AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2021 March (Form 10-Q)

aqb-20210331x10q

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________

Form 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________ to _____________________

Commission File Number: 001-36426

____________

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	04-3156167
(State or other jurisdiction of ‎incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer ‎Identification No.)

2 Mill & Main Place, Suite 395

Maynard, Massachusetts 01754

(978) 648-6000

(Address and telephone number of the registrant’s principal executive offices)


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	AQB	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer	o	Accelerated filer	o	Non-accelerated filer	x	Smaller reporting company	x
						Emerging growth company	x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨ No x

At May 3, 2021, the registrant had 71,022,426 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Shares”) outstanding.

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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
FORM 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	Page
Item 1.	Financial Statements	1
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	12
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	16
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	16
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	17
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	17
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	20
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	20
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	20
Item 5.	Other Information	20
Item 6.	Exhibits	21
Signatures		22

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward looking statements. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans, and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “objective,” “should,” or the negative of these and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding management’s expectations for future financial and operational performance and operating expenditures, expected growth, and business outlook; the nature of and progress toward our commercialization plan; the future introduction of our products to consumers; the countries in which we may obtain regulatory approval and the progress toward such approvals; the volume of eggs or fish we may be able to produce; the timeline for our production of saleable fish; the expected advantages of land-based systems over sea cage production; the validity and impact of legal actions; the completion of renovations at our farms; and the establishment of a larger-scale grow-out facility.

We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, which could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, but are not limited to, statements about:

the anticipated benefits and characteristics of our AquAdvantage salmon product;

the implementation and likelihood of achieving the business plan, future revenue, and operating results;

our plans for (including without limitation, projected costs, locations and third-party involvement) and the timing of the development of new farms and the output of those farms;

developments concerning our research projects;

our expectations regarding our ability to successfully enter new markets or develop additional products;

our competitive position and developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry;

expectations regarding anticipated operating results;

our cash position and ability to raise additional capital to finance our activities;

the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak (the “COVID-19 pandemic”) on our business, operations and financial results, any of which could be significantly impaired by the COVID-19 pandemic;

our ability to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights and technologies;

the impact of and our ability to adapt to changes in laws or regulations and policies;

the ability to secure any necessary regulatory approvals to commercialize any products;

the rate and degree of market acceptance of any products developed through the application of bioengineering, including bioengineered fish;

our ability to retain and recruit key personnel;

the success of any of our future acquisitions or investments;

our expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”);

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, and needs for additional financing; and

other risks and uncertainties referenced under “Risk Factors” below and in any documents incorporated by reference herein.

We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the risks to which the forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are subject. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included, particularly in the section titled “Risk Factors,” that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments that we may make.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such statements to reflect future events or developments unless required by federal securities law. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such risks.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)


	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	210,899,434	$	95,751,160
Inventory		2,106,473		1,525,377
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		470,961		405,370
Total current assets		213,476,868		97,681,907

Property, plant and equipment, net		27,904,874		26,930,338
Right of use assets, net		327,386		341,997
Intangible assets, net		242,120		245,546
Restricted cash		500,000		500,000
Other assets		84,685		76,715
Total assets	$	242,535,933	$	125,776,503

Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,555,066	$	1,760,103
Other current liabilities		62,765		62,483
Current debt		378,791		259,939
Total current liabilities		1,996,622		2,082,525

Long-term lease obligations		274,232		290,327
Long-term debt		8,622,436		8,528,490
Total liabilities		10,893,290		10,901,342

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized;
70,983,145 (2020: 55,497,133) shares outstanding		70,983		55,497
Additional paid-in capital		384,459,964		263,629,116
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(187,219)		(267,258)
Accumulated deficit		(152,701,085)		(148,542,194)
Total stockholders' equity		231,642,643		114,875,161

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	242,535,933	$	125,776,503

See accompanying notes to these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues
Product revenues	$	74,372	$	6,753

Costs and expenses
Product costs		1,554,655		841,434
Sales and marketing		318,635		50,788
Research and development		500,620		568,762
General and administrative		1,785,510		1,637,190
Total costs and expenses		4,159,420		3,098,174

Operating loss		(4,085,048)		(3,091,421)

Other income (expense)
Interest expense		(78,804)		(17,045)
Other income (expense), net		4,961		(1,152)
Total other income (expense)		(73,843)		(18,197)

Net loss	$	(4,158,891)	$	(3,109,618)

Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation income (loss)		80,039		(381,985)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		80,039		(381,985)

Comprehensive loss	$	(4,078,852)	$	(3,491,603)


Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(0.06)	$	(0.11)
Weighted average number of common shares -
basic and diluted		64,550,920		27,116,754

See accompanying notes to these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)


	Common stock issued and outstanding		Par value		Additional paid-in capital		Accumulated other comprehensive loss		Accumulated deficit		Total
Balance at December 31, 2019		21,635,365	$	21,635	$	156,241,363	$	(360,160)	$	(132,142,209)	$	23,760,629
Net loss										(3,109,618)		(3,109,618)
Other comprehensive income (loss)								(381,985)				(381,985)
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses		10,350,000		10,350		14,511,354						14,521,704
Share based compensation		100,319		101		205,252						205,353
Balance at March 31, 2020		32,085,684		32,086		170,957,969		(742,145)		(135,251,827)		34,996,083

	Common stock issued and outstanding		Par value		Additional paid-in capital		Accumulated other comprehensive loss		Accumulated deficit		Total
Balance at December 31, 2020		55,497,133	$	55,497	$	263,629,116	$	(267,258)	$	(148,542,194)	$	114,875,161
Net loss										(4,158,891)		(4,158,891)
Other comprehensive income (loss)								80,039				80,039
Cashless exercise of options for common stock		4,354		4		(4)						—
Issuance of common stock, net of expenses		14,950,000		14,950		119,105,487						119,120,437
Exercise of warrants for common stock		491,133		491		1,595,691						1,596,182
Share based compensation		40,525		41		129,674						129,715
Balance at March 31, 2021		70,983,145		70,983		384,459,964		(187,219)		(152,701,085)		231,642,643

See accompanying notes to these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Operating activities
Net loss	$	(4,158,891)	$	(3,109,618)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		422,185		347,859
Share-based compensation		129,715		205,353
Other non-cash charge		4,203		—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventory		(577,154)		(610,200)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(63,966)		(107,922)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(274,486)		339,818
Net cash used in operating activities		(4,518,394)		(2,934,710)

Investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(1,208,183)		(691,351)
Proceeds from sale of asset held for sale		—		98,000
Proceeds from legal settlement, net		—		1,014,008
Other investing activities		(11,010)		(1,307)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(1,219,193)		419,350

Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt		187,120		—
Repayment of term debt		(38,885)		(39,391)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net		119,120,437		14,521,704
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants, net		1,596,182		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		120,864,854		14,482,313

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		21,007		(15,951)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		115,148,274		11,951,002
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		96,251,160		2,798,744
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	211,399,434	$	14,749,746

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported
in the consolidated balance sheet:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	210,899,434	$	14,749,746
Restricted cash		500,000		—
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	211,399,434	$	14,749,746

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and
non-cash transactions:
Interest paid in cash	$	73,685	$	17,045
Property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	82,068	$	257,884

See accompanying notes to these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

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AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)

1. Nature of business and organization

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (the “Parent” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) was incorporated in December 1991 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of conducting research and development of the commercial viability of a group of proteins commonly known as antifreeze proteins. In 1996, the Parent obtained the exclusive licensing rights for a gene construct (transgene) used to create a breed of farm-raised Atlantic salmon that exhibit growth rates that are substantially faster than conventional salmon. In 2015, the Parent obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) for the production and sale of its AquAdvantage salmon product in the United States and in 2016, the Parent obtained regulatory approval from Health Canada for the production and sale of its AquAdvantage salmon product in Canada.

AQUA Bounty Canada Inc. (the “Canadian Subsidiary”) was incorporated in January 1994 for the purpose of establishing a commercial biotechnology laboratory to conduct research and development programs related to the Parent’s technologies and to commercialize the Parent’s products in Canada.

AquaBounty Panama, S. de R.L. (the “Panama Subsidiary”) was incorporated in May 2008 in Panama for the purpose of conducting commercial trials of the Parent’s products. Operations at the site concluded in May 2019.

AquaBounty Farms, Inc. (the “U.S. Subsidiary”) was incorporated in December 2014 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of conducting field trials and commercializing the Parent’s products in the United States.

AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC (the “Indiana Subsidiary”), which is wholly owned by the U.S. Subsidiary, was formed in June 2017 in the State of Delaware for the purpose of operating its aquaculture facility in Albany, Indiana.

AquaBounty Brasil Participações Ltda. (the “Brazil Subsidiary”) was incorporated in May 2015 for the purpose of conducting field trials and commercializing the Parent’s products in Brazil.

2. Basis of presentation

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. and its wholly owned direct subsidiaries, AQUA Bounty Canada Inc.; AquaBounty Panama, S. de R.L.; AquaBounty Farms, Inc.; AquaBounty Farms Indiana LLC; and AquaBounty Brasil Participações Ltda. The entities are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) consistent with those applied in, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s audited financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2020. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2021, and its results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of results for subsequent interim periods or for the full year. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements, as allowed by the relevant SEC rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that its disclosures are adequate to ensure that the information presented is not misleading.

Liquidity

In February 2021, the Company completed an equity raise with net proceeds of $119.1 million and has $210.9 million in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2021. While the Company has experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, management believes that it has sufficient cash to meet the Company's requirements for at least the next twelve months from the filing date. However, until such time as the Company reaches profitability, it may require additional financing to fund its operations and execute its business plan.

Inventories

Inventories are mainly comprised of feed, eggs, fish in process and packaging materials. Fish in process inventory is measured based on the estimated biomass of fish on hand. The Company has established a standard procedure to estimate the biomass of fish on hand using counting and sampling techniques.

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The Company measures inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value (NRV). The NRV calculation contains various estimates and assumptions in regard to the calculation of the biomass, including expected yield, the market value of the biomass and estimated costs of completion and transportation. As of March 31, 2021, the NRV of the Company’s conventional salmon biomass was valued at $0 as a result of its decision to harvest and donate this fish. The NRV of the Company’s AquAdvantage salmon biomass was valued at $1.8 million.

The Company also considers capacity utilization in calculating its inventory value with any excess capacity charged to production costs as idle capacity. Inventory reserves are recorded as needed to represent the difference between the carrying value and the NRV calculation, taking into consideration the expected timing and disposition of the inventory.

Revenue recognition

The Company records revenue on the sale of a product when all revenue recognition criteria are fulfilled, including identifying the contract with a customer; identifying the performance obligations in the contract; determining the transaction price; allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and recognizing revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation. The Company evaluates customer credit risk in order to conclude it is “probable” it will collect the amount of consideration due in exchange for the goods or services.

Net loss per share

Basic and diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders has been calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Basic net loss is based solely on the number of common shares outstanding during the year. Fully diluted net loss per share includes the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants and options with an exercise price less than the fair value of the common stock. Since the Company is reporting a net loss for all periods presented, all potential common shares are considered anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share.

At March 31, 2021, the Company had 1,141,847 potentially dilutive securities outstanding, consisting of 457,722 warrants and 684,125 stock options.

Accounting Pronouncements

Management does not expect any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards to have a material effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

3. Risks and uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common in the biotechnology and aquaculture industries. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) results from current and planned product development studies and trials; (ii) decisions made by the FDA or similar regulatory bodies in other countries with respect to approval and commercial sale of any of the Company’s proposed products; (iii) the commercial acceptance of any products approved for sale and the Company’s ability to manufacture, distribute, and sell for a profit any products approved for sale; (iv) the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary patents and proprietary rights to effectively protect its technologies; and (v) the outcome of any collaborations or alliances entered into by the Company.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the United States and the world, and now includes several variants of the virus. Because infections of this virus and the incidences of the disease it causes, certain national, provincial, state, and local governmental authorities in the United States and Canada have issued, and continue to update, proclamations and directives aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus. These directives currently remain in effect and the Company is monitoring their status.

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption and reduced operations.

To date, the Company’s farm operations have not been materially affected by the pandemic, although management has made modifications to biosecurity procedures and the farm sites to adapt to local requirements and to provide a safe work environment. The Company’s current preventative and protective measures include, but are not limited to, segregating farm workers to specific

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locations, rotating shifts, and monitoring worker temperatures upon arrival at the Company’s facilities. To the extent possible, work-from-home is utilized for employees that do not have fish care responsibilities.

The Company experienced delays in capital projects due to the pandemic, including, but not limited to, a six-month delay in the completion of the processing facility at the Indiana farm, which did not become operational until November 2020. Management utilized third party alternatives for fish processing during the delay. During Q1 2021, project delays were limited to extended lead-times on equipment purchases. However, the Company could experience delays on purchases of capital equipment and supplies and other materials required in its operations due to vendor shortages or it could be impacted by transportation or other supply chain disruptions to its partners or customers.

The Company has been primarily impacted by a reduction in the market price and demand for Atlantic salmon due to the pandemic’s impact on the food service sector. This had and continues to have a negative impact on revenue and inventory value, as the company is not yet an established vendor and customers have been reluctant to add a new supplier during a period of depressed demand. Consequently, in December 2020, the Company made the decision to donate substantially all of the conventional salmon to local food charities, which are experiencing unprecedented need during the pandemic. This decision was made to ease the capacity constraints at the Indiana farm to provide space for the growing biomass of AquAdvantage salmon. The donation program commenced in February 2021 and is expected to be completed in May 2021, though the Company is exploring the possibility of continuing the donation program for fish that do not meet customer specifications.

Management expects the financial impact of the pandemic to continue through at least the first half of 2021, as the industry waits for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the subsequent reopening of the food service sector. Any financial impact beyond the near-term cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations in 2021.

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit. This risk is mitigated by the Company’s policy of investing in financial instruments with short-term maturities issued by highly rated financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may at times exceed insurance limitations. The Company holds cash balances in bank accounts located in Canada to fund its local operations. These amounts are subject to foreign currency exchange risk, which is minimized by the Company’s policy to limit the balances held in these accounts. Balances in Canadian bank accounts totaled $83 thousand at March 31, 2021.

4. Inventory

Major classifications of inventory are summarized as follows:


	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Feed	$	234,804		244,311
Eggs and fry		57,175		54,929
Packaging		4,422		6,452
Fish in process, net		1,810,072		1,219,685
Inventory, net	$	2,106,473		1,525,377

5. Property, plant and equipment

Major classifications of property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:


	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Land	$	728,316	$	724,785
Building and improvements		14,214,666		14,048,917
Construction in process		3,887,384		3,212,287
Equipment		14,380,752		13,819,210
Office furniture and equipment		217,246		202,596
Vehicles		29,044		28,700
Total property and equipment	$	33,457,408	$	32,036,495
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(5,552,534)		(5,106,157)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	27,904,874	$	26,930,338

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Included in construction in process is $2.1 million for construction related to the Rollo Bay farm site and renovations to the Fortune Bay hatchery, $1.2 million for construction related to the Indiana farm site, and $583 thousand related to design work for a new 10,000 metric ton farm. An additional $1.2 million has been committed to these projects.

6. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities include the following:


	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Accounts payable	$	644,459	$	799,888
Accrued payroll including vacation		520,162		583,301
Accrued professional fees and contract services		246,968		278,165
Accrued construction costs		141,767		86,052
Accrued taxes and other		1,710		12,697
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	1,555,066	$	1,760,103

7. Debt

The current material terms and conditions of debt outstanding are as follows:


	Interest ‎rate	Monthly ‎repayment	Maturity ‎date	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
ACOA AIF Grant	0%	Royalties	-	$	2,280,591	$	2,253,595
ACOA term loan #1	0%	C$3,120	Feb 2027		175,941		181,203
ACOA term loan #2	0%	C$4,630	Sep 2029		374,990		381,451
Kubota Canada Ltd	0%	C$1,142	Jan 2025		41,730		43,925
PEI Finance term loan	4%	C$16,313	Nov 2023		2,020,523		2,014,321
DFO term loan	0%	C$2,091	Aug 2032		189,313		—
First Farmers Bank & Trust term loan	5.375%	$56,832	Oct 2028		4,000,000		4,000,000
Total debt				$	9,083,088	$	8,874,495
less: debt issuance costs					(81,861)		(86,066)
less: current portion					(378,791)		(259,939)
Long-term debt, net				$	8,622,436	$	8,528,490

Estimated principal payments remaining on loan debt are as follows:


	AIF		ACOA		FPEI		Kubota			DFO	FFBT		Total
2021	$	—	$	55,388	$	56,441	$	8,165	$	—	$	116,675	$	236,669
2022		—		73,851		78,313		10,886		—		482,306		645,356
2023		—		73,852		1,885,769		10,886		16,606		509,256		2,496,369
2024		—		73,851		—		10,886		19,928		537,276		641,941
2025		—		73,851		—		907		19,928		567,735		662,421
Thereafter		2,280,591		200,138		—		—		132,851		1,786,752		4,400,332
Total	$	2,280,591	$	550,931	$	2,020,523	$	41,730	$	189,313	$	4,000,000	$	9,083,088

In September 2020, the Canadian Subsidiary entered into a Contribution Agreement with DFO's Atlantic Fisheries Fund, whereby it is eligible to receive up to C$1.9 million ($1.4 million) to finance new equipment for its Rollo Bay farm (the “DFO Term Loan”). On February 25, 2021, the Canadian Subsidiary borrowed C$238,400 ($187,120) under the DFO Term Loan. Borrowings are interest free and monthly repayments commence in March 2023, with maturity in August 2032.

The Company recognized interest expense of $79 thousand and $17 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, on its interest-bearing debt.

8. Leases

Lease expense for the three months ended three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, amounted to $22 thousand and $20 thousand, respectively. The weighted average remaining lease term of the Company’s operating leases was 23 years as of March 31, 2021. Lease payments included in operating cash flows totaled $22 thousand and $21 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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The table below summarizes the Company’s lease obligations and remaining payments at March 31, 2021:


				March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	Lease	Lease	Remaining	Remaining	Lease	Remaining	Lease
	Type	Term	Years	Payments	Liability	Payments	Liability

Maynard Office Lease	Operating	Mar 2023	1.92	134,463	120,384	150,918	134,099
Indiana Auto Lease	Operating	Feb 2021		-	-	1,157	821
Indiana Well Lease	Operating	Dec 2048	27.69	682,809	216,613	686,809	217,890
Total				817,272	336,997	838,884	352,810
Less: current portion				(82,979)	(62,765)	(83,571)	(62,483)
Long-term leases				$ 734,293	$ 274,232	$ 755,313	$ 290,327

Remaining payments under leases are as follows at March 31, 2021:


Year	Office	Well	Amount
2021	49,960	11,999	61,959
2022	67,602	16,478	84,080
2023	16,901	16,972	33,873
2024	-	17,481	17,481
2025	-	18,006	18,006
Thereafter	-	601,873	601,873
Total Lease Payments	134,463	682,809	817,272

9. Stockholders’ equity

Recent issuances

On February 8, 2021, the Company completed a public offering of 14,950,000 Common Shares for net proceeds of approximately $119.1 million.

Warrants

The following table summarizes information about outstanding warrants at March 31, 2021:


	Number of ‎options	Weighted ‎average ‎exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	948,855	$	3.25
Issued	—		-
Exercised	(491,133)		3.25
Expired	—		-
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	457,722		3.25
Exercisable at March 31, 2021	457,722		3.25

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company issued 491,133 Common Shares at $3.25 per share in conjunction with the exercise of warrants, with total proceeds of $1.6 million. All remaining warrants have an expiration date of January 17, 2023.

Share-based compensation

At March 31, 2021, the Company has reserved 1,591,453 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and future issuances under its 2006 and 2016 Equity Incentive Plans.

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Restricted stock

A summary of the Company’s restricted Common Shares as of March 31, 2021, is as follows:


	Shares	Weighted ‎average grant ‎date fair value
Balance at December 31, 2020	72,653	$	1.90
Granted	40,525		6.72
Vested	(43,822)		3.27
Balance at March 31, 2021	69,356	$	3.85

During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company expensed $107 thousand and $84 thousand, respectively, related to the restricted stock awards. At March 31, 2021, the balance of unearned share-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to the restricted stock awards is $260 thousand. The period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be earned is approximately 3 years.

Stock options

The Company’s option activity is summarized as follows:


	Number of ‎options	Weighted ‎average ‎exercise price
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	657,414	$	4.28
Granted	48,914		6.72
Exercised	(16,667)		6.90
Expired	(5,536)		6.90
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	684,125	$	4.37
Exercisable at March 31, 2021	586,746	$	4.39

Unless otherwise indicated, options issued to employees, members of the Board of Directors, and non-employees are vested daily over one to three years and are exercisable for a term of ten years from the date of issuance.

The fair values of stock option grants to employees and members of the Board of Directors during 2021 were measured on the date of grant using Black-Scholes, with the following weighted average assumptions:


		March 2021
Expected volatility		111%
Risk free interest rate		0.80%
Expected dividend yield		0%
Expected life (in years)		5

The weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021, was $5.31.

The total intrinsic value of all options outstanding was $2.4 million and $3.6 million at March 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, respectively. The total intrinsic value of exercisable options was $2.1 million and $3.2 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2021:


Weighted ‎average exercise ‎price of outstanding ‎options	Number of ‎options ‎outstanding	Weighted ‎average remaining ‎estimated life ‎(in years)	Number of ‎options ‎exercisable	Weighted average ‎price of outstanding ‎and exercisable ‎options
$1.88 - $2.50	531,519	8.0	481,470
$3.30 - $6.72	60,516	8.7	13,186
$7.50 - $10.80	20,503	3.3	20,503
$14.20 - $23.40	71,587	5.0	71,587
	684,125		586,746	$4.39

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Total share-based compensation on stock options amounted to $22 thousand and $121 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At March 31, 2021, the balance of unearned share-based compensation to be expensed in future periods related to unvested share-based awards was $324 thousand. The period over which the unearned share-based compensation is expected to be earned is approximately 3 years.

10. Commitments and contingencies

The Company recognizes and discloses commitments when it enters into executed contractual obligations with other parties. The Company accrues contingent liabilities when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and such expenditures can be reasonably estimated.

See Note 5 for commitments related to the Company’s renovation and construction costs.

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising in the normal course of business. There have been no other material changes to the commitments and contingencies disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020.

11. Subsequent Events

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Loan

On April 27, 2021, the Canadian Subsidiary borrowed C$276,840 or approximately $221,470 under its DFO Term Loan (see Note 7).

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial information and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed on March 9, 2021.

Overview

We believe that we are a leader in the field of land-based aquaculture and the use of technology for improving its productivity and sustainability. Our lead product is the AquAdvantage salmon, which received FDA approval in 2015 as the first bioengineered animal available for sale for human consumption. We have commenced commercial activities with operations in the United States and Canada where we have received regulatory approval. We are actively engaged in genetic, genomic, fish health and fish nutrition research, which drive continuous improvement in our operations and may lead to new, disruptive technologies and products that could further expand our competitive offerings.

COVID-19

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or we, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption and reduced operations.

To date, our farm operations have not been materially affected by the pandemic, although we have made modifications to biosecurity procedures and our farm sites to adapt to local requirements and to provide a safe work environment. Our current preventative and protective measures include, but are not limited to, segregating farm workers to specific locations, rotating shifts, and monitoring worker temperatures upon arrival at our facilities. To the extent possible, work-from-home is utilized for employees that do not have fish care responsibilities.

We experienced delays in capital projects due to the pandemic, including a six-month delay in the completion of the processing facility at our Indiana farm, which did not become operational until November 2020. We utilized third party alternatives for fish processing during the delay. During Q1 2021, project delays were limited to extended lead-times on equipment purchases. However, we may experience delays on purchases of capital equipment and supplies and other materials required in our operations due to vendor shortages or we may be impacted by transportation or other supply chain disruptions to our partners or customers.

We have been primarily impacted by a reduction in the market price and demand for Atlantic salmon due to the pandemic’s impact on the food service sector. This had and continues to have a negative impact on our revenue and inventory value, as we are not yet an established vendor and customers have been reluctant to add a new supplier during a period of depressed demand. Consequently, in December 2020, we made the decision to donate substantially all of our conventional salmon to local food charities, which continue to experience unprecedented need during the pandemic. This decision was made to ease the capacity constraints at our Indiana farm to provide space for our growing biomass of AquAdvantage salmon. The donation program commenced in February 2021 and is expected to be completed in May 2021, though we are exploring the possibility of continuing the donation program for fish that do not meet customer specifications.

We expect the financial impact of the pandemic to continue through at least the first half of 2021, as the industry waits for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the subsequent reopening of the food service sector. Any financial impact beyond the near-term cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations in 2021.

We remain focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet, liquidity, and financial flexibility and continue to monitor developments as we deal with the disruptions and uncertainties from a business and financial perspective relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Revenue

We currently generate product revenue through the sales of our conventional Atlantic salmon, salmon eggs, fry, and byproducts. We expect revenues in 2021 to include our AquAdvantage salmon, but that our revenues will be modest and infrequent for at least the first half of the year until the U.S. economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and food service operations begin to return to

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normal capacity. In the future, we believe that our revenue will depend upon the number and capacity of grow-out farms we have in operation and the market acceptance we achieve.

Production Costs

Production costs include the labor and related costs to grow out our fish, including feed, oxygen, and other direct costs; an application of overhead; and the cost to process and ship our products to customers. A portion of production costs are absorbed into inventory as fish in process to the extent that these costs do not exceed the net realizable value of the fish in process. The costs that are not absorbed into inventory, as well as any valuation reserves against inventory are classified as other production costs. As of March 31, 2021, we had forty-three employees engaged in production activities.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Our sales and marketing expenses currently include consulting fees for market-related activities. As of March 31, 2021, we had one employee dedicated to sales and marketing. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to increase as our production output and revenues grow.

Research and Development Expenses

As of March 31, 2021, we employed fifteen scientists and technicians at our facilities on Prince Edward Island to oversee our broodstock of AquAdvantage salmon, as well as the lines of fish we maintain for research and development purposes. We recognize research and development expenses as they are incurred. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:

salaries and related overhead expenses for personnel in research, development functions, and brood-stock husbandry;

fees paid to contract research organizations and consultants who perform research for us;

costs related to laboratory supplies used in our research and development efforts; and

costs related to the operation of our field trials.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs for employees in executive, corporate, and finance functions. Other significant general and administrative expenses include corporate governance and public company costs, regulatory affairs, rent and utilities, insurance, and legal service. We had fifteen employees in our general and administrative group at March 31, 2021.

Other Income (Expense)

Interest expense includes the interest on our outstanding loans and amortization of debt issuance costs. Other income (expense) includes bank charges, fees, interest income, and miscellaneous gains or losses on asset disposals.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2021, to the three months ended March 31, 2020.

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, together with the changes in those items in dollars and as a percentage (all dollar amounts in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31,				Dollar	%
	2021		2020		Change	Change
		(unaudited)
Product revenue	$	74	$	7	67	957%
Operating expenses:
Product costs		1,555		842	713	85%
Sales and marketing		319		51	268	525%
Research and development		500		569	(69)	(12)%
General and administrative		1,785		1,637	148	9%
Operating loss		4,085		3,092	993	32%
Total other expense		74		18	56	311%
Net loss	$	4,159	$	3,110	1,049	34%

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Product Revenue

Product revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 consisted of conventional Atlantic salmon fry and eggs. Product revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 consisted of conventional Atlantic salmon fry.

Production Costs

Production costs for the three months ended March 31, 2021, were up from the corresponding period in 2020, due to production cost increases related to increasing fish biomass at the Indiana and Rollo Bay farms. Increases included headcount additions, feed costs and other direct supplies.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021, were up from the corresponding period in 2020 due to an increase in promotional expenses related to marketing activities for our salmon. Costs for the current period also include a $174 thousand charge related to the donation program of conventional Atlantic salmon to local food charities.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021, were slightly down from the corresponding period in 2020 due a decrease in outside contract service fees, partly offset by increased personnel costs. During the current period, research activities included feed nutrition trials, discovery research in salmon immunology and work on a genome study to identify genes associated with economically important traits in salmon.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021, were up from the corresponding period in 2020 due to an increase in outside consulting and advisory fees, partly offset by decreases in travel, legal fees, stock compensation charges and personnel costs.

Total Other (Income) Expense

Total other (income) expense is comprised of interest on debt, bank charges, and interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021, and 2020.

Cash Flows

The following table sets forth the significant sources and uses of cash for the periods set forth below (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31,				Dollar	%
	2021		2020		Change	Change
		(unaudited)
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	(4,518)	$	(2,935)	(1,583)	54%
Investing activities		(1,219)		422	(1,641)	(389)%
Financing activities		120,865		14,483	106,382	735%
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		21		(19)	40	(211)%
Net increase in cash	$	115,149	$	11,951	103,198	864%

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily comprised of our $4.2 million net loss, offset by non-cash depreciation and stock compensation charges of $552 thousand and increased by working capital uses of $911 thousand. Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was primarily comprised of our $3.1 million net loss, offset by non-cash depreciation and stock compensation charges of 553 thousand, and increased by working capital uses of $378 thousand.

Spending on operations increased due to increases in production activities at our Rollo Bay and Indiana farm sites and outside consulting and advisory fees. Cash used by working capital increased in the current period and was due to an increase in inventory and receivables and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, offset by a decrease in prepaid expenses.

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we used $1.2 million for renovations to our Indiana farm site, construction charges at our Rollo Bay farm site and renovations at our Fortune Bay hatchery, $41 thousand on deposits on equipment purchases, and $11 thousand on capitalized software. During the same period in 2020, we used $691 thousand for renovations to our Indiana farm site and for construction charges at our Rollo Bay site, offset by $98 thousand in proceeds from the sale of equipment and $1.0 million in net proceeds from a legal settlement.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we received approximately $119.1 million in net proceeds from the issuance of Common Shares in a public offering, $1.6 million from the exercise of warrants, and $187 thousand from new debt. This was offset by $39 thousand in the repayment of debt. During the same period in 2020, we received approximately $14.5 million in net proceeds from the issuance of Common Shares in a public offering. This was offset by $39 thousand in the repayment of debt.

Future Capital Requirements

In February 2021, we completed an equity raise with net proceeds of $119.1 million and have $210.9 million of cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2021. While we have experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, we believe that we have sufficient cash to meet our requirements for at least the next twelve months from the filing date.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate positive operating cash flows, we may finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, strategic alliances, and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of holders of our common stock will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through government or other third-party funding; marketing and distribution arrangements; or other collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs, or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.

If we are unable to generate additional funds in the future through financings, sales of our products, government grants, loans, or from other sources or transactions, we will exhaust our resources and will be unable to maintain our currently planned operations. If we cannot continue as a going concern, our stockholders would likely lose most or all of their investment in us.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

There have been no material changes to these estimates, or the policies related to them, during the three months ended March 31, 2021. For a full discussion of these estimates and policies, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” within “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The following sections provide quantitative information on our exposure to interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. We make use of sensitivity analyses, which are inherently limited in estimating actual losses in fair value that can occur from changes in market conditions.

Interest Rate Risk

Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate risk associated with debt financing that we utilize from time to time to fund operations or specific projects. The interest on this debt is usually determined based on a fixed rate and is contractually set in advance. At March 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, we had $6.0 million in interest-bearing debt instruments on our consolidated balance sheet. All of our interest-bearing debt is at fixed rates, except for our loan with First Farmers Bank and Trust, which has a rate reset in July 2025.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

Our functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. The functional currency of our Canadian subsidiary is the Canadian Dollar, and the functional currency of our Panama, U.S., and Brazil subsidiaries is the U.S. Dollar. For the Canadian Subsidiary, assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at the historical exchange rate, and the income statement accounts are translated at the average rate for each period during the year. Net translation gains or losses are adjusted directly to a separate component of other comprehensive loss within shareholders’ equity (deficit).

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing, and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(g) and 15d-15(f)) that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Lawsuit Against the FDA Approval of AquAdvantage Salmon

On March 30, 2016, a coalition of non-governmental organizations filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the FDA, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and related individuals for their roles in the approval of AquAdvantage salmon. Subsequently, the Fish and Wildlife Service was dismissed from the case, and AquaBounty joined the case as an intervenor to protect AquaBounty’s interests. The coalition, including the Center for Food Safety and Friends of the Earth, claimed that the FDA had no statutory authority to regulate bioengineered animals, and, if it did, that the agency failed to analyze and implement measures to mitigate ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic risks that could impact wild salmon and the environment, including the risk that AquAdvantage salmon could escape and threaten endangered wild salmon stocks. In December 2019 the court found that FDA had authority/jurisdiction over genetically engineered animals, and in November 2020, the judge remanded the Environmental Assessment (the approval) to FDA on National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) grounds. In December 2020, the plaintiffs filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment. In February 2021, the judge denied that motion. In April 2021, FDA/US Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal relating to several claims in the case, but subsequently withdrew the appeal, and the date to file appeals in the case has expired. The court decision from the Northern District of California does not have a current business impact on AquaBounty’s egg production in Prince Edward Island, Canada, AquaBounty’s salmon production in Albany, Indiana or AquaBounty’s sales of its fish.

Other than as set forth above, we are not party to any legal proceedings the outcome of which, we believe, if determined adversely to us, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on our future business, consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial position. We may, from time to time, be subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the normal course of business activities.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

As disclosed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed on March 9, 2021, there are a number of risks factors that could affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The following risk factors are either new or have changed materially from those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. You should carefully review the risks described below and those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes, and in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in evaluating our business. We cannot assure you that any of the events discussed in the risk factors below will not occur. These risks could have a material and adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, or prospects. If that were to happen, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us described below, elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for information relating to these forward-looking statements.

Risks Relating to our Business and Operations

We have a history of net losses and will likely incur future losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability.

In the period from incorporation to March 31, 2021, we have incurred cumulative net losses of approximately $153 million. These losses reflect our personnel, research and development, production and marketing costs. We have constructed a 250-metric-ton annual capacity production facility in Rollo Bay and in 2017 we acquired a facility in Indiana, which has undergone renovations to increase its annual capacity to 1,200 metric tons. We expect revenues to be modest and infrequent for at least the first half of 2021 until the U.S. economy begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and food service operations begin to return to normal capacity. However, our ability to realize revenues and the timing thereof are not certain, and achieving revenues does not assure that we will become profitable.

We may need substantial additional capital in the future in order to fund our business plans.

To date we have not generated any profit and expect to incur losses for the foreseeable future and may never become profitable. Therefore, based on our current business plan, we may need to raise further funds. Any issuance of shares of our common stock could have an effect of depressing the market price of shares of our common stock through dilution of earnings per share or otherwise. The amount and timing of the expenditures needed to achieve our commercialization plans, including the construction

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of four to five new, land-based RAS farms at a cost that could exceed $175 million each, will depend on numerous factors, some of which are outside our control. Changes in our plans could also result in the need for additional funds.

We may have limited success in gaining consumer acceptance of our products.

There is an active and vocal group of opponents to genetically engineered products who wish to ban or restrict the technology and who, at a minimum, hope to sway consumer perceptions and acceptance of this technology. Their efforts include regulatory legal challenges and labeling campaigns for genetically engineered products, as well as application of pressure to multiple channels of distribution including, but not limited to distributors, food service operators, and consumer retail outlets seeking a commitment not to carry genetically engineered Atlantic salmon. Consumer acceptance could also be adversely affected if AquAdvantage salmon were believed to grow to a larger final size than conventional Atlantic salmon. We may not be able to overcome the negative consumer perceptions that these organizations have instilled against our products.

Our business is affected by the quality and quantity of the salmon that we harvest.

We sell our products in a highly competitive market. Our ability to successfully sell our products, and the price that we receive, is highly dependent on the quality of the salmon that we produce. A number of factors can negatively affect the quality of the salmon that we sell, including the quality of our broodstock, water conditions in our farms, the food and additives consumed by our fish, population levels in the tanks, and the amount of time that it takes to bring a fish to harvest, including transportation and processing. We have experience operating RAS facilities and raising salmon, and while we actively monitor these factors using rigorous standard operating procedures, we cannot always ensure optimal growing conditions. Although fish grown in RAS production systems are not subject to the disease and parasite issues that can affect salmon grown in ocean pens, there is the potential for organisms that are ubiquitous to freshwater environments to become pathogenic if the fish are subjected to stressful conditions or there is an issue with biomass management.

We maintain high standards for the quality of our product and if we determine that a harvest has not met such standards, we may be required to reduce our inventory and write down the value of the harvest to reflect net realizable value. Sub-optimal conditions could lead to smaller harvests and or lower quality fish. Conversely, if we experience better than expected growth rates, we may not be able to process and bring our fish to market in a timely manner, which may result in overcrowding that can cause negative health impacts and/or require culling our fish population.

Further, if our salmon is perceived by the market to be of lower quality than other available sources of salmon or other fish, we may experience reduced demand for our product and may not be able to sell our products at the prices that we expect or at all. For example, we concluded 2020 with a conventional Atlantic salmon harvest that met our high standards for nutrition, taste and texture. However, unlike our AquAdvantage salmon, the conventional salmon did not achieve the same high level of color consistency, due in part to the maturity of the male population and the quality of the ingredients in the feed. We identified and successfully addressed the source of the color inconsistency in the conventional salmon, and our production plans call for only raising our all-female AquAdvantage salmon moving forward. However, we reduced the net realizable value of our conventional salmon to $0 as of December 31, 2020 as we decided to donate the entire conventional salmon biomass during the first and second quarters of 2021. As we continue to expand our operations and build new farms, we potentially may face additional challenges with maintaining the quality of our products. We cannot guarantee that we will not face quality issues again in the future, any of which could cause damage to our reputation, and a loss of consumer confidence in our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business results and the value of our brands.

In addition, we may be required to recall some of our products if they spoil, become contaminated, are tampered with or are mislabeled. A widespread product recall could result in significant losses due to the costs of a recall, the destruction of product inventory and lost sales due to the unavailability of product for a period of time. Such a product recall also could result in adverse publicity, damage to our reputation, and a loss of consumer confidence in our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business results and the value of our brands.

Business, political, or economic disruptions or global health concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could seriously harm our current or planned business and increase our costs and expenses.

Broad-based business or economic disruptions, political instability, or global health concerns could adversely affect our current or planned production, sale, distribution, research and development, and expansion. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to spread, and the related adverse public health developments, including orders to shelter-in-place, travel restrictions, and mandated business closures, have adversely affected workforces, organizations, customers, economies, and financial markets globally, leading to an economic downturn and increased market volatility. It has also disrupted the normal operations of many businesses, including ours.

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Global health concerns like the coronavirus pandemic could in themselves result in social, economic, and labor instability in the countries in which we or the third parties with whom we engage operate. The COVID-19 pandemic and government measures taken in response have also had a significant impact, both direct and indirect, on businesses and commerce, as worker shortages have occurred; supply chains have been disrupted; facilities and production have been suspended; and demand for certain goods and services, such as medical services and supplies, has spiked, while demand for other goods and services, including salmon in the institutional sales chain that includes restaurants, has fallen, with a resulting drop in the prices for those goods and services. We have been impacted by the reduction in food service demand for salmon due to the pandemic in the form of significantly lower than expected sales and a reduction in the value of our inventory. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have provided our administrative employees with the option to work remotely, and we have limited the number of staff in any given area of our farm sites. We have also implemented policies and procedures at our farms to react to any outbreak of the virus.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have and may continue to experience disruptions that could severely impact our business, including disruptions or restrictions on our ability to travel, obtain regulatory approvals from the FDA and other regulators, pursue partnerships and other business transactions, conduct production activities, and make shipments, as well as be impacted by the temporary closure of the facilities of suppliers. While we have taken steps to address the impact of the coronavirus on our operations, and we believe that our suppliers and potential customers continue to operate in the ordinary course in all material respects, we cannot presently predict the scope and severity of any additional business shutdowns or disruptions or the future impact on consumer demand. For example, we have been primarily impacted by a reduction in the market price and demand for Atlantic salmon due to the pandemic’s impact on the food service sector. This had and continues to have a negative impact on our revenue and inventory value. If we or any of the third parties with whom we engage, including suppliers, distributors, service providers, regulators, and overseas business partners, experience additional or continued shutdowns or other disruptions, or consumer demand remains materially reduced, our ability to conduct our business in the manner and on the timelines presently planned could be materially and negatively impacted, our anticipated revenues could decrease, and our costs and expenses could rise as a result of our efforts to address such disruptions.

In addition, the trading prices for our common stock and the stock of other biotechnology and food companies have been highly volatile as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we may face difficulties raising capital through sales of our common stock or such sales may be on unfavorable terms. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, and the extent to which it may impact our business and planned programs will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease; the duration of the pandemic; travel restrictions and other actions to contain the pandemic or address its impact, such as social distancing and quarantines or lock-downs in the United States, Canada, and other countries; business closures or business disruptions; and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States, Canada, and other countries to contain and address the disease.

Our term loan includes financial covenants that must be met, or our loan will be in default.

In 2020, we entered into a term loan agreement with First Farmers Bank and Trust in the amount of $4 million, which is secured by the assets of our Indiana subsidiary and a corporate guarantee. The agreement contains certain financial and non-financial covenants, which if not met, could result in a default event on the loan. In that event, we would be required to disclose the default in our public filings, which could have an adverse effect on the price of our common shares.

We or regulatory agencies approving of our products may be sued by non-governmental organizations and others who are opposed to the development or commercialization of genetically engineered products.

There are many organizations in the United States and elsewhere that are fundamentally opposed to the development of genetically engineered products. These groups have a history of bringing legal action against companies attempting to bring new biotechnology products to market. On December 23, 2013, an application was filed by two NGOs with the Canadian Federal Court seeking judicial review to declare invalid the decision by the Canadian Minister of the Environment to publish in the Canadian Gazette a Significant New Activity Notice (“SNAN”) with respect to AquAdvantage salmon. Though the Canadian Federal Court dismissed this challenge, the petitioners filed an appeal of the ruling, which was subsequently dismissed by the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal on October 21, 2016.

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Endangered Species Act (ESA) grounds. In April 2021, FDA/US Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal relating to several claims in that case, and subsequently withdrew the appeal, and the date to file appeals in the case has expired. The court decision from the Northern District of California does not have a current business impact on AquaBounty’s egg production in Prince Edward Island, Canada, AquaBounty’s salmon production in Albany, Indiana, or AquaBounty’s sales of its fish.

The price of our shares of common stock is likely to be volatile.

The share price of publicly traded emerging companies can be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations. The prices at which our common stock is quoted and the prices which investors may realize will be influenced by a large number of factors, some specific to our company and operations and some that may affect the quoted land-based fish farming industry, the biotechnology sector, or quoted companies generally. These factors could include variations in our operating results, publicity regarding the process of obtaining regulatory approval to commercialize our products, divergence in financial results from analysts’ expectations, changes in earnings estimates by stock market analysts, overall market or sector sentiment, legislative changes in our sector, the performance of our research and development programs, large purchases or sales of our common stock, currency fluctuations, legislative changes in the bioengineering environment, future sales of our common stock or the perception that such sales could occur and general economic conditions. Certain of these events and factors are outside of our control. Stock markets have from time to time experienced severe price and volume fluctuations, which, if recurring, could adversely affect the market prices for our common stock.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

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Item 6. Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Exhibit Description
31.1		Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2		Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1+		Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS		XBRL instance document.
101.SCH		XBRL taxonomy extension schema document.
101.CAL		XBRL taxonomy extension calculation linkbase document.
101.LAB		XBRL taxonomy label linkbase document.
101.PRE		XBRL taxonomy extension presentation linkbase document.
101.DEF		XBRL taxonomy extension definition linkbase document.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File-the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because the XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

+ The certification furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto is deemed to accompany this Form 10-Q and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


		AQUABOUNTY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

May 4, 2021		/s/ Sylvia Wulf
		Sylvia Wulf
		President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

May 4, 2021		/s/ David A. Frank
		David A. Frank
		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)