NOTE 12 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating Lease Obligations

On July 26, 2021, the Company entered a new operating lease agreement for office and warehouse combination space of 40,000 square feet, with the lease commencing on November 1, 2021, and ending April 30, 2032. This new space combines the Company’s two separate work locations into one facility, which allows for greater collaboration and also accommodates a larger anticipated workforce and manufacturing facility. On November 24, 2021, the lease was amended to commence on December 1, 2021, and end on May 31, 2032. The Company recognized a ROU asset and operating lease liability in the amount of $4,980,104 at lease commencement. Rent for the first eleven months of the term was calculated based on 30,000 rentable square feet. The rent is subject to an annual escalation of 2.5%, beginning November 1, 2023. The Company made a security deposit payment in the amount of $600,000 on July 26, 2021. Per the contract, in the 18^th month and every 12th month thereafter, the security deposit is reduced by $50,000 and now stands at $500,000. The right of use asset balance at December 31, 2024, net of accumulated amortization, was $4,028,698.

As of December 31, 2024, the office and warehouse lease is the Company’s only lease with a term greater than twelve months. The office and warehouse lease has a remaining term of approximately 7.5 years and includes an option to extend for two renewal terms of five years each. The renewal options are not reasonably certain to be exercised, and therefore, they are not included when determining the lease term used to establish the right-of use asset and lease liability. The Company also has several short-term leases, primarily related to equipment. The Company made an accounting policy election to not recognize short-term leases with terms of twelve months or less on the consolidated balance sheet and instead recognize the lease payments in expense as incurred. The Company has also elected to account for real estate leases that contain both lease and non-lease components (such as common area maintenance) as a single lease component. 

The following table shows supplemental information related to leases:

At December 31, 2024, future minimum lease payments due under the operating lease are as follows:

Master Lease Agreement

On November 1, 2024, the Company entered into a Master Lease Agreement (“MLA”) for a total lease obligation of $2,662,282. The lease is structured with a repayment term of 66 months, with fixed monthly payments commencing on December 10, 2024. At the end of the lease term, the Company has the option to purchase the leased asset for $1.

In accordance with ASC 842, the lease is classified as a finance lease, as the $1 buyout option indicates a transfer of ownership. As a result, the Company has recorded a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability on its balance sheet. Interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset will be recognized over the lease term. Management believes this lease structure supports the Company’s operational and financial objectives.

The following table shows supplemental information related to the MLA:

At December 31, 2024, future minimum lease payments due under the MLA are as follows:

Executive Severance Agreement

Pursuant to a separation agreement with Gianni Arcaini, our former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (the “Separation Agreement”), Mr. Arcaini’s employment with the Company ended on September 1, 2020 (“Separation Date”). The Separation Agreement provided that he would receive separation payments over a 36- month period equal to his base salary plus $75,000 as well as certain limited health and life insurance benefits. The Separation Agreement also contained confidentiality, non-disparagement and non-solicitation covenants and a release of claims by Mr. Arcaini. In accordance with the Separation Agreement, the Company paid to Mr. Arcaini the total sum of $747,788. On March 1, 2021, the Company paid to Mr. Arcaini a lump-sum amount equal to the first six months of payments, or $124,631, owed to Mr. Arcaini and the Company continued to pay him in semi-monthly installments for 30 months thereafter, as contemplated in Mr. Arcaini’s Separation Agreement. On November 21, 2024, the Company paid Mr. Arcaini a further $23,890 to settle a dispute concerning certain benefits that were claimed by him as part of the separation agreement. As a condition of this payment, Mr. Arcaini forfeited all of his equity in the Company consisting of 100,716 non-qualified stock options granted under the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.