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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 14 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Franchising

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company entered into various franchise agreements for a total of 6 and 25 potentially new Pokemoto locations with various franchisees. The franchisees paid the Company an aggregate of $87,500 and $380,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and this has been recorded in deferred revenue as of September 30, 2022.

 

Litigations, Claims and Assessments

 

On April 24, 2022, the Company and a convertible note holder entered into an agreement in which the Company will repay a total of $110,000 in connection with the default judgement issued on June 22, 2018, by the Iowa District Court for Polk County #CVCV056029, filed against the Company for failure to pay the remaining balance due on a promissory note in the amount of $100,000, together with interest, attorney fees and other costs of $171,035.The Company agreed to pay $40,000 on or before May 1, 2020 and to make seven installment payments of $10,000 per month starting on or before June 1, 2022. As of September 30, 2022, the Company has accrued for the liability in convertible notes payable in the amount of $20,000.

 

On or about March 7, 2019, the Company was listed as a defendant to a lawsuit filed by a contractor in the State of Texas in El Paso County #2019DCV0824. The contractor is claiming a breach of contract and is seeking approximately $32,809 in damages for services claimed to be rendered by the contractor. As of December 31, 2021, the Company accrued $30,000 for the liability in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

 

 

MUSCLE MAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 14 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, continued

 

Litigations, Claims and Assessments, continued

 

On January 23, 2020, the Company was served a judgment issued by the Judicial Council of California in the amount of $130,185 for a breach of a lease agreement in Chicago, Illinois, in connection with a Company-owned store that was closed in 2018. As of September 30, 2022, the Company has accrued for the liability in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings, claims and assessments arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management after consulting legal counsel, such matters are currently not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Company records legal costs associated with loss contingencies as incurred and accrues for all probable and estimable settlements after consulting legal counsel.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On January 2, 2022, the Company appointed Jennifer Black as Chief Financial Officer of the Company and entered into an Offer Letter with Ms. Black. Pursuant to the Offer Letter, Ms. Black will be employed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company on an at-will basis. Ms. Black is entitled to a base salary at the annualized rate of $190,000. The Company’s previous CFO, Ferdinand Groenewald, was appointed as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and subsequently the position of Chief Accounting Officer was eliminated. The Company issued Ms. Black 20,000 shares of common stock upon completion of 90 days of employment. Ms. Black is entitled to receive stock options to acquire 20,000 shares of common stock subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and Compensation Committee and the terms and conditions will be subject to entering into a stock option agreement. See Note 16 – Equity – Common Stock and Options for details related to the issuance of the shares of common stock and stock options.

 

On February 10, 2022, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Michael Roper effective February 14, 2022, which replaced his prior employment agreement. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Roper will continue to be employed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on an at will basis. During the term of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Roper is entitled to a base salary at the annualized rate of $350,000, will be increased to $375,000 upon the one-year anniversary. Mr. Roper will be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus to be paid in cash or equity. Within 90 days of the effective date, the Company issued Mr. Roper stock options to receive 100,000 shares of common stock which vest over a term of five years. If Mr. Roper is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, including termination without cause in connection with a change in control, Mr. Roper will be entitled to a severance package of 18 months of salary and health and dental benefits paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule, but subject to the execution of a valid release in favor of the Company and its related parties. See Note 16 – Equity – Options for details related to the issuance of the stock options.

 

On February 10, 2022, the Company and Kevin Mohan, Chief Investment Officer, entered a letter agreement providing that Mr. Mohan will continue to be engaged by the Company on an at-will basis with a base salary at the annualized rate of $200,000 effective February 14, 2022. Mr. Mohan will be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus to be paid in cash or equity of up to 75% of his salary. Within 90 days of the effective date, the Company issued Mr. Mohan stock options to receive 75,000 shares of common stock which vest over a term of five years. If Mr. Mohan is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, including termination without cause in connection with a change in control, he will be entitled to a severance package of six months of salary and health and dental benefits paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule and insurance program, but subject to the execution of a valid release in favor of the Company and its related parties. See Note 16 – Equity – Options for details related to the issuance of the stock options.

 

 

MUSCLE MAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 14 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, continued

 

Employment Agreements, continued

 

On February 9, 2022, the Company and Kenn Miller, Chief Operations Officer, entered a letter agreement providing that Mr. Miller will continue to be engaged by the Company on an at-will basis with a base salary at the annualized rate of $275,000 effective February 14, 2022. Mr. Miller will be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus to be paid in cash or equity of up to 75% of his salary. Within 90 days of the effective date, the Company issued Mr. Miller stock options to receive 50,000 shares of common stock which vest over a term of five years. If Mr. Miller is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, including termination without cause in connection with a change in control, he will be entitled to a severance package of 12 months of salary and health and dental benefits paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule and insurance program, but subject to the execution of a valid release in favor of the Company and its related parties. See Note 16 – Equity – Options for details related to the issuance of the stock options.

 

On February 9, 2022, the Company and Aimee Infante, Chief Marketing Officer, entered a letter agreement providing that Ms. Infante will continue to be engaged by the Company on an at-will basis with a base salary at the annualized rate of $175,000 effective February 14, 2022. Ms. Infante will be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus to be paid in cash or equity of up to 25% of her salary. Within 90 days of the effective date, the Company issued Ms. Infante stock options to receive 42,500 shares of common stock which vest over a term of five years. If Ms. Infante is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, including termination without cause in connection with a change in control, she will be entitled to a severance package of six months of salary and health and dental benefits paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule and insurance program, but subject to the execution of a valid release in favor of the Company and its related parties. See Note 16 – Equity – Options for details related to the issuance of the stock options.

 

On February 9, 2022, the Company and Ferdinand Groenewald, the former Chief Accounting Officer, entered a letter agreement providing that Mr. Groenewald will continue to be engaged by the Company on an at-will basis with a base salary at the annualized rate of $175,000 effective February 14, 2022. Mr. Groenewald was entitled to a discretionary performance bonus to be paid in cash or equity of up to 25% of his salary. Within 90 days of the effective date, the Company issued Mr. Groenewald stock options to receive 25,000 shares of common stock which will over a term of five years. If Mr. Groenewald is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, including termination without cause in connection with a change in control, he was entitled to a severance package of six months of salary and health and dental benefits paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule and insurance program, but subject to the execution of a valid release in favor of the Company and its related parties. See Note 16 – Equity – Options for details related to the issuance of the stock options.

 

Departure of Officer

 

On June 21, 2022, the Company advised Ferdinand Groenewald that the position of Chief Accounting Officer has been eliminated. Mr. Groenewald continued his employment with the Company through July 29, 2022, at which time he became entitled to the severance for termination without cause as outlined in the letter agreement between the Company and Mr. Groenewald dated February 9, 2022.

 

Nasdaq Notice

 

On February 1, 2022, the Company received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) that the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock had been below $1.00 per share for the previous 30 consecutive business days, and that the Company is therefore not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued inclusion on The Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Rule”).

 

Nasdaq’s notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

 

MUSCLE MAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 14 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, continued

 

Nasdaq Notice, continued

 

The notice indicates that the Company will have 180 calendar days, until August 1, 2022, to regain compliance with this requirement. The Company can regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid listing requirement if the closing bid price of its common stock is at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive business days during the 180-day compliance period. If the Company does not regain compliance during the initial compliance period, it may be eligible for additional time of 180 calendar days to regain compliance. To qualify, the Company will be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of our publicly held shares and all other Nasdaq initial listing standards, except the bid price requirement, and will need to provide written notice to Nasdaq of its intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period. If the Company is not eligible or it appears to Nasdaq that the Company will not be able to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period, Nasdaq will provide written notice to the Company that the Company’s common stock will be subject to delisting. In the event of such notification, the Company may appeal Nasdaq’s determination to delist its securities, but there can be no assurance that Nasdaq would grant the Company’s request for continued listing.

 

On August 2, 2022, the Company received a second letter from the Staff advising that the Company had been granted an additional 180 calendar days, or to January 30, 2023, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A).

 

The Company intends to actively monitor the minimum bid price of its common stock and may, as appropriate, consider available options to regain compliance with the Rule. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the Rule or will otherwise be in compliance with other Nasdaq listing criteria.

 

Taxes

 

The Company failed in certain instances in paying past state and local sales taxes collected from customers in specific states that impose a tax on sales of the Company’s products during 2017 and 2018. As of the second quarter June 30, 2020, all past due tax on sales from 2017 and 2018 has been paid in full. The Company had accrued a sales tax liability for approximately $55,736 and $125,550 as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively. All current state and local sales taxes from January 1, 2018, for open Company-owned locations have been fully paid and in a timely manner. The Company has completed all the payment plans with the various state or local entities for these past owed amounts.

 

 

MUSCLE MAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements