Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Description
of Business
Unless the context requires otherwise in these notes to the
consolidated financial statements, the terms “SHI,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,”
and “our” refer to Soluna Holdings, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “SCI” refers to Soluna
Computing, Inc., formerly known as EcoChain, Inc., and “MTI Instruments” refers to MTI Instruments, Inc.
SHI currently conducts our business through
our wholly-owned subsidiary, SCI. SCI is engaged in the mining of cryptocurrency through data centers that can be powered
by renewable energy sources. Recently, SCI has built, and intends to continue to develop and build, modular data centers that are used for cryptocurrency mining and that in the future can be used for computing intensive, batchable applications, such
as artificial intelligence and machine learning, with the goal of providing a cost-effective alternative to battery storage or
transmission lines. Headquartered in Albany, New York, the Company uses technology and intentional design to solve complex, real-world
challenges.
SCI incorporated in Delaware on January
8, 2020 as EcoChain, Inc., which operates a cryptocurrency mining facility that integrates with the cryptocurrency blockchain network
in the State of Washington. Through the October 2021 acquisition by EcoChain, Inc. of an entity at the time named Soluna Computing,
Inc., SCI also has a pipeline of certain cryptocurrency mining projects previously owned by Harmattan Energy, Ltd. (“HEL”)
(formerly known as Soluna Technologies, Ltd.), a Canadian corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Colombia
that develops vertically-integrated, utility-scale computing facilities focused on cryptocurrency mining and cutting-edge blockchain
applications. Following such acquisition, on November 15, 2021, SCI completed its conversion and redomicile to Nevada and changed
its name from “EcoChain, Inc.” to “Soluna Computing, Inc.”. The following day, the acquired entity, Soluna
Computing, Inc., changed its name to “Soluna Callisto Holdings Inc.” (“Soluna Callisto”).
Until the April 11, 2022 sale described
below, we also operated though our wholly owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments, an instruments business engaged in the design, manufacture
and sale of vibration measurement and system balancing solutions, precision linear displacement sensors, instruments and system
solutions, and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000. MTI Instruments’ products
consist of engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft and electronic gauging instruments for position,
displacement and vibration application within the industrial manufacturing markets, as well as in the research, design and process
development markets. These systems, tools and solutions are developed for markets and applications that require consistent operation
of complex machinery and the precise measurements and control of products, processes, and the development and implementation of
automated manufacturing and assembly. On December 17, 2021, we announced that we had entered into a non-binding letter of intent
with a potential buyer (the “Buyer”) regarding the potential sale of MTI Instruments (the “LOI”) to an
unrelated third party. Pursuant to the LOI, the Buyer would acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of MTI Instruments
(the “Sale”). As a result of the foregoing, the MTI Instruments business was reported as discontinued operations in
our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 and prior periods included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022 (our “Annual Report”), as well as in these consolidated
financial statements as of March 31, 2022 and prior periods . On April 11, 2022, we consummated the Sale, MTI Instruments ceased
to be our wholly-owned subsidiary and, as a result, we have exited the instruments business. See Note 14 for additional information
on the Sale.
Soluna Holdings, Inc., formerly known as
Mechanical Technology, Incorporated was incorporated in Nevada on March 24, 2021, and is the successor to Mechanical Technology,
Inc., which was incorporated in the State of New York in 1961, as a result of a merger which became effective on March 29, 2021,
and is headquartered in Albany, New York. Effective November 2, 2021, the Company changed its name from “Mechanical Technology,
Incorporated” to “Soluna Holdings, Inc.”
On April 11, 2022, SHI entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”)
with NKX Acquiror, Inc. (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Company sold on such date all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments for approximately $9.25 million in cash, subject to certain
adjustments as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement. The consideration paid by the Purchaser to the Company was based on an
aggregate enterprise value of approximately $10.75 million.
Liquidity
The
Company has historically incurred significant losses primarily due to our past efforts to fund direct methanol fuel cell product
development and commercialization programs and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of approximately $131.9 million as of March
31, 2022. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had negative working capital of approximately $10.1 million, a line of credit outstanding
of $1.0 million, $8.2 million outstanding note payable that can be converted to common stock, received additional equipment financing
for up to $14.4 million of which $7.1 million was current, as well as received financing of approximately $10.0 million from promissory
notes. The Company had outstanding commitments as of March 31, 2022 related to SCI for $37.3 million for capital expenditures,
approximately $801 thousand in cash provided by operating activities for continuing operations, and approximately $2.8 million
of cash available to fund our operations.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company paid approximately $25.4 million in capital expenditures and had approximately
$14.8 million outstanding in deposits for equipment. Subsequent to the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company received the third tranche of financing of approximately $10.0 million from promissory notes. Please refer to Footnote 16 “Subsequent
Events”, for further details.
Recently, the Company has seen a decline in the price of Bitcoin due its volatility, which could have
material and negative impact to our operations. Management has assessed volatility and has determined that we will have sufficient
cash flow to fund operations for the next twelve months.
The
COVID-19 global pandemic has been unprecedented and unpredictable and our impact is likely
to continue to result in significant national and global economic disruption, which may adversely affect our business. Although
the Company has experienced some minor changes to our miner shipments due to disruptions in the global supply chain, the Company
does not expect any material impact on our long-term strategic plans, our operations, or our liquidity due to the impacts
of COVID-19. However, the Company is actively monitoring this situation and the possible effects on our financial condition, liquidity,
operations, suppliers, and the industry
In
the opinion of management, the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are
of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented in accordance with United
States of America’s Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The results of operations for the
interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
Certain information and footnote disclosures
normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or
omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report.
The
information presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 has been derived from the
Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. All other information has been derived from the Company’s unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021.
Principles
of Consolidation
The
condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and our then wholly-owned subsidiaries, MTI Instruments
and SCI, as of March 31, 2022. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Change
in Par Value
Unless
otherwise noted, all capital values, share and per share amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been
retroactively restated for the effects of the Company’s change in par value from $0.01 to $0.001, which became effective
after the redomestication to the State of Nevada on March 29, 2021.
Reclassification
Certain
prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect
on the reported results of operations or net assets. The reclassifications relate to the presentation of discontinued operations
and a correction of an error.
Correction
of an Error
The Company recorded cash preferred dividend
distributions of $630 thousand in the our Annual Report presentation as an increase within accumulated deficit. However, in the
absence of retained earnings, cash dividends should generally be charged to Additional-Paid-in Capital (“APIC”). This
treatment is supported by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10-S99-2, which requires accretion of redeemable
preferred stock to be charged to APIC in the absence of retained earnings. As the Company did not have accumulated profit (i.e.:
absence of retained earnings), the preferred cash dividends should have been charged to APIC.
The
following tables present the effects of the correction of the prior period error to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
| | |
| |
Preferred Stock | | |
Common Stock | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Treasury Stock | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| Shares | | |
| Amount | | |
| Shares | | |
| Amount | | |
| Additional
Paid-in
Capital | | |
| Accumulated
Deficit | | |
| Shares | | |
| Amount | | |
| Total
Stockholders’
Equity | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
September 30, 2021 | |
| 806,585 | | |
$ | 1 | | |
| 13,732,713 | | |
$ | 14 | | |
$ | 172,898 | | |
$ | (120,419 | ) | |
| 1,015,493 | | |
$ | (13,764 | ) | |
$ | 38,730 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Adjustment for correction of an error-Preferred dividends | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| (176 | ) | |
| 176 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Balance Sep tember 30, 2021-as adjusted | |
| 806,585 | | |
$ | 1 | | |
| 13,732,713 | | |
$ | 14 | | |
$ | 172,722 | | |
$ | (120,243 | ) | |
| 1,015,493 | | |
$ | (13,764 | ) | |
$ | 38,730 | |
December
31, 2021 | |
| 1,252,299 | | |
$ | 1 | | |
| 14,769,699 | | |
$ | 15 | | |
$ | 228,420 | | |
$ | (123,684 | ) | |
| 1,015,493 | | |
$ | (13,764 | ) | |
$ | 90,988 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Adjustment for correction of an error-Preferred dividends | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| (630 | ) | |
| 630 | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
December 31, 2021-as adjusted | |
| 1,252,299 | | |
$ | 1 | | |
| 14,769,699 | | |
$ | 15 | | |
$ | 227,790 | | |
$ | (123,054 | ) | |
| 1,015,493 | | |
$ | (13,764 | ) | |
$ | 90,988 | |
Accounts
receivables consist of the following at:
(Dollars in thousands) |
|
March
31,
2022 |
|
|
December
31,
2021 |
|
Data Hosting |
|
$ |
246 |
|
|
|
450 |
|
Other |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
81 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
324 |
|
|
$ |
531 |
|
The
Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was $0 at both March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Employee
Receivables
Certain employees have a receivable
due to the Company related to the vesting of stock awards, in which $162 thousand and $0 were outstanding as of March 31, 2022
and December 31, 2021, respectively. The balance is currently included within prepaid and other assets on the condensed financial statements.
| 4. | Property,
Plant and Equipment |
Property,
plant and equipment consist of the following at:
(Dollars in thousands) |
|
March
31,
2022 |
|
|
December
31,
2021 |
|
Land |
|
$ |
52 |
|
|
$ |
52 |
|
Land improvements |
|
|
238 |
|
|
|
238 |
|
Buildings |
|
|
6,988 |
|
|
|
5,650 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
317 |
|
|
|
317 |
|
Vehicles |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
Computers and related software |
|
|
60,093 |
|
|
|
30,890 |
|
Machinery and equipment |
|
|
4,522 |
|
|
|
2,588 |
|
Office furniture and fixtures |
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
Construction in progress |
|
|
3,090 |
|
|
|
7,590 |
|
|
|
|
75,337 |
|
|
|
47,362 |
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(7,092 |
) |
|
|
(2,765 |
) |
|
|
$ |
68,245 |
|
|
$ |
44,597 |
|
Depreciation
expense was approximately $4.3 million and $75 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and the three months ended March
31, 2021, respectively.
As
discussed above, on October 29, 2021, we completed the Soluna Callisto acquisition pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of August 11, 2021, by and among the Company, SCI and Soluna Callisto (the “Merger Agreement”). The purpose
of the transaction was for SCI to acquire substantially all of the assets (other than those assets physically located in Morocco)
formerly held by HEL, which assets consisted of Soluna Callisto’s existing pipeline of certain cryptocurrency mining projects
that HEL previously transferred to Soluna Callisto and to provide SCI with the opportunity to directly employ or retain the services
of four individuals whose services it had retained through HEL prior to the merger. As a result of the merger, each share of common
stock of Soluna Callisto issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, other than shares owned
by the Company or any of our subsidiaries, was cancelled and converted into the right to receive a proportionate share of up to
2,970,000 shares (the “Merger Shares”) of the Company’s common stock payable upon the achievement of certain
milestones within five years after the effective date in the merger, as set forth in the merger agreement and the schedules thereto
(the “Merger Consideration”). See Note 11 for further information regarding our relationship with HEL.
The
acquisition was accounted for, for purposes of U.S. GAAP, using the asset acquisition method of accounting under the ASC 805-50.
We determined that we acquired in the acquisition a group of similar identifiable assets (primarily, the “strategic pipeline
contract” of certain cryptocurrency mining projects), which it classified as an intangible asset for accounting purposes.
As a result, our acquisition of the set of assets and activities constituted an asset acquisition, as opposed to a business acquisition,
under ASC 805. ASC 805-50 provides that assets acquired in an asset acquisition are measured based on the costs of the acquisition,
which is the consideration that the acquirer transfers to the seller, and includes direct transaction costs related to the acquisition.
We include Soluna Callisto’s results of operations in our results of operations beginning on the effective date of the acquisition.
Termination
Consideration
In connection
with the Soluna Callisto acquisition, effective as of October 29, 2021, pursuant to the terms of a termination agreement dated
as of August 11, 2021 by and among the Company, SCI, and HEL (“the Termination Agreement”), on
November 5, 2021, SCI paid HEL $725,000 and SHI issued to HEL 150,000 shares of our common stock (the “Termination Shares”).
SCI also reimbursed HEL $75,000 for transaction-related fees and expenses. SHI included the termination costs as part of asset
acquisition per ASC 805-50. Based on the closing price of the SHI common stock on Nasdaq on November 5, 2021, SHI has valued the
aggregate termination consideration at approximately $1.9 million.
Merger
Consideration
The
fair value of the Merger Consideration includes various assumptions, including those related to the allocation of the estimated
value of the maximum number of Merger Shares (2,970,000) issuable as Merger Consideration, which issuance is contingent on the
achievement of certain milestones of generating active Megawatts from Qualified Projects in which the Cost Requirement is satisfied
within five years after the effective date of
the merger, as set forth in the Merger Agreement and the schedules thereto, as set forth below. The
Merger Consideration and the timing of the payment thereof is subject to the following qualifications and limitations:
| 1a) | Upon
buyer achieving each one active MegaWatts (“Active MWs”) from the projects
in which the cost requirement is satisfied, this will cause SHI to issue to HEL 19,800
shares for each one MW up to a maximum 150 Active MW. |
|
i. |
If,
on or before June 30, 2022, SCI or Soluna Callisto directly or indirectly achieves at least 50 active MWs from one or more
of three current projects as set forth in the Merger Agreement that satisfy the Cost Requirement as defined within the Merger
Agreement, then the Merger Shares will be issued at an accelerated rate of 29,700 Merger Shares for each of such first 50
Active MW, such that the Merger Shares in respect of the remaining 100 Active MWs (if any) will be issued at a reduced rate
of 14,850 Merger Shares per Active MW; |
|
ii. |
If,
by June 30, 2023, SCI or Soluna Calisto fail to achieve directly or indirectly (other than pursuant to a Portfolio Acquisition)
at least 50 Active MW from Projects that satisfy the Cost Requirement, then the maximum aggregate number of Merger Shares
shall be reduced from 2,970,000 to 1,485,000; |
|
iii. |
No
Merger Shares will be issued to HEL without our prior written consent; |
|
iv. |
Issuance
of the Merger Shares will also be subject to the continued employment with or engagement by SCI or the surviving corporation
of (A) John Belizaire and (B) at least two of Dipul Patel, Mohammed Larbi Loudiyi, (through ML&K Contractor), and Phillip
Ng at the time that such Merger Shares are earned. If both (A) and (B) cease to be satisfied on or prior to the date that
all Merger Shares are earned (such date, a “Trigger Date”), then “Qualified Projects” for purposes
of determining Merger Shares shall only apply to those Qualified Projects that are in the pipeline as of the Trigger Date.
For these purposes, if any such individual’s employment or service relationship with SCI is terminated without cause,
as a result of his death or disability, or with good reason (as such terms are defined in the employment and consulting agreements),
such individual shall be deemed to continue to be employed or engaged by SCI for these purposes; |
|
v. |
If
SHI or SCI consummates a Change of Control before the fifth anniversary of the date of the closing of the merger, then we
will be obligated to issue all of the unissued Merger Shares (subject to (ii) and (iii) above). The Merger Agreement defines
“Change of Control” as (A) the sale, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of us or SCI, (B) our failure to continue to own (directly or indirectly) 100% of the outstanding equity securities
of SCI and/or the surviving corporation, or (C) a merger, consolidation, or other transaction in which the holders of SHI’s,
SCI’s, or the surviving corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction own,
immediately after such transaction, securities representing less than 50% of the voting power of the corporation or other
entity surviving such transaction (excluding any such transaction principally for bona fide equity financing purposes, so
long as, in the case of SHI or SCI (but not the surviving corporation) such transactions, individually and in the aggregate,
do not result in a change in membership of such entity’s board of directors so that the persons who were members of
the board of directors immediately prior to the first such transaction constitute less than 50% of the board membership at
any time after such transaction(s) are consummated). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not constitute a Change
of Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of SHI’s or SCI’s incorporation or to create a holding company
that will be owned in the same proportions by the persons who held SHI’s or SCI’s securities immediately prior
to such transaction; and |
|
vi. |
if
on any of the fifth anniversary of the effective time of the merger, June 30, 2022 or June 30, 2023, a facility has not become
a Qualified Facility and therefore is not taken into consideration in the calculation of Active MW because any of the elements
set forth in the definition of “Qualified Facility” as defined in the Merger Agreement have not been met for reasons
beyond the reasonable control of SCI’s management team, but SCI’s management team is then actively engaged in
the process of completing and is diligently pursuing the completion of the missing elements, then (A) the target dates set
forth above shall be extended for an additional 90 days, and (B) additional extensions of time may be granted by the Board
of Directors in its commercially reasonable discretion, in each case for the purpose of enabling SCI’s management team
to complete the steps needed to qualify the facility as a Qualified Facility. |
The
number of Merger Shares is also subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments in the event of any stock split, stock consolidation,
stock dividend, or similar event involving the shares of our common stock. Based on the assessment performed, the fair value of
the merger consideration as of October 29, 2021 was approximately $33.0 million.
Based
on management’s evaluation, management concluded that due to the high volatility of its share price, the high probability
of achieving the MW targets, and the fact the value associated with meeting the performance measures are not intended to drive
the number of shares to be issued, but rather act as a proxy for and driver of share value, the monetary value of the obligation
at inception is predominantly a function of equity shares. As such, the consideration will be treated as equity as ASC
480-10-25-14 is not applicable since the monetary value of the Merger Shares is not (1) fixed, or (2) dependent on (i) variations
in something other than the fair value of the Company’s equity shares, or (ii) variations inversely related to changes in
the fair value of the Company’s equity shares and is instead exposed to changes in the fair value of the Company’s
share price, and as such does not represent a liability under ASC 480. The economic risks and characteristics of the share consideration
are clearly and closely related to a residual equity interest since the underlying (i.e., the incremental shares of common stock
delivered upon achievement of each MW target) will participate in the increase in value of the common equity of the Company, similar
to a call option on common stock. Based on guidance in ASC 815-40-25-7 through 25-35, the share consideration is considered to
be indexed to the Company’s stock and meets the additional criteria for equity classification.
Intangible
assets consist of the following as of March 31, 2022:
(Dollars in thousands) |
|
Intangible
Assets |
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization |
|
|
Total |
|
For the year ended March 31, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic
pipeline contract |
|
$ |
46,885 |
|
|
$ |
3,906 |
|
|
$ |
42,979 |
|
Assembled workforce |
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
458 |
|
Patents |
|
|
73 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
72 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
47,458 |
|
|
$ |
3,949 |
|
|
$ |
43,509 |
|
Intangible
assets consist of the following as of December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands) |
|
Intangible
Assets |
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization |
|
|
Total |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic pipeline contract |
|
$ |
46,885 |
|
|
$ |
1,562 |
|
|
$ |
45,323 |
|
Assembled workforce |
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
483 |
|
Patents |
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
33 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
47,418 |
|
|
$ |
1,579 |
|
|
$ |
45,839 |
|
There
were no intangible assets or amortization expense as of March 31, 2021. Amortization expense for the three months ended March
31, 2022 was approximately $2.4 million.
The
strategic pipeline contract relates to supply of a critical input to our digital mining business. The Company has analyzed this
strategic pipeline contract similar to a permit for future benefit. The strategic pipeline contract relates to potential renewable
energy datacenters that fit in the alignment of the Company structure to expand operations of the Company’s new focus in
their business.
The
Company expects to record amortization expense of intangible assets over the next five years and thereafter as follows:
(Dollars in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
|
2022 |
|
2022 (remainder of the year) |
|
|
$ |
7,110 |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
9,481 |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
9,481 |
|
2025 |
|
|
|
9,481 |
|
2026 |
|
|
|
7,900 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
|
56 |
|
Total |
|
|
$ |
43,509 |
|
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s effective income tax rate was 0%. The projected annual effective
tax rate is less than the Federal statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to the change in the valuation allowance, as well as changes
to estimated taxable income for 2022 and permanent differences. There was $547 thousand deferred income tax benefit for the three
months ended March 31, 2022 and for the three months ended March 31, 2021, there was no income tax benefit.
In
connection with the strategic contract pipeline acquired in the Soluna Callisto acquisition as further discussed in Note 5, ASC
740-10-25-51 requires the recognition of a deferred tax impact of acquiring an asset in a transaction that is not a business combination
when the amount paid exceeds the tax basis on the acquisition date. As such, the Company is required to adjust the value of the
strategic contract pipeline by approximately $10.9 million at inception date, in which was recorded as a deferred tax liability
and this amount will be amortized over the life of the asset. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company amortized
$547 thousand.
The
Company provides for recognition of deferred tax assets if the realization of such assets is more likely than not to occur in
accordance with accounting standards that address income taxes. Significant management judgment is required in determining the
period in which the reversal of a valuation allowance should occur. The Company has considered all available evidence, both positive
and negative, such as historical levels of income and future forecasts of taxable income amongst other items, in determining its
valuation allowance. In addition, the Company’s assessment requires us to schedule future taxable income in accordance with
accounting standards that address income taxes to assess the appropriateness of a valuation allowance which further requires the
exercise of significant management judgment.
The
Company believes that the accounting estimate for the valuation of deferred tax assets is a critical accounting estimate because
judgment is required in assessing the likely future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements
or tax returns. The Company based the estimate of deferred tax assets and liabilities on current tax laws and rates and, in certain
cases, business plans and other expectations about future outcomes. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates
or the Company adjusts these estimates in future periods, the Company may need to adjust the recorded valuation allowance, which
could materially impact our financial position and results of operations. The valuation allowance was $11.9 million at March 31,
2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. We will continue to evaluate the ability to realize our deferred tax assets and related
valuation allowance on a quarterly basis.
Convertible
Notes
Debt
consists of the following
(dollar in thousands):
| |
Maturity
Date | |
Interest Rate | | |
March 31,
2022 | | |
December
31, 2021 | |
Convertible Note | |
October 25, 2022 | |
| 8 | % | |
$ | 13,586 | | |
$ | 14,927 | |
Less: debt discount | |
| |
| | | |
| 610 | | |
| 967 | |
Less: discount from issuance of warrants | |
| |
| | | |
| 3,988 | | |
| 5,747 | |
Less: debt issuance costs | |
| |
| | | |
| 758 | | |
| 1,092 | |
Total convertible notes, net of discount and issuance costs | |
| |
| | | |
$ | 8,230 | | |
$ | 7,121 | |
On
October 25, 2021, pursuant to the SPA, the Company issued to certain accredited investors (i) secured convertible notes in an
aggregate principal amount of $16.3 million for an aggregate purchase price of $15 million (collectively, the “Notes”),
which are, subject to certain conditions, convertible at any time by the investors, into an aggregate of 1,776,073 shares (the
“Conversion Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, at a price per share of $9.18 (the “Fixed Conversion
Price”) and (ii) Class A, Class B and Class C common stock purchase warrants (collectively, the “Warrants”)
to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,776,073 shares of common stock, at an exercise price $12.50, $15 and $18 per share, respectively.
The Warrants are legally detachable and can be separately exercised immediately for five years upon issuance, subject to applicable
Nasdaq rules.
The
Notes, subject to an original issue discount of 8%, have a maturity date of October 25, 2022 (the “Maturity Date”),
upon which the Notes shall be payable in full. Commencing on the Maturity Date and also five (5) days after the occurrence of
any Event of Default (as defined in the Notes), interest on the Notes will accrue at an interest rate equal to the lesser of 18%
per annum or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law. If any Event of Default or a Fundamental Transaction (as defined
in the Notes) or a Change of Control (as defined in the Notes) occurs, the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, liquidated
damages and other amounts owing in respect thereof through the date of acceleration, will become, at the Investor’s election,
immediately due and payable in cash at the Mandatory Default Amount (as defined in the Notes). The Notes may not be prepaid, redeemed
or mandatory converted without the consent of the Investors. The obligations of the Company pursuant to the Notes are (i) secured
to the extent and as provided in the Security Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2021, by and among the Company, MTI Instruments
and SCI, Soluna MC, LLC and Soluna SW, LLC (both of which are wholly owned subsidiaries of SCI, and together with MTI Instruments
and SCI, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), and Collateral Services LLC, as collateral agent for and the holders of the
Notes (the “Security Agreement”); and (ii) guaranteed jointly and severally by the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant
to each Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of October 25, 2021, by and among each Subsidiary Guarantor and the purchasers signatory
to the SPA (each, a “Subsidiary Guaranty”).
The
fair value of the Warrants, as of the issuance date, was $7.0 million and is recorded as equity with the offset recorded as debt
discount against the net proceeds. The proceeds of $15.0 million were allocated between the Notes and the Warrants, in which the
discount related to the warrants are being amortized based on the straight-line method over the twelve months term of the Notes.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company has recorded amortized debt discount related to the warrants, the amount
of $1.8 million which is included in interest expense. The Company has also recorded a debt discount on the Notes as the difference
between the face amount of the notes payable of $16.3 million and purchase price of $15.0 million of $1.3 million in which approximately
$700 thousand has been amortized over the life of the notes. There was also debt issuance costs of approximately $1.3 million
and approximately $550 thousand has been amortized over the life of the Notes. All amortized costs are included in interest expense.
During the three months ended March 31,
2022 and year ended December 31, 2021, $13.6 million and $14.9 million, respectively, was remaining in the principal balance of
the Notes. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, approximately $1.3 million was converted into 146,145 shares of our common
stock. Through March 31, 2022, a total of approximately $2.7 million was converted into 296,145 shares of our common stock.
Promissory
Notes
| |
Maturity Date | |
|
Interest Rate | | |
March 31, 2022 | |
1st tranche promissory note | |
February 22, 2027 | |
|
| 2 | % | |
$ | 7,600 | |
2nd tranche promissory note | |
March 10, 2027 | |
|
| 2 | % | |
| 2,400 | |
Less: debt discount | |
| |
|
| | | |
| (2,220 | ) |
Plus: interest expense accrued | |
| |
|
| | | |
| 20 | |
Less: debt issuance costs | |
| |
|
| | | |
| (39 | ) |
Total promissory notes, net of issuance costs | |
| |
|
| | | |
$ | 7,761 | |
On
February 22, 2022, the Company issued to certain institutional lenders (the “Lenders”) promissory notes in an aggregate
principal amount of $7.6 million for an aggregate purchase price of $7.6 million (collectively, the “First Tranche Notes”).
The Notes were issued as the first tranche of an aggregate financing of $20.0 million. On March 10, 2022, the Company has issued
to the lenders a second tranche of an aggregate principal amount of $2.4 million (the “Second Tranche Notes”). The
Company issued to the Lenders a third tranche of promissory notes in an aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million for an aggregate
purchase price of $10.0 million (the “Third Tranche Notes” and, together with the First Tranche Notes and Second Tranche
Notes, the “Notes”) along with Class D common stock purchase warrants (collectively, the “Warrants”) to
purchase up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, at an exercise price of $11.50 per share on April
13, 2022. The Warrants are immediately exercisable for two years upon issuance, subject to applicable Nasdaq Stock Market
LLC rules. See Note 16, Subsequent Events, for further information regarding the Third Tranche note and the issuance of the Warrants.
The
First Tranche Notes have a maturity date of February 22, 2027, the Second Tranche Notes have a maturity date of March 10, 2027
and Third Tranche will have a maturity date five years from the date of issuance (each a “Maturity Date”), upon which
dates the Notes shall be payable in full, and accrue interest at a rate of two percent (2%) per annum. The Notes may be repaid,
at such Lender’s sole election, either (a) at the applicable Maturity Date or (b) upon the first business day of each month
that the Company keeps open a private offering of our Series A Preferred Stock by presenting its Note in whole or in part as legal
tender to purchase such shares of Series A Preferred Stock at price per share of Series A Preferred Stock on the date immediately
preceding the closing of such subscription, provided that if the Notes are not repaid by May 2, 2022, the Notes shall automatically
be subscribed for shares of the Series A Preferred Stock. If any Event of Default occurs, the outstanding principal amount of
the Notes, liquidated damages and other amounts owing in respect thereof through the date of acceleration, will become, at the
Lender’s election, immediately due and payable in cash. The Notes may be prepaid or redeemed upon written notice to the
other party.
The
exercise of the Warrants is subject to beneficial ownership limitations such that the Lenders may not exercise the Warrants
to the extent that such exercise would result in each of the Lenders being the beneficial owner in excess of 4.99% (or, upon election
of such Lender, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise, which beneficial ownership limitation may be increased or decreased up
to 9.99% upon notice to the Company, provided that any increase in such limitation will not be effective until 61 days following
notice to the Company.
The fair value of the Warrants for the
first and second tranche, as of the issuance date, was $2.26 million and is recorded as equity with the offset recorded as debt
discount against the net proceeds. The proceeds of $10.00 million were allocated between the Promissory Notes and the Warrants,
in which the discount related to the Warrants are being amortized based on the straight-line method through the date of Maturity.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company has recorded amortized debt discount, related to the Warrants, the amount
of $40 thousand, which is included in interest expense. There were also debt issuance costs of approximately $40 thousand as of
March 31, 2022 and approximately $1 thousand has been amortized. All amortized costs are included in interest expense. During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, $10.0 million is remaining in the principal balance of the Notes.
On April 29, 2022, the Company issued
in a registered direct offering 1,142,857 shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the Lenders, at an offering price of $17.50 per
share, the same price as the public offering price of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the concurrent underwritten public
offering, in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the outstanding Notes in an aggregate amount of $20 million.
See Note 16 for, Subsequent Events, for further information regarding this offering.
NYDIG
Financing
| |
Maturity Dates | |
Interest Rate | |
|
March 31, 2021 | |
NYDIG Loans #1-11 | |
April 25, 2023 thru January 25, 2027 | |
12% thru 15% | % |
|
$ | 14,387 | |
Less: principal payments | |
| |
| |
|
| 1,074 | |
Less: debt issuance costs | |
| |
| |
|
| 316 | |
Total outstanding debt | |
| |
| |
|
| 12,997 | |
Less current portion of debt | |
| |
| |
|
| 7,195 | |
Total Long-term debt | |
| |
| |
|
$ | 5,802 | |
On
December 30, 2021, Soluna MC Borrowing 2021-1 LLC (“Borrower”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
entered into a Master Equipment Finance Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) with NYDIG ABL LLC (“NYDIG”)
as lender, servicer and collateral agent. The Master Agreement outlined the framework for a financing up to approximately $14.4
million in aggregate equipment financing. Subsequently, the parties negotiated the specific terms of each equipment financing
transaction as well as the terms upon which the investors in our October 2021 Senior Secured Convertible Notes (the “Convertible
Investors”) would consent to the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement.
On
January 14, 2022, the Borrower effected an initial drawdown under the Master Agreement in the aggregate principal amount of approximately
$4.6 million that bore interest at 14% and will be repaid over 24 months. On January 26, 2022, the Borrower had a subsequent
drawdown of $9.6 million. As part of the transactions contemplated under the Master Agreement, (i) the Company’s indirect
wholly owned subsidiary, Soluna MC LLC, formerly EcoChain Block LLC (“Guarantor”), which is the owner of 100% of the
equity interests of Borrower, executed a Guaranty Agreement in favor of NYDIG, as lender, dated as of December 30, 2021 (the “Guaranty
Agreement”), (ii) Borrower has granted a lien on, and security interest in, all of its assets to NYDIG, as collateral agent,
(iii) Guarantor entered into a sale/leaseback structure on assets purchased with the borrowed funds, (iv) Borrower will borrow
from NYDIG the loans as forth in certain loan schedules (the “Specified Loans”), and (v) Borrower has executed a Digital
Asset Account Control Agreement (the “ACA Wallet Agreement”) with NYDIG, as collateral agent and secured party, and
NYDIG Trust Company LLC, as custodian, dated as of December 30, 2021, as well as such other agreements related to the foregoing
as mutually agreed (collectively, the “NYDIG Transactions”).
In
connection with the NYDIG Transactions, on January 13, 2022, the Company entered into a Consent and Waiver Agreement, dated as
of January 13, 2022 (the “Consent”), with the Convertible Investors, in connection with the SPA, pursuant to which
the Convertible Investors agreed to waive any lien on, and security interest in, certain
assets, provided various contingencies are fulfilled, and each Investor who acquired on the Closing Date Notes having a
principal amount of not less than $3,000,000 agreed to waive its rights under Section 4.17 of the SPA to participate in Subsequent
Financings with respect to the NYDIG Transactions and any additional loans under the MEFA that only finance the purchase of equipment
from NYDIG, in order to consent to the NYDIG Transactions. Pursuant to the Consent, the Investors also waived the current requirement
of the SPA and the other Transaction Documents (collectively, the “SPA Documents”) that the Borrower become an Additional
Debtor (as defined in the Security Agreement) and execute an Additional Debtor Joinder (as defined in the Security Agreement)
for so long as the Specified Loans are outstanding, and NYDIG not entering into a subordination or intercreditor agreement with
respect to the Guaranty. Further, pursuant to the Consent, the Purchasers waived the right to accelerate the Maturity Date of
the Notes and the right to charge a default rate of interest on such Notes, in each case, with respect to certain changes in names
of, and jurisdiction of incorporation, of the Debtors (as defined in the SPA Documents), which waiver does not waive any other
Event of Default (as defined in any of the SPA Documents), known or unknown, as of the date of Consent.
Promptly
after the date of the Consent, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 85,000 shares of common stock to the Convertible
Investor holding the largest outstanding principal amount of Notes as of the date of the Consent. Such warrants are
substantially in form similar to the other Warrants held by the Convertible Investors. Such warrants are exercisable for
three years from the date of the Consent at an exercise price per share of the Company’s common stock, equal to 130% of
the closing price per share of the common stock as of the date of the Consent.
Line
of Credit
On
September 13, 2021, the Company entered into a $1.0 million unsecured line of credit with KeyBank National Association, that will,
among other things, allow the Company to request loans and to use the proceeds of such loans for working capital and other general
corporate purposes. The line of credit may be drawn at the discretion of the Company, and bears interest at a rate of Prime +
0.75% per annum (4.25% interest rate as of March 31, 2022). Accrued interest is due monthly and principal is due in full following
lender’s demand. As of March 31, 2022, the entire line of credit of $1.0 million was drawn and outstanding. MTI Instruments
previously held a secured line of credit with Pioneer Bank in the amount of $300 thousand. The secured line of credit was closed
on September 10, 2021 with no outstanding amounts.
Preferred
Stock
The
Company has one series of preferred stock outstanding, known as the Series A Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, with a $25.00 liquidation preference. As of March 31, 2022 and December
31, 2021, there were 1,319,156 and 1,252,299 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding, respectively.
Common
Stock
The
Company has one class of common stock, par value $0.001. Each share of the Company’s common stock is entitled to one vote
on all matters submitted to stockholders. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 14,004,172 and 13,754,206 shares
of common stock issued and outstanding, respectively.
Dividends
Pursuant
to the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock of the Company,
dividends, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, (or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors), will
be payable monthly in arrears on the final day of each month, beginning August 31, 2021. During the three months ended March 31,
2022, the Board of Directors declared and paid the Company preferred stock dividend distributions of $749 thousand and for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Board of Directors declared and the Company paid monthly preferred stock dividends totaling
an amount of approximately $630 thousand.
Reservation
of Shares
The
Company had reserved shares of common stock for future issuance as follows as of March 31, 2022:
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options outstanding |
|
|
990,800 |
|
Restricted stock units outstanding |
|
|
555,847 |
|
Warrants outstanding |
|
|
2,692,355 |
|
Common stock available for future equity awards
or issuance of options |
|
|
586,732 |
|
Number of common shares reserved |
|
|
4,825,734 |
|
Income
(Loss) per Share
The
Company computes basic income (loss) per common share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution, if any, computed by
dividing income (loss) by the combination of dilutive common stock equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under outstanding
investment rights, warrants and the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, and the weighted average number of
shares of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common stock equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money
stock options, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the
treasury stock method, the exercise price of a stock option and the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that
the Company has not yet recognized are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.
The
Company notes as continuing operations was in a net loss position for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, as such basic and
diluted Earnings-per-share (“EPS”) is the same amount as continuing operations acts as the control amount in which would cause antidilution. Not included
in the computation of earnings per share, assuming dilution, for the three months ended March 31, 2022, were options to purchase
990,800 shares of the Company’s common stock, 555,847 nonvested restricted stock units, 2,692,355 outstanding warrants
not exercised, and 1,479,908 shares of convertible notes outstanding. These potentially dilutive items were excluded because the
calculation of incremental shares resulted in an anti-dilutive effect.
Not
included in the computation of earnings per share, assuming dilution, for the three months ended March 31, 2021, were options
to purchase 351,500 shares and 15,000 restricted stock units of the Company’s common stock. These potentially dilutive items
were excluded because the Company incurred a loss during the period and their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
| 10. | Commitments
and Contingencies |
Commitments:
Leases
The
Company determines whether an arrangement is a lease at inception. The Company and our subsidiaries have operating leases for
certain manufacturing, laboratory, office facilities and certain equipment. The leases have remaining lease terms of less than
one year to less than five years. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive
covenants. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has no assets recorded under finance leases.
Lease
expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 total
lease costs are comprised of the following:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
Operating lease cost | |
$ | 50 | | |
$ | 38 | |
Short-term lease cost | |
| — | | |
| — | |
Total net lease cost | |
$ | 50 | | |
$ | 38 | |
Short-term
leases are leases having a term of twelve months or less. The Company recognizes short-term leases on a straight-line basis and
does not record a related lease asset or liability for such leases.
Other
information related to leases was as follows:
(Dollars
in thousands, except lease term and discount rate) | |
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2022 | |
| |
| |
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (in years): | |
| | |
Operating leases | |
| 2.14 | |
| |
| | |
Weighted Average Discount Rate: | |
| | |
Operating leases | |
| 3.83 | % |
(Dollars
in thousands, except lease term and discount rate) | |
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2022 | | |
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2021 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Supplemental Cash Flows Information: | |
| | | |
| | |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |
| | | |
| | |
Operating cash flows from operating leases | |
$ | 49 | | |
$ | 36 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Non-Cash Activity Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: | |
| | | |
| | |
Operating leases | |
$ | 13 | | |
$ | — | |
Maturities
of noncancellable operating lease liabilities are as follows for the three months ending March 31:
(Dollars in thousands) | |
| |
| |
2022 | |
2022 (remainder of year) | |
$ | 153 | |
2023 | |
| 164 | |
2024 | |
| 85 | |
Total lease payments | |
| 402 | |
Less: imputed interest | |
| (17 | ) |
Total lease obligations | |
| 385 | |
Less: current obligations | |
| (193 | ) |
Long-term lease obligations | |
$ | 192 | |
As
of March 31, 2022, there were no additional operating lease commitments that had not yet commenced, except for the ground lease
noted below.
On
May 4, 2021, Soluna MC LLC, formerly EcoChain Block, LLC, (“Soluna MC”),
a wholly owned subsidiary of SCI, executed a 25-year ground lease with a power-providing cooperative with respect to an existing
building and certain surrounding land (the “Building Lease”), and a 25-year ground lease with the same landlord with
respect to certain vacant land adjacent thereto, both located in the Southeastern United States (the “Vacant Land Lease”,
and together with the Building Lease, the “Ground Leases”). In addition, Soluna
MC and the landlord entered into a Power Supply Agreement (the “Power Supply Agreement”) whereby the landlord
has agreed to supply power to the building leased under the Building Lease (the “Building Lease Premises”) and to
the premises leased under the Vacant Land Lease (the “Vacant Land Premises”), some of which power, under certain circumstances,
may be terminated by the landlord, on at least 6 months prior notice, any time after 12 months after the Building Commencement
Date (as hereafter defined), in which case the landlord is required to reimburse Soluna
MC for all of its construction costs, subject to certain exceptions, relating to buildings and other improvements developed
by Soluna MC on the Vacant Land Premises. As of March 31, 2022, this lease has not
commenced.
Soluna
MC has agreed to pay rent to the landlord of $500,000 on the effective date of the Building Lease (such date, the “Building
Commencement Date”) and the sum of $4,000,000 in periodic payments (the “Vacancy Payments”). The Company executed
a guaranty in favor of the landlord with respect to the Vacancy Payments (the “Guaranty of Rent”). The amount of each
Vacancy Payment is determined based on the percentage of the building that has been vacated by existing tenants and available
for use by Soluna MC. The final Vacancy Payment is due within 60 days after the building has been completely vacated by the existing
tenants, which date is contractually scheduled to be no later than March 31, 2022. Soluna MC has the option of making the Vacancy
Payments in cash or by the Company’s issuance of common stock in an amount that equals the Vacancy Payment then due based
on the prior day’s closing price (any such shares, “Vacancy Payment Shares”). If Soluna MC elects to make any
payment in Vacancy Payment Shares, then the landlord has an option to accept such Vacancy Payment Shares or require such shares
to be converted to cash as more fully provided in the Building Lease. The Building Lease also includes provisions relating to
the issuance of additional shares of the Company’s common stock, which may be applied as an advance against future Vacancy
Payments, all as fully provided in the Building Lease.
The
Company is required to issue to the landlord 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, in connection with the Vacant
Land Lease, upon the effective date of the Vacant Land Lease, which may not occur prior to the Building Commencement Date. In
addition, Soluna MC and the landlord have entered into a memorandum of understanding
providing Soluna MC with a six-month exclusivity period to expand the Vacant Land
Premises, including obtaining additional power, in connection therewith. Soluna MC
and the landlord have not agreed on any of the terms of such expansion other than the exclusivity period previously described.
Soluna MC and the landlord have also entered into a transition services agreement
(the “Transition Services Agreement”) by which the landlord will provide certain transition services to Soluna
MC at a fee to be mutually agreed by the landlord and Soluna MC. The Transition
Services Agreement also requires the landlord to pay Soluna MC an amount approximately
equal to the landlord’s net profits received from the landlord’s other tenants operating out of the Building Lease
Premises.
Contingencies:
Legal
We
are subject to legal proceedings, claims and liabilities which arise in the ordinary course of business. When applicable, we accrue
for losses associated with legal claims when such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are adjusted
as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. Legal fees are charged to expense as they are incurred.
The
Company has been named as a party in the December 19, 2019 United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Demand
Letter regarding the Malta Rocket Fuel Area Superfund Site (“Site”) located in Malta and Stillwater, New York in connection
with an alleged release of hazardous materials into the environment. The EPA is seeking reimbursement of response costs from all
named parties in the amount of approximately $358 thousand plus interest in connection with the investigation and disposal activities
associated with the various drum caches discovered at the Site, issuance of the Explanation of Significant Differences (“ESD”)
of the Site, and implementation of the work contemplated by the ESD. The Company considers the likelihood of a material adverse
outcome to be remote and does not currently anticipate that any expense or liability it may incur as a result of these matters
in the future will be material to the Company’s financial condition.
| 11. | Related
Party Transactions |
MeOH
Power, Inc.
On
December 18, 2013, MeOH Power, Inc. and the Company executed a Senior Demand Promissory Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $380
thousand to secure the intercompany amounts due to the Company from MeOH Power, Inc. upon the deconsolidation of MeOH Power, Inc.
Interest accrues on the Note at the Prime Rate in effect on the first business day of the month, as published in the Wall Street
Journal. At the Company’s option, all or part of the principal and interest due on this Note may be converted to shares
of common stock of MeOH Power, Inc. at a rate of $0.07 per share. Interest began accruing on January 1, 2014. The Company recorded
a full allowance against the Note. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, $332 thousand and $329 thousand, respectively,
of principal and interest are available to convert into shares of common stock of MeOH Power, Inc. Any adjustments to the allowance
are recorded as miscellaneous expense during the period incurred.
Legal
Services
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company incurred $1 thousand and $8 thousand, respectively, to Couch White,
LLP for legal services associated with contract review. A partner at Couch White, LLP is an immediate family member of one of
our Directors.
HEL
Transactions
On
January 8, 2020, the Company formed SCI as a wholly-owned subsidiary to pursue a new business line focused on cryptocurrency and
the blockchain ecosystem. In connection with this new business line, SCI established a facility to mine cryptocurrencies and integrate
with the blockchain network. Pursuant to an Operating and Management Agreement dated January 13, 2020, by and between SCI and
HEL, HEL assisted the Company, and later SCI, in developing, and is now operating, the cryptocurrency mining facility. The Operating
and Management Agreement requires, among other things, that HEL provide project sourcing services to SCI, including acquisition
negotiations and establishing an operating model, investments/financing timeline, and a project development path, as well as developmental
and operational services, as directed by SCI, with respect to the applicable cryptocurrency mining facility in exchange for SCI’s
payment to HEL of a one-time management fee ranging from $65,000 to $350,000 and profit-based success payments in the event that
SCI achieves explicit profitability thresholds. These agreements also provided that once aggregate earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation, and amortization of the applicable mine exceeded the total amount of funding provided by SCI to HEL (whether pursuant
to the applicable agreement or otherwise) for the purposes of creating, developing, assembling, and constructing the mine, HEL
was entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of the
mine. $237 thousand of payments had been made for fiscal year 2021, as certain Thresholds have been achieved.
Pursuant
to the Operating and Management Agreement, during the developmental phase of the cryptocurrency mining facility, which ended on
March 14, 2020, HEL gathered and analyzed information with respect to SCI’s cryptocurrency mining efforts and produced budgets,
financial models, and technical and operational plans, including a detailed business plan, that it delivered to SCI in March 2020
(the “Deliverables”), all of which was designed to assist with the efficient implementation of a cryptocurrency mine.
The agreement provided that, following SCI’s acceptance of the Deliverables, which occurred on March 23, 2020, HEL, on behalf
of SCI, would commence operations of the cryptocurrency mine in a manner that would allow SCI to mine and sell cryptocurrency.
In that regard, on May 21, 2020, SCI acquired the intellectual property of GigaWatt, Inc. (“GigaWatt”) and certain
other property and rights of GigaWatt associated with GigaWatt’s operation of a crypto-mining operation located in Washington
State. The acquired assets formed the cornerstone of SCI’s current cryptocurrency mining operation. SCI sells for U.S. dollars
all cryptocurrency it mines and is not in the business of accumulating cryptocurrency on our balance sheet for speculative gains.
On October 22, 2020, SCI loaned HEL $112 thousand to acquire additional assets from the bankruptcy trustee for GigaWatt’s
assets. On the same day, HEL transferred title of the assets to SCI, which under the terms thereof paid off the note.
On
November 19, 2020, SCI and HEL entered into a second Operating and Management Agreement related to a potential location for a
cryptocurrency mine in the Southeast United States. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which are consistent with
the first Operating and Management agreement noted above, HEL is entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the mine. SCI paid HEL $221 thousand for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2021 related to the one-time fees.
On
December 1, 2020, SCI and HEL entered into a third Operating and Management Agreement with respect to a potential location for
a cryptocurrency mine in the Southwestern United States. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which are consistent with
the first Operating and Management agreement noted above, HEL is entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the mine. SCI did not make any payments in 2021 as this target location
did not meet the business requirements to continue pursuing the potential acquisition, and as a result SCI did not make any further
payments to HEL under this agreement.
On
February 8, 2021, SCI and HEL entered into a fourth Operating and Management Agreement related to a potential location for a cryptocurrency
mine in the Southeast United States. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which are consistent with the first Operating
and Management agreement noted above, HEL is entitled to ongoing success payments of 20.0% of the earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization of the mine. SCI paid HEL $544 thousand for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 in relation
to the one-time fees.
For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company paid $245 thousand in expense reimbursements and other related fees in addition
to the Operating and Management payments.
Each
Operating and Management Agreement, all of which were terminated effective November 5, 2021, pursuant to the Termination Agreement,
among other things, required that HEL provide project sourcing services to SCI, including acquisition negotiations and establishing
an operating model, investments/financing timeline, and project development path. The Company made one final payment
to HEL in 2022 of $50 thousand to settle all final Operating and Management Agreements.
Simultaneously
with entering into the initial Operating and Management Agreement with HEL, the Company, pursuant to a purchase agreement it entered
into with HEL, made a strategic investment in HEL by purchasing 158,730 Class A Preferred Shares of HEL for an aggregate purchase
price of $500 thousand on January 13, 2020. After acceptance of the Deliverables, as required by the terms of the purchase agreement,
on March 23, 2020, the Company purchased an additional 79,365 Class A Preferred Shares of HEL for an aggregate purchase price
of $250 thousand. The Company also has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase additional equity securities of HEL and
its subsidiaries (including additional Class A Preferred Shares of HEL) if HEL secures certain levels or types of project financing
with respect to its own wind power generation facilities. Each preferred share may be converted at any time and without payment
of additional consideration, into Common shares. The Company has additionally entered into a Side Letter Agreement, dated January
13, 2020, with HEL Technologies Investment I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that owns, on a fully diluted basis, 57.9%
of HEL and is controlled by a Brookstone Partners-affiliated director of the Company. The Side Letter Agreement provides for the
transfer to the Company, without the payment of any consideration by the Company, of additional Class A Preferred Shares of HEL
in the event HEL issues additional equity below agreed-upon valuation thresholds.
As
discussed above, on October 29, 2021, we completed the Soluna Callisto acquisition pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The purpose
of the transaction was for SCI to acquire substantially all of the assets (other than those assets physically located in Morocco)
formerly held by HEL, which assets consisted of SCI’s existing pipeline of certain cryptocurrency mining projects that HEL
previously transferred to SCI, which was formed expressly for this purpose, and to provide SCI with the opportunity to directly
employ or retain the services of four individuals whose services it had retained through HEL prior to the merger. As a result
of the merger, each share of common stock of Soluna Callisto issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of
the merger, other than shares owned by the Company or any of our subsidiaries, was cancelled and converted into the right to receive
a proportionate share of the Merger Consideration.
In
connection with the Soluna Callisto acquisition, effective as of October 29, 2021, upon
and subject to the terms and conditions of the Termination Agreement, on November 5, 2021: (1) the existing Operating and Management
Agreements between HEL and SCI were terminated in all respects; and (2)(A) SCI paid HEL $725,000, (B) SHI issued to HEL the Termination
Shares, and (C) HEL and SHI entered into an Amended and Restated Contingent Rights Agreement that, among other things, amended
the existing Contingent Rights Agreement by and between HEL and SHI, dated January 13, 2020, to provide SHI the right to invest
directly in certain cryptocurrency mining opportunities being pursued by HEL. The Termination Agreement required SHI to file a
registration statement with the SEC to register the resale of the Termination Shares which occurred on February 14, 2022.
Please
see Note 5 for additional information regarding the Soluna Callisto acquisition and related transactions.
Several
of HEL’s equity holders are affiliated with Brookstone Partners, the investment firm that holds an equity interest in
the Company through Brookstone Partners Acquisition XXIV, LLC. The Company’s two Brookstone-affiliated directors also
serve as directors and, in one case, as an officer, of HEL and also have ownership interest in HEL. In light of these
relationships, the various transactions by and between the Company and SCI, on the one hand, and HEL, on the other hand, were
negotiated on behalf of the Company and SCI via an independent investment committee of Board and separate legal
representation. The transactions were subsequently unanimously approved by both the independent investment committee and the
full Board.
Five
of the Company’s directors have various affiliations with HEL.
Michael
Toporek, our Chief Executive Officer and a director, owns (i) 90% of the equity of Soluna Technologies Investment I, LLC, which
owns 57.9% of HEL and (ii) 100% of the equity of MJT Park Investors, Inc., which owns 3.1% of HEL, in each case on a fully-diluted
basis. Mr. Toporek does not own directly, or indirectly, any equity interest in Tera Joule, LLC, which owns 9.2% of HEL; however,
as a result of his 100% ownership of Brookstone IAC, Inc., which is the manager of Tera Joule, LLC, he has dispositive power over
the equity interests that Tera Joule owns in HEL.
In
addition, one of the Company’s directors, Matthew E. Lipman, serves as a director and currently acting as President of HEL.
Mr. Lipman does not directly own any equity interest in Tera Joule, LLC, which owns 9.2% of HEL; however, as a result of his position
as a director and officer of Brookstone IAC, Inc., which is the manager of Tera Joule, LLC, he has dispositive power over the
equity interests that Tera Joule owns in HEL. As a result, the approximate dollar value of the amount of Mr. Toporek’s and
Mr. Lipman’s interest in the Company’s transactions with HEL for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $0 and $0.
John
Belizaire and John Bottomley, who were elected to the Company’s Board of Directors upon the effective time of SCI’s
acquisition of Soluna Callisto, serve as directors of HEL. In addition, Mr. Belizaire is the beneficial owner of 1,317,567 shares
of common stock of HEL and 102,380 Class Seed Preferred shares, which are convertible into 86,763 shares of common stock of HEL.
These interests give Mr. Belizaire an ownership of 10.54% in HEL. Mr. Belizaire also owns an interest in HEL indirectly through
his 5.0139% interest of Tera Joule, LLC’s 965,945 Class Seed Preferred shares, which are convertible into 818,596 shares
of common stock of HEL. Mr. Bottomley is the beneficial owner of 96,189, or approximately 0.72%, of the outstanding shares of
common stock of HEL.
Finally,
the Company’s director William P. Phelan served as an observer on HEL’s board of directors on behalf of the Company
through March 2021.
The
Company’s investment in HEL is carried at the cost of investment and was $750 thousand as of March 31, 2022. The Company
owned approximately 1.79% of HEL, calculated on a converted fully-diluted basis, as of March 31, 2022. The Company may enter into
additional transactions with HEL in the future.
| 12. | Stock-Based Compensation |
2021
Plan
The
Company’s 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) was adopted by the Board on February 12, 2021 and approved by the stockholders on March 25, 2021. The
2021 Plan was amended and restated effective as of October 29, 2021. The 2021 Plan authorizes the Company to issue shares of common
stock upon the exercise of stock options, the grant of restricted stock awards, and the conversion of restricted stock units (collectively,
the “Awards”). The Compensation Committee has full authority, subject to the terms of the 2021 Plan, to interpret
the 2021 Plan and establish rules and regulations for the proper administration of the 2021 Plan. Subject to certain adjustments
as provided in the 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under
the 2021 Plan (i) pursuant to the exercise of stock options, (ii) as restricted stock, and (iii) as available pursuant to restricted
stock units shall be limited to (A) during the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Fiscal Year”),
1,460,191 shares of common stock, and (B) beginning with the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (the “2022
Fiscal Year”), 15% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding. Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the
2021 Plan, (i) shares of the Company’s common stock subject to the 2021 Plan shall include shares of common stock forfeited
in a prior year and (ii) the number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2021 Plan may never be less than the
number of shares of the Company’s common stock that are then outstanding under outstanding Awards.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company awarded 417,924 restricted stock units under the Amended 2021 Plan, valued
at $9.25 through $10.79 per share based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant,
with a weighted average fair value of $10.38. 306,500 shares of common stock subject vesting as follows: 37% vests 12 months from
the date of the grant, 33% vests 24 months from the date of the grant, and 30% vests 36 months from the date of the grant, in
each case subject to the reporting person remaining in the service of the issuer on each such vesting date. 64,494 shares of Common
Stock subject to vest as follows: 25% of such restricted stock units shall vest after six months of the award, and the remaining
shares shall vest ratably over the succeeding 36-month period, with (1/36) of such vesting on the last day of each such calendar
month. The remaining 46,930 shares of common stock are performance-based awards that will vest in the following year in January
based on approval of the Board of Directors based on achievement of key performance objectives.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company granted options to purchase 30,000 shares of the Company’s common stock
under the 2021 Plan, 33 1/3% of which will vest on each of the three anniversaries of the date of the award. The exercise price
of these options is $11.10 per share and was based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the dates
of award. Using a Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, the weighted average fair value of these options was $9.15 per share and
was estimated at the date of grant.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company awarded 47,500 shares of restricted common stock under the 2021 Plan, valued
at $11.10 per share based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The shares
will be restricted for one year, with the entire award vesting on the first anniversary of the award date.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company awarded 15,000 restricted stock units under the 2021 Plan, valued at $11.10
per share based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. 33 1/3% of such restricted
stock units will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of the grant.
| 13. | Effect
of Recent Accounting Updates |
Accounting
Updates Not Yet Effective
Changes
to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) in the form of accounting standard
updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). The Company considered
the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not mentioned below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or
are expected to have minimal impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In
June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 (Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326)) and its subsequent amendments to the
initial guidance within ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-10, ASU 2019-11 and ASU 2020-02, respectively (collectively,
Topic 326). Topic 326 changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments
that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. This standard replaces the existing incurred credit loss model and
establishes a single credit loss framework based on a current expected credit loss model for financial assets carried at amortized
cost, including loans and held-to- maturity debt securities. The current expected loss model requires an entity to estimate credit
losses expected over the life of the credit exposure upon initial recognition of that exposure when the financial asset is originated
or acquired, which will generally result in earlier recognition of credit losses. This standard also requires expanded credit
quality disclosures. For available-for-sale debt securities, entities will be required to record allowances rather than reduce
the carrying amount, as they do today under the other-than-temporary impairment model. This standard also simplifies the accounting
model for purchased credit-impaired debt securities and loans. This standard will affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables,
net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded
from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. ASU 2018-19 clarifies that receivables arising from operating
leases are accounted for using lease guidance and not as financial instruments. ASU 2019-04 clarifies that equity instruments
without readily determinable fair values for which an entity has elected the measurement alternative should be remeasured to fair
value as of the date that an observable transaction occurred. ASU 2019-05 provides an option to irrevocably elect to measure certain
individual financial assets at fair value instead of amortized cost. This standard should be applied on either a prospective transition
or modified-retrospective approach depending on the subtopic. This standard will be effective for the Company for annual and interim
reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2022, and while early adoption is permitted, the Company does not expect
to elect that option. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial
statements, including assessing and evaluating assumptions and models to estimate losses. Upon adoption of this standard on January
1, 2023, the Company will be required to record a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings for the impact as of the date
of adoption. The impact will depend on the Company’s portfolio composition and credit quality at the date of adoption, as
well as forecasts at that time.
There
have been no other significant changes in the Company’s reported financial position or results of operations and cash flows
as a result of our adoption of new accounting pronouncements or changes to our significant accounting policies that were disclosed
in our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Fiscal Year”).
|
14. |
Discontinued Operations |
As
described in Note 1, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Purchaser, pursuant to which the Company
sold on April 11, 2022 all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments for approximately $9.25 million in cash. As of March 31, 2022, our Instrumentation business segment was classified as
discontinued operations in our financial statements for all periods presented. Our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated
statements of operations report discontinued operations separate from continuing operations. Our consolidated statements of equity
and statements of cash flows combine continuing and discontinuing operations.
Set
forth below are the results of the discontinued operations:
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Three
Months
Ended March 31,
2022 | | |
Three
Months
Ended March 31,
2021(*) | |
| |
| |
Product revenue | |
$ | 1,640 | | |
$ | 1,337 | |
Cost of sales | |
| 561 | | |
| 451 | |
Research and development | |
| 369 | | |
| 386 | |
Selling, general, and administrative | |
| 484 | | |
| 540 | |
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations | |
$ | 226 | | |
$ | (40 | ) |
(*) | | Reclassified to
conform with the current period presentation |
The
following table summarizes information about assets and liabilities from discontinued operations held for sale as of March 31,
2022 and December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in thousands) | |
| | |
| |
| |
March 31, | | |
December 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
Assets held for sale from discontinued operations: | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts receivable | |
$ | 1,001 | | |
$ | 1,189 | |
Inventories | |
| 1,021 | | |
| 964 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 40 | | |
| 54 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | |
| 77 | | |
| 92 | |
Deferred tax assets, net | |
| 101 | | |
| 101 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | |
| 579 | | |
| 628 | |
Total Assets held for sale from discontinued operations | |
$ | 2,819 | | |
$ | 3,028 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Liabilities held for sale from discontinued operations: | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts payable | |
$ | 191 | | |
$ | 136 | |
Accrued liabilities | |
| 529 | | |
| 479 | |
Operating lease liability | |
| 578 | | |
| 628 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Total Liabilities held for sale from discontinued operations | |
$ | 1,298 | | |
$ | 1,243 | |
MTI
Instruments sells its products on a worldwide basis with its principal markets listed in the table below where information on
product revenue is summarized by geographic area for the Company as a whole for each of the years ended December 31:
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Three
Months
Ended March 31,
2022 | | |
Three
Months
Ended March 31,
2021 | |
| |
| |
Product revenue: | |
| | | |
| | |
United States | |
$ | 836 | | |
$ | 909 | |
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) | |
| 743 | | |
| 242 | |
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) | |
| 57 | | |
| 166 | |
Americas (Canada, Mexico, South America) | |
| 4 | | |
| 20 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Total product revenue | |
$ | 1,640 | | |
$ | 1,337 | |
Product
revenues are attributed to regions based on the location of customers. For the three months ended as of March 31, 2022 and 2021
approximately 49.0% and 32.0%, respectively, of our product revenues was from customers outside of the United States.
At
MTI Instruments, the largest commercial customer for the 3 months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 represented 19.0% and 14.7%, respectively
and the largest governmental agency represented 0% and 17.2%, respectively of MTI Instruments product revenue.
The Company applies ASC 280, Segment
Reporting, in determining its reportable segments. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had two reportable segments
in Continuing Operations: Cryptocurrency Mining and Data Center Hosting. Until the sale of MTI Instruments, the Company also had
an additional reportable segment: Test and Measurement Instrumentation, which has classified as discontinued operations. The guidance
requires that segment disclosures present the measure(s) used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to decide
how to allocate resources and for purposes of assessing such segments’ performance. The Company’s CODM is comprised
of several members of its executive management team who use revenue and cost of revenues of both reporting segments to assess
the performance of the business of our reportable operating segments.
No
operating segments have been aggregated to form the reportable segments. The Company does not allocate all assets to the reporting
segments as these are managed on an entity-wide basis. Therefore, the Company does not separately disclose the total assets of
its reportable operating segments.
The
Cryptocurrency Mining segment generates revenue from the cryptocurrency the Company earns through its mining activities. The Data
Center Hosting segment generates revenue from contracts for the provision/consumption of electricity and operation of the data
center from the Company’s high performance computing facility in Calvert City, Kentucky.
For
the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, approximately 7% and 90% of the Company’s cryptocurrency mining revenue
was generated from our operations in East Wenatchee, Washington, 44% and 10% from our operations in Calvert City, Kentucky and 49% and
0% from our operations in Murray, Kentucky. 100% of the Company’s data center hosting revenue was generated from the facility
in Calvert City, Kentucky from hosting with two customers for three months ended March 31, 2022.
The
Company evaluates performance based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes, accounting changes, items management
does not deem relevant to segment performance, and interest income and expense. Inter-segment sales and expenses are not significant.
Non-cash items of depreciation and amortization are included within both costs of sales and selling, general and administrative
expenses.
The
following table details revenue and cost of revenues for the Company’s reportable segments for three months ended March
31, 2022 and 2021, and reconciles to net income (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations :
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Three
Months
Ended March 31,
2022 | | |
Three
Months
Ended March 31,
2021 | |
Reportable segment revenue: | |
| | | |
| | |
Cryptocurrency mining revenue | |
$ | 7,812 | | |
$ | 995 | |
Data hosting revenue | |
| 1,504 | | |
| — | |
Total segment and consolidated revenue | |
| 9,316 | | |
| 995 | |
Reportable segment cost of revenue: | |
| | | |
| | |
Cost of revenues-cryptocurrency mining | |
| 7,721 | | |
| 328 | |
Cost of revenues-data hosting | |
| 1,138 | | |
| — | |
Total segment and consolidated cost of revenues | |
| 8,859 | | |
| 328 | |
Reconciling items: | |
| | | |
| | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | |
| 7,255 | | |
| 1,298 | |
Interest expense | |
| (2,881 | ) | |
| — | |
Other income | |
| — | | |
| 5 | |
Income tax benefit from continuing operations
| |
| | |
| |
Net loss (continuing operations) | |
| (9,132 | ) | |
| (626 | ) |
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax | |
| 226 | | |
| (40 | ) |
Income tax (expense) benefit from discontinued operations | |
| | |
| — | |
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
| |
| 226 | | |
| (40 | ) |
Net loss | |
| (8,906 | ) | |
| (666 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Capital expenditures | |
| 25,438 | | |
| 296 | |
Depreciation and amortization | |
| 6,697 | | |
| 75 | |
On
April 11, 2022, the Company entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement with Purchaser, pursuant to which the Company sold
on such date all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiary, MTI Instruments for
approximately $9.25 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement.
The
consideration paid by the Purchaser to the Company was based on an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $10.75 million.
In addition, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser entered into certain employment and
restrictive covenant agreements between the Company and certain employees, including MTI Instrument’s president and chief
executive officer, Moshe Binyamin. As a result of the Sale, the Company exited the instruments business and expects that it will
be focused on developing and monetizing green, zero carbon computing and cryptocurrency mining facilities.
On
April 13, 2022, the Company issued to certain institutional lenders (the “Lenders”) promissory notes in an
aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million for an aggregate purchase price of $10.0 million (the “Notes”). The
Company also issued Class D common stock purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of
1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. These Notes were the third and
final tranche of an aggregate financing of $20.0 million. The Notes have a maturity date five years from the date of issuance
(each a “Maturity Date”), upon which dates the Notes shall be payable in full, and accrue interest at a rate of
two percent (2%) per annum. The Notes may be repaid, at such Lender’s sole election, either (a) at the applicable
Maturity Date or (b) upon the first business day of each month that the Company completes an offering of its shares of the
Company’s 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series A Preferred
Stock”) by presenting its Note in whole or in part as legal tender to purchase such shares of Series A Preferred Stock
at price per share of Series A Preferred Stock on the date immediately preceding the closing of such subscription, provided
that if the Notes are not repaid by May 2, 2022, the Notes shall automatically be subscribed for shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock. If any Event of Default occurs, the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, liquidated damages and other
amounts owing in respect thereof through the date of acceleration, will become, at the Lender’s election, immediately
due and payable in cash. The Notes may be prepaid or redeemed upon written notice to the other party.
The
Warrants are immediately exercisable for two years upon issuance. Exercise of the Warrants is subject to beneficial ownership
limitations such that the Lenders may not exercise the Warrants to the extent that such exercise would result in each of the Lenders
being the beneficial owner in excess of 4.99% (or, upon election of such Lender, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the Common
Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise, which
beneficial ownership limitation may be increased or decreased up to 9.99% upon notice to the Company, provided that any increase
in such limitation will not be effective until 61 days following notice to the Company.
On
April 26, 2022, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Univest Securities,
LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein, in connection with the offer and sale to such underwriters,
in a firm commitment public offering (the “Underwritten Offering”) of 525,714 shares (the “Underwritten Shares”)
of the Company’s 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, with a $25.00 liquidation
preference per share. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase
up to an additional 78,857 shares (the “Option Shares”) of the Series A Preferred Stock on the same terms as the Shares
sold in the Offering (the “Over-Allotment Option”). On April 29, 2022, the Company closed the Underwritten Offering
and issued and sold 525,714 shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement for aggregate gross proceeds
of approximately $9.2 million less underwriting discounts of 7.0% ($0.6 million) and other offering fees and expenses, resulting
in aggregate net proceeds to the Company of approximately $8.56 million. In the event that the Over-Allotment Option is exercised
by the underwriters in full, that would result in additional aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $1.38 million less applicable
underwriter discounts and other offering fees and expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offerings (as
defined below) primarily for the acquisition, development and growth of data centers, including cryptocurrency mining processors,
other computer processing equipment, data storage, electrical infrastructure, software and real property (i.e., land and
buildings) and business, and for working capital and general corporate purposes, which include, but are not limited to, operating
expenses.
Also
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to the Univest Securities, LLC, in connection with the Underwritten
Offering, warrants to purchase up to a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common
Stock”), representing 5% of the Underwritten Shares and any Option Shares sold, at an initial exercise price of $9.152 per
share, subject to certain adjustments (the “Underwriter’s Warrants”). On April 29, 2022, the Company issued
to Univest Securities, LLC or its designee Underwriter’s Warrants to purchase up to 26,285 shares of Common Stock. In the
event all of the Option Shares are sold, the Company will issue additional Underwriter’s Warrants to purchase up to 3,942
shares of Common Stock to Univest Securities, LLC or its designee.
Concurrently
with the Underwritten Offering, on April 29, 2022, pursuant to certain outstanding promissory notes in an aggregate principal
amount of $20 million issued to certain institutional lenders, which Notes provide the Lenders with an option to elect that such
Notes be repaid by the Company in shares of Series A Preferred Stock and subscription agreements, each dated April 29, 2022, by
and between the Company and each of the Lenders, the Company issued an aggregate of
1,142,857 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the Notes in a registered direct
offering.
On
May 3, 2022, SCI entered into a Bilateral Master Contribution Agreement (the "Contribution Agreement") with Soluna SLC
Fund I Projects Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Spring Lane”), pursuant to which Spring Lane has
agreed, pursuant to the terms and conditions of such agreement, to make one or more capital contributions to, and in exchange
for equity in, SCI or one of its subsidiaries up to an aggregate amount of $35 million to fund certain projects to develop green
data centers co-located with renewable energy assets (the "Spring Lane Commitment"). We anticipate that these capital
contributions, once deployed into the projects, will help develop three behind-the-meter (BTM) projects designed to convert wasted
renewable energy into clean computing services such as bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence. The Contribution Agreement
outlines the framework for the Spring Lane Commitment; however, neither we nor Spring Lane are obligated to completed any projects
under such agreement and any actual capital contributions are subject to various conditions precedent, including the receipt of
requisite lender and other consents, acceptance by Spring Lane of specific projects and negotiations of agreements regarding those
projects, including milestones and structure.