Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis here and throughout this Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, the risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors.”
Overview
We design and develop technologies for the purpose of decarbonization and improving key performance characteristics of industrial and commercial combustion systems, including emission and operational performance, energy efficiency and overall cost-effectiveness. Our ClearSign Core™ technology has been proven in full scale industrial test furnaces and boilers and first customer installations are currently operating in normal commercial applications. Our revenues to date have not been sufficient enough to meet operating expenses.
We have incurred losses since inception totaling $99.0 million and we expect to experience operating losses and negative cash flow for the foreseeable future. We have historically financed our operations primarily through issuances of equity securities. As of December 31, 2024, we have raised approximately $105.3 million in gross proceeds through the sale of our equity securities. We may need to raise additional capital in the future, however, the significant volatility in the capital markets may negatively affect our ability to raise this additional capital.
In order to generate meaningful revenues, our technologies must gain market recognition and acceptance to develop sufficient recurring sales. In addition, management believes that the successful growth and operation of our business is dependent upon our ability to obtain adequate sources of funding through co-development agreements, strategic partnering agreements, or equity or debt financing to support commercialization of our research and development efforts, protect intellectual property, form relationships with strategic partners and provide for working capital and general corporate purposes. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving our long-term plans, or that such plans, if consummated, will result in profitable operations or enable us to continue in the long-term as a going concern .
Our costs include employee salaries and benefits, compensation paid to consultants, materials and supplies for prototype development and manufacture, costs associated with development activities including materials, sub-contractors, travel and administration, legal and accounting expenses, sales and marketing costs, general and administrative expenses, and other costs associated with an early stage, publicly traded technology company. We currently have 18 full-time employees. Because using third party expertise and resources is more efficient than maintaining full time resources, we also expect to incur ongoing consulting expenses related to technology development and some administrative, sales and legal functions commensurate with our current level of activities.
The amount that we spend for any specific purpose may vary significantly, and could depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the pace of progress of our commercialization and development efforts, actual needs with respect to product testing, development and research, market conditions, and changes in or revisions to our sales and marketing strategies.
Research, development, and commercial acceptance of new technologies are, by their nature, unpredictable. Although we undertake development and commercialization efforts with reasonable diligence, there can be no assurance that the net proceeds from our securities offerings will be sufficient to enable us to develop our technology to the extent needed to create sufficient future sales to sustain operations. If the net proceeds from these offerings are insufficient for this purpose, we will consider other options to continue our path to commercialization, including, but not limited to, additional financing through follow-on equity offerings, debt financing, co-development agreements, sale or licensing of developed intellectual or other property, or other alternatives.
We cannot assure that our technologies will be accepted, that we will ever earn revenues sufficient to support our operations, or that we will ever be profitable. Furthermore, we have no committed source of financing, and we cannot assure that we will be able to raise money as and when we need it to continue our operations. If we cannot raise funds as and when we need them, we may be required to scale back our development by reducing expenditures for employees, consultants, business development and marketing efforts or to otherwise severely curtail, or even to cease, our operations.
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Recent Developments
Public Offering and Concurrent Private Placement
On April 23, 2024, we completed an underwritten public offering, whereby we sold 4,620,760 shares of common stock and 5-year redeemable warrants to purchase up to 4,620,760 shares of common stock (the “Public Warrants”) (plus a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 693,114 shares of common stock and Public Warrants to purchase up to 693,114 shares of common stock, or up to 693,114 shares of common stock only) at a price of $0.92 per set of one share of common stock and one Public Warrant. Concurrently, we completed a private placement, whereby we sold 2,249,763 shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,155,642 shares of common stock and redeemable warrants (the “Private Warrants”) to purchase up to 8,108,106 shares of common stock. The offering prices in the private placement were $0.91 per share and $0.01 per Private Warrant, or $0.9099 per Pre-Funded Warrant and $0.01 per Private Warrant, as applicable. The redeemable warrants issued in both offerings have an exercise price equal to $1.05 per share.
In connection with this offering, we issued Public Ventures, LLC (“Public Ventures”) 5-year warrants to purchase up to 369,660 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.1375 per share as part of their underwriter compensation, which underwriter warrants became exercisable on October 16, 2024 (the “Underwriter Warrants”). We also issued Public Ventures 5-year warrants to purchase up to 432,432 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.1375 per share as part of their placement agent compensation in connection with the private placement, which warrants became exercisable on October 16, 2024 (the “Placement Agent Warrants,” and together with the Public Warrants, Private Warrants, Pre-Funded Warrants and Underwriter Warrants, the “Warrants,” and the shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the “Warrant Shares”). Both sets of warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis based on a formula set forth in the respective warrants.
Subsequently, on May 15, 2024, Public Ventures exercised its option in full to purchase an additional 693,114 shares of common stock and Public Warrants to purchase up to 693,114 shares of common stock at a price of $0.92 per set of one share of common stock and one Public Warrant, in connection with which we issued Public Ventures additional Underwriter Warrants to purchase up to 55,449 shares of common stock.
The public offering and the concurrent private placement resulted in combined gross proceeds of approximately $9,300 thousand, and net proceeds of approximately $8,100 thousand. The exercise of Public Ventures’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and Public Warrants resulted in additional gross proceeds of approximately $638 thousand.
Participation Right Exercise
On June 24, 2024, following clirSPV LLC’s (the “SPV”) notice to exercise its participation right in connection with the underwritten public offering and concurrent private placement discussed above (see “Note 8 – Equity” for additional information), we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with the SPV whereby we issued an aggregate of (i) 3,907,000 shares of common stock, (ii) Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 786,000 shares of common stock, and (iii) Private Warrants to purchase up to 7,039,500 shares of common stock.
Subsequently, on June 26, 2024, the SPV and we entered into an Amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”) to provide for a revised allocation of the SPV’s subscription between shares of common stock and Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu thereof. Pursuant to the Amendment, the SPV subscribed for: (i) 3,350,000 shares of common stock, (ii) Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 1,343,000 shares of common stock and (iii) Private Warrants to purchase up to 7,039,500 shares of common stock, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4.3 million.
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation
On June 25, 2024, we held our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, at which our stockholders approved, among other items, an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock available for issuance under our certificate of incorporation to 87,500,000 shares from 62,500,000 shares previously authorized.
Accordingly, on June 25, 2024, we filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, reflecting the increase of our authorized shares of common stock to 87,500,000 shares, which became effective upon filing.
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Suspension of Activities in China
On October 1, 2024, we informed our employees that we were suspending our operations in China as a result of delayed progress in the commercialization of our products in that geographic market and as part of our efforts to align strategic priorities and to reduce operating costs. The suspension of our operations in China involved declaring our Beijing, China wholly-owned subsidiary dormant, a legal entity status available under current China law, which became effective on March 12, 2025. Under this legal entity status, operational activities will cease for a time period not to exceed three years. By pursuing this entity status, we initiated a project to suspend current operational activities. Suspension activities include disposal and shipment of certain equipment in China, the termination of 2 employees and related benefit costs, and legal entity filing fees. In connection with this action, we estimated that we would incur certain one-time costs, primarily consisting of employee termination payments, as well as equipment disposal and shipment and legal filing fees. See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Foreign Operations” below for additional information .
Termination of clirSPV LLC Agreement
Effective as of February 19, 2025, that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2018, between us and the SPV (the “SPV Purchase Agreement”) was terminated as a result of the SPV’s beneficial ownership percentage declining to less than 10% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, as reported on a SPV filing with the SEC dated February 19, 2025. As a result of the termination of the SPV Purchase Agreement, the related Voting Agreement entered into with the SPV, pursuant to which the SPV had a right to nominate one director to our Board at each of our annual meeting of stockholders, or any other meeting of stockholders at which members of our Board were to be elected, was also terminated, effective immediately.
Critical Accounting Policies
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Certain accounting policies and estimates are particularly important to the understanding of our financial position and results of operations. These policies and estimates require the application of significant judgment by management. These estimates can be materially affected by changes from period to period as economic factors and conditions outside of our control change. As a result, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. In applying these policies, our management uses their judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates. Those estimates are based on our historical operations, our future business plans and projected financial results, the terms of existing contracts, our observance of trends in the industry, information provided by our customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report for a more complete description of our significant accounting policies.
Revenue Recognition and Cost of Goods Sold.
The Company recognizes revenue and related cost of goods sold in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Revenues and cost of goods sold are recognized once the goods or services are delivered to the customer’s control or non-refundable performance obligations are satisfied. The Company’s contracts with customers generally have performance obligations and a schedule of non-refundable cancellation obligations. The contracts generally will be fully performed upon delivery of certain documents or equipment. Revenue related to the contracts is recognized following the completion of non-refundable performance obligations as defined in the contract.
The Company’s contracts generally include progress payments from customers upon completion of defined milestones. As these payments are received, they are offset against accumulated project costs and recorded as either contract assets or contract liabilities. Upon completion of the performance obligations and collectability is determined, revenue can be recorded. The Company records cost of goods sold based on allocated costs assigned to performance obligations. Allocations can occur based on overall estimated contract profit or readily identifiable cost assignments. For any contract in connection with which the Company is expected to incur costs in excess of the contact price, the Company accrues the estimated loss in full in the period such determination is made.
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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company tests long-lived assets, consisting of fixed assets, patents, and other intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected from the use and eventual disposition of the assets. In the event an asset in not fully recoverable a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the long-lived assets. Fair value is determined based on the present value of estimated expected cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved, quoted market prices, or appraised values depending upon the nature of the assets. Losses on long-lived assets to be disposed of are determined in a similar manner, except those fair values are reduced for the cost of disposal.
Product Warranties
The Company warrants all installed products against defects in materials and workmanship, and shortcomings in performance compared to contractual guarantees for a period specified in each contract. Accruals for product warranties are based on expected warranty experience and current product performance trends which are recorded as a component of cost of goods sold at the time revenue is recognized. The warranty liabilities are reduced by material and labor costs during the warranty period in the periods in which the costs are incurred. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary, and such adjustments could be material if estimates differ significantly from actual warranty expense. The warranty liabilities are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Research and Development
The cost of research and development is expensed as incurred. Research and development costs consist of salaries, benefits, share-based compensation, consumables, computer modeling costs and consulting fees, including costs to develop and test prototype equipment and parts. Research and development costs are offset by any funds received from strategic partners in cost sharing, collaborative projects. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company received $145 thousand and $60 thousand, respectively, from such arrangements.
Share-Based Compensation
The costs of all employee stock options, as well as other equity-based compensation arrangements, are reflected in the audited, condensed consolidated financial statements based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the grant date. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, or in the case of performance options, expense is recognized upon completion of a milestone as defined in the grant agreement. Share-based compensation for stock grants to non-employees is determined as the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Highlights of our annual financial performance are as follows:
For the Year Ended
(in thousands, except per share data)
December 31,
2024
2023
$ Change
% Change
Revenues
$
3,596
$
2,403
$
1,193
49.6
%
Cost of goods sold
2,478
1,586
$
892
56.2
%
Gross profit
1,118
817
$
301
36.8
%
Research and development
1,471
739
$
732
99.1
%
General and administrative
6,135
6,059
$
76
1.3
%
Operating Expenses
7,606
6,798
$
808
11.9
%
Other income, net
1,189
787
$
402
51.1
%
Net loss
$
(5,299)
$
(5,194)
$
(105)
(2.0)
%
Basic and diluted net income per common share
$
(0.11)
$
(0.13)
$
0.02
15.4
%
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Revenues and Gross Profit
Consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $3,596 thousand and $2,403 thousand, respectively. Revenues increased by $1,193 thousand, or 49.6%, during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023. Revenues for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were generated from orders related to both our product lines, process burners and boiler burners, with the predominate amount of revenues generated from our process burner product line. Typically, our process burner contracts include three different performance obligations by which we can recognize revenue, which include design engineering, customer witness tests and burner shipment. We allocate process burner contractual revenue to each of these performance obligations with weighting allocations assigned in the following order of importance: burner shipment, customer witness test and engineering design. The difference in revenue from the year ended December 31, 2024, to the same period in 2023, is mainly due to the higher number of process burners shipped. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we shipped twenty-five process burners to two separate California refineries operated by two different customers, compared to eight process burners to a California refinery and three separate customer witness tests during the same period in 2023.
Gross profit increased by $301 thousand, or 36.8%, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The favorable increase in gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, was predominantly due to higher revenues. Profit margin decreased by 2.9% from 34.0% for the year ended December 31, 2023, to 31.1% for the year ended December 31, 2024, which impacted our gross profit for such period by $104 thousand. The unfavorable impact to profit margin was due to higher than expected start-up costs from our 1,200 HP boiler burner project during the fourth quarter of 2024, which caused us to incur an overall loss on the project.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of research and development (“R&D”) and general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses. These are addressed separately below.
Research and Development
R&D expenses increased $732 thousand, or 99.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. This unfavorable year-over-year increase in R&D expenses was mainly driven by additional head count and related benefit costs of $269 thousand that did not exist in the same period in 2023. In addition, we incurred an unfavorable additional year-over-year expense related to product development costs for our process burner product line for a total of $367 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2024.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we experienced a year-over-year unfavorable increase of $234 thousand primarily attributable to $83 thousand related to the hiring of our new Chief Technology Officer, and $60 thousand related to our hydrogen burner project. The hydrogen burner development project costs are offset by government assistance monies (see the “Other Income” discussion below for further details).
General and Administrative
G&A expenses increased $76 thousand, or 1.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. This unfavorable increase in G&A expenses is primarily comprised of $394 thousand for a one-time non-recurring accrual estimate related to the decision to suspend our operations in China (see “Recent Developments – Suspension of Activities in China” above for more details). This suspension involved declaring our Beijing, China wholly-owned subsidiary dormant, which is a legal entity status available under China law. Under this legal entity status, operational activities cease for a period not to exceed three years. The unfavorable increase in G&A expenses was partially offset by a decrease of $248 thousand in human capital costs primarily driven by the timing of employee departures and subsequent onboarding.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we experienced a year-over-year unfavorable increase of $331 thousand primarily attributable to a $172 thousand difference for a non-cash, non-recurring expense related to the vesting of restricted stock units triggered by the departure of a director on our board, and a $81 thousand non-cash, non-recurring impairment of demonstration burners.
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Other Income
Other income increased by $402 thousand, or 51.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. The favorable increase is primarily attributable to $442 thousand increase in government assistance from our DOE hydrogen burner development grant, and $192 thousand increase in interest income from a higher cash balance during 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023. The favorable increase was partially offset by an unfavorable decrease of $197 thousand related to the decommissioning project of our Seattle office whereby we sold used equipment and materials during the year ended December 31, 2023.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we experienced a favorable year-over-year increase of $428 thousand primarily attributable to an increase of $241 thousand in interest income and an increase of $197 thousand from our Seattle office decommissioning project.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At December 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents balance totaled $14,035 thousand compared to $5,684 thousand at December 31, 2023, an increase of $8,351 thousand. The increase in cash and cash equivalents is primarily attributable to our public offering and the concurrent private placement and the related SPV’s exercise of its participation right during 2024 (see “Note 8 – Equity” for additional information), which was partially offset by our net loss of $5,299 thousand.
At December 31, 2024, our current assets were in excess of current liabilities resulting in working capital of $12,809 thousand as compared to $4,253 thousand at December 31, 2023. We believe we have sufficient cash and expected cash collections to fund current operating expenses for over twelve months. We have no contractual debt obligations and to the extent we may require additional funds beyond twelve months from the date hereof, and customer cash collections cannot fund our needs, we may utilize equity offerings. Historically, we have funded operations predominantly through equity offerings. Until the growth of revenue increases to a level that covers operating expenses, we intend to continue to fund operations in this manner, although the volatility in the capital markets may negatively affect our ability to do so. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 21.3 million shares of our common stock are issuable upon exercise of our outstanding warrants, which number excludes the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants, and we may receive up to $22.5 million in aggregate gross proceeds from the cash exercises thereof, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations set forth therein. The Warrants require the warrant holder to tender cash upon exercise, with the exception of the Underwriter Warrants (as defined above) which allow the holder to exercise cashless if they so desire. These equity financial instruments may from time-to-time fund future cash needs, but the volatility of our common stock price and the risk tolerance of warrant holders will determine the extent in which we will be able to raise funds in this manner.
Operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, resulted in cash outflows of $4,373 thousand, primarily due to the net loss of $5,299 thousand and a decrease in contract liabilities of $1,043 thousand during such period, which was partially offset by net non-cash expenses of $846 thousand, and an increase in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and lease liabilities of $816 thousand. The decision to suspend our China operations during the third quarter of 2024 continues to impact our accounts payable and accrued liabilities by an increase of $239 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2024. During the third quarter of 2024, we recorded a one-time accrual estimate of $394 thousand for the costs to prepare and place our Beijing, China subsidiary into a dormant state. As of December 31, 2024, we have incurred $155 thousand in cash outflows with the remaining $239 thousand in accrued liabilities predominantly related to severance costs. Our warranty reserve naturally increased due to increased product shipments during the year ended December 31, 2024, which impacted accounts payable and accrued liabilities (see “Note 6 – Product Warranties” below for additional information). The change in contract liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2024, was predominantly impacted by our shipment of process burners during the year ended December 31, 2024 (see “Note 5 – Revenue, Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities” below for additional information).
Operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 resulted in cash outflows of $3,233 thousand, primarily due to the loss for the period of $5,194 thousand, offset with non-cash expenses of $1,045 thousand, and an increase of $869 thousand of contract liabilities, which represents payments from customers in advance of future project costs.
Investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, resulted in cash outflows of $218 thousand, which is primarily attributable to $179 thousand of disbursements for patents and other intangible assets.
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Investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 resulted in cash inflows of $2,490 thousand, which is primarily attributable to the redemption $4,847 thousand of short-term held-to-maturity U.S. treasuries, partially offset by $2,162 thousand of purchases for the same type of investments.
Financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, resulted in cash inflows of $12,946 thousand, which is primarily attributable to the net proceeds received of $12,967 thousand from the issuance of securities in connection with the recent equity offerings (see “Note 8 – Equity” for additional information).
Financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 included $15 thousand in disbursements for taxes paid related to vesting of employee restricted stock units.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
We do not have any off-balance sheet transactions.