of (i) non-payment, (ii) a breach by 1847 of its covenants under the securities purchase agreement or any other agreement entered into in connection with the securities purchase agreement, or a breach of any of representations or warranties under the note, or (iii) the bankruptcy of 1847. The note also contains a cross default provision, whereby a default by 1847 of any covenant or other term or condition contained in any of the other financial instrument issued by of 1847 to Leonite or any other third party after the passage all applicable notice and cure or grace periods that results in a material adverse effect shall, at Leonite’s option, be considered a default under the note, in which event Leonite shall be entitled to apply all rights and remedies under the terms of the note.

Under the note, Leonite has the right at any time at its option to convert all or any part of the outstanding and unpaid principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest of the note into fully paid and non-assessable common shares or any shares or other securities of our company into which such common shares may be changed or reclassified. The number of common shares to be issued upon each conversion of the note shall be determined by dividing the conversion amount by the applicable conversion price then in effect. The conversion amount is the sum of: (i) the principal amount of the note to be converted plus (ii) at Leonite’s option, accrued and unpaid interest, plus (iii) at Leonite’s option, Default Interest, if any, plus (iv) Leonite’s expenses relating to a conversion, plus (v) at Leonite’s option, any amounts owed to Leonite. The conversion price shall be $1.00 per share (subject to adjustment as further described in the note for common share distributions and splits, certain fundamental transactions, and anti-dilution adjustments), provided that at any time after any event of default under the note, the conversion price shall immediately be equal to the lesser of (i) such conversion price less 40%; and (ii) the lowest weighted average price of the common shares during the 21 consecutive trading day period immediately preceding the trading day that 1847 receives a notice of conversion or (iii) the discount to market based on subsequent financings with other investors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Leonite be entitled to convert any portion of the note in excess of that portion of the note upon conversion of which the sum of (1) the number of common shares beneficially owned by Leonite and its affiliates (other than common shares which may be deemed beneficially owned through the ownership of the unconverted portion of the note or the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other security of our company subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitations contained in the note, and, if applicable, net of any shares that may be deemed to be owned by any person not affiliated with Leonite who has purchased a portion of the note from Leonite) and (2) the number of common shares issuable upon the conversion of the portion of the note with respect to which the determination of this proviso is being made, would result in beneficial ownership by Leonite and its affiliates of more than 4.99% of the outstanding common shares of our company. Such limitations on conversion may be waived (up to a maximum of 9.99%) by Leonite upon, at its election, not less than 61 days’ prior notice to us, and the provisions of the conversion limitation shall continue to apply until such 61st day (or such later date, as determined by Leonite, as may be specified in such notice of waiver).

Concurrently with 1847 and Leonite entering into the securities purchase agreement and as security for 1847’s obligations thereunder, on April 5, 2019, our company, 1847 Goedeker and Goedeker entered into a security and pledge agreement with Leonite, pursuant to which, in order to secure 1847’s timely payment of the note and related obligations and the timely performance of each and all of its covenants and obligations under the securities purchase agreement and related documents, 1847 unconditionally and irrevocably granted, pledged and hypothecated to Leonite a continuing security interest in and to, a lien upon, assignment of, and right of set-off against, all presently existing and hereafter acquired or arising assets. Such security interest is a first priority security interest with respect to the securities that our company owns in 1847 Goedeker and in 1847 Neese, and a third priority security interest with respect to all other assets.

The rights of Leonite to receive payments under the note are subordinate to the rights of Northpoint, Burnley and SBCC under separate subordination agreements that Leonite entered into with them.

9% Subordinated Promissory Note

A portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of assets from Goedeker Television was paid by the issuance by Goedeker of a 9% subordinated promissory note in the principal amount of $4,100,000. The note will accrue interest at 9% per annum, amortized on a five-year straight-line basis and payable quarterly in accordance with the amortization schedule attached thereto, and mature on April 5, 2023. The remaining balance of the note at December 31, 2019 is $3,300,444, comprised of principal of $3,930,292 and net of unamortized debt discount of $629,848.

Goedeker has the right to redeem all or any portion of the note at any time prior to the maturity date without premium or penalty of any kind. The note contains customary events of default, including in the event of (i) non-payment, (ii) a default by Goedeker of any of its covenants under the asset purchase agreement or any other agreement entered into in connection with the asset purchase agreement, or a breach of any of representations or warranties under such documents, or (iii) the bankruptcy of Goedeker. The note also contains a cross default provision which provides that if there occurs with respect to the revolving loan with Burnley or the term loan with SBCC (A) a default with respect to any payment obligation thereunder that entitles the holder thereof to declare such indebtedness to be due and payable prior to its stated maturity or (B) any other default thereunder that entitles, and has caused, the holder thereof to declare such indebtedness to be due and payable prior to maturity. Since the defaults under the loans with Burnley and SBCC are not payment defaults, they fall under clause (B) above and would require Burnley or SBCC to accelerate the payment of indebtedness under their notes (which they have not done) before the cross default provisions would result in a default under this note.

The rights of the holder to receive payments under the note are subordinate to the rights of Northpoint, Burnley and SBCC under separate subordination agreements that the holder entered into with them.

8% Vesting Promissory Note

A portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of Neese was paid by the issuance of an 8% vesting promissory note in the principal amount of $1,875,000 (which was determined to have no fair value as of December 31, 2019 and 2018) by 1847 Neese and Neese to the sellers of Neese. Payment of the principal and accrued interest on the note was subject to vesting in the event that Neese met Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the note) targets of $1,300,000 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and a contingent consideration subject to fair market valuation adjustment at each reporting period. The note bore interest on the vested portion of the principal amount at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum and was to be due and payable in full on June 30, 2020.

Neese did not meet the Adjusted EBITDA target of $1,300,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. At June 30, 2018, management made the determination that the vesting note payable had no value because it estimated that the Adjusted EBITDA target of $1,300,000 for both 2018 and 2019 would be not attained, thus eliminating the requirement for a payment under terms of the note payable. As expected, Neese did not meet the Adjusted EBITDA target for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019. As a result, this note did not vest and no amounts are payable.

10% Promissory Note

A portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of Neese was paid by the issuance of a 10% promissory note in the principal amount of $1,025,000 by 1847 Neese and Neese to the sellers of Neese. The note bears interest on the outstanding principal amount at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum and was due and payable in full on March 3, 2018; provided, however, that the unpaid principal, and all accrued, but unpaid, interest thereon shall be prepaid if at any time, and from time to time, the cash on hand of 1847 Neese and Neese exceeds $250,000 and, then, the prepayment shall be equal to the amount of cash in excess of $200,000 until the unpaid principal and accrued, but unpaid, interest thereon is fully prepaid. The note contains the same events of default as the 8% vesting promissory note. The note has not been repaid, thus we are in default under this note. Under terms of the term loan with Home State Bank described above, this note may not be paid until the term loan is paid in full. The payees on the note agreed to the modification of its terms by signing the loan agreement. Accordingly, the loan is shown as a long-term liability as of December 31, 2019. Additionally, the term loan lender limits the payment of interest on this note to $40,000 annually. We continue to accrue interest at the contract rate; however, given the limitations of the term loan, all accrued interest in excess of $40,000 is included in long-term accrued expenses.

Floor Plan Loans Payable

At December 31, 2019, $10,581 of machinery and equipment inventory was pledged to secure a floor plan loan from a commercial lender. We must remit proceeds from the sale of the secured inventory to the floor plan lender and pay a finance charge that can vary monthly at the option of the lender. The balance of the floor plan payable as of December 31, 2019 amounted to $10,581.

Master Lease Agreement

The cash portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of Neese was financed under a capital lease transaction for Neese’s equipment with Utica Leaseco, LLC, or Utica, pursuant to a master lease agreement, dated March 3, 2017, between Utica and 1847 Neese and Neese, as co-lessees (collectively, referred to as the Lessee). Under the master lease agreement, Utica loaned an aggregate of $3,240,000 for certain of Neese’s equipment listed therein, which it leases to the Lessee. The initial term of the master lease agreement was for 51 months. Under the master lease agreement, the Lessee agreed to pay a monthly rent of $53,000 for the first three (3) months, with such amount increasing to $85,321.63 for the remaining forty-eight (48) months.

On June 14, 2017, the parties entered into a first amendment to lease documents, pursuant to which the parties agreed to, among other things, extend the term of the master lease agreement from 51 months to 57 months and amend the payments due thereunder. Under the amendment, the Lessee agreed to pay a monthly rent of $53,000 for the first ten (10) months, with such amount increasing to $85,321.63 for the remaining forty-seven (47) months. In connection with the extension of the term of the master lease agreement, the parties also amended the schedule of stipulated loss values and early termination payment schedule attached thereto. In connection with the amendment, the Lessee agreed to pay Utica an amendment fee of $2,500.

On October 31, 2017, the Lessee and Utica entered into a second equipment schedule to the master lease agreement, pursuant to which Utica loaned an aggregate of $980,000 for certain of Neese’s equipment listed therein. The term of the second equipment schedule is 51 months and agreed monthly payments are $25,807.

If any rent is not received by Utica within five (5) calendar days of the due date, the Lessee shall pay a late charge equal to ten (10%) percent of the amount. In addition, in the event that any payment is not processed or is returned on the basis of insufficient funds, upon demand, the Lessee shall pay Utica a charge equal to five percent (5%) of the amount of such payment. The Lessee is also required to pay an annual administration fee of $3,000. Upon the expiration of the term of the master lease agreement, the Lessee is required to pay, together with all other amounts then due and payable under the master lease agreement, in cash, an end of term buyout price equal to the lesser of: (a) five percent (5%) of the Total Invoice Cost (as defined in the master lease agreement); or (b) the fair market value of the equipment, as determined by Utica.

Provided that no default under the master lease agreement has occurred and is continuing beyond any applicable grace or cure period, the Lessee has an early buy-out option with respect to all but not less than all of the equipment, upon the payment of any outstanding rental payments or other fees then due, plus an additional amount set forth in the master lease agreement, which represents the anticipated fair market value of the equipment as of the anticipated end date of the master lease agreement. In addition, the Lessee shall pay to Utica an administrative charge to be determined by Utica to cover its time and expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of the option to purchase, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney fees and costs. Furthermore, upon the exercise by the Lessee of this option to purchase the equipment, the Lessee shall pay all sales and transfer taxes and all fees payable to any governmental authority as a result of the transfer of title of the equipment to Lessee.

In connection with the master lease agreement, the Lessee granted a security interest on all of its right, title and interest in and to: (i) the equipment, together with all related software (embedded therein or otherwise) and general intangibles, all additions, attachments, accessories and accessions thereto whether or not furnished by the supplier; (ii) all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents, other equipment, general intangibles, instruments, inventory, investment property, letter of credit rights and any supporting obligations related to any of the foregoing; (iii) all books and records pertaining to the foregoing; (iv) all property of such Lessee held by Utica, including all property of every description, in the custody of or in transit to Utica for any purpose, including safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of such Lessee or as to which such Lessee may have any right or power, including but not limited to cash; and (v) to the extent not otherwise included, all insurance, substitutions, replacements, exchanges, accessions, proceeds and products of the foregoing.

On February 1, 2018, Utica agreed to continue the $53,000 payments for three additional months and extend the maturity of the loan by three months. Additionally, Utica agreed to defer the February 3, 2018 payment to February 20, 2018. We paid one-half the normal late fee, $2,650 for the late payment. On March 2, 2018, Utica agreed to defer the March 3 payment to March 30, 2018. We paid a late payment fee of $5,300 for the payment deferral. 

On April 18, 2018, Utica, the Lessee, and Ellery W. Roberts, as guarantor under the master lease agreement, entered into a forbearance agreement relating to the non-payment of certain rent payments due under the Master Lease Agreement for the months of March 2018 and April 2018. Pursuant to the forbearance agreement, Utica agreed to forbear from demanding payment in full and exercising its remedies under the master lease agreement until June 3, 2018. Pursuant to the forbearance agreement, the Lessee agreed to, among other things, (i) make the payments set forth in the forbearance agreement on or before the dates specified therein, totaling $173,376, (ii) be current on all rent due under Schedule 1 of the master lease agreement by June 3, 2018 and be current on all rent due under Schedule 2 of the master lease agreement by May 30, 2018, (ii) reinstate or renew and continue in effect all insurance as required under the master lease agreement at Lessee’s sole cost and expense, (iv) pay a forbearance fee to Utica totaling $4,500, which shall not be due until termination of the master lease agreement and (v) execute a surrender agreement with respect to the Lessee’s equipment, which will be held in escrow by Utica and not deemed effective unless and until the earlier to occur of: (a) June 3, 2018, provided liabilities under master lease agreement remain due but unpaid; (b) such time as Utica accelerates due and unpaid liabilities pursuant to the term of the forbearance agreement and the master lease agreement; or (c) a default occurs under the forbearance agreement or the master lease agreement.

A portion of the proceeds from the term loan described below were applied to reduce the balance of this lease to $475,000. The lease is payable in 46 payments of $12,881.96 beginning July 3, 2018 and an end-of-term buyout of $38,000. As a result, the parties to the forbearance agreement agreed that the forbearance agreement is terminated and is no longer in effect.

The remaining balance of the lease amounts to $634,458 as of December 31, 2019, comprised of principal of $830,691 and net of unamortized debt discount of $25,055, accrued payments on lien release of $2,249,784 and lease deposits of $38,807, offset by end of lease buyout payments of $117,413.

Total Debt

The following table shows aggregate figures for the total debt described above that is coming due in the short and long term as of December 31, 2019. See the above disclosures for more details regarding these loans.

Contractual Obligations

We have engaged our manager to manage the day-to-day operations and affairs of our company. Our relationship with our manager will be governed principally by the following agreements:

Pursuant to the management services agreement that we entered into with our manager, our manager will have the right to cause our company to purchase the allocation shares then owned by our manager upon termination of the management services agreement. The redemption value of the allocation shares will be recorded outside of permanent equity in the mezzanine section of the balance sheet. We will recognize any change in the redemption value of the allocation shares by recording a dividend between net income and net income available to common shareholders. The amount recorded for the allocation shares is largely related to the fair value of the profit allocation that our manager, as holder of the allocation shares, will receive. The carrying value of the allocation shares will represent an estimate of the amounts to ultimately be paid to our manager, whether as a result of the occurrence of one or more of the various trigger events or upon the exercise of the supplemental put provision contained in our operating agreement following the termination of the management services agreement. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Our Manager as an Equity Holder—Supplemental Put Provision” for more information about this agreement.

We also expect that our manager will enter into offsetting management services agreements, transaction services agreements and other agreements, in each case, with some or all of the businesses that we acquire in the future. See “Our Manager” for more information about these and other agreements our company intends to enter into with our manager.

Pursuant to the asset purchase agreement with Goedeker Television, dated April 5, 2019, Goedeker Television is also entitled to receive the following earn out payments to the extent the Goedeker business achieves the applicable EBITDA (as defined in the asset purchase agreement) targets:

To the extent the EBITDA of the Goedeker business for any applicable period is less than $2,500,000 but greater than $1,500,000, Goedeker must pay a partial earn out payment to Goedeker Television in an amount equal to the product determined by multiplying (i) the EBITDA Achievement Percentage by (ii) the applicable earn out payment for such period, where the “Achievement Percentage” is the percentage determined by dividing (A) the amount of (i) the EBITDA of the Goedeker business for the applicable period less (ii) $1,500,000, by (B) $1,000,000. For avoidance of doubt, no partial earn out payments shall be earned or paid to the extent the EBITDA of the Goedeker business for any applicable period is equal or less than $1,500,000.

To the extent Goedeker Television is entitled to all or a portion of an earn out payment, the applicable earn out payment(s) (or portion thereof) shall be paid on the date that is three (3) years from the closing date, and shall accrue interest from the date on which it is determined Goedeker Television is entitled to such earn out payment (or portion thereof) at a rate equal to five percent (5%) per annum, computed on the basis of a 360 day year for the actual number of days elapsed.

The rights of Goedeker Television to receive any earn out payment are subordinate to the rights of Burnley and SBCC under separate subordination agreements that Goedeker Television entered into with them on April 5, 2019.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Critical Accounting Policies

The following discussion relates to critical accounting policies for our consolidated company. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported, including the notes thereto, and related disclosures of commitments and contingencies, if any. We have identified certain accounting policies that are significant to the preparation of our financial statements. These accounting policies are important for an understanding of our financial condition and results of operation. Critical accounting policies are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require management’s difficult, subjective, or complex judgment, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting the estimate may differ significantly from management’s current judgments. We believe the following critical accounting policies involve the most significant estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our financial statements:

Revenue Recognition and Cost of Revenue 

On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer purchase orders, including significant judgments. Our adoption of this ASU resulted in no change to our results of operations or balance sheet.

Land Management Segment

Neese’s payment terms are due on demand from acceptance of delivery. Neese does not incur incremental costs obtaining purchase orders from customers, however, if Neese did, because all of Neese’s contracts are less than a year in duration, any contract costs incurred would be expensed rather than capitalized. 

The revenue that Neese recognizes arises from orders it receives from customers. Neese’s performance obligations under the customer orders correspond to each service delivery or sale of equipment that Neese makes to customers under the purchase orders; as a result, each purchase order generally contains only one performance obligation based on the service or equipment sale to be completed. Control of the delivery transfers to customers when the customer is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the benefits from, Neese’s products, which generally occurs at the later of when the customer obtains title to the equipment or when the customer assumes risk of loss. The transfer of control generally occurs at a point of delivery. Once this occurs, Neese has satisfied its performance obligation and Neese recognizes revenue.

Neese also sells equipment by posting it on auction sites specializing in farm equipment. Neese posts the equipment for sale on a “magazine” site for several weeks before the auction. When Neese decides to sell, it moves the equipment to the auction site. The auctions are one day. If Neese accepts a bid, the customer pays the bid price and arranges for pick-up of the equipment.

Transaction Price ‒ Neese agrees with customers on the selling price of each transaction. This transaction price is generally based on the agreed upon service fee. In Neese’s contracts with customers, it allocates the entire transaction price to the service fee to the customer, which is the basis for the determination of the relative standalone selling price allocated to each performance obligation. Any sales tax, value added tax, and other tax Neese collects concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.

Substantially all of Neese’s sales are to businesses, including farmers or municipalities and very little to individuals.

Disaggregated Revenue ‒ Neese disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers by contract type, as it believes it best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

Performance Obligations ‒ Performance obligations for the different types of services are discussed below:

Retail and Appliances Segment

Goedeker collects the full sales price from the customer at the time the order is placed. Goedeker does not incur incremental costs obtaining purchase orders from customers, however, if Goedeker did, because all Goedeker’s contracts are less than a year in duration, any contract costs incurred would be expensed rather than capitalized.

The revenue that Goedeker recognizes arises from orders it receives from customers. Goedeker’s performance obligations under the customer orders correspond to each sale of merchandise that it makes to customers under the purchase orders; as a result, each purchase order generally contains only one performance obligation based on the merchandise sale to be completed. Control of the delivery transfers to customers when the customer can direct the use of, and obtain substantially all the benefits from, Goedeker’s products, which generally occurs when the customer assumes the risk of loss. The transfer of control generally occurs at the point of shipment. Once this occurs, Goedeker has satisfied its performance obligation and Goedeker recognizes revenue. Revenue from the sale of long-term service warranties are recognized net of costs to sell the contracts to the third-party warranty service company.

Transaction Price ‒ Goedeker agrees with customers on the selling price of each transaction. This transaction price is generally based on the agreed upon sales price. In Goedeker’s contracts with customers, it allocates the entire transaction price to the sales price, which is the basis for the determination of the relative standalone selling price allocated to each performance obligation. Any sales tax, value added tax, and other tax Goedeker collects concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.

Cost of revenue includes the cost of purchased merchandise plus the cost of delivering merchandise and where applicable installation, net of promotional rebates and other incentives received from vendors.

Substantially all Goedeker’s sales are to individual retail consumers.

Disaggregated Revenue ‒ Goedeker disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers by contract type, as it believes it best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

Performance Obligations – Goedeker’s performance obligations include delivery of products and, in some instances, performance of services such as installation. Revenue for the sale of merchandise is recognized upon shipment to the customer; or in some instances, upon delivery and installation of the product which typically occur simultaneously.

Receivables

Receivables consist of credit card transactions in the process of settlement. Vendor rebates receivable represent amounts due from manufactures from whom we purchase product. Rebates receivable are stated at the amount that management expects to collect from manufacturers, net of accounts payable amounts due the vendor. Rebates are calculated on product and model sales programs from specific vendors. The rebates are paid at intermittent periods either in cash or through issuance of vendor credit memos, which can be applied against vendor accounts payable. Based on our assessment of the credit history with manufacturers, we have concluded that there should be no allowance for uncollectible accounts. We historically collect substantially all of our outstanding rebates receivables. Uncollectible balances are expensed in the period it is determined to be uncollectible.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Provisions for credit losses are charged to income as losses are estimated to have occurred and in amounts sufficient to maintain an allowance for credit losses at an adequate level to provide for future losses on our accounts receivable. We charge credit losses against the allowance and credits subsequent recoveries, if any, to the allowance. Historical loss experience and contractual delinquency of accounts receivables, and management’s judgment are factors used in assessing the overall adequacy of the allowance and the resulting provision for credit losses. While management uses the best information available to make its evaluation, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if there are significant changes in economic conditions or portfolio performance. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revisions as more information becomes available.

The allowance for credit losses consists of general and specific components. The general component of the allowance estimates credit losses for groups of accounts receivable on a collective basis and relates to probable incurred losses of unimpaired accounts receivables. We record a general allowance for credit losses that includes forecasted future credit losses.

Inventory

Inventory consists of finished products acquired for resale and is valued at the lower-of-cost-or-market with cost determined on a specific item basis for the Neese and of finished products acquired for resale and is valued at the low-of-cost-or-market with cost determined on an average item basis for Goedeker. We periodically evaluate the value of items in inventory and provides write-downs to inventory based on its estimate of market conditions. We estimated an obsolescence allowance of $425,000 and $0 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation of furniture, vehicles and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows:

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

In applying the acquisition method of accounting, amounts assigned to identifiable assets and liabilities acquired were based on estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition, with the remainder recorded as goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets are initially valued at fair value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. Identifiable intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment if indicators of impairment arise. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment within one year of acquisitions or annually as of December 1, and whenever indicators of impairment exist. The fair value of intangible assets are compared with their carrying values, and an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which a carrying amount exceeds its fair value.

Acquired identifiable intangible assets are amortized over the following periods:

Long-Lived Assets 

We review our property and equipment and any identifiable intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The test for impairment is required to be performed by management at least annually. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted operating cash flow expected to be generated by the asset. 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 asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Derivative Instrument Liability

We account for derivative instruments in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other financial instruments or contracts, and requires recognition of all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value, regardless of hedging relationship designation. Accounting for changes in fair value of the derivative instruments depends on whether the derivatives qualify as hedge relationships and the types of relationships designated are based on the exposures hedged. At December 31, 2019, we classified a warrant issued in conjunction with a term loan as a derivative instrument.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Not Yet Adopted

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, the update requires only a single-step quantitative test to identify and measure impairment based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. A qualitative assessment may still be completed first for an entity to determine if a quantitative impairment test is necessary. The update is effective for fiscal year 2021 and is to be adopted on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company will test goodwill for impairment within one year of the acquisition or annually as of December 1, and whenever indicators of impairment exist.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. This ASU is a comprehensive new leases standard that amends various aspects of existing guidance for leases and requires additional disclosures about leasing arrangements. It will require companies to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. Topic 842 retains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases. The classification criteria for distinguishing between finance leases and operating leases are substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases in the previous leases guidance. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years; and earlier adoption is permitted. In the financial statements in which the ASU is first applied, leases shall be measured and recognized at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented with an adjustment to equity. Practical expedients are available for election as a package and if applied consistently to all leases. On January 1, 2019, the Company recognized $624,157 of financing lease assets and $624,157 of financing lease liabilities, including noncurrent financing lease liabilities of $559,972, as a result of adopting this standard. As part of its adoption, the Company elected the following practical expedients: the Company has not reassessed whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, the Company has not reassessed lease classification for any expired or existing leases; the Company has not reassessed initial direct costs for any existing leases; and the Company has not separated lease and non-lease components. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The comparative periods have not been restated for the adoption of ASU 2016-02.

Not applicable. 

The full text of our audited consolidated financial statements begins on page F-1 of this annual report.

None.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Disclosure controls and procedures refer to controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and 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.

As required by Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, our management has carried out an evaluation, with the participation and under the supervision of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as of December 31, 2019. Based upon, and as of the date of this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer determined that, because of the material weaknesses described below, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for our company. Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:

Our management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this evaluation, management used the framework established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO. The COSO framework summarizes each of the components of a company’s internal control system, including (i) the control environment, (ii) risk assessment, (iii) control activities, (iv) information and communication, and (v) monitoring. Based on our evaluation, we determined that, as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective due to the following material weaknesses.

In order to cure the foregoing material weakness, we have taken or plan to take the following remediation measures:

We intend to complete the remediation of the material weaknesses discussed above as soon as practicable but we can give no assurance that we will be able to do so. Designing and implementing an effective disclosure controls and procedures is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to devote significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that adequately satisfies our reporting obligations. The remedial measures that we have taken and intend to take may not fully address the material weaknesses that we have identified, and material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures may be identified in the future. Should we discover such conditions, we intend to remediate them as soon as practicable. We are committed to taking appropriate steps for remediation, as needed.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. 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 of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

We regularly review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our processes and systems to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that we maintain an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems, consolidating activities, and migrating processes.

Except for the matters described above, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

We have no information to disclose that was required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019, but was not reported.

PART III

Directors and Executive Officers

The following sets forth information about our directors and executive officers:

Ellery W. Roberts.  Mr. Roberts brings over 20 years of private equity investing experience to our company.  Mr. Roberts has been the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Financial Officer of our company since its inception on January 22, 2013. Mr. Roberts has also been a director of Western Capital Resources, Inc., a public company (WCRS), since May 2010.  In July 2011, Mr. Roberts formed The 1847 Companies LLC, a company that is no longer active, where he began investing his own personal capital and capital of high net worth individuals in select transactions.  Through The 1847 Companies LLC, Mr. Roberts operated as a fundless sponsor, covering the costs associated with pursuing transactions and raising capital on the basis of his own personal investment. Prior to forming The 1847 Companies LLC, Mr. Roberts was the co-founder and was co-managing principal from October 2009 to June 2011 of RW Capital Partners LLC, the recipient of a “Green Light” letter from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) permitting RW Capital Partners LLC to raise capital in pursuit of the SBA Small Business Investment Company license with the preliminary support of the SBA. Mr. Roberts was a founding member of Parallel Investment Partners, LP (formerly SKM Growth Investors, LP), or Parallel, a Dallas-based private equity fund focused on re-capitalizations, buyouts and growth capital investments in lower middle market companies throughout the United States. Mr. Roberts was responsible for approximately $400 million in invested capital across two funds.  Also during his tenure with Parallel, Mr. Roberts sat on the boards of Environmental Lighting Concepts, Hat World Corporation, Senex Financial Corporation, Builders TradeSource Corporation, Action Sports, Weisman Discount Home Centers, Winnercom, Mealey’s Furniture, Regional Management Corporation, Marmalade Cafes, and Diesel Service and Supply (all of which are private companies).  Prior to Parallel, Mr. Roberts was a Vice President with Lazard Group LLC (NYSE: LAZ), or Lazard, from July 1997 to December 2000.  While at Lazard, he focused on and also gained experience in the home building, health care, retail, industrial and lodging sectors.  Prior to joining Lazard in 1997, Mr. Roberts was a Senior Financial Analyst with Colony Capital, Inc. from July 1995 to June 1996, where he analyzed and executed transactions for Colony Investors II, L.P., a $625 million private equity fund.  Prior to that, he was a Financial Analyst with the Corporate Finance Division of Smith Barney Inc. (now known as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC) from January 1994 to June 1995 where he participated in a wide variety of investment banking activities.  During his career Mr. Roberts has been directly involved with over $3 billion in direct private equity investments.  Some of the more notable investments in which Mr. Roberts played a key role leading to returns driven by acquisitions in the small business market are (i) the recapitalization of Hat World Inc. in 2001, wherein the capital provided by SKM Growth Investors was utilized to acquire LIDS Inc. out of bankruptcy (after absorbing the LIDS stores, Hat World Inc. realized significant growth and ultimately was sold to Genesco Inc., a public entity (GCO), netting SKM a gross multiple of invested capital of 5.0x in 2004); (ii) the growth capital investment in Teavana Inc. in 2004, wherein the capital provided by SKM Growth Investors was utilized to facilitate the rapid expansion of Teavana Inc, ultimately leading to an IPO and ultimate sale subsequent to the IPO to Starbucks Inc., netting SKM Growth Investors a gross multiple of invested capital of 12.4x in 2013; and (iii) the recapitalization of Regional Management Corporation, or RMC, wherein the capital provided by Parallel was utilized to buy a majority of the equity interest in RMC and fund future growth. Subsequent to Parallel’s investment in RMC in 2007, the company realized significant growth in sales and EBITDA ultimately positioning RMC to execute a successful IPO and facilitated the eventual sale of Parallel’s interest in the company generating a gross multiple of invested capital of 4.6x in 2014. Mr. Roberts received his B.A. degree in English from Stanford University. Mr. Roberts was selected to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive senior management experience in the industry in which we operate, having served as founder or executive of various other management, investment and corporate advisory companies for over 15 years.

Robert D. Barry. Mr. Barry has been a director of our company since January 2014. From April 2013 until August 2016, Mr. Barry was Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of Pawn Plus. Pawn Plus is a chain of five retail pawn stores in suburban Philadelphia and one pawn store in northeastern Ohio. Prior to joining Pawn Plus, from March 2007 to January 2013, Mr. Barry served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Regional Management Corp. (NYSE:RM), a consumer loan company based in Greenville, South Carolina. During February 2013 and March 2013, Mr. Barry worked as a project consultant for Regional Management. Prior to joining Regional Management, Mr. Barry was the Managing Member of AccessOne Mortgage Company, LLC in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1997 to 2007. During this time, he also served as part-time Chief Financial Officer for Patriot State Bank, in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, from March 2006 to March 2007 and Nuestro Banco, Raleigh, North Carolina, from July 2006 to March 2007. Prior to his time at AccessOne, Mr. Barry was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Regional Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ:REGA), a consumer finance company based in Greenville, North Carolina and prior to that he was a financial institutions partner in the Raleigh, North Carolina office of KPMG LLP. Mr. Barry is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in North Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Barry was selected to serve on our board of directors due to his years of relevant financial, industry and business expertise.

Paul A. Froning. Mr. Froning has been a director of our company since April 2013. In 2009, Mr. Froning co-founded Focus Healthcare Partners LLC, or Focus, a Chicago-based private equity investment, advisory and asset management firm targeting the senior housing and healthcare sectors. Since November 2009, Mr. Froning has acted as Principal of Focus. Prior to forming Focus, from February 2008 to October 2009, Mr. Froning was a Managing Director in the private equity department of Fortress Investment Group LLC (NYSE: FIG), or Fortress, a publicly-traded New York-based private investment firm with more than $50 billion in assets under management.  Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Froning was the Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President of Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD), or Brookdale, a publicly-traded affiliate of Fortress, from 2005 to 2008.  Previously, Mr. Froning held senior investment positions at the private equity investment arms of Lazard Group LLC (NYSE: LAZ) and Security Capital Group, prior to its acquisition by GE Capital Corp., in addition to investment banking experience at Salomon Brothers, prior to its acquisition by Travelers Group, and the securities subsidiary of Principal Financial Group (NYSE: PSG).  Mr. Froning has a B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Froning was selected to serve on our board of directors due to his twenty years of private equity, investment and advisory experience.

Our directors currently have terms which will end at our next annual meeting of the shareholders or until their successors are elected and qualify, subject to their prior death, resignation or removal. Officers serve at the discretion of the board of directors.

Pursuant to our operating agreement, as holder of the allocation shares, our manager has the right to appoint one director to our board of directors for every four members constituting the entire board of directors. Any such director will not be required to stand for election by the shareholders. Otherwise, there is no arrangement or understanding between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which he was or is to be selected as a director, nominee or officer.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among any of our officers or directors.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

To the best of our knowledge, except as described below, none of our directors or executive officers has, during the past ten years:

Governance Structure

Currently, our Chief Executive Officer is also our Chairman. Our board believes that, at this time, having a combined Chief Executive Officer and Chairman is the appropriate leadership structure for our company. In making this determination, the board considered, among other matters, Mr. Robert’s experience and tenure of having founded our company in 2013, and believed that Mr. Roberts is highly qualified to act as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer due to his experience, knowledge, and personality. Among the benefits of a combined Chief Executive Officer/Chairman considered by the board is that such structure promotes clearer leadership and direction for our company and allows for a single, focused chain of command to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The board of directors oversees that the assets of our company are properly safeguarded, that the appropriate financial and other controls are maintained, and that our business is conducted wisely and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and proper governance. Included in these responsibilities is the board’s oversight of the various risks facing our company. In this regard, our board seeks to understand and oversee critical business risks. Our board does not view risk in isolation. Risks are considered in virtually every business decision and as part of our business strategy. Our board recognizes that it is neither possible nor prudent to eliminate all risk. Indeed, purposeful and appropriate risk-taking is essential for our company to be competitive on a global basis and to achieve its objectives.

While the board oversees risk management, company management is charged with managing risk. Management communicates routinely with the board and individual directors on the significant risks identified and how they are being managed. Directors are free to, and indeed often do, communicate directly with senior management.

Our board administers its risk oversight function as a whole by making risk oversight a matter of collective consideration. Once the board establishes committees, it is anticipated that much of the work will be delegated to such committees, which will meet regularly and report back to the full board. It is anticipated that an audit committee will oversee risks related to our financial statements, the financial reporting process, accounting and legal matters, that a compensation committee will evaluate the risks and rewards associated with our compensation philosophy and programs, and that a nominating and corporate governance committee will evaluate risk associated with management decisions and strategic direction.

Material Changes to Director Nomination Procedures

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors since such procedures were last disclosed.

Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert

We do not have an audit committee or an audit committee financial expert serving on the audit committee. Our entire board of directors currently is responsible for the functions that would otherwise be handled by an audit committee. However, we intend to establish an audit committee in the near future. We envision that the audit committee will be primarily responsible for reviewing the services performed by our independent auditors, evaluating our accounting policies and our system of internal controls. Upon the establishment of an audit committee, the board will determine whether any of the directors qualify as an audit committee financial expert.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Such code of ethics addresses, among other things, honesty and ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, regulations and policies, including disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws, and reporting of violations of the code.

We are required to disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our code of ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, or persons performing similar functions. We intend to use our website as a method of disseminating this disclosure, as permitted by applicable SEC rules. Any such disclosure will be posted to our website within four (4) business days following the date of any such amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our code of ethics.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers and beneficial holders of more than 10% of our common shares to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our equity securities. We believe, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us and representations of these persons, that all reports were timely filed for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Summary Compensation Table - Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

The following table sets forth information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the named persons for services rendered in all capacities during the noted periods. No other executive officers received total annual salary and bonus compensation in excess of $100,000.

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Ellery W. Roberts, is employed by our manager and is seconded to our company. Our manager, and not our company, pays any compensation to Mr. Roberts who is seconded to us under the management services agreement. We do not reimburse our manager for any compensation paid to Mr. Roberts in his capacity as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. We pay our manager a quarterly management fee, and our manager may use the proceeds from the management fee, in part, to pay compensation to Mr. Roberts. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the management fee expense for our manager amounted to $433,784 and $250,000, respectively, of which $120,137 and $62,500, respectively, was paid in cash.

Mr. Roberts did not receive any compensation as an employee of our manager for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. However, Mr. Roberts, as a holder of limited liability company interests in our manger, received $40,000 and $33,750 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as a result of distributions from our manger to its interest holders, which is included in “Other Compensation” in the table above. See Item 1. “Business—Our Manager—Overview of Our Manager” for information regarding the ownership of our manager.

Other Compensation

Our company does not provide any nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements or qualified or non-qualified pension plans to our named executive officers. The named executive officers have not been granted any options or other equity-based awards with respect to our common shares. As of December 31, 2019, the named executive officers did not hold any options or other equity-based awards with respect to our common shares.

Compensation of Directors

To date, we have not paid any compensation to our directors. We reimburse our directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board meetings or otherwise in accordance with the policies of our company as in effect from time to time.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common shares as of March 27, 2020 by (i) each of our named executive officers and directors; (ii) all of our named executive officers and directors as a group; and (iii) each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common shares. Unless otherwise specified, the address of each of the persons set forth below is c/o our company, 590 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10022.

* Less than 1%

Changes in Control

We do not currently have any arrangements which if consummated may result in a change of control of our company.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

We do not have any compensation plans in effect under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

Transactions with Related Persons

The following includes a summary of transactions since the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction, in which we were or are to be a participant and the amount involved exceeded or exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year end for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than compensation described under Item 11. “Executive Compensation”). We believe the terms obtained or consideration that we paid or received, as applicable, in connection with the transactions described below were comparable to terms available or the amounts that would be paid or received, as applicable, in arm’s-length transactions.

Director Independence

Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Froning is an independent director as that term is defined in the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Independent Auditors’ Fees

The following is a summary of the fees billed to us for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

“Audit Fees” consisted of fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in our Form 10-K and 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

“Audit-Related Fees” consisted of fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under the paragraph captioned “Audit Fees” above.

“Tax Fees” consisted of fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax returns preparation.

“All Other Fees” consisted of fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported above under other captions of this Item 14.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all audit and non-audit services performed by our auditors must be approved in advance by our board of directors to assure that such services do not impair the auditors’ independence from us. In accordance with its policies and procedures, our board of directors pre-approved the audit service performed by Sadler, Gibb & Associates, LLC for our financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019.

PART IV

(a) List of Documents Filed as a Part of This Report:

(1) Index to Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2) Index to Financial Statement Schedules:

All schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto, or because it is not required.

(3) Index to Exhibits:

See exhibits listed under Part (b) below.

(b) Exhibits:

* Filed herewith

None.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of 1847 Holdings LLC:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of 1847 Holdings LLC (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 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 financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Sadler, Gibb & Associates, LLC

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.

Salt Lake City, UT

March 30, 2020 

1847 HOLDINGS LLC

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS