ITEM 1. Business
Overview
alpha-En Corporation was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on March 7, 1997 under the name Avenue Entertainment Group, Inc. On June 9, 2008, we changed the name of the Company to alpha-En Corporation, and effective July 22, 2008, our trading symbol was changed to “ALPE.”
Since 2008, the focus of our business has been developing new technologies for manufacturing highly pure lithium metal, a raw material for use in lightweight, high energy density batteries, in an environmentally friendly manner for commercial purposes. In 2013, we invented a new process for the production of highly pure lithium metal and associated products at room temperature. We subsequently broadened our focus to develop products and processes derived from our new core proprietary technology, including battery components and compounds of lithium.
Lithium is the lightest of all metals and has the highest electrochemical potential, making lithium the raw material of choice for batteries. There is a substantial existing market for lithium metal in primary non-rechargeable batteries and an emerging market for rechargeable lithium metal batteries, including next-generation batteries under development.
In September 2014, we formed Clean Lithium Corporation under the laws of New York State as a majority owned subsidiary. We formed Clean Lithium Corporation to further develop and commercialize our technology and we owned approximately 91.0% of its capital stock as of December 31, 2017. Clean Lithium Corporation holds our core intellectual property, including several patent applications and licenses discussed further in the “Our Technology” section below. In 2016 we dissolved two inactive subsidiaries, Avenue Pictures, Inc. and Wombat Productions, Inc.
Our Technology
Based on results to date, including what we believe to be multiple analyses of the process from outside laboratories, we believe that our proprietary technology offers a number of advantages over lithium production methods currently in use. We also believe based on results to date that the resulting products have a number of advantages over other lithium products produced via the traditional ingot method. Traditionally, industrial production of lithium metal involved the electrolysis of molten salts at temperatures at and above 400° Celsius (752° Fahrenheit). Maintaining these salts at high heat levels adds meaningful production costs to the process, including the production of chlorine gas as a byproduct.
Our proprietary technology allows for processing lithium at room temperature of 30° Celsius and allows for the use of lithium carbonate as a primary feed stock. We believe the advantages of our process and products include:
● lower process temperatures and high electrical efficiency, leading to lower manufacturing costs;
● reduced environmental risks, containment costs and regulatory concerns resulting in the elimination of chlorine gas from the production process;
● feedstock flexibility through the use of various grades of lithium carbonate as the feed stock, and reduced non-core hazardous by-products typically produced when processing halide salts of lithium;
● electrolytic deposition of highly pure lithium on a myriad of different substrates in custom form factors with custom protective conductive coatings;
● reduced presence of trace metals or undesired substances in the final products.
We intend to continue developing the intellectual property associated with our core technology; broaden our patent portfolio and scale up our production of various products.
Starting in 2012, we devoted our resources internally to developing a technology to manufacture lithium metal, from the lab bench to the manufacturing floor. We are still in the development stages, but we believe this process and resulting products may be commercially viable and we are taking preliminary steps toward scaling-up our manufacturing design while we continue to optimize development efforts.
Through our subsidiary, Clean Lithium Corporation, we have filed a number of patent applications based on our proprietary room temperature, flexible and energy efficient process. This proprietary process uses lithium carbonate as a feedstock and does not produce chlorine gas as a by-product. These patent applications held by Clean Lithium Corporation include:
● U.S. Patent Application No. 14/328,613, Filed July 10, 2014 - Producing Lithium
● PCT Application No. PCT/US2015/039768, Filed July 9, 2015 - Producing Lithium. The following national phase applications have been filed from this PCT patent application:
○ Australian Patent Application No. 2015287769, Filed January 6, 2017
○ Canadian Patent Application No. 2954639, Filed January 9, 2017
○ Chinese Patent Application No. 201580037710.4, Filed January 10, 2017
○ European Patent Application No. 15819217.9, Filed January 23, 2017
○ Japan Patent Application No.2017-522453, Filed January 6, 2017
○ Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-7003400, Filed February 7, 2017
○ Hong Kong Patent Application No. 17110292.5, Filed October 12, 2017
● PCT Application No. PCT/US2016/064328, Filed December 1, 2016 - Method for Producing a Lithium Film
● PCT Application No. PCT/US2016/033445, Filed May 20, 2016 - High Purity Lithium and Associated Products and Processes
● U.S. Patent Application No. 15/160,013, Filed May 20, 2016- High Purity Lithium and Associated Produces and Processes. The following national phase applications have been filed from this PCT patent application:
○ Australian Patent Application No. 2016270313, Filed November 24, 2017
○ Canadian Patent Application No. 2987740, Filed November 22, 2017
○ Chinese Patent Application No. 01680031890, Filed November 22, 2017
○ European Patent Application No. 16803991.5, Filed October 24, 2017
○ Japan Patent Application No. 2018-513724, Filed November 23, 2017
○ Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-7037256, Filed November 22, 2017
○ Indian Patent Application No. 201717042986, Filed November 22, 2017
○ U.S. Continuation-In-Part Application No. 15/821,275, Filed November 22, 2017
The PCT patent application, Method for Producing a Lithium Film, includes certain intellectual property that has been jointly developed in partnership with the City University of New York and has been exclusively licensed to alpha-En.
Clean Lithium Corporation’s patent applications encompass a broad portfolio of products and processes derived from our core lithium production technology, ranging from processes to produce compounds of lithium, battery components and battery technology using our high purity lithium metal products.
We have entered into research agreements with a number academic research institutions as part of our process for developing and validating our core technology. The institutions include Argonne National Laboratory, the City University of New York, and Princeton University. Argonne National Laboratory is contracted with us to conduct optimization of our process, development work relating to the scale-up of our technology, characterization of our new materials and electrochemical (battery) testing of our highly pure lithium anodes and coatings. The City University of New York assists us in producing samples and characterizing the resulting materials, and in testing new process equipment and products developed by our in-house research and development team. Princeton University assists us with research and development relating to the use of our lithium anode in solid state and rechargeable lithium metal batteries.
Prior to 2012 we also pursued a strategy of in-licensing. On February 25, 2009, we were granted an exclusive, worldwide, transferable, perpetual license to use certain proprietary technology for the processing of lithium for use in batteries and other fields. Commencing in October 2010, working through a third party, we conducted a series of tests to determine if the process worked and, based on the results, initially believed that the process produced lithium, however it did not prove to be commercially feasible and research and development efforts involving this license were abandoned. In exchange for the license, we had certain financial, share issuance and royalty obligations if certain sale thresholds were met. However, since such thresholds were not met and the technology was not used, we negotiated an amendment and release related to this license, which became effective in January, 2017.
From 2013 to the present, our operations primarily included activities related to development of our technology and maintaining our public company status. We have had no revenues in any of these years as our business was and continues to be in the development stage.
Currently, we are attempting to further develop the intellectual property associated with our core technology; broaden our patent portfolio; scale up our production of various products; and begin generating revenue; however, our cash position may not be sufficient to support our daily operations. While we believe in the viability of our strategy to further develop our technology and generate revenue and in our ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering, there can be no assurance that we will succeed. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering and to further develop our technology and generate sufficient revenue.
Competition
The market for the lithium and related products is highly competitive. There are numerous competitors in the industry, most of which have substantially more financial resources, greater manufacturing capacity, research and development capability, and marketing resources than us.
Regulation
Lithium metal is classified as a hazardous material, and some of the chemicals we use are also classified as hazardous materials. We are required by law to comply with environmental regulations pertaining to the use, handling, and disposal of lithium metal as well as the other chemicals. Lithium battery chemistries react adversely with water and water vapor, and under certain circumstances can cause fires. As such, lithium based batteries are subject to government regulation in various jurisdictions. We ship out small quantities lithium metal samples and we conform to the regulatory requirements associated with such transportation.
Employees
As of December 31, 2017, we have eight full-time employees and no part-time employees. We also engage five consultants who work on a part-time basis. None of these employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and we believe our relationship with our employees is good. We also occasionally engage consultants on an as-needed basis to supplement existing staff. We also rely on outsourced research and development relationships with a number academic research institutions as part of our process for developing and validating our core technology.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our Company is highly speculative in nature and involves an extremely high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following material risks, together with the other information contained in this report, before you decide to buy our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, results of operations and financial condition would likely suffer. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
We have a limited operating history and no revenue; we have accumulated deficits; we are only in an initial commercialization stage with technology that is unproven on a large-scale commercial basis; and there is a going concern explanatory paragraph in our independent registered public accounting firm’s report.
Our company reduced daily operations in late 2005 and essentially ceased daily operations in May 2006. Through January 2009, we were substantially inactive. In February 2009, we entered into a technology license agreement for a process to produce lithium metal. We do not utilize this technology for any purpose because it did not produce the intended result. From 2012 to the present, we have devoted our resources to develop a different lithium manufacturing technology from that initially undertaken in 2009. Because we are still in the developmental stage, there is a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of our performance and prospects can be made. We are subject to all of the business risks associated with a new enterprise, including, but not limited to, risks of unforeseen capital requirements, failure of market acceptance, failure to establish business relationships and competitive disadvantages as against larger and more established companies.
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm with respect to our financial statements included in this report includes a “going concern” explanatory paragraph. As reflected in the consolidated financial statements, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $20.3 million at December 31, 2017, a net loss of approximately $6.9 million and $3.8 million, and approximately $2.0 million and $1.5 million net cash used in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We have generated no revenues from our lithium technology and will not generate any meaningful revenues until after we have successfully commercialized our new proprietary technology to manufacture high purity lithium metal and associated products, of which no assurance can be given. We have continued to incur significant losses and anticipate that we may continue to incur significant losses in 2018 and beyond. There can be no assurance as to whether or when we will generate meaningful revenues or achieve profitable operations.
Our lithium production technology has never been utilized on a large-scale basis, and there can be no assurance that this technology will perform successfully on a large-scale commercial basis or that it will be profitable for us. All of the tests conducted to date by us with respect to our new process and technology have been conducted in the laboratory on small scale only, and there can be no assurance that the same or similar results could be obtained on a large-scale commercial basis. Additionally, our ability to operate our business successfully will depend on a variety of factors, many of which are outside our control, including competition, cost and availability of strategic components, changes in governmental initiatives and requirements, changes in regulatory requirements, and the costs associated with commencing pilot manufacturing.
We have not been able, and may continue to be unable, to timely file periodic reports with the SEC.
In prior years we were unable to timely file certain of our annual and quarterly reports. If we are not able to file future periodic reports in the time specified by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, stockholders and potential investors will not have current public information about us which will likely have a negative effect on our obtaining future capital. Failure to make timely filings also impairs our ability to conduct certain kinds of public offerings on short form registration statements that provide more efficient automatic forward incorporation of future SEC filings. Any future inability to timely file periodic reports could materially and adversely affect our future business growth and financial condition.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our business and the trading price of our stock.
During the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Management determined the control deficiencies constitute material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
The existence of a material weakness could result in errors in our financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, leading to a decline in the trading price of our stock.
There remains uncertainty of any market acceptance of our technology to manufacture lithium metal.
Many prospective users of lithium metal have already committed substantial resources to other existing forms of battery technology. Our growth and future financial performance will depend on our ability to demonstrate to prospective users the technical and economic advantages of our technology to manufacture lithium metal over alternative technologies. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in this effort. Furthermore, it is possible that competing technologies may be perceived to have, or may actually have, certain advantages over our technology or lithium metal in general for certain industries or applications.
We have a need for additional financing in the foreseeable future.
During the past three years, financing for all of our activities has been provided in the form of direct equity investments, private placements and advances from our officers and directors. Our future capital requirements could vary significantly and will depend on certain factors, many of which are not within our control. These include the ongoing development and testing of our technology to manufacture lithium metal, the nature and timing of prospective commercial projects and permits required and the availability of financing. In the battery market, we may not be able to enter into favorable business collaborations and might thus be required to seek project contracts for our own account. If such efforts were successful, we would be required to make significant expenditures on personnel and capital equipment which would require significant financing. In addition, our lack of operational experience and limited capital resources could make it difficult, if not highly unlikely, to successfully secure major projects. In such event, our business development could be limited to smaller commercial projects with significantly lower potential for profit.
In addition, the expansion of our business will require the commitment of significant capital resources toward the hiring of technical and operational support personnel and the development of a manufacturing and testing facility. In the event we are presented with one or more significant projects, individually or in conjunction with collaborative working partners, we may require additional capital to take advantage of such opportunities. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available or, if available, that it will be on favorable terms. If adequate financing is not available, we may be required to delay, scale back or eliminate certain of our research and development programs, to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies, or to license third parties to commercialize technologies that we would otherwise seek to develop ourselves. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, stockholders will be diluted.
We may not be able to obtain or enforce patent rights or other intellectual property rights that cover our product candidates and technologies that are of sufficient breadth to prevent third parties from competing against us.
Our success with respect to our product candidates and technologies will depend in part upon our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection in both the United States and other countries, to preserve our trade secrets and to prevent third parties from infringing upon our proprietary rights. Our ability to protect any of our product candidates from unauthorized or infringing use by third parties depends in substantial part upon our ability to obtain and maintain valid and enforceable patents.
Our patent portfolio currently is made up entirely of pending patent applications. Any patents that we do obtain may be narrow in scope and thus easily circumvented by competitors. Further, in countries where we do not have granted patents, third parties may be able to make, use or sell products identical to or substantially similar to, our product candidates. The patent application process is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to prepare, file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is possible that defects of form in the preparation or filing of our patent applications may exist, or may arise in the future, such as with respect to proper priority claims, inventorship, claim scope or patent term adjustments. If there are material defects in the form or preparation of our patent applications, such applications may be invalid and unenforceable. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We face competition and technical alternatives in the overall battery market.
We anticipate that our primary market will be for lithium metal batteries. We have had limited experience in manufacturing and marketing our technology and have not previously had any employees or personnel whose primary responsibilities consisted of these functions. Other participants include several large domestic and international companies and numerous small companies, many of whom have substantially greater financial and other resources and more manufacturing, marketing and sales experience than we do. In addition, as lithium metal technology evolves, there exists the possibility that our technology may be rendered obsolete by one or more competing technologies. Any one or more of our competitors, or one or more other enterprises not presently known to us, may develop technologies which are superior to our technology. To the extent that our competitors are able to offer more cost-effective alternatives, our ability to compete could be materially and adversely affected.
There can be no assurance that we will enter into collaborative agreements or projects utilizing our technology in the future.
We propose to pursue opportunities in the battery market through collaborative joint working arrangements with companies that have a significant presence in well-established industries or markets, and that can introduce our technology to industry participants. However, neither we nor any of our prospective collaborative joint working partners have secured any project contracts. There can be no assurance that we will enter into any definitive joint project arrangements with our prospective working partners or others, or that any such definitive arrangements will be on terms and conditions that will enable us to generate profits. Furthermore, even if we are successful in obtaining one or more project awards, such projects may be curtailed or eliminated, or other problems may arise, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on our senior executive officers and other personnel to run our business.
We are dependent on the efforts of our senior executive officers, particularly Jerome I. Feldman, our Executive Chairman and until March 1, 2017, our Chief Financial Officer, Sam Pitroda, our Chief Executive Officer since November 1, 2017, and Nathan J. Wasserman, our Chief Financial Officer since March 1, 2017. We do not have key-man life insurance policies on the lives of Messrs. Feldman, Pitroda and Wasserman to compensate us for the loss of such individuals. The loss of the services of any one or more of such persons may have a material adverse effect on our company.
Our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract and retain skilled scientific, management, operational and marketing personnel. Other than Messrs. Feldman, Pitroda, and Wasserman we do not currently have any employees or personnel whose responsibilities are focused primarily in these fields. We face competition for hiring such personnel from other companies, including companies that have greater resources. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in attracting and retaining such personnel.
We rely on third-party research organizations and as a result we are unable to directly control the timing, conduct, expense and quality of our research and development efforts.
We have entered into research agreements with a number academic research institutions as part of our process for developing and validating our core technology. In relying on those third parties, we are dependent upon them to timely and accurately perform their services, and dependent on them to accurately analyze the viability of our method to produce Lithium metal. If these third-party organizations do not accurately collect and assess data and communicate their findings to us accurately, we may discontinue development of viable products or methods or continue allocating resources to the development of products and methods that are not efficacious. Either outcome could result in significant financial harm to us.
Because we have entered into a substantial financial commitment for leased office and laboratory space, funds may be diverted from other important matters in the development of our business and could negatively impact our financial position.
On March 22, 2016, we entered into a lease for office and laboratory space located in Yonkers, New York, consisting of approximately 8,000 square feet. The lease has a term of 87 months and the annual rent for the first year of the lease is approximately $208,000, increasing by 1.5% in each subsequent year. In the event of a termination of the lease following a default by us, we will be obligated to pay the sum of the rent payable for the remainder of the lease term. This represents a substantial financial commitment for us. Money that could be spent elsewhere will be needed to fulfill the lease commitment, which may divert funds away from other important matters in the development of our business and could negatively impact our financial position.
We will need to comply with government regulations, which can be costly and time-consuming.
We may be required to comply with a number of federal, state and local laws and regulations in the areas of safety, health and environmental controls, including without limitation, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA), which may require us to obtain permits or approvals to utilize, handle, and dispose of lithium metal and/or other chemicals. Furthermore, particularly in the battery market, we may be required to conduct performance and operating studies to assure government agencies that our technology does not pose environmental or product safety risks. Changes in environmental or safety regulations, the discovery of conditions not currently known to us, or other developments could result in the imposition of additional or different environmental compliance obligations or expenditure for capital improvements. We do not believe at this time that financial obligations incurred in connection with environmental regulatory compliance will have a material adverse effect on the company’s financial condition, competitive position or results of operations. Our belief is based on the company’s understanding of the underlying facts giving rise to its environmental regulatory obligations.
We are controlled by a small number of “insider” stockholders.
Our directors and executive officers currently beneficially own approximately 54% of our outstanding common stock. Accordingly, through their collective ownership of our outstanding common stock, if they act together, they will be able to control the voting of our shares at all meetings of stockholders and, because the common stock does not have cumulative voting rights, will be able to determine the outcome of the election of all of our directors and determine corporate and stockholder action on other matters.
We have no plans to pay dividends.
We have never paid any dividends on our common stock and have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock is within the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to our certificate of incorporation. We intend to retain any earnings for use in our operations and any expansion of our business. Payment of dividends in the future will depend on our future earnings, future capital needs and our operating and financial condition, among other factors.
It is likely that our common stock price will be volatile.
The stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated to the operating performances of specific companies. Announcements of new technologies and changing policies and regulations of the federal government and state governments and other external factors, as well as potential fluctuations in our financial results, may have a significant impact on the price of our stock.
Our charter contains some anti-takeover provisions that may inhibit a takeover.
The provisions in our certificate of incorporation relating to a classified Board of Directors and delegation to the Board of Directors of rights to determine the terms of preferred stock may have the effect not only of discouraging attempts by others to buy us, but also of making it more difficult or impossible for existing stockholders to make management changes. A classified board, which is made up of directors elected for staggered terms, while promoting stability in board membership and management, also moderates the pace of any change in control of our Board of Directors by extending the time required to elect a majority, effectively requiring action in at least two annual meetings. The ability of our Board of Directors to determine the terms of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible business purchases and other corporate purposes, could make it more difficult for a third party to secure a majority of our outstanding common stock. Additionally, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits us from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Section 203 could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. Properties
On March 22, 2016, we entered into a lease (the “Lease”) with Hudson View Building #3, LLC (“the “Landlord”), for office and laboratory space located in Yonkers, New York (the “Leased Premise”). The Leased Premise consists of approximately 8,000 square feet. The Lease has a term of 87 months from the lease commencement date, which is the date upon which the Landlord has substantially completed certain interior leasehold improvements to the Leased Premise. The annual rent of the first year of the lease is approximately $208,000, increasing by 1.5% on each anniversary of the lease commencement date. In the event of a termination of the lease following a default by us, we will be obligated to pay the sum of the rent payable for the remainder of the lease term. We moved into the office on May 30, 2017. We began paying the monthly rent in 2017.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or of which any of our property is the subject.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock trades under the symbol “ALPE”. The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices for our common stock on the OTC Markets Pink marketplace for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
Holders
We had 119 record holders of our common stock as of March 28, 2018. This number does not include an indeterminate number of stockholders whose shares are held by brokers in street name.
Dividends
We have not to date and do not expect to pay a dividend on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock is within the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to our certificate of incorporation. We intend to retain any earnings for use in our operations and any expansion of our business. Payment of dividends in the future will depend on our future earnings, future capital needs, restrictions in credit agreements and our operating and financial condition, among other factors.
Our Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to accrue cumulative dividends at a rate equal to 10.0% simple interest per annum on the original issue price of $1,000 per share. Accrued dividends will be payable quarterly upon declaration based on a 365-day year and may be paid in cash or in additional shares of Series A Preferred. As of December 31, 2017, the dividends accrued and outstanding on the Series A Preferred totaled $115,000.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
On February 8, 2018, we entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement (“Stock Purchase Agreement”) with several accredited and institutional investors, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell in a private placement 1,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as well as 975,000 warrants to purchase our common stock, at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, for total gross proceeds of $1.95 million.
As previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2017, on May 17, 2017, we entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with several accredited and institutional investors, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell in a private placement 1,820 shares of Series A Preferred Stock as well as 910,000 warrants to purchase our common stock at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, for total gross proceeds of $1.82 million.
During year ended December 31, 2016, we entered into private placement offerings with fourteen investors and issued approximately 1.5 million shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase approximately 1.4 million shares of common stock for total aggregate proceeds of $1.4 million. The warrants have a 5-year term and a weighted-average exercise price of $1.68. 100,000 shares issued in in the private placement offerings are subject to “price protection” for a period of one year. Specifically, in the event, we issued to any person common stock or their equivalent at a lower price per share than $2.50 (the “Lower Price”), we shall, simultaneously with the issuance of such shares, issue a number of additional common shares (the “Additional Shares”) necessary to cause the 100,000 purchased plus the Additional Shares to have a combined average cost per share equal to the Lower Price, provided that in no event shall the Additional Shares exceed 100,000 shares. The price protection feature was analyzed by us and we determined that such feature was not required to be bifurcated from the common stock and recorded as a derivative as the price protection feature is clearly and closely related to an equity host. In November 2016, the Lower Price protection was triggered and we issued an additional 100,000 shares of common stock under the arrangement.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Registrant and Affiliated Purchasers
We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the year ended December 31, 2017.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
Not applicable.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. This discussion includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Overview
For over seven years, we have been focused exclusively on efforts to develop a business centered around the commercial manufacturing of highly pure lithium metal, a raw material for use in lightweight, high energy density batteries, in an environmentally friendly manner. Additionally, we have broadened our focus to include lithium products and processes derived from our core technology. This includes battery components such as protected anodes and compounds of lithium, among other things.
Lithium is the lightest metal with the highest electrochemical potential, making it a clear choice for batteries. There is a substantial existing market for lithium metal in primary (non-rechargeable) batteries, and rechargeable batteries, including many future opportunities which exist for next-generation batteries under development.
We have no revenues and our business is in the development stage. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, our operations primarily included activities related to developing our technology and maintaining our public company status.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
Revenue
We had no revenues in either of the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2016 as our business was in the development stage.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $6.8 million compared to operating expenses of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. General and administrative expenses constituted the majority of our operating expense and consisted of $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $1.7 million for 2016. This increase was due to a result of increased stock-based compensation. Legal and professional fees consisted of $537,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $695,000 for 2016. The decrease in legal and professional fees was due to a reduction in accounting and legal service fees incurred in relation to the filing of our annual and quarterly financials. The majority of the remaining operating expenses for each of fiscal year 2017 and 2016 consisted of research and development expenses, totaling $1.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively in each year. The increase in research and development expenses was due to the new research projects we engaged in for our lithium development. Also contributing to the increase was the change in fair value in unvested non-employee awards which was approximately $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to approximately $805,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Other increases in research and development expenses resulted from scaling up of our efforts to develop and demonstrate our technology.
Net Loss
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $6.9 million compared to a net loss of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our net loss in 2017 increased as a result of increased business operations during fiscal year 2017 as we scaled up research and development efforts and expanded our efforts in maintaining our public company status. In addition, increased stock-based compensation totaling $4.2 million in 2017 compared to $1.6 million in 2016 contributed to the increase in net loss.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2017, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $20.3 million and working capital deficit of $834,000, compared to accumulated deficit of approximately $13.7 million and working capital deficit of $409,000 at December 31, 2016. We had a net loss of approximately $6.9 million and $3.8 million and approximately $2.0 million and $1.5 million net cash used in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We are attempting to further develop the intellectual property associated with our core technology; broaden our patent portfolio; scale up our production of various products; and begin generating revenue. However, our cash position is not sufficient to support our daily operations for the foreseeable future. While we believe in the viability of our strategy to further develop our technology and generate sufficient revenue and in our ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering, there can be no assurances to that effect. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon raising additional funds by way of a public or private offering and on our ability to further develop our technology and generate sufficient revenue.
From time to time, our stockholders have advanced funds to us for working capital purposes. Those advances are unsecured, non-interest bearing and due on demand. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we borrowed $150,000 from Steven M. Payne, $100,000 from Jerome I. Feldman, $150,000 from Jim Kilman and $12,000 from Steven M. Fludder and repaid $32,000 in advances and $150,000 was converted into 150 shares of preferred stock. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the outstanding amount of the advances from related parties was $308,000 and $78,000, respectively.
We have also raised funds for general working capital purposes through private placement sales of our common stock and the sale of the common stock of our subsidiary, Clean Lithium Corporation. See “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities” above for more information regarding private placements.
On May 17, 2017, we entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with several accredited and institutional investors and issued 1,820 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 910,000 warrants for total gross proceeds of $1.8 million (including previous advances from related parties). The warrants have a 5-year term and an exercise price of $2.00.
On February 8, 2018, we entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with several accredited and institutional investors, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell in a private placement 1,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as well as 975,000 warrants to purchase our common stock, at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, for total gross proceeds of $1.95 million. The warrants have a 5-year term and an exercise price of $2.00.
We have limited funds to continue our operating activities. Future operating activities are expected to be funded by loans and investments from officers, directors and stockholders, until we begin to generate cash flows from operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of the date of this report, we have not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities in which we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements that expose us to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities or any other obligations under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides us with financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support.
Impact of Inflation
We believe that inflation has not had a material impact on our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. We cannot assure you that future inflation will not have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.
Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The significant accounting policies that we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results are as follows:
Use of Estimates. Our consolidated financial statements include certain amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, useful lives assigned to long-lived assets, fair value measurements of warrants, stock-based compensation, accrued expenses and provisions for income taxes. Due to the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ from these estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Our carrying values of cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses and advances from related party approximate their fair values because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Research and Development. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made. Upfront and milestone payments due to third parties that perform research and development services on our behalf will be expensed as services are rendered or when the milestone is achieved.
Research and development costs consist of personnel related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel, and other related expenses, payments made to third parties for license and milestone costs related to in-licensed products and technology, payments made to third party contract research organizations, consultants, the cost of acquiring and manufacturing research trial materials, and costs associated with regulatory filings, laboratory costs and other supplies.
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 730-10-25-1, Research and Development, costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses are charged to research and development expense if the technology licensed has not reached commercial feasibility and has no alternative future use. Certain licenses purchased by us require substantial completion of research and development and regulatory and marketing approval efforts in order to reach commercial feasibility and have no alternative future use.
Stock-Based Compensation. We expense stock-based compensation to employees over the requisite service period based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the awards. For stock-based compensation awards to non-employees, we remeasure the fair value of the non-employee awards at each reporting period prior to vesting and finally at the vesting date of the award. Changes in the estimated fair value of these non-employee awards are recognized as compensation expense in the period of change.
We estimate the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not applicable
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Our audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are included as a separate section of this report beginning on page.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
As previously reported by us on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 26, 2016, our Board of Directors approved the dismissal of Li and Company, PC as our independent registered public accounting firm effective as of May 21, 2016. Concurrent with the dismissal of Li and Company, the Board of Directors ratified and approved the appointment of EisnerAmper LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. In addition, the design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the periods covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2017 were not effective due to the material weaknesses identified below.
To address these material weaknesses, management performed additional analyses and other procedures to ensure that the financial statements included herein fairly present, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for us. Our internal control system was designed to, in general, provide reasonable assurance to our management and board regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements, but because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. The framework used by management in making that assessment was the criteria set forth in the document entitled “2013 Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that assessment, management concluded that, during the period covered by this report, such internal controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2017 and that material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting (“ICFR”) existed as more fully described below.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, within the meaning of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCOAB”) Audit Standard No. 5, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management has identified the following material weaknesses which have caused management to conclude that as of December 31, 2017 our ICFR were not effective at the reasonable assurance level:
● There are insufficient written policies and procedures to ensure the correct application of accounting and financial reporting with respect to the current requirements of GAAP and SEC disclosure requirements;
● Insufficient segregation of duties, oversight of work performed and lack of compensating controls in our finance and accounting functions due to limited personnel;
● Inadequate controls surrounding related party transactions, to ensure that all material transactions and developments impacting the financial statements are reflected and properly recorded;
● Management has not performed a proper evaluation of 1) the disclosure controls and procedures and 2) internal control over financial reporting; and
● Inadequate controls over Company arrangements and contract management.
Notwithstanding the existence of these material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, the management believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Internal Control Remediation Efforts. Management expects to remediate the material weaknesses identified above as follows:
1. Management has leveraged and will continue to leverage experienced consultants to assist with ongoing GAAP and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission compliance requirements. Effective March 1, 2017, Nathan Wasserman was appointed as the chief financial officer. Additionally, management may further expand the accounting and finance function by hiring appropriate staff to resolve this material weakness in 2018.
2. Segregation of duties will be analyzed and adjusted Company-wide as part of the internal controls implementation that is expected to commence in 2018.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The following table shows the positions held by our Board of Directors and executive officers, and their ages, as of the date of this Form 10-K:
Name
Age
Position
Jerome I. Feldman
Executive Chairman of the Board and Treasurer
Sam Pitroda
Chief Executive Officer
Nathan J. Wasserman
Chief Financial Officer
George McKeegan
Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director
Steven M. Payne
Director
Jim Kilman
Director and Vice Chairman of the Board
The background of each of our directors and executive officers are as follows:
Jerome I. Feldman has been our Executive Chairman of the Board since December 2008 (he previously was the Vice Chairman) and was our Chief Executive Officer from March 2011 to October 2015, and has been a member of our Board of Directors and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since September 2006. In October 2015, he resigned as our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Feldman founded GP Strategies Corp., which provides training, engineering and consulting services to the automotive, steel, energy and government industries, in 1959 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1959 until April 2005, Chairman of the Board from 1999 until April 2005, and President from 1959 until 2001. He has been Chairman of the Board of Five Star Products, Inc., a paint and hardware distributor, from 1994 until June 2007, a director of GSE Systems, Inc., a leading global provider of real-time simulation and training solution to the power, process, manufacturing and government sectors, from 1994 until August 2015, Chairman of the Board of GSE Systems from 1997 until August 2015, and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of National Patent Development Corp. (“NPDC”), which was devoted to searching out new inventions and assisting major corporations in licensing their technologies, from 2004 until June 2007. He was a director of Valera Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company, from January 2005 until April 2007. Mr. Feldman was also Chairman of the New England Colleges Fund and a Trustee of Northern Westchester Hospital Foundation. He has a B.A. degree from Indiana University and an LLB degree from New York University. During his tenure with the NPDC, they developed the soft contact lense, founded U.S. surgical and a number of other technical developments.
As the Executive Chairman, Mr. Feldman leads the board and guides our company. Mr. Feldman brings extensive industry knowledge to our company and a deep background in technology growth companies.
Sam Pitroda became our Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2017. Mr. Pitroda is an information technology and telecommunications inventor and entrepreneur. He was the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of C-Sam, Inc. a provider of mobile wallets and other on-device software, which was founded in 1998 and purchased in 2014 by MasterCard. Earlier in his career Mr. Pitroda also founded a number of other telecommunications companies in India and the U.S. Mr. Pitroda also served as advisor to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation and as a Cabinet Minister under Rajiv Gandhi. Mr. Pitroda has an MS and BS in Physics from Maharaja Sayajai Rao University in India and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Nathan J. Wasserman became our Chief Financial Officer on March 1, 2017. Mr. Wasserman is the owner and President of Columbia Enterprises, Inc., a state-of-the-art digital reprographic firm located in Manhattan, New York. Prior to joining Columbia Enterprises, Mr. Wasserman was an audit partner and certified public accountant (CPA) at Deloitte & Touche LLP, a multi-national professional services firm where he worked for 16 years. Mr. Wasserman holds a BBA in accounting from Kent State University. Mr. Wasserman has maintained his CPA status and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA).
George McKeegan has been our Vice President or Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, and a member of our Board of Directors since May 2006. Since 1986, Mr. McKeegan has led McKeegan & Shearer, P.C., a law firm engaged in the general practice of civil law and specializing in litigation and corporate counseling. Prior to that, he served as Vice President at Citibank, N.A. and as an Assistant District Attorney with the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He received a B.A. degree from Fordham College and a J.D. degree from the University of Michigan. Mr. McKeegan’s almost 30 years of working experience in corporate controls and governance makes him well qualified to be a member of our board.
Steven M. Payne has been a member of our Board of Directors since May 2006 and was our President from May 2006 to December 2012. Since 1976, Mr. Payne has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Quatro Foods Inc., a food service enterprise. He is a director and past Board President of Carbondale Main Street, Inc., a local downtown redevelopment corporation, and a director of the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship and Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Mr. Payne is also President of 13 West LLC, a developer and operator of Mini Storage facilities. He attended Southern Illinois University. Mr. Payne’s experience in running businesses and advising entrepreneurial ventures makes him well qualified to be a member of our board.
Jim Kilman has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 2016 and Vice Chairman of the Board since 2017. Mr. Kilman is Chief Executive Officer of Scarborough, NY-based KielStrand Capital, a family office merchant bank that makes and manages investments, provides advisory services and engages in philanthropic activities. He retired in 2016 as Vice Chairman of Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, having spent a total of 32 years in senior investment banking roles, including at Goldman Sachs, ABN AMRO and PaineWebber. Mr. Kilman also serves on the boards of directors of Recombinetics Inc. in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Cold Spring, NY, as a Senior Advisor at Burford Capital Ltd, listed in London, UK, and as chair of the Finance and Investments Committee and as interim treasurer of the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY. Mr. Kilman previously served on the board of directors of Modular Space Corporation in Berwyn, Pennsylvania and Lebenthal Holdings LLC in New York. Mr. Kilman holds an MA and a BA in Economics from Yale University.
Our directors are divided into three classes. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors are elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire and are elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. Under our bylaws, the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed, from time to time, by the directors then in office, who may decrease or increase the number of directors by majority action without soliciting stockholder approval. We do not currently pay compensation to directors for service in that capacity.
Committees of the Board
We have not established an audit committee, compensation committee or nominations and governance committee, and we are not required to do so since our shares are not listed on a national securities exchange.
None of our directors or executive officers or their respective associates or affiliates is indebted to us.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our current directors and executive officers.
Legal Proceedings
No officer, director, persons nominated for such positions, promoter or significant employee has been involved in the last ten years in any of the following:
● Any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
● Any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
● Being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities;
● Being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or vacated;
● Being the subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of (i) any Federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; and
● Being the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.
Code of Ethics
In December 2007, we adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to all of our executive officers, directors and employees, which was updated in March 2015. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business. Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available without charge to any stockholder who makes a written request for a copy. Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available on our website at http://alpha-encorp.com. If we make any amendments to or grant any waivers from our Code of Ethics, we will post such information on our website.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Rules adopted by the SEC under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, require our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the issued and outstanding shares of our equity securities, to file reports of their ownership, and changes in ownership, of such securities with the SEC on Forms 3, 4 or 5, as appropriate. Such persons are required by the regulations of the SEC to furnish us with copies of all forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a).
We believe that all of the officers, directors, and owners of more than ten percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock complied with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act for the years ended December 31, 2017, except with respect to certain option grants and with respect to a stock grant made to a director and stockholder which was made in lieu of repayment of a loan to us.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth, for the most recent fiscal year and prior fiscal year, all cash compensation paid, distributed or accrued, including salary and bonus amounts, for services rendered to us by our principal executive officer and two other executive officers in such year who received or are entitled to receive remuneration in excess of $100,000 during the stated period and any individuals for whom disclosure would have been made in this table but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer as at December 31, 2017:
(1) Mr. Pitroda joined our company on November 1, 2017.
(2) Mr. Wasserman joined our company on March 1, 2017.
(3) Mr. Fludder resigned on November 1, 2017.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following tables summarizes equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2017, for each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above:
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017
(1) 250,000 shares of the option have an exercise price of $0.10 and another 250,000 shares of the option have an exercise price of $1.95.
(2) 250,000 shares of the option will expire on 2/20/2018 and another 250,000 shares of the option will expire on 7/26/2022.
Employment Agreements
As of December 31, 2017, and through the date of this report, we have no employment agreements in place with any person other than our Chief Financial Officer, Nathan J. Wasserman.
On February 23, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Nathan Wasserman to become Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective as of March 1, 2017. Pursuant to a term sheet dated February 27, 2017, Mr. Wasserman agreed to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for an initial term of three years. The Company granted Mr. Wasserman stock options to purchase a total of 500,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.10 per share, of which 150,000 vested immediately, 150,000 will vest in his second year of service and 200,000 will vest in his third year of service. Mr. Wasserman receives a starting salary of $5,000 per month.
Director Compensation
Directors currently do not receive cash compensation for serving on our Board of Directors, other than reimbursement of reasonable expenses for attendance at board meetings. In July 2017 in recognition of their service on our Board of Directors, Mr. Feldman and Mr. Kilman each received options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price $1.95 per share, the fair value as of the date of grant, vesting in equal instalments over a four year period starting on July 27, 2017. Also in July 2017 in recognition of his service on our Board of Directors, Mr. Payne received an option to purchase 500,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price $1.95 per share, the fair value as of the date of grant, vesting in equal instalments over a four year period starting on July 27, 2017.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The table below sets forth information, as of March 28, 2018, with respect to the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of our common stock by each person who is known by the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of the Company’s Common Stock, each of our directors and our named executive officers, and all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
The beneficial ownership of each person was calculated based on 32,645,756 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 28, 2018 according to the record ownership listings as of that date and the verifications we solicited and received from each director and executive officer. The SEC has defined “beneficial ownership” to mean more than ownership in the usual sense. For example, a person has beneficial ownership of a share not only if he owns it in the usual sense, but also if he has the power to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of the share. Beneficial ownership also includes the number of shares that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 28, 2018, pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants or the conversion of notes, debentures or other indebtedness, but excludes stock appreciation rights. Two or more persons might count as beneficial owners of the same share. Unless otherwise noted, the address of the following persons listed below is c/o alpha-En Corporation, 28 Wells Avenue, 2nd Floor, Yonkers, New York, 10701.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
(1) Includes currently exercisable stock options to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock, 118,015 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred stock, and currently exercisable warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock.
(2) Includes 286,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred stock and currently exercisable warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock.
(3) Includes currently exercisable stock options to purchase 125,000 shares of our common stock.
(4) Includes currently exercisable stock options to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock.
(5) Includes currently exercisable stock options to purchase 125,000 shares of our common stock, 118,015 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred stock, and currently exercisable warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock.
(6) Includes currently exercisable stock options to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock, 118,015 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred stock, and currently exercisable warrants to purchase 600,000 shares of our common stock.
(7) Includes currently exercisable stock options to purchase 125,000 shares of our common stock.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following tables provides information as of December 31, 2017, with respect to shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding stock options.
Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2017
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
From time to time, our stockholders have advanced funds to us for working capital purposes. Those advances are unsecured, non-interest bearing and due on demand. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we borrowed $150,000 from Steven M. Payne, $100,000 from Jerome I. Feldman and $150,000 from Jim Kilman, and $12,000 from Steven Fludder and repaid $32,000 in advances and $150,000 was converted into 150 shares of preferred stock. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the outstanding amount of the advances from related parties was $308,000 and $78,000, respectively.
On February 8, 2018, we entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with several accredited and institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell in a private placement 1,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as well as 975,000 warrants to purchase common stock at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, for total gross proceeds of $1.95 million. The warrants have a 5-year term and an exercise price of $2.00. Jerome Feldman, our Executive Chairman and Treasure, invested $100,000, Stephen Payne, Director, invested $100,000, Sam Pitroda, our Chief Executive Officer invested $500,000,and Jim Kilman, Director, invested $100,000 through an affiliate,
On May 17, 2017, we entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with several accredited and institutional investors and issued 1,820 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 910,000 warrants to purchase common stock, for total gross proceeds of $1.8 million (including previous advances from related parties). The warrants have a 5-year term and an exercise price of $2.00. Jerome Feldman, our Executive Chairman and Treasurer, invested $100,000, Stephen Payne, a Director, invested $100,000, and Jim Kilman, a Director, invested $100,000 through an affiliate.
On June 3, 2016, we entered into a private placement offering with Jim. Kilman and sold him 100,000 shares of common stock and 250,000 warrants for $250,000. The warrants have a five year term and an exercise price of $3.79 per share. On November 1, 2016, we entered into an additional private placement offering with Mr. Kilman and sold him 100,000 shares of common stock and 250,000 warrants for $100,000. The warrants have a 5 year term and an exercise price of $1.16 per share. In connection with the second private placement, Mr. Kilman also received an additional 100,000 shares of common stock pursuant to certain anti-dilution protections provided to him in connection with the June 3, 2016 private placement. Subsequent to these private placements, Mr. Kilman joined our Board of Directors on November 3, 2016.
We have been provided office space by Mr. Feldman at no cost through September 2016. We determined that such cost is nominal and did not recognize the rent expense in our financial statements.
Director Independence
Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Kilman would be considered an “independent director”. Although we do not have any securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, we have used its independence criteria in making this determination in accordance with applicable SEC rules. Our other three current directors are not “independent” as they are or recently were executive officers of our company.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
On May 26, 2016, our Board of Directors approved the dismissal of Li and Company, as our independent registered public accounting firm effective as of May 21, 2016. Concurrent with the dismissal of Li and Company, the Board of Directors ratified and approved the appointment of EisnerAmper LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Audit Fees
Audit fees are those fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the annual financial statements. A total of $114,000 and $125,000 in audit fees were billed by EisnerAmper LLP for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Audit-related Fees
Audit-related fees are fees billed for professional services other than the audit of our financial statements. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, no audit-related fees were billed by EisnerAmper LLP.
Tax Fees
Tax fees are those fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, including preparation of corporate federal and state income tax returns, tax advice and tax planning. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, no tax fees were billed by EisnerAmper LLP.
All Other Fees
No other fees were billed by our independent registered public accounting firm in 2017 and 2016.
Audit Committee
We have not established an audit committee. Our Board of Directors approved the services rendered and fees charged by our independent registered public accounting firm. Our Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, with our management. In addition, our Board of Directors has discussed with EisnerAmper LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by the Public Accounting Oversight Board’s (“PCAOB”) AS1301 (Communications with Audit Committee). Our Board of Directors also has received the written disclosures and the letter as required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and our Board of Directors has discussed the independence of EisnerAmper LLP.
Based on our Board of Directors’ review of the matters noted above and its discussions with our independent registered public accounting firm and our management, our Board of Directors approved the audited financial statements included in this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Policy for Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services
Our Board of Directors’ policy is to pre-approve all audit services and all non-audit services that our independent registered public accounting firm is permitted to perform for us under applicable federal securities regulations. As permitted by the applicable regulations, our Board of Directors’ policy utilizes a combination of specific pre-approval on a case-by-case basis of individual engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm.
All engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any audit services and non-audit services since the date that EisnerAmper LLP was hired have been pre-approved by our Board of Directors in accordance with the pre-approval policy. The policy has not been waived in any instance. All engagements of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any audit services and non-audit services prior to the date the pre-approval policy was implemented were approved by our Board of Directors in accordance its normal functions.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:
1. Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements; and
2. Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2018.08
3.2
Amended and Restated By-Laws, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 included with current report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 1, 2016.
10.1
Lease Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Hudson View Building #3, LLC, dated March 22, 2016, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 included with periodic report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2016.
10.2
Term Sheet relating to an offer of employment, between the Registrant and Nathan J. Wasserman, dated February 27, 2017, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2018.
21.1
Subsidiaries of alpha-En Corporation.
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Jerome I. Feldman
Executive Chairman and Treasurer
April 2, 2018
Jerome I. Feldman
/s/ Sam Pitroda
Chief Executive Officer
April 2, 2018
Sam Pitroda
(Principal executive officer)
/s/ Nathan J. Wasserman
Chief Financial Officer
Nathan J. Wasserman
(Principal financial and accounting officer)
April 2, 2018
/s/ George McKeegan
Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel
April 2, 2018
George McKeegan
and Director
/s/ Steven M. Payne
Director
April 2, 2018
Steven M. Payne
/s/ Jim Kilman
Director
Jim Kilman
April 2, 2018
alpha-En Corporation
December 31, 2017
Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
alpha-En Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of alpha-En Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company had an accumulated deficit at December 31, 2017, and recurring net losses and net cash used in operating activities for the year then ended that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ EisnerAmper LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
EISNERAMPER LLP
Iselin, New Jersey
April 2, 2018
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Organization and Operations
alpha-En Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on March 7, 1997
Since 2008, the focus of the Company’s business has been developing new technologies for manufacturing highly pure lithium metal, a raw material for use in lightweight, high energy density batteries, in an environmentally friendly manner for commercial purposes. In 2013, the Company invented a new process for the production of highly pure lithium metal and associated products at room temperature. The Company subsequently broadened our focus to develop products and processes derived from the Company’s new core proprietary technology, including battery components and compounds of lithium.
Formation of Majority-Owned Subsidiary
In September 2014, alpha-En Corporation formed Clean Lithium Corporation (“CLC”) under the laws of New York State as a wholly owned subsidiary with a nominal share capital of $100,000.
Following the sale of CLC’s shares, the ownership is as follows:
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
On March 29, 2017 the Board of Directors of the Company and a subset of the Company’s stockholders representing in excess of 75% of the Company’s currently issued and outstanding voting stock approved of the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Restated Certificate”) to make certain corporate governance updates and to increase the authorized capital stock of the Company to 60,000,000 shares, of which 57,000,000 are shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,000,000 are shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share and 2,000,000 are shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. The Company filed a definitive information statement on Schedule 14C with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2017 describing the changes in the Restated Certificate. The Restated Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware and became effective on June 30, 2017. On February 8, 2018 the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware an amended and restated certificate of incorporation increasing the authorized number of preferred shares designated as series A preferred from 2,000 to 5,000.
Note 2 - Going Concern and Liquidity
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.
As reflected in the consolidated financial statements, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $20.3 million and negative working capital of $834,000 at December 31, 2017. For the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had a net loss of approximately $6.9 million and $3.8 million and net cash used in operating activities of approximately $2.0 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company is attempting to further develop the intellectual property associated with its technology; broaden its patent portfolio; scale up our production of various products; and begin generating revenue; however, the Company’s cash position is not sufficient to support its daily operations for the foreseeable future. While the Company believes in the viability of its technology and in its ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering, there can be no assurances to that effect. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering and its ability to further develop its technology and generate sufficient revenue.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3 - Significant and Critical Accounting Policies and Practices
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company’s subsidiaries. For consolidated entities where the Company owns less than 100% of the subsidiary, the Company records net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in its consolidated statements of operations equal to the percentage of the economic or ownership interest retained in such entities by the respective non-controlling parties.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include certain amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. The Company’s significant estimates include, but are not limited to, useful lives assigned to long-lived assets, fair value used in estimating the value of warrants, stock-based compensation, accrued expenses and provisions for income taxes. Due to the uncertainty inherent in such estimates, actual results may differ from these estimates.
Fair Value Measurement
The Company follows accounting guidance on fair value measurements for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Under the accounting guidance, fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
The accounting guidance requires fair value measurements be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices for similar assets or liabilities that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and that are financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.
The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability.
The carrying amounts of cash accounts payable and accrued expenses and advances from related parties approximate fair value as these accounts are largely current and short term in nature.
Cash
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, substantially all of the Company’s cash was held by major financial institutions and the balance at certain times may exceed the maximum amount insured by the Federal Deposits Insurance Corporation. However, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Property and Equipment
Lab equipment, leasehold improvements and office equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset, generally three years.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant underperformance of the business in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends, and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate a long-lived asset for recoverability, the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the long-lived asset to its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset over its fair value. There were no indicators of impairment for long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Fair Value of Preferred Stock
The fair value of Preferred stock was estimated based upon equivalent common shares that Preferred Stock could have been converted into at the closing price on the purchase date.
Convertible Financial Instruments
The Company bifurcates conversion options from their host instruments and accounts for them as free standing derivative financial instruments if certain criteria are met. The criteria include circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument. An exception to this rule is when the host instrument is deemed to be conventional, as that term is described under applicable GAAP.
When the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments, discounts are recorded for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in the instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the instrument. Deemed dividends are also recorded for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in preferred shares based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the preferred shares.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made. Upfront and milestone payments due to third parties that perform research and development services on the Company’s behalf will be expensed as services are rendered or when the milestone is achieved.
Research and development costs primarily consist of personnel related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel, and other related expenses, stock-based compensation, payments made to third parties for license and milestone costs related to in-licensed products and technology, payments made to third party contract research organizations, consultants, the cost of acquiring and manufacturing research trial materials, and costs associated with regulatory filings, laboratory costs and other supplies.
In accordance with ASC 730-10-25-1, Research and Development, costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses are charged to research and development expense if the technology licensed has not reached commercial feasibility and has no alternative future use. Certain licenses purchased by the Company require substantial completion of research and development and regulatory and marketing approval efforts in order to reach commercial feasibility and have no alternative future use.
Contingencies
The Company records accruals for contingencies and legal proceedings expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
If a loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company expenses stock-based compensation to employees over the requisite service period based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the awards. For stock-based compensation awards to non-employees, the Company remeasures the fair value of the non-employee awards at each reporting period prior to vesting and finally at the vesting date of the award. Changes in the estimated fair value of these non-employee awards are recognized as compensation expense in the period of change.
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.
Income Taxes
The Company records income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company establishes a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be recovered based on an evaluation of objective verifiable evidence. For tax positions that are more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, the Company recognizes the largest amount of the benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. For tax positions that are not more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, the Company does not recognize any portion of the benefit.
Loss Per Share
Basic loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share excludes the potential impact of common stock options, unvested shares of restricted stock and outstanding common stock purchase warrants because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
Securities that could potentially dilute loss per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:
Non-Controlling Interests
Non-controlling interests in consolidated entities represent the component of equity in consolidated entities held by third parties. Any change in ownership of a subsidiary while the controlling financial interest is retained is accounted for as an equity transaction between the controlling and non-controlling interests.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Updates (the “ASU”) 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features; II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception, (ASU 2017-11). Part I of this update addresses the complexity of accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Down round features are features of certain equity-linked instruments (or embedded features) that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. Current accounting guidance creates cost and complexity for entities that issue financial instruments (such as warrants and convertible instruments) with down round features that require fair value measurement of the entire instrument or conversion option. Part II of this update addresses the difficulty of navigating Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, because of the existence of extensive pending content in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This pending content is the result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. The amendments in Part II of this update do not have an accounting effect. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2017-11 on its financial statements and related disclosures.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, (ASU 2017-09). ASU 2017-09 provides clarity and reduces both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018 and the adoption will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires an entity to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). Under ASU 2016-09, companies will no longer record excess tax benefits and certain tax deficiencies in additional paid-in capital (“APIC”). Instead, they will record all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the APIC pools will be eliminated. In addition, ASU 2016-09 eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before companies can recognize them. ASU 2016-09 also requires companies to present excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. Furthermore, ASU 2016-09 will increase the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes on awards and still qualify for the exception to liability classification for shares used to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation. An employer with a statutory income tax withholding obligation will now be allowed to withhold shares with a fair value up to the amount of taxes owed using the maximum statutory tax rate in the employee’s applicable jurisdiction(s). ASU 2016-09 requires a company to classify the cash paid to a tax authority when shares are withheld to satisfy its statutory income tax withholding obligation as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows. Under current GAAP, it was not specified how these cash flows should be classified. In addition, companies will now have to elect whether to account for forfeitures on share-based payments by (1) recognizing forfeitures of awards as they occur or (2) estimating the number of awards expected to be forfeited and adjusting the estimate when it is likely to change, as is currently required. These aspects of ASU 2016-09 are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted provided that all of the guidance is adopted in the same period. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2017 and adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new pronouncement on its consolidated statements of cash flows.
Note 4 - Property and Equipment
The components of property and equipment as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, at cost are (dollars in thousands):
The Company’s depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $65,000 and $12,000, respectively.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 5 - Related Party Transactions
Advances from Related Parties
From time to time, stockholders of the Company advance funds to the Company for working capital purposes. Those advances are unsecured, non-interest bearing and due on demand.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company borrowed $150,000 from Steven M. Payne, $100,000 from Jerome I. Feldman, $150,000 from Jim Kilman and $12,000 from Steven M. Fludder and repaid $32,000 in advances and $150,000 was converted into 150 shares of preferred stock. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the outstanding amount of the advances from related parties was $308,000 and $78,000, respectively.
Free Office Space
During 2015 and through September 2016, the Company was provided office space by its Chairman of the Board at no cost. Management determined that such cost was nominal and did not recognize the rent expense in its consolidated financial statements.
Restricted Stock Grant to Chief Executive Officer and Associated Withholding Payments
During the year ended December 31, 2016, Steven M. Fludder, the former Chief Executive Officer, paid the Company a withholding tax obligation of $198,000 related to the grant of restricted stock in 2015. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had a remaining liability of approximately $57,000.
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
On February 23, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Nathan Wasserman to become Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective as of March 1, 2017. Pursuant to a term sheet dated February 27, 2017, Mr. Wasserman agreed to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for an initial term of three years. The Company granted Mr. Wasserman stock options to purchase a total of 500,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.10 per share, of which 150,000 vested immediately, 150,000 will vest in his second year of service and 200,000 will vest in his third year of service. Mr. Wasserman receives a starting salary of $5,000 per month.
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer
On November 1, 2017, the Company appointed Sam Pitroda to serve as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Steve Fludder who submitted his resignation as Chief Executive Officer to the Company on October 30, 2017, with such resignation to be effective as of November 1, 2017. Mr. Fludder’s resignation and Mr. Pitroda’s appointment were each effective as of November 1, 2017. Mr. Fludder will continue to support the Company in a consulting capacity.
Issue shares of subsidiary
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the company also issued 75,000 shares of its subsidiary, CLC, to a consultant, who is also a stockholder for the service provided, and the shares were valued at $1.00 per share based upon the estimated fair value on the date the shares were issued. A related expense of $75,000 was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6 - Temporary Equity
Series A Preferred Stock
The following table summarizes the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
On May 17, 2017, the Company entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement (“Stock Purchase Agreement”) with several accredited and institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell in a private placement 1,820 shares of its newly designated Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series A Preferred”), as well as 910,000 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, for total gross proceeds of $1.82 million (including previous advances from related parties). The warrants have a 5-year term and an exercise price of $2.00. Steven M. Payne, Jerome I. Feldman and Jim Kilman each converted $50,000 advances into preferred stock.
The Series A Preferred is entitled to accrue cumulative dividends at a rate equal to 10.0% simple interest per annum on the original issue price of $1,000 per share (the “Original Issue Price”). Accrued dividends will be payable quarterly based on a 365-day year and may be paid in cash or in additional shares of Series A Preferred. Each share of Series A Preferred is convertible into 572 shares of Common Stock, subject to customary increases or decreases for stock splits, stock dividends recapitalizations and the like, and may be converted to Common Stock at any time after issuance at the option of a holder. The Company will have the right, at the Company’s option, to redeem all or a portion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock at any time or times after the one year anniversary of the Issuance Date of such Series A Preferred Stock, at a price per share (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the sum of the following (without duplication): (a) the Original Issue Price, plus (b) any accrued but unpaid Dividends. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, liquidation of the Company’s assets will be made in the following order of priority: (a) first, payment or provision for payment of debts and other liabilities; (b) second, payment to the holders of Series A Preferred an amount with respect to each share of Series A Preferred equal to the Original Issue Price, plus any accrued but unpaid Dividends thereon; and (c) third, payment to the holders of Common Stock. Except as required by applicable law or as set forth herein, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will vote together with the holders of shares of Common Stock and not as a separate class. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have a number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon conversion of such share of Series A Preferred Stock.
The Series A Preferred Stock is being classified as temporary equity because it has redemption features that are outside of the Company’s control upon certain triggering events, such as a deemed liquidation event. A “Deemed Liquidation Event” is defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as a merger that results in a change in control or the sale of substantially all the assets of the Company. In the case of a Deemed Liquidation Event, the assets of the Company will be paid in order of liquidation preference to the holders of preferred and common stock. Because certain holders of the Series A Preferred Stock constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors, a potential Deemed Liquidation Event is considered to be outside the control of the Company along with the call provision that can be exercised in one year, resulting in classification of the Series A Preferred Stock as temporary equity.
The Company has determined that the warrants should be accounted as a component of stockholders’ equity. On the issuance date, the Company estimated the fair value of the warrants at $1.1 million using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following primary assumptions: contractual term of 5.0 years, volatility rate of 79.8%, risk-free interest rate of 1.76% and expected dividend rate of 0%. Based on the warrant’s relative fair value to the fair value of the Series A Preferred, approximately $649,000 of the $1.1 million of aggregate fair value was allocated to the warrants, creating a corresponding preferred stock discount in the same amount.
Due to the reduction of allocated proceeds to Series A Preferred, the effective conversion price was approximately $1.1 per share creating a beneficial conversion feature of $807,000. Since the conversion option of the Series A Preferred was immediately exercisable, the beneficial conversion feature was immediately accreted to preferred dividends, resulting in an increase in the carrying value of the Series A Preferred.
As of December 31, 2017, the dividends accrued and outstanding were $115,000.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7 - Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
Activity
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company entered into private placement offerings with fourteen investors and issued approximately 1.5 million shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase approximately 1.4 million shares of common stock for $1.4 million. The warrants have a 5-year term and a weighted-average exercise price of $1.68. 100,000 shares issued in this offering are subject to “price protection” for a period of one year. Specifically, in the event the Company issues to any person common stock or their equivalent at a lower price per share than $2.50 (the “Lower Price”), the Company shall, simultaneously with the issuance of such shares, issue that investor a number of additional common shares (the “Additional Shares”) necessary to cause the 100,000 purchased plus the Additional Shares to have a combined average cost per share equal to the Lower Price, provided that in no event shall the Additional Shares exceed 100,000 shares. The price protection feature was analyzed by the Company and the Company determined that such feature was not required to be bifurcated from the common stock and recorded as a derivative as the price protection feature is clearly and closely related to an equity host. In November 2016 the Lower Price protection was triggered and the Company became obligated to issue an additional 100,000 shares of common stock under the arrangement.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company also issued 75,000 shares of its subsidiary, CLC, to a consultant, who is also a stockholder for the service provided, and the shares were valued at $1.00 per share based upon the estimated fair value on the date the shares were issued. A related expense of $75,000 was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, 221,875 warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $0.97 were exercised for cash consideration of $215,000. These warrant holders were also granted 221,875 additional warrants in August 2016 with a 5-year term and an exercise price of $2.70 per share. The warrants were accounted for as an inducement and accordingly $378,000 which reflects the fair value of the warrants was recorded as a deemed distribution. The fair value of the warrants was determined using a Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions: risk free rate - 1.14%, volatility - 78.49%, expected term - 5 years, expected dividends - N/A.
Stock Options
Equity Plan
In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Plan, an omnibus equity incentive plan to be administered by the Company’s Board of Directors to which the Company may issue its common shares in connection with grants of stock options to employees and consultants of the Company.
The grant date fair value of stock options granted to employees during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $4.3 million and $305,000, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s common stock was based upon the publicly quoted price on the date that the final approval of the awards was obtained. The Company does not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future so therefore the expected dividend yield is 0%. The expected term for stock options granted with service conditions represents the average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding and is based on the expected term calculated using the approach prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin for “plain vanilla” options. The expected term for stock options granted with performance and/or market conditions represents the estimated period estimated by management by which the performance conditions will be met. The Company obtained the risk-free interest rate from publicly available data published by the Federal Reserve. The Company uses a methodology in estimating its volatility percentage from a computation that was based on a comparison of average volatility rates of similar companies to a computation based on the standard deviation of the Company’s own underlying stock price’s daily logarithmic returns. The fair value of employee options granted in 2017 and 2016 was estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A summary of option activity under the Company’s employee stock option plan for year ended December 31, 2017 is presented below:
In July 2017, in recognition of the service on the Board of Directors, Mr. Feldman and Mr. Kilman each received options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price $1.95 per share, the fair value as of the date of grant, vesting in equal instalments over a four year period starting on July 27, 2017. Also in July 2017 in recognition of his service on the Board of Directors, Mr. Payne received an option to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price $1.95 per share, the fair value as of the date of grant, vesting in equal instalments over a four year period starting on July 27, 2017.
A summary of option activity under the Company’s employee stock option plan for year ended December 31, 2016 is presented below:
A summary of the activity of options that the Company granted to non-employees for the year ended December 31, 2017 is presented below:
A summary of the activity of options that the Company granted to non-employees for the year ended December 31, 2016 is presented below:
Estimated future stock-based compensation expense relating to unvested stock options is approximately $2.1 million as of December 31, 2017 and will be amortized over the remaining 2.8 years.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Warrants
A summary of the status of the Company’s outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2017 and changes during the year then ended is presented below:
A summary of the status of the Company’s outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2016 and changes during the year then ended is presented below:
During year ended December 31, 2017, the Company granted 500,000 warrants with an exercise price of $1.20 to a service provider. 250,000 warrants were vested immediately, the other 250,000 warrants will be vested upon performance of the service.
Stock-based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was comprised of the following (in thousands):
Note 8 - Contingencies and Commitments
On March 22, 2016, the Company entered into a lease (the “Lease”) with Hudson View Building #3, LLC (“the “Landlord”), for office and laboratory space located in Yonkers, New York (the “Leased Premise”). The Leased Premise consists of approximately 8,000 square feet. The Lease has a term of 87 months from the lease commencement date, which is the date upon which the Landlord has substantially completed certain interior leasehold improvements to the Leased Premise. The annual rent of the first year of the lease is approximately $208,000, increasing by 1.5% on each anniversary of the lease commencement date. In the event of a termination of the lease following a default by the Company, the Company will be obligated to pay the sum of the rent payable for the remainder of the lease term. The Company moved into the office on May 30, 2017. The Company began paying monthly rent on August 30, 2017.
In connection with this lease, the Company obtained an Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit (the “Letter of Credit”) from Chase Bank for a sum not exceeding $150,000. The Company has deposited this amount with Chase Bank as collateral for the Letter of Credit and recorded the amount as restricted cash and long-term deposit in the consolidated balance sheets. During the year ended December 31, 2017, $100,000 restricted cash was released to the Company.
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of December 31, 2017, contractual minimal lease payments are as follows (in thousands):
On February 25, 2009, the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide, transferable, perpetual license to use certain proprietary technology for the processing of lithium for use in batteries and other fields. Commencing in October 2010, working through a third party, the Company conducted a series of tests to determine if the process worked and, based on the results, initially believed that the process produced lithium, however it did not prove to be commercially feasible and research and development efforts involving this license were abandoned. In exchange for the license, the Company had certain financial, share issuance and royalty obligations if certain sale thresholds were met. However, since contractually agreed thresholds were not met and the technology was not used, the Company negotiated an amendment and release which was finalized in January 2017. Pursuant to the amendment and release, the third party retained two million of the three million total shares from the original license and forfeited the remaining one million shares. The two million shares retained by the third party are subject to customary transfer restrictions for restricted shares.
The Company maintained an executive office in Tarrytown, New York. This space was previously provided to the Company without charge by our Executive Chairman, Jerome I. Feldman. Beginning in September 2016 the Company began incurring rent for this space of approximately $5,000 per month, plus taxes and utilities to the current owner Cushman & Wakefield of Pennsylvania, Inc. The lease commenced on May 1, 2016 and terminates on April 30, 2018. The Company has the option to terminate the lease at any time upon two months’ notice. On May 31, 2017, the Company terminated the lease.
Note 9 - Extinguishment of Accounts Payable
During year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 62,417 shares of common stock and 62,417 warrants to certain vendors in lieu of $110,000 of outstanding accounts payable. The warrants have a 5-year term and a weighted-average exercise price of $1.76. The fair value of common stock and warrant at the conversion date was approximately $110,000 and $82,000, respectively. The difference of $82,000 was recorded as a loss on extinguishment of accounts payable.
Note 10 - Deferred Tax Assets and Income Tax Provision
The Company had no income tax expense due to operating loss incurred for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), which makes broad changes to the U.S. tax code. Certain changes are applicable to the Company effective January 1, 2018, including but not limited to, reducing the highest U.S. federal corporate statutory tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense, eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) and modifying the rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards generated in tax years ending after December 31, 2017. Deferred tax impacts from new legislation are accounted for in the period of enactment. As a result of the reduced corporate tax rate to 21 percent, the Company has recorded a decrease related to the gross deferred tax assets by $1.4 million exclusive of the corresponding change in the valuation allowance, for the year ended December 31, 2017. Due to the Company’s position of having a valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets, there is no net adjustment to deferred tax expense or benefit due to the reduction of the corporate tax rate.
The tax effects of temporary differences and tax losses and credit carry forwards that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are comprised of the following (dollars in thousands):
ALPHA-EN CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At December 31, 2017, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards for federal and state tax purposes of approximately $5.5 million which expires beginning in 2037. The Company has not performed a detailed analysis to determine whether an ownership change under Section 382 of the IRC has occurred. The effect of a Section 382 ownership change would be the imposition of an annual limitation on the use of net operating loss carryforwards attributable to periods before the change. Any limitation may result in expiration of all, or a portion of the NOL or potential research and development credit carryforwards before utilization.
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the period in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and taxing strategies in making this assessment. In case the deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods, the Company has provided a valuation allowance for the full amount of the deferred tax assets at December 31, 2017. The valuation allowance increased by approximately $1.0 million and $1.5 million for the years ended as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The expected tax expense (benefit) based on the U.S. federal statutory rate is reconciled with actual tax expense (benefit) as follows:
The Company has not identified any uncertain tax positions requiring a reserve as of December 31, 2017.
The Company is in the process of preparing the 2017 federal and state tax returns. Therefore, the Company’s 2017 net operating loss carryovers will not be available to offset future taxable income, if any, until the tax returns are filed.
Note 11 - Subsequent Events
On February 8, 2018, the Company entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement (“Stock Purchase Agreement”) with several accredited and institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell in a private placement 1,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as well as 975,000 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price of $1,000 per share, for total gross proceeds of $1.95 million.