--12-31FY2023
 
Table of Contents



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)
(Mark one)

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

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

2023

OR

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

For the transition period from ___________ to ___________
Commission File Numberfile number 001-33169

CREATIVE REALITIES, INC.

crexlogonew.jpg
Creative Realities, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota
 
41-1967918
(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)
organization
 (I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)
   
13100 Magisterial Drive, Ste.Suite 100, LouisvilleKY
 
40223
(Address of principal executive offices)offices (Zip Code)Code

(502)

(502) 791-8800

(

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:None

Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which
registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per shareCREXThe Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, Par Value $0.01

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

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

Indicate by check mark if disclosure


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller reporting company
 Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was $16,761,049 as of the issuer aslast business day of June 30, 2017, was approximately $8,645,459 based upon the last sale price of one share on such date. 

registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

As of March 23, 2018,20, 2024, the issuerregistrant had outstanding 82,581,86610,446,659 shares of common stock. 

stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.


 


EXPLANATORY NOTE
Creative Realities, Inc. (“Creative Realities”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) to amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Original 10-K”), originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 21, 2024 (“Original Filing Date”), solely to include the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Form 10-K. This information was previously omitted from the Original 10-K in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, which permits the information in the above referenced items to be incorporated in the Original Form 10-K by reference to our definitive proxy statement if such proxy statement is filed no later than 120 days after our fiscal year-end. We are filing this Amendment to include the Part III information in the Original Form 10-K because we will not file a definitive proxy statement containing such information within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by the Original 10-K.
Pursuant to Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), this Amendment also contains new certifications by the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Accordingly, Item 15 of Part IV is amended to include the currently dated certifications as exhibits. Because no financial statements have been included in this Amendment and this Amendment does not contain or amend any disclosure with respect to Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the certifications have been omitted. In addition, because no financial statements are included in this Amendment, new certifications of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are not required to be included with this Amendment.
Except as expressly noted in this Amendment, this Amendment does not reflect events that may have occurred subsequent to the Original Filing Date or modify or otherwise update any other disclosures contained in the Original 10-K, including, without limitation, the financial statements. Accordingly, this Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original 10-K. Defined terms used, but not defined, herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Original 10-K.

TABLEOF CONTENTS

  
ITEM 1BUSINESS1
ITEM 1ARISK FACTORS8
ITEM 1BUNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS17
ITEM 2PROPERTIES18
ITEM 3LEGAL PROCEEDINGS18
ITEM 4MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES18
PART II  
ITEM 5MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES19
ITEM 6SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA20
ITEM 7MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS21
ITEM 7AQUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK30
ITEM 8FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA30
ITEM 9CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE30
ITEM 9ACONTROLS AND PROCEDURES31
ITEM 9BOTHER INFORMATION31
PART III
ITEM 1032
ITEM 1135
ITEM 1237
ITEM 1339
ITEM 1440
ITEM 15EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES41
SIGNATURES42
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSF-1
EXHIBIT INDEXE-1

i

PART I

ITEM 1BUSINESS

(All currency is rounded to the nearest thousands, except share and per share amounts.) 

Our Company

Creative Realities, Inc. is a Minnesota corporation that provides innovative digital marketing technology and solutions to retail companies, individual retail brands, enterprises and other organizations throughout the United States and in certain international markets. We have expertise in a broad range of existing and emerging digital marketing technologies, as well as the related media management and distribution software platforms and networks, device management, product management, customized software service layers, systems, experiences, workflows, and integrated solutions. Our technology and solutions include: digital merchandising systems; omni-channel customer engagement systems, interactive digital shopping assistants, advisors and kiosks, and other interactive marketing technologies such as mobile, social media, point-of-sale transactions, beaconing and web-based media that enable our customers to transform how they engage with consumers. We have expertise in a broad range of existing and emerging digital marketing technologies, as well as the following related aspects of our business: content, network management, and connected device software and firmware platforms; customized software service layers; hardware platforms; digital media workflows; and proprietary processes and automation tools. We believe we are one of the world’s leading interactive marketing technology companies that focuses on the retail shopper experience by helping retailers and brands use the latest technologies to create better shopping experiences.

Our main operations are conducted directly through Creative Realities, Inc., and under our wholly owned subsidiaries Wireless Ronin Technologies Canada, Inc., and ConeXus World Global, LLC, a Kentucky limited liability company.

We seek to generate revenue in this business by:

consulting with our customers to determine the technologies and solutions required to achieve their specific goals, strategies and objectives;
   
designing our customers’ digital marketing experiences, content and interfaces;
engineering the systems architecture delivering the digital marketing experiences we design – both software and hardware – and integrating those systems into a customized, reliable and effective digital marketing experience;
managing the efficient, timely and cost-effective deployment of our digital marketing technology solutions for our customers;
delivering and updating the content of our digital marketing technology solutions using a suite of advanced media, content and network management software products; and
maintaining our customers’ digital marketing technology solutions by: providing content production and related services; creating additional software-based features and functionality; hosting the solutions; monitoring solution service levels; and responding to and/or managing remote or onsite field service maintenance, troubleshooting and support calls.

We seek to generate revenue through these activities through: bundled-solution sales; service fees for consulting, experience design, content development and production, software development, engineering, implementation, and field services; software license fees; and maintenance and support services related to our software, managed systems and solutions.


PART IV

Our digital marketing technology and solutions are deployed in and have application across diverse categories: automotive, apparel and accessories, banking, baby/children, beauty, consumer products, department stores, electronics, fashion, fitness, foodservice/quick service restaurants, financial services, gaming, luxury retail, mass merchants, mobile operators, and pharmacy retail. The industries in which we sell our solutions are established, but the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of technology-enabled experiences involving combinations of digital marketing technologies is relatively new and evolving. Moreover, a number of participants in these industries have only recently started considering or expanding the adoption of these types of technologies, solutions and experiences as part of their overall marketing strategies. As a result, we remain an early stage company without an established history of profitability.

We believe that the adoption and evolution of digital marketing technology and solutions will increase substantially in years to come both in the industries or categories on which we currently focus and in others. We also believe that adoption of our technology and solutions depends upon not only the services and solutions that we provide, but also depends heavily upon the cost of hardware used to process and display content on them. While the costs of hardware configurations and software media players have historically decreased and we believe they will continue to do so at an accelerating rate, flat panel displays typically constitute a large portion of the expenditure customers make relative to the entire cost of implementing a digital marketing system and can be a barrier to customer deployment. As a result, we believe that the broader adoption of digital marketing technology solutions is likely to increase, although we cannot predict the rate at which such adoption will occur.

Another key component of our business strategy, especially given the evolving industry dynamics in which we operate, is to acquire and integrate other operating companies in the industry in conjunction with pursuing our organic growth objectives. We believe that the selective acquisition and successful integration of certain companies will accelerate our growth; enable us to aggregate multiple customer bases onto a single business and technology platform; provide us with greater operating scale; enable us to leverage a common set of processes, tools, and cost efficiencies; and ultimately result in higher operating profitability and cash flow from operations. Our management team is actively pursuing and evaluating alternative acquisition opportunities on an ongoing basis. Our management team and Board of Directors have broad experience with the execution, integration and financing of acquisitions. We believe that, based on the foregoing and other factors, the Company can successfully serve as a consolidator of multiple business and technology platforms serving similar markets.

We currently market and sell our technology and solutions primarily through our sales and business development personnel throughout North America, but we also utilize agents, strategic partners, and lead generators who provide us with access to additional sales, business development and licensing opportunities.

We currently operate in one reportable segment, marketing technology solutions. Substantially all property and equipment is located at our offices in the United States, and a data center located in the United States. All sales for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were in the United States and Canada.

You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information about the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The website of the SEC is www.sec.gov. Additional information about the Company and its public disclosures is available on our website at www.cri.com.

Corporate Organization

Our principal offices are located at 13100 Magisterial Drive, Ste 100, Louisville, Kentucky 40223, and our telephone number at that office is (502) 791-8800.

The legal entity that is the registrant was originally incorporated and organized as a Minnesota corporation under the name Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. in March 2003. Our business initially focused on the provision of expertise digital media marketing solutions to customers, including digital signage, interactive kiosks, mobile, social media and web-based media solutions. We acquired the assets and business of Broadcast International, Inc., a Utah corporation and public registrant, through a merger transaction that was effective as of August 1, 2014. Then on August 20, 2014, we consummated a merger transaction with Creative Realities, LLC, a privately owned Delaware limited liability company, in which we issued a majority of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. In that merger transaction, we acquired the interactive marketing technology business of Creative Realities that we currently operate. Shortly after that merger, we changed our corporate name from “Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc.” to “Creative Realities, Inc.” On October 15, 2015, we acquired the assets and business of ConeXus World Global, LLC, a privately owned Kentucky limited liability company for which we issued preferred and common stock. In that merger transaction, we acquired the systems integration and marketing technology business of ConeXus World that we currently operate. On May 23, 2016, we dissolved Broadcast International, Inc. 


Our fiscal year ends December 31. Neither we nor any of our predecessors have been in bankruptcy, receivership or any similar proceeding. Our corporate structure, including our principal operating subsidiaries, is as follows:

 

Recent Acquisitions

Acquisition of ConeXus World Global

There were no acquisitions completed during the years-ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. On October 15, 2015, we completed the acquisition of ConeXus World Global, LLC for 2,080,000 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, and the conversion of $823 of ConeXus World Global debt into (i) 2,639,258 shares of our common stock, and (ii) $150 in principal amount of our convertible debt.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement and plan of merger and reorganization, an additional 416,000 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock and 4,000,000 shares of common stock were to be issued upon the reorganization of the capital structure of a Belgian affiliate of ConeXus (the “Holdback Shares”). Since the passage of the March 31, 2016 date targeted for the completion of the reorganization of the Belgian affiliate, the parties have determined that the value of the Belgian affiliate was de minimis.

An agreement was reached on September 1, 2017 by Creative Realities, Inc. and the prior shareholders of ConeXus to recognize the value obtained by Creative Realities, Inc. as a result of the merger and to issue the Holdback Shares to the prior shareholders of ConeXus.  Creative Realities, Inc. has waived the contingency relating to the issuance of the Holdback Shares and issued to the shareholders 5,631,373 shares of common stock. 3,198,054 of these shares were issued to Rick Mills, a majority shareholder of ConeXus, a related party, and the CEO of Creative Realities, Inc. Since the measurement period for the business combination has expired, the issuance of the shares is recognized as a charge to operations during the year of $1.9 million. 

As used throughout this report, the “Company” generally refers to the registrant (Creative Realities, Inc., formerly known as Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc.), unless the context otherwise indicates or requires. Use of the first person “we” refers to the Company or, if the context so requires, to the historical business of Creative Realities or the registrant itself, in each case prior to the consummation of the August 20, 2014 merger transaction.


Common Stock

In 2017 and 2016 the following Preferred Stock conversions took place:

Convertible Preferred Stock Conversions
  Number of Convertible Preferred Series A  Number of Convertible Preferred Series A-1  Shares of Common Stock Received 
Q4 2017  -   -   - 
Q3 2017  132,200   1,860,561   7,814,749 
Q2 2017  12,750   -   50,000 
Q1 2017  240,250   -   942,157 
             
Q4 2016  132,000   -   517,647 
Q3 2016  75,500   -   296,078 
Q2 2016  -   -   - 
Q1 2016  100,000   -   392,157 

In 2016, in conjunction with the structured settlement program, the Company issued 409,347 shares of its restricted common stock to creditors and 809,842 shares of stock were issued to investors.

The Company and the investors entered into registration rights agreements requiring Creative Realities to register under the Securities Act of 1933 the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the secured notes and upon exercise of the warrants. The Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1/A on May 13, 2016 registering 23,272,184 shares of common stock and that registration statement became effective on June 1, 2016.

Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had outstanding 5,833,549 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 0 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock.


The preferred stock entitles its holders to a 6% dividend, payable semi-annually in cash or in kind through the three-year anniversary of the original issue date, and from and after such three-year anniversary in duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock. The three-year anniversary of the initial investment date occurred during the second half of 2017 for $5.2 million of the $5.5 million originally issued Convertible Preferred Stock and therefore dividends on those investments were paid via issuance of common shares as of the year-end date.

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the Company issued an aggregate of 245,816 and 452,224 shares of preferred stock in satisfaction of its semi-annual dividend obligation. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 respectively, the Company issued an aggregate of 718,840 and 0 shares of common stock in satisfaction of its semi-annual dividend obligation. 

The preferred stock may be converted into our common stock at the option of a holder at an initial conversion price as adjusted of $0.255 per share. Subject to certain conditions, we may call and redeem the preferred stock after three years. During such time as a majority of the preferred stock sold remains outstanding, holders will have the right to elect a member to our Board of Directors. The preferred stock has full-ratchet price protection in the event that we issue common stock below the conversion price, as adjusted, subject to certain customary exceptions. The warrants issued to purchasers of the preferred stock contain weighted-average price protection in the event that we issue common stock below the exercise price, as adjusted, again subject to certain customary exceptions. In the Securities Purchase Agreement, we granted purchasers of the preferred stock certain registration rights pertaining to the common shares they may receive upon conversion of their preferred stock and upon exercise of their warrants.

In 2017, 385,200 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 1,860,561 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 8,806,906 shares of common stock at the conversion rate of $0.255 per share.

In 2016, 307,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted into 1,205,882 shares of common stock at the conversion rate of $0.255 per share. 

Changes in Management and Board of Directors

During 2017, the Company transitioned the finance and accounting function from Fairfield, NJ to the corporate headquarters in Louisville, KY which included hiring a new VP of Finance. There were no changes in the Board of Directors. 

On May 2, 2016, Eric J. Bertrand was appointed to the Board of Directors of Creative Realities, Inc.  Mr. Bertrand possesses voting and investment power over shares beneficially held by Lincoln Road Media Partners LLC, which was the holder of a convertible promissory note and is the holder of a warrant issued in a private placement transaction on April 14, 2016.  See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.  Mr. Bertrand was appointed to the board in connection with Lincoln Road Media’s investment in the convertible note and warrant. 

Business Strategy

We believe that our existing business model is highly scalable and can be expanded successfully as we continue to grow organically and integrate our recent merger transactions, strengthen our operational practices and procedures, further streamline our administrative office functions, and continue to capitalize on various marketing programs and activities.


Industry Background

Over the past 18-24 months, approximately, we believe certain digital marketing technology industry trends are creating the opportunity for retailers, brands, venue-operators, enterprises, non-profits and other organizations to create innovative shopping, marketing, and informational experiences for their customers and other stakeholders in various venues worldwide. These trends include: (i) the expectations of technology-savvy consumers; (ii) addressing on-line competitors by improving physical experiences (iii) accelerating decline in the cost of hardware configurations (primarily flat panel displays) and software media players; (ii) the continued evolution of mobile, social, software and hardware technologies, applications and tools; (iii) the increasing sophistication of social networking platforms; (iv) increasingly complex customer requirements related to their specific digital marketing technology and solution objectives; and (v) customers challenging service providers with the delivery of a satisfactory consumer experience with the traditional pressure on reducing installation and ongoing operating costs.

As a result, a growing number of retailers, brands, venue-operators and other organizations have identified the need and opportunity to implement increasingly cost-effective and “sales-lifting” digital marketing, and interactive experiences to market to their customers. These include creating unique and customized experiences for targeted, timely offerings and relevant promotions; improving engagement resulting in increased sales; and increasing shopping basket size. We believe our clients consider capitalizing on these industry trends to be increasingly critical to any successful “store of the future” retail and brand sales environment, especially where sales staff turnover is high, training outcomes are inconsistent and product knowledge is low.

Companies are accomplishing their strategies by implementing various digital marketing technology solutions, which: are implemented in multiple forms and types of configurations and locations; attempt to achieve any of a broad range of individual or combination of objectives; contain various levels of targeting; have the ability to instantly manage single or multiple locations remotely from a customer’s desktop or other connected device at each location; and are built to deliver or contain a standard or customized experience unique to and within the customer’s environment. Examples of such solutions include:

Digital Merchandising Systems, which aim to inform and interact with customers through various types of content in an integrated experience, improve in-store customer experiences and increase overall sales, upsells, and/or cross-sales;
Digital Sales Assistants, which aim to replace or augment existing sales resources and the level of interactive and informational sales assistance inside the store;
Digital Way-Finders, which aim to help customers navigate their way around individual retail stores and multi-store locations or venues, or within individual brand categories;

Digital Kiosks, which aim to provide data, specialized and customized broadcasts, promotional information and coupons, train, and other forms of information and interaction with customers in a variety of deployment forms, types, configurations and experiences;

Digital Menu-Board Systems, which aim to enable various types of restaurant operators the ability to remotely and on a scheduled basis, update and modify menu information, promotions, and other forms of content dynamically;
Dynamic Digital Signage which aims to deliver and manage in-store marketing and advertising campaigns, specialized and customized broadcasts, and various other forms of messaging targeting customers in a particular experience or environment.

Our Markets

We currently market and sell our marketing technology solutions through our direct sales force and word-of-mouth referrals from existing customers. Select strategic partnerships and lead generation programs also drive business to the Company through targeted business development initiatives. We market to companies that seek digital marketing solutions across multiple connected devices and who specifically seek or could benefit from enhancements to the customer experience offered in their stores, venues, brands or organizations.


Our digital marketing technology solutions have application in a wide variety of industries. The industries in which we sell our solutions are established and include hospitality, branded retail, automotive, food service and retail healthcare, but the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of technology-enabled experiences is relatively new and evolving.  Moreover, a number of participants in these industries have only recently started considering or expanding the adoption of these types of technologies, solutions and experiences as part of their overall marketing strategies.

Seasonality

A portion of our customer activity is influenced by seasonal effects related to traditional end of calendar year peak retail sales periods and other factors that arise from our target customer base. Nevertheless, our revenues can be materially affected by the launch of new markets, the timing of production rollouts, and other factors, any of which have the ability to reduce or outweigh certain seasonal effects.

Effect of General Economic Conditions on our Business

We believe that demand for our services will increase in part as a result of recovering retail-related real estate investments and new construction and the recent economic recovery in general. These general economic improvements generally make it easier for our customers to justify decisions to invest in digital marketing technology solutions.

Regulation

We are subject to regulation by various federal and state governmental agencies. Such regulation includes radio frequency emission regulatory activities of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, the consumer protection laws of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, product safety regulatory activities of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and environmental regulation in areas in which we conduct business. Some of the hardware components that we supply to customers may contain hazardous or regulated substances, such as lead. A number of U.S. states have adopted or are considering “takeback” bills addressing the disposal of electronic waste, including CRT style and flat panel monitors and computers. Electronic waste legislation is developing. Some of the bills passed or under consideration may impose on us, or on our customers or suppliers, requirements for disposal of systems we sell and the payment of additional fees to pay costs of disposal and recycling. Presently, we do not believe that any such legislation or proposed legislation will have a materially adverse impact on our business.

Competition

While we believe there is presently no direct competitor with the comprehensive offering of technologies, solutions and services we provide to our customers, there are multiple individual competitors who offer pieces of our solution stack. These include digital signage software companies such as Stratacache, Four Winds Interactive, and Reflect Systems; marketing services companies such as Sapient Nitro or digital signage systems integrators such as Convergent. Some of these competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do and may be able to respond more rapidly than we can to new or emerging technologies or changes in customer requirements. We believe that our sales and business development capabilities, network operations / field service management capabilities, our comprehensive offering of digital marketing technology and solutions, brand awareness, and proprietary processes are the primary factors affecting our competitive position.

Territories

Our Company sells products and services primarily throughout North America.

Employees

We have approximately 100 employees as of December 31, 2017. We do not have any employees that operate under collective-bargaining agreements.

7

ITEM 1ARISK FACTORS  

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks described below, and any risks described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, before making an investment decision. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” Any of the risks we describe below could cause our business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects to be materially adversely affected.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND OUR INDUSTRY

We have generally incurred losses, and may never achieve profitability.

Except for the second and fourth quarters of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, we have incurred net losses, have negative cash flows from operations and have a working capital deficit. We incurred net losses in each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

We have formulated our business plans and strategies based on certain assumptions regarding the acceptance of our business model and the marketing of our products and services. Nevertheless, our assessments regarding market size, market share, market acceptance of our products and services and a variety of other factors may prove incorrect. Our future success will depend upon many factors, including factors which may be beyond our control or which cannot be predicted at this time.

Our digital marketing business is evolving in a rapidly changing market, and we cannot ensure the long-term successful operation of our business or the execution of our business plan.

Our digital marketing technology and solutions are an evolving business offering and the markets in which we compete are rapidly changing. As a result, our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by growing companies in new and rapidly evolving markets. We may be unable to accomplish any of the following, which would materially impact our ability to implement our business plan:

establishing and maintaining broad market acceptance of our technology, solutions, services, and platforms, and converting that acceptance into direct and indirect sources of revenue;

establishing and maintaining adoption of our technology, solutions, services, and platforms in and on a variety of environments, experiences, and device types;

timely and successfully developing new technology, solution, service, and platform features, and increasing the functionality and features of our existing technology, solution, service, and platform offerings;

developing technology, solutions, services, and platforms that result in a high degree of customer satisfaction and a high level of end-customer usage;

successfully responding to competition, including competition from emerging technologies and solutions;

developing and maintaining strategic relationships to enhance the distribution, features, content and utility of our technology, solutions, services, and platforms;

identifying, attracting and retaining talented engineering, network operations, program management, technical services, creative services, and other personnel at reasonable market compensation rates in the markets in which we employ such personnel; and

integration of acquisitions.

Our business strategy may be unsuccessful and we may be unable to address the risks we face in a cost-effective manner, if at all. If we are unable to successfully accomplish these tasks, our business will be harmed.


Adequate funds for our operations may not be available, requiring us to raise additional financing or else curtail our activities significantly.

We will likely be required to raise additional funding through public or private financings, including equity financings in 2018. Any additional equity financings may be dilutive to shareholders and may be completed at a discount to the then-current market price of our common stock. Debt financing, if available, would likely involve restrictive covenants on our operations or pertaining to future financing arrangements. Nevertheless, we may not successfully complete any future equity or debt financing. Adequate funds for our operations, whether from financial markets, collaborative or other arrangements, may not be available when needed or on terms attractive to us. If adequate funds are not available, our plans to operate our business may be adversely affected and we could be required to curtail our activities significantly and/or cease operating.

We are reliant on the continued support of a related party for adequate financing of our operations.

We will likely be required to raise additional funding through public or private financings, including equity financings, through at least 2018. As of the date of this filing, the Company’s majority shareholder and investor, Slipstream Communications LLC is the holder of 100% of the Company’s outstanding debt instruments including the term loan, secured revolving promissory note and convertible promissory notes. If we are unable to extend the maturity or replace our existing financing agreements in the future, our plans to operate our business may be adversely affected and we could be required to curtail our activities significantly and/or cease operating.

We may be unable to implement our business plan if we cannot raise sufficient capital and may be required to pay a high price for capital.

We will need to obtain additional capital to implement our business plan and meet our financial obligations as they become due. We may not be able to raise the additional capital needed or may be required to pay a high price for capital. Factors affecting the availability and price of capital may include the following:

the availability and cost of capital generally;
our financial results;

the experience and reputation of our management team;
market interest, or lack of interest, in our industry and business plan;
the trading volume of, and volatility in, the market for our common stock;
our ongoing success, or failure, in executing our business plan;
the amount of our capital needs; and
the amount of debt, options, warrants, and convertible securities we have outstanding.

We may be unable to meet our current or future obligations or to adequately exploit existing or future opportunities if we cannot raise sufficient capital. If we are unable to obtain capital for an extended period of time, we may be forced to discontinue operations.

We expect that there will be significant consolidation in our industry. Our failure or inability to lead that consolidation would have a severe adverse impact on our access to financing, customers, technology, and human resources.

Our industry is currently composed of a large number of relatively small businesses, no single one of which is dominant or which provides integrated solutions and product offerings incorporating much of the available technology. Accordingly, we believe that substantial consolidation may occur in our industry in the near future. If we do not play a positive role in that consolidation, either as a leader or as a participant whose capability is merged in a larger entity, we may be left out of this process, with product offerings of limited value compared with those of our competitors. Moreover, even if we lead the consolidation process, the market may not validate the decisions we make in that process.


Our success depends on our interactive marketing technologies achieving and maintaining widespread acceptance in our targeted markets.

Our success will depend to a large extent on broad market acceptance of our interactive marketing technologies among our current and prospective customers. Our prospective customers may still not use our solutions for a number of other reasons, including preference for static advertising, lack of familiarity with our technology, preference for competing technologies or perceived lack of reliability. We believe that the acceptance of our interactive marketing technologies by prospective customers will depend primarily on the following factors:

our ability to demonstrate the economic and other benefits attendant our marketing technologies;
our customers becoming comfortable with using our interactive marketing technologies; and
the reliability of our interactive marketing technologies.

Our interactive technologies are complex and must meet stringent user requirements. Some undetected errors or defects may only become apparent as new functions are added to our technologies and products. The need to repair or replace products with design or manufacturing defects could temporarily delay the sale of new products and adversely affect our reputation. Delays, costs and damage to our reputation due to product defects could harm our business.

Our financial condition and potential for continued net losses may negatively impact our relationships with customers, prospective customers and third-party suppliers.

Our financial condition and potential for continued net losses may cause current and prospective customers to defer placing orders with us, to require terms that are less favorable to us, or to place their orders with competing marketing technology suppliers, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. On the same basis, third-party suppliers may refuse to do business with us, or may do so only on terms that are unfavorable to us, which also could cause our revenue to decline.

Because we do not have long-term purchase commitments from our customers, the failure to obtain anticipated orders or the deferral or cancellation of commitments could have adverse effects on our business.

Our business is characterized by short-term purchase orders and contracts that do not require that purchases be made. This makes forecasting our sales difficult. The failure to obtain anticipated orders and deferrals or cancellations of purchase commitments because of changes in customer requirements, or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have experienced such challenges in the past and may experience such challenges in the future.

Our continued growth could be adversely affected by the loss of several key customers, including a significant related party customer.

Our largest customers account for a majority of our total revenue. We had two customers that accounted for 63% and 71% of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. In addition, we had three customers that accounted for 56% and 56% of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Decisions by one or more of these key customers and/or partners to not renew, terminate or substantially reduce their use of our products, technology, services, and platform could substantially slow our revenue growth and lead to a decline in revenue. Our business plan assumes continued growth in revenue, and it is unlikely that we will become profitable without a continued increase in revenue. 

Our financial performance, condition and continued growth could be adversely affected by a key related party.

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had sales of $3,390 and $1,344, respectively, with a related party entity that is 22.5% owned by a member of senior management. Accounts receivable due from the related party was $3,017 and $543 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


Most of our contracts are terminable by our customers with limited notice and without penalty payments, and early terminations could have a material effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Most of our contracts are terminable by our customers following limited notice and without early termination payments or liquidated damages due from them. In addition, each stage of a project often represents a separate contractual commitment, at the end of which the customers may elect to delay or not to proceed to the next stage of the project. We cannot assure you that one or more of our customers will not terminate a material contract or materially reduce the scope of a large project. The delay, cancellation or significant reduction in the scope of a large project or a number of projects could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

It is common for our current and prospective customers to take a long time to evaluate our products, most especially during economic downturns that affect our customers’ businesses. The lengthy and variable sales cycle makes it difficult to predict our operating results.

It is difficult for us to forecast the timing and recognition of revenue from sales of our products and services because our actual and prospective customers often take significant time to evaluate our products before committing to a purchase. Even after making their first purchases of our products and services, existing customers may not make significant purchases of those products and services for a long period of time following their initial purchases, if at all. The period between initial customer contact and a purchase by a customer may be years with potentially an even longer period separating initial purchases and any significant purchases thereafter. During the evaluation period, prospective customers may decide not to purchase or may scale down proposed orders of our products for various reasons, including:

reduced need to upgrade existing visual marketing systems;
introduction of products by our competitors;
lower prices and sometimes free services (for limited periods of time) offered by our competitors; and
changes in budgets and purchasing priorities.

Our prospective customers routinely require education regarding the use and benefit of our products. This may also lead to delays in receiving customers’ orders.

Our industry is characterized by frequent technological change. If we are unable to adapt our products and services and develop new products and services to keep up with these rapid changes, we will not be able to obtain or maintain market share.

The market for our products and services is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, changes in customer needs, heavy competition and frequent new product and service introductions. If we fail to develop new products and services or modify or improve existing products and services in response to these changes in technology, customer demands or industry standards, our products and services could become less competitive or obsolete.

We must respond to changing technology and industry standards in a timely and cost-effective manner. We may not be successful in using new technologies, developing new products and services or enhancing existing products and services in a timely and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, even if we successfully adapt our products and services, these new technologies or enhancements may not achieve market acceptance.

A portion of business involves the use of software technology that we have developed or licensed. Industries involving the ownership and licensing of software-based intellectual property are characterized by frequent intellectual-property litigation, and we could face claims of infringement by others in the industry. Such claims are costly and add uncertainty to our operational results.

A portion of our business involves our ownership and licensing of software. This market space is characterized by frequent intellectual-property claims and litigation. We could be subject to claims of infringement of third-party intellectual-property rights resulting in significant expense and the potential loss of our own intellectual-property rights. From time to time, third parties may assert copyright, trademark, patent or other intellectual-property rights to technologies that are important to our business. Any litigation to determine the validity of these claims, including claims arising through our contractual indemnification of our business partners, regardless of their merit or resolution, would likely be costly and time consuming and divert the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel. If any such litigation resulted in an adverse ruling, we could be required to:

pay substantial damages;
cease the development, use, licensing or sale of infringing products;
discontinue the use of certain technology; or
obtain a license under the intellectual property rights of the third party claiming infringement, which license may not be available on reasonable terms or at all.


Our proprietary platform architectures and data tracking technology underlying certain of our services are complex and may contain unknown errors in design or implementation that could result in system performance failures or inability to scale.

The platform architecture, data tracking technology and integration layers underlying our proprietary platforms, our contract administration, procurement, timekeeping, content and network management, network services, device management, virtualized services, software automation and other tools, and back-end services are complex and include software and code used to generate customer invoices. This software and code is developed internally, licensed from third parties, or integrated by in-house personnel and third parties. Any of the system architecture, system administration, integration layers, software or code may contain errors, or may be implemented or interpreted incorrectly, particularly when they are first introduced or when new versions or enhancements to our tools and services are released. Consequently, our systems could experience performance failure or we may be unable to scale our systems, which may:

adversely impact our relationship with customers and others who experience system failure, possibly leading to a loss of affected and unaffected customers;

increase our costs related to product development or service delivery; or

adversely affect our revenues and expenses.

Our business may be adversely affected by malicious applications that interfere with, or exploit security flaws in, our products and services.

Our business may be adversely affected by malicious applications that make changes to our customers’ computer systems and interfere with the operation and use of our products or products that impact our business. These applications may attempt to interfere with our ability to communicate with our customers’ devices. The interference may occur without disclosure to or consent from our customers, resulting in a negative experience that our customers may associate with our products and services. These applications may be difficult or impossible to uninstall or disable, may reinstall themselves and may circumvent other applications’ efforts to block or remove them. The ability to provide customers with a superior interactive marketing technology experience is critical to our success. If our efforts to combat these malicious applications fail, or if our products and services have actual or perceived vulnerabilities, there may be claims based on such failure or our reputation may be harmed, which would damage our business and financial condition.

We compete with other companies that have more resources, which puts us at a competitive disadvantage.

The market for interactive marketing technologies is generally highly competitive and we expect competition to increase in the future. Some of our competitors or potential competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than us. These competitors may be able to respond more rapidly than we can to new or emerging technologies or changes in customer requirements. They may also devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products than us.

We expect competitors to continue to improve the performance of their current products and to introduce new products, services and technologies. Successful new product and service introductions or enhancements by our competitors could reduce sales and the market acceptance of our products and services, cause intense price competition or make our products and services obsolete. To be competitive, we must continue to invest significant resources in research and development, sales and marketing and customer support. If we do not have sufficient resources to make these investments or are unable to make the technological advances necessary to be competitive, our competitive position will suffer. Increased competition could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced margins and loss of market share. Our failure to compete successfully against current or future competitors could adversely affect our business and financial condition.


Our future success depends on key personnel and our ability to attract and retain additional personnel.

Our key personnel include:

Richard Mills, our Chief Executive Officer;

John Walpuck, our Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer; and

Will Logan, our Vice President of Finance.

If we fail to retain our key personnel or to attract, retain and motivate other qualified employees, our ability to maintain and develop our business may be adversely affected. Our future success depends significantly on the continued service of our key technical, sales and senior management personnel and their ability to execute our growth strategy. The loss of the services of our key employees could harm our business. We may be unable to retain our employees or to attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified employees who could migrate to other employers who offer competitive or superior compensation packages.

Unpredictability in financing markets could impair our ability to grow our business through acquisitions.

We anticipate that opportunities to acquire similar businesses will materially depend on the trading price of our common stock and the availability of financing alternatives with acceptable terms. As a result, poor credit and other market conditions or uncertainty in financial markets could materially limit our ability to grow through acquisitions since such conditions and uncertainty will result in a lower trading price for our common stock and make obtaining financing more difficult.

Our reliance on information management and transaction systems to operate our business exposes us to cyber incidents and hacking of our sensitive information if our outsourced service provider experiences a security breach.

Effective information security internal controls are necessary for us to protect our sensitive information from illegal activities and unauthorized disclosure, in addition to denial of service attacks and corruption of our data. In addition, we rely on the information security internal controls maintained by an outsourced service provider. Breaches of our information management system could also adversely affect our business reputation. Finally, significant information system disruptions could adversely affect our ability to effectively manage operations or reliably report results.

Because our technology, products, platform, and services are complex and are deployed in and across complex environments, they may have errors or defects that could seriously harm our business.

Our technology, proprietary platforms, products and services are highly complex and are designed to operate in and across data centers, large and complex networks, and other elements of the digital media workflow that we do not own or control. On an ongoing basis, we need to perform proactive maintenance services on our platform and related software services to correct errors and defects. In the future, there may be additional errors and defects in our software that may adversely affect our services. We may not have in place adequate reporting, tracking, monitoring, and quality assurance procedures to ensure that we detect errors in our software in a timely manner. If we are unable to efficiently and cost-effectively fix errors or other problems that may be identified, or if there are unidentified errors that allow persons to improperly access our services, we could experience loss of revenues and market share, damage to our reputation, increased expenses and legal actions by our customers.


We may have insufficient network or server capacity, which could result in interruptions in our services and loss of revenues.

Our operations are dependent in part upon: network capacity provided by third-party telecommunications networks; data center services and provider owned and leased infrastructure and capacity; the Company’s dedicated and virtualized server capacity located at its data center services provider partner and a geo-redundant micro-data center location; and the Company’s own infrastructure and equipment. Collectively, this infrastructure, equipment, and capacity must be sufficiently robust to handle all of our customers’ web-traffic, particularly in the event of unexpected surges in high-definition video traffic and network services incidents. We may not be adequately prepared for unexpected increases in bandwidth and related infrastructure demands from our customers. In addition, the bandwidth we have contracted to purchase may become unavailable for a variety of reasons, including payment disputes, outages, or such service providers going out of business. Any failure of these service providers or the Company’s own infrastructure to provide the capacity we require, due to financial or other reasons, may result in a reduction in, or interruption of, service to our customers, leading to an immediate decline in revenue and possible additional decline in revenue as a result of subsequent customer losses.

We do not have sufficient capital to engage in material research and development, which may harm our long-term growth.

In light of our limited resources in general, we have made no material investments in research and development over the past several years. In the long term, as a result of our failure to invest in research and development, our technology and product offerings may not keep pace with the market and we may lose any existing competitive advantage. Over the long term, this may harm our revenue growth and our ability to become profitable.

Our business operations are susceptible to interruptions caused by events beyond our control.

Our business operations are susceptible to interruptions caused by events beyond our control. We are vulnerable to the following potential problems, among others:

our platform, technology, products, and services and underlying infrastructure, or that of our key suppliers, may be damaged or destroyed by events beyond our control, such as fires, earthquakes, floods, power outages or telecommunications failures;

we and our customers and/or partners may experience interruptions in service as a result of the accidental or malicious actions of Internet users, hackers or current or former employees;

we may face liability for transmitting viruses to third parties that damage or impair their access to computer networks, programs, data or information. Eliminating computer viruses and alleviating other security problems may require interruptions, delays or cessation of service to our customers; and

failure of our systems or those of our suppliers may disrupt service to our customers (and from our customers to their customers), which could materially impact our operations (and the operations of our customers), adversely affect our relationships with our customers and lead to lawsuits and contingent liability.

The occurrence of any of the foregoing could result in claims for consequential and other damages, significant repair and recovery expenses and extensive customer losses and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

General global market and economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our operating performance and results of operations.

Our business has been and could continue to be affected by general global economic and market conditions. Weakness in the United States and worldwide economy could have a negative effect on our operating results, including a decrease in revenue and operating cash flow. To the extent our customers are unable to profitably leverage various forms of digital marketing technology and solutions, and/or the content we create, deliver and publish on their behalf, they may reduce or eliminate their purchase of our products and services. Such reductions in traffic would lead to a reduction in our revenues. Additionally, in a down-cycle economic environment, we may experience the negative effects of increased competitive pricing pressure, customer loss, slowdown in commerce over the Internet and corresponding decrease in traffic delivered over our network and failures by our customers to pay amounts owed to us on a timely basis or at all. Suppliers on which we rely for equipment, field services, servers, bandwidth, co-location and other services could also be negatively impacted by economic conditions that, in turn, could have a negative impact on our operations or revenues. Flat or worsening economic conditions may harm our operating results and financial condition. 


The markets in which we operate are rapidly emerging, and we may be unable to compete successfully against existing or future competitors to our business.

The market in which we operate is becoming increasingly competitive. Our current competitors generally include general digital signage companies, specialized digital signage operators targeting certain vertical markets (e.g., financial services), content management software companies, or integrators and vertical solution providers who develop single implementations of content distribution, digital marketing technology, and related services. These competitors, including future new competitors who may emerge, may be able to develop a comparable or superior solution capabilities, software platform, technology stack, and/or series of services that provide a similar or more robust set of features and functionality than the technology, products and services we offer. If this occurs, we may be unable to grow as necessary to make our business profitable.

Whether or not we have superior products, many of these current and potential future competitors have a longer operating history in their current respective business areas and greater market presence, brand recognition, engineering and marketing capabilities, and financial, technological and personnel resources than we do. Existing and potential competitors with an extended operating history, even if not directly related to our business, have an inherent marketing advantage because of the reluctance of many potential customers to entrust key operations to a company that may be perceived as unproven. In addition, our existing and potential future competitors may be able to use their extensive resources to:

develop and deploy new products and services more quickly and effectively than we can;

develop, improve and expand their platforms and related infrastructures more quickly than we can;

reduce costs, particularly hardware costs, because of discounts associated with large volume purchases and longer term relationships and commitments;

offer less expensive products, technology, platform, and services as a result of a lower cost structure, greater capital reserves or otherwise;

adapt more swiftly and completely to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements;

take advantage of acquisition and other opportunities more readily; and

devote greater resources to the marketing and sales of their products, technology, platform, and services.

If we are unable to compete effectively in our various markets, or if competitive pressures place downward pressure on the prices at which we offer our products and services, our business, financial condition and results of operations may suffer.

Risks Related to Our Securities and Our Company

Because of our limited resources, we may not have in place various processes and protections common to more mature companies and may be more susceptible to adverse events.

We have limited resources after accounting for a significant amount of restructuring and integration costs incurred in connection with prior acquisition activities, and we expect to incur additional restructuring and integration costs related to additional acquisitions in the future. As a result, we may not have in place systems, processes and protections that many of our competitors have or that may be essential to protect against various risks. For example, we have in place only limited resources and processes addressing human resources, timekeeping, data protection, business continuity, personnel redundancy, and knowledge institutionalization concerns. As a result, we are at risk that one or more adverse events in these and other areas may materially harm our business, balance sheet, revenues, expenses or prospects.


Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could limit our ability to detect and prevent fraud and thereby adversely affect our business and stock price.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports. Nevertheless, all internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Our inability to maintain an effective control environment may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our stock price. We have identified several material weaknesses in internal controls and have concluded in our 2017 filings that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting were not effective at the reasonable assurance level. 

Our controlling shareholder possesses controlling voting power with respect to our common stock and voting preferred stock, which will limit your influence on corporate matters.

Our controlling shareholder, Slipstream Communications, LLC, has beneficial ownership of 74,070,970 shares of common stock, including common shares that are beneficially owned by an affiliate of Slipstream Communications named Slipstream Funding, LLC. These shares represent beneficial ownership of approximately 58.39% of our common stock (on an as-converted basis) as of the date of this annual report on form 10-K. In addition, in the last quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, Slipstream Communications, LLC purchased all of our outstanding debt from the original debtholders. The terms of the debt have remained the same. As a result, Slipstream Funding has the ability to control our management and affairs through the election and removal of our entire Board of Directors and all other matters requiring shareholder approval, including the future merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. This concentrated control could discourage others from initiating any potential merger, takeover or other change-of-control transaction that may otherwise be beneficial to our shareholders. Furthermore, this concentrated control will limit the practical effect of your participation in Company matters, through shareholder votes and otherwise. 

Our Articles of Incorporation grant our Board of Directors the power to issue additional shares of common and preferred stock and to designate other classes of preferred stock, all without shareholder approval.

Our authorized capital consists of 250 million shares of capital stock. Pursuant to authority granted by our Articles of Incorporation, our Board of Directors, without any action by our shareholders, may designate and issue shares in such classes or series (including other classes or series of preferred stock) as it deems appropriate and establish the rights, preferences and privileges of such shares, including dividends, liquidation and voting rights, provided it is consistent with Minnesota law. The rights of holders of other classes or series of stock that may be issued could be superior to the rights of holders of our common shares. The designation and issuance of shares of capital stock having preferential rights could adversely affect other rights appurtenant to shares of our common stock. Furthermore, any issuances of additional stock (common or preferred) will dilute the percentage of ownership interest of then-current holders of our capital stock and may dilute our book value per share.

Significant issuances of our common stock, or the perception that significant issuances may occur in the future, could adversely affect the market price for our common stock.

Significant actual or perceived potential future issuance our common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Generally, issuances of substantial amounts of common stock in the public market, and the availability of shares for future sale could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and could cause the market price of our common stock to remain low for a substantial amount of time.

We cannot foresee the impact of potential securities issuances of common shares on the market for our common stock, but it is possible that the market for our shares may be adversely affected, perhaps significantly. It is also unclear whether or not the market for our common stock could absorb a large number of attempted sales in a short period of time, regardless of the price at which they might be offered.

Our common stock trades in an illiquid trading market.

Trading of our common stock is conducted on the OTC Markets (OTCQX). This has an adverse effect on the liquidity of our common stock, not only in terms of the number of shares that can be bought and sold at a given price, but also through delays in the timing of transactions and reduction in security analysts’ and the media’s coverage of us and our common stock. This may result in lower prices for our common stock than might otherwise be obtained and could also result in a larger spread between the bid and asked prices for our common stock if we were listed on a more liquid exchange.


There is not now and there may not ever be an active market for shares of our common stock.

In general, there has been minimal trading volume in our common stock. The small trading volume will likely make it difficult for our shareholders to sell their shares as and when they choose. Furthermore, small trading volumes are generally understood to depress market prices. As a result, investors and shareholders may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock publicly at the time and prices that such investors and shareholders feel are fair or appropriate.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We will, however, pay dividends on our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.

When permitted by Minnesota law, we are required to pay dividends to the holders of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, each share of which carries a $1.00 stated value. There are presently approximately 5.8 million shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding. All shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock were converted to common stock in September 2017. Our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock entitles its holders to:

a cumulative 6% dividend, payable on a semi-annual basis in cash unless (i) we are unable to pay the dividend in cash under applicable law, or (ii) we have demonstrated positive cash flow during the prior quarter reported on our Form 10-Q, in which case we may at our election pay the dividend through the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock up through August 20, 2017 and thereafter through the issuance of additional shares of common stock;

in the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, a preference in the amount of all accrued but unpaid dividends plus the stated value of such shares before any payment shall be made or any assets distributed to the holders of any junior securities, including our common stock;

convert their preferred shares into our common shares at a conversion rate of $0.255 per share, subject, however, to full-ratchet price protection in the event that we issue common stock below the then-current conversion price (subject to certain customary exceptions); and

vote their preferred shares on an as-if-converted basis.

We currently have the right to (1) call and redeem some or all of such preferred shares, subject to a 30-day notice period and certain other conditions, at a price equal to $1.00 per share plus accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and (2) pay all dividends in the form of shares of common stock. Holders of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock have no preemptive or cumulative-voting rights. 

We do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends for the foreseeable future on our common stock. Accordingly, any return on an investment in us will be realized only when a shareholder sells shares of our common stock. When legally permitted, we must expect to pay dividends to our preferred shareholders.

We do not have significant tangible assets that could be sold upon liquidation.

We have nominal tangible assets. As a result, if we become insolvent or otherwise must dissolve, there will be no tangible assets to liquidate and no corresponding proceeds to disburse to our shareholders. If we become insolvent or otherwise must dissolve, shareholders will likely not receive any cash proceeds on account of their shares.

ITEM 1BUNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.


ITEM 2PROPERTIES

(All currency is rounded to the nearest thousands, except share and per share amounts.)

Our corporate headquarters are currently located at 13100 Magisterial Drive, Suite 100, Louisville, Kentucky 40223. The corporate phone number is (502) 791-8800. We lease warehouse and office space of approximately 6,400 square feet and 8,300 square feet for our Kentucky operations under a lease agreement through May 30, 2021 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The monthly lease payment for the warehouse is $0.3 for September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016 and $5 for September 1, 2016 through May 30, 2021. The monthly lease payment for the office space is $6 for April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2017 and $12 for April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2021. We lease office space of approximately 10,000 square feet to support our Canadian operations at a facility located at 4510 Rhodes Drive, Suite 800, Windsor, Ontario under a lease through June 30, 2018 with a monthly rental of $4 CAD per month. We also lease 3,650 square feet of office space in Dallas, Texas, and 4,100 square feet of office space and 5,100 square feet of warehouse space in El Segunda California for monthly lease payments of $4 and $4 per month which have lease terms ending on December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019, respectively. 

We have lease agreements for office space with approximately 18,000 square feet located at 22 Audrey Place, Fairfield, New Jersey 07004 which housed our previous operations center. We announced the planned closure of this location on August 10, 2017 and fully exited the facility in early 2018. The monthly lease amount is currently $22 and escalates to $23 by the end of the lease term on September 2020. We currently have two subtenants which provide $13 of monthly subtenant rental income. Our agreements with these subtenant lessees extend through October 2018 with an additional one-year extension at the option of the lessee. We are currently in negotiations with the landlord to exit this lease arrangement. No lease termination expense has been accrued as of December 31, 2017 as we had not ceased use of the facilities by the year-end date. 

ITEM 3LEGAL PROCEEDINGS  

Litigation

We are involved in a variety of legal claims and proceedings related to our business described in Note 7 to the Company’s financial statements,Commitments and Contingencies

While we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these ordinary course claims and proceedings, management believes there is not a reasonable possibility that the costs and liabilities of such ordinary course matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.


PART II

ITEM 5MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

(All currency is rounded to the nearest thousands, except share and per share amounts.)

Market Information

Our common stock is listed for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board, the “OTCQX,” under the symbol “CREX.” The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Limited, 401 2nd Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401. The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices for our common stock as reported by the OTC Markets in 2017 and 2016. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown, or commission, and may not represent actual transactions. Trading in the Company’s common stock during the period represented was sporadic, exemplified by low trading volume and many days during which no trades occurred.

  High  Low 
2017      
First Quarter $0.31  $0.18 
Second Quarter $0.37  $0.22 
Third Quarter $0.45  $0.25 
Fourth Quarter $0.40  $0.17 
         
  High  Low 
2016        
First Quarter $0.23  $0.15 
Second Quarter $0.23  $0.14 
Third Quarter $0.23  $0.11 
Fourth Quarter $0.31  $0.16 

Shareholders

As of March 23, 2018, there were approximately 504 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to operate and expand our business and to finance the development and expansion of our business, subject to our obligation to pay dividends to our preferred stockholders as described below. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to share pro rata in dividends and distributions with respect to the common stock when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In addition, we must first pay dividends on our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which have priority over any dividends to be paid to holders of our common stock. The current dividend payable to the holders of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has been satisfied through the issuance of preferred and common stock. The current dividend for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock aggregates to up to approximately $175 on a semi-annual basis (which we may be able to satisfy our dividend-payment obligations relating to the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock through the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock through August 20, 2017 and thereafter the issuance of additional shares of common stock). Other than with respect to shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, future dividend policy is subject to the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements and our financial condition.


Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in Item 12 for information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans.

Sales of Unregistered Securities During the Fiscal Year 2017

Common Stock

During 2017, accredited investors converted 385,200 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 1,860,561 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock for 8,806,906 shares of common stock at the conversion rate of $0.255 per share. These shares were issued pursuant to the private placement exemptions provided under Section 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act. 

Effective December 31, 2017, we issued 718,840 shares of common stock in satisfaction of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock dividend for the period July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. The preferred stock entitles its holders to a 6% dividend, payable semi-annually in cash or in kind through the three-year anniversary of the original issue date, and from and after such three-year anniversary in duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock. The three-year anniversary of the initial investment date occurred during the second half of 2017 for $5.2 million of the $5.5 million originally issued Convertible Preferred Stock and therefore dividends on those investments were paid via issuance of common shares as of the year-end date. The common stock we issued as dividends on account of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to the private placement exemptions provided under Section 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act.

During 2016, accredited investors converted 307,500 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock for 1,205,882 shares of common stock. These shares were issued pursuant to the private placement exemptions provided under Section 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act.

Secured Notes

On December 12, 2016, we entered into a $1.0 million secured revolving promissory note pursuant to the August 17, 2016 Loan and Security Agreement with Slipstream Communications, LLC, a related party, addressed below, with interest thereon at 8% per annum, maturing on February 1, 2017. In connection with the loan, we issued the lender a five-year warrant to purchase up to 1,542,452 shares of common stock at a per-share price of $0.28 (subject to adjustment), all pursuant to a securities purchase agreement. The fair value of the warrants on the issuance date was $136. This note was repaid on January 12, 2017. These securities transactions were effected pursuant to the private placement exemptions provided under Section 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act.

Share Repurchase Program

On August 9, 2017, our Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase up to 5 million shares of our outstanding common stock through August 9, 2019. The authorization allows for the repurchases to be conducted through open market or privately negotiated transactions. Shares acquired under the stock repurchase program are expected to be retired and returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of common stock. The stock repurchase program can be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time at our discretion.  During the fourth quarter of 2017, 1,185,968 shares of common stock were repurchased at an aggregate price of $149 and were immediately cancelled, as follows:

Period (a)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
  (b)
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
  (c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
  (d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
October 1-October 31, 2017            
November 1-November 30, 2017  1,185,968   0.1265   1,185,968     
December 1-December 31, 2017                
Total  1,185,968       1,185,968   3,814,032 

ITEM 6SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Not applicable.


ITEM 7MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(All currency is rounded to the nearest thousands, except share and per share amounts.) 

Forward-Looking Statements 

The following discussion contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Although we believe that, in making any such statement, our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such statement may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. When used in the following discussion, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, certain of which are beyond our control, are set forth in Item 1A under the caption “Risk Factors.”

Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that any of the events anticipated by forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on us. We caution you to keep in mind the cautions and risks described in this document and to refrain from attributing undue certainty to any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the document in which they appear. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement.

Overview

Creative Realities, Inc. is a Minnesota corporation that provides innovative digital marketing technology solutions to retail companies, individual retail brands, enterprises, and organizations throughout the United States and in certain international markets. We have expertise in a broad range of existing and emerging digital marketing technologies, as well as the related media management and distribution software platforms and networks, device management, product management, customized software service layers, systems, experiences, workflows, and integrated solutions. Our technology and solutions include: digital merchandising systems and omni-channel customer engagement systems, interactive digital shopping assistants, advisors and kiosks, and other interactive marketing technologies such as mobile, social media, point-of-sale transactions, beaconing and web-based media that enable our customers to transform how they engage with consumers. We have expertise in a broad range of existing and emerging digital marketing technologies, as well as the following related aspects of our business: content, network management, and connected device software and firmware platforms; customized software service layers; hardware platforms; digital media workflows; and proprietary processes and automation tools. 

Our main operations are conducted directly through Creative Realities, Inc. (f/k/a Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc.), and under our wholly owned subsidiaries Creative Realities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Wireless Ronin Technologies Canada, Inc., a Canadian corporation, and ConeXus World Global, LLC, a Kentucky limited liability company.

We generate revenue in this business by:

consulting with our customers to determine the technologies and solutions required to achieve their specific goals, strategies and objectives;

designing our customers’ digital marketing experiences, content and interfaces;

engineering the systems architecture delivering the digital marketing experiences we design – both software and hardware – and integrating those systems into a customized, reliable and effective digital marketing experience;

managing the efficient, timely and cost-effective deployment of our digital marketing technology solutions for our customers;


delivering and updating the content of our digital marketing technology solutions using a suite of advanced media, content and network management software products; and

maintaining our customers’ digital marketing technology solutions by: providing content production and related services; creating additional software-based features and functionality; hosting the solutions; monitoring solution service levels; and responding to and/or managing remote or onsite field service maintenance, troubleshooting and support calls.

These activities generate revenue through: bundled-solution sales; service fees for consulting, experience design, content development and production, software development, engineering, implementation, and field services; software license fees; and maintenance and support services related to our software, managed systems and solutions.

Our Sources of Revenue

We generate revenue through digital marketing solution sales, which include system hardware, professional and implementation services, software design and development, software licensing, deployment, and maintenance and support services.

We currently market and sell our technology and solutions primarily through our sales and business development personnel, but we also utilize agents, strategic partners, and lead generators who provide us with access to additional sales, business development and licensing opportunities.

Our Expenses

Our expenses are primarily comprised of three categories: sales and marketing, research and development, and general and administrative. Sales and marketing expenses include salaries and benefits for our sales, business development solution management and marketing personnel, and commissions paid on sales. This category also includes amounts spent on marketing networking events, promotional materials, hardware and software to prospective new customers, including those expenses incurred in trade shows and product demonstrations, and other related expenses. Our research and development expenses represent the salaries and benefits of those individuals who develop and maintain our proprietary software platforms and other software applications we design and sell to our customers. Our general and administrative expenses consist of corporate overhead, including administrative salaries, real property lease payments, salaries and benefits for our corporate officers and other expenses such as legal and accounting fees.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our management is responsible for our financial statements and has evaluated the accounting policies to be used in their preparation. Our management believes these policies are reasonable and appropriate. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included within Part II, ITEM 8 of this Report. The following discussion identifies those accounting policies that we believe are critical in the preparation of our financial statements, the judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies and the possibility that materially different amounts will be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part II, ITEM 8 of this Report, for a complete discussion of our revenue recognition policies.

We recognize revenue primarily from these sources:

Hardware:
  
  System hardware sales
ITEM 15
ITEM 16
   
Services and Other:
   
Professional and implementation services
Software design and development services
Software and software license sales
Maintenance and support services


We recognize revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 910, Contractors-Construction, ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, ASC 605-25, Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.and ASC subtopic 985-605, Software. In the event

i

Results of Operations

Note: All dollar amounts reported in Results of Operations are in thousands, except per-share information.

Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016

The tables presented below compare our results of operations adjusted for full retrospective adoption of certain accounting guidance described in Note 2 from one period to another, and present the results for each period and the change in those results from one period to another in both dollars and percentage change.

  For the Years Ended       
  December 31,  Change 
  2017  2016  Dollars  % 
Sales $17,698  $13,673  $4,025   29%
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)  10,309   6,815   3,494   51%
Gross profit  7,389   6,858   531   8%
Sales and marketing expenses  2,078   1,061   1,017   96%
Research and development expenses  991   893   98   11%
General and administrative expenses  6,944   6,393   551   9%
Depreciation and amortization expense  1,505   2,003   (498)  -25%
ConeXus acquisition stock issuance expense  1,971   -   1,971   NM 
Impairment loss on intangible assets  -   1,065   (1,065)  -100%
Total operating expenses  13,489   11,415   2,074   18%
Operating loss  (6,100)  (4,557)  (1,543)  34%
Other income (expenses):                
Interest expense  (1,610)  (1,636)  26   -2%
Change in fair value of warrant liability  (153)  (42)  (111)  264%
Gain on settlement of debt  872   1,008  ��(136)  -13%
Other income  2   164   (162)  -99%
Total other expense  (889)  (506)  (383)  76%
Net loss before income taxes  (6,989)  (5,063)  (1,926)  38%
Benefit/(provision) from income taxes  39   365   (326)  -89%
Net loss $(6,950) $(4,698) $(2,252)  48%

NM - not meaningful

Sales

Sales increased by $4,025 or 29% in 2017 compared to 2016. The $4,025 increase was driven by approximately $1,230 from two new large customers and the broadening of sales within existing customer relationships, including an increase in sales to a related party of $1,344. 

Gross Profit

Gross profit margin on a percentage basis decreased to 42% in 2017 from 50% in 2016, and increased by $531 in absolute dollars during the same period. The decrease in gross profit margin percentage and increase in absolute dollars is primarily the result of a lower margin sales mix on increased sales to customers. 

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses generally include the salaries, taxes, and benefits of our sales and marketing personnel, as well as trade show activities, travel, and other related sales and marketing costs. Total sales and marketing expenses increased to $2,078 in 2017 from $1,061 in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in payroll expense related to our growing sales force and related travel expenses.


Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased 11% to $991 in 2017 from $893 in 2016, primarily as a result of additional headcount focused on these activities. 

General and Administrative Expenses

Total general and administrative expenses increased 9% to $6,944 in 2017 from $6,393 in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs, including recruiting fees, offset primarily by decreases in legal fees.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased 25% to $1,505 in 2017 from $2,003 in 2016 primarily as a result of the reduction of intangible assets from the impairment recognized in the third quarter of 2016.

Interest Expense

See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the Company’s debt and related interest expense obligations. 

Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability

See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the Company’s non-cash change in Warrant Liability.

Gain on Settlement of Debt

During 2017, the Company settled and/or wrote off debt of $1,159 for $288 cash payment and recognized a gain of $872. This debt included $693 of payables previously recorded by our dissolved subsidiary Broadcast International, Inc, as we had exhausted all efforts to identify and settle these obligations in the first quarter of 2017.

In August 2016, the Company settled debt of $90 for $35 cash payment, resulting in a gain on debt settlement of $55. In June 2016, the Company settled debt of $614 for $123 cash payment and the issuance of 409,347 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock, fair value at conversion date of $85, and recognized a gain on debt restructuring of $406. In conjunction with this debt settlement, an additional 809,842 shares of restricted common stock were issued to investors for cash to facilitate the settlement of a portion of the $614 debt. In March 2016, the Company issued 8.00% nonconvertible promissory notes in favor of certain general unsecured creditors in the aggregate principal amount of $288 to settle an aggregate amount of $839 of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities. The aggregate amount of payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities was subsequently revised to $796. In September 2016, the amounts previously settled with nonconvertible promissory notes were paid in cash of $249 resulting in a gain on the debt settlement of $547. No gain was previously recorded.


Summary Quarterly Financial Information

The following represents unaudited financial information derived from the Company’s annual and quarterly financial statements, as adjusted for the retrospective adoption of ASU No. 2017-11:

Quarters ended December 31,
2017
  September 30,
2017
  June 30,
2017
  March 31,
2017
 
Net sales $4,136  $3,575  $3,568  $6,419 
Cost of sales  2,636   2,157   1,944   3,572 
Gross profit  1,500   1,418   1,624   2,847 
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization  2,793   4,631   2,238   2,322 
Depreciation/amortization  321   374   408   402 
Operating (loss)/income  (1,614)  (3,587)  (1,022)  123 
Other expenses/(income)  (177)  679   717   (369)
Net (loss)/income  (1,437)  (4,266)  (1,739)  492 

Quarters ended December 31,
2016
  September 30,
2016
  June 30,
2016
  March 31,
2016
 
Net sales $5,501  $2,708  $3,029  $2,435 
Cost of sales  2,826   1,387   1,312   1,290 
Gross profit  2,675   1,321   1,717   1,145 
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization  2,108   2,060   1,976   2,203 
Depreciation/amortization  388   540   536   539 
Impairment loss on intangible assets  -   1,065   -   - 
Operating (loss)/income  179   (2,344)  (795)  (1,597)
Other expenses/(income)  934   (130)  (913)  250 
Net (loss)/income  (755)  (2,214)  118   (1,847)

Supplemental Operating Results on a Non-GAAP Basis

The following non-GAAP data, which adjusts for the categories of expenses described below, is a non-GAAP financial measure. Our management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful information for investors, shareholders and other stakeholders of our Company in gauging our results of operations on an ongoing basis. We believe that EBITDA is a performance measure and not a liquidity measure, and therefore a reconciliation between net loss/income and EBITDA has been provided. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net loss/income as an indicator of performance or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as an indicator of cash flows, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, or as a measure of liquidity. In addition, EBITDA does not take into account changes in certain assets and liabilities as well as interest and income taxes that can affect cash flows. We do not intend the presentation of these non-GAAP measures to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.


Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP EBITDA

The following unaudited table presents the Company’s GAAP (Net Loss) measure, and the corresponding adjustments, to calculate “EBITDA” for the quarters ending December 31, 2017 and 2016, September 30, 2017 and 2016, June 30, 2017 and 2016 and March 31, 2017 and 2016, as adjusted for the retrospective adoption of ASU No. 2017-11:

Quarters ended December 31,
2017
  September 30,
2017
  June 30,
2017
  March 31,
2017
 
GAAP net (loss)/income  (1,437)  (4,266)  (1,739)  492 
Interest expense:                
Amortization of debt discount  100   328   133   195 
Other interest  330   169   140   215 
Gain on settlement of debt  (6)  -   -   (866)
Change in warrant liability  (340)  116   369   8 
Additional ConeXus acquisition expense  -   1,971   -   - 
Depreciation/amortization  321   374   408   402 
Other expenses/(income)  (261)  66   75   79 
EBITDA  (1,293)  (1,242)  (614)  525 

Quarters ended December 31,
2016
  September 30,
2016
  June 30,
2016
  March 31,
2016
 
GAAP net (loss)/income $(755) $(2,214) $118  $(1,847)
Interest expense:                
Amortization of debt discount  297   224   177   154 
Other interest  228   187   175   194 
Gain on settlement of debt  (55)  (547)  (406)  - 
Impairment loss on intangible assets  -   1,065   -   - 
Change in warrant liability  400   84   (293)  (148)
Depreciation/amortization  388   540   536   539 
Other expenses/(income)  64   (78)  (566)  51 
EBITDA $567  $(739) $(259) $(1,057)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $1,003 and a working capital deficit of $(3,801). On November 13, 2017, Slipstream Communications, LLC, a related party, extended the maturity date of our term loan to August 17, 2019 and extended the maturity date of our promissory notes on a rolling quarter addition basis which is now April 10, 2019. While management believes that due to the extension of our debt maturity date, our current cash balance and our operational forecast for 2018, we can continue as a going concern through at least March 31, 2019, given our net losses and working capital deficit, we obtained a continued support letter from Slipstream Communications, LLC through March 31, 2019. We can provide no assurance that our ongoing operational efforts will be successful which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. 

See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for an additional discussion of the Company’s debt obligations.

Operating Activities

We do not currently generate positive cash flow. Our operational costs have been greater than sales generated to date. As of December 31, 2017, we had an accumulated deficit of $(26,231). The cash flows provided by / used in operating activities was $655 and ($4,106) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The majority of the cash consumed by operations for both periods was attributed to our net losses of $(6,950) and $(4,698) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Included in our net losses were non-cash charges consisting of depreciation, amortization of debt discount related to convertible preferred stock / issued for debt-issuance costs, change in warrant liability, impairment on intangible assets, stock-based compensation, stock issuance expenses related to the ConeXus acquistion and changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts totaling $4,669 and $4,320 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $(569) compared to $(292) during 2016. The increase in cash used in investing activities is primarily due to more capital expenditures during the period. We currently do not have any material commitments for capital expenditures as of December 31, 2017, nor do we anticipate any significant expenditures in 2018. 

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $(435) compared to net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2016 of $4,389. The decrease is mainly due to the issuance of new debt financing and warrants in 2016. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet arrangements set forth in Item 303(a) (4) of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 7AQUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

ITEM 8FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on Page F-1.

ITEM 9CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None


ITEM 9ACONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and the Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level due to the material weaknesses described below.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on our assessment and those criteria, management identified that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2017 and that material weaknesses exist including: (1) a deficient process to close the monthly consolidated financial statements and prepare comprehensive and timely account analysis, (2) adequately identify and document multiple elements and deliverables, including allocation, deferral and cost estimates in support of revenue recognition, as well as not completing our analysis of the transition to and (3) the implementation and adoption of ASC 606Revenue Recognition

A material weakness is a control deficiency or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management has already implemented certain practices and procedures during 2017 to address the foregoing deficiencies, including the hiring of new accounting personnel and plans to expand the scope of its assessment of the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting at the consolidated Company in 2018, and develop a plan to complete the remediation of the foregoing deficiencies. 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company, as a smaller reporting company, to provide only management’s report in its annual report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9BOTHER INFORMATION

None.


PART III

ITEM 10DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

ITEM 10 DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our Board of Directors consists of Alec Machiels (Chairman), RickRichard Mills (CEO)(Chairman and CEO), David Bell, Donald Harris, Patrick O’Brien and Eric Bertrand. Stephen Nesbit.
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our current directors and executive officers.

Name
 
Age
 
Positions
Alec Machiels45Director (Chairman)
David Bell 7480 Director
Donald A. Harris 6571 Director
Richard Mills 6368Chief Executive Officer and Director
Stephen Nesbit73 Director Chief Executive Officer
John WalpuckWill Logan 5640 Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Patrick O’Brien71Director
Eric J. Bertrand45Director

The biographies of the above-identified individuals are set forth below:

Alec MachielsDavid Bell is a Partner at Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., a private equity fund manager, and joined our Board of Directors in August 2014 in connection with theour acquisition of CreativeRealities, merger. Mr. Machiels is a member of the Executive, Investment and Sustainability Committees, as well as the co-chair of the Energy and Wellness Committees at Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.  He has over 17 years of private equity investing and investment banking experience.  Previously, Mr. Machiels was a Financial Analyst in the Financial Services Group at Goldman Sachs International in London and in the Private Equity Group at Goldman Sachs and Co. in New York.  Investments in which he has been highly involved in include Molycorp Minerals, Traxys, Pure Biofuels, Olympus, Slipstream Communications, Coffeyville Resources and Merisant Company.  Mr. Machiels currently serves on the boards of Pure Biofuels, Olympus, Slipstream Communications, NSI, and Valogix.  He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Federation of Arts and Chair of its Endowment Committee 2011- 2013.  Mr. Machiels also co-founded Potentia Pharmaceuticals and Apellis Pharmaceuticals – two biotechnology companies in the complement immunotherapy space – as well as Revon Systems, a healthcare IT company.  Mr. Machiels is a graduate of Harvard Business School, KU Leuven Law School in Belgium and Konstanz University in Germany. 

David Bell joined our Board of Directors in August 2014 in connection with the Creative Realities merger.LLC. Mr. Bell brings over 40 years of advertising and marketing industry experience to the board,Board, including serving as CEO of three of the largest companies in the industry–industry — Bozell Worldwide, True North Communications and The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. Since 2007, Mr. Bell has previously led Slipstream Communications, LLC which is an international company providing strategic branding, digital marketing, and public relations services and served as a Senior Advisor to Google Inc. from 2006 to 2009. He is currently a Senior Advisor to AOL and has beenMr. Bell previously served as an Operating Advisor at Pegasus Capital Advisors since 2004.Advisors. He was a Senior Advisor to AOL from 2008 to 2016 and has also served on the boards of multiple publicly traded companies, including Lighting Science Group Corporation and Point Blank Solutions, Inc., and Primedia, Inc., and served as President and CEO of The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Bell served as an independent director on the Board of Directors of Time, Inc. from June 2014 to January 2018.

Donald A. Harriswas appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2014 in connection with theouracquisition of Broadcast International, merger.Inc. He has been President of 1162 Management, and the General Partner of 5 Star Partnership, a private equity firm, since June 2006. Mr. Harris has been President and Chief Executive Officer of UbiquiTel Inc., a telecommunications company organized by Mr. Harris and other investors, since its inception in September 1999 and also its Chairman since May 2000. Mr. Harris served as the President of Comcast Cellular Communications Inc. from March 1992 to March 1997. Mr. Harris received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy and an MBA from Columbia University. Mr. Harris’s experience in the telecommunications industry and his association with private equity funding is valuable to the Company.


Richard Millsis currently our Chief Executive Officer.Officer, a member of our Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Mills has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors since 2015, and has served as Chairman of the Board since November 2023. Mr. Mills possesses over 32 years of industry experience. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of ConeXus World Global, a leading digital media services company, which he founded in 2010, and which was acquired by Creative Realities as reported herein.the Company. Prior to founding ConeXus, Mr. Mills was President and Director at Beacon Enterprise Solutions Group, Inc., a public telecom and technology infrastructure services provider. Previous to that, he joined publicly traded Pomeroy Computer Resources, Inc. in 1993 and served as Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors from 1995 until 1999. Mr. Mills helped grow sales at Pomeroy during his time there from $100 million to $700 million. Mr. Mills was also a founder of Strategic Communications LLC.

John WalpuckStephen Nesbit has served as our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer since April 2014. Mr. Walpuck brings over 25 years of experience in financial and general managementwas appointed to Creative Realities, and over 20 years of experience in a broad range of digital media services, software, Internet services, online businesses, virtualization, and other technology industry sectors. Prior to Creative Realities, Mr. Walpuck served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of AllDigital, Inc. a digital broadcasting solutions company for the period from 2010 through 2013. Mr. Walpuck also served as the President and CEO of Disaboom, Inc., an online business and social network dedicated to people with disabilities, where he worked from 2007 to 2010. Prior to Disaboom, from 2005 to 2007, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nine Systems Corporation, a digital media services company. Mr. Walpuck has an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is a CMA, CPA and holds other professional certifications.

Patrick O’Brien has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 2015. Mr. O’Brien is the Managing Director& Principal of Granville Wolcott Advisors, which he formed in 2009 to provide consulting, due diligence and asset management services. Mr. O’Brien is a seasoned executive and business advisor, with 40 years of multi-unit international management experience with an emphasis in financial analysis and strategic business development. During the past five years, Mr. O’Brien has served on the boards of Merriman Holdings, Inc., Ironclad Performance Wear Corporation, Cinedigm, Inc., and is Chairman and CEO of LVI Liquidation Corp. (formerly Livevol, Inc.) He is a graduate of the Eli Broad School of Business of Michigan State University with BA in Hotel Management

Eric J. Bertrand joined our Board of Directors in May, 2016.2019. Mr. BertrandNesbit has been in the digital signage and digital advertising industry for over 20 years. He is currently the Chief Executive OfficerManaging Director of Prestonwood Trail Holdings LLC and a partner of modop, a full-service advertising agency with officeshas provided advisory services for companies in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Portlandthe Digital Signage and Panama City, Panama.Digital Media Industry for the past 10 years. He has directed and advised projects in North America, Europe, Asia proper, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. Prior to modop,founding Prestonwood Trail, Mr. BertrandNesbit was the President/COO at Reflect Systems, a PE/VC fund manager, having invested $300 millionprominent software and services company in 60+the Digital Signage business. He joined Reflect after serving as President/COO of MarketForward, the Global Digital Media Division owned by the Publicis Groupe S.A. in Paris France. Mr. Nesbit began his career in Digital Signage as the EVP Global Operations & GM International Business for Next Generation Network. NGN was one of the first Digital Place Based Advertising companies overin the past 20 years.industry before its sale to Anschutz Investments where the company changed its name to National Cinemedia (NASDAQ: NCMI). He began his career at IBM in the Data Processing Division holding various field and HQ management positions. Mr. BertrandNesbit also held management and executive positions at Wang Labs and BBN Communications Inc., the communications company that was a General Partner with Palisade Capital Management,the original architect of the Internet. Mr. Nesbit holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and earned an MBA from the Indiana University Kelly Graduate School of Business.

Will Logan joined the Company as VP of Finance in November 2017 and was promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer effective May 16, 2018. From January 2007 until November 2017, Mr. Logan was employed by Ernst & Young in the assurance services group where he jointly managedprimarily served large public companies, including a private equity fundtwo-year international rotation in London, UK in the asset management practice. He brings over ten years of experience in SEC reporting, technical accounting matters and venture capital funds.   Mr. Bertrand began his private equity career with Aetna’s Private Equity Group. Today, Mr. Bertrand is a Board Member of modop, Silverlight Digital, several privately held companiesSarbanes-Oxley compliance expertise as well as international charities, Unite For Sightexpertise in initial public offerings, acquisitions and integration. He has B.A. degrees in Accounting and Economics from Bellarmine University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Family Relationships
There are no other family relationships between any of the Alive Inside Foundation. Eric holds an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies from New York University. He graduated from Bryant University with a BS in Business Administration concentrating on Finance and Applied Actuarial Mathematics. 

directors or executive officers.         

Under our corporate bylaws, all of our directors serve for indefiniteannual terms expiring upon the next annual meeting of our shareholders. The holders of a majority of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock also have the right, but not the obligation, to designate one person to serve as a director on our board. As of the date of this Annual Report, the preferred shareholders have not exercised this right.

When considering whether directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to enable the Board of Directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the Board of Directors focuses primarily on the industry and transactional experience, and other background, in addition to any unique skills or attributes associated with a director. With regard to Mr. Machiels, the Board of Directors considered his background and experience with the private investing market and his long-standing oversight of the Creative Realities business during such time as it was wholly owned by Pegasus Capital. With regard to Mr. Bell, the Board considered his deep experience within the advertising and marketing industries and his prior management of large enterprises. With regard to Mr. Bertrand, the Board considered his deep experience within the media industry and significant private equity background. With regard to Mr. Mills, the Board of Directors considered his extensive background and experience in the industry. With regard to Mr. O’Brien, the Board of Directors considered his background as an advisor and extensive management experience. Finally, with regard to Mr. Harris, the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience in the telecommunications industry and association with private equity investors.

Finally, with regard to Mr. Nesbit, the Board of Directors considered his extensive experience in the digital signage industry, having run several companies in the industry and acted as a consultant broadly for digital signage companies over the past twenty years.

The Board of Directors has determined that there are nopresently three “independent” directors, as such term is defined in Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules, andeach of whom also meets the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The preceding disclosure respecting director independencedirectors whom the board has determined to be independent are Messrs. Bell, Harris, and Nesbit.
Board Committee Membership
Our Board of Directors has created a standing Compensation Committee and Audit Committee, which are described below. The Company’s committees have a separately adopted charter that is required under applicable SEC rules. Nevertheless, as a corporation whose shares are listed for tradingavailable on the OTCQX Markets, we presentlyCompany’s website at https://investors.cri.com. Mr. Bell, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Nesbit qualify as “independent” members of the board as described above.
The Board of Directors has not created a separate committee for nomination or corporate governance. Instead, the entire Board of Directors shares the responsibility of identifying potential director-nominees to serve on the Board of Directors. Nevertheless, nominees to serve as directors on our Board of Directors are not required to have any independentselected by those directors at all on our board or any independent directors serving on any particular committeeswho are independent.
CompensationCommittee Information. Our Compensation Committee consists of Stephen Nesbit, Donald Harris, and David Bell. Mr. Nesbit serves as chair of the Boardcommittee. Each of Directors.the members of the Compensation Committee is independent under the applicable Nasdaq listing standards. The Compensation Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The Compensation Committee has a written charter. The Compensation Committee’s duties, which are specified in the Compensation Committee charter, include, but are not limited to:
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating the Company’s Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;
reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements, and reviewing specific disclosures in the proxy statement and reports;
if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement;
reviewing, evaluating, and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors; and
reviewing and reassessing, on an annual basis, the adequacy of the charter and recommending to the Board any proposed changes to the charter.
Audit Committee Information. Our Audit Committee consists of David Bell, Stephen Nesbit, and Donald Harris. Mr. Bell serves as chair of the committee. The Board of Directors has determined that at least one member of the board,Audit Committee, Mr. Machiels,Bell, is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Mr. Machiels’Bell’s relevant experience in this regard is detailed above which includes past employment experience in finance and investment banking. Mr. Machiels is not an “independent” member of the board as described above.his biography. The Board of Directors has determined that each director serving on the Audit Committee is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements.

Board and Committee Matters

The Company does not have a standing nominatingaudit committee compensationmet four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Pursuant to our audit committee or audit committee. Instead, the entire Board of Directors shares the responsibility of identifying potential director-nominees to serve on the Board of Directors, making compensation decisions and performing the functions of an audit committee. The Board believes the engagement of all directors in these functions is important at this time in the Company’s development in lightcharter, responsibilities of the Company’s recent acquisition activities.

Audit Committee include:

reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our required disclosures;
reviewing and discussing interim financial statements prior to the filing of quarterly reports and earnings releases;
approving the committee report, as required by the SEC rules, to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement or annual report;
discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;
discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;
monitoring the independence of our independent auditor;
verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;
inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;
appointing or replacing the independent auditor;
determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and
reviewing and reassessing on an annual basis the adequacy of the charter and recommending to the Board any proposed changes to the charter.
Communications with Board Members

Our boardBoard of directorsDirectors has provided the following process for shareholders and interested parties to send communications to our boardBoard and/or individual directors. All communications should be addressed to Creative Realities, Inc., 13100 Magisterial Drive, Ste. 100, Louisville, KY 40223, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Communications to individual directors may also be made to such director at our company’sCompany’s address. All communications sent to any individual director will be received directly by such individuals and will not be screened or reviewed by any companyCompany personnel. Any communications sent to the boardBoard in the care of the Corporate Secretary will be reviewed by the Corporate Secretary to ensure that such communications relate to the business of the companyCompany before being reviewed by the board.

SECTION 16(Board.

a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors and persons who own more than 10 percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Such officers, directors and shareholders are required by the SEC to furnish us with copies of all such reports. To our knowledge, based solely on a review of copies of reports filed with the SEC during 2017 and written representations from such persons that no other reports were required, all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements were timely met except as follows: Richard Mills has not yet filed a report relating to the issuance of shares to him by the Company in connection with the Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization and Waiver, which agreement is an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions) and directors. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics satisfies the requirements of Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available, free of charge, on the Company’s website at https://investors.cri.com, or upon written request to our Corporate Secretary at 13100 Magisterial Drive, Ste. 100, Louisville, KY 40223.


ITEM 11EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Insider Trading Policy
We have adopted an insider trading policy applicable to members of the Board of Directors, executive officers of the Company, and all employees of the Company (“Insiders”). The Company may also determine that other persons should be subject to the policy, such as contractors or consultants who have access to material non-public information. The policy prohibits any Insider, as well as any family member of any Insider or any entities over which an Insider has influence or control, from engaging in transactions involving the purchase or sale of the Company’s securities while such person has access to material nonpublic information, as well as from trading in the securities of other companies in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence while in possession of material nonpublic information about such company or its securities.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file electronically reports of ownership and changes in ownership of such securities with the SEC. Based on review of the copies of Forms 3 and 4 (and amendments thereto, if any) filed electronically with the SEC during the year ended December 31, 2023 and Forms 5 (and amendments thereto, if any) filed electronically with the SEC with respect to such year, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, we believe that none of our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners failed to file on a timely basis all Section 16(a) filing requirements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for 20172023 and 2016:

Name and Principal Position (a) Years Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock Awards ($) (c)  Option Awards ($)  Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)  All Other Compensation ($)  Total
($)
 
Richard Mills 2017  270,000   -   -   -   -   -   270,000 
Chief Executive Officer and Director 2016  270,000   -   -   -   -   -   270,000 
                               
John Walpuck 2017  240,000   -   -   -   -   -   240,000 
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer 2016  240,000   -   -   -   -   -   240,000 

2022 (table and footnotes in whole dollars):
                    
Non-Equity
         
            
Stock
  
Option
  
Incentive Plan
  
All Other
     
    
Salary
  
Bonus
  
Awards
  
Awards
  
Compensation
  
Compensation
  
Total
 
Name and Principal Position(a)
 Years 
($)(b)
  
($)(c)
  
($)
  
($)(d)
  
($)(e)
  
($)
  
($)
 
Richard Mills 2023  450,000                  450,000 
Chief Executive Officer and Director 2022  431,544         253,119   112,500      797,163 
                               
Will Logan 2023  350,000                  350,000 
Chief Financial Officer 2022  334,462   75,000      151,872   52,500      613,834 

(a)Mr. Mills joined the Company effective October 15, 2015. Mr. WalpuckLogan joined the companyCompany effective May 2014.November 6, 2017.
(b)Effective November 12, 2021, Mr. Mills and Mr. Logan’s employment agreements were amended to provide that their annual base salaries adjusted automatically upon the closing of the Company’s acquisition of Reflect Systems, Inc. (the "Merger") to $450,000 and $350,000 annually, respectively. The Merger closed on February 17, 2022 resulting in actual salaries for Mr. Mills and Mr. Logan during 2022 of $431,544, and $334,462, respectively.

(c)Mr. Logan and the Company entered into an employment agreement on November 12, 2021.  The employment agreement awarded a $75,000 cash bonus upon the closing of the Merger.
(d)On June 15, 2022, Messrs. Mills and Logan received ten-year options to purchase 333,334 and 200,000 shares of common stock, respectively (the “New Options”). The New Options are eligible to vest at any time on or prior to February 17, 2025 if the trailing 10-trading day volume-weighted average price ("VWAP") of the Company’s common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, exceeds the share price targets below, subject to such executive serving the Company as a director, officer, employee or consultant at such time.
                      
Guaranteed
  
Total
 
Executive
 
Share Price Targets
  
Price
  
Shares
 
  $6.00  $9.00  $12.00  $15.00  $18.00         
Mills’ Shares Vested  16,667   33,334   50,000   66,667   83,333   83,333   333,334 
                             
Logan’s Shares Vested  10,000   20,000   30,000   40,000   50,000   50,000   200,000 
Percentage of Shares Vested  5%  10%  15%  20%  25%  25%    
The “Guaranteed Price” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 12, 2021, by and among Reflect, the Company, CRI Acquisition Corporation, and RSI Exit Corporation, as amended from time to time (the “Merger Agreement”).
The exercise price of the New Options is $3.00 per share, which exceeds the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of issuance. The New Options were issued from the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. The fair value of the options on the grant date varied between $0.63 and $1.11 per award as determined using the Monte Carlo model.
(e)Effective June 15, 2022, the Board approved the 2022 Cash Bonus Plan providing that Messrs. Mills and Logan were eligible to receive a cash bonus of a percentage of their annual base salaries based on the Company’s annual EBITDA results for the calendar year 2022, as set forth below:
Executive
 
2022 EBITDA Target
 
  $3,600,000  $4,600,000  $5,600,000  $6,600,000  $7,600,000 
Mills Bonus Payment $112,500  $180,000  $225,000  $450,000  $675,000 
                     
Logan Bonus Payment $52,500  $87,500  $140,000  $210,000  $350,000 
  
Base
                     
Executive
 
Salary
  
Bonus as a Percentage of Annual Base Salary
 
Mills $450,000   25%  40%  50%  100%  150%
Logan $350,000   15%  25%  40%  60%  100%
The material terms of employment agreements of Richard Mills, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Will Logan, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and payments to be made upon a change in control are discussed below, in the narrative following “Employment Agreements.”

below.

Our named executive officers are eligible for retirement benefits on the same terms as non-executives under the company’sCompany’s defined contribution 401(k) retirement plan. Employees may contribute pretax or after-tax compensation to the plan in accordance with current maximum contribution levels proscribed by the Internal Revenue Service. There are currently plans to implementThe Company contributes an employer contribution match of 50% of employee wages up to 6%, for an effective match of 3% on April 1, 2018.

.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

Richard Mills Employment Agreement
The following table sets forth certain information concerning outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2017:

  Option Awards (a)  Stock Awards
  Number of  Number of Securities        Number Market value
  Securities  Underlying        of shares of shares
  Underlying  Unexercised        or units of or units of
  Unexercised  Options  Option     stock stock
  Options  (#)  Exercise  Option  that has that have
  (#)  Non-  Price  Expiration  not vested not vested
Name Exercisable  Exercisable  ($)  Date  (#) ($)
John Walpuck  170,000(b)  -  $0.65   5/29/2024  - -
   50,000(b)  -  $0.45   8/18/2024     
       480,685(d) $0.45   10/9/2024     
       1,449,432(c) $0.32   1/22/2025     
       1,069,882(e) $0.19   11/20/2025     

(a)Unless otherwise indicated, represents shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted under our Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

(b)These stock options became fully exercisable upon the effectiveness of the Company’s merger transaction with Creative Realities, LLC.

(c)This stock option became exercisable to the extent of 25 percent of the shares purchasable thereunder on January 22, 2016, with additional increments of 25 percent becoming exercisable annually thereafter.

(d)

This stock option became exercisable to the extent of 25 percent of the shares purchasable thereunder on October 9, 2015, with additional increments of 25 percent becoming exercisable annually thereafter.

(e)This stock option becomes exercisable to the extent of 25 percent of the shares purchasable thereunder on November 20, 2016, with additional increments of 25 percent becoming exercisable annually thereafter.

Director Compensation Table

Non-employee directors received no compensation during 2017 and 2016.

36

ITEM 12SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

As of the close of business on March 13, 2018, we had outstanding two classes of voting securities – common stock, of which there were 82,581,866 shares issued and outstanding and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, of which there were 5,663,946 shares issued and outstanding. Each share of common stock is currently entitled to one vote on all matters put to a vote of our shareholders, and each share of preferred stock votes on an as-converted basis, which means that each preferred share is currently entitled to two and one-half votes on all matters put to a vote of our shareholders. Our preferred stock votes together with our common stock as a single class. The following table sets forth the number of common shares, and percentage of outstanding common shares, beneficially owned as of December 31, 2017, by: 

each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding common stock

each current director

each executive officer of the Company and other persons identified as a named executive in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and

all current executive officers and directors as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the following persons is 22 Audrey Place, Fairfield, NJ 07004, and each such person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite his, her or its name.

Name and Address Common Shares Beneficially Owned[1]  

Percentage of

Common Shares1

 

Slipstream Funding, LLC[2]

c/o Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.

99 River Road

Cos Cob, CT 06807

  30,349,949   35.98%

Slipstream Communications, LLC[3]

c/o Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.

99 River Road

Cos Cob, CT 06807

  74,070,970   58.39%
Horton Capital Partners Fund, L.P.[4]  8,679,847   9.95%
Eric Bertrand[5]  911,857   1.09%
John Walpuck[6]  2,082,358   2.46%
Donald A. Harris[7]  2,688,547   3.23%
Alec Machiels[8]  0   * 
David Bell[9]  0   * 
Richard Mills[10]  17,974,915   21.70%
Patrick O’Brien[11]  0   * 
All current executive officers and directors as a group[12]  20,750,562   24.07%

* less than 1%


(1)Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes general voting power and/or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the record rate, and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of other securities currently convertible or convertible within 60 days, are deemed outstanding for computing the beneficial ownership percentage of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the beneficial ownership percentage of any other person. Under applicable SEC rules, each person’s beneficial ownership is calculated by dividing the total number of shares with respect to which they possess beneficial ownership by the total number of outstanding shares of the Company. In any case where an individual has beneficial ownership over securities that are not outstanding, but are issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants or similar rights within the next 60 days, that same number of shares is added to the denominator in the calculation described above. Because the calculation of each person’s beneficial ownership set forth in the “Percentage of Common Shares” column of the table may include shares that are not presently outstanding, the sum total of the percentages set forth in such column may exceed 100%.

(2)Investment and voting power over shares held by Slipstream Funding, LLC is held by Slipstream Communications, LLC, its sole member. See table footnote 3 for further information regarding Slipstream Communications, LLC. The share figure includes 1,779,015 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to the shareholder in connection with the Company’s merger transaction with Creative Realities, LLC.
(3)Investment and voting power over shares held by Slipstream Communications, LLC is held by BCOM Holdings, LP, its managing member. Slipstream Communications is the sole member of Slipstream Funding, LLC, and as a result share figure includes the 28,570,934 shares of common stock, and 1,779,015 common shares issuable upon exercise of an outstanding warrant, issued to and held by Slipstream Funding, LLC in connection with the merger transaction with Creative Realities, LLC. Share figure also includes 15,461,920 common shares issued on account of a convertible promissory note, 3,111,761 common shares issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 25,706,248 common shares purchasable upon exercise of outstanding warrants.

(4)Includes 3,485,518 common shares issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 1,205,358 common shares purchasable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. The warrants to purchase shares held by Horton Capital Partners Fund, LP contain “blocker” provisions that limits its ability to exercise such warrants to the extent that such exercise would cause the shareholder’s beneficial ownership in the Company to exceed 4.99% of the Company’s shares outstanding. The calculation of beneficial ownership does not take into account the effect of such “blocker” provisions.

(5)Includes 892,857 common shares purchasable upon exercise of outstanding warrants. The warrants to purchase shares held Eric Bertrand contain “blocker” provisions that limits its ability to exercise such warrants to the extent that such exercise would cause the shareholder’s beneficial ownership in the Company to exceed 4.99% of the Company’s shares outstanding. The calculation of beneficial ownership does not take into account the effect of such “blocker” provisions.
(6)Mr. Walpuck is our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Shares reflected in the table are common shares issuable upon exercise of vested options.
(7)Mr. Harris is a director of the Company. Share figure includes 225,549 common shares issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 419,643 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants.  

(8)Mr. Machiels is a director of the Company.
(9)Mr. Bell is a director of the Company.

(10)Mr. Mills is a director of the Company and Chief Executive Officer. Includes 2,639,258 common shares and 267,857 common shares purchasable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, each held by RFK Communications, LLC. The warrants to purchase shares held by RFK Communications, LLC contain “blocker” provisions that limits its ability to exercise such warrants to the extent that such exercise would cause the shareholder’s beneficial ownership in the Company to exceed 4.99% of the Company’s shares outstanding. The calculation of beneficial ownership does not take into account the effect of such “blocker” provisions.
(11)Mr. O’Brien is a director of the Company.
(12)Includes Messrs. Walpuck, Harris, Machiels, Bell, Mills, O’Brien and Bertrand.

ITEM 13CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Employment Agreements

We employCompany employs Richard Mills as ourits Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mills’Mills and the Company entered into an employment agreement on November 12, 2021. The employment agreement is effective for a two-yearone-year term, which automatically renews for additional one-year periods unless either wethe Company or Mr. Mills elects not to extend the term. The agreement provides for an initial annual base salary of $270,000$330,000 subject to annual increases but generally not subject to decreases, and includes provisions fordecreases. The employment agreement provides that Mr. Mills’ annual base salary adjusted automatically on February 17, 2022 upon the rightclosing of the Merger to receive up$450,000, subject to 4,951,557 performance shares of common stock in connection with a series of performance-based requirements.annual increases but not generally subject to decreases. Under the agreement, Mr. Mills is eligible to participate in performance-based cash bonus or equity award plans for ourCompany senior executives. Mr. Mills will participate in ourCompany employee benefit plans, policies, programs, perquisites and arrangements to the extent he meets applicable eligibility requirements. In the event of a termination of employment for good reason, as defined, without cause, as defined, or within 12 months following a change in control, as defined, other than for reason of death, disability or for cause, any of which occur during the first year of Mr. Mills’ employment, Mr. Mills will be entitled to receive aaggregate severance paymentpayments equal to sixtwelve months of his base salary. After the one-year anniversary of his employment, the severance amount increases to 12 months of then-current base salary. The agreement provides that any severance payments would be paid in installments over the course of the severance. The agreement contains certain non-solicitation and non-competition provisions that continue after employment for a period of one year. The agreement also contains other customary restrictive and other covenants relating to the confidentiality of information, the ownership of inventions and other matters.

We employ John WalpuckOn June 15, 2022, the Board approved an amendment to certain aspects of Mr. Mills’ compensation as ourfurther described below.

Will Logan Employment Agreement
The Company employs Will Logan as its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Walpuck’sLogan and the Company entered into an employment agreement on November 12, 2021. The employment agreement is effective for a one-year term, which automatically renews for additional one-year periods unless either the Company or Mr. WalpuckLogan elects not to extend the employment term. The agreement provides for an initial annual base salary of $240,000,$249,000 subject to annual increases but generally not subject to decreases. The employment agreement provides Mr. WalpuckLogan’s annual base salary automatically adjusted upon the closing of the Merger to $350,000, subject to annual increases but not generally subject to decreases, and Mr. Logan received a $75,000 cash bonus upon the closing of the Merger. Under the agreement, Mr. Logan is eligible to participate in performance-based cash bonus or equity award plans for the Company’sCompany senior executives. In addition, Mr. Walpuck will participateLogan participates in Company employee benefit plans, policies, programs, perquisites, and arrangements to the extent he meets applicable eligibility and other requirements. In the event of a termination of employment for good reason, as defined, without cause, as defined, or within 12 months following a change in control, as defined, other than for reason of death, disability or for cause, any of which occur during the first year of Mr. Walpuck’s employment, Mr. WalpuckLogan will be entitled to receive aaggregate severance paymentpayments equal to six months of his base salary. After the one-year anniversary of his employment, the severance amount increases to 12 months of then-current base salary. The agreement provides that any severance payments would be paid in installments over the course of a one-year period.the severance. The agreement contains certain non-solicitation and non-competition provisions that continue after employment for a period of one year. The agreement also contains other customary restrictive and other covenants relating to the confidentiality of information, the ownership of inventions and other matters.

Independence

On June 15, 2022, the Board approved an amendment to certain aspects of Mr. Logan’s compensation as described below.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth certain information concerning outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2023:
Option Awards(a)
Stock Awards
Market
Number
value
Number of
Number of
of shares
of shares
Securities
Securities
or units of
or units of
Underlying
Underlying
Option
stock
stock
Unexercised
Unexercised
Exercise
Option
that has
that have
Options (#)
Options (#)
Price
Expiration
not vested
not vested
Name
Exercisable
Non-Exercisable
($)
Date
(#)
($)
Richard Mills160,000(a)—(a)7.596/1/2030
160,000(b)—(b)7.596/1/2030
—(c)333,334(c)3.002/17/2025
Will Logan6,389(d)—(d)26.1011/6/2027
5,556(e)—(e)22.509/20/2028
80,000(a)—(a)7.596/1/2030
80,000(b)—(b)7.596/1/2030
—(c)200,000(c)3.002/17/2025

(a)These stock options vested in three equal installments on June 1 annually, beginning in 2021 and ending in 2023.
(b)These stock options (the “Performance Options”) become vested in increments of 16.67 percent of the total shares purchasable under this issuance subject to satisfying Company revenue target and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) target for the applicable year. In each of calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022, one-third of the total shares may vest (if the revenue and EBITDA targets are met), and the shares that are subject to vesting each year are allocated equally to each of the revenue and EBITDA targets for such year, with each target and vesting being independently achieved without regard for the other. These Performance Options include a catch-up provision, where any options that did not vest during a prior year due to the Company’s failure to meet a prior revenue or EBITDA target may vest in a subsequent vesting year if the revenue or EBITDA target, as applicable, is met in the future year. The revenue and EBITDA targets for the subject years are as follows:
Calendar Year
 
Revenue Target (millions)
  
EBITDA Target (millions)
 
2021 $35  $3.1 
2022 $38  $3.5 
The executives met the foregoing EBITDA target for calendar year 2021.
On June 15, 2022, the Board approved of an amendment to the Performance Options to provide that the revenue target for the calendar year 2022 set forth therein ($38 million) is eliminated, and the remaining shares that are available for vesting under the Performance Options (106,667 unvested shares for Mr. Mills and 53,334 for Mr. Logan) (including the unvested portions of shares based on the satisfaction of the revenue targets for 2020 and 2021 by virtue of the catch-up provisions in the Performance Options) will fully vest upon the achievement of the updated EBITDA target for calendar year 2022 of $3.6 million.
The Performance Options state that the calculation of EBITDA set forth in the Performance Options shall be calculated in a form consistent with the Company’s 2022 approved budget, which:
(i)excludes any impact on EBITDA of:
(a)the accounting treatment (including any “mark-to-market accounting”) of the Company’s warrants or the “Guaranteed Consideration” (as defined in the Merger Agreement),
(b)non-recurring transaction expenses associated with the Merger and the capital raising financing activities of the Company to effectuate the Merger, and
(c)any write-down or write-off of any Company inventory of Safe Space Solutions products.
(iii)includes deductions related to any cash or stock bonuses paid or payable to any employees of the Company for services provided in calendar year 2022 (even if such bonuses are actually paid after calendar year 2022), including bonuses paid pursuant to the terms of the 2022 Cash Bonus Plan (as described above) (collectively, the “EBITDA Calculations”).
The unvested portion of the Performance Options as of December 31, 2022 vested in full effective as of March 30, 2023 upon confirmation by the Board of Directors of achievement of the performance metrics for the year ended December 31, 2022.
(c)Messrs. Mills and Logan received ten-year options to purchase 333,334 and 200,000 shares of common stock, respectively (the “New Options”). The New Options are eligible to vest at any time on or prior to February 17, 2025 if the trailing 10-trading day VWAP of the Company’s common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, exceeds the share price targets below, subject to such executive serving the Company as a director, officer, employee or consultant at such time:
                      
Guaranteed
  
Total
 
Executive
 
Share Price Targets
  
Price
  
Shares
 
  $6.00  $9.00  $12.00  $15.00  $18.00         
Mills’ Shares Vested  16,667   33,334   50,000   66,667   83,333   83,333   333,334 
                             
Logan’s Shares Vested  10,000   20,000   30,000   40,000   50,000   50,000   200,000 
Percentage of Shares Vested  5%  10%  15%  20%  25%  25%    
(d)These stock options become exercisable in increments of 25 percent of the total shares purchasable under this issuance on November 6 annually, beginning in 2018 and ending in 2021.
(e)These stock options become exercisable in increments of 25 percent of the total shares purchasable under this issuance on September 20 annually, beginning in 2019 and ending in 2022.
Director Compensation
The Company’s Board of Directors has a director compensation plan to compensate non-officer directors as follows:
Annual grant of shares of unrestricted common stock of the Company, issuable on November 17, 2021, 2022 and 2023, having an annual value of $24,000, with the per-share price to be determined based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock as reported on Nasdaq on such issuance date. No shares were issued on November 17, 2023 as the Company’s ability to issue shares under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan expired.
An option issuable to each non-executive director to purchase 60,000 shares of Company common stock (or in the case of Dennis McGill, prior Chairman of the Company Board, 75,000 shares), which vest in three equal installments on November 17, 2021, 2022 and 2023, subject to continuing service as a director as of such vesting date. The exercise price of such options is $2.21, the closing price of the Company’s common stock as reported on Nasdaq on the date of adoption of such plan.
The table below sets forth the compensation paid to Company non-employee directors during 2023:
  
Director Compensation (table and footnotes in whole dollars)
 
                             
  
Fees
              
Nonqualified
         
  
earned
          
Non-equity
  
deferred
         
  
or paid
  
Stock
      
incentive plan
  
compensation
  
All other
     
  
in cash
  
awards
  
Option awards
  
compensation
  
earnings
  
compensation
  
Total
 
Name
 
($)(a)
  
($)(b)
  
($)
  
($)
  
($)
  
($)
  
($)
 
Dennis McGill     24,000               24,000 
David Bell     24,000               24,000 
                             
Donald A. Harris  12,000   24,000               36,000 
Stephen Nesbit  17,524   24,000               41,524 

(a)On February 2, 2023 and May 1, 2023, we received unsolicited proposals from Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., on behalf of itself and certain of its affiliates, including Slipstream Funding, LLC (collectively, “Pegasus”), to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company that were not owned by Pegasus. The Board of Directors formed a special committee of independent directors, comprised of Donald A. Harris and Stephen Nesbit, to assess and analyze the offers, and authorized compensation to such committee members for their service. The fees were earned during 2023, but were not paid until 2024.
(b)Each director earned the right to receive $24,000 of common stock under the Company’s existing director compensation plan on November 17, 2023, which amount was accrued as of December 31, 2023.  The Board of Directors intends to pay such compensation (or cash in lieu thereof) after the 2024 annual shareholder meeting, but has not issued any common stock at this time.
Pay Versus Performance
As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid and certain financial performance of the Company.
  
Pay Versus Performance
  
Summary
   
Summary
      
  
Compensation
 
Compensation
 
Compensation
 
Compensation
 
Value of Initial Fixed $100
  
  
Table Total for
 
Actually
 
Table Total for
 
Actually Paid to
 
Investment Based On:
 
Net Income(6)
  
PEO(1)
 
Paid to PEO(2)
 
Non-PEO NEO(3)
 
Non-PEO NEO(4)
 
Total Shareholder Return(5)
 
(in thousands)
Year
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
 
(e)
 
(f)
 
(g)
2023 450,000 498,678 350,000 373,292 61 (2,937)
2022 797,163 80,977 613,834 230,168 45 1,876
2021 378,652 570,873 254,585 350,948 109 232
(1)The dollar amounts reported in column (b) are the amounts of total compensation reported for Richard Mills (our Chief Executive Officer) for each corresponding year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table. Refer to “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table." 
(2)The dollar amounts reported in column (c) represent the amounts of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Mills, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to Mr. Mills during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to Mr. Mills’ total compensation for each year to determine the compensation actually paid:
  
Reported
      
  
Summary
      
  
Compensation
 
Reported
 
Equity
 
Compensation
  
Table Total
 
Value of  Equity
 
Awards
 
Actually Paid to
  
for PEO
 
Awards(a)
 
Adjustments(b)
 
PEO
Year
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
2023 450,000  48,678 498,678
2022 797,163 253,119 (463,067) 80,977
2021 378,652  192,221 570,873
(a)The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. 
(b)The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year. The valuation assumptions used to calculate fair values did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of grant. The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments are as follows:
            
Fair Value of
  
        
Year over
 
Fair Value
 
Dividends or other
  
    
Year over
   
Year Change in
 
at the End
 
Earnings Paid on
  
    
Year Change in
 
Fair Value as of
 
Fair Value of
 
of the Prior Year
 
Stock or Option
  
    
Fair Value of
 
Vesting Date of
 
Equity Awards
 
of Equity Awards
 
Awards not
  
  
Year End
 
Outstanding
 
Equity Awards
 
Granted in
 
that Failed to
 
Otherwise Reflected
 
Total
  
Fair Value
 
and Unvested
 
Granted
 
Prior Years
 
Meet Vesting
 
in Fair Value
 
Equity
  
of Equity
 
Equity
 
and Vested
 
that Vested
 
Conditions
 
or Total
 
Award
  
Awards
 
Awards
 
in the Year
 
in the Year
 
in the Year
 
Compensation
 
Adjustments
Year
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
2023  (10,465)  59,143   48,678
2022 22,311 (321,138)  (164,240)   (463,067)
2021  51,500  140,721   192,221
(3)The dollar amounts reported in column (d) represent the amounts reported for the NEO (excluding our PEO) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable year. The NEO (excluding our PEO) included for purposes of calculating the amounts in each applicable year was Will Logan, our Chief Financial Officer. 
(4)The dollar amounts reported in column (e) represent the amounts of “compensation actually paid” to the NEO (excluding our PEO), as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEO (excluding our PEO) during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the NEO (excluding our PEO) for each year to determine the compensation actually paid, using the same methodology described above in Note (2):
  
Reported
      
  
Summary
      
  
Compensation
     
Compensation
  
Table Total
 
Reported
 
Equity
 
Actually Paid
  
for Non-PEO
 
Value of
 
Awards
 
to Non-PEO
  
NEO
 
Equity Awards(a)
 
Adjustments(b)
 
NEO
Year
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
2023 350,000  23,292 373,292
2022 613,834 151,872 (231,794) 230,168
2021 254,585  96,363 350,948
(a)The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. 
(b)The equity award adjustments for each applicable year include the addition (or subtraction, as applicable) of the following: (i) the year-end fair value of any equity awards granted in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year; (ii) the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year; (iii) for awards that are granted and vest in same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date; (iv) for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value; (v) for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and (vi) the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year. The valuation assumptions used to calculate fair values did not materially differ from those disclosed at the time of grant. The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments are as follows:
      
Fair
     
Value of
  
    
Year Over
 
Value as of
 
Year over Year
 
Fair Value
 
Dividends or other
  
    
Year
 
Vesting Date
 
Change in
 
at the End of the
 
Earnings Paid on
  
    
Change in
 
of Equity
 
Fair Value of
 
Prior Year of
 
Stock or Option
  
  
Year End
 
Fair Value of
 
Awards
 
Equity Awards
 
Equity Awards that
 
Awards not
 
Total
  
Fair Value
 
Outstanding and 
 
Granted
 
Granted in Prior
 
Failed to Meet
 
Otherwise Reflected
 
Equity
  
of Equity
 
Unvested 
 
and Vested
 
Years that Vested
 
Vesting Conditions
 
in Fair Value or
 
Award
  
Awards
 
Equity Awards
 
in the Year
 
in the Year
 
in the Year
 
Total Compensation
 
Adjustments
Year
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
 
($)
2023  (6,279)  29,571   23,292
2022 13,386 (160,905)  (84,275)   (231,794)
2021  25,750  70,613   96,363
(5)Cumulative total shareholder return (Cumulative TSR) is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between the Company’s share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by the Company’s share price at the beginning of the measurement period. 
(6)The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net income reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements for the applicable year.
Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay versus Performance Table
In accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following descriptions of the relationships between information presented in the Pay Versus Performance table above.
Compensation Actually Paid and Cumulative TSR
The following graph sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEO, and the Company’s cumulative TSR over the three most recently completed fiscal years.
chart01.jpg
Compensation Actually Paid and Net Income
The following graph sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the Compensation Actually Paid to our Non-PEO NEO, and the Company’s net income over the three most recently completed fiscal years.
chart02.jpg
Policies and Practices for Granting Certain Equity Awards
While the granting of options and other equity awards to officers, directors and other employees is not expressly addressed in our Insider Trading Policy, we generally follow the same principles set forth in the Insider Trading Policy when granting equity awards, including options, to our officers, directors and other employees with access to material nonpublic information. Generally our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee does not approve grants of such awards during a blackout period and does not take material nonpublic information into account when determining the timing and terms of such an award. Further, we do not have a standing nominatingpolicy or practice of timing the disclosure of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation.
ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The table below sets forth certain information with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 22, 2024, on which date there were 10,446,659 shares of issued and outstanding common stock. The following table sets forth the number of common shares, and percentage of outstanding common shares, beneficially owned by:
each director of the Company;
each named executive (as defined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023);
all current directors and officers of the Company as a group; and
each person or entity known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock.
Unless otherwise indicated in the table or its footnotes, the address of each of the following persons or entities is 13100 Magisterial Drive, Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40223, and each such person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite his, her or its name.
  
Common
     
  
Shares
  
Percentage of
 
  
Beneficially
  
Common
 
Name and Address
 
Owned(1)
  
Shares(1)
 
Slipstream Funding, LLC(2)
        
c/o Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.        
750 E Main St., Suite 600        
Stamford, CT 06902  317,455   3.0%
Slipstream Communications, LLC(3)
        
c/o Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.        
750 E Main St., Suite 600        
Stamford, CT 0690  3,474,440   29.0%
Stephen Nesbit(4)
  50,897   * 
Donald A. Harris(5)
  152,105  1.5%
Dennis McGill(6)
  53,781   * 
David Bell(7)
  50,897   * 
Richard Mills(8)
  969,260   8.7%
Will Logan(9)
  386,468   3.6%
All current executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons)(10)
  1,609,627   14.7%

(1)Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes general voting power and/or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 22, 2024, and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of other securities currently convertible or convertible within 60 days, are deemed outstanding for computing the beneficial ownership percentage of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the beneficial ownership percentage of any other person. Under applicable SEC rules, each person’s beneficial ownership is calculated by dividing the total number of shares with respect to which they possess beneficial ownership by the total number of outstanding shares of the Company. In any case where an individual has beneficial ownership over securities that are not outstanding, but are issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants or similar rights within the next 60 days, that same number of shares is added to the denominator in the calculation described above. Because the calculation of each person’s beneficial ownership set forth in the “Percentage of Common Shares” column of the table may include shares that are not presently outstanding, the sum total of the percentages set forth in such column may exceed 100%.
(2)Investment and voting power over shares held by Slipstream Funding, LLC is held by Slipstream Communications, LLC, its sole member, and may deemed to be directly or indirectly controlled by Craig Cogut, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Capital Advisors, LLC. See table footnote 3 for further information regarding Slipstream Communications, LLC.
(3)Investment and voting power over shares held by Slipstream Communications, LLC may be deemed to be directly or indirectly controlled by Craig Cogut, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Capital Advisors, LLC. Slipstream Communications, LLC (“Slipstream Communications”) is the sole member of Slipstream Funding, LLC (“Slipstream Funding”). BCOM Holdings, LP (“BCOM Holdings”) is the managing member of Slipstream Communications. BCOM GP LLC (“BCOM GP”) is the general partner of BCOM Holdings. Business Services Holdings, LLC (“Business Services Holdings”) is the sole member of BCOM GP. PP IV BSH, LLC (“PP IV BSH”), Pegasus Investors IV, L.P. (“Pegasus Investors”) and Pegasus Partners IV (AIV), L.P. (“Pegasus Partners (AIV)”) are the members of Business Services Holdings. Pegasus Partners IV, L.P. (“Pegasus Partners”) is the sole member of PP IV BSH. Pegasus Investors IV, L.P. (“Pegasus Investors”) is the general partner of each of Pegasus Partners (AIV) and Pegasus Partners and Pegasus Investors IV GP, L.L.C. (“Pegasus Investors GP”) is the general partner of Pegasus Investors. Pegasus Investors GP is wholly owned by Pegasus Capital, LLC (“Pegasus Capital”). Pegasus Capital may be deemed to be directly or indirectly controlled by Craig Cogut. The share figure includes the 317,455 shares of common stock issued to and held by Slipstream Funding, LLC in connection with the merger transaction with Creative Realities, LLC. Share figure also includes 1,731,499 common shares purchasable upon exercise of outstanding warrants issued to and held by Slipstream Communications, LLC.
(4)Mr. Nesbit is a director of the Company. Share figure includes 20,000 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding options.
(5)Mr. Harris is a director of the Company. Share figure includes 20,000 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding options.
(6)Mr. McGill served as a director of the Company and Chairman of the Board until his resignation on November 8, 2023. Share figure includes 25,001 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding options.
(7)Mr. Bell is a director of the Company. Share figure includes 20,000 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding options.
(8)Mr. Mills is a director of the Company, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Share figure includes 320,000 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding options and 333,334 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding performance-restricted options upon which vesting requires achievement of certain targeted share trading prices.
(9)Mr. Logan is the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Share figure includes 171,945 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding options and 200,000 shares purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding performance-restricted options upon which vesting requires achievement of certain targeted share trading prices.
(10)Includes Messrs. Mills, Bell, Harris, Nesbit and Logan.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The table below sets forth certain information, as of the close of business on December 31, 2023, regarding equity compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our securities were then authorized for issuance.
  
Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
  
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
  
Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans (excluding
securities reflected in column (a))
 
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders  1,636,132         (1) $6.51   None 
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders  1,500,000         (2)  N/A   None 
(1)Shares reflected are issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options issued under the 2006 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan or the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company's ability to issue new awards under its 2014 Stock Incentive Plan expired in 2023.
(2)On November 8, 2023, our Board of Directors adopted the 2023 Plan that authorizes the issuance of up to 1,500,000 shares under such plan. The Company intends to seek shareholder approval of such plan at our 2024 annual shareholder meeting. At this time, no awards have been issued under the 2023 Plan.
For information regarding the material features of each of the above plans see Note 12Stock-based Compensation in our Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Original 10-K.
ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
(All currency in this Item 13 is rounded to the nearest thousand, except share and per share amounts.)
Secured Promissory Note
On February 17, 2022, in connection with the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), the Company issued to RSI Exit Corporation (“Stockholders’ Representative”), the representative of former Reflect stockholders, a $2,500 Note and Security Agreement (the “Secured Promissory Note”).
The Secured Promissory Note accrued interest at 0.59% per annum (the applicable federal rate on the date of issuance of the Secured Promissory Note) and required the Company and Reflect to collectively pay equal monthly principal installments of $104 on the fifteenth (15th) day of each month, commencing on March 15, 2022. Any remaining or unpaid principal was due and payable on February 17, 2023. All payments under the Secured Promissory Note were paid to the escrow agent in the Merger Agreement to be placed into the escrow account to secure the Reflect stockholders’ indemnification obligations until released on February 17, 2023 (the one-year anniversary of the closing of the Merger), at which time any remaining proceeds not subject to a pending indemnification claim would be paid to the exchange agent for payment to the Reflect stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The Secured Promissory Note is secured by a first-lien security interest in certain contracts of Reflect, including obligations arising out of those certain contracts. The Company has the right to offset amounts payable under the Secured Promissory Note upon a final, non-appealable decision of a court that entitles the Company or its affiliates to any damages for indemnification under the Merger Agreement, or the Stockholders’ Representative’s agreement in writing to such damages.
On February 11, 2023, the Company, Reflect and the Stockholders’ Representative, executed a Second Amendment to the Merger Agreement. The Second Amendment to the Merger Agreement provided that, among other things, the cash merger consideration payable in the Merger should be reduced by $242 or the “Claim Amount,” subject to a reduction in the Claim Amount to the extent that Reflect or Creative Realities receive payments of certain accounts receivable of Reflect, up to $27. An employer retention credit of $242 (the “ERC”) based on the operations of Reflect pre-Merger remains outstanding and will be paid to the Stockholders’ Representative for the benefit of former Reflect stockholders upon receipt, subject to the offset rights of Creative Realities. In addition, the Company and the Stockholders’ Representative executed an amendment (the “Note Amendment”) to the Secured Promissory Note on February 11, 2023. The Note Amendment eliminated the balloon payment, extended the maturity date for a one-year period, to February 17, 2024. During the extended period, the Company continued to make monthly principal payments of $104,000 and the annual interest rate on the outstanding principal increased from 0.59% to 4.60%, which accrued and is payable in full on the new maturity date.
On December 15, 2023, the Company paid $110 as final settlement of the Secured Promissory Note, including accrued interest through the settlement date. All rights to payment of the ERC were retained by the Reflect stockholders as part of this settlement.
Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement
On February 17, 2022, the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Borrowers”) refinanced their debt facilities with Slipstream Communications, pursuant to a Second Amended and Restated Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Borrowers include Reflect, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company as a result of the Closing on February 17, 2022. The debt facilities continue to be fully secured by all assets of the Borrowers.
The Credit Agreement also provides that the Company’s outstanding loans from Slipstream Communications at December 31, 2021, consisting of its pre-existing $4,767 senior secured term loan and $2,418 secured convertible loan, with an aggregate of $7,185 in outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest under such loans, were consolidated into a term loan (the “Consolidation Term Loan”). The Consolidation Term Loan has an interest rate of 10.0%, with 75.0% warrant coverage (or 898,165 warrants). On the first day of each month, commencing March 1, 2022 through February 1, 2025, the Borrowers will make interest-only payments on the Consolidation Term Loan. Commencing on September 1, 2023, and on the first day of each month thereafter until the Maturity Date, the Borrowers will make a payment on the Consolidation Term Loan, in an equal monthly installment of principal sufficient to fully amortize the Consolidation Term Loan in eighteen equal installments.
In addition to refinancing the existing debt with Slipstream Communications, the Company issued to Slipstream Communications a $10,000, 36-month senior secured term loan (the “Acquisition Term Loan”) resulting in $10,000 in gross proceeds, or $9,950 in net proceeds. The Acquisition Term Loan matures on February 17, 2025 (the “Maturity Date”) and has an interest rate of 8.0%, with 50.0% warrant coverage (or 833,334 warrants). On the first day of each month, commencing March 1, 2022 through February 1, 2025, the Borrowers will make interest-only payments on the Acquisition Term Loan. No principal payments on the Acquisition Term Loan are payable until the Maturity Date.
In connection with the Acquisition Term Loan and Consolidation Term Loan warrant coverage, the Company issued to Slipstream Communications a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 1,731,499 shares of Company common stock (the “Lender Warrant”). The Lender Warrant has a five-year term, an initial exercise price of $6.00 per share, subject to adjustments in the Lender Warrant, and was not exercisable until August 17, 2022.
In certain circumstances, upon a fundamental transaction of the Company (e.g., a disposal or sale of all or the greater part of the assets or undertaking of the Company, an amalgamation or merger with another company, or implementation of a scheme of arrangement), the holder of the Lender Warrant will have the right to require the Company to repurchase the Lender Warrant at its fair value using a Black Scholes option pricing formula; provided that such holder may not require the Company or its successor entity to repurchase the Lender Warrant for the Black Scholes value in connection with a fundamental transaction that is not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, and therefore not within the Company’s control.
Effective June 30, 2022, the Company amended the terms of the Lender Warrant to remove the holder’s option to exercise such warrant on a cashless basis utilizing the VWAP of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of a notice of cashless exercise in certain circumstances, and remove the condition to exercising such warrant that the Company’s shareholders approve the exercise thereof (which had already been obtained). The amendments to the Lender Warrant also extend the term of such warrants for an additional one year, such that the Lender Warrant will expire on February 17, 2028. The foregoing amendments to the Lender Warrant caused such warrants to be accounted for as equity instruments in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
On October 31, 2022, the Borrowers and Slipstream Communications amended the Credit Agreement to provide the Borrowers with a $2,000 term loan ("Term Loan (2022)"), the net proceeds of which were used by the Company to accelerate an active software development project with potential to expand SaaS revenues associated with an existing customer. The Term Loan (2022) had an annual interest rate of 12.5% and matured on September 1, 2023. Commencing on February 1, 2023, the Company made monthly installment payments of approximately $270 until the maturity date, consisting of principal and interest sufficient to fully amortize the Term Loan (2022) through the maturity date. As of December 31, 2023, the Term Loan 2022 has been repaid in full to Slipstream Communications.
Each of the foregoing transactions were approved by our Board of Directors after full disclosure of any conflicts of interest. Any directors that had a conflicting interest in the transactions abstained from approving such matter.
Independence
The Board of Directors has not created a separate committee compensation committeefor nomination or audit committee.corporate governance. Instead, the entire Board of Directors shares the responsibility of identifying potential director-nominees to serve on the Board of Directors. Nevertheless, nominees to serve as directors on our Board of Directors making compensation decisions and performing the functions of an audit committee. Theare selected by those directors on our board believes the engagement of all directors in these functions is important at this time in the Company’s development in light of the Company’s recent acquisition activities.

who are independent.

The Board of Directors has determined that none of itsthere are presently three “independent” directors, is “independent,” as such term is defined in Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules, oreach of whom also meets the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The preceding disclosure respecting director independence is required under applicable SEC rules. Nevertheless, as a corporation whose sharesdirectors whom the board has determined to be independent are listed for trading on the OTCQX, we presently are not required to have any independent directors at all on our board, or any independent directors serving on any particular committees of the Board of Directors.


ITEM 14PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

(All currency is rounded to the nearest thousands, except shareMessrs. Bell, Harris, and per share amounts.)

Nesbit.

ITEM 14 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table presents fees (in thousands) for audit and other services provided by EisnerAmperDeloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) for 20172023 and 2016. Fees for tax services were provided by Eichen & Dimeglio, CPAs, PC in both 2017 and 2016.

  2017  2016 
       
Audit fees (a) $207  $193 
Audit related fees (b)  0   4 
Tax fees (c)  53   33 
         
  $260  $230 

2022.
  
2023
  
2022
 
Audit fees(a)
 $743  $498 
Audit related fees      
Tax fees      
All other fees      
  $743  $498 

(a)Audit fees for 20172023 and 2016 relate to professional services provided in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, the reviews of our quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements and audit services provided in connection with other regulatory filings.

(b)Audit-related fees2022 relate to professional services provided in connection with filing Form S-1.

(c)Tax fees consistedthe audit of our consolidated financial statements, the aggregate fees billed for tax compliance, tax advice,reviews of our quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements, and tax planning.audit services provided in connection with other regulatory filings.

Our Board of Directors reviewedpre-approved the audit services rendered by EisnerAmper, LLPDeloitte during 20172023 and 20162022, respectively, and concluded that such services were compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence.


Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures of Audit Committee
All services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”), are subject to pre-approval by our Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has authorized each of its members to approve services by our independent registered public accounting firm in the event there is a need for such approval prior to the next full Audit Committee meeting. Any interim approval given by an Audit Committee member must be reported to the Audit Committee no later than its next scheduled meeting. Before granting any approval, the Audit Committee (or a committee member if applicable) gives due consideration to whether approval of the proposed service will have a detrimental impact on the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee pre-approved all services provided by Deloitte during 2023 and 2022. 
PART IV

ITEM 15 EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)
See “Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements”Statements,” which appears on page F-1 and “Exhibit Index” on page E-1. of Original 10-K.
(b)
See “Exhibit Index” beginning on page E-1.34 of the Original 10-K and the exhibits listed in the exhibit index of this Amendment beginning on page 20.
(c)Not applicable.Not applicable.

41

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

None.
19

Exhibit No.
 
Description
   
2.131.3 Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated as of August 11, 2015, by and among the registrant, CXW Acquisition, Inc. and ConeXus World Global, LLC (incorporated by reference to the registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 14, 2015)
2.2Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated as of October 15, 2015, by and among the registrant, CXW Acquisition, Inc. and ConeXus World Global, LLC (incorporated by reference to the registrants Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 21, 2015)
2.3Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization and Waiver dated as of September 1, 2017 (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2017)
3.1

Articles of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 17, 2014)

3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2011)
4.1Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations filed August 19, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 22, 2014)
4.2Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations filed October 30, 3015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.1Securities Purchase Agreement dated February 18, 2015 by and between Creative Realities, Inc. and Mill City Ventures II, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2015)
10.2Secured Convertible Promissory Note dated February 18, 2015, issued in favor of Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2015)
10.3Warrant dated February 18, 2015, issued in favor of Mill City Ventures III, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2015)
10.4Security Agreement dated February 18, 2015, by and among Creative Realities, Inc. and Broadcast International, Inc., Creative Realities, LLC, and Wireless Ronin Technologies Canada, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2015)
10.5Subordinated Secured Promissory Note issued on May 20, 2015 to Slipstream Communications, LLC, in the original principal amount of $465,000 (incorporated by reference to the registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 14, 2015)
10.6Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, issued in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC  (incorporated by reference to the registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 14, 2015)
10.7Form of Secured Convertible Promissory Note (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 23, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 9, 2015)
10.8Form of Warrant (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 23, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 9, 2015)
10.9Form of Security Agreement (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 23, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 9, 2015)

Exhibit No.Description
10.10Warrant dated August 10, 2017, issued in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 14, 2017)
10.11Warrant dated November 13, 2017, issued in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC
10.12Warrant dated January 16, 2018, issued in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC
10.13Warrant dated December 22, 2015, issued in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 4, 2016)
10.14Form of Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2015 (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.15Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2015 (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.16Form of Secured Convertible Promissory Note (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.17Form of Warrant (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.18Form of Amended and Restated Security Agreement (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.19Form of Registration Rights Agreement (for use in connection with Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 28, 2015) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
10.20Loan and Security Agreement with Slipstream Communications, LLC, dated as of August 17, 2016 (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 21, 2016)
10.21First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of August 10, 2017 among Slipstream Communications, LLC, registrant and registrant’s subsidiaries.
10.22Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of November 13, 2017 among Slipstream Communications, LLC, registrant and registrant’s subsidiaries.
10.23

Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of January 16, 2018 among Slipstream Communications, LLC, registrant and registrant’s subsidiaries.

10.24Secured Term Promissory Note in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC (entered into in connection with Loan and Security Agreement dated August 17, 2016) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 21, 2016)


Exhibit No.Description
10.25Secured Revolving Promissory Note in favor of Slipstream Communications, LLC(entered into in connection with Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated January 16, 2018)
10.26Employment Agreement with John Walpuck (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2017)
10.27Employment Agreement with Richard Mills (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2017)
10.28Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (entered into in connection with Loan and Security Agreement dated August 17, 2016) (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 21, 2016)
10.29Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 23, 2015 (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on July 9, 2015)
21.1List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 11, 2016)
23.1Consent of EisnerAmper LLP
31.1Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).*
   
31.231.4 Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).*
   
32.1104 Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
*Filed herewith
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, in the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky, on April 26, 2024.
Creative Realities, Inc.
  
32.2ByChief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350./s/ Richard Mills
 
101.INSXBRL Instance DocumentRichard Mills
 Chief Executive Officer
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

E-3

 

21