UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
x ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 1-10799
ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONOklahoma73-1351610
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 1-10799
ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Oklahoma
73-1351610
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1221 E. Houston, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
1430 Bradley Lane, Suite 196, Carrollton, Texas
74012
75007
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number:  (918) 251-9121
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 par valueAEYNASDAQ Global Market

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:  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
x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.
Yes No
x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) 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 x No
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 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post suchsuch files).
Yes x No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
             ☒
x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”,filer,” “accelerated filer”filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “smaller
reporting“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ¨      Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company
x  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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes No
x
The aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, held by non-affiliates
computed by reference to the closing price of the registrant’s common stock as of March 31, 20172020 was $10,673,601.
$9,977,537.
The number of shares of the registrant’s outstanding common stock, $.01 par value per share, was 10,225,99512,031,380 as of December 15, 2020.




ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.
Form 10-K
For the Year Ended September 30, 2020
Index
November 30, 2017.
Page
Documents Incorporated by ReferencePART I
The identified sections of definitive Proxy Statement to be filed as Schedule 14A pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the Registrant’s 2018 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.  The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.


ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-K
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
 INDEX
Page
PART I
Item 1.
Business.
Business.
Item 2.
Properties.
Properties.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements Withwith Accountants on Accounting and
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures.
Item 9B.
Other Information.
PART III
PART III
Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Item 11.Executive Compensation.Compensation
Item 12.12
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
Item 13.13Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.Parties
Item 14.14Principal Accounting Fees and Services.Services
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary.
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURES56


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PART   I

Item 1.Business.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this report constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements which relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc. (the “Company”, “We”, “Our” or “ADDvantage”) operates, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market and statements regarding our goals and objectives and other similar matters.  The words “estimates”, “projects”, “intends”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “goals”, “strategy”, “likely”, “may”, “should” and similar expressions often identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are found at various places throughout this report and the documents incorporated into it by reference.  These and other statements, which are not historical facts, are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and developments beyond our control or foresight, including changes in the cable television and telecommunications industries, changes in customer and supplier relationships, technological developments, changes in the economic environment generally, the growth or formation of competitors, changes in governmental regulation or taxation, changes in our personnel, our ability to identify, complete and integrate acquisitions on favorable terms and other such factors.  Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.  We do not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Background

The Company (through its subsidiaries) provides turn-key wireless infrastructure services for wireless carriers, tower companies and equipment manufacturers, and distributes and services a comprehensive line of electronics and hardware for the telecommunications industry. The Company was incorporated under the laws of Oklahoma in September 1989 as “ADDvantage Media Group, Inc.”  In December 1999, its name was changed to ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc. OurIn 2019, the Company moved its headquarters are located infrom Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.Oklahoma to Carrollton, Texas and acquired Fulton Technologies, Inc. (“Fulton”) on January 4, 2019, which established the Company’s Wireless Infrastructure Services segment. The Company’s Telecommunications segment operates through its subsidiaries, Nave Communications Company (“Nave”) and ADDvantage Triton, LLC (“Triton”).

Our wireless infrastructure subsidiary provides services such as wireless macro site development, distributed antenna systems, small cells and project management expertise with national and regional scalability. Fulton's expertise includes site modifications, tower retrofits, including 5G, civil construction, tower erection, utility installation and testing, site acquisition including leasing, zoning and permitting, design and A&E.
We (through our subsidiaries) distribute and service a comprehensive line of electronics and hardware for the cable television and telecommunications industries.  We also provide equipment repair services to cable operators.  In addition, we offerFor our telecommunications customers decommissioning services for surplus and obsolete equipment, whichsubsidiaries, we in turn process through our recycling services.

Several of our subsidiaries, through their long-standing relationships with the original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and specialty repair facilities, have established themselves as value-added resellers (“VARs”).  ADDvantage has a reseller agreement with Arris Solutions to sell cable television equipment in the United States.  We are one of only three distributors of Arris broadband products.  We are a distributor of Cisco video products as a Cisco Premier Partner, which allows us to sell Cisco’s IT related products.  In addition, we are designated as an authorized third party Cisco repair center for select video products.  Our subsidiaries also sell products from other OEMs including Alpha, Blonder-Tongue, RL Drake, Corning-Gilbert, Promax, Quintech, Standard and Triveni Digital. 

In addition to offering a broad range of new, products, we sell surplus-new and refurbished equipment that we purchase in the market as a result of cable or telecommunications operator system upgrades or an overstock in their warehouses.supplies.  We maintain one of the industry's largest inventories of new and used equipment, which allows us to expedite delivery of system-critical products to our customers. In addition, we offer our customers decommissioning services for surplus and obsolete equipment, which we in turn process through our recycling program. We continually evaluate new product offerings in the broader telecommunications industry as technology in this industry evolves rapidly and will upgrade our product offerings for our customers in order to stay current with theirour customer’s technology platforms.

Most of our subsidiaries operate technical service centers that service/repair most brands of cable television equipment.
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Website Access to Reports

Our public website is addvantagetechnologies.comwww.addvantagetechnologies.com.  We make available, free of charge through the “Investor Relations” section of our website, our annual reports to stockholders, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Any material we file with or furnish to the SEC is also maintained on the SEC website (sec.govwww.sec.gov).

The information contained on our website, or available by hyperlink from our website, is not incorporated into this Form 10-K or other documents we file with, or furnish to, the SEC.  We intend to use our website as a means of
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disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.  Such disclosures will be included on our website in the “Investor Relations” section.  Accordingly, investors should monitor such portions of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

Operating Segments

TheDuring 2019, the Company reportschanged its financial performance based on two reporting segments:organizational structure with the acquisition of Fulton and the sale of the Cable Television (“Cable TV”) segment.  As a result of these changes, information that the Company’s management team regularly reviews for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance changed.  The Company’s current reportable segments are Wireless Infrastructure Services (“Wireless”) and Telecommunications (“Telco”).

The Cable TV segment sellswas sold on June 30, 2019.  Therefore, the Company has classified the Cable TV segment as discontinued operations (see Note 4 – Discontinued Operations).
Products and Services
Wireless Segment
We provide turn-key wireless infrastructure services for the four major U.S. wireless carriers, communication tower companies, national integrators, and original equipment manufacturers that support these wireless carriers.  These services primarily consist of the installation and upgrade of technology on cell sites and the construction of new surplussmall cells for 5G.

As part of the Fulton acquisition, we were able to hire and refurbished cable televisionretain the majority of Fulton’s existing employee base.  Fulton now has approximately 100 employees.  Fulton performs equipment installations, upgrades and maintenance services for its customers primarily on communication towers. Having the proper safety record, training capability and quality oversight is paramount in the industry. Fulton has prided itself in performing work in a safe andtimely manner and delivering high-quality services to cable television operators (called multiple system operators or “MSOs”) or other resellers that sellits Clients. Demand for tower equipment installation and upgrade services will soon again be at an all-time high sometime in the 2nd half of calendar 2021. We expect this trend to these customers throughout North America, Central America, South Americacontinue for the foreseeable future as wireless carriers continue to add capacity, expand their networks and upgrade their current technology for high speed connectivity to 5G.

Fulton also supports the installation and support of temporary tower locations.  This niche and growing business includes the erection of temporary towers to allow for the maintenance of permanent locations without causing a substantially lesser extent, other international regions that utilizedegradation of wireless coverage in the same technology.area.  In addition, this segment repairs cable television equipmentFulton provides temporary tower solutions for various companies.special events that require an increase of coverage and capacity for festivals, concerts and sporting events.  Fulton has an inventory of temporary poles of different sizes and uses a unique installation process for the quick deployment of a tower location with little to no environmental impact. Our Special Event tower business was impacted severely during fiscal year 2020 due to Covid-19 and the government restrictions on large crowds and meetings for safety reasons. Summer festivals, county fairs, large sporting events and the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee were all canceled.

Telco Segment
The Telco segment provides quality new and used telecommunication networking equipment, including both central office and customer premise equipment, to its customer base of telecommunications providers, enterprise customers and resellers by utilizing its inventory from a broad range of manufacturers as well as other supply channels.  This segment also offers its customers repair and testing services for telecommunications networking equipment.  In addition, this segment offers its customers decommissioning services for surplus and obsolete equipment, which it in turn processes through its recycling program.

Products and Services

Cable TV Segment

We offer our customers a wide range of new, surplus-new and refurbished products across the leading OEM suppliers in the industry that are used in connection with video, telephone and internet data signals.

Headend ProductsHeadend products are used by a system operator for signal acquisition, processing and manipulation for further transmission.  Among the products we offer in this category are satellite receivers, integrated receiver/decoders, demodulators, modulators, antennas and antenna mounts, amplifiers, equalizers and processors.  The headend of a television signal distribution system is the “brain” of the system; the central location where the multi-channel signal is initially received, converted and allocated to specific channels for distribution.  In some cases, where the signal is transmitted in encrypted form or digitized and compressed, the receiver will also be required to decode the signal.

Fiber ProductsFiber products are used to transmit the output of cable system headend to multiple locations using fiber-optic cable.  In this category, we currently offer products including optical transmitters, fiber-optic cable, receivers, couplers, splitters and compatible accessories.  These products convert radio frequencies to light frequencies and launch them on optical fiber.  At each receiver site, an optical receiver is used to convert the signals back to radio frequencies for distribution to subscribers.
Access and Transport ProductsAccess and transport products are used to permit signals to travel from the headend to their ultimate destination in a home, apartment, hotel room, office or other terminal location along a distribution network of fiber-optic or coaxial cable.  Among the products we offer in this category are transmitters, receivers, line extenders, broadband amplifiers, directional taps and splitters.
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Test EquipmentTest equipment is used in the set-up, signal testing and maintenance of electronic equipment and the overall support of the cable television system. Test equipment is vital in maintaining the proper function and efficiency of this electronic equipment, which helps to provide high quality video, telephone and high speed data to the end user.

Hardware EquipmentWe inventory and sell to our customers other hardware such as connector and cable products.

We offer repair services for most brands of cable equipment at each of our locations.

Telco Segment

We offer our customers a wide range of new and used telecommunication equipment across most major manufacturers consisting primarily of component parts to expand capacity, provide spares or replace non-working components.

Central Office Equipment – Central office equipment includes optical transport, switching, and data center equipment on a customer’s communication network.  Optical equipment products aggregate and transport internet traffic,traffic; switching equipment products originate, terminate and route voice traffic,traffic; and data equipment products transport internet and voice over internet protocol (“VOIP”) traffic via routers.


Customer Premise Equipment  – CPEConsumer premise equipment includes integrated access devices, channel banks, internet protocol private branch exchange (“or IP PBX”)PBX phones, and routers that are placed inside the customer site that will receive the communication signal from the communication services provider. This piece of our Telco

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business was severely impacted by the closing of all major office complexes throughout the US in 2020. It has slowly been recovering but at September 30, 2020 was not completely back to normal.
In addition, we offer our customers decommissioning services for surplus and obsolete telecom equipment, which we then process through our Responsible Recycling (“R2”)-certified recycling program.

Revenues by Geographic Area

Areas
Our revenues by geographic areas were as follows:

  2017  2016  2015 
United States         
Cable TV $21,566,082  $21,936,344  $23,975,197 
Telco (a)  22,822,538   13,693,837   16,031,293 
Canada, Central America, Asia, Europe, Mexico, South America and Other            
Cable TV  1,240,093   1,055,682   1,418,488 
Telco (a)  3,085,033   1,977,401   2,308,642 
  $48,713,746  $38,663,264  $43,733,620 

(a)  The Telco segment revenuesfollows for fiscal year 2017 include Triton Datacom revenues from October 14, 2016 throughthe years ended September 30, 2017.2020 and 2019, in thousands:

20202019
United States
Wireless$21,354 $22,919 
Telco26,880 29,789 
Canada, Central America, Asia, Europe, Mexico, South America and Other
Telco1,948 2,410 
$50,182 $55,118 
Revenues attributed to geographic areas are based on the location of the customer.  All of our long-lived assets are located within the United States.

Sales and Marketing

Wireless Segment
The Wireless segment accounted for 43% and 41% of consolidated revenues for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2017, Cable TV2020, wireless tower and small cell services, including the procurement of the requisite materials, represented substantially all of the Wireless segment’s revenues.  In this segment, saleswe market and sell our products to wireless carriers, wireless equipment providers and tower companies.
Telco Segment
The Telco segment accounted for 57% and 58% of consolidated revenues for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Sales of new products represented 61%29% of Cable TV segment revenues and refurbished product sales represented 18%.  Repair and other services contributed the remaining 21% of Cable TV segment revenues.  Telco segment sales of new products represented 5% of Telco segment revenues and refurbished products represented 87%66%. Repair services represented less than 1% of Telco sales.  Recycle sales and other services contributed the remaining 8%4% of Telco segment revenues.

We In this segment, we market and sell our products to franchise and private MSOs, telecommunication companies, system contractors, other industry resellers, enterprise customers and other resellers.directly to consumers via on-line sales. Our sales and marketing are predominantly performed by our experienced internal sales and customer service staff, as well as our outside sales representatives located in various geographic and strategic areas of
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the country.country, and many on-line sales channel platforms such as our own website, Amazon and Newegg.  The majority of our sales activity is generated through customer relationships developed by our sales personnel and executives, referrals from manufacturers we represent, trade shows and advertising in trade journals.

on-line advertising.
We maintain a wide breadth of new and used products and many times can offer our customers same day shipments.  We believe we carry one of the most diverse inventories of any cable television or telecommunication product reseller in the country, and we have access to additional inventory via our various supply channels.  We believe our investment in on-hand inventory, our product supply channels, our network of regional repair centers and our experienced sales and customer service team create a competitive advantage for us.

Suppliers

In fiscal year 2017, the Cable TV segment purchased approximately 24% of its total inventory purchases directly from Arris Solutions and approximately 16% of its total inventory purchases either directly from Cisco or indirectly through Cisco’s primary stocking distributor.  In addition to purchasing inventory from OEMs, this segment purchases used or surplus-new inventory from MSOs, who have upgraded or are in the process of upgrading their systems, and from other resellers in this industry.

In fiscal year 2017, theThe Telco segment did not purchase over 10% of its total inventory purchases from any one supplier.  This segment of our business primarily purchases its used inventory from telecommunication companies and wholesale suppliers that have excess equipment on hand or have upgraded their systems or from other resellers in this industry.

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Seasonality

In the Cable TVWireless segment, many of the productsservices that we sellprovide on our customers’ wireless towers are installed outdoors and can be damaged by storms and power surges. Consequently, we can experience increased demand on certain product offerings during the months between late spring and early fall when severe weather or consistent rain tends to be more prominent than at other times during the year.

 Winter months are generally slower due to the cold weather conditions, and the inability to access wireless towers during periods of heavy snow and ice.
In the Telco segment, we do not anticipate that quarterly operating results will generally be impacted by seasonal fluctuations, exceptother than normal business fluctuations during the winter holiday season.
Competition
Wireless Segment

The wireless infrastructure services business competes with other wireless service companies on a local, regional or national basis. In some areas, Fulton provides services that its customers can also provide utilizing their in-house personnel. However, most of the direct competition in the event thatWireless segment is regionally based from companies of a major catastrophic event impactssimilar size. In niche areas of service, like our Special Events COW and Temporary Pole business in the telecommunications infrastructureMidwest and in an area.certain markets, the Wireless segment has few competitors due to its expertise and the required investment in equipment and assets. The level of competition can vary based on demand characteristics in certain markets.

For the Wireless segment, we believe our differentiation from other service providers in the marketplace is primarily the following:
CompetitionPast performance and experience developed over 30 years;

Robust safety organization;
Ability to recruit and retain personnel and a Midwest workforce of long-tenured personnel of 20 to 30-plus years of service;
Broad range of multi-year master service agreements in place with Carriers, OEM’s, Tower Owners and Integrators;
Industry relationships; and
Having a diversified offering of services based on know-how and equipment.
Telco Segment
The overall telecommunications equipment industry is highly competitive.  We compete with numerous resellers in the marketplace that sell both direct and declines in the economy have reduced the amount of capital expenditures in our industry, which heightens the competition.

Cable TV Segment

We believe we have differentiated ourselves from the OEMs, other resellers and repair operations in the marketplace in the following ways:
·we sell both new and refurbished Cable TV equipment as well as repair what we sell, while most of our competition does not offer all of these services;
·we stock both new and refurbished inventory;
·we stock a wide breadth of inventory, which many of our competitors do not, due to working capital constraints;
·we can reconfigure new and refurbished equipment to meet the different needs of our customers;
·we can meet our customers’ timing needs for product due to our inventory on hand; and
·we have experienced sales support staff that have the technical know-how to assist our customers regarding solutions for various products and configurations.
In terms of sales and inventory on hand or available via our supply channels, we believe we are one of the largest resellers in this industry, providing both sales and service of new and refurbished Cable TV equipment.

We also compete with our OEM suppliers as they can sell directly to our customers.  Our OEM suppliers have a competitive advantage over us as they can sell products at lower prices than we offer.  As a result, we are often considered a secondary supplier by large MSOs and telephone companies when they are making large equipment
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purchases or upgrades.  However, for smaller orders or items that are needed to be delivered quickly, we often hold an advantage over our OEM suppliers as we carry most inventory in stock and can have it delivered in a shorter time frame than the OEM.

Telco Segment

on-line.
For the Telco segment, we believe our differentiation from other resellers inincludes:
Broad range of new, refurbished and used inventory, which allows us to meet our customers’ timing needs;
Ability to source unique and sometimes rare, high demand inventory;
Offer a range of repair and testing capabilities to help improve the marketplace is primarilyquality of our inventory as well as offering repair and testing of equipment as a service to our customers and vendors;
Experienced sales support staff that maintain strong and longstanding relationships with our customers;
Sales force that has a strong technical knowledge of the following:products we offer;
·we stock a broad range of used inventory, which allows us to meet our customers’ timing needs;
Quality certifications:  TL9000 (telecommunications quality certification), ISO 14001 (environmental management certification), OHSAS18000 (occupational safety and health management certification), and R2 (EPA responsible recycling practices for electronics); and
·our ability to source unique and sometimes very limited quantities of products in the industry;
·we have experienced sales support staff that have strong relationships with our customers and technical knowledge of the products we offer;
·we have the following quality certifications:  TL9000 (telecommunications quality certification), ISO 14001 (environmental management certification), OHSAS18000 (occupational safety and health management certification), and R2 (EPA responsible recycling practices for electronics); and
·we provide multiple services for our customers including deinstallation and decommission of products, storage and management of spares inventory and recycling.

Provide multiple services for our customers including deinstallation and decommission of products, storage and management of spare inventory and recycling.
Working Capital Practices

Working capital practices in our business centerdiffer by segment. In the Wireless segment, we utilize quick payment accounts receivable programs with our major customers and our bank to decrease the amount of time between project completion and payment. The majority of working capital needs result from the payment of project related costs before invoicing the customer. This includes personnel, subcontractors, equipment rentals and materials.  Although the quick payment programs are in place to accelerate receivable payments, working capital is necessary to complete the jobs and provide the necessary closeout packages required for customer approval. In addition, we also have access to our revolving bank line of credit to meet our working capital needs.
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In the Telco segment, working capital centers on inventory and accounts receivable.  We choose to carry a relatively large volume of inventory due to our on-hand, on-demand business model.  We typically utilize excess cash flows to reinvest in inventory to maintain or expand our product offerings. The greatest need for working capital occurs when we make bulk purchases of surplus-new and used inventory, or when our OEM suppliers offer additional discounts on large purchases. In 2018, we will be working on reducing our inventory in both the Cable TV and Telco segments inventory, which should provide further liquidity for our Company.  Our working capital requirements are generally met by cash flows from operations. In addition, we haveoperations and our revolving bank line of credit.

The Company has a $4.0 million revolving line of credit agreement with its primary financial lender, which had a maturity date of December 17, 2020. On December 16, 2020, the Company renewed its revolving bank line of credit that can be utilized for working capital requirements.  Theone year to a maturity date of December 17, 2021.  As part of this renewal, the revolving bank line of credit is limited to the lesser of $7.0remained $4.0 million, or the net balancesum of 80% of qualifiedeligible accounts receivable plus 50%and 60% of qualified inventory.eligible inventory, as defined by the loan agreement, with quarterly interest payments based on Wall Street Journal Prime Rate ("WSJP"), floating, with the addition of a 4% floor rate and a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25x to be tested quarterly beginning June 30, 2021. We expect to have sufficient funds available from our cash on hand, future excess cash flows, quick payment accounts receivable programs and the bank revolving line of credit to meet our working capital needs for the foreseeable future.

Significant Customers

We areDuring the year ended September 30, 2020, though we were not dependent on oneupon a single or a few customers to support our business on an on-going basis.consolidated revenues, our Wireless segment realized increased concentration in revenues from our largest customers. A single customer, AT&T Mobility, accounted for 14% of consolidated revenues, and 32% of our Wireless segment revenues. Our top five Wireless customers accounted for 33% of consolidated revenues and 77% of Wireless segment revenues during fiscal year 2020.
During the year ended September 30, 2019, we were not dependent upon a single or few customers to support our consolidated revenues. Sales to our largest customer accounted for approximately 6%12% of our consolidated salesrevenues in fiscal year 2017, while our sales2019. Sales to our largest five customers, were 21% of our consolidated sales in fiscal year 2017, threefour of which were in the Cable TVWireless segment and two wereone in the Telco segment.segment, were 37% of our consolidated revenues in 2019.

Impact of Inflation on Operations
Inflation in the United States has been relatively low in recent years and did not have a material impact on our results of operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
Personnel

At September 30, 2017,2020, we had 176124 employees, including 173123 full-time employees.  Management considers its relationships with its employees to be excellent.  Our employees are not unionized, and we are not subject to any collective bargaining agreements.

Item 2.Properties.

Each subsidiary owns or leases property for office, warehouse and service center facilities.

Cable TV Our corporate headquarters is located in Carrollton, Texas. Our Wireless Segment

·Broken Arrow, Oklahoma – We own a facility in a suburb of Tulsa consisting of leases additional space in Chicago, Illinois, and our headquarters, additional offices, warehouse and service center of approximately 162,500 square feet on ten acres, with an investment of $4.9 million, financed by a loan with a remaining balance of $0.8 million, due in monthly payments through 2021 at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.4%.

·Deshler, Nebraska – We own a facility near Lincoln consisting of land and an office, warehouse and service center of approximately 8,000 square feet.
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·Warminster, Pennsylvania – We own a facility in a suburb of Philadelphia consisting of an office, warehouse and service center of approximately 12,000 square feet, with an investment of $0.6 million.  We also lease property of approximately 2,000 square feet, with monthly rental payments of $1,467 through December 31, 2018.  We also rent on a month-to-month basis another property of approximately 2,000 square feet, with monthly rental payments of $1,325.

·Sedalia, Missouri – We own a facility near Kansas City consisting of land, an office, warehouse and service center of approximately 60,300 square feet.

·New Boston, Texas – We own a facility near Texarkana consisting of land, an office, warehouse and service center of approximately 13,000 square feet.

·Suwanee, Georgia – We rent, on a month-to-month basis, a facility in a suburb of Atlanta consisting of an office and service center of approximately 5,000 square feet, with monthly rental payments of $3,060.

·Kingsport, Tennessee – We lease a facility in Kingsport, Tennessee consisting of office space, warehouse, and service center of approximately 14,000 square feet with monthly rental payments to a Company employee of $4,000 per month through December 31, 2018.

Telco Segment

·Jessup, Maryland – We lease a facility in a suburb of Baltimore consisting of an office, warehouse, and service center of approximately 88,000 square feet, with monthly rental payments of $43,076 increasing each year by 2.5% through November 30, 2023.

·Miami, Florida – We lease four different adjoining properties in Miami, Florida consisting of office space, warehouse, and service center totaling approximately 9,000 square feet with monthly rental payments to a Company owned by two employees of $12,626 per month through December 31, 2019 for three of the properties.  We pay an unrelated third party lease payments of $2,461 per month through August 31, 2018 for the remaining property.

has operations in Miami, Florida and Huntsville, Alabama. We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs.

The Company has a right-of-use for a buildings in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Jessup, Maryland which were no longer being used in operations. The Minnesota property was subleased and the Maryland property was partially subleased at September 30, 2020.
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Item 3.Legal Proceedings.

From time to time in the ordinary course of business, we have becomeare a party to various types of legal proceedings.  We do not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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Item 4. Mining Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
8



PART II

Item 5.
Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Information

The table sets forth the high and low sales prices on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AEY” for the quarterly periods indicated.

Year Ended September 30, 2020HighLow
First Quarter$2.85$1.85
Second Quarter$6.49$1.80
Third Quarter$4.40$1.50
Fourth Quarter$3.47$1.87
Year Ended September 30, 2019HighLow
First Quarter$1.60$1.25
Second Quarter$1.50$1.32
Third Quarter$1.98$1.23
Fourth Quarter$2.20$1.57
Year Ended September 30, 2017 High  Low 
       
First Quarter $1.94  $1.60 
Second Quarter $2.08  $1.70 
Third Quarter $1.92  $1.58 
Fourth Quarter $1.70  $1.32 
         
Year Ended September 30, 2016 High  Low 
         
First Quarter $2.38  $1.30 
Second Quarter $2.07  $1.57 
Third Quarter $2.04  $1.67 
Fourth Quarter $2.31  $1.70 
         
Holders

At November 30, 2017,December 15, 2020, we had approximately 6050 shareholders of record and, based on information received from brokers, there were approximately 1,5001,300 beneficial owners of our common stock.

Dividend policy

We have nevernot declared or paid aany cash dividenddividends on our common stock.  It has beenstock, and we do not currently anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the policy of our Board of Directorsforeseeable future. We currently intend to useretain all available fundsfuture earnings to financefund the development and growth of our business. The payment of cash dividends in theAny future determination relating to our dividend policy will be dependent uponat the discretion of our earnings,board of directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.board.

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

The information in the following table is as of September 30, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plan Category
 
 
 
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(a)
  
 
 
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b)
  
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders  
700,000
  $2.54   
212,451
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders  
0
   
0
   
0
 
Total  700,000  $2.54   212,451 

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Item 6.Selected Financial Data.

Not applicable.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013 
                
Sales $48,714  $38,663  $43,734  $35,889  $28,677 
                     
Income from operations $146  $344  $2,576  $1,097  $2,896 
                     
Income (loss) from continuing
operations
 $(98) $294  $1,498  $659  $1,772 
                     
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share                    
Basic $(0.01) $0.03  $0.15  $0.07  $0.18 
Diluted $(0.01) $0.03  $0.15  $0.07  $0.18 
                     
Total assets $54,848  $50,268  $51,687  $53,139  $42,923 
                     
Long-term obligations inclusive
of current maturities
 $6,284  $4,366  $5,240  $6,086  $1,503 


Item 7.Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated historical financial statements and the notes to those statements that appear elsewhere in this report.  Certain statements in the discussion contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as plans, objectives, expectations and intentions.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors.

General

The Company reports its financial performance based on two external reporting segments: Cable TelevisionWireless and Telecommunications.  These reportable segments are described below.

Cable TelevisionWireless Infrastructure Services (“Cable TV”Wireless”)

The Company’s Cable TV segment sells new, surplus and refurbished cable television equipment to cable MSOs throughout North America, Central America and South America as well as other resellers who sell to these typesOn January 4, 2019, the Company purchased substantially all of customers.  Our Cable TV segment is a Premier Partner for Cisco’s products,the net assets of Fulton, which allows them to sell both video-related and IT-related products incomprises the United States and a leading distributor of Arris broadband products.  The Cable Television segment distributes products from other OEMs including Alpha, Blonder-Tongue, RL Drake, Corning-Gilbert, Promax, Quintech, Standard and Triveni Digital.  In addition, we operate technical service centers that offer repairWireless segment.  Fulton provides turn-key wireless infrastructure services for our cable MSO customersthe four major U.S. wireless carriers, communication tower companies, national integrators, and original equipment manufacturers that support these wireless carriers.  These services primarily consist of the installation and upgrade of technology on most products that we sell.cell sites and the construction of new small cells for 5G.

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Telecommunications (“Telco”)

The Company’s Telco segment primarily sells certified usednew and refurbished telecommunications networking equipment, from a broad rangeincluding both central office and customer premise equipment, to its customer base of manufacturers totelecommunications providers, enterprise customers and resellers located primarily in North America. This segment also offers its customers repair and testing services for telecommunications networking equipment. In addition, this segment is a reseller of new telecommunications equipment from certain manufacturers.  Also, this segment offers its customers decommissioning services for surplus and obsolete equipment, which it in turn processes through its recycling services.  As a result of the Triton Miami, Inc. (“Triton Miami”) acquisition , this segment includes the Company’s newly formed Triton Datacom subsidiary, a provider of new and refurbished enterprise networking products, including IP desktop phones,program.
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enterprise switches and wireless routers.

Recent Business Developments

COVID-19
Business Strategy

The Company continuesOn March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the current outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency. In response to these declarations and the rapid spread of COVID-19, federal, state and local governments have a growth strategy consisting bothimposed varying degrees of organic growthrestrictions on business and strategic acquisitions withinsocial activities to contain COVID-19, including quarantine and “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” orders in markets where we operate. Despite these “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” orders, we are classified as an essential business due to the broaderservices and products we provide to the telecommunications industry. To date,Therefore, we continue to operate in the markets we serve, but most of our back-office and administrative personnel were working from home through September 30, 2020. Although we can continue to operate our businesses, our revenues have completed two acquisitions under this strategy, Nave Communications Company (“Nave Communications”) and Triton Miami, which make upslowed, especially in our Telco segment.  Due primarilyWireless segment, due to these two acquisitions,the carriers slowing down various wireless tower projects. We have not experienced a material disruption in May of 2017,our supply chain to date; however, we expect COVID-19 could materially negatively affect the Company hired a VP of Sales to managesupply chain, customer demand for our telecommunications products or further delay wireless carriers’ infrastructure build plans in the overall sales force of the Company.  In 2017, Nave Communications experienced lower sales volumes due primarily to attrition in its sales force, and therefore its operating results were lower than expected.  Since joining the Company in May, the VP of Sales has been focused on the development and implementation of an improved sales strategy and organization for Nave Communications with the goal to increase the sales volume and improve profitability of the overall Telco segment.

Primarilycoming months as a result of the lowerdisruption and uncertainty it is causing. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the extent to which COVID-19 will continue to spread and the extent and duration of governmental and other measures implemented to try to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as large-scale travel bans and restrictions, border closures, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business and government shutdowns. Restrictions of this nature have caused, and may continue to cause, us, our subcontractors, suppliers and other business counterparties to experience operational delays.

In response to COVID-19, we have taken a variety of measures to ensure the availability of our critical infrastructure, promote the health and safety of our employees, and support the communities in which we operate. These measures include providing support for our customers as reflected in the FCC's "Keep Americans Connected" pledge, requiring work-from-home arrangements for a large portion of our workforce and imposing travel restrictions for our employees where practicable, canceling physical participation in meetings, events and conferences, and other modifications to our business practices. We will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions as may be required by governmental authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, business partners and stockholders.

While we continue to assess the COVID-19 situation, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may impact our business, operating results, financial condition, or liquidity in the future will depend on future developments, including the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions, business and workforce disruptions, and the effectiveness of actions taken to contain and treat the virus.
Wireless Segment Operating Results
During 2020, Fulton achieved revenues of $21.4 million.  As part of the 2019 acquisition, we hired and retained the majority of Fulton’s existing employee base, and we continue to successfully recruit strong industry talent throughout the business to help us implement operational improvements with a focus on improving our quality and project margins.  We are seeing increased opportunities in the industry as wireless carriers prepare for the roll out of 5G and the required densification of their networks.  We believe the recent merger news in the industry will present additional opportunities as networks are rationalized and a new carrier potentially expands their network to gain market share. Our goal is to solidify our processes and project oversight to successfully and profitably take advantage of new growth opportunities as the 5G expansion becomes essential.  We believe the initial stages of integration with ADDvantage have been successful and Fulton will continue to provide strong revenue growth and gradually improving margins.
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Telco Segment
We continue to see efficiencies from the Telco segment,operational restructuring put in place during 2019, which enabled us to focus our core team on sales, procurement and recycling opportunities. We are also ramping up our repair activities to take advantage of our new capabilities as we further expand our business lines. Our teams across both Nave and Triton have strong experience in online marketing.
At Triton, our facility is designed to streamline our processes, including inventory management, shipping and receiving and the refurbishment operations. We have developed the internal systems necessary to expand our refurbishment capabilities and new equipment sales by adding additional product lines and manufacturers. We have also increased our focus on the brokerage business and internet sales by expanding our sales channels. We believe that Triton is poised to expand, capture additional market share and develop new customers. 
Line of Credit and Notes Payable
Subsequent to September 30, 2020, the Company was outrenewed its revolving bank line of compliancecredit for one year to a maturity date of December 17, 2021.  As part of this renewal, the revolving bank line of credit remained $4.0 million, or the sum of 80% of eligible accounts receivable and 60% of eligible inventory, as defined by the loan agreement, with itsquarterly interest payments based on WSJP, floating, with the addition of a 4% floor rate and a fixed charge coverage ratio debt covenant with its primary financial lender at Septemberof 1.25 to be tested quarterly beginning June 30, 2017.  The Company has obtained a waiver from its primary financial lender for the covenant violation.2021.

Due to the lower than expected operating results from the Telco segment, the Company has temporarily suspended its strategic acquisition plan.  As the sales strategy is implemented within the Telco segment and their operating results improve on a sustainable basis, we plan to resume our strategic acquisitions strategy within the broader telecommunications industry in order to further expand our Company within the industry.  It should be noted, however, that the identification and completion of acquisitions on terms favorable to the Company and the successful integration of acquired businesses into our existing business subjects the company to additional risks and we can give no assurance to the ultimate outcomes of such transactions.

Results of Operations

Year Ended September 30, 2017,2020, compared to Year Ended September 30, 20162019 (all references are to fiscal years)

Consolidated

Consolidated sales increased $10.0decreased $4.9 million, before the impact of intersegment sales, or 26%9%, to $48.7$50.2 million for 20172020 from $38.7$55.1 million for 2016.  The increase in sales was due to an increase in the Telco segment of $10.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in the Cable TV segment of $0.2 million.

Consolidated gross profit increased $2.4 million, or 19%, to $14.8 million for 2017 from $12.4 million for 2016.  The increase in gross profit was due to an increase in the Telco segment of $2.4 million.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses include all personnel costs, which include fringe benefits, insurance and business taxes, as well as occupancy, communication and professional services, among other less significant cost categories.  Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.6 million, or 21%, to $14.7 million for 2017 compared to $12.1 million for 2016.  This increase was primarily due to increased expenses of the Telco segment of $3.0 million, partially offset by a decrease in Cable TV segment expenses of $0.4 million.

Other income and expense consists of activity related to our investment in YKTG Solutions, including other income,
interest income and equity earnings (losses), and interest expense related to our notes payable.  Other income, which represents our fee for our role in the YKTG Solutions projects, was zero for 2017 compared to $0.5 million for 2016.  Equity income for 2017 was zero compared to an equity loss of $0.2 million for 2016.  The decommission work on cell tower sites in the northeast on behalf of a major U.S. wireless provider incurred an equity loss of $0.5 million for 2016.  This equity loss was partially offset by another project with a major U.S. telecommunications provider, which generated equity earnings of $0.3 million for 2016.  For the year ended September 30, 2017, the Company did not record other income or equity income related to YKTG Solutions as the fees owed to the Company may not ultimately be collectible from YKTG Solutions.

Interest expense increased $0.2 million to $0.4 million for 2017 from $0.2 million for the same period last year
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primarily related to financing the Company’s acquisition of Triton Miami.

The benefit for income taxes from continuing operations was $0.1 million, or an effective rate of 60%, for 2017 from a provision of $0.2 million, or an effective rate of 38%, for the same period last year.  The effective rate for the year ended September 30, 2017 was higher in 2017 due primarily to losses in states with higher tax rates.

Segment results

Cable TV

Sales for the Cable TV segment decreased $0.2 million, or 1%, to $22.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2017 from $23.0 million for the same period last year.2019.  The decrease in sales was primarily duerelated to a decrease of $1.1$1.6 million in refurbished equipment sales, partially offset by an increase of $0.1 millionthe Wireless segment and $0.8$3.4 million in newthe Telco segment, mainly attributable to delays in capital spending by our major wireless customers as they transitioned budgets from 4G to 5G, and the decrease in demand for office telecommunications equipment sales and repair service revenues, respectively.as consumers shifted to work-from-home.

Gross profit remained flat at $7.8Operating expenses increased $1.8 million to $8.2 million for the yearstwelve months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016.  Gross margin was 34% for both 2017 and 2016.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.4 million, or 6%, to $5.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2017 from $6.3 million for the same period last year due primarily to a decrease in the corporate overhead allocation for 2017 primarily as a result of the Triton Miami acquisition.

Telco

Sales for the Telco segment increased $10.2 million, or 65%, to $26.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2017 from $15.82020 compared with $6.4 million for the same period last year. The increase in sales resultedoperating expenses was due primarily to a full year of operating expenses for the Wireless segment in 2020 compared to nine months of expenses included in the previous year, additional facility costs as a result of moving into Triton’s new facility in the first fiscal quarter of 2020 and additional personnel costs.
Consolidated gross profit decreased $1.8 million, or 13%, to $11.7 million for 2020 from $13.5 million for 2019.  Telcom gross profit decreased $2.0 million due to write-downs of Telcom inventory, partially offset by an increase in new equipment sales, used equipment sales and recycling revenuegross margin in our Wireless segment of $0.2 million.
Consolidated selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses include overhead costs, which primarily consist of personnel costs, insurance, professional services, and communication, among other less significant cost categories. SG&A increased $1.8 million $9.4or 28% to $8.2 million in 2020 compared to $6.4 million in 2019. Increased selling and general and administrative expense during 2020 were related to increased amortization of share-based compensation expense of $0.7 million and $0.6increased costs for facilities and information technology of $0.5 million as we moved our headquarters to Carrollton, Texas.
The Company recorded impairment charges of $8.7 million on intangibles including goodwill and $0.7 million on its right-of-use asset Telco Segment for the year ended September 30, 2020. See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 10. Leases in the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of impairments.
The income tax benefit from continuing operations was $1.2 million for 2020 and $13,000 for 2019, or an effective tax benefit rate of 6.7% and 0.3% respectively. The increasebenefit in Telco used equipment sales2020 was primarilyas a result of the CARES Act, the Company took advantage of a provision to carry back net operating losses generated in 2018 through 2020 for a period of five years. As a result, the Company’s effective tax rate included an income tax benefit recognized during the year ended September 30, 2020 related to tax losses generated during the fiscal year up to the amount that the Company estimates is realizable based upon taxable income in the carry back periods. Therefore, as of September
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30, 2020, the Company recorded a $1.2 million of income tax receivable and recorded a current benefit for income taxes. The Company continues to provide a valuation allowance of $6.4 million for net deferred assets where the Company believes it is more likely than not that those deferred taxes will not be realized.
Segment results
Wireless
Revenues for the Wireless segment were $21.4 million and $23.0 million for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of 7%. Our Midwest operation was impacted by the crowd restrictions placed by government agencies for public safety due to Triton Datacom, which offset the continued lower sales from Nave Communications.  In addition, Triton Datacom’s sales were negatively impactedCovid-19. We estimate that about $4 million in revenue was lost due to the cancellation of summer festivals, county fairs, air shows, professional sporting events and the DNC convention in Milwaukee which all traditional require us to build large, complex temporary Cell Sites on Wheels ("COWs") that are also highly profitable. We also were impacted by a facility closuresignificant lag in September for approximately two weeks because of Hurricane Maria.   The Company is continuing to address the lower equipment sales at Nave Communications by restructuring and expanding its sales force, targeting a broader end-user customer base, increasing salesconstruction activity due to the reseller market and expandingdelayed approval by the capacityJustice Department of the recycling program.

Sprint-T-Mobile merger and other delays in building out 5G infrastructure resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gross profit increased $2.4$0.2 million year over year, and gross margins were 31% and 28% for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.2 million and $7.9 million for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. This increase is mainly attributable to the inclusion of a full year of expense during 2020 compared to approximately nine months of expense during 2019. During 2019, these expenses included $0.2 million of acquisition costs in connection with the acquisition of Fulton as well as integration expenses of $0.3 million.
Telco
Revenues for the Telco segment were $28.8 million and $32.2 million for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $3.4 million, or 50%10%. The decrease in sales resulted from decreased spending on office telecommunications equipment as workers sheltered-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gross profit decreased $2.0 million, or 28%, to $7.1$5.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2017 from $4.72020 compared to $7.1 million for the same period last year.  Gross margin was 27%18% and 22% for 2017the years ended September 30, 2020 and 30% for 2016.  The2019, respectively. Gross margin decreased primarily due to an increase in gross profit was due to Triton Datacom, which offsetobsolescence expense and lower gross profit from Nave Communications as a result of lower equipment sales.  The decrease in gross margin was due primarily to lower gross margins from equipment sales from Nave Communications as a resultcost or net realizable value expense of an increased percentage of sales to resellers as compared to end-user customers and increased sourcing of equipment to fulfill equipment sales.

$1.8 million.
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.0were $7.3 million or 51%, to $8.8and $8.3 million for the yearyears ended September 30, 2017 from $5.8 million2020 and 2019 respectively. Included in operating expense for the same period last year.  The increase was due primarily to operating expenses of $2.3 million from Triton Datacom, Triton Datacom earn-out expenses of $0.2 million and $0.2Telco segment, is $0.7 million of acquisition-related expenses.right-of-use ("ROU") lease impairment expense for a facility that we vacated and impaired in the third quarter of 2020.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measure

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental, non-GAAP financial measure.  EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.  Adjusted EBITDA as presented also excludes restructuring charge, stock compensation expense, other income, other expense, interest income and income from equity method investment.  Adjusted EBITDA is presented below because this metric is used by the financial community as a method of measuring our financial performance and of evaluating the market value of companies considered to be in similar businesses.  Since Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net earnings as an indicator of operating performance.  Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.  In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs.
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A reconciliation by segment of income (loss)loss from operations to Adjusted EBITDA follows:
For the year ended September 30, 2020For the year ended September 30, 2019
WirelessTelcoCorpTotalWirelessTelcoCorpTotal
Loss from operations$(4,420)$(14,226)$116 $(18,530)$(1,469)$(2,300)$(207)$(3,976)
Depreciation and amortization expense620 912 22 1,554 254 1,194 1,453 
Intangible Impairment— 8,714 — 8,714 — — — — 
Impairment of right of use asset— 660 — 660 — — — — 
Stock compensation expense11 554 574 62 137 — 199 
Adjusted EBITDA (a)(b)
$(3,789)$(3,931)$692 $(7,028)$(1,153)$(969)$(202)$(2,324)

  Year Ended September 30, 2017  Year Ended September 30, 2016 
  Cable TV  Telco  Total  Cable TV  Telco  Total 
                   
Income (loss) from operations $1,834,484  $(1,688,878) $145,606  $1,478,676  $(1,134,815) $343,861 
Depreciation  303,571   143,263   446,834   322,076   99,874   421,950 
Amortization     1,267,182   1,267,182      825,804   825,804 
Adjusted EBITDA (a)
 $2,138,055  $(278,433) $1,859,622  $1,800,752  $(209,137) $1,591,615 

(a)The Telco segment includes earn-out(a)The Wireless segment includes acquisition expenses of $0.2 million for each of the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, related to the acquisition of Triton Miami and Nave Communications.

Year Ended September 30, 2016, compared to Year Ended September 30, 2015

Consolidated

Consolidated sales decreased $5.0 million before the impact of intersegment sales, or 12%, to $38.7 million for 2016 from $43.7 million for 2015.  The decrease in sales was due to a decrease in both the Cable TV and Telco segments of $2.4 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

Consolidated gross profit decreased $2.9 million, or 19%, to $12.4 million for 2016 from $15.3 million for 2015.  The decrease in gross profit was due to a decrease in both the Cable TV and Telco segmentsintegration expenses of $0.3 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses include all personnel costs, which include fringe benefits, insurance and business taxes, as well as occupancy, communication and professional services, among other less significant cost categories.  Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.6 million, or 5%, to $12.1 million for 2016 compared to $12.7 million for 2015.  This decrease was primarily due to decreased expenses of the Telco segment of $1.1 million, partially offset by an increase in Cable TV segment expenses of $0.5 million.

Other income and expense consists of activity related to our investment in YKTG Solutions, including other income,
interest income and equity earnings (losses), and interest expense related to our notes payable.  Other income, which represents our fee for our role in the YKTG Solutions projects, was $0.5 million for 2016.  Equity losses related to the YKTG Solutions investment totaled $0.2 million.  The decommission work on cell tower sites in the northeast on behalf of a major U.S. wireless provider incurred an equity loss of $0.5 million for 2016.  This equity loss was partially offset by another project with a major U.S. telecommunications provider, which generated equity earnings of $0.3 million.

Interest expense decreased $0.1 million to $0.2 million for 2016 from $0.3 million for the same period last year.

The provision for income taxes from continuing operations decreased by $0.6 million to $0.2 million, or an effective rate of 38%, for 2016 from $0.8 million, or an effective rate of 34%, for the same period last year.

Segment results

Cable TV

Sales for the Cable TV segment decreased $2.4 million, or 9%, to $23.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 from $25.4 million for the same period last year.  The decrease in sales was primarily due to a decrease of $3.4 million in new equipment sales, partially offset by an increase of $0.3 million and $0.7 million in refurbished equipment sales and repair service revenues, respectively.

Gross profit decreased $0.2 million, or 3%, to $7.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 from $8.0 million for the same period last year.  Gross margin was 34% for 2016 and 32% for 2015.  The increase in gross margin was primarily due to higher gross margins on refurbished equipment sales.
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Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.5 million, or 8%, to $6.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 from $5.8 million for the same period last year.  The increase was due primarily to increased personnel costs primarily2019, related to the acquisition of Fulton (See Note 3 – Acquisition).
(b)The Telco segment includes an inventory obsolescence charge of $1.8 million and $0.7 million for the net operating assets of Advantage Solutions, LLC.

Telco

Sales foryears ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  In addition, the Telco segment decreased $3.0 million, or 16%, to $15.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 from $18.8 million for the same period last year.  The decrease in sales resulted from a decrease in used equipment sales of $4.1 million, partially offset by an increase in new equipment sales and recycling revenue of $1.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively.  The decrease in sales was due in part to the absence of $2.3 million in used equipment sales to an end-user customer in fiscal year 2015.  In addition, we believe that the decreased sales volume in 2016 was due to delays in capital expenditures from our major customers due to weak economic conditions and budgetary constraints in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016.

Gross profit decreased $2.6 million, or 36%, to $4.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 from $7.3 million for the same period last year.  Gross margin was 30% for 2016 and 39% for 2015.  The decrease in the gross margin was primarily due to lower margins on recycling revenue as a result of lower commodity prices and increased costs of products being recycled.  In addition, in 2016, the Telco segment identified certain inventory that more than likely will not be sold or that the cost will not be recovered when it is sold, and had not yet been processed through its recycling program.  Therefore, the Company recorded a $0.4 million charge, which increased cost of sales for the year ended September 30, 2016, to allow for obsolete and excess inventory.  We also reviewed the cost of inventories against estimated market value and recordedincludes a lower of cost or market reservenet realizable value charge of $0.1 million for inventories that have a cost in excess of estimated market value.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.1 million, or 17%, to $5.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 from $6.9 million for the same period last year.  The decrease in expenses was primarily due to lower earn-out payments related to the Nave Communications acquisition in March 2016 as compared to March 2015, which were $0.2 million and $0.7 million respectively.  In addition, personnel costs decreased $0.3 million.  In March 2016, we made our second annual earn-out payment for $0.2 million, which was equal to 70% of Nave Communications’ annual adjusted EBITDA in excess of $2.0 million per year (“Nave Earn-out”).  We will make the thirdyears ended September 30, 2020 and final Nave Earn-out payment in March 2017, which we estimate will be less than $0.3 million.2019, respectively.


Non-GAAP Financial Measure

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental, non-GAAP financial measure.  EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.  Adjusted EBITDA as presented also excludes other income, interest income and income from equity method investment.  Adjusted EBITDA is presented below because this metric is used by the financial community as a method of measuring our financial performance and of evaluating the market value of companies considered to be in similar businesses.  Since Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net earnings as an indicator of operating performance.  Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.  In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs.

A reconciliation by segment of income (loss) from operations to Adjusted EBITDA follows:

  Year Ended September 30, 2016  Year Ended September 30, 2015    
  Cable TV  Telco  Total  Cable TV  Telco  Total 
                   
Income (loss) from operations $1,478,676  $(1,134,815) $343,861  $2,210,414  $365,796  $2,576,210 
Depreciation  322,076   99,874   421,950   296,876   111,827   408,703 
Amortization     825,804   825,804      825,805   825,805 
Adjusted EBITDA (a)
 $1,800,752  $(209,137) $1,591,615  $2,507,290  $1,303,428  $3,810,718 
(a)The Telco segment includes earn-out expenses of $0.2 and $0.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the acquisition of Nave Communications.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows Provided byUsed in Operating Activities

We finance our operations primarily through cash flows provided by operations, and we have a bankour line of credit of up to $7.0$4.0 million. During 2017, we generated $2.9 million of2020, cash flows from operations. The cash flows fromused in operations was favorably impacted by $1.0$3.8 million. We currently have cash of $8.4 million fromand availability under our bank line of credit of $0.5 million, for a net increasetotal liquidity of $8.9 million. Cash used in accounts payable.  The cash flows from operations during the year ended September 30, 2019 was negatively impacted by $0.7 million from a net increase in inventory.

$4.8 million.
Cash Flows Used inProvided by Investing Activities


During 2017, cash used inCapital expenditures and proceeds from asset sales are the main components of our investing activities. Cash provided by investing activities during the year ended September 30, 2020 was $5.3 million.  The cash used in investing activities is primarily related to$2.4 million, as we received payments of $6.6$2.6 million on the note receivable related to the acquisition of Triton Miami, as discussed in Note 22019 sale of the Notes toCable Segment. Cash provided by investing activities during the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and payments of $1.0year ended September 30, 2019 was $6.6 million, in March 2017 for the final annual installment paymentrepresenting primarily cash proceeds from the Nave Communications acquisition.  Additionally, during 2017, cash used2019 sale of the Cable Segment, including sales of real property held in investing activities was offset by note receivable payments from the YKTG Solutions joint venture of $2.5 million.

The Company recorded an accrual at present value for deferred consideration of $1.8 million related to the acquisition of Triton Miami, which consists of $2.0 million to be paid in equal annual installments over three years to the Triton Miami owners.  The Company will also make annual payments to the Triton Miami owners, if they have not resigned from Triton Datacom, over the next three years equal to 60% of Triton Datacom’s annual EBITDA in excess of $1.2 million per year, which the Company estimates will be between $0.2 million and $0.6 million annually.

connection with Cable Segment operations
Cash Flows Provided by Financing Activities

During 2017, cashCash provided by financing activities during the year ended September 30, 2020 was $1.9$8.2 million, primarily duerelated to cashborrowing under the note payable, bank line of credit, proceeds from share issuances, and borrowings of $4.0 million, partially offset by notes payable payments of $2.1 million.  Cash borrowings were due tounder the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP," "PPP loan"). On April 14, 2020, we received a new termPPP loan of $4.0 million under our Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (“Credit and Term Loan Agreement”) with our primary financial lender.  This term loan was used to assist in the funding of the acquisition of Triton Miami.

During 2017, we made principal payments of $2.1lender for $2.9 million, on our three term loans under our Credit and Term Loan Agreementbearing interest at 1% per annum, with our primary lender.  The first term loan requires monthly payments of $15,334 plus accrued interest through November 2021.  Our second term loan is a five year term loan with a seven year amortization payment schedule with monthly principal and interest paymentsin the amount of $68,505 through March 2019.  Our third term$164,045 commencing on November 10, 2020. The loan entered intomatures on April 10, 2022. We used the proceeds from the PPP loan for payroll-related expenses in connectionaccordance with the acquisitionguidelines for the loan. We have applied for forgiveness of Triton Miami, is a three year termthe PPP loan in accordance with monthly principalthe requirements and interest payments of $118,809 through October 2019.limitations under the CARES Act, the PPP Flexibility Act and SBA regulations and requirements.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
At September 30, 2017, there was not a balance outstanding2020 we had cash and equivalents and restricted cash on hand of $8.4 million and availability under our line of credit.  The lesser of $7.0 million or the total of 80% of the qualified accounts receivable plus 50% of qualified inventory is available to us under the revolving credit facility ($7.0 million at September 30, 2017).  On March 31, 2017, the Company executed the Eighth Amendment under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement, which extended the Line of Credit maturity to March 30, 2018.  The other terms of the Line of Credit remained essentially the same.

We believe that our cash and cash equivalents of $4.0 million at September 30, 2017, cash flows from operations and our existingbank line of credit provideof $0.5 million, for a total liquidity of $8.9 million. We believe we have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to meetcover our operating losses and our additional working capital and debt payment needs.

At September 30, 2017, we were not in compliance withWe continue to evaluate opportunities to expand our fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenant with our primary financial lender under our Creditbusiness through selective acquisitions and Term Loan Agreement.  This financial covenant violation was due primarily to lower operating results from our Telco segment in fiscal year 2017.  We notified our primary financial lenderinternal growth initiatives. Our capital investment decisions are determined by an analysis of the covenant violation,projected return on capital employed of each of those alternatives, which is substantially driven by the cost to acquire existing assets from a third party, the capital required to invest in new equipment and the point in the 5G densification cycle. Based on December 1, 2017, the primary financial lender granted a waiver of the covenant violation.  Subsequent to September 30, 2017,these factors, we elected to extinguish our second term loan by paying the outstanding balance plus a prepayment penalty of $25 thousand as part of our overall plan to become compliant with our financial covenants.  As a result,make capital investment decisions that we believe that we will be in compliance withsupport our financial covenants at December 31, 2017. 
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Any failure to comply withlong-term growth strategy. Depending on the timing and scope of these covenants in the future may result in an event of default, which if not cured or waived, could result in the lender accelerating the maturity of our indebtedness or preventing access to additional funds under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement, or requiring prepayment of outstanding indebtedness under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement.  If the maturity of the indebtedness is accelerated, sufficient cash resources to satisfy the debt obligations may not be available, andopportunities, we may not be ableneed to continue operations as planned. The indebtedness underseek additional funding to finance the Credit and Term Loan Agreement is secured by a security interest in substantially all of our tangible and intangible assets of the Company.  If we are unable to repaynecessary working capital for such indebtedness, the lender could foreclose on these assets.  However, given our ability to continue to service our debt, our past relationship with our primary financial lender and our improved sales strategy within our Telco segment, we expect we would be able to obtain covenant waivers from our primary financial lender until such time that we are in compliance with our debt covenants.opportunities.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for fiscal year 20172020 includes a summary of the significant accounting policies or methods used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.  Some of those significant accounting policies or methods require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported by us. We believe the following items require the most significant judgments and often involve complex estimates.

General

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, current market conditions, and various other factors we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  The most significant estimates and assumptions are discussed below.

Inventory Valuation

OurFor our Telco segment, our position in the telecommunications industry and overall business strategy requires us to carry relatively large inventory quantities relative to annual sales, but it also allows us to realize high overall gross profit margins on our sales.  We market our products primarily to MSOs, telecommunication providers, telecommunication resellers, and other users of cable television and telecommunication equipment who are seeking products for which manufacturers have discontinued production or cannot ship new equipment on a same-day basis as well as providing used products as an alternative to new products from the manufacturer. Carrying these large inventory quantities represents our largest risk.

We are required to make judgments as to future demand requirements from our customers. We regularly review the value of our inventory in detail with consideration given to rapidly changing technology which can significantly affect future customer demand.  For individual inventory items, we may carry inventory quantities that are excessive relative to market potential, or we may not be able to recover our acquisition costs for sales that we do make.  In order to address the risks associated with our investment in inventory, we review inventory quantities on hand and reduce the carrying value when the loss of usefulness of an item or other factors, such as obsolete and excess inventories, indicate that cost will not be recovered when an item is sold.

Our inventories are all carried in the Telco segment and consist of new and used electronic components for the cable and telecommunications industries.industry. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the weighted-average method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling pricesprice in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.  At September 30, 2017,2020, we had total inventory, before the reserve for excess and obsolete inventory, $25.3inventories, of $8.8 million, consisting of $14.6$1.3 million in new products and $10.7$7.5 million in used or refurbished products.

For the Cable TV segment, our reserve at September 30, 2017 for excess and obsolete inventory was $2.3 million. In 2017, we increased the reserve by $0.6 million, and we wrote down, against this reserve, the carrying value for certain inventory items by $0.5 million to reflect deterioration in the market price of that inventory.  If actual market
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conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, and our estimates prove to be inaccurate, we could be required to increase our inventory reserve and our gross margins could be materially adversely affected.
For the Telco segment, any obsolete and excess telecommunications inventory is processed through its recycling program when it is identified.  However, the Telco segmentWe identified certain inventory that more than likely will not be sold or that the cost will not be recovered when it is sold, and had not yet been processed through itsour recycling program.  Therefore, we have aan obsolete and excess inventory reserve of $0.6$3.1 million at September 30, 2017.2020.  In 2017,2020, we increased the reserve net of write-downs, by $0.3$1.8 million.  We also reviewed the cost of
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inventories against estimated market value and recorded a lower of cost or net realizable value write-off of $0.1 millionapproximately $60 thousand for inventories that have a cost in excess of estimated net realizable value.  If actual market conditions differ from those projected by management, this could have a material impact on our gross margin and inventory balances based on additional write-downs to net realizable value or a benefit from inventories previously written down.

Inbound freight charges are included in cost of sales. Purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs and other inventory expenditures are included in operating expenses, since the amounts involved are not considered material.

a material component of cost of sales.
Accounts Receivable Valuation

Management judgments and estimates are made in connection with establishing the allowance for doubtful accounts. Specifically, we analyze the aging of accounts receivable balances, historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in our customer payment terms.  Significant changes in customer concentration or payment terms, deterioration of customer credit-worthiness, or weakening in economic trends could have a significant impact on the collectability of receivables and our operating results.  If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, an additional provision to the allowance for doubtful accounts may be required.  The reserve for bad debts was $0.2 million$250,000 and $150,000 at September 30, 20172020 and $0.3 million at September 30, 2016.2019, respectively. At September 30, 2017,2020 and September 30, 2019, accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, was $5.6 million.

Note Receivable Valuation

Included in investment inwere $4.0 million and loans to equity method investee as of September 30, 2017 is a note receivable from the Company's joint venture partner, YKTG Solutions, of $0.1 million.  To date, this joint venture has incurred operating losses and, as of September 30, 2017, the total assets of the joint venture are less than the amount it owes to ADDvantage.  In 2017, the U.S. wireless provider, which the joint venture was supporting decommission work on cell tower sites across 13 states in the northeast, changed the process for assigning the various sites within the decommission project, which YKTG Solutions believes would result in a negative cash flow for the joint venture.  Accordingly, YKTG Solutions elected to suspend the acceptance of any further work under the decommission project unless and until the U.S. wireless provider resumes its previous process of assigning the sites under the decommission project.

Management judgements and estimates are made in connection with collection of the note receivable from the joint venture.  Specifically, since the decommission project on behalf of the U.S. wireless provider has been suspended, we determined the remaining billings and vendor payments to be incurred for this project to determine the ability of the joint venture to satisfy its obligations to the Company.  Based on this analysis, we determined that the remaining net assets of the joint venture will not satisfy the obligation to the Company.  Therefore, the Company did not record management fees or equity income for the year ended September 30, 2017, as the collectability of the amounts owed to the Company are not reasonably assured.  The Company is pursuing collections from the joint venture partners under personal guarantee agreements provided to the Company.  The investment in and loans to equity method investee reflects the estimated net realizable amount of $0.1$4.8 million, after considering the personal guarantees the Company has with the joint venture partners.

respectively.
Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price of acquisitions over the acquisition date fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested at least annually for impairment. We perform our annual analysis during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and in any other period in which indicators of impairment warrant additional analysis. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment by first comparing
17

our estimate of the fair value of each reporting unit, with the reporting unit’s carrying value, including goodwill. Our reporting units for purposes of the goodwill impairment calculation are aggregated into the Cable TV operatingWireless segment, Nave and the Telco operating segment.Triton.

Management utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis to determine the estimated fair value of each reporting unit. Significant judgments and assumptions including the discount rate, anticipated revenue growth rate, gross margins and operating expenses are inherent in these fair value estimates. As a result, actual results may differ from the estimates utilized in our discounted cash flow analysis. The use of alternate judgments and/or assumptions could result in the recognition of different levels of impairment charges in the financial statements.  If

Due to our continued operating losses and the carrying value of one ofuncertainties surrounding the reporting units exceeds itsCOVID-19 pandemic on the overall economy and the resulting impact on our Company, we determined that there were indicators to warrant us to test goodwill for impairment at March 31, 2020. We calculated a fair value a computationusing the income approach of both Nave and Triton to determine if the implied fair value of goodwill would then be compared to its relatedexceeded their respective carrying value. Ifvalues. For both Nave and Triton, the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized infor each was less than their respective carrying values after considering the amount of the excess.  Ifintangible asset impairment. Therefore, we recorded an impairment charge is incurred, it would negatively impact our results of operations and financial position.

We performed our annual impairment test for both reporting units in the fourth quarter of 2017 and determined that the fair value of our reporting units exceeded their carrying values.  Therefore, no impairment existed as of September 30, 2017.

We did not record a goodwill impairment for either of our two reporting units in the three year period ended September 30, 2017.  However, we are implementing strategic plans to help prevent impairment charges in the future, which include the restructuring and expansion of the sales organization$4.8 million in the Telco segment to increaseas of March 31, 2020, which fully impaired goodwill for the volume of sales activity, and reducing inventory levels in both the Cable TV and Telco segments.segment. Although we do not anticipate a future impairment charge, certain events could occur that might adversely affect the reported value of goodwill.the remaining goodwill in the Wireless segment. Such events could include, but are not limited to, economic or competitive conditions, a significant change in technology, the economic condition of the customers and industries we serve, a significant decline in the real estate markets we operate in,and a material negative change in the relationships with one or more of our significant customers or equipment suppliers, failure to successfully implement our restructure and expansion of the Telco sales organization, and failure to reduce inventory levels within the Cable TV or Telco segments.suppliers. If our judgments and assumptions change as a result of the occurrence of any of these events or other events that we do not currently anticipate, our expectations as to future results and our estimate of the implied fair value of each reporting unitthe Wireless segment also may change.

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As a result of the Triton Miami acquisition, we recorded additional goodwill of $2.1 million as the purchase price exceeded the acquisition date fair value of the net identifiable assets based on the purchase price allocation.


Intangibles

Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 years to 10 years. Intangible assets are also tested for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Due to our continued operating losses and the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall economy and the resulting impact on our Company, we determined that there were indicators for us to test our intangible assets for impairment at March 31, 2020. It was determined that we needed to perform a specific fair value assessment for each of the intangible assets at both Nave and Triton as their individual undiscounted forecasted cash flows did not exceed their respective carrying values. We then performed a fair value assessment of each of the intangible assets and compared them to the individual carrying value amounts at March 31, 2020. As a result of the Triton Miami acquisition,this assessment, we recorded additional intangible assets for customer relationshipsan impairment charge of $3.9 million trade namerelated to the customer relationship intangibles in the Telco segment as of $0.8 million and non-compete agreementsMarch 31, 2020. As of $0.1 million based on the purchase price allocation.September 30, 2020, there were no further indicators of impairment.


Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable.  The Company conducts its long-lived asset impairment analyses in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10-15, “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”  ASC 360-10-15 requires the Company to group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and evaluate the asset group against the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows.  If the undiscounted cash flows do not indicate the carrying amount of the asset is recoverable, an impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value based on discounted cash flow analysis or appraisals.

The Company recorded a $0.7 million impairment of a right-of-use asset in the Telco segment as of September 30, 2020, related to vacating and partially subleasing a leased facility. As of September 30, 2020, there were no further indicators of impairment.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014,Our consideration of recent accounting pronouncements is included in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09: “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”.  This ASU was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).  In
18

addition, in August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14: “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This update was issued to defer the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year.  Therefore, the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 is for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  Management is evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  Based on management’s assessment of ASU 2014-09, management does not expect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02: “Leases (Topic 842)” which is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions.  This ASU will require organizations (“lessees”) that lease assets with lease terms of more than twelve months to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases.  Organizations that own the assets leased by lessees (“lessors”) will remain largely unchanged from current GAAP.  In addition, this ASU will require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.  The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted.  Based on management’s initial assessment, ASU No. 2016-02 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company is a lessee on certain leases that will need to be reported as right of use assets and liabilities at an estimated amount of $3 million on the Company’s consolidated financial statements on the date of adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09: “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” which is intended to improve employee share-based payment accounting.  This ASU identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows.  The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.  Early adoption is permitted.  Management has determined that ASU No. 2016-09 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company does not currently have excess tax benefits or deficiencies from stock compensation expense. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on October 1, 2017.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.  This ASU requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for most financial assets held at the reporting date based on an expected loss model which includes historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.  Entities will now use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates.  This ASU also requires enhanced disclosures to help financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio.  ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal periods.  Entities may adopt earlier as of the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  We are currently in the process of evaluating this new standard update.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15: “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.”  This ASU addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice.  The amendmentsincluded in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted.  Based on management’s initial assessment of ASU No. 2016-15, the cash flows associated with guaranteed payments for acquisition of businesses will be reported as a financing activity in the Statement of Cash Flows, as opposed to an investing activity where it is currently reported.annual report.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01: “Business Combinations (Topic 805) – Clarifying the definition of a Business.”  This ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.  The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods.  This ASU 2017-01 was issued to clarify guidance and will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  ASU No. 2017-01 does not change the accounting for previously acquired businesses.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04: “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.”  This ASU eliminates the second step in the goodwill impairment test which requires an entity to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill.  Instead, an entity should recognize an
19

impairment loss if the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, with the impairment loss not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This ASU is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests conducted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted.  Management is evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2017-04 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.
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16



Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.



Index to Financial Statements
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets, September 30, 20172020 and 20162019
September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 20152019
September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 20152019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years ended
September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 20152019


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17



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’shareholders' equity, and cash flows for eachthe years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements).  In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the threeCompany as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the period ended September 30, 2017.   United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’sCompany's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

  We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).PCAOB.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  OurAs part of our audits included considerationwe are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposepurposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks.  Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence supportingregarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessingstatements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement presentation.statements.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ HoganTaylor LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
December 17, 2020
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
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ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
 September 30,
 20202019
Assets  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$8,265 $1,242 
Restricted cash108 352 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $250 and $150, respectively3,968 4,827 
Unbilled revenue590 2,691 
Promissory note, current1,400 1,400 
Income tax receivable1,283 21 
Inventories, net of allowance of $3,054 and $1,275, respectively5,756 7,626 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets884 806 
Total current assets22,254 18,965 
Property and equipment, at cost:
Machinery and equipment3,500 2,476 
Leasehold improvements720 191 
Total property and equipment, at cost4,220 2,667 
Less: Accumulated depreciation(1,586)(836)
Net property and equipment2,634 1,831 
Right-of-use assets3,758 
Promissory note, long-term2,375 4,975 
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization1,425 6,003 
Goodwill58 4,878 
Other assets179 176 
Total assets$32,683 $36,828 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity  
Current liabilities:  
Accounts payable$3,472 $4,731 
Accrued expenses1,499 1,618 
Deferred revenue113 97 
Bank line of credit2,800 
Notes payable, current1,709 
Right-of-use obligations, current1,275 
Finance lease obligations, current285 
Other current liabilities41 758 
Total current liabilities11,194 7,204 
Note payable2,440 
Right-of-use obligations, long-term3,310 
Finance lease obligations, long-term791 
Other liabilities15 177 
Total liabilities17,750 7,381 
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 11,822,009 and 10,861,950 shares issued, respectively; 11,822,009 and 10,361,292 shares outstanding, respectively118 109 
Paid in capital(2,567)(4,377)
Retained earnings17,382 34,715 
Treasury stock, 0 and 500,658 shares, at cost at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively(1,000)
Total shareholders’ equity$14,933 $29,447 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$32,683 $36,828 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
19


ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.per share amounts)



/s/ HOGANTAYLOR LLP


Tulsa, Oklahoma
December 14, 2017
22


ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


  September 30, 
  2017  2016 
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $3,972,723  $4,508,126 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
$150,000 and $250,000, respectively
  
5,567,005
   
4,278,855
 
Income tax receivable  247,186   480,837 
Inventories, net of allowance for excess and obsolete        
inventory of $2,939,289 and $2,570,868, respectively  22,333,820   21,524,919 
Prepaid expenses  298,152   323,289 
Total current assets  32,418,886   31,116,026 
         
Property and equipment, at cost:        
Land and buildings  7,218,678   7,218,678 
Machinery and equipment  3,995,668   3,833,230 
Leasehold improvements  202,017   151,957 
Total property and equipment, at cost  11,416,363   11,203,865 
Less: Accumulated depreciation  (5,395,791)  (4,993,102)
Net property and equipment  6,020,572   6,210,763 
         
Investment in and loans to equity method investee  98,704   2,588,624 
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization  8,547,487   4,973,669 
Goodwill  5,970,244   3,910,089 
Deferred income taxes  1,653,000   1,333,000 
Other assets  138,712   135,988 
         
Total assets $54,847,605  $50,268,159 
         




















 Years ended September 30,
 20202019
Sales$50,182 $55,118 
Cost of sales38,502 41,660 
Gross profit11,680 13,458 
Operating expenses8,166 6,364 
Selling, general and administrative expense11,249 9,962 
Impairment of right-of-use asset660 
Impairment of intangibles including goodwill8,714 
Depreciation and amortization expense1,554 1,453 
Gain on disposal of assets133 345 
Loss from operations(18,530)(3,976)
Other income (expense):
Interest income321 96 
Interest expense(254)(80)
Income from equity method investment41 136 
Other expense(160)(224)
Other expense, net(52)(72)
Loss before income taxes(18,582)(4,048)
Income tax benefit
(1,249)(13)
Loss from continuing operations(17,333)(4,035)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax(1,267)
Net loss$(17,333)$(5,302)
Loss per share:
Basic and diluted
Continuing operations$(1.55)$(0.39)
Discontinued operations(0.12)
Net loss$(1.55)$(0.51)
Shares used in per share calculation:
Basic and diluted11,163,660 10,361,292 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
23
20

ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETSADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

  September 30, 
  2017  2016 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $3,392,725  $1,857,953 
Accrued expenses  1,406,722   1,324,652 
Notes payable – current portion  4,189,605   899,603 
Other current liabilities  664,325   963,127 
Total current liabilities  9,653,377   5,045,335 
         
Notes payable, less current portion  2,094,246   3,466,358 
Other liabilities  1,401,799   131,410 
Total liabilities  13,149,422   8,643,103 
         
Shareholders’ equity:        
Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized;
10,726,653 and 10,634,893 shares issued, respectively;
10,225,995 and 10,134,235 shares outstanding, respectively
  
107,267
   
106,349
 
Paid in capital  (4,746,466)  (4,916,791)
Retained earnings  47,337,396   47,435,512 
Total shareholders’ equity before treasury stock  42,698,197   42,625,070 
         
Less: Treasury stock, 500,658 shares, at cost  (1,000,014)  (1,000,014)
Total shareholders’ equity  41,698,183   41,625,056 
         
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $54,847,605  $50,268,159 

(in thousands, except share amounts)



























 Common StockPaid-inRetainedTreasury 
 SharesAmountCapitalEarningsStockTotal
Balance, September 30, 201810,806,803 $108 $(4,598)$40,017 $(1,000)$34,527 
Net loss— — — (5,302)— (5,302)
Restricted stock issuance55,147 74 — — 75 
Amortization of stock-based compensation— — 147 — — 147 
Balance, September 30, 201910,861,950 $109 $(4,377)$34,715 $(1,000)$29,447 
Net loss— — — (17,333)— (17,333)
Treasury stock, net(500,658)(5)(995)— 1,000 
Common stock issuance573,199 2,103 — — 2,109 
Stock option exercise123,334 204— — 205 
Restricted stock issuance764,184 (76)— — (69)
Amortization of stock-based compensation— — 574 — — 574 
Balance, September 30, 202011,822,009 $118 $(2,567)$17,382 $$14,933 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
24
21

ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONSADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.


  Years ended September 30, 
  2017  2016  2015 
Sales $48,713,746  $38,663,264  $43,733,620 
Cost of sales  33,903,153   26,222,381   28,434,731 
Gross profit  14,810,593   12,440,883   15,298,889 
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses  14,664,987   12,097,022   12,722,679 
Income from operations  145,606   343,861   2,576,210 
Other income (expense):            
Other income     459,636    
Interest income     90,686    
Loss from equity method investment     (184,996)   
Interest expense  (389,722)  (236,024)  (305,310)
Total other income (expense), net  (389,722)  129,302   (305,310)
             
Income (loss) before income taxes  (244,116)  473,163   2,270,900 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes  (146,000)  179,000   773,000 
             
Net income (loss) $(98,116) $294,163  $1,497,900 
             
Earnings (loss) per share:            
Basic $(0.01) $0.03  $0.15 
Diluted $(0.01) $0.03  $0.15 
Shares used in per share calculation:            
Basic  10,201,825   10,141,234   10,088,803 
Diluted  10,201,825   10,145,296   10,088,803 




























Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)Years ended September 30,
20202019
Operating Activities
Net loss$(17,333)$(5,302)
Net loss from discontinued operations(1,267)
Net loss from continuing operations(17,333)(4,035)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation868 368 
Amortization687 1,085 
Non cash amortization of right-of-use asset and liability225 
Provision for excess and obsolete inventories1,782 682 
Charge for lower of cost or net realizable value inventories60 656 
Impairment of right-of-use asset660 
Impairment of intangibles including goodwill8,714 
Gain on disposal of property and equipment(133)(251)
Share based compensation expense574 199 
Gain from equity method investment(41)(136)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable, net of change in allowance859 (1,419)
Unbilled revenue2,101 (2,253)
Income tax refund receivable\payable(1,262)158 
Inventories27 (1,591)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets(147)(206)
Other assets(2)
Accounts payable(1,259)180 
Accrued expenses(220)477 
Deferred revenue16 98 
Net cash used in operating activities – continuing operations(3,824)(5,987)
Net cash provided by operating activities – discontinued operations1,180 
Net cash used in operating activities(3,824)(4,807)
Investing Activities
Acquisition of net operating assets(1,264)
Proceeds from sale of business753 
Proceeds from promissory note receivable2,600 
Loan repayments from equity method investee41 185 
Purchases of property and equipment(608)(602)
Disposals of property and equipment361 452 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities – continuing operations2,394 (476)
Net cash provided by investing activities – discontinued operations7,075 
Net cash provided by investing activities2,394 6,599 
Financing Activities
Change in bank revolving line of credit2,800 (500)
Proceeds from notes payable6,372 
Proceeds from share issuances and exercise of stock options2,315 
Payments on debt(3,278)(2,228)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities – continuing operations8,209 (2,728)
Net cash used in financing activities – discontinued operations(598)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities8,209 (3,326)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash6,779 (1,534)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year1,595 3,129 
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year$8,374 $1,595 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
25
22


ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015

                   
  Common Stock  Paid-in  Retained  Treasury    
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Earnings  Stock  Total 
Balance, September 30, 2014  10,541,864  $105,419  $(5,312,881) $45,643,449  $(1,000,014) $39,435,973 
                         
Net income           1,497,900      1,497,900 
Restricted stock issuance  22,357   223   58,944         59,167 
Share based compensation expense        141,668         141,668 
                         
Balance, September 30, 2015  10,564,221  $105,642  $(5,112,269) $47,141,349  $(1,000,014) $41,134,708 
                         
Net income           294,163      294,163 
Restricted stock, net of forfeited  70,672   707   121,794         122,501 
Share based compensation expense        73,684         73,684 
                         
Balance, September 30, 2016  10,634,893  $106,349  $(4,916,791) $47,435,512  $(1,000,014) $41,625,056 
                         
Net loss           (98,116)     (98,116)
Stock options exercised  33,751   338   (338)         
Restricted stock issuance  58,009   580   104,420         105,000 
Share based compensation expense        66,243         66,243 
                         
Balance, September 30, 2017  10,726,653  $107,267  $(4,746,466) $47,337,396  $(1,000,014) $41,698,183 










See notes to consolidated financial statements.

26



ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.
ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  Years ended September 30, 
  2017  2016  2015 
Operating Activities         
Net income (loss) $(98,116) $294,163  $1,497,900 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash            
provided by (used in) operating activities:            
Depreciation  446,834   421,950   408,703 
Amortization  1,267,182   825,804   825,805 
Allowance for doubtful accounts        50,000 
Provision for excess and obsolete inventories  901,599   951,282   600,000 
Charge for lower of cost or net realizable value for
inventories
  
126,822
   
73,716
   
12,627
 
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment     (2,000)  30,652 
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)  (320,000)  157,000   (341,000)
Share based compensation expense  175,465   192,213   239,613 
Loss from equity method investment     184,996    
Cash provided (used) by changes in operating assets
and liabilities:
            
Accounts receivable  (71,254)  115,479   2,057,203 
Income tax receivable\payable  233,651   (603,329)  342,596 
Inventories  (688,729)  1,067,179   (1,433,100)
Prepaid expenses  22,097   (165,863)  (17,359)
Other assets  (2,724)  (1,310)  (3,250)
Accounts payable  951,099   15,514   (1,096,279)
Accrued expenses  (90,003)  (34,029)  (451,197)
Other liabilities  134,890   47,726   120,653 
Net cash provided by operating activities  2,988,813   3,540,491   2,843,567 
             
Investing Activities            
Acquisition of net operating assets  (6,643,540)  (178,000)   
Guaranteed payments for acquisition of business  (1,000,000)  (1,000,000)  (1,000,000)
Loan repayments from (investment in and loans to) equity method investee  
2,389,920
   (2,773,620)  
 
Purchases of property and equipment  (190,303)  (319,810)  (172,649)
Disposals of property and equipment  1,817   2,000    
Net cash used in investing activities  (5,442,106)  (4,269,430)  (1,172,649)
             
Financing Activities            
Proceeds on notes payable  4,000,000       
Debt issuance costs  (16,300)      
Payments on notes payable  (2,065,810)  (873,921)  (846,029
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  1,917,890   (873,921)  (846,029)
             
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (535,403)  (1,602,860)  824,889 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year  4,508,126   6,110,986   5,286,097 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $3,972,723  $4,508,126  $6,110,986 
             
Supplemental cash flow information:            
Cash paid for interest $360,805  $195,086  $245,051 
Cash paid for (received from) income taxes $(61,000) $597,200  $944,000 
             
Supplemental noncash investing activities:            
   Deferred guaranteed payments for business acquisition $(1,836,105)      

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
27

ADDVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned (collectively, the “Company”) as well as an equity-method investment..  Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The Company’s reportable segments are Wireless Infrastructure Services (“Wireless”) and Telecommunications (“Telco”).  The Cable Television (“Cable TV”) segment was sold on June 30, 2019, so the Company has classified the Cable TV segment as discontinued operations (see Note 4 – Discontinued Operations) in 2019.
Other reclassifications
The Company changed its presentation of cost of sales and Telecommunications (“Telco”).

operating, selling, general and administrative expenses on the unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations. During fiscal year 2020, the Company reviewed its financial reporting of expenses in connection with its current operating segments in order to enhance the usefulness of the presentation of the Company’s expenses. Based on that review, the Company reclassified certain expenses into operating expenses for presentation purposes. Operating expenses include the indirect costs associated with operating our businesses. Indirect costs are costs that are not directly attributable to projects or products, which would include indirect personnel costs, facility costs, vehicles, insurance, communication, and business taxes, among other less significant cost categories. These costs were previously recorded in either costs of sales or operating, selling, general and administrative expenses in prior years. Additionally, the Company reclassified depreciation and amortization from operating, selling, general and administrative expenses into its own financial statement line item in the consolidated statements of operations. Selling, general and administrative expenses include overhead costs, which primarily consist of personnel costs, insurance, professional services, and communication, among other less significant cost categories. The prior year has been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation of costs of sales, operating expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses, and depreciation and amortization. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations or retained earnings.
Cash, and cash equivalents

and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents includesinclude demand and time deposits, money market funds and other marketable securities with maturities of three months or less when acquired.  Restricted cash consists of cash held by a third-party financial institution as a reserve in connection with an agreement to sell certain receivables with recourse in the Wireless segment, see Note 5 - Accounts Receivable Agreements.

Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenue at the time a good or service is transferred to a customer and the customer, obtains control of that good or receives the service performed. Most of the Company’s sales arrangements with customers are short-term in nature involving single performance obligations related to the delivery of goods or repair of equipment and generally provide for transfer of control at the time of shipment to the customer. The Company generally permits returns of product or repaired equipment due to defects, historically, returns have not been significant.
Additionally, the Company provides services related to the installation and upgrade of technology on cell sites and the construction of new small cells for 5G technology. The work under the purchase orders for wireless infrastructure services are generally completed in less than a month. These services generally consist of a single performance obligation which the Company recognizes as revenue over time. The Company’s principal sales are from Wireless services, sales of Telco equipment and Telco recycled equipment. The Company’s customers include wireless carriers, wireless equipment providers, multiple system operators, resellers and direct sales to end-user customers.
The timing of revenue recognition from the wireless segment results in contract assets and contract liabilities. Generally, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets. However, the Company sometimes receives advances or deposits from customers before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract
23


liabilities. Contract assets and contract liabilities are included in Unbilled revenue and Deferred revenue, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets.
Accounts receivable

Trade receivables are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts.  Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by regularly evaluating individual customer receivables and considering a customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions.  Trade receivables are written off against the allowance when deemed uncollectible.  Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded when received.  The Company generally does not charge interest on past due accounts.

For the Company’s Wireless segment, the Company has entered into various agreements, one with recourse, to sell certain receivables to unrelated third-party financial institutions. The other agreements without recourse are under programs offered by certain customers of the Wireless segment.  The Company accounts for these transactions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 860, “Transfers and Servicing” (“ASC 860”).  ASC 860 allows for the ownership transfer of accounts receivable to qualify for sale treatment when the appropriate criteria is met, which permits the Company to present the balances sold under the program to be excluded from accounts receivable, net on the consolidated balance sheet. Receivables are considered sold when they are transferred beyond the reach of the Company and its creditors, the purchaser has the right to pledge or exchange the receivables and the Company has surrendered control over the transferred receivables. The Company records a recourse obligation if it determines that any portion of the sold receivables with recourse are uncollectible.
Inventories

InventoriesFor the Telco segment, inventories consist of new, refurbished and used electronic components for the Cable TV segment and new, refurbished and used telecommunications equipment for the Telco segment.equipment.  Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  Cost is determined using the weighted-average method.  Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.  For both the Cable TV and Telco segments,segment, the Company records an inventory reserve provision to reflect inventory at its estimated net realizable value based on a review of inventory quantities on hand, historical sales volumes and technology changes. These reserves are to provide for items that are potentially slow-moving, excess or obsolete.

Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception of the arrangement. To the extent that we determine an arrangement represents a lease, we classify that lease as either a right-of-use ("ROU") lease or a finance lease. We capitalize ROU leases on our consolidated balance sheets through a right-of-use asset and a corresponding right-of-use lease liability. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and ROU lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.

ROU leases are included in long-term assets and ROU lease liabilities are classified as either current or long-term liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of an arrangement based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Lease expense for ROU lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. ADDvantage adopted this standard on October 1, 2019.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment consistsconsist of software, office equipment, wireless services equipment and warehouse and service equipment and buildings with estimated useful lives generally of 3 years, 5 years, 7 years, and 10 years, respectively. The wireless services equipment includes mobile wireless temporary towers, equipment trailers and 40 years, respectively.construction equipment. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful lives or the remainder of the lease agreement. Gains or losses from the ordinary sale or retirement of property and equipment are recorded are included in other income (expense).operating expense.  Repairs and maintenance costs are generally expensed as incurred, whereas major improvements are capitalized. Depreciation expense was $0.9 million and $0.4 million for each of the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015.2019, respectively.
24


Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the acquisition date fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets of businesses acquired.  In accordance with current accounting guidance, goodwillGoodwill is not amortized and is tested at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level.impairment.  The Company performs thisits annual analysis induring the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and in any other period in which indicators of impairment warrant additional analysis.

The goodwill analysis is a two-step process.  Goodwill is first evaluated for impairment by comparing management’sthe estimate of the fair value forof each of the reporting unitsunit, or operating segment, with the reporting unit’s carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying valueThe reporting units for purposes of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a computation ofgoodwill impairment calculation are aggregated into the implied fair value of goodwill would then be compared to its related carrying value.  If the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceedsWireless segment and ADDvantage Triton LLC (Triton) operating segment, and Nave Communications Company (Nave) operating segment.
28

the implied fair value of goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized in the amount of the excess. Management utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis referred to as an income approach, to determine the estimated fair value of itseach reporting units.  Judgmentsunit.  Significant judgments and assumptions including the discount rate, anticipated revenue growth rate, gross margins and operating expenses are inherent in these fair value estimates.  As a result, actual results may differ from the estimate of futureestimates utilized in the discounted cash flows used to determine the estimate of the reporting unit’s fair value.flow analysis.  The use of alternate judgments and/or assumptions could result in the recognition of different levels of impairment charges in the consolidated financial statements. At
During the year ended September 30, 20172020, due to operating losses and 2016,uncertainties surrounding the estimatedimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall economy and the resulting impact on the capital budgets of both Customers and our Company, we determined that impairment indicators were present. The Company performed a valuation using a discounted cash flow analysis for the Nave and Triton operating segments to determine if the fair value exceeded their respective carrying values. For both Nave and Triton, the fair value for each was less than their respective carrying values. Therefore, the Company recorded an impairment charges of our reporting units exceeded its carrying$4.8 million as of March 31, 2020, which fully impaired goodwill for both operating segments in the Telco segment. Although the Company does not anticipate a future impairment charge, certain events could occur that might adversely affect the reported value soof the remaining goodwill in the Wireless segment, which was not impaired.

$0.1 million at September 30, 2020.
Intangible assets

Intangible assets consist of customer relationships, trade names, and intellectual property. Intangibles assets that have finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 years to 10 years.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company conducts its long-lived asset impairment analyses in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)ASC 360-10-15, “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” ASC 360-10-15 requires the Company to group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and evaluate the asset group against the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows. If the undiscounted cash flows do not indicate the carrying amount of the asset is recoverable, an impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value based on discounted cash flow analysis or appraisals.

Income taxes

The Company provides for income taxes in accordance with the liability method of accounting.  Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and tax carryforward amounts.  Management provides a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets for amounts which are not considered “more likely than not” to be realized.

Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue for product sales when title transfers, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the customer, the fee is fixed or determinable and the collection of the related receivable is probable, which is generally at the time of shipment.  The stated shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point per the Company's sales agreements with its customers.  Accruals are established for expected returns based on historical activity.  Revenue for repair services is recognized when the repair is completed and the product is shipped back to the customer.  Revenue for recycle services is recognized when title transfers, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the customer, the fee is fixed or determinable and the collection of the related receivable is probable, which is generally upon acceptance of the shipment at the recycler’s location.

Freight

Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling represent revenues earned and are included in sales income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  Actual costs for shipping and handling of these sales are included in cost of sales.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $0.5 million $0.2 million and $0.1$0.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015,2019, respectively.

25


Management estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States generally accepted accounting principlesof America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
29


Any significant, unanticipated changes in product demand, technological developments or continued economic trends affecting the cablewireless infrastructure or telecommunications industries could have a significant impact on the value of the Company's inventory and operating results.

Concentrations of credit risk
The Company holds cash with one major financial institution, which at times exceeds FDIC insured limits.  Historically, the Company has not experienced any losses due to such concentration of credit risk.

Other financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of trade receivables. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited because a large number of geographically diverse customers make up the Company’s customer base, thus spreading the trade credit risk. The Company controls credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures.  The Company performs credit evaluations for all new customers but does not require collateral to support customer receivables. The Company had no customer in 2017, 2016 or 2015
Share-based compensation
ADDvantage has historically compensated our directors and executives using time-based stock options and restricted shares awards (RSA's). ADDvantage accounts for share-based payment awards under ASC 718 - Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718), which requires that represented in excess of 10%the value of the total net sales.  The Company’s sales to foreign (non-U.S. based) customers were approximately $4.3 million, $3.0 million and $3.7 million forawards is established at the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  In 2017, the Cable TV segment purchased approximately 24% of its inventory from Arris Solutions, Inc. and approximately 16% of its inventory either directly from Cisco or indirectly through their primary stocking distributor.  The concentration of suppliersdate of the Company’s inventory subjects the Company to risk.  The Telco segment did not purchase over 10% of its total inventory purchases from any one supplier.

Employee stock-based awards

Share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on their grant date fair valueand is expensed over the requisite service period.vesting period of the grant. The Company determinesmethod of determining the fair value of share-based payments depends on the options issued,type of award. Share-based awards that vest over a certain service period with no market conditions are valued at the closing market price on the grant date. Option grants are valued using the Black-Scholes valuationBlack-Scholes-Merton model and amortizesusing model inputs that are determined on the calculateddate of the grant. Once the per-share fair value on the grant date is established, the aggregate expense of the grant is recognized on a graded vesting basis over the vesting termperiod of the stock options.  Compensation expense for stock-based awards is included in the operating, selling, general and administrative expense section of the consolidated statements of operations.grant.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year.  Dilutive earnings per share include any dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock.


Fair value of financial instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, definesThe carrying value of the Company’s variable-rate line of credit approximates its fair value establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchysince the interest rate fluctuates periodically based on a floating interest rate.
Retirement Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan that allows participation by all employees who are at least 21 years of age and have completed one year of service. The Company's contributions to the observabilityplan consist of inputs used to measure fair value.  The three levels ofa matching contribution as determined by the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

·Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets in active markets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
·Level 2 – Inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable. These inputs are either directly observable in the marketplace or indirectly observable through corroboration with market data for substantially the full contractual term of the asset or liability being measured.
·Level 3 – Inputs that are not observable for which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability being measured. These inputs reflect management’s best estimate of the assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value.

plan document. Costs recognized under the 401(k) plan were $0.1 million and, $0.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, after temporarily suspending matching contributions during 2020.
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Recently issued accounting standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09: “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. This guidance was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). In addition, in August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14: “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This update was issued to defer the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year.  Therefore, the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 is for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  Management is evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  Based on management’s assessment of ASU No. 2014-09, management does not expect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02: “Leases (Topic 842)” which is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions.  This ASU will require organizations (“lessees”) that lease assets with lease terms of more than twelve months to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases.  Organizations that own the assets leased by lessees (“lessors”) will remain largely unchanged from current GAAP.  In addition, this ASU will require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.  The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted.  Based on management’s initial assessment, ASU No. 2016-02 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company is a lessee on certain leases that will need to be reported as right of use assets and liabilities at an estimated amount of $3 million on the Company’s consolidated financial statements on the date of adoption.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09: “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” which is intended to improve employee share-based payment accounting.  This ASU identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows.  The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.  Early adoption is permitted.  Management has determined that ASU No. 2016-09 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company does not currently have excess tax benefits or deficiencies from stock compensation expense.  The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-09 on October 1, 2017.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: “Financial Instruments Credit Losses (Topic 326) – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for most financial assets held at the reporting date based on an expected loss model which includes historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Entities will now use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates. This ASU also requires enhanced disclosures to help financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal periods. Entities mayADDvantage expects to adopt earlier asthe standard in the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  We are currently in2021. Management's initial evaluation is that due to the processnature of evaluatingour customer base, the adoption of this new standard update.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15: “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.”  This ASU addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted.  Based on management’s initial assessment of ASU No. 2016-15, the cash flows associated with guaranteed payments for acquisition of businesses will be reported as a financing activity in the Statement of Cash Flows, as opposed to an investing activity where it is currently reported.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01: “Business Combinations (Topic 805) – Clarifying the definition of a Business.”  This ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.  The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods.  This ASU 2017-01 was issued to clarify guidance and will not have a materialsignificant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  ASU No. 2017-01 does not change the accounting for previously acquired businesses.our trade accounts receivable and contract assets.
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In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04: “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.”  This ASU eliminates the second step in the goodwill impairment test which requires an entity to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill.  Instead, an entity should recognize an impairment loss if the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, with the impairment loss not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This ASU is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests conducted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted.  Management is evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2017-04 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations or retained earnings.

Note 2 – AcquisitionRevenue Recognition
As partThe Company’s principal sales are from Wireless services, sales of Telco equipment and Telco recycled equipment, primarily in the United States. Sales to international customers in Central and South America totaled approximately $1.9 million and $2.4 million in the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The Company’s customers include wireless carriers, wireless equipment providers, multiple system operators, resellers and direct sales to end-user customers. Sales to the Company’s growth strategy,largest customer totaled approximately 14% of consolidated sales.
Sales by type were as follows, in thousands:
 Years Ended September 30,
 20202019
Wireless services sales$21,354 $22,919 
Equipment sales:
Telco27,109 29,391 
Inter-segment(25)(55)
Telco repair sales68 43 
Telco recycle sales1,676 2,820 
Total sales$50,182 $55,118 
At September 30, 2020 contract assets were $0.6 million and contract liabilities were $0.1 million. There were $2.7 million in contract assets at September 30, 2019, and $0.1 million contract liabilities at September 30, 2019. During the year ended September 30, 2020, the Company has been pursuing an acquisition strategyrecognized $0.1 million of amounts classified as deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2019.
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Note 3 – 2019 Acquisition
Purchase of Net Assets of Fulton Technologies, Inc. and Mill City Communications, Inc.
On December 27, 2018, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to expand into the broader telecommunications industry.  The Company formed a new subsidiary called ADDvantage Triton, LLC (“Triton Datacom”) which on October 14, 2016 acquiredacquire substantially all of the net assets of Triton Miami,Fulton Technologies, Inc. (“Triton Miami”and Mill City Communications, Ins. (collectively “Fulton”).  Triton Datacom is a providerFulton provides turn-key wireless infrastructure services for the 4 major U.S. wireless carriers, communication tower companies, national integrators, and original equipment manufacturers.  These services primarily consist of the installation and upgrade of technology on cell sites and the construction of new and refurbished enterprise networking products, including IP desktop phones, enterprise switches and wireless routers.small cells for 5G.  This acquisition, along with its retained management team, is part of the overall growth strategy of the Company in that it further diversifies the Company into the broader telecommunications industry by reselling refurbished products into the enterprise customer market.

agreement closed on January 4, 2019.  The purchase price for Triton Miami includes the following:
    
Upfront cash payment $6,500,000 
Deferred guaranteed payments (a)  1,836,105 
Working capital purchase adjustment  143,540 
Net purchase price $8,479,645 

(a)This amount represents the present value at the acquisition date of $2.0 million in deferred payments, which will be paid in equal annual installments over the next three years.  At September 30, 2017, these deferred payments are recorded in other current liabilities ($0.7 million) and other long-term liabilities ($1.2 million).

net assets of Fulton was $1.3 million.  The Company will also make annual paymentspurchase price was allocated to the Triton Miami owners, if they have not resigned from Triton Datacom, over the next three years equal to 60%major categories of Triton Datacom’s annual EBITDA in excess of $1.2 million per year.  The Company will recognize these annual payments as compensation expense.

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to Triton Miami’s tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of October 14, 2016,January 4, 2019, the effective date of the acquisition.  Any remaining amount isThe Company recorded as goodwill.
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$0.1 million of Goodwill related to the acquisition.
The following summarizes the final purchase price allocation of the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at October 14, 2016:January 4, 2019, in thousands:

Assets acquired: (in thousands) 
Accounts receivable $1,117 
Inventories  1,149 
Property and equipment, net  68 
Other non-current assets  1 
Intangible assets  4,841 
Goodwill  2,060 
Total assets acquired  9,236 
     
Liabilities assumed:    
Accounts payable  584 
Accrued expenses  172 
Total liabilities assumed  756 
Net purchase price $8,480 

Assets acquired:
Accounts receivable$828 
Unbilled revenue438 
Prepaid expenses341 
Property and equipment1,201 
Intangible assets244 
Other assets35 
Goodwill57 
Total assets acquired3,144 
Liabilities assumed:
Accounts payable1,250 
Accrued expenses455 
Capital lease obligation175 
Total liabilities assumed1,880 
Net purchase price$1,264 
The acquired identifiable intangible assetsasset of approximately $4.8$0.2 million consistconsists of customer relationships, trade name and non-compete agreements with the owners of Triton Miami.

relationships.
The unaudited financial information in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations of ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc. and Triton MiamiFulton for the yearsyear ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016,2019, on a pro forma basis, as though the companies had been combined as of October 1, 2015.  The unaudited pro forma earnings for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 were adjusted to include intangible amortization expense of $21 thousand and $0.5 million, respectively, and Triton Datacom earn-out expenses of $19 thousand and $0.6 million, respectively.  Incremental interest expense of $7 thousand and $0.2 million was included for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively, as if the $4.0 million term loan used to help fund the acquisition had been entered into on October 1, 2015.  In addition, $0.1 million of interest expense was included for the guaranteed payments to the Triton Miami owners for the year ended September 30, 2016.  The unaudited pro forma earnings for the year ended September 30, 2016 were adjusted to include $0.2 million of acquisition-related costs recorded as operating, selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.2019. The unaudited pro forma financial information is provided for informational purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the Company’s combined results of operations which would actually have been obtained had the acquisition taken place on October 1, 2015,2019 nor should it be taken as indicative of our future consolidated results of operations.

(Unaudited)
Year Ended
(in thousands)September 30, 2019
Total net sales$58,955 
Loss from continuing operations$(4,461)
Net loss$(5,728)
  Years Ended September 30, 
  2017  2016 
  
(in thousands, except
per share amounts)
 
Sales $49,152  $44,986 
Income from operations $377  $151 
Net income $36  $7 
Earnings per share:        
Basic $0.00  $0.00 
Diluted $0.00  $0.00 

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Note 34InventoriesDiscontinued Operations

In fiscal year 2018, the Board of Directors formed a committee of independent directors, referred to as the strategic direction committee, to consider, negotiate and approve or disapprove a sale transaction of the Cable TV segment ("Cable transaction") to Leveling 8, Inc. (“Leveling 8”), a company controlled by David Chymiak.  Mr. Chymiak is a director and substantial shareholder of the Company, and he was the Chief Technology Officer and President of Tulsat LLC until the closing of the sale.  After extensive due diligence efforts, in December 2018, the strategic direction committee approved and executed a stock purchase agreement of the Cable TV segment to Leveling 8, which required stockholder approval.
Shareholders voted in favor of the Cable transaction on May 29, 2019 for a selling price of $10.3 million and the sale was completed on June 30, 2019.  The purchase price consisted of $3.9 million of cash at closing (subject to a working capital adjustment estimated at $1.1 million), less the $2.1 million of cash proceeds from the sale of the Sedalia, Missouri and Warminster, Pennsylvania facilities already received (see discussion below) and a $6.4 million promissory note to be paid in semi-annual installments over five years with an interest rate of 6.0%.  The calculation of the pretax loss of the Cable transaction was as follows, in thousands:
Contract price$10,314 
Less: Real estate sales2,075 
Less: Working capital adjustment1,111 
Net purchase price7,128 
Assets sold:
Accounts receivable2,038 
Inventories10,259 
Prepaids and other assets73 
Property and equipment, net336 
12,706 
Liabilities transferred:
Accounts payable1,306 
Accrued expenses467 
1,773 
Net assets sold10,933 
Pretax loss on sale of net assets of Cable TV segment$(3,805)
In addition to the real estate sold as part of the Cable transaction, the Company sold the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma facility to Mr. Chymiak, for a purchase price of $5.0 million payable in cash at closing. The sale closed on November 29, 2018, and generated a pretax gain of approximately $1.4 million.
The total pretax gain related to the sale of all real estate facilities, including the Cable transaction and the Broken Arrow facility, is as follows, in thousands:
Aggregate purchase price$7,075 
Less: Book value of real estate facilities4,763 
Pretax gain$2,312 
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As a result of the Cable transaction and the three real estate facility sales to David Chymiak, the Company received total proceeds of $14.2 million and recorded a pretax loss on the sales of $1.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 as follows, in thousands:
Proceeds:
Cash received from real estate facility sales$7,075 
Cash received from sale of Cable TV segment753 
Promissory note from sale of Cable TV segment6,375 
Total proceeds14,203 
Book value of assets sold:
Cable TV segment10,932 
Real estate facilities4,763 
Total book value of assets sold15,695 
Pretax loss on sale of discontinued operations$(1,492)
The cash received from the Cable transaction of $0.7 million resulted from the down payment of $1.8 million due at the closing less the working capital adjustment of $1.1 million. The Company received $2.6 million under the promissory note during the year ended September 30, 2020. The remaining promissory note, which is collateral under the Company's note payable with its primary lender, is scheduled to be received by the Company in semi-annual installments over five years including interest of 6% as follows, in thousands:
Fiscal year 2021$1,400 
Fiscal year 2022940 
Fiscal year 2023940 
Fiscal year 2024495 
Total proceeds$3,775 
The Company did not have income related to the discontinued operations during the year ended September 30, 2020. Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax and the loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax, of the Cable TV segment business which are presented in total as loss from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the year ended September 30, 2019 is as follows, in thousands:
September 30, 2019
Total net sales$13,743 
Cost of sales10,097 
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses3,412 
Other expenses
Income from discontinued operations232 
Loss on sale of discontinued operations(1,491)
Income tax provision
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax$(1,267)

Note 5 – Accounts Receivable Agreements
The Company’s Wireless segment has entered into various agreements, one agreement with recourse, to sell certain receivables to unrelated third-party financial institutions.  For the agreement with recourse, the Company is responsible for collecting payments on the sold receivables from its customers.  Under this agreement, the third-party financial institution advances the Company 90% of the sold receivables and establishes a reserve of 10% of the sold receivables until the Company collects the sold receivables. In addition, the third party financial institution will charge and deduct 1.6% of sold receivables. As the Company collects the sold receivables, the third-party
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financial institution will remit the remaining 10% to the Company.  At September 30, 2020, the third-party financial institution has a reserve against the sold receivables of $0.1 million, which is reflected as restricted cash.  For the receivables sold under the agreement with recourse, the agreement addresses events and conditions which may obligate the Company to immediately repay the institution the outstanding purchase price of the receivables sold.  The total amount of receivables uncollected by the institution was $0.6 million at September 30, 20172020, for which there is a limit of $3.5 million.  Although the sale of receivables is with recourse, the Company did not record a recourse obligation at September 30, 2020 as the Company determined the sold receivables are collectible.  The other agreements without recourse are under programs offered by certain customers of Fulton.
For the year ended September 30, 2020, the Company received proceeds from the sold receivables under all of their various agreements of $18.9 million and 2016included the proceeds in net cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.  The cost of selling these receivables ranges from 1.0% to 1.8%.  The Company recorded costs of $0.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2020, in other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Note 6 – Inventories
Inventories, which are all within the Telco segment, at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 are as follows:follows, in thousands:

  
September 30,
2017
  
September 30,
2016
 
New:      
Cable TV $14,014,188  $15,087,495 
Telco  554,034    
Refurbished and used:        
Cable TV  3,197,426   3,383,079 
Telco  7,507,460   5,625,213 
Allowance for excess and obsolete inventory:        
Cable TV  (2,300,000)  (2,219,586)
Telco  (639,288)  (351,282)
         
Total inventories $22,333,820  $21,524,919 

 20202019
New equipment$1,311 $1,496 
Refurbished and used equipment7,499 7,405 
Allowance for excess and obsolete inventory:(3,054)(1,275)
Total inventories, net$5,756 $7,626 
New inventoryequipment includes products purchased from the manufacturers plus “surplus-new”, which are unused products purchased from other distributors or multiple system operators.  Refurbished inventoryand used equipment includes factory refurbished, Company refurbished and used products. Generally, the Company does not refurbish its used inventory until there is a sale of that product or to keep a certain quantity on hand.

The Company regularly reviews the Cable TV and Telco segment inventory quantities on hand, and an adjustment to cost is recognized when the loss of usefulness of an item or other factors, such as obsolete and excess inventories, indicate that cost will not be recovered when an item is sold.  The Company recorded charges in the Cable TV segment to allow for excess and obsolete inventory, which increased cost of sales by $0.6 million for each ofIn the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015.

For the Telco segment, any obsolete and excess telecommunications inventory is generally processed through its recycling program when it is identified.  However, in fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016,2019, the Telco segment identified certain inventory that more than likely will not be sold or that the cost will not0t be recovered when it is sold, and had not yet been processed through its recycling program.  Therefore, the Company recorded charges which increased cost of sales by $0.3has a $3.1 million and $0.4 million for the years endedallowance at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, to allow for excess and obsolete inventory.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, there was not a charge recorded for excess and obsolete inventory.  We2020. The Company also reviewed the cost of inventories against estimated net realizable value and recorded a lower of cost or net realizable value charge of $1.8 million and $0.7 million for each of the years ended September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016 of $0.1 million2019 respectively, for inventories that have a cost in excess of estimated net realizable value.


Note 4 – Investment In and Loans to Equity Method Investee

The Company entered into a joint venture, YKTG Solutions, LLC (“YKTG Solutions”), in March 2016, whose primary purpose was to support decommission work on cell tower sites across 13 states in the northeast on behalf of a major U.S. wireless provider.  YKTG Solutions is owned 51% by YKTG, LLC and 49% by the Company, and YTKG Solutions is certified as a minority-based enterprise.  The joint venture is governed by an operating agreement for the purpose of completing the decommission project, but the operating agreement can be expanded to include other projects upon agreement by both owners.  The Company accounts for its investment in YKTG Solutions using the equity-method of accounting.

In 2017, the U.S. wireless provider changed the process for assigning the various sites within the decommission project, which YKTG Solutions believed would result in a negative cash flow for the joint venture.  Accordingly, YKTG Solutions elected to suspend the acceptance of any further work under the decommission project unless and until the U.S. wireless provider resumes its previous process of assigning the sites under the decommission project.

The Company’s carrying value in YKTG Solutions was $0.1 million at September 30, 2017 and is reflected in investment in and loans to equity method investee in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  During the year ended September 30, 2017, the Company received payments, net of advances, totaling $2.4 million from YKTG Solutions.
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YKTG Solutions entered into a $2.0 million surety payment bond whereby the Company and YKTG, LLC are guarantors under the surety payment bond.  Therefore, the Company’s total estimate of maximum exposure to loss as a result of its relationship with YKTG Solutions was the $0.1 million carrying value and the $2.0 million surety payment bond.

To date, this joint venture has incurred net operating losses, and, as of September 30, 2017, the total assets of the joint venture are less than the amount it owes to the Company under a line of credit that the Company provided to YKTG Solutions.  Since YKTG Solutions has suspended any additional work for the U.S. wireless provider and YKTG Solutions will not have sufficient assets to repay the line of credit owed to the Company, the Company is pursuing collecting the outstanding line of credit from the YKTG, LLC owners under the personal guarantees they each have with the Company.  After considering the personal guarantees the Company has with the joint venture partners and the equity losses already recorded, the Company has adjusted the investment in and loans to equity method investee to the estimated net realizable amount of $0.1 million by recording an allowance against the loan of $0.1 million.

Note 57 – Intangible Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company groups assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities and evaluate the asset group against the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows. If the undiscounted future cash flows do not indicate the carrying amount of the asset is recoverable, an impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value based on discounted cash flow analysis or appraisals.
As a result of the Fulton acquisition, the Company recorded an additional intangible asset for customer relationships of $0.2 million, see Note 3 ‒ Acquisition. 




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The intangible assets with their associated accumulated amortization amounts at September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2019 are as follows:follows, in thousands:

September 30, 2020
 
 
Gross
  
Accumulated
Amortization
  
 
Net
  GrossAccumulated
Amortization
ImpairmentNet
Intangible assets:         Intangible assets:
Customer relationships – 10 years $8,152,000  $(1,898,691) $6,253,309 Customer relationships – 10 years$8,396 $(4,021)$(3,894)$481 
Technology – 7 years  1,303,000   (667,009)  635,991 
Trade name – 10 years  2,119,000   (542,480)  1,576,520 Trade name – 10 years2,122 (1,178)944 
Non-compete agreements – 3 years  374,000   (292,333)  81,667 Non-compete agreements – 3 years374 (374)
            
Total intangible assets $11,948,000  $(3,400,513) $8,547,487 Total intangible assets$10,892 $(5,573)$(3,894)$1,425 
The
 September 30, 2019
 GrossAccumulated
Amortization
ImpairmentNet
Intangible assets:   
Customer relationships – 10 years$8,396 $(3,548)$$4,848 
Trade name – 10 years2,119 (966)1,153 
Non-compete agreements – 3 years374 (372)
Total intangible assets$10,889 $(4,886)$$6,003 
As of March 31, 2020, the Company determined that changes in the economy related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued losses experienced in the Telco segment may cause the carrying amounts of its intangible assets withto exceed their associated accumulated amortization amounts atfair values. The Company performed an assessment of its intangible assets and determined that the carrying value of its customer relationships were in fact impaired based on valuation appraisals performed by the Company using a multi-period excess earnings model. Therefore, the Company recorded a $3.9 million impairment charge in the Telco segment as of March 31, 2020. As of September 30, 2016 are as follows:

  
 
Gross
  
Accumulated
Amortization
  
 
Net
 
Intangible assets:         
Customer relationships – 10 years $4,257,000  $(1,099,721) $3,157,279 
Technology – 7 years  1,303,000   (480,866)  822,134 
Trade name – 10 years  1,293,000   (334,023)  958,977 
Non-compete agreements – 3 years  254,000   (218,721)  35,279 
             
Total intangible assets $7,107,000  $(2,133,331) $4,973,669 

2020, no further indicators of potential impairment were present. Amortization expense was $1.3 million, $0.8$0.7 million and $0.8$1.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015,2019, respectively.

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years is as follows:follows, in thousands:

2021$319 
2022319 
2023319 
2024195 
2025107 
Thereafter166 
Total$1,425 
2018 $1,253,243 
2019  1,253,243 
2020  1,214,910 
2021  1,104,663 
2022  1,027,100 
Thereafter  2,694,328 
     
Total $8,547,487 


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32

Note 6 – Income Taxes
The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 consists of:

  2017  2016  2015 
Current $174,000  $22,000  $1,114,000 
Deferred  (320,000)  157,000   (341,000)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes
 $(146,000) $179,000  $773,000 

The following table summarizes the differences between the U.S. federal statutory rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for continuing operations financial statement purposes for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015:

  2017  2016  2015 
Statutory tax rate  34.0%  34.0%  34.0%
State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit  43.7%  (4.4%)  2.1%
Return to accrual adjustment  (9.8%)  1.5%  (3.0%)
Tax credits  8.2%     (0.9%)
Charges without tax benefit  (16.2%)  6.8%  1.6%
Other exclusions  (0.1%)  (0.1
%)
  0.2%
             
Company’s effective tax rate  59.8%  37.8%  34.0%

The charges without tax benefit rate for fiscal year 2017 includes, among other things, the impact of officer life insurance and nondeductible meals and entertainment.

The tax effects of temporary differences related to deferred taxes at September 30, 2017 and 2016 consist of the following:
  2017  2016 
Deferred tax assets:      
Net operating loss carryforwards $29,000  $281,000 
Accounts receivable  58,000   97,000 
Inventory  1,432,000   1,269,000 
Intangibles  560,000   351,000 
Accrued expenses  175,000   169,000 
Stock options  246,000   226,000 
Investment in equity method investee  174,000    
Other  179,000   76,000 
   2,853,000   2,469,000 
         
Deferred tax liabilities:        
Financial basis in excess of tax basis of certain assets  1,156,000   926,000 
Investment in equity method investee     143,000 
Other  44,000   67,000 
         
Net deferred tax asset $1,653,000  $1,333,000 

The Company’s net operating loss carryforward totals approximately $0.1 million at September 30, 2017.  The net operating loss carryforward expires in 2036.

The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized.  In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and

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recent financial performance.  The Company has concluded, based on its historical earnings and projected future earnings, that it will be able to realize the full effect of the deferred tax assets and no valuation allowance is needed.
Based upon a review of its income tax positions, the Company believes that its positions would be sustained upon an examination by the Internal Revenue Service and does not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to its financial position. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded. Generally, the Company is no longer subject to examinations by the U.S. federal, state or local tax authorities for tax years before 2014.

Note 78 – Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses at September 30, 20172020 and 20162019 are as follows:follows, in thousands:

20202019
Employee costs$942 $1,192 
Taxes other than income tax91 69 
Interest23 
Other, net443 357 
Total accrued expenses$1,499 $1,618 
  2017  2016 
Employee costs $884,390  $1,123,940 
Triton Datacom earn-out  222,611    
Taxes other than income tax  163,016   120,455 
Interest  22,121   13,836 
Other, net  114,584   66,421 
         
  $1,406,722  $1,324,652 


Note 9 – Debt
Loan Agreement
On March 10, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement with its primary lender for $3.5 million, bearing interest at 6% per annum. The loan is payable in 7 semi-annual installments of principal and interest with the first payment occurring June 30, 2020, and the final payment due June 30, 2023. Payment of the loan may be accelerated in the event of a default. The principal and interest payments correlate to the payment schedule for the promissory note with Leveling 8. The balance under this loan is now $1.2 million and the final payment will be June 30, 2023. The loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company, including, without limitation, the promissory note that the Company received in connection with the sale of its Cable TV segment in 2019 to Leveling 8, Inc.

Line of Credit and Notes Payable

Notes Payable

Credit Agreement
The Company has an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (“Credit and Term Loan Agreement”a line of credit ("LOC") agreement with its primary financial lender. RevolvingThis credit agreement contains a $4.0 million revolving line of credit and term loans created underhad a maturity date of December 17, 2020. The Company renewed the Creditline of credit for another year subsequent to September 30, 2020. During the fiscal year 2020, the line of credit required quarterly interest payments based on the prevailing Wall Street Journal Prime Rate ("WSJP") (3.25% at September 30, 2020), and Term Loan Agreement are collateralized by inventory, accounts receivable, equipment and fixtures, general intangibles and a mortgage on certain property.  Among other financial covenants, the Credit and Term Loan Agreementinterest rate was reset monthly. The credit agreement provides that the Company maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio (net cash flow to total fixed charges) of not less than 1.25 to 1.0 and a leverage ratio (total funded debt to EBITDA) of not more than 2.50 to 1.0.  Both financial covenants are determined quarterly.  The1.00 measured annually. At September 30, 2020, the Company was not in compliance with the fixed charge ratio at September 30, 2017.  The Company notified its primary financial lender of the covenant violation, and on December 1, 2017, the primary financial lender granted a waiver of the covenant violation under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement.  Subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Company elected to extinguish its second term loan in December 2017 as part of the Company’s overall plan to become compliant with its financial covenants.  As a result, the Company believes it will be in compliance with its financial covenants at December 31, 2017.
this ratio. At September 30, 2017, the Company has three term loans2020, there was $2.8 million outstanding under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement.  The first outstanding term loan has an outstanding balanceline of $0.8 million at September 30, 2017 and is due on November 30, 2021, with monthly principal payments of $15,334 plus accrued interest.  The interest rate is the prevailing 30-day LIBOR rate plus 1.4% (2.63% at September 30, 2017) and is reset monthly.

The second outstanding term loan has an outstanding balance of $2.7 million at September 30, 2017 and is due March 4, 2019, with monthly principal and interest payments of $68,505, with the balance due at maturity.  It is a five year term loan with a seven year amortization payment schedule with a fixed interest rate of 4.07%.  Subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Company extinguished the second term loan by paying the outstanding balance plus a prepayment penalty of $25 thousand.  As a result, the Company has classified the second term loan balance at September 30, 2017 in Notes payable – current portion in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

In connection with the acquisition of Triton Miami, the Company entered into a third term loan under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement in the amount of $4.0 million.  This term loan has an outstanding balance of $2.8 million at September 30, 2017 and is due on October 14, 2019, with monthly principal and interest payments of $118,809.  The interest rate on the term loan is a fixed interest rate of 4.40%.
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The aggregate minimum maturities of notes payable for each of the next five years are as follows:
2018 $4,189,605 
2019  1,565,476 
2020  298,880 
2021  184,008 
2022  45,882 
Thereafter   
     
Total $6,283,851 
Line of Credit
The Company has a $7.0 million Revolving Line of Credit (“Line of Credit”) under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement.  On March 31, 2017, the Company executed the Eighth Amendment under the Credit and Term Loan Agreement.  This amendment extended the Line of Credit maturity to March 30, 2018, while other terms of the Line of Credit remained essentially the same.  At September 30, 2017, the Company had no balance outstanding under the Line of Credit.  The Line of Credit requires quarterly interest payments based on the prevailing 30-day LIBOR rate plus 2.75% (3.99% at September 30, 2017), and the interest rate is reset monthly.  Any future borrowings under the Line of Credit are due on March 30, 2018.credit. Future borrowings under the Lineline of Creditcredit are limited to the lesser of $7.0$4.0 million or the net balancesum of 80% of qualifiedeligible accounts receivable plus 50%and 60% of qualifiedeligible Telco segment inventory. Under these limitations, the Company’s total available Lineline of Creditcredit borrowing basecapacity was $7.0$3.3 million at September 30, 2017.2020, and remaining availability was $0.5 million.
Fair ValueSubsequent to September 30, 2020, the Company renewed its revolving bank line of Debtcredit for one year to a maturity date of December 17, 2021.  As part of this renewal, the revolving bank line of credit remained $4.0 million, or the sum of 80% of eligible accounts receivable and 25% of eligible inventory. Quarterly interest payments are based on WSJP, floating, with the addition of a 4% floor rate and a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25 to be tested quarterly beginning June 30, 2021.

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

On April 14, 2020, the Company received a SBA Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) loan pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), with its primary lender for $2.9 million. The carryingPPP loan bears interest at 1% per annum, with monthly payments of principal and interest in the amount of $164,045 commencing on November 10, 2020, and matures on April 10, 2022. The Paycheck Protection Program provides that the PPP loan may be partially or fully forgiven if the funds are used for certain qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act. The Company has applied for forgiveness of the PPP loan in accordance with the requirements and limitations under the CARES Act, the PPP Flexibility Act and SBA regulations and requirements.
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As of September 30, 2020, the aggregate maturities of debt for the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):

2021$4,509 
20222,440 
Thereafter
Total$6,949 

Note 10 – Leases

ADDvantage adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Topic 842 (ASC 842) - Leases, effective October 1, 2019. This ASU requires lessees to recognize an operating lease or right-of-use ("ROU") asset and liability on the balance sheet for all right-of-use leases with an initial lease term greater than twelve months.

ASU 2018-11 Leases – Targeted Improvements, allows for a practical expedient wherein all periods previously reported under ASC 840 will continue to be reported under ASC 840, and periods beginning October 1, 2019 and after are reported under ASC 842. ADDvantage elected to adopt this practical expedient along with the package of practical expedients, which allows the Company to combine lease and non-lease costs.

Under this transition option, ADDvantage will continue to apply the legacy guidance in ASC 840, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented and will make only annual disclosures for the comparative periods because ASC 840 does not require interim disclosures. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reflected in accordance with ADDvantage historical accounting. The adoption of this standard on October 1, 2019, had no impact on the Company's consolidated statement of shareholders' equity or consolidated statement of operations.

As a lessee, ADDvantage leases its corporate office headquarters in Carrollton, Texas, and conducts its business operations through various regional offices located throughout the United States. These operating locations typically
include regional offices, storage and maintenance facilities sufficient to support its operations in the area. ADDvantage leases these properties under either non-cancelable term leases many of which contain renewal options that can extend the lease term from one to five years and some of which contain escalation clauses, or month-to-month operating leases. Options to renew these leases are generally not considered reasonably certain to be exercised. Therefore, the periods covered by such optional periods are not included in the determination of the term of the lease. ADDvantage may lease equipment under cancellable short-term or contracts which are less than 30 days. Due to the nature of the Company's business, any option to renew these short-term leases is generally not considered reasonably certain to be exercised. Therefore, the periods covered by such optional periods are not included in the determination of the term of the lease, and the lease payments during these periods are similarly excluded from the calculation of right-of-use lease asset and lease liability balances.
ROU lease expense consists of rent expense related to leases that were included in ROU assets under ASC 842. ADDvantage recognizes right-of-use lease expense on a straight-line basis, except for certain variable expenses that are recognized when the variability is resolved, typically during the period in which they are paid. Variable right-of-use lease payments typically include charges for property taxes and insurance, and some leases contain variable payments related to non-lease components, including common area maintenance and usage of facilities or office equipment (for example, copiers).

As a result of adopting ASC 842, on the effective date, the Company recognized right-of-use assets and liabilities of $4.6 million, and financing lease assets and liabilities of $1.4 million. Right-of-use leases are included in right-of-use assets and current or long-term right-of-use obligations on the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in net property and equipment, and current or long-term finance lease obligations in the consolidated balance sheets.

Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the Company’s variable-ratelease term. The Company uses a discount rate that approximates the rate of interest for a
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collateralized loan over a similar term loan approximatesas the discount rate for present value of lease payments when the rate implicit in the contract is not readily determinable.

Impairment of right-of-use asset - The Company has a right-of-use for a building in Jessup, Maryland for Nave Communications. The Company ceased operations in Jessup, Maryland in May 2020, and vacated the Jessup, Maryland building. The building was partially subleased during fiscal year 2020. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company determined that the right-of-use asset was not recoverable and used an income approach to estimate its fair value, sincedetermining that the interest rate fluctuates periodically based on a floating interest rate.

Thecarrying value was partially impaired. Therefore, the Company has determinedrecorded $0.7 million of impairment charges related to the fair value of its fixed-rate term loan utilizinglease in the Level 2 hierarchy asTelco segment during the fair value can be estimated from broker quotes corroborated by other market data. These broker quotes are based on observable market interest rates at which loans with similar terms and maturities could currently be executed.  The Company then estimated the fair value of the fixed-rate term loan using cash flows discounted at the current market interest rate obtained.  The fair value of the Company’s second term loan was approximately $2.7 million as ofyear ended September 30, 2017.  The fair value2020.
The components of lease expense were as follows for the year ended September 30, 2020, in thousands:
September 30, 2020
Right-of-use lease cost
Impairment of right-of-use asset$660 
Right-of-use lease cost1,586 
Total right-of-use lease cost$2,246 
Finance lease costs
Amortization assets under finance leases$335 
Interest on finance lease liabilities59 
Total finance lease cost$394 
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases are as follows for the year ended September 30, 2020, in thousands:
September 30, 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from right-of-use leases$1,586 
Operating cash flows from finance leases$59 
Financing cash flows from finance leases$387 

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Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases are as follows, in thousands:
September 30, 2020
Right-of-use leases
Right-of-use lease assets$3,758 
Right-of-use lease obligations - current$1,275 
Right-of-use lease obligations3,310 
Total right-of-use lease liabilities$4,585 
Finance leases
Property and equipment, gross$1,463 
Accumulated depreciation(393)
Property and equipment, net$1,070 
Financing lease obligations - current$285 
Financing lease obligations791 
Total finance lease liabilities$1,076 
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
Right-of-use leases3.75 years
Finance leases3.88 years
Weighted Average Discount Rate
Right-of-use leases5.00%
Finance leases4.96%

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows for the Company’s third outstanding fixed rate loan was $2.8 million atyear ending September 30, 2017.2020, in thousands:


Right-of-Use LeasesFinance Leases
2021$1,441 $325 
20221,341 292 
20231,328��278 
2024802 234 
2025150 44 
Total lease payments5,062 1,173 
Less imputed interest477 98 
Total lease obligations$4,585 $1,075 
Note 911 – Stock-Based Compensation
Plan Information

The 2015 Incentive Stock Plan (the “Plan”) provides for awards of stock options and restricted stock to officers, directors, key employees and consultants.  Under the Plan, option prices will be set by the Compensation Committee and may not be less than the fair market value of the stock on the grant date.

At September 30, 2017, 1,100,4152020, 2,100,415 shares of common stock were reserved for stock award grants under the Plan.  Of these reserved shares, 212,451789,630 shares were available for future grants.

Stock Options

All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on their grant date fair value over the requisite service period. 
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Compensation expense for stock-based awards is included in the operating, selling, general and administrative expense section of the Consolidated Statementsconsolidated statements of Operations.operations.

Stock options are valued at the date of the award, which does not precede the approval date, and compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Stock options granted to employees generally become exercisable over a three, four or five-year periodfive years from the date of grant and generally expire ten years after the date of grant.  Stock options granted to the Board of Directors generally become exercisable on the date of grant and generally expire ten years after the date of grant.
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A summary of the status of the Company's stock options at September 30, 20172020 and changes during the year then ended is presented below:below in thousands, except share and per share amounts:
 
 
 
Options
  
 
Weighted Average Exercise
Price
  
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2016  570,000  $2.73    
Options (Shares)Weighted Average
Exercise
Price
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2019Outstanding at September 30, 2019770,000 $1.73 $353 
Granted  140,000  $1.80    Granted— 
Exercised    $  $0 Exercised(123,334)1.67 304 
Expired  (10,000) $3.45     Expired— 
Forfeited    $     Forfeited(546,666)606 
Outstanding at September 30, 2017  700,000  $2.54  $0 
Exercisable at September 30, 2017  526,667  $2.78  $0 
Outstanding at September 30, 2020Outstanding at September 30, 2020100,000 $1.55 $38 
Exercisable at September 30, 2020Exercisable at September 30, 202066,667 $1.68 $16 
There were noThe intrinsic value of exercised options exercised under the Plan for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015.2019, in thousands:

20202019
Value at exercise date$510 $
Exercise price206 
Intrinsic value$304 $
Information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options at September 30, 20172020 is as follows:follows, in thousands except share and per share amounts:

      Exercisable Remaining
   Stock Options  Stock Options Contractual
Exercise Price  
Outstanding
  Outstanding 
Life  
 $1.790     50,000    9.6 years
 $1.810     90,000    9.4 years
 $1.750     50,000       16,667  8.6 years
 $3.210   200,000   200,000 6.5 years
 $2.450   250,000   250,000 4.5 years
 $3.001     60,000   
  60,000
 0.9 years
     700,000   
526,667
  
Exercise PriceStock Options
Outstanding
Exercisable
Stock Options
Outstanding
Remaining
Contractual
Life  
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
$1.28 50,000 16,667 8.25$32 
$1.81 50,000 50,000 6.42
100,000 66,667 $38 
The Company granted nonqualified stock options of 140,000 shares0 and 50,000 shares480,000 options for the yearyears ended September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, respectively.  No nonqualified stock options were granted in 2015. The Company estimated the fair value of the options granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below. The Company estimated the expected term of options granted based on the historical grants and exercises of the Company's options.  The Company estimated the volatility of its common stock at the date of the grant based on both the historical volatility as well as the implied volatility on its common stock. The Company based the risk-free rate that was used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model on the implied yield in effect at the time of the option grant on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with equivalent expected terms. The Company has never paid cash dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, the Company used an expected dividend yield of zero0 in the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company amortizes the resulting fair value of the options ratably over the vesting period of the awards. The Company used historical data to estimate the pre-vesting options forfeitures and records share-based expense only for those awards that are expected to vest.

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The estimated fair value at date of grant for stock options utilizing the Black-Scholes option valuation model and the assumptions that were used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model for the fiscal years 2017 and 2016year 2019 stock option grants are as follows:

  2017  2016 
Estimated fair value of options at grant date $96,690  $34,350 
Black-Scholes model assumptions:        
Average expected life (years)  6   6 
Average expected volatile factor  35%  38%
Average risk-free interest rate  2.4%  1.75%
Average expected dividend yield      

Estimated fair value of options at grant date$196,970
Black-Scholes model assumptions:
Average expected life (years)6
Average expected volatile factor29%
Average risk-free interest rate2.8%
Average expected dividend yield0
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The Company realized a net benefit related to the recognition of forfeitures of stock options during the year ended September 30, 2020. Compensation expense related to stock options recorded for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 20152019 is as follows:

  2017  2016  2015 
Fiscal year 2012 grant $5,359  $17,417  $33,044 
Fiscal year 2014 grant  13,575   47,522   108,624 
Fiscal year 2016 grant  16,221   8,745    
Fiscal year 2017 grant  31,088       
             
Total compensation expense $66,243  $73,684  $141,668 

 20202019
Fiscal year 2017 grant$(6)$18 
Fiscal year 2019 grant128 
Total compensation expense$(6)$146 
The Company records compensation expense over the vesting term of the related options.  At September 30, 2017,2020, compensation costs related to these unvested stock options not yet recognized in the statements of operations was $74,985.

$2,945 which will be fully amortized by 2022.
Restricted stock awards

TheIn fiscal year 2019, the Company granted restricted stock in March 2017, 2016 and 2015share awards to its BoardChairman of Directors and a Company officer totaling 58,009, 62,874 shares and 31,915 shares, respectively. The restricted stock grants were valued at market value on the date of grant.  The restricted shares are delivered to the directors and employees at the end of the 12 month holding period.  For the shares granted in March 2015, a director resigned from the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the respective holding period, so their individual share grant of 6,383 shares for 2015 was forfeited.  The fair value of the shares upon issuance totaled $105,000, $105,000 and $60,000 for the 2017, 2016 and 2015 fiscal year grants, respectively. The grants are amortized over the 12 month holding period as compensation expense.  The Company granted restricted stock in December 2015 and October 2015 to two new Directors totaling 3,333 and 4,465 shares, respectively which were valued at market value on the date of the grants.  The holding restriction on these shares expired the first week of March 2016.  The fair value of the shares issued December 2015 and October 2015 totaled $7,500 and $10,000, respectively and was amortized over the holding period as compensation expense.

The Company granted restricted stock in April of 2014 to certain employees totaling 23,67655,147 shares, which were valued at market value on the date of grant. The shares have a holding restriction, which will expire in equal annual installmentsvest 20% per year with the first installment vesting on the first anniversary of 7,892 shares over three years starting in April 2015.the grant date. The fair value of thesethe shares upon issuance totaled $76,000$0.1 million.

In fiscal year 2020, the Company granted a total of 298,974 shares to its board members, which were valued at market value on the date of grant. The shares ranged in vesting periods from immediate to three years. The fair value of the shares upon issuance totaled $0.6 million.

In fiscal year 2020, the Company granted a total of 220,937 shares to certain members of management, which were valued at market value on the date of grant. The shares ranged in vesting periods from immediate to three years. The fair value of the shares upon issuance totaled $0.6 million.
A summary of the Company's non-vested restricted share awards (RSA) at September 30, 2020 and changes during the year ended September 30, 2020 is being amortized overpresented in the respectivefollowing table:
SharesFair Value
Non-vested at September 30, 201944,118 $60 
Granted764,184 1,569 
Vested(333,278)(571)
Forfeited
Non-vested at September 30, 2020475,024 $1,058 

In addition, certain outstanding stock options held by 2 members of management and one twodirector were converted to stock grants based on a fair value calculation of the outstanding stock options. As a result, the options outstanding, which totaled 330,000 options, were forfeited and three year holding periods as compensation expense.244,273 shares of common stock were granted based on the fair value calculation of $0.6 million. Since this was considered a modification of a stock award, the Company recognized the difference between the stock grant fair value and the immediate fair value of the stock option award, before modification which totaled $0.2 million.

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Compensation expense related to restricted stock recorded for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 20152019 is as follows:follows, in thousands:
  2017  2016  2015 
Fiscal year 2014 grants $4,222  $14,779  $58,778 
Fiscal year 2015 grants     25,000   39,167 
Fiscal year 2016 grants  43,750   78,750    
Fiscal year 2017 grant  61,250   
   
 
             
  $109,222  $118,529  $97,945 
 20202019
Fiscal year 2019 grant15 38 
Fiscal year 2020 grant565 15 
Total compensation expense$580 $53 
Valuation of time vesting restricted stock awards for all periods presented is equal to the quoted market price for the shares on the date of the grant. The Company amortizes the fair value of the restricted share awards, graded, over the vesting period of the awards.

Note 1012Retirement PlanEquity Distribution Agreement and Sale of Common Stock


On April 24, 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Northland Securities, Inc., as agent (“Northland”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through Northland, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $13.9 million.

The offer and sale of the Shares will be made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and the related prospectus filed by the Company with the SEC on March 3, 2020, as amended on March 23, 2020, and declared effective by the SEC on April 1, 2020.

Pursuant to the Sales Agreement, Northland may sell the Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), including sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, including on The Nasdaq Global Market, at market prices or as otherwise agreed with Northland. Northland will use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Shares from time to time, based upon instructions from the Company, including any price or size limits or other customary parameters or conditions the Company may impose. The sales agreement may be terminated without prior notice at any time prior to the fulfillment of the Sales Agreement if additional sales are deemed not warranted.

The Company sponsorswill pay Northland a 401(k) plan that allows participation by all employees who are at least 21 yearscommission rate equal to an aggregate of age3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from each sale of Shares and have completed one year of service.agreed to provide Northland with customary indemnification and contribution rights. The Company's contributionsCompany will also reimburse Northland for certain specified expenses in connection with entering into the Sales Agreement. The Sales Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and conditions to the plan consist of a matching contribution as determined by the plan document.  Costs recognized under the 401(k) plan were $0.3 million for eachplacements of the yearsShares pursuant thereto.

During the year ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 573,199 shares were sold by Northland on behalf of the Company with gross proceeds of $2.2 million, and 2015.
net proceeds after commissions and fees of $2.1 million.


Note 13 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information

(in thousands)Years ended September 30,
20202019
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest$230 $126 
Cash received from income taxes$$(172)
Supplemental noncash investing activities:
Assets acquired under financing leases$1,352 $
Promissory note from disposition of business$$6,375 


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Note 1114 – Earnings per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015 are:2019, in thousands:

  2017  2016  2015 
Net income (loss) attributable to
common shareholders
 $(98,116) $294,163  $1,497,900 
Basic weighted average shares  10,201,825   10,141,234   10,088,803 
Effect of dilutive securities:            
Stock options     4,062    
Diluted weighted average shares  10,201,825   10,145,296   10,088,803 
             
Earnings (loss) per common share:            
Basic $(0.01) $0.03  $0.15 
Diluted $(0.01) $0.03  $0.15 

 20202019
Loss from continuing operations$(17,333)$(4,035)
Discontinued operations, net of tax(1,267)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(17,333)$(5,302)
Basic weighted average shares11,164 10,361 
Diluted weighted average shares11,164 10,361 
Loss per common share:
Basic
Continuing operations$(1.55)$(0.39)
Discontinued operations(0.12)
Net loss$(1.55)$(0.51)
Continuing operations$(1.55)$(0.39)
Discontinued operations(0.12)
Net loss$(1.55)$(0.51)
The table below includes information related to stock options that were outstanding at the end of each respective year but have been excluded from the computation of weighted-average stock options for dilutive securities due to the option exercise price exceeding the average market price per share of ourthe Company’s common stock for the fiscal year as their effect would be anti-dilutive.anti-dilutive, or the exercise of the option is antidilutive.

 20202019
Stock options excluded100,000 770,000 
Weighted average exercise price of
stock options$1.55 $1.73 
Average market price of common stock$2.44 $1.49 
  2017  2016  2015 
Stock options excluded  700,000   520,000   535,000 
Weighted average exercise price of            
stock options $2.54  $2.83  $2.88 
Average market price of common stock $1.70  $1.90  $2.38 


Note 1215Related Parties

Income Taxes
The Company leases three facilities in Florida from a company owned by two employees.  The total payments made on the leases were $0.1 millionbenefit for the year ended September 30, 2017.  The three leases terms extend through December 31, 2019.

David E. Chymiak and Kenneth A. Chymiak beneficially owned 26% and 19%, respectively, of the Company’s outstanding common stock at September 30, 2017.


Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies

The Company leases and rents various office and warehouse properties in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.  The terms on its operating leases vary and contain renewal options or are rented on a month-to-month basis.  Rental payments associated with leased properties totaled $0.8 million, $0.7 million and $0.6 millionincome taxes for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015, respectively.  2019 consists of, in thousands:
 20202019
Continuing operations:  
Current$(1,249)$(13)
Deferred
 (1,249)(13)
Discontinued operations – current
Total benefit for income taxes$(1,249)$(5)
The following table summarizes the differences between the U.S. federal statutory rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for continuing operations financial statement purposes for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
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 20202019
Statutory tax rate21.0 %21.0 %
State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit4.8 %6.6 %
Return to accrual adjustment%(0.6 %)
Tax credits%%
Charges without tax benefit0.1 %(5.3 %)
Valuation allowance(19.4 %)(22.1 %)
Other exclusions0.1 %0.7 %
Company’s effective tax rate6.6 %0.3 %
The charges without tax benefit rate includes, among other things, the impact of officer life insurance, nondeductible meals and entertainment and permanent basis differences in goodwill.
As a result of the CARES Act, the Company can carryback net operating losses (NOL) generated in 2018 through 2020 for a period of five years. As a result, the Company’s effective tax rate included an income tax benefit recognized during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 related to tax losses generated during the fiscal year up to the amount that the Company estimates is realizable based upon taxable income in the carryback periods. Therefore, as of September 30, 2020, the Company recorded a $1.2 million income tax receivable and a corresponding current benefit for income taxes. The Company continues to provide a valuation allowance of $6.4 million for all net deferred tax assets where the Company believes it is more likely than not that those deferred taxes will not be realized.
The tax effects of temporary differences related to deferred taxes at September 30, 2020 and 2019 consist of the following, in thousands:
 20202019
Deferred tax assets:  
Net operating loss carryforwards$4,659 $2,632 
Accounts receivable69 41 
Inventory883 393 
Intangibles1,259 707 
Accrued expenses132 53 
Stock options14 109 
Investment in equity method investee100 112 
Other
Total deferred tax assets7,116 4,047 
Deferred tax liabilities: 
Financial basis in excess of tax basis of certain assets416 705 
Other323 95 
Total deferred tax liabilities739800
Less valuation allowance6,377 3,247 
Net deferred taxes$$
The Company’s minimum annual future obligations under all existingU.S. Federal net operating leases for eachloss (“NOL”) carryforwards consist of the next fivefollowing, in thousands:
 NOL carryforwardYear Expires
Year ended September 30, 2020$10,100,000 No expiry
Year ended September 30, 2019$2,569,000 No expiry
Year ended September 30, 2018$2,431,000 No expiry
Year ended September 30, 2016$82,820 2036
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The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized.  In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial performance. The Company has concluded, based on its recent cumulative losses, that it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to realize the full effect of the deferred tax assets and a valuation allowance of $6.4 million is needed.
Based upon a review of its income tax positions, the Company believes that its positions would be sustained upon an examination by the Internal Revenue Service and does not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to its financial position. Therefore, 0 reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded. Generally, the Company is no longer subject to examinations by the U.S. federal, state or local tax authorities for tax years are as follows:before 2017.

2018 $758,662 
2019  704,380 
2020  592,268 
2021  568,250 
2022  582,456 
Thereafter  696,926 
     
Total $3,902,942 
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Note 1416 – Segment Reporting

The Company has twois reporting its financial performance based on its external reporting segments: Wireless Infrastructure Services and Telecommunications.  These reportable segments Cable Television and Telecommunications, asare described below.

Wireless Infrastructure Services (“Wireless”) On January 4, 2019, the Company purchased substantially all of the net assets of Fulton, which comprises the Wireless segment.  Fulton provides turn-key wireless infrastructure services for the 4 major U.S. wireless carriers, communication tower companies, national integrators, and original equipment manufacturers that support these wireless carriers.  These services primarily consist of the installation and upgrade of technology on cell sites and the construction of new small cells for 5G.
Cable Television (“Cable TV”)

The Company’s Cable TV segment sells new, surplus and re-manufactured cable television equipment throughout North America, Central America, South America and, to a substantially lesser extent, other international regions that utilize the same technology.  In addition, this segment repairs cable television equipment for various cable companies.

Telecommunications (“Telco”)

The Company’s Telco segment sells new and usedrefurbished telecommunications networking equipment, including both central office and customer premise equipment, to its customer base of telecommunications providers, enterprise customers and resellers located primarily in North America.  This segment also offers its customers repair and testing services for telecommunications networking equipment. In addition, this segment offers its customers decommissioning services for surplus and obsolete equipment, which it in turn processes through its recycling services.  As a result of the Triton Miami acquisition (see Note 2), this segment includes the Company’s newly formed Triton Datacom subsidiary, a provider of new and refurbished enterprise networking products, including IP desktop phones, enterprise switches and wireless routers.

program.
The Company evaluates performance and allocates its resources based on operating income. The accounting policies of its reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.

Segment assets consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets.

(in thousands)Twelve months ended September 30,
 20202019
Sales
Wireless$21,354 $22,969 
Telco28,853 32,204 
Intersegment(25)(55)
Total sales$50,182 $55,118 
Gross profit
Wireless$6,580 $6,362 
Telco5,100 7,096 
Total gross profit$11,680 $13,458 
Operating loss
Wireless$(2,842)$(882)
Telco(11,341)134 
Corporate(4,347)$(3,228)
Total operating loss$(18,530)$(3,976)
Segment assets
Wireless$5,324 $5,516 
Telco12,478 22,619 
Non-allocated14,880 8,693 
Total assets$32,683 $36,828 
  Years Ended 
  
September 30,
2017
  
September 30,
2016
  
September 30,
2015
 
Sales         
Cable TV $22,806,175  $22,996,998  $25,396,779 
Telco  25,994,521   15,800,424   18,835,116 
Intersegment  (86,950)  (134,158)  (498,275)
 Total sales
 $48,713,746  $38,663,264  $43,733,620 
             
Gross profit            
Cable TV $7,738,355  $7,753,735  $8,025,651 
Telco  7,072,238   4,687,148   7,273,238 
 Total gross profit
 $14,810,593  $12,440,883  $15,298,889 
             
Operating income (loss)            
Cable TV $1,834,484  $1,478,676  $2,210,414 
Telco  (1,688,878)  (1,134,815)  
365,796
 
Total operating income $145,606  $343,861  $2,576,210 
             
Segment assets            
Cable TV $24,116,395  $25,201,697  $26,494,430 
Telco  24,135,091   15,122,911   17,094,713 
Non-allocated  6,596,119   9,943,551   8,097,913 
Total assets $54,847,605  $50,268,159  $51,687,056 

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Note 1517 – Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020 and 2015:2019:

(in thousands)First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Fiscal year ended 2020    
Sales$13,962 $11,959 $12,022 $12,239 
Gross profit3,592 (439)4,171 4,356 
Loss from continuing operations(1,718)(14,661)23 (978)
Basic and diluted loss from continuing operations per common share$(0.17)$(1.41)$$(0.09)
Fiscal year ended 2019
Sales$6,810 $12,890 $17,559 $17,859 
Gross profit1,723 3,477 4,587 3,671 
Loss from continuing operations(1,203)(1,211)(58)(1,562)
Basic and diluted loss from continuing operations per common share$(0.12)$(0.12)$$(0.15)

  
First
Quarter
  
Second
Quarter
  
Third
Quarter
  
Fourth
Quarter
 
Fiscal year ended 2017            
Sales $12,095,826  $11,294,756  $12,989,990  $12,333,174 
Gross profit $4,023,629  $3,764,429  $3,755,951  $3,266,584 
Net income (loss) $217,161  $10,671  $(66,863) $(259,085)
Basic earnings (loss) per
common share
 $0.02  $0.00  $(0.01) $(0.03)
Diluted earnings (loss) per
common share
 $0.02  $0.00  $(0.01) $(0.03)
 
Fiscal year ended 2016
                
Sales $8,249,668  $10,587,187  $10,060,242  $9,766,167 
Gross profit $2,765,380  $3,584,612  $3,466,151  $2,624,740 
Net income (loss) $23,994  $145,630  $316,086  $(191,547)
Basic earnings (loss) per
common share
 $0.00  $0.01  $0.03  $(0.02)
Diluted earnings (loss) per
common share
 $0.00  $0.01  $0.03  $(0.02)
 
Fiscal year ended 2015
                
Sales $10,837,158  $11,366,539  $11,902,391  $9,627,532 
Gross profit $3,831,803  $4,243,512  $4,144,607  $3,078,967 
Net income $415,923  $234,255  $637,134  $210,588 
Basic earnings per common share $0.04  $0.02  $0.06  $0.02 
Diluted earnings per common share $0.04  $0.02  $0.06  $0.02 

The sum of individual quarterly net loss per share may not agree to the total for the year due to each period's computation being based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during such period.
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Note 18 – Subsequent events
During the period December 8, 2020 through December 15, 2020, the Company sold 209,371 shares of stock under our ATM for an average price of $3.82 pursuant to our agreement with Northland Securities, Inc. as described in Note 12 – Equity Distribution Agreement and Sale of Common Stock.
On December 16, 2020, the Company renewed its revolving bank line of credit for one year to a maturity date of December 17, 2021.  As part of this renewal, the revolving bank line of credit remained $4.0 million, or the sum of 80% of eligible accounts receivable and 60% of eligible inventory, as defined in the loan agreement. Quarterly interest payments are based on WSJP, floating, with the addition of a 4% floor rate and a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25 to be tested quarterly beginning June 30, 2021.
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A.Controls and Procedures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the year ended September 30, 2020, the Company completed the full integration of Fulton Technologies, Inc., into our internal control over financial reporting processes.

Other than the changes described above, during the most recent fiscal year, there have been no changes, including the impact of COVID-19, in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and forms, and that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and
43


our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2017.2020. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
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) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.  Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of our management and board of directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017.2020. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013).
During fiscal year 2019, the Company acquired Fulton. See Note 3. Acquisitions for additional information on this acquisition. Management has included this business in its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020. 
Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of September 30, 2017,2020, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

effective.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

During the fourth quarteryear ended September 30, 2017, there has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal2020, the Company integrated the acquisition of Fulton Technologies, Inc. fully into its control over financial reporting.environment.
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Item 9B.Other Information.

None.

44



PART III


Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.


Identification of Directors

Our bylaws provide that our Board shall consist of not less than one nor more than nine directors, as determined from time to time by board resolution. The information requiredBoard is presently comprised of five directors, each of whom serves for a term of one year. The Directors are as follows:

David E. Chymiak Director since 1999

Mr. Chymiak, 75, served as ADDvantage's Chief Technology Officer from April 2, 2012 through June 30, 2019, which was the effective date of the sale of the Cable Television segment to Mr. Chymiak’s affiliated company, Leveling 8, Inc. (see Certain Relationships and Related Transactions section). Mr. Chymiak oversaw the operations of the Cable Television segment he co-founded Tulsat in 1985. Upon the sale of the Cable Television segment to Leveling 8, Mr. Chymiak is no longer an employee of the Company, but remains on the Company’s Board of Directors and is a member of the audit committee. Mr. Chymiak served as our Company’s Chairman of the Board from during the years 1999 to 2012 and 2014 to 2018.

Joseph E. HartDirector since 2015

Mr. Hart, 70, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hart was the CEO of Aero Communications, Inc., a company specializing in installation, maintenance, and network design and construction for the telecommunications industry (2015 to 2018). From 2006 to 2014, Mr. Hart served as the Executive Vice President of Network Infrastructure Services and Operations for Goodman Networks, Inc., a provider of end-to-end network infrastructure, professional services and field deployment to the wireless telecommunications and satellite television industry. For the previous 20 years, Mr. Hart served in various executive leadership positions for AT&T and other various telecommunication and wireless companies. Mr. Hart holds a Master of Science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baldwin-Wallace College.

Timothy S. HardenIndependentDirector since 2019

Mr. Harden, 67, has broad Communication Industry experience in various positions of leadership. He currently sits on a number of advisory boards focused on providing products and services in the Communication space. Mr. Harden spent 33 years with AT&T in various operating executive positions, the last of which was President of AT&T’s Worldwide Supply Chain. A few of his previous areas of responsibility included President and CEO of AT&T West, President of network services for AT&T Southwest, and President of Data and Network Services for SBC Operations. Mr. Harden also gained broad telecommunications experience from a series of executive assignments within AT&T’s predecessor companies SBC and Pacific Telesis, including President of SBC Telecom, Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Telesis Business Systems, Chief Operating Officer of Pacific Bell’s Advanced Communications Network, and Senior VP – Network Engineering and Planning of SBC Data Services. Mr. Harden has served as Chairman of the QuEST/TIA Forum Executive Board, managing the quality standard TL 9000 through 200+ companies worldwide. He is a former member of Supply Chain 50 representing the top Supply Chains in the U.S., and a member of Supply Chain World representing the top 200 Supply Chains worldwide.

Mr. Harden is an inductee in the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as a scholar athlete. He currently serves on the board of directors for the San Francisco Chapter of this national organization. In 2007 he was named as a Distinguished American by this item concerninggroup for his efforts in support of their mission to promote and develop the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academic excellence in America’s young people. This was only the 9th time this honor has been awarded in the 70 year history of the organization. Mr. Harden is a retired Captain in the USN Reserve and a past Associate Professor at the University of Utah. Mr. Harden started his career as an officer in the US Navy after his graduation from the US Naval Academy.

Thomas J. FranzIndependentDirector since 2007

Mr. Franz, 62, is the head of TJ Franz & Associates, a firm specializing in profitability and contract CFO consulting for small and medium sized businesses, which he founded in 2003. For ten years prior, he served as Chief Financial Officer or Chief Operating Officer roles. From 1983 to 1993 Mr. Franz practiced public accounting for clients in the banking, government, venture capital, not for profit and financial services industries. Mr. Franz is a certified public
45


accountant with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in accounting from Oklahoma State University.

James C. McGill IndependentDirector since 2007

Mr. McGill, 77, has served as our Company’s Chairman of the Board since October 2018. Mr. McGill is currently the President of McGill Resources, a venture capital investment company, a position he has held since 1987. In 2015, Mr. McGill formed and owns Ediche, LLC, a clothing importer. He also served in various executive leadership roles and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of MacroSolve, Inc., a technology company focused on wireless data collection (2002 to 2013). Mr. McGill serves on boards of organizations in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, and has served on public company boards with many years serving as audit committee or board chair.

During his career, Mr. McGill has received 25 U.S. and foreign patents in the field of pollution control and has extensive experience in helping to develop early-stage and emerging companies. Mr. McGill is a registered professional engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from The University of Tulsa where he graduated cum laude. He is a member of the University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Hall of Fame and was named a Distinguished Alumni in 2005. In 2013, he was named to the Collins College Business Hall of Fame.

John M. ShelnuttIndependent Director since 2019

Mr. Shelnutt, 58, is the Vice President of Blue Danube Systems, a company that designs intelligent wireless access solutions to deliver high-definition active antenna systems technology to the wireless industry. Prior to 2017 when he joined Blue Danube Systems, Mr. Shelnutt served in executive capacities at Cisco from 2011 to 2016, leading their Mobility Division. Prior to that, Mr. Shelnutt spent 12 years in executive leadership roles at Alcatel including the startup of their global DSL division and managing their United States Mobility Division. Mr. Shelnutt has served on various boards within the telecommunications industry including the QuEST Forum, ATIS, and Broadband Forum and was an advisor to Tech Titans of Dallas, Texas and the City of New York Public Schools Technology group.

David W. SparkmanIndependent Director since 2015

Mr. Sparkman, 63, is the Chief Financial Officer of Oklahoma Capital Bank, a position he has held since 2017. Mr. Sparkman was the Chief Financial Officer for a group of oil field service companies: Acid Specialists, LLC; Frac Specialists, LLC; and Cement Specialists, LLC (2014 to 2016), for Great White Energy Services (2010 to 2011) and North America Director of Finance for Archer Well Company (2011 to 2013) after Great White was acquired by Archer Well Company. Prior to that, he was President of the financial consulting firm, Ulysses Enterprises, LLC. (2009 to 2010). Mr. Sparkman spent 12 years with Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group serving in senior management positions in accounting and finance. Mr. Sparkman is a certified public accountant (inactive) and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Arkansas where he graduated cum laude.

Identification of Executive Officers

We have five executive officers. Our officers directors, complianceare elected by our Board of Directors and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Joseph E. Hart

Biographical information for Mr. Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer, is set forth above.

Scott A. Francis

Mr. Francis, 53, has been a Vice President since September 15, 2008, our corporate secretary since August 6, 2009, and our Chief Accounting Officer since March 2019. From September 15, 2008 through March, 2019, Mr. Francis served as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Francis has over 25 years of finance and management experience. Prior to joining ADDvantage, he served as a controller of accounting at Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc. from June 2004 until September 2008. Prior to that, he served as manager of financial reporting for WilTel Communications, Inc. from 1997 through May 2004. Mr. Francis is a certified public accountant with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University.

46


Reginald Jaramillo

Mr. Jaramillo, 44, President of Telecommunications, began his career with ADDvantage Technologies in 2019 serving as the company’s Director of Financial Planning and Analysis where he developed planning and analysis processes from the ground up. He was born into an entrepreneurial family and grew up working in the Leal’s Mexican Foods family restaurant businesses located in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Subsequently, he spent five years working in the financial services industry for Wells Fargo Financial and American General Financial Services. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Jaramillo worked for 15 years in the telecommunications industry for Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and most recently Suddenlink Communications (Operated by Altice USA NYSE: ATUS) where he spent 10 years serving in various fiscal and operational leadership role, which included VP of Fiscal Operations, VP of Business Planning, and VP of Field Operations. Mr. Jaramillo graduated from New Mexico Military Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Midwestern State University, an MBA from Texas Tech University, and is nearing completion of a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Jimmy Taylor

Mr. Taylor, 64, President of our Wireless Segment since July 2020, is a 35-year veteran of the wireless infrastructure and telecommunications industries. He has extensive experience in both operational leadership and business development, creating a solid foundation for process improvement as well as organic and transactional growth. Mr. Taylor has held multiple senior leadership roles, especially in site development and deployment. He started his career at Houston Cellular and PrimeCo PCS and then joined Crown Castle International, one of the world’s largest tower asset management companies. He was the Regional VP of Southwest Operations for Crown Castle for almost 10 years, where he was responsible for site development, deployment and leasing operations. He was VP of Site Development at Goodman Networks and President of the Teltech Group and Cotton Telecom. His robust experience and contacts in the wireless infrastructure services industry will help Fulton reach its full potential as the industry prepares for significant growth related to 5G. Mr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts from Angelo State University.

Jarrod M. Watson

Mr. Watson, 45, has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer since July 2020. Mr. Watson joined the company with more than 20 years of corporate financial leadership experience with large organizations including Fortune 500 companies Yum Brands (NYSE: YUM) and McKesson (NYSE: MCK). Prior to joining ADDvantage Technologies, Mr. Watson served as Chief Financial Officer of Southland Holdings, a large privately held heavy civil construction company. In that role, he led all departments of finance, accounting, treasury and human resources. During his time there, he led several large transformation initiatives designed to position the company for growth. Prior to that, he served as Head of Business Analytics & Forecasting for Pizza Hut US, a Yum! Brands subsidiary, the largest restaurant company in the world. In that role he led all areas of financial analysis and forecasting. Mr. Watson has also held financial leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility for several companies prior to that. One notable example includes ADC Telecommunications (currently operating as part of Commscope NASDAQ: COMM), a publicly traded telecommunications equipment manufacturer. Mr. Watson received an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University and is licensed as a certified public accountant.

Compliance with Section 16(a)

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended,requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to report their initial ownership of our common stock and any subsequent changes in that ownership to the SEC and to furnish us with a copy of each of these reports. SEC regulations impose specific due dates for these reports and we are required to disclose in this proxy statement any failure to file by these dates during fiscal year 2020.

Based solely on the review of the copies of these reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, during and with respect to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, we believe that these persons have complied with all applicable filing requirements.

47


Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Audit Committeewhich is incorporated by referenceapplicable to the information in the sections entitled “Identification of Officers,” “Election of Directors,”  “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,”  “Code of Ethics” and “Audit Committee,” respectively,all of our Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Securitiesdirectors, officers and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 (the “Proxy Statement”).employees. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.addvantagetechnologies.com.www.addvantagetechnologies.com. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements, including those of Item 406 of Regulation S-K, regarding certain amendments to, or waivers from, provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on our website.


Audit Committee

The functions and members of our Audit Committee are set forth below. The members of the Audit Committee are David W. Sparkman (Chairman), Thomas J. Franz and James C. McGill. Each of the committee members is independent as defined under the rules and listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission implemented pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee met four times during fiscal year 2020. All of the meetings were held prior to the reporting of our quarterly financial results.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The SEC has adopted rules pursuant to the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring audit committees to include an “audit committee financial expert,” defined as a person who has the following attributes:

1) an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements;
2) the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves;
3) experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the registrant’s financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities;
4) an understanding of internal control over financial reporting; and
5) an understanding of audit committee functions.

The financial expert will have to possess all of the attributes listed above to qualify as an audit committee financial expert.

Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Thomas J. Franz, James C. McGill and David W. Sparkman meets the definitions of an audit committee financial expert.




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Item 11.Executive Compensation.Compensation


Summary Compensation Table

The following information requiredrelates to compensation paid by this item concerning executive compensation is incorporated by referencethe Company for the fiscal years ended 2020 and 2019 to the information set forthCompany’s Chief Executive Officer and the two other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company :

Non-Equity
StockOptionIncentive PlanAll OtherTotal
Name and Principal PositionYearSalaryBonusAwardsAwardsCompensationCompensationCompensation
($)(1)($)(2)($) (3)($) (4)($)($)(5)($)
Joseph E. Hart2020$290,769 105,000 $87,898 $— $— $25,173 $508,840 
Principal Executive Officer2019303,846 — — 84,000 — 28,192 416,038 
Scott A. Francis2020174,462 36,000 50,988 — — 10,000 271,450 
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer2019182,885 — — 11,220 — 15,144 209,249 
Donald E. Kinison2020169,231 55,000 — — — 112,891 337,122 
President, Telco Segment (6)2019210,769 — — 18,700 — 16,538 246,007 
(1)Messrs. Hart and Francis are entitled to the compensation under employment or severance agreements which are described below.
(2)Bonus amounts paid in 2020 represent amounts earned in 2019. There was no executive bonus awarded in 2020. There were no 2019 bonus payments related to 2018.
(3)The amounts shown are Company officer compensation and represent the total fair value of the stock awards shares on the date of the grant to officers for fiscal years 2020 and 2019. The fair value of the stock awards is amortized over the vesting period to compensation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The fair value of the stock awards was based on the closing market prices of the stock on the dates of the grants. The actual value that an executive officer will realize upon vesting of performance or time-based awards will depend upon the market price of the Company’s stock on the vesting date, so there is no assurance that the value realized by an executive officer will be at or near the value of the market price of the Company’s stock on the grant date. In addition, certain outstanding stock options held by Mr. Hart and Mr. Francis were converted to stock grants based on a the fair value of the outstanding stock options on the conversion date. As a result, the options were forfeited and the officer's compensation is shown net of the value of the forfeited options.
(4)The amounts shown represent expenses recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2020. All assumptions utilized to calculate the expense amounts shown above are set forth in Note 11 - Stock Based Compensation of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II of this Annual Report on From 10-K.
(5)Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of an officer for matching contributions to the Company’s qualified 401(k) plan, and auto allowance received during the year. Mr. Kinison's other compensation includes $67,700 of severance and $28,300 of COBRA payments.
(6)Mr. Kinison's salary for 2020 prorated based on his departure from the Company on May 31, 2020, and includes payout of unused vacation time at separation.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

We have entered into employment/severance agreements with Mr. Hart and Mr. Francis. These agreements are designed to promote stability, continuity and focus for key members of leadership during periods of uncertainty that may be created by change of control situations. Additionally, the use of such agreements is a competitive practice that enhances our ability to attract and retain leadership talent.

Under these agreements, payment of benefits will occur in most situations where the employee is terminated without cause or is terminated or resigns in connection with a Change in Control of the Company. Mr. Hart, in this event, will be paid the amount of his annual base salary immediately preceding the termination without cause or Change of Control and Mr. Francis will be paid the amount of 50% of his annual base salary immediately preceding the termination without cause or Change of Control. Most executive equity awards which are subject to vesting provide for accelerated vesting upon the occurrence of a change in control.Mr. Kinison was a party to a similar employment agreement prior to his departure from the Company.

“Change of Control” as used in these agreements has a fairly customary definition designed to reflect that a fundamental change in beneficial ownership or control of the Company has occurred. Specifically, the agreements incorporate the term a “change of control event”, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations (“Regulations”) promulgated under section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) that results from an event in which a person comes to be the owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of outstanding voting
49


securities of the Company or its parent company or the transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, its parent or their successor or a person, acquires, directly or indirectly, the voting power to elect a majority of the members of the Board of the Company or its parent (other than in the section entitled “Compensationnormal course) or any other similar transaction or series of Directors and Executive Officers”related transactions.

Outstanding Equity Awards at September 30, 2020

The named executive officers of the Proxy Statement.Company did not have any unvested equity awards as of September 30, 2020.



Compensation of Directors

We paid our non-employee directors $500 per quarter and $750 for each board meeting and $375 for each committee meeting or telephonic board or committee meeting the director attended. The chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional $375 per meeting, and the chairmen of the Compensation and Governance and Nominating Committees receive an additional $150 per meeting. In addition, all directors are eligible to receive awards of restricted shares, which are subject to a 12-month holding period, or options to purchase shares of our common stock each year after the annual shareholders meeting. We reimburse all directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with their service on our Board and any Board committee. The following table reflects the total compensation earned by each non-employee director during the last fiscal year:

Fiscal Year 2020 Director CompensationFees Paid in CashFair Value of Share AwardsTotal Compensation
David E. Chymiak (1) (3) (7)$12,000 (7)$32,154 (5)$44,154 
Thomas J. Franz (1) (2)12,000 67,154 (5)79,154 
Timothy S. Harden (3) (4)10,000 153,500 (5)163,500 
James C. McGill (1) (2) (3) (4) (6)50,000 (6)62,500 (5)112,500 
John M. Shelnutt (2) (3) (4)12,300 (6)170,654 (5)182,954 
David W. Sparkman (1)12,000 67,154 (5)79,154 
(1)Member of the Audit Committee.
(2)Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
(3)Member of the Compensation Committee.
(4)Member of the Strategic Direction Committee.
(5)In fiscal year 2020, the directors received their stock grant from 2019 as there were not enough shares available under the 2015 Incentive Stock Plan until after the March shareholders' meeting where the shareholders approved additional shares to be added to the Plan. The grant was for 8,287 shares using the closing stock price on the date of the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders.
(6)Mr. McGill and the Company entered into a Letter Agreement on October 8, 2018, which provides that Mr. McGill will receive annual compensation in the form of $75,000 cash and $75,000 in shares of restricted stock, which vest over five years, for serving as Chairman of the Board. On July 16, 2020, this Agreement was amended to provide that Mr. McGill will receive annual compensation in the form of $25,000 of cash and $50,000 shares of restricted, which will have a one year vesting period. In addition, his previous shares granted in October 2018 fully vested in October 2020.
(7)In fiscal year 2020, the shareholders approved a new director compensation plan for which the directors would receive $50,000 of stock after the annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Chymiak and Mr. McGill do not participate in this plan.




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Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by this item regarding security ownership and equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters”Matters.

The following table shows the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned (as of November 30, 2020) by:
• each person known by us who beneficially owns more than 5% of any class of our voting stock;
• each director and nominee for director;
• each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table; and
• our directors and executive officers as a group.

Except as otherwise indicated, the beneficial owners listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers of their shares.
Name of Beneficial OwnerNumber of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned (1)Percent of Class (1)
Directors and Officers:
Dave Chymiak2,709,230 (2)22.90%
Joseph Hart196,122 1.70%
James McGill133,299 *
Tom Franz102,505 *
Scott Francis112,120 *
Jarrod Watson99,937 *
Jimmy Taylor75,000 *
Reginald Jaramillo65,000 *
David Sparkman64,494 *
Timothy Harden74,155 *
John Shelnutt82,442 *
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group (11 persons)3,714,304 31%
Others > 5% ownership:
Ken Chymiak1,475,169 (3)13%
Thomas A Satterfield, Jr.890,645 (4)8%
* Less than one percent
(1) Shares which an individual has the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to the exercise of options are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Includes shares for which the person has sole voting and investment power, or has shared voting and investment power with his/her spouse.
(2) Substantially all of these shares are pledged to the Company to secure the promissory note issued by the buyer in connection with the sale of the Proxy Statement.Company’s cable television segment.

(3) Based on a Form 4, filed on September 17, 2020, of the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Chymiak, 1,475,169 are held of record by his spouse, Susan C. Chymiak as trustee of the Susan Chymiak Revocable Trust. Mr. Chymiak has sole voting and investment power over those shares held of record by him. Mr. Chymiak disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by his wife

(4) Based on a Schedule 13G/A, filed on February 13, 2019, of Mr. Satterfield’s reported ownership, 30,000 shares are held jointly with Mr. Satterfield’s spouse; 3,400 shares are held individually by Mr. Satterfield’s spouse; 75,000 shares are held by Tomsat Investment & Trading Co., Inc., a corporation wholly-owned by Mr. Satterfield and of which he serves as President; and 380,000 shares are held by Caldwell Mill Opportunity Fund, which fund is managed by an entity of which Mr. Satterfield owns a 50% interest and serves as Chief Investment Manager. Additionally, Mr. Satterfield has limited powers of attorney for voting and disposition purposes with respect to the following shares: A.G. Family L.P. (375,000 shares); Jeanette Satterfield Kaiser (28,000 shares); Richard W. Kaiser, III (15,000 shares); and David Satterfield (18,000 shares). These individuals and entities have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of the proceeds from the sale of their respective shares.
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
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Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans
The information requiredin the following table is as of September 30, 2020:
Plan CategoryNumber of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(a)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders100,000$1.55789,630
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders$—
Total100,000$1.55789,630


Item 13. Related Parties

In fiscal year 2020, our related party transactions with Mr. David Chymiak or affiliates owned by this item regarding certain relationships andhim have consisted of receiving proceeds on the secured note receivable outstanding from Mr. Chymiak related transactions and director independence is incorporated by reference to the information set forthsale of our Cable Segment to Leveling 8, Inc., in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “BoardJune 2019, as described in Note 4. Discontinued Operations in Part II of Directors,” respectively,this Annual Report.

As part of the Proxy Statement.sale agreement, Mr. Chymiak personally guaranteed the promissory note due to the Company and pledged certain assets (directly and indirectly owned) to secure the payment of the promissory note, including substantially all of Mr. Chymiak’s Company common stock. Mr. Chymiak also entered into a standstill agreement with the Company under which he is limited in taking action with respect to the Company or its management for a period of three years after the closing of the cable sale. As of December 15, 2020, Mr. Chymiak has repaid $4.1 million of the loan, with $2.3 million outstanding.



Item 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services.


HoganTaylor audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Our Audit Committee considered whether the provisions for the tax services and other services by HoganTaylor were compatible with maintaining their independence and determined that they were.

Fees Incurred by the Company for Services Performed by Audit Firms

The information requiredfollowing table shows the fees incurred for the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 for professional services provided by this item regarding principal accountingHoganTaylor for the audits of our annual financial statements as well as other professional services.

20202019
Audit Fees(1)
$117,000 $137,400 
Audit-Related Fees(2)
14,150 65,000 
Tax Fees(3)
27,250 37,250 
Total$158,400 $239,650 

(1) Audit Fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and review of our quarterly financial statements and audit services is incorporated by reference toprovided in connection with the information set forth inissuance of comfort letters, consents, and assistance with review of documents filed with the section entitled “Principal AccountingSEC.
(2) Audit-Related Fees represent reimbursements of travel and Services”other costs associated with audit services such as consent.
(3) Tax Fees represent fees for annual tax return preparation and research of the Proxy Statement.tax related matters.
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52


PART IV

Item 15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

Financial Statements, Schedules and Exhibits
(a)1.Financial Statements — ADDvantage Technology Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries:

The following financial statementsFinancial Statements listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as part of this report inon Form 10-K (see Part II, Item 8.8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data).


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and for each ofFinancial Statement Schedules

All consolidated financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not required, are not applicable, or the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016.

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                    2.  The following documents arerequired information has been included as exhibits toelsewhere within this Form 10-K.


ExhibitDescriptionExhibits


The information required by this Section (a)(3) of Item 15 is set forth on the exhibit index following this page.

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Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

Not applicable.










46













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54


10.19
10.13*
10.14*
10.15*
10.16*
10.17*
10.18*21.1
10.19*
10.20*
10.21*
10.22*
10.23*
10.24*
10.25
21.1





101.INS101.INSXBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.

101.CAL101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.

101.DEF101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.

101.LAB101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.

55
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.


48


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.

ADDvantage Technologies Group, Inc.

Date: December 17, 2020By:
/s/ Joseph E. Hart
Joseph E. Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:    December 14, 2017       By:/s/ David L. Humphrey
David L. Humphrey, President and Chief Executive Officer



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



Date:     December 14, 2017            /s/ David E. Chymiak
David E. Chymiak, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Technology Officer

Date:     December 14, 2017            /s/ Scott A. Francis
Scott A. Francis, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
Officer)

Date:     December 14, 2017            /s/ Thomas J. Franz
Thomas J. Franz, Director

Date:     December 14, 2017            /s/ Joseph E. Hart
Joseph E. Hart, Director

Date:     December 14, 2017            /s/ James C. McGill
James C. McGill, Director

Date:     December 14, 2017            /s/ David W. Sparkman
David W. Sparkman, Director

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

The following documents are included as exhibits to this Form 10-K.

ExhibitDescription







Date: December 17, 2020/s/ Thomas J. Franz
10.3
Date: December 17, 2020/s/ Timothy S. Harden
Timothy S. Harden, Director
Date: December 17, 2020/s/ James C. McGill
James C. McGill, Chairman of the Board of Directors dated September 1, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company on September 1, 2009 (File No. 001-10799).
Date: December 17, 2020/s/ John M. Shelnutt
John M. Shelnutt, Director
Date: December 17, 2020/s/ David W. Sparkman
David W. Sparkman, Director






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31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INSXBRL Instance Document.

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.

























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