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Table of Contents



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2024

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number: 001-37515

Aqua Metals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

47-1169572

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification no.)

5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201

Reno, Nevada 89511

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(775) 446-4418

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class of stock:

Trading symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered:

Common Stock

AQMS

The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act):

Large accelerated filer

 ☐

Accelerated filer

 ☐

Non-accelerated filer

 ☒

Smaller reporting company

 

  

Emerging Growth Company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No ☒

As of August 2, 2024, there were 135,799,315 outstanding shares of the common stock of Aqua Metals, Inc.



 

 

 

 

 

   

Page

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

1

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 - Unaudited

1
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 - Unaudited

2

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 - Unaudited

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 - Unaudited

4

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Unaudited

5

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

13

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

17

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

17

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

18

Item 6.

Exhibits

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

  

June 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 

ASSETS

        

Current assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $7,833  $16,522 

Note receivable - LINICO

  400   600 

Accounts receivable

     67 

Inventory

  908   929 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  174   181 

Total current assets

  9,315   18,299 
         

Non-current assets

        

Property, plant and equipment, net

  17,009   10,347 

Intellectual property, net

  191   281 

Other assets

  7,143   4,673 

Total non-current assets

  24,343   15,301 
         

Total assets

 $33,658  $33,600 
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

        
         

Current liabilities

        

Accounts payable

 $1,679  $1,836 

Accrued expenses

  2,908   2,467 

Lease liability, current portion

  288   275 

Note payable, current portion

  2,979   35 

Total current liabilities

  7,854   4,613 
         

Non-current liabilities

        

Lease liability, non-current portion

  593    

Note payable, non-current portion

     2,923 

Total liabilities

  8,447   7,536 
         

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12)

          
         

Stockholders’ equity

        

Common stock; $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 134,257,193 and 133,800,547, shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024, respectively and 108,308,661 and 107,880,095, shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023, respectively

  134   108 

Additional paid-in capital

  260,554   249,687 

Accumulated deficit

  (235,117)  (223,215)

Treasury stock, at cost; common shares: 456,646 and 428,566 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

  (360)  (516)

Total stockholders’ equity

  25,211   26,064 
         

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $33,658  $33,600 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

1

 

 

 

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2024

  

2023

  

2024

  

2023

 
                 

Operating cost and expense

                

Plant operations

 $2,373  $1,481  $4,582  $2,546 

Research and development cost

  363   525   951   970 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     (3)     (23)

General and administrative expense

  3,426   2,849   6,421   5,855 

Total operating expense

  6,162   4,852   11,954   9,348 
                 

Loss from operations

  (6,162)  (4,852)  (11,954)  (9,348)
                 

Other income and (expense)

                

Interest expense

  (84)  (255)  (190)  (431)

Interest and other income

  99   348   245   414 
                 

Total other income (expense), net

  15   93   55   (17)
                 

Loss before income tax expense

  (6,147)  (4,759)  (11,899)  (9,365)
                 

Income tax expense

  3      3    
                 

Net loss

 $(6,150) $(4,759) $(11,902) $(9,365)
                 

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

  123,793,140   84,184,884   116,923,889   82,743,345 
                 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 $(0.05) $(0.06) $(0.10) $(0.11)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - Unaudited

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

          

Additional

              

Total

 
  

Common Stock

  

Paid-in

  

Accumulated

  

Treasury Stock

  

Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Capital

  

Deficit

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Equity

 
                             

Balances, March 31, 2024

  112,674,915  $113  $252,066  $(228,967)  456,646  $(360) $22,852 
                             

Stock-based compensation

        751            751 

Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting

  47,978                   

Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales

  68,882      35            35 

Common stock and warrants issued for public offering, net of $744 transaction costs

  20,125,000   20   7,286            7,306 

Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $13 transaction costs

  883,772   1   416            417 

Net loss

           (6,150)        (6,150)
                             

Balances, June 30, 2024

  133,800,547  $134  $260,554  $(235,117)  456,646  $(360) $25,211 
                             

Balances, December 31, 2023

  107,880,095  $108  $249,687  $(223,215)  428,566  $(516) $26,064 
                             

Stock-based compensation

        1,525            1,525 

Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting

  687,187   1   (516)     28,080   156   (359)

Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales

  68,882      35            35 

Common stock and warrants issued for public offering, net of $744 transaction costs

  20,125,000   20   7,286            7,306 

Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $87 transaction costs

  5,039,383   5   2,537            2,542 

Net loss

           (11,902)        (11,902)
                             

Balances, June 30, 2024

  133,800,547  $134  $260,554  $(235,117)  456,646  $(360) $25,211 
                             

Balances, March 31, 2023

  82,670,169  $83  $223,453  $(203,883)  510,632  $(577) $19,076 
                             

Stock-based compensation

        599            599 

Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting

  58,652                   

Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $25 transaction costs

  746,754   1   794            795 

Common stock issued for director fees

  31,875      32            32 

Net loss

           (4,759)        (4,759)
                             

Balances, June 30, 2023

  83,507,450  $84  $224,878  $(208,642)  510,632  $(577) $15,743 
                             

Balances, December 31, 2022

  79,481,751  $79  $220,114  $(199,277)    $  $20,916 
                             

Stock-based compensation

        1,285            1,285 

RSUs issued for consulting services

  15,781      12            12 

Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting

  880,763   1         510,632   (577)  (576)

Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales

  192,707      122            122 

Common stock issued for class action settlement

  469,366   1   500            501 

Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $87 transaction costs

  2,409,707   3   2,781            2,784 

Common stock issued for director fees

  57,375      64            64 

Net loss

           (9,365)        (9,365)
                             

Balances, June 30, 2023

  83,507,450  $84  $224,878  $(208,642)  510,632  $(577) $15,743 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

 

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited

(in thousands)

 

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2024

  

2023

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net loss

 $(11,902) $(9,365)

Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities

        

Depreciation and ROU asset amortization

  575   455 

Amortization of intellectual property

  90   90 

Fair value of common stock issued for director fees

     64 

Fair value of common stock issued for consulting services

     12 

Stock-based compensation

  1,525   1,286 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

  20   112 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     (23)

Inventory net realizable value adjustment

  240    

Write off of debt issuance costs

  563    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

        

Proceeds from leasing of building

     12,278 

Accounts receivable

  67   (90)

Inventory

  (219)  (353)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  6   80 

Accounts payable

  (29)  49 

Accrued expenses

  1,092   1,024 

Other assets and liabilities

  (30)  (147)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  (8,002)  5,472 
         

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

  (6,440)  (5,503)

Proceeds from sale of equipment

     67 

Proceeds from note receivable

  200    

Equipment deposits

  (3,522)  (75)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (9,762)  (5,511)
         

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of transaction costs

  7,306    

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan

  35   14 

Payments on note payable

     (6,000)

Principal payments on finance leases

  (35)   

Proceeds from note payable, net

     2,932 

Cash paid for tax withholdings on RSUs vesting

  (360)  (577)

Debt issuance costs

  (413)   

Proceeds from ATM, net

  2,542   2,784 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

  9,075   (847)
         

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

  (8,689)  (886)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

  16,522   7,082 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 $7,833  $6,196 

 

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2024

  

2023

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information

        

Cash paid for income taxes

 $3  $ 

Cash paid for interest

 $166  $309 
         

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions

        

Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable

 $945  $349 

Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment included in accrued expenses

 $646  $210 

Equity included in accrued expenses

 $  $608 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

 

 

 
 

1. Organization

 

Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) is engaged in the business of applying its commercialized clean, water-based recycling technology principles to develop the clean and cost-efficient recycling solutions for both lead and lithium-ion (“Li”) batteries. Our recycling process is a patented hydro- and electrometallurgical technology that is an innovative, proprietary and patented process we developed and named AquaRefining. AquaRefining is a low-emissions, closed-loop recycling technology that replaces polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries with higher purity, lower emissions, and with minimal waste. The modular “Aqualyzers” cleanly generate ultra-pure metal one atom at a time, closing the sustainability loop for the rapidly growing energy storage economy.

 

We are in the process of demonstrating that Li AquaRefining, which is fundamentally non-polluting, can create the highest quality and highest yields of recovered minerals from lithium-ion batteries with lower waste streams and lower costs than existing alternatives.

 

Our focus for the lead market is providing equipment and licensing of our lead acid battery recycling technologies in an enabler model which allows us to work with anyone in the industry globally and address the entire marketplace. Our focus for the lithium market includes operating our first-of-a-kind lithium battery recycling facility, utilizing electricity to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces and licensing.

 

Liquidity and Going Concern Assessment

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $11.9 million and $9.4 million, respectively, and negative cash from operations of $8.0 million and a cash inflow $5.5 million, respectively, including non-recurring proceeds of $12.3 million from the leasing and sale of the building. As of  June 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $7.8 million, current liabilities of $7.9 million and an accumulated deficit of $235.1 million. The Company's current liabilities of $7.9 million include the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC in the amount of approximately $3 million due on February 1, 2025 as disclosed in Note 10. The Company has not generated revenues from commercial operations and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future.

 

Management believes that the Company does not have sufficient capital resources to sustain operations through at least the next twelve months from the date of this filing. Additionally, in view of the Company’s expectation to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future it will be required to raise additional capital resources in order to fund its operations, although the availability of, and the Company’s access to such resources, is not assured. Accordingly, management believes that there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern through the next twelve months from the date of this filing.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that  may result from uncertainty related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Reclassification of Prior Period Financial Statements

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment was presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations within loss from operations. This reclassification was made for the year ended December 31, 2023 and presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended.

 

We have reclassified the prior period Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations included in this filing to conform to the current period presentation, as shown in the following table (in thousands):

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

  

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 
  

As Reported

  

Reclassification

  

As Reclassified

  

As Reported

  

Reclassification

  

As Reclassified

 

Operating cost and expense

                        

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     (3)  (3)     (23)  (23)

Total operating expense

 $4,855  $(3) $4,852  $9,371  $(23) $9,348 

Income (loss) from operations

 $(4,855) $3  $(4,852) $(9,371) $23  $(9,348)
                         

Other income and expense

                        

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  3   (3)     23   (23)   

Total other income (expense), net

 $96  $(3) $93  $6  $(23) $(17)

 

 

5

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
 

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

 

The significant accounting policies and estimates used in preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are described in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on March 28, 2024. There have been no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.

 

Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Aqua Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Aqua Metals”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2023, which are included on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2024. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of such date, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual presentation.

 

The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending  December 31, 2024.

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, and the determination of stock-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

6

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 

Net loss per share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive. The following shares underlying outstanding convertible notes, stock options, RSUs and warrants to purchase common stock were anti-dilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive weighted average securities computation for the three and six months ended June 30, as indicated below:

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

Excluded potentially dilutive weighted average securities (1):

 

2024

  

2023

  

2024

  

2023

 
                 

Unvested restricted stock units

  8,443,517   6,181,141   8,350,321   5,770,715 

Options to purchase common stock

     417,749      704,316 

Financing warrants to purchase common stock

  11,597,752   6,372   6,084,422   6,372 

Total potential dilutive weighted average securities

  20,041,269   6,605,262   14,434,743   6,481,403 

 

 

 

(1) Securities are presented on a weighted average outstanding calculation as required if the securities were dilutive.

 

Segment and geographic information

 

Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the CODM in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

 

Concentration of credit risk

 

The Company did not generate revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company had no trade receivables as of  June 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023. The accounts receivable balance on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of  December 31, 2023 consisted of proceeds from a non-recurring engineering (NRE) arrangement with 6K Energy.

 

 

7

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

 

In  November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280). This ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements by requiring disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2024. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. This ASU will likely result in us including the additional required disclosures when adopted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the disclosures within our consolidated financial statements.

 

In  December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The ASU requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2024. Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. This ASU will require additional disclosures in our consolidated financial statements, once adopted.

 

 

 

3. Revenue recognition

 

The Company has historically generated revenues by recycling lead acid batteries (“LABs”) and selling the recovered lead to its customers.

 

The Company was not in commercial production during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Historically, Company products transferred to customers at a single point in time accounted for 100% of its revenue. 

 

 

 

4. Note receivable

 

During the year ended  December 31, 2023, the Company sold its 2,000,000 stock investment in LINICO and recorded an impairment of $1,400,000 and a note receivable of $600,000. The proceeds will be received over a 12-month installment which began in  January 2024. The balance of the note receivable is $400,000 and $600,000 as of  June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

 

The Company accounted for the LINICO investment under ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities, using the measurement alternative of recording at cost as the investment in LINICO doesn’t have a readily determinable fair value.

 

 

 

5. Inventory

 

Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

  

June 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 
         

Work in process

 $157  $135 

Raw materials

  751   794 

Total inventory

 $908  $929 

 

 

We write-down inventory when evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is less than the cost. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, we recorded write-downs of $240,000 which were included in plant operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

 

8

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 

 

 

6. Property, plant and equipment, net

 

Property, plant and equipment, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

  

Useful Life

         

Asset Class

 

(Years)

  

June 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 
             

Operational equipment

  3 - 10  $3,581  $3,581 

Lab equipment

  5   1,144   817 

Computer equipment

  3   111   89 

Office furniture and equipment

  3   90   90 

Leasehold improvements

  2.5   80   80 

Land

  -   1,141   1,141 

Building

  39   3,131   3,131 

Equipment under construction

      9,813   3,047 
       19,091   11,976 

Less: accumulated depreciation

      (2,082)  (1,629)
             

Total property, plant and equipment, net

     $17,009  $10,347 

 

Property, plant and equipment depreciation expense was $235,000 and $453,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and $225,000 and $337,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. Equipment under construction is comprised of our lithium-ion battery recycling commercial equipment along with various components being manufactured or installed by the Company.

 

 

7. Other assets

 

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

  

June 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 
         

Equipment deposits (1)

 $6,466  $4,291 

Nevada facilities Right of Use Assets (2)

  657   222 

Other assets

  20   160 

Total other assets, non-current

 $7,143  $4,673 

 

 

(1) Deposits for equipment to be acquired and utilized at the Company's Phase One build-out of our recycling campus at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC). 

 

(2) See Footnote 9.

 

 

 

8. Accrued expenses

 

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

 

  

June 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 
         

Property, plant and equipment related

 $1,207  $1,857 

Payroll related

  1,527   506 

Professional services

  105   26 

Other

  69   78 

Total accrued expenses

 $2,908  $2,467 

 

 

9

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 

 

 

 

 

9. Leases

 

As of June 30, 2024, the Company maintained two finance leases for equipment and two operating leases for real estate. The operating leases have current terms of 36 and 37 months and include one or more options to extend the duration of the agreements. These operating leases are included in "Other assets" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets and represent the Company's right to use the underlying assets for the term of the leases. The Company's obligation to make lease payments are included in "Lease liability, current portion" and "Lease liability, non-current portion" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. 

 

On  March 14, 2024, the Company extended its operating lease for its headquarters located at 5370 Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease and not a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.61%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $170,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $166,000.

 

On June 9, 2024, the Company extended its operating lease for its Innovation Center located at 160 Denmark Dr, McCarran, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease and not a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.52%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $347,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $324,000.

 

The Company currently maintains two finance leases for equipment. In November 2021, the Company entered into a finance lease for a modular laboratory which expires in October 2024. On April 1, 2024 the Company entered into a finance lease for laboratory equipment which expires in 2029. 

 

Information related to the Company's right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

 

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
  

2024

  

2023

  

2024

  

2023

 

Cash paid for operating lease liabilities

 $68  $66  $136  $133 

Operating lease cost

 $71  $65  $137  $131 
                 

Cash paid for finance lease liabilities

 $25  $15  $39  $17 

Interest expense

 $3  $2  $4  $2 

 

  

June 30, 2024

  

June 30, 2023

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases

  2.6   1.4 

Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases

  10.48%  6.16%
         

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases

  2.5   0.8 

Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases

  5.12%  7.48%
         

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:

        

Operating leases

 $517    

 

Future maturities of lease liabilities as of June 30, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Due in 12-month period ended June 30,

        
  

Operating Leases

  

Finance Leases

 

2024

 $140  $42 

2025

  291   47 

2026

  182   47 

2027

  149   107 

Less imputed interest

  (99)  (23)

Total lease liabilities

 $661  $220 
         

Current lease liabilities

 $231  $57 

Non-current lease liabilities

  430   163 

Total lease liabilities

 $661  $220 

 

10

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
 

 

10. Note payable

 

On February 1, 2023, Aqua Metals Reno, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Loan Agreement with Summit Investment Services, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender provided us with a loan in the amount of $3 million. The loan proceeds were used to purchase a building located at 2999 Waltham Way McCarran, NV 89434 (the “Building”). The loan accrues interest at a fixed annual rate of 9.50%. Interest-only payments are due monthly for the first twenty-four months and the principal and all unpaid interest is due on February 1, 2025. We have the right to prepay the loan at any time, provided that we must pay guaranteed minimum interest of $213,750 (9-months of interest). The Loan Agreement includes representations, warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants that are customary of institutional loan agreements. As of  June 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants. The loan is collateralized by a first priority lien on the building and site improvements, and is guaranteed by Aqua Metals, Inc.

 

Note payable is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

  

June 30, 2024

  

December 31, 2023

 
         

Note payable, current portion

        

Summit Investment Services, LLC

 $3,000  $35 

Less issuance costs

  (21)   

Total note payable, current portion

 $2,979  $35 
         

Note payable, non-current portion

        

Summit Investment Services, LLC

 $  $3,000 

Less issuance costs

     (77)

Total note payable, non-current portion

 $  $2,923 

 

 

 

 

11. Stockholders’ equity

 

Shares issued

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company issued 1,064,286 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 428,566 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 456,646 shares to satisfy approximately $360,000 of employees’ tax obligations during the six months ended June 30, 2024. We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock. 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company issued 79,547 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company issued 68,882 shares of common stock pursuant to the employee stock purchase plan.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company issued 5,039,383 shares of common stock pursuant to the at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $2.5 million.

 

In May 2024, the Company completed a public offering of 20,125,000 shares of its common stock at the public offering price of $0.39 per share. In connection with the sale of common stock, the Company issued warrants to purchase shares of common stock at the rate of one warrant for every share of purchased common stock, at the offering price of $0.01 per warrant. After the deduction of the underwriter’s discount and expenses payable by us, we received net proceeds of $7.3 million. The Company used the relative fair value method to allocate the net proceeds of approximately $7.3 million between the common stock and the warrants. As presented below, the Company recorded the fair value of the warrants of $3.1 million and common stock of $4.2 million.

 

Warrant issued

 

In connection with the above-described May 2024 public offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 782,500 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the Company's public offering, equal to 2% of the 20,125,000 shares sold, for relative fair value of $0.1 million. The warrants are exercisable at $0.4875 per share on the closing date,  May 14, 2024. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on  May 14, 2029. The relative fair value of the warrants was recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity as the warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the conditions for equity classification.

 

In May 2024, in conjunction with the Company's public offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase up to 20,125,000 shares of the Company's common stock, for the relative fair value of $3 million. The warrants are exercisable at $0.39 per share. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on May 14, 2029. The relative fair value of the warrants was recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity as the warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the conditions for equity classification.

 

11

AQUA METALS, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 

Stock-based compensation

 

The stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended June 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
  

2024

  

2023

  

2024

  

2023

 

Plant operations

 $99  $18  $185  $47 

Research and development cost

  16   22   36   40 

General and administrative expense

  636   559   1,304   1,199 

Total

 $751  $599  $1,525  $1,286 

 

 

2014 Stock Incentive Plan

 

We have adopted the Aqua Metals, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan providing for the grant of non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options to purchase shares of our common stock and for the grant of restricted and unrestricted share grants. All of our officers, directors, employees and consultants are eligible to participate under the plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide eligible participants with an opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in our company. As of  June 30, 2024, there were 635,215 remaining shares available for future grants.

 

2019 Stock Incentive Plan

 

In 2019, our board of directors adopted the Aqua Metals, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”). A total of 18,500,000 shares of common stock was authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2019 Plan. The 2019 Plan provides for the following types of stock-based awards: incentive stock options; non-statutory stock options; restricted stock; and performance stock. The 2019 Plan, under which equity incentives may be granted to employees and directors under incentive and non-statutory agreements, requires that the option price may not be less than the fair value of the stock at the date the option is granted. Option awards are exercisable until their expiration, which may not exceed 10 years from the grant date. As of  June 30, 2024, there were 1,162,624 remaining shares available for future grants.

 

         
  Number of Shares  Number of 
  

Available for

  

RSUs

 
  

Grant

  

Outstanding

 

Balances, December 31, 2023

  1,420,454   8,654,491 

Granted

  (236,522)  236,522 

Exercised/ Released

     (1,143,833)

Forfeited

  157,261   (157,261)

Returned to Plan

  456,646    

Balances, June 30, 2024

  1,797,839   7,589,919 

 

Restricted stock units

 

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company granted 111,522 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $60,000 to employees. The shares vest in three equal installments over a three-year period.

 

During the second quarter of 2024, the Company granted 125,000 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $40,000 to employees. The shares vest in three equal installments over a three-year period.

 

 

 

12. Commitments and contingencies

 

We  may, from time to time, be party to litigation and subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. As our growth continues, we  may become party to an increasing number of litigation matters and claims. The outcome of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, and the resolution of any future matters could materially affect our future financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are not party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

 

 

13. Subsequent events

 

On August 5, 2024 the company completed a reduction in force of both contracted and non-contracted employees. The reduction in force was completed in response to a delay in funding that was necessary to complete the build out of the Sierra ARC. At the time of filing the Company did not have sufficient information to determine an estimated impact to the financial statements caused by the reduction in force.

 

 

12

 
 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Cautionary Statement

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. The information contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q is not a complete description of our business or the risks associated with an investment in our common stock. We urge you to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024, or our Annual Report.

 

In this report we make, and from time to time we otherwise make written and oral statements regarding our business and prospects, such as projections of future performance, statements of management’s plans and objectives, forecasts of market trends, and other matters that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements containing the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimates,” “projects,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “target,” “goal,” “plans,” “objective,” “should” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which may appear in our documents, reports, filings with the SEC, and news releases, and in written or oral presentations made by officers or other representatives to analysts, stockholders, investors, news organizations and others, and in discussions with management and other of our representatives.

 

Our future results, including results related to forward-looking statements, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks included below in Part II, Item 1 “Risk Factors”. No assurance can be given that the results reflected in any forward-looking statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. Our forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are sometimes based upon estimates, data, communications and other information from suppliers, government agencies and other sources that may be subject to revision. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or keep current either (i) any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of such statement or (ii) the important factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from historical results or trends, results anticipated or planned by us, or which are reflected from time to time in any forward-looking statement.

 

General

 

Aqua Metals is engaged in the business of applying its commercialized clean, water-based, recycling technology principles to develop cost-efficient recycling solutions for both lead and lithium-ion (“Li”) batteries. Our recycling process is a patented hydro and electrometallurgical technology that is an innovative, proprietary and patented process we developed and named AquaRefining. AquaRefining is a low-emissions, closed-loop recycling technology that has the potential to replace polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries with higher purity, lower emissions, and with minimal waste. The modular “Aqualyzers” cleanly generate ultra-pure metal one atom at a time, closing the sustainability loop for the rapidly growing energy storage economy.

 

This breakthrough technology was initially applied in the lead acid battery (LAB) recycling industry, building the first integrated recycling system for breaking LAB and recovering pure metal. In 2019, we operated our demonstration AquaRefinery at commercial quantity production levels and produced over 35,000 ‘AquaRefined’ ingots operating twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for sustained periods of time.

 

 We are also applying our commercialized clean, water-based recycling technology principles with the goal of developing the cleanest and most cost-efficient recycling solution for lithium-ion batteries. We believe our process has the potential to produce higher quality products at a lower operating cost without the damaging effects of furnaces and greenhouse emissions. 

 

In February 2021, we announced our entry into the lithium-ion battery (LiB) recycling market through a key provisional patent we filed that applies the same innovative AquaRefining approach. In August 2021, we announced we had established our Innovation Center in TRIC focused on applying our proven technology to LiB recycling research and development and prototyping. Our strategic decision to apply our proven clean, closed-loop hydrometallurgical and electrochemical recycling experience to lithium-ion battery recycling is designed to meet the growing demand for critical metals driven by the global transition to electric vehicles; growth in internet data centers; and alternative energy applications including solar, wind, and grid-scale storage.

 

During the first half of 2022, we announced our ability to recover copper, lithium hydroxide, nickel, and cobalt from lithium-ion battery ‘black mass’ at bench scale at the Company’s Innovation Center. During 2022, we built our fully-integrated pilot system, located within the Company’s Innovation Center, which is designed to allow Aqua Metals to be the first company in North America to recycle battery minerals from black mass, sell them in the U.S. and position the Company as the first LiB recycler in North America to align with the U.S. government’s goal of retaining strategic battery minerals within the domestic supply chain.

 

During 2022, we conducted environmental comparisons based on Argonne National Lab’s modeling of lithium battery supply chains – called EverBatt. The initial results indicate that AquaRefining is a cleaner approach to LiB recycling, producing far less CO2 waste streams than smelting or chemical-driven hydrometallurgical processes currently on the market. In December 2022, we completed equipment installation and began to operate our first-of-a-kind LiB recycling facility, utilizing electricity as the catalyst to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces. In January 2023, Aqua Metals recovered its first metals from recycling lithium batteries using the patent-pending Li AquaRefining process.

 

13

 

 

In February 2023, we acquired a five-acre recycling campus at the TRIC. When fully developed, the facility we design will process up to 10,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery material each year using our proprietary Li AquaRefining technology. Subject to our receipt of the required additional capital, we expect to complete development of phase. The Company is planning for a phased development of the campus, beginning with the already commenced redevelopment of an existing building on-site into the first commercial-scale Li AquaRefinery, targeting 3,000 tons per annum (tpa) capacity in phase one. In the first half of 2024, we made significant progress on the construction of the planned first phase of the commercial Li AquaRefinery.

 

On May 13, 2024, we entered into a non-binding term sheet with a strategic lender for a secured loan facility in the amount of up to $33 million. The secured loan facility was to be used for the completion of the phase one development of our five‑acre recycling campus at the TRIC. In late July 2024, the lender advised us that it was suspending further activity on the secured credit facility due to continued high interest rates and recent declines in the market price for lithium-ion minerals, which raised concerns on the part of the lender over our ability to meet the lender’s proposed debt service covenants. We intend to maintain communications with the lender with the intent of resuming negotiations in the event of declining interest rates or raising mineral prices. In the meantime, we continue to pursue the required funding for the completion of the phase one development of our five‑acre recycling campus through various sources, including debt, project finance, joint venture and strategic investment options. 

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we issued 5,039,383 shares of common stock pursuant to an at the market issuance sales agreement ("ATM") for net proceeds of $2.5 million. On May 14, 2024, we completed a public offering of 20,125,000 shares of our common stock, at the public offering price of $0.39 per share. In connection with the sale of common stock, the Company issued warrants to purchase shares of common stock at the rate of one warrant for every share of purchased common stock, at the price of $0.01 per share. After the deduction of the underwriter’s discount and expenses payable by us, we received net proceeds of $7.3 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we issued 3,244,302 shares of common stock pursuant to an at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $3.8 million. We raised a net of $18.3 million in the third quarter of 2023 from the public offering of our common shares and a net of $4.6 million from the sale of our common stock to Yulho.

 

Our current focus is building and operating our first-of-a-kind lithium battery recycling facility, utilizing electricity to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces. We are also pursuing potential partnership and/or joint ventures agreements and licensing agreements, particularly as our Li AquaRefining continues to develop and improve. We believe that Aqua Metals is in a position to become one of the few critical minerals recovery players for which our environmental and economic value proposition should generate both great commercial wins and potentially government grants to accelerate our credibility and progress.

 

Plan of Operations

 

Our business strategy is based on the pursuit of building, operating and licensing Li AquaRefining recycling capacity to meet the growing demand for critical metals in lithium-ion batteries driven by innovations in automobile batteries, growth in internet data centers, and alternative energy applications, including solar, wind, and grid-scale storage.

 

We are in the process of demonstrating that Li AquaRefining, which is fundamentally non-polluting, can create the highest quality and highest yields of recovered minerals from lithium-ion batteries with lower waste streams and lower costs than existing alternatives. We have already demonstrated at our pilot facility our ability to recover key valuable minerals in lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium hydroxide, copper, nickel, cobalt, and other compounds. Our goal is to recycle commercial quantities of nickel, cobalt, and copper in a pure metal form that can be sold to the general metals and superalloy markets and can be made into battery precursor compound materials with known processes already used in the mining industry. We also intend to recycle commercial amounts of lithium that can be sold to lithium-ion battery manufacturers. We have installed, commissioned, and operated our pilot plant since December of 2022. During the first half of 2024 we have been building a commercial demonstration plant operation with capacity of processing approximately 3,000 tonnes of black mass per year. The location for the pilot demonstration is currently the Innovation Center with the commercial demonstration plant to be constructed at our 5-acre recycling campus starting with processing ~3,000 tonnes of black mass per year and growing to commercial quantities of ~10,000 tonnes per year or more of production. Equipment installation and construction at the demonstration plant is currently paused. These activities will resume once the company obtains funding. The remaining construction and installation are expected to take approximately 6 months from the date of funding.

 

14

 

Results of Operations

 

We did not engage in commercial operations in 2024 and 2023. Our operations have been devoted to developing our Li AquaRefining battery recycling technology. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, Aqua Metals was focused on the continued operation of the pilot facility and the build out of our commercial facility. We did not earn any revenue during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. The following table summarizes our results of operations with respect to the items set forth below for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 together with the dollar and percentage changes in those items (in thousands).

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30,

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
                   

Favorable

      %                  

Favorable

      %
   

2024

   

2023

   

(Unfavorable)

   

Change

   

2024

   

2023

   

(Unfavorable)

   

Change

 
                                                                 

Plant operations

  $ 2,373     $ 1,481     $ (892 )     60.2 %     4,582       2,546       (2,036 )     80.0 %

Research and development cost

    363       525       162       (30.9 )%     951       970       19       (2.0 )%

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

          (3 )     (3 )     (100.0 )%           (23 )     (23 )     (100.0 )%

General and administrative expense

    3,426       2,849       (577 )     20.3 %     6,421       5,855       (566 )     9.7 %

Total operating expense

  $ 6,162     $ 4,852     $ (1,310 )     27.0 %   $ 11,954     $ 9,348     $ (2,606 )     27.9 %

 

Plant operations include materials, supplies related costs, salaries and benefits, consulting, outside services costs, inventory adjustments, depreciation, amortization, insurance, travel and overhead costs. Plant operations increased approximately $892,000 or 60.2% and $2,036,000 or 80.0% for the for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in plant operations for the three month ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in payroll and payroll related fees of approximately $916,000, as we engaged our lab and engineering staff in operating the pilot facility and processing black mass, as well as $151,000 in supplies and materials offset by $196,000 decrease in professional fees. The increase in plant operations for the six month ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in payroll and payroll related fees of approximately $1,472,000, as we hired additional staff and we engaged our lab and engineering staff in operating the pilot facility and processing black mass, as well as $302,000 in supplies and materials, $126,000 increase in insurance expenses and $89,000 in professional fees.

 

Research and development cost includes expenditures related to the improvement of the AquaRefining technology and the development of our lithium-ion battery recycling process. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, research and development costs decreased $162,000, or approximately 30.9% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease was driven by a decrease in payroll and payroll related fees of approximately $86,000, as well as $54,000 in supplies and materials. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, research and developments costs decreased $19,000, or approximately 2.0%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023.

 

We didn't recognize a gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to a gain of $3,000 and $23,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the gain on property, plant and equipment resulted from the sales of fixed assets.

 

General and administrative expense increased $577,000, or approximately 20.3%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023 and $566,000, or approximately 9.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase was driven by the the write off of the debt issuance costs of $563,000, previously representing a deferred asset.

 

The following table summarizes our other income and interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 together with the dollar and percentage changes in those items (in thousands).

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30,

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
                   

Favorable

      %                  

Favorable

      %
   

2024

   

2023

   

(Unfavorable)

   

Change

   

2024

   

2023

   

(Unfavorable)

   

Change

 
                                                                 

Interest expense

  $ (84 )   $ (255 )   $ 171       (67.1 )%     (190 )     (431 )     241       (55.9 )%

Interest and other income

    99       348       (249 )     (71.6 )%     245       414       (169 )     (40.8 )%

Total other income (expense), net

  $ 15     $ 93     $ (78 )     (83.9 )%   $ 55     $ (17 )   $ 72       (423.5 )%

 

The decrease in interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 is due to the reduction on the note payable outstanding balance. 

 

We recognized approximately $99,000 and $245,000 in interest and other income during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, a decrease from $348,000 and $414,000 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The decrease in interest and other income is primarily due to the decrease in miscellaneous income from the non-recurring engineering agreement with 6K Energy.

 

15

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had total assets of $33.7 million and working capital of $1.5 million.

 

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $7.8 million, current liabilities of $7.9 million and an accumulated deficit of $235.1 million. The Company's current liabilities of $7.9 million include the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC in the amount of approximately $3 million due on February 1, 2025 as disclosed in Note 10. The Company has not generated revenues from commercial operations and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future. In order to satisfy our capital requirements, the Company anticipates that it will need to improve its liquidity position through equity or debt financings and/or reductions in operating costs, in order to satisfy its liquidity needs for the next twelve months. Management is devoting significant efforts to increasing liquidity, raising capital and developing its business.

 

Management believes that the Company does not have sufficient capital resources to sustain operations through at least the next twelve months from the date of this filing. Additionally, in view of the Company’s expectation to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future it will be required to raise additional capital resources in order to fund its operations, although the availability of, and the Company’s access to such resources, is not assured. Accordingly, management believes that there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern through the next twelve months from the date of this filing.

 

The following table summarizes our cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities (in thousands):

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2024

   

2023

 
                 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ (8,002 )   $ 5,472  

Net cash used in investing activities

  $ (9,762 )   $ (5,511 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

  $ 9,075     $ (847 )

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $8,002,000. Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $5,472,000 which includes approximately $12,278,000 of cash received related to our lease receivable offset by operating expenses. Net cash used in or provided by operating activities during each of these periods consisted primarily of our net loss adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and gain on the disposal of property, plant and equipment, as well as net changes in working capital.

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $9,762,000 and consisted mainly of cash utilized towards equipment deposits of $3,522,000 and purchases of fixed assets related to the build out of our commercial facility of $6,440,000, offset by $200,000 of cash received related to our note receivable. Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $5,511,000 and consisted mainly of $4,300,000 utilized towards the purchase of the building located at 2999 Waltham Way McCarran, NV 89434 and $900,000 utilized towards purchases of fixed assets.

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $9,075,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, consisting of $2,542,000 in net proceeds from the sale of Aqua Metals shares pursuant to the at-the-market offering, or ATM, and $7,306,000 in net proceeds from our May 2024 public offering, offset by $360,000 related to tax withholdings to cover RSU vesting and $413,000 related to debt issuance costs. Net cash provided by financing activities of $847,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was approximately $2,784,000 in net proceeds from the sale of Aqua Metals shares pursuant to the at-the-market offering, or ATM, and $2,932,000 in net proceeds from the loan agreement secured with the Summit Investment Services, LLC offset by the $6,000,000 used to pay off the note payable and $577,000 related to tax withholdings to cover RSU vesting.

 

As of June 30, 2024, we had total cash of $7.8 million and working capital of $1.5 million. As of the date of this report, we believe that we will require additional capital in order to fund our current level of ongoing costs over the next twelve months and move forward with our current business strategy. There can be no assurance that we will be able to acquire the necessary funding on commercially reasonable terms or at all. We intend to seek funds through the sale of equity or debt financing. Funding that includes the sale of our equity may be dilutive. If such financing is not available on satisfactory terms, we may be unable to further pursue our business plan and we may be unable to continue operations. 

 

Due to our lack of revenue from commercial operations, significant losses and need for additional capital, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

 

 

16

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

No material changes from what was reported in the 2023 Form 10-K.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2024.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three month period ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

17

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes certain risk factors that could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. There have been no material changes to those risk factors.

 

 

18

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

Description

Method of Filing

   

 

3.1

First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 9, 2015.

3.2

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant

Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2022.

3.3

Certificate of Amendment to First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 25, 2015.

3.4

Certificate of Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2019

3.5 Certificate of Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 21, 2022
4.1 Form of Non-Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Warrant Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2024
4.2 Form of Warrant Agency Agreement to be entered into between the Company and VStock Transfer, LLC Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2024
4.3 Form of Underwriter Warrant to be issued to the Benchmark Company, LLC Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2024

31.1

Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Filed electronically herewith

31.2

Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Filed electronically herewith

32.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).

Filed electronically herewith

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document

Filed electronically herewith

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

Filed electronically herewith

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

Filed electronically herewith

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

Filed electronically herewith

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

Filed electronically herewith

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

Filed electronically herewith

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).  

 

19

 

SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

AQUA METALS, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date:

August 14, 2024

By:

/s/ Stephen Cotton

 

 

 

Stephen Cotton,

 

 

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date:

August 14, 2024

By:

/s/ Judd Merrill

 

 

 

Judd Merrill,

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

20