Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT ’ S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Since January 23, 2008, our common stock has been quoted on the OTC Markets “OTCQB” marketplace (formerly known as the “OTC Bulletin Board”) under the trading symbol “BLGO”. The OTCQB is a regulated quotation service that displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices and volume information in over-the-counter equity securities. The OTCQB securities are traded by a community of market makers that enter quotes and trade reports. This market is limited in comparison to the national stock exchanges and any prices quoted may not be a reliable indication of the value of our common stock. Any over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Holders
As of March 27, 2024, there were approximately 600 registered holders of our common stock. This does not include beneficial owners.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid a cash dividend to stockholders. We intend to retain any earnings which may be generated in the future to finance operations.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Pursuant to Equity Compensation Plans
Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2023
Number of securities to be
Weighted average
issued upon exercise of
exercise price of
Number of securities
outstanding options,
outstanding options,
remaining available for
warrants and rights
warrants and rights
future issuance
Plan Category
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
42,672,533 (1)
$
0.20
9,327,467
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(2)
17,375,044
$
0.39
n/a
Total
60,047,577
$
0.26
9,327,467
(1)
Includes 1,564,085 shares issuable under the 2007 Equity Plan, which expired September 6, 2017; includes 41,108,448 shares issuable under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan adopted by the Board on March 7, 2018 and subsequently approved by stockholders on May 23, 2018.
(2)
This includes various issuances of warrants or options to specific individuals either as a conversion of un-paid obligations pursuant to a plan adopted by our board of directors, or as part of their agreement for services.
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Sales of Unregistered Securities
The following is a report of the sales of unregistered securities in the past two years not previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, we issued 68,502 shares of our common stock to reduce amounts owed to a vendor in the aggregate amount of $11,000.
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, we sold 2,894,739 shares of our common stock and received $550,000 in gross proceeds, and $495,000 in net proceeds, from fourteen accredited investors. In addition to the shares, we issued the investors six-month warrants to purchase an aggregate 2,894,739 additional shares at $0.228 per share, and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate 2,894,739 additional shares at $0.285 per share. Commissions paid to a licensed broker included a 10% cash fee and a warrant to purchase 10% of the shares purchased.
In December 2023, Clyra Medical began an offering of its common stock and warrants, and received $35,000 in gross and net proceeds from one accredited investor, and in exchange issued the investors 7,000 shares of its common stock and a warrant to purchase 3,500 shares of common stock at $7.50 per share.
All of these offerings and sales were made in reliance on the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Exchange Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder as not involving a public offering of securities.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT ’ S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements, which include statements concerning future revenue sources and concentration, selling, general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses, capital resources, additional financings and additional losses, are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed above in Part I, Item 1 and elsewhere in this Annual Report, particularly in “Risk Factors,” that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements set forth in this Annual Report are as of December 31, 2023, unless expressly stated otherwise, and we undertake no duty to update this information.
Results of Operations — Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
We operate our business in distinct business segments:
●
ONM Environmental, which manufactures and sells our odor and VOC control products and services, including our flagship product, CupriDyne Clean;
●
BLEST, which provides professional engineering services supporting our internal business units, advancing innovations like the AEC to remove PFAS contaminants from water, and serving outside clients on a fee for service basis;
●
Clyra Medical, which develops and sells medical products based on our technology;
●
BioLargo Canada, located in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, our primary research and development activities; and
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●
Our corporate operations, which support the operating segments with legal, accounting, human resources, and other services.
Our consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $12,230,000, which is a 108% increase over the same period in 2022. Services revenue decreased 47% (by $680,000), while revenue from product sales increased by 158%, $7,026,000. The decrease in service revenues was related to the focus by our subsidiary BLEST on supporting internal projects such as the AEC and battery technology, as opposed to servicing third-party clients. The increase in product revenues was almost entirely due to an increase in the volume of sales of private-label odor-control products, specifically the Pooph branded pet-odor product.
ONM Environmental
Our wholly-owned subsidiary ONM Environmental generates revenues through sales of our flagship product CupriDyne Clean, by providing design, installation, and maintenance services on the systems that deliver CupriDyne Clean at its clients’ facilities, and through sales of private-label products based on our CupriDyne Clean technology.
Revenue (ONM Environmental)
ONM Environmental’s revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $11,440,000, an increase of $7,066,000 or 162% from the same period in 2022. The increase in revenues was almost entirely due to an increase in the volume of sales of private label odor-control products, specifically the Pooph branded pet-odor product (which increased by $6,905,000). Because ONM Environmental has no control over the marketing and sales activity or levels of Pooph, it cannot predict sales volumes related to it in future periods. Pooph management has indicated their intentions to continue their national advertising campaign as they place the product in national retail chains, including the introduction of the product in Walmart nationally. While they have performed well in the past, their execution of those future plans has inherent risks that are out of our control. (See the Risk Factor above titled “A significant portion of our revenue is concentrated with one customer.”)
Cost of Goods Sold (ONM Environmental)
ONM Environmental’s cost of goods sold includes costs of raw materials, contract manufacturing, and portions of depreciation, salaries and expenses related to the manufacturing and installation of its products. As a percentage of revenue, ONM Environmental’s costs of goods increased 4% in 2023 to 49%. The increase was related to normal price fluctuations for raw materials.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense (ONM Environmental)
ONM Environmental’s SG&A expenses were $1,472,000 in 2023, compared to $1,276,000 in 2022. We expect these expenses to remain approximately the same in 2024.
Operating Income (ONM Environmental)
ONM Environmental generated operating income of $4,335,000 in 2023, compared to an operating income of $1,130,000 in 2022. The increase in operating income is due almost entirely to an increase in the sales of its Pooph branded pet odor product. As the marketing and sales of that product is in the sole control of a third party, we have no way of determining whether these sales will decrease or increase in the current year, and thus have no way to determining whether ONM Environmental will have an operating income in the current year.
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BLEST (engineering division)
Revenue (BLEST)
BLEST generated $770,000 of revenue from third parties in 2023, compared to $1,453,000 in 2022, representing a 47% decrease from the prior year. In addition to providing service to third party clients, BLEST provides services to BioLargo and its subsidiaries for internal BioLargo projects. These services are billed internally, are considered intersegment revenue, and are eliminated in the consolidation of our financial statements. In the year ended December 31, 2023, it totaled $1,627,000, primarily used to further engineer and develop our AEC PFAS treatment system and battery technology. The decrease in third party revenue in 2023 as compared to 2022 is a result of BLEST's focus on these internal projects.
Cost of Goods (Services) Sold (BLEST)
BLEST’s cost of services includes employee labor, materials, as well as subcontracted labor costs. In 2023, its cost of services were 51% of its revenues, versus 61% in 2022. This decrease is due to contracts with better margins. We expect the cost of services to remain consistent in 2024 based on the contracts currently in progress.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense (BLEST)
BLEST's SG&A expenses were $722,000 in 2023, compared to $549,000 in 2022, due to increased head-count related expenses. We expect these expenses to continue to increase in the current year as more resources are devoted to BLEST's operations.
Operating Loss (BLEST)
BLEST had an operating loss of $1,619,000 in 2023, compared to an operating loss of $452,000 in 2022. This operating loss is reflective of the focus at BLEST on internal BioLargo projects. While we are unable to record revenues generated from services by the engineering group to other BioLargo operating divisions for important projects such as the development of the AOS and AEC technologies, it is important to note that its net loss would be eliminated if it were selling these services to a third party at fair market value. Because the subsidiary had a net loss, we invested cash during the year to allow it to maintain operations.
Selling, General and Administrative Expense – consolidated
Our Selling, General and Administrative expense (“SG&A”) include both cash (for example, salaries to employees) and non-cash expenses (for example, stock option compensation expense). Our consolidated SG&A increased by 20% ($1,327,000) in the year ended December 31, 2023, to $8,058,000. Our non-cash expenses (through the issuance of stock and stock options) were $2,508,000 in 2023, compared with $2,071,000 in 2022. Our SG&A expenses included (in thousands):
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Salaries and payroll related
$
2,746
$
2,754
Professional fees
703
629
Consulting
1,413
867
Office expense
1,853
1,502
Board of director expense
434
401
Sales and marketing
481
287
Investor relations
428
291
Totals
$
8,058
$
6,731
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The increases in professional fees, consulting, office expense, and sales and marketing were due to increased company activities and revenues, including new company projects such as the liquid sodium battery. Office expense increased due to an increase in square footage of rented space and an increase in general office expenses related to expanded operations. Board of director expense increased due to the replacement of expired out-of-the-money options.
Impairment Expense
During each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, management recognized $394,000 and $197,000, respectively, impairment of Clyra’s prepaid marketing asset (see Note 10).
Research and Development
In the year ended December 31, 2023, we spent $2,282,000 in the research and development of our technologies and products. This was an increase of 73% ($963,000) compared to 2022, due to increased activity related to development of AEC and battery products.
Other Income and Expense
Primarily through our wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, we have been awarded more than 80 research grants over the years from various public and private agencies, including the Canadian National Research Institute – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Innovative Conservation Program “ICP”. The research grants received are considered reimbursement grants related to costs we incur and therefore are included as Other Income. The amount of grant income decreased $38,000 in the year ended December 31, 2023, to $36,000. Grant funds paid directly to third parties are not included as income in our financial statements.
Our Canadian subsidiary applied for and received a refund on our income taxes pursuant to the “Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program”, a Canadian federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses to conduct research and development in Canada. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded an expense of $54,000 and a refund of $63,000, respectively.
Interest expense
Our interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $91,000, an increase of 72% compared with 2022. The significant increase in interest expense is related to the timing of when we entered into our debt obligations as there was a full year of interest during 2023 versus 2022. During 2023, $58,000 was paid in cash and $33,000 related to the amortization of debt discounts related to warrants issued in conjunction with debt instruments. During 2022, $36,000 was paid in cash. Our non-cash interest expenses were $17,000 in amortization of debt discounts related to warrants issued in conjunction with debt instruments.
As of December 31, 2023, the total debt on our balance sheet was $258,000, not including $234,000 owed by Clyra Medical. The $258,000 is comprised of $190,000 is from SBA loans at low interest rates, and a $68,000 vehicle loan. We do not intend to take on additional debt in the current year, and expect our interest expense in 2024 to decrease as compared with 2023.
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Net Loss
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $4,648,000 a loss of $0.02 per share, compared to a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, of $5,132,000 a loss of $0.02 per share, a decrease in net loss of 13%. Our net loss this year declined because of the increase in gross margin related to our increase in revenues, offset by a smaller increase of selling, general and administrative expense.
The net income (loss) per business segment is as follows (in thousands):
Year ended
Year ended
Net income (loss)
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
ONM Environmental
$
4,329
$
1,304
BLEST
(1,619
)
(425
)
Clyra Medical
(2,097
)
(1,412
)
BioLargo Canada
(713
)
(604
)
BETI
(1,179
)
—
BioLargo corporate
(3,369
)
(3,995
)
Consolidated net loss
$
(4,648
)
$
(5,132
)
In the year ended December 31, 2023, approximately 68% of our net loss was attributable to non-cash expenses, including $2,124,000 of stock option compensation expense (of which $260,000 was from options issued by Clyra Medical), $384,000 of services paid by the issuance of our common stock, and $394,000 related to the impairment of our Clyra prepaid marketing agreement. (See Note 10).
In the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 50% of our net loss was attributable to non-cash expenses, including $2,071,000 of stock option compensation expense (of which $408,000 was from options issued by Clyra Medical), and $291,000 of services paid by the issuance of our common stock.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of our business. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had a net loss of $4,648,000, used $2,295,000 cash in operations, and at December 31, 2023, we had working capital of $3,652,000, and current assets of $6,362,000. We do not believe gross profits in 2024 will be sufficient to fund our current level of operations, and therefore we will have to obtain further investment capital to continue to fund operations. We have been, and anticipate that we will continue to be, limited in terms of our capital resources. As of December 31, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $3,539,000, and our total liabilities included $492,000 in debt obligations, of which $234,000 were owed by Clyra Medical. Of the remaining amount, $66,000 is due within one year.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we generated revenues of $12,230,000, through our subsidiaries (see Note 12). Other than ONM Environmental, our subsidiaries did not generate enough revenues or gross profits to fund their operations or fund our corporate operations or other business segments. To meet our cash obligations, during the year-ended December 31, 2023, we (i) sold $995,000 of our common stock to Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”) (see Note 3), (ii) sold $1,158,000 of our common stock and warrants to accredited investors (see Notes 3 and 6), (iii) sold $1,575,000 of Clyra Medical Series A Preferred Stock and $35,000 of Clyra Medical common stock (see Note 10), and (iv) sold 1,005,000 of BETI common stock (see Note 9). If we are unable to rely on our current arrangement with Lincoln Park to fund our working capital requirements, we will have to rely on other forms of financing, and there is no assurance that we will be able to do so, or if we do so, it will be on favorable terms. To reduce our operational cash burdens, we regularly issue officers and vendors stock or options in lieu of cash, and anticipate that we will continue to be able to do so in the future. We and Clyra Medical have continued to sell common stock to Lincoln Park for working capital subsequent to December 31, 2023 (see Note 14).
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The foregoing factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, unless we are able to continue to raise funds through stock sales to Lincoln Park or other private financings, and in the long term, our ability to attain a reasonable threshold of operating efficiencies and achieve profitable operations by licensing or otherwise commercializing products incorporating our technologies. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of our results of operations and liquidity and capital resources are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, valuation of offerings of debt with equity or derivative features which include the valuation of the warrant component, any beneficial conversion feature and potential derivative treatment, and share-based payments. We base our estimates on anticipated results and trends and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, including assumptions as to future events. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. By their nature, estimates are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. Actual results that differ from our estimates could have a significant adverse effect on our operating results and financial position. We believe that the following significant accounting policies and assumptions may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity than others.
The methods, estimates and judgments the Company uses in applying these most critical accounting policies have a significant impact on the results of the Company reports in its financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, Topic 606, on January 1, 2018. The guidance focuses on the core principle for revenue recognition.
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The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:
Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 3: Determine the transaction price.
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
We have revenue from two subsidiaries, ONM and BLEST. ONM identifies its contract with the customer through a written purchase order, in which the details of the contract are defined including the transaction price and method of shipment. The only performance obligation is to create and ship the product and each product has separate pricing. ONM recognizes revenue at a point in time when the order for its goods are shipped if its agreement with the customer is FOB ONM’s warehouse facility, and when goods are delivered to its customer if its agreement with the customer is FOB destination. Revenue is recognized with a reduction for sales discounts, as appropriate and negotiated in the customer’s purchase order. ONM also installs misting systems for which it bills on a time and materials basis. It identifies its contract with the customer through a written purchase order in which the details of the time to be billed and materials purchased and an estimated completion date. The performance obligation is the completion of the installation. Revenue is recognized in arrears as the work is performed.
BLEST identifies services to be performed in a written contract, which specifies the performance obligations and the rate at which the services will be billed. Each service is separately negotiated and priced. Revenue is recognized as services are performed and completed. BLEST’s contracts typically call for invoicing for time and materials incurred for that contract. A few contracts have called for milestone or fixed cost payments where BLEST bills an agreed-to amount per month for the life of the contract. In these instances, completed work, billed hourly, is recognized as revenue. If the billing amount is greater or lesser than the completed work, a receivable or payable is created. These accounts are adjusted upon additional billings as the work is completed. To date, there have been no discounts or other financing terms for the contracts.
Warrants
Warrants issued with our convertible and non-convertible debt instruments are accounted for under the fair value and relative fair value method.
The warrant is first analyzed per its terms as to whether it has derivative features or not. If the warrant is determined to be a derivative and not qualify for equity treatment, then it is measured at fair value using the Black Scholes option model, and recorded as a liability on the balance sheet. The warrant is re-measured at its then current fair value at each subsequent reporting date (it is “marked-to-market”).
If the warrant is determined to not have derivative features, it is recorded into equity at its fair value using the Black Scholes option model, however, limited to a relative fair value based upon the percentage of its fair value to the total fair value including the fair value of the convertible note.
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The warrant relative fair values are also recorded as a discount to the convertible promissory notes. At present, these equity features of the convertible promissory notes have recorded a discount to the convertible notes that is substantially equal to the proceeds received.
Share-based Payments
It is the Company’s policy to expense share-based payments as of the date of grant or over the term of the vesting period in accordance with Auditing Standards Codification Topic 718 “Share-Based Payment.” Application of this pronouncement requires significant judgment regarding the assumptions used in the selected option pricing model, including stock price volatility and employee exercise behavior. Most of these inputs are either highly dependent on the current economic environment at the date of grant or forward-looking expectations projected over the expected term of the award.
Fair Value Measurement
Generally accepted accounting principles establishes a hierarchy to prioritize the inputs of valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest ranking to the fair values determined by using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) and the lowest ranking to fair values determined using methodologies and models with unobservable inputs (Level 3). Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the assets based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The Company has determined the appropriate level of the hierarchy and applied it to its financial assets and liabilities.
Management believes the carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximate their respective fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Such instruments include cash, accounts receivable, prepaid assets, accounts payable, line of credit, and other assets and liabilities. The carrying amount of debt instruments are believed to approximate fair value as the stated interest rates are reflective of the prevailing market rates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Recent Accounting Pronouncements”, for the applicable accounting pronouncements affecting the Company.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.