Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We are involved in various legal claims and proceedings in the normal course of operations. We believe the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, except as described in Part 1, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Since the filing of our Form 10-K, there have been no material changes in our legal proceedings from those disclosed therein, other than as noted below.
Our patent infringement proceedings in Korea against Beerenberg Services AS, Beerenberg Korea Ltd., and Bronx (China) Co., Ltd., are ongoing. The patent infringement case at the Seoul District Court and our appeal of the Korea Trade Commission decision at the Seoul Administrative Court remain stayed pending the outcome of our appeals of the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board decisions to the Korean IP High Court.
In October 2022, we were served with a summons from Aerogels Poland Nanotechnology LLC (APN), a former distributor of our products in Poland with whom we previously terminated our distribution agreements because of APN’s failure to pay amounts due to us. The summons asserts causes of action for declaratory judgment, breach of contract, breach of implied contract, equitable estoppel and fraud, and states that plaintiffs will seek declaratory judgment, actual and liquidated damages in the sum of $20 million, in addition to attorneys’ fees. We were not served with any complaint at the time the summons was served. In December 2022, we filed a notice of appearance in New York County Supreme Court and a demand upon plaintiffs to file and serve a complaint. In March 2023, plaintiffs filed a complaint asserting various causes of action consistent with those set forth in the October 2022 summons, and a demand for monetary damages and other relief in excess of $16 million. In July 2023, we filed a motion to compel arbitration, and in February 2024, the Court granted our motion and stayed the litigation pending arbitration. To the extent APN seeks to pursue claims in an arbitration proceeding, we intend to continue to vigorously defend this matter, including seeking our legal costs.
Item 1A. Ri sk Factors.
The ownership of our common stock involves a number of risks and uncertainties. When evaluating the Company and our business before making an investment decision regarding our securities, potential investors should carefully consider the risk factors and uncertainties described in Part 1, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report. Since the filing of our Annual Report, there have been no material changes in our risk factors other than those disclosed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and as described below. We may disclose changes to risk factors or additional risk factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.
The terms of the Credit Agreement with MidCap require us to meet certain operating and financial covenants and/or place restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, the terms of any new debt could further restrict our ability to operate our business.
On August 19, 2024, we and Aspen Aerogels Rhode Island, LLC, a Rhode Island limited liability company (Aspen RI and, together with the Company, each, a Borrower and collectively, the Borrowers) entered into a Credit, Security and Guaranty Agreement (the Credit Agreement and the facilities provided thereunder, collectively, the MidCap Loan Facility), by and among the Borrowers, MidCap Funding IV Trust, as agent (the Agent), MidCap Financial Trust, as term loan servicer, the financial institutions or other entities from time to time party thereto as lenders (the Lenders), and the other parties party thereto as additional guarantors and/or borrowers from time to time. On May 6, 2025, the Borrowers and Aspen Aerogels Georgia, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (Aspen Georgia) entered into that certain Amendment No. 1 and Joinder to Credit, Security and Guaranty Agreement (“Amendment No. 1”), by and among the Borrowers, Aspen Georgia, the Agent and the Lenders party thereto, amending the MidCap Loan Facility (the MidCap Loan Facility, as amended by Amendment No. 1, the Amended MidCap Loan Facility). The proceeds of the Amended MidCap Loan Facility were used to repurchase our outstanding convertible note that was issued to Koch, the payment of related fees and expenses and for working capital. Loans borrowed under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility mature on August 19, 2029.
The Amended MidCap Loan Facility is guaranteed by Aspen Mexico Holdings and Aspen Georgia (together with the Borrowers and any future subsidiaries that are required to become guarantors or borrowers pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, collectively, the “Loan Parties”) and is secured by a lien on substantially all existing and after-acquired assets of the Loan Parties, including the equity interest in Aspen RI, Aspen Mexico Holdings and Aspen Georgia owned by us, in each case, subject to customary exceptions.
39
Pursuant to Amendment No. 1, the financial covenants under the MidCap Loan Facility were amended such that (a) the minimum Liquidity (as defined in the Amended MidCap Loan Facility) which must be maintained at all times has changed from $75 million to an amount equal to the greater of (i) $50 million and (ii) 85% of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan Facility and (b) the minimum EBITDA level to be tested quarterly has changed to reflect a new range from $15 million to $50 million, with the next test set at $15 million with respect to the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025 and a $50 million level applicable commencing with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2027 and thereafter. The Liquidity amount trigger of a cash dominion event was also reduced from $100 million to an amount equal to the greater of (i) $50 million and (ii) 85% of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan Facility. In addition, the Amended MidCap Loan Facility, includes representations and warranties, affirmative covenants (including reporting obligations), negative covenants and events of default that are usual and customary for facilities of this type, in each case, subject to certain permitted exceptions as set forth therein.
We are currently in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Amended MidCap Loan Facility and as described above. However, given the decline in our revenues in 2025 as compared to the prior year, there can be no assurance that we will comply with one or more of these financial covenants as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. If we default under the terms of the Amended MidCap Loan Facility beyond the applicable grace period, if any, the Lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility to be immediately due and payable and terminate all unused commitments to extend further credit under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility. If we are unable to repay the amounts due under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility upon such Lenders’ declaration, the Lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to it to secure the obligations under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility (including, but not limited to taking control of our pledged assets and foreclosing on other collateral). In the event of a default under the terms of the Amended MidCap Loan Facility, the Lenders could also require us to renegotiate the Amended MidCap Loan Facility on terms less favorable to us. Either the enforcement by the Lenders upon its declaration to accelerate the obligations under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility or the renegotiation of the Amended MidCap Loan Facility’s terms, each as mentioned above, could adversely affect our operations. Further, if we are liquidated, the Lenders’ right to repayment, as well as the right to repayment of other lenders under any additional debt financing, would be senior to the rights of the holders of our common stock. The Lenders’ interests as lenders may not always be aligned with our interests. If our interests come into conflict with those of the Lenders, including in the event of a default or an Event of Default (as defined in the Amended MidCap Loan Facility) under the Amended MidCap Loan Facility, the Lenders may choose to act in its self-interest, which could adversely affect the success of our current and future collaborative efforts with the Lenders.
40
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.