Cemtrex, Inc. (NASDAQ:CETX) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Saagar Govil: So there are a couple of reasons for that. I think the primary driver for that was really that — well, I won’t say primary, and I appreciate the question, Steve. So pretty, the company, as an owner of seven brands, doing many different things did not get the value attributed for all of those seven things simultaneously. And I think my impression after speaking with many investors, was that they didn’t understand the story. And it was very complicated to an associated value with the business and appreciate everything that we were doing. And as a result, this was reflected in the Cemtrex stock price. And in bringing on a new board, this was discussed in great length at the board that, bringing better focus to what we’re doing as an organization would have a direct impact on creating shareholder value.

So from 2021 into the end of 2022, the share price was declining substantially despite all of these exciting things that we were doing. So it wasn’t sort of my decision alone, unilaterally just changing out a whim here, this was a combination of result of recognizing and seeing what was actually taking place with respect to the overall business, to share price, and so forth. The other thing I just really want to point out is, all of the things that we’ve liked about Smart Desk and VR, those are long term opportunities, and they will consume a lot of cash. And so if, in order to do them, the company needs to continually be raising capital, which means more dilution. And if the stock price is going down, it just makes that more and more difficult.

So, I mean, we viewed where the stock price is, is a referendum from shareholders that, the direction that we’re going in is not the right one, right. And we need to get back to focusing on where we can drive cash flow, and where we can drive growth in the nearest amount of time. And that meant focusing on things with the most upside in the nearest amount of time. And that would not result in more and more endless dilution for shareholders. Does that make sense?

Unidentified Analyst: No, it does, I just want to make sure that this time, I mean, your last stock split in June 2019, it and eight for one, and then you refocus on Smart Desk, and you start calling your flagship product. And you just kept throwing out teasing everybody about some VR game that never happened. And then you got rid of Rob Cemtrex, and then you sold Griffin Filters to your father. And then since then you reported $50 million in losses, you’re carrying $20 million in debt. And I’m just want to make sure that you do it right this time, because I meant the best since 2014, we’re looking at them at a third reverse split. And can you say what that cost is going to be? How big it’s going to be?

Saagar Govil: No, we don’t know what the rate is going to be.

Unidentified Analyst: So my initial investment is pennies on the dollar. So it’s basically a tax write off, but I would like to see some accountability for how you’ve been running this company. I mean, and then now the SEC finally comes up where you cost the company, another $2.2 million. And I mean, is that factor in anywhere? Are you going to repay that or is that just a write-off for the company? I mean, does SEC describes it in their filing as fraudulent conduct? So, I mean, I would like you to comment on that a little bit.