NOTE 6. DEBT

Our debt balance, excluding operating lease liabilities and finance lease liabilities, consisted of the following amounts at the dates indicated:

 SCHEDULE OF DEBT

Bridge Loan

In December 2021, we entered into a Secured Promissory Note with Aaron LoCascio, our co-founder, former Chief Executive Officer and President, and a current director of the Company, in which Mr. LoCascio provided us with a bridge loan in the principal amount of $8.0 million (the “December 2021 Note”). The December 2021 Note accrued interest at a rate of 15.0% is due monthly, and the principal amount was originally due in full on June 30, 2022. We incurred $0.3 million of debt issuance costs related to the December 2021 Note, which were recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the December 2021 Note, and which were amortized over the term of the December 2021 Note through interest expense. The December 2021 Note was secured by a continuing security interest in all of our assets and properties whether then or thereafter existing or required, including our inventory and receivables (as defined under the Universal Commercial Code) and included negative covenants restricting our ability to incur further indebtedness and engage in certain asset dispositions until the earlier of the maturity date or the December 2021 Note being fully repaid.

On June 30, 2022, we entered into the First Amendment to the December 2021 Note (the “First Amendment”), which extended the maturity date of the December 2021 Note to July 14, 2022. On July 14, 2022, we entered into the Second Amendment to the December 2021 Note (the “Second Amendment” and together with the December 2021 Note, the “Bridge Loan”), which provided for the extension of the maturity date of the Bridge Loan from July 14, 2022 to July 19, 2022. In connection with the entry into the Second Amendment, we repaid $4.0 million of the aggregate principal amount due under the Bridge Loan on July 14, 2022, with the remainder due at maturity. On July 19, 2022, we repaid the remaining balance on the Bridge Loan in full, and, as a result, all obligations under the Bridge Loan have been satisfied.

Real Estate Note

On October 1, 2018, one of the Operating Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries financed the purchase of a building, which served as our corporate headquarters, through a real estate term note (the “Real Estate Note”) in the principal amount of $8.5 million. Our obligations under the Real Estate Note were secured by a mortgage on the property.

On August 8, 2022, we entered into a note, mortgage and loan modification agreement (the “Real Estate Note Amendment”), which amended the maturity date of the Real Estate Note to reflect a maturity date of December 1, 2022, whereupon all principal and accrued interest were to become due and payable, in full.

In September 2022, 1095 Broken Sound consummated the previously disclosed transactions contemplated by that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2022, by and between 1095 Broken Sound and ACS 1095 LLC (“the HQ Purchaser”) whereby 1095 Broken Sound agreed to sell a certain parcel of real estate including the our headquarters building to the HQ Purchaser for total proceeds of $9.6 million in cash. On the Closing Date, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the HQ Transaction to repay the remainder of the Real Estate Note in full. There was no remaining balance related to the Real Estate Note on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.

Asset-Based Loan

On August 9, 2022, we entered into an asset-based loan pursuant to that certain Loan and Security Agreement (the “Asset-Based Loan Agreement”), dated as of August 8, 2022, by and among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”), the parties thereto from time to time as lenders (the “Lenders”), and WhiteHawk Capital Partners LP, as the agent for the Lenders (the “Asset Based Loan” or “Line of Credit”).

Pursuant to the Asset-Based Loan Agreement, the Lenders agreed to make available to us a term loan of up to $15.0 million on the terms and conditions set forth therein and the other Financing Agreements (as defined therein). As of December 31, 2022, of the total term loan amount, $5.7 million was located in a blocked account, which was classified as “restricted cash” on our consolidated balance sheet, and which released the funds when permitted by the borrowing base certificate. Subject to certain exceptions described in the Asset-Based Loan Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agreed to pledge all of their assets as collateral. The maturity date of the Asset-Based Loan is the third anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”).

We incurred $1.5 million of debt issuance costs related to the Asset-Based Loan, as well as an original issue discount of $0.5 million, which were recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the Asset-Based Loan, and which were amortized through interest expense over the term of the Asset-Based Loan. The Asset-Based Loan contained customary covenants and restrictions, including, without limitation, covenants that required us to comply with applicable laws, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, and various customary remedies for the lender following an event of default, including the acceleration of repayment of outstanding amounts under the Asset-Based Loan and execution upon the collateral securing obligations under the Asset-Based Loan.

The Asset-Based Loan accrued interest at the prime rate plus 8.0%, and interest payments were due monthly. Based on the original terms, beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2023, and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Maturity Date, quarterly payments of $0.3 million would be due, with a final payment of all remaining outstanding principal and accrued interest due on the Maturity Date.

On February 9, 2023, we entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Asset-Based Loan Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to, among other things, to voluntarily prepay approximately $6.6 million (inclusive of early termination fees and expenses) under the terms provided for under the Asset-Based Loan Agreement and the lenders under the Asset-Based Loan Agreement agreed to release $5.7 million in funds held in a blocked account pursuant to the terms of the Asset-Based Loan Agreement. Amendment No.2 to the Asset-Based Loan Agreement also provided that we would make additional prepayments upon the occurrence of certain specified asset sales by the Company.

On August 7, 2023, we repaid the approximately $4.3 million in aggregate principal amount (the “Loan Repayment”) which remained outstanding under the terms of the Asset-Based Loan Agreement. As a result of the Loan Repayment, the Company has been released from its obligations under the Asset-Based Loan Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Asset-Based Loan Agreement.

DaVinci Promissory Note

In November 2021, one of the Operating Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries financed the acquisition of DaVinci through the issuance of an unsecured promissory note (the “DaVinci Promissory Note”) in the principal amount of $5.0 million. Principal payments plus accrued interest at a rate of 4.0% were due quarterly through October 2023.

Eyce Promissory Note

In March 2021, one of the Operating Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries financed a portion of the consideration of the acquisition of Eyce through the issuance of an unsecured promissory note (the “Eyce Promissory Note”) in the principal amount of $2.5 million. Principal payments plus accrued interest at a rate of 4.5% are due quarterly through April 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the Eyce Promissory Note was repaid in full, and there was no remaining balance on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Future Receivables Financings

On July 31, 2023 and August 3, 2023, the Company received an aggregate of approximately $3.0 million in cash pursuant to the terms of future receivables financings (collectively, the “Future Receivables Financings”) entered into with two private lenders. The Company will make weekly payments under the Future Receivables Financings and is scheduled to repay the amounts due under the Future Receivables Financings in full in approximately six to eight months. The total amount to be repaid under the initial Future Receivables Financings was approximately $4.5 million. In connection with the Future Receivables Financings, the Company granted the lenders security interests in Company’s accounts receivable equal to the amounts due thereunder, and in connection with any event of default, the lenders may file financing statements evidencing the security interests.

Secured Bridge Loan

On September 22, 2023, the Company entered into a secured loan pursuant to a Loan and Security Agreement (the “September 2023 Loan Agreement”), dated as of September 22, 2023 with Synergy Imports, LLC (the “Secured Bridge Loan Lender”).

Pursuant to the September 2023 Loan Agreement, the Secured Bridge Loan Lender agreed to make available to the Company a six-month bridge loan of $2.2 million in new funds. Additionally, the Secured Bridge Loan Lender agreed to defer payments totaling $2,028,604 already owed by the Company under existing payment obligations and potentially defer up to an additional $2,655,778 which may become due pursuant to existing agreements during the term of the September 2023 Loan Agreement.

Subject to certain exceptions, the Company agreed to pledge all of its assets, with the exception of deposit accounts and accounts receivable, as collateral. Additionally, the Company agreed to transfer one US patent and two related foreign patents and a related trademark in exchange for an exclusive license back of such assets in the area of smoking products and accessories in connection with the September 2023 Loan Agreement.

Future Minimum Principal Payments

The following table summarizes future scheduled minimum principal payments of debt at December 31, 2023. Future debt principal payments are presented based upon the stated maturity dates in the respective debt agreement.

 SCHEDULE OF MATURITIES OF LONG-TERM DEBT