SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20202023
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File No. 0-18105
VASO CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 11-2871434 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (IRS Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | | Identification No.) |
| 137 Commercial Street, Plainview, New York | 11803 | |
| | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(516) 997-4600Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act: None
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.001 par value
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
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 past 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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large“large accelerated filer," "accelerated” “accelerated filer," "smaller” “smaller reporting company,"” and "emerging“emerging growth company"company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
| Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ]☐ No [ X ]☒
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $1.9$24.3 million based on the closing sales price of the common stock as quoted on the OTC PKQB on June 28, 2020.30, 2023.
At April 23, 2021,March 24, 2024, the number of shares outstanding of the issuer'sissuer’s common stock was 174,936,212.175,319,296.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
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VASO CORPORATION
INDEX TO FORM 10-K
EXHIBITS
| Exhibit 31 | Certifications Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) |
| Exhibit 32 | Certifications Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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PART I
ITEM 1 – BUSINESS
Except for historical information contained in this report, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this report, words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “may”, “plans”, “potential” and “intends” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions, including the currentpossibility of a downturn in the U.S. economy and continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the effect of the dramatic changes taking place in IT and healthcare; continuation of the GEHC agreement; the impact of competitive technology and products and their pricing; medical insurance reimbursement policies; unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems; unforeseen difficulties and delays in product development programs; the actions of regulatory authorities and third-party payers in the United States and overseas; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we”, “our”, “us”, “Company”, “registrant”, “Vaso” or “management” refer to Vaso Corporation and its subsidiaries.
General Overview
Vaso Corporation principally operates in three distinct business segments in the healthcare equipment and information technology industries. We manage and evaluate our operations, and report our financial results, through these three business segments.
| ● | IT segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary VasoTechnology, Inc., primarily focuses on healthcare IT and managed network technology services; |
| ● | Professional sales service segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary Vaso Diagnostics, Inc. d/b/a VasoHealthcare, primarily focuses on the sale of healthcare capital equipment for GE HealthCare (“GEHC”) into the health provider middle market; and |
| ● | Equipment segment, primarily focuses on the design, manufacture, sale and service of proprietary medical devices and software, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary VasoMedical, Inc., which in turn operates through Vasomedical Solutions, Inc. for domestic business and Vasomedical Global Corp. for international business, respectively. |
VasoTechnology Inc., primarily focuses on healthcare IT and managed network technology services;
VasoTechnology, Inc. was formed in May 2015, at the time the Company acquired all of the assets of NetWolves, LLC and its affiliates, including the membership interests in NetWolves Network Services, LLC (collectively, “NetWolves”). It currently consists of a managed network and security service division (NetWolves) and a healthcare IT application VAR (value added reseller) division (VasoHealthcare IT). Its current offering includes:
| ● | Managed diagnostic imaging applications (channel partner of select vendors of healthcare IT products). |
| ● | Managed network infrastructure (routers, switches and other core equipment). |
| ● | Managed network transport (FCC licensed carrier reselling 175+ facility partners). |
| ● | Managed network security services. |
VasoTechnology uses a combination of proprietary technology, methodology and best-in-class third-party applications to deliver its value proposition.
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VasoHealthcare
VasoHealthcare commenced operations in 2010, in conjunction with the Company’s execution of its exclusive sales representation agreement with GEHC which is the healthcare business division of the General Electric Company (“GE”), to further the sale of certain medical capital equipment in certain domestic market segments.
| ● | GEHC diagnostic imaging equipment and ultrasound systems. |
| ● | GEHC service agreements for the above equipment. |
| ● | GEHC training services for use of the above equipment. |
| ● | GEHC and third-party financial services for the above equipment. |
VasoHealthcare has built a team of over 80 highly experienced sales professionals who utilize proprietary sales management and analytic tools to manage the complete sales process and to increase market penetration.
VasoMedical
The proprietary medical equipment business now all under VasoMedical dates back to 1995 when the Company began the proprietary Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP®) technology in the United States, and has since diversified to include other medical hardware and software. Vasomedical Global was formed in 2011 to combine and coordinate the various international operations including design, development, manufacturing, and sales of medical devices and software, while domestic activities are conducted under Vasomedical Solutions. These devices and software primarily consist of cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic systems,applications, including:
| ● | Biox™ series Holter monitors and ambulatory blood pressure recorders. |
| ● | ARCS® series analysis, reporting and communication software for ECG and blood pressure signals, including cloud-based software suite and algorithm subscription services. |
| ● | MobiCare® multi-parameter wireless vital-sign monitoring system. |
| ● | EECP®therapy systems for non-invasive, outpatient treatment of ischemic heart disease. |
This segment uses its extensive in-house knowledge and intellectual property for cardiovascular device knowledgedevices and software coupled with its engineering resources to cost effectively create and market its proprietary technology. It sells and services its products to domestic customers in the U.S. and China directly and sells and/or services its products in the international market mainly through independent distributors.
Historical Background
Vaso Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in July 1987. For most of its history, the Company primarily was a single-product company designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing its proprietary Enhanced External Counterpulsation, or EECP®, therapy systems, mainly for the treatment of angina. In 2010 it began to diversify its business operations. The Company changed its name to Vaso Corporation in 2016 to more accurately reflect the diversified nature of its business and continues to use the original name VasoMedical for its proprietary medical device subsidiary.
In May 2010, the Company launched its Professional Sales Service business through a wholly-owned subsidiary Vaso Diagnostics, Inc. d/b/a VasoHealthcare, which was appointed theby GEHC as its exclusive representative for the sale of select GEGEHC diagnostic imaging equipment, and expanded in 2023 to include ultrasound systems, to specific market segments in the 48 contiguous states of the United States and the District of Columbia. The original agreement (“GEHC Agreement”) was for three years ending June 30, 2013; it has been extended several times with the current extension through December 31, 2022,2026, subject to earlier termination under certain conditions.
In June 2014, the Company began its IT segment business by concluding the Value Added Reseller Agreement (“VAR Agreement”) with GEHC to become a national value added reseller of GEHC Digital’s software solutions such as Picture Archiving and Communication System (“PACS”), Radiology Information System (“RIS”), and related services, including implementation, training, management and support. This business focuses primarily on customer segments currently served by VasoHealthcare. A new wholly owned subsidiary, VasoHealthcare IT Corp. (“VHC IT”), was formed to conduct the healthcare IT business.
In 2021, the VAR Agreement was terminated and the Company partnered with other vendors providing similar products.2
In May 2015, the Company further expanded its IT business segment by acquiring all of the assets of NetWolves, LLC and its affiliates, including the membership interests in NetWolves Network Services, LLC (collectively, “NetWolves”), pursuant to an asset purchase agreement. NetWolves designs and delivers efficient and cost-effective multi-network and multi-technology solutions as a managed network provider, as well as provides a complete single-source solution that includes design, network redundancy, application device management, real-time network monitoring, reporting and support systems as a comprehensive solution.
The Company’s Equipment business also has been significantly expanded from the original EECP®-only operations. In September 2011, the Company acquired FGE, a British Virgin Islands company, which owned or controlled two Chinese operating companies - Life Enhancement Technology Ltd. (“LET”) based in Foshan, China, and Biox Instruments Co. Ltd. (“Biox”) based in Wuxi, China, respectively - to expand its technical and manufacturing capabilities and to enhance its distribution network, technology, and product portfolio. Biox was a variable interest entity (“VIE”) controlled by FGE through certain contracts and an option to acquire all the shares of Biox by FGE’s wholly owned subsidiary Gentone, and in March 2019 Gentone exercised its option to acquire all of the shares of Biox. In August 2014, the Company through Gentone acquired all of the outstanding shares of Genwell Instruments Co. Ltd. (“Genwell”), located in Wuxi, China. Genwellwhich was formed in China in 2010 with the assistance of a local government grant to develop the MobiCare™MobiCare® wireless multi-parameter patient monitoring system and holds intellectual property rights for this system. As a result, the Company has now expanded its equipment products portfolio to include Biox™ series ambulatory patient monitoring systems, ARCS™ARCS® series software for ECG and blood pressure analysis, and the MobiCare™MobiCare® patient monitoring device.
In April 2014, the Company entered into a cooperation agreement with Chongqing PSK-Health Sci-Tech Development Co., Ltd. (“PSK”) of Chongqing, China, the leading manufacturer of external counter pulsation, or ECP, therapy systems in China, to form a joint venture company, VSK Medical Limited (“VSK”), a Cayman Islands company, for the global marketing, sale and advancement of ECP therapy technology. The Company owned 49.9% of VSK, which commenced operations in January 2015. In March 2018, the Company terminated the cooperation agreement with PSK and sold its shares in VSK to PSK. On May 20, 2020, the Company closed on the sale of 51% of the capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary EECP Global Corporation (“EECP Global”) to PSK for $1,150,000.PSK. EECP Global was formed in September 2019 to hold all the assets and liabilities of its EECP business. Concurrently with the closing of the transaction, the Company signed a three-year Management Service Agreement with EECP Global to provide management service for the business and operation of EECP Global in the United States. The agreement provides an initial term of three years starting April 1, 2020, the effective date of the sale, which is automatically renewable for additional one-year terms. Pursuant to the agreement, EECP Global reimburses the Company all direct expenses and pays a monthly management fee starting April 1, 2020,during the effective dateterm of the sale.agreement.
Achari Business Combination Agreement
As previously announced, the Company entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated as of December 6, 2023, with Achari Ventures Holdings Corp. I, a Delaware corporation (“Achari”) (NASDAQ: AVHI), and Achari Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Achari (“Merger Sub”). The Business Combination Agreement provides, among other things, that on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Achari. Upon the closing of the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”), we anticipate that Achari will change its name to “Vaso Holdings Corp.” or an alternative name chosen by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Achari (“New Vaso”). The Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Business Combination”.
Upon the Closing, New Vaso would have authorized shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The Business Combination Agreement establishes a pro forma equity value of the Company at approximately $176 million, at $10.00 per share of Class A common stock. As such, we believe that the current Vaso stockholders would receive approximately 17.6 million shares of Class A common stock and the current Achari shareholders would maintain between 500 thousand and 750 thousand shares of Class A common stock depending on Achari’s unpaid expenses at the Closing and presuming the redemption of all outstanding public shares of Achari on or prior to the Closing. In addition, current Achari warrant holders would have outstanding warrants to purchase a minimum of 8.25 million shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. No shares of Class B common stock are expected to be outstanding immediately after the Business Combination.
The Boards of Directors of Vaso and Achari have each approved the Business Combination, the consummation of which is subject to various customary closing conditions, including the filing and effectiveness of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) by Achari with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the filing of a proxy statement by Vaso with the SEC and clearance by the SEC, and the approval of a majority of shareholders of both Achari and Vaso of the proposed business combination (Vaso shareholders representing approximately 44% of Vaso’s outstanding shares have entered into support agreements committing them to vote in favor of the Business Combination). The Business Combination is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.
Management
The Company currently bases its headquarters in Plainview, Long Island, NY pursuant to a lease which expires in September 2022.2025. Reporting to the Board of Directors, corporate officers of the Company include the President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Co-Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), and Co-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
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The management of the Company’s IT segment is led by the COO of the Company, who is also the President of VasoTechnology and NetWolves, which is based in Tampa, FL. Our VasoHealthcare IT VAR business is organized as a part of VasoTechnology and is also led by the COO, supported by several software solution sales and implementation specialists, based in Nashville, TN. The business unit works with our VasoHealthcare diagnostic imaging equipment sales team to generate leads and potential clients for the software solutions products and works with NetWolves sales and technical teams for comprehensive IT product and service offerings.
In the professional sales services segment, we sell GEHC diagnostic imaging products and ultrasound systems to our assigned market through a nationwide team of approximately 6571 sales employees led by several regional managers and an executive team who report to the President of VasoHealthcare. The operation is also supported by in-house administrative, analytic, technical and other support staff, as well as applicable GEHC employees.
The equipment segment is under the direct supervision of the CEO of the Company. SalesRegulatory, technical, sales and marketing efforts in the domestic market are led by a Vice President of national sales and serviceOperations at Vasomedical Solutions,VasoMedical, and the managers of our China subsidiaries, based in Wuxi, China, are in charge of the development and production of all our proprietary products and marketing and sales in China and the international markets. We sell our Biox™ series and other products in China by a group of sales managers as well as through distributors covering various regions of China and other international geographies.
Competition
In the U.S. diagnostic imaging market where we sell GEHC products, our main competitors include Siemens, Philips, Canon, and Hologic. Key competitive factors in the market include price, quality, finance availability, delivery speed, service and support, innovation, distribution network, breadth of product and service offerings and brand name recognition. GEHC is a leading competitor in this market.
In the IT segment, our primary competitors in the healthcare IT VAR business are Agfa Healthcare, McKesson, Philips, Carestream Health and other independent software providers. Key competitive factors are brand recognition, quality, radiology workflow solutions, scalability and service and support capability. In the managed network services business our primary competition includes, but is not limited to, organizations who have a presence in most of the major markets for the following products and services: network services, managed services, security services and healthcare applications. Several of those competitors, many of which are our vendors, are: Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, IBM and Cisco Resellers, Siemens, Epic, small regional IT integrators and large company internal IT departments.
In the ambulatory monitoring system business, there are numerous competitors of various size and strength. The Biox™ series is among the few from China with CE Mark certification for Europe, CFDA approval for China, US FDA clearances as well as Brazilian Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA) approval, which are among the most important qualifications to market and sell the products around the world.
Regulations on Medical Devices
As a medical device manufacturer and marketer, we are subject to extensive regulation by numerous government regulatory agencies, including the US FDA and similar foreign agencies. We are required to comply with applicable laws, regulations and standards governing the development, preclinical and clinical testing, manufacturing, quality testing, labeling, promotion, import, export, and distribution of our medical devices.
Compliance with Regulations in the United States
The Company has received appropriate US FDA premarket notification (510(k)) clearance for all its products marketed and sold in the United States, including EECP® therapy systems and Biox™ ambulatory monitoring systems and analysis and report software. We continue to seek US FDA clearance or approval for new products prior to their introduction to the US market.
We are subject to other US FDA regulations that apply prior to and after a product is commercially released. We also are subject to periodic and random inspections by the US FDA for compliance with the current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, requirements and Quality System Regulation. The US FDA also enforces post-marketing controls that include the requirement to submit medical device reports to the agency when a manufacturer becomes aware of information suggesting that any adverse events are related to its marketed products. The FDA relies on medical device reports to identify product problems and utilizes these reports to determine, among other things, whether it should exercise its enforcement powers. The FDA also may require post-market surveillance studies for specified devices.
We are subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s, or FDCA’s, general controls, including establishment registration, device listing, and labeling requirements.
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The sales and advertising of our products is subject to regulation by the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC. The FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. Violations of the FTC Act, such as failure to have substantiation for product claims, would subject us to a variety of enforcement actions, including compulsory process, cease and desist orders and injunctions, which can require, among other things, limits on advertising, corrective advertising, consumer redress and restitution, as well as substantial fines or other penalties.
As a medical device sales channel partner and product reseller to healthcare facilities, we are subject to various federal, state and local laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry, including anti-kickback and false claims laws.
Foreign Regulation
In most countries where we seek to export our medical devices, a local regulatory clearance must be obtained. The regulatory review process varies from country to country and can be complex, costly, uncertain, and time-consuming. Our medical devices are all manufactured in accordance with ISO 13485 (Medical device – Quality management systems – Requirement for regulatory purpose), an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system specific to the medical devices industry. All our current medical devices have obtained necessary clearances or approvals prior to their release in the appropriate jurisdictions, including CE marking certification for European Union countries, China FDA (CFDA) approval for mainland China, Korean FDA (KFDA) approval for South Korea, Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) approval for Brazil, Taiwan FDA (TFDA) for Taiwan, and the Saudi SFDA (MDMA) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We are also subject to audits by organizations authorized by foreign countries to determine compliance with laws, regulations and standards that apply to the commercialization of our products in those markets. Examples include auditing by a European Union Notified Body organization (authorized by a member state’s Competent Authority) to determine conformity with the Medical Device Directives (MDD) and by an organization authorized by the Brazilian government to determine conformity with the ANVISA requirement.
Patient Privacy
Federal and state laws protect the confidentiality of certain patient health information, including patient records, and restrict the use and disclosure of that protected information. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published patient privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA privacy rule) and the regulation was finalized in October 2002. Currently, the HIPAA privacy rule affects us only indirectly in that patient data that we access, collect and analyze may include protected health information. Additionally, we have signed some Business Associate Agreements with Covered Entities that contractually bind us to protect private health information, consistent with the HIPAA privacy rule’srules requirements. We do not expect the costs and impact of the HIPAA privacy rule to be material to our business.
Regulations in the IT Business
As a reseller of telecommunication services and network solutions provider, our products and services are subject to federal, state and local regulations. These regulations govern, in part, our rates and the way we conduct our business, including the requirement to offer telecommunications services pursuant to nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions, the obligation to safeguard the confidentiality of customer proprietary network information, as well as the obligation to maintain specialized records and file reports with the Federal Communications Commission and state regulatory authorities. While we believe we are in compliance with laws and regulations in jurisdictions where we do business, we continue to monitor and assess our compliance.
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) exercises jurisdiction over services and regulates interstate and international communications in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S territories. As an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the commissionFCC is the United States'States’ primary authority for communications laws, regulation and technological innovation.
We maintain Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity in all 50 states, which enable us to provide services within each state. We are therefore subject to regulation from the Public Utility Commissions in each state.
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Intellectual Properties
In addition to other methods of protecting our proprietary technology, know-how and show-how as well as trade secrets, we pursue a policy of seeking patent protection, both in the US and abroad, for our proprietary technologies including those in Biox™ and MobiCare™MobiCare® products. Moreover, trademarks have been registered for the names “Vaso”, “Vasomedical”, “VasoGlobal”, “VasoSolutions”, “VasoHealthcare”, “ARCS”, and “MobiCare”.
Through our China-based subsidiaries, we own thirtythirty-five invention and utility patents in China that expire at various times through 2032,2041, as well as fourteensixteen software copyright certificates in China related to proprietary technologies in physiological data acquisition, analysis and reporting. We also maintain five registered trademarks in China for our products.
Through our NetWolves subsidiary we hold a patent for Secure and Remote Monitoring Management (“SRM”) and we hold trademarks “NetWolves”, “SRM”, and “Wolfpac”.
There can be no assurance that our patents will not be violated or that any issued patents will provide protection that has commercial significance. As with any patented technology, litigation could be necessary to protect our patent position. Such litigation can be costly and time-consuming, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful.
Employees
As of December 31, 2020,2023, we employed 268300 full-time persons, of which 1514 are employed through our facility in Plainview, New York; 81102 through VasoHealthcare; 813 through VasoHealthcare IT; 109100 through our NetWolves operations; and 5571 in our China operations. None of our employees are represented by a labor union. We believe that our employee relations are good.
The Company also uses several part-time employees and consultants from time to time for various purposes.
Manufacturing
The Company conducts manufacturing activities primarily throughfor its ambulatory monitoring devices and other medical devices in its Biox facilities in China, while maintainingand maintains certain manufacturing capability in the Plainview, NY location to satisfy certain domestic and international needs for the EECP® systems. The Biox facilities manufacture ambulatory monitoring devices and other medical devices.
All manufacturing operations are conducted under the cGMP requirements, as set forth in the FDA Quality System Regulation, as well as ISO 13485 (Medical device – Quality management systems – Requirement for regulatory purpose), an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system specific to the medical devices industry. We are also certified to conform to full quality assurance system requirements of the EU Medical Device Directive (MDD 93/42/EEC Annex II) and can apply CE marking to all of our current product models. Lastly, we are certified to comply with the requirements of the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). All these regulations and standards subject us to inspections to verify compliance and require us to maintain documentation and controls for the manufacturing and quality activities.
We believe our manufacturing capacity and warehouse facility are adequate to meet the current and immediately foreseeable future demand for the production of our medical devices. We believe our suppliers of the other medical devices we distribute or represent are capable of meeting our demand for the foreseeable future.
ITEM 1A -– RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with the information included elsewhere in this Report on Form 10K. The risks and uncertainties described below are those we have identified as material, but are not the only risks and uncertainties facing us. Our business is also subject to general risks and uncertainties that affect many other companies, such as market conditions, geopolitical events, changes in laws or accounting rules, fluctuation in interest rates, terrorism, wars or conflicts, major health concerns, natural disasters or other disruptions of economic or business conditions, including the currentpossibility of a downturn in the U.S. economy and continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may impair our business, including our results of operations, liquidity and financial position.
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Financial Risks
Achieving profitable operations is dependent on several factors.
Our ability to sustain profitability is dependent on many factors, primarily being the sufficient and timely generation of cash, as well as attaining and maintaining profitability in our IT and equipment segments, as well as the success of our other strategic initiatives.
Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our markets and financial condition is difficult to predict and manage.
The pandemic has adversely affected, and is expected tomay continue to adversely affect, certain elements of our business, primarily the initial shrinkage, and subsequent recovery, of our customer ordersbase in our IT and professional sales service segments and accounts receivable collections in our IT segment.segment as well as the overall effect of China’s prior lockdown practice on its economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to modify our business practices, and we may take further actions as required by government authorities, our customers or as determined to be in the best interests of our associates,employees, customers and business partners. There is no certainty that these measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by the virus and our ability to execute our business plans could be impacted. The magnitude and duration of the disruption and resulting decline in business activity isremain uncertain.
Risks Related to Our Business
We currently derive a significant amount of our revenue and operating income from our agreement with GEHC.
On May 19, 2010, we signed a sales representation agreement with GEHC. Under the GEHC Agreement, we have been appointed theGEHC’s exclusive representative for thesecertain GEHC diagnostic imaging products to specific market segments in the 48 contiguous states of the United States and the District of Columbia. The GEHC Agreement had an initial term of three years commencing July 1, 2010 and has subsequently been extended in 2012, was extended for two additional years to June 30, 2015. In December 2014, 2017 and 2021, with the agreement was extended againcurrent term through December 31, 2018. In December 2017, the agreement was further extended through December 31, 2022, including2026, subject to GEHC’s right to terminate earlier without cause withunder certain conditions.
A significant amount of our revenue and operating income arise from activities under this agreement. Moreover, our performance and growth in the professional sales service segment depends partially on the territories, customer accounts and product modalities assigned to us by GEHC, as well as factors beyond our control such as product pricing, availability and delivery schedule, and thus relies on our ability to demonstrate our added value as a channel partner, and on maintaining a positive relationship with GEHC. There is no assurance that the agreement will not be terminated prior to its expiration pursuant to its termination provisions or will be extended beyond the current expiration date. Should GEHC terminate the agreement, it would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We face competition from other companies and technologies.
In all segments of our business we compete with other companies that market technologies, products and services in the global marketplace. We do not know whether these companies, or other potential competitors who may succeed in developing technologies, products or services that are more efficient or effective than those offered by us, and that would render our technology and existing products obsolete or non-competitive. Potential new competitors may also have substantially greater financial, manufacturing and marketing resources than those possessed by us. In addition, other technologies or products may be developed that have an entirely different approach or means of accomplishing the intended purpose of our products. Accordingly, the life cycles of our products are difficult to estimate. To compete successfully, we must keep pace with technological advancements, respond to evolving consumer requirements and achieve market acceptance.
Data security incidents or disruptions in our information technology systems could damage our business.
We are increasingly dependent on information systems and infrastructure to operate our business. Our ability to effectively manage our business depends on the security, reliability, and adequacy of our information systems. We review and enhance our computer systems as well as provide training to our employees in an attempt to prevent unauthorized and unlawful intrusions. Despite our implementation of firewalls, switchgear, and other network security measures, our servers, databases, and other systems may be vulnerable to various cyber and other security threats, including those caused by computer hackers, physical or electronic break-ins, sabotage, computer viruses, malware, worms, and similar disruptions from unauthorized access and tampering with our computer systems, including through social engineering such as phishing attacks, coordinated denial-of-service attacks, and similar incidents. The occurrence of some of these risks may be increased due to the work-from-home arrangements that we have implemented for many of our employees. Significant disruptions in our information technology systems or other data security incidents could adversely affect our business operations.
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We depend on management and other key personnel.
We are dependent on a limited number of key management and technical personnel. The loss of one or more of our key employees may harm our business if we are unable to identify other individuals to provide us with similar services. We do not maintain “key person” insurance on any of our employees. In addition, our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain additional highly qualified management, sales, IT, manufacturing and research and development personnel in our various operations. The competition for IT personnel is intense.
We may not continue to receive necessary FDA clearances or approvals from the US FDA or foreign authorities for our medical devices, which could hinder our ability to market and sell certain products.products in the relevant markets.
If we modify our medical devices and the modifications significantly affect safety or effectiveness, or if we make a change to the intended use, we will be required to submit a new premarket notification (510(k)) or premarket approval (PMA) application to the FDA. We would not be able to market the modified device in the U.S. until the FDA issues a clearance for the 510(k).
If we offer new products that require 510(k) clearance or a PMA, we will not be able to commercially distribute those products in the U.S. until we receive such clearance or approval. Regulatory agency approval or clearance for a product may not be received or may entail limitations on the device’s indications for use that could limit the potential market for the product. Delays in receipt of, or failure to obtain or maintain, regulatory clearances and approvals, could delay or prevent our ability to market or distribute our products. Such delays could have a material adverse effect on our equipment business.
There are similar medical device regulations or requirements in China, Europe, and other foreign markets where we sell our products. Failure to comply with these regulations and requirements could have a material adverse effect on our equipment business.
If we are unable to comply with applicable governmental regulations, we may not be able to continue certain of our operations.
As a reseller of telecommunication services and network solutions provider, our products and services are subject to federal, state and local regulations. These regulations govern, in part, our rates and the way we conduct our business, including the requirement to offer telecommunications services pursuant to nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions, the obligation to safeguard the confidentiality of customer proprietary network information, as well as the obligation to maintain specialized records and file reports with the Federal Communications Commission and state regulatory authorities. While we believe we are in compliance with laws and regulations in jurisdictions where we do business, we must continue to monitor and assess our compliance.
We also must comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements as set forth in the Quality System Regulation to receive US FDA approval to market new products and to continue to market current products. Most states also have similar regulatory and enforcement authority for medical devices.
Our operations in China are also subject to the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China with which we must be in compliance in order to conduct these operations.
We are subject to various federal, state and local laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry, including anti-kickback and false claims laws.
We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, nor can we predict what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative orders, either domestically or internationally, when and if promulgated, would have on our business in the future. We may be slow to adapt, or we may never adapt to changes in existing requirements or adoption of new requirements or policies. We may incur significant costs to comply with laws and regulations in the future or compliance with laws or regulations may create an unsustainable burden on our business.
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We have foreign operations and are subject to the associated risks of doing business in foreign countries.
The Company continues to have operations in China. Operating internationally involves additional risks relating to such things as currency exchange rates, different legal and regulatory environments, political, economic risks relating to the stability or predictability of foreign governments, differences in the manner in which different cultures do business, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, differences in financial reporting, operating difficulties, and other factors. The occurrence of any of these risks, if severe enough, could have an adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company.
Commercial law is still developing in China and there are limited legal precedents to follow in commercial transactions. There are many tax jurisdictions each of which may have changing tax laws. Applicable taxes include value added taxes (“VAT”), enterprise income tax (“EIT”), and social (payroll) taxes. Regulations are often unclear. Tax declarations (reports) are subject to review and taxing authorities may impose fines, penalties and interest. These facts create risks for our operations in China.
We depend on several suppliers for the supply of certain products.
As a GEHC channel partner, we could be negatively impacted by interruptions or delays to equipment installations, production and quality issues, and any customer concerns related to GEHC. Delivery of GEHC equipment may be negatively impacted due to the current supply chain issues especially as it impacts availability of computer chips. With respect to our proprietary medical products we now manufacture our own products primarily through our China based facilities, and we depend on certain independent suppliers for parts, components and certain finished goods.
We may not have adequate intellectual property protection.
Our patents and proprietary technology may not be able to prevent competition by others. The validity and breadth of claims in technology patents involve complex legal and factual questions. Future patent applications may not be issued, the scope of any patent protection may not exclude competitors, and our patents may not provide competitive advantages to us. Our patents may be found to be invalid and other companies may claim rights in or ownership of the patents and other proprietary rights held or licensed by us. Also, our existing patents may not cover products that we develop in the future. Moreover, when our patents expire, the inventions will enter the public domain. There can be no assurance that our patents will not be violated or that any issued patents will provide protection that has commercial significance. Litigation may be necessary to protect our patent position. Such litigation may be costly and time-consuming, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in such litigation.
The loss or violation of certain of our patents and trademarks could have a material adverse effect upon our business.
Since patent applications in the United States are maintained in secrecy until such patent applications are issued, our current product development may infringe patents that may be issued to others. If our products were found to infringe patents held by competitors, we may have to modify our products to avoid infringement, and it is possible that our modified products would not be commercially successful.
Risks Related to Our Industries
Our growth could suffer if the markets into which we sell products decline, do not grow as anticipated or experience cyclicality.
Our growth depends in part on the growth of the IT and healthcare markets which we serve. In our professional sales services segment, our quarterly sales and profits depend significantly on the volume and timing of delivery of the underlying equipment of the orders we booked, during the quarter, and the delivery of such products is difficult to forecast since it is largely dependent on GEHC. Product demand is dependent upon the customer’s capital spending budget as well as government funding policies, and matters of public policy as well as product cycles and economic downturns that can affect the spending decisions of these entities. These factors could adversely affect our growth, financial position, and results of operations.
Technological change is difficult to predict and to manage.
We face the challenges that are typically faced by companies in the IT and medical device fields. Our products and services may require substantial development efforts and compliance with governmental clearance or approval requirements. We may encounter unforeseen technological or scientific problems that force abandonment or substantial change in the development of a specific product or process.
We are subject to product liability claims and product recalls that may not be covered by insurance.
The nature of our manufacturing operations exposes us to risks of product liability claims and product recalls. Medical devices as complex as ours frequently experience errors or failures, especially when first introduced or when new versions are released.
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We currently maintain product liability insurance at $6,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate. Our product liability insurance may not be adequate. In the future, insurance coverage may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. In addition, product liability claims or product recalls could damage our reputation even if we have adequate insurance coverage.
Risks Related to our Securities
The application of the "penny stock"“penny stock” rules could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and increase your transaction costs to sell those shares.
As long as the trading price of our common shares is below $5 per share, the open-market trading of our common shares will be subject to the "penny stock"“penny stock” rules. The "penny stock"“penny stock” rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors (generally those with assets in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 together with their spouse). For transactions covered by these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchase of securities and have received the purchaser'spurchaser’s written consent to the transaction before the purchase. Additionally, for any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the broker-dealer must deliver, before the transaction, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price information on the limited market in penny stocks. These additional burdens imposed on broker-dealers restrict the ability and decrease the willingness of broker-dealers to sell our common shares, which we believe results in decreased liquidity for our common shares as well as increased transaction costs for sales and purchases of our common shares as compared to other securities.
Our common stock is subject to price volatility.
The market price of our common stock historically has been and may continue to be highly volatile. Our stock price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to:
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results; |
| ● | overall market fluctuations and domestic and worldwide economic conditions; |
| ● | medical reimbursement; |
| ● | announcements of technological innovations, new products or pricing by our competitors; |
| ● | the timing of patent and regulatory approvals; |
| ● | the timing and extent of technological advancements; |
| ● | the sales of our common stock by affiliates or other shareholders with large holdings; and |
| ● | other factors described in the “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Report. |
Our future operating results may fall below the expectations of securities industry analysts or investors. Any such shortfall could result in a significant decline in the market price of our common stock. In addition, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of our stock and that often have been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market fluctuations may directly influence the market price of our common stock.
We do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
We currently do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
Risks Related to the Business Combination
We have set out the risks involved with the Business Combination in a preliminary proxy statement of Schedule 14-A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2024. We set out some of those risks here and refer to the preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14-A for a fuller understanding of the Business Combination and the risks associated therewith.
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The percentage ownership of New Vaso after the Business Combination by the current Vaso stockholders will not be known until the redemptions are complete.
If the Business Combination occurs, we do not know what percentage of New Vaso the current Vaso stockholders will own. Certain shares of Achari common stock (as of December 31, 2023, approximately 551,000 of the outstanding shares of Achari common stock, the “Public Shares”) may be redeemed by their stockholders in connection with the Business Combination. We expect that Achari’s current stockholders would hold in the aggregate approximately 6.9% of the outstanding common stock of New Vaso assuming no redemption of any Public Shares upon the consummation of the Business Combination. If any of the Public Shares are redeemed in connection with the Business Combination or if certain shares held by Achari’s sponsor need to be returned to Achari because of unpaid expenses in excess of the limit set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, the percentage of the outstanding shares of common stock after the Business Combination that is held by the current Achari stockholders will decrease and the percentage of outstanding common stock after the Business Combination that is held by current Vaso stockholders will increase.
Furthermore, to the extent that (i) any of the outstanding warrants after the Business Combination (including warrants to purchase 8.25 million shares of common stock) are exercised for New Vaso Class A Common Stock and (ii) Achari’s sponsor elects to convert the working capital loan of up to (which was $0 as of December 31, 2023) into warrants, which are convertible into shares of New Vaso common stock at $0.75 per warrant, the stockholders immediately after the Business Combination may experience dilution.
New Vaso’s ability to be successful following the Business Combination will depend upon the efforts of the members of the New Vaso Board and Vaso’s key personnel and the loss of such persons could negatively impact the operations and profitability of New Vaso’s business following the Business Combination.
New Vaso’s ability to be successful following the Business Combination will depend upon the efforts of the New Vaso Board and key personnel. Vaso cannot assure you that, following the Business Combination, the New Vaso Board and key personnel will be effective or successful or remain with New Vaso. In addition to the other challenges they will face, such individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a Nasdaq-listed public company, which could cause the New Vaso’s management to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such requirements.
Vaso’s officers and directors may be argued to have conflicts of interest that may influence or have influenced them to support or approve the Business Combination without regard to your interests or in determining whether the Business Combination is appropriate for Vaso.
The personal and financial interests of Vaso’s officers and directors may influence or have influenced their completing the Business Combination. These interests include, among other things:
| ● | that the current member of Vaso’s board of directors, Joshua Markowitz, David Lieberman, Jun Ma, Jane Moen, Edgar Rios, Leon Dembo and Behnam Movaseghi, are expected to serve as members of New Vaso’s board of directors after consummation of the Business Combination and, in their capacity as such, shall become entitled to any cash fees, stock options or stock awards that New Vaso determines to pay its directors; |
| ● | that executive officers of Vaso, including Jun Ma as its Chief Executive Officer, are expected to serve in their same capacities with New Vaso; and |
| ● | that, upon consummation of the Business Combination, and subject to approval by the Achari stockholders of the New Vaso 2024 Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, New Vaso’s executive officers after the Business Combination are expected to receive grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the New Vaso 2024 Equity Incentive Plan from time to time. |
These interests, among others, may influence or have influenced the officers and directors of Vaso to support or approve the Business Combination.
Achari is, and New Vaso will be, an “emerging growth company,” and New Vaso cannot be certain that the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to “emerging growth companies” will not make its common stock less attractive to investors.
Achari is, and New Vaso will be, an “emerging growth company,” as defined under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) and will continue to be after the Business Combination is completed. For so long as it is an emerging growth company, New Vaso may intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in New Vaso’s periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
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New Vaso could be an emerging growth company for up to five years from the end of its most recently completed fiscal year, although it may lose such status earlier, depending on the occurrence of certain events, including when New Vaso has generated total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or when it is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act, which means that the market value of New Vaso’s common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of December 31st of the prior year, or when we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
We cannot predict if investors will not find New Vaso common stock less attractive or New Vaso less comparable to certain other public companies because New Vaso may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find its common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock, and the New Vaso stock price may be more volatile.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. New Vaso has irrevocably elected not to avail itself of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
As a “smaller reporting company” New Vaso would be permitted to provide less disclosure than larger public companies which may make its common stock less attractive to investors.
If the Business Combination is completed, you will own shares of Class A Common Stock of New Vaso (currently Achari), currently a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and will continue to be one immediately after the Business Combination. As a smaller reporting company, New Vaso will be eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze New Vaso’s results of operations and financial prospects which may result in less investor confidence. Investors may find New Vaso’s common stock less attractive as a result of our smaller reporting company status. If some investors find its common stock less attractive, there may be a less active trading market for its common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
Vaso depends upon its executive officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect Vaso’s ability to operate and to consummate the Business Combination.
Vaso’s operations and its ability to consummate the Business Combination depend upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, its executive officers and directors. Vaso believes that its success depends on the continued service of its executive officers and directors. Vaso does not have key-man insurance on the life of any of its directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of Vaso’s directors or executive officers could have a detrimental effect on Vaso and the ability to continue to operate or to consummate the Business Combination.
If the conditions to the Closing under Business Combination Agreement are not met, the Business Combination may not be consummated.
Even if the Business Combination Agreement is approved by the stockholders of Achari and Vaso, specified conditions must be satisfied or waived before the parties to the Business Combination Agreement are obligated to complete the Business Combination. For example, one of the closing conditions of the Business Combination Agreement is that Achari’s unpaid expenses at the time of closing (the “Unpaid SPAC Expenses”) do not exceed $4.5 million. At the time of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, Achari estimated that its current Unpaid SPAC Expenses totaled approximately $6.7 million. If that estimate is accurate, unless Achari were to settle or renegotiate such Unpaid SPAC Expenses prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, Vaso could terminate the Business Combination Agreement even if the Business Combination is approved by Achari’s and Vaso’s stockholders.
Achari and Vaso may not satisfy all of the closing conditions in the Business Combination Agreement. If the closing conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Business Combination will not occur, or will be delayed pending later satisfaction or waiver, and such delay may cause Achari and Vaso to each lose some or all of the intended benefits of the Business Combination.
If Vaso fails to approve the Business Combination Proposal at the Vaso Stockholders’ Meeting, it will owe Achari a termination fee of $5.28 million.
Vaso has agreed in the Business Combination Agreement that if it holds a duly convened stockholders’ meeting but, after adjournment if necessary, fails to obtain approval for the Business Combination, it will owe Achari a termination fee. The termination fee would equal 3% of the consideration that the Vaso stockholders are deemed to receive in the Business Combination, 3% of which equals $5.28 million.
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Each of Achari and Vaso may waive one or more of the conditions to the Business Combination.
Each of Achari and Vaso may agree to waive, in whole or in part, some of the conditions to their respective obligations to complete the Business Combination, to the extent permitted by their respective existing charters and applicable laws. If either Achari or Vaso elects to waive any conditions to their respective obligations to complete the Business Combination, the parties may close the Business Combination without the satisfaction of any such conditions which could be to the detriment of the Vaso stockholders.
If the Business Combination benefits do not meet the expectation of investors or securities analysts, the market price of New Vaso’s securities may decline.
If the Business Combination does not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of Vaso’s securities prior to the Closing of the Business Combination or New Vaso’s securities after the Business Combination may decline. The market values of New Vaso’s securities at the time of the Closing may vary significantly from the relative market price of Vaso’s securities on the date the Business Combination Agreement was executed, the date of this annual report, or the date on which Vaso’s stockholders vote on the Business Combination. Because the number of shares to be issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement will not be adjusted to reflect any changes in the market price of Vaso’s shares of common stock, the market value of securities issued in the Business Combination may be higher or lower than the values of these shares on earlier dates. In addition, following the Business Combination, fluctuations in the price of securities of New Vaso could contribute to the loss of all or part of your investment.
The failure of the Business Combination to occur could affect our share price as well. If the market price of our common stock reflects a premium in anticipation of the Business Combination and the Business Combination fails to materialize, the market price of our common stock could lose that premium or be further harmed by the perception that an uplisting to a national securities market may not occur in the near future, if at all.
The dual class structure of our Common Stock after the Business Combination will have the effect of concentrating voting control with the holders of our Class B Common Stock; this will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters.
Following the Business Combination, New Vaso’s Class B common stock will have one hundred votes per share and our Class A common stock will have one vote per share. Although it is not expected that New Vaso will issue Class B common stock for the foreseeable future, New Vaso stockholders who hold shares of Class B common stock will together hold a substantial majority of the voting power of New Vaso’s outstanding capital stock. Because of the hundred-to-one voting ratio between New Vaso’s Class B common stock and Class A common stock, the holders of New Vaso’s Class B common stock will collectively control a majority of the combined voting power of New Vaso’s common stock and therefore are able to control all matters submitted to New Vaso’s stockholders for approval. This concentrated control will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters. Holders of Class B common stock may have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. This concentrated control may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of New Vaso, could deprive New Vaso’s stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of New Vaso and might ultimately affect the market price of New Vaso’s Class A common stock.
New Vaso’s business and operations could be negatively affected if it becomes subject to any securities litigation or stockholder activism, which could cause New Vaso to incur significant expense, hinder execution of business and growth strategy and impact its stock price.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Stockholder activism, which could take many forms or arise in a variety of situations, has been increasing recently. Volatility in the stock price of the New Vaso Common Stock or other reasons may in the future cause New Vaso to become the target of securities litigation or stockholder activism. Securities litigation and stockholder activism, including potential proxy contests, could result in substantial costs and divert management’s and board of directors’ attention and resources from New Vaso’s business. Additionally, such securities litigation and stockholder activism could give rise to perceived uncertainties as to New Vaso’s future, adversely affect its relationships with service providers and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel. Also, New Vaso may be required to incur significant legal fees and other expenses related to any securities litigation and activist stockholder matters. Further, its stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any securities litigation and stockholder activism.
If the Business Combination does not qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, former holders of Vaso common stock receiving Achari common stock in connection with the Business Combination may incur greater U.S. federal income tax liability as a result of the Business Combination.
Achari and Vaso intend for the Business Combination to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. However, neither Achari nor Vaso has requested, or intends to request, a ruling from the IRS, with respect to the tax considerations of the Business Combination, and there can be no assurance that the companies’ position would be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. Accordingly, if the IRS or a court determines that the Business Combination does not qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code and is therefore a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holders of Vaso common stock receiving New Vaso common stock in connection with the Business Combination generally would recognize taxable gain or loss on their receipt of the same in connection with the Business Combination.
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Additional Information
We are subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are required to file reports and information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including reports on the following forms: annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports files or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934.
ITEM 1C – CYBERSECURITY
Our Board is actively engaged in the oversight of the Company’s cybersecurity, information security, data protection, and technology programs (“cybersecurity”) . The Audit Committee of the Board serves as the principal agent of the Board in fulfilling its oversight and review of the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to cybersecurity risk assessment and risk management. The Company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) leads the Company’s cybersecurity risk assessment and risk management program. Our COO, who is also the head of our IT business with over 25 years of experience in the information technology industry, leads the team from our IT business in designing and implementing our cybersecurity program.
Our COO and the executive team in our IT business periodically assesses industry best practices, frameworks, and standards so that our practice is up to date for the effective prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. Our cybersecurity risk management program includes the deployment of tools and activities designed to monitor, detect, prevent and analyze current and emerging cybersecurity threats, and plans and strategies to address threats and incidents. Program highlights include:
| ● | Employing a multi-layer strategy of defense designed to ensure the safety, security, and responsible use of information and data. |
| ● | Monitoring of all IT assets, resources, and data 24-hours per day, 7-days per week, 365-days per year by security operations center (SOC). |
| ● | Performing annual testing of the Company’s incident response plan and cybersecurity posture. |
| ● | Incorporating external expertise to manage the SOC, perform penetration tests, cyber-attack simulation exercises, and log management to review anomalies indicating a possible breach. |
| ● | Maintaining a business continuity program and cyber insurance. |
| ● | Performing periodic employee simulated phishing campaigns. |
| ● | Conducting annual cybersecurity and insider threat training for all employees. |
The COO is responsible for informing the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors, the CEO and other members of the senior management team on cybersecurity risks on a regular basis, including evolving cybersecurity threats, cybersecurity incidents, cybersecurity technologies and solutions deployed, major cybersecurity risk areas, and policies and procedures to address those risks and cybersecurity incidents, as well as assessments of our cybersecurity program. The COO also informs the CEO and other members of our senior management team on a more informal basis of all aspects related to cybersecurity risks and incidents. This ensures that the highest levels of management are kept abreast of the cybersecurity posture and potential risks facing us. Any significant cybersecurity matters and strategic risk management decisions related thereto are escalated to the Board of Directors, ensuring that they have comprehensive oversight and can provide guidance on significant cybersecurity issues.
In 2023, the Company achieved its primary cybersecurity risk management objective of no material cybersecurity incidents.
As of the date of this report, the Company is not aware of any material risks from cybersecurity threats, including those resulting from previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company, including our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. For more information about the cybersecurity risks we face, see the risk factors entitled “Data security incidents or disruptions in our information technology systems could damage our business” in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES
The Company leases its headquarters at an 8,700 square foot facility at 137 Commercial Street, Plainview, New York 11803, under a lease with a term that expires on September 15, 202230, 2025 and with a base annual rental of approximately $74,000.$80,000. The Company’s NetWolves unit leases a 16,200 square foot facility in Tampa, Florida, under a lease expiring in June 20222024 with an annual rental of approximately $180,000.$206,000. VHC-IT leasespreviously leased a 3,500flexible space, 1,500 square foot facility in Nashville, Tennessee on a month-to-month basis with an annual cost of $49,000.approximately $32,000. The CompanyNashville lease expired on January 31, 2023 and is evaluating possible renewal options and believes sufficient space is available at similar cost in Nashville.currently rented on a month-to-month basis. We believe that our current facilities are adequate for foreseeable current and future needs.
We lease our office, engineering and production facilities in China. Specifically, we lease approximately 14,700 square feet of space in Wuxi, China under leases expiring in August 2023,2026, September 2023,2026, and December 20232026 at an aggregate annual cost of approximately $76,000.$70,000. Such leases are renewable upon expiration. We also lease office space of approximately 1,700 square feet to host our software R&D team in Tianjin, China under a lease expiring in February 2026 at an annual coat of approximately $27,000.
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PART II
| ITEM 5 – | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
Our common stock currently trades on the OTC Market (OTCQX) under the symbol VASO. The number of record holders of common stock as of April 23, 2021,March 25, 2024, was approximately 900, which does not include approximately 8,500 beneficial owners of shares held in the name of brokers or other nominees. The table below sets forth the range of high and low trade prices of the common stock for the fiscal periods specified.
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Year ended December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| High | Low | High | Low | |||||||||||||
| First quarter | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.05 | ||||||||
| Second quarter | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 0.11 | $ | 0.07 | ||||||||
| Third quarter | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.12 | $ | 0.09 | ||||||||
| Fourth quarter | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 0.11 | ||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2020 | Year ended December 31, 2019 | |||
High | Low | High | Low | |
| First quarter | $0.04 | $0.02 | $0.04 | $0.03 |
| Second quarter | $0.04 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.02 |
| Third quarter | $0.03 | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.02 |
| Fourth quarter | $0.09 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.01 |
The last bid price of the Company's common stock on April 23, 2021,March 25, 2023 was $0.09$0.30 per share.
Dividend Policy
We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock and currently do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
| ITEM 6 – | [RESERVED] |
| ITEM 7 – | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. |
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains descriptions of our expectations regarding future trends affecting our business. These forward looking statements and other forward-looking statements made elsewhere in this document are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Please read the section titled “Risk Factors” in “Item One – Business” to review certain conditions, among others, which we believe could cause results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.
Except for historical information contained in this report, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this report, words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “may”, “plans”, “potential” and “intends” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions, including the current COVID-19 pandemic; the effect of the dramatic changes taking place in IT and healthcare; continuation of the GEHC agreement; the impact of competitive technology and products and their pricing; medical insurance reimbursement policies; unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems; unforeseen difficulties and delays in the conduct of product development programs; the actions of regulatory authorities and third-party payers in the United States and overseas; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
General Overview
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have a significant impact on economies of the United States economyand China, and it is anticipatedpossible that itssome negative impact to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations willmay continue. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate what the total impact may be. The pandemic has resulted in workforce and travel restrictions and created business disruptions in supply chain, production and demand across many business sectors. Equipment orders in our professional sales service segmentWe have been negatively impacted, and we do anticipate continued negative impact in all our business at least through the next few quarters, in particular in our professional sales service segment for the diagnostic imaging equipment. Moreover, we have also experienced the negative impact in the recurring revenue business in our IT segment as some of our customers have been adversely affected by the shutdown, and new business in this segment appears to be slower as well. The pandemic also may have a negative impact on our cash receipts as some customers request forbearance or a delay in their payments to us.
Our Business Segments
Vaso Corporation (formerly Vasomedical, Inc.)
(“Vaso”) was incorporated in Delaware in July 1987. We principally operate in three distinct business segments in the healthcare equipment and information technology industries. We manage and evaluate our operations, and report our financial results, through these three business segments.| ● | IT segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary VasoTechnology, Inc., primarily focuses on healthcare IT and managed network technology services; |
| ● | Professional sales service segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary Vaso Diagnostics, Inc. d/b/a VasoHealthcare, primarily focuses on the sale of healthcare capital equipment for GE HealthCare (GEHC) into the health provider middle market; and |
| ● | Equipment segment, primarily focuses on the design, manufacture, sale and service of proprietary medical devices and software, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary VasoMedical, Inc., which in turn operates through Vasomedical Solutions, Inc. for domestic business and Vasomedical Global Corp. for international business, respectively. |
VasoTechnology Inc., primarily focuses on healthcare IT and managed network technology services;
VasoTechnology, Inc. was formed in May 2015, at the time the Company acquired all of the assets of NetWolves, LLC and its affiliates, including the membership interests in NetWolves Network Services LLC (collectively, “NetWolves”). It currently consists of a managed network and security service division (NetWolves) and a healthcare IT application VAR (value added reseller) division (VasoHealthcare IT). Its current offering includes:
| ● | Managed diagnostic imaging applications (channel partner of select vendors of healthcare IT products). |
| ● | Managed network infrastructure (routers, switches and other core equipment). |
| ● | Managed network transport (FCC licensed carrier reselling 175+ facility partners). |
| ● | Managed network security services. |
VasoTechnology uses a combination of proprietary technology, methodology and best-in-class third-party applications to deliver its value proposition.
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VasoHealthcare
VasoHealthcare commenced operations in 2010, in conjunction with the Company’s execution of its exclusive sales representation agreement with GEHC, which isat the time was the healthcare business division of the General Electric Company (“GE”), to further the sale of certain medical capital equipment in certain domestic market segments.
| ● | GEHC diagnostic imaging equipment and ultrasound systems. |
| ● | GEHC service agreements for the above equipment. |
| ● | GEHC training services for use of the above equipment. |
| ● | GEHC and third-party financial services for the above equipment. |
VasoHealthcare has built a team of over 80 highly experienced sales professionals who utilize highly focused sales management and analytic tools to manage the complete sales process and to increase market penetration.
VasoMedical
The proprietary medical equipment business under VasoMedical traces back to 1995 when the Company began the proprietary Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP®) technology in the United States and has since diversified to include other medical hardware and software. Vasomedical Global was formed in 2011 to combine and coordinate the various international operations including design, development, manufacturing, and sales of medical devices and software, while domestic activities are conducted under Vasomedical Solutions. These devices and software primarily consist of cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic systems,applications, including:
| ● | Biox™ series Holter monitors and ambulatory blood pressure recorders. |
| ● | ARCS® series analysis, reporting and communication software for ECG and blood pressure signals, including cloud-based software and algorithm subscription services. |
| ● | MobiCare® multi-parameter wireless vital-sign monitoring system. |
| ● | EECP® therapy systems for non-invasive, outpatient treatment of ischemic heart disease. |
This segment uses its extensive in-house knowledge and intellectual property for cardiovascular device knowledgedevices and software coupled with its engineering resources to cost effectively create and market its proprietary technology. It sells and services its products to domestic customers in the U.S. and China directly and sells and/or services its products in the international market mainly through independent distributors.
Strategic Plan and Objectives
Our short- and long-term plans for the growth of the Company and to increase stockholder value are:
| ● | Continue to effectively control operating costs in the current inflationary environment. |
| ● | Continue to expand our product and service offerings as well as market penetration in all of our business segments. |
| ● | Maintain and improve business performance in our professional sales service segment by increasing market penetration of the GEHC product portfolio we represent, and possibly building new teams to represent other vendors. |
| ● | Maintain and grow our equipment business by increasing efficiency, and continue to transform the operation and explore new revenue models. |
| ● | Continue to seek accretive partnership opportunities. |
| ● | Explore options in capital markets for our stock. |
Results of Operations – For the Years Ended December 31, 20202023 and 20192022
Total revenues decreasedincreased by $5,665,000,$1,730,000, or 7.5%2.2%, to $69,850,000$81,024,000 in the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, from $75,515,000$79,294,000 in the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. We reported net income (loss) of $358,000$4,805,000 and $(382,000)$11,294,000 for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively, an improvementa decrease of $740,000.$6,489,000. The change todecrease in net income from net loss was primarily due to lowerhigher operating expenses in 2023 and the income tax benefit generated through partial release of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance in 2022, partially offset by lowerhigher gross profit.profit in 2023. Our net income (loss) was $0.00 and $(0.00)$0.03 per basic and diluted common share for the yearsyear ended December 31, 20202023, and 2019, respectively.$0.07 and $0.06 per basic and diluted common share, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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Revenues
Revenue in the IT segment was $43,894,000$40,371,000 for the year ended December 31, 20202023 as compared to $45,505,000$40,100,000 for the prior year, an increase of $271,000, or 0.7%, of which $432,000 was attributable to an increase in VHC-IT revenues offset by a decrease of $1,611,000, or 3.5%, of which $1,557,000 was attributable to a decline in VHC-IT revenues and $54,000 to a decrease$161,000 in NetWolves revenues.
Commission revenues in the professional sales service segment decreasedincreased by $3,343,000,$1,199,000, or 12.8%3.3%, to $22,865,000$37,820,000 in the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, as compared to $26,208,000$36,621,000 in the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The decreaseincrease was primarily due to lower volume of GEHC equipment delivered in 2020 coupled withboth a lowerhigher blended commission rate for equipment delivered in 2020.2023 and a higher volume of GEHC equipment delivered in 2023. As discussed in Note C to the financial statements, the Company defers recognition of commission revenue until the underlying equipment is delivered. As of December 31, 2020,2023, the Company recorded on its consolidated balance sheet deferred commission revenue of $17,689,000$32,194,000 for this segment (of which $6,178,000$16,314,000 is long-term), a decreasean increase of $876,000,$1,400,000, or 4.7%4.5%, compared to $18,565,000$30,794,000 of deferred commission revenue at December 31, 20192022 (of which $6,645,000$15,660,000 was long-term). The decreaseincrease in deferred revenue is due principally to lower totalbooked orders booked during the year, partially offset by the decrease inexceeding equipment deliveries over the same period.deliveries.
Revenue in our equipment segment decreased 18.7%increased 10.1% to $3,091,000$2,833,000 for the year ended December 31, 20202023 from $3,802,000$2,573,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019,2022, as a result of including EECP operations only for the first quarter of 2020 in the consolidated financials but for the full year of 2019, partially offset by a revenue$313,000, or 91.5%, increase in our US operations due to higher ARCS®-cloud software-as-a-service revenues, offset by lower equipment sales in our China operations. In April 2020, the Company sold 51% of the equity in its EECP business and does not consolidate these operations after such date. With EECP revenues all excluded in 2020 and 2019, equipment segment revenue would be respectively $2,726,000 and $2,532,000, an increase of $194,000, or 7.7%, mainlyprimarily as a result of higher revenuethe negative effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations in our China operations. As of December 31, 2020, the Company recorded on its consolidated balance sheet for this segment $15,000 of deferred revenue, of which $10,000 is long-term, compared to $778,000 of deferred revenue at December 31, 2019, of which $354,000 was long-term, a decrease of $763,000 or 98.1%. The decrease in deferred revenue is due principally to the sale of a majority equity stake in the EECP business.2023.
Gross Profit
The Company recorded gross profit of $38,571,000,$50,593,000, or 55%62.4% of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, compared to $42,432,000,$47,902,000, or 56%60.4% of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The decreaseincrease of $3,861,000,$2,691,000, or 9.1%5.6%, was due primarily to a $2,679,000 decrease$1,430,000 increase in the IT segment due mainly to higher gross margin; a$1,090,000 increase in the professional sales service segment due mainly to higher revenues; and a $1,108,000 decrease$171,000 increase in the ITequipment segment, both as a result of higher revenues partially offset by lower revenues.gross margin.
IT segment gross profit decreasedincreased to $17,682,000,$17,659,000, or 40%43.7% of segment revenues, for the year ended December 31, 20202023, as compared to $18,790,000,$16,229,000, or 41%40.5% of segment revenues in the prior year, a decreasean increase of $1,108,000,$1,430,000, of which $909,000$764,000 was attributable to NetWolves due to improved cost control, and $666,000 was attributable to VHC-IT, and $199,000 was attributable to NetWolves, resulting mainly from lower VHC-IT revenues and higher Netwolves costs.margin product mix.
Professional sales service segment gross profit was $18,608,000,$30,799,000, or 81%81.4% of the segment revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020, a decrease2023, an increase of $2,679,000,$1,090,000, or 12.6%3.7%, from segment gross profit of $21,287,000,$29,709,000, or 81%81.1% of the segment revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The decreaseincrease in gross profit was due primarily to the decreaseincrease in the segment revenue as a result of both a higher blended commission rate in 2023 and higher equipment delivery volume. Cost of commissions decreasedincreased by $664,000,$109,000, or 13.5%1.6%, to $4,257,000$7,021,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, as compared to cost of commissions of $4,921,000$6,912,000 in 2019.2022. The decreaseincrease is due primarily to the decreaseincrease in delivery volume.the segment revenue as gross profit margin remained little changed year over year. Cost of commissions reflects commission expense associated with certain recognized commission revenues. Commission expense associated with deferred revenue is recorded as deferred commission expense until the related commission revenue is earned.
Equipment segment gross profit decreasedincreased by $171,000, or 8.7%, to $2,281,000,$2,135,000, or 74%75.4% of equipment segment revenues, for the year ended December 31, 20202023, compared to $2,355,000,$1,964,000, or 62%76.3% of equipment segment revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2019,2022, due primarily to the inclusion of EECP operations only for the first quarter of 2020 in the consolidated financials but for the full year of 2019, partiallyhigher segment revenue offset but an increase inby lower gross profit ofmargin in our China operations. Excluding EECP operations from both 2020 and 2019 numbers, gross profit in the equipment segment would be $2,040,000 (74.8% of segment revenue) and $1,887,000 (74.5% of segment revenue), respectively, representing an increase of $153,000 or 8.1%, year over year. Equipment segment gross profits are dependent on a number of factors including the mix of products sold, their respective models and average selling prices, the ongoing costs of training, maintenance and servicing, as well as certain fixed period costs, including facilities, payroll and insurance.
Operating Income
Operating income was $772,000$4,195,000 for the year ended December 31, 20202023 compared to operating income of $591,000$6,454,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase2022, a decrease of $181,000,$2,259,000, or 30.6%35%. The improvementdecrease was primarily attributable to the decrease in operating loss in the equipment segment to $155,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020 from a loss of $855,000 for the prior year, an improvement of $700,000, due to lower operating expenses, partially offset by a$2,325,000 decrease in operating income in the professional sales service segment to $2,977,000from $9,520,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $3,626,0002022 to $7,195,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019,2023, due to lowerhigher operating expenses mainly relating to the staffing and launching cost of the ultrasound sales program, offset by higher gross profitprofit. The IT segment reduced its operating loss by $1,154,000 from $1,620,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $466,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result primarily of higher gross profit. Operating loss in the equipment segment increased by $271,000, from $180,000 in the prior year to $451,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, resulting mainly from higher SG&A and R&D costs, partially offset by reduced operating expenses.higher gross profit. Corporate expenses increased by $818,000, from $1,266,000 in the prior year to $2,084,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023, mainly due to increases in director fees and investment banking activities.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 20192022 were $37,054,000,$45,643,000, or 53%56.3% of revenues, and $41,028,000,$40,843,000, or 54%51.5% of revenues, respectively, reflecting a decreasean increase of $3,974,000$4,800,000 or 10%11.8%. The decreaseincrease in SG&A expenditures in the year ended December 31, 20202023 resulted primarily from a $2,030,000 decrease$3,415,000 increase in the professional sales service segment attributable mainly to lowerhigher sales personnel-related and travel costs; a $1,090,000 decrease$300,000 increase in the IT segment due to lowerhigher personnel marketing and travel costs; a $646,000 decrease$268,000 increase in the equipment segment due mainly to the deconsolidation of the EECP business,higher personnel costs in our China operations, and by a $208,000 decrease$818,000 increase in corporate expenses reflecting lower legalhigher director fees and accounting fees.
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Research and development (R&D) expenses of $745,000,$755,000, or 1% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020 decreased2023 increased by $68,000,$150,000, or 8%25%, from $813,000,$605,000, or 1% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The decreaseincrease is primarily attributable to lower new producthigher software development costs in our China operations.operations in 2023.
Adjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net (loss) income, plus net interest expense (income), tax expense, depreciation and amortization, and non-cash expenses for share-based compensation. Adjusted EBITDA is a metric that is used by the investment community for comparative and valuation purposes. We disclose this metric in order to support and facilitate the dialogue with research analysts and investors.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”)GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing our operating performance, you should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net income or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
A reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA is set forth below:
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 4,805 | $ | 11,294 | ||||
| Interest expense (income), net | (858 | ) | (85 | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 100 | (4,743 | ) | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 999 | 1,923 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation | 48 | 35 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 5,094 | $ | 8,424 | ||||
Year ended December 31, | ||
2020 | 2019 | |
| Net income (loss) | $358 | $(382) |
| Interest expense (income), net | 675 | 962 |
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (1) | 111 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,462 | 2,681 |
| Share-based compensation | 88 | 141 |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $3,582 | $3,513 |
Adjusted EBITDA increaseddecreased by $69,000,$3,330,000, to $3,582,000$5,094,000 in the year ended December 31, 20202023, from $3,513,000$8,424,000 in the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The increasedecrease was primarily attributable to thelower net income, lower depreciation and amortization, and higher net interest income, partially offset by lower interest expense,the change from income tax benefit to income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, and share-based compensation costs, as compared to the prior year. Net income decreased primarily due to higher operating expenses and lower income tax benefit in 2023, partially offset by higher revenue and gross profit.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, was $(415,000)$710,000 and $(862,000),$97,000, respectively, a decreasean increase in net expenseother income of $447,000.$613,000. The decreaseincrease was due primarily to lower$621,000 higher interest expense on our lines of credit and other debt instruments, and byincome arising mainly from the $110,000 gain on sale of equityincrease in the EECP business.short-term investments from $8,504,000 at December 31, 2022 to $13,979,000 at December 31, 2023.
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense(Expense) Benefit
During the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, we recorded an income tax benefitexpense of $1,000,$100,000, as compared to income tax expensebenefit of $111,000$4,743,000 in the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. The Company utilized $797,000$5,857,000 and $0$7,754,000 in net operating loss carryforwards for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively. The change to income tax benefitexpense in 20202023 arose primarily from lower foreignthe partial release of the deferred tax expenseasset valuation allowance in 2022, due to write-off of deferred tax liability.estimated future taxable income. The Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $45 million$25,000,000 at December 31, 2020.2023.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and Cash Flow – For the year ended December 31, 20202023
We have financed our operations and investment activities primarily from working capital and borrowings.capital. At December 31, 2020,2023, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $6,819,000$25,321,000 and negative working capital of $9,431,000. $9,162,000 in negative working capital at December 31, 2020 is attributable to the net balance of deferred commission expense and deferred revenue. These are non-cash expense and revenue items and have no impact on future cash flows.$15,059,000. At April 23, 2021March 24, 2024 the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were approximately $9.5$29.6 million.
Cash provided by operating activities was $5,934,000$5,296,000 during the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, which consisted of net income after non-cash adjustments of $3,377,000$6,175,000 and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $2,557,000.$(879,000). The changes in the account balances primarily reflect decreasesa decrease in prepaid expense and other current assets of $1,271,000 and increases in accrued commissions and accrued liabilities totaling $2,617,000; partially offsetting these changes was a decrease in accounts and other receivables of $2,062,000 and deferred commission expenses of $5,050,000 and $407,000, respectively, partially offset by decreasesan increase in accounts payable, deferred revenue and accrued commissions of $1,369,000, $870,000, and $791,000, respectively.$1,397,000.
Cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 20202023 was $575,000$5,657,000, consisting of $1,000,000$24,473,000 in purchases of short term investments and $731,000 in purchases of equipment and software, and $725,000offset by $19,457,000 in purchaseredemption of short-term investment, offset by $1,150,000 in proceeds from sale of equity in EECP Global.investments.
Cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 20202023 was $553,000, primarily attributable to repayment$134,000, consisting of $1,375,000 on our lines of credit, and $2,930,000$128,000 in payments of notes and finance leases partially offset by proceedsand $6,000 in shares withheld for payment of $3,756,000 from notes payable, including $3,610,900 from a PPP loan.payroll taxes.
Liquidity
The Company expects to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy its obligations at least for the next twelve months. It is anticipated that the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to adversely impact our operations depending on the duration of the pandemic and the timing and success of the reopening of the economy.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities (SPES), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of December 31, 2020,2023, we are not involved in any unconsolidated SPES or other off-balance sheet arrangements.
Effects of Inflation
We believe that inflation and changing prices over the past two years have not had a significant impact on our revenue or on our results of operations.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements includes a summary of our significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. The application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates. Our critical accounting policies and estimates are as follows:
Allowance for revenues in accordance with ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which was adopted as of January 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis.
In our IT Segment,professional sale service segment, we purchase computer hardware and software for specific customer requirements and value such inventories at the lowerbill a portion of cost or estimated market, with cost being determinedcommissions on the specific identification method.
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Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets
Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and loss carry forwards for which income tax benefits are expected to be realized in future years. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In estimating future tax consequences, we generally consider all expected future events other than an enactment of changes in the tax laws or rates. Deferred tax assets are continually evaluated for realizability. To the extent our judgment regarding the realization of the deferred tax assets changes, an adjustment to the allowance is recorded, with an offsetting increase or decrease, as appropriate, in income tax expense. Such adjustments are recorded in the period in which our estimate as to the realizability of the assets changed that it is “more likely than not” that all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The “more likely than not” standard is subjective and is based upon our estimate of a greater than 50% probability that the deferred tax asset will be realized.
The primary underlying uncertainty in evaluating the realizability of our deferred tax assets, which are primarily net operating losses, is the need to accurately project taxable income. The Company generated net operating losses in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. From 2020 to 2022, this trend reversed and the Company generated increasingly higher taxable income, primarily as a result of the professional sales services segment’s growth in orders, revenue, and operating results. As a result of this trend, which we expect to continue, and the extension, through December 31, 2026, of the GEHC Agreement which underlies the performance of the professional sales segment, the Company reviewed positive and negative evidence, including improved historical operating results and the likelihood of such results continuing, and also complyreviewed its expected taxable income for future periods based on the positive trend in operating results and the extension of the GEHC Agreement to the end of 2026, and concluded that it is more likely than not that approximately $5.4 million of tax benefits related to net operating loss carryforwards will be utilized in the future tax years of 2023 to 2026 and, therefore, reduced its valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2022 in accordance with ASC 740. In addition, the provisionsCompany expects to provide a valuation allowance on the remaining future tax benefits until it can sustain a level of profitability that demonstrates its ability to utilize the remaining assets, or other significant positive evidence arises that suggests its ability to utilize the remaining assets.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. The Company accounts for goodwill under the guidance of the ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”, which prescribes350, “Intangibles: Goodwill and Other”. Goodwill acquired in a recognition thresholdpurchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life is not amortized, but instead tested for impairment, at least annually, in accordance with this guidance. The recoverability of goodwill is subject to an annual impairment test or whenever an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not result in an impairment. The impairment test is based on the estimated fair value of the underlying businesses and performed in the fourth quarter of each year.
We perform either a measurement attributequantitative or qualitative assessment to assess if the fair value of the respective reporting unit exceeds its carrying value. The qualitative goodwill impairment assessment requires evaluating factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. As part of our goodwill qualitative assessment process for our two applicable reporting units, when utilized, we evaluate various factors that are specific to the reporting unit as well as industry and macroeconomic factors in order to determine whether it is reasonably likely to have a material impact on the fair value of our reporting units. Examples of the factors that are considered include the results of the most recent impairment test, current forecasts, and changes in the strategic outlook or organizational structure of the reporting units. The financial forecasts of the reporting units are compared to the forecasts used in the prior year analysis to determine if management expectations for the financial statement recognitionbusiness have changed.
When performing the quantitative assessment to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit, we consider both comparative market multiples as well as estimated discounted cash flows for the reporting unit. The significant estimates and measurementassumptions include, but are not limited to, revenue growth rates, operating margins, and future economic and market conditions. The discount rates are based upon industry weighted average cost of tax positions taken orcapital ranges. As a supplement, we conduct additional sensitivity analysis to assess the risk for potential impairment based upon changes in the key assumptions such as the discount rate, expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustainedlong-term growth rate, and cash flow projections. Based upon examination by taxing authorities. Based on its analysis, the Company has determined that it has not incurred any liability for unrecognized tax benefitscompletion of our annual test as of December 31, 20202023, we determined that there was no impairment of goodwill and December 31, 2019.that the applicable reporting units’ estimated fair values were substantially in excess of their carrying amounts.
Intangible assets consist of the value of customer contracts and relationships, patent and technology costs, and software. The cost of significant customer-related intangibles is amortized in proportion to estimated total related revenue; cost of other intangible assets is generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated economic life, which range from five to ten years. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penaltiescapitalizes internal use software costs incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to unrecognized tax benefitspreliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as income tax expense. Noincurred. We evaluate whether events or circumstances have occurred that warrant a revision to the remaining useful lives of intangible assets. In cases where a revision is deemed appropriate, the remaining carrying amounts were accrued forof the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Management is currently unaware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviations from its position.intangible assets are amortized over the revised remaining useful life.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements includes a description of the Company’s evaluation of recently issued accounting pronouncements.
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ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as part of this report.
ITEM 9A - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Report on Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures reporting as promulgated under the Exchange Act is defined as controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our CEO and our CFO have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 20202023 and have concluded
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control involves maintaining records that accurately represent our business transactions, providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of company assets are made in accordance with management authorization, and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements would be detected or prevented on a timely basis.
Because of its innateinherent limitations, internal control over our financial statements is not intended to provide absolute guarantee that a misstatement can be detected or prevented onin the statements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in condition, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 COSO framework). A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Based on this evaluation and those criteria, the Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was notwere effective as of December 31, 2020, due to a lack of segregation of duties at one of the Company’s subsidiaries.2023.
This report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only Management’s report in this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
For the quarter ended December 31, 20202023 there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10 – DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors of the Registrant
As of April 23, 2021,March 24, 2024, the members of our Board of Directors are:
| Name of Director | Age | Principal Occupation | Director Since | |||
| Joshua Markowitz (2) | 68 | Chairman of the Board and Director | June, 2015 | |||
| David Lieberman | 79 | Vice Chairman of the Board and Director | February, 2011 | |||
| Jun Ma | 60 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | June, 2007 | |||
| Jane Moen | 44 | President, Vasohealthcare and Director | March, 2020 | |||
| Leon Dembo | 69 | Director | April, 2023 | |||
| Behnam Movaseghi (1) (2) | 70 | Director | July, 2007 | |||
| Edgar Rios (1) | 71 | Director | February, 2011 |
| (1) | Member of the Audit Committee |
| (2) | Member of the Compensation Committee |
The following is a brief account of the business experience for at least the past five years of our directors:
Joshua Markowitz
has been a director since June 2015, and was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Company in August 2016. Mr. Markowitz has been a practicing attorney in the State of New Jersey for in excess of 30 years. He is currently a senior partner in the New Jersey law firm of MarkowitzDavid Lieberman
has been a director of the Company and the Vice Chairman of the Board, since February 2011. Mr. Lieberman has been a practicing attorney in the State of New York for more than 45 years, specializing in corporation and securities law. He is currentlyJun Ma, PhD
, has been a director since June 2007 and was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on October 16, 2008. Dr. Ma has held various positions in academia and business, and prior to becoming President and CEO of the Company, had provided technology and business consulting services to several domestic and international companies in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, medical device, and other industries, including Kerns Manufacturing Corp. and Living Data Technology Corp., both of which are stockholders of our Company. Dr. Ma received his PhD degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University, MS degree in biomedical engineering from Shanghai University, and BS degree in precision machinery and instrumentation from University of Science and Technology of China.Jane Moen
has been a director since MarchLeon Dembo has been in the private practice of law for the last 43 years and has been the managing partner of Dembo, Brown & Burns LLP (and its predecessor firm, Dembo & Saldutti LLP) since 1991.
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Behnam Movaseghi, CPA, has been a director since July 2007. Mr. Movaseghi has been treasurer of Kerns Manufacturing Corporation since 2000, and controller from 1990 to 2000. For approximately ten years prior thereto Mr. Movaseghi was a tax and financial consultant. Mr. Movaseghi is a Certified Public Accountant.
Edgar G. Rios
has been a director of the Company since February 2011.Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Board has a standing Audit Committee. The Board has affirmatively determined that each director who serves on the Audit Committee is independent, as the term is defined by applicable Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"(“SEC”) rules. During the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, the Audit Committee consisted of Edgar Rios, committee chair, and Behnam Movaseghi. The members of the Audit Committee have substantial experience in assessing the performance of companies, gained as members of the Company’s Board of Directors and Audit Committee, as well as by serving in various capacities in other companies or governmental agencies. As a result, they each have an understanding of financial statements. The Board believes that Behnam Movaseghi fulfills the role of the financial expert on this committee.
The Audit Committee regularly meets with our independent registered public accounting firm without the presence of management.
The Audit Committee operates under a charter approved by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee charter is available on our website.
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee annually establishes, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and any applicable employment agreements, the compensation that will be paid to our executive officers during the coming year, as well as administers our stock-based benefit plans. During the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, the Compensation Committee consisted of Joshua Markowitz, committee chair, and Behnam Movaseghi. Neither of these persons has been officers or employees of the Company at the time of his position on the committee, or, except as otherwise disclosed, had any relationship requiring disclosure herein.
The Compensation Committee operates under a charter approved by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee charter is available on our website.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
During the year ended December 31, 20202023 there were:
| ● | 7 meetings of the Board of Directors |
| ● | 4 meetings of the Audit Committee |
| ● | 3 meetings of the Compensation Committee |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock with the SEC. Reporting Persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such reports received or written representations from certain Reporting Persons that no other reports were required, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 20202023 all Reporting Persons timely complied with all applicable filing requirements.
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Corporate Governance - Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Corporate Code of Business Ethics (the "Code"“Code”) that applies to all employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and directors of the Company. A copy of the Code can be found on our website, www.vasocorporation.com. The Code is broad in scope and is intended to foster honest and ethical conduct, including accurate financial reporting, compliance with laws and the like. If any substantive amendments are made to the Code or if there is any grant of waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code to our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
As of April 23, 2021March 24, 2024 our executive officers are:
| Name of Officer | Age | Position held with the Company | ||
| Jun Ma, PhD | 60 | President, Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Peter C. Castle | 55 | Chief Operating Officer | ||
| Jane Moen | 44 | President of VasoHealthcare | ||
| Michael J. Beecher | 79 | Co-Chief Financial Officer and Secretary | ||
| Jonathan P. Newton | 63 | Co-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Peter Castle
was a director from August 2010 to December 2019 and was appointed the Chief Operating Officer of the Company after the NetWolves acquisition in June 2015. Prior to the acquisition, Mr. Castle was the President and Chief Executive Officer of NetWolves Network Services, LLC, where he has been employed since 1998. At NetWolves, Mr. Castle also held the position of Chief Financial Officer from 2001 until October 2009, Vice President of Finance since January 2000, Controller from August 1998 until December 1999 and Treasurer and Secretary from August 1999.Michael J. Beecher, CPA
, was Chief Financial Officer of the Company from September 2011 and Co-Chief Financial Officer since December 10, 2019. Prior to joining Vasomedical in 2011, Mr. Beecher was Chief Financial Officer of Direct Insite Corp., a publicly held company, from December 2003 to September 2011. Prior to his position at Direct Insite, Mr. Beecher was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of FiberCore, Inc., a publicly held company in the fiber-optics industry. From 1989 to 1995 he was Vice-President Administration and Finance at the University of Bridgeport. Mr. Beecher began his career in public accounting with Haskins & Sells, an international public accounting firm. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.Jonathan P. Newton
served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company from September 1, 2010 to September 8, 2011, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer until December 10, 2019, and is currently Co-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From June 2006 to August 2010, Mr. Newton was Director of Budgets and Financial Analysis for Curtiss-Wright Flow Control. Prior to his position at Curtiss-Wright Flow Control, Mr. Newton was Vasomedical’s Director of Budgets and Analysis from August 2001 to June 2006. Prior positions included Controller of North American Telecommunications Corp., Accounting Manager for Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, positions of increasing responsibility within the internal audit function of the Northrop Grumman Corporation and approximately three and one half years as an accountant for Deloitte Haskins & Sells, during which time Mr. Newton became a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Newton holds a B.S. in Accounting from SUNY at Albany, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Hofstra University.25
ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the annual and long-term compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and each of our most highly compensated officers and employees who were serving as executive officers or employees at the end of the last completed fiscal year for services rendered for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019.2022.
Summary Compensation Table
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) (1) | Option Awards ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation ($) (2) | Total ($) | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) (1) | Option Awards ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation ($) (2) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jun Ma, PhD | 2020 | 500,000 | 75,000 | 59,548 | 634,548 | 2023 | 500,000 | 230,000 | 191,610 | 921,610 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | 2019 | 447,917 | 100,000 | 33,767 | 581,684 | 2022 | 500,000 | 220,000 | 85,323 | 805,323 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter C. Castle | 2020 | 343,437 | 52,500 | 13,950 | 409,887 | 2023 | 350,000 | 80,000 | 12,000 | 442,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Operating Officer | 2019 | 350,000 | 15,308 | 365,308 | 2022 | 350,000 | 20,000 | 13,368 | 383,368 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jane Moen | 2020 | 275,000 | 74,250 | 20,000 | 11,450 | 380,700 | 2023 | 350,000 | 330,000 | 49,438 | 729,438 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of VasoHealthcare | 2019 | 275,000 | 165,000 | 7,114 | 447,114 | 2022 | 293,750 | 245,000 | 11,145 | 549,895 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael J. Beecher | 2020 | 120,000 | 12,600 | 3,360 | 135,960 | 2023 | 96,000 | 50,000 | 3,570 | 149,570 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Chief Financial Officer and Secretary | 2019 | 167,500 | 5,218 | 172,718 | 2022 | 102,000 | 20,000 | 3,362 | 125,362 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jonathan P. Newton | 2020 | 190,000 | 30,000 | 8,722 | 228,722 | 2023 | 220,000 | 130,000 | 18,780 | 368,780 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Chief Financal Officer and Treasurer | 2019 | 175,000 | 15,000 | 7,084 | 197,084 | 2022 | 215,000 | 120,000 | 11,416 | 346,416 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Represents fair value on the date of grant. See Note C to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating grant date fair value. |
| (2) | Represents tax gross-ups, lodging and vehicle allowances, Company-paid life insurance, and amounts matched in the Company’s 401(k) Plan. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Last Fiscal Year End
The following table provides information concerning outstanding options, unvested stock and equity incentive plan awards for our named executive officers at December 31, 2020:2023:
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Unexercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options | Option Exercise Price | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jane Moen | 200,000 | 62,000 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jonathan P. Newton | 100,000 | 31,000 | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | ||||||
| NameNumber of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Unexercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Underlying Unexercised Unearned OptionsOption Exercise Price | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
| Jun Ma, PhD | 3,000,000 | 270,000 | - | - | |||
| Jane Moen | 800,000 | 72,000 | - | - | |||
| Jonathan P. Newton | 400,000 | 36,000 | - | - | |||
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The future vesting dates of the above stock awards are:
| Name | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Vesting Date | ||||
| Jane Moen | ||||||
200,000 | ||||||
| 4/1/2024 | ||||||
| Jonathan P. Newton | ||||||
100,000 | ||||||
| 1/1/2024 | ||||||
Employment Agreements
On May 10, 2019, the Company modified its Employment Agreement with its President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jun Ma, to provide for a five-year term with extensions, unless earlier terminated by the Company, but in no event can it extend beyond May 31, 2026. The Employment Agreement provides for annual compensation of $500,000. Dr. Ma shall be eligible to receive a bonus for each fiscal year during the employment term. The amount and the occasion for payment of such bonus, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Dr. Ma shall also be eligible for an award under any long-term incentive compensation plan and grants of options and awards of shares of the Company'sCompany’s stock, as determined at the Board of Directors'Directors’ discretion. The Employment Agreement further provides for reimbursement of certain expenses, and certain severance benefits in the event of termination prior to the expiration date of the Employment Agreement.
On June 1, 2015,December 31, 2022, the Company entered intoexecuted an Employment Agreement with Mr. Peter Castlethe President of its VasoHealthcare subsidiary, Ms. Jane Moen, to be its Chief Operating Officer. The agreement providesprovide for a three-yeartwenty-seven month initial term ending on June 1, 2018 and shall extend for additional one-year periods annually commencing June 1, 2018,with extensions, unless earlier terminated by the Company, but in no event can it extend beyond June 1, 2021.December 31, 2026. The Employment Agreement currently provides for annual base compensation of $350,000. Mr. CastleMs. Moen shall be eligible to receive a bonusbonuses for each fiscal year thereafter during the employment term. The amount and the occasion for payment of such bonus,bonuses, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Mr. Castlebased on employment status and achieving certain operating targets. Ms. Moen shall also be eligible for an award under any long-term incentive compensation plan and grants of options and awards of shares of the Company’s stock, as determined at the Board of Directors’ discretion. The Employment Agreement further provides for reimbursement of certain expenses, and certain severance benefits in the event of termination prior to the expiration date of the Employment Agreement.
401(k) Plan
The Company maintains a defined contribution plan to provide retirement benefits for its employees - the Vaso Corporation 401(k) Plan adopted in April 1997. As allowed under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, the plan provides tax-deferred salary deductions for eligible employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the next quarter enrollment period after employment under the Vaso Corporation Plan. Participants may make voluntary contributions to the plan up to 80% of their compensation under the Vaso Corporation Plan. In the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 20192022 the Company made discretionary contributions of approximately $114,000$234,000 and $118,000,$112,000, respectively, to match a percentage of employee contributions.
Director’s Compensation
Each of the non-employee directors receivereceives an annual fee of $50,000 as well as a fee of $2,500 for each Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended.attended, except for the Chairman who receives a flat fee of $180,000 per annum. Committee chairs receive an additional annual fee of $5,000. Non-employee directorsEach director also receive an annualreceived a fee of $30,000. These fees have been paid in cash.$30,000 plus an additional $30,000 per committee seat.
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards | Option Awards | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation (1) | Total | |
| Name | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) |
| David Lieberman | 40,000 | - | - | - | - | 22,961 | 62,961 |
| Joshua Markowitz | 50,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 50,000 |
| Behnam Movaseghi | 55,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 55,000 |
| Edgar Rios | 55,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 55,000 |
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| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards | Option Awards | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation (1) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Dembo | 65,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 65,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| David Lieberman | 97,500 | - | - | - | - | 25,624 | 123,124 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Joshua Markowitz | 240,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 240,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Behnam Movaseghi | 175,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 175,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Edgar Rios | 142,500 | - | - | - | - | - | 142,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Represents health benefit premiums. |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, the Compensation Committee consisted of Joshua Markowitz, committee chair, and Behnam Movaseghi. Neither of these persons were officers or employees of the Company during the time they held positions on the committee, or, except as otherwise disclosed, had any relationship requiring disclosure herein.
ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of April 23, 2021March 25, 2024 of (i) each person known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of the shares of outstanding common stock, based solely on filings with the SEC, (ii) each of our executive officers and directors, and (iii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, all shares are beneficially owned, and investment and voting power is held by the persons named as owners. To our knowledge, except under community property laws or as otherwise noted, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power over their shares of our common stock. Unless otherwise indicated, each beneficial owner listed below maintains a mailing address of c/o Vaso Corporation, 137 Commercial Street, Plainview, New York 11803.
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Common Stock Beneficially Owned (1) | % of Common Stock (2) | ||||||
| Joshua Markowitz ** (3) | 56,088,318 | 31.99 | % | |||||
| Jun Ma, PhD ** | 10,298,146 | 5.87 | % | |||||
| Peter Castle ** | 3,125,000 | 1.78 | % | |||||
| Edgar Rios ** | 1,625,000 | * | ||||||
| Jane Moen ** | 1,605,087 | * | ||||||
| David Lieberman ** | 1,599,200 | * | ||||||
| Jonathan Newton ** | 1,275,000 | * | ||||||
| Michael J. Beecher ** | 1,240,400 | * | ||||||
| Behnam Movaseghi ** | 1,189,404 | * | ||||||
| Leon Dembo ** | - | - | ||||||
| ** Directors and executive officers as a group | ||||||||
| (10 persons) | 78,045,555 | 44.52 | % | |||||
| * | Less than 1% of the Company’s common stock |
| (1) | No officer or director owns more than one percent of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company unless otherwise indicated. |
| (2) | Applicable percentages are based on 175,319,296 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 25, 2024, adjusted as required by rules promulgated by the SEC. |
| (3) | Joshua Markowitz is the record holder of 350,000 shares of our common stock. Additionally, 55,738,318 shares are held in trust funds of which Mr. Markowitz is the sole trustee. |
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Common Stock Beneficially Owned (1) | % of Common Stock (2) |
| Joshua Markowitz ** (3) . | 56,088,318 | 32.06% |
| Jun Ma, PhD ** | 10,298,146 | 5.89% |
| Peter Castle ** | 3,125,000 | 1.79% |
| Edgar Rios ** .. | 1,625,000 | * |
| David Lieberman ** | 1,599,200 | * |
| Jane Moen **… | 1,438,421 | * |
| Jonathan Newton ** . | 1,275,000 | * |
| Michael J. Beecher ** . | 1,240,400 | * |
| Behnam Movaseghi ** . | 1,189,404 | * |
| ** Directors and executive officers as a group | ||
| (9 persons).….…...….…..…...…. | 77,878,889 | 44.52% |
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
We maintain various stock plans under which stock options and stock grants are awarded at the discretion of our Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee. The purchase price of the shares under the plans and the shares subject to each option granted is not less than the fair market value on the date of the grant. The term of each option is generally five years and is determined at the time of the grant by our board of directors or the compensation committee. The participants in these plans are officers, directors, employees, and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
| Plan category | (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
| Equity Compensation | |||
| plans approved by | |||
| security holders | - | $0.00 | - |
| Equity Compensation | |||
| plans not approved | |||
| by security holders (1) | 191,666 | $0.00 | 11,005,580 |
| Total | 191,666 | 11,005,580 |
| Plan category | (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (b) Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | |||||||||
| Equity Compensation plans approved by security holders | - | $ | 0.00 | - | ||||||||
| Equity Compensation plans not approved by security holders (1) | 1,058,333 | $ | 0.00 | 8,996,709 | ||||||||
| Total | 1,058,333 | 8,996,709 | ||||||||||
| (1) | Includes 33,333 shares of restricted common stock granted, but unissued, under the 2013 Plan, and 1,025,000 shares of restricted common stock granted, but unissued, under the 2016 Plan. The exercise price for the stock grants is zero. 496,709 shares and 8,500,000 shares remain available for future grants under the 2016 Plan and 2019 Plan, respectively. |
See Note Q to the Consolidated Financial Statements for description of the material features of our current stock plans not approved by stockholders.
ITEM 13 -– CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Principal Paid | Principal Outstanding | Interest Paid | Interest Payable | |
| Peter C. Castle | $187,500 | $562,500 | $55,438 | $8,625 |
| David Lieberman | $175,000 | $525,000 | $51,742 | $8,050 |
| Jun Ma, PhD | $75,000 | $225,000 | $22,175 | $3,450 |
| Edgar Rios | $62,500 | $187,500 | $18,479 | $2,875 |
Principal Paid | Principal Outstanding | Interest Paid | Interest Payable | |
| Edgar Rios | $300,000 | $- | $17,496 | $- |
| Peter C. Castle | $250,000 | $- | $18,671 | $- |
Director Independence
We have adopted the NASDAQ Stock Market’s standards for determining the independence of directors. Under these standards, an independent director means a person other than an executive officer or one of our employees or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In addition, the following persons shall not be considered independent:
| ● | a director who is, or at any time during the past three years was, employed by us; |
| ● | a director who accepted or who has a family member who accepted any compensation from us in excess of $100,000 during any period of twelve consecutive months within the three years preceding the determination of independence, other than the following: |
| o | compensation for service on the Board of Directors or any committee thereof; |
| o | compensation paid to a family member who is one of our employees (other than an executive officer); or |
| o | under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation; |
| ● | a director who is a family member of an individual who is, or at any time during the past three years was, employed by us as an executive officer; |
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| ● | a director who is, or has a family member who is, a partner in, or a controlling stockholder or an executive officer of, any organization to which we made, or from which we received, payments for property or services in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000, whichever is more, other than the following: |
| o | payments arising solely from investments in our securities; or |
| o | payments under non-discretionary charitable contribution matching programs; |
| ● | a director who is, or has a family member who is, employed as an executive officer of another entity where at any time during the past three years any of our executive officers served on the compensation committee of such other entity; or |
| ● | a director who is, or has a family member who is, a current partner of our outside auditor, or was a partner or employee of our outside auditor who worked on our audit at any time during any of the past three years. |
For purposes of the NASDAQ independence standards, the term “family member” means a person'sperson’s spouse, parents, children and siblings, whether by blood, marriage or adoption, or anyone residing in such person'sperson’s home.
The Board of Directors has assessed the independence of each non-employee director under the independence standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market set forth above, and has affirmatively determined that threefour of our non-employee directors (Mr. Rios, Mr. Markowitz, Mr. Dembo and Mr. Movaseghi) are independent.
We expect each director to attend every meeting of the Board and the committees on which he serves as well as the annual meeting. In the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, all directors attended both the annual meeting and at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served.
ITEM 14 -– PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
UHY LLP, as our current independent registered public accounting firm, performed the audits of our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019, respectively.2022. The following table sets forth all fees for such periods:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Audit fees | $ | 260,000 | $ | 235,000 | ||||
| Tax fees | - | - | ||||||
| All other fees | 31,400 | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | 291,400 | $ | 235,000 | ||||
2020 | 2019 | |
| Audit fees | $260,000 | $202,472 |
| Tax fees | - | - |
| All other fees | - | - |
| Total | $260,000 | $202,472 |
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that requires advance approval of all audit, audit-related, tax services, and other services performed by the Company’s independent auditor. Accordingly, the Audit Committee must approve the permitted service before the independent auditor is engaged to perform it. In accordance with such policies, the Audit Committee approved 100% of the services relative to the above fees.
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PART IV
ITEM 15 – EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
| (1) | See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 at beginning of attached financial statements. |
| (a) | Exhibits |
| (3)(i) | (a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation (2) |
| (b) | Certificate of Designations of Preferences and Rights of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (3) |
| (c) | Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation (11) |
| (3)(ii) | By-Laws (1) |
| (4) | (a) | Specimen Certificate for Common Stock (1) |
| (b) | Specimen Certificate for Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (5) |
| (c) | Secured Subordinated Note, dated as of May 29, 2015, between Vasomedical, Inc. and MedTechnology Investments LLC (9) |
| (10) | (a) | Form of Stock Purchase Agreement (3) |
| (c) | 2010 Stock Plan (5). |
| (d) | Employment Agreement entered into as of March 21, 2011 between Vasomedical, Inc. and Jun Ma, as amended. (8) |