MIND Technology (MIND) Risk Factors

We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other misconduct. Misconduct by employees could include intentional failures to comply with legal requirements or the requirements of government regulators in the jurisdictions in which we operate, provide accurate information to applicable government authorities, comply with fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations in the United States and abroad, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us. We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and anyone performing similar functions, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may be ineffective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment, additional reporting requirements and oversight if subject to an agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of our operations, any of which could substantially disrupt our operations.

If there is a shortage of a key component and the component cannot be easily sourced from a different supplier, the shortage could disrupt our production activities. Additionally, lead times for other components have increased in some cases. A shortage of key components may cause a significant disruption to our production activities, which could have a substantial adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Demand for many of our products and the profitability of our operations depend primarily on the level of worldwide oil and gas exploration activity. Prevailing oil and gas prices, with an emphasis on crude oil prices, and market expectations regarding potential changes in such prices significantly affect the level of worldwide oil and gas exploration activity. During periods of improved energy commodity prices, the capital spending budgets of oil and natural gas operators tend to expand, which results in increased demand for our customers' services leading to increased demand in our products. Conversely, in periods when energy commodity prices deteriorate, capital spending budgets of oil and natural gas operators tend to contract causing demand for our products to weaken. Historically, the markets for oil and gas have been volatile and are subject to wide fluctuations in response to changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control. Sustained low oil prices or the failure of oil prices to rise in the future and the resulting downturns or lack of growth in the energy industry and energy-related business, could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

General inflation, including rising energy prices, interest rates and wages, currency volatility and monetary, fiscal and policy interventions by national or regional governments in reaction to such events could have negative impacts on our business by increasing our operating costs and our borrowing costs as well as decreasing the capital available for our customers to purchase our services. General inflation in the United States, Europe and other geographies has risen to levels not experienced in recent decades. General inflation, including rising prices for our raw materials and other inputs as well as rising salaries, could negatively impact our business by increasing our operating expenses. Customer resistance to a corresponding increase in the pricing for our products and services could adversely affect our revenue and negatively impact our business by decreasing our operating margins. Additionally, inflation and price volatility may cause our suppliers or customers to reduce use of our products and services, which would harm our business operations and financial position.

Some of our products are subject to export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR") administered by the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls ("DDTC") and the Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS"). We are also subject to foreign assets control and economic sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), which restrict or prohibit our ability to transact with certain foreign countries, individuals and entities. Under these regulations, the sale or transfer of certain equipment to a location outside the United States may require prior approval in the form of an export license issued by the BIS or DDTC. Some potential international transactions may also be restricted or prohibited based on the location, nationality or identity of the potential end user, customer or other parties to the transaction or may require prior authorization in the form of an OFAC license. Any delay in obtaining required governmental approvals could affect our ability to conclude a sale or timely commence a project, and the failure to comply with all such controls could result in criminal and/or civil penalties, including fines, imprisonment, denial of export privileges and debarment from contracting with the federal government. These international transactions may otherwise be subject to tariffs and import/export restrictions from the United States or other governments. We are subject to taxation in many foreign jurisdictions and the final determination of our tax liabilities involves the interpretation of the statutes and requirements of taxing authorities worldwide. Our tax returns are subject to routine examination by taxing authorities, and these examinations may result in assessments of additional taxes, penalties and/or interest. Our overall success as a global business depends, in part, upon our ability to succeed in differing economic, social and political conditions. We may not continue to succeed in developing and implementing policies and strategies that are effective in each location where we do business, which could negatively affect our profitability.

We operate on a global scale and while the majority of our foreign revenues are contracted in U.S. dollars, locally sourced items and expenditures are predominately transacted in local currency. These costs are subject to the risk of taxation policies, expropriation, political turmoil, civil disturbances, armed hostilities, and other geopolitical hazards as well as foreign currency exchange controls (in which payment may not be made in U.S. dollars) and fluctuations.

In the United States, the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), in addition to some state and regional authorities, have in recent years considered legislation or regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases ("GHGs"). These efforts have included consideration of cap-and-trade programs, carbon taxes, GHG reporting, permitting, and tracking programs, and regulations that directly limit GHG emissions from certain sources. In the absence of federal GHG-limiting legislation, the EPA has determined that GHG emissions present a danger to public health and the environment and has adopted regulations that, among other things, restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the U.S. Clean Air Act and may require the installation of "best available control technology" to limit emissions of GHGs from certain new or significantly modified facilities emitting large volumes of GHGs together with other criteria pollutants. In addition, the EPA has adopted regulations requiring monitoring and annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain sources, including, among others, certain onshore and offshore oil and natural gas production facilities. In 2016, the EPA finalized new regulations that set emission standards for methane and other volatile organic compounds for new and modified oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing and transmission facilities, known as New Source Performance Standards ("NSPS") Subpart OOOOa. Although EPA subsequently withdrew these requirements for certain sectors of the oil and gas industry, and the ultimate scope of these rules is uncertain due to ongoing court challenges of the rules and any potential changes to the rules by U.S. President Biden's Administration, the bulk of NSPS Subpart OOOOa is currently in effect. Also, many of the other countries where we and our customers operate, including Canada and various countries in Europe, have adopted or are considering GHG reduction measures similar to those described above. Such measures, or any similar future proposals, have the potential to increase costs for the oil and gas industry, which in turn could result in reduced demand for the products and services we provide. Although it is not possible at this time to predict how legislation or new regulations or other initiatives that may be adopted to address GHG emissions would impact our business, any such future laws, regulations or other legal requirements imposing reporting or permitting obligations on, or limiting emissions of GHGs from oil and gas exploration and production activities could have an adverse effect on the demand for our products and services. In addition, spurred by increasing concerns regarding climate change, the oil and gas industry faces growing demand for corporate transparency and a demonstrated commitment to sustainability goals. Environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") goals and programs, which typically include extralegal targets related to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance, have become an increasing focus of investors and shareholders across the industry. While reporting on ESG metrics remains voluntary, access to capital and investors is likely to favor companies with robust ESG programs in place. Ultimately, these initiatives could increase operational costs and make it more difficult for companies, including our current and potential customers, to secure funding for exploration and production activities and, thus, reduce demand for our products and services. Finally, increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, hurricanes, floods, drought and other climatic events. If any such climatic events were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and the financial condition and operations of our customers. For additional risks related to climate or catastrophic events, please see risk factor "Risks related to natural disasters and other catastrophic events" below. Notwithstanding potential risks related to climate change, the International Energy Agency estimates that oil and gas will continue to represent a substantial major share of global energy use through 2030, and other private sector studies project continued growth in demand for the next two decades. However, recent activism directed at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets could result in limitations or restrictions on certain sources of funding for the energy sector.

If our customers experience financial difficulties or their own customers delay payment to them, they may not be able to pay, or may delay payment of, accounts receivable owed to us. Disruptions in the financial markets or other macro-economic issues, such as volatility in price of oil or other hydrocarbons or a worldwide pandemic, such as the global pandemic, could exacerbate financial difficulties for our customers. Any inability of customers to pay us for products and services could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. As of January 31, 2024, we had approximately $6.9 million of gross customer accounts receivable, of which approximately $51,000 was over 180 days past due. Contractual payment terms vary by customer and by contract and, under certain circumstances, we may grant extended payment terms to our customers. We had an allowance for credit losses of approximately $332,000 related to accounts receivable from continuing operations. For fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023, we had no charges to our provision for credit losses related to continuing operations. Significant payment defaults by our customers in excess of our allowance for credit losses would have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.