Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item
9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our
management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, evaluated, as of the
end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and
principal financial officer have concluded that as of December 31, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective
at the reasonable assurance level. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated,
can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating
the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management
is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision and
with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, 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. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies
and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions
and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (b) our receipts and expenditures are being
made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (c) regarding the prevention or timely detection
of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections
of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes
in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As
of December 31, 2020, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting
using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated
Framework (2013). Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our internal control over
financial reporting was effective.
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal
control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting
firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule
13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that have materially affected,
or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item
9B. Other Information
None.
44
PART
III
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Executive
Officers and Directors
The
following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of our executive officer and directors as of the date of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
Name
Age
Positions
Held
Executive
Officers
Arthur
D. Sams
69
Chairman
of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
Rajesh
Masina
38
Chief
Operating Officer
Luis
Zavala
51
Chief
Financial Officer
Non-Employee
Directors
Keith
Albrecht
70
Director
Peter
Gross
71
Director
Katherine
Koster
58
Director
Executive
Officers and Employee Director
Arthur
D. Sams has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors since August 1991 and
as our Secretary since October 2016. Under his leadership, we have grown to be a leading brand name in the design and manufacturing
of DC power systems for the telecommunications, military, automotive, marine and industrial markets. He specializes in the design
of thermodynamics and power generation systems. During his early career, he gained vast industry experience while working as a
machinist, engineer, project manager, chief technical officer and consultant for various Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Department
of Defense and the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Sams studied at California State Polytechnic University Pomona and the University
California at Irvine with a dual major in biology and engineering.
In
nominating Mr. Sams, our board of directors considered his diverse and global experience in engineering and manufacturing combined
with a successful entrepreneurial career as a key attribute in his selection. The board of directors believes that through his
experience in product development and international operations over the past two decades he can provide our company with particular
insight into global opportunities and new markets for our current and planned future product lines.
Rajesh
Masina has served as our Chief Operating Officer since April 2018 and previously served as our Vice President Operations from
August 2009 to April 2018. Prior to joining us, Mr. Masina served as a supply chain consultant to International Game Technology,
a large gaming equipment company in Reno, Nevada, from December 2008 to June 2009. Mr. Masina worked as the Assistant Manager
for Applied Photonics Worldwide Inc., an engineering services company, from January 2006 to January 2008. From July 2001 to May
2003, Mr. Masina worked as the Business Development Manager in his family business, which provided consulting services to a regional
telecommunications provider in India with respect to the acquisition of telecommunications sites. We believe Mr. Masina has a
unique combination of technical and business knowledge that is vital to our growth strategy. Mr. Masina’s key strengths
include business analytics, supply chain management, make vs. buy decision making, production scheduling, client relations, and
strategic planning. Mr. Masina is a minority investor in a startup equipment rental company, Smartgen Solutions, Inc., serving
the Southern California telecommunications equipment market. Smartgen Solutions, Inc. provides installation and maintenance service
for various telecommunications tower companies and also is an authorized service dealer for Polar products. Mr. Masina has a Master’s
in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nevada Reno and an MBA from the University of Nevada Reno’s Supply Chain
Program.
45
Luis
Zavala has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2018 and previously served as our Vice President Finance from
August 2009 to April 2018 and as our Acting Chief Financial Officer from March 2016 to March 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Zavala served
as the President of Sky Limited Enterprises, a general contractor, from June 2006 to August 2009. Prior thereto, Mr. Zavala worked
as Director of Finance for Legacy Long Distance International, a telecommunications operator service provider company, from March
2001 to May 2006. Mr. Zavala also has over 20 years of experience managing accounting and finance departments in various industries,
including banking and telecommunications. Mr. Zavala has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the California
State University, Northridge and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management, Long Beach.
Non-Employee
Directors
Keith
Albrecht has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2016 and serves as a member of each of our Audit Committee,
Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Albrecht has extensive experience as a commercial
real estate appraiser for commercial banks and local governments. Mr. Albrecht was an appraiser for commercial buildings for the
County of Orange, California, from 1996 to 2007, where he was responsible for the assessment of property values of shopping malls,
office buildings, hotels and apartment buildings. Prior thereto, Mr. Albrecht was an appraiser for Security Pacific and Bank of
America, from 1985 to 1996. Mr. Albrecht is currently retired and invests in startups and small cap companies. In nominating Mr.
Albrecht, our board of directors considered his commercial real estate appraisal experience, which our board of directors believes
gives him particular insight into analysis of income statements and balance sheets, debt analysis and audits of large commercial
institutions.
Peter
Gross has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2018 and serves as a member of our Audit Committee,
Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Since 2012, Mr. Gross has served as the Vice President
Mission Critical Systems at Bloom Energy, a fuel cell power systems company located in Sunnyvale, California. Mr. Gross holds
a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest and an MBA from California State University
at Dominguez Hills. Mr. Gross is also a member of the Advisory Board of UCLA’s Institute of Environment and Sustainability
and a member of Southern Methodist University’s Data Center System Engineering Board of Advisors. In nominating Mr. Gross,
our board of directors considered his significant engineering experience in the power systems industry, especially for data center
and telecommunications applications. Our board of directors believes that Mr. Gross will provide critical leadership as we expand
our DC power systems within the data and military markets.
Katherine
Koster has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2019 and serves as a member of our Audit Committee
and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Since 2008, Ms. Koster has served as Managing Director – Public Finance
at Piper Sandler Companies where she assists municipalities in accessing the capital markets to fund critical infrastructure.
Ms. Koster holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater/Business Administration from Pepperdine University and has completed the
“Women in Governance: Preparing for Board Membership” corporate governance program at the UCLA Anderson School of
Management. Ms. Koster holds Series 7 and Series 24 licenses issued by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Series 50
and Series 53 licenses issued by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and a Series 63 certificate issued by the North American
Securities Administrators Association. Our board of directors believes that Ms. Koster’s investment banking experience with
Piper Sander Companies and her high level of financial literacy and expertise and experience in capital raising activities will
provide strategic insight to financial decisions for future Company initiatives.
Election
of Officers; Family Relationships
Our
executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors. There are no family relationships
among any of our directors or executive officers.
46
Board
Composition
Our
board of directors currently consists of four members: Arthur D. Sams, Keith Albrecht, Peter Gross, and Katherine Koster. Our
directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation or removal.
Our
certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the
board of directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that any vacancy on our board of directors, including
a vacancy resulting from an expansion of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then
in office, although less than a quorum or by a sole remaining director.
Independence
of our Board of Directors and Board Committees
Rule
5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules requires a majority of a listed company’s board of directors to be comprised of “independent
directors,” as defined in such rule, subject to specified exceptions. In addition, the Nasdaq Listing Rules require that,
subject to specified exceptions: each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating committees be independent
as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules; audit committee members also satisfy independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act; and compensation committee members also satisfy an additional independence test for compensation committee
members under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Our
board of directors has evaluated the independence of its members based upon the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the SEC.
Applying these standards, our board of directors determined that none of the directors, other than Mr. Sams, have a relationship
that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each
of those directors is “independent” as that term is defined under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Mr.
Sams is not considered independent because he is an officer of Polar. As such, a majority of our board of directors is comprised
of “independent directors” as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Board
Committees
Our
board of directors has established standing committees in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities. These committees
include an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The composition and
responsibilities of each committee are described below. Members serve on committees until their resignation or until otherwise
determined by our board of directors. Each of these committees has adopted a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards
of the SEC and the Nasdaq Listing Rules, which we have posted on the investor relations section of our website.
Audit
Committee
The
members of our Audit Committee are Messrs. Albrecht and Gross and Ms. Koster. Mr. Albrecht is the chair of the Audit Committee.
Each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the heightened audit committee independence requirements under the Nasdaq Listing
Rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Mr. Albrecht qualifies as an
audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined under SEC rules, and possesses the requisite financial sophistication,
as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Our Audit Committee assists our board of directors in its oversight of our accounting
and financial reporting process and the audits of our financial statements. Under its charter, our Audit Committee is responsible
for, among other things:
●
overseeing
accounting and financial reporting process;
●
selecting,
retaining and replacing independent auditors and evaluating their qualifications, independence and performance;
●
reviewing
and approving scope of the annual audit and audit fees;
47
●
discussing
with management and independent auditors the results of annual audit and review of quarterly financial statements;
●
reviewing
adequacy and effectiveness of internal control policies and procedures;
●
approving
retention of independent auditors to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services;
●
overseeing
internal audit functions and annually reviewing audit committee charter and committee performance;
●
preparing
the audit committee report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement; and
●
reviewing
and evaluating the performance of the Audit Committee, including compliance with its charter.
Compensation
Committee
The
members of our Compensation Committee are Messrs. Gross and Albrecht. Mr. Gross is the chair of the Compensation Committee. Each
member of our Compensation Committee is independent as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and satisfies Nasdaq’s additional
independence standards for compensation committee members. Messrs. Gross and Albrecht are non-employee directors within the meaning
of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and outside directors as defined by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Compensation
Committee assists our board of directors in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to the compensation of our executive
officers. Under its charter, our Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:
●
developing
and maintaining an executive compensation policy and monitor the results of that policy;
●
recommending
to our board of directors for approval compensation and benefit plans;
●
reviewing
and approving annually corporate and personal goals and objectives to serve as the basis for the CEO’s compensation,
evaluating the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and determining the CEO’s compensation
based on that evaluation;
●
determining
and approving the annual compensation for other executive officers;
●
retaining
or obtaining the advice of a compensation consultant, outside legal counsel or other advisor;
●
approving
any grants of stock options, restricted stock, performance shares, stock appreciation rights, and other equity-based incentives
to the extent provided under our equity compensation plans;
●
reviewing
and making recommendations to our board of directors regarding the compensation of non-employee directors; and
●
reviewing
and evaluating the performance of the Compensation Committee, including compliance with its charter.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Gross and Albrecht and Ms. Koster. Mr. Gross is the chair
of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each member of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent
as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Under its charter, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible
for, among other things:
●
considering
and reviewing periodically the desired composition of our board of directors;
●
establishing
any qualifications and standards for individual directors;
48
●
identifying,
evaluating and nominating candidates for election to our board of directors;
●
ensuring
that the members of our board of directors satisfy SEC and Nasdaq independence and other requirements relating to membership
on our board of directors and committees;
●
making
recommendations to our board of directors regarding the size of the board of directors, the tenure and classifications of
directors, and the composition of the committees of the board of directors;
●
considering
other corporate governance and related matters as requested by our board of directors; and
●
reviewing
and evaluating the performance of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, including compliance with its charter.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Since
July 2016, all officer compensation and bonuses for executive officers has been determined by our Compensation Committee which
is comprised of three independent directors.
None
of our executive officers serves, or in the past has served, as a member of the board of directors or Compensation Committee,
or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as members of
our board of directors or our Compensation Committee. None of the members of our Compensation Committee is or has been an officer
or employee of Polar.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
We
have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our
principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions. A copy of the code is available on the investor relations section of our website, which is located at https://polarpower.com/.
If we make any substantive amendments to, or grant any waivers from, the code of business conduct and ethics for any officer or
director, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a current report on Form 8-K.
Item
11. Executive Compensation.
For
2020, our Compensation Committee established an executive compensation plan for our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, whom we refer to collectively as our “executive officers,” with the
following objectives:
●
attract,
retain, motivate and reward our executive officers who are responsible for our success;
●
align
and strengthen the mutual interests of our executive officers, our company and our stockholders;
●
deliver
compensation that reflects our financial and operational performance, while at the same time providing the opportunity for
our executive officers to earn above-targeted total compensation for exceptional individual and company performance; and
●
provide
total compensation to each executive officer that is internally equitable, competitive and influenced by company and individual
performance.
During
2020, compensation of our executive officers was comprised of base salary, non-equity incentives in the form of cash bonuses,
and long-term equity incentives. The cash bonus amounts paid to our executive officers during 2020, as set forth below in “–
Summary Compensation Table,” were approved by our Compensation Committee and were based on a variety of factors regarding
our performance during 2020.
49
Compensation
Philosophy
Our
compensation philosophy and objectives are as follows:
●
to
align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders and incent our executive officers to attain our
short- and long-term financial and business goals;
●
to
ensure that our executive compensation structure and total compensation is fair, reasonable and competitive in the marketplace
so that we can attract and retain highly qualified personnel in key positions; and
●
to
provide an executive compensation structure and total compensation that are internally equitable based upon each executive
officer’s role and responsibilities.
Our
Compensation Committee seeks to make executive compensation decisions that embody this philosophy and that are directed towards
attaining these objectives.
In
implementing our compensation philosophy and objectives, our Compensation Committee reviews and analyzes each executive position,
including the importance and scope of the role and how the position compares to other Polar Power executive officers. With respect
to setting base salaries, our Compensation Committee also compares these positions to similar positions at a number of publicly
traded companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq that are engaged in the power manufacturing and design industry.
We
believe that structuring our executive officer compensation program to align the interests of our executive officers with our
interests and those of our stockholders, and properly incenting our executive officers to attain our short- and long-term business
goals, best serves the interests of our stockholders and creates stockholder value. We believe this occurs through motivating
our executive officers to attain our short- and long-term business goals and retaining these executive officers by providing compensation
opportunities that are competitive in the marketplace.
Compensation
Governance Practices
Listed
below are some key examples of our compensation governance practices that are intended to align the interests of our executive
officers with our stockholders, incent the attainment of short- and long-term business objectives and retain highly qualified
executive officers:
●
Pay
for performance. A substantial portion of our compensation is tied to meeting specified company and individual objectives.
We structure total compensation with significant annual cash incentives and a long-term equity component, thereby making a
substantial portion of each executive officer’s targeted total compensation dependent upon company and individual performance
as well as the performance of our stock price.
●
Retention
through long-term equity awards . We employ long-term equity awards through grants of options that vest in the future.
These equity awards are designed to aid in our retention of key personnel in important positions and align the interests of
our executive officers with those of our stockholders.
●
Long
vesting periods . Our equity awards to our executive officers generally vest in annual installments over a three-year period.
●
Linkage
of annual cash incentive compensation plan to our performance . Our annual cash incentive compensation plan links a majority
of targeted and potential payouts to our financial performance.
●
Prohibition
on hedging and pledging common stock Our executive officers, together with all our employees, are prohibited from engaging
in hedging, pledging or similar transactions with respect to our common stock.
50
●
No
perquisites. Our executive officers are not provided with any perquisites or special benefits other than benefits such
as healthcare, vacation and sick days available to other full-time employees of Polar Power.
●
Change
in control. All executive officers’ unvested equity grants accelerate upon any change in control of Polar Power.
●
No
option re-pricing . Our 2016 Plan does not permit options or stock appreciation rights to be repriced to a lower exercise
price without the approval of our stockholders, except in connection with certain changes to our capital structure.
●
Clawback
policy If we are required as the result of misconduct to restate our financial results due to our material noncompliance
with any financial reporting requirements under the federal securities laws, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer may be legally required to reimburse us for any bonus or incentive-based or equity-based compensation they receive.
Role
of our Compensation Committee
Our
Compensation Committee, with input from our management and one or more independent consultants, establishes, updates and administers
our executive compensation program. Our Compensation Committee establishes our compensation philosophy and objectives; oversees
the design and administration of our executive compensation program; establishes the elements and mix of total compensation; sets
the parameters and specific target metrics of our performance-based incentive compensation plan; and determines the target compensation
of our executive officers. Our Compensation Committee has the authority to retain independent counsel, advisors and other experts
to assist it in the compensation-setting process and receives adequate funding to engage those service providers.
Role
of Management
Our
Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers attend Compensation Committee meetings as requested by the Compensation Committee.
These individuals are not present during executive sessions of Compensation Committee meetings except at the invitation of the
Compensation Committee.
Comparable
Company Analysis
Our
Compensation Committee sets base salary compensation of our executive officers using compensation market data as a reference to
assist it in understanding the competitive pay positioning of total compensation and each element of compensation. For 2020, the
target for base salary compensation for our executive officers remained the same as in 2019 and was based on data collected from
our peer group of companies. The peer group of companies selected and used for compensation comparisons is comprised of Nasdaq
or NYSE traded power manufacturing and design companies with revenues below $100 million. The overall composition of the peer
group reflects companies of similar complexity and size to us. As such, we believe that these peer group of companies are reflective
of our market for executive talent. Set forth below is the list of the peer group of companies for 2020:
Company
Name
Description
Espey
Manufacturing – ESP (NYSE)
Power
electronics design and manufacturing company, products include power supplies, power converters, power distribution equipment.
Wireless
Telecommunications– WTT (NYSE)
Designs
and manufactures radio frequency and microwave based products for wireless and advance telecommunications industry
Fuel
Cell Energy – FCEL(Nasdaq)
Designs
and manufactures power generation systems for mobile and stationary power applications.
The
Compensation Committee reviews the appropriateness of the comparison group used for assessing the compensation of our executive
officers on an annual basis. The data used from our peer group was collected directly from filings made by the peer group of companies
with the SEC.
51
Elements
of Total Compensation
During
2020, our executive officers’ compensation program included three major elements:
●
Base
Salary
●
Non-Equity
Incentives
●
Long-term
Equity Incentives.
Base
Salary
Our
Compensation Committee reviews the base salary levels for our executive officers annually and makes such adjustments as it deems
appropriate after taking into account the officer’s level and scope of responsibility and experience, company and individual
performance, competitive market data, and internal pay equity considerations.
Outlined
below is the base salary data of the peer group of companies outlined above. For 2020, the Compensation Committee kept the same
base salary structure as in 2019. In determining base salary, the Compensation Committee tabulated the average base salary for
the executive officers in the peer group of companies.
The
Compensation Committee determined on April 2, 2018 that, commencing April 1, 2018, the base salary of our President and Chief
Executive officer be set at approximately 70% of the average base salaries of the peer group of companies and that the base salaries
for our Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Operating Officer be set at approximately 60% of the average base salaries of the
peer group of companies, all of which is reflected in the table set forth below:
Executive
Min
Max
Average
2018
2018 to Avg.
CEO (in $,000)
386
600
400
275
69 %
CFO/COO (in$,000)
220
391
300
175
58 %
Non-Equity
Incentives
Annual
non-equity incentive compensation for our executive officers consists of cash awards. Participants are eligible for annual cash
incentive compensation based upon our attainment of pre-established financial and business performance goals. The Compensation
Committee believes that these goals will best incent our executive officers to attain our short- and long-term financial and other
business goals.
For 2020, the Compensation
Committee determined that each executive officer could earn up to 100% of such executive officer’s base salary based upon
the attainment by us of the five financial and other business performance goals set forth below. The minimum and maximum
payout for each performance goal (measured as a percentage of base salary) are set forth immediately below. The specific pre-established
performance goals are set forth in the table following the table set forth immediately below. Participants are eligible to receive
awards at each level of participation (i.e., Minimum Level, Target Level and Maximum Level) to the extent Polar Power achieves
such level. In the event our performance falls short of a specific performance level, participants will not be eligible to receive
an award at that level. In addition, executive officers had to achieve a minimum of two performance elements in order to qualify
for an award in the level. For example, if at conclusion of 2020 the total revenues were $36 million and none of the additional
elements qualified, then the executive officer would not be eligible for a performance award of 25% of base salary as outlined
in the table below.
52
Company Performance Element
Minimum
Level
Target
Level
Maximum
Level
Revenue
20 %
25 %
30 %
Gross Margin
5 %
10 %
15 %
EBITDA
5 %
10 %
15 %
Customer Concentration
8 %
15 %
23 %
International Sales
7 %
12 %
17 %
Total
50 %
75 %
100 %
Company Performance Element
Minimum
Level
Target
Level
Maximum
Level
2020
Actual
Revenue ($ million)
$ 30
$ 36
$ 42
$ 9.0
Gross Margin (% of revenue)
31 %
32 %
33 %
(58.6 )%
EBITDA (% of revenue)
5 %
7 %
9 %
(132.5 )%
Customer Concentration (% of total sales)
55 %
45 %
35 %
52 %
International Sales (% of total sales)
15 %
20 %
25 %
1 %
Long-term
Equity Incentives
Long-term
equity incentive compensation for our executive officers, generally consists of awards of stock options under our 2016 Plan. We
believe that these equity awards offer a balanced and competitive equity compensation arrangement for our executive officers.
The
Compensation Committee approves equity awards for our executive officers in connection with the annual review of their individual
performance and overall compensation. The annual awards are typically made near the end of the first quarter of the following
year. Each award is designed primarily as a retention tool, typically requiring the executive to remain with Polar Power for at
least one year to receive the benefit of one-third of the award on partial vesting and at least three years to receive the full
benefit of the award on full vesting. We believe our equity incentive compensation aligns the interests of our executive officers
with those of our stockholders and provides each executive officer with a significant incentive to manage Polar Power from the
perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business by tying significant portions of the recipients’ compensation
to the market price of our common stock.
In
making long-term equity incentive awards, our Compensation Committee sets a target value for the award for each executive officer
based on its judgment about the factors used in setting executive officer total compensation described under “Compensation
Philosophy” above as well as our Compensation Committee’s judgment regarding the desired mix of base salary, annual
non-equity incentives and long-term equity incentives. Our Compensation Committee also considers outstanding vested and unvested
equity awards to executive officers, the stock ownership levels of executive officers and the potential dilutive effect on our
stockholders.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
table and discussion below present compensation information for our following executive officers, which we refer to as our “named
executive officers”:
●
Arthur
D. Sams, our President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Chairman of the Board;
●
Rajesh
Masina, our Chief Operating Officer; and
●
Luis
Zavala, our Chief Financial Officer.
53
Name
and Principal
Position
Year
Salary
($)
Option
Awards
($)
Bonus
($)
Total
($)
Arthur D. Sams, President,
2020
275,000
—
—
275,000
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
2019
275,000
—
28,188
303,188
Rajesh Masina,
2020
175,000
—
—
175,000
Chief Operating Officer
2019
175,000
—
17,938
192,938
Luis Zavala,
2020
175,000
—
—
175,000
Chief Financial Officer
2019
175,000
—
17,938
192,938
Employment
Agreements
Arthur
D. Sams
Our
Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with Arthur D. Sams, dated as of July 8, 2016, provides for at-will employment
of Mr. Sams as our President and Chief Executive Officer, at an annual base salary of $200,000. On April 2, 2018, we increased
Mr. Sams’ annual base salary to $275,000 effective as of April 1, 2018. Mr. Sams is eligible to receive an annual discretionary
cash bonus to be paid based upon performance criteria set by our Compensation Committee, as more fully described above, and is
eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit programs including our 2016 Plan.
Upon
termination by Polar without cause or resignation by Mr. Sams for good reason, Mr. Sams is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum
cash payment equal to 200% of his then-current base salary, (ii) a lump sum cash payment equal to 200% of the amount of average
incentive bonus paid to Mr. Sams during the two calendar years preceding the termination, and (iii) continued health insurance
coverage for eighteen months. If Mr. Sams is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within three months before or
twelve months after a change in control, Mr. Sams is entitled to (a) a lump sum cash payment equal to 200% of his then-current
base salary, (b) a lump sum cash payment equal to 200% of the amount of average incentive bonus paid to Mr. Sams during the two
calendar years preceding the termination, and (c) continued health insurance coverage for eighteen months. If Mr. Sams becomes
disabled, Mr. Sams is entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to 100% of his then-current base salary and continued
health coverage for twelve months.
The
term “for good reason” is defined in the Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement as (i) the assignment
to Mr. Sams of any duties or responsibilities that result in the material diminution of Mr. Sams’ authority, duties or responsibility,
(ii) a material reduction by Polar in Mr. Sams’ annual base salary, except to the extent the base salaries of all other
executive officers of Polar are accordingly reduced, (iii) a relocation of Mr. Sams’ place of work, or Polar’s principal
executive offices if Mr. Sams’ principal office is at these offices, to a location that increases Mr. Sams’ daily
one-way commute by more than fifty miles, or (iv) any material breach by Polar of any material provision of the Amended and Restated
Executive Employment Agreement.
The
term “cause” is defined in the Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement as (i) Mr. Sams’ indictment
or conviction of any felony or of any crime involving dishonesty, (ii) Mr. Sams’ participation in any fraud or other act
of willful misconduct against Polar, (iii) Mr. Sams’ refusal to comply with any lawful directive of Polar, (iv) Mr. Sams’
material breach of his fiduciary, statutory, contractual, or common law duties to Polar, or (v) conduct by Mr. Sams which, in
the good faith and reasonable determination of our board of directors, demonstrates gross unfitness to serve; provided, however,
that in the event that any of the foregoing events is reasonably capable of being cured, Polar shall, within twenty days after
the discovery of the event, provide written notice to Mr. Sams describing the nature of the event and Mr. Sams shall thereafter
have ten business days to cure the event.
54
A
“change in control” of Polar is deemed to have occurred if, in a single transaction or series of related transactions
(i) any person (as the term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), or persons acting as a group, other than
a trustee or fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit program, is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as
defined in Rule 13-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly of securities of Polar representing a majority of the combined
voting power of Polar, (ii) there is a merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of Polar with or into another
corporation, entity or person, other than a transaction in which the holders of at least a majority of the shares of voting capital
stock of Polar outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continue to hold (either by the shares remaining outstanding or
by their being converted into shares of voting capital stock of the surviving entity) a majority of the total voting power represented
by the shares of voting capital stock of Polar (or the surviving entity) outstanding immediately after the transaction, or (iii)
all or substantially all of our assets are sold.
Rajesh
Masina
Our
Executive Employment Agreement with Rajesh Masina, dated as of July 8, 2016, provides for at-will employment as our Vice President
Operations at an annual base salary is $120,000. On April 2, 2018, we appointed Mr. Masina as our Chief Operating Officer and
increased his annual base salary to $175,000 effective as of April 1, 2018. Mr. Masina is eligible to receive an annual discretionary
cash bonus to be paid based upon performance criteria set by our Compensation Committee, as more fully described above, and is
eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit programs including our 2016 Plan.
Upon
termination by Polar without cause, resignation by Mr. Masina for good reason or upon Mr. Masina’s disability, Mr. Masina
is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum cash payment equal to 50% of his then-current base salary, and (ii) continued health insurance
coverage for six months. If Mr. Masina is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason within three months before or twelve
months after a change in control, Mr. Masina is entitled to (a) a lump sum cash payment equal to 50% of his then-current base
salary, and (b) continued health insurance coverage for six months.
The
terms “for good reason,” “cause” and “change in control in Mr. Masina’s Executive Employment
Agreement are identical to the definitions contained in Mr. Sams’ Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement.
Luis
Zavala
Our
Executive Employment Agreement with Luis Zavala, dated as of July 8, 2016, provides for at-will employment as our Vice President
Finance at an annual base salary of $120,000. On April 2, 2018, we appointed Mr. Zavala as our Chief Financial Officer and increased
his annual base salary to $175,000 effective as of April 1, 2018. Mr. Zavala is eligible to receive an annual discretionary cash
bonus to be paid based upon performance criteria set by our Compensation Committee, as more fully described above, and is eligible
to participate in all of our employee benefit programs including our 2016 Plan. The general terms of Mr. Zavala’s Executive
Employment Agreement are identical to the terms of Mr. Masina’s Executive Employment Agreement.
2016
Omnibus Incentive Plan
On
July 8, 2016 our board of directors and stockholders adopted the 2016 Plan. The material terms of the 2016 Plan, as amended, are
summarized below.
Summary
of the Material Terms of the 2016 Plan
Purpose .
We established the 2016 Plan to attract, retain and motivate our employees, officers and directors, to promote the success of
our business by linking the personal interests of our employees, officers, consultants, advisors and directors to those of our
stockholders and to encourage stock ownership on the part of management. The 2016 Plan is intended to permit the grant of stock
options (both incentive stock options, or ISOs and non-qualified stock options, or NQSOs or, collectively, Options), stock appreciation
rights, or SARS, restricted stock awards, or Restricted Stock Awards, restricted stock units, or RSUs, incentive awards, or Incentive
Awards, other stock-based awards, or Stock Based Awards, dividend equivalents, or Dividend Equivalents, and cash awards, or Cash
Awards.
55
Administration .
The 2016 Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee may act through subcommittees or, with
respect to awards granted to individuals who are not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act and who are not members of our board of directors or the board of directors of our Affiliates (as defined by the 2016 Plan),
delegate to one or more officers all or part of its duties with respect to such awards. Our Compensation Committee may, at its
discretion, accelerate the time at which any award may be exercised, become transferable or nonforfeitable or become earned and
settled including without limitation (i) in the event of the participant’s death, disability, retirement or involuntary
termination of employment or service (including a voluntary termination of employment or service for good reason) or (ii) in connection
with a Change in Control (as defined in the 2016 Plan).
Authorized
Shares . Under the 2016 Plan, we may issue a maximum aggregate of 1,754,385 shares of common stock, all of which may be issued
pursuant to Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Awards, RSUs, Incentive Awards, Stock-Based Awards or Dividend Equivalents. Each share
issued in connection with an award will reduce the number of shares available under the 2016 Plan by one, and each share covered
under a SAR will reduce the number of shares available under the 2016 Plan by one, even though the share is not actually issued
upon settlement of the SAR. Shares relating to awards that are terminated by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise
without issuance of shares of common stock, settled in cash in lieu of shares, or exchanged prior to the issuance of shares for
awards not involving shares, will again be available for issuance under the 2016 Plan. Shares not issued as a result of net settlement
of an award, tendered or withheld to pay the exercise price, purchase price or withholding taxes of an award or shares purchased
on the open market with the proceeds of the exercise price of an award will not again be available for issuance under the 2016
Plan.
Award
Limits . In any calendar year, no participant may be granted awards that relate to more than 350,877 shares of our common stock.
For these purposes, an Option and its corresponding SAR will be counted as a single award. For any Cash Awards that are intended
to constitute annual incentive awards, the maximum amount payable to any one participant with respect to any 12-month period is
$5,000. Award limits that are expressed as a number of shares are subject to the adjustment provisions of the 2016 Plan as described
below.
A
non-employee director may not be granted awards during any single calendar year that, taken together with any cash fees paid to
such non-employee director during such calendar year in respect of the non-employee director’s service as a member of the
board during such year, exceeds $500 in total value (calculating the value of any such awards based on the grant date fair value
of such awards for financial accounting purposes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board may make exceptions to the foregoing
limit (up to twice such limit) for a non-executive chair of the board or, in extraordinary circumstances, for other individual
non-employee directors, as the board may determine, provided that the non-employee director, receiving such awards may not participate
in the decision to make such awards.
Written
Agreements . All awards granted under the 2016 Plan will be governed by separate written agreements between the participants
and us. The written agreements will specify the terms of the particular awards.
Transferability.
Generally, an award is non-transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of
the participant to whom the award is granted, the award may only be exercised by, or payable to, the participant. However, the
Compensation Committee may provide that awards, other than ISOs or a Corresponding SAR (as defined in the 2016 Plan) that is related
to an ISO, may be transferred by a participant to immediate family members or trust or other entities on behalf of the Participant
and/or family members for charitable donations. Any such transfer will be permitted only if (i) the participant does not receive
any consideration for the transfer and (ii) the Compensation Committee expressly approves the transfer. The holder of the transferred
award will be bound by the same terms and conditions that governed the award during the period that it was held by the participant,
except that such transferee may only transfer the award by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
Maximum
Award Period. No award shall be exercisable or become vested or payable more than ten years after the date of grant.
Compliance
With Applicable Law. No award shall be exercisable, vested or payable except in compliance with all applicable federal and
state laws and regulations (including, without limitation, tax and securities laws), any listing agreement with any stock exchange
to which we are a party, and the rules of all domestic stock exchanges on which our shares may be listed.
56
Payment.
The exercise or purchase price of an award, and any taxes required to be withheld with respect to an award, may be paid in
cash or, if the written agreement so provides, the Compensation Committee may allow a participant to pay all or part of the exercise
or purchase price, and any required withholding taxes, by tendering shares of common stock, through a broker-assisted cashless
exercise, by means of “net exercise” procedure, or any other specified medium of payment.
Stockholder
Rights. No participant shall have any rights as our stockholder as a result of issuance of an award until the award is settled
by the issuance of common stock (other than a Restricted Stock Award or RSUs for which certain stockholder rights may be granted).
Forfeiture
Provisions. Awards do not confer upon any individual any right to continue in our employ or service or in the employ or service
of our Affiliates. All rights to any award that a participant has will be immediately forfeited if the participant is discharged
from employment or service for “Cause” (as defined in the 2016 Plan).
Types
of awards
Options .
Both ISOs and NQSOs may be granted under the 2016 Plan. Our Compensation Committee will determine the eligible individuals to
whom grants of Options will be made, the number of shares subject to each option, the exercise price per share, the time or times
at which the option may be exercised, whether any performance or other conditions must be satisfied before a participant may exercise
an option, the method of payment by the participant, the method of delivery of shares to a participant, whether the Option is
an ISO or a NQSO, and all other terms and conditions of the award. However, the exercise price of an Option may not be less than
the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the Option is granted. No participant may be granted ISOs that are
first exercisable in any calendar year for shares of common stock having an aggregate fair value (determined on the date of grant)
that exceeds $100,000. With respect to an ISO granted to a participant who is a Ten Percent Shareholder (as defined in the 2016
Plan), the exercise price per share may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date the Option
is granted. At the Compensation Committee’s discretion, an Option may be granted with or without a Corresponding SAR (as
defined below).
SARs .
A SAR entitles the participant to receive, upon exercise, the excess of the fair market value on that date of each share of common
stock subject to the exercised portion of the SAR over the fair market value of each such share on the date of the grant of the
SAR. A SAR can be granted alone or in tandem with an Option. A SAR granted in tandem with an Option is called a Corresponding
SAR and entitles the participant to exercise the Option or the SAR, at which time the other tandem award expires with respect
to the number of shares being exercised. The Compensation Committee is authorized to determine the eligible individuals to whom
grants of SARs will be made, the number of shares of common stock covered by the grant, the time or times at which a SAR may be
exercised and all other terms and conditions of the SAR. However, no participant may be granted Corresponding SARs that are related
to ISOs which are first exercisable in any calendar year for shares of common stock having an aggregate fair market value (determined
on the date of grant) that exceeds $100,000.
Restricted
Stock Awards and RSUs . A Restricted Stock Award is the grant or sale of shares of common stock, which may be subject to forfeiture
for a period of time or subject to certain conditions. A RSU entitles the participant to receive, upon vesting, shares of our
common stock. We will deliver to the participant one share of common stock for each RSU that becomes earned and payable. With
regard to Restricted Stock Awards, the Compensation Committee is authorized to determine the eligible individuals to whom grants
will be made, the number of shares subject to such grants, the purchase price, if any, to be paid for each share subject to the
award of restricted stock, the time or times at which the restrictions will terminate, and all other terms and conditions of the
restricted stock. With regard to RSUs, the Compensation Committee is authorized to determine the eligible individuals to whom
grants will be made, the number of shares subject to such grants and the vesting conditions entitling a participant to settlement
of the RSUs.
57
Incentive
Awards . An Incentive Award entitles the participant to receive cash or common stock when certain conditions are met. The Compensation
Committee has the authority to determine the eligible individuals to whom grants will be made and all other terms and conditions
of the Incentive Award.
Stock-Based
Awards . Stock-Based Awards may be denominated or payable in, valued by reference to or otherwise based on shares of common
stock, including awards convertible or exchangeable into shares of common stock (or the cash value thereof) and common stock purchase
rights and awards valued by reference to the fair market value of the common stock. The Compensation Committee has the authority
to determine the eligible individuals to whom grants will be made and all other terms and conditions of Stock-Based Awards. However,
the purchase price for the common stock under any Stock-Based Award in the nature of a purchase right may not be less than the
fair market value of a share of common stock as of the date the award is granted. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement
to any other award under the 2016 Plan, may also be granted.
Our
Compensation Committee is authorized under the 2016 Plan to grant shares of common stock as a bonus, or to grant shares of common
stock or other awards in lieu of any of our obligations or of our affiliates to pay cash or to deliver other property under the
2016 Plan or under any other of our plans or compensatory arrangements or any of our affiliates.
Dividend
Equivalents . Our Compensation Committee may also grant Dividend Equivalents under the 2016 Plan. A Dividend Equivalent is
an award that entitles the participant to receive cash, shares of common stock, other awards or other property equal in value
to all or a specified portion of dividends paid with respect to shares of our common stock. The Compensation Committee is authorized
to determine the eligible individuals to whom grants will be made and all other terms and conditions of the Dividend Equivalents.
However, no Dividend Equivalents may be awarded with an Option, SAR or Stock-Based Award in the nature of purchase rights.
Cash
Awards. Cash Awards will also be authorized under the 2016 Plan. Cash Awards may be granted as an element of or a supplement
to any other award under the 2016 Plan or as a stand-alone Cash Award. The Compensation Committee will determine the terms and
conditions of any such Cash Awards.
Performance
Criteria . Our Compensation Committee has the discretion to establish objectively determinable performance conditions for when
awards will become vested, exercisable and payable. These performance conditions may be based on one or any combination of metrics
related to our financial, market or business performance. The form of the performance conditions also may be measured on a company,
affiliate, division, business unit or geographic basis, individually, alternatively or in any combination, subset or component
thereof. Performance goals may reflect absolute entity performance or a relative comparison of entity performance to the performance
of a peer group of entities or other external measure of the selected performance conditions. Profits, earnings and revenues used
for any performance condition measurement may exclude any extraordinary or nonrecurring items. The performance conditions may,
but need not, be based upon an increase or positive result under the aforementioned business criteria and could include, for example
and not by way of limitation, maintaining the status quo or limiting the economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference
to the specific business criteria). An award that is intended to become exercisable, vested or payable on the achievement of performance
conditions means that the award will not become exercisable, vested or payable solely on mere continued employment or service.
However, such an award, in addition to performance conditions, may be subject to continued employment or service by the participant.
The performance conditions may include any or any combination of the following: (a) revenue, (b) earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, (c) cash earnings (earnings before amortization of intangibles), (d) operating income,
(e) pre-or after-tax income, (f) earnings per share, (g) net cash flow, (h) net cash flow per share, (i) net earnings, (j) return
on equity, (k) return on total capital, (l) return on sales, (m) return on net assets employed, (n) return on assets or net assets,
(o) share price performance, (p) total stockholder return, (q) improvement in or attainment of expense levels, (r) improvement
in or attainment of working capital levels, (s) net sales, (t) revenue growth or product revenue growth, (u) operating income
(before or after taxes), (v) pre-or after-tax income (before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus), (w) earnings
per share; (x) return on equity, (y) appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of the shares of common stock, (z) market
share, (aa) gross profits, (bb) comparisons with various stock market indices; (cc) reductions in cost, (dd) cash flow or cash
flow per share (before or after dividends), (ee) return on capital (including return on total capital or return on invested capital),
(ff) cash flow return on investments; (gg) improvement in or attainment of expense levels or working capital levels, (hh) stockholder
equity and/or (ii) other criteria selected by the Compensation Committee.
58
Our
Compensation Committee has the discretion to select one or more periods of time over which the attainment of one or more of the
foregoing performance conditions will be measured for the purpose of determining when an award will become vested, exercisable
or payable. The Compensation Committee has the authority to adjust goals and awards in the manner set forth in the 2016 Plan.
Change
in Control . In the event of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the 2016 Plan) and, with respect to awards that
are subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and such awards, 409A Awards, only
to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, our Compensation Committee in its discretion may, on a participant-by-participant
basis (a) accelerate the vesting of all unvested and unexercised Options, SARs or Stock-Based Awards in the nature of purchase
rights and/or terminate such awards, without any payment therefore, immediately prior to the date of any such transaction after
giving the participant at least seven days written notice of such actions; (b) fully vest and/or accelerate settlement of any
awards; (c) terminate any outstanding Options, SARs or Stock-Based Awards in the nature of purchase rights after giving the participant
notice and a chance to exercise such awards (to the extent then exercisable or exercisable upon the change in control); (d) cancel
any portion of an outstanding award that remains unexercised or is subject to restriction or forfeiture in exchange for a cash
payment to the participant of the value of the award; or (e) require that the award be assumed by the successor corporation or
replaced with interests of an equal value in the successor corporation.
Amendment
and Termination . The 2016 Plan will expire 10 years after its effective date, unless terminated earlier by our board of directors.
Any award that is outstanding as of the date the 2016 Plan expires will continue in force according to the terms set out in the
award agreement. Our board of directors may terminate, amend or modify the 2016 Plan at any time. However, stockholder approval
may be required for certain types of amendments under applicable law or regulatory authority. Except as may be provided in an
award agreement or the 2016 Plan, no amendment to the 2016 Plan may adversely affect the terms and conditions of any existing
award in any material way without the participant’s consent.
An
amendment will be contingent on approval of our stockholders, to the extent required by law, by the rules of any stock exchange
on which our securities are then traded or if the amendment would (i) increase the benefits accruing to participants under the
2016 Plan, including without limitation, any amendment to the 2016 Plan or any agreement to permit a re-pricing or decrease in
the exercise price of any outstanding awards, (ii) increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued
under the 2016 Plan, or (iii) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the 2016 Plan.
Material
U.S. federal income tax consequences of awards under the 2016 Plan
The
following discussion summarizes the principal federal income tax consequences associated with awards under the 2016 Plan. The
discussion is based on laws, regulations, rulings and court decisions currently in effect, all of which are subject to change.
ISOs .
A participant will not recognize taxable income on the grant or exercise of an ISO (although the excess of the fair market value
of the common stock over the exercise price will be included for alternative minimum tax purposes). A participant will recognize
taxable income when he or she disposes of the shares of common stock acquired under the ISO. If the disposition occurs more than
two years after the grant of the ISO and more than one year after its exercise, the participant will recognize long-term capital
gain (or loss) to the extent the amount realized from the disposition exceeds (or is less than) the participant’s tax basis
in the shares of common stock. A participant’s tax basis in the common stock generally will be the amount the participant
paid for the stock. If common stock acquired under an ISO is disposed of before the expiration of the ISO holding period described
above, the participant will recognize as ordinary income in the year of the disposition the excess of the fair market value of
the common stock on the date of exercise of the ISO over the exercise price. Any additional gain will be treated as long-term
or short-term capital gain, depending on the length of time the participant held the shares. Special rules apply if a participant
pays the exercise price by delivery of common stock. We will not be entitled to a federal income tax deduction with respect to
the grant or exercise of an ISO. However, in the event a participant disposes of common stock acquired under an ISO before the
expiration of the ISO holding period described above, we generally will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal to
the amount of ordinary income the participant recognizes.
59
NQSOs .
A participant will not recognize any taxable income on the grant of a NQSO. On the exercise of a NQSO, the participant will recognize
as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of the common stock acquired over the exercise price. A participant’s
tax basis in the common stock is the amount paid plus any amounts included in income on exercise. Special rules apply if a participant
pays the exercise price by delivery of common stock. The exercise of a NQSO generally will entitle us to claim a federal income
tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the participant recognizes.
SARs .
A participant will not recognize any taxable income at the time SARs are granted. The participant at the time of receipt will
recognize as ordinary income the amount of cash and the fair market value of the common stock that he or she receives. We generally
will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the participant recognizes.
Restricted
Stock Awards and RSUs . With regard to Restricted Stock Awards, a participant will recognize ordinary income on account of
a Restricted Stock Award on the first day that the shares are either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
The ordinary income recognized will equal the excess of the fair market value of the common stock on such date over the price,
if any, paid for the stock. However, even if the shares under a Restricted Stock Award are both nontransferable and subject to
a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant may make a special “83(b) election” to recognize income, and have
his or her tax consequences determined, as of the date the Restricted Stock Award is made. The participant’s tax basis in
the shares received will equal the income recognized plus the price, if any, paid for the Restricted Stock Award. We generally
will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal to the ordinary income the participant recognizes. With regard to RSUs,
the participant will not recognize any taxable income at the time RSUs are granted. When the terms and conditions to which the
RSUs are subject have been satisfied and the RSUs are paid, the participant will recognize as ordinary income the fair market
value of the common stock he or she receives. We generally will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal to the ordinary
income the participant recognizes.
Incentive
Awards . A participant will not recognize any taxable income at the time an Incentive Award is granted. When the terms and
conditions to which an Incentive Award is subject have been satisfied and the award is paid, the participant will recognize as
ordinary income the amount of cash and the fair market value of the common stock he or she receives. We generally will be entitled
to a federal income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the participant recognizes.
Stock-Based
Awards . A participant will recognize ordinary income on receipt of cash or shares of common stock paid with respect to a Stock-Based
Award. We generally will be entitled to a federal tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income the participant recognizes.
Dividend
Equivalents . A participant will recognize as ordinary income the amount of cash and the fair market value of any common stock
he or she receives on payment of the Dividend Equivalents. To the extent the Dividend Equivalents are paid in the form of other
awards, the participant will recognize income as otherwise described herein.
Limitation
on Deductions. The deduction for a publicly-held corporation for otherwise deductible compensation to a “covered employee”
generally is limited to $1,000,000 per year. An individual is a covered employee if he or she is the chief executive officer or
one of the three highest compensated officers for the year (other than the chief executive officer or chief financial officer)
or was a covered employee for any preceding year beginning after December 31, 2016.
Other
Tax Rules . The 2016 Plan is designed to enable our Compensation Committee to structure awards that will not be subject to
Section 409A of the Code, which imposes certain restrictions and requirements on deferred compensation. However, our Compensation
Committee may grant awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code. In that case, the terms of such 409A Award will be (a)
subject to the deferral election requirements of Section 409A of the Code; and (b) may only be paid upon a separation from service,
a set time, death, disability, a change in control or an unforeseeable emergency, each within the meanings of Section 409A of
the Code. Our Compensation Committee shall not have the authority to accelerate or defer a 409A Award other than as permitted
by Section 409A of the Code. Moreover, any payment on a separation from service of a “Specified Employee” (as defined
in the 2016 Plan) will not be made until six months following the participant’s separation from service (or upon the participant’s
death, if earlier) as required by Section 409A of the Code.
60
Non-Employee
Director Compensation
Our
non-employee directors received a quarterly cash retainer of $7,500 during 2020. In addition, we reimburse all non-employee directors
for travel and other necessary business expenses incurred in the performance of director services and extend coverage to them
under our directors’ and officers’ indemnity insurance policies. During 2020, each of Messrs. Albrecht and Gross and
Ms. Koster received total compensation in the amount of $30,000.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
Section
145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as
well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions,
suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee
or agent to the corporation. The DGCL provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification
may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Sections of our certificate
of incorporation and our bylaws provide for indemnification by us of our directors, officers, employees and agents to the fullest
extent permitted by the DGCL.
Article
X of our certification of incorporation eliminates the liability of a director or stockholder for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under
Delaware law. Under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, a director shall not be exempt from liability for monetary damages for any
liabilities arising (i) from any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) from
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section
174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
We
have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and officers as determined by our board of directors. These agreements
provide for indemnification of related expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred
by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract
and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
The
limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may discourage stockholders
from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative
litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders.
Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and
damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling
persons under the foregoing provisions of our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or otherwise, we have been informed
that in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore
unenforceable.
61
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The
following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 31, 2021 by:
●
each
person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our shares of common stock;
●
each
of our directors;
●
each
of our named executive officers; and
●
all
of our directors and executive officers as a group.
The
table is based on information provided to us by our directors, executive officers and principal stockholders. Beneficial ownership
is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and generally means that a person has beneficial ownership of a security
if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power of that security, including stock options and warrants that
are exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2021. To our knowledge, except as indicated by footnote, and subject to community
property laws where applicable, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. Shares of common stock underlying derivative securities, if any, that
are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after March 31, 2021 are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the percentage
ownership of the applicable person or group but are not deemed to be outstanding as to any other person or group. Percentage of
beneficial ownership is based on 12,788,203 shares of common stock outstanding as of the date of the table.
Unless
otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o Polar Power, Inc., 249 E. Gardena Boulevard,
Gardena, California 90248.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)
Title of Class
Amount and Nature
of
Beneficial Ownership
Percent
of
Class
Arthur D. Sams (2)
Common
5,626,676
43.8 %
Rajesh Masina (3)
Common
135,264
1.1 %
Luis Zavala (4)
Common
77,369
*
Keith Albrecht (5)
Common
33,334
*
Peter Gross (6)
Common
10,000
*
Katherine Koster
Common
—
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)(7)
Common
5,882,643
45.5 %
*
Less
than 1%.
(1)
Messrs.
Sams Albrecht and Gross, and Ms. Koster are directors of Polar. Messrs. Sams, Masina and Zavala are named executive officers
of Polar.
(2)
Includes
50,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(3)
Includes
30,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. Mr. Masina owns 40% of the share capital of Smartgen Solutions,
Inc. Mr. Masina disclaims beneficial ownership over the shares of common stock of Polar held by Smartgen Solutions, Inc. Jayamadhuri
Penumarthi, the President and Secretary of Smartgen Solutions, Inc., has voting and investment power over such shares of common
stock. The address of Smartgen Solutions, Inc. is: 10324 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Austin, TX. 78726.
(4)
Includes
30,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
62
(5)
Includes
10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(6)
Amount
represents 10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
(7)
Includes
130,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table provides information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights
under all our existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020.
Plan Category
Number of
Securities to
be
Issued Upon Exercise
of Outstanding
Options, Warrants
or Rights
Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and
Rights
Number
of
Securities
Remaining
Available
for
Future Issuance
Under
Equity
Compensation
Plans
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders:
2016 Plan
140,000
$ 5.22
1,624,385
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The
following is a summary of transactions since January 1, 2018 to which we have been a participant, in which:
●
the
amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000; and
●
any
of our directors (and director nominees), executive officers, or holders of more than 5% of our voting securities, or immediate
family member or affiliate of such persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation
and other arrangements that are described under “Executive Compensation” above, or that were approved by our Compensation
Committee.
All
of the related person transactions described below have been approved by a majority of the independent and disinterested members
of our board of directors. We believe that each of the transactions described below were on terms no less favorable to us than
terms we would have obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
It
is our intention to ensure that all future transactions, if any, between us and related persons are approved by our audit committee
or a majority of the independent and disinterested members of our board of directors (except for compensation arrangements, which
are approved by our compensation committee), and are on terms no less favorable to us than those that we could obtain from unaffiliated
third parties. See “Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions” below.
Transactions
with Stockholders, Officers and Directors
On
March 1, 2014, we entered into a Subcontractor Installer Agreement with Smartgen Solutions, Inc., or Smartgen, a company engaged
in business of equipment rental and providing maintenance, repair and installation services to mobile telecommunications towers
in California. Rajesh Masina, our Vice President of Operations, owns 40% of the share capital of Smartgen and 30% is owned by
his brother. On July 8, 2016, our board of directors reviewed the terms and conditions of, and ratified, the Subcontractor Installer
Agreement.
63
Under
the terms of the agreement, Smartgen has been appointed as a non-exclusive, authorized service provider for the installation,
repair and service of Polar products in Southern California. The agreement has a term of three years from the date of execution
and automatically renews for additional one-year periods if not terminated. Once we have completed this offering and established
an audit committee, all transactions involving this agreement will be monitored by our audit committee.
During
2020 and 2019, Smartgen performed $129 and $289 in field services, respectively, the cost of which is included in cost of goods
sold.
Employment
Agreements
We
have entered into amended employment agreement with each of Arthur D. Sams, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary;
Rajesh Masina, our Chief Operating Officer; and Luis Zavala, our Chief Financial Officer; providing for, without limitation, certain
payments upon termination and change in control. See “Executive Compensation–Employment Agreements” in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K for a further discussion of these agreements.
Indemnification
of Officers and Directors
Our
certificate of incorporation and our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers with respect to certain
liabilities, expenses and other accounts imposed upon them because of having been a director or officer, except in the case of
willful misconduct or a knowing violation of criminal law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each
of our directors and executive officers.
Policies
and Procedures for Related Person Transactions
Our
board of directors has adopted a written policy with respect to related person transactions. This policy governs the review, approval
or ratification of covered related person transactions. The Audit Committee of our board of directors manages this policy.
For
purposes of the policy, a “related person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series
of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we were, are or will be a participant, and the amount involved
exceeds the applicable dollar threshold set forth under Item 404 of Regulation S-K and in which any related person had, has or
will have a direct or indirect material interest. As defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, “related person” generally
includes our directors (and director nominees), executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our voting securities, and immediate
family members or affiliates of such persons.
The
policy generally provides that we may enter into a related person transaction only if:
●
the
Audit Committee pre-approves such transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy,
●
the
transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third
party and the Audit Committee (or the chairperson of the Audit Committee) approves or ratifies such transaction in accordance
with the guidelines set forth in the policy,
●
the
transaction is approved by the disinterested members of the board of directors, or
●
the
transaction involves compensation approved by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors.
64
In
the event a related person transaction is not pre-approved by the Audit Committee and our management determines to recommend such
related person transaction to the Audit Committee, such transaction must be reviewed by the Audit Committee. After review, the
Audit Committee will approve or disapprove such transaction. If our Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with our Audit Committee,
determines that it is not practicable or desirable for us to wait until the next Audit Committee meeting, the chairperson of the
Audit Committee will possess delegated authority to act on behalf of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee (or the chairperson
of the Audit Committee) may approve only those related person transactions that are in, or not inconsistent with, our best interests
and the best interests of our stockholders, as the Audit Committee (or the chairperson of the Audit Committee) determines in good
faith. All approvals made by chairperson of the Audit Committee will be ratified by the full Audit Committee at the next regularly
scheduled meeting or within 120 days from approval by chairperson.
Our
Audit Committee has determined that the following transactions, even if the amount exceeds the applicable dollar threshold set
forth under Item 404 of Regulation S-K in the aggregate, will be deemed to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee:
●
any
employment of certain named executive officers that would be publicly disclosed;
●
director
compensation that would be publicly disclosed;
●
transactions
with other companies where the related person’s only relationship is as a director or owner of less than ten percent
of such company (other than a general partnership), if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $200,000
or five percent of that company’s consolidated gross revenues
●
transactions
where all stockholders receive proportional benefits;
●
transactions
involving competitive bids;
●
transactions
with a related person involving the rendering of services at rates or charges fixed in conformity with law or governmental
authority; and
●
transactions
with a related person involving services as a bank depositary of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture
or similar services.
In
addition, the Audit Committee will review the policy at least annually and recommend amendments to the policy to the board of
directors from time to time.
The
policy provides that all related person transactions will be disclosed to the Audit Committee, and all material related person
transactions will be disclosed to the board of directors. Additionally, all related person transactions requiring public disclosure
will be properly disclosed, as applicable, on our various public filings.
The
Audit Committee will review all relevant information available to it about the related person transaction. The policy will provide
that the Audit Committee may approve or ratify the related person transaction only if the Audit Committee determines that, under
all of the circumstances, the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and the best interests of our
stockholders. The policy will also provide that the Audit Committee may, in its sole discretion, impose such conditions as it
deems appropriate on us or the related person in connection with approval of the related person transaction.
Item
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Expenses.
The
following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Weinberg & Company, P.A. for 2020 and 2019.
2020
2019
Audit Fees
$ 236
$ 171
Audit-Related Fees
12
4
Tax Fees
50
40
Total
$ 298
$ 215
65
Audit
Fees . Consist of amounts billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Audit-Related
Fees . Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for professional services that are reasonably related to the performance of
the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements but are not reported under “Audit Fees.”
Tax
Fees. Tax Fees consist of fees for professional services for tax compliance activities, including the preparation of federal
and state tax returns and related compliance matters.
All
Other Fees . Consists of amounts billed for services other than those noted above.
Our
Audit Committee considered all non-audit services provided by Weinberg & Company, P.A. and determined that the provision of
such services was compatible with maintaining such firm’s audit independence.
Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policy
Our
Audit Committee is responsible for approving all audit, audit-related, tax and other services. The Audit Committee pre-approves
all auditing services and permitted non-audit services, including all fees and terms to be performed for us by our independent
auditor at the beginning of the fiscal year. Non-audit services are reviewed and pre-approved by project at the beginning of the
fiscal year. Any additional non-audit services contemplated by us after the beginning of the fiscal year are submitted to the
Chairman of our Audit Committee for pre- approval prior to engaging our independent auditor for such services. These interim pre-approvals
are reviewed with the full Audit Committee at its next meeting for ratification.
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)(1)
Financial Statements
Reference
is made to the financial statements listed on and attached following the Index to Financial Statements contained on page F-1 of
this report.
(a)(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
None.
(a)(3)
Exhibits
Reference
is made to the exhibits listed on the Index to Exhibits immediately preceding the signature page of this report.
Item
16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
66
INDEX
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2
Balance Sheets as at December 31, 2020 and 2019
F-3
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
F-4
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
F-6
Notes to Financial Statements
F-7
F- 1
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Polar Power, Inc.
Gardena,
California
Opinion
on the Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Polar Power, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019,
the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes
(collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America.
Basis
for Opinion
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company
in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error
or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial
reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We
have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
/s/
Weinberg & Company, P.A.
Los
Angeles, California
March
31, 2021
F- 2
POLAR
POWER, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(in
thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 1,646
$ 2,840
Accounts receivable
1,190
934
Inventories
9,094
13,912
Prepaid expenses
358
1,265
Income taxes receivable
2,357
231
Total current assets
14,645
19,182
Other assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
1,563
2,187
Property and equipment, net
1,497
2,100
Deposits
94
94
Total assets
$ 17,799
$ 23,563
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$ 311
$ 575
Customer deposits
703
197
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities
1,142
1,031
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
670
618
Current portion of notes payable
267
328
Current
portion of loan payable
1,429
Total current liabilities
4,522
2,749
Notes payable, net of current portion
510
778
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
990
1,660
Loan payable, net of current
portion
286
—
Total liabilities
6,308
5,187
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized,
no shares issued and outstanding
—
—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 11,768,158
shares issued and 11,750,681 shares outstanding on December 31, 2020 and 10,143,158 shares issued and 10,125,681 shares outstanding
on December 31, 2019
1
1
Additional paid-in capital
23,643
19,657
Accumulated deficit
(12,113 )
(1,242 )
Treasury Stock, at cost (17,477
shares)
(40 )
(40 )
Total stockholders’ equity
11,491
18,376
Total liabilities and stockholders’
equity
$ 17,799
$ 23,563
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F- 3
POLAR
POWER, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in
thousands, except share and per share data)
Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Net sales
$ 9,031
$ 24,801
Cost of Sales (includes inventory
write-downs of $3,400 and $270, respectively)
14,654
19,882
Gross profit (loss)
(5,623 )
4,919
Operating Expenses
Sales and marketing
1,556
2,621
Research and development
1,723
2,276
General and administrative
4,062
4,004
Total operating expenses
7,341
8,901
Loss from operations
(12,964 )
(3,982 )
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense and finance costs
(60 )
(103 )
Other income
14
40
Total other income (expenses)
(46 )
(63 )
Loss before income taxes
(13,010 )
(4,045 )
Benefit from income taxes
(2,139 )
—
Net Loss
$ (10,871 )
$ (4,045 )
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
$ (1.01 )
$ (0.40 )
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
10,816,938
10,125,681
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F- 4
POLAR
POWER, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in
thousands, except share data)
Common Stock,
Additional paid-in
Retained Earnings (Accumulated
Treasury
Total Stockholders’
Number
Amount
capital
Deficit)
Stock
Equity
Balances, December 31, 2018
10,143,158
$ 1
$ 19,578
$ 2,803
$ —
$ 22,382
Fair value of vested stock options
—
—
79
—
—
79
Treasury Stock
—
—
—
—
(40 )
(40 )
Net loss
—
—
—
(4,045 )
(4,045 )
Balances, December 31, 2019
10,143,158
1
19,657
(1,242 )
(40 )
18,376
Common stock and warrants issued for cash
1,250,000
—
2,812
—
—
2,812
Common stock issued upon exercise of warrants
375,000
—
1,174
—
—
1,174
Net loss
—
—
—
(10,871 )
—
(10,871 )
Balances, December 31, 2020
11,768,158
$ 1
$ 23,643
$ (12,113 )
$ (40 )
$ 11,491
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F- 5
POLAR
POWER, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in
thousands)
Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ (10,871 )
$ (4,045 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
Fair value of vested stock options
—
79
Depreciation and amortization
622
628
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets
624
661
Inventory write-down
3,400
270
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
(256 )
6,793
Inventories
1,418
(5,710 )
Prepaid expenses
907
(910 )
Income taxes receivable
(2,126 )
484
Accounts payable
(264 )
(492 )
Customer deposits
506
118
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
110
527
Decrease in lease liabilities
(618 )
(570 )
Net cash used in operating activities
(6,548 )
(2,167 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment
(19 )
(338 )
Net cash used in investing activities
(19 )
(338 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants
2,812
—
Proceeds from exercise of warrants
1,174
—
Proceeds from loan payable
1,715
—
Repayment of notes payable
(328 )
(255 )
Proceeds from advances from credit facility
2,500
—
Repayment of advances from credit facility
(2,500 )
—
Purchase of treasury stock
—
(40 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities
5,373
(295 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(1,194 )
(2,800 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of period
2,840
5,640
Cash and cash
equivalents, end of period
$ 1,646
$ 2,840
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest paid
$ 52
$ 52
Taxes Paid
$ —
$ —
Supplemental non-cash investing and
financing activities:
Property and equipment acquired
under notes payable
$ —
$ 153
Recording of lease right-of-use
assets and lease liabilities
$ —
$ 2,847
Reclassification of prepaid expenses
to property and equipment
$ —
$ 114
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F- 6
POLAR
POWER, INC.
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019
(In
thousands, except for share and per share data and where otherwise noted)
NOTE
1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The
Company
Polar
Power, Inc. was incorporated in 1979 in the State of Washington as Polar Products Inc., and in 1991 reincorporated in the State
of California under the name Polar Power, Inc. In December 2016, Polar Power, Inc. reincorporated in the State of Delaware (the
“Company”). The Company designs, manufactures and sells direct current, or DC, power systems to supply reliable and
low-cost energy to off-grid, bad-grid and backup power applications. The Company’s products integrate DC generator and proprietary
automated controls, lithium batteries and solar systems to provide low operating cost and lower emissions alternative power needs
in telecommunications, defense, automotive and industrial markets.
Liquidity
The
Company’s financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets
and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the
Company incurred a net loss of $10,871 and used cash in operating activities of $6,547. At December 31, 2020, the Company had
cash on hand of $1,646 and working capital of $10,123. Subsequent to December 31, 2020, the Company sold an aggregate of 750,000
shares of its common stock for net proceeds of approximately $12,500 in an offering completed in January 2021. In addition, in
January 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 225,878 shares of common stock upon the exercise of warrants and received cash
proceeds of $707. Notwithstanding the net loss for 2020, management believes that its current cash balance, plus net proceeds
from issuance of common stock and exercise of warrants in January 2021, is sufficient to fund operations for at least one year
from the date the Company’s 2020 financial statements are issued.
The
Company expects to continue to incur net losses and negative operating cash flows in the near-term. The Company may seek to raise
additional debt and/or equity capital to fund future operations. No assurance can be given that any future financing will be available
or, if available, that it will be on terms that are satisfactory to the Company. Even if the Company is able to obtain additional
financing, it may contain undue restrictions on its operations, in the case of debt financing or cause substantial dilution for
its stockholders, in case or equity financing. Management continues to review operations in order to identify additional strategies
designed to generate cash flow, improve the Company’s financial position, and enable the timely discharge of the Company’s
obligations. If management is unable to identify sources of additional cash flow in the short term, it may be required to further
reduce or limit operations.
COVID-19
The
Company is subject to risks and uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic that could adversely impact its business, including its
sales, raw materials supply chain, liquidity and access to capital markets and business development activities. The Company has
implemented additional health and safety precautions and protocols in response to the pandemic and government guidelines. During
2020, sales to the Company’s U.S. telecommunications customers, which represented 95% of the Company’s net sales for
2020, decreased 63% from 2019 as its customers postponed shipments and orders to prioritize expansion of 5G and cell site edge
computing networks and as a result of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the business of the Company’s customers. As a
result of the Company’s declining revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, management implemented cost reduction programs
to reduce overhead and lower operating expenses, while still keeping the business operational and ready to expand when needed.
During 2020, the Company’s supply chain was not placed in jeopardy due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The
extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have on the Company’s business is highly uncertain
and difficult to predict and quantify. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or indirectly impact the Company’s
business, results of operations and financial condition, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including
as a result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain or treat it, as well as the
economic impact on local, regional, national and international markets.
F- 7
Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(“GAAP”) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management reviews
its estimates and if deemed appropriate, those estimates are adjusted. Significant estimates include those related to assumptions
used in determining reserves for uncollectible receivables, assumptions used in valuing inventories at net realizable value, impairment
analysis of long term assets, estimates of useful lives of property and equipment, assumptions used in valuing stock-based compensation,
the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, accruals for product warranties, accruals for potential liabilities, and assumptions
used in the determination of the Company’s liquidity. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts
with Customers (“ASC 606”). The underlying principle of ASC 606 is to recognize revenue to depict the transfer
of goods or services to customers at the amount expected to be collected. ASC 606 creates a five-step model that requires entities
to exercise judgment when considering the terms of contract(s), which includes (1) identifying the contract(s) or agreement(s)
with a customer, (2) identifying our performance obligations in the contract or agreement, (3) determining the transaction price,
(4) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (5) recognizing revenue as each performance
obligation is satisfied. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when performance obligations under the terms of a contract are satisfied,
which occurs for us upon shipment or delivery of products or services to our customers based on written sales terms, which is
also when control is transferred. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring
the products or services to a customer.
Substantially
all of the Company’s revenue is derived from product sales. Product revenue is recognized when performance obligations under
the terms of a contract are satisfied, which occurs for the Company upon shipment or delivery of products or services to its customers
based on written sales terms, which is also when control is transferred. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the
Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring the products or services to a customer. The Company determines whether
delivery has occurred based on when title transfers and the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer, which
usually occurs when the Company places the product with the customer’s carrier or deliver the product to a customer’s
location. The Company regularly reviews its customers’ financial positions to ensure that collectability is reasonably assured.
The Company also recognizes
revenues from engineering services, technical support, and sale of accessories that support the Company’s DC power systems.
Revenue is recognized when transfer of control to the customer has been made and the Company’s performance obligation has
been fulfilled. The Company’s revenue from engineering services, technical support services, and product accessories are
clearly defined in each transaction with its customers and have not been significant to date.
The
Company also recognizes revenues from the rental of equipment. The Company’s rental revenues have not been significant to
date and have accounted for less than one percent of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The Company’s
rental contracts are fixed price contracts for fixed durations of time and include freight and delivery charges and are recognized
on a straight-line basis over the rental period.
F- 8
Disaggregation
of Net Sales
The
following table shows the Company’s disaggregated net sales by product type:
Years Ended December 31,
2020
2019
DC power systems
$ 8,659
$ 24,177
Engineering & Tech Support Services
226
281
Accessories
146
343
Total net sales
$ 9,031
$ 24,801
The
following table shows the Company’s disaggregated net sales by customer type:
Years
Ended December 31,
2020
2019
Telecom
$
8,640
$
23,753
Government/Military
120
589
Marine
5
83
Other
(backup DC power to various industries )
266
376
Total
net sales
$
9,031
$
24,801
For the years ended December
31, 2020 and 2019, international sales totaled $1,522 and $230, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020, over
88% of our international sales were made to one customer in Japan. There were no sales made to this customer during 2019.
Product
Warranties
The
Company provides limited warranties for parts and labor at no cost to its customers within a specified time period after the sale.
Our standard warranty on new products is two years from the date of delivery to the customer. We offer a limited extended warranty
of up to five years on our certified DC power systems based on application and usage. The Company’s warranties are
of an assurance-type and come standard with all Company products to cover repair or replacement should product not perform as
expected. Provisions for estimated expenses related to product warranties are made at the time products are sold. These estimates
are established using historical information about the nature, frequency and average cost of warranty claim settlements as well
as product manufacturing and recovery from suppliers. Management actively studies trends of warranty claims and takes action to
improve product quality and minimize warranty costs. The Company estimates the actual historical warranty claims coupled with
an analysis of unfulfilled claims to record a liability for specific warranty purposes. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the
Company had accrued a liability for warranty reserve of $600 and $375, respectively, which are included in other accrued liabilities
in the accompanying balance sheets. Management believes that the warranty accrual is appropriate; however, actual claims incurred
could differ from original estimates, requiring adjustments to the accrual.
The
following is a tabular reconciliation of the product warranty liability, excluding the deferred revenue related to the Company’s
warranty coverage:
Years End December 31,
2020
2019
Changes in estimates for warranties
Balance at beginning of the period
$ 375
$ 175
Payments
(634 )
(530 )
Provision for warranties
859
730
Balance at end of the period
$ 600
$ 375
Shipping
Costs
Amounts
billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling are reported as revenue. Costs incurred by the Company
for shipping and handling are considered fulfillment costs and reported as cost of sales.
F- 9
Cash
and cash equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
The carrying amounts reported in the Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximates their
fair value.
Accounts
Receivable
Trade
receivables are recorded at net realizable value consisting of the carrying amount less an allowance for uncollectible accounts,
as needed. The Company uses the allowance method to account for uncollectible trade receivable balances. Under the allowance method,
if needed, an estimate of uncollectible customer balances is made based upon specific account balances that are considered uncollectible.
Factors used to establish an allowance include the credit quality and payment history of the customer. The Company did not deem
it necessary to provide an allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Inventories
Inventories are stated
at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis. The Company
records adjustments to its inventory based on an estimated forecast of the inventory demand, taking into consideration, among
others, inventory turnover, inventory quantities on hand, unfilled customer order quantities, forecasted demand, current prices,
competitive pricing, and trends and performance of similar products. If the estimated net realizable value is determined
to be less than the recorded cost of the inventory, the difference is recognized as a loss in the period in which it occurs. Once
inventory has been written down, it creates a new cost basis for inventory that may not subsequently written up. At December 31,
2020, as a result of the deterioration of the forecasted marketability of certain of the Company’s inventory, management
determined that the inventory’s revenue-generating ability was diminished, and the net realizable value of this inventory
had fallen below its historical carrying cost. Accordingly, for the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a write
down of inventory of $3,400, which is included in cost of goods sold. At December 31, 2020, the balance of inventory reflects
its new cost basis after the write down. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded a write down of inventory
of $270, which is included in cost of goods sold. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, inventory has been reduced by cumulative write-downs
totaling $4,000 and $600, respectively.
As
of December 31, 2020 and 2019, inventories consisted of the following:
Years Ended December 31,
2020
2019
Raw materials
$ 5,527
$ 8,051
Finished goods
3,567
5,861
Inventories
$ 9,094
$ 13,912
F- 10
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Additions, improvements, and major renewals
or replacements that substantially extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are
expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over
the estimated useful life. Estimated useful lives of the principal classes of assets are as follows:
Estimated life
Production tooling, jigs, fixtures
3-5 years
Shop equipment and machinery
5 years
Vehicles
3-5 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life
Office equipment
5 years
Software
5 years
Management
regularly reviews property, equipment and other long-lived assets for possible impairment. This review occurs annually or more
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Based upon
management’s annual assessment, there were no indicators of impairment of the Company’s property and equipment and
other long-lived assets as of December 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019.
Leases
The
Company accounts for its leases in accordance with the guidance of ASC 842, Leases . The Company determines whether a contract
is, or contains, a lease at inception. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset during
the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based upon the estimated present value of unpaid
lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease
commencement in determining the present value of unpaid lease payments The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019. There was
no cumulative-effect adjustment to accumulated deficit.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company periodically issues stock-based compensation to officers, directors, and consultants for services rendered. Such issuances
vest and expire according to terms established at the issuance date.
Stock-based
payments to employees, directors, and for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees, which include grants of employee stock
options, are recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock
Compensation . Stock option grants, which are generally time vested, are measured at the grant date fair value and depending
on the conditions associated with the vesting of the award, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line or graded basis
over the vesting period. The fair value of stock options granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which
uses certain assumptions related to risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, expected life, and future dividends. The assumptions
used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model could materially affect compensation expense recorded in future periods.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible
temporary differences, and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are
the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets are reduced by
a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred
tax assets will not be realized before the Company is able to realize their benefits, or that future deductibility is uncertain.
Tax
benefits from an uncertain tax position are recognized only if it more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained
on examination by the taxing authorities based on technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial
statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has greater than 50 percent likelihood of being
realized upon ultimate resolution. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and
rates on the date of enactment.
F- 11
Research
and Development Costs
Research
and development costs are expensed as incurred and consist primarily of salaries and other expenses relating to the design, development,
and testing of the Company’s products. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, research and development expenditures
totaled $1,723 and $2,276, respectively.
Net
Loss Per Share
Basic
loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted
earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding plus the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if all dilutive potential
common shares had been issued using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include shares from unexercised
warrants and options. Potential common share equivalents have been excluded where their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. The
Company’s basic and diluted net loss per share is the same for all periods presented because all shares issuable upon exercise
of warrants and options are anti-dilutive.
The
following potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share as their inclusion
would be anti-dilutive:
December 31,
2020
2019
Options
140,000
140,000
Warrants
370,000
120,000
Total
510,000
260,000
Financial
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
Accounting
standards require certain assets and liabilities be reported at fair value in the financial statements and provide a framework
for establishing that fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer
a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining fair value, the Company
considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it transacts, and considers assumptions that market participants
would use when pricing the asset or liability. The framework for determining fair value is based on a hierarchy that prioritizes
the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value:
Level
1
Quoted
prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level
2
Inputs,
other than the quoted prices in active markets, that is observable either directly or indirectly.
Level
3
Unobservable
inputs based on the Company’s assumptions.
The
carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable,
approximate their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying values of notes payable approximate
their fair values due to the fact that the interest rates on these obligations are based on prevailing market interest rates.
Segments
The
Company operates in one segment for the manufacture and distribution of its products. In accordance with the “Segment Reporting”
Topic of the ASC, the Company’s chief operating decision maker has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer and President,
who reviews operating results to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance for the entire Company. Existing
guidance, which is based on a management approach to segment reporting, establishes requirements to report selected segment information
quarterly and to report annually entity-wide disclosures about products and services, major customers, and the countries in which
the entity holds material assets and reports revenue. All material operating units qualify for aggregation under “Segment
Reporting” due to their similar customer base and similarities in: economic characteristics; nature of products and services;
and procurement, manufacturing and distribution processes. Since the Company operates in one segment, all financial information
required by “Segment Reporting” can be found in the accompanying financial statements.
F- 12
Concentrations
Cash.
The Company maintains cash balances at four banks, with the majority held at one bank located in the U.S. At times, the amount
on deposit exceeds the federally insured limits. Management believes that the financial institutions that hold the Company’s
cash are financially sound and, accordingly, minimal credit risk exists.
Cash
denominated in Australian Dollar with a U.S. Dollar equivalent of $10 and $16 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was
held in an account at a financial institution located in Australia. Cash denominated in Romanian Leu with a U.S. Dollar equivalent
of $28 and $4 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was held in an account at a financial institution located in Romania.
Revenues .
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 52%, 15%, and 14% of revenue were generated from the company’s three largest customers,
which were customers from the telecommunications industry. In 2019, 68%, 17%, and 6% of revenue were generated from the Company’s
three largest customers, all are customers from the telecommunications industry. In 2020 and 2019, sales to telecommunications
customers accounted for 96% and 96% of total revenue, respectively. In 2020 and 2019, sales to international customers accounted
for 17% and 1%, of total revenue, respectively.
Accounts
receivable . At December 31, 2020, 87% of the Company’s accounts receivable was from one of the Company’s major
customer. At December 31, 2019, 70% and 20% represented the two largest accounts receivable balances from the Company’s
customers. There was no other customer that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable as of the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Accounts
payable . On December 31, 2020, the three largest accounts payable accounts to the Company’s vendors represented 10%,
9%, and 8%, respectively. On December 31, 2019, the three largest accounts payable accounts to the Company’s largest vendors
represented 11%, 10%, and 10%, respectively.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Credit Losses - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASC
326”). The standard significantly changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets, including accounts
and notes receivables. The standard will replace today’s “incurred loss” approach with an “expected loss”
model, under which companies will recognize allowances based on expected rather than incurred losses. Entities will apply the
standard’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting
period in which the guidance is effective. As a smaller reporting company, ASU 2016-13 will be effective for the Company beginning
January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s
financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
The
Company’s management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, authoritative guidance, if
currently adopted, would have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.
F- 13
NOTE
2 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property
and equipment consist of the following:
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Shop equipment and machinery
$ 3,286
$ 3,264
Production tooling, jigs, fixtures
71
71
Vehicles
180
188
Leasehold improvements
390
390
Office equipment
177
172
Software
103
103
Total property and equipment, cost
4,207
4,188
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
(2,710 )
(2,088 )
Property and equipment, net
$ 1,497
$ 2,100
Depreciation
and amortization expense on property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $622 and $628 respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, $595 and $586, respectively, of depreciation expense was included in cost of
sales for the years then ended.
NOTE
3 – NOTES PAYABLE
Notes
payable consist of the following:
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Total Notes Payable
$ 777
$ 1,106
Less: Current Portion
267
328
Notes Payable, Noncurrent portion
$ 510
$ 778
The
Company has entered into several financing agreements for the purchase of equipment. The terms of these financing arrangements
are for a term of 2 years to 5 years, with interest rates ranging from 1.9% to 6.9% per annum, secured by the purchased equipment.
The aggregate monthly payments of principal and interest of the outstanding notes payable as of December 31, 2020 is approximately
$20 and are due through 2024.
As
of December 31, 2019, the balance of notes payable was $1,106. During 2020, the Company paid down the notes payable by $328, and
at December 31, 2020, the balance of notes payable was $777.
Annual
future principal payments under the outstanding note agreements as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:
Years ending December 31:
2021
267
2022
232
2023
196
2024
82
Total
$ 777
F- 14
NOTE
4 – LINE OF CREDIT
Credit
Facility
Effective
September 30, 2020, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Pinnacle Bank
(“Pinnacle”). During 2020, we advanced $2,500 from the revolving credit facility, which we also paid off during the
year. As of December 31, 2020, there was no balance outstanding under the line of credit at December 31, 2020, and the Company
had availability under the line of credit in the amount of $1,070. The Loan Agreement’s initial term ends on September 30,
2022, and is renewed thereafter for additional one-year terms. Either party may terminate the Loan Agreement on the last day of
the initial term or subsequent renewal term by giving the other party at least sixty days prior written notice. In addition, Pinnacle
may terminate the Loan Agreement at any time upon sixty days prior written notice and immediately upon the occurrence of an event
of default.
The
Loan Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility under which Pinnacle may make advances to the Company, subject to certain
limitations and adjustments, of up to (a) 85% of the aggregate net face amount of the Company’s accounts receivable and
other contract rights and receivables, plus (b) the lesser of (i) 35% of the lower of cost or wholesale market value of certain
inventory of the Company or (ii) $2,500. In no event shall the aggregate amount of the outstanding advances under the revolving
credit facility be greater than $4,000. Interest accrues on the daily balance at a rate of 1.25% above the prime rate (the “Standard
Interest Rate”), but in no event shall the Standard Interest Rate be less than 3.75% per annum. Interest on the portion
of the daily balance consisting of advances against inventory accrues interest at a rate of 2.25% above the prime rate per annum
(the “Inventory Interest Rate”), but in no event shall the Inventory Interest Rate be less than 4.75% per annum. The
Loan Agreement also contains a financial covenant requiring the Company to attain an effective tangible net worth, defined as
its total assets, excluding all intangible assets, less its total liabilities plus loans to the Company from our officers, stockholders
or employees that have been subordinated to the Company’s obligations to Pinnacle, greater than $6,000 as determined by
Pinnacle as of the end of each fiscal quarter.
The
Loan Agreement obligates the Company to pay Pinnacle a yearly facility fee in an amount equal to 1.125% of the sum of the advance
limit plus the original principal balance of any term loans and advances other than under the revolving credit facility. Under
the Loan Agreement, the Company also agreed to grant Pinnacle a security interest in all presently existing and thereafter acquired
or arising assets of the Company. The Loan Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, and other
terms and conditions.
Supplier
Agreement
Effective
June 4, 2019, the Company executed a Supplier Agreement with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”). On October 8, 2020, the
Company terminated the Supplier Agreement with Citibank.
Under
the terms of the Supplier Agreement, the Company from time to time offered to sell to Citibank certain of the Company’s
accounts receivable relating to invoiced sales made to AT&T. Once AT&T approved the invoice, AT&T sent payment instructions
to Citibank. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, total of $2,621 and $13,229 of accounts receivables, respectively,
was sold to Citibank by the Company, and the Company incurred fees of approximately $12 and $52, respectively.
The
sale price was equal to the face amount of the receivable less the applicable discount charge calculated by multiplying the face
amount of the receivable by (i) the annual discount rate (which is equal to the 90-day London Inter-bank Offered Rate plus 1.00%)
and (ii) the discount acceptance period (which is equal the number of days in the payment terms less the number of days necessary
to approve the invoice) divided by 360.
NOTE
5 – LOAN PAYABLE
On
May 4, 2020, the Company entered into a loan with Citibank, N.A. in an aggregate principal amount of $1,715 (the “PPP Loan”),
pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) under the CARES Act.
The
PPP Loan is evidenced by a promissory note dated May 4, 2020. The PPP Loan matures two years from the disbursement date and bears
interest at a rate of 1% per annum, with the first nine months of interest deferred. Principal and interest are payable monthly
commencing nine months after the disbursement date and may be prepaid by the Company at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment
penalties. The Company applied ASC 470, Debt , to account for the PPP Loan.
F- 15
Under
the terms of the CARES Act, recipients of PPP loans can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of loans granted
under the PPP. The PPP Loan is subject to forgiveness to the extent proceeds are used for payroll costs, including payments required
to continue group health care benefits, and certain rent, utility, and mortgage interest expenses (collectively, “Qualifying
Expenses”), pursuant to the terms and limitations of the PPP. The Company intends to use a significant majority of the PPP
Loan amount for Qualifying Expenses and expects the full amount of the PPP Loan to be forgiven. However, no assurance can be given
that the Company will obtain forgiveness of the PPP Loan in whole or in part.
NOTE
6 – OPERATING LEASES
The
Company has two operating lease agreements for its warehouse and office spaces both with remaining lease terms at December 31,
2020, of 2.4 years. The Company also has another storage facility on a twelve-month lease term. Leases with an initial term of
12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components of its leases
as a single lease component. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Operating
lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of
lease payments over the lease term. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities
represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Generally, the implicit rate of interest in arrangements
is not readily determinable and the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease
payments. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate is a hypothetical collateralized borrowing rate based on its understanding
of what its credit rating would be. The operating lease ROU asset includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives.
The
components of rent expense and supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the period are as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
2020
2019
Lease Cost
Operating lease cost (of which $98 is included
in general and administration and $601 is included in cost of sales in the Company’s statement of operations as of December
31, 2020, and $102 is included in general and administration and $597 is included in cost of sales in the Company’s
statement of operations as of December 31, 2019)
$ 699
$ 699
Other Information
Weighted average remaining lease term – operating
leases (in years)
2.4
3.4
Average discount rate – operating leases
3.75 %
3.75 %
The
supplemental balance sheet information related to leases for the period is as follows:
At December 31,
2020
At December 31,
2019
Operating leases
Long-term right-of-use assets, net of accumulated amortization
of $1,265 and $154, respectively
$ 1,563
$ 2,187
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
$ 670
$ 618
Noncurrent portion of operating lease liabilities
990
1,660
Total operating lease liabilities
$ 1,660
$ 2,278
F- 16
Maturities
of the Company’s lease liabilities are as follows:
Year Ending
Operating Leases
2021
721
2022
747
2023
272
Total lease payments
1,740
Less: Imputed interest/present value discount
(80 )
Present value of lease liabilities
$ 1,660
Rent
expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $903 and $865, respectively (including short-term and other
rentals).
NOTE
7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common
Stock
● Issuance
of common stock and warrants for cash
On
July 2, 2020, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors for the sale in a
private placement of 1,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price of $2.25 per share. Additionally,
each investor received a warrant exercisable into 50% of the shares purchased by an investor (see Note 9). The closing of the
private placement took place on July 7, 2020, and aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock and warrants
was approximately $2,812.
● Issuance
of common stock upon exercise of warrants
During
the year ended December 31, 2020, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 375,000 shares of common stock were exercised, and the
Company received net proceeds of $1,174 upon such exercise.
Preferred
Stock
The
Company’s board of directors is authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and
to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights and
rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares
constituting any series or the designation of such series, without any vote or action by the Company’s stockholders. Any
preferred stock to be issued could rank prior to the Company’s common stock with respect to dividend rights and rights on
liquidation. The Company’s board of directors, without stockholder approval, may issue preferred stock with voting and conversion
rights which could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and discourage, delay or prevent a change in control
of the Company.
Treasury
Stock
The
Company entered into a 10b-18 Stock Repurchase Agreement on November 6, 2019 authorizing ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial
Management, Inc. to repurchase up to $500 of the Company’s common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company
purchased of 17,477 shares and held them as treasury stock at cost of $40. On January 20, 2020, the Company terminated the Stock
Repurchase Agreement.
F- 17
NOTE
8 – STOCK OPTIONS
The
following table summarizes stock option activity:
Number of
Options
Weighted Average
Exercise
Price
Outstanding, December 31, 2018
360,000
$ 4.84
Granted
—
—
Exercised
—
—
Cancelled
(220,000 )
5.26
Outstanding, December 31, 2019
140,000
$ 5.22
Granted
—
—
Exercised
—
—
Outstanding and exercisable, December 31, 2020
140,000
$ 5.22
Effective
July 8, 2016 the Company’s board of directors approved the Polar Power 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”),
authorizing the issuance of up to 1,754,385 shares of common stock as incentives to employees and consultants to the Company with
awards limited to a maximum of 350,877 shares to any one participant in any calendar year.
At
December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had total outstanding options of 140,000, which are fully vested, exercise prices ranging
from $4.84 to $5.09, and with 30,000 option shares set to expire in December 2027 and the remaining 110,000 option shares set
to expire in April 2028. On October 1, 2019, the Company’s
three executive officers agreed to terminate their rights to 220,000 stock option shares that had not vested as of April 1, 2019.
During
the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded stock-based compensation costs of $79 related to the vesting of these options.
There was no unamortized cost compensation remaining as of December 31, 2019 As such, no further stock compensation expense was
recorded during the year ended December 31, 2020.
There
was no intrinsic value of the outstanding options at December 31, 2020.
NOTE
9 – STOCK WARRANTS
The
following table summarizes warrant activity:
Number of
Warrants
Weighted Average
Exercise
Price
Outstanding, December 31, 2018
120,000
$ 8.75
Issued
—
—
Exercised
—
—
Outstanding, December 31, 2019
120,000
$ 8.75
Issued
625,000
3.13
Exercised
(375,000 )
3.13
Outstanding, December 31, 2020
370,000
$ 4.95
Exercisable, December 31, 2020
370,000
$ 4.95
On
July 7, 2020, the Company issued warrants exercisable into 625,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in conjunction with
the sales by the Company in a private placement of 1,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (see Note 7). The warrants
have an exercise price of $3.13 per share, are exercisable beginning on July 7, 2020 and have a term of five years. During the
year ended December 31, 2020, warrants to purchase 375,000 shares of common stock were exercised, and the Company received net
proceeds of $1,174 upon such exercise.
There
was no intrinsic value of the outstanding and exercisable warrants at December 31, 2020.
F- 18
NOTE
10 – INCOME TAXES
On
March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted and signed into law
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the CARES Act, NOLs arising in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before
January 1, 2021 (e.g., NOLs incurred in 2018, 2019, or 2020 by a calendar-year taxpayer) may be carried back to each of the five
tax years preceding the tax year of such loss. Since the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), NOLs generally
could not be carried back but could be carried forward indefinitely. Further, the TCJA limited NOL absorption to 80% of taxable
income. The CARES Act temporarily removes the 80% limitation, reinstating it for tax years beginning after 2020.
Based
on the passage of Cares Act, the Company determined that the NOL carryback provision in the CARES Act would result in a cash benefit
to us for the fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019. As a result, during the year ended December 31, 2020, an income tax benefit of
$2,139 was recorded related to U.S. Federal loss carryforwards that became eligible for carryback. At December 31, 2020, we have
recorded an income tax receivable of $1,702 for the benefit of carrying back the NOLs for 2018 to 2019 to the tax year ended September
30, 2016. We are forecasting an NOL for fiscal year 2020 and expect to carry it back to the short tax period ended December 31,
2016. As a result, we have also included the 2020 provisional amounts of $655 in income tax receivable at December 31, 2020.
The
benefit from income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 consists of the following:
Years Ended December 31,
2020
2019
Current Federal
(2,139 )
-
Current State
-
-
Deferred Federal
-
-
Deferred State
-
-
Benefit from income taxes
(2,139 )
-
The
reconciliation of the effective income tax rate to the federal statutory rate is as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
2020
2019
Federal income tax rate
(21 )%
(21 )
State tax, net of federal benefit
(7 )%
(7 )%
Carryback net operating loss
— %
21 %
Change in valuation allowances
12 %
7 %
Effective income tax rate
16 %
— %
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
statement purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets
and liabilities at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Deferred tax assets:
Inventory reserves
$
1,379
$
396
Accrued liabilities and other reserves
169
208
Operating lease liability
465
635
Net operating loss carryforwards
2,281
734
Gross deferred tax assets
4,294
1,973
Valuation allowance
(3,515
)
(1,266
)
Total deferred tax assets
779
707
Deferred tax liabilities:
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net
(436
)
(610
)
Depreciation
(343
)
(97
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(779
)
(707
)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)
$
—
$
—
At
December 31, 2020, the Company had available Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”s) to reduce
future taxable income of approximately $7,200,000 and $10,900,000, respectively. The Federal NOL can be carried forward indefinitely,
but can only offset 80% of taxable income in future years. The state carryforward expires in 2039 through 2040.
Authoritative
guidance issued by the ASC Topic 740 – Income Taxes requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is more likely
than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers all evidence available when
determining whether deferred tax assets are more likely-than-not to be realized, including projected future taxable income, scheduled
reversals of deferred tax liabilities, prudent tax planning strategies, and recent financial operations. The evaluation of this
evidence requires significant judgement about the forecast of future taxable income is consistent with the plans and estimates
we are using to manage the underlying business. Based on their evaluation, the Company determined that their net deferred tax
assets do not meet the requirements to be realized, and as such, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance against them.
The Company follows
FASB guidelines that address the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should
be recorded in the financial statements. Under this guidance, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax
position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities,
based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should
be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
This guidance also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim
periods and requires increased disclosures. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not have a liability for unrecognized
tax benefits, and no adjustment was required at adoption.
The
Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states. The Company is subject to U.S. federal or
state income tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years after 2016.
The
Company’s policy is to record interest and penalties on uncertain tax provisions as income tax expense. As of December 31,
2020 and 2019, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. Additionally, tax years 2016
through 2020 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.
F- 19
NOTE
11 – DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH A RELATED ENTITY
On
March 1, 2014, the Company entered into a subcontractor installer agreement with Smartgen Solutions, Inc. (“Smartgen”),
a related entity that is engaged in business of equipment rental and provider of maintenance, repair and installation services
to mobile telecommunications towers in California. Under the terms of the agreement, Smartgen has been appointed as a non-exclusive,
authorized service provider for the installation, repair and service of the Company’s products in Southern California. The
agreement has a term of three years from the date of execution and automatically renews for additional one-year periods if not
terminated.
During
the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, Smartgen performed $129 and $289 in field services, respectively, the cost of which
is included in cost of goods sold.
NOTE
12 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGINCIES.
From
time to time, the Company may be involved in general commercial disputes arising in the ordinary course of our business. The Company
is not currently involved in legal proceedings that could reasonably be expected to have material adverse effect on its business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations. In the opinion of management of the Company, adequate provision has been
made in the Company’s financial statements at December 31, 2020 with respect to such matters. See also Notes 6 and 10.
NOTE
13 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS.
Issuance
of common stock upon exercise of warrants
In
January 2021, warrants to purchase 225,878 shares of common stock were exercised, and the Company received net proceeds of $707
upon such exercise. Also, in January 2021, warrants to purchase 120,000 shares of common stock were exercised under a cashless
transaction resulting in the issuance of 61,644 shares of the Company’s common stock.
Underwritten
Offering of Common Stock
On
February 7, 2021, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management,
Inc., pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to ThinkEquity an aggregate of 750,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), in a firm commitment underwritten public offering. All of the Shares
were sold by the Company to the Underwriter on February 10, 2021, and the Company received at the closing of the offering net
proceeds of approximately $12.5 million from the sale of the Shares after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and
other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate
purposes.
F- 20
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Where
Located
Exhibit
Number
Description*
Form
File
Number
Exhibit
Number
Filing
Date
Filed
Herewith
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation
10-K
001-37960
3.1
3/10/17
3.2
Bylaws
10-K
001-37960
3.2
3/10/17
4.1
Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
10-K
001-37960
4.1
5/14/20
4.2
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant
8-K
001-37960
4.1
7/8/2020
10.1
Polar Power, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan and forms of agreements thereunder#
S-1
333-213572
10.1
9/9/2016
10.2
Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement dated July 8, 2016 between the Registrant and Arthur D. Sams#
S-1
333-213572
10.2
9/9/2016
10.3
Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement dated July 8, 2016 between the Registrant and Rajesh Masina#
S-1
333-213572
10.3
9/9/2016
10.4
Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement dated July 8, 2016 between the Registrant and Luis Zavala#
S-1
333-213572
10.4
9/9/2016
10.5
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each of its Executive Officers and Directors#
S-1
333-213572
10.5
11/18/2016
10.
6
Loan and Security Agreement dated as of August 14, 2015 between the Registrant and Gibraltar Business Capital
S-1
333-213572
10.6
9/9/2016
10.
7
Memorandum of Understanding dated as of December 30, 2014 between the Registrant and Richard J. Ulinski
S-1
333-213572
10.7
9/9/2016
10.8
Lease Agreement dated November 7, 2014 between the Registrant and Two Bros L.P.
S-1
333-213572
10.8
9/9/2016
67
10.9
Form of Representative’s Warrant
10-K
001-37960
10.9
3/10/17
10.10
Amendment No. 1 to Polar Power, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10-K
001-37960
10.10
4/1/2019
10.11
Supplier Agreement between Polar Power, Inc. and Citibank, N.A. dated effective as of June 4, 2019
8-K
001-37960
10.1
6/6/2019
10.12
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Note by Polar Power, Inc. in favor of Citibank, N.A. dated May 4, 2020
8-K
001-37960
10.1
5/8/2020
10.13
Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 2, 2020 between Polar Power, Inc. and each purchaser identified on the signature pages thereto
8-K
001-37960
10.1
7/8/2020
10.14
Registration Rights Agreement dated July 2, 2020 between Polar Power, Inc. and each purchaser identified on the signature pages thereto
8-K
001-37960
10.2
7/8/2020
10.15
Loan and Security Agreement dated August 31, 2020 between Pinnacle Bank and Polar Power, Inc.
8-K
001-37960
10.1
10/9/2020
10.16
First Modification to Loan and Security Agreement dated October 7, 2020 by and between Polar Power, Inc. and Pinnacle Bank
8-K
001-37960
10.2
10/9/2020
14.1
Code of Ethics
10-K
001-37960
14.1
3/10/17
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
10-K
001-37960
21.1
3/10/17
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
X
31.1
Certification Required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
X
31.2
Certification Required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
X
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
X
101.INS
Inline
XBRL Instance Document
X
101.SCH
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
X
101.CAL
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
X
101.DEF
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
X
101.LAB
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
X
101.PRE
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
X
(#)
A
contract, compensatory plan or arrangement to which a director or executive officer is a party or in which one or more directors
or executive officers are eligible to participate.
(*)
Certain
of the agreements filed as exhibits contain representations and warranties made by the parties thereto. The assertions embodied
in such representations and warranties are not necessarily assertions of fact, but a mechanism for the parties to allocate
risk. Accordingly, investors should not rely on the representations and warranties as characterizations of the actual state
of facts or for any other purpose at the time they were made or otherwise.
68
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on this 31st day of March 2021.
POLAR
POWER, INC.
By:
/s/
Arthur D. Sams
Arthur
D. Sams,
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of
the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
Arthur D. Sams
Chief
Executive Officer, President, Secretary
March
31, 2021
Arthur
D. Sams
and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
(principal executive officer)
/s/
Luis Zavala
Chief
Financial Officer
March
31, 2021
Luis
Zavala
(principal
financial and accounting officer)
/s/
Keith Albrecht
Director
March
31, 2021
Keith
Albrecht
/s/
Peter Gross
Director
March
31, 2021
Peter
Gross
/s/
Katherine Koster
Director
March
31, 2021
Katherine
Koster
69
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.