Cemtrex Inc: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

Except for historical information contained in this report, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this report, words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “may”, “plans”, “potential” and “intends” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Our operations involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, and any one of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect our results of operations and whether the forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be correct. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and their pricing; unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems; the Company’s ability to maintain sufficient credit arrangements; changes in governmental standards by which our environmental control products are evaluated and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including its recent report on Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.

General Overview

Cemtrex was incorporated in 1998 in the state of Delaware and has evolved through strategic acquisitions and internal growth into a leading multi-industry company. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we”, “our”, “us”, “Company”, “registrant”, “Cemtrex” or “management” refer to Cemtrex, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

The Company’s reporting segments consist of Security and Industrial Services. Additionally, the Company’s operational structure also reports unallocated corporate expenses.

Security

Cemtrex’s Security segment operates under the brand of its majority owned subsidiary, Vicon Industries, Inc. (“Vicon”), which provides end-to-end security solutions to meet the toughest corporate, industrial, and governmental security challenges. Vicon’s products include browser-based video monitoring systems and analytics-based recognition systems, cameras, servers, and access control systems for every aspect of security and surveillance in industrial and commercial facilities, federal prisons, hospitals, universities, schools, and federal and state government offices. Vicon provides innovative, mission critical security and video surveillance solutions utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) based data algorithms.

Industrial Services

Cemtrex’s Industrial Services segment operates under the brand, Advanced Industrial Services (“AIS”), which offers single-source expertise and services for rigging, millwrighting, in plant maintenance, equipment erection, relocation, and disassembly to diversified customers. AIS installs high precision equipment in a wide variety of industrial markets like automotive, printing & graphics, industrial automation, packaging, and chemicals, among others. AIS is a leading provider of reliability-driven maintenance and contracting solutions for machinery, packaging, printing, chemical, and other manufacturing markets. The focus is on customers seeking to achieve greater asset utilization and reliability to cut costs and increase production from existing assets, including small projects, sustaining capital, turnarounds, maintenance, specialty welding services, and high-quality scaffolding.

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and the related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on our knowledge of current events, our actual amounts and results could differ from those estimates. The estimates made are based on historical factors, current circumstances, and the experience and judgment of our management, who continually evaluate the judgments, estimates and assumptions and may employ outside experts to assist in the evaluations.

Certain of our accounting policies are deemed “significant”, as they are both most important to the financial statement presentation and require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. For a discussion of our significant accounting policies, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Results of Operations – For the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023

Revenues

Our Security segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, decreased by $1,828,966 or 18% to $8,084,932 from $9,913,898 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This decrease is due to the delay of multiple projects for the Security segment’s products and services.

Our Industrial Services segment revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, increased by $2,915,164 or 47%, to $9,074,663 from $6,159,499, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This increase is mainly due to increased demand for the segment’s services and the additional business from the Heisey acquisition completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023.

Gross Profit

Gross Profit for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $6,939,416 or 40% of revenues as compared to gross profit of $7,338,481 or 46% of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Gross profit in our Security segment was $4,112,969 or 51% of the segment’s revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to gross profit of $5,120,081 or 52% of the segment’s revenues for the period ended March 31, 2023. Gross profit was down due to decreased revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Gross profit in our Industrial Services segment was $2,826,447 or 31% of the segment’s revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to gross profit of $2,216,191 or 36% of the segment’s revenues for the period ended March 31, 2023. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues decreased due to lower margins related to Heisey acquisition related projects in the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, increased $1,701,890 or 32% to $7,020,157 from $5,318,267 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in general and administrative expenses is mainly related to increased sales and marketing activities including payroll, fringe benefits, legal expenses, insurance, travel as well as an increase in insurance, and repairs and maintenance expenses. Legal expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, include non-recurring expenses of $360,000.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were $951,400 compared to $1,615,341 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of $663,941 or 41%. Research and Development expenses are primarily related to the Security Segment’s development of next generation solutions associated with security and surveillance systems software.

Other Income/Expense

Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was $448,039, as compared to $958,634 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, was mainly driven by interest on the Company’s debt. Decreases in interest expense relate to $451,422 in deferral charges and $441,733 of amortization of original issue discounts in the three months ended March 31, 2023, that did not occur in the current period.

Provision for Income Taxes

During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had income tax expense from continuing operations of $100,004 and $0, respectively. The provision for income tax is based upon the current income tax from the Company’s various U.S. and international subsidiaries that are subject to their respective income tax jurisdictions and the Company’s current ability to utilize net loss carryforwards.

Income/(loss) from Discontinued Operations

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had income on discontinued operations, net of tax of $10,463, and $14,232, respectively. This income is mainly related to the recognition of the royalties due from CXR, Inc.

Results of Operations – For the six months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023

Revenues

Our Security segment revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2024, increased by $334,091 or 2% to $17,252,733 from $16,918,642 for the six months ended March 31, 2023. This increase is due to an increased demand for the Security segment’s products and services.

Our Industrial Services segment revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2024, increased by $5,660,031 or 51%, to $16,785,028 from $11,124,997 for the six months ended March 31, 2023. This increase is mainly due to increased demand for the segment’s services and the additional business from the Heisey acquisition completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023.

Gross Profit

Gross Profit for the six months ended March 31, 2024, was $14,021,815 or 41% of revenues as compared to gross profit of $12,831,096 or 44% of revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2023.

Gross profit in our Security segment was $8,629,916 or 50% of the segment’s revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to gross profit of $8,523,771 or 50% of the segment’s revenues for the six-month period ended March 31, 2023. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues remained constant in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the six months ended March 31, 2023.

Gross profit in our Industrial Services segment was $5,391,899 or 32% of the segment’s revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to gross profit of $3,855,116 or 35% of the segment’s revenues for the six-month period ended March 31, 2023. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues decreased due to lower margins related to Heisey acquisition related projects in the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the six months ended March 31, 2023.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2024, increased $3,509,518 or 33% to $13,992,123 from $10,482,605 for the six months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in general and administrative expenses is mainly related to increased payroll, fringe benefits, insurance, professional fees and travel. Increases in payroll include approximately $680,000 in severance and bonus payments. Legal expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2024, include non-recurring expenses of $360,000.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2024, were $1,800,205 compared to $3,445,054 for the six months ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of $1,644,849 or 48%. Research and Development expenses are primarily related to the Security Segment’s development of next generation solutions associated with security and surveillance systems software.

Other Income/Expense

Other expense for the six months ended March 31, 2024, was $953,311, as compared to $2,103,951 for the six months ended March 31, 2023. Other expense for the six months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, was mainly driven by interest on the Company’s debt. Decreases in interest expense relate to $673,253 in deferral charges and $841,800 of amortization of original issue discounts in the six months ended March 31, 2023, that did not occur in the current period.

Provision for Income Taxes

During the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had income tax expense from continuing operations of $170,755 and $0. The provision for income tax is based upon the current income tax from the Company’s various U.S. and international subsidiaries that are subject to their respective income tax jurisdictions and the Company’s current ability to utilize net loss carryforwards.

Income/(loss) from Discontinued Operations

For the six months ended March 31, 2024, the Company had income on discontinued operations, net of tax of $20,955. This income is mainly related to the recognition of the royalties due from CXR, Inc. Losses on discontinued operations for the six months ended March 31, 2023, were $3,225,389 attributable to the operations and sale of the Cemtrex brands discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements included herein.

Effects of Inflation

The Company’s business and operations have been affected by inflation during the periods for which financial information is presented. In response, the Company has instituted price increases and initiated cost-saving measures to mitigate the effects of inflation on operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working capital was $10,300,384 at March 31, 2024, compared to working capital of $1,948,923 at September 30, 2023. This includes cash and equivalents and restricted cash of $4,088,536 at March 31, 2024, and $6,349,562 at September 30, 2023. The increase in working capital was primarily due to the Company’s entry into a standstill agreement on two notes extending the maturity date and holding redemptions for a period of one year.

Cash used by operating activities for continuing operations for the six months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023 was $2,752,236 and $5,383,060, respectively. Cash provided by operating activities for discontinued operations for the six months ended March 31, 2023, was $2,488,144. Our negative operating cash flow was mainly the result of our net loss combined with operating changes in trade receivables.

Trade receivables increased by $2,326,185 or 25% to $11,535,880 at March 31, 2024, from $9,209,695 at September 30, 2023. The increase in trade receivables is attributable to increased sales in the Industrial Services segment.

Cash used by investing activities for continuing operations for the six months ended March 31, 2024, was $455,308 compared to $252,706 used for the six months ended March 31, 2023. Investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2024, were driven by the Company’s purchase of property and equipment and investment in Masterpiece VR. Investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2023, were driven by the Company’s purchase of property and equipment.

Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2024, was $1,250,540 compared to using cash of $920,127 for the six months ended March 31, 2023. Financing activities were primarily driven by proceeds and payments on the Company’s revolving line of credit and payments on its secured debt. Financing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2023, were primarily driven by payments on the Company’s debt.

While current debt indicates a substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Company has historically, from time to time, satisfied and may continue to satisfy certain short-term liabilities through the issuance of common stock, thus reducing our cash requirement to meet our operating needs. The Company has $2,916,120 in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024. Additionally, the Company has (i) secured a line of credit for its Vicon brand to fund operations, which as of March 31, 2024, has available capacity of $980,766, (ii) continually reevaluated its pricing model on our Vicon brand to improve margins on those products, (iii) entered into an underwriting agreement in connection with underwritten public offering, the aggregate gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $10,035,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and other estimated expenses payable by the Company, and (iv) entered into a Standstill Agreement with Streeterville Capital, LLC (“Streeterville”) in which Streeterville agreed not to seek to redeem any portion of its two outstanding notes with the Company for a period of one year expiring on April 30, 2025, in exchange, the Company agreed to pay to Streeterville the greater of $4,000,000 or fifty percent (50%) of the net proceeds the Company receives from the sale of any of its common stock or preferred stock during the Standstill Period.

In the event additional capital is raised through equity offerings and/or debt is satisfied with equity, it may have a dilutive effect on our existing stockholders. While the Company believes these plans if successful, would be sufficient to meet the capital demands of our current operations for at least the next twelve months, there is no guarantee that we will succeed. Overall, there is no guarantee that cash flow from our existing or future operations and any external capital that we may be able to raise will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs. The Company currently does not have adequate cash or available liquidity/available capacity on our lines of credit to meet our short or long-term needs. Absent an ability to raise additional outside capital and restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt, the Company will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due over the next twelve months beyond the issuance date.

Each segment of the Company’s operations has positioned itself for growth and the Company’s long-term objectives include, increasing marketing and sales for the Company’s products and services in each segment, increasing the Company’s presence through collaboration partnerships in each segment and through strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses for each segment. These long-term objectives will require sufficient cash to complete, and the Company expects to fund these objectives with cash on hand, issuance of debt, and from proceeds from the sale of the Company’s securities, which may not be sufficient to fully implement our growth initiatives.

The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to this uncertainty.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures reporting as promulgated under the Exchange Act is defined as controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our CEO and our CFO have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024. Based on their evaluation, our management has concluded that as of March 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that occurred during the six months ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.