AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES  

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K 

☒ Annual Report Pursuant To Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2020 

☐ Transition Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

For the transition period from ______ to_______  

Commission File No. 001-35927 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

(Name of small business issuer in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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

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 past 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 (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 

Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐ Smaller Reporting Company ☒

Emerging growth company ☐  

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities 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 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates was $21,369,743, based on 18,187,016 shares of outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, and a price of $1.175 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American on that date. 

There were a total of 32,000,155 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 19, 2021. 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K where indicated. Such Proxy Statement will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates. 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements. Certain of the matters discussed herein concerning, among other items, our operations, cash flows, financial position and economic performance including, in particular, future sales, product demand, competition and the effect of economic conditions, include forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are predictive in nature and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and generally include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions. Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, including projections of orders, sales, operating margins, earnings, cash flow, research and development costs, working capital, capital expenditures, distribution channels, profitability, new products, adequacy of funds from operations, and general economic conditions, these statements and other projections contained herein expressing opinions about future outcomes and non-historical information, are subject to uncertainties and, therefore, there is no assurance that the outcomes expressed in these statements will be achieved.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements contained herein. Given these uncertainties, you should not place any reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. See “Risk factors” for a discussion of factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures we make in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Introduction

As used in this report, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, the “Company” and terms such as “we,” “us” “our,” and “AIRI” refer to Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

We are an aerospace and defense company. We manufacture and design structural parts and assemblies that focus on flight safety, including landing gear, arresting gear, engine mounts, flight controls, throttle quadrants, components for jet engines and other components. Our products are currently deployed on a wide range of high-profile military and commercial aircraft including Sikorsky’s UH-60 Black Hawk, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Northrop Grumman’s E2 Hawkeye, Boeing’s 777, Airbus’ 380 commercial airliners, the US Navy F-18 and USAF F-16 fighter aircraft. Our Turbine Engine segment makes components for jet engines that are used on the USAF F-15, the Airbus A-330 and A-380, and the Boeing 777, in addition to a number of ground turbine applications.

We conduct our operations through our wholly-owned subsidiaries: Air Industries Machining (“AIM”); Nassau Tool Works (“NTW”); and The Sterling Engineering Corporation (“Sterling”). AIM and NTW comprise our Complex Machining segment and Sterling represents our Turbine Engine Components segment. AIM has manufactured components and subassemblies for the defense and commercial aerospace industry for over 50 years and has established long-term relationships with leading defense and aerospace manufacturers.

We are currently focused on positioning our business to obtain profitability, achieve positive cash flow and we remain resolute on meeting customers’ needs. We believe that an unyielding focus on our customers will allow us to execute on our existing backlog in a timely fashion. As part of our effort to increase our operating efficiencies, we relocated our headquarters to our main campus in Bay Shore, New York and consolidated the operations of NTW with those of AIM. In 2020, in order to take advantage of the long-term growth opportunities we see in our markets, we made significant capital investments in new equipment. Additionally, we expanded our operations and manufacturing cells located in our Connecticut facility which houses the operations of Sterling. We believe these investments will increase the volume and efficiency of production, increase the size and diversity of products we can make and allow us to offer additional services to our customers. We are pleased with the positive responses received from our customers to date.

Our Market

We operate primarily in the military and, to a lesser degree, commercial aviation industries. Defense revenues represent a preponderance of our sales. Our principal customers include Sikorsky Aircraft, Goodrich Landing Gear Systems, Northrop Grumman, the United States Department of Defense, GKN Aerospace, Lockheed, Boeing, Raytheon, Piper Aircraft, M7 Aerospace, Vought Aerospace, Ametek/Hughes-Treitler and Airbus.

Our products are incorporated into many aircraft platforms, the majority of which remain in production, and of which there are a substantial number of operating aircraft in fleets maintained by the military and commercial airlines. Many of our products are “flight critical,” essential to aircraft performance and safety on takeoff, during flight and when landing. These products require advanced certifications as a condition to being a supplier. For many of our products we are the sole or one of a limited number of sources of supply. Many of the parts we supply are subject to wear and tear or fatigue and are routinely replaced on aircraft on a time in service or flight cycle basis. Replacement demand for these products will continue, albeit at perhaps a lower rate, so long as an aircraft remains in service, which is usually many years after production has stopped.

Sales and Marketing

Our approach to sales and marketing can be best understood through the concept of customer alignment. The aerospace industry is dominated by a small number of large prime contractors and equipment manufacturers. These customers rely heavily upon subcontractors to supply quality parts meeting specifications on a timely and cost effective basis. These customers and other customers we supply routinely rate their suppliers based on a variety of performance factors. One of our principal goals is to be highly rated and thus relied upon by all of our customers.

The large prime contractors are increasingly seeking subcontractors who can supply and are qualified to integrate the fabrication of larger, more complex and more complete subassemblies. We seek to position ourselves within the supply chain of these contractors and manufacturers to be selected for subcontracted projects. Successful positioning requires that we qualify to be a preferred supplier by achieving and maintaining independent third party quality approval certifications, specific customer quality system approvals and top supplier ratings through strong performance on existing contracts.

During our sales and marketing efforts we let customers know that we have employees with the talent and experience to manage the manufacture of sections of aircraft structures to be delivered to the final assembly phase of the aircraft manufacturing cycle, and customers have now engaged us for these services.

Initial contracts are usually obtained through competitive bidding against other qualified subcontractors, while follow-on contracts are usually retained by successfully performing initial contracts. Our long term business generally benefits from barriers to entry resulting from investments, certifications, familiarization with the needs and systems of customers, and manufacturing techniques developed during the initial manufacturing phase. We endeavor to develop each of our relationships to one of a “partnership” where we participate in the resolution of pre-production design and build issues, and initial contracts are obtained as single source awards and follow-on pricing is determined through negotiations. Our ability to interact with our customers was hampered during 2020 as a result of the cancellation of industry-wide events and the difficulties in scheduling meetings with our customers as many of their personnel worked from home. In response, we have adapted our business development efforts to increase our use of social media and online presentations.

Our Backlog

The production cycle of products we manufacture can extend from several months to a year or longer. This gives rise to significant backlogs as customers must order product with sufficient lead time to ensure timely delivery.

We have a number of long-term multi-year purchase agreements or LTA’s with several of our customers. These agreements specify part numbers, specifications and prices of the covered products for an agreed upon period, but do not authorize immediate production and shipment. Production is authorized periodically by the customer through Purchase Orders or Releases by customers.

Our “firm backlog” includes only fully authorized orders received for products to be delivered within the forward 18-month period. As of December 31, 2020, our 18-month “firm backlog” was approximately $81.1 million.

Competition

Winning a new contract is highly competitive. We manufacture to customer design specifications, and we compete against companies that have similar manufacturing capabilities in a global marketplace. Consequently, the ability to obtain contracts requires providing quality products at competitive prices. To accomplish this requires that we strive for continuous improvement in our capabilities to assure our competitiveness and provide value to our customers. Our marketing strategy involves developing long-term ongoing working relationships with customers. These relationships enable us to develop entry barriers to would-be competitors by establishing and maintaining advanced quality approvals, certifications and tooling investments that are difficult and expensive to duplicate. Many of our competitors are larger enterprises or divisions of significantly larger companies having greater financial, physical and technical resources, and the capabilities to timelier respond under much larger contracts.

Among our competitors are: Monitor Aerospace, a division of Stellex Aerospace; Hydromil, a division of Triumph Aerospace Group; Heroux Aerospace and Ellanef Manufacturing, a division of Magellan Corporation.

Raw Materials and Replacement Parts

The manufacturing process for certain products, particularly those for which we serve as product integrator, requires significant purchases of raw materials, hardware and subcontracted details. As a result, much of our success in profitably meeting customer demand for these products requires efficient and effective subcontract management. Price and availability of many raw materials utilized in the aerospace industry are subject to volatile global markets and political conditions. Most suppliers of raw materials are unwilling to commit to long-term contracts at fixed prices. This is a substantial risk as our strategy often involves long term fixed price commitments to our customers. 

Employees

As of March 15, 2021, we employed approximately 151 people. Of these, approximately 52 were in administration, 6 were in sales and procurement, and 93 were in manufacturing.

AIM is a party to a collective bargaining agreement (the “Agreement”) with the United Service Workers, IUJAT, Local 355 (the “Union”) with which we believe we maintain good relations. The Agreement was renewed as of December 31, 2018 and expires on December 31, 2021 and covers all of AIM’s production personnel, approximately 93 individuals. AIM is required to make a monthly contribution to each of the Union’s United Welfare Fund and the United Services Worker’s Security Fund. This is the only pension benefit required by the Agreement and the Company is not obligated for any future defined benefit to retirees. The Agreement contains a “no-strike” clause, whereby, during the term of the Agreement, the Union will not strike and AIM will not lockout its employees.

All of our employees are covered under a co-employment agreement with Insperity Services, Inc., a professional employer organization (“PEO”) that provides out-sourced human resource services.

Regulations

Environmental Regulation; Employee Safety

We are subject to regulations administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, various state agencies and county and local authorities acting in cooperation with federal and state authorities. Among other things, these regulatory bodies impose restrictions that require us to control air, soil and water pollution, to protect against occupational exposure to chemicals, including health and safety risks, and to require notification or reporting of the storage, use and release of certain hazardous chemicals and substances. The extensive regulatory framework imposes compliance burdens and financial and operating risks on us. Governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and to obtain injunctions or impose civil and criminal fines in the case of violations.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) imposes strict, joint and several liabilities on the present and former owners and operators of facilities that release hazardous substances into the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (“RCRA”) regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. New York and Connecticut, the states where our production facilities are located, also have stringent laws and regulations governing the handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, counterparts of CERCLA and RCRA. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which requires employers to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized and preventable hazards that are likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, obligates employers to provide notice to employees regarding the presence of hazardous chemicals and to train employees in the use of such substances.

Federal Aviation Administration

We are subject to regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) under the provisions of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended. The FAA prescribes standards and licensing requirements for aircraft and aircraft components. We are subject to inspections by the FAA and may be subjected to fines and other penalties (including orders to cease production) for noncompliance with FAA regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable regulations could result in the termination of or our disqualification from some of our contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We have never been subject to such fines or disqualifications.

Government Contract Compliance

Our government contracts and those of many of our customers are subject to the procurement rules and regulations of the United States government, including the Federal Acquisition Regulations. Many of the contract terms are dictated by these rules and regulations. During and after the fulfillment of a government contract, we may be audited in respect of the direct and allocated indirect costs attributed to the project. These audits may result in adjustments to our contract costs. Additionally, we may be subject to U.S. government inquiries and investigations because of our participation in government procurement. Any inquiry or investigation can result in fines or limitations on our ability to continue to bid for government contracts and fulfill existing contracts.

We believe that we are in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations governing our operations and have obtained all material licenses and permits required for the operation of our business. 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The purchase of our common stock involves a very high degree of risk.

In evaluating our common stock and our business, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included herein. If any of the events described in the risks below actually occurs, our financial condition or operating results may be materially and adversely affected, the price of our common stock may decline, perhaps significantly, and you could lose all or a part of your investment.

The risks below can be characterized into four groups:

The financial statements contained in this Report, as well as the description of our business contained herein, unless otherwise indicated, principally reflect the status of our business and the result of operations as of December 31, 2020.

Risks Related to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting macroeconomic disruption have affected how we, our customers and our suppliers are operating our businesses, and the duration and extent to which this will impact our future results of operations and overall financial performance remains uncertain.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization announced that infections caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (“COVID-19”) had become pandemic and the U.S. President announced a National Emergency relating to the disease. National, state and local authorities, including those in which our offices and manufacturing facilities are located, have adopted various regulations and orders, including “shelter in place” rules, restrictions on travel, mandates on the number of people that may gather in one location and closing non-essential businesses. The global impact of the outbreak is continually evolving.

The measures adopted by various governments and agencies, as well as the decision by many individuals and businesses to voluntarily shut down or self-quarantine, had and are expected to continue to have serious adverse impacts on domestic and foreign economies of uncertain severity and duration. The effectiveness of economic stabilization efforts adopted by governments and their willingness to adopt further measures is uncertain. The likely overall economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been and will continue to be highly negative to the general economy. While we continue to operate substantially in the normal course of business, we have implemented procedures to promote employee safety including more frequent and enhanced cleaning and adjusted schedules and work-flows to support physical distancing. These actions resulted in increased operating costs. Our facilities did not operate with full staff or with normal efficiency during portions of 2020 primarily due to employee absenteeism and supplier disruptions. Although business has substantially returned to pre-Covid-19 operating levels, an increase in COVID-19 infections or changes in governmental regulations may force us to close or reduce operations or otherwise adversely impact our operations in future periods.

The future economic impact of Covid-19 cannot be predicted with certainty. COVID continues to cause significant disruption to the commercial travel and aerospace industries. Although domestic air travel in the United States has increased, it may take several years for overall economic conditions to return to normal and, particularly in the aerospace industry, for air travel and the resulting demand for new and refurbished aircraft to return to normal. If conditions do not improve, or if they worsen, it could make it difficult for us to access debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, and impact our ability to fund business activities and repay debt on a timely basis. Although the impact of reduced air travel may be disproportionately felt in the commercial as opposed to the defense aerospace industry, it should be expected that manufacturers in the commercial sector with excess capacity will increase their efforts to win projects in the defense aerospace industry.

We cannot forecast with any certainty whether the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will increase, or the extent to which any recovery may be negatively impacted by an increase in cases as a result of the spread of a new variant and restrictions imposed by various governments in response to any such increase. Any such disruption may materially impact our business and our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

In reading the remaining risk factors set forth below, in each case, consider the additional uncertainties caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Risks Related to Our Business

We may need additional financing.

We may need to obtain additional financing to fund acquisitions of capital items necessary for our growth and to upgrade equipment to remain competitive. We may also need to obtain the agreement of holders of portions of our debt to extend or otherwise refinance such debt. We may need to offer these holders increases in the rates of interest they receive or otherwise compensate them through payments of cash or issuances of our equity securities. Future financings or refinancing may involve the issuance of debt, equity and/or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our equity securities. Additional funding may not be available to us on reasonable terms, if at all. If we are able to consummate such financings or re-financings, the trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected and the terms of such financings may adversely affect the interests of our existing stockholders. Any failure to obtain additional working capital when required would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and may result in a decline in our stock price. Any issuances of our common stock, preferred stock, or securities such as warrants or notes that are convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, our capital stock, would have a dilutive effect on the voting and economic interest of our existing stockholders.

A reduction in government spending on defense could materially adversely impact our revenues, results of operations and financial condition.

A large percentage of our revenue is derived from products for US military aviation. There are risks associated with programs that are subject to appropriation by Congress, which could be potential targets for reductions in funding. Reductions in United States Government spending on defense or future changes in the mix of defense products required by United States Government agencies could limit demand for our products, and may have a materially adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. For the past several years, our operations have been impacted by volatility in government procurement cycles and spending patterns. There can be no assurance that our financial condition and results of operations will not be materially adversely impacted by future volatility in defense spending or a change in the mix of products purchased by defense departments in the United States or other countries, or the perception on the part of our customers that such changes are about to occur.

We depend on revenues from a few significant relationships. Any loss, cancellation, reduction, or interruption in these relationships could harm our business.

We derive most of our revenues from a small number of customers. Three customers represented approximately 74% and 76% of total sales for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The markets in which we sell our products are dominated by a relatively small number of customers which have contracts with United States governmental agencies, thereby limiting the number of potential customers. Our success depends on our ability to develop and manage relationships with significant customers. We cannot be sure that we will be able to retain our largest customers or that we will be able to attract additional customers, or that our customers will continue to buy our products in the same amounts as in prior years. The loss of one or more of our largest customers, any reduction or interruption in sales to these customers, our inability to successfully develop relationships with additional customers or future price concessions that we may have to make, could significantly harm our business.

We depend on revenues from components for a few aircraft platforms and the cancellation or reduction of either production or use of these aircraft platforms could harm our business.

We derive a significant portion of our revenues from components for a few aircraft platforms, specifically the Sikorsky BlackHawk helicopter, the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye naval aircraft, the F-16 Falcon and the F-18 Hornet. A reduction in demand for our products as a result of either a reduction in the production of new aircraft or a reduction in the use of existing aircraft in the fleet (reducing after-market demand) would have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

Intense competition in our markets may lead to a reduction in our revenues and market share.

The defense and aerospace component manufacturing market is highly competitive and we expect that competition will increase and perhaps intensify. In particular, we anticipate that manufacturers which have historically operated predominately in the commercial sector may seek to increase the revenue derived in the defense aerospace market to utilize excess capacity. Many competitors have significantly greater technical, manufacturing, financial and marketing resources than we do. We may not be able to compete successfully against either current or future competitors. Increased competition could result in reduced revenue, lower margins or loss of market share, any of which could significantly harm our business, our operating results and financial condition.

We may lose sales if our suppliers fail to meet our needs or shipments of raw materials are not timely made.

Although we procure most of our parts and components from multiple sources and rely upon a number of subcontractors to perform detailed services, or believe that these components and services are readily available from numerous sources, certain components and services are available only from a sole or limited number of sources. While we believe that substitute components or assemblies and subcontractors could be obtained, use of substitutes would require development of new suppliers or would require us to re-engineer our products, or both, which could delay shipment of our products and could have a materially adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. In the past, due to our liquidity problems, we had difficulties in securing timely shipments of raw materials from and the timely performance of services by certain vendors which had negatively impacted our results of operations. Any delays in the shipment of raw materials or the performance of subcontracted services could significantly harm our business, our operating results and our financial condition.

There are risks associated with the bidding processes in which we compete.

We obtain many contracts through a competitive bidding process. We must devote substantial time and resources to prepare bids and proposals and may not have contracts awarded to us. Even if we win contracts, there can be no assurance that the prices that we have bid will be sufficient to allow us to generate a profit from any particular contract. There are significant costs involved with producing a small number of initial units of any new product and it may not be possible to recoup such costs on later production runs.

Due to fixed contract pricing, increasing contract costs expose us to reduced profitability and the potential loss of future business.

The cost estimation process requires significant judgment and expertise. Reasons for cost growth may include unavailability and productivity of labor, the nature and complexity of the work to be performed, the effect of change orders, the availability of materials, the effect of any delays in performance, availability and timing of funding from the customer, natural disasters, and the inability to recover any claims included in the estimates to complete. A significant change in cost estimates on one or more programs could have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

The prices of raw materials we use are volatile.

The prices of raw materials used in our manufacturing processes are volatile. If the prices of raw materials rise, we may not be able to pass along such increases to our customers and this could have an adverse impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations. It is possible that some of the raw materials we use might become subject to new or increased tariffs. Significant increases in the prices of raw materials could adversely impact our customers’ demand for certain products which could lead to a reduction in our revenues and have a material adverse impact on our revenues and on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Some of the products we produce have long lead times.

Some of the products we produce require months to produce and we sometimes produce products in excess of the number ordered intending to sell the excess as spares when orders arise. As a result, our inventory turns slowly and ties up our working capital. Our inventory represented approximately 56% of our assets as of December 31, 2020. Any requirement to write down the value of our inventory due to obsolescence or a drop in the price of materials could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and could result in a breach of the financial covenants in our Loan Facility.

We do not own the intellectual property rights to products we produce.

Nearly all the parts and subassemblies we produce are built to customer specifications and the customer owns the intellectual property, if any, related to the product. Consequently, if a customer desires to use another manufacturer to fabricate its part or subassembly, it would be free to do so, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, our operating results and financial condition.

There are risks associated with new programs.

New programs typically carry risks associated with design changes, acquisition of new production tools, funding commitments, imprecise or changing specifications, timing delays and the accuracy of cost estimates associated with such programs. In addition, any new program may experience delays for a variety of reasons after significant expenditures are made. If we were unable to perform under new programs to the customers’ satisfaction or if a new program in which we had made a significant investment was terminated or experienced weak demand, delays or other problems, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. This could result in low margin or forward loss contracts, and the risk of having to write-off costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts if it were deemed to be unrecoverable over the life of the program.

To perform on new programs, we may be required to incur material up-front costs which may not have been separately negotiated and may not be recoverable. Such charges and the loss of up-front costs could have a material impact on our liquidity.

The need to control our expenses will place a significant strain on our management and operational resources. If we are unable to control our expenses effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 Attracting and retaining executive talent and other key personnel is an essential element of our future success.

Our future success depends to a significant extent upon our ability to attract executive talent, as well as the continued service of our existing executive officers and other key management and technical personnel. Experienced management and technical, marketing and support personnel in the defense and aerospace industries are in demand and competition for their talents is intense. Our failure to attract executive talent, or retain our existing executive officers and key personnel, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to strict governmental regulations relating to the environment, which could result in fines and remediation expense in the event of non-compliance.

We are required to comply with extensive and frequently changing environmental regulations at the federal, state and local levels. Among other things, these regulatory bodies impose restrictions to control air, soil and water pollution, to protect against occupational exposure to chemicals, including health and safety risks, and to require notification or reporting of the storage, use and release of certain hazardous substances into the environment. This extensive regulatory framework imposes significant compliance burdens and risks on us. In addition, these regulations may impose liability for the cost of removal or remediation of certain hazardous substances released on or in our facilities without regard to whether we knew of, or caused, the release of such substances. Furthermore, we are required to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized and preventable hazards that are likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, provide notice to employees regarding the presence of hazardous chemicals and to train employees in the use of such substances. Our operations require the use of chemicals and other materials for painting and cleaning that are classified under applicable laws as hazardous chemicals and substances. If we are found to be in violation of any of these rules, regulations or permits, we may be subject to fines, remediation expenses and the obligation to change our business practice, any of which could result in substantial costs that would adversely impact our business operations and financial condition.

We may be subject to fines and disqualification for non-compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

We are subject to regulation by the FAA under the provisions of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended. The FAA prescribes standards and licensing requirements for aircraft and aircraft components. We are subject to inspections by the FAA and may be subjected to fines and other penalties (including orders to cease production) for noncompliance with FAA regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable regulations could result in the termination of or our disqualification from some of our contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We have never been subject to such fines or disqualification.

Cyber security attacks, internal system or service failures may adversely impact our business and operations.

Any system or service disruptions, including those caused by projects to improve our information technology systems, if not anticipated and appropriately mitigated, could disrupt our business and impair our ability to effectively provide products and related services to our customers and could have a material adverse effect on our business. We could also be subject to systems failures, including network, software or hardware failures, whether caused by us, third-party service providers, intruders or hackers, computer viruses, natural disasters, power shortages or terrorist attacks. Cyber security threats are evolving and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, unauthorized attempts to gain access to sensitive, confidential or otherwise protected information related to us or our products, customers or suppliers, or other acts that could lead to disruptions in our business. Any such failures could cause loss of data and interruptions or delays in our business, cause us to incur remediation costs or require us to pay ransom to a hacker which takes over our systems, or subject us to claims and damage our reputation. In addition, the failure or disruption of our communications or utilities could cause us to interrupt or suspend our operations or otherwise adversely affect our business. Although we utilize various procedures and controls to monitor and mitigate the risk of these threats, there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will be sufficient. Our property and business interruption insurance may be inadequate to compensate us for all losses that may occur as a result of any system or operational failure or disruption which would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Moreover, expenditures incurred in implementing cyber security and other procedures and controls could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Terrorist acts and acts of war may seriously harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

United States and global responses to actual or potential military conflicts, terrorism, perceived nuclear, biological and chemical threats and other global political crises increase uncertainties with respect to the U.S. and other business and financial markets. Several factors associated, directly or indirectly, with actual or potential military conflicts, terrorism, perceived nuclear, biological and chemical threats, and other global political crises and responses thereto, may adversely affect the mix of products purchased by defense departments in the United States or other countries to platforms not serviced by us. A shift in defense budgets to product lines we do not produce could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

Our indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our operations.

We have substantial indebtedness under our Loan Facility. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $21,207,000 of indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Facility. All of our indebtedness under the Loan Facility is secured by substantially all of our assets.

We also have approximately $ 6,012,000 of indebtedness outstanding in the form of subordinated notes payable on July 1, 2023. These notes are held by related parties, specifically Michael N. Taglich (our Chairman) and Robert F. Taglich (a Director), and their affiliates.

Notes with a principal value of approximately $4,412,000 are convertible into approximately 3,791,000 shares of common stock at a weighted average conversion price of $1.16 per share. These notes carry interest rates from 6% to 15% per annum with a weighted average interest rate of 7.8% per year.

If we are unable to pay or refinance the outstanding principal and accrued interest on these notes when due, our operations may be materially and adversely affected. We may need to offer the holders of this debt increases in the rates of interest they receive or otherwise compensate them through payments of cash or issuances of our equity securities. Future financings or re-financings may involve the issuance of debt, equity and/or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our equity securities. If we are able to consummate such financings or re-financings, the terms of such financings may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and the interests of our existing stockholders. Any failure to obtain additional working capital when required would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and may result in a decline in our stock price. Any issuances of our common stock, preferred stock, or securities such as warrants or notes that are convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, our capital stock, would have a dilutive effect on the voting and economic interest of our existing stockholders.

Our leverage may adversely affect our ability to finance future operations and capital needs, may limit our ability to pursue business opportunities and may make our results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic conditions.

Our indebtedness may limit our ability to pay dividends in the future.

We currently do not pay dividends and the terms of our Loan Facility require that we maintain certain financial covenants. Unless we are in compliance with our Loan Facility in the future, we would need to seek covenant changes under our Loan Facility to pay dividends in the future. There can be no assurance our lenders would agree to covenant changes acceptable to us or at all. In addition, we may in the future incur indebtedness or otherwise become subject to agreements whose terms restrict our ability to pay dividends in the future.

Risks Related to our common stock

The price of our common stock can fluctuate.

The financial markets have been impacted in various ways by the reactions to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and government stimulus programs adopted in response to the pandemic. The price of our common stock has and is expected to continue to be volatile. We cannot forecast with any certainty whether and to what degree the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and reactions thereto will continue to adversely impact financial markets and the impact to our common stock. Likewise, we cannot state with certainty the degree to which financial markets were supported by government stimulus programs and whether such support will continue as governments elect not to adopt similar measures in the future.

The ownership of our common stock is highly concentrated, and your interests may conflict with the interests of our existing stockholders.

Two of our directors, Michael N. Taglich and Robert F. Taglich, and their affiliates own a significant number of shares of our outstanding common stock as well as a significant amount of debt convertible into our common stock, which together with their position as directors of our company, give them significant influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring stockholder approval and the terms on which we complete transactions with their affiliates. The interests of these directors may be different from the interests of other stockholders on these matters. This concentration of ownership could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control or otherwise discouraging a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce the price of our common stock.

We can provide no assurance that our common stock will continue to meet NYSE American listing requirements. If we fail to comply with the continuing listing standards of the NYSE American, our common stock could be delisted.

If we fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the NYSE American, the NYSE American may take steps to delist our common stock. The delisting of our common stock would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase common stock when you wish to do so.

There is only a limited public market for our common stock.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American. However, trading volume has been limited and a more active public market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained over time. The lack of a robust market may impair a stockholder’s ability to sell shares of our common stock. In the absence of a more active trading market, any attempt to sell a substantial number of our shares could result in a decrease in the price of our stock. Specifically, you may not be able to resell your shares of common stock at or above the price you paid for such shares or at all.

Moreover, sales of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could negatively impact the price of our common stock. As a result, you may not be able to sell your shares of our common stock in short time periods, or possibly at all, and the price per share of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

If we fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors, our stock price could decline significantly.

Our quarterly and annual operating results fluctuate significantly due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside our control. Accordingly, we believe period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations are not meaningful and should not be relied upon as indications of future performance. Some of the factors that could cause quarterly or annual operating results to fluctuate include conditions inherent in government contracting and our business such as the timing of cost and expense recognition for contracts, the United States Government contracting and budget cycles, introduction of new government regulations and standards, contract closeouts, variations in manufacturing efficiencies, our ability to obtain components and subassemblies from contract manufacturers and suppliers, general economic conditions and economic conditions specific to the defense market. Because we base our operating expenses on anticipated revenue trends and a high percentage of our expenses are fixed in the short term, any delay in generating or recognizing forecasted revenues could significantly harm our business.

Fluctuations in quarterly results or announcements of extraordinary events such as an award of a new contract, acquisitions or litigation may cause earnings to fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. In this event, the trading price of our common stock could significantly decline. These fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may adversely affect the future market price of our common stock, as well as our overall operating results. Consequently, our share price may experience significant volatility and may not necessarily reflect the value of our expected performance.

Future financings or acquisitions may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Future sales or issuances of our common stock, including upon conversion of our outstanding convertible notes, upon exercise of our outstanding warrants or as part of future financings or acquisitions, would be substantially dilutive to the outstanding shares of common stock. Any dilution or potential dilution may cause our stockholders to sell their shares, which would contribute to a downward movement in the price of common stock.

We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance requirements, including establishing and maintaining internal controls over financial reporting, and we may be exposed to potential risks if we are unable to comply with these requirements.

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, together with rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable market regulators. These rules impose various requirements on public companies, including requiring certain corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these requirements. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, among other things, requires that we maintain effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. In particular, we must perform system and process evaluations and testing of our internal controls over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Compliance with Section 404 may require that we incur substantial accounting expenses and expend significant management efforts. Our testing may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses. In the event we identify significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal controls that we cannot remediate in a timely manner, the market price of our stock could decline if investors and others lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other applicable regulatory authorities.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The operation of our executive offices, NTW and AIM are conducted out of our 5.4-acre corporate campus in Bay Shore, New York. We also maintain a warehouse lease nearby in Bohemia, New York. That, lease term commenced on April 1, 2020 and expires on May 31, 2025.

The operations of Sterling are conducted in a 74,923 square foot facility in Barkhamsted, Connecticut which we own.

We remain liable under a lease for unused office space in Hauppauge, New York. This lease ends January 2022 and we do not expect to renew such lease. The annual rent is approximately $113,000. It is likely we will not be able to sublease such facility.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

A number of actions have been commenced against us in the ordinary course of business by vendors, landlords and former landlords, including a third party claim as a result of an injury suffered on a portion of a leased property not occupied by us. As certain of these claims represent amounts included in accounts payable they are not specifically discussed herein.

Contract Pharmacal Corp. (“Contract Pharmacal”) commenced an action on October 2, 2018, relating to a Sublease entered into between us and Contract Pharmacal in May 2018 with respect to the property that was formerly occupied by Welding Metallurgy, Inc. (“WMI”), at 110 Plant Avenue, Hauppauge, New York. In the action, Contract Pharmacal seeks damages for an amount in excess of $1,000,000 for our failure to make the entire premises available by the Sublease commencement date. We dispute the validity of the claims asserted by Contract Pharmacal and believe we have meritorious defenses to those claims. The pace of litigation in the civil courts in New York has been slowed by the impact of Covid-19. The Court has ordered us and Contract Pharmacal to complete discovery, which is ongoing.

On December 20, 2018, we completed the sale of all of the outstanding shares of our subsidiary, WMI, to CPI Aerostructures (“CPI”). There ensued a dispute with CPI regarding amounts it claimed were due based upon the value it ascribed to the inventory as of the closing date. On December 23, 2020, we reached an agreement with CPI to settle the working capital dispute. Pursuant to the settlement, the escrow agent released to CPI the $1,380,684 remaining in the escrow account which had been established at the closing and we exchanged mutual releases customary in the circumstances.

From time to time we may be engaged in various lawsuits and legal proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. We are currently not aware of any legal proceedings the ultimate outcome of which, in our judgment based on information currently available, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder of our common stock, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Market for Our Common Stock

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “AIRI.” 

Holders

On March 19, 2021, there were 229 stockholders of record of our common stock. The number of record holders does not include persons who held our Common Stock in nominee or “street name” accounts through brokers.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table summarizes shares of our Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of options and warrants, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options and warrants and options available for future issuance pursuant to our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020:

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

Except as previously reported in our periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act, we did not issue any unregistered equity securities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Purchases of Our Equity Securities

No repurchases of our common stock were made during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not required.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should specifically consider the various risk factors identified in this report that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

Business Overview

AIM became a public company in 2005 and we are an aerospace company operating primarily in the defense industry. Our Complex Machining segment manufactures structural parts and assemblies that focus on flight safety, including landing gear, arresting gear, engine mounts, flight controls, throttle quadrants, and other components. Our Turbine Engine Components segment makes components and provides services for jet engines and ground-power turbines. Our products are currently deployed on a wide range of high-profile military and commercial aircraft including the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk, Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Northrop Grumman E2D Hawkeye, the US Navy F-18 and USAF F-16 fighter aircraft, Boeing 777 commercial airliners. Our Turbine Engine segment makes components for jet engines that are used on the USAF F-15 and F-16, the Airbus A-330 and the Boeing 777, in addition to a number of ground-power turbine applications.

The aerospace market is highly competitive in both the defense and commercial sectors and we face intense competition in all areas of our business. Nearly all of our revenues are derived by producing products to customer specifications after being awarded a contract through a competitive bidding process. As the commercial aerospace and defense industries continue to consolidate and major contractors seek to streamline supply chains by buying more complete sub-assemblies from fewer suppliers, we have sought to remain competitive not only by providing cost-effective world class service but also by increasing our ability to produce more complex and complete assemblies for our customers.

We are currently focused on positioning our business to obtain profitability, achieve positive cash flow and we remain resolute on meeting customers’ needs. We believe that an unyielding focus on our customers will allow us to execute on our existing backlog in a timely fashion. In 2018 and 2019, we consolidated the operations of our Complex Machining segment in our main campus located in Bay Shore, New York. In 2020, in order to take advantage of the long-term growth opportunities we see in our markets, we made significant capital investments in new equipment. Additionally, we expanded our operations and manufacturing cells located in our Connecticut facility where our Turbine Engine segment is located. We believe these investments will increase the volume and efficiency of production, increase the size of product we can make and allow us to offer additional services to our customers. We are pleased with the positive responses received from our customers to date.

Our ability to operate profitably is determined by our ability to win new contracts and renewals of existing contracts, and then fulfill these contracts on a timely basis at costs that enable us to generate a profit based upon the agreed upon contract price. Winning a contract generally requires that we submit a bid containing a fixed price for the product or products covered by the contract for an agreed upon period of time. Thus, when submitting bids, we are required to estimate our future costs of production and, since we often rely upon subcontractors, the prices we can obtain from our subcontractors.

While our revenues are largely determined by the number of contracts we are awarded, the volume of product delivered and price of product under each contract, our costs are determined by a number of factors. The principal factors impacting our costs are the cost of materials and supplies, labor, financing and the efficiency at which we can produce our products. The cost of materials used in the aerospace industry is highly volatile. In addition, the market for the skilled labor we require to operate our plants is highly competitive. The profit margin of the various products we sell varies based upon a number of factors, including the complexity of the product, the intensity of the competition for such product and, in some cases, the ability to deliver replacement parts on short notice. Thus, in assessing our performance from one period to another, a reader must understand that changes in profit margin can be the result of shifts in the mix of products sold. Our operations have a large percentage of fixed factory overhead. As a result, our profit margins are also highly variable with sales volumes as under-absorption of factory overhead decreases profits.

A very large percentage of the products we produce are used on military as opposed to civilian aircraft. These products can be replacements for aircraft already in the fleet of the armed services or for the production of new aircraft. Reductions to the Defense Department budget and decreased usage of aircraft reduces the demand for both new production and replacement spares. Recent increases in Defense Department spending have increased orders for our products. Reductions to the Defense Department budget or decreased usage of aircraft reduces the demand for both new production and replacement spares and could adversely impact our business and our revenues. We are focusing greater efforts on the civilian aircraft market though we still remain dependent upon the military for an overwhelming portion of our revenues.

COVID -19

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that infections caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (“COVID-19”) had become pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the U.S. President announced a national emergency relating to the disease. National, state and local authorities have adopted various regulations and orders, including mandates on the number of people that may gather in one location and closing non-essential businesses. To date, we have been deemed an essential business and have not curtailed our operations.

The measures adopted by various governments and agencies, as well as the decision by many individuals and businesses to voluntarily shut down or self-quarantine, had and are expected to continue to have serious adverse impacts on domestic and foreign economies of uncertain severity and duration. The effectiveness of economic stabilization efforts adopted by governments and their willingness to adopt further measures is uncertain. The overall economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been highly negative to the general economy and has been particularly negative on the commercial travel industry and commercial aerospace industries.

In accordance with the Department of Defense guidance issued in March 2020 designating the Defense Industrial Base as a critical infrastructure workforce, our facilities have continued to operate in support of essential products and services required to meet national security commitments to the U.S. Government and the U.S. military, however, facility closures or work slowdowns or temporary stoppages could occur. Although our facilities are open, during portions of 2020 we were unable to operate at full capacity or achieve high levels of productivity due to the implementation of enhanced safety procedures, increased employee absenteeism and intermittent closings of other businesses that supply goods or services to us. We implemented procedures to promote employee safety including more frequent and enhanced cleaning of our machines and adjusted schedules and work-flows to support physical distancing. This resulted in increased operating costs to our business.

As we enter into fiscal 2021, operating conditions have substantially returned to normal; however, our Company, employees, suppliers and customers, and our global community continue to face challenges and we cannot predict how this dynamic situation will evolve or the impact it will have. Throughout 2020, many of our suppliers were forced to reduce staffing or temporarily close their facilities due to COVID-19, which impacted our delivery schedules. We cannot predict what future impacts will occur, particularly if new variants of Covid-19 result in a substantial increase in new cases and governments elect to reimpose strict safety measures.

The future impact of COVID-19 on our business is difficult to predict as the course of the pandemic, the effectiveness of health measures, and the impact and continuation of ongoing economic stabilization efforts are uncertain and government assistance payments may not provide enough funding to support current spending levels. We did not qualify for any significant new government benefits in the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and do not expect to qualify for any significant new government benefits that might be enacted.

Segment Data  

We follow Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 280, “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”), which establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments in annual and interim financial statements, ASC 280 requires that companies report financial and descriptive information about their reportable segments based on a management approach. ASC 280 also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. 

We currently divide our operations into two operating segments: Complex Machining and Turbine Engine Components. Along with our operating subsidiaries, we report the results of our corporate office as an independent segment.

The accounting policies of our segments are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. We evaluate performance based on revenue, gross profit contribution and assets employed.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS-CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

For purposes of the following discussion of our selected financial information and operating results, we have presented our financial information based on our continuing operations unless otherwise noted.

Selected Financial Information:

Balance Sheet Data:  

The following sets forth the results of operations for each of our segments individually and on a consolidated basis for the periods indicated:

Net Sales:

Consolidated net sales for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $50,097,000, a decrease of $4,476,000, or 8.2%, compared with $54,573,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Net sales of our Complex Machining segment were $44,659,000, a decrease of $3,567,000, or 7.4%, from $48,226,000 in the prior year. Net sales in our Turbine Engine Components segment were $5,438,000, a decrease of $909,000 or 14.3%, compared with $6,347,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. These decreases were directly attributable to the negative business impacts caused by COVID-19, which significantly reduced our ability to ship finished product to end-customers. While we were able to continue certain production processes in our own facility, our ability to have our product further processed by subcontractors was severely impacted. This resulted in an increase in partially finished product remaining in Work in Process. This situation caused our inventory to increase. These supply chain interruptions abated somewhat later in the year, but remain a challenge.

As indicated in the table below, three customers represented 73.9% and 76.0% of total sales for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

As indicated in the table below, three customers represented 80.3% and 67.8% of gross accounts receivable at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Gross Profit:

Consolidated gross profit from operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $6,512,000, a decrease of $2,630,000, or 28.8%, as compared to gross profit of $9,142,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of sales was 13.0% and 16.8% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These decreases were directly attributable to the reduction in sales caused by the negative business impact of COVID-19 and increased costs associated with implementing procedures to promote employee safety including more frequent and enhanced cleaning of our machines and adjusted schedules and work-flow to support physical distancing. The reduction in sales decreased the absorption of Manufacturing Overhead costs, reducing gross profit.

Interest and Financing Costs

Our interest and financing costs for the year ended December 31, 2020 totaled $1,491,000 in 2020, a decrease of $ 2,070,000 or 58.1% from $3,561,000 in 2019, as a result of the refinancing of our credit facility at the end of 2019, at a significantly lower interest rate.

Impairment Charges

In connection with the consolidation of operations into our Bayshore, New York facility, we incurred a lease impairment charge of $275,000 in 2019.

Operating Expense

Consolidated operating expenses were $7,951,000 and $8,539,000 for fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively, representing a decrease of $588,000 or 6.9%. As a percentage of consolidated net sales, operating expenses were 15.8% and 15.6% for fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The reduction in operating expenses in fiscal 2020 (in dollars) as compared to fiscal 2019 primarily reflects a concerted effort to reduce operating expenses to offset the negative business impact of COVID-19. Cost savings achieved included lower salaries and travel expenses (by curtailing most business travel) that were partially offset by incurring significantly higher information technology costs to support various activities including remote working arrangements.

Because we expect consolidated net sales in fiscal 2021 to increase as compared to fiscal 2020, we are optimistic that we can reduce operating expenses, as a percentage of consolidated net sales from current levels.

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Taxes

Income from continuing operations, net of tax for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $1,326,000, an improvement of $3,924,000 compared to a loss from continuing operations, net of tax of $2,598,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. This improvement is almost entirely attributable to income resulting from the SBA Loan forgiveness in the amount of approximately $2.4 million and a tax refund afforded to the Company under the CARES Act in the amount of approximately $1.4 million.

Net Income (Loss)

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $1,096,000, an improvement of $3,828,000, compared to a net loss of $2,732,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, for the reasons discussed above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

During fiscal 2020, we took advantage of a number of U.S. government programs to improve our liquidity to offset the negative impact to our business from COVID-19. These steps include:

Also, the U.S. Department of Defense has, to date, taken steps to increase the rate for certain progress payments from 80 percent to 90 percent for costs incurred and worked performed on certain contracts.

In addition to taking advantage of the aforementioned U.S. government programs, we took additional significant steps to improve our liquidity, including:

The formula to determine the amounts of revolving advances permitted to be borrowed under the SNB revolving line of credit is based on a percentage of eligible receivables and inventory (as defined in the SNB Facility).

Prior to the increase in the SNB term loan described below, the SNB term loan provided for monthly principal installments in the amount of $45,238, payable on the first business day of each month, beginning on February 1, 2020, with a final payment of any unpaid balance of principal and interest payable on December 30, 2022. In addition, for so long as the SNB term loan remains outstanding, if Excess Cash Flow (as defined) is a positive number for any fiscal year, beginning with the year ending December 31, 2020, we shall pay to SNB an amount equal to the lesser of (i) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year and (ii) the outstanding principal balance of the term loan. Such payment shall be made to SNB and applied to the outstanding principal balance of the term loan, on or prior to the April 15 immediately following such Fiscal Year.

The terms of the SNB Facility require that, among other things, we maintain a specified Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of 1.25 to 1.00 at the end of each Fiscal Quarter beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2020. In addition, we are limited in the amount of Capital Expenditures we can make. In accordance with the SNB Facility by September 30, 2020, we were required to cause the holders of certain subordinated convertible notes to either (i) extend the maturity date of such notes to a date more than six months after December 31, 2022, or (ii) convert the notes into common stock of the Company. As of December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with all loan covenants. The SNB Facility also restricts the amount of dividends we may pay to our stockholders. Substantially all of our assets are pledged as collateral under the SNB Facility.

The repayment terms of the term loan were amended to provide monthly principal installments in the amount of $67,679 beginning on December 1, 2020, with a final payment of any unpaid balance of principal and interest payable on December 30, 2022. We have paid an amendment fee of $20,000.

As of December 31, 2020, our debt to SNB in the amount of $21,207,000 consisted of the SNB revolving line of credit note in the amount of $15,649,000 and the SNB term loan in the amount of $5,558,000.

Because we believe our fiscal 2021 sales will be higher than the amount achieved in fiscal 2020, we believe our liquidity in 2021 will improve. Nevertheless, our liquidity may be adversely impacted by various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to future effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks detailed in Part1, Item 1A of this Annual Report.

Changes in our cash flow during fiscal 2020 and 2019 are discussed further below.

Cash Flow

The following table summarizes our net cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities for the periods indicated (in thousands):

The above cash flows include the cash flows from our continuing and discontinued operations.

Cash Used In Operating Activities

Cash used in operating activities reflects our net income (loss) adjusted for certain non-cash items and changes to working capital items.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, net income of $1,096,000 and $1,990,000 of non-cash items, consisting primarily of employees and directors stock based compensation of $519,000, amortization of right-of-use assets of $482,000, depreciation of property and equipment of $2,570,000 and amortization of debt discount on convertible notes payable of $233,000, were partially offset by the forgiveness of notes payable – SBA Loan and non-cash other income recognized in the amounts of $2,414,000 and $402,000, respectively. Operating assets and liabilities used cash in the net amount of $4,611,000, consisting primarily of the net increases in accounts receivable and inventory of $1,045,000 and $3,474,000, and net decreases in operating lease liabilities and deferred revenue in the amounts of $673,000 and $94,000, which were partially offset primarily by increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the amounts of $275,000 and by decreases in prepaid expenses and other current assets and deposits and other assets in the amounts of $274,000 and $168,000, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, our net loss of $2,732,000 was offset by $5,217,000 of non-cash items, consisting primarily of employees and directors stock based compensation of $622,000, amortization of right-of-use assets of $470,000, depreciation of property and equipment of $3,002,000 and amortization of debt discount on convertible notes payable of $510,000. Operating assets and liabilities used cash in the net amount of $3,373,000, consisting primarily of the net increases in deposits and other assets, accounts receivable and prepaid expenses and other current assets of $713,000, $1,647,000 and $33,000, and net decrease in operating lease liabilities and accounts payable and accrued expenses in the amounts of $601,000 and $970,000, partially offset primarily by an increase in deferred revenue and a decrease in inventory of $130,000 and $405,000.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities consists of cash used for capital expenditures for property and equipment.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash used in investing activities was $3,797,000. Primarily this was for the purchase of state of the art machinery installed at our Bay Shore facility.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, cash used in investing activities was $764,000. This was for the purchase of property and equipment.

Cash Provided By Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities consists of the borrowings and repayments under our credit facilities with our senior lender, increases in and repayments of finance lease obligations and other notes payable, and the proceeds from the sale of our equity.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash provided by financing activities was $6,533,000. This was comprised primarily of net proceeds from SNB of $5,443,000, SBA loan proceeds of $2,414,000 and proceeds from issuances of stock of $984,000, offset primarily by repayments of $1,000,000 on our related party notes payable, $100,000 of our third party notes payable, $579,000 on our SNB term loan, $18,000 on our financed lease obligations and $385,000 on our financed asset note payable and payment of stock issuances costs of $145,000.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, cash provided by financing activities was $934,000. This was comprised primarily of net proceeds from the SNB refinancing of $16,343,000 and proceeds of related party note issuances of $1,500,000 and proceeds from our sale of future proceeds from disposition of a subsidiary of $800,000 offset by repayments of $1,572,000 on our PNC term loan, $14,043,000 on our PNC revolving loan, $1,764,000 on our financed lease obligations, $186,000 on our financed asset note payable, $28,000 on our related party notes payable, and payment of financing and stock issuances costs of $113,000.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The following table sets forth our future contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2020.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

A critical accounting policy is one that is both important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results of operations and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgements, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

Our consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All applicable U.S. GAAP accounting standards effective as of December 31, 2020 have been taken into consideration in preparing the consolidated financial statements. The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. Some of those estimates are subjective and complex, and consequently, actual results could differ from those estimates. The following accounting policies and estimates have been highlighted as significant because changes to certain judgements and assumptions inherent in these policies could affect our consolidated financial statements:

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06), which is intended to address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying GAAP for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. For convertible instruments, ASU 2020-06 reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock, and enhances information transparency by making targeted improvements to the disclosures for convertible instruments and earnings-per-share guidance on the basis of feedback from financial statement users. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods in those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods with those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”), which significantly changes how entities will account for credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss model with an expected credit loss model that requires entities to estimate an expected lifetime credit loss on most financial assets and certain other instruments. Under ASU 2016-13 credit impairment is recognized as an allowance for credit losses, rather than as a direct write-down of the amortized cost basis of a financial asset. The impairment allowance is a valuation account deducted from the amortized cost basis of financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Once the new pronouncement is adopted by the Company, the allowance for credit losses must be adjusted for management’s current estimate at each reporting date. The new guidance provides no threshold for recognition of impairment allowance. Therefore, entities must also measure expected credit losses on assets that have a low risk of loss. For instance, trade receivables that are either current or not yet due may not require an allowance reserve under currently generally accepted accounting principles, but under the new standard, the Company will have to estimate an allowance for expected credit losses on trade receivables under ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2022 for smaller reporting companies. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements. 

The Company does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARTKET RISK.

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Consolidated Financial Statements

The financial statements required by this item begin on page F-1 hereof.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

An evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), its principal executive officer, and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), its principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2020. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2020.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that management document and test the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and include in this Annual Report on Form 10-K a report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal controls over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Accounting Officer, and effected by our 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 U.S. GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:

Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management relies upon the criteria established in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in designing a system intended to meet the needs of our Company and provide reasonable assurance for its assessment.

In connection with their review of our internal controls over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2020 in providing reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U. S. G.A.A.P.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission do not require an attestation of the Management’s report by our registered public accounting firm in this annual report.

Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During 2020, we took various steps to maintain the effectiveness of our financial reporting system, primarily the acquisition of additional software to increase the utility of our financial reporting systems and additional steps taken to increase our cybersecurity defenses. Except for these additions to our software, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

None

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance  

The information required by Paragraph (a), and Paragraphs (c) through (g) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K (except for information required by Paragraph (e) of that Item to the extent the required information pertains to our executive officers) and Item 405 of Regulation S-K is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

The following table presents the information required by Paragraph (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K.

Our directors and executive officers are:

Luciano (Lou) Melluzzo has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since November 15, 2017. He joined our company on September 11, 2017 as Chief Executive Officer. From November 2003 to September 2011, Mr. Melluzzo was employed in various capacities by EDAC Technologies Corporation (“EDAC”), a designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision aerospace components and assemblies, precision spindles and complex fixturing, tooling and gauging with design and build capabilities, whose shares were then listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. He served as EDAC’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2005 until February 2010. From September 2011 to November 2015, Mr. Melluzzo was self-employed in the residential real estate redevelopment industry. From November 2015 to January 2017, he was general manager of Polar Corporation, a privately-held company specializing in computer numeric controlled milling and turning of small hardware components for the aerospace industry.

Michael E. Recca has been our Chief Financial Officer since October 1, 2016. Mr. Recca has been engaged by us since September 2008 in a variety of positions related to our capital finance and acquisition programs. Most recently he served as Chief of Corporate Development & Capital Markets, a position in which he directed our acquisition program and coordinated with our lenders. Mr. Recca received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the SUNY Stony Brook and an MBA from Columbia University.

Michael N. Taglich has been Chairman of our Board of Directors since September 22, 2008. He is Chairman and President of Taglich Brothers, a New York City based securities firm which he co-founded in 1992 and which is focused on public and private micro-cap companies. Mr. Taglich is currently Chairman of the Board of Mare Island Dry Dock LLC, a company engaged in ship repair services, and Vice Chairman of the Board of BioVentrix, Inc., a privately held medical device company whose products are directed at heart failure. He also serves as a Director of Bridgeline Digital Inc., a publicly traded company, Icagen Inc., a reporting but not trading company engaged in early stage pharmaceutical research, Decision Point Systems Inc., a private company engaged in field service automation, Dilon Technologies, a private medical device company and Autonet Mobile Inc., a private company focused on connecting automobiles to the internet.

Robert F. Taglich has been a director of our company since 2008. He is a Managing Director of Taglich Brothers, which he co-founded in 1992. Prior to founding Taglich Brothers, Mr. Taglich was a Vice President at Weatherly Securities. Mr. Taglich has served in various positions in the securities brokerage industry for the past 25 years. Mr. Taglich serves on the board of privately held BioVentrix, Inc., a medical device company whose products are directed at heart failure. Mr. Taglich holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York University.

David J. Buonanno has been a director of our company since 2008. He is the Founder and President of Buonanno Enterprises Consulting, providing strategic management, supply chain/operations and recruitment services to aerospace and defense industry clients. Mr. Buonanno has extensive experience in manufacturing, supply management and operations. He was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft, Inc., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, as Vice President, Supply Management and International Offset (from January 1997 to July 2006) and as Director, Systems Subcontracts (from November 1992 to January 1997). From May 1987 to November 1992, he was employed by General Electric Company serving as Operations Manager and Manager, Program Materials Management of GE’s Astro-Space Division. From June 1977 to May 1987, he was employed by RCA and affiliated companies. Mr. Buonanno attended Lehigh University College of Electrical Engineering and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Rutgers University. He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School in 1996.

Peter D. Rettaliata has been a director of our company since 2005. He served as our Acting President and Chief Executive Officer from March 2, 2017 to November 15, 2017, and served as our President and Chief Executive Officer from November 30, 2005 to December 31, 2014. He also served as the President of our wholly-owned subsidiary, AIM, from 1994 to 2008. Prior to his involvement at AIM, Mr. Rettaliata was employed by Grumman Aerospace Corporation for twenty-two years, where he attained the position of Senior Procurement Officer. Professionally, Mr. Rettaliata has served as the Chairman of “ADDAPT”, an organization of regional aerospace companies, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the AIA Supplier Council. He is a graduate of Niagara University where he received a B.A. in History and Harvard Business School where he completed the PMD Program.

Robert C. Schroeder has been a director of our company since 2008. He is Vice President - Investment Banking of Taglich Brothers and specializes in advisory services and capital raising for small public and private companies. Mr. Schroeder joined Taglich Brothers in April 1993 as an Equity Analyst publishing sell-side research. Prior to joining Taglich Brothers, he served in various positions in the brokerage and public accounting industry. Mr. Schroeder also serves as a director of the following publicly traded companies: DecisionPoint Systems, Inc., a private company engaged in field service automation, and Intellinetics, Inc., a provider of cloud-based enterprise content management solutions and Akers Biosciences, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic screening and testing products. Mr. Schroeder received a B.S. degree in accounting and economics from New York University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts.

Michael Brand has been a director of our company since 2012, and from March 2017 to November 2017 served as a consultant to our company focused on day to day production issues, scheduling of the products to be manufactured and related operational issues such as the maintenance of appropriate inventory levels. He was the President of Goodrich Landing Gear, a unit of Goodrich Corporation, from July 2005 to June 2012. Prior to joining Goodrich for over 25 years he held senior management positions in the Aerospace industry. He began his career at General Electric Corporation and rose to senior management in its jet engine manufacturing operations. Mr. Brand is a graduate of Clarkson University, with advanced degrees and certificates from Xavier University and the Wharton School.

Michael Porcelain has a director of our company since October 23, 2017. Mr. Porcelain has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., a publicly traded company and leading provider of advanced communication solutions for both commercial and government customers worldwide, since 2019, and prior to that served as the Chief Financial Officer from 2006 through 2018, and from 2002 to March 2006, he served as Vice President of Finance and Internal Audit of Comtech. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Porcelain was Director of Corporate Profit and Business Planning for Symbol Technologies, a mobile wireless information solutions company. Previously, he spent five years in public accounting holding various positions, including Manager in the Transaction Advisory Services Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers. In March 2021, Mr. Porcelain was elected to the Board of Directors of The Fund for Modern Court, an independent court reform organization that advocates for the improvements of the New York State Court system to ensure a diverse, highly qualified, and independent judiciary. Since 1998, he has owned and operated The Independent Adviser Corporation, a privately held company which holds the rights to use certain intellectual properties and trademarks (including various Internet websites) related to the financial planning and advisory industry. Mr. Porcelain is an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University located in New York where he teaches graduate level accounting courses. Mr. Porcelain has a B.S. in Business Economics from State University of Oneonta, New York, a M.S. in Accounting and an M.B.A. degree from Binghamton University.

Michael N. Taglich and Robert F. Taglich are brothers.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a written code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officers, senior financial officers and persons performing similar functions. Upon written request to our corporate secretary, we will provide you with a copy of our code of ethics, without cost.

Corporate Governance

The information required by Items 407(c)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5) of Regulation S-K is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this Item is hereby incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year. 

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The following exhibits are included as part of this report. References to “the Company” in this Exhibit List mean Air Industries Group, a Nevada Corporation.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 29, 2021

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant on March 29, 2021 in the capacities indicated.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Air Industries Group

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Air Industries Group and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended 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 these financial statements based on our audit. 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 law 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.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Revenue Recognition – Refer to Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements

Description of the Matter

The Company’s revenue is generated pursuant to written contractual arrangements to design, develop, manufacture and/or modify complex products, and to provide related engineering and other services according to the specifications of the customers. The majority of the Company’s performance obligations under these contractual agreements are satisfied at a point in time when the customer obtains control of the product, which is generally upon acceptance by the customer and shipment of the goods. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using its observable standalone selling price for products and services.

Revenue Recognition – Refer to Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements (continued)

Description of the Matter (continued)

Given the judgment necessary to make reasonably dependable estimates of revenues associated with such contracts, auditing management’s evaluation of contracts with customers required extensive audit effort due to analyzing the terms and conditions of the Company’s various customer contracts given that such terms and conditions are nonstandard. This included the identification and determination of the performance obligations and the timing of revenue recognition.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures included obtaining an understanding of the Company’s revenue recognition process, among others:

Inventories, net – Refer to Note 3 of the consolidated financial statements

Description of the Matter

The Company records inventory at the lower of cost of net realizable value. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory, which requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to sales patterns and expected future demand in order to estimate the amount necessary to adjust to net realizable value as a result of slow moving or obsolete inventory. Changes in the assumptions could have a significant impact on the valuation of inventory.

We identified the adjustment to net realizable value of the inventory as a critical audit matter. Auditing such estimates required a high degree of subjective auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort when performing audit procedures and evaluating the results of those procedures.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures used to address the adjustment to net realizable value of inventories included the follow:

We have served as the Company’s auditors since 2008.

/s/ Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. 

Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C.

Saddle Brook, New Jersey

March 29, 2021

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Years Ended December 31,

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31,

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, (Continued)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. FORMATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Organization

Air Industries Group is a Nevada corporation (“AIRI”). As of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the accompanying consolidated financial statements presented are those of AIRI, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries; Air Industries Machining Corp. (“AIM”), Nassau Tool Works, Inc. (“NTW”), and The Sterling Engineering Corporation (“Sterling”), (together, the “Company”). The results of Eur-Pac Corporation (“EPC”) and Electronic Connection Corporation (“ECC”) are included in loss from discontinued operations, since operations ceased on March 31, 2019. See Note 2 for details of discontinued operations.

Closing EPC and ECC

The Company completed its shut-down of EPC and ECC and closed related operations on March 31, 2019. The results of both EPC and ECC are included in loss from discontinued operations.

Impact of Covid-19

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that infections caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (“COVID-19”) had become pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the U.S. President announced a national emergency relating to the disease. National, state and local authorities have adopted various regulations and orders, including mandates on the number of people that may gather in one location and closing non-essential businesses. To date, the Company has been deemed an essential business and has not curtailed its operations.

The measures adopted by various governments and agencies, as well as the decision by many individuals and businesses to voluntarily shut down or self-quarantine, had and are expected to continue to have serious adverse impacts on domestic and foreign economies of uncertain severity and duration. The effectiveness of economic stabilization efforts adopted by governments and their willingness to adopt further measures is uncertain. The overall economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been highly negative to the general economy and has been particularly negative on the commercial travel industry and commercial aerospace industries.

In accordance with the Department of Defense guidance issued in March 2020 designating the Defense Industrial Base as a critical infrastructure workforce, the Company’s facilities have continued to operate in support of essential products and services required to meet national security commitments to the U.S. government and the U.S. military, however, facility closures or work slowdowns or temporary stoppages could occur.

The Company, its employees, suppliers and customers, and the global community continue to face challenges and the Company cannot predict how this dynamic situation will evolve or the impact it will have. Throughout 2020 many of the Company’s suppliers were forced to reduce staffing or temporarily close their facilities due to COVID-19, which impacted the Company’s delivery schedules. While this has largely been resolved the Company cannot predict what future impacts will occur, particularly if new variants of Covid-19 result in a substantial increase in new cases and governments elect to reimpose strict safety measures.

The Company has implemented procedures to promote employee safety including more frequent and enhanced cleaning and adjusted schedules and work flows to support physical distancing. These actions have resulted in increased operating costs. Suppliers are also experiencing liquidity pressures and disruptions to their operations as a result of COVID-19. Although operating conditions have substantially returned to pre-COVID-19 conditions, an increase in COVID-19 infections or changes in governmental regulations may force the Company to close or reduce operations as a result in future periods.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law. The CARES Act provides aid to small businesses through programs administered by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The CARES Act includes, among other things, provisions relating to payroll tax credits and deferrals, net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credits and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. The CARES Act also established a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), whereby certain small businesses are eligible for a loan to fund payroll expenses, rent, and related costs.

In May 2020, AIM, NTW and Sterling (each a “Borrower”) entered into government subsidized loans with Sterling National Bank (“SNB”) as the lender in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $2.4 million (“SBA Loans”). Each SBA Loan is evidenced by a promissory note. At least 60% of the proceeds of each Loan must be used for payroll and payroll-related costs, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the federal statute authorizing the loan program administered by the SBA and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Loan Program”). The Borrowers applied to SNB for forgiveness and SNB approved and submitted the forgiveness applications to the SBA which approved the forgiveness in accordance with the applicable provisions of the federal statute authorizing the Loan Program. See Note 9.

The Company has elected to defer the deposit and payment of employer’s portion of Social Security taxes pursuant to Section 2302 of the CARES Act. These deferred amounts must be repaid 50% on December 31, 2021 with the remaining 50% on December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has deferred $627,000, which is classified as Deferred payroll tax liability – CARES Act on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

In addition, as a result of the passage of the CARES Act, the Company received a tax refund of $1,416,000 from the filing of a net operating loss carryback claim. See Note 15.

The Company did not qualify for any significant new benefits in the recently enacted the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“Rescue Act”) and does not expect to qualify for any significant new government benefits that might be enacted.

Based on its expectations that sales in fiscal 2021 will be higher than the level achieved in fiscal 2020, confirmed orders, funds generated from operations, amounts received under government subsidized loan programs and amounts available under its credit facility, the Company believes it will have sufficient cash on hand to support its activities through April 1, 2022.

Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of this filing.

Note 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

As discussed in Note 1, the Company closed EPC and ECC as of March 31, 2019. As required, the Company has retrospectively recast its consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets for all periods presented. The Company has not segregated the cash flows of these subsidiaries in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Management was also required to make certain assumptions and apply judgment to determine historical expenses related to the discontinued operations presented in prior periods. Unless noted otherwise, discussion in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements refers to the Company’s continuing operations only.

As discussed in Note 14 on December 23, 2020, the Company and CPI Aerostructures (“CPI”), the buyer of WMI Group, reached an agreement to settle the working capital dispute without additional litigation. The settlement provided that CPI and AIRI would instruct the escrow agent to release the balance of $ 1,380,684 remaining in the escrow account to CPI. The Company and CPI exchanged mutual releases customary in the circumstances. We originally placed a reserve of $1,770,000 against the $2,000,000 balance held in escrow, the remaining amount of $230,000 was charged to discontinued operations as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the major financial lines constituting the results of operations for discontinued operations to the net loss from discontinued operations presented separately in the consolidated statement of operations:

Note 3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principal Business Activity

The Company, through its AIM subsidiary, is primarily engaged in manufacturing aircraft structural parts and assemblies for prime defense contractors in the aerospace industry in the United States. NTW is a manufacturer of aerospace components, principally landing gear for F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft. Sterling manufactures components and provides services for jet engines and ground-power turbines. The Company’s customers consist mainly of publicly traded companies in the aerospace industry.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Discontinued Operations

Prior to the closure of EPC and ECC, the results of operations were included in continuing operations, once it was determined to close both subsidiaries, the results were reclassified to discontinued operations (see “Note 2 – Discontinued Operations”).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances net of allowances for uncollectible accounts. The Company provides for allowances for uncollectible receivables based on management’s estimate of uncollectible amounts considering age, collection history, and any other factors considered appropriate. The Company writes off accounts receivable against the allowance for doubtful accounts when a balance is determined to be uncollectible.

Going Concern

At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. We are required to make certain additional disclosures if we conclude that substantial doubt exists and such concerns are not alleviated by our plans or when our plans alleviate substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The evaluation entails analyzing prospective operating budgets and forecasts for expectations of our cash needs and comparing those needs to the current cash and cash equivalent balance and expectations regarding cash to be generated over the following year. We concluded that substantial doubt of going concern did not exist. See Note 1 – Impact of COVID-19 for a further discussion.

Inventory Valuation

The Company values inventory at the lower of cost on a first-in-first-out basis or an estimated net realizable value. The Company does not take physical inventories at interim quarterly reporting periods, however, a full physical inventory is taken annually. Adjustments to reconcile the annual physical inventory to the Company’s books are treated as changes in accounting estimates and are recorded in the fourth quarter.

The Company generally purchases raw materials and supplies uniquely suited to the production of larger more complex parts, such as landing gear, only when non-cancellable contracts for orders have been received for finished goods. It occasionally produces larger more complex products, such as landing gear, in excess of purchase order quantities in anticipation of future purchase order demand. Historically this excess has been used in fulfilling future purchase orders. The Company purchases supplies and materials useful in a variety of products as deemed necessary even though orders have not been received. The Company periodically evaluates inventory items that are not secured by purchase orders and establishes write-downs to estimated net realizable value for obsolescence accordingly. The Company also writes-down inventory to estimated net realizable value for excess quantities, slow-moving goods, and for other impairments of value.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

On December 23, 2020, the Company and CPI reached an agreement to settle the working capital dispute. The settlement provided that the escrow agent would release the balance of $ 1,380,684 remaining in the escrow account to CPI. The Company and CPI exchanged mutual releases customary in the circumstances.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets include purchase deposits, miscellaneous prepaid expenses and cash in escrow less a reserve. On December 31, 2020, the Company settled its working capital dispute with CPI, see Note 14 - Contingencies. As a result of this settlement, the Company released the cash that was held in escrow and therefore removed the reserve. The changes in the reserve are shown below and discussed in Note 2 – Discontinued Operations.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Repair and maintenance charges are expensed as incurred. Property, equipment, and improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the particular improvements. Expenditures for repairs and improvements in excess of $10,000 that add to the productive capacity or extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized. Upon disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any related gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

Identifiable intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the period of expected benefit.

Long-lived assets and intangible assets subject to amortization to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may be impaired. The Company records an impairment loss if the undiscounted future cash flows are found to be less than the carrying amount of the asset. If an impairment loss has occurred, a charge is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company recorded an impairment charge of $275,000 included in continuing operations. See Note 10 – Operating Lease Liabilities.

Deferred Financing Costs

Costs incurred with obtaining and executing revolving debt arrangements are capitalized and recorded in current assets and amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt. Costs incurred with obtaining and executing other debt arrangements are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt and also amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt. The amortization of financing costs is included in interest and financing costs in the statement of operations.

Derivative Liabilities

In connection with the issuances of equity instruments or debt, the Company may issue options or warrants to purchase common stock. In certain circumstances, these options or warrants may be classified as liabilities, rather than as equity. In addition, the equity instrument or debt may contain embedded derivative instruments, such as conversion options or listing requirements, which in certain circumstances may be required to be bifurcated from the associated host instrument and accounted for separately as a derivative liability instrument. The Company accounts for derivative liability instruments under the provisions of FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

Revenue Recognition

The Company accounts for revenue recognition in accordance with accounting guidance codified as FASB ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”), as amended regarding revenue from contracts with customers. Under the standard an entity is required to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods.

Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized as the customer obtains control of the goods and services promised in the contract (i.e., performance obligations). In evaluating our contracts with our customers under ASC 606, we have determined that there is no future performance obligation once delivery has occurred.

The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from consideration paid by customers for tangible goods. The Company analyzes its different goods by segment to determine the appropriate basis for revenue recognition, as described below. There are no material upfront costs for operations that are incurred from contracts with customers.

The Company’s rights to payments for goods transferred to customers are conditional only on the passage of time and not on any other criteria. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 75 days.

Payments received in advance from customers are recorded as deferred revenue until earned, at which time revenue is recognized. The Terms and Conditions contained in our customer purchase orders often provide for liquidated damages in the event that a stop work order is issued prior to the final delivery. The Company utilizes a Returned Merchandise Authorization or RMA process for determining whether to accept returned products. Customer requests to return products are reviewed by the contracts department and if the request is approved, a credit is issued upon receipt of the product. Net sales represent gross sales less returns and allowances.

Use of Estimates

In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The more significant management estimates are the allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of property and equipment, provisions for inventory obsolescence, accrued expenses and whether to accrue for various contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates, which are recorded in the period in which they become known.

Credit and Concentration Risks

A large percentage of the Company’s revenues are derived from a small number of customers for U.S. Military Aviation.

There were three customers that represented 73.9% of total sales, and three customers that represented 76.0% of total sales for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This is set forth in the table below.

There were three customers that represented 80.3% of gross accounts receivable and 67.8% of gross accounts receivable at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This is set forth in the table below.

Cash and Cash equivalents

During the year, the Company had occasionally maintained balances in its bank accounts that were in excess of the FDIC limit. The Company has not experienced any losses on these accounts.

Major Suppliers

The Company has several key sole-source suppliers of various parts that are important for one or more of its products. These suppliers are its only source for such parts and, therefore, in the event any of them were to go out of business or be unable to provide parts for any reason, its business could be severely harmed.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with accounting guidance now codified as FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires that the Company recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect in the years the differences are expected to reverse.

The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes includes deferred taxes resulting from the temporary differences in income for financial and tax purposes using the liability method. Such temporary differences result primarily from the differences in the carrying value of assets and liabilities. Future realization of deferred income tax assets requires sufficient taxable income within the carryback, carryforward period available under tax law. We evaluate, on a quarterly basis whether, based on all available evidence, it is probable that the deferred income tax assets are realizable. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that the tax benefit of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The evaluation, as prescribed by ASC 740-10, “Income Taxes,” includes the consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, regarding historical operating results including recent years with reported losses, the estimated timing of future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, estimated future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, and potential tax planning strategies which may be employed to prevent an operating loss or tax credit carryforward from expiring unused.

The Company accounts for uncertainties in income taxes under the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10-05 (the “Subtopic”). The Subtopic clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. The Subtopic prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Subtopic provides guidance on the de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

Earnings (Loss) per share

Basic earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing the net income applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.

For purposes of calculating diluted earnings per common share, the numerator includes net income plus interest on convertible notes payable assumed converted as of the first day of the period. The denominator includes both the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and the number of common stock equivalents if the inclusion of such common stock equivalents is dilutive. Dilutive common stock equivalents potentially include stock options and warrants using the treasury stock method and convertible notes payable using the if-converted method.

The following is the calculation of income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to common stockholders utilized to calculate the EPS:

The following is a reconciliation of the denominators of basic and diluted earnings per share computations:

The following securities have been excluded from the calculation as the exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares:

The following securities have been excluded from the calculation even though the exercise price was less than the average market price of the common shares because the effect of including these potential shares was anti-dilutive due to the net loss incurred during the years:

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” Under the fair value recognition provision of the ASC, stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options and warrants granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and stock grants at their closing reported market value. Stock compensation expense for employees amounted to $308,000 and $378,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Stock compensation expense for directors amounted to $211,000 and $244,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Stock compensation expenses for employees and directors were included in operating expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition cost of businesses over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. The goodwill amount of $163,000 at December 31, 2020 and 2019 relates to the acquisition of NTW.

The Company accounts for the impairment of goodwill under the provisions of ASU 2011-08 (“ASU 2011-08”), “Intangibles Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment.” ASU 2011-08 updated the guidance on the periodic testing of goodwill for impairment. The updated guidance gives companies the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.

The Company performs impairment testing for goodwill annually, or more frequently when indicators of impairment exist. As discussed above, the Company adopted ASU 2011-08 and performs a qualitative assessment in the fourth quarter of each year to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carting amount.

The Company determined that there has been no impairment of goodwill at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Freight Out

Freight out is included in operating expenses and amounted to $91,000 and $134,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06), which is intended to address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying GAAP for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. For convertible instruments, ASU 2020-06 reduces the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock, and enhances information transparency by making targeted improvements to the disclosures for convertible instruments and earnings-per-share guidance on the basis of feedback from financial statement users. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods in those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods with those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this new accounting guidance on its financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”), which significantly changes how entities will account for credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss model with an expected credit loss model that requires entities to estimate an expected lifetime credit loss on most financial assets and certain other instruments. Under ASU 2016-13 credit impairment is recognized as an allowance for credit losses, rather than as a direct write-down of the amortized cost basis of a financial asset. The impairment allowance is a valuation account deducted from the amortized cost basis of financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Once the new pronouncement is adopted by the Company, the allowance for credit losses must be adjusted for management’s current estimate at each reporting date. The new guidance provides no threshold for recognition of impairment allowance. Therefore, entities must also measure expected credit losses on assets that have a low risk of loss. For instance, trade receivables that are either current or not yet due may not require an allowance reserve under currently generally accepted accounting principles, but under the new standard, the Company will have to estimate an allowance for expected credit losses on trade receivables under ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2022 for smaller reporting companies. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

The Company does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

Reclassifications

Reclassifications occurred to certain 2019 amounts to conform to the 2020 classification. These reclassifications had no impact on the statement of operations.

Note 4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

The components of accounts receivable at December 31, are detailed as follows:

The allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

Note 5. INVENTORY

The components of inventory at December 31, consisted of the following:

The Company periodically evaluates inventory and establishes reserves for obsolescence, excess quantities, slow-moving goods, and for other impairment of value.

Note 6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The components of property and equipment at December 31, consisted of the following:

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $2,570,000 and $3,002,000, respectively. Assets held under finance lease obligations are depreciated over the shorter of their related lease terms or their estimated productive lives. Depreciation of assets under finance leases is included in depreciation expense for 2020 and 2019. Accumulated depreciation on these assets was approximately $28,000 and $289,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Note 7. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

The components of accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, are detailed as follows:

Note 8. SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTION

On October 24, 2006, the Company consummated a Sale - Leaseback Arrangement, whereby the Company sold the buildings and real property located in Bay Shore, New York (the “Bay Shore Property”) for a purchase price of $6,200,000. The Company realized a gain on the sale of $1,051,000 of which $300,000 was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2006. The remaining $751,000 is being recognized ratably over the remaining term of the twenty - year lease at approximately $38,000 per year. The gain is included in Other Income in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The unrecognized portion of the gain in the amount of $219,000 and $257,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, is classified as Deferred Gain on Sale in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Simultaneous with the closing of the sale of the Bay Shore Property, the Company entered into a 20-year triple- net lease (the “Lease”) with the purchaser for the property. Base annual rent is approximately $540,000 for the first five years, $560,000 for the sixth year, and thereafter increases 3% per year. The Lease grants the Company an option to renew the Lease for an additional period of five years. The Company has on deposit with the purchaser of $89,000 as security for the performance of its obligations under the Lease. In addition, at December 31, 2019, the Company had on deposit $150,000 with the landlord as security for the completion of certain repairs and upgrades to the Bay Shore Property. In 2020, the landlord utilized the amounts on deposit to install air conditioning throughout the manufacturing facility. At December 31, 2019, this amount was included in the caption Deferred Finance costs, Net, Deposit and Other Assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Pursuant to the terms of the Lease, the Company is required to pay all of the costs associated with the operation of the facilities, including, without limitation, insurance, taxes and maintenance. The lease also contains customary representations, warranties, obligations, conditions and indemnification provisions and grants the purchaser customary remedies upon a breach of the lease by the Company, including the right to terminate the Lease and hold the Company liable for any deficiency in future rent. See Note 10 – Operating Lease Liabilities.

The Company accounted for these transactions under the provisions of FASB ASC 840-40, “Leases-Sale-Leaseback Transactions”. 

Note 9. NOTES PAYABLE, RELATED PARTY NOTES PAYABLE AND FINANCE LEASE OBLIGATIONS

Notes payable, related party notes payable and finance lease obligations consist of the following:

Sterling National Bank (“SNB”)

On December 31, 2019, the Company entered into a new loan facility (“SNB Facility”) with Sterling National Bank, (“SNB”) expiring on December 30, 2022. The new loan facility provides for a $16,000,000 revolving loan (“SNB revolving line of credit”) and a term loan (“SNB term loan”).

Proceeds from the SNB Facility repaid the Company’s outstanding loan facility (“PNC Facility”) with PNC Bank N.A. (“PNC”).

The formula to determine the amounts of revolving advances permitted to be borrowed under the SNB revolving line of credit is based on a percentage of the Company’s eligible receivables and eligible inventory (as defined in the SNB Facility). Each day, the Company’s cash collections are swept directly by SNB to reduce the SNB revolving loan balance and the Company then borrows according to a borrowing base formula. The Company’s receivables are payable directly into a lockbox controlled by SNB (subject to the terms of the SNB Facility).

The initial repayment terms of the SNB term loan provided for monthly principal installments in the amount of $45,238, payable on the first business day of each month, beginning on February 1, 2020, with a final payment of any unpaid balance of principal and interest payable on December 30, 2022. In addition, for so long as the SNB term loan remains outstanding, if Excess Cash Flow (as defined) is a positive number for any fiscal year, beginning with the year ending December 31, 2020, the Company shall pay to SNB an amount equal to the lesser of (i) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year and (ii) the outstanding principal balance of the term loan. Such payment shall be made to SNB and applied to the outstanding principal balance of the term loan, on or prior to April 15 of the Fiscal Year immediately following such Fiscal Year.

On November 6, 2020, the Company entered into the First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement (“First Amendment”). The terms of the agreement increase the Term Loan to $5,685,000. The repayment terms of the term loan were amended to provide monthly principal installments in the amount of $67,679 beginning on December 1, 2020, with a final payment of any unpaid balance of principal and interest payable on December 30, 2022. Additionally, the date by which certain subordinated third-party notes need to be extended by was changed from September 30, 2020 to November 30, 2020. The Company has paid an amendment fee of $20,000.

The Company may voluntarily prepay balances under the SNB Facility. Any prepayment of less than all of the outstanding principal of the SNB term loan is applied to the principal of the SNB term loan.

The terms of the SNB Facility require that, among other things, the Company maintain a specified Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of 1.25 to 1.00 at the end of each Fiscal Quarter beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2020. In addition, the Company is limited in the amount of Capital Expenditures it can make. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all loan covenants. The SNB Facility also restricts the amount of dividends the Company may pay to its stockholders. Substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged as collateral under the SNB Facility.

The aggregate payments for the term note at December 31, 2020 are as follows:

Under the terms of the SNB Facility, both the SNB revolving line of credit and the SNB term loan bear an interest rate equal to 30-day LIBOR, plus 2.5% (with a floor of 3.5%).

As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s debt to SNB in the amount of $21,207,000 consisted of the SNB revolving line of credit note in the amount of $15,649,000 and the SNB term loan in the amount of $5,558,000. Interest expense for the year ending December 31, 2020 amounted to $586,000 for this credit facility.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s debt to SNB in the amount of $16,343,000 consisted of the SNB revolving line of credit note in the amount of $12,543,000 and the SNB term loan in the amount of $3,800,000. No interest expense was incurred on the SNB Facility during 2019.

PNC Bank N.A. (“PNC”)

The Company previously maintained a financing facility with PNC. Under such facility, substantially all of the Company’s assets were pledged as collateral. The PNC Facility provided for a $15,000,000 revolving line of credit (“PNC revolving line of credit”) and a term loan (“PNC term loan”).

Interest expense related to the PNC Facility amounted to approximately $1,860,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019.

On December 31, 2019, both the PNC revolving line of credit and PNC term loan were paid in full and all assets that were previously pledged as collateral were released.

Loans Payable – Financed Assets

The Company financed the 2019 acquisition of manufacturing equipment with a third-party loan. The loan obligation totaled $0 and $385,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively and bore interest at 3% per annum. This loan was repaid in full in conjunction with the First Amendment to the SNB Term Loan.

The Company has also borrowed to purchase a delivery vehicle in July 2020. The loan obligation totaled $48,000 as of December 31, 2020. The loan bears no interest and a final payment is due and payable for all unpaid principal on July 20, 2026.

Annual maturities of this loan are as follows:

Related Party Notes Payable

Taglich Brothers, Inc. is a corporation co-founded by two directors of the Company, Michael and Robert Taglich. In addition, a third director of the Company is a vice president of Taglich Brothers, Inc.

Taglich Brothers, Inc. has acted as placement agent for various debt and equity financing transactions and has received cash and equity compensation for their services.

On January 15, 2019, the Company issued its 7% senior subordinated convertible promissory notes due December 31, 2020, each in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (together, the “7% Notes”), to Michael Taglich and Robert Taglich, each for a purchase price of $1,000,000. The 7% Notes bear interest at the rate of 7% per annum, are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.93 per share, subject to the anti-dilution adjustments set forth in the 7% Notes and are subordinate to the Company’s indebtedness under the SNB Facility.

In connection with the 7% Notes, the Company paid Taglich Brothers, Inc. a fee of $80,000 (4% of the purchase price of the 7% Notes), paid in the form of a promissory note having terms similar to the 7% Notes.

On June 26, 2019, the Company was advanced $250,000 from each of Michael and Robert Taglich. These notes bear interest at a rate of 12% per annum. In connection with these notes, the Company issued 37,500 shares of stock to each of Michael and Robert Taglich. The maturity date of these notes, was June 30, 2020, but was extended to July 1, 2023.

On October 21, 2019, the Company was advanced $1,000,000 from Michael Taglich. This advance was repaid on January 2, 2020. The interest rate on this advance was 12% per annum.

Private Placement of Subordinated Notes due May 31, 2019, together with Shares of Common Stock

On March 29, 2018 and April 4, 2018, Michael Taglich and Robert Taglich advanced $1,000,000 and $100,000, respectively, to the Company for use as working capital. The Company subsequently issued its Subordinated Notes originally due May 31, 2019 to Michael Taglich and Robert Taglich, together with shares of common stock, in the financing described below, to evidence its obligation to repay the foregoing advances. 

In May 2018, the Company issued $1,200,000 of Subordinated Notes due May 31, 2019 (the “2019 Notes”), together with a total of 214,762 shares of common stock to Michael Taglich, Robert Taglich and another accredited investor. As part of the financing, the Company issued to Michael Taglich $1,000,000 principal amount of 2019 Notes and 178,571 shares of common stock for a purchase price of $1,000,000 and to Robert Taglich $100,000 principal amount of 2019 Notes and 17,857 shares of common stock. The Company issued and sold a 2019 Note in the principal amount of $100,000, plus 18,334 shares of common stock to the other accredited investor for a purchase price of $100,000. This additional note was paid in full on January 2, 2020.

Interest on the 2019 Notes is payable on the outstanding principal amount thereof at the rate of one percent (1%) per month, payable monthly commencing June 30, 2018. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a failure to pay accrued interest, interest shall accrue and be payable on such amount at the rate of 1.25% per month; provided that upon the occurrence and continuation of a failure to timely pay the principal amount of the 2019 Note, interest shall accrue and be payable on such principal amount at the rate of 1.25% per month and shall no longer be payable on interest accrued but unpaid. The 2019 Notes are subordinate to the Company’s obligations to SNB.

Taglich Brothers acted as placement agent for the offering and received a commission in the aggregate amount of 4% of the amount invested which was paid in kind.

During the second quarter of 2019, the maturity date of the 2019 Notes was extended to June 30, 2020. The interest rate of the notes remains at 12% per annum. In connection with the extension, 180,000 shares of common stock were issued on a pro-rata basis to each of the note holders, including 150,000 shares to Michael Taglich and 15,000 shares to Robert Taglich. The shares were valued at $1.01 per share or $182,000. The costs have been recorded as a debt discount, and are being accreted over the revised term. In connection with the SNB Facility, Michael and Robert Taglich agreed to extend the maturity date of the 2019 Notes to July 1, 2023.

Private Placements of 8% Subordinated Convertible Notes

From November 23, 2016 through March 21, 2017, the Company received gross proceeds of $4,775,000, of which $1,950,000 were received from Robert and Michael Taglich, from the sale of an equal principal amount of its 8% Subordinated Convertible Notes (the “8% Notes”), together with warrants to purchase a total of 383,080 shares of its common stock, in private placement transactions with accredited investors (the “8% Note Offerings”). In connection with the offering of the 8% Notes, the Company issued 8% Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $382,000 to Taglich Brothers, Inc., placement agent for the 8% Note Offerings, in lieu of payment of cash compensation for sales commissions, together with warrants to purchase a total of 180,977 shares of common stock. Payment of the principal and accrued interest on the 8% Notes are junior and subordinate in right of payment to our indebtedness under the SNB Facility.

Interest on the 8% Notes is payable on the outstanding principal amount thereof at the annual rate of 8%, payable quarterly commencing February 28, 2017, in cash, or at the Company’s option, in additional 8% Notes, provided that if accrued interest payable on $1,269,000 principal amount of the 8% Notes issued in December 2016 is paid in additional 8% Notes, interest for that quarterly interest payment shall be calculated at the rate of 12% per annum. Upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default, interest shall accrue at the rate of 12% per annum.

Related party advances and notes payable, net of debt discounts to Michael and Robert Taglich, and their affiliated entities, totaled $6,012,000 and $6,862,000, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Unamortized debt discounts related to these notes amounted to $0 and $226,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Interest incurred on these related party notes amounted to approximately $526,000 and $446,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively Amortization of debt discount incurred on these related party notes amounted to approximately $226,000 and $375,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively. The amortization of the debt discount is included in interest and financing costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Per the terms of the SNB Facility, the maturity date of all related party notes has been extended to July 1, 2023 and are subordinated to the SNB Facility. There are no principal payments due on these notes until such time.

On January 1, 2021, the related party subordinated notes were amended to include all accrued interest through December 31, 2020 in the principal balance of the notes. The Note Holders and the principal balance of the notes as amended on January 1, 2021 are shown below:

Convertible Notes Payable – Third Parties

As discussed above in connection with the Private Placement of Subordinated Notes due May 31, 2019, together with Shares of Common Stock, a $100,000 note issued to a third party in May 2018 was repaid in January 2020.

In the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the third party holders of $580,000 and $2,245,000 principal, respectively, with accrued interest thereon of $58,000 and $344,000, respectively, converted their notes into approximately 426,000 and 1,831,000 shares, respectively, of common stock. These notes were converted at a per share price between $1.35 and $1.50.

8% Notes payable to third parties totaled $0 and $2,338,000, net of unamortized debt discount at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Interest incurred on the 8% Notes amounted to approximately $141,000 and $380,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, unamortized debt discounts related to these notes amounted to $0 and $7,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Amortization of debt discount on the 8% Notes amounted to approximately $7,000 and $135,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These costs are included in interest and financing costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

SBA Loans

In May 2020, AIM, NTW and Sterling entered into SBA Loans with SNB as the lender in an aggregate principal amount of $2,414,000, which was forgiven by the SBA in December of 2020. Each SBA Loan was evidenced by a Note. Subject to the terms of the Note, the SBA Loans bore interest at a fixed rate of one percent (1%) per annum, with the first six months of interest deferred, had an initial term of two years, and was unsecured and guaranteed by the SBA. At least 60% of the proceeds of each Loan must be used for payroll and payroll-related costs, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the federal statute authorizing the loan program administered by the SBA and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Loan Program”). In December 2020, the Company was notified that the loans and all interest accrued thereon had been forgiven.

The Company elected to treat the SBA Loans as debt under FASB ASC 470. As such, the Company derecognized the liability when the loans were forgiven and the Company was legally released from the loans.

Note 10. OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES

The Company leases substantially all of its office space, technology equipment and office equipment used to conduct its business. The Company adopted ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019. For contracts entered into on or after the effective date, at the inception of a contract it assesses whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. The Company’s assessment is based on: (1) whether the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, (2) whether its obtains the right to substantially all the economic benefit from the use of the asset throughout the period, and (3) whether it has the right to direct the use of the asset. At inception of a lease, the Company allocates the consideration in the contract to each lease component based on its relative stand-alone price to determine the lease payments. Leases entered into prior to January 1, 2019, are accounted for under ASC 840 and were not reassessed.

The aggregate undiscounted cash flows of operating lease payments, with remaining terms greater than one year are as follows:

As part of the effort to reduce costs, corporate executive offices were moved to an existing 5.4-acre corporate campus in Bay Shore, New York. The Company remains liable under the lease for the office in Hauppauge, New York which is now vacant. This lease has a term which ends January 2022. The annual rent was approximately $113,000 for the lease year which began in January 2019 and increases by approximately 3% per annum each year thereafter. Accordingly, the Company recognized an impairment of $275,000 to its Operating Lease Right-of-Use-Asset for the year ended December 31, 2019.

NTW’s warehouse lease was terminated in May 2020 by its landlord under the terms of its lease agreement. Additionally, the Company entered into a new lease agreement for warehouse space in Bohemia, NY. The new lease term commenced on April 1, 2020 and expires on May 31, 2025. During the first year of the lease, the monthly rent is $10,964 and increases 3% each year thereafter. The final two months are equal installments of $1,746.

Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $1,173,000 and $1,193,000, respectively.

Note 11. LIABILITY RELATED TO THE SALE OF FUTURE PROCEEDS FROM DISPOSITION OF SUBSIDIARY

In connection with the sale of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AMK Welding, Inc. (“AMK”) to Meyer Tool, Inc., (“Meyer”) in 2017, Meyer was obligated to pay the Company within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, commencing April 1, 2017, an amount equal to five (5%) percent of the net sales of AMK for that quarter until the aggregate payments made to the Company (the “Meyer Agreement”) equals $1,500,000 (the “Maximum Amount”).

As of December 31, 2018, the Company received an aggregate of $363,000 under the Meyer Agreement.

In order to increase liquidity, on January 15, 2019, the Company entered into a “Purchase Agreement” with 15 accredited investors (the “Purchasers”), including Michael and Robert Taglich, pursuant to which the Company assigned to the Purchasers all of their rights, title and interest to the remaining $1,137,000 of the $1,500,000 in payments due from Meyer for the sale of AMK (the “Remaining Amount”) for an immediate payment of $800,000, including $100,000 from each of Michael and Robert Taglich, and $75,000 for the benefit of the children of Michael Taglich. The timing of the payments is based upon the net sales of AMK. If the Purchasers have not received the entire Remaining Amount by March 31, 2023, they have the right to demand payment of their pro rata portion of the unpaid Remaining Amount from the Company (“Put Right”). To the extent the Purchasers exercise their Put Right, the remaining payments from Meyer will be retained by the Company.

The Purchasers have agreed to pay Taglich Brothers, Inc. a fee equal to 2% per annum of the purchase price paid by such Purchasers, payable quarterly, to be deducted from the payments of the Remaining Amount, for acting as paying agent in connection with the payments from Meyer.

Although the Company sold all of its rights to the Remaining Amount, as a result of its obligation to the Purchasers, the Company is required to account for the Remaining Amount or portion thereof as income when earned. The Company recorded the $800,000 in proceeds as a liability on its consolidated balance sheet, net of transaction costs of $3,000. Transaction costs will be amortized to interest expense over the estimated life of the Purchase Agreement.

As payments are remitted to the Purchasers, the balance of the recorded liability will be effectively repaid over the life of the Purchase Agreement. To determine the amortization of the recorded liability, the Company is required to estimate the total amount of future payment to be received by the Purchasers. The Company estimates that the entire Remaining Amount will be received, and accordingly, the Remaining Amount less the $800,000 purchase price received (the “Discount”) will be amortized into the liability balance and recorded as interest expense. The Discount will be amortized through the earliest date that the Purchasers can exercise their Put Right, using the straight line method (which is not materially different than the effective interest method) over the estimated life of the Purchase Agreement with the Purchasers. Periodically, the Company will assess the estimated payments to be made to the Purchasers related to the Meyer Agreement, and to the extent the amount or timing of the payments is materially different from their original estimates, the Company will prospectively adjust the amortization of the liability. The amount or timing of the payments from Meyer are not within the Company’s control. Since the inception of the Purchase Agreement, the Company estimates the effective annual interest rate over the life of the agreement to be approximately 18%.

The liability is classified between the current and non-current portion of liability related to sale of future proceeds from disposition of subsidiary based on the estimated recognition of the payments to be received by the purchasers in the next 12 months from the financial statements reporting date.

The table below shows the activity within the liability account for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

Note 12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock – Sale of Securities

In January 2020, the Company issued and sold 419,597 shares of its common stock for gross proceeds of $984,000 pursuant to a Form S-3 filed on October 10, 2019 as updated on January 15, 2020. Costs of the sale amounted to $145,000.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 1,830,631 shares of common stock to convert third party subordinated debt totaling $2,589,000 to equity.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 178,405 shares of common stock in payment of directors’ fees totaling $211,000.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 50,000 shares of common stock in lieu of cash payment for various services provided to the Company, 257,602 shares of common stock in payment of directors’ fees, 424,805 shares of common stock issued from the conversion of notes payable, 180,000 shares issued in connection with the issuance of subordinated notes payable and 2,778 shares issued upon the exercise of stock options.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company issued 41,960 shares of common stock in payment of directors’ fees totaling $52,000 and 51,224 shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options.

Note 13. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANS

The Company employs both union and non-union employees and maintains several benefit plans.

Union

Substantially the entire workforce at AIM is subject to a union contract with the United Service Workers Union TUJAT Local 355, EIN 11-1772919 (the “Union”). The Agreement was renewed as of December 31, 2018 and expires on December 31, 2021 and covers all of AIM’s production personnel, of which there are approximately 93 people. AIM is required to make a monthly contribution to each of the Union’s United Welfare Fund and the United Services Worker’s Security Fund. This is the only pension benefit required by the Agreement and the Company is not obligated for any future defined benefit to retirees. The Agreement contains a “no-strike” clause, whereby, during the term of the Agreement, the Union will not strike and AIM will not lockout its employees. Medical benefits for union employees are provided through a policy with Insperity Services, Inc. (“Insperity”), the costs of which are substantially borne by the Company. In addition, the Company is obligated to make contributions for union dues and a security fund (defined contribution plan) for the benefit of each union employee. Contributions to the security fund amounted to $134,000 and $137,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2011-09, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits-Multiemployer Plans (Subtopic 715-80): Disclosures about an Employer’s Participation in a Multiemployer Plan” (“ASU 2011-09”). ASU 2011-09 requires additional disclosures about an employer’s participation in a multiemployer pension plan. Previously, disclosures were limited primarily to the historical contributions made to the plans. ASU 2011-09 applies to nongovernmental entities that participate in multiemployer plans. The Union’s retirement plan is a defined contribution plan. As such, the Company is not responsible for the obligations of other companies in the Union’s retirement plan and no further disclosures are required.

Others

All of the Company’s employees are covered under a co-employment agreement with Insperity, a professional employer organization (“PEO”) that provides out-sourced human resource services.

The Company has a defined contribution plans under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Plans”). Pursuant to the Plans, qualified employees may contribute a percentage of their pre-tax eligible compensation to the Plan. The Company does not match any contributions that employees may make to the Plans.

Note 14. CONTINGENCIES

A number of actions have been commenced against the Company by vendors, landlords and former landlords, including a third party claim as a result of an injury suffered on a portion of a leased property not occupied by the Company. As certain of these claims represent amounts included in accounts payable they are not specifically discussed herein.

Contract Pharmacal Corp. commenced an action on October 2, 2018, relating to a Sublease entered into between the Company and Contract Pharmacal in May 2018 with respect to the property that was formerly occupied by Welding Metallurgy, Inc., at 110 Plant Avenue, Hauppauge, New York. In the action Contract Pharmacal seeks damages for an amount in excess of $1,000,000 for our failure to make the entire premises available by the Sublease commencement date. The Company disputes the validity of the claims asserted by Contract Pharmacal and believes it has meritorious defenses to those claims. The pace of litigation in the civil courts in New York has been slowed by the impact of Covid-19. The Court has ordered us and Contract Pharmacal to complete discovery, which is ongoing.

On December 20, 2018, the Company completed the sale of all of the outstanding shares of its subsidiary, WMI, to CPI.

There ensued a dispute with CPI regarding amounts it claimed were due based upon the value it ascribed to the inventory as of the closing date. On December 23, 2020 the Company and CPI reached an agreement to settle the working capital dispute. Pursuant to the settlement, the escrow agent released to CPI the balance of $ 1,380,684 remaining in the escrow account which had been established at the closing and the Company and CPI exchanged mutual releases customary in the circumstances.

From time to time the Company may be engaged in various lawsuits and legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Company is currently not aware of any legal proceedings the ultimate outcome of which, in its judgment based on information currently available, would have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or operating results. There are no proceedings in which any of the Company’s directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder of its common stock, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest.

Note 15. INCOME TAXES

The provision for (benefit from) income taxes as of December 31, is set forth below:

The following is a reconciliation of our income tax rate computed using the federal statutory rate to our actual income tax rate as of December 31,

The components of net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are set forth below:

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded a valuation allowance equal to its net deferred tax assets. The Company determined that due to a recent history of net losses, that at this time, sufficient uncertainty exists regarding the future realization of these deferred tax assets through future taxable income. If, in the future, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax benefits will be realized, the valuation allowances will be reduced or eliminated. With a full valuation allowance, any change in the deferred tax asset or liability is fully offset by a corresponding change in the valuation allowance. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company provided a valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets of $9,394,000 and $10,663,000, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a Federal net operating loss carry forward of approximately $27,576,000, of which $22,461,000 expire in years through 2037 and $5,115,000 that do not expire. State net operating loss carry forwards total approximately $9,458,000 (with effective rates from 5.5% to 10%), expiring in years through 2040. 

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits and no adjustments to liabilities or operations were required. The Company does not expect that its unrecognized tax benefits will materially increase within the next twelve months. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in interest expense. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company has not recorded any provisions for accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

In certain cases, the Company’s uncertain tax positions are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. The Company files federal and state income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The 2017 through 2020 tax years generally remain subject to examination by federal and state tax authorities.

As a result of the passage of the CARES Act, the Company received $1,416,000 from the filing of a net operating loss carryback claim. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of other provisions of the CARES Act on its accounting for income taxes and does not believe it has a material impact at this time.

Note 16. STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Options

In July 2017, the Board of Directors adopted the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (“2017 Plan”) which authorized the grant of rights with respect to up to 1,200,000 shares. The 2017 Plan was approved by affirmative vote of the Company’s stockholders on October 3, 2017.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company granted options to purchase 560,000 shares of common stock to certain of its employees and directors. The weighted average fair value of the granted options was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: risk free interest rate of 0.22% to 1.61%; expected volatility factors of 71.5% to 75.4%; expected dividend yield of 0%; and expected life of 2.5 to 4 years.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company granted options to purchase 613,000 shares of common stock to certain of its employees and directors. The weighted average fair value of the granted options was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: risk free interest rate of 1.87% to 2.60%; expected volatility factors of 65.8% to 72.4%; expected dividend yield of 0%; and expected life of 4.9 to 6.8 years.

The Company recorded stock based compensation expense of $308,000 and $378,000 in its consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and such amounts were included as a component of general and administrative expense.

The fair values of stock options granted were estimated using the Black-Sholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions for the years ended December 31: