YUNHONG GREEN CTI LTD

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Yunhong Green CTI Ltd.

Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

1. Nature of Business

Nature of Operations

Yunhong Green CTI Ltd. (formerly Yunhong CTI Ltd. and prior to that CTI Industries Corporation), its former subsidiaries - United Kingdom subsidiary (CTI Balloons Limited), Mexican subsidiary (Flexo Universal, S. de R.L. de C.V.), and German subsidiary (CTI Europe GmbH); as well as current (inactive) subsidiary CTI Supply, Inc. (collectively, the “Company”) (i) design, manufacture and distribute metalized and latex balloon products throughout the world and (ii) operate systems for the production, lamination, coating and printing of films used for food packaging and other commercial uses and for conversion of films to flexible packaging containers and other products. Effective in 2019, the Company determined that it was exiting CTI Balloons Limited and CTI Europe, and during 2021 sold its interest in Flexo Universal. Accordingly, the operations of these entities were classified as discontinued operations in the financial statements.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Yunhong Green CTI Ltd., and its wholly owned, inactive, subsidiary CTI Supply, Inc. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Variable Interest Entities

The determination of whether or not to consolidate a variable interest entity under U.S. GAAP requires a significant amount of judgment concerning the degree of control over an entity by its holders of variable interest. To make these judgments, management has conducted an analysis of the relationship of the holders of variable interest to each other, the design of the entity, the expected operations of the entity, which holder of variable interests is most “closely associated” to the entity and which holder of variable interests is the primary beneficiary required to consolidate the entity. Upon the occurrence of certain events, management reviews and reconsiders its previous conclusion regarding the status of an entity as a variable interest entity.

Foreign Currency Translation

There are no foreign operations and substantially all activities occur in US Dollars.

Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include valuation allowances for doubtful accounts, inventory valuation, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible asset valuation, leasehold assets and liabilities, Preferred Stock deemed dividends and beneficial conversion feature values, and assumptions used as inputs in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable

Trade receivables are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate for doubtful receivables based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying troubled accounts, evaluating the individual customer receivables through consideration of the customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions and use of historical experience applied to an aging of accounts. A trade receivable is considered to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for a period over the customer’s normal terms. Trade receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded when received.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using standard costs which approximates costing determined on a first-in, first-out basis, to reflect the actual cost of production of inventories.

Production costs of work in process and finished goods include material, labor and overhead. Inventory is not recorded in excess of net realizable value.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated useful life or the lease term. The estimated useful lives range as follows:

Light machinery consists of forklifts, scissor lifts, and other warehouse machinery. Heavy machinery consists of production equipment including laminating, printing and converting equipment. Projects in process represent those costs capitalized in connection with construction of new assets and/or improvements to existing assets including a factor for interest on funds committed to projects in process of $112,000 and $108,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Upon completion, these costs are reclassified to the appropriate asset class.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock-based incentive plans which may grant stock option, restricted stock and unrestricted stock awards. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of the award and the related vesting terms. The fair value of stock-based awards is determined using the Black-Scholes model, which incorporates assumptions regarding the risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected option life, and dividend yield. See Note 14 for additional information.

Fair Value Measurements

Current professional accounting guidance applies to all assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The requirements prescribe a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of input to determine fair value. A Level 1 input includes a quoted market price in an active market or the price of an identical asset or liability. Level 2 inputs are market data other than Level 1 inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data.

The carrying value amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of business segments (as needed for purposes of determining indications of impairment to the carrying value of goodwill) is determined using an average of valuations based on market multiples and discounted cash flows, and consideration of our market capitalization. See Note 5 for further discussion.

Valuation of Long Lived Assets

The Company evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred which indicate that the carrying amounts of long-lived assets (principally property, plant and equipment) may be impaired or not recoverable. The significant factors that are considered that could trigger an impairment review include: changes in business strategy, market conditions, or the manner of use of an asset; underperformance relative to historical or expected future operating results; and negative industry or economic trends. In evaluating an asset for possible impairment, management estimates that asset’s future undiscounted cash flows and appraised values to measure whether the asset is recoverable. The Company measures the impairment based on the projected discounted cash flows of the asset over its remaining life.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the loan. Upon a refinancing, existing unamortized deferred financing costs are expensed.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. As such, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amount used for income tax purposes. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, the timing and amount of which are uncertain.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the anticipated reversal of these differences is scheduled to occur. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when management cannot determine, in its opinion, that it is more likely than not that the Company will recover that recorded value of the deferred tax asset. The Company is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local taxes as well as foreign taxes in Mexico (through October 2021). U.S. income tax expense and foreign withholding taxes are provided on remittances of foreign earnings and on unremitted foreign earnings that are not indefinitely reinvested.

We utilize a two step approach to recognize and measure uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon tax authority examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. See Note 10 for further discussion.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606,Revenue from Contracts with Customers using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations, as our revenue arrangements generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods at a fixed price.

Net sales include revenues from sales of products and shipping and handling charges, net of estimates for product returns. Revenue is measured at the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for the transferred products. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when we transfer the promised products to the customer and the customer obtains control over the products. The Company recognizes revenue for shipping and handling charges at the time the goods are shipped to the customer, and the costs of outbound freight are included in cost of sales, as we have elected the practical expedient included in ASC 606. In most cases, the Company has a single product delivery performance obligation. Accrued product returns are estimated based on historical data and evaluation of current information.

The Company provides for product returns based on historical return rates. While we incur costs for sales commissions to our sales employees and outside agents, we recognize commission costs concurrent with the related revenue, as the amortization period is less than one year and we have elected the practical expedient included in ASC 606. We do not incur incremental costs to obtain contracts with our customers. Our product warranties are assurance-type warranties, which promise the customer that the products are as specified in the contract. Therefore, the product warranties are not a separate performance obligation and are accounted for as described herein. Sales taxes assessed by governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and are excluded from net sales.

A disaggregation of product net sales is presented in Note 16.

Research and Development

The Company conducts product development and research activities which include (i) creative product development and (ii) engineering. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, research and development activities totaled approximately $200,000 in each period.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Note 3–Liquidity and Going Concern

The Company’s financial statements are prepared using account principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has a cumulative net loss from inception to December 31, 2023 of approximately $24 million. The accompanying financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company’s cash resources may be insufficient to meet its anticipated needs during the next twelve months. The Company may require additional funding on acceptable terms to support it is planned future operations. Management’s plans include executing on its business plan and raising external funds to the extent needed. These factors are indicators that there is substantial doubt about the ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

The Company’s primary sources of liquidity have traditionally been comprised of cash and cash equivalents as well as availability under a Credit Agreement. During September 2021, we entered into a new credit agreement with Line Financial. The new agreement with Line Financial includes a revolving credit facility for up to $6 million and a term loan of $0.7 million, all supported by the majority of our assets. This Agreement was extended during September 2023, until September 30, 2025, under substantially similar terms. We also made structural changes to our business, removing the cash required to support subsidiaries that are no longer part of our group and other operating improvements.

We have been in compliance with our new credit facility since its inceptions. As of December 31, 2023 we have drawn approximately $5.0 million of the maximum $6.0 million revolving line of credit, which is available subject to the value of receivables and inventory that support the line. Through December 31, 2022, the Company received approximately $160,000 in Employee Retention Tax Credits (“ERTC”) from the United States Government related to claims that were filed during 2021. $123,000 was listed as General and Administrative, while the remainder was in Other Income. During October 2022 we had outstanding $1.2 million of additional ERTC claims that had not been processed. We factored those claims with a third party for $0.9 million. During 2023, these claims were processed and paid, which was forwarded to the third party. At that time, we recognized approximately $0.9 million of the related deferred income.

4.New Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Credit Loss

In June 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For public entities, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years, which for the Company was the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that simplifies the accounting for income taxes as part of the overall initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. Amendments include removal of certain exceptions to the general principles of Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes. The amendments also include simplification in several other areas, such as recognition of deferred tax assets on step-up in tax basis in goodwill and accounting for franchise tax that is partially based on income. For public entities, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years, which for the Company was the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

5. Fair Value Disclosures

U.S. GAAP clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. U.S. GAAP also requires that a fair value measurement reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based upon the best information available.

U.S. GAAP establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of the input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

**6.Major Customers

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had two customers that accounted for approximately 46% and 36% of consolidated net sales from continuing operations. For the year ended December 31, 2022, those same two customers accounted for approximately 36% and 35% of consolidated net sales. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the outstanding accounts receivable balance due from these customers were $3.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

7. Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using standard costs which approximate costing determined on a first-in, first out basis. Standard costs are reviewed and adjusted periodically and at year end based on actual direct and indirect production costs. On a periodic basis, the Company reviews its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable items, primarily by reviewing future demand requirements and shelf life of the product.

Inventories of continuing operations are comprised of the following:

8. Notes Payable

Long term debt consists of:

Line of Credit and Term Loan

On September 30, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Agreement”) with Line Financial (the “Lender”), which provides for a senior secured financing consisting of a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $6 million (the “Maximum Revolver Amount”) and term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $731,250 (“Term Loan Amount” and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Facilities”). The Senior Facilities are secured by substantially all assets of the Company. The Senior Facilities were extended on September 30, 2023 until September 30, 2025 on substantially similar terms.

Interest on the Senior Facilities was set at the prime rate published from time to time published in the Wall Street Journal (8.5% as of December 31, 2023), plus 1.95% per annum, accruing daily and payable monthly. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed. The Term Loan Facility shall be repaid by the Company to Lender in 48 equal monthly installments of principal and interest, each in the amount of $15,000, commencing on November 1, 2021, and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter until the Term Loan Maturity Date (as defined in the Agreement). Also, the Company paid the Lender collateral monitoring fees of 4.62% of the eligible accounts receivable, inventory, and equipment supporting the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan. In addition, the Company paid the Lender a loan fee of 1.25% of the Maximum Revolver Amount and the Term Loan Amount upon the execution of the Agreement. During August 2022 the terms were modified to reduce the collateral monitoring fee to 2.77% and added a provision that barred the Company from repaying the facility prior to September 2023. This Term Loan was re-established effective with the September 30, 2023 renewal at the original values on September 30, 2021.

The Senior Facilities matured on September 30, 2023 and were extended by agreement between the parties until September 30, 2025. The facility automatically extends for successive periods ofone year each, unless the Company or the Lender gives the other party written notice of termination not less than 90 days prior to the end of such term or renewal term, as applicable. If the Senior Facilities are renewed, the Company shall pay the Lender a renewal fee of 1.25% of the Maximum Revolver Amount and the Term Loan Amount upon each renewal on the anniversary of the Closing Date. The Company has the option to prepay the Term Loan Facility (together with all accrued but unpaid interest and a Term Loan Prepayment Fee (as defined the Agreement) in whole, but not in part, upon not less than 60 days prior written notice to the Lender. With this September 30, 2023 renewal, the parties agreed changes in terms including:

The Senior Facilities require that the Company maintain Tangible Net Worth of at least $4,000,000 or greater (“Minimum Tangible Net Worth”). Minimum Tangible Net Worth may be adjusted downward by the Lender, from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion, based on the effect of non-cash charges and other factors on the calculation of Tangible Net Worth. Other debt subordinated to Lender is not considered as a reduction of this calculation. The Company believes it was in compliance with this covenant since inception, including through December 31, 2023.

The Senior Facilities contain certain affirmative and negative covenants that limit the ability of the Company, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions, to incur debt or liens, make investments, enter into certain mergers, consolidations, and acquisitions, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, or make capital expenditures exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the term loan balance amounted to $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively, which consisted of the principal and interest payable balance and deferred financing costs. The balance of the Revolving Line of Credit as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $5.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

Subordinated (Officer) Note

As of January 1, 2019, the Company had a note payable to John H. Schwan, former Director and former Chairman of the Board, for $1.6 million, including accrued interest. This loan accrues interest, is due December 31, 2023, and is subordinate to the Senior Facilities. During January 2019, Mr. Schwan converted $600,000 of the note into approximately 181,000 shares of our common stock at the then market rate of $3.32 per share. As a result of the conversion, the loan balance decreased to $1.0 million. The loan and interest payable to Mr. Schwan amounted to $1.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. No payments were made to Mr. Schwan during 2023 or 2022. Interest expense related to this loan amounted to $19,000 and $18,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $78,000 and $74,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Pursuant to an agreement between the parties, the Company paid $0.5 million of this balance on January 2, 2024, another $0.5 million on January 16, 2024, and the remainder later during 2024.

Other Note

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a note payable to Alex Feng for $0.2 million. This loan accrued interest at a rate of 3% and is subordinated to the Senior Facilities. In accordance with the subordination agreement, payments may be made beginning April 2022 subject to availability under the revolving line of credit, and the maturity date for this loan was March 2024. Along with certain deposits received during 2022, this note was converted into common stock during February 2023.

**9. Income Taxes **

Tax Reform act of 2017

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted into law and introduced significant changes to U.S. tax law. The Company reflected the impacts of changes in tax law to the financial statements including the federal income tax rate reduction from 35% to 21%; the new limitations on the tax deductibility of interest expense; the acceleration of business asset expensing; the repeal of the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”); the limitation on the use of net operating losses generated in future years; and the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income regime. On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was enacted into law and introduced changes to U.S. tax law including revised limitations on the tax deductibility of interest expense and the limitation on the use of net operating losses.

Due to an ownership change in the first quarter of 2020, the future utilization of certain post-change income tax attributes of Yunghong CTI Ltd , including net operating loss carryovers, are anticipated to be limited for U.S. income tax purposes.

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following:

Income tax provision (benefit) related to continuing operations differ from the amounts computed by applying the statutory income tax rate of 21% to pretax loss as follows (in thousands):

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of loss and credit carryforwards and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of our deferred tax assets for federal and state income taxes are as follows):

Realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. Due to the lack of earnings history and in light of management’s comments regarding going concern for most of 2019 through December 31, 2023, a valuation allowance has been recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets to its net realizable value. The valuation allowance increased by $0.3 million and increased by $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The valuation allowance includes no benefit related to stock based compensation and exercises for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, prior to the implementation of ASC 515 and 718, that will be credited to additional paid in capital when realized.

Net Operating Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards

As of December 31, 2023, we had a net operating loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $16.1 million, of which $0.2 million is subject to expiration beginning 2037. We had a total state net operating loss carryforward of approximately $18.7 million, with various expiration dates. Utlization of some of the federal and state net operating loss and credit carryforwards are subject to annual limitations due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state provisions. The annual limitations may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.

10. Related Party Transactions

Ms. Jana M. Schwan is the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. Her father, John H. Schwan, held several positions with the Company over many years, most recently as Chairman of the Board until June 2020. His brother is Gary Schwan, one of the owners of Schwan Incorporated, which provides building maintenance services to the Company. The Company made payments to Schwan Incorporated of approximately $1,000 and $1,000 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

As discussed in Note 9, Mr. John H. Schwan was owed approximately $1.3 million and $1.2 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively in a note from the Company.

11. Commitments

Operating Leases

We adopted ASC Topic 842 (Leases) on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method. This standard requires us to record certain operating lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on our balance sheet. We elected the package of practical expedients available for expired or existing contracts, which allowed us to carryforward our historical assessments of whether contracts are (or contain) leases, as well as lease classification tests and treatment of initial direct costs. We also elected to not separate lease components from non-lease components for all fixed payments, and we exclude variable lease payments in the measurement of right-of-use assets and lease obligations.

Upon adoption of ASC 842 we recorded a $2.8 million increase in other assets, a $1.1 million increase in current liabilities, and a $1.7 million increase in non-current liabilities. We did not record any cumulative effect adjustments in opening retained earnings, and adoption of ASC 842 had no impact on cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities.

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Most of our operating leases do not provide an implicit rate of interest so we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. We lease various assets in the course of ordinary business including warehouses and manufacturing facilities, as well as vehicles and equipment used in our operations. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet as we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The depreciable life of assets and related improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a reasonably certain expected transfer or title or purchase option. Some lease agreements include renewal options at our sole discretion. Any guaranteed residual value is included in our lease liability.

The table below describes our lease position as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded expenses related to

The following table summarizes the maturities of our lease liabilities for all operating leases as of December 31, 2023

12. Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

On January 3, 2020, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement (as amended on February 24, 2020 and April 13, 2020 (the “LF Purchase Agreement”)), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, and LF International Pte. Ltd., a Singapore private limited company (“LF International”), which is controlled by Company director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yubao Li, agreed to purchase, up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s newly created shares of Series A Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred”), with each share of Series A Preferred initially convertible into ten shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price of $10.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,000,000 (the “LF International Offering”). As permitted by the Purchase Agreement, the Company may, in its discretion issue up to an additional 200,000 shares of Series A Preferred for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Additional Shares Offering,” and collectively with the LF International Offering, the “Offering”). Approximately $1 million of Series A Preferred has been sold, including to an investor which converted an account receivable of $478,000 owed to the investor by the Company in exchange for 48,200 shares of Series A Preferred. The Company completed several closings with LF International from January 2020 through June 2020. The majority of the funds received reduced our bank debt. We issued a total of 400,000 shares of common stock to LF International and, pursuant to the LF Purchase Agreement, changed our name from CTI Industries Corporation to Yunhong CTI Ltd. LF International has the right to name three directors to serve on our Board. They were Mr. Yubao Li, Ms. Wan Zhang and Ms. Yaping Zhang. Ms. Wan Zhang and Ms. Yaping Zhang retired from the Board in January 2022.

The issuance of the Series A Preferred generated a beneficial conversion feature (BCF), which arises when a debt or equity security is issued with an embedded conversion option that is beneficial to the investor or in the money at inception because the conversion option has an effective strike price that is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the commitment date. The fair value of the common stock into which the Series A Preferred was convertible exceeded the allocated purchase price fair value of the Series A Preferred Stock at the closing dates by approximately $2.5 million as of the closing dates. We recognized this BCF by allocating the intrinsic value of the conversion option, to additional paid-in capital, resulting in a discount on the Series A Preferred. As the Series A Preferred is immediately convertible, the Company accreted the discount on the date of issuance. The accretion was recognized as dividend equivalents. Holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive quarterly dividends at the annual rate of 8% of the stated value ($10 per share). Such dividends may be paid in cash or in shares of common stock at the Company’s discretion. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company accrued $67,000 and $267,000 of these dividends in each period, respectively. On September 1, 2022, the investor converted Preferred Series A into 5 million shares of common stock and approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock representing accrued dividends.

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

In November 2020, we issued 170,000 shares of Series B Preferred for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000. The Series B Preferred have an initial stated value of $10.00 per share and liquidation preference over common stock. The Series B Preferred is convertible into shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares determined by dividing the sum of the stated value and any accrued and unpaid dividends by the conversion price of $1.00. The Series B Preferred accrues dividends at a rate of 8 percent per annum, payable at our election either in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. Initially, the Series B Preferred, in whole or part, was redeemable at the option of the holder (but not mandatorily redeemable) at any time on or after November 30, 2021 for the stated value, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and thus was classified as mezzanine equity and initially recognized at fair value of $1.5 million (the proceeds on the date of issuance). In March 2021, the terms of the Series B Preferred were modified to eliminate the ability of the holder to redeem the Series B Preferred. As the Series B Preferred is no longer redeemable, the Series B Preferred is not classified as mezzanine equity as of December 31, 2022 or December 31, 2021. As a result, the carrying value as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 amounted to $1,851,000 and $1,715,000, respectively. The December 31, 2022 balance consists of $1,500,000 original carrying value, $304,000 accrued dividends and $47,000 accretion. On February 1, 2023, the investor converted Preferred Series B into approximately 1.9 million shares of common stock.

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

In January 2021 we entered into an agreement with a related party, LF International Pte. Ltd. which is controlled by Company director and Chairman, Mr. Yubao Li, to purchase shares of Series C Preferred stock. We issued 170,000 shares of Series C Preferred for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000. The Series C Preferred have an initial stated value of $10.00 per share and liquidation preference over common stock. The Series C Preferred is convertible into shares of our common stock equal to the number of shares determined by dividing the sum of the stated value and any accrued and unpaid dividends by the conversion price of $1.00. The Series C Preferred accrues dividends at a rate of 8 percent per annum, payable at our election either in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. The issuance of the Series C Preferred generated a beneficial conversion feature (BCF), which arises when a debt or equity security is issued with an embedded conversion option that is beneficial to the investor or in the money at inception because the conversion option has an effective strike price that is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the commitment date. The fair value of the common stock into which the Series C Preferred was convertible exceeded the allocated purchase price of the Series C Preferred at the closing dates by greater than the allocated purchase price. Therefore, the BCF was the purchase price of the Series C Preferred ($1.5 million) and was allocated to Additional Paid-in Capital, resulting in a discount on the Series C Preferred Stock. As the Series C Preferred Stock is immediately convertible, the Company accreted the discount on the date of issuance. The accretion to the carrying value of the Series C Preferred is treated as a deemed dividend, recorded as a charge to Additional Paid in Capital and deducted in computing earnings per share. The carrying value as of August 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 amounted to $1,698,000 and $1,630,000, respectively. On September 1, 2022, the investor converted Series C into 1.7 million shares of common stock and accrued dividends in the amount of approximately 0.3 million shares of common stock.

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock

In June 2021, the Company received $1.5 million from an unrelated third party as an advance on a proposed sale of Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. As of September 30, 2021, the Company was in the process of negotiating and finalizing the terms of the arrangement. As the agreement was not finalized as of September 30, 2021, the $1.5 million advance was classified as Advance from Investor within liabilities on the balance sheet at that time. As of December 31, 2021, the terms had been finalized, the investment was classified as equity, similar to the prior Convertible Preferred issuances, above. The issuance of the Series D Preferred generated a beneficial conversion feature (BCF), which arises when a debt or equity security is issued with an embedded conversion option that is beneficial to the investor or in the money at inception because the conversion option has an effective strike price that is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the commitment date. The fair value of the common stock into which the Series D Preferred was convertible exceeded the allocated purchase price fair value of the Series D Preferred Stock at the closing dates by approximately $0.3 million as of the closing dates. We recognized this BCF by allocating the intrinsic value of the conversion option, to additional paid-in capital, resulting in a discount on the Series D Preferred. As the Series D Preferred is immediately convertible, the Company accreted the discount on the date of issuance. The accretion was recognized as dividend equivalents. Holders of the Series D Preferred will be entitled to receive quarterly dividends at the annual rate of 8% of the stated value ($10 per share). Such dividends may be paid in cash or in shares of common stock at the Company’s discretion. In addition,128,000 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock were issued with respect to this transaction. These warrants are exercisable until December 1, 2024, at the lower of $1.75 per share or 85% of the variable price based on the ten day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Company’s common stock. The value of these warrants was determined to be $230,000 and recorded as an allocation of paid in capital associated with this transaction. The carrying value as of September 1, 2022 and December 31, 2021 amounted to $1,580,000 and $1,512,000, respectively. On September 1, 2022, the investor converted Preferred Series D into 1.7 million shares of common stock and received accrued dividends of approximately 0.1 million shares of common stock.

Warrants

A summary of the Company’s stock warrant activity is as follows:

During November 2023, the Company issued 675,183 shares of its common stock to retire all outstanding warrants, as well as a $317,000 deferred liability. The warrants were converted in a cashless transaction based on the terms of the warrants. The Board of Directors determined the conversion price of the deferred liability would be consistent with the approach listed above,84% of the volume weighted average price during the relevant time period. Both of these items are fully resolved upon this transaction.

13. Other Shareholders’ Equity

Common Stock

During 2020,400,000 shares of our common stock were issued to LF related to the acceleration of closings in our Series A Offering, and an additional 200,000 shares were issued to Garden State Securities in its representation of the Company in the Series A Offering.

Restricted Stock

In 2020,15,000 shares of restricted stock vested to Mr. Hyland, former Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to the terms of the grant related to his employment with the Company. There were no other shares of restricted stock outstanding during 2020 or 2021. During 2022,250,000 shares of restricted stock were granted to the incoming Chief Executive Officer pursuant to an employment agreement.25,000 of those shares are to vest immediately and the remaining shares are schedule to vest upon the achievement of certain performance conditions. Each of three independent directors received grants of 5,000 shares that were fully vested as of December 31, 2022. Additionally, the Chief Operating Officer was granted 100,000 shares,20,000 of which vested over 12 months while the remaining 80,000 had the same performance conditions as the Chief Executive Officer. During each of 2023 and 2022, the performance condition related to 56,250 shares for the Chief Executive Officer and 20,000 shares for the Chief Operating Officer was met, and these shares vested. As of December 31, 2023, performance conditions related to 112,500 shares for the Chief Executive Officer and 40,000 shares for the Chief Operating Officer remain unvested.

Stock Options

The Compensation Committee (“Committee”) administers the Company’s stock-based plans. The exercise price of the stock options shall be fixed by the Committee at whatever price the Committee may determine in good faith. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, options generally had a 4-year term with a 3-year vesting schedule. Unless the Committee provides otherwise, options terminate upon the termination of a participant’s employment, except that the participant may exercise an option to the extent it was exercisable on the date of termination and for a period of time after termination.

In 2009, the shareholders of the Corporation approved, a 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (“2009 Plan”). The 2009 Plan and subsequent awards categorized as inducement of employment authorized the issuance of up to 510,000 shares of stock or options to purchase stock of the Company (including cancelled shares reissued under the plan.)

On June 8, 2018, our shareholders approved the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (“2018 Plan”). The 2018 Plan authorized the issuance of up to 300,000 shares of our common stock in the form of equity-based awards. Because no registration on Form S-8 was filed for these additional shares within 12 months of approval by our shareholders, those additional shares are not available for issuance in the normal course. On June 17, 2022, our shareholders approved of the issuance of 500,000 shares to this plan.

The Company, at the discretion of the board, may issue options in excess of the total available, if options related to that stock plan are cancelled. In some cases, not all shares that are available to a stock plan are issued, as the Company is unable to issue options to a previous plan when a new plan is in place.

The Company recognized share based compensation expense of approximately $20,000 and $160,000 in 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, there wasno unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock option grants. There were approximately 132,000 performance-based grants for which the underlying performance threshold had not been met as of December 31, 2023.

Warrants

In connection with the Series A Offering, in 2020 the Company issued 792,660 warrants to purchase 792,660 shares of the Company’s common stock for $1 per share. During 2020,597,500 warrants were exercised in cash-less exchange for 391,308 shares of the Company’s common stock. In January and February 2021, the remaining 195,160 warrants were exercised in a cash-less exchange for 103,104 shares of the Company’s common stock.

The Series D Offering also included warrants to purchase up to 128,572 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of the lower of $1.75 per share or 85% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock during the 10 trading days prior to the date of exercise. If unexercised, these warrants would have expired December 1, 2024. As noted above, the warrants were exercised and converted into common shares during 2023, leaving no outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2023.

The Company has applied the Black-Scholes model to value stock-based awards. That model incorporates various assumptions in the valuation of stock-based awards relating to the risk-free rate of interest to be applied, the estimated dividend yield and expected volatility of the Company’s Common Stock. The risk-free rate of interest is the U.S. Treasury yield curve for periods within the expected term of the option at the time of grant. The expected volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s Common Stock.

The valuation assumptions we have applied to determine the value of warrants granted in 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

Historical stock price volatility: The Company used the weekly closing price to calculate historical annual volatility.

Risk-free interest rate: The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the rate payable on US treasury securities with a similar maturity in effect at the time of the grant, which was 4.50% and 3.80%, during 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Expected life: The expected life of the warrants represents the period of time warrants were expected to be outstanding. The Company used an expected life of 5 years for all warrants granted during 2023 and 2022.

Dividend yield: The estimate for dividend yield is 0%, as the Company did not issue dividends during 2023 or 2022 and does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future.

Estimated forfeitures: When estimating forfeitures, the Company considers historical terminations as well as anticipated retirements.

A summary of the Company’s stock options, warrants and related information, is as follows:

As there areno active stock options, there isno aggregate intrinsic value (the difference between the closing price of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all the holders exercised their options on December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The warrants have an intrinsic value of none and $230,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company reserved no shares of its common stock for the exercise of warrants, and preferred stock.

14. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to Yunhong Green CTI Ltd. Common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period.

Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to Yunhong Green CTI Ltd. Common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and equivalents (stock options and warrants), unless anti-dilutive, during each period.

15. Product and Geographic Segment Data

The Company’s operations consist of a single business segment which designs, manufactures, and distributes film products.

The following table provides a breakdown of product net sales from operations in each of the years indicated (in thousands):

16. Contingencies

In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are from time to time subject to lawsuits, investigations and claims, including environmental claims and employee-related matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, including civil penalties or other enforcement actions, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding or proceedings to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

17. Legal Proceedings

The Company may be party to certain lawsuits or claims arising in the normal course of business. The ultimate outcome of these matters is unknown but, in the opinion of management, we do not believe any of these proceedings will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon our financial condition, cash flows or future results of operation.

18. Subsequent Events

During 2023, we received $1.5 million of investor funds intended as an equity investment. An additional $0.5 million was received during January 2024. During the first quarter of 2024, per agreement between then parties, these investment deposit liabilities became Convertible Preferred Series E and F in the amont of $1.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

We had a $1.3 million note payable to John Schwan due on December 31, 2023. Pursuant to agreement between the parties, we repaid the note in three installments: $0.5 million on January 2, 2024, an additional $0.5 million on January 16, 2024, and the remainder later during 2024.