NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
Note 1 – Organization and Business
Alternative Ethanol Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”), was incorporated in Delaware on December 20, 1996. Effective August 2, 2007, the Company changed its name to CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. Except where otherwise noted, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms, as well as “CleanTech” or the “Company,” refer to CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. and its’ subsidiaries, collectively.
On March 27, 2007, the Company acquired SRS Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SRS Energy”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization. In accordance with the merger agreement, SRS Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, merged with and into SRS Energy. The merger was consummated on May 31, 2007 and resulted in SRS Energy becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result of the merger, the stockholders of SRS Energy surrendered all of their issued and outstanding common stock and received shares of the Company’s common stock, $.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”). The former parent of SRS Energy, Supercritical Recovery Systems, Inc., immediately prior to the merger, distributed 78.8% of its 96% ownership in SRS Energy to its shareholders on a pro rata basis. For accounting purposes, because the Company had been a public shell company prior to the merger, the merger was treated as an acquisition of the Company and a recapitalization of SRS Energy.
The Company is in its development stage and has been engaged in technology development and pre-operational activities since its formation. The Company is currently seeking outside sources of funding that will provide the capital for us to design, build, and operate a commercial biomass recovery plant that will allow us to produce biomass feedstock for customer evaluation, trial purchases, and/or be used in equipment selection for power generation and possibly combined heat and power (CHP) production. Initially, the biomass feedstock output is expected to be sold or provided to electric utilities, power and steam producers, power and CHP equipment suppliers, and biofuel research firms for evaluation. In addition to seeking a source of funding for plant development, the Company hopes to license and/or develop potential commercial projects as they present themselves. All of our developments plan to focus on cleaning and separating MSW into its component parts in order to obtain: (i) a homogenous feedstock of cellulosic biomass for producing energy and other chemical products and (ii) recyclable products (metals, plastics, aluminum). Our plans may also include the possibility of operating a MSW transfer station where we could install our technology.
The Company has no operating history as a producer of biomass or energy sources and has not constructed any plants to date. We have no revenues and will be required to secure outside funding in order to execute our business plan and commercialize our products. Our current cash is not sufficient to fund our current operations. Our liabilities are substantially greater than our current available funds and current assets. Although we continue to seek additional financing through the sale of additional equity, various government funding opportunities and/or possibly through strategic alliances with larger energy or waste management companies, we have not had recent success securing meaningful amounts of financing. The Company will require substantial additional financing to implement its business plan and it may be unable to obtain the capital required to do so. If we are not able to immediately and successfully raise additional capital and/or achieve profitability or positive cash flow, we may not be able to continue operations.
The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Articles 8 and 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2016. For further information, refer to the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 28, 2016.
Note 2 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation.” This ASU simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted.
We are currently assessing the impact the guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases.” This ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The guidance requires enhanced disclosures regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases and will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The ASU requires adoption based upon a modified retrospective approach.
We are currently assessing the impact the guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." This ASU amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of a deferred charge. It is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) – Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s ability to continue as a Going Concern.” This ASU provides
guidance on determining when and how to disclose going-concern uncertainties in the financial statements and requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. An entity must provide certain disclosures if conditions or events raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. This new guidance is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact the guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” This ASU will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition requirements in U.S. GAAP and will require entities to recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. The new standard also specifies new accounting for costs associated with obtaining or fulfilling contracts with customers and expands the required disclosures related to revenue and cash flows from contracts with customers. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted. In August
2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date of this ASU. This standard will now become effective beginning with the first quarter 2018 and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.
There were various other accounting standards updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or were applicable to specific industries, and are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 3 – Mergers/Acquisitions
On September 15, 2008, the Company consummated the acquisition of Biomass North America Licensing, Inc. (“Biomass”) pursuant to a merger between Biomass and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (with Biomass as the surviving subsidiary of the Company) in accordance with an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between the Company and Biomass. By virtue of the merger, the Company acquired a license agreement pursuant to which the Company holds a license in the United States and Canada to use patented technology licensed from Biomass North America, LLC, the former parent of Biomass (the “Licensor”), to clean and separate MSW (the “Biomass Recovery Process”). In July 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued US patent number 7,745,208 for this process (the “BRP Patent”).
Upon consummation of the merger, the Company paid $20,000 in cash and issued a promissory note in the original principal amount of $80,000 bearing interest at an annual rate of 6% to a shareholder of the Licensor. This note has been paid in full. Additionally, the Company issued to the four shareholders of the Licensor a total of 1,895,000 shares of Common Stock and deposited an additional 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock into an escrow account (collectively, the “Shares”). The Shares were issued as part of the merger consideration received by the shareholders of the Licensor. In accordance with a November 2013 amendment, the Company has an exclusive license in the United States and Canada to use the Biomass Recovery Process and includes no performance requirements on the Company; the license agreement is for a term of 21 years from the date of the amendment or the life of any patent issued for the Biomass Recovery Process, including any amendments, modifications or extensions; the license requires that the Company pay a royalty in the amount of $2.00 per ton of MSW used in the Biomass Recovery Process to the Licensor; and the Company released the 4,000,000 shares of common stock to the Licensor previously held in escrow since the merger. The Company has recorded a long-term asset of approximately $1.6 million which it will begin to amortize upon utilizing the license in our operations.
Note 4 – Patent
The Company owns US Patent No. 6,306,248 (the “PSC Patent”), which is the underlying technology upon which the BRP Patent is based. The Company acquired the PSC Patent on October 22, 2008 pursuant to a Patent Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) with World Waste Technologies, Inc. (“WWT”). As part of the acquisition of the PSC Patent, we also became the licensor of such technology under the existing license agreement between Bio-Products International, Inc., the licensee (“Bio-Products”) and WWT. The Company has paid WWT $600,000 and issued warrants to purchase 1,800,000 shares of Common Stock at $0.10 per share and 500,000 shares of Common Stock at $0.11 per share. WWT assigned all of its rights, title and interest in the note, warrants, security agreement and purchase agreement to Vertex Energy, Inc. (“Vertex”) as a result of a merger in March 2009. The warrants had an exercisable term of five years which expired on October 22, 2014. The cost of the PSC Patent acquisition of $600,000 is recorded as a long-term asset on the Balance Sheet.
On September 1, 2010, the Company issued a promissory note to CMS Acquisition, LLC (“CMS”) in the amount of $100,000 and bearing interest at 6.0% per annum. The note is secured with a security interest in the PSC Patent. In connection with the financing, the Company issued a warrant to CMS to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.05 per share. The warrant is exercisable at any time for five years from the date of issuance or re-issuance. The note was originally to mature on February 28, 2011. The Company and CMS have entered into various amendments extending the due date, the most recent of which was March 17, 2015, which extended the due date to September 17, 2016. As consideration in these amendments, the Company has: (i) paid $25,000 in February 2011 towards accrued interest to date and principal on the Note (ii) increased the interest rate to 10% as of May 15, 2011, (iii) re-dated the original warrants to March 17, 2015, (iv) issued new warrants for 300,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.05 and exercisable at any time until March 17, 2020, (v) issued new warrants for 150,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.10 and exercisable at any time until March 17, 2020, and (vi) the Company has approved the assignment of the note by CMS to the WL Meyer Legacy Trust as of the March 17, 2015 amendment.
Note 5 - Technology Licenses
Biomass North America Licensing, Inc.
We own an exclusive license in the United States and Canada to use the Biomass Recovery Process (See Note 3 – Mergers/Acquisitions). We have recorded a long-term asset of approximately $1.6 million for the value of this license. Amortization of this asset will begin upon commencement of the use of the Biomass Recovery Process.
In accordance with a November 2013 amendment, the Company has an exclusive license in the United States and Canada to use the Biomass Recovery Process and includes no performance requirements on the Company; the license agreement is for a term of 21 years from the date of the amendment or the life of any patent issued for the Biomass Recovery Process, including any amendments, modifications or extensions; and the license requires that the Company pay a royalty in the amount of $2.00 per ton of MSW used in the Biomass Recovery Process to the Licensor.
Bio-Products International, Inc.
As disclosed in Note 4 - Patent, the Company acquired the PSC Patent in 2008 and as a result, became the licensor to Bio-Products for the PSC Patent pursuant to a Master License Agreement dated as of August 18, 2003 (the “PSC License Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the PSC License Agreement, Bio-Products (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clean Earth Solutions, Inc., “CES”) is the exclusive licensee of the PSC Patent and has the right to sublicense the technology that is part of the PSC Patent (but not the BRP Patent) to any party. In addition, we are entitled to be paid 5% of any revenue derived by Bio-Products from the use of the technology and 40% of any sublicensing fees paid to Bio-Products for the use of the technology. The Master License Agreement is for a term of 20 years that commenced on August 18, 2003. On September 22, 2010, the Company sent a Notice of Breach to Bio-Products, which included removing the exclusivity of the license. We received a response from Bio-Products on November 5, 2010 disputing our claims. In February 2011, we became aware that Bio-Products effected a transfer of the license in violation of the PSC License Agreement. As a result, on March 21, 2011, we sent a notice of termination to Bio-Products and the transferee terminating the License Agreement. In June 2011, Steve Vande Vegte, a shareholder in CES, filed a lawsuit against various parties, including the Company. The only Cause of Action against the Company is for Declaratory Relief seeking to avoid our March 2011 termination of the license to which Mr. Vande Vegte is not a party. On August 5, 2011, the Company filed a demurrer requesting that the court dismiss the case on the grounds that Mr. Vande Vegte lacks standing to pursue a claim concerning the license and that the claim raised in the complaint is not ripe. The court granted our demurrer to dismiss CleanTech from this lawsuit on December 8, 2011.
All intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or other changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized if the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its implied fair value.
Note 6 – Debt
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|
Mar 31, 2016
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|
Dec 31, 2015
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|
Convertible Notes Payable (2009 Offering), which are made up of various individual notes
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|
|
|
|
with an aggregate face value of $199,790, due one year from date of note, 6.% interest
|
|
$
|
199,790
|
|
|
$
|
199,790
|
|
Convertible Notes Payable (11/10 Offering), which are made up of various individual notes
|
|
|
|
|
|
with an aggregate face value of $1,874,074, due one year from date of note, 6.0% interest
|
|
|
1,874,074
|
|
|
|
1,874,074
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|
WL Meyer Legacy Trust (fomerly CMS Acquisition LLC) Note Payable, with a face value of
|
|
|
|
|
|
$77,696 due on September 17, 2016, interest at 6.0% thru May 15,2011; 10.0% thereafter
|
|
|
77,696
|
|
|
|
77,696
|
|
Convertible Notes Payable (5/12 Offering), made up of various individual notes with
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a face value of $583,510, due in 18 months from date of note, interest at 6.0%
|
|
|
583,510
|
|
|
|
583,510
|
|
Convertible Note Payable (2/14 Offering), which is made up of one note with a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
face value of $100,000 due in 18 months from date of note, interest at 6.0%
|
|
|
100,000
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|
|
|
100,000
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|
Convertible Note Payable (7.1.2015), which is made up of one note with a face value of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
$14,377 on March 31, 2016 and $17,377 on December 31, 2015, minimum quarterly
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
payments of $3,000, interest at 6.0%
|
|
|
14,377
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|
|
|
17,377
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|
Convertible Note Payable (2015 Offering), which is made up of one note with a face value of
|
|
|
|
|
|
$85,000, due in 18 months from date of note, interest at 6.0%
|
|
|
85,000
|
|
|
|
85,000
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
2,934,447
|
|
|
|
2,937,447
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|
Current maturities
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|
|
(2,934,447
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)
|
|
|
(2,852,447
|
)
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Long-term debt
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|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
85,000
|
|
Convertible Notes Payable
- Since September 2008, the Company has conducted six offerings of units comprised of a convertible promissory note and a warrant, and one offering of a convertible note (with no warrant), having the terms set forth below:
Offering
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|
Note Interest Rate
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|
|
Note Conversion Price
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|
|
Warrant Exercise Price
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|
Term
|
Closed or Open
|
2008 Offering
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
One-year
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Closed
|
2009 Offering
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
One-year
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Closed
|
6/10 Offering
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|
|
12.0
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%
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
One-year
|
Closed
|
11/10 Offering
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
0.06
|
|
|
$
|
0.30
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|
One-year
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Closed
|
5/12 Offering
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|
|
6.0
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%
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.35
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|
18 months
|
Closed
|
2/14 Offering
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
18 months
|
Closed
|
2015 Offering
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
18 months
|
Open
|
Each note holder retains the option of a cash repayment of the note plus interest, or the note can be converted at any time during the term of the note or prior to the closing of any Qualifying Equity Financing (minimum capital received of $5 million), into shares of Common Stock at the conversion price noted above. All notes have been recorded as debt (notes payable) in the financial statements, net of discounts for the conversion and warrant features (except for the 11/10, 5/12, 2/14, and 2015 Offerings which carried no discounts). See Subsequent Events footnote for further disclosure regarding our notes.
2008 Offering
- During September 2008, the Company commenced an offering of units and raised a total of $642,000 of investment proceeds through March 31, 2009. As of March 31, 2010, all of these notes had either been converted to shares of our common stock or exchanged into our 2009 Offering (resulting in new notes with a total face value of $539,829, which included the original principal and interest through the date of exchange).
2009 Offering
- During April 2009, the Company commenced an offering of units and raised a total of $1,198,500 of investment proceeds through August 2010. Three notes have been converted to shares of Common Stock (one each in 2009, 2010, and 2014). Beginning in March 2011, certain notes were exchanged into our 11/10 Offering or our 7.1.15 Note Payable. As a result, as of March 31, 2016, we had $199,790 face value of notes outstanding, which includes the exchanged notes from our 2008 Offering. All of these notes have matured. We plan to work with each remaining note holder to exchange, convert or repay these notes.
6/10 Offering
- During June 2010, the Company commenced an offering of units and raised a total of $75,000 of investment proceeds in one note. Upon maturity in June 2011, this note was exchanged into our 11/10 Offering. As a result, the balance due on this offering is $-0-.
11/10 Offering
- During November 2010, the Company commenced an offering of units and raised a total of $451,713 of investment proceeds. Three notes were converted to shares of Common Stock during 2011 and four notes were converted to shares of Common Stock in 2012. As of March 31 2016, we had $1,874,074 face value of notes outstanding, which includes exchanged notes from our 2009 Offering. As of March 31, 2016, approximately $1.75 million of these notes matured. We plan to work with each remaining note holder to exchange, convert or repay these notes.
5/12 Offering
- During May 2012, the Company commenced an offering of units and raised a total of $583,510 of investment proceeds. As of March 31, 2016, all of these notes were outstanding and matured. We plan to work with each remaining note holder to exchange, convert or repay these notes.
2/14 Offering
- During February 2014, the Company commenced an offering of units and raised a total of $100,000 of investment proceeds in one note. As of March 31, 2016, this note is outstanding and has matured. We plan to work with the note holder to exchange, convert or repay this note.
2015 Offering
- During September 2015, the Company commenced an offering of units and, as of March 31, 2016, had raised a total of $85,000 of investment proceeds.
WL Meyer Legacy Trust (formerly CMS Acquisition, LLC) Note Payable
- In September 2010, the Company issued a note in the amount of $100,000 (interest at 6.0% per annum through May 15, 2011 and 10.0% thereafter and secured by a security interest in the PSC Patent) and issued warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.05 per share. The note is due the earlier of: (i) September 17, 2016 pursuant to an amendment on March 17, 2015 or (ii) the date on which $500,000 or more in the aggregate is raised by the Company in future offerings. The warrants are exercisable at any time for five years from the date of issuance or reissuance. The value of these warrants has been recorded as a contra-balance amount discount with the note and was fully amortized (interest expense) as of February 28, 2011 (the original due date). As consideration in these amendments, the Company has: (i) paid $25,000 in February 2011 towards accrued interest to date and principal on the note, (ii) increased the interest rate to 10% as of May 15, 2011, (iii) re-dated the original warrants to March 17, 2015, (iv) issued new warrants for 300,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.05 and exercisable at any time until March 17, 2020, (v) issued new warrants for 150,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.10 and exercisable at any time until March 17, 2020, and (vi) the Company has approved the assignment of the note by CMS Acquisition LLC to the WL Meyer Legacy Trust per the March 17, 2015 amendment. As of March 31, 2016, $77,696 face value of this note is outstanding.
7.1.15 Convertible Note Payable
- On July 1, 2015, one noteholder in our 2009 Offering exchanged two notes into this note. This new note carries a 6% annual rate of interest, compounded annually, and is due in quarterly installment payments: the greater of $3,000 or 10% of all investment proceeds received during the calendar quarter preceding the quarterly installment payment. As of March 31, 2016, the principal balance of this note was $14,377.
The discounts on all notes payable have been amortized on a straight-line basis over the original term of each note. All discounts were fully amortized and expensed as of June 30, 2011. The following is a summary of warrants issued and outstanding as of the dates below, at the exercise price and the amount of shares of Common Stock (these warrants have not been exercised or converted to shares of Common Stock).
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|
Exercise
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|
|
March 31,
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|
|
December 31,
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|
Warrants issued to:
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|
Price
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|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Noteholders, 11/10 Offering
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
|
842,221
|
|
|
|
842,221
|
|
Noteholders, 2015 Offering
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
|
2,550,000
|
|
|
|
2,550,000
|
|
Investors in Subscription Agrements (a)
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
|
19,155,000
|
|
|
|
16,605,000
|
|
WL Meyer Legacy Trust
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
2,300,000
|
|
|
|
2,300,000
|
|
WL Meyer Legacy Trust
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,997,221
|
|
|
|
22,447,221
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) Warrants issued to investors under these Subscription Agreements can be exercised anytime within three years
from date of Agreement. These warrants currently expire at various dates from August 2016 through March 2019.
|
|
Note 7 - Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
In August 2013, the Company commenced an offering of units, under a Subscription Agreement, at a purchase price of $1,000 per unit (Equity Offering 8/13). Each unit consists of: (i) 10,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued restricted Common Stock and (ii) warrants to purchase 30,000 additional shares of Common Stock for a three-year period from the date of issuance of the units at an initial exercise price of $0.15 per share. As of March 31, 2016, the Company issued 6,385,000 restricted shares (at $0.10 per share) of our Common Stock in exchange for $638,500 in investment in this offering. See Subsequent Event footnote for further updates to this offering and other share grants affecting Stockholders Equity.
In February 2016, the Board approved a grant to certain Board members and management for an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of restricted common stock (at $0.013 per share). The Board granted these awards in recognition of the efforts of the recipients towards the furtherance and implementation of the Company’s strategic plan and to induce the recipients to continue those efforts on behalf of the Company. Based on the foregoing, the Board determined such grants were in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.
Net Loss per share
– The Company calculates basic loss per share (“EPS”) and diluted EPS. EPS is computed as net loss divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS would reflect the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants and other convertible securities. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had options, warrants and other convertible securities to purchase an aggregate of approximately 94 million and 87 million shares of our common stock, respectively, that were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive. Therefore, the Company only presents basic loss per share on the statement of operations.
Note 8 - Related Party Transactions
The Company has entered into stock purchase agreements with its executive officers and certain members of the Board of Directors (“Board”). The executive officers and directors issued notes to the Company in exchange for their stock purchases. These notes and accumulated interest are recorded as notes receivable in Stockholders’ Deficit.
In September 2013, the Company hired, on a part-time basis, a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and a VP-Business Development (VP-BD). These individuals maintain their engineering firm Fenton Engineering International (FEI) on a full-time basis and receive no salary in their part-time positions but are eligible for grants of stock options. We have used and continue to use their services. As of March 31, 2016, all amounts have been paid to FEI except for approximately $48,000.
Two members of our current Board, James Russell and David Bransby, are parties in investments made in our convertible note offerings. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate amount of these investments, including interest, is approximately $687,000 and $677,000, respectively.
Beginning in 2009, the Company has provided advances to two employees – Ed Hennessey and Mike Kime. Mr. Kime resigned from his positions with the Company effective June 21, 2010. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate balances of advances totaled approximately $34,000 and $33,000, respectively. The balances are included in Prepaids and Other Current Assets on the Balance Sheet.
Note 9 – Share-based Payments
The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards including
stock options and restricted stock issued to employees, directors and consultants and is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The Company has no awards with market or performance conditions.
In March 2007, the Company assumed and adopted the 2007 Stock Option Plan (“Stock Plan”) for its employees, directors and consultants, which includes an equity compensation plan for non-employee directors pursuant to which stock options and shares of restricted stock may be granted. The Company currently has reserved a maximum of 14,000,000 shares of common stock to be issued for stock options or restricted shares awarded under the Stock Plan.
In February 2015, the Company granted options under the Stock Plan to purchase an aggregate of 350,000 shares of Common Stock to a consultant in which one-half vested immediately and the remaining options vest in February 2016, with an exercise price of $0.10. As of March 31, 2016, none of these options were cancelled or expired and 350,000 shares of these options were vested.
In September 2013, the Company granted options under the Stock Plan to purchase an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock to two part-time employees (newly hired CTO and VP–BD) in which one-third will vest ratably beginning in September 2014, with an exercise price of $0.10. As of March 31, 2016, none of these options were cancelled or expired and 666,667 shares of these options were vested.
Stock option expense is recognized in the statements of operations ratably over the vesting period based on the number of options that are expected to ultimately vest. Our options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and changes in the assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates. The Company incurred no share-based compensation expense related to option grants for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.
The potential tax benefit realizable for the anticipated tax deductions of the exercise of share-based payment arrangements totaled approximately $312,000 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. However, due to the uncertainty that the tax benefits will be realized, these potential benefits were not recognized currently. As of March 31, 2016, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to all current share-based payment arrangements.
The following table summarizes the Company's stock option activity and related information under the Stock Plan:
|
|
Shares Under Option
|
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|
|
Aggregate intrinsic value
|
|
Options outstanding at December 31, 2015
|
|
|
12,197,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2016
|
|
|
12,197,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Options exercisable at March 31, 2016
|
|
|
11,863,667
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
Unvested Options at March 31, 2016
|
|
|
333,333
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The weighted-average exercise price at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 for all outstanding and exercisable options
was greater than the fair value of the Company's common stock on that date, resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of $-0-.
|
|
The following table summarizes information about the Company's issuances of restricted stock under the Stock Plan:
|
|
Restricted shares issued
|
|
|
Weighted-Avg Exercise Price
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2015
|
|
|
1,170,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of March 31, 2016
|
|
|
1,170,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
The Company issued the following grants outside of the Stock Plan: (1) restricted Common Stock: (i) in January 2015 for 500,000 shares to a member of management, (ii) in January 2014 for 500,000 shares to a consultant to provide services regarding the collection, recycling, transfer, and disposal of MSW, (iii) in April 2014, to certain Board members and management for 4,250,000 shares in the aggregate, and (iv) in February 2016, to certain Board members and a member of management for 4,000,000 shares in the aggregate; (2) in February 2016, the Board approved the issuance of stock option agreements to a member of management and certain consultants for the purchase of 3,600,000 shares, in the aggregate, of common stock. The shares issued to Board members and management were in recognition of the efforts of the recipients towards the furtherance and implementation of the Company’s strategic plan and to induce the recipients to continue those efforts on behalf of the Company. Total expense related to these grants for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, were $52,800 and $5,200, respectively (included in our general and administrative expense).
All of the share grant awards vest immediately and were issued pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), or Section 4(a)(2) of the Act, and will therefore be “restricted securities” as such term is used in Rule 144 of the Act. The option agreements carry the following terms: seven year agreements, vesting in thirds ratably over three years, and are exercisable at the Company’s closing stock price as of the date of the grant.
Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
Lease –
The Company leases approximately 1,800 square feet of office space for use as our corporate office, located at 7386 Pershing Ave. in St. Louis, Missouri. The original lease term expired and can be extended for two year periods at expiring terms and conditions (current term ends December 2016). Our monthly rent under the lease is $1,800 plus the cost of utilities.
Contingencies
The Company currently has no open litigation and/or claims.
Note 11 – Subsequent Events
All of the promissory notes in our 2009, 5/12 and 2/14 Offerings, and certain notes in our 11/10 Offering are now due. As of May 8, 2016, approximately $3.4 million is currently due, including interest. We plan to work with each remaining note holder to exchange, convert or repay these promissory notes.
In August 2013, the Company commenced an offering of units, under a Subscription Agreement, at a purchase price of $1,000 per unit (Equity Offering 8/13). Each unit consists of: (i) 10,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued restricted Common Stock and (ii) warrants to purchase 30,000 additional shares of Common Stock for a three-year period from the date of issuance of the units at an initial exercise price of $0.15 per share. As of May 8, 2016, the Company has issued 6,385,000 restricted shares of our Common Stock in exchange for $638,500 in investment in this offering.
In September 2015, the Company commenced a convertible note payable offering (2015 Offering). As of May 8, 2016, the Company has raised $85,000 of investment proceeds.