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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

(15) Commitments and Contingencies

 

Spain Income Tax Audit

 

The Company underwent an income tax audit in Spain for the period from 2011 to 2014, when its Spanish branch was closed. On July 30, 2018, the Spanish tax inspector concluded that although there was no tax owed in light of losses reported, the Company’s Spanish branch owed penalties for failure to properly account for the income associated with the funding grant. During the year ended April 30, 2022, the Company received notice from the Spanish Central Economic and Administrative Tribunal (“Spanish Tax Administration”) that it agreed with the inspector and ruled that the Company owes the full amount of the penalty in the amount of €279,870 or approximately $331,000. On January 25, 2021, the Company paid the Spanish Tax Administration €279,870. Notwithstanding that payment, on April 30, 2022, the Company filed its appeal of the decision of the Central Court to the Spanish National Court. The Company expects results of the appeal.to conclude during fiscal year 2025.

 

Litigation with Paragon Technologies, Inc.

 

On June 16, 2023, Paragon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is an activist investor and a stockholder of the Company (“Paragon”), informed the Company that Paragon was planning a proxy contest against the Company and intended to nominate candidates for election to the Company Board of Directors (the “OPT Board”) at the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting (the “2023 Annual Meeting”). Subsequently, Paragon disclosed its intention to replace a majority of the six-member OPT Board with initially five purported nominees, including three members of the Paragon Board of Directors, and, thereby, seek control of the Company. In furtherance of Paragon’s threatened agenda, Paragon brought three litigation matters against the Company in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

  (a) (Del. Code §220 Complaint) On July 27, 2023, Paragon filed a complaint in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against the Company seeking to compel the inspection of certain books and records of the Company pursuant to 8 Del. Code § 220. On January 31, 2024, the Court issued a ruling for the Company to deliver certain books and records to Paragon, and the books and records that were subject to the Court’s final order were produced to Paragon on April 8, 2024. No additional activity has occurred.

 

 

  (b) (Breach of Fiduciary Duties Complaint) On October 10, 2023, Paragon filed an additional complaint in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against the Company, and the members of its Board of Directors, claiming certain breaches of their fiduciary duties. The complaint sought only injunctive relief against the Company, and not monetary damages, and therefore the financial exposure derived therein was limited to applicable legal fee and costs at that stage, which was material to FY’ 24. On November 2, 2023, Paragon sought leave to amend its complaint to add additional claims. The Court granted this motion for leave to amend, provided that the Court would not delay the hearing on the matters raised in the initial complaint, which was set for November 28, 2023. This hearing on the initial complaint was held and on November 30, 2023, the Court ruled in favor of the Company and denied Paragon’s motion for injunctive relief. The status of the in the amended complaint is still pending. On February 28, 2024, the Company successfully finalized its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders in spite of Paragon’s repeated attempts to contest the meeting. On July 10, 2024, the Company requested Paragon’s counsel to dismiss this litigation, given there has been no activity for 6 months. We are awaiting a response.

 

    (Del. Code §225 Complaint) On April 11, 2024, Paragon filed an action in the Delaware Court of Chancery against the Company, and the members of its Board of Directors, challenging the results of the 2023 Annual Meeting (concluded on February 28, 2024), alleging that a quorum was not present for the meeting. On May 7, 2024, the Company filed its answer, including that the Final Report of the Inspector of Election (which Paragon selected) confirmed that a quorum was present. On June 20, 2024, Paragon filed a Motion to Dismiss the case “without prejudice.” On June 28, 2024, the Company responded to Paragon’s Motion to Dismiss, claiming that the case should be dismissed: (a) “with prejudice”; or (b) “without prejudice,” but in such event Paragon should reimburse OPT’s fees and costs for defending the case.

 

As clearly evidenced by the above, Paragon has filed three lawsuits against the OPT Board and the Company in an effort to seek control of the Company, without following appropriate governance standards and without offering fair value to the stockholders.

 

In addition, Sham Gad, the CEO of Paragon has also maintained in public that the nature of Paragon’s proposed investment in the Company was “non-dilutive.” To that point, on April 24, 2024, Paragon made the following “non-dilutive $3MM preferred stock” offer to the Company: “...The preferred would have the option to be convertible to common stock, at $0.05 a share, or 25% of the 30-day average trading price, whichever is higher...”. After the Board correctly rejected the $3MM preferred stock offer, on June 7, 2024, Paragon issued a press release that proclaimed its offer was non-dilutive. In fact, Paragon’s offer was highly dilutive because the offer stipulated that the proposed OPT preferred stock to be issued to Paragon would be convertible to OPT common stock at a 75% discount to the fair market value of the common stock. The Paragon offer thus essentially amounted to a change in control of the Company at 25% of its fair market value.

 

In order to defend the best interests of the Company’s shareholders against Paragon’s lawsuits and public statements, the Company has spent approximately $3.9 million in fees and costs.

 

General Legal Matters

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types. The Company records a liability in its consolidated financial statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company reviews these estimates each accounting period as additional information is known and adjusts the loss provision when appropriate. If a matter is both probable to result in a liability and the amounts of loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company estimates and discloses the possible loss or range of loss to the extent necessary to make the consolidated financial statements not misleading. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in its consolidated financial statements.