What changed in this filing

/stocks — the workspaceLOADING

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis

2024-04-29 compared with 2024-02-14 · 153 added, 107 removed, 75 unchanged (78% of the section changed)

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on August 30, 2023, as amended.

This discussion and analysis contains forward looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other important factors, which include, but are not limited to, the risks described in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

This discussion and analysis contains forward looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other important factors, which include, but are not limited to, the risks described in our Annual Report filed with the SEC, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and under “Item 1A.

Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Form 10-K, as amended, and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2023.

Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report, as amended, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2023.

In addition, see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” References to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us,” refer to 5E Advanced Materials, Inc.

1 unchanged sentence

5E Advanced Materials, Inc.

is focused on becoming a vertically integrated global leader and supplier of specialty boron and advanced materials whose mission is to enable decarbonization, increase food security, and ensure domestic supply of critical materials.

is focused on becoming a vertically integrated global leader and supplier of specialty boron and advanced boron derivative materials whose mission is to enable decarbonization, increase food security, and ensure domestic supply of critical materials.

We hold 100% of the rights through ownership in the 5E Boron Americas (Fort Cady) Complex (the “Project”) located in southern California, through our wholly owned subsidiary 5E Boron Americas, LLC.

Our Project is underpinned by a mineral resource that includes boron and lithium, with the boron being contained in a conventional boron mineral known as colemanite.

In 2022, our facility was designated as Critical Infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

In 2022, our facility was designated as Critical Infrastructure by the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Our vision is to safely process boric acid and lithium carbonate through sustainable best practices to enable decarbonization, food security and domestic supply surety.

2024 Outlook and Goals

Highlights for the Three Months ended December 31, 2023

EPA Authorization

In November 2023, we received final authorization from the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) under our Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) permit to commence initial production of boric acid at the 5E Boron Americas Complex.

Pursuant to the authorization, we will continue to engage with the EPA in 2024 to modify our UIC permit to update its terms associated with monitoring, modeling, and injection intervals to facilitate long-term injection and operations and maximize boron and lithium extraction.

Commencement of Mining Operations

In early January 2024, we began wellfield operations under our UIC permit to begin extracting valuable minerals from the Project.

Historical data suggests the wellfield will take 30-to-60 days to condition before producing boric acid, gypsum, and lithium carbonate.

While conditioning the wellfield, we will remobilize our contractors to fully complete the facility, and once completed in mid-to-late February, we will focus on completing final commissioning activities for the Small-Scale Facility.

We expect to begin lab production in the short-term, and assuming commissioning remains on schedule, production of boric acid and lithium carbonate from the Small-Scale Facility by the end of the first calendar quarter of 2024.

This initial production will be used for customer qualification as the Company seeks to obtain bankable offtake agreements and future sales to support FEL 2 engineering while we focus on developing the Project to a commercial scale.

The commencement of mining operations marks an important step in our goal to become the newest domestic producer of boric acid and lithium carbonate.

Highlights for the Three Months ended March 31, 2024

Operational Update — Commencement of Mining Operations and First Production of Boric Acid

The Company believes that the commencement of commercial operations and first production of boric acid represents a significant strategic step forward in the Company’s development and mission.

On January 1, 2024, we began well-field injection under our Underground Injection Control permit to begin extracting valuable minerals from the Project.

As anticipated, the wellfield took approximately one month for initial conditioning to take place, and in late January, utilizing all four of our production wells, we sent Pregnant Leach Solution (“PLS”) to a Louisiana based lab whereby the lab produced commercial grade boric acid.

During March 2024, an independent third-party inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the commercial grade boric acid produced in the Louisiana lab.

During the first three months of mining operations, over 50,000 gallons of PLS were accumulated and we achieved an average head grade of 5.5% and the Small-Scale Facility (“SSF”) commenced production in April 2024 as final electrical work was completed in March 2024.

With the first production batch of boric acid from the SSF, we plan to continue to refine operating parameters to meet and exceed customer specifications.

We anticipate beginning the customer qualification process with a variety of customer prospects.

The customer qualification process will include us providing samples of boric acid for customers to validate their customer established qualification criteria.

Upon successful feedback from customers that the product meets their specifications, we then plan to deliver larger volumes of boric acid from the SSF, to the customer production facilities for product validation.

The SSF is expected to initially produce up to 2,000 short tons of boric acid annually and targets initial production of lithium carbonate, with optionality built in to scale up to a run rate of 9,000 short tons and increased lithium production.

The initial high-quality run-of-mine head grade of boric acid provides validation of our initial operational assumptions which we hope will facilitate discussions with stakeholders around funding options for the Phase 1 of the commercial facility and securing commercial contracts for our future products.

Fluor Corporation Selected as EPC for FEL-2

We selected Fluor Corporation (“Fluor”) as our engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) services provider.

The initial scope of Fluor will be to lead stage 2 of our front end loading (“FEL-2”) which will directly feed into the upgrading of the Company’s current S-K 1300 technical document into a Pre-feasibility Study (“PFS”) upon completion.

We believe the selection of Fluor, a world-class EPC firm with an extensive track record, will serve to be invaluable to us throughout our next phase of execution.

We expect the work being conducted by Fluor will play an important role in ultimately getting our 5E Boron Americas Complex to the planned PFS-level study.

Funding Opportunities

During March 2024, we submitted a request for proposal response to the U.S.

Department of Energy for a grant to fund research to enhance our lithium extraction work.

Should we receive an award from this submission, funding is aimed towards increasing the amount of lithium carbonate that we are able to extract, potentially increasing lithium yields to improve project economics.

Additionally, we continue to progress boron awareness with multiple federal agencies on the back of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024, requesting a study into boron supply chains.

Out-of-Court Restructuring

Beginning in fiscal year 2023, we worked to identify appropriate funding solutions to address the Company’s liquidity profile.

With the EPA approval still an open item, capital providers were reluctant to invest.

As time progressed, even with cost saving measures implemented, the Company approached the $10 million liquidity covenant (as discussed within Note 7 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements) and began discussions with its lender.

With the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) approval still an open item, public markets capital providers were reluctant to invest.

The combination of the EPA status, and the approaching liquidity floor required a commercial resolution.

1 unchanged sentence

Pursuant to the Standstill Agreement, Bluescape and the Collateral Agent agreed to not exercise their respective rights, remedies, powers, privileges, and defenses under the Note Purchase Agreement, dated August 11, 2022 (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with respect to the occurrence of any default or event of default, and all parties to the Standstill Agreement agreed to forbear from instituting or pursuing legal action with respect to the Convertible Notes.

The Standstill Agreement also temporarily allowed us to go below our current cash covenant of $10 million (as discussed in Note 7 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).

On December 1, 2023, we extended the effectiveness of the Standstill Agreement from December 1, 2023 to December 5, 2023 and then on December 5, 2023 entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “Restructuring Support Agreement”) with Bluescape, the Collateral Agent, and Ascend in connection with certain restructuring transactions with respect to our capital structure, including our Convertible Notes.

The Standstill Agreement also temporarily allowed us to go below the cash covenant of $10 million (as discussed in Note 7 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).

On December 1, 2023, we extended the effectiveness of the Standstill Agreement from December 1, 2023 to December 5, 2023 at which point we entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “Restructuring Support Agreement”) with Bluescape, the Collateral Agent, and Ascend in connection with certain restructuring transactions with respect to our capital structure, including our Convertible Notes.

Pursuant to the Restructuring Support Agreement, the parties agreed to implement the restructuring transactions either as an out-of-court restructuring (the “Out-of-Court Restructuring”) or an in-court restructuring under voluntary pre-packaged cases under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code in a U.S.

Bankruptcy Court.

On January 12, 2024 (as discussed in Note 13 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements), we held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) where our stockholders approved the Out-of-Court Restructuring, including (i) an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Common Stock”) from 180,000,000 to 360,000,000, (ii) the issuance of up to $35 million of Common Stock at a price of $1.025 per share (the “Securities Offering”) to Ascend and Bluescape, if Bluescape decided to exercise its option to participate in the Securities Offering, and (iii) the issuance of additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock upon conversion of the Convertible Notes in connection with an amendment to the Convertible Notes (the “Convertible Notes Amendment”).

On January 12, 2024, we held a special meeting of stockholders where our stockholders approved the Out-of-Court Restructuring, including (i) an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Common Stock”) from 180,000,000 to 360,000,000, (ii) the issuance of up to $35 million of Common Stock at a price of $1.025 per share (the “Securities Offering”) to Ascend and Bluescape, if Bluescape decided to exercise its option to participate in the Securities Offering, and (iii) the issuance of additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock upon conversion of the Convertible Notes in connection with an amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement.

On January 18, 2024, pursuant to a subscription agreement with Ascend, dated December 5, 2023 and an amended and restated subscription agreement with 5ECAP LLC (“5ECAP”), dated January 18, 2024 (the “5ECAP Subscription Agreement”), we issued (i) 5,365,854 shares of Common Stock to Ascend at a price of $1.025 per share, which shares included the placement fee to Ascend in shares of Common Stock and (ii) 5,365,854 shares of Common Stock to 5ECAP at a price of $1.025 per share, which shares included the placement fee to 5ECAP in shares of Common Stock (the “First Closing”).

On January 18, 2024, in connection with the Out-of-Court Restructuring, we entered into an amended and restated note purchase agreement (the “Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement”) with Bluescape, Ascend, and Meridian Investments Corporation (“Meridian”) related to the Convertible Notes.

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per annum, payable semi-annually, or 10.00% per annum if we elect to pay such interest through the delivery of additional Convertible Notes and are convertible into 66,261,621 shares of Common Stock at a conversion price of $1.5375 per share of Common Stock (including accrued interest paid-in-kind).

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per annum, payable semi-annually, or 10.00% per annum if we elect to pay such interest through the delivery of additional Convertible Notes and are convertible into a maximum of 66,261,621 shares of Common Stock at a conversion price of $1.5375 per share of Common Stock (including accrued interest paid-in-kind through maturity).

The Convertible Notes mature on August 15, 2028.

Following certain corporate events that may occur prior to the maturity date, we will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate of a holder who elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with a corporate event.

In addition, the minimum cash condition has been waived through June 28, 2024, with a reduction in such covenant thereafter from $10 million to $7.5 million.

Additionally, following certain corporate events that may occur prior to the maturity date, we will, in certain circumstances that include a change of control transaction or liquidation of our company or any failure of our common stock to be listed on Nasdaq or any other eligible exchange, increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Convertible Notes in connection with such a corporate event.

The Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement provides that, until we and the purchasers of the Convertible Notes agree to a final formula for such adjustments in accordance with the Amended and Restated Note

Purchase Agreement, the maximum adjusted conversion rate following such a corporate event will be 754.4715 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes.

The formula ultimately agreed upon by us and the purchasers may result in additional dilution to our stockholders if one of the specified corporate events should occur.

As part of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the minimum cash condition was waived through June 28, 2024, with a reduction in the covenant thereafter from $10 million to $7.5 million.

However, on April 28, 2024, the waiver of the minimum cash condition was further extended through December 31, 2024 (as discussed in Note 13 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).

On January 29, 2024, pursuant to the 5ECAP Subscription Agreement, the Company issued 8,317,074 shares of Common Stock to 5ECAP at a price of $1.025 per share (the “Second Closing”).

The completion of the Out-of-Court Restructuring marks a crucial step to strengthen our balance sheet, funds the next phase of our development, and supports the commencement of mining operations for boric acid and lithium.

Although the equity offerings associated with our Out-of-Court Restructuring significantly improved our cash position by providing $16.7 million of net proceeds to the Company, and we continue to operate under a business plan that includes reductions in certain spending, we expect to incur significant operating and development costs for the foreseeable future, and anticipate the need for additional financing within the next twelve months to maintain a cash balance in excess of the $7.5 million minimum cash covenant, which goes into effect June 28, 2024 (as discussed in Note 7 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).

If we are not able to secure additional financing and our cash balance falls below $7.5 million after June 28, 2024, an event of default under the Amended and Restated Convertible Note Purchase Agreement would occur.

An event of default would cause the Convertible Notes balance outstanding to become immediately due and payable, for which we would not have the resources to repay without additional financing.

The receipt of potential funding from equity or debt issuances, beyond those that are part of the Out-of-Court Restructuring, cannot be considered probable at this time because these plans are not entirely within management's control as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Out-of-Court Restructuring — Liquidity Considerations

Although the equity offerings associated with our Out-of-Court Restructuring improved our cash position by providing $15.8 million of net proceeds after issuance costs and fees to the Company, and we continue to operate under a business plan that includes reductions in certain spending, we will need additional financing in order to continue as a going concern and maintain a cash balance in excess of the $7.5 million minimum cash covenant of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement (as discussed in Note 7 and Note 13 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).

An event of default under the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement would cause the Convertible Notes balance outstanding to become immediately due and payable, for which we would not have the resources to repay without additional financing.

The receipt of potential funding, beyond those that are part of the Out-of-Court Restructuring, cannot be considered probable at this time because these plans are not entirely within management's control as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Therefore, there exists substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that these financial statements are issued.

Even if additional debt or equity financing is successfully consummated, available liquidity may still not be sufficient to eliminate the aforementioned substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

Even if additional financing is successfully consummated, available liquidity may still not be sufficient to eliminate the aforementioned substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

Refer to the "Going Concern" discussion within Note 1 of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for more information.

inflation rate rose steadily beginning in 2021 and continued a steep climb into 2022.

Although the inflation rate moderated somewhat during the second half of 2023, it continues to be higher than historic averages.

These inflationary pressures have resulted in and may continue to result in additional increases to the cost of goods, services, and personnel, which in turn causes our capital expenditures and labor costs to rise, including the estimated costs for our reclamation activities.

Sustained levels of high inflation have caused the U.S.

Federal Reserve and other central banks to increase interest rates, which could have the effects of raising the cost of capital and depressing economic growth, either of which or the combination thereof, could adversely affect our business.

COVID-19 Response

We have implemented policies at our offices in Hesperia, California and Houston, Texas and at our project site in Newberry Springs, California designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and the people associated with them.

In that regard, to reduce risk, our employees have been encouraged to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, have been asked to work remotely at times, avoid non-essential business travel, when possible, adhere to good hygiene practices, and engage in social distancing.

Continuation of COVID-19 or other widespread outbreak of contagious disease in 2024 and beyond could impact employee health, workforce productivity, insurance premiums, ability to travel, the availability of industry experts, personnel and equipment, restrictions or delays to field work, construction, procurement, studies, lab results, and other factors that will depend on future developments that may be beyond our control.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and through 2022, we experienced, at times, significant shipping delays due to congestion and slowdowns at U.S.

and international ports caused by shortages in vessels, containers, and truckers, also disrupting the global supply chain.

This contributed to certain cost and schedule pressures related to the construction of the Small-Scale Facility.

We continue to monitor the global situation, including the impacts of new and potential future variants of COVID-19, or other factors that may affect international shipping, logistics, and supply chain, or involve responses to government actions such as strikes or other disruptions.

The forward-looking information contained in this section is subject to the risk factors and assumptions contained in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factor” sections.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Six Months Ended December 31,

Three Months Ended March 31,

Nine Months Ended March 31,

(in thousands)

9 unchanged sentences

Interest income

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Derivative gain (loss)

3 unchanged sentences

NET INCOME (LOSS)

Comparison of the three and six months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

* Represents a percentage change greater than +/- 300%

Comparison of the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

Project expenses

Project expenses include drilling, plug and abandonment, site-preparation, engineering, consumables, testing and sampling, hydrology, permits, surveys, and other expenses associated with further progressing our Project.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, project expenses decreased $2.0 million or 58% versus the comparable period in 2022 as there was decreased activity related to the Project.

Specifically, the decrease was primarily due to a reduction in expenses incurred relating to our plug and abandonment program ($2.4 million) which occurred primarily in 2022 and was related to closing historic wells required by our permits ahead of operating the Small-Scale Facility.

This decrease was partially offset by increases in site-related operating costs ($0.2 million), testing and analysis ($0.1 million) and Environmental Protection Agency compliance costs ($0.1 million).

For the six months ended December 31, 2023 , project expenses decreased $4.0 million or 57% versus the comparable period in 2022 as there was decreased activity related to the Project.

Specifically, the decrease was primarily due to a reduction in expenses incurred relating to our plug and abandonment program ($4.9 million), as discussed above, and reduced expenses incurred for engineering and technical reports that were not eligible for capitalization as construction in progress ($0.2 million).

These decreases were partially offset by increases in Environmental Protection Agency compliance costs ($0.7 million), testing and analysis ($0.3 million) and construction related insurance costs ($0.2 million).

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, project expenses decreased $113 thousand, or 9%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

Specifically, the decrease was primarily due to the combined impact of reductions in expenses incurred relating to our water monitoring wells, obtaining technical reports, insurance, and testing and analysis ($0.3 million).

These decreases were partially offset by increased site-related costs ($0.2 million) which resulted from final activities preparing our operators and the Small-Scale-Facility for final commissioning.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2024, project expenses decreased $4.1 million, or 50%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023 as there was decreased activity related to the Project.

Specifically, the decrease was primarily due to a reduction in expenses incurred relating to our plug and abandonment program ($5.0 million) which occurred primarily in calendar year 2022 and was related to closing historic wells required by our permits ahead of operating the Small-Scale Facility, and reduced expenses incurred for engineering and technical reports that were not eligible for capitalization as construction in progress ($0.3 million).

These decreases were partially offset by increases in EPA compliance costs ($0.7 million), testing and analysis ($0.2 million), site-related costs ($0.2 million) and construction related insurance costs ($0.1 million).

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses include professional fees, costs associated with marketing, on-going SEC and public company costs, public relations, rent, salaries, sponsorships, share-based compensation and other expenses.

Currently, all salaries and benefits are reported in general and administrative expenses.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million or 4% versus the comparable period in 2022.

The decrease was primarily due to decreases in costs associated with employee compensation and benefits ($2.1 million) primarily due to reduced headcount which includes a reduction in share based compensation expense ($1.3 million), and a reduction in travel related costs ($0.3 million) due to cost containment efforts.

These decreases were partially offset by increased professional fees ($2.2 million) which were primarily the result of legal fees incurred in connection with our Out-of-Court restructuring efforts.

For the six months ended December 31, 2023, general and administrative expenses increased $0.8 million or 7% versus the comparable period in 2022.

The increase was primarily due to increased professional fees ($3.2 million) which were primarily the result of legal fees incurred in connection with our Out-of-Court restructuring efforts.

This increase was partially offset by a decrease in costs associated with employee compensation and benefits ($2.1 million) due to reduced headcount which includes a reduction in share based compensation expense ($2.0 million), and various cost containment efforts across a broad range of expense categories ($0.3 million).

Currently, all salaries and benefits for the entire organization are reported in general and administrative expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, general and administrative expenses decreased $3.0 million, or 50%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

The decrease was primarily due to (i) a reduction in professional and legal fees of $1.9 million which includes a $1.8 million reclassification of legal and accounting fees incurred during the second fiscal quarter of 2024 to either debt or equity issuance costs in the third fiscal quarter due to the successful implementation of the Out-of-Court restructuring in the current quarter, (ii) a decrease in costs related to marketing activities ($0.5 million), and (iii) a decrease in employee severance and relocation costs ($0.9 million).

These decreases were partially offset by increased employee compensation and benefits costs ($0.3 million).

For the nine months ended March 31, 2024, general and administrative expenses decreased $2.2 million, or 12%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

The decrease was primarily due to (i) decreased employee incentive compensation costs ($2.0 million) which is inclusive of a $2.2 million decrease in share-based compensation costs, (ii) a decrease in employee severance and relocation costs ($0.9 million), and (iii) a decrease in costs related to marketing activities ($0.8 million).

These decreases were partially offset by increases in costs associated with (i) increased professional fees ($1.3 million) which were primarily attributable to legal fees incurred in connection with our Out-of-Court Restructuring efforts that were not eligible for classification as either debt or equity issuance costs, and (ii) increased employee compensation and benefits costs ($0.2 million).

Research and development

Research and development expense includes costs incurred under research agreements with Georgetown University and Boston College that aim to enhance the performance of permanent magnets through increased use of boron.

Both engagements have been completed, resulting in decreased research and development costs versus the comparable periods in 2022.

Both engagements were completed during the second fiscal quarter of 2024.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expenses decreased $45 thousand, or 100%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

The decrease was attributable to the completion of the engagements during the second fiscal quarter of 2024.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expenses decreased $78 thousand, or 63%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

The decrease was attributable to the completion of the engagements during the second fiscal quarter of 2024.

During the nine months ended March 31, 2023, we elected not to renew our mineral lease with Elementis Specialties, Inc.

and the mineral lease expired on March 31, 2023 resulting in the recognition of approximately $0.9 million of related impairment expense.

There was no comparable impairment expense in the current period.

Depreciation and amortization expense

Depreciation and amortization relates to use of our owned or leased vehicles, buildings and equipment and the amortization of our asset retirement obligations.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, depreciation and amortization expense increased $11 thousand or 26% versus the comparable period in 2022.

Similarly, for the six months ended December 31, 2023, depreciation and amortization expense increased $27 thousand or 34% versus the comparable period in 2022.

These increases were primarily due to additional assets placed in service during the second and third fiscal quarters of 2023.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, depreciation and amortization expense remained consistent with the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2024, depreciation and amortization expense increased $27 thousand or 20% versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

This increase was primarily due to additional assets placed in service during the second and third fiscal quarters of 2023.

During the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024, we anticipate placing the Small-Scale-Facility into service corresponding with the commencement of commercial operations.

This will result in all construction in progress balances being transferred into property plant and equipment on our balance sheet, and the recognition of additional depreciation expense in future accounting periods.

Interest income

Interest income is derived from the investment of our excess cash and cash equivalents in short-term (original maturities of three months or less) investments of highly liquid treasury bills and certificates of deposit beginning in the first fiscal quarter of 2022 and corresponding with the issuance of the Convertible Note.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, interest income decreased $455 thousand or 98% versus the comparable period in 2022.

Similarly, for the six months ended December 31, 2023, interest income decreased $384 thousand or 73% versus the comparable period in 2022.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, interest income decreased $315 thousand or 81% versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

Similarly, for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, interest income decreased $699 thousand or 76% versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

Such decreases correspond to decreases in our average cash and cash equivalent balances between the periods, respectively.

Loss on extinguishment of debt

The loss on extinguishment of debt incurred for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 resulted from the modification of the terms of our Convertible Notes contained in the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement executed January 18, 2024.

The modified terms of the Convertible Notes (as discussed within Note 7 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements) were evaluated and determined to be representative of an in-substance extinguishment of the Convertible Notes and establishment of new debt, for accounting purposes, primarily due to the significance of the changes to the terms of the conversion features.

As a result, we wrote-off the remaining principal, accrued interest and unamortized discount and debt issuance costs associated with the prior debt with an aggregate value of $44.2 million, and recognized the modified debt at its fair value of $65.2 million upon execution of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement.

The difference in value between the prior debt and the modified debt resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $21.0 million.

Derivative gain

The derivative gain (loss) during the three and six months ended December 31, 2022 related to changes in fair value of the embedded conversion feature of our Convertible Notes that was required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately as a stand-alone derivative instrument during the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

The unrealized loss during the three months ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to our stock price increasing from $10.16 at September 30, 2022 to $11.63 at November 26, 2022, the termination date of the embedded conversion feature requiring separate accounting.

The unrealized gain during the six months ended December 31, 2022, was primarily due to the decrease in our stock price to $11.63 at the termination date from $15.83 on August 26, 2022, the inception date of the Convertible Note.

The provision resulting in the separate derivative accounting for the conversion feature expired on November 26, 2022.

The expiration resulted in the transfer of the fair value of the convertible note derivative at expiration to additional paid-in capital.

The derivative gain (loss) during the nine months ended March 31, 2023 related to changes in fair value of the embedded conversion feature of our Convertible Notes that was required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately as a stand-alone derivative instrument (as discussed within Note 7 and Note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).

The unrealized gain during the nine months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily due to the decrease in our stock price to $11.63 on November 26, 2022, the date the conversion feature expired and derivative accounting was terminated, from $15.83 on August 26, 2022, the inception date of the Convertible Notes and the date derivative accounting commenced.

The expiration of the conversion feature resulted in the transfer of the fair value of the convertible note derivative at expiration to additional paid-in capital.

Interest expense

Interest expense primarily relates to interest expense incurred on the Convertible Notes issued on August 26, 2022, and is net of amounts capitalized to construction in progress.

The Convertible Notes accrues interest at a rate of 6% when interest is paid-in-kind through the issuance of additional notes, and we recognize interest expense for the amortization of debt issuance costs and the amortization of the discount on the note.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, interest expense decreased $246 thousand or 12% versus the comparable period in 2022.

This decrease was primarily due to additional interest being capitalized between period due to an increase in our average construction in progress balance between period ($524 thousand reduction in interest expense) offset to a lesser extent by accruing additional interest on $1.7 million and $1.9 million of interest that was paid-in-kind during February of 2023 and August of 2023, respectively ($278 thousand increase in interest expense).

For the six months ended December 31, 2023, interest expense increased $720 thousand or 26%.

This increase was due to the aforementioned increase in principal balance on the Convertible Notes between periods as well as a full six months of interest incurred on the Convertible Notes in 2023 versus a partial period in 2022.

This increase in interest expense was offset by an increase in the amount of interest capitalized during the same period of $1.1 million resulting from an increase in our average construction in progress balance during the period.

As part of our Out-of-Court Restructuring and associated amendment and restatement of our Convertible Notes Agreement in January 2024, the paid-in-kind interest rate associated with the Convertible Notes increased to 10%.

We did not have any income tax expense or benefit for the three and six months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as we have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset.

For the six months ended December 31,

Interest expense primarily relates to interest expense incurred on the Convertible Notes issued on August 26, 2022, and as amended by the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated January 18, 2024, and is net of amounts capitalized to construction-in-progress.

Prior to the execution of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Notes accrued interest at a rate of 6% when interest was paid-in-kind through the issuance of additional notes.

Subsequent to the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Notes accrue interest at a rate of 10% when interest is paid-in-kind through the issuance of additional notes.

We also recognize interest expense for the amortization of debt issuance costs and the amortization of the discount on the Convertible Notes.

As part of the modification of the terms of our debt associated with the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the modified debt was recognized at fair value on our balance sheet which eliminated the prior debt discount that was amortized to interest expense.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, interest expense decreased $1.4 million or 63% versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

This decrease was primarily due to (i) the elimination of the amortization of the debt discount associated with the accounting for our debt modification that was consummated January 18, 2024 which results in a shorter period of amortization expense in the current period compared to the prior period ($1.0 million reduction in interest expense), (ii) additional interest being capitalized between periods due to the combined effect of a higher interest rate associated with our modified debt and an increase in our average construction in progress balance between periods ($0.6 million reduction in interest expense), and (iii) a reduction in the amortization expense associated with lower debt issuance costs associated with our modified debt ($55 thousand reduction in interest expense).

These decreases were offset to a lesser extent by the effects of (i) interest accruing at 10% under the terms of our Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement compared to 6% under our prior agreement, and (ii) accruing additional interest on $1.9 million and $2.1 million of interest that was paid-in-kind during August of 2023 and February of 2024, respectively (for a combined impact of a $273 thousand increase in interest expense).

For the nine months ended March 31, 2024, interest expense decreased $695 thousand or 14% versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

This decrease was due to (i) additional interest being capitalized between periods due to the combined effect of a higher interest rate associated with our modified debt, an increase in our average construction-in-progress balance between periods and a full

year of capitalized interest in the current period versus a partial year in the comparative period ($1.8 million reduction in interest expense), and (ii) the elimination of the amortization of the debt discount associated with the accounting for our debt modification that was consummated January 18, 2024 which results in a shorter period of amortization expense in the current period compared to the prior period ($221 thousand reduction in interest expense).

These decreases in interest expense were offset to a lesser extent by the effects of (i) interest accruing at 10% under the terms of our Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement compared to 6% under our prior agreement, and accruing additional interest on $1.9 million and $2.1 million of interest that was paid-in-kind during August of 2023 and February of 2024, respectively (for a combined impact of $1.2 million increase in interest expense), and (ii) higher amortization expense associated with debt issuance costs due to a longer period of amortization expense in the current period compared to the prior period ($74 thousand increase in interest expense).

We did not have any income tax expense or benefit for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, as we have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset.

For the nine months ended March 31,

($ in thousands)

3 unchanged sentences

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

During the six months ended December 31, 2023, we used $14.8 million of cash for operating activities, a decrease of $1.4 million or 9% compared to the comparable period in 2022.

Cash used by operating activities decreased between periods primarily due to a decrease in project related expenses which was offset to a lesser extent by an increase in general and administrative expenses net of non-cash share based compensation expense.

Refer to the preceding discussion for more information on increases and decreases in certain expenses between periods.

During the six months ended December 31, 2023, we used $3.5 million of cash for investing activities, a decrease of $12.6 million or 78% compared to the comparable period in 2022.

During the nine months ended March 31, 2024, we used $19.6 million of cash for operating activities, a decrease of $4.5 million or 19% compared to the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

Cash used by operating activities decreased between periods primarily due to a decrease in Project related expenses.

During the nine months ended March 31, 2024, we used $5.9 million of cash for investing activities, a decrease of $24.2 million or 80% compared to the comparable period in fiscal year 2023.

The reduction in investing cash flows was due to reduced spending on construction in progress related to the Small-Scale Facility between periods.

Cash flows provided by financing activities during the six months ended December 31, 2022 were the result of the issuance of the Convertible Notes net of debt issuance costs with no comparable activity during the same period in 2023.

Cash flows provided by financing activities for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 were the result of $15.8 million of proceeds received from two closings of a private placement of our Common Stock in January of 2024, after recognition of the related costs and fees, where we issued an aggregate of 19,048,782 shares of our Common Stock.

The net proceeds from our private placement of equity during the nine months ended March 31, 2024 were offset by $2.6 million of cash used to pay legal and accounting fees associated with the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement (i.e., debt issuance costs).

Cash flows provided by financing activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2023 were the result of the issuance of the Convertible Notes net of debt issuance costs.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2.0 million and working capital deficit of $5.5 million compared to $20.3 million and positive working capital of $13.3 million as of June 30, 2023, respectively.

As of March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $8.0 million and working capital of $2.7 million compared to $20.3 million and $13.3 million as of June 30, 2023, respectively.

Our predominant source of cash has been generated through equity financing from issuances of our common stock and equity-linked debt securities.

Since inception, we have not generated revenues, and as such, have relied on equity financing and equity-linked debt instruments to fund our operating and investing activities.

We maintain the majority of our cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major U.S.

and multi-national financial institutions, and our deposits at certain of these institutions may exceed insured limits.

Market conditions can impact the viability of these institutions.

In August 2022, we executed a $60 million private placement of senior secured convertible notes to complete construction and commissioning of our Small-Scale Facility, fund operation of our Small-Scale Facility, and general corporate purposes.

In January 2024, we completed two closings of a private placement of our common stock which resulted in approximately $17.75 million of proceeds to the Company to strengthen our balance sheet and to help fund the next state of mining and Small-Scale Facility operation.

In January 2024, we also executed an amended and restated note purchase agreement which modified certain terms of our Convertible Note;

however, such modifications did not provide incremental capital to the Company.

With our current capital resources and construction nearly complete, we believe that we have sufficient funds to construct and commission our Small-Scale Facility.

In January 2024, as part of the Out-of-Court Restructuring, we completed two closings of a private placement of our Common Stock which resulted in approximately $15.8 million of proceeds to the Company, after recognition of the related costs and fees, to strengthen our balance sheet and to help fund mining and Small-Scale Facility operations.

Also in January 2024, and also as part of our Out-of-Court Restructuring, we executed the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement which modified certain terms of our Convertible Notes (refer to the Out-of-Court Restructuring discussion under the heading of 2024 Outlook and Goals).

The Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement did not provide incremental capital to the Company and resulted in us incurring $2.6 million of related legal and accounting fees.

Over the next 12 months, we have plans to achieve the following milestones that will require additional capital:

• Operate the Small-Scale Facility;

• Progress FEL2, FEL3, and detailed engineering and procure long lead item equipment, specifically our crystallization units;

• Operate the Small-Scale Facility and progress customer qualification;

• Progress FEL-2, FEL-3, and detailed engineering as well as procure long lead item equipment, specifically our crystallization units;

• Optimize well-field design in an effort to reduce future mining capital and operational expenditures through various drilling techniques such as directional, horizontal and radial drilling;

1 unchanged sentence

• Continue hiring team members necessary to support our operation efforts of becoming a global producer of boric acid, lithium carbonate and gypsum.

Although the Out-of-Court Restructuring transaction discussed above significantly improved our cash position, and we continue to operate under a business plan that includes reductions in certain spending, we expect to incur significant operating and development costs for the foreseeable future, and anticipate the need for additional financing within the next twelve months to maintain a cash balance in excess of the $7.5 million minimum cash covenant, which goes into effect June 28, 2024.

Absent additional financing as outlined above, we may no longer be able to meet our ongoing obligations, progress operations or achieve the milestones outlined above.

If we are not able to secure additional financing cash flows and our cash balance falls below $7.5 million after June 28, 2024, an event of default under the Amended and Restated Convertible Notes Agreement would occur.

An event of default would cause our

Convertible Notes balance outstanding to become immediately due and payable, for which we would not have the resources to repay without additional financing.

Although the Out-of-Court Restructuring transaction discussed above improved our cash position, and we continue to operate under a business plan that includes reductions in certain spending, we will need additional financing in order to continue as a going concern and maintain a cash balance in excess of the $7.5 million minimum cash covenant in the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement.

Absent additional financing as outlined above, we may no longer be able to meet our ongoing obligations, continue operations or achieve the milestones outlined above.

If we are not able to secure additional financing cash flows and our cash balance falls below $7.5 million after December 31, 2024, an event of default under the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement could occur.

An event of default would cause our Convertible Notes balance outstanding to become immediately due and payable, for which we would not have the resources to repay without additional financing.

We intend to explore different potential financing strategies to help support the growth of our business and execution of our business plan, including equity or debt financing, government funding or grants, private capital, royalty agreements or customer prepayments, or other strategic alliances with third parties.

However, there is no assurance that we will be able to secure additional financing on adequate terms, in a timely manner, or at all.

The receipt of potential funding, including those that may be executed pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement discussed below, cannot be considered probable at this time because these plans are not entirely within management's control as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Therefore, there exists substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that these financial statements are issued.

Refer to the “Going Concern” discussion within Note 1 of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for more information.

2024 Equity Distribution Agreement with Canaccord Genuity LLC and D.A.

Davidson & Co.

On March 28, 2024, we entered into an equity distribution agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with Canaccord Genuity LLC and D.A.

Davidson & Co.

(each, an “Agent” and together, the “Agents”) providing for the offer and sale of up to $15,000,000 of shares of our Common Stock from time to time by us through the Agents, acting as our sales agents, or directly to one or more of the Agents, acting as principal (the “ATM Offering”).

Sales of shares of our Common Stock, if any, as contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement, made through any Agent acting as sales agent or directly to any Agent acting as principal, will be made by any method permitted by law, including without limitation (i) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions (whether or not solicited), (ii) to or through a market maker, (iii) directly on or through any national securities exchange or facility thereof, a trading facility of a national securities association, an alternative trading system or any other market venue, (iv) in the over-the-counter market, (v) block transactions, (vi) in privately negotiated transactions or (vii) through a combination of any such methods.

We will pay the applicable Agent a commission equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price of the shares of our common stock sold through the Agents, as our sales agents.

We will reimburse the Agents for certain specified expenses in connection with entering into the Equity Distribution Agreement.

None of the Agents are required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of shares of our Common Stock, but each has agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Equity Distribution Agreement, to use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to sell the shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the terms agreed upon by such Agent and the Company, provided that the number of common stock sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement will not (at any time) exceed the Company's available placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1.

Any common stock to be sold in excess of the Company's available placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 will be subject to, and conditional on, shareholder approval.

Under the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, we may also sell shares of our Common Stock to one or more of the Agents, as principal, at a price agreed upon at the time of sale.

If we sell shares of our common stock to one or more of the Agents, as principal, we will enter into a separate written agreement with such Agent or Agents, as applicable, setting forth the terms of the transaction.

In any such sale to an Agent or Agents as principal, we may agree to pay the applicable Agent or Agents a commission or underwriting discount that may exceed 3.0% of the gross sales price of our common stock sold to such Agent or Agents, as principal.

Any shares of our Common Stock offered and sold in the ATM Offering will be issued pursuant to the Company’s shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (No.

333-276162), which was declared effective on February 27, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”), the prospectus supplement relating to the ATM Offering filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024, which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and any applicable additional prospectus supplements related to the ATM Offering that form a part of the Registration Statement.

We did not sell any common stock nor receive any proceeds under the Equity Distribution Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Material Cash Requirements

Our material short-term cash requirements include general and administrative expenses including recurring payroll and benefit obligations for our employees, construction related costs necessary to complete the Small-Scale Facility, project related costs, payments under certain lease agreements and working capital needs.

Our material short-term cash requirements include general and administrative expenses including recurring payroll and benefit obligations for our employees, construction related costs necessary to complete the Small-Scale Facility, operating costs for the Small-Scale Facility, project related costs, payments under certain lease agreements and working capital needs.

Our long-term material cash requirements from currently known obligations include repayment of outstanding borrowings and interest payment obligations under our Convertible Notes (which may be avoided to the extent the Notes are converted to shares of our common stock and/or interest is paid-in-kind) and future obligations to reclaim, remediate, or otherwise restore properties to a condition that existed prior to our operations.

4 unchanged sentences

Critical Accounting Policies

A complete discussion of our critical accounting policies is included in our Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023.

There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the six months ended December 31, 2023.

A complete discussion of our critical accounting policies is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended March 31, 2024.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No.

2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”).

ASU 2023-09 is intended to improve income tax disclosures primarily through enhanced disclosure of income tax rate reconciliation items, and disaggregation of income (loss) from continuing operations, income tax expense (benefit) and income taxes paid, net disclosures by federal, state and foreign jurisdictions, among others.

ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and early adoption is permitted.

We are evaluating the impact that ASC 2023-09 will have on the consolidated financial statements and our plan for adoption, including the adoption date and transition method.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not required.

We are a smaller reporting company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this Item 3.

Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.

What changed 10-Q

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis