NOTE 3 – JOINT VENTURE

Joint Venture with XTI Aircraft

Effective May 31, 2021, Xeriant entered into a Joint Venture with XTI Aircraft Company (“XTI”), named Eco-Aero, LLC, with the purpose of completing the preliminary design review (“PDR”) of XTI’s eVTOL fixed wing aircraft. XTI and the Company each own 50 percent of the XTI JV, and it is managed by a management committee consisting of five members, three appointed by Xeriant and two by XTI. The Company invested approximately $5.5 million into the joint venture after borrowing the funds from Auctus Fund LLC (“Auctus”) through a Senior Secured Promissory Note, through an introduction from Maxim Group, LLC, the Company’s investment banker at the time. The borrowed funds from Auctus were intended to be a bridge loan that would be resolved through an IPO (Initial Public Offering) and uplist to Nasdaq in a merger with XTI, which did not occur because XTI refused to move forward with the merger. The PDR was completed during the first quarter of 2022 according to XTI, which was the purpose of the joint venture.

On May 17, 2022, Xeriant signed a Letter Agreement with XTI related to the introduction of XTI to Inpixon, a Nasdaq-listed company. Under this Letter Agreement, if there was a combination or other transaction between XTI and Inpixon, Xeriant would receive compensation of 6 percent of XTI fully diluted pre-merger shares, and XTI would assume the obligations of Xeriant’s Senior Secured Note with Auctus Fund, LLC. On May 31, 2023, the joint venture was terminated according to an Acceleration Event, which was 24 months from the start of the joint venture. On June 5, 2023, after suspecting that the obligations under the Letter Agreement were possibly being evaded, the Company transmitted a formal demand letter to XTI requesting compliance with the provisions outlined in the Letter Agreement, and in accordance with section 8 of the JV Agreement with XTI. On July 25, 2023, Inpixon filed an 8-K, announcing their intention to merge with XTI having executed an Agreement of Plan and Merger with XTI. The filing also showed that XTI had engaged in a transaction with Inpixon on March 10, 2023, receiving $300,000 in funding, which was a compensation triggering event. Inpixon subsequently filed an S-4/A registration statement on October 6, 2023. On December 6, 2023, the Company initiated legal proceedings against XTI. See Litigation section at Note 9 below for a summary of the related legal proceedings.

The Company analyzed the transaction under ASC 810, Consolidation, to determine if the joint venture classifies as a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”). The JV qualifies as a VIE based on the fact the JV does not have sufficient equity to operate without financial support from Xeriant. According to ASC 810-25-38, a reporting entity shall consolidate a VIE when that reporting entity has a variable interest (or combination of variable interests) that provides the reporting entity with a controlling financial interest on the basis of the provisions in paragraphs 810-10-25-38A through 25-38J. The reporting entity that consolidates a VIE is called the primary beneficiary of that VIE. According to the JV operating agreement, the ownership interests are 50/50. However, the agreement provides for a Management Committee of five members. Three of the five members are from Xeriant. Additionally, Xeriant had a right to invest up to $10,000,000 in the JV. As such, Xeriant has substantial capital at risk. Based on these two factors, the conclusion is that Xeriant is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Accordingly, Xeriant has consolidated the VIE.

The Company includes the assets and liabilities related to the VIE in the consolidated balance sheets. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation of the VIE. Xeriant provided cash to the VIE to fund its operations. The carrying amounts of the consolidated VIE’s assets and liabilities associated with the VIE subsidiary were as follows: