14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

OPERATING LEASE

On March 20, 2017, in connection with the Company’s Miami Beach, Florida lease, the Company’s landlord filed a complaint for eviction with the Miami-Dade County Court against the Company as a result of the Company’s default under the lease for failing to pay rent, operating expenses and sales taxes of approximately $175,000, which represents the Company’s obligations under the lease through March 31, 2017, which was accrued for as of December 31, 2017. As a result of the action taken by the landlord, the Company accrued an additional $300,000 as of December 31, 2017, which represents the present value of the Company’s rent obligation through the end of the lease. As of February 16, 2018, the Company paid the $234,000 to satisfy this obligation.

On May 22, 2017, the Company entered into a lease for 11,457 square feet of office and warehouse space in Phoenix, Arizona beginning June 1, 2017 and ending July 31, 2019. Monthly lease payments range from approximately $6,300 to $6,600 (with the Company paying approximately $6,300 in total during the first three months of the lease) for a total of approximately $155,000 for the total term of the lease.

The Company had a five year sublease for office and warehouse space in Phoenix, Arizona beginning December 1, 2013 and ending November 30, 2018. On February 28, 2017, the Company vacated the Phoenix, Arizona space and has no further obligation in connection with the sublease.

Total rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $143,178 and $250,886, respectively, and is recorded in other operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. The minimum future aggregate minimum lease payments, net of sublease income, for these leases based on their initial terms as of December 31, 2017 are:

SUBLEASE AGREEMENT

On July 28, 2016, the Company (“Sublandlord”) entered into a sublease agreement with Balance Labs, Inc. (“Subtenant”) (an entity controlled by Mr. Farkas) pursuant to which the Company agreed to sublease a portion of its Miami, Florida corporate headquarters to Subtenant. The term of the sublease agreement was from August 1, 2016 to September 29, 2018, subject to earlier termination upon written notice of termination by the landlord or Sublandlord. This sublease agreement ended in March 2017 when the landlord commenced eviction proceedings against the Company. Throughout the term of the agreement, Subtenant was to pay to Sublandlord fixed base rent and operating expenses equal to 50% of Sublandlord’s obligation under its primary lease agreement, resulting in monthly base rent payments ranging from approximately $7,500 to $8,000 per month, for a total of approximately $200,000 for the total term of the sublease agreement.

PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT

On March 29, 2012, the Company, as licensee (the “Licensee”) entered into an exclusive patent license agreement with the Executive Chairman of the Board and Balance Holdings, LLC (an entity controlled by the Executive Chairman) (collectively, the “Licensor”), whereby the Company agreed to pay a royalty of 10% of the gross profits received by the Company from commercial sales and/or use of two provisional patent applications, one relating to an inductive charging parking bumper and one relating to a process which allows multiple EVs to plug into an EV charging station simultaneously and charge as the current becomes available.

On March 11, 2016, the Licensee and the Licensor entered into an agreement related to the March 29, 2012 patent license agreement. The parties acknowledged that the Licensee has paid a total of $8,525 in registration and legal fees for the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61529016 (the “Patent Application”) (related to the inductive charging parking bumper) to date. Effective March 11, 2016, the patent license agreement, solely with respect to the Patent Application and the parties’ rights and obligations thereto, was terminated. The Executive Chairman of the Board agreed to be solely responsible for all future costs and fees associated with the prosecution of the patent application. In the event the Patent Application is successful, the Executive Chairman of the Board shall grant a credit to the Licensee in the amount of $8,525 to be applied against any outstanding amount(s) owed to him. If the Licensee does not have any outstanding payment obligations to the Executive Chairman of the Board at the time the Patent Application is approved, the Executive Chairman of the Board shall remit the $8,525 to the Licensee within twenty (20) days of the approval. The parties agreed to a mutual release of any claims associated with the patent license agreement. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not paid nor incurred any royalty fees related to this patent license agreement.

TAXES

The Company has not filed its Federal and State corporate income tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Company has sustained losses for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The Company has determined that no tax liability, other than required minimums, has been incurred.

The Company is also delinquent in filing and, in certain instances, paying sales taxes collected from customers in specific states that impose a tax on sales of the Company’s products. The Company accrued an approximate $178,000 and $218,000 liability as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to this matter.

The Company is currently delinquent in remitting approximately $632,000 and $244,000 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, of federal and state payroll taxes withheld from employees. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company sent two letters to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) notifying the IRS of its intention to resolve the delinquent taxes upon the receipt of additional working capital. Additionally, on March 27, 2018, the Company has submitted its Forms 940 and 941 for the year ended December 31, 2017 with the IRS. As of the date of filing, the Company has not paid these amounts and is currently seeking settlement with the appropriate taxing authorities for past due amounts.

LITIGATION AND DISPUTES

See Note 15 – Subsequent Events for additional details.

On July 28, 2015, a Notice of Arbitration was received stating ITT Cannon has a dispute with Blink Network for the manufacturing and purchase of approximately 6,500 charging cables by Blink Network, which had not taken delivery or made payment on the contract price of $737,425. ITT Cannon also seeks to be paid the cost of attorney’s fees as well as punitive damages. On June 13, 2017, as amended on November 27, 2017, Blink Network and ITT Cannon agreed to a settlement agreement under which the parties agreed to the following: (a) the Blink Network purchase order dated May 7, 2014 for approximately 6,500 charging cables is terminated, cancelled and voided; (b) three (3) business days following the closing date of a public offering of the Company’s securities and listing of such securities on NASDAQ, the Company shall issue to ITT Cannon shares of the same class of the Company’s securities with an aggregate value of $200,000 (which was accrued at September 30, 2017); and (c) within seven (7) calendar days of the valid issuance of the shares in item (b) above, ITT Cannon shall ship and provide the remaining approximately 6,500 charging cables to Blink Network and dismiss the arbitration without prejudice. On January 31, 2018, ITT Cannon, Blink Network and the Company agreed that if the Company fails to consummate a registered public offering of its common stock, list such stock on NASDAQ and issue to ITT Cannon shares of the same class of the Company’s securities by February 28, 2018, the settlement agreement will expire. The Public Offering closed on February 16, 2018. The Company issued 47,059 shares on March 16, 2018. This was a partial payment of the $200,000 in stock owed to ITT Cannon. On March 30, 2018 the Company has issued an additional 25,669 shares to satisfy in full its obligations to ITT. As of April 16, 2018, ITT Cannon has shipped approximately 4,600-4,900 charging cables and has agreed to ship the remaining balance shortly thereafter.

On April 8, 2016, Douglas Stein filed a Petition for Fee Arbitration with the State Bar of Georgia against the Company for breach of contract for failure to pay invoices in the amount of $178,893 for legal work provided. The invoices have been accrued for in the periods in which the services were provided. The Company has responded to the claim and is simultaneously pursuing settlement options. The parties failed to settle after numerous attempts. On February 15, 2017, the case was brought to the Georgia Arbitration Committee. On February 26, 2017, The Stein Law firm was awarded a summary judgment for $178,893, which has been confirmed and converted into a judgment by the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia on August 7, 2017 in the amount of $179,168, inclusive of court costs, which continues to accrue both interest at the rate of 7.25% per annum on that amount calculated on a daily basis as of February 28, 2014, and costs to-date of $40,000 which are hereby added to the foregoing judgment amount (all of which was accrued at December 31, 2017). In connection with perfecting the Georgia judgment in the State of New York, Mr. Stein served an Information Subpoena with Restraining Notice dated September 12, 2017 on the underwriter of the offering for which the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on November 7, 2016 (as amended) (the “Restraining Notice”). The Restraining Notice seeks to force the underwriter to pay the judgment amount directly out of the proceeds of the offering. On January 8, 2018, the Company and Mr. Stein had entered into a forbearance agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Stein has agreed to forbear from any efforts to collect or enforce the judgment awarded to him as a result of a legally-entered award of arbitration. As a result, the Company has agreed to: (i) wire transfer $30,000 to Mr. Stein within three days of the effective date of this agreement; (ii) beginning on the first calendar day of each successive month following the effective date of this agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Stein $5,000 per month until the full amount of the judgment awarded to Mr. Stein ($223,168) has been satisfied, however, the full amount awarded to Mr. Stein must be paid in full no later than April 30, 2018; and (iii) provide Mr. Stein with certain financial information of the Company. On February 16, 2018, the Company paid the full amount owed to Mr. Stein.

On May 18, 2016, the Company was served with a complaint from Solomon Edwards Group, LLC for breach of written agreement and unjust enrichment for failure to pay invoices in the amount of $172,645 for services provided, plus interest and costs. The invoices have been accrued for in the periods in which the services were provided. The Company has responded to the claim and is simultaneously pursuing settlement options. On May 9, 2017, the Company issued 7,281 shares of common stock to Solomon Edwards Group, LLC in satisfaction of $121,800 of the Company’s liability.

On June 8, 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to settle $475,394 in payables owed for legal services requiring: (a) $25,000 to be paid in cash at the closing of the public offering; and (b) $75,000 in the form of 17,647 shares of common stock issuable upon the closing of the public offering. On February 16, 2018, the Company paid the $25,000 in cash and on March 19, 2018, the Company issued the 17,647 shares of common stock.

On July 21, 2017, as amended on February 26, 2018, the Company was served with a complaint from Zwick and Banyai PLLC and Jack Zwick for a breach of a written agreement and unjust enrichment for failure to pay invoices in the aggregate of amount $53,069 for services rendered, plus interest and costs, which has been accrued as of December 31, 2017. On November 28, 2017, the Company and Solomon Edwards Group LLC entered into a Settlement Agreement and Release whereby the parties agreed that the Company will pay $63,445 to Solomon Edwards Group LLC over the course of eleven (11) months in full and complete satisfaction of the previously filed complaint.

From time to time, the Company is a defendant or plaintiff in various legal actions that arise in the normal course of business.

350 Green, LLC

350 Green lawsuits relate solely to alleged pre-acquisition unpaid debts of 350 Green. Also, there are other unpaid creditors, aside from those noted above, that claim to be owed certain amounts for pre-acquisition work done on behalf of 350 Green solely, that potentially could file lawsuits at some point in the future.

On August 7, 2014, 350 Green received a copy of a complaint filed by Sheetz, a former vendor of 350 Green alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment of $112,500. The complaint names 350 Green, 350 Holdings LLC and Blink Charging Co. in separate breach of contract counts and names all three entities together in an unjust enrichment claim. Blink Charging Co. and 350 Holdings will seek to be dismissed from the litigation, because, as the complaint is currently plead, there is no legal basis to hold Blink Charging Co. or 350 Green liable for a contract to which they are not parties. The Company settled with Sheetz and the parties signed two agreements on February 23, 2017: a General Release and Settlement Agreement and a Exclusive Electronic Vehicle Charging Services Agreement. The settlement involved a combination of DC charging equipment, installation, charging services, shared driver charging revenue and maintenance for two systems in exchange for no further legal action between 350 Holdings or the Company. The Exclusive Electronic Vehicle Charging Services Agreement with Sheetz is for a five (5) year term. Pursuant to the agreement, Blink shall remit to Sheetz gross revenue generated by electric vehicle charging fees and advertising, minus (i) any and all taxes, (ii) 8% transaction fees, (iii) $18.00 per charger per month; and (iv) any electricity costs incurred by Blink ((i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) being referred to as the “Service Fees”). In the event the aggregate gross revenues are insufficient to cover the Service Fees incurred in a given month by the charging stations, such unpaid Service Fees will accrue to the following month. The agreement is subject to an automatic five-year renewal unless written notice for the contrary is provided.

On May 30, 2013, JNS Power & Control Systems, Inc. (“JNS”) filed a complaint against 350 Green, LLC alleging claims for breach of contract, specific performance and indemnity arising out of an Asset Purchase Agreement between JNS and 350 Green entered on April 13, 2013, whereby JNS would purchase car chargers and related assets from 350 Green. On September 24, 2013, the District Court entered summary judgment in favor of JNS on its claim for specific performance. On September 9, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit of Chicago, Illinois affirmed the ruling of the District Court, which affirmed the sale of certain assets by 350 Green to JNS and the assumption of certain 350 Green liabilities by JNS. On April 7, 2016, JNS amended the complaint to add the Company, alleging an unspecified amount of lost revenues from the chargers, among other matters, caused by the defendants. Plaintiff also seeks indemnity for its unspecified attorney’s fees and costs in connection with enforcing the Asset Purchase Agreement in courts in New York and Chicago. On July 26, 2017, the District Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the Company from the suit. The Company answered the second amended complaint on August 16, 2017. The deadline for the parties to complete discovery is December 8, 2017. The next status hearing on the matter is set for December 8, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the Company accrued a $750,000 liability in connection with its settlement offer to JNS. On February 2, 2018, the parties entered into an asset purchase agreement whereby the parties agreed to settle the litigation. The Company purchased back the EV chargers it previously sold to JNS for: (a) shares of Common Stock worth $600,000 with a price per share equal to $4.25 (the price per share of the Offering); (b) $50,000 cash payment within ten days of the closing of the Offering; and (c) $100,000 cash payment within six months following the closing of the Offering. The Offering closed on February 16, 2018. The Company issued 141,176 shares on March 16, 2018. The Company made the $50,000 payment on March 16, 2018. JNS filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice on March 23, 2018 and the judge granted the motion on March 26, 2018. JNS will file a motion to convert the dismissal without prejudice to dismissal with prejudice within three business days of the $100,000 payment. On March 16, 2018, the Company issued 23,529 shares of Common Stock to JNS to be held in escrow as security for the $100,000 payment. At the time the $100,000 payment is made by the Company, the 23,529 shares currently held in escrow will be cancelled.

On March 26, 2018, final judgment has been reached relating to the Assignment for the Benefit of the Creditors, whereby all remaining assets of 350 Green are abandoned to their respective property owners where the charging stations have been installed, thus on March 26, 2018 the assignment proceeding has closed.

SECURITIES SALES COMMMISSION AGREEMENT

On December 7, 2017, the Company entered into a Securities Sales Commission Agreement with Ardour Capital Investments, LLC (“Ardour”), an entity of which Mr. Farkas owns less than 5%. The parties previously entered into a Financial Advisory Agreement dated August 3, 2016, pursuant to which Ardour was entitled to placement agent fees related to the Company’s transaction with JMJ. Pursuant to the Securities Sales Commission Agreement, the parties agreed that, depending on which of the two (2) repayment options the Company chooses with respect to the JMJ Agreement, the Company, upon the closing of the public offering, will issue shares of common stock to Ardour with a value of $900,500 or $1,200,500. See Note 8 – Notes Payable for details of the two (2) repayment options. The Company will issue such number of shares of common stock to Ardour equal to the amount in question (either $900,500 or $1,200,500) divided by the lowest of (i) $35.00 per share, or (ii) the lowest daily closing price of the Company’s common stock during the ten days prior to delivery of the Origination Shares (subject to adjustment for stock splits), or (iii) 80% of the common stock offering price of the public offering, or (iv) 80% of the unit offering price of the public offering (if applicable), or (v) the exercise price of any warrants issued in the public offering. Upon such issuance, the Company shall not owe any further securities to Ardour with respect to the JMJ financing. The Company has accrued for this liability as of December 31, 2017. On March 22, 2018, the Company issued 361,608 shares to Ardour pursuant to the Securities Sales Commissions Agreement.