RESEARCH FRONTIERS INC

(1)Business and Basis for Presentation

Research Frontiers Incorporated (“Research Frontiers” or the “Company”) operates in a single business segment which is engaged in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light. Such devices, often referred to as “light valves” or suspended particle devices (“SPDs”), use colloidal particles that are either incorporated within a liquid suspension or a film, which is usually enclosed between two sheets of glass or plastic having transparent, electrically conductive coatings on the facing surfaces thereof. At least one of the two sheets is transparent. SPD technology, made possible by a flexible light-control film invented by Research Frontiers, allows the user to instantly and precisely control the shading of glass/plastic manually or automatically. SPD technology has numerous product applications, including SPD-Smart™ windows, sunshades, skylights and interior partitions for homes and buildings; automotive windows, sunroofs, sun visors, sunshades, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels, heads up displays and navigation systems; aircraft windows; museum display panels; eyewear products; and flat panel displays for electronic products. SPD-Smart light control film is now being developed for, or used in, architectural, automotive, marine, aerospace and appliance applications.

The Company has primarily utilized its cash, cash equivalents, and investments generated from sales of our common stock, proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants, and royalty fees collected to fund its research and development of SPD light valves, for marketing initiatives, and for other working capital purposes. The Company’s working capital and capital requirements depend upon numerous factors, including the results of research and development activities, competitive and technological developments, the timing and cost of patent filings, and the development of new licensees and changes in the Company’s relationships with its existing licensees. The degree of dependence of the Company’s working capital requirements on each of the foregoing factors cannot be quantified; increased research and development activities and related costs would increase such requirements; the addition of new licensees may provide additional working capital or working capital requirements, and changes in relationships with existing licensees would have a favorable or negative impact depending upon the nature of such changes. We have incurred recurring losses since inception and expect to continue to incur losses as a result of costs and expenses related to our research and continued development of our SPD technology and our corporate general and administrative expenses. Our limited capital resources and operations to date have been substantially funded through sales of our common stock, exercise of options and warrants and royalty fees collected. As of December 31, 2023, we had working capital of approximately $3.3 million, cash and cash equivalents of approximately $2.5 million, shareholders’ equity of approximately $3.5 million and an accumulated deficit of approximately $124.3 million. Our quarterly projected cash flow shortfall, based on our current operations, adjusted for any non-recurring cash expenses and adjusted for additional royalties expected to be received for use of our products in new production, for the next 12 months, is approximately $200,000 to $250,000 per quarter. We may eliminate some operating expenses in the future, which will further reduce our cash flow shortfall if needed. Based on these assumptions, we currently expect to have sufficient working capital for at least 12 months from the issuance of these financial statements.

In the event that we are unable to generate sufficient cash from our operating activities or raise additional funds, we may be required to delay, reduce or severely curtail our operations or otherwise impede our on-going business efforts, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and long-term prospects. The Company may seek to obtain additional funding through future equity issuances. There can be no assurance as to the availability or terms upon which such financing and capital might be available. The eventual success of the Company and generation of positive cash flow will be dependent upon the commercialization of products using the Company’s technology by the Company’s licensees and payments of continuing royalties on account thereof. To date, the Company has not generated sufficient revenue from its licensees to fund its operations.

(2)Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers securities purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of short-term investments in money market accounts at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. We have never experienced any losses related to these balances. FDIC insurance coverage is $250,000 per depositor at each financial institution, and our non-interest bearing cash balances may again exceed federally insured limits. Amounts on deposit in excess of federally insured limits at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are approximately $1.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively.

(b)Marketable Securities

The Company classifies investments in marketable securities as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and periodically re-evaluates such classification. Trading securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at cost and are adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts over the life of the related security. Unrealized holding gains and losses of available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. In determining realized gains and losses, the cost of the securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest and dividends on the investments are accrued at the balance sheet date.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market for the asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals or current market) and contractual prices for the underlying financial instrument, as well as other relevant economic measures. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company invested only in investments qualified as cash and cash equivalents. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred a realized gain (loss) on the sale and maturities of marketable securities of $57,149 and $(60,143), respectively.

(c)Royalties Receivable

Royalties receivable from licensees are recorded at the amounts specified within the license agreements when the collectability of the receivable is reasonably assured. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing royalties receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience as well as the current status of the Company’s customers. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts periodically. Past due accounts are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of December 31, 2023, three companies accounted for 17%,12% and 10% of the Company’s outstanding receivables. As of December 31, 2022, one company accounted for 14% of the Company’s outstanding receivables.

(d)Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

(e)Revenue Recognition/Fee Income

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The standard provides a single comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and supersedes existing revenue recognition guidance. The revenue standard contains principles that an entity will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

ASC 606 follows a five-step approach to determining revenue recognition including: 1) Identification of the contract; 2) Identification of the performance obligations; 3) Determination of the transaction price; 4) Allocation of the transaction price; and 5) Recognition of revenue.

The Company determined that its license agreements provide for three performance obligations which include: (i) the Grant of Use to its Patent Portfolio (“Grant of Use”), (ii) Stand-Ready Technical Support (“Technical Support”) including the transfer of trade secrets and other know-how, production of materials, scale-up support, analytical testing, etc., and (iii) access to new Intellectual Property (“IP”) that may be developed sometime during the course of the contract period (“New Improvements”). Given the nature of IP development, such New Improvements are on an unspecified basis and can occur and be made available to licensees at any time during the contract period.

When a contract includes more than one performance obligation, the Company needs to allocate the total consideration to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price or estimate the standalone selling price if it is not observable. A standalone selling price is not available for our performance obligations since we do not sell any of the services separately and there is no competitor pricing that is available. As a consequence, the best method for determining standalone selling price of our Grant of Use performance obligation is through a comparison of the average royalty rate for comparable license agreements as compared to our license agreements. Comparable license agreements must consider several factors including: (i) the materials that are being licensed, (ii) the market application for the licensed materials, and (iii) the financial terms in the license agreements that can increase or decrease the risk/reward nature of the agreement.

Based on the royalty rate comparison referred to above, any pricing above and beyond the average royalty rate would relate to the Technical Support and New Improvements performance obligations. The Company focuses a significant portion of its time and resources to provide the Technical Support and New Improvements services to its licensees, which further supports the conclusions reached using the royalty rate analysis.

The Technical Support and New Improvements performance obligations are co-terminus over the term of the license agreement. For purposes of determining the transaction price, and recognizing revenue, the Company combined the Technical Support and New Improvements performance obligations because they have the same pattern of transfer and the same term. We maintain a staff of scientists and other professionals whose primary job responsibilities throughout the year are: (i) being available to respond to Technical Support needs of our licensees, and (ii) developing improvements to our technology which are offered to our licensees as New Improvements. Since the costs incurred to satisfy the Technical Support and New Improvements performance obligations are incurred evenly throughout the year, the value of the Technical Support and New Improvements services are recognized throughout the initial contract period as these performance obligations are satisfied. If the agreement is not terminated at the end of the initial contract period, it will renew on the same terms as the initial contract for a one-year period. Consequently, any fees or minimum annual royalty obligations relating to this renewal contract will be allocated similarly to the initial contract over the additional one-year period.

We recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations in the contract are satisfied. For performance obligations that are fulfilled at a point in time, revenue is recognized at the fulfillment of the performance obligation. Since the IP is determined to be a functional license, the value of the Grant of Use is recognized in the first period of the contract term in which the license agreement is in force. The value of the Technical Support and New Improvements obligations is allocated throughout the contract period based on the satisfaction of its performance obligations. If the agreement is not terminated at the end of the contract period, it will renew on the same terms as the original agreement for a one-year period. Consequently, any fees or minimum annual royalties (“MAR”) relating to this renewal contract will be allocated similarly over that additional year.

The Company’s license agreements have a variable royalty fee structure (meaning that royalties are a fixed percentage of sales that vary from period to period) and frequently include a minimum annual royalty commitment. In instances when sales of licensed products by its licensees exceed the MAR, the Company recognizes fee income as the amounts have been earned. Typically, the royalty rate for such sales is 10-15% of the selling price. While this is variable consideration, it is subject to the sales/usage royalty exception to recognition of variable consideration in ASC 606 10-55-65 and therefore is not recognized until the subsequent sales or usage occurs or the MAR period commences.

Because of the immediate recognition of the Grant of Use performance obligation: (i) the first period of the contract term will generally have a higher percent allocation of the transaction price under ASC 606 and (ii) the remaining periods will have less of the transaction price recognized under ASC 606. After the initial period in the contract term, the revenue for the remaining periods will be based on the satisfaction of the technical support and New Improvements obligations. Since most of our license agreements start as of January 1st, the revenue recognized for the contract under ASC 606 in our first quarter will tend to be higher subsequent quarters in the fiscal year.

Certain of the contract fees are accrued by, or paid to, the Company in advance of the period in which they are earned resulting in deferred revenue. Such excess amounts are recorded as deferred revenue and are recognized as revenue in future periods as earned.

The Company operates in a single business segment which is engaged in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light. Our revenue source comes from the licensing of this technology and all of these license agreements have similar terms and provisions. The majority of the Company’s licensing fee income comes from the activities of several licensees participating in the automotive market. The Company currently believes that the automotive market will be the largest source of its royalty income over the next several years. The Company’s royalty income from this market may be influenced by numerous factors including various trends affecting demand in the automotive industry and the rate of introduction of new technology in OEM product lines. In addition to these macro factors, the Company’s royalty income from the automotive market could also be influenced by specific factors such as whether the Company’s SPD-SmartGlass technology appears as standard equipment or as an option on a particular vehicle, the number of additional vehicle models that SPD-SmartGlass appears on, the size of each window on a vehicle and the number of windows on a vehicle that use SPD SmartGlass, fluctuations in the total number of vehicles produced by a manufacturer, and in the percentage of cars within each model produced with SPD-SmartGlass, and changes in pricing or exchange rates.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has one license agreement that are in its initial multiyear term (“Initial Term”) with continuing performance obligations going forward. The Initial Term of this agreement will end as of December 31, 2024, The Company currently expects this agreement will renew annually at the end of the Initial Term. As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of the revenue to be recognized upon the satisfaction of the remaining performance obligations for this license agreements is $100,000. The revenue for these remaining performance obligations for each of the three license agreements is expected to be recognized evenly throughout their remaining period of the Initial Term.

Over the years, the Company has entered into a number of license agreements covering its light control technology. The Company received minimum annual royalties under certain license agreements and recorded fee income based on ASC 606 revenue recognition each quarter. In instances when sales of licensed products by its licensees exceed minimum annual royalties, the Company recognized additional fee income as the amounts have been earned. Certain of the fees are accrued by, or paid to, the Company in advance of the period in which they are earned resulting in deferred revenue. Such excess amounts are recorded as deferred revenue and are typically recognized as fee income when earned. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no balance in deferred revenue.

Fee income represents amounts earned by the Company under various license and other agreements relating to technology developed by the Company. During 2023, four licensees accounted for 39%,16%,16% and 13% of fee income recognized during the year. During 2022, four licensees accounted for 28%,23%,13% and 11% of fee income recognized during the year.

(f)Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share

Basic loss per share excludes any dilution. It is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive loss per share reflects the potential dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The Company’s dilutive loss per share equals basic loss per share for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023 because all potentially dilutive securities (i.e*.,*options and warrants) were antidilutive in those periods. The number of options and warrants that were not included because their effect is antidilutive was 3,294,515 and 4,146,951 for 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(g)Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.

(h)Patent Costs

The Company expenses costs relating to the development or acquisition of patents due to the uncertainty of the recoverability of these items.

(i)Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during this period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(j)Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be recovered or settled.

In accordance with ASC Topic 740, we recognize tax benefits only for tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that isgreater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits are tax benefits claimed in tax returns that do not meet these recognition and measurement standards. We classify accrued interest and penalties related to any unrecognized tax benefits in our income tax provision. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, we do not have accrued interest and penalties related to any unrecognized tax benefits. We do not believe we have any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The tax years subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions include the years 2018 and forward by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and certain states. The Company is not currently being audited by any tax jurisdiction.

(k)Share-Based Compensation

We recognize all stock-based compensation as an expense in the consolidated financial statements and such costs are measured at the fair value of the award at the date of grant. In addition to reflecting compensation expense for new share-based payment awards, expense is also recognized to reflect the remaining vesting period of awards that had been granted in prior periods. Tax benefits related to stock option exercises are reflected as financing cash inflows.

The exercise prices for stock options granted are generally set at the average for the high and low trading prices of the Company’s common stock on the trading date immediately prior to the date of grant, and the related numbers of shares granted are fixed at the date of grant.

In order to determine the fair value of stock options on the date of grant, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Inherent in this model are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, option term, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. While the risk-free interest rate and dividend yield are less subjective assumptions that are based on factual data derived from public sources, the expected stock-price volatility and option term assumptions require a greater level of judgment.

In connection with employee and director stock options, the Company charged to compensation expense $144,728 and $232,291 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, these awards were fully vested. In lieu of higher cash compensation, the Company has granted warrants and non-employee options to consultants. These warrants and non-employee options vested fully on the date of grant. There were no such charges for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

(l)Restricted Stock

Compensation cost for restricted stock is measured using the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock at the date the common stock is granted. The compensation cost is recognized over the period between the issue date and the vesting period for such shares. Restricted stock is included in total common shares outstanding upon the lapse of any vesting conditions.

(m)Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets to determine whether an event or change in circumstances indicates the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The Company bases its evaluation on such impairment indicators as the nature of the assets, the future economic benefit of the assets and any historical or future profitability measurements, as well as other external market conditions or factors that may be present. There was no impairment of long-lived assets recorded during 2023 and 2022.

(n)Fair Value Measurements

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and non-warrant liabilities including cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, royalties receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximated carrying value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

(o)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Standards

The Company believes that no new accounting standards that are not yet effective will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

(3)Fixed Assets

Fixed assets and their estimated useful lives as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

(4)Accrued Expenses and Other

Accrued expenses and other consist of the following at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

(5)Income Taxes

Since inception, the Company has incurred losses from operations and as a result has not recorded income tax expense. Benefits related to net operating loss carryforwards and deferred items have been fully reserved because it is not more likely than not that the Company will achieve profitable operations. The difference between the total income taxes at the federal statutory rate for each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the fact that no income tax benefit was recorded in each of these years is attributable to the change in the valuation allowance recorded in each year.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCIA”) amended IRC Section 174 to require capitalization of all research and development (“R&D”) costs incurred in tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. These costs are required to be amortized over five years if the R&D activities are performed in the U.S., or over 15 years if the activities were performed outside the U.S. For tax reporting purposes, the Company capitalized $583,000 and $609,000 of R&D expenses incurred as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

On August 16, 2022, The Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) was signed into law in the United States. Among other provisions, the IRA includes a 15% corporate minimum tax rate applies to certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on corporate stock repurchases made after December 31, 2022. We do not expect the IRA to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are presented below:

The reconciliation of the income tax expense (benefit) computed at the federal statutory tax rates to income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future taxable income during the period in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon its historical operating losses, utilization of deferred tax assets cannot currently be determined. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty regarding the future utilization of the deferred tax assets for all periods presented.

At December 31, 2023, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $64,587,000. Net operating loss carryforwards accumulated through December 31, 2017 of approximately $52,995,000 will expire in varying amounts from 2024 through 2038. Net operating losses generated since 2018, totaling approximately $11,592,000, will carry forward indefinitely, but cannot offset more than 80 percent of taxable income. Research and other credit carryforwards of approximately $904,000 are available to the Company to reduce income taxes payable in future years principally through 2041. The Company’s ability to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards and its current year tax credits in future periods could be subject to the 382 limitation. The Company will need to complete an analysis to determine whether its net operating losses are subject to the 382 limitation.

(6)Shareholders’ Equity

(a) Common Stock and Warrants

On September 16, 2022, the Company entered into subscription agreements from a group of private accredited investors to sell them 2.0 million shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $2.30 per share (which represents the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on September 14, 2022 which was the date that the transaction was agreed to). As of December 31, 2022, the Company received $3,450,000 under these subscription agreements and has issued 1,500,000 common shares and issued 1,500,000 warrants. In addition, the Company has an outstanding commitment from a potential investor for the remaining $1,150,000 under these subscription agreements. The Company did not sell any other equity securities during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The shares were issued to the investors in a private placement and, along with the shares issued in connection with the exercise of any warrants in the future, are not registered and therefore currently subject to at least a six-month holding period by the investor.

(b)Options and Warrants

(i)Employee Options

In 2019, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which provides for the granting of both incentive stock options at the fair market value at the date of grant and nonqualified stock options at the fair market value at the date of grant to employees or non-employees who, in the determination of the Board of Directors, have made or may make significant contributions to the Company in the future. The Company may also award stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, or restricted stock units under this plan. The Company initially reserved 1,400,000 shares of its common stock for issuance under this plan, and 84,500 options and other awards were available for issuance under this plan as of December 31, 2023.

At the discretion of the Board of Directors, options expire in 10 years or less from the date of grant and are generally fully exercisable upon grant but in some cases may be subject to vesting in the future. Full payment of the exercise price may be made in cash or in shares of common stock valued at the fair market value thereof on the date of exercise, or by agreeing with the Company to cancel a portion of the exercised options.

The Company granted 223,000 fully vested options during 2023 and recorded share-based compensation of $144,728. The Company granted 178,000 fully vested options during 2022 and recorded share-based compensation of $232,291. The Company valued these grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

Activity for stock options is summarized below:

All options are exercisable at December 31, 2023.

(ii) Warrants and Non-Employee Options

Activity in warrants is summarized below:

In lieu of cash compensation, the Company has granted warrants to investors and non-employee options to consultants. These warrants and non-employee options vested ratably over various terms ranging from 12 to 59 months. The non-employee options are valued at fair value at the time that the related services are provided using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and marked to market quarterly using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. There are 2,079,143 warrants issued to investors that are outstanding that are accounted for as equity.

Warrants and non-employee options generally expire infive years from the date of issuance. At December 31, 2023, all warrants and non-employee options outstanding were exercisable.

(c)Restricted Stock Grants

During 2023 and 2022, the Company did not issue restricted stock to its directors and employees.

(7)License and Other Agreements

The Company has entered into a number of license agreements covering various products using the Company’s SPD technology. Some of these license agreements are limited to specific countries and/or markets. Licensees of Research Frontiers who incorporate SPD technology into end products pay Research Frontiers an earned royalty of 10-15% of net sales of licensed products under license agreements currently in effect and may also be required to pay Research Frontiers fees and minimum annual royalties. Licensees who sell products or components to other licensees of Research Frontiers do not pay a royalty on such sale; Research Frontiers will collect such royalty from the licensee incorporating such products or components into its own end-products. Research Frontiers’ license agreements typically allow the licensee to terminate the license after some period of time and give Research Frontiers only limited rights to terminate before the license expires. Most licenses are non-exclusive and generally last as long as our patents remain in effect.

On March 14, 2019, the Company suspended its VariGuard SmartGlass business unit activities. Instead, the Company licensed a new entity to pursue the business opportunities previously pursued by the Company’s VariGuard SmartGlass business unit. This new licensee continues to use the VariGuard SmartGlass name. In addition to other employees at VariGuard SmartGlass Inc., one of the Company’s officers (Michael R. LaPointe) and one former officer (Seth L. Van Voorhees) are shareholders of VariGuard SmartGlass Inc. and, as consequence, this transaction is a related party relationship which has been reviewed and approved by the Company’s Board of Directors pursuant to the requirements of Delaware corporate law and the Company’s Code of Ethics. Mr. LaPointe also remains a full-time employee at the Company. In October 2021, the Company entered into an amendment to the license agreement with VariGuard modifying its scope and terms.

(8)Commitments

The Company has an employment agreement with its chief executive officer which provides for an annual base salary of $500,000 for calendar year 2024. This employment agreement has an evergreen provision that extends the term byone year on the expiration date unless either the Company or the employee has given notice that they will not be renewing the agreement upon the expiration of its term.

The Company has a defined contribution profit sharing (401k) plan covering employees who have completed one year of service. Contributions are made at the discretion of the Company. The Company did not make any contributions to this plan for 2023 or 2022.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at its inception. This determination generally depends on whether the arrangement conveys the right to control the use of an identified fixed asset explicitly or implicitly for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control of an underlying asset is conveyed if the Company obtains the rights to direct the use of, and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of, the underlying asset. Lease expense for variable leases and short-term leases is recognized when the obligation is incurred.

The Company has operating leases for certain facilities, vehicles and equipment with a weighted average remaining lease term of 1.3 years as of December 31, 2023. Operating leases are included in right of use lease assets, other current liabilities and long-term lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Right of use lease assets and liabilities are recognized at each lease’s commencement date based on the present value of its lease payments over its respective lease term. The Company does not have an established incremental borrowing rate as it does not have any debt. The Company uses the stated borrowing rate for a lease when readily determinable. When the interest rate implicit in its lease agreements is not readily determinable, the Company uses an interest rate based on the marketplace for public debt. The weighted average discount rate associated with operating leases as of December 31, 2023 is 5.5%.

Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023 were as follows:

(9)Rights Plan

In February 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Stockholders’ Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”) and declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Company common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2013 (“Record Time”) and authorized the issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Time and prior to the Separation Time. The Rights Plan was readopted and extended in December 2022 until February 11, 2033.

“Separation Time” shall mean the earlier of the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board of Directors may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Time that otherwise would have occurred) following but not including (i) the date on which any Person commences a tender or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in such Person’s becoming an Acquiring Person, and (ii) the date of the first event causing a Flip-in Date to occur; provided that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made.

Subject to certain exceptions listed in the Rights Plan, if a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of, or commences a tender or exchange offer for,15% or more of the Company’s common stock, unless redeemed by the Company’s Board of Directors, each Right entitles the holder (other than the acquiring person) to purchase from the Company $80 worth of common stock for $40. If the Company is merged into, or 50% or more of its assets or earning power is sold to, the acquiring company, the Rights will also enable the holder (other than the acquiring person) to purchase $80 worth of common stock of the acquiring company for $40. During 2022, the Company extended to expiration of The Rights to the close of business on February 11, 2033, unless the Rights Plan is extended by the Company’s Board of Directors or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed by the Company at a price of $0.0001 per Right. The Rights are not exercisable during the time when they are redeemable by the Company.

The above description highlights some of the features of the Company’s Rights Plan and is not a complete description of the Rights Plan. A more detailed description and copy of the Rights Plan has been filed with the SEC and is available from the Company upon request.

Note 10. Related Party

Effective June 4, 2023, the Chairman and CEO of Gauzy, Ltd., one of the Company’s licensees, joined the Board of the Company. Gauzy’s license agreement has been in effect since September 17, 2017 and provides for minimum annual royalties and earned royalties relating to sales of SPD-SmartGlass architectural window products. Because the Company collects a 10-15% percentage royalty from the higher-priced end product sales by Gauzy’s customers purchasing their SPD-Smart light control film, under its license agreement with Gauzy, the Company does not collect a royalty on sales by Gauzy of SPD-Smart light control film to these licensee customers. In addition, the Company’s licensee Vision Systems, Inc. is a 100% owned subsidiary of Gauzy, Ltd. For years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, fee income related to Gauzy and Vision Systems represented 18% and 31%, respectively, of the Company’s total fee income. In addition, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s accounts receivable from Gauzy and Vision Systems represented 8% and 9%, respectively, of the Company’s total royalty receivables, before reserves. In January 2024 these receivables were paid in full by Gauzy and Vision Systems.