Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of December 31, 2021 (the “Evaluation Date”), our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer
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and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934). Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded based upon the evaluation described above that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for our company. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers and effected by our board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of our assets;
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
provide reasonable assurance that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of our management and directors; and
provide re asonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In conducting this evaluation, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).
Based upon this evaluation and those criteria, management believes that, as of December 31, 2021, our internal controls over financial reporting were effective.
This Annual Report on Form 10‑K does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered accounting firm as we are an emerging growth company, as defined under the JOBS Act, and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company is not required to have the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting audited by its external auditors for as long as the Company is deemed to be an emerging growth company.
Changes in Internal Control
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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Part III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this Item is set forth in our 2022 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2021, and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K by reference.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
We are an emerging growth company, as defined under the JOBS Act, and are therefore not required to provide certain disclosures regarding executive compensation required of larger public companies or hold a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation or obtain stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
The information required by this Item is set forth in our 2022 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2021, and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item is set forth in our 2022 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2021, and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is set forth in our 2022 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2021, and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is set forth in our 2022 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2021 and is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K, for Deloitte & Touche LLP (PCAOB ID No. 34 ) and Wolf & Company P.C. (PCAOB ID No. 392).
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Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
List of Documents Filed as Part of this Report
1. Consolidated Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements are filed herewith in accordance with Item 8 of Part II above:
(i) Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm s
(ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets
(iii) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Schedules
Schedules not listed are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or is presented in the consolidated financial statements.
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3. Exhibits
Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
3.1*
Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
3.2*
Certificate of Amendment of Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 6, 2017).
3.3*
Certificate of Amendment of Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on January 15, 2020).
3.4*
Certificate of Amendment of Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 19, 2020).
3.5*
Amended and Restated Bylaws of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
4.1*
Specimen Certificate of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
4.2*
Specimen Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on January 9, 2018).
4.3
Description of Registrant’s securities. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 10, 2020).
10.1*
Stock Purchase Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation, dated November 7, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.2*†
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.3*†
Amendment No. 1 to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.4*†
Form of Stock Option Agreement pursuant to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.5*†
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement pursuant to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.6*†
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.7*†
Amendment No. 1 to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 2. 2019).
10.8*
Amendment No. 2 to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 29, 2020).
10.9*†
Form of Stock Option Agreement pursuant to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on December 12, 2016).
10.10*†
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement pursuant to AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on December 12, 2016).
10.11*
Relationship Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation, dated December 5, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.12*
Subscription Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and the investors listed therein, dated February 14, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.13*
Subscription Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation, dated March 5, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.14*
Subscription Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation, dated June 24, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
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10.15*
Promissory Note Purchase Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation, dated February 22, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.16*
Form of Warrant Exercise Agreement, by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and certain holders of its Common Stock Purchase Warrants, dated October 24, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 25, 2018).
10.17*
Agreement, by and among Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. and AquaBounty Technologies Inc., dated December 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.18*
Offer Letter dated as of July 10, 2018, from Prince Edward Island Century 2000 Fund Inc. to AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. and accepted by AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. and AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. on August 20, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 2, 2018).
10.19*
Negotiable Promissory Note dated as of October 16, 2018, issued by AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. in favor of Prince Edward Island Century 2000 Fund Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 2, 2018).
10.20*
Collateral Mortgage dated as of July 26, 2016, by and between AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. and Prince Edward Island Century 2000 Fund Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 2, 2018).
10.21*
Collateral Mortgage dated as of October 9, 2018, by and between AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. and Prince Edward Island Century 2000 Fund Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 2, 2018).
10.22*
General Security Agreement dated as of July 26, 2016, by and between AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. and Prince Edward Island Century 2000 Fund Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 2, 2018).
10.23*
Guarantee dated as of October 9, 2018, made by AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. in favor of Prince Edward Island Century 2000 Fund Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 2, 2018).
10.24*†
Employment Agreement, by and between Sylvia Wulf and AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., dated November 27. 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 28, 2018).
10.25*†
Employment Agreement, by and between David Frank and AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., dated October 1, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.26*†
Employment Agreement, by and between Alejandro Rojas and AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., dated December 30, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.27*
Intellectual Property License and Full and Final Release among Genesis Group, Inc., HSC Research and Development Partnership and AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., dated February 28, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed on November 7, 2016).
10.28*
Asset Purchase Agreement by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Bell Fish Company LLC, dated as of June 9, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 4, 2017).
10.29*#
Loan and Security Agreement by and between AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC and First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.30*
Term Note granted by AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC in favor of First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.31*
Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Leases, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement granted by AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. in favor of First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.31*
Guarantor Security Agreement by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.32*
Unconditional and Continuing Secured Guaranty Agreement by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
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10.33*
Collateral Access Agreement by and between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.34*
Unconditional and Continuing Guaranty Agreement by and between AquaBounty Farms, Inc. and First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.35*
Environmental Indemnity Agreement by and among AquaBounty Technologies, Inc., AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC, and First Farmers Bank and Trust, dated as of July 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 6, 2020).
10.36*
Letter Agreement between AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and Third Security And its affiliates dated July 30, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 4, 2021).
16.1*
Letter from Wolf & Company, P.C. dated July 6, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 16.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 7, 2021).
21.1
List of Subsidiaries of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2
Consent of Wolf & Company, P.C.
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
Inline XBRL instance document-the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL taxonomy extension schema document.
101.CAL
Inline XBRL taxonomy extension calculation linkbase document.
101.DEF
Inline XBRL taxonomy extension definition linkbase document.
101.LAB
Inline XBRL taxonomy label linkbase document.
101.PRE
Inline XBRL taxonomy extension presentation linkbase document.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in exhibit 101).
*Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
# Schedules, exhibits, and similar supporting attachments or agreements to the Loan and Security Agreement are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
†Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
The registrant hereby undertakes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, copies of any constituent instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the registrant or its subsidiaries that have not been filed herewith because the amounts represented thereby are less than 10% of the total assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
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Item 16. Form 10‑K Summary
Not applicable.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
AQUABOUNTY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
/s/ Sylvia A. Wulf
Sylvia A. Wulf
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
Power of Attorney
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints David A. Frank and Angela M. Olsen, as his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10‑K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Sylvia A. Wulf
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
March 10, 2022
Sylvia A. Wulf
/s/ David A. Frank
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
March 10, 2022
David A. Frank
/s/ Richard J. Clothier
Chairman of the Board, Director
March 10, 2022
Richard J. Clothier
/s/ Christine St.Clare
Director
March 10, 2022
Christine St.Clare
/s/ Rick Sterling
Director
March 10, 2022
Rick Sterling
/s/ James C. Turk
Director
March 10, 2022
James C. Turk
/s/ Alana D. Kirk
Director
March 10, 2022
Alana D. Kirk
/s/ Theodore J. Fisher
Director
March 10, 2022
Theodore J. Fisher
/s/ Ricardo Alvarez
Director
March 10, 2022
Ricardo Alvarez
/s/ Gail Sharps Myers
Director
March 10, 2022
Gail Sharps Myers
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
March 10, 2022
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2021.
F- 1
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc .
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Wolf & Company, P.C.
Boston, Massachusetts
March 9, 2021
We served as the Company’s auditor from 2011 to 2020.
F- 2
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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31,
2021
2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
88,454,988
$
95,751,160
Marketable securities
101,773,781
—
Inventory, net
1,259,910
1,525,377
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,536,484
405,370
Total current assets
193,025,163
97,681,907
Property, plant and equipment, net
33,815,119
26,930,338
Right of use assets, net
284,320
341,997
Intangible assets, net
231,842
245,546
Restricted cash
1,000,000
500,000
Other assets
79,548
76,715
Total assets
$
228,435,992
$
125,776,503
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
4,317,615
$
1,176,802
Accrued employee compensation
874,589
583,301
Current debt
627,365
259,939
Other current liabilities
66,269
62,483
Total current liabilities
5,885,838
2,082,525
Long-term lease obligations
224,058
290,327
Long-term debt, net
8,523,333
8,528,490
Total liabilities
14,633,229
10,901,342
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $ 0.001 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2021 and
2020; 71,025,738 and 55,497,133 shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
71,026
55,497
Additional paid-in capital
384,852,107
263,629,116
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
( 255,588 )
( 267,258 )
Accumulated deficit
( 170,864,782 )
( 148,542,194 )
Total stockholders' equity
213,802,763
114,875,161
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
228,435,992
$
125,776,503
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F- 3
Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
Years ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Revenues
Product revenues
$
1,174,832
$
127,663
Costs and expenses
Product costs
10,786,072
6,680,012
Sales and marketing
1,261,764
533,428
Research and development
2,145,548
2,364,610
General and administrative
9,103,213
6,797,443
Total costs and expenses
23,296,597
16,375,493
Operating loss
( 22,121,765 )
( 16,247,830 )
Other income (expense)
Interest expense
( 316,442 )
( 152,367 )
Other income (expense), net
115,619
212
Total other income (expense)
( 200,823 )
( 152,155 )
Net loss
$
( 22,322,588 )
$
( 16,399,985 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency
51,771
92,902
Unrealized losses on marketable securities
( 40,101 )
—
Total other comprehensive income
11,670
92,902
Comprehensive loss
$
( 22,310,918 )
$
( 16,307,083 )
Basic and diluted net loss per share
$
( 0.32 )
$
( 0.45 )
Weighted average number of common shares -
basic and diluted
69,428,061
36,347,398
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock issued and outstanding
Par value
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Accumulated deficit
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2019
21,635,365
$
21,635
$
156,241,363
$
( 360,160 )
$
( 132,142,209 )
$
23,760,629
Net loss
( 16,399,985 )
( 16,399,985 )
Other comprehensive income
92,902
92,902
Issuance of common stock for service
20,000
20
40,580
40,600
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses
33,028,000
33,028
104,592,587
104,625,615
Exercise of warrants for common stock
713,449
713
2,317,996
2,318,709
Share based compensation
100,319
101
436,590
436,691
Balance as of December 31, 2020
55,497,133
$
55,497
$
263,629,116
$
( 267,258 )
$
( 148,542,194 )
$
114,875,161
Net loss
( 22,322,588 )
( 22,322,588 )
Other comprehensive income
11,670
11,670
Cashless exercise of options for common stock
4,354
4
( 4 )
—
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses
14,950,000
14,950
119,105,487
119,120,437
Exercise of warrants for common stock
530,414
530
1,723,316
1,723,846
Share based compensation
43,837
45
394,192
394,237
Balance as of December 31, 2021
71,025,738
$
71,026
$
384,852,107
$
( 255,588 )
$
( 170,864,782 )
$
213,802,763
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Operating activities
Net loss
$
( 22,322,588 )
$
( 16,399,985 )
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
1,787,564
1,494,596
Share-based compensation
394,237
436,691
Other non-cash charge
17,386
44,339
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventory
267,833
( 282,260 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
( 1,138,691 )
( 74,621 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
230,712
145,607
Accrued employee compensation
291,288
346,812
Net cash used in operating activities
( 20,472,259 )
( 14,288,821 )
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
( 5,668,696 )
( 3,975,135 )
Deposits on equipment purchases
( 45,111 )
( 349,847 )
Proceeds from sale equipment
—
99,816
Purchases of marketable securities, net
( 101,813,882 )
—
Proceeds from legal settlement, net
—
1,014,008
Other investing activities
( 11,010 )
( 27,253 )
Net cash used in investing activities
( 107,538,699 )
( 3,238,411 )
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt
606,453
4,221,130
Payment of debt issuance costs
—
( 91,620 )
Repayment of term debt
( 272,102 )
( 70,826 )
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net
119,120,437
104,625,615
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants
1,723,846
2,318,709
Net cash provided by financing activities
121,178,634
111,003,008
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
36,152
( 23,360 )
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
( 6,796,172 )
93,452,416
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
96,251,160
2,798,744
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
89,454,988
$
96,251,160
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported
in the consolidated balance sheet:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
88,454,988
$
95,751,160
Restricted cash
1,000,000
500,000
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
89,454,988
$
96,251,160
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and
non-cash transactions:
Interest paid in cash
$
299,056
$
114,893
Property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
2,926,016
$
23,600
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
1. Nature of business and organization
Nature of business
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (the “Parent” and, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, the “Company”) was incorporated in December 1991 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of conducting research and development of the commercial viability of a group of proteins commonly known as antifreeze proteins. In 1996, the Parent obtained the exclusive licensing rights for a gene construct (transgene) used to create a breed of farm‑raised Atlantic salmon that exhibit growth rates that are substantially faster than conventional salmon. In 2015, the Parent obtained regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the production and sale of its genetically engineered AquAdvantage salmon product (“GE Atlantic salmon”) in the United States and in 2016, the Parent obtained regulatory approval from Health Canada for the production and sale of its GE Atlantic salmon product in Canada. In 2021, the Parent obtained regulatory approval from the National Biosafety Technical Commission for the sale of its GE Atlantic salmon product in Brazil.
Basis of presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The entities are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Liquidity
The Company completed an equity raise in 2021with net proceeds of $ 119.1 million and has $ 191.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash as of December 31, 2021. While the Company has experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, management believes that it has sufficient cash to meet the Company's requirements beyond the next twelve months from the filing date of these consolidated financial statements. However, until such time as the Company reaches profitability, it may require additional financing to fund its operations and execute its business plan.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Comprehensive loss
The Company displays comprehensive loss and its components as part of its consolidated financial statements. Comprehensive loss consists of net loss and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains (losses) on the Company’s marketable securities.
Foreign currency translation
The functional currency of the Parent is the US Dollar. The functional currency of the Canadian Subsidiary is the Canadian Dollar (C$) and the functional currency of the US and Brazil Subsidiaries is the US Dollar. For the Canadian Subsidiary, assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at the historical exchange rate and the income statement accounts are translated at the average rate for each period during the year. Net translation gains or losses are adjusted directly to a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity.
Cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of business savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts.
Marketable securities
Marketable securities include government bonds, corporate bonds and commercial paper. The Company's investment policy requires investments to be explicitly rated by two of Standard & Poor's, Moody's or Fitch and to have a minimum rating of A1, P1 or F-1,
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
respectively, from those agencies. In addition, the investment policy limits individual maturities to 12 months, the dollar-weighted average maturity to 180 days and the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer to 5%.
Inventories
Inventories are mainly comprised of feed, eggs and fish in process. Fish in process inventory is measured based on the estimated biomass of fish on hand. The Company has established a standard procedure to estimate the biomass of fish on hand using counting and sampling techniques. The Company measures inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value (NRV). The NRV calculation contains various estimates and assumptions in regard to the calculation of the biomass, including expected yield, the market value of the biomass and estimated costs of completion and transportation.
Intangible assets
Definite lived intangible assets include patents and licenses. Patent costs consist primarily of legal and filing fees incurred to file patents on proprietary technology developed by the Company. Patent costs are amortized on a straight - line basis over 20 years beginning with the filing date of the applicable patent. License fees are capitalized and expensed over the term of the licensing agreement.
Indefinite lived intangible assets include trademark costs, which are capitalized with no amortization as they have an indefinite life.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. The Company depreciates all asset classes over their estimated useful lives, as follows:
Building
20 - 25 years
Equipment
5 - 20 years
Office furniture and equipment
3 years
Leasehold improvements
shorter of asset life or lease term
Vehicles
3 years
The Company commences depreciation on an asset when it is placed into service.
Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, definite lived intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment when facts and circumstances suggest that they may be impaired. The carrying values of such assets are considered impaired when the estimated undiscounted cash flows from such assets are less than their carrying values. An impairment loss, if any, is recognized in the amount of the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of such assets.
Indefinite lived intangible assets are subject to impairment testing annually or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company’s impairment testing utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis that requires significant management judgment with respect to revenue and expense growth rates, changes in working capital and the selection and use of the appropriate discount rate. An impairment loss is recognized in the amount of the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.
Leases
The Company leases certain facilities, property, and equipment under noncancelable operating leases. A determination is made if an arrangement is a lease at its inception, and leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. For operating leases, expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has agreements with lease (e.g., minimum rent payments) and non-lease components (e.g., maintenance), which are generally accounted for separately. The Company has not elected the practical expedient to account for lease and non-lease components as one lease component.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
The Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02 Leases on January 1, 2019 and recognized a lease liability of $ 532 thousand and a corresponding right-of-use asset of $ 512 thousand. Management calculated the lease liability based on the net present value of the remaining lease payments on the date of adoption using a weighted average discount rate of 8 %. As most of the Company’s leases did not provide an implicit interest rate, management used an estimated incremental borrowing rate. The adoption did not result in any cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings.
Revenue recognition
The Company generates revenue from the sale of its products. Revenue is recognized when the customer takes physical control of the goods, in an amount that reflects the transaction price consideration that the Company expects to receive in exchange for the goods. Revenue excludes any sales tax collected and includes any estimate of future credits. During 2021, the Company recognized $ 747 thousand and $ 428 thousand in revenue from product sales from its Canada and U.S. subsidiaries, respectively.
Income taxes
The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. A valuation allowance is established to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company follows accounting guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements. Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns are required to be evaluated to determine whether the tax positions are “more likely than not” to be upheld under regulatory review. The resulting tax impact of these tax positions is recognized in the financial statements based on the results of this evaluation. The Company did not recognize any tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions, nor has it recognized any interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax positions. The Company is not currently under exam and is no longer subject to federal and state tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2018.
Net loss per share
Basic and diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders has been calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Basic net loss per share is based solely on the number of common shares outstanding during the year. Fully diluted net loss per share includes the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and options with an exercise price less than the fair value of the common stock unless the impact of the warrant or option is anti-dilutive to the calculation. Since the Company is reporting a net loss for all periods presented, all potential common shares are considered anti - dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 1,081,866 potentially dilutive securities outstanding, consisting of 418,441 warrants and 663,425 stock options. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had 2,236,229 potentially dilutive securities outstanding, consisting of 1,662,304 warrants and 573,925 stock options.
Share-based compensation
The Company measures and recognizes all share - based payment awards, including stock options and restricted share units made to employees and Directors, based on estimated fair values. The fair value of a share - based payment award is estimated on the date of grant using an option pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company uses the Black - Scholes option pricing model (“Black - Scholes”) as its method of valuation. Non - employee stock - based compensation is accounted for using Black - Scholes to determine the fair value of warrants or options awarded to non - employees with the fair value of such issuances expensed over the period of service .
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with those standards. The Company has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards unless otherwise state.
The Company will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) December 31, 2023, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which it has total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more, (iii) the date on which it has issued more than $1.0 billion in
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
nonconvertible debt during the previous three years or (iv) the date on which it is deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which generally is when it has more than $700 million in market value of its stock held by non-affiliates, has been a public company for at least 12 months and have filed one annual report on Form 10-K.
Management does not expect any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards to have a material effect on its results of operations or financial condition.
3. Risks and uncertainties
The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common in the biotechnology and aquaculture industries. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) results from current and planned product development studies and trials; (ii) decisions made by the FDA or similar regulatory bodies in other countries with respect to approval and commercial sale of any of the Company’s proposed products; (iii) the commercial acceptance of any products approved for sale and the Company’s ability to produce, distribute, and sell for a profit any products approved for sale; (iv) the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary patents and proprietary rights to effectively protect its technologies; and (v) the outcome of any collaborations or alliances entered into by the Company.
COVID-19
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has diminished in the United States and other parts of the world as vaccines have become more readily available, several variants of the virus continue to spread. Local governmental authorities in the United States and Canada have issued, and continue to update, directives aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus and the Company continues to monitor its status.
The ultimate impact of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations will depend on future developments, which cannot be predicted with confidence, and the Company cannot predict the extent or impact of the extended period of continued business interruption and reduced operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or any additional preventative or protective measures taken in response. In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, management made modifications to biosecurity procedures at the farm sites in early 2020 to adapt to local requirements and to provide a safe work environment. The Company’s current preventative and protective measures include, but are not limited to, segregating farm workers to specific locations, rotating shifts, and monitoring worker temperatures upon arrival at the Company’s facilities. To the extent possible, work-from-home is utilized for employees that do not have fish care responsibilities.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. This risk is mitigated by the Company’s policy of maintaining all balances with highly rated financial institutions, investing cash equivalents with maturities of less than 90 days, and investing marketable securities with maturities of less than 180 days. The Company’s cash balances may at times exceed insurance limitations. The Company holds cash balances in bank accounts located in Canada to fund its local operations. These amounts are subject to foreign currency exchange risk, which is minimized by the Company’s policy to limit the balances held in these accounts. Balances in Canadian bank accounts totaled $ 224 thousand at December 31, 2021. The Company also holds cash equivalent investments in a highly liquid investment account at a major financial institution. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 the cash equivalent investment balance was $ 73.3 million and $ 0 , respectively.
Financial instruments
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, and accounts payable approximate fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying value of term debt approximates its fair value since it provides for market terms and interest rates. All of the Company’s interest-bearing debt is at fixed rates, except for the loan with First Farmer’s Bank and Trust, which has a rate reset in July 2025.
The Company groups its financial instruments measured at fair value, if any, in three levels based on the markets in which the instruments are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgement used in measuring fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1: Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices, unadjusted, for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Level 2: Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or inputs derived principally from, or that can be corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3: Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using discounted cash flow methodologies, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgement or estimation.
4. Marketable Securities
Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale. The following table summarizes the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and the fair value as of December 31, 2021:
Amortized
Unrealized
Unrealized
Market
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
December 31, 2021
Government bonds
$
28,453,161
$
82
$
( 18,255 )
$
28,434,988
Corporate bonds
29,874,696
-
( 21,928 )
29,852,768
Commercial paper
43,486,025
-
-
43,486,025
Marketable securities
$
101,813,882
$
82
$
( 40,183 )
$
101,773,781
There were no marketable securities as of December 31, 2020.
5. Inventory
Major classifications of inventory are summarized as follows for December 31, 2021 and 2020:
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Feed, net
$
162,047
244,311
Eggs and fry
—
54,929
Packaging
—
6,452
Fish in process, net
1,097,863
1,219,685
Inventory, net
$
1,259,910
1,525,377
In December 2020, the Company reserved $ 1.53 million against the value of its fish-in-process inventory, representing the total carrying amount of its conventional salmon biomass. The Company donated substantially all of its conventional salmon to local food charities in 2021.
6. Property, plant and equipment
Major classifications of property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows for December 31, 2021 and 2020:
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Land
$
725,799
$
724,785
Building and improvements
15,580,385
14,048,917
Construction in process
8,119,575
3,212,287
Equipment
15,981,408
13,819,210
Office furniture and equipment
240,939
202,596
Vehicles
36,280
28,700
Total property and equipment
$
40,684,386
$
32,036,495
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
( 6,869,267 )
( 5,106,157 )
Property, plant and equipment, net
$
33,815,119
$
26,930,338
Depreciation and amortization expense for 2021 and 2020 on property, plant and equipment was $ 1.8 million and $ 1.5 million, respectively.
F- 11
Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
In March 2020, the Company settled an outstanding legal claim against a third party resulting in net proceeds of $ 1.0 million. The proceeds received reduced the carrying value of the acquired equipment. Depreciation on these items has been recalculated prospectively over their remaining useful lives.
As of December 31, 2021, construction in process included $ 5.2 million, $ 2.0 million and $ 856 thousand for construction related to the Ohio, Rollo Bay and Indiana farm sites, respectively. An additional $ 12.2 million has been contractually committed for these farm sites, though if a contract were terminated, a portion of this total would be refundable based on the amount of work completed as of the date of contract termination.
7. Debt
The current terms and conditions of long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, are as follows:
Interest
rate
Monthly
repayment
Maturity
date
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
ACOA AIF Grant
0 %
Royalties
-
$
2,261,349
$
2,253,595
ACOA term loan #1
0 %
C$ 3,120
Feb 2027
152,346
181,203
ACOA term loan #2
0 %
C$ 4,630
Sep 2029
339,015
381,451
ACOA term loan #3
0 %
C$ 6,945
Dec 2025
196,850
—
Kubota Canada Ltd
0 %
C$ 1,142
Jan 2025
33,283
43,925
PEI Finance term loan
4 %
C$ 16,313
Nov 2023
1,947,510
2,014,321
DFO term loan
0 %
C$ 2,091
Aug 2032
405,700
—
First Farmers Bank & Trust term loan
5.375 %
$ 56,832
Oct 2028
3,883,325
4,000,000
Total debt
$
9,219,378
$
8,874,495
less: debt issuance costs
( 68,680 )
( 86,066 )
less: current portion
( 627,365 )
( 259,939 )
Long-term debt, net
$
8,523,333
$
8,528,490
Principal payments due on the long-term debt are as follows:
Total
2022
$
643,980
2023
2,564,347
2024
729,626
2025
750,175
2026
715,392
Thereafter
3,815,858
Total
$
9,219,378
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (“ACOA”)
ACOA is a Canadian government agency that provides funding to support the development of businesses and promote employment in the Atlantic region of Canada.
ACOA Atlantic Innovation Fund (“AIF”) Grant
In January 2009, the Canadian Subsidiary was awarded an AIF grant from ACOA to provide a contribution towards the funding of a research and development project. Contributions under the grant were made through 2014 and no further funds are available. Amounts claimed by the Canadian Subsidiary must be repaid in the form of a 10 % royalty on any products that are commercialized out of this research project until the loan is fully repaid. Revenue from the sale of the Company’s GE Atlantic salmon is not subject to the royalty, and the Company does not expect to commercialize products that would be subject to the royalty in the next five years.
ACOA term loans
In February 2016, the Canadian Subsidiary executed an agreement with ACOA to partially finance the renovations to the Rollo Bay farm site. All available funding under the agreement was disbursed through May 2017, and no further amounts are available. The loan is being repaid over a 108 -month term at a zero percent interest rate.
F- 12
Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
In November 2018, the Canadian Subsidiary executed a second agreement with ACOA to partially finance the renovations to the Rollo Bay site. All available funding under the agreement was disbursed through March 2019, and no further amounts are available. The loan is being repaid over a 108 -month term with a zero percent interest rate.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company was informed by ACOA during 2020, that all loan payments to the Canadian government would be deferred for nine months and resume on January 1, 2021. In July 2021, the Canadian Subsidiary entered into a contribution agreement with ACOA under its REGI-Business Scale-up and Productivity program to provide funding assistance for the Rollo Bay farm site, and on August 20, 2021, the Canadian Subsidiary received C$ 250,000 ($ 200,075 ). All funds received are to be repaid over a 36 -month term commencing January 2023 at a zero percent interest rate.
Kubota
In January 2018, the Canadian Subsidiary financed the purchase of equipment through a loan with Kubota. The total amount is being repaid in monthly installments. The loan is secured by the underlying equipment.
Finance PEI (“FPEI”)
FPEI is a corporation of the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism for Prince Edward Island, Canada, and administers business financing programs for the provincial government.
In August 2016, the Canadian Subsidiary obtained a loan from FPEI to partially finance the purchase of the assets of the former Atlantic Sea Smolt plant in Rollo Bay West on Prince Edward Island.
In 2018, the Canadian Subsidiary obtained a new loan from FPEI, which incorporated the existing loan and provided C$ 2.0 million ($ 1.5 million) of additional funds. All funds have been dispersed and the loan is being repaid over an 87 -month term ending in November 2023. The loan has an interest rate of 4 % and is collateralized by a mortgage executed by the Canadian Subsidiary, which conveys a first security interest in all of its current and acquired assets. The loan is guaranteed by the Parent.
On March 24, 2020, the Company was informed by FPEI that all payments would be deferred for three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments on the loan resumed on August 1, 2020.
First Farmers Bank & Trust (“FFBT”)
On July 31, 2020, the Company’s Indiana Subsidiary obtained a $ 4.0 million loan from First Farmers Bank and Trust. Net proceeds were $ 3.9 million after deducting $ 90 thousand in loan costs. The loan bears interest at a rate of 5.375 % for the first five years . On July 31, 2025, the interest rate resets to the then U.S. Treasury 5-year maturities rate plus 5 % and remains fixed at that rate through maturity on October 1, 2028 . The note required interest only payments for the first 13 months, followed by monthly principal and interest payments of approximately $ 57 thousand through maturity. Proceeds from the loan may be used for the purpose of performing equipment upgrades, purchasing equipment and other improvements to the Indiana farm. The Company must comply with certain financial and non-financial covenants and provide certification of compliance quarterly. At December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with such covenants. The loan is also subject to certain prepayment penalties and is secured by the assets of the Indiana subsidiary and a guarantee by the Parent. The loan agreement requires the Company to maintain a minimum cash balance with the bank throughout the loan term. This amount is reflected as restricted cash on the balance sheet.
On October 12, 2021, the Company and First Farmers Bank & Trust agreed to a modification to the terms of its outstanding loan. The new terms delay the start date of certain of the loan’s negative covenants to the quarter commencing on October 1, 2022 and raises the required restricted cash balance amount from $ 500 thousand to $ 1.0 million.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (“DFO”)
DFO is a department of the government of Canada responsible for safeguarding its waters and managing its fisheries, oceans and freshwater resources. DFO supports economic growth in the marine and fisheries sectors, and innovation in areas such as aquaculture and biotechnology .
In September 2020, the Canadian Subsidiary entered into a Contribution Agreement with DFO's Atlantic Fisheries Fund, whereby it is eligible to receive up to C$ 1.9 million ($ 1.4 million) to finance new equipment for its Rollo Bay farm (the “DFO Term Loan”). On February 25, 2021, the Canadian Subsidiary borrowed C$ 238,400 ($ 187,120 ) and on April 27, 2021 the Canadian Subsidiary borrowed C$ 276,840 ($ 219,258 ) under the DFO Term Loan. Borrowings are interest free and monthly repayments commence in March 2023 , with maturity in August 2032 . All funding requests must be submitted by August 22, 2022.
The Company recognized interest expense of $ 316 thousand and $ 152 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively , on its interest-bearing debt.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
8. Stockholders’ equity
The Company’s shareholders have authorized 85 million shares of stock, of which 5 million are authorized as preferred stock and 80 million as common stock. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had zero shares of preferred stock and 71,025,738 shares and 55,497,133 shares of common stock, issued and outstanding, respectively.
Common stock
The holders of the common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held at all meetings of stockholders. Dividends and distribution of assets of the Company in the event of liquidation are subject to the preferential rights of any outstanding preferred shares.
Recent issuances
During 2020, the Company completed a series of public offerings, resulting in the aggregate issuance of 33,028,000 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $ 104.6 million.
During 2021, the Company completed a public offering of 14,950,000 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $ 119.1 million.
Warrants
The following table summarizes information about outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2021:
Number of
options
Weighted
average
exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
948,855
$
3.25
Issued
—
-
Exercised
( 530,414 )
3.25
Expired
—
-
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
418,441
3.25
Exercisable at December 31, 2021
418,441
3.25
All remaining warrants have an expiration date of January 17, 2023 .
Share-based compensation
In 2006, the Company established the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). The 2006 Plan provided for the issuance of incentive stock options to employees of the Company and non-qualified stock options and awards of restricted stock to Directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the Company. In accordance with its original terms, the 2006 Plan terminated on March 18, 2016. All outstanding awards under the 2006 Plan will continue until their individual termination dates.
In March 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) to replace the 2006 Plan. The 2016 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, and awards of restricted and direct stock purchases to Directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the Company. Total common shares authorized under the 2016 Plan were 1,900,000 , of which 916,516 shares are reserved for future issuance as of December 31, 2021.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Restricted stock
The Company’s restricted stock activity under the 2016 Plan is summarized as follows:
Shares
Weighted
average grant
date fair value
Balance at December 31, 2020
92,653
$
1.93
Granted
43,837
6.67
Vested
( 71,390 )
2.86
Balance at December 31, 2021
65,100
$
4.10
During 2021 and 2020, the Company expensed $ 240 thousand and $ 227 thousand, respectively related to restricted stock awards. At December 31, 2021, the balance of unearned share-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to the restricted stock awards is $ 147 thousand. The period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be earned is approximately 2.2 years.
Stock options
The Company’s option activity under the 2006 Plan and the 2016 Plan is summarized as follows:
Number of
options
Weighted
average
exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
657,414
$
4.28
Granted
48,914
6.72
Exercised
( 16,667 )
6.90
Forfeited
( 1,959 )
6.72
Expired
( 24,277 )
6.36
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
663,425
$
4.31
Exercisable at December 31, 2021
607,189
$
4.33
Options issued to employees, members of the Board of Directors, and non-employees generally vest over a period of one year to three years and are exercisable for a term of ten years from the date of issuance.
The weighted average fair value of stock options granted during 2021 was $ 5.36 (2020: $ 1.49 ). There were 16,667 options exercised in 2021 (2020: zero ). The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2021 was $ 41 thousand (2020: $ 0 ). As of December 31, 2021, the total intrinsic value of all options outstanding was $ 18 thousand (2020: $ 3.6 million) and the total intrinsic value of exercisable options was $ 11 thousand (2020: $ 3.2 million).
The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2021:
Weighted
average exercise
price of outstanding
options
Number of
options
outstanding
Weighted
average remaining
estimated life
(in years)
Number of
options
exercisable
$ 1.88 - $ 2.50
524,019
7.3
493,772
$ 3.30 - $ 6.72
53,916
8.4
27,927
$ 7.50 - $ 10.80
16,403
2.3
16,403
$ 14.20 - $ 23.40
69,087
4.2
69,087
663,425
607,189
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
The fair values of stock option grants to employees and members of the Board of Directors during 2021 and 2020 were measured on the date of grant using Black-Scholes, with the following weighted average assumptions:
2021
2020
Expected volatility
111 %
101 %- 104 %
Risk free interest rate
0.80 %
0.31 %- 1.67 %
Expected dividend yield
0 %
0 %
Expected life (in years)
5
5
The risk-free interest rate is estimated using the Federal Funds interest rate for a period that is commensurate with the expected term of the awards. The expected dividend yield is zero because the Company has never paid a dividend and does not expect to do so for the foreseeable future. The expected life was based on a number of factors including historical experience, vesting provisions, exercise price relative to market price, and expected volatility. The Company believes that all groups of employees demonstrate similar exercise and post-vesting termination behavior and, therefore, does not stratify employees into multiple groups and forfeitures are recognized as they occur. The expected volatility was estimated using the Company’s historical price volatility over a period that is commensurate with the expected term of the awards.
Total share-based compensation on stock-option grants amounted to $ 154 thousand and $ 251 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the balance of unearned share-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to unvested share-based awards is $ 182 thousand. The period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be earned is 2.2 years.
Share-based compensation
The following table summarizes share-based compensation costs recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
2021
2020
Research and development
$
-
$
497
General and administrative
394,237
436,194
Total share-based compensation
$
394,237
$
436,691
9. Income taxes
The components of loss before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are presented below:
2021
2020
Domestic
$
( 21,105,065 )
$
( 15,768,224 )
Foreign
( 1,217,523 )
( 631,761 )
Loss before income taxes
$
( 22,322,588 )
$
( 16,399,985 )
We have made no provision for foreign or domestic income taxes on the cumulative unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. We intend to permanently reinvest all foreign earnings and have no intention to repatriate foreign earnings for the foreseeable future.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Income taxes computed using the federal statutory income tax rate differs from the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 primarily due to the following:
2021
2020
Income tax benefit
$
( 4,687,744 )
$
( 3,443,997 )
State and provincial income tax, net of federal benefit
( 1,157,840 )
( 732,994 )
Permanent differences
202,583
131,141
US-Foreign rate differential
39,045
( 142,663 )
Other, net
( 299,071 )
( 145,973 )
$
( 5,903,027 )
$
( 4,334,486 )
Change in valuation allowance
5,903,027
4,334,486
Total income tax
$
-
$
-
As of December 31, 2021, the Company has domestic net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $ 78 million, after consideration of limitations pursuant to section 382, to offset future federal taxable income, which begin to expire in 2032. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has domestic net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $ 50 million, which can be carried forward indefinitely. The future utilization of certain historic net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, however, is subject to annual use limitations based on the change in stock ownership rules of Internal Revenue Code Sections 382 and 383. The Company experienced a change in ownership under these rules during 2012 and revised its calculation of net operating loss carryforwards based on annual limitation rules. The Company also has foreign research and development loss carryforwards totaling approximately $ 11 million and foreign research and development expense tax credits of approximately $ 2 million as of December 31, 2021, which expire at various times commencing in 2022. Since the Company has incurred only losses from inception and there is uncertainty related to the ultimate use of the loss carryforwards and tax credits, a valuation allowance has been recognized to offset the Company’s deferred tax assets, and no benefit for income taxes has been recorded.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
2021
2020
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards
$
23,216,863
$
16,964,199
Foreign research and development tax credit carryforwards
2,428,663
2,679,180
Property and equipment
145,530
56,697
Intangibles and other
2,934,441
3,122,394
Total deferred tax assets
$
28,725,497
$
22,822,470
Valuation allowance
$
( 28,725,497 )
$
( 22,822,470 )
Net deferred tax assets
$
-
$
-
10. Commitments and contingencies
The Company recognizes and discloses commitments when it enters into executed contractual obligations with other parties. The Company accrues contingent liabilities when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and such expenditures can be reasonably estimated.
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising in the normal course of business. Management believes that final disposition of any such matters existing at December 31, 2021, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Lease commitments
Lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, amounted to $ 84 thousand and $ 86 thousand, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the weighted average remaining lease term of the Company’s operating leases was 24.1 years. Lease payments included in operating cash flows totaled $ 84 thousand and $ 85 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
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Table of Contents
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
The table below summarizes the Company’s lease obligations as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2020
Lease Liability
Lease Liability
Total leases
$
290,327
$
352,810
Less: current portion
( 66,269 )
( 62,483 )
Long-term leases
$
224,058
$
$ 290,327
The Company used a weighted average discount rate of 8% in calculating the net present value of the future lease payments. The current portion of the lease liability is included as a component of other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Remaining payments under leases are as follows as of December 31, 2021:
Year
Amount
2022
$
84,080
2023
33,872
2024
17,481
2025
18,006
2026
18,546
Thereafter
583,328
Total lease payments
755,313
Less: imputed interest
( 464,986 )
Total operating lease liabilities
$
290,327
11. Retirement plan
The Company has a savings and retirement plan for its US employees that qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers substantially all employees and provides for voluntary contributions by participating employees up to the maximum contribution allowed under the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions by the Company can be made, as determined by the Board of Directors, provided the amount does not exceed the maximum permitted by the Internal Revenue Code. Company contributions made and expensed in operations in connection with the plan during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, amounted to $ 81 thousand and $ 72 thousand, respectively.
The Company also has a Registered Retirement Savings Plan for its Canadian employees. Company contributions made and expensed in operations in connection with the plan during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, amounted to $ 38 thousand and $ 32 thousand, respectively.
12. Related Party Agreement
Letter Agreement with Third Security
On July 30, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with TS Aquaculture LLC and certain of its affiliates (“TS Aquaculture”) that required the Company to file a registration statement to register the Company’s shares held by TS Aquaculture. The registration statement was filed on August 5, 2021 and TS Aquaculture completed a transaction to sell 12,880,000 shares of common stock of the Company on November 23, 2021. TS Aquaculture ceased being a related party after completing the sale. TS Aquaculture agreed to pay all expenses incurred in connection with these transactions, which totaled $ 418 thousand and is included in prepaid and other current assets in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021.
F- 18