Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note 19 - Subsequent Events

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Note 19 - Subsequent Events
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Subsequent Events [Text Block]

19.

Subsequent Events

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date which the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.

 

Paycheck Protection Program Loan

 

On January 9, 2021, one of the Company's two Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans for $131,000 was fully forgiven by the Small Business Administration. The PPP loans are forgivable if the borrower uses the loan proceeds for eligible purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities, and maintains its payroll levels. The Company believes the remaining PPP loan will also qualify for forgiveness. However, there is no assurance that the Company will be eligible for forgiveness of the remaining outstanding loan, in whole or in part.

 

At the Market Share Issuance

 

Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued 1,827,635 shares of common stock pursuant to the At The Market Issuance Sales Agreement for net proceeds of $7.0 million.

 

Agreements with LINICO Corporation

 

On February 15, 2021, the Company entered into a series of definitive agreements with LINICO Corporation, a Nevada corporation, or LiNiCo, pursuant to which the Company leased, with an option to purchase, the Company's recycling facility at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, or TRIC, located in McCarran, Nevada, and acquired an approximately 11% equity interest in LiNiCo.

 

Industrial Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement

 

The Company have entered into an Industrial Lease Agreement with LiNiCo dated February 15, 2021 pursuant to which the Company has leased to LiNiCo our 136,750 square foot recycling facility at TRIC.  The lease commences April 1, 2021 and expires on March 31, 2023.  During the lease term, LiNiCo has the option to purchase the land and facilities at a purchase price of $14.25 million if the option is exercised and the sale is completed by October 1, 2022 and $15.25 million if the option is exercised and the sale is completed after October 1, 2022 and prior to March 31, 2023.   The purchase option is subject to LiNiCo’s payment of a nonrefundable deposit of $1.25 million by October 15, 2021 and a second nonrefundable deposit of $2 million by November 22, 2022, both of which will be applied towards the purchase price. The lease agreement is a triple-net lease pursuant to which LiNiCo will be responsible for all fixed costs, including maintenance, utilities, insurance, and property taxes.  The lease agreement provides for LiNiCo’s monthly lease payments starting at $68,000 per month and increasing to $100,640 in the last six months of the lease.  The lease agreement allows the Company to retain the use of a portion of the facility for the Company's ongoing research and development activities, including operation of the lab and the use of office space.

 

With respect to the portion of the facility that was damaged in the November 2019 fire, consisting of approximately 30,000 square feet, the Company is obligated to complete the clean-up of the damaged area, at the Company's expense, by July 31, 2021 and repair all damage to the damaged area, at our expense, by November 15, 2021.  With regard to the equipment on-site at TRIC, the Company has granted LiNiCo the right of first offer to purchase any equipment the Company offers for sale.  The lease agreement contains customary representations, warranties and indemnities on the part of both parties.

 

Investment Agreement

 

On February 15, 2021, the Company entered into a Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with LiNiCo that provides for the Company's issuance of 375,000 shares (“Aqua Shares”) of the Company's common stock in consideration of LiNiCo’s issuance 1,500 shares of its Series A Preferred Stock, at a stated aggregate value of $1,500,000, along with a three-year warrant (“Series A Warrant”) to purchase an additional 500 shares of LiNiCo Series A Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $1,000 per share. The 1,500 shares of the Series A Preferred Stock represents approximately 11% of LiNiCo common stock on a fully diluted basis, before giving effect to the Company's exercise of the Series A Warrant or any other outstanding warrants of LiNiCo.

 

The LiNiCo Series A Preferred Stock is senior to all other capital stock of LiNiCo with regard to dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution and sale of the company. Each share of LiNiCo Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote per share and votes with the common stock on all matters, subject to certain protective provisions that require the approval of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock voting as a class. The Series A Preferred Stock accrues a cumulative dividend of 8% per annum on the original stated value of $1,000 per share, and all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock must be paid in full prior to the payment of any dividends on any other shares of LiNiCo capital stock.  In the event of any liquidation or dissolution of LiNiCo, which would include a sale of LiNiCo, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall receive the return of their stated value of $1,000 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends prior to any distribution to the holders of any other capital stock of LiNiCo, following which the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall participate in the distribution of any remaining assets with the holders of the junior stock on an as-converted basis. The Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of LiNiCo common stock at the Company's option and is automatically converted into LiNiCo common stock upon the election of the holders of a majority of the LiNiCo Series A Preferred Stock or upon a qualifying IPO of LiNiCo common stock. The Series A Preferred Stockholders are also provided with preemptive rights allowing them the right to purchase their proportional share of certain future LiNiCo equity issuances.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and covenants by LiNiCo and the Company, and an indemnity from the Company in favor of LiNiCo.

 

In the event that LiNiCo’s sale of the initial 281,250 of the Aqua Shares results in net proceeds to LiNiCo of less than $1,500,000, the Company will be required to pay LiNiCo the difference in cash. If the sale of the 281,250 Aqua Shares results in net proceeds to LiNiCo of more than $1,500,000, such excess proceeds shall be applied to the exercise of the Company's Series A Warrant. The balance of the 93,750 Aqua Shares will be held by LiNiCo for six months after the closing, and if the net proceeds received by LiNiCo from the sale of the 93,750 Aqua Shares, plus the net proceeds from the sale of the initial 281,250 of the Aqua Shares (including any shortfall payment by the Company), is greater than $2,000,000, such excess shall be paid back to the Company.

 

In connection with the investment transactions, the Company also entered into an Investors Rights Agreement and a Voting Agreement, each dated February 15, 2021, pursuant to which LiNiCo granted the Company customary demand and piggyback registration rights, information rights and the right to nominate one person to the LiNiCo board of directors as long as the Company is the owner of at least 10% of the LiNiCO common stock on a fully-diluted basis.

 

Comstock Mining Inc., a Nevada corporation (NYSE-MKT: LODE), is the beneficial owner of approximately 50% of the common shares of LiNiCo. The Company's Chief Financial Officer, Judd Merrill, is a member of the board of directors of Comstock Mining.