Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 16 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Contingencies

Legal Matters 

On February 6, 2018 the Company sent a letter to the previous owners of Howco Distributing Co. (“Howco”) alleging that they made certain financial misrepresentations under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement by which the Company acquired control of Howco during 2016. The Company claimed that the previous owners took excessive amounts of cash from the business prior to the close of the merger. On March 13, 2018 the Company filed a lawsuit against the previous owners by issuing a summons. On April 12, 2018, the Company received the Defendants’ answer. On July 22, 2019, the Company was granted a dismissal without prejudice of the lawsuit filed against the previous owners of Howco. The Company and the previous owners are in discussion to settle the matter as of September 30, 2019.

In connection with the merger in fiscal 2016, with Texas Wyoming Drilling, Inc., a vendor has a claim for unpaid bills of approximately $75,000 against the Company. The Company and its legal counsel believe the Company is not liable for the claim pursuant to its indemnification clause in the merger agreement.

On February 11, 2019, the Supreme Court of the State of New York issued a summons to the former CFO of the Company, to appear before the court to answer the Company’s complaint seeking payment under a personal guarantee of the defendant to provide half of any compensation paid to the former Chief Strategy Officer. The Company is seeking $300,000 from the defendant relating to the November 27, 2018 settlement agreement with the former Chief Strategy Office for $600,000. The former CFO has responded to the suit and has filed a motion to dismiss the Company’s suit during August of 2019.

On April 10, 2019, a former service provider filed a complaint with three charges with the Superior Court Judicial District of New Haven, CT seeking payment for professional services. The Company has previously recognized expenses of $156,431, which remain unpaid in accounts payable. The Company has retained an attorney who is currently working to address the complaint. On August 9, 2019 the Company filed a motion to dismiss the charge of unjust enrichment, which is pending adjudication. 

During the year ended September 30, 2019, two vendors (The Equity Group and Toppan Vintage) have asserted claims for past due amounts of approximately $59,000, arising from services provided. The Company has fully recognized in accounts payable the amounts associated with these claims and expects to resolve the matters to satisfaction of all parties. 

Settlements

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, the Company received demands for non-payment of five months of rent for its New York location. In July 2017, the Company vacated the New York premises. Subsequent to June 30, 2017, a lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for an alleged breach of a Service Agreement for approximately $63,000 in connection with the lease the Company entered into for its former office space in New York. As of September 30, 2017, the Company accrued into accounts payable approximately $63,000 pursuant to ASC 420-10-30 “Cost to Terminate an Operating Lease”. In October 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the New York lease landlord and paid $30,000 in full settlement and recorded a settlement gain of $33,361.

On August 9, 2017, a lawsuit was filed by an investor relations firm against the Company in the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Index No. 61772/2017). The complaint alleged two causes of action, one for goods and services furnished and one for an account stated, in the amount of $74,325. The plaintiff obtained a default judgment. The Company has filed an Order to Show Cause to vacate the default judgment on the grounds that the service of the complaint was invalid. The court granted the Company’s Order to Show Cause on December 19, 2017 and set the hearing on the Order to Show Cause for January 12, 2018. At December 31, 2017, $68,544 was accrued in accounts payable. On February 14, 2018 the Company entered into a stipulation agreement with the investor relations firm which settled the amount due at $20,000 if payment was made by February 21, 2018. The lump sum payment was made on February 16, 2018 and a gain on extinguishment of debt of $48,544 was recorded.

On January 29, 2018, the Company entered into a settlement agreement and mutual release with a vendor who had provided public relations and other consulting services whereby the Company shall pay to this vendor an aggregate amount of $60,000 of which $30,000 was paid on February 2, 2018. Additionally, the Company shall pay ten monthly payments of $3,000 per month beginning on February 29, 2018. Additionally, the vendor returned 400,000 common shares of the Company’s common stock which will be cancelled upon satisfaction of the liability. The liability is recorded at $21,000 as of September 30, 2019, and 2018. The Company is in discussion with the vendor to address the past due amounts.

On November 13, 2018 the Company and a vendor agreed to settle $161,700 in past due professional fees for a convertible note in the amount of $90,000. The note bears interest at 5% and matures in July 2019, and has a fixed discount conversion feature. The note is now past due and remains unconverted at September 30, 2019. The accrued balance as accounts payable of $71,700, was recognized a gain on debt extinguishment following receipt of the waiver and release from the vendor.

During 2016, Company entered into an employment agreement with the Company’s former Chief Strategy Officer which provided for annual base compensation of $400,000 for a period of three years and provided for other additional benefits as defined in the agreement including a signing bonus of $100,000 payable during the first year of employment. During November 2018 the Company reached an agreement and executed a related stipulation and payment terms agreement stemming from the legal action by the former Chief Strategy Officer for improper termination. The plaintiff agreed to accept $600,000 in payments. The first scheduled payment of $200,000 was made on December 20, 2018 in accordance with the settlement terms. Twelve monthly payments of approximately $33,333 are due starting on January 15, through December 15, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, a balance of $131,724 remained as settlement payable which includes related employer payroll taxes expected to be incurred for future payments.

As of September 30, 2019, the Company has received demand for payment of past due amounts for services by several consultants and service providers.

Commitments

Lease Obligations

The Company entered into an agreement with a manufacturer in Pismo Beach, California. The agreement provides for certain services to be provided by the manufacturer as needed by the Company. The agreement has an initial term of three years with one year renewals. In connection with this agreement, the Company has agreed to sublease space based in San Luis Obispo, California from the manufacturer for the purposes of the development and manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles. The lease provides for base monthly rent of approximately $15,000 for the initial term to be increased to $16,500 per month upon extension. The lease term begins February 1, 2017 and expires January 31, 2019 with the option to extend the term an additional 24 months. However, the Company never took possession of the premises and in July 2017, the Company made a decision to not take possession of the premises. The Company is in default of the rent payments and had received oral demand for payments. As of September 30, 2019, and 2018, the Company has not made any of the required monthly rent payments in connection with this agreement. During fiscal 2017, the Company had expensed and accrued into accounts payable the remaining amounts due under the term of the lease for a total accrual of $360,000 pursuant to ASC 420-10-30. This balance remains accrued as of September 30, 2019 and 2018.

In May 2017, the Company extended Howco’s office lease through May 30, 2020. The lease requires monthly payments including base rent plus CAM with annual increases. Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases at September 30, 2019 are as follows: 

Years ending September 30,	Amount
2020		40,737
Total minimum non-cancelable operating lease payments	$	40,737

For the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, rent expense amounted to $59,737 and $55,225, respectively.

Profit Sharing Plan (for Howco)

On April 13, 2018, Howco announced to its employees a Company-wide profit sharing program. The employee profit share is equal to their annual salary divided by the Company’s total annual payroll and multiplied by 10% of net income for the fiscal year. During 2019 and 2018 the employees earned approximately $0 and $21,000 under this plan.

Notice of Default

On September 6, 2019, the Company received a notice of default under its senior secured credit facility with TCA, for non-payment of amounts due among other matters. Left uncured the default remedies include seizure of operating assets such as the Company’s subsidiary. Additionally, the default may trigger cross default provisions under other agreements with other creditors.