BLUE BIOFUELS, INC. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarter ended March 31, 2023
Commission File Number: 000-54942
BLUE BIOFUELS, INC.
(Exact name of small Business Issuer as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 45-4944960 | |
(State or other jurisdiction | (IRS Employer | |
of incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
3710 Buckeye Street, Suite 120 | ||
Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 33410 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 607-3555
n/a
Former name or former address if changed since last report
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock par value $0.001 | BIOF | OTCQB |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Check 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 electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer ☐ | Accelerated Filer ☐ | Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ | Emerging Growth Company ☐ |
Smaller reporting 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 accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Yes ☒ No
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $24,775,191.
State the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s $.001 par value common stock as of the close of business on the latest practicable date May 8, 2023): .
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
ITEM 1. | Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) | 4 |
ITEM 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 19 |
ITEM 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 24 |
ITEM 4. | Controls and Procedures | 24 |
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION | ||
ITEM 1. | Legal Proceedings | 25 |
ITEM 1A. | Risk Factors | 25 |
ITEM 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 25 |
ITEM 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 26 |
ITEM 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 26 |
ITEM 5. | Other Information | 26 |
ITEM 6. | Exhibits | 26 |
Signatures | 27 |
2 |
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 |
Blue Biofuels, Inc.
Financial Statements
Period Ended March 31, 2023
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OF
BLUE BIOFUELS, INC.
Blue Biofuels, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 163,123 | $ | 211,901 | ||||
Prepaid expenses | 61,118 | 43,119 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | $ | 224,241 | $ | 255,020 | ||||
Other assets | ||||||||
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $154,441 and $127,178 at March 31, 2023 and December 31,2022, respectively | $ | 671,942 | 420,115 | |||||
Security deposits | $ | 30,276 | 30,276 | |||||
Right of Use Assets, net of accumulated amortization | $ | 154,072 | 178,399 | |||||
Patents | $ | 234,730 | 222,109 | |||||
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS | $ | 1,091,020 | $ | 850,899 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 1,315,261 | $ | 1,105,919 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 23,489 | $ | 37,135 | ||||
Accounts payable - Related Party | $ | 72,670 | $ | 72,670 | ||||
Deferred wages and director’s fees - Related party | $ | 340,812 | $ | 307,606 | ||||
Lease Liability - Current | $ | 97,382 | $ | 95,172 | ||||
Chapter 11 Settlement | $ | $ | 50,000 | |||||
Notes Payable — Related Party | $ | 250,000 | $ | |||||
Interest Payable - Related Party | 82,849 | 76,138 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | $ | 867,202 | $ | 638,721 | ||||
Long term liabilities | ||||||||
Right of Use Lease Liability, net of current portion | $ | 60,637 | 85,983 | |||||
Notes Payable — Related Party | $ | 2,521,562 | $ | 2,521,562 | ||||
Notes Payable — Other | $ | 216,570 | $ | 216,570 | ||||
TOTAL LONG TERM LIABILITIES | $ | 2,798,769 | $ | 2,824,115 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | $ | 3,665,971 | $ | 3,462,836 | ||||
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Preferred stock; $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding$ | |||||||
Common stock; $ | par value; shares authorized; issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023, and shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022.$ | 299,417 | 289,942 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | $ | 51,195,549 | 50,134,727 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | $ | (53,845,676 | ) | $ | (52,781,586 | ) | ||
Total stockholders’ equity | $ | (2,350,710 | ) | $ | (2,356,917 | ) | ||
TOTAL EQUITY (DEFICIT) | $ | (2,350,710 | ) | $ | (2,356,917 | ) | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | $ | 1,315,261 | $ | 1,105,919 |
4 |
Blue Biofuels, Inc
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
31-Mar | ||||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Revenues | ||||||||
Operating expense: | ||||||||
General and administrative | 369,845 | 803,064 | ||||||
Research & Development | 684,562 | 1,230,152 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of assets | 369 | |||||||
Total operating expenses | 1,054,776 | 2,033,216 | ||||||
Loss from operations: | (1,054,776 | ) | (2,033,216 | ) | ||||
Other (income) expense: | ||||||||
6,712 | 6,712 | |||||||
Interest expense - other | 2,602 | 1,029 | ||||||
Total other (income) expense | 9,314 | 7,741 | ||||||
Income (Loss) before provisions for income taxes | $ | (1,064,090 | ) | $ | (2,040,957 | ) | ||
Provisions for income taxes | ||||||||
Net Income / (Loss): | $ | (1,064,090 | ) | $ | (2,040,957 | ) | ||
Net income (loss) per share | $ | (0.004 | ) | $ | (0.007 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||
Basic and Diluted | 295,025,276 | 274,257,953 |
5 |
Blue Biofuels, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(Unaudited)
Common Stock | Preferred Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated | Total Stockholder’s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amt | Capital | Deficit | (Deficiency) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2022 | 289,941,623 | $ | 289,942 | - | $ | 50,134,727 | $ | (52,781,586 | ) | $ | (2,356,917 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for services | 140,000 | $ | 140 | - | $ | 23,860 | $ | 24,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock and warrants for cash through PPM | 3,884,998 | $ | 3,885 | - | $ | 578,865 | $ | 582,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants exercised | 5,450,148 | $ | 5,450 | - | $ | 66,800 | $ | 72,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting of | options under the employee, director plan- | $ | 391,297 | $ | 391,297 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | (1,064,090 | ) | $ | (1,064,090 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2023 | 299,416,769 | $ | 299,417 | - | $ | 51,195,549 | $ | (53,845,676 | ) | $ | (2,350,710 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2021 | 274,003,883 | $ | 274,004 | - | $ | 47,151,353 | $ | (48,821,403 | ) | $ | (1,396,046 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock for services | 447,781 | $ | 448 | - | $ | 70,852 | $ | 71,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Employee stock options exercised | 150,000 | $ | 150 | - | $ | 7,350 | $ | 7,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting of | options under the employee, director plan- | $ | 1,316,277 | $ | 1,316,277 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | (2,040,957 | ) | $ | (2,040,957 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2022 | 274,601,664 | $ | 274,602 | - | $ | 48,545,832 | $ | (50,862,360 | ) | $ | (2,041,926 | ) |
6 |
Blue Biofuels, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended | For the Three Months Ended | |||||||
31-Mar-23 | 31-Mar-22 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net Income (Loss) | $ | (1,064,090 | ) | $ | (2,040,957 | ) | ||
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 29,842 | 17,292 | ||||||
Stock based compensation for services | 24,000 | 71,300 | ||||||
Net Issuance of options and warrants for services | 391,297 | 1,316,277 | ||||||
Loss on Disposal of assets | 369 | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses | (18,000 | ) | (37,838 | ) | ||||
Accrued interest - related party | 6,712 | 6,712 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 19,559 | 138,736 | ||||||
Right of use lease | 1,192 | (1,570 | ) | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (609,119 | ) | (530,048 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
Net Purchase of property and equipment | (282,038 | ) | (3,584 | ) | ||||
Security deposits | ||||||||
Patent Costs | (12,621 | ) | (18,272 | ) | ||||
Net cash from (used in) investing activities | (294,659 | ) | (21,856 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of warrants and options | 72,250 | 7,500 | ||||||
Chapter 11 Settlement | (50,000 | ) | ||||||
Net Proceeds from the issuance of Convertible Notes | 250,000 | |||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock | 582,750 | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 855,000 | 7,500 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (48,778 | ) | (544,404 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalent at beginning of the period | 211,901 | 1,164,664 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalent at end of the period | $ | 163,123 | $ | 620,260 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for | ||||||||
Interest | $ | $ | ||||||
Taxes | $ | $ | ||||||
Supplemental schedule of non-cash activities | ||||||||
Cashless conversion of warrants/options | $ | $ | ||||||
Conversion of convertible debenture to common stock | $ | $ |
7 |
Blue Biofuels, Inc.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
Blue Biofuels, Inc (the “Company”) is a technology company focused on emerging technologies in renewable energy, biofuels, and lignin.
In early 2018, the Company’s chief executive officer (“CEO”) Ben Slager invented a new technology system referred to as Cellulose-to-Sugar or CTS, and the Company filed a process patent application for this technology. Mr. Slager has since further developed the system with laboratory personnel. The CTS patent was awarded in 2021 in the United States (U.S. Patent No. 10,994,255) and also in El Salvador. The Company also filed an application for this patent in other major jurisdictions of the world including the European Patent Organization, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, and the Russian Federation. The patent applications are currently pending in all of these international jurisdictions. In addition to this patent, the Company has received one additional patent (for which it has also applied for in all the above mentioned jurisdictions), one continuation patent pending, and provisional patent applications for two additional patents that are currently pending.
Mr. Slager has since further developed the system with the technical staff of the Company. The patented CTS process is a continuous mechanical/chemical dry process for converting cellulose material into sugar and lignin, as compared to the prior batch process that the Company previously licensed. The CTS process creates molecular contact between two reactive solid components instead of other systems where the reaction takes place between two liquid or gas components in a batch process. The reactants are (1) the feedstock, which is broken down into its components being sugars and lignin; (2) a catalyst, which is cost effective and abundantly available in the market from regular suppliers; it is separated from reactor components and reused. The CTS mechanical/chemical process allows for exact process control to ensure that all the material passing through it does so on the optimum reaction parameters through which optimal efficiency is achieved.
CTS is different from other commercial processes that are used to convert cellulose into sugar. Other processes use enzymatic batch reactors that take up to weeks to convert cellulose to sugars. CTS can convert any cellulosic material – including grasses and agricultural waste – into sugars in less than a minute of conversion time. The sugars are subsequently processed into biofuels using off-the-shelf technologies. CTS is environmentally friendly in that it recycles the water and catalyst, and it has a near zero carbon footprint: the amount of added atmospheric carbon created by burning the biofuels produced by the CTS system was absorbed by the plant-based feedstock while growing and is merely released back into the atmosphere. No extra CO2 is released into the atmosphere in our system. This is to be distinguished from fossil fuels because new CO2 is released when fossil fuels are burned.
The CTS system converts plant-based feedstock into one primary product, soluble sugars, which can be further processed into cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels like jet fuel, and potentially into bio chemicals.
CTS has different co-products than other processes. Our primary co-product is pure lignin. Other industries like the paper industry produce lignin that is contaminated by chemicals like sulfur. Other cellulosic ethanol processes do not yield chemically clean high purity lignin because their processes chemically alter or contaminate the lignin. Most ethanol producers use corn, not cellulose, and the co-products of corn ethanol production are distillers grains animal feed and corn oil. Our lignin can potentially be used in ion exchange resins or specialty chemicals. Lignin can also be burned as a renewable fuel.
8 |
At a commercial scale, our management expects to be able to produce ethanol at a lower cost per gallon than existing commercial corn or cellulosic ethanol producers due to the fact that the CTS process is robust, uncomplicated and efficient, and is expected to use low-cost feedstocks and have a potentially high value by-product. We believe a significant difference between CTS ethanol and corn ethanol is the wide range of abundantly available feedstocks that CTS can process compared to just corn as the feedstock. The CTS feedstocks are nonfood and have much lower costs than corn. In addition, while in corn ethanol only the corn kernels are used, CTS uses the whole plant or its waste products, meaning it could obtain much higher yields per acre. Estimated yields for corn are about 400-600 gallons of ethanol per acre per year and for king grass in conjunction with our CTS process it could be up to 3000-3500 gallons per acre per year. The Company also expects to potentially receive a highly valued D3 RIN for each gallon of ethanol it produces.
The new technology made it worthwhile to financially restructure the Company through Chapter 11. The Company voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 on October 22, 2018, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Florida. The Company exited Chapter 11 on September 18, 2019, while keeping all classes, including shareholders, unimpaired. The bankruptcy case was closed on October 25, 2019.
The Company has built several prototypes of the CTS system to further develop the process. The Company finalized its parameter optimization when it was able to convert 99% of the cellulosic material into soluble sugars suitable for further processing into cellulosic ethanol. In 2022, the Company partnered with K.R. Komarek to build its CTS machines going forward. Komarek is an industry leading manufacturing company that builds briquetting machines and compaction/granulation systems with throughput capacities up to 50 tons per hour.
The Company has recently completed the build out of a pilot plant and has begun successfully testing and optimizing the plant. Initial tests have shown good results. This pilot plant is designed to show successful volume production and scalability.
The Company expects to engage an engineering firm to design a semi-commercial scale pilot plant that integrates a larger CTS system into the pre-processing and post-processing elements of the plant. It is anticipated that the semi-commercial plant will have the capacity to produce sugar at a rate sufficient to make up to 500,000 gallons of ethanol per year. The goal of the semi-commercial plant is to finalize design and operational parameters at this volume level and to provide operating cost estimates of a full commercial volume system. Due to its mechanical nature and modularity, we anticipate that one plant would have multiple modular CTS systems. The Company expects to have the semi-commercial system ready in 2024.
Plan of Operation
The Company’s strategy is to diversify its product portfolio to include a number of product lines. These potentially include (1) biofuels – such as ethanol, or converting ethanol into higher biofuels like sustainable aviation fuel and the like; (2) selling sulfur-free lignin to ion exchange resin producers; and (3) making specialty chemicals from lignin. We believe these, and other markets, could potentially provide for highly profitable products.
Commencing commercial production will require project financing. The project financing will either be for bolting on our CTS system into an existing ethanol facility of a future potential joint venture partner, or for acquiring an ethanol facility and converting that to cellulosic ethanol production using our CTS system, or for setting up a production facility for converting ethanol into jet fuel using the Vertimass Process that the Company has licensed.
Management believes that retrofitting existing plants with the CTS technology or delivering cellulosic sugar to existing ethanol plants to enable them to make cellulosic ethanol, may achieve more rapid commercialization than building new plants. After its first plant is profitable, the Company intends to grow with additional plants in the United States and explore international growth by either licensing the technology or forming joint ventures with foreign domestic partners to build plants.
The ethanol industry is competitive with over 200 ethanol plants in the United States alone. Currently, the vast majority use corn as the feedstock. Their profitability depends highly on the fluctuations between the price of corn and the price of ethanol. Since the Company does not plan to use corn, and plans on having long-term purchase agreements with cellulosic suppliers, we anticipate that our profitability will be more consistent.
9 |
Any new biofuels plant that is built would require various government permits. In particular, renewable fuels are subject to rigorous testing and premarket approval requirements by the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality and regulatory authorities in other countries. In the U.S., various federal, and, in some cases, state statutes and regulations also govern or impact the manufacturing, safety, storage and use of renewable fuels. The process of seeking required approvals and the continuing need for compliance with applicable statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of resources. The Company anticipates raising the necessary capital for this as a part of its project-based financing.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which included the Renewable Fuel Standard Program enforced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mandates a certain amount of renewable fuel be blended into the transportation fuel used by all vehicles in the country. This Program provides monetary incentives to companies that produce renewable transportation fuel, and establishes Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) or credits for each gallon of renewable transportation fuel produced in the United States, and breaks down those fuels into different D-codes depending on the source of the renewable fuel. D3 is the code for renewable ethanol that comes from cellulosic materials. The EPA’s current RIN volume targets for cellulosic ethanol include 720 million gallons for 2023, 1.42 billion gallons for 2024, and 2.13 billion gallons for 2025 (the D3 mandate). This mandate has increased every year and is statutorily mandated to increase in the future and become a larger portion of the full renewable fuels mandate, if and when cellulosic biofuels can be produced profitably in larger quantities than they are now. The RFS mandate for 2022 called for 20.77 billion gallons of total renewable fuel, 15 billion from conventional biofuels (corn ethanol) and 5.77 billion from advanced biofuels, including cellulosic biofuels. The “blend wall” (or upper limit to the amount of ethanol that can be blended into U.S. gasoline and automobile performance and comply with the Clean Air Act) of limiting ethanol content in gasoline to 10%, limits the total amount of ethanol consumed in the United States. Recent proposals may make 15% blending available year around. The value of the D3 RIN fluctuates, but as of this filing, it is approximately $2.11 per gallon of ethanol. To profit from these incentives, the Company plans to apply for these D3 RIN credits as it brings its first plant into commercial operation.
The Company believes that its management and consultants have significant experience in the development of technologies from concept to commercialization. As of this date, the Company has not generated any material revenues from its business.
The Company has licensed the Vertimass Process to convert ethanol (from the CTS process) into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). There is no up-front or annual fee until we are converting ethanol into SAF. The license agreement with Vertimass is the subject of a confidentiality agreement between the parties. The Company aims to start engineering of a first pilot plant to convert up to 500,000 gallons of ethanol into jet fuel and other fuels.
10 |
NOTE 2 – GOING CONCERN
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern, which assumes the Company will realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has not generated any significant revenue since inception and has incurred losses since inception. As of March 31, 2023, the Company has incurred accumulated losses of $53,845,676. The Company expects to incur significant additional losses and liabilities in connection with its start-up and commercialization activities. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities when they become due and to generate sufficient revenues from its operations to pay its operating expenses. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classifications of recorded asset amounts, or amounts and classifications of liabilities that might result from this uncertainty. There are no assurances that the Company will continue as a going concern.
Management believes that the Company’s future success is dependent upon its ability to achieve profitable operations, generate cash from operating activities, and obtain additional financing. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations, or sell additional shares of stock or borrow additional funds. The Company’s inability to obtain additional cash could have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, and its ability to continue in existence. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the U.S. and global economies, disrupted global supply chains, resulted in significant travel and transport restrictions, including mandated closures and orders to “shelter-in-place,” and created significant disruption of the financial markets. We are closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business, including how it will impact our supply chain, employees, and potential future customers. Our office and lab have remained open during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the pandemic slowed our ability to commercialize our process in two ways: by adversely affecting our ability to raise capital, and by adversely affecting the supply chain of laboratory equipment and various parts of upgrades to our CTS system, which slowed the development of our prototypes. Supply chain issues also delayed the delivery of various parts of our pilot plant. The extent to which our operations may be further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted. We may experience additional operating costs due to increased challenges with our workforce (including as a result of illness, absenteeism or government orders), access to supplies, capital, and fundamental support services (such as shipping and transportation). Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, we may experience materially adverse impacts to our business due to any resulting economic recession or depression. Furthermore, the effects of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.
NOTE 3 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. Investments in business entities in which the Company lacks control but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method. All material intercompany transactions and balances were eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates presented and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods presented. Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include estimates of impairment assessment of identifiable intangible assets and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Estimates are based on past experience and other considerations reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
11 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.
The Company recognizes the cost of all share-based payments under the relevant authoritative accounting guidance. Share-based payments include any remuneration paid by the Company in shares of the Company’s common stock or financial instruments that grant the recipient the right to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock. For share-based payments to employees, which consist only of awards made under the stock option plan described below, the Company accounts for the payments in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 718, “Stock Compensation” (formerly referred to as SFAS No. 123(R)). Share-based payments to consultants, service providers and other non-employees are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 718, ASC Topic 505, “Equity Payments to Non-Employees” or other applicable authoritative guidance.
Stock-based Compensation Valuation Methodology
Stock-based compensation resulting from the issuance of common stock is calculated by reference to the valuation of the stock on the date of issuance, the expense being recognized as the compensation is earned. Stock-based compensation expenses related to employee options and warrants granted to non-employees are recognized as the stock options and warrants are earned. The fair value of the stock options or warrants granted is estimated at the grant date, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and the expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the period over which services are to be received or the life of the option or warrant. The grant date fair value of employee share options and similar instruments is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the basis of the fair value of the underlying common stock on the measurement date, adjusted for the unique characteristics of those equity instruments, using the assumptions noted in the table below. The fair value of the common stock is determined by the then-prevailing closing market price. Expected volatility was based on the historical volatility of the Company’s closing day market price per share. The expected term of options and warrants was based upon the life of the option, and the risk-free rate used was based on the U.S. Treasury Daily Yield Curve Rate.
2/10/23 | 2/14/23 | 3/1/23 | 4/5/23 | 4/11/23 | ||||||||||||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 3.93 | % | 3.77 | % | 4.01 | % | 3.30 | % | 3.54 | % | ||||||||||
Expected life | years | years | years | years | years | |||||||||||||||
Expected dividends | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||
Expected volatility | 123.25 | % | 123.26 | % | 123.52 | % | 119.51 | % | 119.39 | % | ||||||||||
BIOF common stock fair value | $ | 0.159 | $ | 0.159 | $ | 0.177 | $ | 0.154 | $ | 0.145 |
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided for on a straight-line basis over the useful lives of the assets, generally 5 to 10 years. Expenditures for additions and improvements are capitalized; repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Patent Capitalization
If a product is currently under research and development and is not currently approved for market, costs incurred in connection with patent applications should generally be expensed in the income statement because there is uncertainty as to the future economic benefit of the asset. Conversely, if a product is approved for market (as is the case of the end product ethanol of the CTS process), or if future economic benefit is probable, or if an alternative future use is available to the Company, then such patent costs can be capitalized and amortized over the expected life of the patent(s). Since the Company’s primary end product is sugar converting to ethanol, which are in wide use, the Company has determined that it is reasonable to capitalize the patent costs associated with its CTS process, which were $234,730 as of March 31, 2023 and $222,109 as of December 31, 2022.
Research and Development
The Company expenses all research and development costs as incurred. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, and March 31, 2022, the amounts charged to research and development expenses were $684,562 and $1,230,152, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
The Company follows FASB ASC 606 “Revenue Recognition” and recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. The Company’s revenues will be derived principally from joint ventures, royalties and eventually corporate owned plants. However, no sales have occurred through those revenue streams to date. The Company considers revenue realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met:
1. | persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; | |
2. | the product has been shipped or the services have been rendered to the customer; | |
3. | the sales price is fixed or determinable; and, | |
4. | collectability is reasonably assured. |
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Common Stock Purchase Warrants and Other Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company classifies as equity any contracts that require physical settlement or net-share settlement or provide it with a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in the Company’s own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement) provided that such contracts are indexed to its own stock as defined in ASC 815-40 (“Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”). The Company classifies as assets or liabilities any contracts that require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the Company’s control) or give the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). The Company assesses the classification of its common stock purchase warrants and other free-standing derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between assets and liabilities is required.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable, the Company compares the carrying amount of the asset group to future undiscounted net cash flows, excluding interest costs, expected to be generated by the asset group and their ultimate disposition. If the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Under this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of: (i) taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (ii) deferred tax consequences of temporary differences resulting from matters that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets reported if based on the weight of the available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC Topic 740.10.30 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740.10.40 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Company has no material uncertain tax positions for any of the reporting periods presented.
Basic profit (loss) per share amounts have been calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each reporting period. Diluted loss per share has been calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares plus the potentially dilutive effect of securities such as outstanding options and warrants. The computation of potential common shares has been performed using the treasury stock method. The warrants and options are antidilutive for all periods presented. When net loss is reported, diluted and basic net loss per share amounts are the same as the impact of potential common shares is antidilutive.
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Fair Value Measurements
The Company adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, which defines fair value as used in numerous accounting pronouncements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure of fair value measurements.
The estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, payables to related parties, and accounts payable and accrued expenses are carried at historical cost basis, which approximates their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments.
ASC 820 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC 820 describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 — quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable
Level 3 — inputs that are unobservable (for example cash flow modeling inputs based on assumptions)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies that may have an impact on the Company’s accounting and reporting. The Company believes that such recently issued accounting pronouncements and other authoritative guidance for which the effective date is in the future either will not have an impact on its accounting or reporting or that such impact will not be material to its financial position, results of operations, and cash flows when implemented.
NOTE 4 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT | Life | March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
Building and Improvements | 15 | $ | 9,370 | $ | 9,370 | |||||
Machinery and Equipment | 10 | $ | 791,540 | $ | 512,450 | |||||
Furniture and Fixtures | 5 | $ | 13,649 | $ | 13,649 | |||||
Computer Equipment | 3 | $ | 11,824 | $ | 11,824 | |||||
$ | 826,383 | $ | 547,293 | |||||||
Less Accumulated Depreciation | $ | (154,441 | ) | $ | (127,178 | ) | ||||
Property and Equipment | $ | 671,942 | $ | 420,115 |
Total depreciation expense was $29,842 for the quarter ended March 2023.
In the fiscal quarter ended March 2023, The Company purchased machinery worth $285,538. This was primarily related to the pilot plant. The Company disposed of machinery that was no longer in use for a total of $3,500 that originally was purchased for $6,448 and that had accumulated depreciation of $2,579, thereby taking a loss of $369 on the disposal of assets.
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NOTE 5 – PATENTS
The Company has been granted one patent on its technology, has filed for three others that are pending, and has also applied for international patents. The Company has capitalized the legal and filing fees in the amount of $234,730 as of March 31, 2023.
NOTE 6 – DEBT
Notes Payable – Related Parties
In January 2023, the Company entered into a short-term convertible note with Chris Kneppers, with a principal balance of $250,000, that if it’s not paid by July 4, 2023, it automatically converts into common stock at $0.13/share for a total of 1,923,077 shares.
In July 2016, the Company issued six (6) short-term notes payable to related parties in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of the remaining 49% of AMG Energy Group. These notes had a value of $2,002,126 and accrued interest at a rate of six percent (6%) per annum. As of December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the total interest accrued on the notes was $278,794.68 and $176,460 respectively. All of the notes were due on August 4, 2017 and then were in default. However, the notes were held by related parties with the understanding that the notes were not to be paid until the Company begins generating profit. The Company renegotiated some of these notes during its Chapter 11 proceedings, whereas others failed to submit a claim and were discharged upon the Court’s Confirmation Order approving the Company’s Chapter 11 Plan on September 18, 2019. The renegotiated amounts, as per the Plan Confirmation are all to be paid from 50% of the future net profits and discharged to the extent unpaid five years after the Plan effective date of September 18, 2019. These amount are 1) Mark Koch $240,990 plus 6% interest on any portion not repaid within 12 months of the Company’s first reported quarterly net profit; 2) Animated Family Films $579,942 out of the Company’s net profits plus 6% interest; 3) Steven Dunkle, CTWC, & Wellington Asset Holdings $1.5 million plus 6% interest once there is positive quarterly EBITDA from the first plant of Company, or, at its option, may convert that into an equity investment in the first plant of the Company, measured by a percentage of the total cost to build, subject to a minimum equity interest of 1.25% in said plant.
On February 28, 2018, the Company entered into a short-term loan with Steven Sadaka, with a principal balance of $100,000 due and payable on May 1, 2018. The note does not accrue interest, however the Company provided 2,000,000 inducement shares to secure the note. These inducement shares were valued at $84,000 and are being amortized over the life of the note. The note’s maturity date was extended to 7/1/2018. If the note is not repaid at maturity, then an additional 5,000,000 shares of common stock will be due. The note was renegotiated during the Company’s Chapter 11 proceedings, and as per the Plan Confirmation, it is agreed that $100,000 is to be paid out of future gross revenues to satisfy this note in full, with no additional shares to be issued.
On May 15, 2018, the Company entered into a short-term loan with Christopher Jemapete, with a principal balance of $50,000 due and payable on May 16, 2019. The note carried an interest rate of 5% plus the company issued 1,250,000 inducement shares to secure the note as well as 1,000,000 warrants with a $0.10 strike price and with a 5-year expiration. These inducement shares were valued at $36,250 and are being amortized over the life of the note; the warrants had a value of $24,449. On August 25, 2018, this note was restructured to remove the warrants. As of June 30, 2018 accrued interest on this note is $315. The note was renegotiated during the Company’s Chapter 11 proceedings, and as per the Plan Confirmation, it is agreed that $50,315.07 is to be paid out of future gross revenues.
On May 15, 2018, the Company entered into a short-term loan with Pamela Jemapete, with a principal balance of $50,000 due and payable on May 16, 2019. The note carried an interest rate of 5% plus the company issued 1,250,000 inducement shares to secure the note as well as 1,000,000 warrants with a $0.10 strike price and with a 5-year expiration. These inducement shares were valued at $36,250 and are being amortized over the life of the note; the warrants had a value of $24,449. On August 25, 2018, this note was restructured to remove the warrants. As of June 30, 2018 accrued interest on this note is $315. The note was renegotiated during the Company’s Chapter 11 proceedings, and as per the Plan Confirmation, it is agreed that $50,315.07 is to be paid out of future gross revenues.
Notes Payable – Other
In July 2016, the Company issued a short-term note payable to a third party in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of the remaining 49% of AMG Energy Group. The note had a principal balance of $96,570 and accrued interest at a rate of six percent (6%) per annum. As of December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the total interest accrued on the note was $14,382.2 and $8,588 respectively. The note was due on August 4, 2017 and was then in default. The Company renegotiated this note during its Chapter 11 proceedings, and as per the Plan Confirmation, now the $96,570 is to be paid with no interest out of the same 50% of the future net profits of the Company as the notes mentioned above, if any, or discharged to the extent unpaid five years after September 18, 2019.
In November 2017, the Company entered into a convertible debenture with Lucas Hoppel, with a principal balance of $143,000 due and payable on May 30, 2018. The note carries an 8% one-time interest charge, a $43,000 original issue discount and a 35% conversion discount to the lowest trade price in the prior twenty-five trading days, after 180 days, in whole or in part at the option of the holder. In addition, the Company provided 500,000 inducement shares to secure the note, and may have to provide additional shares on the note’s 6-month anniversary if the Company’s share price declines. These inducement shares were valued at $39,500 and were amortized over the life of the note. The note can be repaid, without prepayment penalties, within the first 90 days. Thereafter, the note will incur a 120% prepayment penalty of the then outstanding principal and interest due. In May 2018, the company made two principal payments totaling $40,000. The note went into default on June 1, 2018 and incurred a 40% penalty of the outstanding balance immediately prior to the default event. On August 30, 2018, Hoppel sued the Company in Superior Court of the State of California County of San Diego Central District. That case was staid on October 22, 2018 when the Company filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Florida. Negotiations took place and a settlement was reached on this note and a subsequent note, and confirmed as part of the Plan Confirmation Order, that Hoppel would be paid a total of $100,000 out of 5% of the future gross revenue of the Company.
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In February 2018, the Company entered into a convertible debenture with Lucas Hoppel, with a principal balance of $165,000 due and payable on September 21, 2018. The note carries an 8% one-time interest charge, a $15,000 original issue discount and a 40% conversion discount to the lowest trade price in the prior twenty-five trading days, after 180 days, in whole or in part at the option of the holder. In addition, the Company provided 500,000 inducement shares to secure the note. These inducement shares were valued at $14,500, and were amortized over the life of the note. The note can be repaid, without prepayment penalties, within the first 90 days. Thereafter, the note will incur a 120% prepayment penalty of the then outstanding principal and interest due. The Note went into default on June 1, 2018, through a cross default provision with another Note to Hoppel, and incurred a 40% penalty of the outstanding balance immediately prior to the default event. On August 30, 2018, Hoppel sued the Company in Superior Court of the State of California County of San Diego Central District. That case was staid on October 22, 2018 when the Company filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Florida. Negotiations took place and a settlement was reached on this note and a prior note, and confirmed as part of the Plan Confirmation Order, that Hoppel would be paid a total of $100,000 out of 5% of the future gross revenue of the Company to settle both notes.
On March 27, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with another creditor, such that its debt will be reduced from $32,000 to $20,000 payable out of future gross revenues, upon the bankruptcy court’s acceptance of the Company’s plan of reorganization. The Plan was confirmed by the Court on September 18, 2019.
A summary of all debts indicated in the Notes above is as follows:
Notes Payable | March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
Short Term Convertible Note – Related Party | $ | 250,000 | $ | 0 | ||||
Short Term Chapter 11 Settlement | $ | 0 | $ | 50,000 | ||||
Long Term Notes Payable from future revenue — Related Party | $ | 1,700,630 | $ | 1,700,630 | ||||
Long Term Notes Payable from future revenue — Other | $ | 120,000 | $ | 120,000 | ||||
Long Term Note Payable from future profits — Related Party | $ | 820,932 | $ | 820,932 | ||||
Long Term Note Payable from future profits — Other | $ | 96,570 | $ | 96,570 | ||||
TOTAL NOTES | $ | 2,988,132 | $ | 2,788,132 |
Of the $2,988,132 due as of March 31, 2023, $2,738,132 is due out of future revenue or future profits with no specific due date. $2,417,502 of the $2,788,132 will be discharged if not paid by September 18, 2024, which is 5 years after the Company exited Chapter 11. The remaining debt that would not be discharged is $320,630, consisting of $200,630 due to related parties, and $120,000 due to other.
NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The total number of shares of capital stock, which the Company has authority to issue, is 1,010 million, billion of which are designated as common stock at $ par value (the “Common Stock”) and million of which are designated as preferred stock par value $ (the “Preferred Stock”). As of March 31, 2023, the Company had shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and shares of Preferred Stock were issued. Holders of shares of Common stock shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share held at all stockholders’ meetings for all purposes, including the election of directors. The Common Stock does not have cumulative voting rights. No holder of shares of stock of any class shall be entitled as a matter of right to subscribe for or purchase or receive any part of any new or additional issue of shares of stock of any class, or of securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, whether now hereafter authorized or whether issued for money, for consideration other than money, or by way of dividend. The Company has yet to designate any rights, preferences and privileges for any of its authorized Preferred Stock.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of 24,000. shares of its common stock for services valued at $
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, 582,750. shares of common stock were issued for cash of $
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, 72,250. warrants were exercised for proceeds of $
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, warrants expired.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, unvested options expired.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, stock options vested. Using a Black-Scholes asset pricing model, these had a value of $ .
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, stock options were issued and unvested. Using a Black-Scholes asset pricing model, these have a value of $ .
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NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
The Company is subject, from time to time, to litigation, claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not in any litigation at this time.
Leases
The Company currently leases office and laboratory space in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, that is classified as operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date for leases exceeding 12 months. The lease period was for twenty-four (24) months from November 1, 2019, to October 31, 2021. This had been extended for one year until October 31, 2022, and was further extended for two more years until October 31, 2024. Annual rent commenced at $84,100 per annum and increased 3% per year. The latest amendment adjusted to lease to $102,950 per annum and increases at 3% per year. Tenant is also required to cover operating costs that are estimated at $3,600 per month. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in General & Administrative expenses.
ASC 842 was effective for us beginning January 1, 2019. The adoption had a material impact on our consolidated balance sheets, but did not have a material impact on our consolidated income statements. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases.
Rent expense for the three months ending March 31, 2023, and 2022, were $24,327 and $20,735, respectively.
In addition, the Company leases land in Arcadia, FL where it grows king grass. The original lease began on September 1, 2020, and was for 18.2 acres at an annual cost of $6,370 that the Company has the right to renew for a total of 5 years. A second lease began on March 31, 2023, for an additional 167.6 acres at a cost of $24,721 every 6 months that the Company also can continue for up to 5 years. Since those leases can be terminated at will, they are not included in the ROU or lease liability on the Company’s balance sheet.
The Company recognized the following related to leases in its Consolidated Balance Sheet:
PERIOD ENDED | March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
Right of Use Lease Liabilities | ||||||||
Current portion | 97,382 | 95,172 | ||||||
Long-term portion | 60,637 | 85,983 | ||||||
TOTAL | 158,019 | 181,155 |
As of March 31, 2023, the total future minimum lease payments in respect of leased premises are as follows:
YEAR ENDED | MINIMUM DUE | |||
2023 | 72,036 | |||
2024 | 85,983 | |||
2025 | 0 | |||
TOTAL | $ | 158,019 |
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NOTE 9 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Transactions
The Company follows FASB ASC subtopic 850-10, Related Party Disclosures, for the identification of related parties and disclosure of related party transactions. Pursuant to ASC 850-10-20, related parties include: a) affiliates of the Company; b) entities for which investments in their equity securities would be required, absent the election of the fair value option under the Fair Value Option Subsection of Section 825–10–15, to be accounted for by the equity method by the investing entity; c) trusts for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of management; d) principal owners of the Company; e) management of the Company; f) other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests; and g) other parties that can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or that have an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.
1) | Short-term notes payable, convertible notes, and contingent liabilities issued to related parties are described in NOTE 6. | |
2) | A board resolution was passed on February 13, 2020, that pledged the patents and pending patents to secure the back pay claims of Ben Slager, CEO, Anthony Santelli, CFO, and Charles Sills, Director. This was done to ensure the continued involvement of management to build the Company while they continued to receive less than full salaries. |
The officers and directors for the Company are involved in other business activities and may, in the future, become involved in other business opportunities. If a specific business opportunity becomes available, such persons may face a conflict in selecting between the Company and their other business interest. The Company has not formulated a policy for the resolution of such conflicts.
NOTE 10 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, the Company has identified the following subsequent events:
From April 1, 2023, to the date of this filing, the Company issued shares for services.
From April 1, 2023, to the date of this filing, the Company issued warrants for services.
From April 1, 2023, to the date of this filing, warrants expired.
From April 1, 2023, to the date of this filing, vested options were issued, and previously issued options vested, and options expired.
From April 1, 2023, to the date of this filing, the Company issued 95,022. shares in a private placement for proceeds of $
From April 1, 2023, to the date of this filing, the Company issued a convertible note to a related party for $150,000. Instead of interest, it accrues warrants at the rate of per year.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and the notes thereto.
Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of its management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, its management. When used in this report, the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend”, “plan” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current view of the Company concerning future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including among many others: a general economic downturn; a downturn in the securities markets; federal or state laws or regulations having an adverse effect on proposed transactions that the Company desires to effect; Securities and Exchange Commission regulations which affect trading in the securities of “penny stocks” and other risks and uncertainties. Should any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this report as anticipated, estimated or expected. The accompanying information contained in this registration statement, including, without limitation, the information set forth under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Plan of Operation — Risk Factors” identifies important additional factors that could materially adversely affect actual results and performance. You are urged to carefully consider these factors. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statement.
Business Overview
Blue Biofuels, Inc (the “Company”) is a technology company focused on emerging technologies in renewable energy, biofuels, and lignin.
In early 2018, the Company’s chief executive officer (“CEO”) Ben Slager invented a new technology system referred to as Cellulose-to-Sugar or CTS, and the Company filed a process patent application for this technology. Mr. Slager has since further developed the system with laboratory personnel. The CTS patent was awarded in 2021 in the United States (U.S. Patent No. 10,994,255) and also in El Salvador. The Company also filed an application for this patent in other major jurisdictions of the world including the European Patent Organization, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, and the Russian Federation. The patent applications are currently pending in all of these international jurisdictions. In addition to this patent, the Company has received one additional patent (for which it has also applied for in all the above mentioned jurisdictions), one continuation patent pending, and provisional patent applications for two additional patents that are currently pending.
Mr. Slager has since further developed the system with the technical staff of the Company. The patented CTS process is a continuous mechanical/chemical dry process for converting cellulose material into sugar and lignin, as compared to the prior batch process that the Company previously licensed. The CTS process creates molecular contact between two reactive solid components instead of other systems where the reaction takes place between two liquid or gas components in a batch process. The reactants are (1) the feedstock, which is broken down into its components being sugars and lignin; (2) a catalyst, which is cost effective and abundantly available in the market from regular suppliers; it is separated from reactor components and reused. The CTS mechanical/chemical process allows for exact process control to ensure that all the material passing through it does so on the optimum reaction parameters through which optimal efficiency is achieved.
CTS is different from other commercial processes that are used to convert cellulose into sugar. Other processes use enzymatic batch reactors that take up to weeks to convert cellulose to sugars. CTS can convert any cellulosic material – including grasses and agricultural waste – into sugars in less than a minute of conversion time. The sugars are subsequently processed into biofuels using off-the-shelf technologies. CTS is environmentally friendly in that it recycles the water and catalyst, and it has a near zero carbon footprint: the amount of added atmospheric carbon created by burning the biofuels produced by the CTS system was absorbed by the plant-based feedstock while growing and is merely released back into the atmosphere. No extra CO2 is released into the atmosphere in our system. This is to be distinguished from fossil fuels because new CO2 is released when fossil fuels are burned.
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The CTS system converts plant-based feedstock into one primary product, soluble sugars, which can be further processed into cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels like jet fuel, and potentially into bio chemicals.
CTS has different co-products than other processes. Our primary co-product is pure lignin. Other industries like the paper industry produce lignin that is contaminated by chemicals like sulfur. Other cellulosic ethanol processes do not yield chemically clean high purity lignin because their processes chemically alter or contaminate the lignin. Most ethanol producers use corn, not cellulose, and the co-products of corn ethanol production are distillers grains animal feed and corn oil. Our lignin can potentially be used in ion exchange resins or specialty chemicals. Lignin can also be burned as a renewable fuel.
At a commercial scale, our management expects to be able to produce ethanol at a lower cost per gallon than existing commercial corn or cellulosic ethanol producers due to the fact that the CTS process is robust, uncomplicated and efficient, and is expected to use low-cost feedstocks and have a potentially high value by-product. We believe a significant difference between CTS ethanol and corn ethanol is the wide range of abundantly available feedstocks that CTS can process compared to just corn as the feedstock. The CTS feedstocks are nonfood and have much lower costs than corn. In addition, while in corn ethanol only the corn kernels are used, CTS uses the whole plant or its waste products, meaning it could obtain much higher yields per acre. Estimated yields for corn are about 400-600 gallons of ethanol per acre per year and for king grass in conjunction with our CTS process it could be up to 3000-3500 gallons per acre per year. The Company also expects to potentially receive a highly valued D3 RIN for each gallon of ethanol it produces.
The new technology made it worthwhile to financially restructure the Company through Chapter 11. The Company voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 on October 22, 2018, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Florida. The Company exited Chapter 11 on September 18, 2019, while keeping all classes, including shareholders, unimpaired. The bankruptcy case was closed on October 25, 2019.
The Company has built several prototypes of the CTS system to further develop the process. The Company finalized its parameter optimization when it was able to convert 99% of the cellulosic material into soluble sugars suitable for further processing into cellulosic ethanol. In 2022, the Company partnered with K.R. Komarek to build its CTS machines going forward. Komarek is an industry leading manufacturing company that builds briquetting machines and compaction/granulation systems with throughput capacities up to 50 tons per hour.
The Company has recently completed the build out of a pilot plant and has begun successfully testing and optimizing the plant. Initial tests have shown good results. This pilot plant is designed to show successful volume production and scalability.
The Company expects to engage an engineering firm to design a semi-commercial scale pilot plant that integrates a larger CTS system into the pre-processing and post-processing elements of the plant. It is anticipated that the semi-commercial plant will have the capacity to produce sugar at a rate sufficient to make up to 500,000 gallons of ethanol per year. The goal of the semi-commercial plant is to finalize design and operational parameters at this volume level and to provide operating cost estimates of a full commercial volume system. Due to its mechanical nature and modularity, we anticipate that one plant would have multiple modular CTS systems. The Company expects to have the semi-commercial system ready in 2024.
Plan of Operation
The Company’s strategy is to diversify its product portfolio to include a number of product lines. These potentially include (1) biofuels – such as ethanol, or converting ethanol into higher biofuels like sustainable aviation fuel and the like; (2) selling sulfur-free lignin to ion exchange resin producers; and (3) making specialty chemicals from lignin. We believe these, and other markets, could potentially provide for highly profitable products.
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Commencing commercial production will require project financing. The project financing will either be for bolting on our CTS system into an existing ethanol facility of a future potential joint venture partner, or for acquiring an ethanol facility and converting that to cellulosic ethanol production using our CTS system, or for setting up a production facility for converting ethanol into jet fuel using the Vertimass Process that the Company has licensed.
Management believes that retrofitting existing plants with the CTS technology or delivering cellulosic sugar to existing ethanol plants to enable them to make cellulosic ethanol, may achieve more rapid commercialization than building new plants. After its first plant is profitable, the Company intends to grow with additional plants in the United States and explore international growth by either licensing the technology or forming joint ventures with foreign domestic partners to build plants.
The ethanol industry is competitive with over 200 ethanol plants in the United States alone. Currently, the vast majority use corn as the feedstock. Their profitability depends highly on the fluctuations between the price of corn and the price of ethanol. Since the Company does not plan to use corn, and plans on having long-term purchase agreements with cellulosic suppliers, we anticipate that our profitability will be more consistent.
Any new biofuels plant that is built would require various government permits. In particular, renewable fuels are subject to rigorous testing and premarket approval requirements by the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality and regulatory authorities in other countries. In the U.S., various federal, and, in some cases, state statutes and regulations also govern or impact the manufacturing, safety, storage and use of renewable fuels. The process of seeking required approvals and the continuing need for compliance with applicable statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of resources. The Company anticipates raising the necessary capital for this as a part of its project-based financing.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which included the Renewable Fuel Standard Program enforced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mandates a certain amount of renewable fuel be blended into the transportation fuel used by all vehicles in the country. This Program provides monetary incentives to companies that produce renewable transportation fuel, and establishes Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) or credits for each gallon of renewable transportation fuel produced in the United States, and breaks down those fuels into different D-codes depending on the source of the renewable fuel. D3 is the code for renewable ethanol that comes from cellulosic materials. The EPA’s current RIN volume targets for cellulosic ethanol include 720 million gallons for 2023, 1.42 billion gallons for 2024, and 2.13 billion gallons for 2025 (the D3 mandate). This mandate has increased every year and is statutorily mandated to increase in the future and become a larger portion of the full renewable fuels mandate, if and when cellulosic biofuels can be produced profitably in larger quantities than they are now. The RFS mandate for 2022 called for 20.77 billion gallons of total renewable fuel, 15 billion from conventional biofuels (corn ethanol) and 5.77 billion from advanced biofuels, including cellulosic biofuels. The “blend wall” (or upper limit to the amount of ethanol that can be blended into U.S. gasoline and automobile performance and comply with the Clean Air Act) of limiting ethanol content in gasoline to 10%, limits the total amount of ethanol consumed in the United States. Recent proposals may make 15% blending available year around. The value of the D3 RIN fluctuates, but as of this filing, it is approximately $2.11 per gallon of ethanol. To profit from these incentives, the Company plans to apply for these D3 RIN credits as it brings its first plant into commercial operation.
The Company believes that its management and consultants have significant experience in the development of technologies from concept to commercialization. As of this date, the Company has not generated any material revenues from its business.
The Company has licensed the Vertimass Process to convert ethanol (from the CTS process) into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). There is no up-front or annual fee until we are converting ethanol into SAF. The license agreement with Vertimass is the subject of a confidentiality agreement between the parties. The Company aims to start engineering of a first pilot plant to convert up to 500,000 gallons of ethanol into jet fuel and other fuels.
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Capital Formation
From January 1, 2023, through the date of filing, the Company issued an aggregate of 174,194 shares of its common stock for services valued at $29,300.
From January 1, 2023, through the date of filing, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,518,332 shares of its common stock for capital of $677,772.
From January 1, 2023, through the date of filing, 5,450,148 warrants were exercised for $72,251.
From January 1, 2023, through the date of filing, the Company issued unvested options to its managers and employees to purchase 15,950,000 shares of its common stock for a period of ten years at the exercise price of 19 to 20 cents per share. Using a Black-Scholes asset-pricing model, these agreements were valued at $2,675,116. None of those have vested. 1,000,000 vested options were issued at exercise prices between 16 and 19 cents. Using a Black-Scholes asset-pricing model, these agreements were valued at $157,939. 2,685,000 previously issued options have vested, with a valuation of $405,705.
From January 1, 2023, through the date of filing, 2,300,000 options expired and 2,059,999 warrants expired.
Going Concern
The Company has incurred losses since inception, has a working capital deficiency, and may be unable to raise further capital. At March 31, 2023, the Company had a working capital deficit of $642,961 and had incurred accumulated losses of $53,845,676 since its inception. The Company expects to incur significant additional losses in connection with its continued start-up activities. As a result, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern based upon recurring operating losses and its need to obtain additional financing to sustain operations. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain the necessary financing to meet its obligations and repay its liabilities when they become due and to generate sufficient revenues from its operations to pay its operating expenses.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three month period ended March 31, 2023 (unaudited) to March 31, 2022
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized $0 in revenue as opposed to $0 in 2022.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company’s general and administrative expenses decreased by $433,219 to $369,845 from $803,064 in 2022. This decrease is primarily the result of $84,698 in equity-based compensation in 2023 versus $495,532 in 2022.
Interest expense increased in the quarter ended March 31, 2023 by $1,573 to $9,314 from $7,741 in 2022.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 the Company recorded non-cash impairments of assets of $369, as compared to $0 in 2022. This was the result of disposing of laboratory assets no longer in use in 2023 and no such disposal in the first quarter of 2022.
Research and development (R&D) costs for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were $684,562, a decrease of $545,590 from $1,230,152 in 2022. The decrease in R&D expenses is primarily the result of a decrease in equity-based compensation to $306,599 from $820,745 in 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $163,123 in cash, and total stockholders’ equity on March 31, 2023, was negative $2,350,710. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had $211,901 in cash, and total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2022, was negative $2,356,917. Total debt, including advances, accounts payable and other notes payable at March 31, 2023, together with interest payable thereon and contingent liabilities, was $3,665,971 an increase of $203,135 from December 31, 2022, where it stood at $3,462,836. This increase is primarily attributable to a new convertible note due to a related party. $1,820,630 of the remaining debt has been renegotiated to be payable out of future revenue and $917,502 out of future profits and otherwise does not come due.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company’s net cash used in operating activities increased by $79,071 to $609,119 from $530,048 in the three months ending March 31, 2022. This increase can primarily be attributed to a decrease in deferred payroll to zero from $125,440 in 2022.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company’s investing activities used $294,659 in cash, as compared to $21,856 in the first quarter of 2022. This can be primarily attributed to capitalizing $12,621 in patent costs and $282,038 used to purchase machinery and equipment, as compared to $18,272 in patent costs and $3,584 in purchasing equipment in the first quarter of 2022.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company generated an aggregate of $855,000 through its financing activities versus $7,500 in the three months ended March 31, 2022, which is an increase of $847,500. This increase from the prior year can primarily be attributed to the lack of an equity raise in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to $582,750 raised in the sale of common stock through the Company’s private offerings in the first quarter of 2023, $72,250 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants and options, and $250,000 in net proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes.
Capital Resources
At this time, the Company has limited liquidity and capital resources. To continue funding its operations, the Company will need to generate revenue or obtain additional financing for current and future operations. The Company anticipates needing around $15 million to build and optimize a semi-commercial scale CTS system, and then will seek project financing for a commercial system. There is no guarantee that we will achieve all of the additional funding that is needed.
As of the date of this filing, the Company has raised $725,001 in 2023, through the issuance of shares and the exercise of warrants, plus $15,863,601 raised previously, in addition to capital raised through debt or convertible notes. However, there is no guarantee that the company will be able to raise any additional capital on terms acceptable to the Company.
The inability to obtain this funding either in the near term and/or longer term will materially affect the ability of the Company to implement its business plan of operations and jeopardize the viability of the Company. In that case, the Company may need to reevaluate and revise its operations.
Equity
As of March 31, 2023, shareholders’ equity was negative $2,350,710.
There were 299,416,769 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023.
There were no preferred shares outstanding.
The Company has paid no dividends.
Critical Accounting Policies
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
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Seasonality
The Company’s operating results are not affected by seasonality.
Inflation
The Company’s business and operating results are not affected in any material way by inflation.
Contractual Obligations
As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide this information.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide information required by this Item.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Disclosure controls and procedures refer to controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, our management has carried out an evaluation, with the participation and under the supervision of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as of December 31, 2021. Based upon, and as of the date of this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer determined that our disclosure controls and procedures were sufficient.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with our evaluation we conducted of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, that occurred during our first fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is subject, from time to time, to litigation, claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. As of the date of filing, there are no material claims or suits whose outcomes could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, the Company is not required to provide information required by this Item.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Below is a list of securities sold by the Company from January 1, 2023, through the date of filing which were not registered under the Securities Act.
Entity | Date of Investment | Title of Security | Amount of Securities Sold | Consideration | ||||||
Raymond Leon | 01/03/23 | Common Stock | 200,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
James Cherwin | 01/30/23 | Common Stock | 100,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Edmund Burke | 01/30/23 | Common Stock | 4,450,148 | Exercise of Warrants | ||||||
Edmund Burke | 01/31/23 | Common Stock | 1,000,000 | Exercise of Warrants | ||||||
NWBB, Inc | 02/06/23 | Common Stock | 40,000 | Professional Services | ||||||
Ron Smith | 02/06/23 | Common Stock | 166,666 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Mark Monahan | 02/17/23 | Common Stock | 333,333 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Michael Fidler | 02/17/23 | Common Stock | 200,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Joseph Corry | 02/17/23 | Common Stock | 100,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
William Newman | 02/21/23 | Common Stock | 100,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Johnny Anastasiades | 03/01/23 | Common Stock | 135,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Jozef Kneppers | 03/06/23 | Common Stock | 1,333,333 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
James Dupre & Michelle Dupre | 03/06/23 | Common Stock | 150,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Randall Brodsky | 03/07/23 | Common Stock | 400,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Tamara Chapman Revocable Trust | 03/08/23 | Common Stock | 333,333 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
John Comrie | 03/08/23 | Common Stock | 333,333 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
William Fitzpatrick | 03/24/23 | Common Stock | 100,000 | Professional Services | ||||||
Neil Hendry | 04/05/23 | Common Stock | 66,667 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
NWBB, Inc. | 04/10/23 | Common Stock | 34,194 | Professional Services | ||||||
Clay Taylor | 04/11/23 | Common Stock | 400,000 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share | ||||||
Kophyo Win | 05/05/23 | Common Stock | 166,667 | Purchased @ $0.15 per share |
The securities issued in the above-mentioned transactions were issued in connection with private placements exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the terms of Section 4(a)(2) of that Act and Rules 504 and 506 of Regulation D.
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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The exhibits listed below are filed as part of or incorporated by reference in this report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Blue Biofuels, Inc. | ||
(Registrant) | ||
By | /s/ Benjamin Slager | |
Benjamin Slager | ||
Chief Executive Officer, (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Date | May 15, 2023 | |
By | /s/ Anthony Santelli | |
Anthony Santelli | ||
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
Date | May 15, 2023 |
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