Atlas Lithium Corp - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023
☐ | 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 001-41552
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 39-2078861 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (IRS Employer | |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
Rua Bahia, 2463 - Suite 205 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
30.160-012 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
+55-31-3956-1109
(telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, $0.001 par value | ATLX | The Nasdaq Capital Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
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 | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
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 Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of May 15, 2023, there were outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 |
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,987,751 | $ | 280,525 | ||||
Accounts receivable | 94 | 91 | ||||||
Taxes recoverable | 18,243 | 17,705 | ||||||
Deposits and advances | 49,829 | 47,093 | ||||||
Total current assets | 5,055,917 | 345,414 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 219,325 | 217,550 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net | 6,961,449 | 4,971,267 | ||||||
Equity investments | 150,000 | 150,000 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 12,386,691 | $ | 5,684,231 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 2,437,420 | $ | 2,776,474 | ||||
Related party notes and other payables | 21,554 | 21,493 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 2,458,974 | 2,797,967 | ||||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 76,285 | 78,964 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 2,535,259 | 2,876,931 | ||||||
Stockholders’ deficit: | ||||||||
Series A preferred stock, $ | par value. shares authorized; share issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively1 | 1 | ||||||
Series D preferred stock, $ | par value. shares authorized; issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively214 | 214 | ||||||
Common stock, $ | par value authorized; and shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively6,739 | 5,111 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 73,699,668 | 62,258,116 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (915,224 | ) | (981,040 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (63,551,887 | ) | (59,585,949 | ) | ||||
Total Atlas Lithium Co. stockholders’ equity | 9,239,511 | 1,696,453 | ||||||
Non-controlling interest | 611,921 | 1,110,847 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 9,851,432 | 2,807,300 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 12,386,691 | $ | 5,684,231 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-1 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
Three months ended March 31 | ||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Revenue | 477 | |||||||
Cost of revenue | 9,855 | |||||||
Gross loss | (9,378 | ) | ||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||
Professional fees | 141,900 | 119,841 | ||||||
General and administrative | 1,295,963 | 221,465 | ||||||
Compensation and related costs | 883,835 | 97,992 | ||||||
Stock based compensation | 1,128,845 | 388,019 | ||||||
Exploration | 1,028,825 | |||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,479,368 | 827,317 | ||||||
Loss from operations | (4,479,368 | ) | (836,695 | ) | ||||
Other expense (income) | ||||||||
Other expense (income) | (14,015 | ) | (1,952 | ) | ||||
Total other expense | (14,015 | ) | (1,952 | ) | ||||
Loss before provision for income taxes | (4,465,353 | ) | (834,743 | ) | ||||
Provision for income taxes | ||||||||
Net loss | (4,465,353 | ) | (834,743 | ) | ||||
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest | (499,415 | ) | (303,253 | ) | ||||
Net loss attributable to Atlas Lithium Corporation stockholders | $ | (3,965,938 | ) | $ | (531,490 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted loss per share | ||||||||
Net loss per share attributable to Atlas Lithium Corporation common stockholders | $ | (0.60 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | ||
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: | ||||||||
Basic and diluted | 6,635,325 | 4,255,676 | ||||||
Comprehensive loss: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (4,465,353 | ) | $ | (834,743 | ) | ||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 66,305 | 56,815 | ||||||
Comprehensive loss | (4,399,048 | ) | (777,928 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (498,926 | ) | (308,741 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to Atlas Lithium Corporation stockholders | $ | (3,900,122 | ) | $ | (469,187 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-2 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
Series A Preferred Stock | Series D Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated Other Comprehensive | Accumulated | Noncontrolling | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Value | Shares | Value | Shares | Value | Capital | Loss | Deficit | Interests | Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2021 | 1 | $ | 1 | 214,006 | $ | 214 | 4,145,572 | $ | 4,146 | $ | 54,571,409 | $ | (712,810 | ) | $ | (54,957,429 | ) | $ | 1,551,335 | $ | 456,866 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with sales made under private offerings | - | - | 120,399 | 120 | 397,879 | 397,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of warrants | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | - | - | - | 388,019 | (191,023 | ) | 196,996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in foreign currency translation | - | - | - | 252,494 | 113,052 | 365,546 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of Apollo Resources common stock in connection with equity offerings | - | - | - | 225,000 | 225,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (531,490 | ) | (303,253 | ) | (834,743 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | 1 | $ | 1 | 214,006 | $ | 214 | 4,265,971 | $ | 4,266 | $ | 55,357,307 | $ | (460,316 | ) | $ | (55,488,919 | ) | $ | 1,395,111 | $ | 807,664 |
Series A Preferred Stock | Series D Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated Other Comprehensive | Accumulated | Noncontrolling | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Value | Shares | Value | Shares | Value | Capital | Loss | Deficit | Interests | Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2022 | 1 | $ | 1 | 214,006 | $ | 214 | 5,110,014 | $ | 5,111 | $ | 62,258,116 | $ | (981,040 | ) | $ | (59,585,949 | ) | $ | 1,110,847 | $ | 2,807,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with sales made under private offerings | - | - | 1,518,806 | 1,519 | 9,487,816 | 9,489,335 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with purchase of mining rights | - | - | 77,240 | 77 | 749,923 | 750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in exchange for consulting, professional and other services | - | - | 32,002 | 32 | 191,980 | 192,012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of warrants | - | - | - | 197,613 | 197,613 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | - | - | - | 739,220 | 739,220 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in foreign currency translation | - | - | - | 65,816 | 489 | 66,305 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of Jupiter Gold common stock in connection with equity offerings | - | - | - | 75,000 | 75,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of Apollo Resources common stock in connection with equity offerings | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (3,965,938 | ) | (499,415 | ) | (4,465,353 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | 1 | $ | 1 | 214,006 | $ | 214 | 6,738,062 | $ | 6,739 | $ | 73,699,668 | $ | (915,224 | ) | $ | (63,551,887 | ) | $ | 611,921 | $ | 9,851,432 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-3 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
Three months ended March 31 | ||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (4,465,353 | ) | (834,743 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Stock based compensation and services | 1,128,845 | 388,019 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 4,015 | 7,571 | ||||||
Intagible assets purchase | 720,000 | |||||||
Other non cash expenses | 14,015 | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | (3 | ) | 1,170 | |||||
Taxes recoverable | (538 | ) | (2,948 | ) | ||||
Deposits and advances | (2,736 | ) | (9,580 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (1,058,993 | ) | (76,519 | ) | ||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | (2,679 | ) | 20,959 | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (3,663,428 | ) | (506,071 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Acquisition of capital assets | (5,790 | ) | (30,472 | ) | ||||
Increase in intangible assets | (1,270,182 | ) | (122,526 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (1,275,972 | ) | (152,998 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Net proceeds from sale of common stock | 9,489,335 | 397,999 | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary common stock to noncontrolling interests | 75,000 | 225,000 | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 9,564,335 | 622,999 | ||||||
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | 82,290 | 67,524 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 4,707,226 | 31,454 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 280,525 | 22,776 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 4,987,751 | $ | 54,230 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F-4 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization and Description of Business
Atlas Lithium Corporation (“Atlas Lithium” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada, on December 15, 2011. The Company changed its management and business on December 18, 2012, to focus on mineral exploration in Brazil.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and are expressed in United States dollars. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company; its 99.99% owned subsidiary, Atlas Litio Brasil Ltda. (“Atlas Brasil”), which includes the accounts of Atlas Brasil’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Mineração Duas Barras Ltda. (“MDB”), and Atlas Brasil’s 50% owned subsidiary, RST Recursos Minerais Ltda. (“RST”); its 99.99% owned subsidiary, Hercules Resources Corporation (“HRC”), which includes the accounts of HRC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hercules Brasil Comercio e Transportes Ltda. (“Hercules Brasil”); its 45.11% equity interest in Apollo Resources Corporation (“Apollo Resources”) and its subsidiary Mineração Apollo, Ltda.; and its 28.72% equity interest in Jupiter Gold Corporation (“Jupiter Gold”), which includes the accounts of Jupiter Gold’s subsidiary, Mineração Jupiter Ltda. The Company has concluded that Apollo Resources, Jupiter Gold and their subsidiaries are variable interest entities (“VIE”) in accordance with applicable accounting standards and guidance. As such, the accounts and results of Apollo Resources, Jupiter Gold and their subsidiaries have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
F-5 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and that may impact its financial statements and does not believe that there are any other new pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
F-6 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 – COMPOSITION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL STATEMENT ITEMS
Property and Equipment
The following table sets forth the components of the Company’s property and equipment at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost | Accumulated Depreciation | Net Book Value | Cost | Accumulated Depreciation | Net Book Value | |||||||||||||||||||
Capital assets subject to depreciation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Computers and office equipment | $ | 571 | $ | (571 | ) | $ | $ | 571 | $ | (571 | ) | $ | ||||||||||||
Machinery and equipment | 426,406 | (366,155 | ) | 60,251 | 419,498 | (362,140 | ) | 57,358 | ||||||||||||||||
Vehicles | 80,139 | 80,139 | 80,139 | (79,021 | ) | 1,118 | ||||||||||||||||||
Land | 159,074 | 159,074 | 159,074 | 159,074 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed assets | $ | 666,190 | $ | (446,865 | ) | $ | 219,325 | $ | 659,282 | $ | (441,732 | ) | $ | 217,550 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company recorded depreciation expense of $4,015 and $7,571, respectively.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of mining rights which are not amortized as the mining rights are perpetual. The carrying value of these mineral rights at March 31, 2023 and at December 31, 2022 was $6,961,449 and $4,971,267, respectively.
On January 19, 2023, the Company consummated a transaction in which it acquired five mineral rights (the “Mineral Rights”) totaling 1,090.88 hectares (~ 2,696 acres) owned by an unrelated Brazilian mining enterprise pursuant to a Mineral Rights Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”). The Mineral Rights are located in the municipalities of Araçuaí and Itinga, in a region known as “Lithium Valley” in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The Company has reasons to believe that the acquisition of the Mineral Rights was part of a competitive process.
The Company’s obligations under the Acquisition Agreement are:
1) | Payment of $400,000, which payment took place on January 19, 2023, and issuance of $750,000 worth of restricted shares of common stock of the Company which took place on February 1, 2023; |
2) | Payment of $100,000 for each of the five areas comprising the Mineral Rights to be made upon the publication in the official gazette of the government of the title transfer of each such area to the Company; |
3) | For each of the five areas comprising the Mineral Rights, 30 days after the payment described in item 2 above, the initiation of ten monthly payments of $22,000; |
4) | If the Mineral Rights eventually yield at least five million tons of spodumene (a lithium-bearing mineral) containing at least an average of 1.3% Li2O, as determined by a technical report prepared by an independent consulting firm pursuant to the requirements of Item 1300 through Item 1305 of Regulation S-K (“SK1300 Report”), then an additional payment of 10 monthly installments of $10,000 and an additional issuance of $500,000 worth of restricted shares of common stock of the Company are to be made; |
5) | If the Mineral Rights eventually yield at least 10 million tons of spodumene containing at least an average of 1.3% Li2O, as determined by an SK1300 Report, then an additional payment of 10 monthly installments of $10,000 and an additional issuance of $500,000 worth of restricted shares of common stock of the Company are to be made; and |
6) | If the Mineral Rights eventually yield more than 10 million tons of spodumene containing at least an average of 1.3% Li2O, as determined by an SK1300 Report, then a payment of $0.20 per each ton above 10 million tons is to be made. |
F-7 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 2 – COMPOSITION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL STATEMENT ITEMS (CONTINUED)
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
Accounts payable and other accruals | $ | 629,379 | $ | 408,874 | ||||
Mineral rights payable | 1,808,041 | 2,367,600 | ||||||
Total | $ | 2,437,420 | $ | 2,776,474 |
NOTE 3 – OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Other noncurrent liabilities are comprised solely of social contributions and other employee-related costs at our operating subsidiaries located in Brazil. The balance of these employee related costs as of March 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, amounted to $76,285 and $78,964, respectively.
NOTE 4 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Authorized and Amendments
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had common shares authorized with a par value of $ per share.
Reverse Stock Split
On December 20, 2022, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation (the “Amendment”) to effect a reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-750 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). Following the Reverse Stock Split, each 750 shares of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock were automatically converted into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, without any change in par value per share. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split and no cash or other consideration was paid. Instead, we issued one whole share of the post-split common stock to any stockholder who otherwise would have received a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split did not affect the number of shares of authorized stock. Our common stock began trading on the Over the Courter Bulleting Board on a Reverse Stock Split-adjusted basis on December 23, 2022, and was assigned a new temporary ticker symbol “ATLXD” for the 20 business days following the Reverse Stock Split. In connection with our firm underwritten public offering which closed on January 12, 2023, our common stock started trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “ATLX” on January 10, 2023. All share, equity award, and per share amounts contained in these Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split for all prior periods presented.
Series A Preferred Stock
On December 18, 2012, the Company filed with the Nevada Secretary of State a Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Stock”) to designate one share of a new series of preferred stock. The Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock provides that for so long as Series A Stock is issued and outstanding, the holders of Series A Stock shall vote together as a single class with the holders of the Company’s Common Stock, with the holders of Series A Stock being entitled to 51% of the total votes on all such matters regardless of the actual number of shares of Series A Stock then outstanding, and the holders of Common Stock are entitled to their proportional share of the remaining 49% of the total votes based on their respective voting power. The one outstanding share of our Series A Stock has been held by our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Mr. Marc Fogassa since December 18, 2012.
F-8 |
ATLAS LITHIUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Series D Preferred Stock
On September 14, 2021, the Company filed with the Nevada Secretary of State a Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D Stock”) to designate shares of a new series of preferred stock. The Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series D COD”) provides that for so long as Series D Stock is issued and outstanding, the holders of Series D Stock shall have no voting power until such time as the Series D Stock is converted into shares of common stock. Pursuant to the Series D COD, one share of Series D Stock is convertible into shares of common stock and may be converted at any time at the election of the holder. Holders of the Series D Stock are not entitled to any liquidation preference over the holders of common stock and are entitled to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company on a pro rata basis.
On September 15, 2021, the Company issued shares of Series D Stock to Marc Fogassa for the conversion of $566,743 in convertible note principal and $75,275 of interest expense.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023, Transactions
On January 9, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), the company, entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with EF Hutton (“EF Hutton”), division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, as representative of the underwriters named therein (the “Representative”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $ (“Common Stock”), to the Representative, at a public offering price of $ per share (the “Offering Price”) in a firm commitment public offering (the “Offering”). The Company also granted the Representative a 45-day option to purchase up to additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock upon the same terms and conditions for the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection with the Offering (the “Over-Allotment Option”). On January 11, 2023, the Representative delivered its notice to exercise the Over-Allotment Option in full.
The shares of common stock were offered by the Company pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-262399) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and declared effective on January 9, 2023 (the “Registration Statement”). The consummation of the Offering took place on January 12, 2023 (the “Closing”).
In connection with the Closing, the Company issued to the Representative, and/or its permitted designees, as a portion of the underwriting compensation payable to the Representative, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 33,750 shares of Common Stock, equal to 5% of the number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Offering (excluding the Over-Allotment option), at an exercise price of $ , equal to 125% of the Offering Price (the “Representative’s Warrants”). The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, provided that they are subject to a mandatory lock-up for 180 days from the commencement of sales of the Offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e). Aggregate gross proceeds from the Offering were $4,657,500.
The “Intangible Assets” discussion in Note 2 above, is incorporated herein by reference.
F-9 |
On January 30, 2023, the company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with two investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investors in a Regulation S private placement (the “Private Placement”) an aggregate of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Shares”), par value $ per share. The purchase price for the Shares was $ per share, for total gross proceeds of $4,000,000. The Private Placement transaction closed on February 1, 2023.
Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company sold an aggregate of 831,834 pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “CSPA”) entered into between the Company and Triton Funds, LP, dated February 26, 2021. For a description of the transactions contemplated under the CSPA, please refer to our Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 2, 2021. shares of our common stock to Triton Funds, LP (“Triton”) for total gross proceeds of $
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022, Transactions
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company issued 397,999 pursuant to subscription agreements with accredited investors. shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $
Common Stock Options
March 31 2023 | March 31 2022 | |||||||
Expected volatility | % – | % | % – | % | ||||
Risk-free interest rate | % – | % | % – | % | ||||
Stock price on date of grant | $ - $ | $ - $ | ||||||
Dividend yield | % | % | ||||||
Expected term | years | years |
F-10 |
Number of Options Outstanding and Vested | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregated Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, January 1, 2023 | 178,672 | $ | 0.012 | $ | 1,228,972 | |||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, March 31, 2023 | 178,672 | $ | 0.012 | $ | 3,071,031 |
Number of Options Outstanding and Vested | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregated Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, January 1, 2022 | 6,546 | $ | 8.250 | $ | 19,675 | |||||||||||
Expired | (1,164 | ) | 23.325 | |||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, March 31, 2022 | 5,382 | $ | 4.990 | $ | 19,675 |
Changes in Series D preferred stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
Number of Options Outstanding and Vested | Weighted Average Exercise Price1 | Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregated Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding, January 1, 2023 | 72,000 | $ | 75.00 | $ | 6,712,912 | |||||||||||
Issued | 9,000 | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, March 31, 2023 | 81,000 | $ | 75.00 | $ | 18,687,011 |
Number of Options Outstanding and Vested | Weighted Average Exercise Price 1 | Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregated Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding, January 1, 2022 | 36,000 | $ | 75.00 | $ | 2,732,400 | |||||||||||
Issued | 9,000 | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, March 31, 2022 | 45,000 | $ | 75.00 | $ | 3,483,058 |
1 | This presents the exercise price required to purchase one share of Series D Stock, which is convertible into and 1/3 shares of common stock at any time at the election of the holder. |
F-11 |
All Series D preferred stock options vested immediately upon issuance and are exercisable for a period of ten years from the date of issuance. The Series D preferred stock options issued in the three months ended March 31, 2023, were issued with a total grant date fair value of $ .
Stock Purchase Warrants
Stock purchase warrants are accounted for as equity in accordance with ASC 480, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company issued common stock purchase warrants to EF Hutton. All warrants are vested within 180 days from issuance and are exercisable for a period of two to five years from the date of issuance. Changes in stock purchase warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022 were as follows:
Number of Options Outstanding and Vested | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregated Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, January 1, 2023 | 321,759 | $ | 12.8634 | $ | - | |||||||||||
Warrants issued (1) | 33,315 | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, March 31, 2023 | 355,074 | $ | 12.3602 | $ | 1,961,534 |
1) | The warrants issued in the three months ended March 31, 2023 had a total grant date fair value of $197,614, as valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: our stock price on the date of the grant which was $ , expected dividend yield of 0.0%, expected volatility of 205.19% estimated based on historical share price volatility, a risk-free interest rate of 3.54%, and an expected term of 5 years. |
Number of Options Outstanding and Vested | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregated Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, January 1, 2022 | 406,270 | $ | 11.4750 | $ | - | |||||||||||
Outstanding and vested, March 31, 2022 | 406,270 | $ | 11.4750 | $ | - |
NOTE 5 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Rental Commitment
The Company rents office space in the U.S. for approximately $5,750 on a month-to-month basis. The Company also rents office space in Brazil. Such costs are immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.
F-12 |
NOTE 6 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Jupiter Gold Corporation
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, Jupiter Gold granted options to purchase an aggregate of shares of its common stock to Marc Fogassa at prices ranging between $ to $ per share. The options were valued at $ and recorded to stock-based compensation. The options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following average assumptions: the Company’s stock price on the date of the grant ($ to $ ), expected dividend yield of %, historical volatility calculated at %, risk-free interest rate between a range of % to %, and an expected term between and years.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, Jupiter Gold granted options to purchase an aggregate of shares of its common stock to Marc Fogassa at prices ranging between $ to $ per share. The options were valued at $ and recorded to stock-based compensation. The options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following average assumptions: the Company’s stock price on the date of the grant ($ to $ ), expected dividend yield of %, historical volatility calculated at %, risk-free interest rate between a range of % to %, and an expected term between and years.
Apollo Resource Corporation
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, Apollo Resources granted options to purchase an aggregate of shares of its common stock to Marc Fogassa at a price of $per share. The options were valued at $and recorded to stock-based compensation. The options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following average assumptions: the Company’s stock price on the date of the grant ($), expected dividend yield of %, historical volatility calculated at %, risk-free interest rate between a range of % to %, and an expected term of years.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, Apollo Resources granted options to purchase an aggregate of shares of its common stock to Marc Fogassa at a price of $ per share. The options were valued at $ and recorded to stock-based compensation. The options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following average assumptions: the Company’s stock price on the date of the grant ($ to $ ), expected dividend yield of %, historical volatility calculated at %, risk-free interest rate between a range of % to %, and an expected term between and years.
NOTE 7 – RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Currency Risk
We operate primarily in Brazil which exposes us to currency risks. Our business activities may generate intercompany receivables or payables that are in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity. Changes in exchange rates from the time the activity occurs to the time payments are made may result in it receiving either more or less in local currency than the local currency equivalent at the time of the original activity.
Our consolidated financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates between the applicable foreign currency and the U.S. dollar affect the translation of each foreign subsidiary’s financial results into U.S. dollars for purposes of reporting in the consolidated financial statements. Our foreign subsidiaries translate their financial results from the local currency into U.S. dollars in the following manner: (a) income statement accounts are translated at average exchange rates for the period; (b) balance sheet asset and liability accounts are translated at end of period exchange rates; and (c) equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates. Translation in this manner affects the shareholders’ equity account referred to as the foreign currency translation adjustment account. This account exists only in the foreign subsidiaries’ U.S. dollar balance sheets and is necessary to keep the foreign subsidiaries’ balance sheets in agreement.
NOTE 8 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On July 18, 2022, the Board of Directors adopted resolutions to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-750 without affecting the number of shares of authorized Common Stock (the “Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split”). The holder of the majority voting power of our voting stock (the “Majority Stockholder”) approved the Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split by written consent on July 18, 2022, in lieu of a meeting of stockholders as permitted under the Nevada Revised Statute (“NRS”) Section 78.320(2) and the company’s bylaws, as then amended (the “Bylaws”). For additional information on the Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split, refer to the Definitive Information Statement filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) on July 29, 2022 (the “2022 Information Statement”) and the Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on December 22, 2022, both available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
On December 20, 2022, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada (“SOS”) that was intended to effect the Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split (the “Original Articles Amendment”). In April 2023, the Board of Directors determined (i) that the Original Articles Amendment inaccurately stated that the Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split was obtained by a stockholder vote under NRS 78.390, while approval of the stockholders was required under NRS 78.2055, with the holders of common stock voting as a separate class; and (ii) that the Original Articles Amendment was a nullity in that, under Nevada law, filing an amendment to articles of incorporation is not necessary to effectuate a reverse stock split. As a result, the Board of Directors determined that it would be in the best interest of the Company to take corrective action to remedy the inaccuracy and to file the documents that would have been necessary to effectuate a 1-for-750 reverse stock split of the issued and outstanding Common Stock with a corresponding split of the authorized Common Stock (the “Rectified Reverse Stock Split”) and then immediately thereafter increase the number of shares of authorized Common Stock back to the number it was prior to the Rectified Reverse Stock Split as of December 20, 2022.
Pursuant to the action of the Company’s board of directors by unanimous written consent on April 21, 2023, the board of directors authorized and approved (i) the Certificate of Correction to correct the Original Articles Amendment (the “Certificate of Correction”), and (ii) the Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209 (the “Certificate of Change”) including the Certificate of Validation of the Certificate of Change (the “Change Validation Certificate”) in order to decrease the number of shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock and correspondingly decrease the number of authorized shares of common stock, each at a ratio of 1-for-750, retroactively effective as of December 20, 2022, without a vote of the stockholders. The board of directors also directed that the Company file the Certificate of Correction with the SOS and thereafter file the Certificate of Change including the Change Validation Certificate with the SOS. Pursuant to the NRS, no stockholder approval for this action was required.
The Company will file the Certificate of Correction and the Certificate of Change including the Change Validation Certificate with the SOS no earlier than May 25, 2023, which is the twenty (20) calendar days after the mailing of the Information Statement to the stockholders of record, pursuant to Rule 14c-2 under the Exchange Act. In connection with these corporate actions, the Company filed an Information Statement with the SEC on May 2, 2023. Upon the filing of the Certificate of Correction the Original Articles Amendment will be nullified and the intention to effectuate a reverse stock split of 1-for-750 will be validated retroactively as of December 20, 2022, at the original filing date and time of the Original Articles Amendment.
To carry out the original intent of the Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split and in light of the correction, ratification and validation of the Rectified Reverse Stock Split as described above, the Company’s Board of Directors and the Majority Stockholder approved on April 21, 2023 the Authorized Capital Increase Amendment to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock from shares to shares retroactively as of December 20, 2022, in accordance with the board’s and stockholders’ original intent in effecting the Originally Intended Reverse Stock Split.
Further, the Board of Directors determined that it was advisable and in the best interests of the Company to amend and restate the Company’s articles of incorporation (as amended to date, the “Current Articles”) to decrease the number of shares of authorized common stock to two hundred million () and to amend certain other provisions in the Company’s Current Articles (the “Amended and Restated Articles”). The Board of Directors and the Majority Stockholder determined to decrease the number of shares of our authorized common stock in order to reduce the number of shares available for issuance given that the large number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance may have a perceived negative impact on any potential future efforts to attract additional financing due to the dilutive effect of having such a large number of shares available for issuance. On April 21, 2023, the Company’s board of directors and the Majority Stockholder approved the Amended and Restated Articles. All the actions described herein will take effect upon filing with the SOS, which is not expected to take place prior to May 25, 2023.
On May 2, 2023, Atlas Lithium Corporation (the “Company”) and Atlas Litio Brasil Ltda., a Brazilian subsidiary of the Company (the “Company Subsidiary”), entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Lithium Royalty Corp., a Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “LRC”). The transaction contemplated under the Purchase Agreement closed simultaneously on May 2, 2023, whereby the Company Subsidiary sold to LRC in consideration for $20,000,000 in cash, a royalty interest equaling 3% of future gross revenue (the “Royalty”) to be received by the Company Subsidiary from the sale of products from certain 19 mineral rights and properties that are located in Brazil and held by the Company Subsidiary (the “Property”).
On the same day, the Company Subsidiary and LRC entered into a Gross Revenue Royalty Agreement (the “Royalty Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company Subsidiary grants LRC the Royalty and undertakes to calculate and make royalty payment on a quarterly basis commencing from the first receipt of the sales proceeds with respect to the products from the Property. The Royalty Agreement contains other customary terms, including but not limited to, the scope of the gross revenue, the Company Subsidiary’s right to determine operations, and LRC’s information and audit rights. Under the Royalty Agreement, the Company Subsidiary also grants LRC a one-year option to purchase additional royalty interest with respect to certain additional Brazilian mineral rights and properties on the same terms and conditions as the Royalty, at a total purchase price of $5,000,000.
F-13 |
Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Report.
This discussion and analysis below include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section that could cause actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of various factors. Additionally, our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future.
Overview
Atlas Lithium Corporation (“Atlas Lithium,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a mineral exploration and development company with a lithium project and multiple lithium exploration properties. In addition, we own exploration properties in other battery minerals, including nickel, rare earths, graphite, and titanium. Our current focus is the development from exploration to active mining of our hard-rock lithium project located in the state of Minas Gerais State in Brazil at a well-known, premier pegmatitic district in Brazil, which has been recently denominated by the government of Minas Gerais as “Lithium Valley”. We intend to mine and then process our lithium-containing ore to produce lithium concentrate (also known as spodumene concentrate), a key ingredient for the battery supply chain.
We are in the initial stages of planning to develop and own 100% of a processing facility capable of producing 150,000 tons of lithium concentrate annually. However, there can be no assurance that we will have the necessary capital resources to develop such facility or, if developed, that we will reach the production capacity necessary to commercialize our products and with the quality needed to meet market demand.
3 |
All of our mineral projects and properties are located in Brazil and our mineral rights portfolio for battery minerals includes approximately 75,040 acres (304 km2) for lithium in 64 mineral rights, 54,950 acres for nickel (222 km2) in 15 mineral rights, 30,054 acres (122 km2) for rare earths in seven mineral rights, 22,050 acres (89 km2) for titanium in seven mineral rights, and 13,766 acres (56 km2) for graphite in three mineral rights. We believe that we hold the largest portfolio of exploration properties for battery minerals in Brazil, a premier and well-established mining jurisdiction.
We are primarily focused on advancing and developing our hard-rock lithium project located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where some of our high-potential mineral rights are adjacent to or near large lithium deposits that belong to Sigma Lithium Corporation (Nasdaq: SGML). Our Minas Gerais Lithium Project (“MGLP”) is our largest project and consists of 57 mineral rights spread over 58,774 acres (238 km2) and predominantly located within the Brazilian Eastern Pegmatitic Province which has been surveyed by the Brazilian Geological Survey and is known for the presence of hard rock formations known as pegmatites which contain lithium-bearing minerals such as spodumene and petalite.
We believe that we can increase our value by the acceleration of our exploratory work and quantification of our lithium mineralization. Our initial commercial goal is to be able to enter production of lithium concentrate, a product which is highly sought after in the battery supply chain for electric vehicles.
We also have 100%-ownership of early-stage projects and properties in other minerals that are needed in the battery supply chain and high technology applications such as nickel, rare earths, graphite, and titanium. We believe that the shift from fossil fuels to battery power may yield long-term opportunities for us not only in lithium but also in such other minerals.
Additionally, we have 100%-ownership of several mining concessions for gold and diamonds, two of which also include industrial sand. As our corporate focus became our lithium properties, we stopped alluvial gold and diamond exploration efforts in 2018 and the sale of our industrial sand in 2022.
We also own 45.11% of the shares of common stock of Apollo Resources Corporation (“Apollo Resources”), a private company primarily focused on the development of its initial iron mine.
We also own approximately 28.72% of the shares of common stock of Jupiter Gold Corporation (“Jupiter Gold”), a company focused on the exploration of two gold projects and the development of a quartzite mine, and whose common stock are quoted on the OTCQB marketplace under the symbol “JUPGF.” The quartzite mine is fully permitted and is expected to start operations in 2023.
Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold have not generated any revenues to date. The results of operations from both Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold are consolidated in our financial statements under U.S. GAAP”.
On October 17, 2022, we entered into an investor relations consulting agreement with MZHCI, LLC, a U.S. company.
4 |
Operational Update
Exploration Campaign
Our ongoing drilling campaign is delineating the lithium resources of our 100%-owned Neves Project, a cluster of four lithium mineral rights within MGLP. Our current geological team is comprised of 13 geologists, with 11 of them being full-time. To support the work of our geologists we have 17 full-time field and support technicians and machinery operators. Our geological team and our exploration campaign is supervised by Volodymyr Myadzel, Ph.D., a Qualified Person for lithium as such term is defined in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Regulation S-K 1300”).
We have engaged SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”), and, in particular, their geologist Marc-Antoine Laporte, a Qualified Person for lithium under Regulation S-K 1300, to produce a mineral resource estimate report (the “Maiden Resource Report”) for our Neves Project in accordance with Regulation S-K 1300. Mr. Laporte is the author of mineral resource reports for two other companies which have hard-rock lithium projects in Lithium Valley, the general area where our Neves Project is located, and has worked on lithium properties in Lithium Valley since 2017. Mr. Laporte visited our Neves Project between May 4 and May 6, 2023. The Maiden Resource Report is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2023.
The Maiden Resource Report will update and replace our previously filed SLR International Corporation’s technical report summary entitled “S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary on the Das Neves Lithium Project” (the “Initial Exploration Report”), with an effective date of August 10, 2022, and a signature date of August 31, 2022. The Initial Exploration Report presented recommendations to us on further steps necessary for the delineation of the lithium resources at our Neves Project. At the time of the Initial Exploration Report, we had one drill on site and 1,213 meters drilled in total. Currently, we have 10 active drills operating and have drilled, as of May 4, 2023, an aggregate of 19,017 meters. The current drilling campaign pace is approximately 6,500 meters drilled per month.
At our Neves Project, our current focus is drilling within and around our flagship pegmatite, “Anitta,” a 1.1-kilometer formation which remains open along strike and at depth, and has been proven to contain spodumene, a key lithium-bearing mineral.
Drilling Campaign Highlights (drill holes in numerical sequence)
DHAB-11B: | 1.57% Li2O over 13.1m from 74.0m to 87.1m, which includes: | |
2.25% Li2O over 4.0m from 76.7m to 80.8m and | ||
2.00% Li2O over 3.1m from 84.0m to 87.1m | ||
DHAB-12: | 1.35% Li2O over 5.02m from 83.41m to 88.43m | |
DHAB-15: | 1.40% Li2O over 15.0m from 60.5m to 75.5m, which includes: | |
1.83% Li2O over 5.0m from 66.5m to 71.5m | ||
DHAB-18: | 1.01% Li2O over 9.95m from 82.66m to 92.61m, which includes: | |
2.17% Li2O over 3.0m from 86.55m to 89.55m | ||
DHAB-21: | 1.33% Li2O over 8.8m from 50.0m to 58.8m | |
DHAB-39B: | 1.00% Li2O over 9.1m from 107.4m to 116.6m | |
1.48% Li2O over 9.0m from 119.2m to 128.2m | ||
DHAB-41: | 1.09% Li2O over 22.2m from 83.0m to 105.2m, which includes: | |
1.72% Li2O over 4.0m from 94.0m to 98.0m | ||
DHAB-44: | 1.30% Li2O over 17.9m from 141.81m to 159.71m, which includes: | |
1.88% Li2O over 9.0m from 150.0m to 159.0m | ||
DHAB-47: | 2.80% Li2O over 9.87m from 54.18m to 64.05m | |
DHAB-57: | 1.46% Li2O over 13.0m from 92.2m to 105.2m | |
DHAB-64: | 1.08% Li2O over 10.6m from 119.5m to 130.1m | |
1.26% Li2O over 11.0m from 132.1m to 143.1m, which includes: | ||
2.09% Li2O over 5.0m from 135.1m to 140.1m | ||
DHAB-68: | 1.36% Li2O over 25.43m from 54.15m to 79.58m, which includes: | |
2.02% Li2O over 6.5m from 54.15m to 60.15m, | ||
4.40% Li2O over 0.55m from 60.15m to 60.70m, and | ||
1.89% Li2O over 5.0m from 71.5m to 76.5m | ||
DHAB-70: | 1.16% Li2O over 14.85m from 43.75m to 58.60m | |
1.20% Li2O over 2.4m from 78.31m to 80.72m | ||
DHAB-74: | 1.01% Li2O over 8.74m from 137.26m to 146.00m | |
DHAB-77: | 1.08% Li2O over 3.2m from 65.8m to 69.0m | |
1.46% Li2O over 14.0m from 70.0m to 84.0m, which includes: | ||
2.04% Li2O over 5.0m from 70.01m to 75.0m | ||
DHAB-85: | 1.18% Li2O over 47.00m from 7.00m to 54.00m, which includes: | |
2.12% Li2O over 7.0m from 13.0m to 20.0m and | ||
1.88% Li2O over 9.0m from 150.0m to 159.0m |
5 |
Our drilling and sampling follow strict QA/QC protocols established under best practices. All lithium samples are analyzed at SGS-Geosol, the premier analytical laboratory used by reputable mining companies in Brazil. Normally geochemical results are obtained from SGS-Geosol three weeks after submission of the samples for analysis. Of note, recent drill hole DHAB-104 yielded a large aggregate total of 99.1 meters (325 feet) of visually appearing spodumene; the geochemical assays for DHAB-104 are pending.
Metallurgical Report
On April 24, 2023, we announced the receipt of the metallurgical report (the “Metallurgical Report”) from SGS for studies performed over several months on a representative ore sample from our Neves Project. The Metallurgical Report showed that a very high grade of 7.22% was achieved for Heavy Liquid Separation (“HLS”). Commercial-grade lithium concentrate was obtained from our representative sample using standard Dense Media Separation (“DMS”), a gravity-based approach which does not use any harmful chemicals or flotation. The Metallurgical Report also showed final lithium concentrate grading of 6.04% Li2O with only 0.53% Fe2O3, and a lithium recovery of 70%. Our desired target was the production of concentrate grading 6.0% Li2O with less than 1.0% Fe2O3, and these targets were exceeded. SGS has been providing testing and analytical services to the mining industry since 1941 and has earned the reputation as a leading provider of metallurgical services.
The Metallurgical Report will become a chapter in the Maiden Resource Report described above. The Metallurgical Report also allows SGS to begin work towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Neves Project which is a technical study expected to be issued after the Maiden Resource Report.
Business Development
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
On January 18, 2023, we announced that we had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui) with respect to Mitsui’s potential interest in acquiring the right to purchase our future lithium concentrate production. Mitsui is one of the world’s most diversified comprehensive trading, investment, and service enterprises. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Mitsui maintains a global network of 128 offices in 63 countries and regions.
In general terms, the MOU contemplates potential funding from Mitsui to us of up to $65 million (the “Offtake Funding”), in tranches and subject to the achievement of specific milestones acceptable to Mitsui, that would give Mitsui the right to buy up to 100% of our future production from our planned plant with output capacity of 150,000 tons of lithium concentrate per year (the “Plant”). The Offtake Funding would be primarily used by us for the construction of the Plant. Lithium concentrate produced by the Plant would then be available for purchase by Mitsui at a price generally based on the then-prevailing market price. The MOU is non-binding and non-exclusive for both companies.
Lithium Royalty Corp.
On May 2, 2023, we and Atlas Litio Brasil Ltda. (“Atlas Litio”), our Brazilian subsidiary, entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement with Lithium Royalty Corp., a Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“LRC”), whereby Atlas Litio sold to LRC in consideration for $20,000,000 in cash, a royalty interest equaling 3% of the future gross revenue to be received by Atlas Litio from the sale of products from certain 19 mineral rights and properties that are located in Brazil and held by Atlas Litio.
The principals at LRC are known for their experience in the lithium industry. Prior to this transaction, LRC was composed of 30 royalties on 28 properties, with two properties in production, four properties in construction and 22 properties in development or exploration. LRC is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment and the integration of ESG factors is a key aspect of their investment analysis and a key consideration in their target investment criteria. As part of LRC’s due diligence, Mr. Ernie Ortiz, LRC’s President and CEO, visited our Neves Project between April 5, 2023, and April 7, 2023.
Results of Operations
The Three Months Ended March 31, 2023, Compared to the Three Months ended March 31, 2022
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023, totaled $3,965,938, compared to net of $531,490 during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase on loss is mainly due to:
● | Higher general and administrative expenses in the period due to approximately $1,030,000 in non-recurring transaction costs associated with our Offering in January 2023 in connection with the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market; | |
● | Higher compensation costs in the period due to $712,000 to satisfy certain contractual obligations to management team members, a number of which are non-recurring; | |
● | An increase in stock-based compensation expenses by $740,826 compared to prior period reflecting increase in our common stock share price and new members of the management team eligible for the stock-based compensation program; and | |
● | Higher exploration expenses for the period due the execution of the drilling program on our 100% owned Minas Gerais Lithium Project. |
6 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $4,987,751 and a working capital of $2,596,943.
Net cash used by operating activities totaled $3,663,428 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to net cash used of $506,071 during the three months ended March 31, 2022, representing a decrease in cash available of $3,157,357 or 623%. The said increase in net cash used by operating activities was mainly due to:
● | Increase of our lithium exploration program costs of approximately $1,028,000; | |
● | Nasdaq listing, non-recurrent expenses of approximately $1,030,000; | |
● | Increase in compensation expenses due to the increase of management and exploration teams. |
Net cash used in investing activities totaled $1,275,972 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to net cash used of $152,998 during the three months ended March 31, 2022, representing an increase in cash used of $1,122,974 or 733%. The increase refers to the purchase of lithium mining rights.
Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $9,564,335 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $622,999 during the three months ended March 31, 2022, representing an increase in cash provided of $8,941,336 or 1,435%. The increase is mainly due to:
● | Our Offering which closed on January 12, 2023, with aggregate gross proceeds of $4,657,500. | |
● | Securities Purchase Agreement with two investors, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to the Investors in a Regulation S private placement an aggregate of 640,000 restricted shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The purchase price for the Shares was $6.25 per share, for total gross proceeds of $4,000,000. | |
● | During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we also sold an aggregate of 91,500 shares of our common stock to Triton Funds, L.P for total gross proceeds of $831,834 pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement entered between us and Triton Funds, LP. |
For further information on three transactions mentioned above, please refer to note 4 – stockholders´ equity.
We have historically incurred net operating losses and have not yet received material revenues from the sale of products or services.
Our primary sources of liquidity have been derived through proceeds from the (i) issuance of debt and (ii) sales of our equity and the equity of one of our subsidiaries. For example, On January 12, 2023, we completed its firm underwritten public offering of 776,250 shares of our common stock (which includes the shares subject to the over-allotment option, exercised by the underwriter in full), for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,657,500 (prior to deducting any underwriting discounts, commissions, and other offering expenses). Also, on January 30, 2023, we raised an aggregate of $4 million in gross proceeds from the sale of its common stock in transaction exempt under Regulation S of the Securities Act. We believe our cash on hand will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements for a period of at least twelve months through March 2024.
Our future short- and long-term capital requirements will depend on several factors, including but not limited to, the rate of our growth, our ability to identify areas for mineral exploration and the economic potential of such areas, the exploration and other drilling campaigns needed to verify and expand our mineral resources, the types of processing facilities we would need to install to obtain commercial-ready products, and the ability to attract talent to manage our different business activities. To the extent that our current resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may need to seek additional equity or debt financing. If the needed financing is not available, or if the terms of financing are less desirable than we expect, we may be forced to scale back our existing operations and growth plans, which could have an adverse impact on our business and financial prospects and could raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Currency Risk
We operate primarily in Brazil which exposes us to currency risks. Our business activities may generate intercompany receivables or payables that are in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity. Changes in exchange rates from the time the activity occurs to the time payments are made may result in it receiving either more or less in local currency than the local currency equivalent at the time of the original activity.
Our consolidated financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates between the applicable foreign currency and the U.S. dollar affect the translation of each foreign subsidiary’s financial results into U.S. dollars for purposes of reporting in the consolidated financial statements. Our foreign subsidiaries translate their financial results from the local currency into U.S. dollars in the following manner: (a) income statement accounts are translated at average exchange rates for the period; (b) balance sheet asset and liability accounts are translated at end of period exchange rates; and (c) equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates. Translation in this manner affects the shareholders’ equity account referred to as the foreign currency translation adjustment account. This account exists only in the foreign subsidiaries’ U.S. dollar balance sheets and is necessary to keep the foreign subsidiaries’ balance sheets in agreement.
We currently have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents and accrued expenses. The carrying amount of these financial instruments is approximate of fair value due either to length of maturity or interest rates that approximate prevailing market rates unless otherwise disclosed in our financial statements. If our estimate of the fair value is incorrect on March 31, 2023, it could negatively affect our financial position and liquidity and could result in our having understated our net loss.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the financial statements. We have reviewed all recent accounting pronouncements issued to the date of the issuance of these financial statements, and we do not believe any of these pronouncements will have a material impact on us.
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information to be reported under this Item is not required of smaller reporting companies.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, has evaluated the design, operation, and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that as of March 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.
(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred in the quarter ended March 31, 2023, that materially affected, or would be reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
(d) Limitations of the Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting must reflect the fact that there are resource constrains and that management is required to apply judgement in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Quarterly Report are forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements regarding current expectations, as of the date of this Quarterly Report, our future results of operations and financial position, our ability to effectively process our minerals and achieve commercial grade at scale; risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in exploring, developing, constructing and operating mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions); our ability to derive any financial success from the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in December 2022; uncertainty about our ability to obtain required capital to execute our business plan; our ability to hire and retain required personnel; changes in the market prices of lithium and lithium products and demand for such products; the uncertainties inherent in exploratory, developmental and production activities, including risks relating to permitting, zoning and regulatory delays related to our projects; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of lithium resources. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential”, or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: unprofitable efforts resulting not only from the failure to discover mineral deposits, but also from finding mineral deposits that, though present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from production; market fluctuations; government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals, and environmental protection; competition; the loss of services of key personnel; unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, sabotage, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of infrastructure as well as general economic conditions.
The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report and are subject to a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including the factors described under the sections in this Quarterly Report titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other of our filings made with the SEC.
You should read this Quarterly Report and the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None material.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
The following risk factor disclosures should be read in conjunction with the risk factors described in our 2022 Form 10-K and subsequent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We are supplementing the risk factors previously disclosed in such filings to include the following updated risk factors:
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this Quarterly Report, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as any additional risk factors that may be described in our other filings with the SEC from time to time, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. The occurrence of any of the risks, the events or developments described below could harm our business, financial condition, operating results, and growth prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties summarized and set forth in detail below and elsewhere in this Annual Report before you decide to invest in our common stock.
Summary of Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and prospects. These risks are discussed more fully below and include, but are not limited to, risks related to:
Business Risks
● | Our future performance is difficult to evaluate because we have a limited operating history. | |
● | We have a history of losses and expect to continue to incur losses in the future. | |
● | We are an exploration stage company, and there is no guarantee that our properties will result in the commercial extraction of mineral deposits. | |
● | Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is not known, our properties may not contain any reserves, and any funds spent on exploration and evaluation may be lost. | |
● | We face risks related to mining, exploration and mine construction, if warranted, on our properties. | |
● | Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our mining activities. | |
● | We depend on our ability to successfully access the capital and financial markets. Any inability to access the capital or financial markets may limit our ability to fund our ongoing operations, execute our business plan or pursue investments that we may rely on for future growth. | |
● | Our quarterly and annual operating and financial results and our revenue are likely to fluctuate significantly in future periods. | |
● | Our ability to manage growth will have an impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. | |
● | We depend upon Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. | |
● | Our growth will require new personnel, which we will be required to recruit, hire, train and retain. | |
● | Certain executive officers and directors may be in a position of conflict of interest. |
Regulatory and Industry Risks
● | The mining industry subjects us to several risks. | |
● | Our mineral projects will be subject to significant government regulations. | |
● | We will be required to obtain governmental permits in order to conduct development and mining operations, a process which is often costly and time-consuming. | |
● | Compliance with environmental regulations and litigation based on environmental regulations could require significant expenditures. | |
● | Our operations face substantial regulation of health and safety. |
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● | Our operations are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations. | |
● | Mineral prices are subject to unpredictable fluctuations. |
Country and Currency Risks
● | Our ability to execute our business plan depends primarily on the continuation of a favorable mining environment in Brazil and our ability to freely sell our minerals. | |
● | The perception of Brazil by the international community may affect us. | |
● | Exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations and capital controls may adversely affect our costs, earnings and the value of some of our assets. |
Common Stock Risks
● | Our common stock price has been and may continue to be volatile. | |
● | We do not intend to pay regular future dividends on our common stock and thus stockholders must look to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investments. | |
● | We may seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions, or develop strategic relationships by issuing securities that would dilute your ownership. | |
● | Our Series A Preferred Stock has the effect of concentrating voting control over us in Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. | |
● | Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our Board of Directors, owns greater than 50% of our voting securities, which means we are deemed a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq. | |
● | Our stock price may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment. | |
● | You will experience dilution as a result of future equity offerings. | |
● | Our existing stockholders have substantial influence over us and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other stockholders, which may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control is us, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their securities. | |
● | Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our stockholders in the public market could cause our stock price to fall. | |
● | Costs as a result of operating as a public company are significant, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices. | |
● | Our internal control over financial reporting may not meet the standards required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, could have a material adverse effect on our business and share price. |
Business Risks
Our future performance is difficult to evaluate because we have a limited operating history.
Investors should evaluate an investment in us considering the uncertainties encountered by mineral exploration companies. Although we were incorporated in 2011, we began to implement our current business strategy in 2018, which is primarily focused on the exploration of battery minerals. We have generated limited revenues from operations and our cash flow needs have been financed primarily through debt or equity and not through cash flows derived from our operations. As a result, we have little historical financial and operating information available to help you evaluate and predict our future performance. In addition, advancing our projects will require significant capital and time, and we are subject to all of the risks associated with developing and establishing new mining operations and business enterprises as further described in these risk factors. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that we will ultimately be able to attain profitability.
We have a history of losses and expect to continue to incur losses in the future.
We have incurred losses in each of the two past years, have negative cash flow from operating activities, have had limited revenues and expect to continue to incur losses in the future.
We have a large accumulated deficit. We expect to continue to incur losses unless and until such time as our projects or one of our future acquired properties enters into commercial production and generates sufficient revenues to fund continuing operations and we are able to develop at least one economic deposit. We recognize that if we are unable to generate cash flows from our operations, we will not be able to earn profits or continue operations. At this early stage of our operation, we also expect to face the risks, uncertainties, expenses and difficulties encountered by companies at the mineral exploration stage. We cannot be sure that we will be successful in addressing these risks and uncertainties and our failure to do so could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition.
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There is uncertainty regarding our ability to implement our business plan and to grow our operations with our existing financial resources without additional financing. Our ability to implement our business plan is dependent on us generating cash from operations, the sale of our stock and/or obtaining debt financing. Historically, we have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of debt and equity securities. Management’s plan to fund our capital requirements and ongoing operations includes the generation of revenue from our mining operations and projects. Management’s secondary plan to cover any shortfall is selling our equity securities, including our common stock, or common stock in Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold that we own, and obtaining debt financing. There is no assurance that we will be successful in implementing our business plan or that we will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations, sell securities or borrow funds on favorable terms or at all. Our inability to generate significant revenue or obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our ability to fully implement our business plan and grow our business to a greater extent than we can with our existing financial resources.
We are an exploration stage company, and there is no guarantee that our properties will result in the commercial extraction of mineral deposits.
We are engaged in the business of exploring and developing mineral properties with the intention of locating economic deposits of minerals. An economic deposit is a mineral property which can be reasonably expected to generate profits upon extraction and commercialization of its minerals after considering all costs involved. Our property interests are at the exploration stage. Accordingly, it is unlikely that we will realize profits in the short term, and we also cannot assure you that we will realize profits in the medium to long term. Any profitability in the future from our business will be dependent upon the development of at least one economic deposit and most likely further exploration and development of other economic deposits, each of which is subject to numerous risk factors. including all of the risks associated with developing and establishing new mining operations and business enterprises including:
● | completion of studies to verify reserves and commercial viability, including the ability to find sufficient ore reserves to support a commercial mining operation; | |
● | the timing and cost, which can be considerable, of further exploration, preparing studies, permitting and construction of infrastructure, mining and processing facilities; | |
● | the availability and costs of drill equipment, exploration personnel, skilled labor, and mining and processing equipment, if required; | |
● | the availability and cost of appropriate smelting and/or refining arrangements, if required; | |
● | compliance with stringent environmental and other governmental approval and permit requirements; | |
● | the availability of funds to finance exploration, development, and construction activities, as warranted; | |
● | potential opposition from non-governmental organizations, local groups or local inhabitants that may delay or prevent development activities; | |
● | potential increases in exploration, construction, and operating costs due to changes in the cost of fuel, power, materials, and supplies; and | |
● | potential shortages of mineral processing, construction, and other facilities related supplies. |
Further, we cannot assure you that, even if an economic deposit of minerals is located, any of our property interests can be commercially mined. The exploration and development of mineral deposits involves a high degree of financial risk over a significant period which a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge of management may not eliminate. While discovery of additional ore-bearing deposits may result in substantial rewards, few properties which are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Significant expenses may be required to establish reserves by drilling and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that our current exploration programs will result in profitable commercial mining operations. The profitability of our operations will be, in part, related to the cost and success of its exploration and development programs which may be affected by several factors. Additional expenditures are required to establish reserves which are sufficient to commercially mine and to construct, complete and install mining and processing facilities in those properties that are mined and developed.
In addition, exploration-stage projects like ours have no operating history upon which to base estimates of future operating costs and capital requirements. Exploration project items, such as any future estimates of reserves, metal recoveries or cash operating costs will to a large extent be based upon the interpretation of geologic data, obtained from a limited number of drill holes and other sampling techniques, as well as future studies. Actual operating costs and economic returns of all exploration projects may materially differ from the costs and returns estimated, and accordingly our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows may be negatively affected.
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Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is unknown, our properties may not contain any reserves, and any funds spent on exploration and evaluation may be lost.
We are an exploration stage company, and we currently have no “reserves” as such term is defined in Regulation S-K 1300. A mineral reserve is defined in Regulation S-K 1300 as an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of “indicated mineral resources” and “measured mineral resources” (as those terms are defined in Regulation S-K 1300) that, in the opinion of a “qualified person” (as defined in Regulation S-K 1300), can be the basis of an economically viable project. We cannot assure you about the existence of economically extractable mineralization at this time, nor about the quantity or grade of any mineralization we may have found. Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is uncertain, our properties may not contain any reserves and any funds spent on evaluation and exploration may be lost. Even if we confirm reserves on our properties, any quantity or grade of reserves we indicate must be considered as estimates only until such reserves are mined. We do not know with certainty that economically recoverable minerals exist on our properties. In addition, the quantity of any reserves may vary depending on commodity prices. Any material change in the quantity or grade of reserves may affect the economic viability of our properties. Further, our lack of established reserves means that we are uncertain about our ability to generate revenue from our operations.
Even if we do eventually discover a mineral reserve on one or more of our properties, there can be no assurance that they can be developed into producing mines and that we can extract those minerals. Both mineral exploration and development involve a high degree of risk, and few mineral properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines.
Exploration activities require significant amounts of capital that may not be recovered and may exceed our budget.
Mineral exploration activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that no commercially productive or extractable resources will be encountered. There can be no assurance that our activities will ultimately lead to an economically feasible project or that it will recover all or any portion of its investment. Mineral exploration often involves unprofitable efforts, including drilling operations that ultimately do not further exploration efforts. Despite our efforts to budget such costs, the cost of minerals exploration is often uncertain, and cost overruns are common. Substantial expenditures are required to establish reserves through drilling, to develop processes to extract the ore and, in the case of new properties, to develop the extraction and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for extraction. Although substantial benefits may be derived from the discovery of a major deposit, we cannot provide any assurance that any such deposit will be commercially viable or that we will be able to obtain the funds required for development on a timely basis. Drilling and exploration operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including title problems, weather conditions, protests, compliance with governmental requirements, including permitting issues, and shortages or delays in the delivery of equipment and services. For example, following recent results of our exploration plans of our Minas Gerais Lithium Project, we expect to incur greater cost related to such exploration activities than originally budgeted for. While we believe we have sufficient resources to fund our operations for the next twelve months, an increase in our drilling campaigns to keep pace with positive findings of potential economic deposits, may require us to raise additional capital which, if not available on reasonable terms, may cause us to curtail our operations and impair our ability to become profitable.
We face risks related to mining, exploration and mine construction, if warranted, on our properties.
Our level of profitability, if any, in future years will depend to a great degree on the prices of minerals set by global markets and whether our exploration-stage properties can be brought into production. We cannot provide any assurances that the current and future exploration programs and/or studies on our existing properties will establish reserves. Whether it will be economically feasible to extract a mineral depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; drilling costs; mineral prices; mining, processing and transportation costs; the willingness of lenders and investors to provide project financing; labor costs and possible labor strikes; and governmental regulations, including, without limitation, regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting materials, foreign exchange, environmental protection, employment, worker safety, transportation, and reclamation and closure obligations. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in us receiving an inadequate return on invested capital.
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Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our mining activities.
Our long-term success, including the recoverability of the carrying values of our assets, and our ability to continue with exploration, development and commissioning and mining activities on our existing projects or to acquire additional projects, depends ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our operations by establishing ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable minerals and to develop these into profitable mining activities. We cannot assure you that any ore body that we extract mineralized materials from will result in achieving and maintaining profitability and developing positive cash flow.
We depend on our ability to successfully access the capital and financial markets. Any inability to access the capital or financial markets may limit our ability to fund our ongoing operations, execute our business plan or pursue investments that we may rely on for future growth.
Until commercial production is achieved from one of our larger projects, we will continue to incur operating and investing net cash outflows associated with among other things maintaining and acquiring exploration properties, undertaking ongoing exploration activities and the development of mines. As a result, we rely on access to capital markets as a source of funding for our capital and operating requirements. We cannot assure you that such additional funding will be available to us on satisfactory terms, or at all.
In order to finance our current operations and future capital needs, we will require additional funds through the issuance of additional equity and/or debt securities. Depending on the type and the terms of any financing we pursue, shareholders’ rights and the value of their investment in our shares could be reduced. Any additional equity financing will dilute shareholdings, and new or additional debt financing, if available, may involve restrictions on financing and operating activities. For example, on January 30, 2023, we raised an aggregate of $4 million in gross proceeds from the sale of its common stock in transaction exempt under Regulation S of the Securities Act. In addition, if we issue secured debt securities, the holders of the debt would have a claim to our assets that would be prior to the rights of shareholders until the debt is paid. Interest on such debt securities would increase costs and negatively impact operating results.
The global decline in economic conditions, geopolitical instability, and other macroeconomic factors, including inflation, interest rate and foreign currency rate fluctuations, and volatility in capital markets could negatively impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations, including our ability to raise capital. If we are unable to obtain additional financing, as needed, at competitive rates, our ability to fund our current operations and implement our business plan and strategy will be affected, and we would be required to reduce the scope of our operations and scale back our exploration, development and mining programs. There is, however, no guarantee that we will be able to secure any additional funding or be able to secure funding which will provide us with sufficient funds to meet our objectives, which may adversely affect our business and financial position.
Our quarterly and annual operating and financial results and our revenue are likely to fluctuate significantly in future periods.
Our quarterly and annual operating and financial results are difficult to predict and may fluctuate significantly from period to period, based on activities related to our exploration projects. Our revenues, net income and results of operations may fluctuate because of a variety of factors that are outside our control including, but not limited to, lack of sufficient working capital, equipment malfunction and breakdowns, inability to timely find spare machines or parts to fix the broken equipment, regulatory or licensing delays and severe weather phenomena.
Our ability to manage growth will have an impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future growth may place strains on our financial, technical, operational and administrative resources and cause us to rely more on project partners and independent contractors, potentially adversely affecting our financial position and results of operations. Our ability to grow will depend on several factors, including:
● | our ability to successfully complete our exploration activities and develop existing projects; | |
● | our ability to identify new projects; | |
● | our ability to continue to retain and attract skilled personnel; |
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● | our ability to maintain or enter into relationships with project partners and independent contractors; | |
● | the results of our exploration programs; | |
● | the market prices for our minerals; | |
● | our access to capital; and | |
● | our ability to enter into agreements for the sale of our minerals. |
We may not be successful in upgrading our technical, operational and administrative resources or increasing our internal resources sufficiently to provide certain of the services currently provided by third parties, and we may not be able to maintain or enter into new relationships with project partners and independent contractors on financially attractive terms, if at all. Our inability to achieve or manage growth may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We depend upon Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman.
Our existing operations and continued future development are largely dependent upon the personal efforts and continued performance of Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and principal stockholder. The loss of the services of Mr. Fogassa would have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects. We maintain key-man life insurance on the life of Mr. Fogassa. See “Management.” If we were to lose Mr. Fogassa, we may not be able to find appropriate replacements on a timely basis and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Although Mr. Fogassa spends significant time with us and is highly active in our management, he does not devote his full time and attention to Atlas Lithium. Mr. Fogassa also currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and director of Apollo Resources Corporation (“Apollo Resources”) and Jupiter Gold Corporation (“Jupiter Gold”).
Our growth will require new personnel, which we will be required to recruit, hire, train and retain.
Our ability to recruit and assimilate new personnel will be critical to our performance. We compete with other mining companies in the recruitment and retention of qualified managerial and technical employees. As we grow, we will be required to recruit additional personnel and to train, motivate and manage employees. If we are unable to successfully compete for qualified employees, our exploration and development programs may be slowed down or suspended.
Certain executive officers and directors may be in a position of conflict of interest.
Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive and Chairman, also serves as chief executive officer and director of Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold. Joel Monteiro, Esq., one of our officers, is a director in both Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold. Areli Nogueira, one of our officers, is a director in Jupiter Gold. We have partial equity ownership in both Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold. There exists the possibility that one or more of these individuals, or others, may in the future be in a position of conflict of interest. where their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other stockholders, and they may, from time to time, be incentivized to take certain actions that benefit their other interests and that our other stockholders may not view as being in their interest as investors in our company.
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. Most recently, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. Similarly, on March 12, 2023, Signature Bank and Silvergate Capital Corp. were each swept into receivership. Although we assess our banking and customer relationships as we believe necessary or appropriate, our access to funding sources and other credit arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and projected future business operations could be significantly impaired by factors that affect us, the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or negative expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry.
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In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult for us to acquire financing on acceptable terms or at all. Any decline in available funding or access to our cash and liquidity resources could, among other risks, adversely impact our ability to meet our operating expenses, financial obligations or fulfill our other obligations, result in breaches of our contractual obligations or result in violations of federal or state wage and hour laws. Any of these impacts, or any other impacts resulting from the factors described above or other related or similar factors not described above, could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may be unable to retain the third-party contractors upon which we rely, including for drilling.
We have agreements with consultants to perform services for us including with respect to performing drilling services for us. Each of these contractors perform functions that require the services of persons in high demand in the industry and these persons may or may not always be available when needed based on their status as contractors or at affordable prices. The implementation of our business plan and our exploration activities may be impaired if we are not able to retain or afford our significant contractors or if they do not perform in accordance with their agreements and the failure to conduct our exploration activities could result in delays in our ability to execute on our business plan will could have an adverse effect on our value and that of our common stock.
Regulatory and Industry Risks
The mining industry subjects us to several risks.
In our operations, we are subject to the significant risks normally encountered in the mining industry, such as:
● | the discovery of unusual or unexpected geological formations; | |
● | accidental fires, floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters; | |
● | unplanned power outages and water shortages; | |
● | controlling water and other similar mining hazards; | |
● | industrial and mining accidents; | |
● | operating labor disruptions and labor disputes; | |
● | the ability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment, or labor; | |
● | our liability for pollution or other hazards; and | |
● | other known and unknown risks involved in the conduct of exploration and operation of mines. |
These hazardous activities pose significant management challenges and could result in loss of life, a mine shutdown, damage to or destruction of our properties and surrounding properties, production facilities or equipment, production delays or business interruption.
Our mineral projects will be subject to significant governmental regulations.
Mining activities in Brazil are subject to extensive federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection, natural resources, prospecting, development, production, post-closure reclamation costs, taxes, labor standards and occupational health and safety laws and regulations, including mine safety, toxic substances and other matters. The costs associated with compliance with such laws and regulations can be substantial. In addition, changes in such laws and regulations, or more restrictive interpretations of current laws and regulations by governmental authorities, could result in unanticipated capital expenditures, expenses, or restrictions on, or suspensions of our operations and delays in the development of our properties.
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We will be required to obtain governmental permits in order to conduct development and mining operations, a process which is often costly and time-consuming.
We are required to obtain and renew governmental permits for our exploration activities and, prior to developing or mining any mineralization that we discover, we will be required to obtain new governmental permits. Obtaining and renewing governmental permits is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. The timeliness and success of permitting efforts are contingent upon many variables not within our control, including the interpretation of permit approval requirements administered by the applicable permitting authority. We may not be able to obtain or renew permits that are necessary to our planned operations or the cost and time required to obtain or renew such permits may exceed our expectations. Any unexpected delays or costs associated with the permitting process could delay the exploration, development or operation of our properties, which in turn could materially adversely affect our future revenues and profitability. In addition, key permits and approvals may be revoked or suspended or may be changed in a manner that adversely affects our activities.
Private parties, such as environmental activists, frequently attempt to intervene in the permitting process and to persuade regulators to deny necessary permits or seek to overturn permits that have been issued. Obtaining the necessary governmental permits involves numerous jurisdictions, public hearings and possibly costly undertakings. These third-party actions can materially increase the costs and cause delays in the permitting process and could cause us to not proceed with the development or operation of a property. In addition, our ability to successfully obtain key permits and approvals to explore for, develop, operate and expand operations will likely depend on our ability to undertake such activities in a manner consistent with the creation of social and economic benefits in the surrounding communities, which may or may not be required by law. Our ability to obtain permits and approvals and to successfully operate in particular communities may be adversely affected by real or perceived detrimental events associated with our activities.
Compliance with environmental regulations and litigation based on environmental regulations could require significant expenditure.
Environmental regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of air and water quality standards, and the rules on land development and reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner that may require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for mining companies and their officers, directors and employees. In connection with our current exploration activities or with our prior mining operations, we may incur environmental costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Any failure to remedy an environmental problem could require us to suspend operations or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remedy.
Moreover, governmental authorities and private parties may bring lawsuits based upon damage to property and injury to persons resulting from the environmental, health and safety impacts of prior and current operations, including operations conducted by other mining companies many years ago at sites located on properties that we currently own or formerly owned. These lawsuits could lead to the imposition of substantial fines, remediation costs, penalties and other civil and criminal sanctions. We cannot assure you that any such law, regulation, enforcement or private claim would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our operations face substantial regulation of health and safety.
Our operations are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations governing worker health and safety across our operating regions and our failure to comply with applicable legal requirements can result in substantial penalties. Future changes in applicable laws, regulations, permits and approvals or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could substantially increase costs to achieve compliance, lead to the revocation of existing or future exploration or mining rights or otherwise have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial position.
In addition to potential government restrictions and regulatory fines, penalties or sanctions, our ability to operate (including the effect of any impact on our workforce) and thus, our results of operations and our financial position (including because of potential related fines and sanctions), could be adversely affected by accidents, injuries, fatalities or events detrimental (or perceived to be detrimental) to the health and safety of our employees, the environment or the communities in which we operate.
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Our operations are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations.
Our exploration, development, mining and processing operations are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing land use and the protection of the environment, which generally apply to air and water quality, protection of endangered, protected or other specified species, hazardous waste management and reclamation. We have made, and expect to make in the future, significant expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws and regulations imposes substantial costs and burdens, and can cause delays in obtaining, or failure to obtain, government permits and approvals which may adversely impact our closure processes and operations.
Increased global attention or regulation of consumption of water by industrial activities, as well as water quality discharge, and on restricting or prohibiting the use of cyanide and other hazardous substances in processing activities could similarly have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial position due to increased compliance and input costs.
Mineral prices are subject to unpredictable fluctuations.
Portions of our revenues may come from the extraction and sale of minerals. The price of minerals may fluctuate widely and is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including international, economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates, global or regional consumptive patterns, speculative activities, increased production due to new extraction developments and improved extraction and production methods and technological changes in the markets for the end products. The effect of these factors on the price of minerals, and therefore the economic viability of any of our exploration properties, cannot accurately be predicted.
The Gross Revenue Royalty Transaction may make us a less attractive acquisition target.
On May 2, 2023, we entered into a Royalty Purchase Agreement and a Gross Revenue Royalty Agreement (collectively, the “Gross Revenue Royalty Transaction”) with Lithium Royalty Corp., a Canadian company (“LRC”), pursuant to which we sold to LRC a royalty interest equaling 3% of the gross revenue (the “Royalty”). The Royalty would be calculated based on the sales proceeds of products derived from certain property rights owned us. We also granted LRC an option to purchase additional royalty interest with respect to certain additional Brazilian mineral rights and properties on the same terms and conditions as the Royalty. Given that the Gross Revenue Royalty Transaction imposes an obligation into our future revenues, such arrangement may make us less attractive to potential strategic investors and other acquirors, and/or may reduce our perceived market value.
Country and Currency Risks
Our ability to execute our business plan depends primarily on the continuation of a favorable mining environment in Brazil and our ability to freely sell our minerals.
Mining operations in Brazil are heavily regulated. Any significant change in mining legislation or other changes in Brazil’s current mining environment may slow down or alter our business prospects. Further, countries in which we may wish to sell our mined minerals may impose special taxes, tariffs, or otherwise place limits and controls on consumption of our mined minerals.
The perception of Brazil by the international community may affect us.
Brazil’s political environment and its environmental policies, in particular the preservation of the Amazon rain forest, are continuously scrutinized by the global media. If Brazil’s situation or policies are perceived as being inadequate, we may lose the interest of investor groups or potential buyers of our minerals, which will have a negative impact on us.
Exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations and capital controls may adversely affect our costs, earnings and the value of some of our assets.
Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar; however, we conduct our business in Brazil utilizing the Brazilian real. A large portion of our operating expenses are incurred in Brazilian real. An appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar would increase our costs in U.S. dollar terms. Our consolidated financials are directly impacted by movements in the Brazilian real to U.S. dollar exchange rate.
While not expected, Brazil may choose to adopt measures to restrict the entry of U.S. dollars or the repatriation of capital across borders. These measures would have a number of negative effects on us, reducing the immediately available capital that we could otherwise deploy for investment opportunities or the payment of expenses, and the ability to repatriate any profits.
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Common Stock Risks
Our common stock price has been and may continue to be volatile.
The market price of our common stock has been and is likely to continue to be volatile and could fluctuate in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:
● | the results from our exploration and/or, if warranted, project development efforts; | |
● | our ability to achieve profitability; | |
● | our ability to raise capital when needed; | |
● | our ability to execute our business plan; | |
● | investor perception of our industry or our prospects; | |
● | legislative, regulatory, and competitive developments; and | |
● | economic and external factors. |
In addition, the securities markets have from time-to-time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of any company. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock regardless of our actual operations and the results from those operations.
We do not intend to pay regular future dividends on our common stock and thus stockholders must look to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investments.
We have never paid a dividend and we do not have any plans to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon various factors, including future earnings, if any, our capital requirements and general financial condition, and other factors. Accordingly, stockholders must look solely to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investment. This appreciation may not occur or may occur only over a longer timeframe.
We may seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions, or develop strategic relationships by issuing securities that would dilute your ownership.
We may largely finance our operations by issuing equity securities, which may materially reduce the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders. Furthermore, any newly issued securities could have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of our existing common stock. Moreover, any issuances by us of equity securities may be at or below the prevailing market price of our stock and in any event may have a dilutive impact on ownership interest of existing common stockholders, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. We may also raise additional funds through the incurrence of debt or the issuance or sale of other securities or instruments senior to our Common Stock. The holders of any debt securities or instruments that we may issue could have rights superior to the rights of our common stockholders.
Our Series A Preferred Stock has the effect of concentrating voting control over us in Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman.
One share of our Series A Preferred Stock is issued, outstanding and held since 2012 by Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. The Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of our Series A Convertible Preferred provides that for so long as Series A Preferred Stock is issued and outstanding, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class with the holders of our common stock, with the holders of Series A Preferred Stock being entitled to 51% of the total votes on all matters regardless of the actual number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding, and the holders of common stock and any other class or series of capital stock entitled to vote with the common stock being entitled to their proportional share of the remaining 49% of the total votes based on their respective voting power. As a result, you may have limited ability to impact our operations and activities.
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Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our Board of Directors, owns greater than 50% of our voting securities, which means we are deemed a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq.
As a result of his ownership of all issued and outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, Mr. Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, holds more than 50% of our voting securities, and as such, we are a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq.
As a “controlled company,” we may elect to rely on some or all of these exemptions, even though currently we do not take advantage of any of these exemptions but may do so in the future. Accordingly, should the interests of Mr. Fogassa differ from those of other stockholders, the other stockholders may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Our status as a controlled company could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.
Our stock price may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
The trading price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially and will depend on several factors, including those described in this “Risk Factors” section, many of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our securities. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include:
● | results from our exploration and/or, if warranted, project development efforts; | |
● | changes to our industry, including demand and regulations; | |
● | failure to achieve commercial extraction of mineral deposits from any of our properties; | |
● | absence of any reserves contained within our properties, and loss of any funds spent on exploration and evaluation; | |
● | we may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors; | |
● | competitive pricing pressures; | |
● | our ability to obtain working capital financing as required; | |
● | additions or departures of key personnel; | |
● | sales of our common stock; | |
● | our ability to execute our business plan; | |
● | operating results that fall below expectations; | |
● | any major change in our management; | |
● | changes in accounting standards, procedures, guidelines, interpretations or principals; and | |
● | economic, geo-political and other external factors, particularly within the country of Brazil. |
In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Broad market and industry factors, as well as general economic, political and market conditions such as recessions or interest rate changes, may seriously affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.
Further, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market prices of particular companies’ securities, securities class action litigations have often been instituted against these companies. Litigation of this type, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources. Any adverse determination in any such litigation or any amounts paid to settle any such actual or threatened litigation could require that we make significant payments.
We are and may continue to be subject to short-selling strategies.
Short sellers of our stock may be manipulative and may attempt to drive down the market price of shares of our Common Stock. Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has, borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is therefore in the short seller’s best interests for the price of the stock to decline, many short sellers (sometime known as “disclosed shorts”) publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a stock short. The rise of the Internet and technological advancements regarding document creation, videotaping and publication by weblog (blogging) have allowed many disclosed shorts to publicly attack a company’s credibility, strategy and veracity by means of so-called “research reports” that mimic the type of investment analysis performed by large Wall Street firms and independent research analysts. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market, on occasion in large scale and broad base. Issuers who have limited trading volumes and are susceptible to higher volatility levels than large-cap stocks, can be particularly vulnerable to such short seller attacks. These short seller publications are not regulated by any governmental, self-regulatory organization or other official authority in the United States, are not subject to certification requirements imposed by the SEC and, accordingly, the opinions they express may be based on distortions or omissions of actual facts or, in some cases, fabrications of facts. In light of the limited risks involved in publishing such information, and the enormous profit that can be made from running a successful short attack, unless the short sellers become subject to significant penalties, it is more likely than not that disclosed short sellers will continue to issue such reports.
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Significant short selling of a company’s stock creates an incentive for market participants to reduce the value of that company’s common stock. Short selling may lead to the placement of sell orders by short sellers without commensurate buy orders because the shares borrowed by short sellers do not have to be returned by any fixed period of time. If a significant market for short selling our common stock develops, the market price of our common stock could be significantly depressed. In May 2023, we were the target of negative allegations posted on an internet platform designed to advise short sellers, which precipitated a decline in the price of our stock. Shortly thereafter, a plaintiff’s law firm announced investigations into potential securities laws violations based on these allegations. While we believe these allegations are without merit, and no litigation has been commenced to date regarding such allegations, we still face the potential for litigation to be initiated against us. While we would vigorously defend against any such litigation, regardless of outcome, litigation can be costly and time-consuming, divert the attention of our management team, adversely impact our reputation and brand, and if a plaintiff claim were successful, could result in significant liability, all of which could harm our business and financial condition.
You will experience dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
We may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. Although no assurances can be given that we will consummate a future financing, in the event we do, or in the event we sell shares of common stock or other securities convertible into shares of our common stock in the future, additional and potentially substantial dilution will occur.
Our existing stockholders have substantial influence over us and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other stockholders, which may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our control, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their securities.
As of the date of this Annual Report, certain stockholders control the voting power in us, including management. As a result, these stockholders have substantial influence over our business, including decisions regarding mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our control, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of any contemplated sale of us and may reduce the potential price of our common stock on such a transaction.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our stockholders in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that these sales might occur could significantly reduce the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise adequate capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that such sales may have on the prevailing market price of our common stock.
Costs as a result of operating as a public company are significant, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that private companies do not incur. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market, and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies. Our management and other personnel will devote a substantial amount of time to compliance with these requirements. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we will incur as a public company or the specific timing of such costs.
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Our internal control over financial reporting may not meet the standards required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, could have a material adverse effect on our business and share price.
Our management is required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation.
We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting once that firm begins our Section 404 reviews, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the capital markets.
Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Please refer to our Forms 8-K filed with the Commission on January 25, 2023, and February 3, 2023, respectively, with respect to issuances of unregistered sales of equity securities.
Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None
Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None
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Item 6. EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document | |
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | |
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
Atlas Lithium Corporation
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Marc Fogassa | Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and | May 15, 2023 | ||
Marc Fogassa | Chairman of the Board | |||
/s/ Gustavo Pereira de Aguiar | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and | May 15, 2023 | ||
Gustavo Pereira de Aguiar | Accounting Officer) |
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