Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 1 - Organization

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Note 1 - Organization
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]

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.

 

Reverse Stock Split

 

Effective November 5, 2024, the Company effected a one-for-20 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common shares. Accordingly, all common share, stock option, per common share and warrant amounts for all periods presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect this reverse stock split.

 

Liquidity and Going Concern Assessment

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $17.1 million and $13.9 million, respectively, and negative cash from operations of $11.6 million and a cash inflow $2.2 million, respectively, including non-recurring proceeds of $12.3 million from the leasing and sale of the building during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. As of  September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.0 million, current liabilities of $7.1 million and an accumulated deficit of $240.3 million. The Company's current liabilities of $7.1 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 nine months ended September 30, 2023, 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):

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

 
   

As Reported

   

Reclassification

   

As Reclassified

 

Operating cost and expense

                       

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

          (23 )     (23 )

Total operating expense

  $ 14,345     $ (23 )   $ 14,322  

Income (loss) from operations

  $ (14,320 )   $ 23     $ (14,297 )
                         

Other income and expense

                       

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

    23       (23 )      

Total other income (expense), net

  $ 408     $ (23 )   $ 385