14.           NOTES PAYABLE

BroadOak Loan

On October 29, 2021, the Company and its subsidiaries entered into the BroadOak Loan Agreement, providing for a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $8,000,000 (the “Term Loan”). Funding of the Term Loan took place on November 1, 2021. The Term Loan matures upon the earlier of (i) October 31, 2024 or (ii) the occurrence of a change in control, and bears interest at the rate of 9% per annum. The Term Loan is secured by a security interest in substantially all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ assets and is subordinate to the Company’s $7,500,000 revolving credit facility with Comerica Bank. See Note 17, Revolving Line of Credit. The Term Loan had an origination fee of 3% of the Term Loan amount, and a terminal payment equal to (i) 15% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan if the change of control occurs on or prior to the first anniversary of the funding of the Term Loan, (ii) 20% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan if the change of control occurs after the first anniversary but on or prior to the second anniversary of the funding of the Term Loan and (iii) 30% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan if the change of control occurs after the second anniversary of the funding of the Term Loan, or if the Term Loan is repaid on its maturity date.

The BroadOak Loan Agreement contains affirmative and negative restrictive covenants that are applicable from and after the date of the Term Loan advance. These restrictive covenants, which include restrictions on certain mergers, acquisitions, investments, encumbrances, etc., could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. The BroadOak Loan Agreement also contains customary events of default.

In connection with the BroadOak Loan Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries entered into that certain First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement and Consent with Comerica, dated as of November 1, 2021 (the “Comerica Amendment”), pursuant to which Comerica consented to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ entry into the BroadOak Loan Agreement, and amended that certain Loan and Security Agreement among Comerica, the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Comerica Loan Agreement”) to, among other things, permit the indebtedness, liens and encumbrances contemplated by the BroadOak Loan Agreement.

As a condition for BroadOak to extend the Term Loan to the Company and its subsidiaries, the Company’s existing creditor, Comerica, and BroadOak entered into that certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2021, pursuant to which BroadOak agreed to subordinate all of the indebtedness and obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries owing to BroadOak to all of the indebtedness and obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries owing to Comerica (the “Intercreditor Agreement”). BroadOak further agreed to subordinate all of its respective security interests in assets or property of the Company and its subsidiaries to Comerica’s security interests in such assets or property. The Intercreditor Agreement provides that it is solely for the benefit of BroadOak and Comerica and is not for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

The Company concluded that the Note met the definition of a “recognized financial liability” which is an acceptable financial instrument eligible for the fair value option under ASC 825-10-15-4, and did not meet the definition of any of the financial instruments listed within ASC 825-10-15-5 that are not eligible for the fair value option. The Note is not convertible and does not have any component recorded to shareholders’ equity. Accordingly, the Company elected the fair value option for the Note.

BroadOak Convertible Note

On May 5, 2022, the Company issued a Convertible Note to BroadOak, pursuant to which BroadOak funded an aggregate principal amount of $2 million (the “Convertible Debt”).

The Convertible Note was to be converted into shares of common stock of the Company in connection with, and upon the consummation of, a private placement transaction pursuant to which the Company would issue common stock to certain investors, and such conversion would be subject to the same terms and conditions (including purchase price per share) applicable to the purchase of common stock of the Company by such investors. Since the private placement transaction was not consummated by August 5, 2022 (the “Maturity Date”), the Convertible Note was converted into an additional term loan advance under the Company’s existing BroadOak Loan Agreement on the Maturity Date. The Convertible Debt bore interest at a fixed rate of 9.0% per annum and was unsecured. There were no scheduled amortization payments prior to the Maturity Date. The Convertible Note contained customary representations and warranties and customary events of default.

The Company entered into a consent letter (the “Comerica Consent”) with Comerica, pursuant to which Comerica consented to the issuance of the Convertible Note, the incurrence of the Convertible Debt and the conversion of the Convertible Debt into common stock of the Company or an additional term loan advance under the BroadOak Loan Agreement.