UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended: June 30, 2020

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from: _______ to _______

 

Commission File Number: 001-32288

 

NEPHROS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE   13-3971809

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

     

380 Lackawanna Place

South Orange, NJ

  07079
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(201) 343-5202

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading symbol   Name of exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share   NEPH   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. [X] 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 such files). [X] YES [  ] NO

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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 [  ] Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [X] Smaller reporting company [X]
  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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). [  ] YES [X] NO

 

As of August 3, 2020, 9,039,673 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 
 

 

NEPHROS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited).  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS – June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 3
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS – Three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 4
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY – Three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 5
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – Three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 6
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 7

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

22

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

38

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

38
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION 39
Item 1A. Risk Factors 39
Item 5. Other Information 39
Item 6. Exhibits 41

SIGNATURES

42

 

2

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

NEPHROS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

    June 30, 2020     December 31, 2019  
ASSETS                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 7,046     $ 4,166  
Accounts receivable, net     870       1,045  
Inventory, net     4,769       2,562  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     385       526  
Total current assets     13,070       8,299  
Property and equipment, net     296       81  
Lease right-of-use assets     1,171       1,106  
Intangible assets, net     527       548  
Goodwill     759       759  
License and supply agreement, net     737       804  
Other assets     89       32  
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 16,649     $ 11,629  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities:                
Secured revolving credit facility   $ -     $ 560  
Current portion of secured note payable     220       211  
Current portion of paycheck protection program loan     278       -  
Accounts payable     1,316       959  
Accrued expenses     449       136  
Contingent consideration     187       300  
Current portion of lease liabilities     315       262  
Total current liabilities     2,765       2,428  
Secured note payable, net of current portion     491       613  
Paycheck protection program loan, net of current portion     201       -  
Equipment financing, net of current portion     8       10  
Lease liabilities, net of current portion     908       889  
TOTAL LIABILITIES     4,373       3,940  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 15)                
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.     -       -  
Common stock, $.001 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 9,039,673 and 8,058,850 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.     9       8  
Additional paid-in capital     139,243       131,934  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     65       65  
Accumulated deficit     (130,087 )     (127,332 )
Subtotal     9,230       4,675  
Noncontrolling interest     3,046       3,014  
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     12,276       7,689  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 16,649     $ 11,629  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

 

3

 

 

NEPHROS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2020     2019     2020     2019  
Net revenues:                                
Product revenues   $ 1,564     $ 2,284     $ 4,039     $ 4,013  
Royalty and other revenues     13       25       67       65  
Total net revenues     1,577       2,309       4,106       4,078  
Cost of goods sold     682       942       1,720       1,713  
Gross margin     895       1,367       2,386       2,365  
Operating expenses:                                
Research and development     836       793       1,399       1,549  
Depreciation and amortization     47       48       93       98  
Selling, general and administrative     1,610       1,403       3,560       2,906  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     -       (9 )     (42 )     (19 )
Total operating expenses     2,493       2,235       5,010       4,534  
Loss from operations     (1,598 )     (868 )     (2,624 )     (2,169 )
Other (expense) income:                                
Interest expense     (30 )     (46 )     (73 )     (92 )
Interest income     4       -       5       -  
Other expense, net     (33 )     (28 )     (63 )     (30 )
Net loss     (1,657 )     (942 )     (2,755 )     (2,291 )
Less: Undeclared deemed dividend attributable to
noncontrolling interest
    (60 )     (61 )     (119 )     (120 )
Net loss attributable to Nephros, Inc. shareholders   $ (1,717 )   $ (1,003 )   $ (2,874 )   $ (2,411 )
                                 
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (0.33 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted     8,986,134       7,387,930       8,788,182       7,259,491  
                                 
Comprehensive loss:                                
Net loss   $ (1,657 )   $ (942 )   $ (2,755 )   $ (2,291 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income, foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax     1       2       -       (1 )
Comprehensive loss     (1,656 )     (940 )     (2,755 )     (2,292 )
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling
interest
    (60 )     (61 )     (119 )     (120 )
Comprehensive loss attributable to Nephros, Inc.
shareholders
  $ (1,716 )   $ (1,001 )   $ (2,874 )   $ (2,412 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

 

4

 

 

NEPHROS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

    Three and six months ended June 30, 2020  
    Common Stock     Additional Paid-in     Accumulated Other Comprehensive     Accumulated           Noncontrolling     Total Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Income     Deficit     Subtotal     Interest     Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2019     8,003,739     $           8     $ 131,934     $           65     $ (127,332 )   $ 4,675     $           3,014     $ 7,689  
Net loss                                     (1,098 )     (1,098 )             (1,098 )
Net unrealized losses on foreign currency translation, net of tax                             (1 )             (1 )             (1 )
Issuance of common stock, net of equity issuance costs of $729     937,500       1       6,770                       6,771               6,771  
Exercise of warrants     18,889               51                       51               51  
Exercise of options     556               2                       2               2  
Cashless exercise of options     755                                                          
Noncash stock-based compensation                     196                       196       26       222  
Balance, March 31, 2020     8,961,439     $ 9     $ 138,953     $ 64     $ (128,430 )   $ 10,596     $ 3,040     $ 13,636  
Net loss                                     (1,657 )     (1,657 )             (1,657 )
Net unrealized gains on foreign currency translation, net of tax                             1               1               1  
Exercise of warrants     21,123               112                       112               112  
Exercise of options     2,000               5                       5               5  
Issuance of vested restricted stock     55,111                                                          
Noncash stock-based compensation                     173                       173       6       179  
Balance, June 30, 2020     9,039,673     $ 9     $ 139,243     $ 65     $ (130,087 )   $ 9,230     $ 3,046     $ 12,276  

 

    Three and six months ended June 30, 2019  
    Common Stock     Additional Paid-in     Accumulated Other Comprehensive     Accumulated           Noncontrolling     Total Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Income     Deficit     Subtotal     Interest     Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2018     7,134,719     $          7     $ 127,873     $           71     $ (124,153 )   $ 3,798     $     3,000     $     6,798  
Net loss                                     (1,349 )     (1,349 )             (1,349 )
Net unrealized losses on foreign currency translation, net of tax                             (3 )             (3 )             (3 )
Noncash stock-based compensation                     158                       158               158  
Balance, March 31, 2019     7,134,719     $ 7     $ 128,031     $ 68     $ (125,502 )   $ 2,604     $ 3,000     $ 5,604  
Net loss                                     (942 )     (942 )             (942 )
Net unrealized gains on foreign currency translation, net of tax                             2               2               2  
Issuance of common stock, net of equity issuance costs of $8     493,827       1       1,991                       1,992               1,992  
Issuance of vested restricted stock     44,270       -                                                  
Noncash stock-based compensation                     147                       147       3       150  
Balance, June 30, 2019     7,672,816     $ 8     $ 130,169     $ 70     $ (126,444 )   $ 3,803     $ 3,003     $ 6,806  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

 

5

 

 

NEPHROS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

    Six months ended June 30,  
    2020     2019  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
Net loss   $ (2,755 )   $ (2,291 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
Depreciation of property and equipment     11       16  
Amortization of intangible assets, license and supply agreement and finance lease right-of-use asset     90       88  
Non-cash stock-based compensation, including stock options and restricted stock     401       308  
Inventory reserve     1       37  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (42 )     (19 )
Accretion of contingent consideration     8       28  
Loss on foreign currency transactions     14       6  
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:                
Accounts receivable     175       (87 )
Inventory     (2,208 )     (487 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     137       (5 )
Operating right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities     11       -  
Other assets     (57 )     (21 )
Increase in operating liabilities:                
Accounts payable     343       73  
Accrued expenses     311       328  
Net cash used in operating activities     (3,560 )     (2,026 )
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Purchase of equipment     (226 )     -  
Acquisition of the Aether business     -       (137 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (226 )     (137 )
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITES:                
Proceeds from issuance of common stock     6,771       1,992  
Proceeds from Paycheck Protection Program Loan     479       -  
Net (payments on) proceeds from secured revolving credit facility     (560 )     30  
Payments on secured note payable     (113 )     (105 )
Principal payments on finance lease liability     (1 )     -  
Principal payments on equipment financing     (1 )     -  
Proceeds from exercise of warrants     163       -  
Proceeds from exercise of options     7       -  
Payment of contingent consideration     (79 )     (16 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     6,666       1,901  
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash     -       (1 )
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS     2,880       (263 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD     4,166       4,581  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD   $ 7,046     $ 4,318  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION                
Cash paid for interest expense   $ 65     $ 62  
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 21     $ 4  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING INFORMATION                
Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability   $ 201     $ 800  
Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for finance lease liability   $ 17     $ -  
Purchase of equipment included in accrued expenses   $ -     $ 14  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

 

6

 

 

NEPHROS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

Note 1 – Organization and Nature of Operations

 

Nephros, Inc. (“Nephros” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 3, 1997. The Company was founded by health professionals, scientists and engineers affiliated with Columbia University to develop advanced end stage renal disease (“ESRD”) therapy technology and products.

 

Beginning in 2009, Nephros introduced high performance liquid purification filters to meet the demand for water purification in certain medical markets. The Company’s filters, generally classified as ultrafilters, are primarily used in hospitals for the prevention of infection from waterborne pathogens, such as legionella and pseudomonas, and in dialysis centers for the removal of biological contaminants from water and bicarbonate concentrate. The Company also develops and sells water filtration products for commercial applications, focusing on the hospitality and food service markets. The water filtration business is a reportable segment, referred to as the Water Filtration segment.

 

The Company’s pathogen detection systems are portable, near real-time systems designed to provide actionable data for infection control teams and other organizations. The pathogen detection system business is a reportable segment, referred to as the Pathogen Detection segment.

 

In July 2018, the Company formed a new subsidiary, Specialty Renal Products, Inc. (“SRP”), to drive the development of its second-generation hemodiafiltration system and other products focused on improving therapies for patients with renal disease. The Company transferred three patents to SRP, which were carried at zero book value. SRP is a reportable segment, referred to as the Renal Products segment.

 

The Company’s primary U.S. facilities are located at 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, New Jersey 07079, 3221 Polaris Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 and 1015 Telegraph Street, Unit B, Reno, Nevada 89502. These locations house the Company’s corporate headquarters, research, manufacturing, and distribution facilities. In addition, the Company maintains small administrative offices in various locations in the United States and Ireland.

 

Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Liquidity

 

Interim Financial Information

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. Results as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020.

 

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Reverse Stock Split

 

On May 22, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a 1-for-9 reverse stock split and approved an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to affect the 1-for-9 reverse split of the Company’s common stock, which was effected at 5:30 p.m. ET on July 9, 2019. Fractional shares were not issued and stockholders who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share as a result of the reverse stock split received an amount in cash equal to $5.58 per share for such fractional interests. All of the share and per share amounts discussed in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the effect of this reverse split.

 

Consolidation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nephros, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including SRP, in which a controlling interest is maintained by the Company. Outside shareholders’ interest in SRP of 37.5% is shown on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as noncontrolling interest. All intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in the preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

7

 

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amount of revenues and expenses, during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Included in these estimates are assumptions about the collection of accounts receivable, value of inventories, useful life of fixed assets and intangible assets, the assessment of expected cash flows used in evaluating goodwill and other long-lived assets, value of contingent consideration, the assessment of the ability to continue as a going concern and assumptions used in determining stock compensation such as expected volatility and risk-free interest rate.

 

Liquidity

 

The Company has sustained operating losses and expects such losses to continue over the next several quarters. In addition, net cash from operations has been negative since inception, generating an accumulated deficit of $130.1 million as of June 30, 2020.

 

On February 4, 2020, the Company completed a confidentially marketed underwritten public offering whereby the Company sold 937,500 shares of its common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $6.8 million. Additionally, the Company received $0.5 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) on April 24, 2020. The PPP was established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020, in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the loan may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses during the first 24 weeks of the loan. The Company intends to use the entire amount for such qualifying expenses.

 

On May 26, 2020, the Company terminated its loan agreement with a lender, which had provided a secured asset-based revolving credit facility of up to $2.5 million. As of June 30, 2020, there was no outstanding amount due under the secured asset-based revolving facility.

 

On September 5, 2018, SRP completed a private placement transaction whereby SRP sold preferred shares equivalent to 37.5% of its outstanding equity interests for aggregate proceeds of $3.0 million. As of the date of issuance of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, SRP had utilized the proceeds from this private placement. Nephros intends to loan operating funds to SRP at least through the planned FDA 510(k) clearance process of SRP’s second-generation hemodiafiltration system, which is expected to be complete before the end of 2020.

 

Based on cash that is available for the Company’s operations and projections of future Company operations, the Company believes that its cash balances will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan – including the potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – through at least the next 12 months from the date of issuance of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the Company’s operating plans are designed to help control operating costs and to increase revenue until such time as the Company generates sufficient cash flows from operations. However, there is uncertainty with respect to the Company’s projections regarding the availability of sufficient cash resources as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and the economic conditions it has caused. In recent months, the Company has seen decreased demand for its products both with respect to new hospital customers and its existing hospital, restaurant and hospitality customers, which have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. If this decrease in demand continues beyond the third quarter of 2020 and the Company is unable to achieve its revenue plan, the Company may be forced to cut costs as appropriate to preserve its available capital resources. If the Company is unable to sufficiently decrease its spending to match any future decreased demands for its products, the Company may exhaust its capital resources sooner than it currently anticipates. Further, as a result of the recent volatility of the capital markets and economic conditions generally, it may be difficult for the Company to raise additional capital at times when it may need it, and even if the Company were able to raise additional capital, it may be on terms than are detrimental to the Company. Accordingly, the current economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 crisis place uncertainty on the Company’s ability to maintain adequate levels of liquidity.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” which simplifies the test for goodwill impairment. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairments tests after January 1, 2017. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2020 and the guidance did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for the Fair Value Measurement,” which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2020 and the guidance did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

8

 

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract,” which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2020 and the guidance did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-18, “Collaborative Arrangements: Clarifying the Interaction Between Topic 808 and Topic 606.” This guidance clarifies that, when the collaborative arrangement participant is a customer in the context of a unit-of-account, revenue from contracts with customers guidance should be applied, adds unit-of-account guidance to collaborative arrangements guidance, and requires, that in a transaction with a collaborative arrangement participant who is not a customer, presenting the transaction together with revenue recognized under contracts with customers is precluded. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2020 and the guidance did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-08, “Codification Improvements – Share-Based Consideration Payable to a Customer,” which requires that an entity measure and classify share-based payment awards granted to a customer by applying the guidance in Topic 718. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2020 and the guidance did not have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements, Not Yet Effective

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which removes certain exceptions to the general principles of the accounting for income taxes and also improves consistent application of and simplification of other areas when accounting for income taxes. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

The Company deposits its cash in financial institutions. At times, such deposits may be in excess of insured limits. To date, the Company has not experienced any impairment losses on its cash. The Company also limits its credit risk with respect to accounts receivable by performing credit evaluations when deemed necessary.

 

Major Customers

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the following customers, all of which are in the Water Filtration segment, accounted for the following percentages of the Company’s revenues, respectively:

 

Customer     2020     2019  
A       21 %     7 %
B       11 %     12 %
C       10 %     6 %
D       5 %     12 %
E       - %     10 %
Total       47 %     47 %

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the following customers, all of which are in the Water Filtration segment, accounted for the following percentages of the Company’s revenues, respectively:

 

Customer     2020     2019  
A       22 %     7 %
B       14 %     14 %
D       9 %     12 %
Total       45 %     33 %

 

9

 

 

As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the following customers, all of which are in the Water Filtration segment, accounted for the following percentages of the Company’s accounts receivable, respectively:

 

Customer     2020     2019  
C       15 %     6 %
B       7 %     26 %
A       7 %     11 %
Total       29 %     43 %

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid money market instruments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, cash and cash equivalents were deposited in financial institutions and consisted entirely of immediately available fund balances. The Company maintains its cash deposits and cash equivalents with financial institutions it believes to be well-known and stable.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

The Company provides credit terms to customers in connection with purchases of the Company’s products. Management periodically reviews customer account activity in order to assess the adequacy of the allowances provided for potential collection issues and returns. Factors considered include economic conditions, each customer’s payment and return history and credit worthiness. Adjustments, if any, are made to reserve balances following the completion of these reviews to reflect management’s best estimate of potential losses. There was no allowance for doubtful accounts as of June 30, 2020. The allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $25,000 as of December 31, 2019. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, there was no provision for bad debt expense. Write-offs of accounts receivable were approximately $25,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 which were reserved for in a prior period. Write-offs of accounts receivable were approximately $1,000 and $5,000, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 which were reserved for in a prior period. There was no allowance for sales returns at June 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

 

Depreciation Expense

 

Depreciation related to equipment utilized in the manufacturing process is recognized in cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, depreciation expense was approximately $6,000 and $11,000, respectively. Approximately $4,000 of the approximately $6,000 and approximately $8,000 of the approximately $11,000 of depreciation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, has been recognized in the cost of goods sold. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, depreciation expense was approximately $8,000 and $16,000, respectively. Approximately $4,000 of the approximately $8,000 and approximately $6,000 of the approximately $16,000 of depreciation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, has been recognized in the cost of goods sold.

 

Note 3 – Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue related to product sales when product is shipped via external logistics provider and the other criteria of ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”) are met. Product revenue is recorded net of returns and allowances. In addition to product revenue, the Company recognizes revenue related to royalty and other agreements in accordance with the five-step model in ASC 606. Royalty and other revenue recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 is comprised of:

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2020     2019     2020     2019  
Royalty revenue under the License Agreement with Bellco   $ 13,000     $ 14,000     $ 29,000     $ 40,000  
Other revenue     -       11,000       38,000       25,000  
Total license, royalty and other revenue   $ 13,000     $ 25,000     $ 67,000     $ 65,000  

 

10

 

 

Bellco License Agreement

 

With regard to the OLpūr MD190 and MD220, on June 27, 2011, the Company entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”), effective July 1, 2011, with Bellco S.r.l. (“Bellco”), an Italy-based supplier of hemodialysis and intensive care products, for the manufacturing, marketing and sale of the Company’s patented mid-dilution dialysis filters (the “Products”). Under the License Agreement, as amended, the Company granted Bellco a license to manufacture, market and sell the Products under its own name, label, and CE mark in certain countries on an exclusive basis, and to do the same on a non-exclusive basis in certain other countries. Under the License Agreement with Bellco, the Company received upfront payments which were previously deferred and subsequently recognized as license revenue over the term of the License Agreement.

 

The License Agreement, as amended, also provides minimum sales targets which, if not satisfied, will, at the discretion of the Company, result in conversion of the license to non-exclusive status. Beginning on January 1, 2015 through and including December 31, 2021, Bellco will pay the Company a royalty based on the number of units of Products sold per year in the covered territory as follows: for the first 125,000 units sold in total, €1.75 (approximately $1.90) per unit; thereafter, €1.25 (approximately $1.40) per unit. The License Agreement also provides for a fixed royalty payment payable to the Company for the period beginning on January 1, 2015 through and including December 31, 2021 if the minimum sales targets are not met.

 

The Company recognized royalty income from Bellco pursuant to the License Agreement of approximately $13,000 and $14,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognized royalty income from Bellco pursuant to the License Agreement of approximately $29,000 and $40,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company measures certain financial instruments and other items at fair value.

 

To determine the fair value, the Company uses the fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use to value an asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs based on assumptions about the factors market participants would use to value an asset or liability.

 

To measure fair value, the Company uses the following fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable:

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques and also includes instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

The Company evaluates its financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis to determine the appropriate level of classification for each reporting period.

 

11

 

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2020:

 

   

Quoted prices in

active markets for

identical assets

(Level 1)

 

Significant
other

observable

inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

unobservable

inputs

(Level 3)

    Total  
    (in thousands)
At June 30, 2020:                                               
Total contingent consideration liability $ -   $ -     $ 187     $ 187  

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019:

 

   

Quoted prices in

active markets for

identical assets

(Level 1)

 

Significant
other

observable

inputs

(Level 2)

   

Significant

unobservable

inputs

(Level 3)

    Total  
    (in thousands)
At December 31, 2019:                            
Total contingent consideration liability $ -   $             -     $ 300     $ 300  

 

The following table summarizes the change in fair value, as determined by Level 3 inputs, for the contingent consideration liability using unobservable Level 3 inputs for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

 

    Contingent Consideration  
      (in thousands)  
Balance as of December 31, 2019   $ 300  
Payments against contingent consideration     (79 )
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability     (42 )
Accretion of contingent consideration liability     8  
Balance as of June 30, 2020   $ 187  

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, contingent consideration payments were extended through March 31, 2021, with the provision that no payment would be made for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. As a result, no change in fair value of contingent consideration was recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2020.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, a change in fair value of contingent consideration of approximately $42,000 and $19,000, respectively, was recorded due to lower than planned performance. During the three months ended June 30, 2019, a change in fair value of contingent consideration of approximately $9,000 was recorded due to lower than planned performance.

 

Consideration paid in a business combination may include potential future payments that are contingent upon the acquired business achieving certain levels of earnings in the future (“contingent consideration”). Contingent consideration liabilities are measured at their estimated fair value as of the date of acquisition, with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Fair value as of the date of acquisition is estimated based on projections of expected future cash flows of the acquired business. The Company estimated the contingent consideration liability using the income approach (discounted cash flow method), which requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions regarding the future cash flows and profits. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the amounts recognized.

 

There were no transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

12

 

 

Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, secured revolving credit facility, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

 

The carrying amounts of the secured long-term note payable, lease liabilities and equipment financing approximate fair value as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 because those financial instruments bear interest at rates that approximate current market rates for similar agreements with similar maturities and credit.

 

The carrying amount of the PPP loan does not include interest imputed at a market rate as the PPP loan is a transaction whereby the interest rate is prescribed by a government agency.

 

Note 5 – Inventory, net

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out method and consists of raw materials and finished goods. The Company’s inventory components as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

    June 30, 2020     December 31, 2019  
    (in thousands)  
Finished goods   $ 4,201     $ 2,248  
Raw materials     606       359  
Less: inventory reserve     (38 )     (45 )
Total inventory, net   $ 4,769     $ 2,562  

 

Note 6 – Intangible Assets and Goodwill

 

Intangible Assets, net

 

Intangible assets as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are set forth in the table below. Gross carrying values and accumulated amortization of the Company’s intangible assets by type are as follows:

 

    June 30, 2020     December 31, 2019  
    Cost     Accumulated Amortization     Net     Cost     Accumulated Amortization    

 

Net

 
    (in thousands)  
Tradenames, service marks and domain names   $ 50     $ (15 )   $ 35     $ 50     $ (10 )   $ 40  
Customer relationships     540       (48 )     492       540       (32 )     508  
Total intangible assets   $ 590     $ (63 )   $ 527     $ 590     $ (42 )   $ 548  

 

The Company recognized amortization expense of approximately $11,000 for each of the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and such amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company recognized amortization expense of approximately $21,000 for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and such amounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

As of June 30, 2020, future amortization expense for each of the next five years is (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Years      
2020 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2020)   $ 21  
2021     42  
2022     42  
2023     42  
2024     32  

 

The Company did not recognize any intangible asset impairment charges during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 or 2019.

 

13

 

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill had a carrying value on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets of $0.8 million at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Goodwill has been allocated to the Water Filtration segment.

 

Note 7 – License and Supply Agreement, net

 

On April 23, 2012, the Company entered into a License and Supply Agreement (the “License and Supply Agreement”) with Medica S.p.A. (“Medica”), an Italy-based medical product manufacturing company, for the marketing and sale of certain filtration products based upon Medica’s proprietary Medisulfone ultrafiltration technology in conjunction with the Company’s filtration products, and for an exclusive supply arrangement for the filtration products. Under the License and Supply Agreement, as amended, Medica granted to the Company an exclusive license, with right of sublicense, to market, promote, distribute, offer for sale and sell the filtration products worldwide, with certain limitations on territory, during the term of the License and Supply Agreement. In addition, the Company granted to Medica an exclusive license under the Company’s intellectual property to make the filtration products during the term of the License and Supply Agreement. The filtration products covered under the License and Supply Agreement includes both certain products based on Medica’s proprietary Versatile microfiber technology and certain filtration products based on Medica’s proprietary Medisulfone ultrafiltration technology. The term of the License Agreement with Medica expires on December 31, 2025, unless earlier terminated by either party in accordance with the terms of the License and Supply Agreement.

 

In exchange for the license, the gross value of the intangible asset capitalized was $2.3 million. License and supply agreement, net on the condensed consolidated balance sheet is $0.7 million and $0.8 million as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Accumulated amortization is $1.6 million and $1.5 million as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The intangible asset is being amortized as an expense over the life of the License and Supply Agreement. Amortization expense of approximately $33,000 was recognized in each of the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Amortization expense of approximately $67,000 was recognized in each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

As of September 2013, the Company has an understanding with Medica whereby the Company has agreed to pay interest to Medica at a 12% annual rate calculated on the principal amount of any outstanding invoices that are not paid pursuant to the original payment terms. There was no interest recognized for the three or six months ended June 30, 2020 or 2019.

 

In addition, for the period beginning April 23, 2014 through December 31, 2025, the Company will pay Medica a royalty rate of 3% of net sales of the filtration products sold, subject to reduction as a result of a supply interruption pursuant to the terms of the License and Supply Agreement. Approximately $44,000 and $61,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was recognized as royalty expense and is included in cost of goods sold on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Approximately $113,000 and $108,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was recognized as royalty expense and is included in cost of goods sold on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Approximately $44,000 in royalties are included in accrued expenses as of June 30, 2020. Approximately $83,000 in royalties are included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2019.

 

Note 8 – Secured Revolving Credit Facility

 

On August 17, 2017, the Company entered into the Loan Agreement and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Tech Capital, LLC (“Tech Capital”). The Loan Agreement initially provided for a secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) of up to $1.0 million, which the Company drew upon and repaid from time to time during the term of the Loan Agreement. On December 20, 2019, the Company and Tech Capital entered into a First Modification to the Loan Agreement (“the Amendment”). The Amendment increased the Revolver from $1.0 million to $2.5 million. The outstanding principal balance of the Loan Agreement was $0.6 million as of December 31, 2019. The Company used these proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

On May 26, 2020, the Company terminated the Revolver and, as a result, recognized fees of approximately $7,000, which are included interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. Although the Revolver was terminated, the Loan Agreement remains in place for purposes of specifying obligations related to the Secured Note Payable (Note 9 – Secured Note Payable).

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, excluding approximately $7,000 related to the termination of the Revolver, approximately $6,000 and $25,000, respectively, was recognized as interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, approximately $12,000 and $23,000, respectively, was recognized as interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

14

 

 

Note 9 – Secured Note Payable

 

On March 27, 2018, the Company entered into a Secured Promissory Note Agreement (the “Secured Note”) with Tech Capital for a principal amount of $1.2 million. As of June 30, 2020, the principal balance of the Secured Note was $0.7 million.

 

The Secured Note has a maturity date of April 1, 2023. The unpaid principal balance accrues interest at a rate of 8% per annum. Principal and interest payments are due on the first day of each month commencing on May 1, 2018.

 

The Secured Note is subject to the terms and conditions of and is secured by security interests granted by the Company in favor of Tech Capital under the Loan Agreement and all of the riders and amendments thereto (see Note 8 – Secured Revolving Credit Facility). The Secured Note was amended and restated on May 26, 2020. There were no changes to the terms and conditions of the Secured Note. An event of default under such Loan Agreement is an event of default under the Secured Note and vice versa. In the event the principal balance under the Loan Agreement is due, all amounts due under the Secured Note also become due.

 

The Loan Agreement, as amended on May 26, 2020, also granted to Tech Capital a first priority security interest in its assets, including its accounts receivable and inventory, to secure all of its obligations under the Secured Note. In addition, Nephros International Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, unconditionally guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the Loan Agreement.

 

During each of the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company made payments under the Secured Note of approximately $72,000. Included in the total payments made, approximately $15,000 and $19,000 was recognized as interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. During each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the Company made payments under the Secured Note of approximately $144,000. Included in the total payments made, approximately $31,000 and $39,000 was recognized as interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2020, future principal maturities are as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Years      
2020 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2020)   $ 98  
2021     249  
2022     269  
2023     95  
Total   $ 711  

 

Note 10 – Paycheck Protection Program Loan

 

On April 24, 2020, the Company was granted a PPP loan in the amount of approximately $0.5 million. The PPP, established as part of the CARES Act enacted on March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. In connection with the PPP loan, the Company issued a promissory note dated April 24, 2020, in the principal amount of $0.5 million. The loan matures on April 24, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 1.0% per annum, payable monthly commencing November 24, 2020. The note may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. Funds from the loan may only be used for payroll costs, benefits, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations incurred prior to February 15, 2020. The Company intends to use the entire amount for such qualifying expenses. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the loan may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses during the first 24 weeks of the loan. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $1,000 was recognized as interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Note 11 – Leases

 

The Company has operating leases for corporate offices, an automobile and office equipment. The leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 4 years.

 

The Company entered into an operating lease in March 2020 for 1015 Telegraph Street, Unit B, Reno, Nevada 89502. The rental agreement commenced in March 2020 and expires in February 2022 with an option to extend for two additional years that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The monthly cost is approximately $5,000. Approximately $5,000 related to a security deposit for this office facility is classified as other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2020.

 

The Company entered into a finance lease in February 2020 for office equipment. The rental agreement commenced in February 2020 and expires in January 2023 with a monthly cost of approximately $1,000.

 

15

 

 

The Company entered into an operating lease in June 2020 for 923 Incline Way, #37, Incline Village, Nevada 89451. The rental agreement commenced in June 2020 and expires in January 2021. The monthly cost is approximately $2,000. The Company adopted the short-term lease practical expedient and, as such, will recognize the lease payments on a straight-lease basis over the lease term.

 

Operating lease cost, as presented below, includes costs associated with leases for which right of use (“ROU”) assets have been recognized as well as short-term leases.

 

The components of total lease costs were as follows:

 

   

Three months ended

June 30, 2020

   

Three months ended

June 30, 2019

 
    (in thousands)  
Operating lease cost   $ 101     $ 58  
Finance lease cost:                
Amortization of right-of-use assets     1       -  
Interest on lease liabilities     1       -  
Total finance lease cost     2       -  
Variable lease cost     10       -  
Total lease cost   $ 113     $ 58  

 

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2020

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2019

 
    (in thousands)  
Operating lease cost   $ 192     $ 116  
Finance lease cost:                
Amortization of right-of-use assets     2       -  
Interest on lease liabilities     1       -  
Total finance lease cost     3       -  
Variable lease cost     23       -  
Total lease cost   $ 218     $ 116  

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

 

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2020

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2019

 
    (in thousands)  
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:                
Operating cash flows from operating leases   $ 188     $ 113  
Financing cash flows from finance leases     2       -  
                 
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:                
Operating leases   $ 201     $ 800  
Finance leases     17       -  

 

16

 

 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

 

    June 30, 2020     December 31, 2019  
    (in thousands)  
Operating lease right-of-use assets   $ 1,157     $ 1,106  
Finance lease right-of-use assets   $ 14     $ -  
                 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities   $ 310     $ 262  
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion     899       889  
Total operating lease liabilities   $ 1,209     $ 1,151  
                 
Current portion of finance lease liabilities   $ 5     $ -  
Finance lease liabilities, net of current portion     9       -  
Total finance lease liabilities   $ 14     $ -  
                 
Weighted average remaining lease term                
Operating leases     3.6 years         4 years  
Finance leases     2.6 years         -  
                 
Weighted average discount rate                
Operating leases     8.0 %     8.0 %
Finance leases     8.0 %     -  

 

As of June 30, 2020, maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:

 

      Operating Leases     Finance Leases  
      (in thousands)  
2020 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2020)     $ 199     $ 3  
2021       389       6  
2022       388       6  
2023       261       1  
2024       153       -  
Total future minimum lease payments       1,390       16  
Less imputed interest       (181 )     (2 )
Total     $ 1,209     $ 14  

 

Note 12 – Stock Plans and Share-Based Payments

 

The fair value of stock options and restricted stock is recognized as stock-based compensation expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company calculates stock-based compensation expense in accordance with ASC 718. The fair value of stock-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the award.

 

Stock Options

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company granted stock options to purchase 13,611 shares of common stock to employees. These stock options are being expensed over the respective vesting period, which is based on a service condition. The fair value of the stock options granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 was approximately $79,000.

 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The below assumptions for the risk-free interest rates, expected dividend yield, expected lives and expected stock price volatility were utilized for the stock options granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Assumptions for Option Grants      
Stock Price Volatility     75.5 %
Risk-Free Interest Rates     1.22 %
Expected Life (in years)     6.25  
Expected Dividend Yield     - %

 

17

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $149,000 and $132,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $133,000 and approximately $16,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. For the three months ended June 30, 2019, approximately $118,000 and approximately $14,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $317,000 and $275,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $285,000 and approximately $32,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, approximately $242,000 and approximately $33,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, stock options to purchase 2,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised for proceeds of approximately $5,000, resulting in the issuance of 2,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, stock options to purchase 2,556 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised for proceeds of approximately $7,000, resulting in the issuance of 2,556 shares of the Company’s common stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, stock options to purchase 1,112 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised in a cashless exercise, resulting in the issuance of 755 shares of the Company’s common stock. There were no stock options exercised during the three or six months ended June 30, 2019.

 

There was no tax benefit related to expense recognized in the three or six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, as the Company is in a net operating loss position. As of June 30, 2020, there was $1.2 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based awards granted under the equity compensation plans, which will be amortized over the weighted average remaining requisite service period of 2.6 years. Such amount does not include the effect of future grants of equity compensation, if any.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Total stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock was approximately $24,000 and $15,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $19,000 and $5,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. For the three months ended June 30, 2019, approximately $14,000 and $1,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Total stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock was approximately $52,000 and $30,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $42,000 and $10,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, approximately $28,000 and $2,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

There were no unvested shares of restricted stock as of June 30, 2020.

 

SRP Equity Incentive Plan

 

SRP’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan was approved on May 7, 2019 under which 150,000 shares of SRP’s common stock are reserved for the issuance of options and other awards.

 

There were no SRP stock options granted during the three or six months ended June 30, 2020. Stock-based compensation expense related to the SRP stock options was approximately $6,000 and $32,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $2,000 and $4,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, approximately $14,000 and $18,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the SRP stock options was approximately $3,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, approximately $1,000 and $2,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

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Stock-based compensation expense related to the SRP stock options is presented by the Company as noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2020.

 

Note 13 – Stockholders’ Equity

 

February 2020 Common Stock Issuance

 

On February 4, 2020, the Company issued 937,500 shares of common stock through a confidentially marketed underwritten public offering resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $7.5 million. The purchase price for each share was $8.00. Proceeds, net of equity issuance costs of $0.7 million, recorded as a result of the offering were $6.8 million.

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

On September 5, 2018, SRP entered into a Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with certain purchasers pursuant to which SRP sold 600,000 shares of its Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”) for $5.00 per share. The aggregate purchase price was $3.0 million. SRP incurred transaction-related expenses of approximately $30,000, which were included in selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Series A Preferred are restricted to SRP expenses, and may not be used for the benefit of the Company or other affiliated entities, except to reimburse for expenses directly attributable to SRP. Following the Series A Preferred transaction, the Company retained a 62.5% ownership interest in SRP, holding 100% of the outstanding common shares, and holders of Series A Preferred retained a 37.5% interest in SRP on a fully diluted basis, holding 100% of the outstanding preferred shares. Of the 600,000 shares of Series A Preferred issued, the shares purchased by related parties comprised of persons controlled by members of management and by the Company’s largest shareholder amounted to 18,000 and 400,000 shares, respectively.

 

Each share of Series A Preferred is initially convertible into one share of SRP common stock, subject to adjustment for stock splits and recapitalization events. Subject to customary exempt issuances, in the event SRP issues additional shares of its common stock or securities convertible into common stock at a per share price that is less than the original Series A Preferred price, the conversion price of the Series A Preferred will automatically be reduced to such lower price.

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SRP, the holders of the Series A Preferred are entitled to be paid out of the assets of SRP available for distribution to its stockholders or, in the case of a deemed liquidation event, out of the consideration payable to stockholders in such deemed liquidation event or the available proceeds, before any payment shall be made to the holders of SRP common stock by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to one times (1x) the Series A Preferred original issue price, plus any accruing dividends accrued but unpaid thereon, whether or not declared, together with any other dividends declared but unpaid thereon (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”). If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SRP or deemed liquidation event, the assets of SRP available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the Series A Liquidation Preference in full, the holders of Series A Preferred shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. After the full payment of the Series A Liquidation Preference, the holders of the Series A Preferred and the holders of common stock will share ratably in any remaining proceeds available for distribution on an as-converted to common stock basis.

 

Each share of Series A Preferred accrues dividends at the rate per annum of $0.40 per share. The accruing dividends shall accrue from day to day, whether or not declared, and shall be cumulative and shall be payable only when, as, and if declared by the Board.

 

Holders of Series A Preferred shall be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of common stock into which the shares of Series A Preferred held by such holder are convertible as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote. Except as provided by law or by the other provisions, the holders of Series A Preferred vote together with the holders of common stock as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for as long as at least 150,000 shares of Series A Preferred are outstanding, SRP is required to obtain the affirmative vote or written consent of a majority of the Series A Preferred in order to effect certain corporate transactions, including without limitation, the issuance of any securities senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred, a liquidation or deemed liquidation of SRP, amendments to SRP’s charter documents, the issuance of indebtedness in excess of $250,000, any annual budget for the Company’s operations, and the hiring or firing of any executive officers of SRP. In addition, the holders of the Series A Preferred are entitled to elect two members of SRP’s board of directors.

 

The noncontrolling interest in SRP held by holders of the Series A Preferred has been classified as equity on the accompanying consolidated interim balance sheet, as the noncontrolling interest is redeemable only upon the occurrence of events that are within the control of the Company.

 

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Warrants

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, warrants to purchase 21,123 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised, resulting in proceeds of approximately $0.1 million and the issuance of 21,123 shares of the Company’s common stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, warrants to purchase 40,012 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised, resulting in proceeds of $0.2 million and the issuance of 40,012 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

There were no warrants exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.

 

There were no warrants issued during the three or six months ended June 30, 2020 or 2019.

 

Note 14 – Net Loss per Common Share

 

Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the number of weighted average common shares issued and outstanding. Diluted loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding for the period, plus amounts representing the dilutive effect from the exercise of stock options and warrants, as applicable. The Company calculates dilutive potential common shares using the treasury stock method, which assumes the Company will use the proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants to repurchase shares of common stock to hold in its treasury stock reserves.

 

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computations of diluted weighted average shares outstanding as they would be antidilutive:

 

    June 30,  
    2020     2019  
Shares underlying warrants outstanding     348,912       738,070  
Shares underlying options outstanding     1,003,669       880,837  

 

Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

Purchase Commitments

 

In exchange for the rights granted under the License and Supply Agreement with Medica (see Note 7 – License and Supply Agreement, net), the Company agreed to make certain minimum annual aggregate purchases from Medica over the term of the License and Supply Agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company has agreed to make minimum annual aggregate purchases from Medica of €3.2 million (approximately $3.5 million). As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s aggregate purchase commitments totaled €4.2 million (approximately $4.7 million).

 

Contractual Obligations

 

See Note 11 – Leases for a discussion of the Company’s contractual obligations.

 

Note 16 – Segment Reporting

 

On January 1, 2020, the Company began reporting the results of its Pathogen Detection Systems business as a new segment, known as the Pathogen Detection segment. Prior to the additional reporting of Pathogen Detection as a reporting segment, the Company had two operating segments, Water Filtration and Renal Products. The Company reflected the new segment measures beginning in the three months ended March 31, 2020, and prior periods have been restated for comparability.

 

The Company has defined three reportable segments: Water Filtration, Pathogen Detection and Renal Products. The Water Filtration segment primarily develops and sells high performance water purification filters. The Pathogen Detection segment develops and sells portable, real-time water testing systems designed to provide actionable data on waterborne pathogens in approximately one hour. The Renal Products segment is focused on the development of medical device products for patients with renal disease, including a 2nd generation hemodiafiltration system for the treatment of patients with ESRD.

 

The Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates the financial performance of the Company’s segments based upon segment revenues, gross margin and operating expenses which include research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses. Items below loss from operations are not reported by segment, since they are excluded from the measure of segment profitability reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker. The Company does not report balance sheet information by segment since it is not reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker.

 

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The accounting policies for the Company’s segments are the same as those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

The tables below present segment information reconciled to total Company loss from operations, with segment operating loss including gross profit less direct research and development expenses and direct selling, general and administrative expenses to the extent specifically identified by segment:

 

    Three Months Ended June 30, 2020  
    (in thousands)  
    Water
Filtration
    Pathogen
Detection
    Renal
Products
    Nephros, Inc.
Consolidated
 
Total net revenues   $ 1,567     $ 10     $ -     $ 1,577  
Gross margin     889       6       -       895  
Research and development expenses     346       105       385       836  
Depreciation and amortization expense     47       -       -       47  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,348       137       125       1,610  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     -       -       -       -  
Total operating expenses     1,741       242       510       2,493  
Loss from operations   $ (852 )   $ (236 )   $ (510 )   $ (1,598 )

 

    Six Months Ended June 30, 2020  
    (in thousands)  
    Water
Filtration
    Pathogen
Detection
    Renal
Products
    Nephros, Inc.
Consolidated
 
Total net revenues   $ 4,078     $ 28     $ -     $ 4,106  
Gross margin     2,369       17       -       2,386  
Research and development expenses     656       157       586       1,399  
Depreciation and amortization expense     93       -       -       93  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     3,063       262       235       3,560  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (42 )     -       -       (42 )
Total operating expenses     3,770       419       821       5,010  
Loss from operations   $ (1,401 )   $ (402 )   $ (821 )   $ (2,624 )

 

    Three Months Ended June 30, 2019  
    (in thousands)  
   

Water

Filtration

   

Pathogen

Detection

   

Renal

Products

   

Nephros, Inc.

Consolidated

 
Total net revenues   $ 2,309     $ -     $ -     $ 2,309  
Gross margin     1,367       -       -       1,367  
Research and development expenses     247       186       360       793  
Depreciation and amortization expense     48       -       -       48  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,352       -       51       1,403  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (9 )     -       -       (9 )
Total operating expenses     1,638       186       411       2,235  
Loss from operations   $ (271 )   $ (186 )   $ (411 )   $ (868 )

 

    Six Months Ended June 30, 2019  
    (in thousands)  
   

Water

Filtration

   

Pathogen

Detection

   

Renal

Products

   

Nephros, Inc.

Consolidated

 
Total net revenues   $ 4,078     $ -     $ -     $ 4,078  
Gross margin     2,365       -       -       2,365  
Research and development expenses     467       312       770       1,549  
Depreciation and amortization expense     98       -       -       98  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,821       -       85       2,906  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (19 )     -       -       (19 )
Total operating expenses     3,367       312       855       4,534  
Loss from operations   $ (1,002 )   $ (312 )   $ (855 )   $ (2,169 )

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion includes forward-looking statements about our business, financial condition and results of operations including discussions about management’s expectations for our business. These statements represent projections, beliefs and expectations based on current circumstances and conditions and in light of recent events and trends, and these statements should not be construed either as assurances of performances or as promises of a given course of action. Instead, various known and unknown factors are likely to cause our actual performance and management’s actions to vary, and the results of these variances may be both material and adverse.

 

Business Overview

 

We are a commercial-stage company that develops and sells high performance water solutions to the medical and commercial markets.

 

In medical markets, we sell water filtration products and waterborne pathogen detection products. Our medical water filters, mostly classified as ultrafilters, are used primarily by hospitals for the prevention of infection from waterborne pathogens, such as legionella and pseudomonas, and in dialysis centers for the removal of biological contaminants from water and bicarbonate concentrate. Because our ultrafilters capture contaminants as small as 0.005 microns in size, they minimize exposure to a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and endotoxins.

 

Our pathogen detection systems are portable, near real-time systems designed to provide actionable data for infection control teams.

 

In commercial markets, we manufacture and sell water filters that improve the taste and odor of water and reduce biofilm, bacteria, and scale build-up in downstream equipment. Marketed under both the Nephros and AETHER brands, our products are marketed primarily to the food service, hospitality, convenience store, and health care markets.

 

We also have a subsidiary, Specialty Renal Products, Inc. (“SRP”), a development-stage medical device company, focused primarily on developing hemodiafiltration (“HDF”) technology. SRP is developing a second-generation of the Nephros OLpūr H2H Hemodia-filtration System, the FDA 510(k)-cleared medical device that enables nephrologists to provide HDF treatment to patients with end stage renal disease (“ESRD”).

 

We were founded in 1997 by healthcare professionals affiliated with Columbia University Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital to develop and commercialize an alternative method to hemodialysis. We have extended our filtration technologies to meet the demand for liquid purification in other areas, in particular, water purification.

 

COVID-19 Pandemic

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly every business in the United States and around the world. To date, we have fully maintained operations through the crisis, supporting our customers and strategic partners. Our warehouse and laboratory teams have integrated disinfection procedures into their activities, while our office teams have worked primarily from home. Our manufacturing and sterilization facilities have been operational, our supply chain has not been materially impacted, and our warehouses are shipping product on normal schedules.

 

In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted our business in several ways, including:

 

  We have seen decreased demand for our hospital filtration products, particularly in emergency pathogen outbreak response. We believe this decreased demand is due primarily to our customers temporarily shifting their focus to matters related to the COVID-19 crisis and de-prioritizing unrelated matters, including both proactive and reactive efforts to detect and reduce waterborne pathogens.
     
  We have experienced some delays in expected orders from existing customers, although we see signs of the market beginning to return to normal.
     
  The inability of our sales personnel to meet with new potential customers due to policies implemented to address the spread of COVID-19 has also hindered demand for our products, especially our new PluraPath™ pathogen detection system, which launched less than two months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
     
  Our commercial filtration products, which are primarily targeted at the hospitality and food service markets, have seen a decrease in demand, due to the closure of many hotels and restaurants.
     
  We increased our cash and accounts payable usage in the first half of the year to purchase extra inventory from our Italian manufacturer as a hedge against the risk of potential supply chain interruptions.

 

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As we are unable to determine the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to predict when we will see an increase in demand for our products and a corresponding increase to our revenue. Due to this uncertainty, we applied for and received $0.5 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) on April 24, 2020, which we believe will help us offset the adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition that could result from a prolonged decrease in demand for our products.

 

We believe that, as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we may experience over the medium-to-long-term a net positive impact on demand for all of our products, due especially to increased global awareness of infectious pathogens and the serious problems they cause. Specifically, we expect that:

 

  Purchase decisions for infection control filtration that had been deferred, both in new and existing customer organizations, may be re-prioritized.
     
  Demand for our pathogen detection products may increase as unoccupied buildings, including office buildings and hotels, are readied for re-occupation. Extended periods of low, or no, water flow through building piping creates opportunities for biofilm propagation – a problem our strategic partners are trained to eradicate.
     
  Demand for our commercial filtration products may increase as and to the extent that hotels, casinos, and restaurants re-open.
     
  Sales meetings at new potential customers may resume.

 

In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic adds uncertainty to our business plans in the short term, while we believe that our medium-to-long-term prospects remain strong. At this time, we cannot predict the specific extent or duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our condition, resources and results.

 

Our Products

 

Water Filtration Products

 

We develop and sell water filtration products used in both medical and commercial applications. Our water filtration products employ multiple filtration technologies, as described below.

 

In medical markets, our primary filtration mechanism is to pass liquids through the pores of polysulfone hollow fiber. Our filters’ pores are significantly smaller than those of competing products, resulting in highly effective elimination of waterborne pathogens, including legionella bacteria (the cause of Legionnaires disease) and viruses, which are not eliminated by most other microbiological filters on the market. Additionally, the fiber structure and pore density in our hollow fiber enables significantly higher flow rates than in other polysulfone hollow fiber.

 

Our primary sales strategy in medical markets is to sell through value-added resellers (“VARs”). Leveraging VARs has enabled us to expand rapidly our access to target customers without significant sales staff expansion. In addition, while we are currently focused in medical markets, the VARs that support these customers also support a wide variety of commercial and industrial customers. We believe that our VAR relationships will facilitate growth in filter sales outside of the medical industry.

 

In commercial markets, we develop and sell our Nephros- and AETHER-branded filters, for which carbon-based absorption is the primary filtration mechanism. Aether products allow us to improve water’s odor and taste, to reduce scale and heavy metals, and to reduce other water contaminants for customers who are primarily in the food service, convenience store, and hospitality industries.

 

Our Aether filter offerings have the potential to generate accretive revenue growth in at least three ways. First, we expect the business to continue its organic growth. Second, cross-selling opportunities are generated by offering taste/odor-focused products to the medical markets, as well as pathogen-focused filtration to the commercial markets. Finally, as part of the more substantial Nephros organization, Aether may be able to compete for larger filtration contracts than may have been available to it as a smaller, independent firm. In the year since we acquired the AETHER brand, we have seen some promising results in each of these strategies, but it is still too early to judge the likelihood or magnitude of their long-term success.

 

In commercial markets, our model combines both direct and indirect sales. Our sales staff have sold products directly to a number of convenience stores, hotels, casinos, and restaurants. We are also pursuing large corporate contracts through partnerships.

 

Target Markets

 

Our ultrafiltration products currently target the following markets:

 

  Hospitals and Other Healthcare Facilities: Filtration of water for washing and drinking as an aid in infection control. The filters produce water that is suitable for wound cleansing, cleaning of equipment used in medical procedures, and washing of surgeons’ hands.
     
  Dialysis Centers: Filtration of water or bicarbonate concentrate used in hemodialysis.

 

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  Commercial Facilities: Filtration and purification of water for consumption, including for use in ice machines and soft drink dispensers.
     
  Military and Outdoor Recreation: Individual water purification devices used by soldiers and backpackers to produce drinking water in the field, as well as filters customized to remote water processing systems.

 

Hospitals and Other Healthcare Facilities. Nephros filters are a leading tool used to provide proactive protection to patients in high-risk areas (e.g., ice machines, surgical rooms, NICUs) and reactive protection to patients in broader areas during periods of water pathogen outbreaks. Our products are used in hundreds of medical facilities to aid in infection control, both proactively and reactively.

 

According to the American Hospital Association, approximately 6,200 hospitals, with approximately 931,000 beds, treated over 36 million patients in the United States in 2017. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that healthcare associated infections (“HAI”) occurred in approximately 1 out of every 31 hospital patients, or about 687,000 patients in 2015. HAIs affect patients in hospitals or other healthcare facilities and are not present or incubating at the time of admission. They also include infections acquired by patients in the hospital or facility, but appearing after discharge, and occupational infections among staff. Many HAIs are caused by waterborne bacteria and viruses that can thrive in aging or complex plumbing systems often found in healthcare facilities.

 

In June 2017, the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced the addition of requirements for facilities to develop policies and procedures that inhibit the growth and spread of legionella and other opportunistic pathogens in building water systems. Going forward, CMS surveyors will review policies, procedures, and reports documenting water management implementation results to verify that facilities are compliant with these requirements. We believe that these CMS regulations may have a positive impact on the sale of our HAI-inhibiting ultrafilters.

 

We currently have FDA 510(k) clearance on the following portfolio of medical device products for use in the hospital setting to aid in infection control:

 

  The DSU-H and SSU-H are in-line, 0.005-micron ultrafilters that provide dual- and single-stage protection, respectively, from waterborne pathogens. They are primarily used to filter potable water feeding ice machines, sinks, and medical equipment, such as endoscope washers and surgical room humidifiers. The DSU-H has an up to 6-month product life in a typical hospital setting, while the SSU-H has an up to 3-month life.
     
  The S100 is a point-of-use, 0.01-micron microfilter that provides protection from waterborne pathogens. The S100 is primarily used to filter potable water feeding sinks and showers. The S100 has an up to 3-month product life when used in a hospital setting.
     
  The HydraGuardTM and HydraGuardTM - Flush are 0.005-micron cartridge ultrafilters that provide single-stage protection from waterborne pathogens. The HydraGuard ultrafilters are primarily used to filter potable water feeding ice machines and medical equipment, such as endoscope washers and surgical room humidifiers. The HydraGuard has an up to 6-month product life and the HydraGuard - Flush has an up to 12-month product life when used in a hospital setting.

 

Our complete hospital infection control product line, including in-line, point-of-use, and cartridge filters, can be viewed on our website at http://www.nephros.com/infection-control/. We are not including the information on our website as a part of, nor incorporating it by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Dialysis Centers - Water/Bicarbonate. In the dialysis water market, Nephros ultrafiltration products are among the highest performing products on the market. The DSU-D, SSU-D and the SSUmini have become the standard endotoxin filter in many portable reverse osmosis systems. The EndoPur®, our large-format ultrafilter targeted at dialysis clinic water systems, provides the smallest pore size available. Following a long pilot project at a major dialysis provider, we are now seeing growth in the use of this product. In addition, we aim to expand EndoPur’s usage into heat-disinfected water systems, which will further open the market for this product.

 

To perform hemodialysis, all dialysis clinics have dedicated water purification systems to produce water and bicarbonate concentrate, two essential ingredients for making dialysate, the liquid that removes waste material from the blood. According to the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, there are approximately 6,500 dialysis clinics in the United States servicing approximately 468,000 patients annually. We estimate that there are over 100,000 hemodialysis machines in operation in the United States.

 

Medicare is the main payer for dialysis treatment in the United States. To be eligible for Medicare reimbursement, dialysis centers must meet the minimum standards for water and bicarbonate concentrate quality set by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (“AAMI”), the American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”) and the International Standards Organization (“ISO”). We anticipate that the stricter standards approved by these organizations in 2009 will be adopted by Medicare in the near future.

 

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We currently have FDA 510(k) clearance on the following portfolio of medical device products for use in the dialysis setting to aid in bacteria, virus, and endotoxin retention:

 

  The DSU-D, SSU-D and SSUmini are in-line, 0.005-micron ultrafilters that provide protection from bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins. All of these products have an up to 12-month product life in the dialysis setting and are used to filter water following treatment with a reverse osmosis (“RO”) system, and to filter bicarbonate concentrate. These ultrafilters are primarily used in the water lines and bicarbonate concentrate lines leading into dialysis machines, and as a polish filter for portable RO machines.
     
  The EndoPur is a 0.005-micron cartridge ultrafilter that provides single-stage protection from bacteria, viruses, and endotoxins. The EndoPur has an up to 12-month product life in the dialysis setting, and is used to filter water following treatment with an RO system. More specifically, the EndoPur is used primarily to filter water in large RO systems designed to provide ultrapure water to an entire dialysis clinic. The EndoPur is a cartridge-based, “plug and play” market entry that requires no plumbing at installation or replacement. The EndoPur is available in 10”, 20”, and 30” configurations. We expect that the EndoPur will be validated for heat disinfection by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

 

Commercial and Industrial Facilities. Our commercial NanoGuard® product line accomplishes ultrafiltration via small pore size (0.005 micron) technology, filtering bacteria and viruses from water. In addition, the recently acquired AETHER brand expands our product line to include water filtration and purification technologies that are primarily focused on improving odor and taste and on reducing scale and heavy metals from filtered water.

 

We purchased the AETHER brand to expedite our access to commercial markets and to expand our filtration expertise and capabilities. Our commercial market focus is in the hotel, restaurant, and convenience store markets. In the first year post-acquisition, we upgraded Aether facilities to increase production and logistics capacity, integrated Aether products into the Nephros infection control product portfolio, and initiated sales efforts with a number of large commercial customers. We have recently added to our commercial sales team and, going forward, hope to close on one or more large contracts that may result in step-change increases in commercial market revenue.

 

Over time, we believe that the same water safety management programs currently underway at medical facilities may migrate to commercial markets. As the epidemiology of waterborne pathogens expands, links to contamination sources will become more efficient and the data more readily available. In cases where those sources are linked to restaurants, hotels, office buildings and residential complexes, the corporate owners of those facilities will likely face increasing liability exposure. We expect that building owners will come to understand ASHRAE-188, which outlines risk factors for buildings and their occupants, and provides water safety management guidelines. We believe, in time, most commercial buildings will need to follow the basic requirements of ASHRAE-188: create a water management plan, perform routine testing, and establish a plan to treat the building in the event of a positive test.

 

As demand for water testing and microbiological filtration grows, we will be ready to deploy our expertise and solutions based on years of experience servicing the medical market. We believe that we have an opportunity to offer unique expertise and products to the commercial market, and that our future revenue from the commercial market could even surpass our infection control revenue.

 

We currently market the following portfolio of proprietary products for use in the commercial, industrial, and food service settings:

 

  The NanoGuard set of products are in-line, 0.005-micron ultrafilters that provide dual-stage retention of any organic or inorganic particle larger than 15,000 Daltons. NanoGuard products are designed to fit a variety of existing plumbing configurations, including 10” and 20” standard housings, and AETHER and Everpure® manifolds. Included in the NanoGuard product line are both conventional and flushable filters.

 

  The AETHER line of commercial filters, which are also sold under the Nephros brand, provide a variety of technology solutions that improve water quality in food service, convenience store, hospitality, and industrial applications. AETHER filters improve water taste and odor, and reduce sediment, dirt, rust particles and other solids, chlorine and heavy minerals, lime scale build-up, and both particulate lead and soluble lead.

 

AETHER products combine effectively with NanoGuard ultrafiltration technologies to offer full-featured solutions to the commercial water market, including to existing users of Everpure filter manifolds.

 

Military and Outdoor Recreation. We developed our individual water treatment device (“IWTD”) in both in-line and point-of-use configurations. Our IWTD allows a soldier in the field to derive drinking water from any freshwater source. This enables the soldier to remain hydrated, to help maintain mission effectiveness and unit readiness, and to extend mission reach. Our IWTD has been validated by the military to meet the NSF Protocol P248 standard. It has also been approved by the U.S. Army Public Health Command and the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command for deployment.

 

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In May 2015, we entered into a Sublicense Agreement (the “Sublicense Agreement”) with CamelBak Products, LLC (“CamelBak”). Under this Sublicense Agreement, we granted CamelBak an exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide (with the exception of Italy) sublicense and license, in each case solely to market, sell, distribute, import and export the IWTD. In exchange for the rights granted to CamelBak, CamelBak agreed, through December 31, 2022, to pay us a percentage of the gross profit on any sales made to a branch of the U.S. military, subject to certain exceptions, and to pay us a fixed per-unit fee for any other sales made. CamelBak was also required to meet or exceed certain minimum annual fees payable to us, and, if such fees are not met or exceeded, we were able to convert the exclusive sublicense to a non-exclusive sublicense with respect to non-U.S. military sales. In the first quarter of 2019, the Sublicense Agreement was amended to eliminate the minimum fee obligations starting May 6, 2018 and, as such, CamelBak has no further minimum fee obligations. There was no royalty revenue recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 or 2019 related to this Sublicense Agreement. CamelBak product sales have been slower than originally hoped. However, military contracts often take years to close, and we remain optimistic about these products and markets.

 

Pathogen Detection Systems

 

We recently expanded our portfolio of solutions with the introduction of our PluraPath™, SequaPath™, and DialyPath™ pathogen detection systems, which we believe represent significant growth opportunities for Nephros.

 

PluraPath: Pathogen Detection in Infection Control. We developed the PluraPath pathogen detection system to provide real-time data to infection control teams executing their water management plans. We integrated our ultrafilter technology with emerging, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology and real-time analytics. We chose a portable, open-source qPCR platform that allows us to parallel-processes up to 15 different bacteria and virus assays. We worked with industry experts to select and develop DNA- and RNA-based assays that could meet our goals of providing quantitative precision within one hour. We also developed a mobile application to extract and process the data real-time. Furthermore, we designed the system so that anyone can perform qPCR testing, not just someone with training in microbiological laboratory techniques.

 

With the PluraPath system, it is possible to map and track the changes to levels of multiple bacterial and viral pathogens in a building’s water system on a real-time basis, at cost levels equivalent to assays that currently take 24-72 hours or more and typically provide data on only a single pathogen. Using PluraPath, we expect that infection control teams will be able to quickly assess approximate levels of a broad array of pathogens in their water systems, and optimally focus their secondary disinfection efforts and point-of-use filtration; services and products offered by our strategic partners.

 

The PluraPath system does not replace culture-based assays, which are the current regulatory requirements for confirmation in testing for waterborne pathogens. Rather, we believe PluraPath will become a valuable tool in the arsenal of defense, permitting faster decision making about a larger target population of pathogens. Our objective is to provide our customers and strategic partners with a user-friendly system that delivers dependable, actionable data to infection control teams in less than an hour.

 

SequaPath: Facility-Wide Pathogen Detection. Bacterial contaminants in water systems can originate from thousands of different bacterial families. The technology now exists to map the water system biome in real-time, on-site, using an enhanced form of the portable PluraPath system and a bioinformatics database. The SequaPath system provides the capability to screen water for over 20,000 different bacterial genera (families), including genera of the 40+ pathogenic bacteria listed by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in their “Opportunistic Pathogens of Premise Plumbing.” The system incorporates our proprietary filtration technology and a DNA sequencing step that makes it possible to screen rapidly for genera of waterborne pathogens. Like PluraPath, the SequaPath platform is portable, allowing for same-day on-site analysis.

 

Due to re-opening concerns associated with buildings in the COVID-19 environment, we have accelerated the market launch of SequaPath™ from late 2020 to the current quarter. The technology was also used to perform a recent academic study that found far more bacteria in buildings unoccupied during the COVID-19 pandemic than in occupied buildings.

 

The potential for building biome mapping is enormous. We are developing the technology, processes, and procedures to perform as many as 96 tests in a single run. Our plan is to first provide SequaPath as a service, and then as a product that we can support with partners who have the in-house technical capabilities to manage this system.

 

While this service could be of value to the management of any water system in any building in any part of the world, we will first focus on the hospital customers of our strategic partners. Once proven in the hospital space, we believe that SequaPath has the potential to shift the building water testing paradigm across multiple markets and geographies.

 

DialyPath: Endotoxin Detection in Dialysis Facilities. We have also been investigating pathogen detection efforts in the dialysis space. The LAL (limulus amebocyte lysate) test is a dialysis industry standard assay that identifies the presence of potential endotoxins, agnostic to the source species. The source of endotoxins are gram-negative bacteria. LAL testing routinely takes 48-72 hours to provide results from the time of shipping the sample to a central laboratory. When dialysis clinics have urgent contamination or severely elevated endotoxin issues, they may have to shut down for extended periods of time creating enormous logistical issues for patients and increasing the cost of care.

 

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To provide a real-time solution for this testing paradigm, we plan to launch the DialyPath pathogen detection and endotoxin estimation system in the second half of this year. The DialyPath system will mirror PluraPath, but include a gram-negative DNA marker test and test for six different gram-negative bacteria. The DialyPath system is designed to provide data on two test samples in one run in about an hour. The system will provide an estimate of the overall endotoxin in the sample, as well as estimated levels of six specific endotoxin-generating bacteria known to be frequent invaders of dialysis clinic water systems, and to cause inflammation in dialysis patients.

 

Specialty Renal Products: HDF System

 

Introduction to HDF

 

The current standard of care in the United States for patients with chronic renal failure is hemodialysis (“HD”), a process in which toxins are cleared via diffusion. Patients typically receive HD treatments at least 3 times weekly for 3-4 hours per treatment. HD is most effective in removing smaller, easily diffusible toxins. For patients with acute renal failure, the current standard of care in the United States is hemofiltration (“HF”), a process where toxins are cleared via convection. HF offers a much better removal of larger sized toxins when compared to HD; however, HF treatment is more challenging for patients, as it is performed on a daily basis, and typically takes 12-24 hours per treatment.

 

Hemodiafiltration (“HDF”) is an alternative dialysis modality that combines the benefits of HD and HF into a single therapy by clearing toxins using both diffusion and convection. Though not widely used in the United States, HDF is prevalent in Europe and is performed for a growing number of patients. Clinical experience and literature show the following clinical and patient benefits of HDF:

 

  Enhanced clearance of middle and large molecular weight toxins
     
  Improved survival - up to a 35% reduction in mortality risk
     
  Reduction in the occurrence of dialysis-related amyloidosis
     
  Reduction in inflammation
     
  Reduction in medication such as EPO and phosphate binders
     
  Improved patient quality of life
     
  Reduction in number of hospitalizations and overall length of stay

 

However, like HD, HDF can be resource-intensive and can require a significant amount of time to deliver one course of treatment.

 

Nephros HDF Background

 

Over the course of our history, we originally developed a medical device that enabled a standard HD machine to perform HDF. We refer to our approach as an on-line mid-dilution hemodiafiltration (“mid-dilution HDF”) system. Our original solution included an OLpūr H2H Hemodiafiltration Module (“H2H Module”), an OLpūr MD 220 Hemodiafilter (“HDF Filter”) and an H2H Substitution Filter (“Dialysate Filter”).

 

Our H2H Module attaches to a standard HD machine to perform on-line HDF therapy. The HD machine controls and monitors the basic treatment functions, as it would normally when providing HD therapy. The H2H Module is a free-standing, movable device that is placed next to either side of an HD machine. The H2H Module connects to the clinic’s water supply, drain, and electricity.

 

The H2H Module utilizes the HDF Filter, and is very similar to a typical hollow fiber dialyzer assembled with a single hollow fiber bundle made with a high-flux (or high-permeability) membrane. The fiber bundle is separated into two discrete, but serially connected, blood paths. Dialysate flows in one direction that is counter-current to blood flow in Stage 1 and co-current to blood flow in Stage 2.

 

In addition to the HDF Filter, the H2H Module also utilizes a Dialysate Filter during patient treatment. The Dialysate Filter is a hollow fiber, ultrafilter device that consists of two sequential (redundant) ultrafiltration stages in a single housing. During on-line HDF with the H2H Module, fresh dialysate is redirected by the H2H Module’s hydraulic (substitution) pump and passed through this dual-stage ultrafilter before being infused as substitution fluid into the extracorporeal circuit. Providing ultrapure dialysate is crucial for the success of on-line HDF treatment.

 

Our original HDF system conformed with current ANSI/AAMI/ISO standards and was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure in 2012. To date, our HDF System is the only HDF system cleared by the FDA.

 

Over the last four years, DaVita Healthcare Partners, the Renal Research Institute (a research division of Fresenius Medical Care), and Vanderbilt University conducted post-market evaluations of our hemodiafiltration system in their clinics. We gathered direct feedback from these evaluations to develop a better understanding of how our system best fits into the current clinical and economic ESRD treatment paradigm. The ultimate goal of the evaluations was to better understand the potential for HDF in the U.S. clinical setting in order to (a) improve the quality of life for the patient, (b) reduce overall expenditure compared to other dialysis modalities, (c) minimize the impact on nurse work flow at the clinic, and (d) demonstrate the pharmacoeconomic benefit of the HDF technology to the U.S. healthcare system, as has been done in Europe with other HDF systems. The last evaluation was concluded at Vanderbilt in the first quarter of 2018.

 

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Specialty Renal Products, Inc.

 

Over the past two years, we have dramatically simplified and redesigned our HDF device. Our updates have made the system significantly easier to use. By shifting from a reusable substitution ultrafilter to a disposable substitution ultrafilter, we were able to simplify the set-up process and substantially reduce the time required between patient treatments – two of the key complaints from our first-generation system. We used real-time user feedback to aid in the fine-tuning of our changes to the system that impacted usability. We believe our second generation HDF system will meet the needs of both clinicians and patients.

 

In 2018, we spun-off the development of the HDF device into SRP. We raised $3 million of outside capital directly into SRP to fund the second-generation development described above. These funds were exhausted in early July 2020. Nephros, which maintains a 62.5% ownership stake in SRP, will loan operating funds to SRP at least through the FDA 510(k) clearance process, which we expect to complete before the end of 2020.

 

Once we have obtained FDA clearance for our second-generation device, we intend to launch it at clinics with previous experience with our device. We plan to then expand our efforts, on a measured basis, to clinics that wish to provide HDF therapy to their patients. At this time, we do not believe making a rapid and broad push into the market would be optimal. Nephrologists in the United States are not trained on HDF therapy; however, many nephrologists want to explore the option and we believe that early adopters will want to perform studies to better understand the technology. We intend to support these investigator-initiated studies.

 

While a number of studies have been performed in Europe, the body of evidence for optimal use of HDF needs to be built in the U.S. treatment setting. According to European data from Fresenius, over 15% of dialysis treatments are HDF. That could translate to over 10 million individual treatments if HDF achieved that level of penetration in the United States. We do not believe that the United States will instantaneously mirror Europe. However, we do believe that HDF therapy has a place in the treatment landscape for patients with ESRD in the United States, and we look forward to enabling this pathway.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

For the six month period ended June 30, 2020, other than our cash and cash equivalents policy (see Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Liquidity,” of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements contained in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), there were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies as identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

We are subject to recently issued accounting standards, accounting guidance and disclosure requirements. For a description of these new accounting standards, see Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Liquidity,” of the Notes to our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements contained in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Results of Operations

 

Fluctuations in Operating Results

 

Our results of operations have fluctuated significantly from period to period in the past and are likely to continue to do so in the future. We anticipate that our annual results of operations will be impacted for the foreseeable future by several factors, including the progress and timing of expenditures related to our research and development efforts, marketing expenses related to product launches, timing of regulatory approval of our various products and market acceptance of our products. Due to these fluctuations, we believe that the period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not a good indication of our future performance.

 

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Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2019

 

The following table sets forth our summarized, consolidated results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Total net revenues   $ 1,577     $ 2,309     $ (732 )     (32 )%
Cost of goods sold     682       942       (260 )     (28 )%
Gross margin     895       1,367       (472 )     (35 )%
Gross margin %     57 %     59 %     -       (2 )%
Research and development expenses     836       793       43       5 %
Depreciation and amortization expense     47       48       (1 )     (2 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,610       1,403       215       15 %
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     -       (9 )     (9 )     (100 )%
Loss from operations     (1,598 )     (868 )     733       84 %
Interest expense     (30 )     (46 )     (16 )     (35 )%
Interest income     4       -       4       100 %
Other expense     (33 )     (28 )     5       18 %
Net loss     (1,657 )     (942 )     718       76 %
Less: Undeclared deemed dividend attributable to noncontrolling interest     (60 )     (61 )     (1 )     (2 )%
Net loss attributable to Nephros, Inc.   $ (1,717 )   $ (1,003 )   $ 717       71 %

 

Net Revenues

 

Total net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were $1.6 million compared to $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019. The decrease of $0.7 million, or 32%, was driven by reduced customer demand that appears to be related to decreased customer focus on waterborne pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold was $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019. This decrease of $0.2 million, or 28%, was primarily due to $0.4 million in decreased direct product costs consistent with the decrease in revenue and lower product costs due to volume discounts, partially offset by an increase in shipping and handling expenses of approximately $0.1 million, due to higher shipping rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, no significant inventory adjustments were made in the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared with a favorable adjustment of $0.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2019.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin was approximately 57% for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately 59% for the three months ended June 30, 2019. The decrease of approximately 2 percentage points is primarily due to an increase in shipping expenses of approximately $0.1 million, due to higher shipping rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that no significant inventory adjustments were made in the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared with a favorable adjustment of $0.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2019. These items were partially offset by lower products costs due to volume discounts.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $0.8 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses were approximately $47,000 and $48,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, representing an increase of $0.2 million, or 16%. The increase was due to several factors, including increased headcount-related expenses of approximately $0.3 million, driven by investments in pathogen detection sales and marketing, partially offset by a decrease in travel-related expenses of approximately $0.1 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

 

There was no change in the fair value of contingent consideration for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Change in fair value of contingent consideration of approximately $9,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was due to lower-than-planned revenue performance of commercial filtration products.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was approximately $30,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately $46,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and is comprised primarily of interest on our secured note payable and interest on our secured revolving credit facility.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income was approximately $4,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. There was no interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2019.

 

Other Expense

 

Other expense was approximately $33,000 and $28,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Other expense for the three months ended June 30, 2020 includes approximately $39,000 related to foreign currency exchange losses partially offset by other income of approximately $5,000. Other expense for the three months ended June 30, 2019 is a result of losses on foreign currency transactions.

 

Water Filtration

 

The following table sets forth results of operations for the Water Filtration segment for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Total net revenues   $ 1,567     $ 2,309     $ (742 )     (32 )%
Cost of goods sold     678       942       (264 )     (28 )%
Gross margin     889       1,367       (478 )     (35 )%
Gross margin %     57 %     59 %     -       (2 )%
Research and development expenses     346       247       99       40 %
Depreciation and amortization expense     47       48       (1 )     (2 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,348       1,352       (4 )     - %
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     -       (9 )     (9 )     (100 )%
Loss from operations   $ (852 )   $ (271 )   $ 577       213 %

 

Net Revenues

 

Total net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were $1.6 million compared to $2.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019. The decrease of $0.7 million, or 32%, was driven by reduced customer demand that appears to be related to decreased customer focus on waterborne pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold was $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019. The decrease of $0.2 million, or 28%, was primarily due to $0.4 million in decreased direct product costs consistent with the decrease in revenue and lower product costs due to volume discounts, partially offset by an increase in shipping and handling expenses of approximately $0.1 million, due to higher shipping rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, no significant inventory adjustments were made in the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared with a favorable adjustment of $0.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2019.

 

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Gross Margin

 

Gross margin was approximately 57% for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately 59% for the three months ended June 30, 2019. The decrease of approximately 2 percentage points is primarily due to an increase in shipping expenses of approximately $0.1 million, due to higher shipping rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that no significant inventory adjustments were made in the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared with a favorable adjustment of $0.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2019. These items were partially offset by lower products costs due to volume discounts.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This increase of $0.1 million, or 40%, reflects increased headcount expenditures on product development.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses were approximately $47,000 and $48,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.3 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

 

There was no change in the fair value of contingent consideration for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Change in fair value of contingent consideration of approximately $9,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was due to lower-than-planned revenue performance of commercial filtration products.

 

Pathogen Detection

 

The following table sets forth results of operations for the Pathogen Detection segment for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Total net revenues   $ 10     $ -     $ 10       100 %
Cost of goods sold     4       -       4       100 %
Gross margin     6       -       6       100 %
Gross margin %     60 %     - %     -       60 %
Research and development expenses     105       186       (81 )     (44 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     137       -       137       100 %
Loss from operations   $ (236 )   $ (186 )   $ 50       27 %

 

Net Revenues

 

Total net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were approximately $10,000. Our sales of the pathogen detection system began during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold was approximately $6,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin was approximately 56% for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

 

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Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This decrease of approximately $81,000, or 44%, reflects this business segment’s transition from a purely research focus to a commercial phase.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and were due to the sales efforts that began during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Renal Products

 

The following table sets forth results of operations for the Renal Products segment for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Research and development expenses   $ 385       360     $ 25       7 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses     125       51       74       145 %
Loss from operations   $ (510 )   $ (411 )   $ 99       24 %

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $0.4 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $0.1 million and $51,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of approximately $74,000 due to an increased investment in operational management.

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

 

The following table sets forth our summarized, consolidated results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Total net revenues   $ 4,106     $ 4,078     $ 28       1 %
Cost of goods sold     1,720       1,713       7       -%  
Gross margin     2,386       2,365       21       1 %
Gross margin %     58 %     58 %     -       -%  
Research and development expenses     1,399       1,549       (150 )     (10 )%
Depreciation and amortization expense     93       98       (5 )     (5 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     3,560       2,906       656       23 %
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (42 )     (19 )     23       121 %
Loss from operations     (2,624 )     (2,169 )     455       21 %
Interest expense     (73 )     (92 )     (19 )     (21 )%
Interest income     5       -       5       100 %
Other expense     (63 )     (30 )     33       110 %
Net loss     (2,755 )     (2,291 )     464       20 %
Less: Undeclared deemed dividend attributable to noncontrolling interest     (119 )     (120 )     (1 )     (1 )%
Net loss attributable to Nephros, Inc.   $ (2,874 )   $ (2,411 )   $ 463       19 %

 

Net Revenues

 

Total net revenues were $4.1 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. An increase of $0.7 million during the first half of the six months ended June 30, 2020 was driven by increased medical filtration sales, primarily to existing customer accounts, and was offset by a decrease of $0.7 million during the second half of the period, due to reduced customer demand that appears to be related to decreased customer focus on waterborne pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold was $1.7 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin was approximately 58% for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This decrease of $0.1 million, or 10%, is primarily due to decreasing investment in the second-generation HDF product as it nears submission for FDA clearance, expected in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses were approximately $93,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately $98,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $2.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, representing an increase of $0.6 million, or 23%. The increase was due to several factors, including increased headcount-related expenses of approximately $0.7 million, driven by investments in pathogen detection, renal products, and logistics partially offset by a decrease in travel and marketing related expenses of approximately $0.1 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration of approximately $42,000 and $19,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was due to lower-than-planned revenue performance of commercial filtration products.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was approximately $73,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately $92,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and is comprised primarily of interest on our secured note payable, interest on our secured revolving credit facility and accretion of contingent consideration.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income was approximately $5,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. There was no interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

 

Other Expense

 

Other expense was approximately $63,000 and $30,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020 includes approximately $70,000 related to foreign currency exchange losses partially offset by other income of approximately $7,000. Other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 is a result of losses on foreign currency transactions.

 

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Water Filtration

 

The following table sets forth results of operations for the Water Filtration segment for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Total net revenues   $ 4,078     $ 4,078     $ -       -%  
Cost of goods sold     1,709       1,713       (4 )     -%  
Gross margin     2,369       2,365       31       1 %
Gross margin %     58 %     58 %     -       -%  
Research and development expenses     656       467       189       40 %
Depreciation and amortization expense     93       98       (5 )     (5 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     3,063       2,821       242       9 %
Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (42 )     (19 )     23       121 %
Loss from operations   $ (1,401 )   $ (1,002 )   $ 399       40 %

 

Net Revenues

 

Total net revenues were $4.1 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. An increase of $0.7 million during the first half of the six months ended June 30, 2020 was driven by increased medical filtration sales, primarily to existing customer accounts, and was offset by a decrease of $0.7 million during the second half of the period, due to reduced customer demand that appears to be related to decreased customer focus on waterborne pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold was $1.7 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin was approximately 58% for each of the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $0.7 million and $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This increase of $0.2 million, or 40%, reflects increased expenditures on product development.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses were approximately $93,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to approximately $98,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, representing an increase of $0.2 million, or 9%. The increase was due to several factors, including increased headcount-related expenses of approximately $0.3 million, driven by investments in pathogen detection, renal products, and logistics partially offset by a decrease in travel and marketing related expenses of approximately $0.1 million as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration of approximately $42,000 and $19,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was due to lower-than-planned revenue performance of commercial filtration products.

 

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Pathogen Detection

 

The following table sets forth results of operations for the Pathogen Detection segment for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Total net revenues   $ 28     $ -     $ 28       100 %
Cost of goods sold     11       -       11       100 %
Gross margin     17       -       16       100 %
Gross margin %     61 %     - %     -       61 %
Research and development expenses     157       312       (155 )     (50 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     262       -       262       100 %
Loss from operations   $ (402 )   $ (312 )   $ 90       29 %

 

Net Revenues

 

Total net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were approximately $28,000. Our sales of the pathogen detection system began during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold was approximately $11,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin was approximately 61% for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This decrease of $0.2 million, or 50%, reflects decreased research and development expenditures on our pathogen detection products.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and were due to the sales effort which began during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Renal Products

 

The following table sets forth results of operations for the Renal Products segment for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

    2020     2019    

$

Increase

(Decrease)

   

%

Increase

(Decrease)

 
Research and development expenses   $ 586       770     $ (184 )     (24 )%
Selling, general and administrative expenses     235       85       150       176 %
Loss from operations   $ (821 )   $ (855 )   $ (34 )     4 %

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses were $0.6 and $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $0.2 million due to decreasing investment in the second-generation HDF product as it nears submission for FDA clearance, expected in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $0.2 and $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $0.1 million due to an increased investment in operational management.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table summarizes our liquidity and capital resources as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and is intended to supplement the more detailed discussion that follows. The amounts stated are expressed in thousands.

 

    June 30,     December 31,  
Liquidity and Capital Resources   2020     2019  
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 7,046     $ 4,166  
Other current assets     6,024       4,133  
Working capital     10.305       5,871  
Stockholders’ equity     12,276       7,689  

 

At June 30, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of $130.1 million and we expect to incur additional operating losses from operations until such time, if ever, that we are able to increase product sales and/or licensing revenue to achieve profitability.

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, signed into law in March 2020, established the PPP, which authorizes the issuance of loans to small businesses. Loan amounts are forgivable to the extent that proceeds are used to cover certain costs, including payroll, over an 8-week period following loan funding. Loans have a maturity of 2 years with an interest rate of 1.0% and may be prepaid without penalty. We applied for and received a PPP loan in the amount of $0.5 million on April 24, 2020.

 

Based on cash that is available for our operations and projections of our future operations, we believe that our cash balances will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan – including the potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – through at least the next 12 months from the date of issuance of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, our operating plans are designed to help control operating costs and to increase revenue until such time as we generate sufficient cash flows from operations. However, there is uncertainty with respect to our projections regarding the availability of sufficient cash resources as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic conditions it has caused. In recent months, we have seen decreased demand for our products both with respect to new hospital customers and our existing hospital, restaurant and hospitality customers, which have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. If this decrease in demand continues beyond the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 and we are unable to achieve our revenue plan, we may be forced to cut costs as appropriate to preserve our available capital resources. If we are unable to sufficiently decrease our spending to match any future decreased demands for our products, we may exhaust our capital resources sooner than we currently anticipate. Further, as a result of the recent volatility of the capital markets and economic conditions generally, it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital at times when we need it, and even if we were able to raise additional capital, it may be on terms than are detrimental to us. Accordingly, the current economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic place uncertainty on our ability to maintain adequate levels of liquidity.

 

In addition to the factors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic conditions, our future liquidity sources and requirements will depend on many other factors, including:

 

  the market acceptance of our products, and our ability to effectively and efficiently produce and market our products;
     
  the continued progress in, and the costs of, clinical studies and other research and development programs;
     
  the costs involved in filing and enforcing patent claims and the status of competitive products; and
     
  the cost of litigation, including potential patent litigation and any other actual or threatened litigation.

 

We expect to put our current capital resources to the following uses:

 

  the development, marketing, and sales of our water-filtration and water diagnostics product;
     
  the development of our second-generation HDF product; and
     
  working capital purposes.

 

At June 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $7.0 million and total assets of $15.9 million excluding the asset related to the License and Supply Agreement with Medica of $0.7 million.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $2.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, an increase of $1.6 million, due primarily to an increase of $2.2 million in inventory during the six months ended June 30, 2020, which we executed to reduce the risk of a disruption of our Italy-based supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, reduced revenues increased our use of cash, since less gross margin was available to cover expenses.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities was $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 due to purchases of equipment. Net cash used in investing activities was $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 due to a working capital adjustment related to the acquisition of the Aether business.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities of $6.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 resulted from proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $6.8 million, proceeds from the PPP loan of $0.5 million and proceeds from the exercise of warrants and options of $0.2 million, offset partially by net payments on our secured revolving credit facility of approximately $0.6 million, payments of approximately $1,000 on our equipment financing debt, payments of approximately $0.1 million on our secured note, payment of approximately $79,000 on our contingent consideration and principal payments of approximately $1,000 on our finance lease obligation.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities of $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 resulted from net proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $2.0 million and net proceeds on our secured revolving credit facility of approximately $30,000 partially offset by payments on our secured note payable of $0.1 million and payment of contingent consideration of approximately $16,000.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2020.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitute “forward-looking statements”. Such statements include statements regarding the efficacy and intended use of our technologies under development, the timelines and strategy for bringing such products to market, the timeline for regulatory review and approval of our products, the availability of funding sources for continued development of such products, and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guaranties of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks that:

 

  we face significant challenges in obtaining market acceptance of our products, which could adversely affect our potential sales and revenues;
     
  product-related deaths or serious injuries or product malfunctions could trigger recalls, class action lawsuits and other events that could cause us to incur expenses and may also limit our ability to generate revenues from such products;
     
  we face potential liability associated with the production, marketing and sale of our products, and the expense of defending against claims of product liability could materially deplete our assets and generate negative publicity, which could impair our reputation;
     
  to the extent our products or marketing materials are found to violate any provisions of the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act or any other statutes or regulations, we could be subject to enforcement actions by the FDA or other governmental agencies;
     
  we may not be able to obtain funding if and when needed or on terms favorable to us in order to continue operations;
     
  we may not have sufficient capital to successfully implement our business plan;
     
  we may not be able to effectively market our products;
     
  we may not be able to sell our water filtration products, pathogen detection systems or chronic renal failure therapy products at competitive prices or profitably;
     
  we may encounter problems with our suppliers, manufacturers and distributors;
     
  we may encounter unanticipated internal control deficiencies or weaknesses or ineffective disclosure controls and procedures;
     
  we may not obtain appropriate or necessary regulatory approvals to achieve our business plan;
     
  products that appeared promising to us in research or clinical trials may not demonstrate anticipated efficacy, safety or cost savings in subsequent pre-clinical or clinical trials;
  we may not be able to secure or enforce adequate legal protection, including patent protection, for our products;
     
  we may not be able to achieve sales growth in key geographic markets; and
     
  the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may be more severe than we currently anticipate.

 

More detailed information about us and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements, including the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is set forth in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and our other reports filed with the SEC. We urge investors and security holders to read those documents free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

37

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which is designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely manner. Management recognizes that any disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Because there are inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud have been or will be detected.

 

At the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, regarding the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this item. However, in addition to other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the important information in the section entitled “Forward Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial might materially adversely affect our actual business, financial condition and/or operating results. You should also consider the following risk factor:

 

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including measures taken to contain the pandemic, are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

 

Our operations expose us to risks associated with public health crises and pandemics, such as the outbreak of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a general reduction in economic activity as businesses and consumers reduce activity to slow the spread of COVID-19 on a voluntary basis and in response to government orders. These reductions in activity have impacted and will continue to impact our workforce and operations, the operations of our customers, and the operations of our vendors and suppliers.

 

We have operations, supply chain, and customers in North America and Europe, and each of these regions has been affected by the outbreak and taken measures in an attempt to contain it. If the COVID-19 outbreak continues and conditions worsen, we may experience a decline in sales activities or greater effects on our supply chain, and it remains uncertain what impact these impacts will have on future sales and production once conditions begin to improve.

 

COVID-19 mitigation efforts have had broad effects on the economy and financial markets. The extent of the scope and duration of these economic effects cannot currently be predicted, although they are likely to be significant for the near future. We expect that the economic impact of COVID-19 will affect us in a variety of ways, including without limitation, reducing demand for our products, making our stock price more volatile, making it more difficult to raise additional capital through offerings of equity or debt securities, and reducing the availability of bank loans. As a result, we may face difficulties raising capital and capital raising efforts may be on terms than are less favorable than would have been previously available.

 

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, the severity of the outbreak, the actions of governments and private actors to slow the spread of the outbreak, the effect of fiscal stimulus measures, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume. We do not yet know the full extent of the impact on our business, our operations or the global economy as a whole. However, the effects could have a material impact on our results of operations, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

Amendment to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement

 

As previously disclosed, on December 31, 2018, we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Biocon 1, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“Biocon”), Aether Water Systems, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“Aether”), and Gregory Lucas, the sole member of each of Biocon and Aether (“Lucas”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, we acquired 100% of the outstanding membership interests of each of Aether and Biocon in exchange for a cash payment of $750,000 to Lucas at closing, repayment of approximately $8,000 in debt of Biocon, and payment of contingent consideration to Lucas based on the net revenue of Biocon and Aether over each quarter of the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years, up to a maximum aggregate payment of $2,625,000.

 

On June 24, 2020, we and Lucas entered into a First Amendment to the Agreement (the “MIPA Amendment”), which modified the contingent consideration payments by disregarding the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2020 and including the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021. All other terms of the Agreement remain the same. The foregoing summary of the MIPA Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete MIPA Amendment, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

39

 

 

Termination of Revolving Credit Facility

 

As previously disclosed, on August 17, 2017, we entered into the Loan Agreement and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Tech Capital, LLC (“Tech Capital”). The Loan Agreement initially provided for a secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) of up to $1.0 million, which we drew upon and repaid from time to time during the term of the Loan Agreement. On December 20, 2019, we and Tech Capital entered into a First Modification to the Loan Agreement (“the Amendment”). The Amendment increased the Revolver from $1.0 million to $2.5 million. Effective May 26, 2020, we repaid the approximately $316,000 of outstanding unpaid principal and interest on the Revolver. Upon repayment, the Revolver was terminated.

 

The Loan Agreement was amended and restated effective May 26, 2020 (the “A&R Loan Agreement”) to reflect this termination. The A&R Loan Agreement remains in place for purposes of specifying obligations related to the secured note payable we previously issued to Tech Capital. This secured note payable was also amended and restated effective May 26, 2020 to reflect the current balance of approximately $749,000 (the “A&R Secured Promissory Note”). All other terms of the original secured note payable remain the same.

 

The foregoing summaries of the A&R Loan Agreement and the A&R Secured Promissory Note are qualified in their entirety by reference to the A&R Loan Agreement and the A&R Secured Promissory Note, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

 

On April 24, 2020, we received a loan from First Republic Bank through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) in the amount of approximately $0.5 million. The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act enacted on March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. In connection with the PPP loan, we issued a promissory note dated April 22, 2020 to First Republic Bank, in the principal amount of approximately $0.5 million (the “Promissory Note”). The PPP loan matures on April 22, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 1.0% per annum, payable monthly commencing November 22, 2020. The PPP loan may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. Funds from the PPP loan may only be used for payroll costs, benefits, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations incurred prior to February 15, 2020. Under the terms of the PPP, certain amounts of the PPP loan may be forgiven if they are used for qualifying expenses during the first 24 weeks of the PPP loan. We intend to use the entire amount for such qualifying expenses.

 

The foregoing summary of the PPP loan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Promissory Note, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

40

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit
     
10.1   First Amendment to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated June 24, 2020, by and between the Registrant and Gregory Lucas. *
     
10.2   Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated May 26, 2020, by and between Tech Capital, LLC and the Registrant. *
     
10.3   Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note (Single Advance – Non-Revolving), dated May 26, 2020, issued by the Registrant. *
     
10.4   U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Note dated April 22, 2020, between the Registrant and First Republic Bank.*
     
31.1   Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
     
31.2   Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
     
32.1   Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. **
     
32.2   Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. **
     
101   Interactive Data File. *
     
*   Filed herewith
**   Furnished herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

  NEPHROS, INC.
     
Date: August 5, 2020 By: /s/ Daron Evans
  Name: Daron Evans
  Title: President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     
Date: August 5, 2020 By: /s/ Andrew Astor
  Name: Andrew Astor
  Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

42

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of June 24, 2020, by and between Nephros, Inc. (“Purchaser”) and Gregory Lucas (the “Member”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment will have the meanings ascribed to them pursuant to the MIPA (defined below).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto, along with Biocon 1, LLC and Aether Water Systems, LLC, previously entered into that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated December 31, 2018 (the “MIPA”); and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the MIPA in order to modify the Quarterly Earnout Periods used for determining the amount of Earnout Payments payable to Member by disregarding the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020, and including the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2021, as more fully described in this Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, for good and valuable consideration and intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Adjustment to Quarterly Earnout Periods. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the MIPA, the quarterly period ending June 30, 2020, shall not be a “Quarterly Earnout Period” for purposes of determining an Earnout Payment under the MIPA and no Earnout Payment shall be payable with respect to such period. Instead, the sixth, seventh, and eighth Quarterly Earnout Periods for purposes of determining the Earnout Payments will be the Purchaser fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2020, December 31, 2020, and March 31, 2021, respectively (the “Remaining Quarterly Earnout Periods”). The Earnout Payments for the Remaining Quarterly Earnout Periods shall be calculated in accordance with the “Actual Quarterly Net Revenue Ranges for 2020” section of Schedule 3.4(d) of the MIPA regardless of the actual dates of such Remaining Quarterly Earnout Periods. For the avoidance of doubt, no Earnout Payment will be payable with respect to any period subsequent to March 31, 2021.

 

2. Reaffirmation. Other than as set forth in this Amendment, the MIPA remains in full force and effect. This Amendment will form a part of the MIPA for all purposes.

 

3. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered will be an original, but all such counterparts will constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of executed copies of this Agreement by facsimile, email (including .pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmissions will constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

[Signatures follow]

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the date set forth above.

 

NEPHROS, INC.  
     
By: /s/ Andrew Astor  
Name: Andrew Astor  
Title: Chief Financial Officer  
     
/s/ Gregory Lucas  
Gregory Lucas  

 

Signature page to Amendment to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement

 

 

 

  

Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This Amended and Loan and Security Agreement (as amended hereafter, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of May 26th, 2020 and confirms the understanding and agreement by and between TECH CAPITAL, LLC, a California limited liability company (“Lender”), with its headquarters at 2010 North First Street, Suite 300, San Jose, California 95131 (Facsimile No. 408-467-2393), and NEPHROS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), with its headquarters at 380 Lackawanna Place, South Orange, NJ 07079 (its “Chief Executive Office”) (Facsimile No. 202-343-5207), regarding the loans to be made by Lender and Lender’s terms and conditions.

 

RECITALS

 

A. Lender and Borrower previously entered into that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated August 16th, 2017, as modified from time to time including pursuant to that certain First Modification to Loan and Security Agreement (collectively, the “Prior Form Loan Agreement”), and together with related documents entered into from time to time in connection therewith (collectively, the “Prior Form Related Loan Documents”). As of the date hereof, the Obligations outstanding under the Prior Form Loan Agreement are $315,791.10 (the “Outstanding Revolving Loan Obligations”). Borrower wishes to prepay all of the Outstanding Revolving Loan Obligations, and Lender is amenable to same subject to Borrower’s payment of the related Prepayment Fee.

 

B. Borrower previously executed in favor of Lender that certain Secured Promissory Note (Single Advance – Non-Revolving) dated March 27th, 2018 in the original principal amount of $1,187,000.00, as modified from time to time (collectively, the “Prior Form Term Note”), which, as of the date hereof, has an outstanding balance of $749,108.15 (the “Outstanding Term Loan Obligations”).

 

C. Borrower and Lender wish to amend and restate: (a) the Prior Form Loan Agreement in its entirety in order to, among other things, eliminate Borrower’s ability to obtain, and Lender’s obligation to make, Advances thereunder; and (b) the Prior Form Term Note but with the Outstanding Term Loan Obligations as of the date hereof in the amount of $749,108.15 hereby reaffirmed by Borrower and to remain outstanding, due and payable pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note (Single Advance – Non-Revolving), being entered into concurrently herewith (the “Amended and Restated Term Note”).

 

D. Accordingly, subject to the fulfillment of the Conditions Precedent set forth in Section 51 below (including the permanent repayment of the Outstanding Revolving Loan Obligations and payment of the related Prepayment Fee), the parties hereby agree to amend and restate: (a) the Prior Form Loan Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and (b) the Prior Form Term Note on the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Term Note.

 

AGREEMENT

 

1. Intentionally Omitted.

 

2. “Value” shall mean the lower of cost or fair market value. “Premises” shall collectively mean the Chief Executive Office and 1089 Hudson Street, Union, New Jersey 07083 (“L&A,” a third party warehouse), Borrower’s existing additional place(s) of business, and Borrower’s hereafter additional place(s) of business (individually and collectively, the “Other Locations”).

 

3. All Obligations, whenever and however created, shall become immediately due and payable without demand upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in Paragraph 27) or in the case of termination (as set forth in Paragraph 32), whether by notice, lapse of time or otherwise, whichever occurs first. Borrower shall be provided on-line internet access (or other access in Lender’s discretion) to information regarding the Obligations, and such information shall be conclusively presumed to be correct and constitute an account stated unless, within thirty (30) days following any such information first becoming available, Borrower delivers written objection thereto to Lender.

 

4. Obligations hereunder shall bear interest, on the average daily outstanding balance, at the rate applicable to the Term Note obligations (the “Rate”).

 

5. Intentionally Omitted.

 

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6. This Agreement secures the following: (a) Borrower’s Obligations; (b) all of Borrower’s other present and future obligations to Lender; (c) the repayment of (i) any amounts that Lender may advance or spend for the maintenance or preservation of the Collateral (as defined herein below) or any collateral provided by any Guarantor (as defined in Paragraph 23); and (ii) any other expenditures that Lender may make under the provisions of this Agreement or for the benefit of Borrower; (d) all amounts owed under any modifications, renewals or extensions of any of the foregoing obligations whether or not of the nature contemplated at the date hereof; (e) all other amounts now or in the future owed by Borrower or any Guarantor to Lender; (f) any of the foregoing and interest thereon that arises after the filing of a petition by or against Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, even if the obligations do not accrue because of the automatic stay under Bankruptcy Code § 362 or otherwise; and (g) interest on the preceding amounts as set forth in this Agreement or the Loan Documents, or if no such agreement, at the maximum rate permitted by law ((a) through (g) collectively, the “Obligations”). These Obligations shall be secured by a continuing security interest in all of the personal property and trade fixtures now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower whether now existing or hereafter arising and wherever located, together with all collateral now or hereafter described in any form UCC-1 filed against Borrower naming Lender as the secured party, including without limitation, (1) all Accounts; (2) all Chattel Paper including without limitation Electronic Chattel Paper; (3) all Inventory; (4) all Equipment; (5) all trade fixtures and all Fixtures if real property collateral is involved; (6) all Instruments; (7) all Financial Assets, including without limitation, Investment Property; (8) all Documents; (9) all Deposit Accounts; (10) all Letter of Credit Rights; (11) all General Intangibles including without limitation copyrights, trademarks, and patents in all countries, Payment Intangibles and Software, and all rights in and to domain names in whatever form, and all derivative URLs; (12) all Supporting Obligations; (13) any Commercial Tort Claim listed on any schedule provided herewith or hereafter; (14) all returned or repossessed goods arising from or relating to any Accounts or Chattel Paper; (15) all certificates of title and certificates of origin or manufacturers statements of origin relating to any of the foregoing, now owned or hereafter acquired; (16) all property similar to any of the foregoing hereafter acquired by Borrower; (17) all ledger sheets, files, records, documents, instruments, and other books and records (including without limitation related electronic data processing Software) evidencing an interest in or relating to the above; (18) all money, cash or cash equivalents; and (19) to the extent not otherwise included in the foregoing, all proceeds, products, insurance claims, and other rights to payment and all accessions to, replacements for, substitutions for, and rents and profits of, and noncash proceeds of each of the foregoing (all of the foregoing collectively, the “Collateral”). All of the foregoing terms, capitalized or otherwise, shall have the meaning given in the California Uniform Commercial Code, as amended from time to time (the “UCC”). Notwithstanding any contrary term of this Agreement, Collateral shall not include any waste or other materials that have been or may be designated as toxic or hazardous. Each new Obligation(s) (and all prior Obligations) shall be secured by this Agreement and all other security agreements that Borrower has then given or caused to be given, or thereafter gives or causes to be given, to Lender. Except to the extent otherwise provided, this Agreement does not secure any obligation that is secured by a consensual lien on real property.

 

7. Borrower shall preserve Borrower’s existence and not, in one transaction or a series of related transactions: (a) merge into or consolidate with any other entity, or sell any of Borrower’s assets (except for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business); (b) change the Borrower’s State of organization or formation or Borrower’s legal name; (c) relocate its Chief Executive Office or Premises; or (d) open any new locations unless Borrower executes and delivers, or causes to be executed and delivered, to Lender such agreements, documents, and instruments as Lender may deem necessary or desirable to protect Lender’s interests in the Collateral at such locations, including without limitation, UCC-1 Financing Statements and waivers with an acknowledgement of Lender’s interest from any landlord, bailee, or warehouseman in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, or as Lender may require as a result of such change. The Collateral, however, shall not at any time now or hereafter be stored with a landlord, bailee, warehouseman, or similar party without Lender’s prior written consent and Lender’s receipt of the above waivers with an acknowledgement from the third party that it is holding the Collateral for the benefit of Lender. Borrower shall provide Lender with thirty (30) days advanced notice of the sale or contemplated sale of the Premises whether owned or leased. Borrower will cooperate with Lender in obtaining possession or control, where Lender chooses to require possession or control in addition to the filing of a financing statement. Borrower will cooperate with Lender in obtaining possession or control with respect to Collateral consisting of Deposit Accounts, Investment Property, Letter of Credit Rights, and Electronic Chattel Paper. If Borrower has or shall acquire a commercial tort claim, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender in a writing signed by Borrower of the general details thereof and grant to Lender in such writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

 

8. Borrower shall not do business under any name other than Nephros, Inc. unless Borrower has provided to Lender evidence it has taken such legal steps required with respect to fictitious or assumed names under the applicable laws of the jurisdictions in which Borrower is located and/or does business. To that effect, Lender has received acceptable documentation indicating that Borrower will be doing business under the following additional name(s): ———N/A———.

 

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9. So long as any Obligations remain outstanding, Borrower warrants, represents and agrees that: (a) intentionally omitted; (b) all Collateral in which a security interest has been or will be given or caused to be given by Borrower to Lender is and will be a first priority security interest on the property described in each such security agreement (except insofar as Borrower has notified Lender to the contrary in writing and Lender has consented) and shall remain personal property at all times; (c) the property covered by all security agreements given or caused to be given by Borrower to Lender (1) is solely owned by Borrower or the party described in such security agreement; or (2) Borrower or such party has rights in or the power to grant a security interest in such property; (d) the property covered by all security agreements given or caused to be given by Borrower to Lender is free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, adverse claims, or restrictions on transfer or pledge except as created by such security agreements; (e) the Collateral covered by all security agreements given or caused to be given by Borrower to Lender is kept in good condition and repair, is not subject to waste, will not be affixed to any real property in any manner which would change the Collateral’s nature from that of personal property to real property and/or fixture, and (except for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business but subject to the terms of Paragraph 30) will not be removed from the Premises described in such security agreements without first obtaining Lender’s prior written consent; (f) all facts, figures, representations given, or caused to be given by Borrower to Lender in connection with the Value of the Collateral or regarding each Account or pertaining to anything done under this Agreement shall be true and correct; (g) Borrower’s books and records fully and accurately reflect all of Borrower’s assets and liabilities (absolute and contingent), are kept in the ordinary course of business in accordance with GAAP, (as defined in Paragraph 43) consistently applied and all information contained therein is true and correct; and (h) the fair market value of the property covered by all security agreements given by Borrower to Lender, is and shall at all times be, not less than the price which Borrower paid therefor (less normal depreciation caused by ordinary wear and tear) and as represented to Lender.

 

10. Borrower agrees to execute upon demand by Lender any and all documents or statements intended to perfect and/or continue Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, in whatsoever form Lender may require including but not limited to an abbreviated Collateral description such as “All Assets of the Borrower”, as provided for and defined in Division 9 of the California UCC, but Lender shall be entitled and is hereby expressly authorized to execute and file the same on Borrower’s behalf, and Lender is hereby appointed Borrower’s attorney-in-fact for such purpose.

 

11. Each warranty, representation, and agreement contained in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been relied on by Lender regardless of any investigation made, or information possessed by Lender. The warranties, representations and agreements set forth herein shall be cumulative and in addition to any and all other warranties, representations and agreements contained in any other document or instrument which Borrower shall give, or cause to be given, to Lender either now or hereafter.

 

12. Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement, all assignments, pledges, liens, and/or other security interests now or hereafter granted to Lender and all other obligations required of Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents, or any other procedure manual or other requirement of Lender shall continue in full force until all of the Obligations owing to Lender have been paid, including without limitation Borrower’s obligation to continue to turn over sales information and invoices, and collections thereon, to Lender.

 

13. Borrower shall promptly pay any and all expenses of storing, warehousing, insuring, handling and shipping of Borrower’s property, any and all excise, property, sales and other taxes (providing Lender with evidence of payment thereof) levied or imposed by any governmental or taxing authority on Borrower or on any of Borrower’s property or any property caused to be given to Lender as security, and any amounts owing to any third party that could give rise to any security interest, encumbrance or lien on any of Borrower’s property or any property serving as Lender’s Collateral. If Borrower fails to promptly pay when due, whether to Lender or any other person, monies which Borrower is required to pay under any requirement of this Agreement, Lender may, but need not, pay the same and charge Borrower’s account therefore and Borrower shall promptly reimburse Lender therefor. Any and all sums shall become additional indebtedness owing to Lender and shall bear interest at the rate provided in Paragraph 4 hereof and shall be covered by all security now or hereafter given by Borrower or which Borrower causes to be given to Lender. Lender need not inquire as to, or contest the validity of, any such expense, tax, security interest, encumbrance or lien, and the receipt for the payment thereof from the appropriate governmental agency or other entity shall be conclusive evidence that the same was validly due and owing.

 

14. All documents to be delivered by Borrower to Lender shall contain such terms and be in such form as Lender may require. Each assignment, pledge or other security agreement shall include and cover all of Borrower’s right, title, and interest in property described therein and all of Borrower’s books, records, and files relating thereto. All ledger sheets, files, records and documents, files and records relating to Accounts, Inventory, or other Collateral assigned to Lender shall, unless delivered to or removed by Lender, be kept on the Premises in trust for, and without cost to Lender. Lender may at any time remove from the Premises all documents, files and records relating to the Collateral.

 

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15. Intentionally Omitted.

 

16. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Lender may from time to time at its discretion obtain or prepare such further credit reports and other reports as it may deem necessary to continue to keep itself apprised regarding the continued financial condition of Borrower and hereby authorizes Lender to obtain or prepare such credit and other reports from time to time as Lender deems appropriate.

 

17. Lender may, at any time, without notice to or the assent of Borrower, after the occurrence of an Event of Default,: (i) notify any account debtor that its Accounts have been assigned to Lender by Borrower and that payment thereof is to be made to the order of, and directed solely to, Lender; and (ii) send, or cause to be sent by its designee, written or telephonic requests for verification of any Accounts directly to the applicable account debtor.

 

18. Intentionally Omitted.

 

19. Intentionally Omitted.

 

20. Lender is hereby irrevocably appointed Borrower’s attorney-in-fact with authority and power to: (A) following an Event of Default, endorse Borrower’s name on any checks, notes, acceptances, money orders, drafts, or other forms of payment or security that may come into Lender’s possession (whether checks or other forms of payment are (i) in the name of Borrower, (ii) in any other name under which it now does business or does business in the future, or (iii) in the names of its products now or in the future, and Borrower additionally agrees not to make any protest of any kind against Lender for negotiating such checks or other items described herein); (B) following an Event of Default, sign Borrower’s name on any invoice or bill of lading related to any Accounts, on drafts against account debtors, on schedules and assignments of Accounts, on verification of Accounts, and notices to account debtors; (C) following an Event of Default, establish a lockbox arrangement and/or following an Event of Default notify the post office authorities to change the address for delivery of Borrower’s mail; (D) following an Event of Default, receive and open all mail addressed to Borrower and retain all mail relating to Lender’s security, forwarding all other mail to Borrower; (E) following an Event of Default, send, whether in writing or by telephone, requests for verification of Accounts; (F) following an Event of Default, with respect to Accounts or other Collateral, extend the time of payment of, compromise or settle, and adjust disputes and claims, upon any terms, which may include a release of any account debtor or other obligor; (G) following an Event of Default, make, settle and adjust all claims of Borrower’s policies of insurance and make all decisions with respect thereto; (H) following an Event of Default, qualify Borrower to do business in any state if Borrower shall promptly fail to do so following request by Lender; (I) following an Event of Default, if Borrower has refused or failed to promptly do so, execute and deliver any documents which Lender determines are reasonably necessary in order to protect the interests of Lender hereunder; and (J) following an Event of Default, do all things necessary to carry out this Agreement. Following an Event of Default, Lender shall have the right at any time to enforce Borrower’s rights against the account debtors and obligors, and Lender may bring all proceedings for collection in Lender’s name or in Borrower’s name and may exercise Borrower’s right of stoppage in transit, replevin, and reclamation.

 

21. Intentionally Omitted.

 

22. Lender or its agents or employees shall have the right (during reasonable business hours if prior to an Event of Default and, at any time, after an Event of Default) to have access to Borrower’s premises, to examine, inspect and/or audit any or all of Borrower’s books and records, including but not limited to minute books, ledgers, records indicating, summarizing or evidencing the assets (including Accounts, Inventory and Equipment) and liabilities, and all information relating thereto, records indicating, summarizing or evidencing Borrower’s business operations or financial condition, and all computer programs, disc or tape files, printouts, runs and other computer prepared information and the equipment containing such information, and permit Lender or its employees or agents to copy and make extracts therefrom. Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes all accountants and third parties to disclose and deliver to Lender all financial information, books and records, work papers, management reports and other information in their possession relating to Borrower. In the absence of an Event of Default, the actions permitted by this Paragraph shall be taken by Lender (or its agents or employees) at no cost to Borrower.

 

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23. Borrower, at its expense, shall keep the Collateral insured against loss or damage by fire, theft, explosion, sprinklers, and all other hazards and risks, and in such amounts, as are ordinarily insured against by other owners in similar businesses. Borrower shall also maintain business interruption, public liability, product liability, and property damage insurance relating to Borrower’s ownership and use of the Collateral, as well as insurance against larceny, embezzlement, and criminal misappropriation. Additionally, Borrower shall maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for all employees as required by law. All such policies of insurance shall be in such form, with such companies, and in such amounts as may be reasonably satisfactory to Lender. All such policies of insurance (except those of public and product liability) shall contain a 438BFU lender’s loss payable endorsement or comparable endorsement, in a form satisfactory to Lender, showing Lender as additional loss payee thereof (and with respect to public and product liability shall contain an additional insured endorsement or comparable endorsement, in a form satisfactory to Lender), and shall contain a waiver of warranties, and shall specify that the insurer must give at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lender before canceling its policy for any reason. Borrower shall deliver to Lender certified copies of such policies of insurance and evidence of the payment of all premiums therefor. All proceeds payable under any such policy shall be payable to Lender to be applied on account of the Obligations. Unless Borrower provides Lender with evidence of the insurance coverage as required by this Agreement, Lender may purchase such insurance at Borrower’s expense to protect Lender’s interests. This insurance may, but need not, also protect Borrower’s interests. If any Collateral becomes damaged, the insurance coverage that Lender purchases may not pay any claim Borrower makes or any claim made against Borrower. Borrower may later cancel this coverage after providing evidence that Borrower has obtained property coverage elsewhere. Borrower is responsible for the cost of any insurance purchased by Lender, which shall constitute Lender Expenses (as defined in Paragraph 26). The cost of obtaining of this insurance may, at Lender’s option, be added to the Obligations. If the cost is added to the Obligations, the Rate will apply to this added amount. The effective date of coverage may be the date on which Borrower’s prior coverage lapsed or the date Borrower failed to provide proof of coverage. The insurance coverage that Lender purchases may be considerably more expensive than the insurance coverage that Borrower could obtain and may not satisfy any need for property damage coverage or any mandatory liability insurance requirements imposed by Borrower’s contractual arrangements or applicable law.

 

24. Borrower promises and agrees to pay all costs and expenses and all attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred by Lender in connection with this Agreement or the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby (including the prosecution of motions or actions seeking relief from any stay or restraint under the United States Bankruptcy Code from pursuing any remedy hereunder), whether or not suit between Borrower and/or any Guarantor, on the one hand, and Lender, on the other hand, is brought. Borrower shall pay to Lender all costs reasonably incurred by Lender for the purpose of enforcing Lender’s rights hereunder and under the Loan Documents, including without limitation: (a) costs of foreclosure; (b) costs of obtaining money damages; and (c) a reasonable fee for the services of attorneys employed by Lender, including consultation, drafting documents, sending notices or instituting, prosecuting or defending litigation or arbitration, and in the case of bankruptcy, without limitation, in providing debtor-in possession financing, in seeking relief from the automatic stay, and in prosecuting a complaint to determine dischargeability and other matters to enforce Lender’s rights; and (d) costs, and expenses of third party claims or any other suit paid or incurred by Lender in enforcing or defending the Loan Documents and adjusting or settling disputes and claims with account debtors with respect to the Accounts; and Lender’s attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in advising, or enforcing the Obligations (all of the foregoing together with any other costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees set forth in this Agreement and the Loan Documents, “Lender Expenses”). At Lender’s option, Lender Expenses may be added to the Obligations. While non-binding, the intent of this paragraph is to limit future expenses to events and cost incurred outside the normal course of business

 

25. Borrower shall require and use its best efforts to ensure compliance by all operators and occupants of the Premises with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined in Paragraph 26). Borrower agrees to defend, indemnify, save, and hold Lender and its officers, employees, and agents harmless against all obligations, demands, claims, and liabilities claimed or asserted by any other person arising out of or relating to discharges or releases of Hazardous Substance or Hazardous Waste (both as defined in Paragraph 26) into the environment, including ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Substance or Hazardous Waste or the clean-up or other remediation thereof, and all losses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees and legal and other costs from outside counsel or in-house counsel) in any way suffered, incurred, or paid by Lender as a result of or in any way arising out of, following, or consequential thereto; provided, however, that no such indemnification shall apply with respect to any liability directly arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Lender or any of its officers, employees and agents in connection with Hazardous Waste or Hazardous Substance.

 

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26. “Environmental Laws” means all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or waste into the environment, including ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or waste or the clean-up or other remediation thereof, including without limitation 42 U.S.C. 9601 (14), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 set forth at 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”), or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1986 set forth at 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. (“RCRA”) and all successor statutes and amendments thereto. “Hazardous Substance” or “Hazardous Waste” means any hazardous waste or hazardous substance, as defined in 42 U.S.C. 9601 (14) or any successor statute, all as amended from time to time.

 

27. Without limiting any other portion of this Agreement, all Borrower’s indebtedness and Obligations shall automatically accelerate and become immediately due and payable upon termination (by lapse of time or otherwise) of this Agreement or upon the happening of any one of the following which shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

(a) Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s failure to make any payment of any or all of the Obligations to Lender when due;

 

(b) Intentionally Omitted;

 

(c) Any significant degradation in Borrower’s financial condition or that of any Guarantor, or any change in Borrower’s ability to pay and perform the Obligations when due;

 

(d) Any change in the perfection or priority of any security interest in any Collateral of Borrower or collateral of any Guarantor, or any change in Lender’s rights and remedies hereunder or under the Loan Documents;

 

(e) Borrower or any Guarantor fails or neglects to perform, keep, or observe, or is in breach of any term, provision, condition, covenant, or agreement contained in this Agreement, or any of the Loan Documents, or in any other present or future agreement between Borrower or any Guarantor, on the one hand, and Lender, on the other hand; any default by Borrower or any Guarantor under, or breach or violation of, any warranty, representation, obligation, agreement, condition or undertaking contained herein or in any of the Loan Documents which Borrower or any Guarantor now or hereafter executes and delivers to Lender, or which Borrower or any Guarantor now or hereafter causes to be executed and delivered to Lender; If an Event of Default occurs under this Paragraph 29(e) and provided that such Event of Default is not otherwise a specified Event of Default under any other subsection of this Paragraph 29, Borrower (if such an Event of Default is curable) shall have ten (10) days to cure such an Event of Default occurring solely under this Paragraph 29(e);

 

(f) The withdrawal or cancellation of (1) any guaranty of, or any validity agreement or support agreement relating to, the Obligations; or (2) the termination of, or breach of the terms of, any subordination agreement whereby any indebtedness and/or liens is subordinated to Borrower’s Obligations and/or Lender’s liens on the Collateral or collateral of any Guarantor;

 

(g) Borrower or any Guarantor ceases to do business as a going concern, makes an assignment of any property for the benefit of creditors, or fails to pay its debts or obligations as they become due or otherwise becomes insolvent;

 

(h) The filing by or against Borrower or any Guarantor of any petition or application in bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, trusteeship or receivership, or other insolvency relief, whether under the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, or the appointment of a trustee or receiver over all or any part of the property or business of Borrower or any Guarantor;

 

(i) Any of the property or Collateral covered by any of the security agreements given or caused to be given by Borrower or any Guarantor to Lender is lost, secreted, misused, destroyed, transferred, or disposed of or is located in any state other than the Collateral State(s) unless Lender has so agreed in writing;

 

(j) Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s failure to comply with any, or become subject to any administrative or judicial proceeding under, any federal, state or local (1) hazardous waste or environmental law; (2) asset forfeiture law; or (3) other law, where noncompliance may have any effect on the Collateral;

 

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(k) Lender’s receipt at any time of a report from the Secretary of State indicating that Lender’s security interest in the Collateral or collateral of any Guarantor is not prior to all other security interests or encumbrances;

 

(l) Any delinquency on Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s part in paying any tax when it comes due;

 

(m) Borrower makes any prohibited payment on account of indebtedness that has been subordinated in right to payment to the payment of the Obligations;

 

(n) Borrower or any Guarantor defaults in the payment or performance under any of its material third party agreements, or any material third party agreement to which either is party is cancelled, matures or terminates, and which circumstances would have a negative effect on either of such parties;

 

(o) Borrower or any Guarantor is enjoined, restrained, or in any way prevented by court order from continuing to conduct all or any part of its business affairs;

 

(p) A judgment or other claim is entered against Borrower or any Guarantor or becomes a lien or encumbrance upon any property of Borrower or any Guarantor;

 

(q) Any property of Borrower or any Guarantor is attached, seized, subjected to a writ or distress warrant or is levied upon;

 

(r) A notice of lien, levy or assessment is filed with respect to any property of Borrower or any Guarantor by any governmental authority, or any debts owing to any governmental authority becomes a lien upon any of such property; or

 

(s) An event of default under any of the Loan Documents or in connection with any of the Obligations shall be an Event of Default under this Agreement, and vice versa.

 

28. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Paragraph 27, all Obligations shall, without notice or demand, become immediately due and payable at Lender’s option. Thereafter, all amounts outstanding shall bear interest at the default rate set forth in the Term Note (the “Default Rate”). Lender may, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, exercise and all rights and remedies pursuant to the laws of the State of California, the UCC, the Loan Documents or other applicable law, and Lender may cease extending credit to or for the benefit of Borrower under this Agreement, the Loan Documents, or any other agreement between Borrower and Lender. Lender may, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, revoke Borrower’s right (as permitted in this Agreement) to sell, license or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral including, without limitation, (a) its right to sell Inventory in the ordinary course of business free and clear of Lender’s security interest therein, and (b) Borrower’s right to grant non-exclusive licenses of the Collateral in the ordinary course of business. Upon the occurrence of any such Event of Default, Lender may immediately, or at any time or times thereafter, without any demand or notice to Borrower or any Guarantor and without advertisement or notice, all of which are expressly waived, commence an action for the recovery of any and all such Obligations, commence proceedings, without giving any warranties of merchantability, fitness for purpose, title or similar warranty, to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any and all Collateral covered by this Agreement and by all security agreements given or caused to be given by Borrower to Lender or, without legal proceedings, enter such places as any of such Collateral may be found and take possession of such Collateral and sell the same. Lender is hereby granted an irrevocable license or other right to use, without charge, Borrower’s labels, patents, copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks, service marks, and advertising matter, or any property of a similar nature, as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing production of, advertising for sale, and selling any Collateral and Borrower’s rights under all licenses shall inure to Lender’s benefit. Such Collateral may be sold where it is located at the time of the breach or default, or elsewhere, at public or private sale, for cash, upon credit or otherwise at Lender’s sole option and discretion. With respect to any of Borrower’s owned or leased Premises, Borrower hereby grants Lender a license to enter into possession of such Premises and to occupy the same, without charge, for up to one hundred twenty (120) days in order to exercise any of Lender’s rights or remedies provided herein or in any of the other Loan Documents, at law, in equity, or otherwise. Lender and Borrower waive any requirements that such property be physically present at the place of sale. Lender shall provide Borrower such notice of any private or public sale as may be reasonable. Lender has no obligation to clean up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. Lender may specifically disclaim any warranties of title or any similar warranty. Any person, including Lender, may purchase at any such sale, free from any right of redemption which is expressly waived by Borrower, and if Lender is the purchaser, may turn all or part of any of Borrower’s indebtedness to Lender in toward payment of the purchase price. The proceeds of any such sale or other disposition shall be applied, first, to all costs, charges and expenses incurred in taking, removing, holding, repairing and selling such Collateral, including without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by Lender, and second, to the payment of all Obligations, whether due, or to become due, and whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise. The surplus, if any, shall be delivered to Borrower or as otherwise required by applicable law. Borrower shall pay any deficiency forthwith.

 

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29. Borrower waives presentment, demand, protest, and notice of dishonor as to any instrument. Borrower consents to any extensions, modifications, allowances, compromises or releases of security which Lender may grant, none of which shall release Borrower or any Guarantor from, or affect, any of Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s obligations.

 

30. This Agreement is effective and shall remain in full force and effect until all Obligations are finally paid in full and this this Agreement and all Loan Documents are terminated. Lender reserves the right to terminate this Agreement and the Amended and Restated Term Note at Lender’s sole discretion upon giving ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to Borrower or should an Event of Default occur, Lender may terminate this Agreement and the Amended and Restated Term Note at any time without prior notice. After termination and when Lender has finally received all sums due on account of the Obligations, Lender shall reassign to Borrower all Collateral held by Lender, and shall execute a cancellation of, and/or reconveyance under, all security agreements given by Borrower to Lender.

 

31. Borrower shall pay any prepayment fees provided for in any other agreement with Lender. The prepayment fee provided in any other agreements with Lender shall be deemed included in the Obligations.

 

32. Lender may at its option to protect the interests of Lender advance sums to Borrower or any Guarantor under the Agreement or under any other agreements evidencing the Obligations and pay such sums directly to a third party (including in the event there is an obligation owed by Borrower or any Guarantor to the third party or in the event the third party is also a borrower of Lender) and Lender at its option may add same to the Obligations, and Borrower shall promptly reimburse Lender therefor together with interest thereon.

 

33. All notices or demands hereunder shall be in writing and may be made, and deemed to be given, as follows: (a) if delivered in person or by courier (overnight or otherwise), on the date when it is delivered; (b) if by facsimile, when received at the correct number (proof of which shall be an original facsimile transmission confirmation slip or equivalent); or (c) if sent by certified or registered mail or the equivalent, on the earlier of the date such mail is actually delivered or three (3) days after deposit thereof in the mail, unless the date of actual delivery or such date three (3) days after deposit thereof in the mail (as applicable) is not a business day in which case such communication shall be deemed given and effective on the first following business day. Any such notice or communication given hereunder shall be addressed to the intended recipient at its address or facsimile number specified in the preamble to this Agreement. The parties hereto may change the address or at which they are to receive notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given to the other.

 

34. Borrower has the risk of loss of the Collateral. Lender shall not be liable or responsible for the safekeeping of any Collateral. Lender shall not be responsible for any lost profits of Borrower arising from any breach of contract, tort, or any other wrong arising from the establishment, administration, or collection of the Obligations. Lender has no duty to collect any income accruing on the Collateral or to preserve any rights relating to the Collateral.

 

35. Borrower hereby releases and exculpates Lender, Lender’s officers, employees, agents, designees, attorneys, directors, shareholders, and accountants (the “Lender Parties”) from any liability arising from any acts under this Agreement, the documents executed in connection with this Agreement or subsequent to this Agreement or in furtherance thereof (each individually and collectively the “Loan Documents”), whether of omission or commission, and whether based upon any error of judgment or mistake of law or fact, except to the extent of any liability caused by any of the Lender Parties’ gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, but in no event shall the Lender Parties have any liability to Borrower for lost profits or other special or consequential damages. Borrower agrees to indemnify the Lender Parties against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability of any kind or nature, including attorneys’ fees and Lender’s Expenses which may be imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against any of the Lender Parties, in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent of any liability caused by any of the Lender Parties’ gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, with the foregoing indemnity and hold harmless to survive termination of this Agreement and payment and performance of the Obligations and continue thereafter.

 

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36. If there are two or more Borrowers, then (a) Obligations hereunder shall be deemed to be made to and incurred by each and all Borrowers and each Borrower shall be jointly and severally obligated to repay the Obligations; (b) each Borrower jointly and severally makes, and is liable for, each and every warranty, representation, obligation, covenant and undertaking under this Agreement; (c) when permitted by the context, the word “Borrower” shall include and mean all, or any one of the undersigned Borrowers; (d) each Borrower hereby waives its rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification, and contribution and any other rights and defenses that are or may become available to any Borrower by reason of Sections 2787 to 2855, inclusive of the California Civil Code or similar provision; (e) each Borrower waives all rights and defenses it may have if this Agreement is secured by real property, which means, among other things: (1) Lender may collect from any Borrower without first foreclosing on any real or personal property collateral pledged by Borrower; and (2) if Lender forecloses on any real property collateral pledged by any Borrower: (i) the amount of the debt may be reduced only by the price for which that collateral is sold at the foreclosure sale, even if the collateral is worth more than the sale price; and (ii) Lender may collect from any Borrower even if Lender, by foreclosing on the real property collateral, has destroyed any right any Borrower may have to collect from any other Borrower. This is an unconditional and irrevocable waiver of any rights and defenses any Borrower may have because Borrower’s debt is secured by real property. These rights and defenses include, but are not limited to, any rights or defenses based upon Section 580a, 580b, 580d, or 726 of the Code of Civil Procedure or similar provisions; (f) each Borrower waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by Lender, even though that election of remedies, such as a non-judicial foreclosure with respect to security for a guaranteed obligation, has destroyed any Borrower’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement against the principal by the operation of Section 580d of the Code of Civil Procedure or otherwise, and each Borrower further waives any and all benefits or defenses, if any, arising directly or indirectly under any one or more of Sections 3116, 3118, 3119, 3419, 3605, 9504, 9505, and 9507 of the California Uniform Commercial Code or similar provisions; and (g) each Borrower hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally, directly, and primarily liable to Lender for payment and performance in full of all duties, obligations, and liabilities under this Agreement and each other document, instrument, and agreement entered into by any Borrower with or in favor of Lender in connection herewith, and that such liability is independent of the duties, obligations, and liabilities of any other Borrower or any other Guarantor, as applicable. Each reference herein to Borrower shall mean each and every Borrower that is a party hereto, individually and collectively, jointly and severally.

 

37. Borrower consents to Lender’s use of Borrower’s company names and logos in Lender’s written and oral presentations, including in Lender’s advertising, promotional, and marketing materials, client lists, news releases, and Web site. In connection with any client references in such written or oral presentations, Borrower consents to the use of individual names and quotations. Borrower’s consents herein shall survive termination of this Agreement until such time that Borrower delivers, and Lender receives, written revocation of such consents.

 

38. Lender’s rights and remedies under this Agreement and all security agreements shall be cumulative and Lender shall have all other rights and remedies not inconsistent therewith as provided by law; no exercise by Lender of one right or remedy shall be deemed an election and no waiver by Lender of any default on Borrower’s part shall be deemed a continuing waiver or course of dealing. No delay or omission by Lender shall constitute a waiver or election. This Agreement is binding and this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of heirs, legatees, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of Lender and shall bind all parties, which become bound as a borrower to this Agreement. Lender may assign any and all of Lender’s rights and interests under this Agreement. However, Borrower may not assign this Agreement or any rights hereunder without Lender’s prior written consent. No such consent by Lender shall release Borrower or any Guarantor. Lender reserves the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate, or grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, Lender’s rights and benefits under each of the documents executed herewith or hereafter. In connection therewith, Lender may disclose all documents and information that Lender now has or may hereafter acquire relating to any credit extended by Lender to Borrower, or about Borrower or Borrower’s business, any Guarantor or the business of any such Guarantor, or any Collateral hereunder. If an assignment is made by Lender, Borrower shall render performance under this Agreement to such assignee. Borrower waives and will not assert against any assignee any claims, defenses or set-offs that Borrower could assert against Lender except defenses that cannot be waived.

 

39. Paragraphs and paragraph numbers have been set forth herein for convenience only; unless the contrary is compelled by the context, everything contained in each paragraph applies equally to all paragraphs herein. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty, or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against Lender or Borrower whether under any rule of construction or otherwise; on the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by all parties and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words so used as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto. When permitted by the context, the singular includes the plural and vice versa. No reference to “proceeds” in this Agreement authorizes any sale, transfer, or other disposition of the Collateral by Borrower (except for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business but subject to the terms of Paragraph 30). “Includes” and “including” are not limiting. “Or” is not exclusive. “All” includes “any” and “any” includes “all”. Any reference herein to a “writing”, a “written document”, or an executed document shall also mean an “authenticated” writing or document or “authentication” (as defined in the UCC) unless Lender shall otherwise require an original writing.

 

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40. This Agreement and all transactions contemplated hereunder and/or evidenced hereby shall be governed by, construed under, and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California without giving effect to conflicts of law principles. This Agreement and all agreements relating to the subject matter hereof are the product of negotiation and preparation by and among each party and its respective attorneys, and shall be construed accordingly. The parties waive the provisions of California Civil Code §1654 or similar provision.

 

41. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP (as in effect in the United States). All other terms contained in this Agreement, which are not specifically defined herein, shall have the meanings provided in the UCC to the extent the same are used herein. “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles (as in effect in the United States) set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any successor authority) that are applicable as of the date of determination.

 

42. Any Collateral pledged to Lender to secure any of the Obligations of Borrower under this Agreement shall also secure any of the other Obligations of Borrower to Lender under any other agreements between Borrower and Lender, except that any real property pledged to secure any Obligations of Borrower under this Agreement shall only secure any other Obligation of Borrower if Lender specifically so agrees in writing.

 

43. Each and every provision of this Agreement shall be severable from every other provision for the purposes of determining legal enforceability of any such provision or provisions.

 

44. This Agreement, together with the Loan Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among and between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings between said parties, verbal or written, express or implied, relating to the subject matter hereof. No promises of any kind have been made by Lender or any third party to induce Borrower to execute this Agreement or the Loan Documents. No course of dealing, course of performance or trade usage, and no parol evidence of any nature, shall be used to supplement or modify any terms of this Agreement or the Loan Documents. Neither this Agreement nor any provisions hereof may be changed, waived, discharged, or terminated, nor may any consent to the departure from the terms hereof be given, orally (even if supported by new consideration), but may only be by an instrument in writing signed by all parties to this Agreement. Any waiver or consent so given shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

 

45. This Agreement and any of the Loan Documents may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if all signatures were upon the same instrument. This Agreement and any of the Loan Documents, or a signature page thereto intended to be attached to a copy of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, signed and transmitted by facsimile machine, telecopier, or other electronic means (including via transmittal of an e-mail or a ‘‘pdf ‘ file) shall be deemed and treated as an original document. The signature of any person thereon, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature on an original document. At the request of any party hereto, any facsimile, telecopy or other electronic document is to be re-executed in original form by the persons who executed the facsimile, telecopy of other electronic document. No party hereto may raise the use of a facsimile machine, telecopier, or other electronic means or the fact that any signature was transmitted through the use of a facsimile machine, telecopier, or other electronic means as a defense to the enforcement of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents.

 

46. If the incurrence or payment of the Obligations by Borrower or any Guarantor or the transfer by either or both of such parties to Lender of any property of either or both such parties should for any reason subsequently be declared to be void or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditor’s rights, including provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §101 et seq.), as amended, and any successor statute relating to fraudulent conveyances, preferences, and other voidable or recoverable payments or money or transfers or property (collectively, a “Voidable Transfer”), and if Lender is required to repay or restore, in whole or in part, any such Voidable Transfer, or elects to do so upon the reasonable advice or its counsel, then, as to any such Voidable Transfer or the amount thereof that Lender is required or elects to repay or restore, and as to all reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees of Lender related thereto, the liability of Borrower or such Guarantor automatically shall be revived, reinstated, and restored and shall exist as though such Voidable Transfer had never been made.

 

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47. The parties hereby agree that (a) this Agreement is entered into and that Borrower’s performance to Lender occurs at San Jose, California; and (b) all actions or proceedings arising in connection with this Agreement and/or the Loan Documents shall be tried and litigated only in the State and Federal courts located in the County of Santa Clara, State of California or, at the sole option of Lender, in any other court in which Lender shall initiate legal or equitable proceedings and which has subject matter jurisdiction over the matter in controversy. Each of Borrower and Lender waives, to the extent permitted under applicable law, any right each may have to assert the doctrine of forum non conveniens or to object to venue to the extent any proceeding is brought in accordance with this section. BORROWER AND LENDER HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN ANY ACTION HEREUNDER OR UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ARISING OUT OF THE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BORROWER AND LENDER.

 

WITHOUT INTENDING IN ANY WAY TO LIMIT THE PARTIES’ AGREEMENT TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY, if the above waiver of the right to a trial by jury is not enforceable, the parties hereto agree that any and all disputes or controversies of any nature between them arising at any time shall be decided by a reference to a private judge, mutually selected by the parties (or, if they cannot agree, by the Presiding Judge of the Santa Clara County, California Superior Court) appointed in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure §638 as such section may be amended and/or re-numbered from time to time (or pursuant to comparable provisions of federal law if the dispute falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts), sitting without a jury, in Santa Clara County, California; and the parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such court. The reference proceeding shall be conducted pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure §§638 through 645.1 inclusive, as such sections may be amended and/or re-numbered from time to time. No provision of this Section shall limit the right of any party (a) to exercise self-help remedies (including setoff), (b) to foreclose against or sell any collateral, by power of sale or otherwise, or (c) to obtain or oppose provisional or ancillary remedies from a court of competent jurisdiction before, after or during the pendency of a reference. The exercise of, or opposition to, any such remedy does not waive the right of any party to reference pursuant to this Section. In the event of any challenge to the legality or enforceability of this Section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover the costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by it in connection therewith.

 

51. Borrower and Lender agree that, upon fulfillment of the conditions precedent below: (a) the Prior Form Loan Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, and all terms and conditions contained in this Agreement shall hereafter replace the terms and conditions of the Prior Form Loan Agreement; and (b) each reference, if any, in the Loan Documents to the Prior Form Loan Agreement shall mean and be a reference to this Agreement. Except for any Loan Documents being amended and restated contemporaneously herewith, all other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Lender under any of the Loan Documents or constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.

 

This Agreement constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Prior Form Loan Agreement and is not intended to nor shall it extinguish any of the outstanding indebtedness, obligations or agreements of Borrower (including the Outstanding Term Loan Obligations, but with the exception of the extinguishment of the Outstanding Revolving Loan Obligations upon their repayment), or Lender’s outstanding rights, under the Prior Form Loan Agreement or Prior Related Loan Documents in such a manner as would constitute a release or novation of the outstanding original indebtedness, obligations or agreements of Borrower, or a waiver of Lender’s outstanding rights, under the Prior Form Loan Agreement or Prior Form Related Loan Documents, nor shall this Agreement affect or impair the outstanding liens or security interests created thereby or in connection therewith or their priority, it being the intention of the parties hereto to preserve all outstanding liens and security interests securing payment of the Obligations and their priority, which liens and security interests are acknowledged by Borrowers to be valid and subsisting against the Collateral and any other security or collateral for the Obligations.

 

The following (unless waived by Lender) are conditions precedent to, the amendment and restatement of the Prior Form Loan Agreement and the effectiveness of this Agreement, and the amendment and restatement of the Prior Form Term Loan and the effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Term Note: (a) Lender’ receipt of funds to permanently repay all Outstanding Revolving Loan Obligations; (b) Lender’s receipt of a Prepayment Fee of $6,500 in connection with the prepayment of the Outstanding Revolving Loan Obligations; (c) the delivery, execution, resolution and/or completion (as applicable), to Lender’s satisfaction, of all other documents, matters or acts required by Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement including, without limitation, Lender’s receipt of this Agreement and the Amended and Restated Term Note executed by all parties thereto; and (d) Borrower shall have paid all of Lender’s attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement and related documents.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Loan and Security Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.

 

NEPHROS, INC.,   TECH CAPITAL, LLC,
A Delaware corporation   A California limited liability company
(“Borrower”)   (“Lender”)
     
/s/ Daron Evans   /s/ Hank Noon
By:

Daron Evans

  By: Hank Noon
Its: President & Chief Executive Officer   Its: Senior Vice President

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

amended and restated Secured Promissory Note

(Single Advance – Non-Revolving)

 

$749,108.15 May 26th, 2020

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, NEPHROS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), promises to pay to TECH CAPITAL, LLC, a California limited liability company (“Lender”), or order, at Lender’s place of business at 2010 North First Street, Suite 300, San Jose, California 95131, or at such other place as may be designated in writing to Borrower by the holder of this Amended and Restated Secured Promissory Note (this “Note”), the principal sum of Seven Hundred Forty Nine Thousand One Hundred Eight and 15/100 Dollars ($749,108.15) (as such amount shall change from time to time, the “Loan Amount”), which shall be subject to the additional terms and conditions of that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement being entered into concurrently herewith and all of the riders and amendments thereto by and between Borrower and Lender (the “Loan Agreement”), together with interest on the unpaid principal balance at a rate (the “Rate”) of eight percent (8.00%) per annum. Upon the occurrence of a default or an event of default under this Note, the rate of interest on the Note shall be increased at the option of Lender by an additional three percent (3.00%). Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and shall be paid by Borrower on the first day of the following month, and, if not so paid, it shall thereafter bear like interest as the principal.

 

1. Intentionally Omitted.

 

2. Borrower will pay Lender the principal, interest, and fees hereunder, which are due and payable on the dates and in the manner that follows:

 

(a) Interest payments will be due and payable in arrears commencing on the first day of the first month hereafter and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter while amounts hereunder are due and owing;

 

(b) Principal payments will be due and payable follows:

 

  [  ] Per the following schedule: ———n/a———
     
  [X] monthly commencing on June 1st, 2020 and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter for thirty-five months, an amount equal to Twenty Four Thousand Sixty Eight and 08/100 Dollars ($24,068.08), with a final monthly installment of Twenty Four Thousand Sixty Eight and 02/100 Dollars ($24,068.02) due on the Maturity Date.
     
  [  ] one (1) payment of ———n/a——— Dollars ($———n/a———) due on the Maturity Date.

 

(c) Intentionally Omitted;

 

(d) A administrative fee of ———n/a——— percent (——n/a——%) of $ ———n/a——— per month of the daily outstanding balance of the Loan Amount during the preceding month, (the “Administrative Fee”) shall be charged on the first day of each month and monthly thereafter while amounts hereunder are due and owing;

 

(e) An appraisal fee of ———n/a——— and 00/100 Dollars ($———n/a———) (the “Appraisal Fee”) shall be charged for each appraisal of the Collateral performed by Lender or its agents;

 

(f) Intentionally Omitted;

 

(g) Borrower shall pay all fees and legal and other costs incurred by Lender in connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Note and the documents executed in connection herewith and the perfection of any security interest in any collateral granted by Borrower or any third party to Lender in connection with this Note, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and legal and other costs;

 

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(h) On April 1, 2023 (the “Maturity Date”), the entire principal balance hereof, together with any and all unpaid and/or accrued interest, loan fees, monthly Administrative Fees, and attorneys’ fees and legal and other costs due hereunder, shall be due, owing and payable in full, unless earlier due and payable pursuant to the terms of Section 6;

 

(i) Interest not paid when due shall bear interest at the same rate as principal. All principal and interest due hereunder is payable in lawful money of the United States of America; and

 

(j) In no event shall the interest rate or rates payable under this Note, plus any other amounts paid in connection herewith, exceed the highest rate permissible under any law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable. Borrower and Lender intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates of interest (and the other amounts paid in connection herewith) and manner of payment stated within this Note; provided, however, that anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if said interest rate or rates of interest (or other amounts paid in connection herewith) or the manner of payment exceeds the maximum allowable under applicable law, then, ipso facto as of the date of this Note, Borrower is and shall be liable only for the payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment received from Borrower in excess of such legal maximum, whenever received, shall be applied to reduce the principal balance of this Note to the extent of such excess.

 

3. Voluntary prepayments of the principal balance of this Note shall be permitted at any time. Also, a prepayment may be deemed to have occurred regardless of whether such payment or other reduction (i) is voluntary or involuntary; (ii) is occasioned by Lender’s acceleration of the obligations hereunder or a demand hereunder; (iii) is made by Borrower or other third party, including a guarantor of Borrower’s obligation hereunder; (iv) results from Lender’s receipt or collection of proceeds of its collateral, including insurance proceeds and condemnation awards; (v) results from Lender’s exercise of its rights of setoff; and/or (iv) is made during an insolvency proceeding, or is made pursuant to any plan of reorganization or liquidation. Any such voluntary or involuntary prepayment shall be accompanied by all interest and any Administrative Fees that have accrued and remain unpaid with respect to the amount of principal being repaid and a prepayment fee equal to the following:

 

(a) ———N/A——— percent (———N/A———%) of the amount prepaid with respect to any prepayments made during the first 12 months of the term of this Note; and

 

(b) ———N/A——— percent (———N/A———%) of the amount prepaid with respect to any prepayments made thereafter.

 

Amounts repaid or prepaid with respect to this Note may not be reborrowed. Partial prepayments of principal shall be applied to scheduled payments of principal in the inverse order of their maturity.

 

4. If any installment of principal, interest, or Administrative Fee hereunder is not paid when due, the holder shall have the following rights in addition to the rights set forth herein, in the Loan Agreement, and under law:

 

(a) the right to compound interest and the Administrative Fee by adding the unpaid interest and/or Administrative Fee to principal, with such amount thereafter bearing interest and the Administrative Fee at the rates provided in this Note; and

 

(b) if any installment is more than ten (10) days past due, the right to collect a charge equal to the greater of Fifteen and 00/100 Dollars ($15.00) or five percent (5.00%) of the late payment for each month in which it is late. This charge is a result of a reasonable endeavor by Borrower and the holder to estimate the holder’s added legal and other costs and damages resulting from Borrower’s failure to make timely payments under this Note; hence Borrower agrees that the charge shall be presumed to be the amount of damage sustained by the holder since it is extremely difficult to determine the actual amount necessary to reimburse the holder for damages.

 

5. Borrower expressly waives presentment, demand, protest, notice of dishonor, notice of non-payment, notice of maturity, notice of protest, presentment for the purpose of accelerating maturity, diligence in collection, the benefit of any exemption under the homestead exemption laws, and all other notices and demands in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, or enforcement of this Note. Borrower agrees that Lender may release, surrender, exchange, or substitute any collateral now held or which may hereafter be held as security for the payment of this Note, and may extend the time for payment or otherwise modify the terms of payment of any part or the whole of the debt evidenced hereby. Borrower irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of all payments at any time hereafter received by Lender on behalf of Borrower, and Borrower agrees that Lender shall have the continuing exclusive right to apply any such payments against the then due and owing obligations of Borrower to Lender as Lender may deem advisable.

 

  Page 2 of 4  
 

 

6. It is expressly agreed that if a default or breach occurs in the payment of any principal or interest, or other fee as provided above, or in the payment or performance of any other of Borrower’s Obligations (as that term is defined in the Loan Agreement), at Lender’s option, the unpaid principal balance of this Note, together with interest accrued thereon, and other fees as provided above shall forthwith be due and payable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, in the event the Loan Agreement is terminated, all amounts due under this Note shall also be due, owing, and payable.

 

7. This Note is made subject to the terms and conditions of and is secured by security interests granted by Borrower in favor of Lender, and all covenants, conditions, and agreements contained in the Loan Agreement, and ———N/A—————, all of which are hereby incorporated and made a part hereof. All capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement.

 

8. Borrower hereby consents to any and all renewals, replacements, and/or extensions of time for payment of this Note before, at, or after maturity. This Note shall be binding upon all legal representatives, successors, and assigns of Borrower. However, Borrower may not assign this Note or any rights hereunder without Lender’s prior written consent. Neither an unconsented assignment nor an assignment consented to by Lender shall release Borrower or any guarantor of any Obligation or indebtedness hereunder. Lender reserves the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate, or grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, Lender’s rights and benefits under each of the documents executed herewith or hereafter. In connection therewith, Lender may disclose all documents and information which Lender now has or may hereafter acquire relating to any credit extended by Lender to Borrower, or about Borrower or its business, any guarantor or the business of any guarantor, or any Collateral required hereunder. Any waiver of any rights under this Note, the Loan Agreement, or under any other agreement, instrument, or paper signed by Borrower is neither valid nor effective unless made in writing and signed by Lender. No delay or omission on the part of the Lender in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other right.

 

9. Borrower promises to pay all legal and other costs and expenses of collection of this Note and to pay all reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in such collection or in any suit or action to collect this Note or any appeal thereof. Borrower and Lender agree that this Note is entered into and Borrower’s performance to Lender occurs at San Jose, California. This Note shall be governed by, construed under, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

 

10. Any collateral pledged to secure any obligation of Borrower shall also secure any other obligation of Borrower except that any real property pledged to secure any obligation of Borrower shall only secure any other obligation of Borrower if Lender specifically so agrees in writing.

 

11. An Event of Default under this Note or the Loan Agreement, or any other agreement referenced in Section 7 above shall be an Event of Default under each of such loan documents, and vice versa.

 

12. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Note is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

13. This Note, or a signature page thereto intended to be attached to a copy of this Note, signed and transmitted by facsimile machine, telecopier, or other electronic means (including via transmittal of a “pdf” file) shall be deemed and treated as an original document. The signature of any person thereon, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature on an original documents. At the request for any party hereto, any facsimile, telecopy or other electronic document is to be re-executed in original form by the persons who executed the facsimile, telecopy or other electronic document is to be re-executed in original form by the persons who executed, the facsimile, telecopy or other electronic document. No party hereto may raise the use of a facsimile machine, telecopy, or other electronic means or the fact that any signature was transmitted through the use of a facsimile machine, telecopier, or other electronic means as a defense to the enforcement of this Note.

 

  Page 3 of 4  
 

 

14. This is an integrated Note and supersedes all prior agreements or negotiations regarding the subject matter hereof. This Note may only be amended in writing.

 

15. This Note amends and restates that certain $1,187,000.00 Secured Promissory Note (Single Advance – Non-Revolving) dated March 27th, 2018 (the “Prior Form Term Note”), however, this Note is not a novation of any of Borrower’s outstanding obligations under the Prior Form Term Note (including the outstanding obligations of $ $749,108.15 as of the date hereof). This Note is the “Amended and Restated Term Note” referred to in the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 14th, 2020 (as amended from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”) between Borrower and Lender and is governed by the terms thereof and hereof. The Loan Agreement, among other things, (1) provides for the making of a term loan by Lender to Borrower pursuant to the Prior Form Term Note (as defined in the Loan Agreement) in the original principal amount of $1,187,000.00 and having an aggregate outstanding principal amount as of the date hereof as set forth above, with the indebtedness of Borrower resulting from such term loan being evidenced by this Note, and (2) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof before the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions specified therein. The obligations of Borrower under this Note, and the other obligations of Borrower under the Loan Documents, are secured by the Collateral as provided in the Loan Documents.

 

IN WITNESS HEREOF, this Note has been executed and delivered on the date first set forth above.

 

NEPHROS, INC.,  
a Delaware corporation  
   
 /s/ Daron Evans  
By: Daron Evans  
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer  

 

  Page 4 of 4  

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM NOTE

 

SBA Loan #: [omitted]
SBA Loan Name: Paycheck Protection Program Loan
Loan Date: 4/22/2020
Loan Amount: $478,700.00
Interest Rate: 1.00% fixed
Borrower: Nephros, Inc.
Lender: First Republic Bank

 

This Note represents the Loan (as defined below) made by Lender pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). Borrower confirms and agrees that the Loan is subject in all respects to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and the requirements, rules, regulations, procedures and guidance concerning the PPP in effect as of the date of this Note and as may be promulgated from time to time after the date of this Note by the U.S. Department of Treasury and/or SBA (collectively, the “PPP Regulations”), including, without limitation, all PPP Regulations applicable to permitted uses of loan proceeds and loan forgiveness.

 

1. PROMISE TO PAY

 

In return for the Loan, Borrower promises to pay to the order of Lender the amount of $478,700.00 Dollars, interest on the unpaid principal balance, and all other amounts required by this Note.

 

2. DEFINITIONS

 

Loan” means the loan evidenced by this Note.

 

Loan Documents” means the documents related to this Loan signed by Borrower, including the Borrower Application Form for the Paycheck Protection Program, the Borrower Certificate executed and delivered by Borrower in connection with this Note and all other attestations, certificates, agreements and documents delivered by Borrower to Lender in connection with the Loan.

 

SBA” means the Small Business Administration, an Agency of the United States of America.

 

3. PAYMENT TERMS

 

Borrower must make all payments at the place Lender designates. The payment terms for this Note are:

 

Initial Deferment Period: No payments are due on this Loan for 6 months from the date of first disbursement of this Loan. Interest will continue to accrue during the deferment period.

 

 
 

 

Loan Forgiveness: Borrower may apply to Lender for forgiveness of the amount due on this Loan in an amount equal to the sum of the following costs incurred by Borrower during the 8-week period beginning on the date of first disbursement of this Loan:

 

  a. Payroll costs
  b. Any payment of interest on a covered mortgage obligation (which shall not include any prepayment of or payment of principal on a covered mortgage obligation)
  c. Any payment on a covered rent obligation
  d. Any covered utility payment

 

The amount of Loan forgiveness shall be calculated (and may be reduced) in accordance with the requirements of the PPP, including the provisions of Section 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (P.L. 116-136). Not more than 25% of the amount forgiven can be attributable to non-payroll costs. If Borrower has received an EIDL advance, then that amount shall be subtracted from the loan forgiveness amount.

 

Maturity: This Note will mature on the date that is two years from date of first disbursement of this Loan.

 

Repayment Terms:

 

Interest Rate: The interest rate on this Note is one percent per year. The interest rate is fixed and will not be changed during the life of the Loan.

 

Installment Payments Following Deferment Period: Borrower must pay monthly principal and interest payments on the outstanding principal balance of the Loan amortized over the term of the Loan, unless otherwise forgiven in whole or part in accordance with the PPP Regulations, beginning 7 months from the date of the first disbursement of this Loan until the maturity date. Payments of principal and interest must be made on such date as designated by Lender in the months during which they are due. Any Loan balance remaining following forgiveness pursuant to the PPP Regulations, if any, will be fully reamortized over the remaining term of the Loan.

 

Application of Installment Payments: Lender will apply each installment payment first to pay interest accrued to the day Lender received the payment, then to bring principal current, and will apply any remaining balance to reduce principal.

 

Payment at Maturity. All remaining principal and accrued interest is due and payable two years from the date of first disbursement of this Loan.

 

Loan Prepayment: Notwithstanding any provision in this Note to the contrary:

 

Borrower may prepay this Note at any time without penalty. Borrower may prepay 20 percent or less of the unpaid principal balance at any time without notice. If Borrower prepays more than 20 percent and the Loan has been sold on the secondary market, Borrower must:

 

  a. Give Lender written notice;
  b. Pay all accrued interest; and
  c. If the prepayment is received less than 21 days from the date Lender receives the notice, pay an amount equal to 21 days interest from the date Lender receives the notice, less any interest accrued during the 21 days and paid under b. of this paragraph.

 

 
 

 

If Borrower does not prepay within 30 days from the date Lender receives the notice, Borrower must give Lender a new notice.

 

Non-Recourse: Lender and SBA shall have no recourse against any individual shareholder, member or partner of Borrower for non-payment of the Loan, except to the extent that such shareholder, member or partner uses the Loan proceeds for an unauthorized purpose.

 

4. DEFAULT

 

Borrower is in default under this Note if Borrower does not make a payment when due under this Note, or if Borrower:

 

  A. Fails to do anything required by this Note and other Loan Documents;
     
  B. Defaults on any other loan with Lender;
     
  C. Does not disclose, or anyone acting on its behalf does not disclose, any material fact to Lender or SBA;
     
  D. Makes, or anyone acting on its behalf makes, (i) a materially false or misleading representation to Lender or SBA or (ii) a false or incorrect statement or certification in any certificate, attestation or agreement included in any Loan Documents;
     
  E. Defaults on any loan or agreement with another creditor, if Lender believes the default may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay this Note;
     
  F. Fails to pay any taxes when due;
     
  G. Becomes the subject of a proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law;
     
  H. Has a receiver or liquidator appointed for any part of their business or property;
     
  I. Makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;
     
  J. Has any adverse change in financial condition or business operation that Lender believes may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay this Note;
     
  K. Reorganizes, merges, consolidates, or otherwise changes ownership or business structure without Lender’s prior written consent; or
     
  L. Becomes the subject of a civil or criminal action that Lender believes may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay this Note.

 

5. LENDER’S RIGHTS IF THERE IS A DEFAULT

 

Without notice or demand and without giving up any of its rights, Lender may:

 

  A. Require immediate payment of all amounts owing under this Note;
     
  B. Collect all amounts owing from Borrower; or
     
  C. File suit and obtain judgment.

 

 
 

 

6. LENDER’S GENERAL POWERS

 

Without notice and without Borrower’s consent, Lender may:

 

  A. Incur expenses to collect amounts due under this Note, enforce the terms of this Note or any other Loan Document. Among other things, the expenses may include payments for property taxes, prior liens, insurance, appraisals, environmental remediation costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. If Lender incurs such expenses, it may demand immediate repayment from Borrower or add the expenses to the principal balance; and
     
  B. Release anyone obligated to pay this Note.

 

7. WHEN FEDERAL LAW APPLIES; GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

 

When SBA is the holder, this Note will be interpreted and enforced under federal law, including SBA regulations. As to this Note, Borrower may not claim or assert against SBA any local or state law to deny any obligation, defeat any claim of SBA, or preempt federal law.

 

When the SBA is not the holder, this Note will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of California. All judicial proceedings arising in or under or related to the Loan, this Note or any of the other Loan Documents may be brought in any state or federal court located in a state where Lender has an office (each, a “Lender’s State”). By execution and delivery of this Note, Borrower generally and unconditionally: (a) consents to nonexclusive personal jurisdiction in each Lender’s State; (b) waives any objection as to jurisdiction or venue in each Lender’s State; (c) agrees not to assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue in the aforesaid courts; and (d) irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with the Loan, this Loan or the other Loan Documents.

 

8. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

 

Under this Note, Borrower includes its successors, and Lender includes its successors and assigns.

 

Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Note.

 

9. OTHER AGREEMENTS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

  A. Borrower understands and agrees, and waives and releases Lender, as follows:

 

  a. Forgiveness of the Loan is only available for principal that is used for the limited purposes that qualify for forgiveness under the PPP Regulations, and that to obtain forgiveness, Borrower must request it and must provide documentation in accordance with the PPP Regulations, and certify that the amounts Borrower is requesting to be forgiven qualify under the PPP Regulations. Borrower also understands that Borrower shall remain responsible under the Loan for any amounts not forgiven, and that interest payable under the Loan will not be forgiven but that the SBA may pay the Loan interest on forgiven amounts.
     
  b. Forgiveness is not automatic and Borrower must request it. Borrower is not relying on Lender for its understanding of the requirements for forgiveness such as eligible expenditures, necessary records/documentation, or possible reductions due to changes in number of employees or compensation. Rather Borrower will consult the PPP Regulations and SBA’s program materials.

 

 
 

 

  B. All individuals and entities signing this Note are jointly and severally liable.
     
  C. Borrower waives all suretyship defenses.
     
  D. Borrower must sign all documents necessary at any time to comply with the Loan Documents.
     
  E. Lender may exercise any of its rights separately or together, as many times and in any order it chooses. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights without giving up any of them.
     
  F. Borrower may not use an oral statement of Lender or SBA to contradict or alter the written terms of this Note.
     
  G. If any part of this Note is unenforceable, all other parts remain in effect.
     
  H. To the extent allowed by law, Borrower waives all demands and notices in connection with this Note, including presentment, demand, protest, and notice of dishonor. Borrower also waives any defenses based upon any claim that Lender did not obtain any guarantee.

 

10. FURTHER ASSURANCES

 

The Loan and this Note are subject in all respects to the PPP Regulations, including any PPP Regulations promulgated after the date of this Note. If after the date of this Note, any further PPP Regulations are promulgated or if the PPP Regulations mandate a form of or the terms of the note, loan authorization or other loan documents for PPP loans, Borrower agrees to execute any further instruments and documents and to take such further actions as Lender requests, including exchanging this Note for new note, executing an amendment to this Note, or executing any other loan documents that Lender requests. In the event of any exchange of or amendment to this Note, the disbursement date applicable to the Loan (and all related time periods under the PPP Regulations and the maturity date applicable to this Loan) shall be the same as set forth in this Note.

 

11. BORROWER’S NAME AND SIGNATURE

 

By signing below, each individual or entity executing this Note as “Borrower” becomes obligated under this Note as Borrower.

 

BORROWER:  
   
Nephros, Inc.  
     
By:

/s/ Andrew Astor

 
  Andrew Astor  
  COO & CFO  
     
  4/22/2020  
  Date  

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

 

I, Daron Evans, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Nephros, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 5, 2020 By: /s/ Daron Evans
  Name: Daron Evans
  Title:

President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

 

I, Andrew Astor, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Nephros, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 5, 2020 By: /s/ Andrew Astor
  Name: Andrew Astor
  Title:

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Nephros, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Daron Evans, President, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifies that:

 

1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
   
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

By: /s/ Daron Evans  
Name: Daron Evans  
Title:

President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

 
     
Dated: August 5, 2020  

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Nephros, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Andrew Astor, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifies that:

 

1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
   
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

By: /s/ Andrew Astor  
Name: Andrew Astor  
Title:

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 
     
Dated: August 5, 2020