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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended:
Commission file number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
| (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
| Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $.001 par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.Yes ☐
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.
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).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | ☒ | |
Accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting issuer | |
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| 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2021, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $
The number of shares outstanding of the Common Stock ($.001 par value) of the Registrant as of the close of business on April 5, 2022 was
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
As used in this document, unless the context otherwise requires, references to:
• | “AC Midwest” are to AC Midwest Energy LLC;
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• | “BAC” are to brominated powdered activated carbon;
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• | “EGUs” are to electric generating units;
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• | “EPA” are to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
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• | “ESP” are to the electro-static precipitators;
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• | “MATS” are to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards;
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• | “MW” are to megawatts;
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• | “Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.,” “ME2C Environmental,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are to Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. and its wholly owned, consolidated subsidiary, or either or both of them, as the context may require;
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• | “NOX” are to oxides of nitrogen;
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• | “PAC” are to powdered activated carbon;
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• | “REEs” are to rare earth elements;
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• | “SCR” are to selective catalytic reduction; and
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• | “SOX” are to oxides of sulfur. |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and reflect our current expectations regarding our future growth, results of operations, cash flows, performance and business prospects, and opportunities, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this report are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed herein under the caption “Risk Factors”. In addition, matters that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors, the gain or loss of a major customer, change in environmental regulations, disruption in supply of materials, capacity factor fluctuations of power plant operations and power demands, a significant change in general economic conditions in any of the regions where our customer utilities might experience significant changes in electric demand, a significant disruption in the supply of coal to our customer units, the loss of key management personnel, availability of capital and any major litigation regarding the Company.
Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances or for any other reason. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in ME2C Environmental’s filings and with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview
We are an environmental services and technologies company developing and delivering patented and proprietary solutions to the global power industry. Our leading-edge services have been shown to achieve mercury emissions removal at a significantly lower cost and with less operational impact to coal-fired power plants than currently used methods, while maintaining and/or increasing power plant output and preserving the marketability of byproducts for beneficial use. We are also developing new technologies to improve the capture rate and environmental concerns of processing rare earth elements (REEs).
Background and Acquisition of Patent Rights
We provide mercury capture solutions driven by our patented two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process using a powerful combination of science and engineering. We design systems and materials tailored and formulated specifically to each customer’s coal-fired units. Our mercury removal technologies and systems will achieve mercury removal levels which meet or exceed the 2012 Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, as revised, known as the MATS, requirements with lower cost and plant systems impacts than typical PAC or BAC sorbent injection systems. Our products have been shown to be successful across a myriad of fuel and system types, tunable to any configuration, and environmentally friendly, allowing for the recycling of fly ash for beneficial use. Our SEA® technology was originally developed by the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center. It was tested and refined on numerous operating coal-fired EGUs, with the founder of our wholly owned subsidiary participating with the Energy and Environmental Research Center on these tests since 2008. The Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation, a non-profit entity, obtained patents on this technology. Between 2009 and 2017, we maintained an exclusive worldwide license with respect to this patented technology, which applied to various domestic and foreign patents and patent applications. Such formed the basis of our mercury control technology. On April 24, 2017, we acquired from The Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation all such patent rights, including all patents and patents pending, domestic and foreign, relating to the foregoing technology.
Industry Background
The markets for mercury removal from power plant emissions have largely been driven by federal regulations.
On December 21, 2011, the EPA announced MATS for power plants in the U.S. The MATS rule is intended to reduce air emissions of heavy metals, including mercury (Hg), from all major U.S. power plants burning coal or oil, which are the leading source of non-natural mercury emissions in the U.S. Existing power plants were granted three years (plus a potential one-year extension in cases of hardship, ruled on by state EPAs where the plant is domiciled) from April 16, 2012 to comply with the new emission limits. The MATS rule applies to EGUs that are larger than 25 MW that burn coal or oil for the purpose of generating electricity for sale and distribution through the national electric grid to the public. They include investor-owned units, as well as units owned by the Federal government, municipalities, and cooperatives that provide electricity for commercial, industrial, and residential uses. At the time of MATS being promulgated, there were approximately 1,250 coal-fired EGUs affected by this new rule. Since that time, many of such EGUs have been shut down as a result of this regulation and due to competitive disadvantage to newer or gas-fired EGUs and renewable energy sources (e.g. wind, solar). We believe that at the end of 2021, there are approximately 240 coal-fired EGUs remaining in the power market which make up the large mercury-emissions control market into which we sell.
The final MATS rule identifies two subcategories of coal-fired EGUs, four subcategories of oil-fired EGUs, and a subcategory for units that combust gasified coal or solid oil (integrated gasification combine cycle “IGCC” units) based on the design, utilization, and/or location of the various types of boilers at different power stations. The rule includes emission standards and/or other requirements for each subcategory. The rule set nationwide emission limits estimated to reduce mercury emissions in coal-fired plants by about 90%.
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In addition to the U.S. federal MATS rule, more than 20 states currently have regulations that limit mercury emissions and are similar to or more restrictive than the MATS rule. There are several choices of pollution control technologies available to reduce mercury emissions, but they do not all work consistently or cost-effectively for every plant design or for all of the various types of coal. The most common technology employed to reduce mercury emissions is a sorbent injection system which provides for the injection of PAC or BAC into the flue-gas of an EGU after the boiler itself but in front of the ESP. Such injections have proven effective with many coals, especially at reduction levels of 70% or less. At required mercury reduction levels above 80%, these injection systems require substantial injection rates which often have severe operational issues including over-loading the ESP and rendering the fly ash unfit for sale to concrete companies, and at times even causing combustion concerns with the fly ash itself.
Mercury is also removed as a co-benefit by special pollution control equipment installed to remove SOX and NOX. To achieve very high levels of SOX reduction, large, complex, and expensive (capital costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars for a medium-sized EGU) systems called scrubbers can be installed in the plant exhaust system, typically just before the flue-gas goes up the stack for release. As a co-benefit to their primary mission, scrubbers have been shown to remove significant quantities of oxidized mercury. Mercury is typically found in two basic forms in coal: elemental and oxidized. The amount of each form varies in any given seam of coal and is affected by the other natural elements (such as chlorine) which might also be present in the coal. We believe about 30-40% of the mercury in the post-combustion flue-gas exists in the oxidized state for power plants burning low-rank coal and about 60-70% for power plants burning high-rank coals. Mercury is found in only trace amounts in coal making it difficult to remove from coal or from the flue gas when combusted with the coal. It is in the burning of millions of tons of coal that these trace amounts become problematic and is why MATS was promulgated.
The other major pollution control system which contributes significantly to the co-benefits of mercury removal is an SCR system which can be installed to achieve high levels of removal of NOX. SCRs are also very large and expensive systems (costing hundreds of millions of dollars in capital costs to install on a medium-size EGU) that are typically installed just after the flue-gas exits from the unit boiler. As a co-benefit, SCRs have been shown to oxidize a considerable percentage of the elemental mercury in many types of coal. If the EGU then has a combination of an SCR and a scrubber, we estimate that the EGU might achieve an overall reduction of 80-85% of the mercury in power plants that burn high-rank coals. The exact level of mercury emission reductions depends on the designs of these systems, the types of coal being burned and the operations of the power plant.
We believe that the large majority of the coal-fired EGUs in the U.S. employ some sort of sorbent injection system to achieve the very low mercury emission levels required by the MATS rule. Either the sorbent injection system is the primary removal method or such a system is employed as a supplemental system to SCR/scrubber combinations to achieve the emission limits.
Our Mercury Technology
SEA® Technology
Our SEA® technology provides total mercury control with solutions that are based on a thorough scientific understanding of actual and probable interactions involved in mercury capture in coal-fired flue gas. A complete understanding of the complexity of mercury-sorbent-flue gas interactions and chemisorption mechanisms allows for optimal control strategy and product formulation, resulting in effective mercury capture. Combined with a thorough proprietary audit of the plant and its configuration and instrumentation, we believe our complete science and engineering approach for mercury-sorbent-flue gas interactions are well-understood, highly predictive, and critical to delivering total mercury control.
The SEA® approach to mercury capture is specifically tailored for each application to match a customer’s coal type and boiler configuration for optimal results. Our two-pronged solution consists of a front-end sorbent injected directly into the boiler in minimal amounts combined with a back-end sorbent injection solution to ensure maximum mercury capture. We believe our two-part process uses fewer raw materials than other mercury capture systems and causes less disruption to plant operations. We believe our sorbent line, which is designed to meet or exceed the mercury mitigation requirements of our customers, offers superior performance and the lowest possible feed rates when compared to other solutions on the market. Our processes also preserve fly ash which can be sold and recycled for beneficial use.
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Customized Emissions Services
In order to evaluate each customer’s needs, we finely tune the combustion chemistry using our technologies and specially formulated products. In order to achieve optimal results, we bring mercury emission analytics to the field for our demonstrations as opposed to collecting samples for laboratory analysis while our team analyzes the entire plant’s performance once compliance testing has begun. As a result, we are able to offer customers:
· | Assessment of existing systems and suggested improvements; |
· | Assessment and guidance of mercury capture and emissions; |
· | Optimal design of the injection strategy and appropriate equipment layout and installation; |
· | Sorbent optimization using flow modeling for a customized, low-cost plan for each unit; |
· | Emission testing for mercury and other trace metals with our mobile laboratory; and |
· | Ongoing research toward improved technology for mercury capture and rapid-response scientific support for emission or combustion issues as operations and regulations change. |
Our Growth Strategy for Mercury Emissions
North American Markets for Our Mercury Technologies
North America is currently the largest market for our emissions technologies.
In the U.S. market, our success depends, in part, on the success of demonstrations performed with utility customers and the resulting contract awards to meet the MATS requirements in the long-term period and our operational performance with EGUs under contract.
In Canada, there are the 2000 Canada-wide Standards for Mercury Emissions and the 2006 Canada-wide Standards for Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Electric Power Generation Plants among all the provinces which was initially implemented in 2010, with caps in mercury emissions for each of the provinces. We believe we have the most effective technology for the EGUs in Canada and a strong patent position there, given our various registered patents all in the field of reducing and removing mercury emissions.
In 2010, we were awarded our first commercial contract to design, build, and install our solution on two large (670MW each) coal units in the western part of the U.S. This was a multimillion-dollar, three year renewable contract, which was awarded as a result of a competitive demonstration process. We invested more than $1.4 million in the capital equipment for this project. Our systems out-performed the contract guarantees in all operational areas during startup and testing and went into commercial operation at the start of 2012. The system has successfully kept the plant in compliance since 2012.
At the present time, there are 24 EGUs in the U.S. that currently use our SEA® technologies and buy product from us. We expect to continue to conduct numerous demonstrations on prospective customer units and make supply offerings throughout the rest of 2022 and thereafter.
Patent Enforcement
We believe that a significant percentage of coal-fired power plants in the United States have adopted and are infringing upon our two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process for mercury removal from coal-fired power plants. Since 2018, we have engaged a Dallas-based intellectual property and business litigation firm to oversee and spearhead our efforts to protect our intellectual property.
Beginning in 2019, we began to actively enforce our patent rights against unauthorized use of our patented technologies (i.e., infringers). In July 2019, we initiated our first patent litigation against four major owners and/or operators of coal-fired power plants in the United States and certain of their affiliates, along with certain other third parties in which we have claimed infringement of our patents related to our two-part process for mercury removal from coal-fired power plants. We have entered into agreements with four of the major defendants. Such litigation is continuing against the other parties. See Part I, Item 3 Legal Proceedings.
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We expect to pursue other infringers and have communicated our position to a significant number of them . Although additional litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights, we view this as a last resort. Our goal and overall strategy is to convert infringers to our supply chain of sorbent products for mercury removal, or otherwise license our patents to them on a non-exclusive basis in connection with their respective coal-fired power plants.
Other Markets for Our Emissions Technologies
In May 2017, the European Union and seven of its member states ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which triggered its entry into force with implementation starting in 2021. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. This Convention was a result of three years of meeting and negotiating, after which the text of the Convention was approved by delegates representing approximately 140 countries in January 2013 in Geneva and adopted and signed later that year in October 2013 by approximately 125 countries at a diplomatic conference held in Japan. It is expected that over the next few decades, this international agreement will enhance the reduction of mercury pollution from the targeted activities responsible for the major release of mercury to the environment.
In addition, in July 2017, the European Union, through the European Commission, adopted certain BREF standards for large coal-fired electric generating units. The BREFs are a series of reference documents covering certain industrial activities and provide descriptions of a range of industrial processes and their respective operating conditions and emission rates. Member states are required to take these documents into account when determining best available techniques. As a result of the EU’s adoption of these BREF conclusions, specific emissions limits are currently being developed.
We previously attempted to pursue the European market and had entered into an agreement with one of our suppliers in 2018 to allow them to commercialize our technology throughout Europe. Such agreement was terminated in 2020. Prior to its termination, no revenues had been generated from such agreement. We intend to continue to pursue the European market although no assurance can be made that any such efforts will be successful. The European market is significant although not as large as the market in the U.S. We believe more coal-fired EGUs operate throughout Europe than in the U.S. but are generally smaller EGUs.
With regard to business opportunities in China and other Asian countries, there currently exists no specific mandate for mercury capture that requires specific control technology. Nevertheless, we are optimistic of the prospects for mercury emissions regulations in China and Southeast Asia in the coming years, and because we have very broad patent rights in China, this has the potential to become a large business opportunity for us in future years. It is estimated that China represents approximately 50% of the world’s electric production from coal compared to the United States which represents 14%. We are hopeful that as a result of the Minamata Convention, China as well as other countries will follow the U.S. in regulating mercury emissions.
Additional Business Opportunities
In October 2019, we entered into a license and development agreement with a nonrelated third party located in Alabama pursuant to which the parties have been developing a plan to commercialize and market certain technology owned by such entity related to the removal of mercury from air and water emissions generated by coal burning power plants. Although no assurance can be given, we are optimistic that this arrangement will lead to a new revenue stream for us in the future.
During the first quarter of 2021, we announced that we are in the process of developing a proprietary methane gas emissions control technology which we believe can be adopted within the oil and gas industry. Methane is emitted from oil and gas operations worldwide and is believed to be a contributor to global warming. Methane is considered a greenhouse gas, like carbon dioxide. We have not established a timeline for the introduction of our technology.
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In addition, during the first quarter of 2021, we announced new technologies under development intended to improve the processing of REEs in North America. Currently, most of the demand for REEs in the United States is purchased from China. REEs are commonly used today in automobile catalysts and petroleum refining catalysts, televisions, magnets, batteries and medical devices. Our new technologies are under development in conjunction with our collaboration with the Alabama third party entity mentioned above and its affiliates. Such technologies focus on coal ash remediation by improving the cost of extracting rare earth minerals along with improving the environmental footprint of extracting those REEs from their solvent state. In October 2021, we announced that we had completed phase 1 testing of our REE technology with Pennsylvania State University’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences confirming 80-90% efficiency rate in extracting select REEs. While there is no established timeline for the introduction of these technologies after further testing is performed, we hope that if such further testing is successful, these technologies can be commercialized in 2022 and thereafter.
Our Sales and Marketing
Our marketing strategy is designed to grow our mercury capture solutions in the North American region by building and maintaining the reputation and trust of our work among our customers—specifically by carrying out successful demonstrations performed with utility customers and the resulting contract awards to meet the MATS requirements in the long-term period and sustaining our operational performance with EGUs under contract—and developing new, and refining our existing, unique emissions technologies. We believe that by offering proven and innovative service offerings, we can attract more customers and partners to our services, creating a network growth effect. We also expect that the continuing pursuit of infringers of our patented technologies will yield further licensing and supply agreements.
We believe that these targeted marketing initiatives are the most efficient and cost-effective strategy to sustain the growth of both our new and existing customers.
Our Operations
Raw Materials
We buy all the raw materials needed to implement our technologies and provide uniquely formulated products for effective mercury removal. Material components of our proprietary SEA® technology are readily available from numerous sources in the market. Suppliers of our raw materials include large companies that have provided materials for decades and have an international presence. When we use PAC as one component of our sorbent material, we buy it in the market from large activated carbon manufacturers. We believe that we have excellent relationships with our current suppliers. If any of our suppliers should become unavailable to us for any reason, there are a number of other suppliers that we believe can be contracted with expeditiously to supply the raw materials that we need, ensuring a continued supply of our products to our customers.
Seasonality
The power market has changed over recent years, creating a greater proportional residential load demand. With this shift in demand and load, we have experienced some seasonal changes in our billing cycles due to our current customer concentration in the Southwestern United States, where many of our customers decrease capacity in such winter months.
Our Competition
Our major competitors in the U.S. and Canada include companies such as Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., Albemarle Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Carbonxt, Inc., Environmental Energy Services Inc., and Nalco Company. Some of these companies employ large sales staff and are well positioned in the market. However, in most head-to-head tests with competitor products our SEA® technology has consistently performed better in mercury removal, at lower projected costs. We believe that our SEA® technology is superior to offerings of our competitors and, with our highly experienced staff, we have shown that we can compete effectively in these markets.
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Our Intellectual Property
We have a patent portfolio consisting of 37 active patents throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China and 5 patents pending applications. We believe that our patent position is strong in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Our Employees
We currently have 11 full-time employees. Our employees are not represented by labor unions. We believe that relations with our employees are good.
Corporate Information
We were originally incorporated on July 19, 1983 in the State of Utah and subsequently domesticated as a Delaware corporation in February 2007. We changed our name to Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. in September 2011. ME2C Environmental is a trade name of Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.
Our wholly owned subsidiary, MES, Inc., was originally incorporated in December 2008 in the State of North Dakota.
On June 23, 2011, we completed a merger transaction (the “Merger”) whereby MES, Inc. (then called Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.) became our wholly owned subsidiary. As a result of the Merger, our business began to focus on the delivery of mercury capture technologies to power plants in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Our principal place of business is located at 1810 Jester Drive, Corsicana, Texas 75109, which location we have maintained for manufacturing and distribution of our products since 2015. As of December 2019, we relocated our corporate headquarters to such address which corporate headquarters prior thereto were maintained in Lewis Center, Ohio. Our telephone number is (614) 505-6115. Our corporate website address is http://www.me2cenvironmental.com.
Available Information
We file with or submit to the SEC annual, quarterly and current periodic reports, proxy statements and other information meeting the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available on our website at www.me2cenvironmental.com. Information on or connected to our website is neither part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this Form 10-K or any other report filed with or furnished to the SEC.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that the aggregate market price of our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the aggregate market price of our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In your evaluation of the Company and our business, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with the information included elsewhere in this report and the other documents we file with the SEC. The following factors describe the risks and uncertainties that we consider significant to the operation of our business but should not be considered a complete listing of all potential risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our operating results, financial position or liquidity. Additionally, our business is subject to the same general risks and uncertainties that affect many other companies, such as but not limited to the overall economic conditions, changes in laws or accounting rules, fluctuations in interest and exchange rates or other disruptions of expected economic and business conditions.
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Risks Related to Our Company
Demand for our services and products is largely driven by coal consumption by North American electricity power generating plants. Any significant changes that diminish the use of coal as a primary fuel source for electricity production may adversely affect our business.
North American coal-fired electricity generating units comprise the basis of the market for our services and products. Regulations mandating or incentivizing the purchase of power from renewable energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal) and/or the phasing out of coal-fired power plants could lessen the demand for electricity from such plants and overall reduce the number of coal-fired electricity generating units and the amount of coal burned, thereby decreasing the demand for our services and products which could adversely affect our business. The phasing out of coal-fired plants has already had a negative effect on our results of operations. Continued promulgation of these regulations in North America is affected by, among other things, politics, perceived environmental impact, and public favor.
The risks associated with technological change may make our products and services less marketable.
The market into which we sell our products and services is characterized by periodic technological change as well as evolving industry standards and regulations. The nature of such market will require that we continually improve and/or modify the performance, features, and reliability of our products and services, particularly in response to possible competitive offerings. Unless we are able to enhance, improve, and/or modify existing products in a timely manner or to develop and introduce new products that incorporate new technologies or conform with evolving industry standards and regulations, our products and services may be rendered less marketable.
Our industry is highly competitive. If we are unable to compete effectively with competitors having greater resources than we do, our financial results could be adversely affected.
Our major competitors in the U.S. and Canada include companies such as Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., Albemarle Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Carbonxt, Inc., Environmental Energy Services Inc., and Nalco Company. These companies employ large sales staff and are well positioned in the market. Our ability to compete successfully depends in part upon our ability to offer superior technology, including a superior team of sales and technical staff. If we are unable to maintain our competitive position, we could lose market share to our competitors which is likely to adversely impact our financial results.
We may not be able to successfully protect our intellectual property rights.
We own a number of significant patents and patents pending covering the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China for our technology. Certain critical technology related to our systems and products is protected by trade secret laws and confidentiality and licensing agreements. There can be no assurance that outstanding patents will not be challenged or circumvented by competitors, or that such other protection provided by trade secret laws and confidentiality and licensing agreement will prove adequate. We cannot assure you that we will have adequate remedies against contractual counterparties for disclosure of our trade secrets or violation of ME2C Environmental’s intellectual property rights. As a result, we may not be able to successfully defend our patents or protect proprietary aspects of our technology.
We may not be successful in patent litigation.
In July 2019, we announced that we had initiated patent litigation against defendants in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for infringement of certain patents which relate to our two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process for mercury removal from coal-fired power plants. Investors should note that patent litigation, like most types of commercial litigation, can be expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. Although we already entered into agreements with each of the four major utility defendants in this litigation, such action will continue with respect to the other defendants still involved. In fact, we recently received approval from the District Judge of the U.S. District Court in Delaware of the adoption of the report and recommendation of the Magistrate Judge to allow us to proceed with litigation claims against certain refined coal entities as named in the 2019 lawsuit. There is no assurance that the continuing litigation with the remaining defendants, or any future patent litigation which we may commence, will be successful. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that one or more of our patents are not valid or enforceable, or a court may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly and could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business.
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We depend on third-party suppliers for materials needed to implement our emissions technologies; availability of raw materials and volatility in price could impact our results of operations.
We buy all the raw materials needed to implement our technologies and provide uniquely formulated products for effective mercury removal from third-party suppliers. Suppliers of our raw materials include large companies that have provided materials for decades and have an international presence. When we use PAC as one component of our sorbent material, we buy it in the market from large activated carbon manufacturers. We believe that we have excellent relationships with our current suppliers. If any of our suppliers should become unavailable to us for any reason, there are a number of other suppliers that we believe can be contracted with to supply the raw materials that we need. However, the availability and price of those raw materials can be impacted by factors beyond our control. If such suppliers cannot meet our demand for such raw materials on a timely basis or at acceptable prices, such could have a negative effect on our operations.
We are dependent on key customers. A significant adverse change in such relationships could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Our customers are concentrated, so the loss of one or more key customers or a material reduction in business performed for them could cause us to experience a decline in net sales, which could adversely affect our financial results. In addition, there can be no assurance that such customers will not experience financial difficulties or other problems which could delay such customers in paying for product and services on a timely basis or at all. Any problems with such customers can be expected to have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
We rely on a small number of key employees. The loss of more than one of these employees could disrupt our operations and future growth.
We have a limited number of employees and we depend on the continued services and performance of our key personnel. The loss of more than one member of this team could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our projected future growth. In addition, as we continue to grow, we cannot guarantee we will continue to attract and retain the personnel we need to maintain our competitive position.
Our lack of diversification increases the risk of an investment in the Company.
Our business lacks significant diversification and to date has been dependent on the success of our mercury emission control technologies. As a result, we are impacted more acutely by factors affecting our industry or the regions in which we operate than we would if our business were more diversified, enhancing our risk profile. While we are in the process of developing new technologies, such as in the area of improving the processing of REEs, no assurance can be made that any such new technologies currently under development will be commercialized or result in a significant revenue stream.
Low gas prices can negatively impact our results of operations; mild weather could also have corresponding effects on the demand for coal.
Our mercury-emissions control technologies are used by coal-fired power plants primarily in the United States. At such times that gas prices remain low for an extended period of time or drop substantially, power suppliers will likely rely more upon gas-fired units rather than coal plants in meeting their power needs. Gas prices can be very volatile and are influenced by numerous factors beyond our control. Although market prices for natural gas have increased substantially in the last twelve months, such prices were relatively low in recent years which likely caused a weaker demand for our products. In addition, mild winter months in the U.S. will also result in less of a power demand which will also be expected to negatively impact our operations.
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Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to protect us from all business risks.
We may be subject, in the ordinary course of business, to claims resulting from products liability, employment-related actions, class action lawsuits, accidents, acts of God, and other actions against us. Additionally, our insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all existing and future claims against us. We may be compelled to expend significant time and resources defending any such claims, and a loss that is uninsured or which exceeds policy limits may require us to pay substantial amounts, which could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
Litigation resulting from disputes with customers may result in substantial costs, liabilities, and loss of revenues.
From time to time, we may be faced with disputes with our customers over the provisions of supply contracts relating to, among other things, pricing, quality, quantity, and the existence of specified conditions beyond our or our customers’ control that impact performance obligations under the particular contract. In the event such disputes occur, we may not be able to resolve those disputes in a satisfactory manner which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Revenues are generated under contracts that must be renegotiated periodically.
Substantially all of our revenues are generated under contracts which expire periodically or which must be frequently renegotiated, extended, or replaced. Whether these contracts are renegotiated, extended, or replaced is often subject to factors that may be beyond our control, including an extremely competitive marketplace for the services we offer. We cannot assure you that the costs and pricing of our services can remain competitive in the marketplace or that we will be successful in renegotiating our contracts.
Business interruptions, including any interruptions resulting from COVID-19, could significantly disrupt our operations and could have a material adverse impact on us.
The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak which began in China at the beginning of 2020 has impacted various businesses throughout the world, including the implementation of travel bans and restrictions and the extended shutdown of certain businesses in impacted geographic regions. During this time, we have continued to conduct our operations while responding to the pandemic with actions to mitigate adverse consequences to our employees, business, supply chain, and customers. Nevertheless, the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be uncertain. If the coronavirus situation does not improve during 2022 or should worsen, we may experience disruptions to our business including, but not limited to, the availability of raw materials and equipment, to our workforce, or to our business relationships with other third parties. The extent to which the coronavirus impacts our operations in other areas or those of our third-party partners will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. Any such disruptions or losses we incur could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and our ability to conduct business as expected.
Maintaining and improving our financial controls may divert management’s attention and increase costs.
We are subject to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The requirements of these rules and regulations have increased in recent years, causing an increase in legal and financial compliance costs, and make some activities more difficult, time-consuming, or costly and may also place undue strain on our personnel, systems, and resources. Such rules and regulations require, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. This can be difficult to do. In this regard, our management concluded our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2021. While certain remedial actions have been completed, we continue to actively plan for and implement additional control procedures to improve our overall control environment and expect these efforts to continue throughout the rest of 2022 and beyond. As a result of this and similar activities, management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, investors could lose confidence in our financial reports, and our stock price may be adversely affected, if our internal controls over financial reporting continue to be found not to be effective by management or if we make disclosure of existing or potential significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in those controls in the future. Relatedly, if we fail to remediate any such material weakness in the future, we may not be able to accurately report our financial condition or results of operations.
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Our board of directors concluded in 2020 that we needed to restate previously issued financial statements as a result of a change in accounting for a certain debt restructuring.
On April 13, 2020, our board of directors (which currently acts as our audit committee) concluded, after consultation with management and our financial consulting firm, that our previously issued unaudited financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019, and September 30, 2019, included in our Quarterly Reports of Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019, and September 30, 2019, respectively, should no longer be relied upon as a result of the change in accounting for a certain debt restructuring. We concluded that a gain on debt restructuring recognized during the first quarter of 2019 should have been accounted for as a capital transaction. Specifically, on February 25, 2019, we entered into an Unsecured Note Financing Agreement with AC Midwest, pursuant to which AC Midwest exchanged a previously issued subordinated unsecured note in the principal amount of $13,000,000, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, for a new unsecured note in the principal amount of $13,154,931. We recorded a gain of $3,412,402 on this exchange which we concluded in April 2020 should have been recorded as an equity transaction capital contribution. The adjustments resulting therefrom, which are non-cash in nature, increased additional paid-in capital and increased our previously reported net loss, but had no impact on previously reported cash, working capital, total assets, total liabilities, and revenues. Nevertheless, such restatement may have caused, or could in the future cause, investors in our securities to lose confidence in our financial statements and management which could result in a decrease in our stock price and negative sentiment in the investment community.
Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition.
Liquidity, i.e., ready access to funds, is essential to our business. Our access to external sources of financing could be impaired by factors that are specific to us or others that may be outside of our control. As a result, such liquidity risk could impair our ability to funds operations and jeopardize our financial condition.
Doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. As reflected in the consolidated financial statements, we had $1,388,000 in cash at December 31, 2021, along with cash provided by operating activities of $206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. However, we had a working capital deficit of $11,692,000 and an accumulated deficit of $67.1 million at December 31, 2021, and we also had a net loss in the amount of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, all existing secured and unsecured debt held by our principal lender in the principal amount of $13.4 million matures on August 25, 2022, other than the profit share liability, which is within one year from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the next twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
We have taken steps to alleviate such doubt. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we eliminated $4,440,000 of convertible notes through conversions to shares of common stock and repaid $10,000 of convertible notes, leaving no convertible notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021. In addition, in June 2021, we announced that we had entered into a Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement with our principal lender which, subject to various closing conditions, including but not limited to the completion of an offering of equity securities resulting in net proceeds of at least $12.0 million by December 31, 2021, which has been extended to June 30, 2022, will repay all existing secured and unsecured debt obligations held by such lender.
Although we anticipate continued significant revenues in our business operations and that we will be able to raise the funds necessary to complete the transaction contemplated by the Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement, no assurances can be given that we can obtain sufficient working capital through our business operations or that we will be able to raise the funds necessary to close under the Debt Repayment Agreement by June 30, 2022, or at all, in order to sustain ongoing operations. In November 2021, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for a proposed offering of common stock. Such registration statement has not yet become effective.
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The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of us to continue as a going concern.
Risks Related to Regulation
Our business focus has predominantly been mercury removal from power plant emissions, which is driven primarily by regulation. Any significant changes in mercury and other emission regulation could have a major impact on us.
Our business focus has predominantly been mercury reduction in flue gas emissions from large coal-fired utility and industrial boilers. This market is primarily based on air pollution control regulations and enforcement of those regulations. Any significant change in these regulations would have a dramatic effect on us, especially in North America (and primarily the United States) which is currently the largest market for our technology. Specifically, on February 16, 2012, the EPA published the final Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, known as MATS, which sets forth federal mercury emission levels. Power plants were required to begin complying with MATS on April 16, 2015, unless they were granted a one-year extension to begin to comply.
The MATS regulation has been subject to legal challenge since being enacted. In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the EPA unreasonably failed to consider costs in determining whether it is “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, from power plants, but left the rule in place. On remand, following the Supreme Court’s instructions to consider costs, the EPA in April 2016 issued a final supplemental finding reaffirming the MATS rule on the ground that it is supported by the cost analysis the Supreme Court required. That supplemental finding remains under review by the D.C. Circuit. In April 2017, the EPA asked the court to place such judicial review in abeyance, stating that the Agency then under the Trump Administration was reviewing the supplemental finding to determine whether it should be reconsidered in whole or in part, which abeyance request was granted. In April 2020, the EPA concluded that the 2016 supplemental finding was flawed in part due to its reliance on co-benefits to justify MATS and withdrew the EPA’s 2016 “appropriate-and-necessary” determination as erroneous, but left the 2011 MATS rule in place pursuant to D.C. Circuit case law holding that a source category may only be removed from the list of categories to be regulated through a rigorous delisting process that cannot currently be satisfied by the EPA. Upon taking office, the Biden Administration in January 2021 directed the EPA to review the previous Administration’s actions on various environmental matters including the withdrawal of the “appropriate and necessary” determination, for conformity with Biden Administration environmental policy. In February 2021, the Biden Administration requested that the judicial review of the supplemental finding withdrawal be held in abeyance which was granted by the court and remains in place. On January 31, 2022, the EPA issued a proposal to revoke the reconsideration step made by the EPA in April 2020 and affirm that it is appropriate and necessary to regulate hazardous pollutants for coal and oil-fired EGUs. Nevertheless, legal challenges may continue with respect to the MATS regulation which could extend uncertainty over the status of MATS for a number of years. Investors should note that any changes to the MATS rule could have a negative impact on our business.
Delays in enactment of foreign regulations could restrict our ability to reach our strategic growth targets in Europe and Asia.
Our strategic growth initiatives are reliant upon more restrictive environmental regulations being enacted for the purpose of mercury control from power plant emissions in Europe and in China and other Asian countries. In May 2017, the European Union and seven of its member states ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which triggered its entry into force with implementation starting in 2021. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. With regard to business opportunities in China and other Asian countries, there currently exists no specific mandate for mercury capture that requires specific control technology, such as we offer. China is the largest producer and consumer of coal in the world. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that as a result of the Minamata Convention, China as well as other countries will follow the U.S. in regulating mercury emissions. If stricter regulations are delayed or are not enacted, our sales growth targets in Europe and Asia could be adversely affected.
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Risks Associated with our Common Stock
Our common stock has a limited trading market, which could affect your ability to sell shares of our common stock and the price you may receive for our common stock.
Our common stock is currently traded in the over-the-counter market on the OTCQB maintained by OTC Markets Group Inc. under the symbol “MEEC.” However, as the OTCQB is an unorganized, inter-dealer, over-the-counter market that provides significantly less liquidity than Nasdaq or other national securities exchanges, there has been only limited trading activity in our common stock, and we have a relatively small public float compared to the number of our shares outstanding. Further, while we have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, even if our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we cannot predict the extent to which investors’ interest in our common stock will provide an active and liquid trading market. Our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares of our common stock and our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by using shares of our common stock as consideration may also be impaired.
Our stock price may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors and litigation.
In addition to changes to market prices based on our results of operations and the factors discussed elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section, the market price of and trading volume for our common stock may change for a variety of other reasons, not necessarily related to our actual operating performance. The capital markets have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In addition, the average daily trading volume of the securities of small companies can be very low, which may contribute to future volatility. Factors that could cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly include:
· | the results of operating and financial performance and prospects of other companies in our industry; |
· | strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings; |
· | announcements of innovations, increased service capabilities, new or terminated customers, or new, amended, or terminated contracts by our competitors; |
· | the public’s reaction to our press releases, other public announcements, and filings with the SEC; |
· | lack of securities analyst coverage or speculation in the press or investment community about us or market opportunities in our industry or about the market for coal-fired power in the U.S. or abroad; |
· | changes in government policies in the United States and, as our international business increases, in other foreign countries; |
· | changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities or research analysts who track our common stock or failure of our actual results of operations to meet those expectations; |
· | market and industry perception of our success, or lack thereof, in pursuing our growth strategy; |
· | changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles; |
· | any lawsuit involving us, our services, or our products; |
· | arrival and departure of key personnel; |
· | sales of common stock by us, our investors or members of our management team; and |
· | changes in general market, economic and political conditions in the United States, and global economies or financial markets, including those resulting from natural or man-made disasters. |
Any of these factors, as well as broader market and industry factors, may result in large and sudden changes in the trading volume of our common stock and could seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. This may prevent you from being able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for your shares of our common stock, if at all. In addition, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, stockholders often institute securities class action litigation against that company. Our involvement in any class action suit or other legal proceeding could divert our senior management’s attention and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
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Shares eligible for future sale may have adverse effects on our share price.
Sales of substantial amounts of shares or the perception that such sales could occur may adversely affect the prevailing market price for our shares. We may issue additional shares in subsequent public offerings or private placements to make new investments or for other purposes. We are not required to offer any such shares to existing shareholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, it may not be possible for existing shareholders to participate in such future share issuances, which may dilute the existing shareholders’ interests in us.
We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings to finance the growth and development of our business, and therefore, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. We believe it is likely that our board of directors will continue to conclude that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to retain all earnings (if any) for the development of our business. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future. Additional capital may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, when or as we require. If we issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities that may be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, our common stock, our existing stockholders would experience further dilution and could trigger anti-dilution provisions in outstanding warrants.
In November 2021, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for a proposed offering of common stock. Such registration statement has not yet become effective and no assurances can be given that the contemplated offering will be completed. Even if completed, we may need to raise additional capital in the future. Future financings may involve the issuance of debt, equity, and/or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our equity securities. These financings may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all when and as we require funding. If we are able to consummate such financings, the trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected and/or the terms of such financings may adversely affect the interests of our existing stockholders. Any failure to obtain additional working capital when required would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and may result in a decline in our stock price. Any issuances of our common stock, preferred stock, or securities such as warrants or notes that are convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, our capital stock would have a dilutive effect on the voting and economic interest of our existing stockholders.
Our officers and directors are entitled to indemnification from us for liabilities under our articles of incorporation, which could be costly to us and may discourage the exercise of stockholder rights.
Our articles of incorporation provide that we possess and may exercise all powers of indemnification of our officers, directors, employees, agents, and other persons and our bylaws also require us to indemnify our officers and directors as permitted under the provisions of the Delaware General Corporate Law. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in our Company incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage our Company from bringing a lawsuit against directors, officers, and employees for breaches of their fiduciary duties, and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors, officers, and employees even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit our Company and stockholders.
Our common stock is currently characterized as a “penny stock” under SEC rules. It may be more difficult to resell securities classified as “penny stock.”
Our common stock is currently characterized as a “penny stock” under applicable SEC rules (generally defined as non-exchange traded stock with a per-share price below $5.00). These rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that recommend the purchase or sale of penny stocks to persons other than those who qualify as “established customers” or “accredited investors.” For example, broker-dealers must determine the appropriateness for non-qualifying persons of investments in penny stocks. Broker-dealers must also provide, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, disclose the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, furnish monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account, provide a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser, and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction.
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Legal remedies available to an investor in “penny stocks” may include the following:
· | If a “penny stock” is sold to the investor in violation of the requirements listed above, or other federal or states securities laws, the investor may be able to cancel the purchase and receive a refund of the investment. |
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· | If a “penny stock” is sold to the investor in a fraudulent manner, the investor may be able to sue the persons and firms that committed the fraud for damages. |
These requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity, if any, in the secondary market for a security that becomes subject to the penny stock rules. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our securities, which could severely limit the market price and liquidity of our securities. These requirements may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock and may affect your ability to resell our common stock.
Many brokerage firms will discourage or refrain from recommending investments in penny stocks. Most institutional investors will not invest in penny stocks. In addition, many individual investors will not invest in penny stocks due, among other reasons, to the increased financial risk generally associated with these investments.
For these reasons, penny stocks may have a limited market and, consequently, limited liquidity. We can give no assurance at what time, if ever, our common stock will not be classified as a “penny stock” in the future.
If we cannot satisfy the initial listing standards, or continue to satisfy the continued listing standards, of the Nasdaq Capital Market, our securities may not be listed or may be delisted, which could negatively impact the price of our securities and your ability to sell them.
We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. There can be no assurance that the Nasdaq Capital Market will approve our application for listing. Even if approved and our securities are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will be required to comply with certain rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, including those regarding minimum shareholders’ equity, minimum share price, minimum market value of publicly held shares, and various additional requirements. Even if we initially meet the listing requirements and other applicable rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we may not be able to continue to satisfy these requirements and applicable rules. If we are unable to satisfy the Nasdaq Capital Market criteria for maintaining our listing, our securities could be subject to delisting.
If the Nasdaq Capital Market subsequently delists our securities from trading, we could face significant consequences, including:
· | a limited availability for market quotations for our securities; |
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· | reduced liquidity with respect to our securities; |
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· | a determination that our common stock is a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our common stock; |
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· | limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
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· | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
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The proposed reverse stock split could cause our stock price to decline relative to its value before the split and decrease the liquidity of shares of our common stock.
At a special meeting of stockholders held on February 24, 2022, our stockholders approved a proposal which authorizes our board of directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio to be determined by the board, ranging from one-for-two to one-for-seven, at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the board in its sole discretion, but no later than December 31, 2023. In the event a reverse stock split is implemented, there is no assurance that that the reverse stock split will not cause an actual decline in the value of our outstanding common stock. The liquidity of the shares of our common stock may be affected adversely by the reverse stock split given the reduced number of shares that will be outstanding following the reverse stock split, especially if the market price of our common stock does not increase as a result of the reverse stock split. In addition, the reverse stock split may increase the number of stockholders who own odd lots (less than 100 shares) of our common stock, creating the potential for such stockholders to experience an increase in the cost of selling their shares and greater difficulty effecting such sales.
Except as required by the Federal Securities Law, we do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or for any other reason.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this item.
Item 2. Properties.
We lease a warehouse in Corsicana, Texas consisting of approximately 20,000 square feet which we use for manufacturing and distribution of our products. As of December 2019, we relocated our corporate headquarters to such location which corporate headquarters prior thereto were maintained in Lewis Center, Ohio. Such lease in Corsicana, Texas expires March 31, 2024.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
On July 17, 2019, we initiated patent litigation against certain defendants in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for infringement of United States Patent Nos. 10,343,114 (the “‘114 Patent”) and 8,168,147 (the “‘147 Patent”) owned by the Company. These patents relate to our two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process for mercury removal from coal-fired power plants. Named as defendants in the lawsuit are (i) Vistra Energy Corp., AEP Generation Resources Inc., NRG Energy, Inc., Talen Energy Corporation, and certain of their respective affiliated entities, all of which are owners and/or operators of coal-fired power plants in the United States, and (ii) Arthur J. Gallagher Co., DTE REF Holdings, LLC, CERT Coal Holdings LLC, Chem-Mod LLC, and certain of their respective affiliated entities, and additional named and unnamed defendants, all of which operate or are involved in operations of coal facilities in the United States. In the lawsuit, we allege that each of the defendants has willfully infringed our ‘114 Patent and ‘147 Patent and seek a permanent injunction from further acts of infringement and monetary damages.
During 2020, each of the four major utility defendants—Vistra Energy Corp., AEP Generation Resources Inc., NRG Energy, Inc., and Talen Energy Corporation—in the above action filed petitions for Inter Partes Review with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, seeking to invalidate certain claims to the patents which are subject to the litigation.
Between July 2020 and January 2021, we entered into agreements with each of the four major utility defendants in such action which included certain monetary arrangements and pursuant to which we have dismissed all claims brought against each of them and their affiliates, and such parties have withdrawn from petitions for Inter Partes Review with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Such agreements entered into with such parties provide each of them and their affiliates with a non-exclusive license to certain Company patents (related to our two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process) for use in connection with such parties’ coal-fired power plants. One of the agreements has facilitated an ongoing business relationship with that party.
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The above described proceedings are continuing with respect to the other parties involved. In May 2021, a U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation that the above action should be permitted to proceed against 16 refined coal defendants named in the action directly involved in the refined coal program and operations, and be dismissed against 12 other defendants, primarily affiliated entities of the refined coal operators. Such report was issued in connection with certain motions to dismiss filed by the refined coal defendants. In September 2021, we received approval from the District Judge of the U.S. District Court in Delaware of the adoption of this report and recommendation of the Magistrate Judge to allow us to proceed with litigation claims against certain refined coal entities. A jury trial date has been scheduled for September 2023.
Other than the foregoing, there are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject, nor are there any such proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities. None of our directors, officers, or affiliates are involved in a proceeding adverse to our business or has a material interest adverse to our business.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market
Our shares of common stock are quoted on the OTCQB operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. under the symbol “MEEC”. Over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Share Repurchase Program
We purchased no equity securities during year ended December 31, 2021, and have no program in place at the present time to buy any equity securities in the future.
Holders
As of April 5, 2022, there were 409 stockholders of record of our common stock. This does not reflect persons or entities that hold their stock in nominee or “street name”. The approximate number of beneficial stockholders is estimated to be 3,700.
Dividends
We have not declared any cash dividends to date and have no current plan to do so in the foreseeable future. In addition, until such time that the AC Midwest Energy, LLC promissory notes are paid in full, we are not permitted to issue any dividends.
Transfer Agent
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Company’s common stock is Transfer Online, Inc., 512 SE Salmon Street, Portland, Oregon 97214.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table shows information, as of December 31, 2021, with respect to each equity compensation plan under which the Company’s common stock is authorized for issuance:
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| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
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| Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
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| Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
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Plan Category |
| (a) |
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| (b) |
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| (c) |
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Equity compensation plans approved by security holders, terminated |
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| 4,775,000 |
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| $ | 0.75 |
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| 0 |
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Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
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| 13,543,326 |
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| $ | 0.46 |
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| 2,355,174 |
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Total |
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| 18,318,326 |
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| $ | 0.53 |
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| 2,355,174 |
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Item 6. [Reserved].
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. You should read the “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” sections of this report for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are an environmental services and technologies company developing and delivering patented and proprietary solutions to the global power industry. Our leading-edge services have been shown to achieve mercury emissions removal at a significantly lower cost and with less operational impact to coal-fired power plants than currently used methods, while maintaining and/or increasing power plant output and preserving the marketability of byproducts for beneficial use.
North America is currently the largest market for our technology. The U.S. EPA MATS (Mercury and Air Toxics Standards) rule requires that all coal and oil-fired power plants in the U.S., larger than 25MWs, must limit mercury in its emissions to below certain specified levels, according to the type of coal burned. Power plants were required to begin complying with MATS on April 16, 2015, unless they were granted a one-year extension to begin to comply. MATS, along with many state and provincial regulations, form the basis for mercury emission capture at coal fired plants across North America. Under the MATS regulation, Electric Generating Units (“EGUs”) are required to remove about 90% of the mercury from their emissions. We believe that we continue to meet the requirements of the industry as a whole and our technologies have been shown to achieve mercury removal levels compliant with all state, provincial and federal regulations at a lower cost and with less plant impact than our competition.
As is typical in this market, we are paid by the EGU based on how much of our material is injected to achieve the needed level of mercury removal. Our current clients pay us as material is delivered to their facilities. Clients will use our material whenever their EGUs operate, although EGUs are not always in operation. EGUs typically may not be in operation due to maintenance reasons or when the price of power in the market is less than their cost to produce power. Thus, our revenues from EGU clients will not typically be a consistent stream but will fluctuate, especially seasonally as the market demand for power fluctuates.
The MATS regulation has been subject to legal challenge since being enacted. In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the EPA unreasonably failed to consider costs in determining whether it is “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutants, including mercury, from power plants, but left the rule in place. On remand, following the Supreme Court’s instructions to consider costs, the EPA in April 2016 issued a final supplemental finding reaffirming the MATS rule on the ground that it is supported by the cost analysis the Supreme Court required. That supplemental finding remains under review by the D.C. Circuit. In April 2017, the EPA asked the court to place such judicial review in abeyance, stating that the Agency then under the Trump Administration was reviewing the supplemental finding to determine whether it should be reconsidered in whole or in part, which abeyance request was granted. In April 2020, the EPA concluded that the 2016 supplemental finding was flawed in part due to its reliance on co-benefits to justify MATS and withdrew EPA’s 2016 “appropriate-and-necessary” determination as erroneous, but left the 2011 MATS rule in place pursuant to D.C. Circuit case law holding that a source category may only be removed from the list of categories to be regulated through a rigorous delisting process that cannot currently be satisfied by the EPA. Upon taking office, the Biden Administration in January 2021 directed the EPA to review the previous Administration’s actions on various environmental matters including the withdrawal of the “appropriate and necessary” determination, for conformity with Biden Administration environmental policy. In February 2021, the Biden Administration requested that the judicial review of the supplemental finding withdrawal be held in abeyance which was granted by the court and remains in place. On January 31, 2022, the EPA issued a proposal to revoke the reconsideration step made by the EPA in April 2020 and affirm that it is appropriate and necessary to regulate hazardous pollutants for coal and oil-fired EGUs.
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Nevertheless, legal challenges may continue with respect to the MATS regulation which could extend uncertainty over the status of MATS for a number of years. Investors should note that any changes to the MATS rule could have a negative impact on our business.
We remain focused on positioning the Company for short and long-term growth, including focusing on execution at our customer sites and on continual operation improvement. We continue to make refinements to all of our key products, as we continue to focus on the customer and its operations. As part of our overall strategy, we have a number of initiatives which we believe will be able to drive our short and long-term growth.
In the United States, we continue to seek new utility customers for our technology in order for them to meet the MATS requirements as well as maintaining our contractual arrangements with our current customers. We also seek license agreements with utilities while allowing them to use our SEA® technologies without our supply of products. During 2021 and early 2022, we have announced various supply contract extensions, new supply business and license agreements. We expect additional supply business and license agreements during the remainder of 2022 and thereafter, including converting certain licensees to supply customers.
In Europe, we had been working to penetrate this market through a licensing agreement entered into in 2018 with one of our suppliers which allowed them to commercialize our technology throughout Europe. Such arrangement was terminated in 2020. Prior to its termination, no revenues had been generated from such agreement. We intend to continue to pursue the European market although no assurance can be made that any such efforts will be successful.
In February 25, 2019, we were able to complete the restructuring of our unsecured and secured debt obligations held by AC Midwest Energy LLC extending the maturity dates of these debts until 2022 and eliminating quarterly principal payment requirements. This restructuring reflected the commitment of our financial partner in our efforts to attract new business, manage our present customers and monetize our patent portfolio. In June 2021, we announced that we had entered into a Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement with AC Midwest which will repay all existing secured and unsecured debt obligations held by AC Midwest. Pursuant to such agreement, we will repay the existing $0.3 million secured note outstanding in cash as well as the existing $13.2 million principal amount outstanding under the unsecured note held by AC Midwest through a combination of cash and stock. AC Midwest is also entitled to a certain non-recourse profit share under the unsecured note which will be satisfied through a combination of cash and stock. The closing is subject to various conditions including but not limited to the completion of an offering of equity securities resulting in net proceeds of at least $12.0 million by December 31, 2021, which has been extended to June 30, 2022.
From June through October 2019, we raised $2,600,000 in a private placement offering of 12.0% unsecured convertible promissory notes and warrants sold and issued to certain accredited investors. In February 2021, $50,000 of such principal was voluntarily converted into shares of common stock, and in June 2021, the remaining principal balance of $2,550,000 was voluntarily converted by the holders thereof into shares of common stock of the Company.
In July 2019, we announced that we had initiated patent litigation against defendants in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for infringement of certain patents which relate to our two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process for mercury removal from coal-fired power plants. Between July 2020 and January 2021, we entered into agreements with each of the four major utility defendants in the patent litigation commenced in 2019 which agreements included certain monetary arrangements and pursuant to which we have dismissed all claims brought against each of them and their affiliates, and such parties have withdrawn from petitions for Inter Partes Review with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Such agreements entered into with such parties provide each of them and their affiliates with a non-exclusive license to certain Company patents (related to our two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process) for use in connection with such parties’ coal-fired power plants. One of the agreements has facilitated an ongoing business relationship with that party. The above described proceedings are continuing with respect to the other parties involved. In May 2021, a U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation that such litigation should be permitted to proceed against 16 refined coal defendants named in the action directly involved in the refined coal program and operations, and be dismissed against 12 other defendants, primarily affiliated entities of the refined coal operators. In September 2021, such report and recommendation was approved by the District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware which will allow us to proceed against certain refined coal entities named in the lawsuit.
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In October 2019, we entered into a license and development agreement with a nonrelated third-party entity located in Alabama pursuant to which the parties have agreed to work together to develop a plan to commercialize and market certain technology owned by such entity related to the removal of mercury from air and water emissions generated by coal burning power plants. In addition, during the first quarter of 2021, we announced new technologies under development intended to improve the processing of rare earth elements (REEs) in North America. Our new technologies are under development in conjunction with our collaboration with such Alabama third party entity and its affiliates. Such technologies focus on improving the cost of extracting rare earth minerals along with improving the environmental footprint of extracting those REEs from their solvent state. In October 2021, we announced that we had completed phase 1 testing of our REE technology with Pennsylvania State University’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences confirming 80-90% efficiency rate in extracting select REEs. While there is no established timeline for the introduction of these technologies after further testing is performed, we hope that if such further testing is successful, these technologies can be commercialized in 2022 and thereafter.
During the first quarter of 2021, we announced that we are in the process of developing a proprietary methane gas emissions control technology which we believe can be adopted within the oil and gas industry. We have not established a timeline for the introduction of our methane gas emissions control technology.
In addition to the $2.6 million in convertible notes which were converted into shares of common stock in the first and second quarters as described above, during the first quarter of 2021, we eliminated $1,830,000 of other convertible notes originally issued in 2013 and 2018 through conversions to shares of common stock. During the third quarter of 2021, we issued 20,000 shares of common stock to a certain holder of notes issued in 2013 for the conversion of outstanding principal in the amount of $10,000 and prepaid the outstanding principal balance of another of such notes issued in 2013 in the principal amount of $10,000. As a result, there are no convertible notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021, compared to $4,450,000 in convertible notes outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
In November 2021, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for a proposed offering of common stock. Such registration statement has not yet become effective, and no assurance can be given that such offering will be completed. In addition, we have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. No assurance can be given that such application will be approved.
Although we face a host of challenges and risks, we are optimistic about our future and expect our business to grow substantially.
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
It should be noted that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted various businesses throughout the world since early 2020, including travel restrictions and the extended shutdown of certain businesses in impacted geographic regions. During this time, we have continued to conduct our operations while responding to the pandemic with actions to mitigate adverse consequences to our employees, business, supply chain and customers. Nevertheless, the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be uncertain. If the coronavirus situation does not improve during 2022 or should worsen, we may experience disruptions to our business including, but not limited to, the availability of raw materials, equipment, to our workforce, or to our business relationships with other third parties.
Results of Operations
Revenues
We generated revenues of approximately $13,012,000 and $8,158,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Such revenues were primarily derived from sorbent product sales which were approximately $11,004,000 and $7,420,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in revenues from the prior year was primarily driven by increased sorbent product sales due to the increased supply demands in the coal-fired market as well as expansion of our customer base.
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Licensing revenues were approximately $1,707,000 and $546,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Such increases were primarily due to the licensing revenues generated from the agreements entered into with certain of the defendants in the patent litigation commenced in 2019.
Equipment sales and other revenues for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $134,000 and $44,000, respectively. This increase was primarily due to increased equipment rental revenues in 2021 compared to last year.
Costs and Expenses
Total costs and expenses were approximately $16,622,000 and $14,000,000 during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in costs and expenses from the prior year is mainly attributable to the increase in cost of sales principally due to the increase in sales.
Cost of sales were approximately $7,939,000 and $5,440,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Such increase is primarily due to the increase in sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $5,934,000 and $5,936,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Interest expense related to the financing of capital was approximately $2,818,000 and $2,658,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The small increase is due to the stock conversion incentives provided to certain notes and accelerated interest expense upon conversion of notes, partially offset by the reduced interest on the notes payable. The breakdown of interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
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| Years Ended |
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| December 31, |
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| 2021 |
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| 2020 |
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| (In thousands) |
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Interest expense on notes payable |
| $ | 277 |
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| $ | 562 |
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Accelerated interest expense upon conversion of notes |
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| 343 |
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| - |
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Additional interest upon conversion of notes |
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| 221 |
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| - |
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Amortization of discount of notes payable |
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| 1,855 |
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| 1,974 |
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Amortization of debt issuance costs |
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| 122 |
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| 122 |
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| $ | 2,818 |
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| $ | 2,658 |
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Loss (gain) on change in fair value of profit share liability (relating to the restructured unsecured debt obligation held by AC Midwest Energy LLC) were approximately $531,000 and $(24,000) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The change is primarily attributed to an increase (decrease) in the fair value of the profit share liability. There were no significant changes to the underlying model during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Gain on forgiveness of debt of $600,677 relates to the loan proceeds we received in April 2020 and February 2021 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the CARES Act. Such loans were forgiven in January 2021 and October 2021 pursuant to the applicable PPP requirements.
Net Loss
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had a net loss of approximately $3,633,000 and $5,826,000 respectively. Such change was primarily due to increased sales and improved margin on such sales as well as the gain on extinguishment of debt partially offset by the change in the fair value of the profit share liability and the change in interest expense due principally to the stock conversion incentive provided to certain note holders and related accelerated interest.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We had approximately $1,388,000 in cash on our balance sheet at December 31, 2021 compared to approximately $591,000 at December 31, 2020. Total current assets were approximately $3,791,000 and total current liabilities were approximately $15,483,000 at December 31, 2021, resulting in working capital deficit of approximately $11,692,000. This compares to total current assets of approximately $2,362,000 and total current liabilities of approximately $3,359,000 at December 31, 2020, resulting in a working capital deficit of approximately $997,000. Our accumulated deficit was approximately $67.1 million at December 31, 2021 compared to $63.5 million at December 31, 2020. Additionally, we had a net loss in the amount of approximately $3,633,000 and cash provided by operating activities of approximately $206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern. As reflected in the consolidated financial statements, we had $1,388,000 in cash at December 31, 2021, along with cash provided by operating activities of $206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021. However, we had a working capital deficit of $11,692,000 at December 31, 2021 and an accumulated deficit of $67.1 million at December 31, 2021, and we had a net loss in the amount of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, all existing secured and unsecured debt held by our principal lender in the principal amount of $13.4 million matures on August 25, 2022, other than the profit share liability, which is within one year from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the next twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
We have taken steps to alleviate such doubt. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we eliminated $4,440,000 of convertible notes through conversions to shares of common stock and repaid $10,000 of convertible notes, leaving no convertible notes outstanding as of December 31, 2021. In addition, in June 2021, we announced that we had entered into a Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement with our principal lender which, subject to various closing conditions, including but not limited to the completion of an offering of equity securities resulting in net proceeds of at least $12.0 million by December 31, 2021, which has been extended to June 30, 2022, will repay all existing secured and unsecured debt obligations held by such lender.
Although we anticipate continued significant revenues in our business operations and that we will be able to raise the funds necessary to complete the transaction contemplated by the Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement, no assurances can be given that we can obtain sufficient working capital through our business operations or that we will be able to raise the funds necessary to close under the Debt Repayment Agreement by June 30, 2022, or at all, in order to sustain ongoing operations.
In November 2021, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC for a proposed offering of common stock. Such registration statement has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state or jurisdiction. The contemplated offering of our securities will be made only by means of a prospectus. No assurances can be given that the contemplated offering will be completed on reasonable terms or otherwise.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of us to continue as a going concern.
Total Assets
Total assets were approximately $8,135,000 at December 31, 2021 versus approximately $7,376,000 at December 31, 2020. The change in total assets is primarily attributable to an increase in cash.
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Total Liabilities
Total liabilities were approximately $18,374,000 at December 31, 2021 versus approximately $20,580,000 at December 31, 2020. The decrease in liabilities is primarily due to a decrease in debt.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities consists of net loss, adjusted by certain non-cash items, and changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $206,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net cash used in operating activities of approximately $1,239,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Such change of approximately $1,445,000 was primarily due to an approximate $2,193,000 decrease in net loss.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $11,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of approximately $43,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The activity for 2021 related to the purchase of equipment. The activity for 2020 related to cash received from the sale of equipment.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $602,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of approximately $288,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received approximately $299,000 from the issuance of notes payable, $247,000 from the exercise of warrants and $126,000 from the exercise of stock options.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial conditions and results of operation are based upon the accompanying consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Management evaluates on an on-going basis our estimates with respect to the valuation allowances for accounts receivable, income taxes, accrued expenses, and equity instrument valuation, for example. We base these estimates on various assumptions and experience that we believe to be reasonable. The following critical accounting policies are those that are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations. These policies require management’s most difficult, complex, or subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.
The following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. In particular, our most critical accounting policies relate to the recognition of revenue, and the valuation of our stock-based compensation.
Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or net realizable value. Inventories are periodically evaluated to identify obsolete or otherwise impaired products and are written off when management determines usage is not probable. We estimate the balance of excess and obsolete inventory by analyzing inventory by age using last used and original purchase date and existing sales pipeline for which the inventory could be used. In the past we have experienced a minimal valuation allowance on our inventory.
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Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. When retired or otherwise disposed, the related carrying value and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and the net difference less any amount realized from disposition, is reflected in earnings. For consolidated financial statement purposes, equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of 2 to 5 years. Leasehold improvements are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the life of the lease.
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance which do not materially extend the useful lives of property and equipment are charged to operations. Management reviews the carrying value of our property and equipment for impairment on an annual basis.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is recorded at cost and amortized over its estimated useful life of 15 years. Management reviews intellectual property for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. In the event that impairment indicators exist, a further analysis is performed and if the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset or asset group is less than the carrying amount of the asset or asset group, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset or asset group’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. Management considers historical experience and all available information at the time the estimates of future cash flows are made, however, the actual cash values that could be realized may differ from those that are estimated.
Recoverability of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets
Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles held and used by us are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Events relating to recoverability may include significant unfavorable changes in business conditions, recurring losses or a forecasted inability to achieve break-even operating results over an extended period. We evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets based upon forecasted undiscounted cash flows. Should impairment in value be indicated, the carrying value of the long-lived and or intangible assets would be adjusted, based on estimates of future discounted cash flows. We evaluated the recoverability of the carrying value of our equipment. No impairment charges were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-to-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The accounting standard, effective January 1, 2019, requires virtually all leases to be recognized on the Balance Sheet. Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method, under which we elected the package of practical expedients and transition provisions allowing us to bring our existing operating leases onto the Consolidated Balance Sheet without adjusting comparative periods but recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit on January 1, 2019. Under the guidance, we have also elected not to separate lease and non-lease components in recognition of the lease-related assets and liabilities, as well as the related lease expense.
We have operating leases for office space in two multitenant facilities, which are not recorded as assets and liabilities as those leases do not have terms greater than 12 months. We have operating leases for a multi-purpose facility and bulk trailers used in operations which are recorded as assets and liabilities as the leases have terms greater than 12 months. Lease-related assets, or right-of-use assets, are recognized at the lease commencement date at amounts equal to the respective lease liabilities, adjusted for prepaid lease payments, initial direct costs, and lease incentives received. Lease-related liabilities are recognized at the present value of the remaining contractual fixed lease payments, discounted using our incremental borrowing rate. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, while variable lease payments are expensed as incurred.
Upon adoption of the new lease accounting standard on January 1, 2019, we recorded $1,339,569 of right of use assets and $1,417,435 of lease-related liabilities, with the difference charged to accumulated deficit at that date.
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Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires equity-based compensation, be reflected in the consolidated financial statements over the period of service which is typically the vesting period based on the estimated fair value of the awards.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the inputs used to determine fair value, which are as follows:
| · | Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. |
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| · | Level 2 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. |
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| · | Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions. |
The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.
Revenue Recognition
We record revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 3: Determine the transaction price.
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
Revenue is recognized when we satisfy our performance obligation under the contract by transferring the promised product to its customer that obtains control of the product. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product to a customer. Most of our contracts have a single performance obligation, as the promise to transfer products or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract and, therefore, not distinct.
Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring products. As such, revenue is recorded net of returns, allowances, customer discounts, and incentives. Sales and other taxes are excluded from revenues. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are included in revenue. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
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Disaggregation of Revenue
We generated revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 by (i) delivering product to our commercial customers, (ii) completing and commissioning equipment projects at commercial customer sites and (iii) performing demonstrations of our technology at customers with the intent of entering into long term supply agreements based on the performance of our products during the demonstrations and (iv) licensing our technology to customers.
Revenue for product sales is recognized at the point of time in which the customer obtains control of the product, at the time title passes to the customer upon shipment or delivery of the product based on the applicable shipping terms.
Revenue for equipment sales is recognized upon commissioning and customer acceptance of the installed equipment per the terms of the purchase contract.
Revenue for demonstrations and consulting services is recognized when performance obligations contained in the contract have been completed, typically the completion of necessary field work and the delivery of any required analysis per the terms of the agreement.
Income Taxes
We follow the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
FASB ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2020. We are currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from our position. We are subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
We may be subject to potential examination by federal, state, and city taxing authorities in the areas of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions, and compliance with federal, state, and city tax laws. Our management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
We are no longer subject to tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2017.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Under ASU 2016-02, lessees will, among other things, require lessees to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. ASU 2016-02 does not significantly change lease accounting requirements applicable to lessors; however, certain changes were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU 2016-02 became effective for us on January 1, 2019 and initially required transition using a modified retrospective approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) - Targeted Improvements, which, among other things, provides an additional transition method that would allow entities to not apply the guidance in ASU 2016-02 in the comparative periods presented in the financial statements and instead recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. In December 2018, the FASB also issued ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842) - Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors, which provides for certain policy elections and changes lessor accounting for sales and similar taxes and certain lessor costs. As of January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02 and have recorded a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for our operating leases. We elected to apply certain practical expedients provided under ASU 2016-02 whereby we will not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. We did not apply the recognition requirements of ASU 2016-02 to any short-term leases (as defined by related accounting guidance). We accounted for lease and non-lease components separately because such amounts are readily determinable under our lease contracts and because we expect this election will result in a lower impact on our balance sheet.
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In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features and (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. ASU 2017-11 allows companies to exclude a down round feature when determining whether a financial instrument (or embedded conversion feature) is considered indexed to the entity’s own stock. As a result, financial instruments (or embedded conversion features) with down round features may no longer be required to be accounted for as derivative liabilities. A company will recognize the value of a down round feature only when it is triggered and the strike price has been adjusted downward. For equity-classified freestanding financial instruments, an entity will treat the value of the effect of the down round as a dividend and a reduction of income available to common shareholders in computing basic earnings per share. For convertible instruments with embedded conversion features containing down round provisions, entities will recognize the value of the down round as a beneficial conversion discount to be amortized to earnings.
The guidance in ASU 2017-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, and the guidance is to be applied using a full or modified retrospective approach. We early adopted ASU 2017-11 and changed our method of accounting for certain warrants that were initially recorded as liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2014 on a full retrospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2017-11 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued authoritative guidance intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes (ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes). This guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the general approach to the income tax accounting model and adds new guidance to reduce the complexity in accounting for income taxes. This guidance is effective for annual periods after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU-2019-12 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2018-07 is intended to reduce cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for nonemployee share based payments. Prior to the issuance of this guidance, the accounting requirements for nonemployee and employee share-based payment transactions were significantly different. ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (which only included share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees is substantially aligned. This ASU supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity — Equity-Based Payments to Nonemployees. The adoption of ASU 2018-07 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 modify the disclosure requirements associated with fair value measurements based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
| 31 |
| Table of Contents |
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, when adopted, will have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA
To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP and to provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we consider and are including herein Adjusted EBITDA, a Non-GAAP financial measure. We view Adjusted EBITDA as an operating performance measure and, as such, we believe that the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to it is net income (loss). We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for interest and financing fees, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock based compensation, and other non-cash income and expenses. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides us an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors, debtholders and others to evaluate and compare ongoing operating results from period to period by removing the impact of our asset base, any asset disposals or impairments, stock based compensation and other non-cash income and expense items associated with our reliance on issuing equity-linked debt securities to fund our working capital.
Our use of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and this measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP, as the excluded items may have significant effects on our operating results and financial condition. Additionally, our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from other companies’ measure of Adjusted EBITDA. When evaluating our performance, Adjusted EBITDA should be considered with other financial performance measures, including various cash flow metrics, net income and other GAAP results. In the future, we may disclose different non-GAAP financial measures in order to help our investors and others more meaningfully evaluate and compare our future results of operations to our previously reported results of operations.
The following table shows our reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively:
|
| For the Year Ended |
| |||||
|
| December 31, 2021 |
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| ||
|
| (In thousands) |
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | (3,633 | ) |
| $ | (5,826 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-GAAP adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
| 679 |
|
|
| 713 |
|
Interest and letter of credit fees |
|
| 2,818 |
|
|
| 2,658 |
|
Gain on extinguishment of debt |
|
| (601 | ) |
|
| - |
|
Income taxes |
|
| 23 |
|
|
| 10 |
|
Stock based compensation |
|
| 1,011 |
|
|
| 1,710 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
| $ | 297 |
|
| $ | (735 | ) |
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this item.
| 32 |
| Table of Contents |
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARY
Index to Financial Information
Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Page | ||
| ||
Consolidated Financial Statements | ||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID | F-1 | |
| ||
F-3 | ||
F-4 | ||
| ||
F-5 | ||
| ||
F-6 | ||
| ||
F-7 |
| 33 |
| Table of Contents |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As disclosed in the financial statements, the Company has incurred substantial net losses in recent years, has negative working capital and has an accumulated deficit at December 31, 2021 and is dependent on debt and equity financing to fund its operations, all of which raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding these matters are disclosed in Note 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgements. The communication of critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
| F-1 |
| Table of Contents |
Valuation of Profit Share Liability – Refer to Notes 2 and 9 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
In connection with the Unsecured Note disclosed in Note 9 to the financial statements, the Company shall pay the principal outstanding, as well as a profit participation preference (the “profit share liability”). The Company calculates the fair value of the profit share liability every quarter utilizing management estimates. The fair value of the profit share liability is calculated using a discounted cash flow model based on estimated future cash payments. The fair value of the profit share liability is determined on a Level 3 measurement. The fair value of the profit share liability fluctuates over time based on management estimates. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of the profit share liability was approximately $2.8 million.
Inherent in the valuation of Level 3 financial instruments are certain significant judgments and estimates related to forecasted cash flows. Changes in these assumptions can significantly impact the valuation of the profit share liability, and the gain or loss on the change in fair value that is recorded. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s forecasted cash flows. Accordingly, we believe that auditing the fair value of the profit share liability is a critical audit matter.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
| · | Obtaining an understanding of the Company’s process to determine the fair value of the profit share liability; |
| · | Obtaining and reading the Unsecured Note Agreement and evaluated management’s assessment of the terms which included an analysis of valuation of the profit share liability; |
| · | Evaluating the reasonableness of management’s sales, costs and expenses forecast by comparing the forecast to historical sales and cost and expense data, historical profit margins and trends; |
| · | Utilizing our valuation professionals to assist in (i) assessing the appropriateness of the valuation methodology and (ii) evaluating the reasonableness of the discount rate; |
| · | Performing sensitivity analyses to evaluate the impact that changes in the significant assumptions would have on the fair value of the profit share liability; |
| · | Testing the mathematical accuracy of the profit share liability calculation. |
The outcome of the audit procedures resulted in determining that the fair value of the profit share liability recorded by management is reasonable.
/s/
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020.
April 5, 2022
| F-2 |
| Table of Contents |
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
|
| December 31, 2021 |
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| ||
ASSETS |
| |||||||
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Accounts receivable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Inventory |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (related party of $ |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Right of use asset |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Intellectual property |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total assets |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (related party of $ |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Current portion of equipment notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Current portion of operating lease liability |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Current portion of note payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Accrued interest |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Customer credits |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Accrued salaries |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Secured note payable – related party |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Unsecured note payable, net of discount and issuance costs – related party |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment notes payable, less current portion |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Operating lease liability |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Note payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Convertible notes payable, net of discount and issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Profit share liability – related party |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Secured note payable – related party |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Unsecured note payable, net of discount and issuance costs – related party |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $ |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Common stock; $ |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Accumulated deficit |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ deficit |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-3 |
| Table of Contents |
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
|
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Selling, general and administrative expenses (related party of $325,676 and $175,275) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest expense letter of credit fees (related party of $2,018,289 and $2,023,818) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Gain on extinguishment of debt |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Loss (Gain) on change in fair value of profit share liability |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
Gain on sale of equipment |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
Total costs and expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss before provision for income taxes |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per common share-basic and diluted: |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-4 |
| Table of Contents |
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
|
| Common Stock |
|
| Additional Paid-In |
|
| Accumulated |
|
|
| |||||||||
|
| Shares |
|
| Par Value |
|
| Capital |
|
| (Deficit) |
|
| Total |
| |||||
Balance - December 31, 2019 |
|
|
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock issued for prepaid services |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cashless exercise of stock options/warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (48 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of stock options |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Modification of stock warrant |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock issued for consulting services |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance – December 31, 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock issued for interest payable on convertible notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock issued for conversion of convertible notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock issued for consulting services |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share based compensation expense |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cashless exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (16 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance – December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | (10,239,473 | ) | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-5 |
| Table of Contents |
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARY
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
|
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Stock issued for prepaid consulting services |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Stock issued for interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Amortization of discount on notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Amortization of right to use assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Amortization of patent rights |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Depreciation expense |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Gain on forgiveness of debt |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Loss (Gain) on change in fair value of profit share |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
Gain on sale of equipment |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease in accounts receivable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Increase in inventory |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Decrease in security deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Increase (Decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
(Decrease) Increase in accrued salaries |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
(Decrease) Increase in accrued interest |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Decrease in operating lease liability |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of equipment |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Cash received from sale of equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments of notes payable |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Proceeds from the issuance of notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Proceeds from exercise of options |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Payments from exercise of warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Payment of convertible note payable |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Payments of equipment notes payable |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Proceeds from the issuance of notes payable |
|
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|
|
|
| ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Income taxes |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock issued for conversion of convertible notes |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Common stock issued for interest payable |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Common stock issued for consulting services |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Common stock issued for prepaid consulting services |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| F-6 |
| Table of Contents |
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Organization
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (the “Company”) is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with
MES, Inc.
MES, Inc. is incorporated in the State of North Dakota. MES, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. and is engaged in the business of developing and commercializing state of the art control technologies relating to the capture and control of mercury emissions from coal fired boilers in the United States and Canada.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, MES, Inc. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, valuation of equity issuances and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company uses estimates in accounting for, among other items, profit share liability, revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation, income tax provisions, excess and obsolete inventory reserve and impairment of intellectual property. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recoverability of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets
Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Events relating to recoverability may include significant unfavorable changes in business conditions, recurring losses or a forecasted inability to achieve break-even operating results over an extended period. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets based upon forecasted undiscounted cash flows. Should impairment in value be indicated, the carrying value of the long-lived and/or intangible assets would be adjusted, based on estimates of future discounted cash flows. The Company evaluated the recoverability of the carrying value of the Company’s property and equipment, right of use asset and intellectual property. No impairment charges were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
| F-7 |
| Table of Contents |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the inputs used to determine fair value, which are as follows:
| ☐ | Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. |
| ☐ | Level 2 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. |
| ☐ | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions. |
The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.
Cash was the only asset measured at fair value on a recurring basis by the Company at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and is considered to be Level 1.
Financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, customer credits and short-term debt. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximated fair value at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 due to their short-term maturities.
The fair value of the promissory notes payable at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 approximated the carrying amount as the notes were recently issued at interest rates prevailing in the market and interest rates have not significantly changed as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The fair value of the promissory notes payable was determined on a Level 2 measurement. Discounts on issued debt, as well as debt issuance costs, are amortized over the term of the individual promissory notes.
The fair value of the profit share liability at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was calculated using a discounted cash flow model based on estimated future cash payments. The fair value of the profit share liability was determined on a Level 3 measurement. These values are determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilized management’s estimates.
The following tables present the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy.
|
|
|
|
| Fair Value Measurement as of |
| ||||||||||
|
|
|
| December 31, 2021 |
| |||||||||||
|
| Total |
|
| Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
| Level 3 |
| ||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total Assets |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Promissory notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Profit share liability – related party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total Liabilities |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||||
| F-8 |
| Table of Contents |
|
|
|
| Fair Value Measurement as of December 31, 2020 |
| |||||||||||
|
| Total |
|
| Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
| Level 3 |
| ||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total Assets |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Promissory notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Profit share liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total Liabilities |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||||
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company’s functional currency is the United States Dollar (the “U.S. Dollar”). The Company engages in foreign currency denominated transactions with customers that operate in functional currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. Dollar amounts at the period-end exchange rates. Sales and purchases and income and expense transactions that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. Dollar amounts at the prevailing rates of exchange on the transaction date. Adjustments arising from foreign currency transactions are reflected in the statement of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no material foreign exchange gains or losses recognized by the Company in its statements of operations.
Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 3: Determine the transaction price.
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
Revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligation under the contract by transferring the promised product to its customer that obtains control of the product. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product to a customer. Most of the Company’s contracts have a single performance obligation, as the promise to transfer products or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract and, therefore, not distinct.
Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring products. As such, revenue is recorded net of returns, allowances, customer discounts, and incentives. Sales and other taxes are excluded from revenues. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are included in revenue.
| F-9 |
| Table of Contents |
Disaggregation of Revenue
The Company generated revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 by (i) delivering product to its commercial customers, (ii) completing and commissioning equipment projects at commercial customer sites and (iii) performing demonstrations of its technology at customers with the intent of entering into long term supply agreements based on the performance of the Company’s products during the demonstrations and (iv) licensing its technology to customers.
Revenue for product sales is recognized at the point of time in which the customer obtains control of the product, at the time title passes to the customer upon shipment or delivery of the product based on the applicable shipping terms.
Revenue for equipment sales is recognized upon commissioning and customer acceptance of the installed equipment per the terms of the purchase contract.
Revenue for demonstrations and consulting services is recognized when performance obligations contained in the contract have been completed, typically the completion of necessary field work and the delivery of any required analysis per the terms of the agreement.
The following table presents sales by operating segment disaggregated based on the type of product and geographic region for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
|
| Year ended December 31, 2021 |
|
| Year ended December 31, 2020 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
| United States |
|
| International |
|
| Total |
|
| United States |
|
| International |
|
| Total |
| ||||||
Product revenue |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||||||
License revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
| ||||||
Demonstrations Consulting revenue |
|
|
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|
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|
| ||||||
Equipment revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||||||
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
FASB ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
| F-10 |
| Table of Contents |
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law in March 2020. The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“2017 Tax Act”).
In addition, the CARES Act raises the corporate charitable deduction limit to 25% of taxable income and makes qualified improvement property generally eligible for 15-year cost-recovery and 100% bonus depreciation. The enactment of the CARES Act did not result in any material adjustments to our income tax provision.
Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share
Basic net loss per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution from common stock equivalents, such as stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options and warrants. There were no dilutive potential common shares as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, because the Company incurred net losses and basic and diluted losses per common share are the same. The following common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share of common stock because they were anti-dilutive. The exercise of these common stock equivalents would dilute earnings per share if the Company becomes profitable in the future.
|
| December 31, |
|
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Stock Options |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Convertible debt |
|
| - |
|
|
|
| |
Total common stock equivalents excluded from diluted net loss per share |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and equivalents on deposit with financial institutions and accounts receivable. The Company’s cash as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 is maintained at high-quality financial institutions and has not incurred any losses to date.
Customer and Supplier Concentration
For each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020,
| F-11 |
| Table of Contents |
For each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020,
Contingencies
Certain conditions may exist which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management and its legal counsel assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company, or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.
If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.
Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they arise from guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2018-07 is intended to reduce cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for nonemployee share based payments. Prior to the issuance of this guidance, the accounting requirements for nonemployee and employee share-based payment transactions were significantly different. ASU 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (which only included share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees is substantially aligned. This ASU supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity — Equity-Based Payments to Nonemployees. The adoption of ASU 2018-07 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in ASU 2018-13 modify the disclosure requirements associated with fair value measurements based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued authoritative guidance intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes (ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”). This guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the general approach to the income tax accounting model and adds new guidance to reduce the complexity in accounting for income taxes. This guidance is effective for annual periods after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those annual periods (beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2021 for the Company). The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
| F-12 |
| Table of Contents |
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, when adopted, will have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 – Going Concern and Financial Condition
Under ASC 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern, the Company has the responsibility to evaluate whether conditions and/or events raise substantial doubt about its ability to meet its future financial obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As required by ASC 205-40, this evaluation shall initially not take into consideration the potential mitigating effects of plans that have not been fully implemented as of the date the financial statements are issued. Management has assessed the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in accordance with the requirement of ASC 205-40.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As reflected in the consolidated financial statements, the Company had $
These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the next twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements. The Company has taken steps to alleviate the doubt raised by the application of ASC 205-40. During 2021, the Company eliminated $
The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
Note 4 - Inventory
Inventory was comprised of the following at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
|
| December 31, 2021 |
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| ||
Raw Materials |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Spare Parts |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Finished goods |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
| F-13 |
| Table of Contents |
Note 5 - Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:
|
| December 31, |
|
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Equipment installation |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Trucking equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Office equipment, computer equipment and software |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: accumulated depreciation |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Construction in process |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Property and equipment, net |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Note 6 - Intellectual Property
On January 15, 2009, the Company entered into an “Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement Including Transfer of Ownership” with the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation, a non-profit entity. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company has been granted an exclusive license by the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation for the technology to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, lease, and import the technology in any coal-fired combustion systems (power plant) worldwide and to develop and perform the technology in any coal-fired power plant in the world.
On April 24, 2017, the Company closed on the acquisition of all patent rights from the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation including all patents and patents pending, domestic and foreign, relating to the foregoing technology. A total of
License and patent costs capitalized as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:
|
| December 31, |
|
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Licenses and patents |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Less: Accumulated amortization |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Intellectual property, net |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
| F-14 |
| Table of Contents |
Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $
Note 7 - Notes Payable
On February 25, 2020, and pursuant to a Business Loan Agreement entered into with a banking institution, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, MES, Inc. closed on a one-year secured loan in the principal amount of $
On April 14, 2020, the Company received loan proceeds in the amount of $
In February 2021, the Company received second draw loan proceeds in the amount of $
Note 8 - Convertible Notes Payable
The Company has the following convertible notes payable outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
|
| December 31, |
|
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Secured convertible promissory notes which mature upon the retirement of the New AC Midwest Secured Debt (see Note 9), bear interest at 10% per annum, are convertible into shares of common stock at $0.50 per share, and are secured by the assets of the Company. |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unsecured convertible promissory notes which mature beginning on June 15, 2023 through October 31, 2023, bear interest at 12% per annum, and are convertible into shares of common stock at $0.50 per share. |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unsecured convertible promissory notes which mature beginning on June 18, 2024 through October 23, 2024, bear interest at 12% per annum, and are convertible into shares of common stock at $0.50 per share. |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total convertible notes payable before discount |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less discounts and debt issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total convertible notes payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less current portion |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible notes payable, net of current portion |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
| F-15 |
| Table of Contents |
From July 30, 2013 through December 24, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes and warrants to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $
On June 15, 2018, the Company issued 2018 Unsecured Convertible Notes (the “2018 Unsecured Notes”) totaling $
| F-16 |
| Table of Contents |
From June 18, 2019 through October 23, 2019, the Company sold 2019 Unsecured Convertible Notes (the “2019 Unsecured Notes”) totaling $
Note 9 - Related Party
Secured Note Payable
On November 29, 2016, pursuant to a new restated financing agreement entered with AC Midwest Energy, LLC (“AC Midwest”) on November 1, 2016, the Company closed on a new secured note with AC Midwest (the “AC Midwest Secured Note”) in the original principal amount of $
Unsecured Note Payable
The Company has the following unsecured note payable - related party outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
|
| December 31, |
|
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Unsecured note payable |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less discounts and debt issuance costs |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total unsecured note payable |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
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Less current portion |
|
| ( | ) |
|
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| |
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Unsecured note payable, net of current portion |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
| F-17 |
| Table of Contents |
On November 29, 2016, pursuant to a new restated financing agreement entered with AC Midwest on November 1, 2016, the Company closed on an unsecured note with AC Midwest (the “AC Midwest Subordinated Note”) in the principal amount of $
In accordance with ASC 470-60-15-5, since the present value of the cash flows under the new debt instrument was at least ten percent different from the present value of the remaining cash flows under the terms of the original debt instrument, the Company accounted for the amendment to note as a debt extinguishment. Accordingly, the Company wrote off the remaining debt discount on the original debentures of $
The New AC Midwest Unsecured Note, which has been issued in exchange for the AC Midwest Subordinated Note which has now been cancelled, will mature on
AC Midwest shall be entitled to a profit participation preference equal to 1.0 times the original principal amount (the “Profit Share”). If the original principal amount had been paid in full on or prior to August 25, 2020, AC Midwest would have been entitled to a profit participation preference equal to 0.5 times the original principal amount.
The Profit Share is “non-recourse” and shall only be derived from and computed on the basis of, and paid from, Net Litigation Proceeds from claims relating to the Company’s intellectual property, Net Revenue Share and Adjusted Free Cash Flow (as such terms are defined in the Unsecured Note Financing Agreement).
The Profit Share
| F-18 |
| Table of Contents |
The Company is utilizing the methodology behind the ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging and ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity to determine how to account for the profit-sharing portion of the note payable. Although the transaction is not indexed to MEEC’s common stock the profit sharing has the characteristics of a freestanding financial instrument because the profit sharing is not callable by the lender, it will be paid out past the maturity of the Unsecured Note Payable and, the fair value will fluctuate over time based on payment predictions. The Profit Share was determined to have a fair value of $
The following are the changes in the profit share liabilities during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Profit Share as of January 1, 2021 |
| $ |
| |
Addition |
|
|
| |
Loss on change in fair value of profit share |
|
|
| |
Profit Share as of December 31, 2021 |
| $ |
|
Profit Share as of January 1, 2020 |
| $ |
| |
Addition |
|
|
| |
Gain on change in fair value of profit share |
|
| ( | ) |
Profit Share as of December 31, 2020 |
| $ | 2,305,308 |
|
Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement
On June 1, 2021, the Company, along with MES, entered into a Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement with AC Midwest, which will repay all existing secured and unsecured debt obligations presently held by AC Midwest (the “Debt Repayment Agreement”).
Pursuant to the Debt Repayment Agreement, the Company shall at closing repay the principal balance outstanding on the AC Midwest Secured Note in cash, together with any other amounts due and owing under such note, and repay the outstanding debt under the New AC Midwest Unsecured Note by paying and issuing a combination of cash and shares of common stock which AC Midwest has agreed to accept in full and complete repayment of the obligations thereunder.
At closing, and with regard to the New AC Midwest Unsecured Note, the Company shall pay AC Midwest $
The closing is subject to various conditions including but not limited to the completion of an offering of equity securities resulting in net proceeds of at least $12.0 million by December 31, 2021, which has been extended to June 30, 2022 (the “Qualifying Offering”). In the event that the closing does not occur by June 30, 2022, either party may terminate the Debt Repayment Agreement and the existing notes with AC Midwest will continue in their current forms.
| F-19 |
| Table of Contents |
Related Party Transactions
Kaye Cooper Kay Rosenberg, LLP provides certain legal services to the Company and was paid $
As of December 31, 2021 the Company has a $
Note 10 - Operating Leases
In 2016, the Company entered into a six-year agreement to lease trailers used in the delivery of its products. Monthly payments currently total $
On January 27, 2015, the Company entered into a lease for office space in Lewis Center, Ohio, commencing
On July 1, 2015, the Company entered into a five-year lease for warehouse space in Corsicana, Texas. Rent is $
On September 1, 2019, the Company entered into a one-year lease for office space in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Monthly rent is $
Future remaining minimum lease payments under these non-cancelable leases are as follows:
For the twelve months ended December 31, |
|
|
| |
2022 |
| $ |
| |
2023 |
|
|
| |
2024 |
|
|
| |
Total |
|
|
| |
Less discount |
|
| ( | ) |
Total lease liabilities |
|
|
| |
Less current portion |
|
| ( | ) |
Operating lease obligation, net of current portion |
| $ |
| |
The weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases is
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s lease cost consists of the following components, each of which is included in costs and expenses within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations:
| F-20 |
| Table of Contents |
|
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
| |
Operating lease cost |
| $ |
| |
Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies
Fixed Price Contract
The Company’s multi-year contracts with its commercial customers contain fixed prices for product.
Legal proceedings
On July 17, 2019,
During 2020, each of the four major utility defendants in the above action filed petitions for Inter Partes Review with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, seeking to invalidate certain claims to the patents which are subject to the litigation.
Between July 2020 and January 2021, we entered into agreements with each of the four major utility defendants in such action which included certain monetary arrangements and pursuant to which we have dismissed all claims brought against each of them and their affiliates, and such parties have withdrawn from petitions for Inter Partes Review with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Such agreements entered into with such parties provide each of them and their affiliates with a non-exclusive license to certain Company patents (related to the Company’s two-part Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) process) for use in connection with such parties’ coal-fired power plants.
The above described proceedings are continuing with respect to the other parties involved. On May 20, 2021, a U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation that the above action should be permitted to proceed against 16 refined coal defendants named in the action directly involved in the refined coal program and operations, and be dismissed against 12 other defendants, primarily affiliated entities of the refined coal operators. Such report was issued in connection with certain motions to dismiss filed by the refined coal defendants. In September 2021, such report and recommendation was approved by the District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
| F-21 |
| Table of Contents |
Except for the foregoing disclosures, the Company is not presently aware of any other material pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its property is the subject.
Litigation, including patent litigation, is inherently subject to uncertainties. As such, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in litigating and/or settling any of these claims.
Note 12 - Stock Based Compensation
Stock Based Compensation
Stock based compensation consists of the amortization of common stock, stock options and warrants issued to employees, directors and consultants. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, stock based compensation expense amounted to $
Common Stock
As of January 1, 2020, and pursuant to an advisory agreement dated as of November 20, 2019 and effective as of January 1, 2020 for a term of one year with a nonaffiliated third party, the Company issued
On October 5, 2020, the Company issued
On March 23, 2021, and pursuant to a consulting agreement dated November 1, 2020, as amended on March 19, 2021, with a nonaffiliated third party, the Company issued
On March 30, 2021, and pursuant to a business development agreement dated March 30, 2021 with a nonaffiliated third party, the Company issued
On December 1, 2021, and pursuant to a consulting agreement dated December 1, 2021 with a nonaffiliated third party, the Company issued
| F-22 |
| Table of Contents |
Stock Options
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, which addresses the accounting for employee stock options which requires that the cost of all employee stock options, as well as other equity-based compensation arrangements, be reflected in the consolidated financial statements over the vesting period based on the estimated fair value of the awards.
A summary of stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented below:
|
| Number of Shares |
|
| Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
| Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years) |
|
| Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
| ||||
December 31, 2019 |
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| $ |
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| $ |
| ||||
Grants |
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| - |
| |||
Exercised |
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| ( | ) |
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| - |
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Expirations |
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| ( | ) |
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| - |
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December 31, 2020 |
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Grants |
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| $ |
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| $ | - |
| |||
Exercised |
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| ( | ) |
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| - |
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| - |
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December 31, 2021 |
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| ||||
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Options exercisable at: |
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December 31, 2020 |
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| ||||
December 31, 2021 |
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| $ |
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| $ |
| ||||
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $
The Company utilized the Black-Scholes options pricing model to value its options granted. The assumptions used for options granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
|
| December 31, 2020 |
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| ||
Exercise price |
| $ |
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| $ |
| ||
Expected dividends |
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| % |
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| % | ||
Expected volatility |
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| % |
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| |||
Risk free interest rate |
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| % |
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| |||
Expected life |
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| ||||
On June 15, 2020, the Company granted nonqualified stock options to acquire an aggregate of
| F-23 |
| Table of Contents |
On July 8, 2020,
On December 14, 2020,
In December 2020, the Company issued
On April 16, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company approved another amendment to the 2017 Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance by an additional
On May 1, 2021, the Company issued
On June 30, 2021, the Company issued
On November 22, 2021,
| F-24 |
| Table of Contents |
On December 6, 2021, the Company issued
Note 13 - Warrants
Sold and issued warrants are subject to the provisions of FASB ASC 815-10, the Company utilized a Black-Scholes options pricing model to value the warrants sold and issued. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions such as the expected stock price volatility and the expected period until the warrants are exercised. When calculating the value of warrants issued, the Company uses a volatility factor, a risk-free interest rate and the life of the warrant for the exercise period.
From January 23, 2021 to February 16, 2021, the Company issued
On February 17, 2021, the Company issued
On March 8, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of
The following is a summary of the Company’s warrant activity:
|
| Number of Shares |
|
| Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
| Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years) |
|
| Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
| ||||
December 31, 2019 |
|
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|
| $ |
|
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| $ | - |
| |||
Grants |
|
| - |
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| - |
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| - |
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| - |
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Expirations |
|
| ( | ) |
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| - |
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| - |
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December 31, 2020 |
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| ||||
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Grants |
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| - |
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| - |
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| - |
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Expirations |
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| ( | ) |
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Exercised |
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| ( | ) |
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| - |
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December 31, 2021 |
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| $ |
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Warrants exercisable at: |
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December 31, 2020 |
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December 31, 2021 |
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| |||
| F-25 |
| Table of Contents |
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $
The following table summarizes information about common stock warrants outstanding at December 31, 2021:
Outstanding and Exercisable | ||||||||||||||
Exercise Price |
|
| Number Outstanding |
|
| Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years) |
|
| Weighted Average Exercise Price |
| ||||
| $ |
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Note 14 - Taxes
Below is breakdown of the income tax provisions for the years ended December 31:
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Federal |
|
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|
| ||
Current |
| $ |
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| $ |
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Deferred |
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| ( | ) |
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| ( | ) |
State and local |
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Current |
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Deferred |
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| ( | ) |
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| ( | ) |
Change in valuation allowance |
|
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| ||
Income tax provision |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
The expected tax expense (benefit) based on the statutory rate is reconciled with actual tax expense benefit as follows:
|
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
| ||
U.S. federal statutory rate |
|
| % |
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| % | ||
State taxes |
|
| % |
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| % | ||
Other permanent and prior period adjustments |
|
| % |
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| % | ||
Valuation allowance |
|
| ( | )% |
|
| ( | )% |
Income tax provision |
|
| ( | )% |
|
| ( | )% |
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant
components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows at December 31:
| F-26 |
| Table of Contents |
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
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|
| ||
Net operating loss carryforwards |
| $ |
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| $ |
| ||
Stock based compensation |
|
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Other |
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| ||
Total deferred tax assets |
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| ||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
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|
Property and equipment |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Other |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Total deferred tax liabilities |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
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Valuation Allowance |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
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Net deferred tax asset |
| $ |
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| $ |
| ||
The Company has U.S. federal net operating loss carryovers (“NOLs”) of approximately $
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law in March 2020. The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“2017 Tax Act”). Corporate taxpayers may carryback net operating losses (“NOLs”) originating between 2018 and 2020 for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the 2017 Tax Act.
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future generation for taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences representing net future deductible amounts become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. After consideration of all the information available, Management believes that significant uncertainty exists with respect to future realization of the deferred tax assets and has therefore established a full valuation allowance. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the change in the valuation allowance was $
The Company evaluated the provisions of ASC 740-10 related to the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. ASC 740-10 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, present, and disclose uncertain positions that the Company has taken or expects to take in its tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. Differences between tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the net benefit recognized and measured pursuant to the interpretation are referred to as “unrecognized benefits.” A liability is recognized (or amount of net operating loss carry forward or amount of tax refundable is reduced) for unrecognized tax benefit because it represents an enterprise’s potential future obligation to the taxing authority for a tax position that was not recognized as a result of applying the provisions of ASC 740-10.
| F-27 |
| Table of Contents |
If applicable, interest costs related to the unrecognized tax benefits are required to be calculated and would be classified as “Other expenses – Interest” in the statement of operations. Penalties would be recognized as a component of “General and administrative.”
No interest or penalties on unpaid tax were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, no liability for unrecognized tax benefits was required to be reported. The Company does not expect any significant changes in its unrecognized tax benefits in the next year.
Note 15 - Subsequent Events
On January 24, 2022, and effective as of December 31, 2021, the Company, along with MES, entered into Amendment to the Debt Repayment Agreement with AC Midwest pursuant to which the closing date deadline for completing the transactions contemplated by the Debt Repayment Agreement has been extended from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2022. See Note 9.
On January 24, 2022, the Company extended the expiration dates of certain previously granted nonqualified stock options which were granted to five individuals to acquire an aggregate of
On February 2, 2022, the Company issued
| F-28 |
| Table of Contents |
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Report of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Regulations under the Exchange Act require public companies to maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” which are defined as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness, the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer determined that as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as a result of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013 (COSO).
Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Despite these controls, because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Furthermore, smaller reporting companies, like us, face additional limitations. Smaller reporting companies employ fewer individuals and can find it difficult to employ resources for complicated transactions and effective risk management. Additionally, smaller reporting companies tend to utilize general accounting software packages that lack a rigorous set of software controls.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 based on the criteria established in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2021. The ineffectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting was due to the following material weaknesses which are indicative of many small companies: (i) lack of a sufficient complement of personnel commensurate with the Company’s reporting requirements; and (ii) insufficient written documentation or training of our internal control policies and procedures which provide staff with guidance or framework for accounting and disclosing financial transactions.
| 34 |
| Table of Contents |
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding our internal controls over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(c) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Despite the existence of the material weaknesses above, we believe that our consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-K fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the periods presented in all material respects.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Except as discussed below, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15 (f) under the Exchange Act) during the fourth quarter of 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Material Weaknesses
In connection with our annual audit for the year ended December 31, 2021, management determined that controls as described above constitute material weaknesses in disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. As a result, it was determined that control deficiencies that constitutes material weaknesses in the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting was present. Management believes that these material weaknesses did not have an effect on our financial results. However, management believes that the lack of these items results in ineffective internal controls, which could result in a material misstatement in our financial statements in future periods.
Due to our size and nature, segregation of duties within our internal control system may not always be possible or economically feasible. Likewise, we may not be able to engage sufficient resources to enable us to have adequate staff and supervision within our accounting function, including technical accounting.
Remediation
Certain actions have been taken to address certain aspects of the material weaknesses disclosed above. As of January 1, 2020, we replaced our previous accounting software with a more efficient software package to manage our business activities and accounting needs. During the fourth quarter of 2019 we hired a new full-time Controller at our Corsicana, Texas location, closed our Lewis Center, Ohio office and moved our corporate headquarters to our Corsicana, Texas address which has allowed us to consolidate our manufacturing and distribution activities, bookkeeping and accounting at one location. As of October 21, 2020, our Controller was appointed and promoted to Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company, and as of June 1, 2021, was appointed and promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer. Also, in the fourth quarter of 2019, we hired a financial consulting firm to assist us in bookkeeping and preparing financial statements for our SEC filings, assist us in evaluating our internal controls over financial reporting and assist us in other related matters.
Although we believe that these efforts effectively strengthen our disclosure controls and procedures as well as our internal control over financial reporting, our management team intends to continue to actively plan for and implement additional control procedures to improve our overall control environment and expect these efforts to continue throughout 2022 and beyond. Due to the nature of the remediation process, the need to have sufficient resources (cash or otherwise) to devote to such efforts, and the need to allow adequate time after implementation to evaluate and test the effectiveness of the controls, no assurance can be given as to the timing of achievement of remediation.
| 35 |
| Table of Contents |
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspection.
None.
| 36 |
| Table of Contents |
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The following table sets forth certain information as of the date of this report about our executive officers and members of our board of directors.
Name |
| Age |
| Position |
Richard MacPherson |
| 66 |
| President and Chief Executive Officer, Director |
Christopher Greenberg |
| 55 |
| Chairman of the Board, Director |
John Pavlish |
| 63 |
| Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer |
James Trettel |
| 53 |
| Vice President of Operations |
David M. Kaye |
| 67 |
| Secretary, Director |
Jami L. Satterthwaite |
| 42 |
| Chief Financial Officer |
Executive Officers
Richard MacPherson has been a Director of the Company since June 2011 and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since March 2015. Mr. MacPherson is the founder of MES, Inc. (current subsidiary and operating company of the Company) and had been its Chief Executive Officer from 2008 until 2011. From 2011 to March 2015, Mr. MacPherson served as Vice President of Business Development of the Company. Over the past 10 years, Mr. MacPherson has worked with industry leading scientists and engineers to bring the Company’s technology from the RD phase, through multiple product development stages, to the final commercialization phase, acting as the lead on all required initiatives and activities. He has been a senior-level executive in the services industry for over 25 years. Mr. MacPherson brings extensive start-up and business development knowledge, applied and proven through his corporate experience throughout the United States and Canada. He has worked in multiple industries, such as electric utilities, communications, and marketing, as well as in several entrepreneurial ventures in the communications, hospitality, geological, and real estate development industries. We believe that Mr. MacPherson’s deep experience in business and strong leadership skills, coupled with being the founder of our operating subsidiary and his extensive knowledge of our technology, qualifies him to serve on our board.
John Pavlish has been Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of the Company since November 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Pavlish was a Senior Research Advisor and the Director of the Center for Air Toxic Metals at the Energy Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He has over 25 years of mercury-related experience and is regarded as an international expert on the topic of mercury. His primary areas of interest and expertise include research, technical consultation, and development of mercury control technologies, in particular, for coal combustion and gasification systems. He is an inventor of a number of patented mercury control technologies and has years of experience in development and testing of these technologies for commercial application. Over the last 20 years, he has spent much of his time evaluating the efficacy of a number of different mercury control technologies/approaches and their cost-competitiveness in the commercial market. Mr. Pavlish also has years of power plant experience and has worked for engineering/consulting company Black Veatch, where he served as Unit Leader/System Engineer. Mr. Pavlish is a professional engineer, a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a member of the Air Waste Management Association. He serves on numerous professional and technical committees and is a U.S. Representative on the Mercury Emissions from Coal International Experts Working Group on Reducing Emissions from Coal and a member of the United Nations Environment Programme Global Mercury Partnership, Reduction of Mercury Releases from Coal Combustion. Mr. Pavlish has published over 200 papers, articles, and reports on various mercury-related topics and issues.
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James Trettel has been Vice President of Operations since January 2014. Mr. Trettel possesses over 25 years of experience in the dry bulk material handling industry. During 2012 and 2013, he was the owner and operator of Solid Foundation Services, LLC, a firm specializing in deep foundation installations for the gas and oilfield industry, while providing technical consulting services to MEEC. Prior to 2012, he provided project management and engineering duties for numerous multi-million dollar turn-key contracts while employed at Advanced Bulk and Conveying Inc. starting in 2004. Additionally, Mr. Trettel has overseen day to day operations for 14 years as the VP of JB Industrial Sales Company Inc. of sales, systems, and engineering organization specializing in bulk material handling. Mr. Trettel has extensive field experience with systems operating in a large variety of industry sectors including coal fired utilities. Mr. Trettel graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Jami L. Satterthwaite has served as Chief Financial Officer since June 2021. Prior thereto, she served as Chief Accounting Officer from October 2020 to June 2021 and Controller from December 2019 to October 2020. Ms. Satterthwaite is a certified public accountant. From October 2010 to January 2018, she was a partner in the accounting firm of Nelson Swaite, CPAs, LLC, located in Vancouver, Washington, and from January 2007 to September 2010, she was an accountant with the accounting firm of Caley Associates, CPAs, located in Vancouver, Washington. Ms. Satterthwaite received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Saint Martin’s College (1999).
Directors
Please see the information regarding Richard MacPherson under “Executive Officers” above.
Christopher Greenberg has been a director of the Company since June 2013 and Chairman of the Board since December 2014. Mr. Greenberg, along with his wife, are the founders and joint owners of Global Safety Network, Inc., a company which provides employment screening and other risk mitigation services. Global Safety Network was founded in 2003. Mr. Greenberg served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to May 2021. Mr. Greenberg and his wife have also owned and operated multiple Express Employment Professionals franchises located in North Dakota and South Dakota since 1997. Express Employment Professionals is a staffing agency that provides full time and temporary job placement, human resources services and consulting. Mr. Greenberg is a highly experienced Operations Executive who has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting-edge markets, and fast-paced environments. Mr. Greenberg has strong technical and business qualifications with an impressive track record of more than 25 years of hands-on experience in strategic planning, business unit development, project and product management, and proprietary software development. He also has the proven ability to successfully analyze an organization’s critical business requirements, identify deficiencies and potential opportunities, and develop innovative and cost-effective solutions for enhancing competitiveness, increasing revenues, and improving customer service offerings. We believe that Mr. Greenberg’s deep experience in business, along his strong entrepreneurial and executive management background, qualifies him to serve on our board.
David M. Kaye has been a director of the Company since June 2019 and Secretary since December 2019. Mr. Kaye is an attorney and has been a partner in the law firm of Kaye Cooper Kay Rosenberg, LLP, located in Roseland, New Jersey, since the firm’s inception in February 1996. Since 1980, Mr. Kaye has been a practicing attorney in the New York City metropolitan area specializing in business, corporate, and securities matters. From March 2006 to June 2011, Mr. Kaye was a director of China Youth Media, Inc., resigning from such position effective with the merger between the Company with MES, Inc which was completed in June 2011. From December 2000 to October 2009, Mr. Kaye also served on the Board of Directors of Dionics, Inc. Mr. Kaye received his B.A. from George Washington University (1976) and his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University (1979). We believe that Mr. Kaye’s deep experience in business and transactional matters and working with public companies qualifies him to serve on our board.
There are no family relationships between any of the directors and executive officers of the Company.
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Composition of Our Board of Directors
Our board currently consists of three members. We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. No assurance can be given that our application will be approved. If approved, our board will need to consist of five members. There are no contractual obligations regarding the election of our directors. Our nominating and corporate governance committee and our board of directors may therefore consider a broad range of factors relating to the qualifications and background of nominees. Our nominating and corporate governance committee’s and our board of directors’ priority in selecting board members is identification of persons who will further the interests of our stockholders through their established record of professional accomplishment, the ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among board members, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape, professional and personal experiences, and expertise relevant to our growth strategy. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation or removal.
Director Independence
We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Under the Nasdaq listing rules, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within twelve months from the date of listing. In addition, the Nasdaq listing rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation, and nominating and governance committees be independent within twelve months from the date of listing. Audit committee members must also satisfy additional independence criteria, including those set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and compensation committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act. Under Nasdaq listing rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors or any other board committee: (1) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries, other than compensation for board service; or (2) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10C-1, the board of directors must consider, for each member of a compensation committee of a listed company, all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to such company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: the source of compensation of the director, including any consulting advisory or other compensatory fee paid by such company to the director, and whether the director is affiliated with the company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Committees of Our Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee, and a finance committee each of which operates pursuant to a charter adopted by our board of directors. In the event we are able to complete the proposed offering of our common stock pursuant to the registration statement recently filed with the SEC and our application to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market is approved, the composition and functioning of all of our committees will comply with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Nasdaq, and SEC rules and regulations.
The full text of our audit committee charter, compensation committee charter, nominating and corporate governance charter, and finance committee charter are posted on the investor relations portion of our website at http://www.me2cenvironmental.com. We do not incorporate the information contained on, or accessible through, our corporate website into this report, and you should not consider it a part of this report.
Due to the resignation of certain independent directors in recent years, and due to the current small size of the board, the board as a whole now acts and shall continue to act as the audit committee, the compensation committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee, and the finance committee until such time, if any, that the number of authorized and elected directors is increased or the committees are otherwise reconfigured. Each of these committees shall meet as often as its members deem necessary to perform such committee’s responsibilities.
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Audit Committee
The audit committee’s charter requires that such committee shall consist of no fewer than three directors, each of whom shall be an independent director of the Company satisfying the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any exchange on which our securities may be listed and any other applicable regulatory requirements. The audit committee is appointed by our board of directors to assist the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility by reviewing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and its subsidiaries, our internal control and disclosure control system, and the audits of our financial statements. In this regard, the audit committee shall approve our retention of independent auditors and pre-approve any audit or non-audit services performed by them. It shall review with such accountants the arrangements for, and the scope of, the audit to be conducted by them. It also shall review with the independent accountants and with management the results of audits and various other financial and accounting matters affecting us.
As aforementioned, we have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, at which time, we will amend our audit committee’s charter to comply with the Nasdaq listing rules, if necessary. Under the Nasdaq listing rules, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within twelve months from the date of listing. In addition, the Nasdaq listing rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit committee be independent within twelve months from the date of listing. Audit committee members must also satisfy additional independence criteria, including those set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
Upon becoming a listed company, all members of our audit committee will consist of three directors each of whom will meet the relevant independence requirements for service on the audit committee and requirements for financial literacy set forth in the Nasdaq listing rules and SEC rules and our board of directors will appoint an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of applicable SEC regulations. Both our independent registered public accounting firm and management will periodically meet privately with our audit committee.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee’s charter requires that such committee shall consist of no fewer than two directors, each of whom shall (i) be an independent director of the Company satisfying the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any exchange on which our securities may be listed and any other applicable regulatory requirements, (ii) qualify as an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and (iii) meet the requirements of a “non-employee director” for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The compensation committee is appointed by our board of directors to review and approve our compensation and benefits programs, including: annual base salary; annual incentive opportunity; stock option or other equity participation plans; profit-sharing plans; long-term incentive opportunity; the terms of employment agreements, severance agreements, and change in control agreements, in each case as, when and if appropriate; any special or supplemental benefits; and any other payments that are deemed compensation under applicable rules of the SEC. In this regard, the compensation committee shall evaluate the performance of the CEO in light of our goals and objectives and determine and approve the CEO’s compensation based on this evaluation and such other factors as the committee shall deem appropriate. The committee shall also determine and approve the compensation of all other executive officers of the Company, which determination may be based upon recommendations of the CEO. Our board of directors can exercise its discretion in modifying any amount presented by our CEO.
Again, we have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, at which time, we will amend our compensation committee’s charter to comply with the Nasdaq listing rules, if necessary. Under the Nasdaq listing rules, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within twelve months from the date of listing. In addition, the Nasdaq listing rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s compensation committee be independent within twelve months from the date of listing. Compensation committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act.
Upon becoming a listed company, all members of our compensation committee will be “independent” as defined in the applicable Nasdaq rules and will meet the relevant independence requirements set forth in the SEC rules. Moreover, each member of our compensation committee will be a non-employee director, as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee’s charter requires that such committee shall consist of no fewer than two directors, each of whom shall be an independent director of the Company satisfying the independence requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market or any exchange on which our securities may be listed and any other applicable regulatory requirements. The nominating and corporate governance committee is appointed by our board of directors to determine the identity of director nominees for election to the board and to assist the board in discharging the board’s responsibilities in the area of corporate governance.
The committee shall review, at least annually, the composition and size of our board of directors and make recommendations to the board regarding the criteria for board membership including issues of character, judgment, diversity, expertise, corporate experience, and the like. At a minimum, directors should share the values of the Company and should possess the following characteristics: high personal and professional integrity; the ability to exercise sound business judgment; an inquiring mind; and the time available to devote to board of directors’ activities and the willingness to do so. Our board of directors or the committee does not have a formal policy specifically focusing on the consideration of diversity; however, diversity is one of the many factors that the committee shall consider when identifying candidates. In addition to the foregoing considerations, generally with respect to nominees recommended by stockholders, the committee will evaluate such recommended nominees considering the additional information regarding the nominees provided to the committee. When seeking candidates for our board of directors, the committee may solicit suggestions from incumbent directors, management, and third-party search firms. Ultimately, the committee will recommend prospective nominees who the committee believes will be effective, in conjunction with the other members of our board of directors, in collectively serving the long-term interests of our stockholders. The committee will review any candidate recommended by stockholders of the Company in light of its criteria for selection of new directors.
Finance Committee
The finance committee is appointed by our board of directors to oversee all areas of corporate performance and finance, and advise and assist the board with respect to the financial and investment policies, risks, and objectives of the Company, including specific actions required to achieve those objectives.
Our board of directors may from time to time establish other committees.
Corporate Governance
We have adopted a written code of ethics and business conduct (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our directors, officers, and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The objective of the Code of Conduct is to provide guidelines for maintaining our commitment to honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior. The Code of Conduct addresses conflicts of interest, protection of our assets, confidentiality, fair dealing with customers, suppliers, competitors and employees, insider trading, compliance with laws, and reporting any illegal or unethical behavior. As part of the Code of Conduct, any person subject to the Code of Conduct is required to avoid or fully disclose interests or relationships that are harmful or detrimental to our best interests or that may give rise to real, potential, or the appearance of conflicts of interest. Our board of directors will have ultimate responsibility for the stewardship of the Code of Conduct, and it will monitor compliance through our nominating and corporate governance committee. Directors, officers, and employees will be required to annually certify that they have not violated the Code of Conduct. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics reflects the foregoing principles. A copy of the Code of Conduct is available free of charge to any person on written or telephone request to Midwest Energy Emissions Corp., 1810 Jester Drive, Corsicana, Texas 75109 or (614) 505-6115.
We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K relating to amendments to or waivers from any provision of the code of ethics and business conduct applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer by posting such information on our website http://www.me2cenvironmental.com.
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Financial Experts
The Board of Directors has not appointed any directors as “audit committee financial experts” as defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, insofar that our common stock is not presently a listed security.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and owners of more than ten percent of the Company’s Common Shares (“10% stockholders”), to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Shares of the Company. Executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a).
To the Company’s knowledge, based on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company, and with respect to the officers and directors, representations that no other reports were required, during the year ended December 31, 2021, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders were complied with, except that Christopher Greenberg filed one report late relating to one transaction.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The following discussion relates to the compensation of our named executive officers, as determined under applicable SEC rules for smaller reporting companies like us, for year ended December 31, 2021, consisting of Richard MacPherson, our President and Chief Executive Officer, John Pavlish, Senior Vice President, and James Trettel, Vice President.
Fiscal Year 2021 and 2020 Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position |
| Year |
| Salary ($) |
|
| Bonus ($) |
|
| Stock Options ($) (4) |
|
| All Other Compensation ($) |
|
| Total ($) |
| |||||
Richard MacPherson |
| 2021 |
|
| 395,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 307,050 |
|
|
| 48,886 |
|
|
| 750,936 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director (1) |
| 2020 |
|
| 395,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 266,500 |
|
|
| 94,893 |
|
|
| 756,393 |
|
John Pavlish |
| 2021 |
|
| 333,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 204,700 |
|
|
| 14,384 |
|
|
| 552,084 |
|
Senior Vice President (2) |
| 2020 |
|
| 333,000 |
|
| - |
|
|
| 266,500 |
|
|
| 7,425 |
|
|
| 603,925 |
| |
James Trettel |
| 2021 |
|
| 300,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 204,700 |
|
|
| 11,600 |
|
|
| 516,300 |
|
Vice President (3) |
| 2020 |
|
| 300,000 |
|
| - |
|
|
| 266,500 |
|
|
| 6,750 |
|
|
| 573,250 |
| |
(1) | Mr. MacPherson was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2015. Since January 1, 2017, Mr. MacPherson’s annual base salary has been $395,000. Mr. MacPherson is currently employed pursuant to a three-year employment letter agreement which was entered into on January 29, 2019, and effective January 1, 2019, which after such three-year term will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless otherwise terminated by either party prior to the next applicable renewal period. Mr. MacPherson shall also be entitled to participate in all corporate 401(k) programs and health benefit plans instituted by the Company and be eligible to receive bonus compensation, if any, as the Company shall from time to time determine. Mr. MacPherson shall also be entitled to participate in any stock option and incentive plans adopted by the Company. During 2020, Mr. MacPherson was granted five-year nonqualified stock options to acquire 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.19 per share and 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.58 per share. During 2021, Mr. MacPherson was granted a five-year nonqualified stock option to acquire 750,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.78 per share. |
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(2) | Mr. Pavlish was appointed Senior Vice President in November 2014. The Company and Mr. Pavlish entered into an employment agreement effective as of November 16, 2014. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Pavlish agreed to be employed by the Company as Senior Vice President. Effective as of January 1, 2017, Mr. Pavlish’s annual base salary was increased to $330,000. As of December 31, 2021, $144,375 of Mr. Pavlish’s 2020 salary remained unpaid. Mr. Pavlish shall also be entitled to participate in all corporate 401(k) programs and health benefit plans instituted by the Company and be eligible to receive bonus compensation, if any, as the Company shall from time to time determine. Mr. Pavlish shall also be entitled to participate in any stock option and incentive plans adopted by the Company. During 2020, Mr. Pavlish was granted five-year nonqualified stock options to acquire 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.19 per share and 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.58 per share. During 2021, Mr. Pavlish was granted a five-year nonqualified stock option to acquire 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.78 per share. |
|
|
(3) | Mr. Trettel was appointed Vice President of Operations in January 2014. Mr. Trettel is also entitled to participate in all corporate 401(k) programs and health benefit plans instituted by the Company and is eligible to receive bonus compensation, if any, as the Company shall from time to time determine. Mr. Trettel is also entitled to participate in any stock option and incentive plans adopted by the Company. Effective as of January 1, 2017, Mr. Trettel’s annual base salary was increased to $300,000. As of December 31, 2021, $131,250 of Mr. Trettel’s 2020 salary remained unpaid. During 2020, Mr. Trettel was granted five-year nonqualified stock options to acquire 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.19 per share and 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.58 per share. During 2021, Mr. Trettel was granted a five-year nonqualified stock option to acquire 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $0.78 per share. |
|
|
(4) | Represents the dollar amount recognized for consolidated financial statement reporting purposes of shares to be issued to the executive officers computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. There can be no assurance the amounts determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 will ever be realized. The following table provides information concerning the stock options issued to the executive officers: |
Name |
| Year |
| Stock Options (#) |
|
| FASB ASC Topic 718 Value ($) |
| ||
Richard MacPherson |
| 2021 |
|
| 750,000 |
|
|
| 307,050 |
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 1,000,000 |
|
|
| 266,500 |
|
John Pavlish |
| 2021 |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| 204,700 |
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 1,000,000 |
|
|
| 266,500 |
|
James Trettel |
| 2021 |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| 204,700 |
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 1,000,000 |
|
|
| 266,500 |
|
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(5) | The amounts shown for 2021 and 2020 in the “All Other Compensation” column are comprised of the following: |
Name |
| Year |
| 401k Match ($) |
|
| Group Term Life Insurance ($) |
|
| Auto Allowance and Other Benefits ($) |
| |||
Richard MacPherson |
| 2021 |
|
| 11,600 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 37,286 |
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 10,538 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 84,355 |
|
John Pavlish |
| 2021 |
|
| 11,600 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 2,784 |
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 7,425 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
James Trettel |
| 2021 |
|
| 11,600 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 6,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2021
The following table sets forth certain information about the number of unexercised nonqualified stock options and unearned stock awards held as of December 31, 2021 by each executive named in the Summary Compensation Table. There were no stock options exercised during fiscal 2021 by such executives.
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Name |
| Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | Option Exercise Price |
|
| Option Expiration Date | ||||||||
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 250,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.81 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 750,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 1.20 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 250,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.28 |
|
| February 5, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 8,229 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.29 |
|
| July 6, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 16,458 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.21 |
|
| July 6, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 16,458 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.17 |
|
| July 31, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 16,458 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.25 |
|
| August 31, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 16,458 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.26 |
|
| September 30, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 16,458 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.20 |
|
| October 31, 2023 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 1,500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.27 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.19 |
|
| July 8, 2025 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.58 |
|
| December 14, 2025 | |
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 750,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.78 |
|
| November 22, 2026 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 2,000,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.74 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 1,000,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.45 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 50,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 1.15 |
|
| February 10, 2022 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 50,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.27 |
|
| February 23, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 6,875 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.29 |
|
| June 8, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.21 |
|
| June 30, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.17 |
|
| July 31, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.25 |
|
| August 31, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.26 |
|
| September 30, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.20 |
|
| October 31, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.33 |
|
| November 30, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 13,750 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.25 |
|
| December 31, 2023 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 600,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.27 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.19 |
|
| July 8, 2025 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.58 |
|
| December 14, 2025 | |
John Pavlish |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.78 |
|
| November 22, 2026 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 250,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.42 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 1.15 |
|
| February 10, 2022 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 50,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.27 |
|
| February 23, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 6,250 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.29 |
|
| June 8, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.21 |
|
| June 30, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.17 |
|
| July 31, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.25 |
|
| August 31, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.26 |
|
| September 30, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.20 |
|
| October 31, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.33 |
|
| November 30, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 12,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.25 |
|
| December 31, 2023 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 1,000,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.27 |
|
| June 28, 2024 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.19 |
|
| July 8, 2025 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.58 |
|
| December 14, 2025 | |
James Trettel |
|
| 500,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
| $ | 0.78 |
|
| November 22, 2026 | |
Other Benefits
Our executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, such as medical, dental, vision, group life, disability, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, our employee stock purchase plan, and our 401(k) plan, in each case on the same basis as other employees, subject to applicable law, should such benefits exist. Our 401(k) plan allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation before federal income tax to a qualified trust. All employees who are at least 21 years of age are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. The participants may choose from nineteen investment options for the investment of their deferred compensation. In addition, we match 100% of each participant’s salary deferral, for the first 4% of their salary, with a cash contribution. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we contributed $64,968 and $48,068, respectively, to the 401(k) plan. We also provide vacation and other paid holidays to all employees, including our executive officers, which are comparable to those provided at peer companies. At this time, we do not provide special benefits or other perquisites to our executive officers.
Policies Regarding Recovery of Awards
Our board has not adopted a policy that requires us to make retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity-based incentive compensation paid to executive officers (or others) where the payment was predicated upon the achievement of financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement. However, we may implement a clawback policy in accordance with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the regulations that will be issued under that act.
| 45 |
| Table of Contents |
Tax and Accounting Treatment of Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1.0 million per person on the amount of compensation that we may deduct in any one year with respect to our Chief Executive Officer and certain of our other executive officers. While the board of directors considers deductibility factors when making compensation decisions, the board also looks at other considerations, such as providing our executive officers with competitive and adequate incentives to remain with us and increase our business operations, financial performance, and prospects, as well as rewarding extraordinary contributions. No compensation to named executive officers exceeded this threshold in 2021.
We account for equity compensation paid to our employees under the rules of FASB ASC Topic 718, which requires us to estimate and record an expense for each award of equity compensation over the service period of the award. Accounting rules also require us to record cash compensation as an expense at the time the obligation is accrued. We have not tailored our executive compensation program to achieve particular accounting results.
Policies on Ownership, Insider Trading, Hedging, and 10b5-1 Plans
We do not have formal stock ownership guidelines for our employees or directors, because the board of directors is satisfied that stock and option holdings among our employees or directors, are sufficient at this time to provide motivation and to align this group’s interests with those of our stockholders. In addition, we believe that stock ownership guidelines are rare in companies at our stage, which means that ownership requirements would put us at a competitive disadvantage when recruiting and retaining high-quality executives.
Our insider trading policy prohibits certain actions by our Executive Officers relating to buying and selling our common stock. Our executive officers are authorized to enter into trading plans established according to Section 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act with an independent broker-dealer (“broker”) designated by us. These plans may include specific instructions for the broker to exercise vested options and sell Company stock on behalf of the executive officer at certain dates, if our stock price is above a specified level or both. Under these plans, the executive officer no longer has control over the decision to exercise and sell the securities in the plan, unless he or she amends or terminates the trading plan during a trading window. Plan modifications are not effective until the 31st day after adoption. The purpose of these plans is to enable executive officers to recognize the value of their compensation and diversify their holdings of our stock during periods in which the executive officer would be unable to sell our common stock because material information about us had not been publicly released. As of December 31, 2021, no named executive officer had a trading plan in place.
Stockholder Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Our Company held an advisory vote on executive compensation in 2021 and intends to take such action annually in the future. Both our compensation committee and the board intend to periodically reevaluate our executive compensation philosophy and practices in light of our performance, needs and developments, including the outcome of future non-binding advisory votes by our stockholders.
Director Compensation
Director Compensation Table for Year Ended December 31, 2021
The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation for 2021 of each non-executive member of the board of directors:
| 46 |
| Table of Contents |
Name |
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
|
| Option Awards ($) (1) |
|
| Total ($) |
| |||
Christopher Greenberg |
|
| 100,000 |
|
|
| 102,350 |
|
|
| 202,350 |
|
David M. Kaye |
|
| - |
|
|
| 51,175 |
|
|
| 51,175 |
|
(1) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. There can be no assurance the amounts determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 will ever be realized. The following table provides information concerning the stock options granted to the Directors for 2021: |
Name |
| Stock Options (#) |
|
| FASB ASC Topic 718 Value |
| ||
Christopher Greenberg |
|
| 250,000 |
|
|
| 102,350 |
|
David M. Kaye |
|
| 125,000 |
|
|
| 51,175 |
|
Mr. Greenberg is paid $100,000 per year for serving as Chairman of the Board. As of December 31, 2021, $95,833 of Mr. Greenberg’s 2021 cash fee remained unpaid.
Mr. Kaye was not paid any cash compensation for service on the Board in 2021.
All directors are reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their duties to the Company.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth certain information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as April 5, 2022 by:
| · | each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our capital stock; |
|
|
|
| · | each of our named executive officers; |
|
|
|
| · | each of our directors; and |
|
|
|
| · | all of our executive officers and directors as a group. |
The column entitled “Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned” is calculated based on 89,121,132 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 5, 2022.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities as well as any shares of common stock that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 5, 2022 through the exercise of stock options or other rights. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
Except as otherwise noted below, the address for persons listed in the table is c/o the Company at 1810 Jester Drive, Corsicana, Texas 75109.
| 47 |
| Table of Contents |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
| Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
|
| Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned (7) |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Richard MacPherson |
|
| 13,271,345 | (1) |
|
| 14.2 | % |
Christopher Greenberg |
|
| 5,870,533 | (2) |
|
| 6.5 | % |
John Pavlish |
|
| 6,339,070 | (3) |
|
| 6.7 | % |
James Trettel |
|
| 3,730,685 | (4) |
|
| 4.0 | % |
David M. Kaye |
|
| 675,000 | (5) |
| * |
| |
Alterna Core Capital Assets Fund II, L.P., et al |
|
| 11,700,000 | (6) |
|
| 13.1 | % |
All current directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons) |
|
| 30,392,048 |
|
|
| 28.9 | % |
* | Less than one percent of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. |
|
|
(1) | Includes 8,680,826 shares owned by Mr. MacPherson and 4,590,510 shares which Mr. MacPherson has the right to acquire upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(2) | Includes 4,195,869 shares owned by Mr. Greenberg, 5,000 shares owned by Mr. Greenberg with his wife, 3,000 shares owned by Mr. Greenberg’s wife, and 1,666,664 shares which Mr. Greenberg has the right to acquire upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(3) | Includes 1,035,945 shares owned by Mr. Pavlish and 5,303,125 shares which Mr. Pavlish has the right to acquire upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(4) | Includes 136,935 shares owned by Mr. Trettel, 200,000 owned by Mr. Trettel’s wife, and 3,393,750 shares which Mr. Trettel has the right to acquire upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(5) | Includes 675,000 shares which Mr. Kaye has the right to acquire upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(6) | Represents 11,700,000 shares owned and based solely upon and according to information reported in filings made to the SEC, jointly filed by and on behalf of certain reporting persons identified below (the “Reporting Persons”). The Reporting Persons are Alterna Core Capital Assets Fund II, L.P., Alterna Capital Partners LLC, Alterna General Partner II LLC, AC Midwest Energy LLC, Harry V. Toll, Eric M. Press, Roger P. Miller, and Earle Goldin. The address for the Reporting Persons is 15 River Road, Suite 230, Wilton CT 06897. |
|
|
(7) | Applicable percentage ownership for each stockholder is based on 89,121,132 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 5, 2022 plus any securities that stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 5, 2022 pursuant to options, warrants, conversion privileges, or other rights. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock that a person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of upon the exercise or conversion of options, convertible stock, warrants, or other securities that are currently exercisable or convertible or that will become exercisable or convertible within 60 days of April 5, 2022 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of such person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. |
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Other than the compensation agreements and other arrangements described under Item 11 Executive Compensation and the transactions described below, since January 1, 2021, there has not been and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were, or will be, a party in which the amount involved exceeded, or will exceed, the lesser of (i) $120,000 or (ii) one percent of the average of our total assets for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any director, executive officer, holder of five percent or more of any class of our capital stock, or any member of the immediate family of, or entities affiliated with, any of the foregoing persons, had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest.
| 48 |
| Table of Contents |
Kaye Cooper Kay Rosenberg, LLP provides certain legal services to the Company and was paid $287,500 for the year ended December 31, 2021 for legal services rendered. David M. Kaye, a Director and Secretary of the Company, is a partner of the law firm. At December 31, 2021, $206,250 was owed to the firm for services rendered.
On June 1, 2021, we entered into a Debt Repayment and Exchange Agreement with AC Midwest, which will repay all existing secured and unsecured debt obligations presently held by AC Midwest (the “Debt Repayment Agreement”).
AC Midwest is the holder of an unsecured note with a principal amount outstanding of $13,154,930.60 which was issued on February 25, 2019 pursuant to an Unsecured Note Financing Agreement (the “Unsecured Note Financing Agreement”) entered into on such date with AC Midwest, pursuant to which AC Midwest exchanged a previously issued subordinated unsecured note in the principal amount of $13,000,000, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, for a new unsecured note in the principal amount of $13,154,930.60 (the “Unsecured Note”). The Unsecured Note will mature on August 25, 2022 and bears a zero cash interest rate. Pursuant to the Unsecured Note Financing Agreement, AC Midwest shall also be entitled to a profit participation preference equal to 1.0 times the original principal amount (the “Profit Share”). The Profit Share is “non-recourse” and shall only be derived from and computed on the basis of, and paid from, Net Litigation Proceeds from claims relating to our intellectual property, Net Revenue Share and Adjusted Free Cash Flow (as such terms are defined in the Unsecured Note Financing Agreement). In addition, there remains outstanding to AC Midwest a principal balance of $271,686.10 (the “Secured Note Principal Balance”) due under a secured note issued on November 29, 2016, in the original principal amount of $9,646,686.08, which has a maturity date of August 25, 2022 (the “Secured Note”). The Secured Note bears interest at a rate of 15.0% per annum, payable quarterly.
Pursuant to the Debt Repayment Agreement, we shall repay at closing the Secured Note Principal Balance in cash, together with any other amounts due and owing under the Secured Note, and repay the outstanding debt under the Unsecured Note by paying and issuing a combination of cash and shares of common stock as described below which AC Midwest has agreed to accept in full and complete repayment of the obligations thereunder.
At closing, and with regard to the Unsecured Note, we shall pay AC Midwest $6,577,465.30 in cash representing 50.0% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Unsecured Note, and issue shares of common stock to AC Midwest in exchange for the remaining 50.0% of the aggregate outstanding principal balance at an exchange price equal to 100% of the offering price of common stock in the Qualifying Offering (as defined below). With regard to the Profit Share, at closing we shall pay AC Midwest $2,305,308.00 in cash representing the Profit Share Valuation, and issue shares of common stock for $4,026,567.76 representing the Adjusted Profit Share Valuation (as such terms are defined in the Debt Repayment Agreement) at the same exchange price indicated above. We have agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the shares issued thereunder.
The closing is subject to various conditions including but not limited to the completion of an offering of equity securities resulting in net proceeds of at least $12.0 million by December 31, 2021, which has been extended to June 30, 2022 (the “Qualifying Offering”).
Director Independence
Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his background, employment, and affiliations, including family relationships, the Board has determined that currently one of our directors, Christopher Greenberg, qualifies as an independent director in accordance with the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market. In making that determination, the Board considered the relationships that each director has with us and all other facts and circumstances the Board deemed relevant in determining independence, including the potential deemed beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director, including non-employee directors that are affiliated with certain of our major stockholders.
| 49 |
| Table of Contents |
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees
The following table sets forth the fees billed or billable by Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger Guttilla, P.C., (“RotenbergMeril”) our independent registered public accounting firm, for audit and non-audit services rendered to us relating to 2021 and 2020. These fees are categorized as audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees, and all other fees. The nature of the services provided in each category is described following the table.
|
| Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Principal Accounting Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Audit fees(1) |
| $ | 144,192 |
|
| $ | 129,913 |
|
Audit-related fees |
| $ | 23,508 |
|
| $ | 0 |
|
Tax fees |
| $ | 0 |
|
| $ | 0 |
|
All other fees |
| $ | 0 |
|
| $ | 0 |
|
Total aggregate fees |
| $ | 167,700 |
|
| $ | 129,913 |
|
(1) | The aggregate audit fees billed or expected to be billed for professional services rendered by RotenbergMeril, our principal accountants effective as of June 3, 2020, for the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K and review of our interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports, and other services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings was $144,192 and $129,913 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. |
|
|
| The aggregate fees billed for Audit-related professional services rendered by RotenbergMeril consisted of work performed in connection with proposed registration statements was $23,508 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. |
|
|
| All fees described above were pre-approved by the Board. |
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures of the Audit Committee
The audit committee has not set any pre-approval policies and procedures as of December 31, 2021.
| 50 |
| Table of Contents |
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) | The financial statements identified below and required by Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K are set forth above. |
(1) Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Operations for Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All other schedules have been omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required or because the required information, where material, is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
Filed | Incorporated by Reference |
| |||||||||
Exhibit |
| Description |
| Herewith | Form | Filing Date |
| ||||
|
| ||||||||||
Certificate of Incorporation and amendments thereto through November 25, 2014 | 10-K | 03/20/2015 |
| ||||||||
8-K | 10/16/2014 |
| |||||||||
|
| 10-K | 05/14/2020 |
| |||||||
10-Q | 08/21/2017 | ||||||||||
10-Q | 08/21/2017
| ||||||||||
| 10-K |
| 04/11/2019 |
| |||||||
| Employment Agreement between John Pavlish and Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. dated November 16, 2014 | 8-K |
| 11/20/2014 |
| ||||||
| Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan as amended | 10-K |
| 03/30/2016 |
| ||||||
| 8-K |
| 02/05/2014 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 08/15/2014 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 08/15/2014 |
| |||||||
| 51 |
| Table of Contents |
| Form of Allonge to each of the 2013 Secured Notes dated as of August 14, 2014 | 8-K |
| 08/15/2014 |
| ||||||
| 8-K |
| 02/22/2016 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 11/03/2016 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 06/20/2018 |
| |||||||
| 10-Q |
| 11/13/2018 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 03/01/2019 |
| |||||||
|
|
|
| 8-K |
| 06/07/2021 |
| ||||
|
|
|
| 8-K |
| 01/28/2022 |
| ||||
| 8-K |
| 12/02/2016 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 03/01/2019 |
| |||||||
| 8-K |
| 03/01/2019 |
| |||||||
| 10-Q |
| 08/14/2019 |
| |||||||
| Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan as amended | ☒ |
|
| |||||||
| 10-K |
| 04/17/2018 |
| |||||||
| Form of Conversion Notices for the 2013 10.0% Secured Convertible Promissory Notes |
|
|
| S-1 |
| 11/10/2021 |
| |||
| Form of Forced Conversion Statements for the 2018 12.0% Unsecured Convertible Promissory Notes |
|
|
| S-1 |
| 11/10/2021 |
| |||
| Form of Conversion Notices for the 2019 12.0% Unsecured Convertible Promissory Notes |
|
|
| S-1 |
| 11/10/2021 |
| |||
| 10-K |
| 03/20/2015 |
| |||||||
| 10-K |
| 04/11/2019 |
| |||||||
|
| ☒ |
|
| |||||||
|
| ☒ |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
| 52 |
| Table of Contents |
|
| ☒ |
|
| |||||||
|
| ☒ |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
101.INS |
| Inline XBRL Instance Document |
|
| |||||||
101.SCH |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
|
| |||||||
101.CAL |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
|
| |||||||
101.DEF |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
|
| |||||||
101.LAB |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
|
| |||||||
101.PRE |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
| ||||||||
104 |
| Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
| 53 |
| Table of Contents |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP. | ||
|
|
|
|
Date: April 5, 2022 | By: | /s/ Richard MacPherson | |
|
| Richard MacPherson |
|
|
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacity and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
| Title |
| Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Richard MacPherson |
| President, Chief Executive Officer |
| April 5, 2022 |
Richard MacPherson |
| and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
/s/ Jami L. Satterthwaite |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| April 5, 2022 |
Jami L. Satterthwaite |
| (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting |
|
|
|
| Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Christopher Greenberg |
| Chairman of the Board and Director |
| April 5, 2022 |
Christopher Greenberg |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ David M. Kaye |
| Secretary and Director |
| April 5, 2022 |
David M. Kaye |
|
|
| 54 |
| Table of Contents |