Greenwave Technology Solutions, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___________to ____________

Commission File Number 000-55431

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

(f/k/a MassRoots, Inc.)

(Exact name of business as specified in its charter)

(757) 966-1432

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 (§232.405 of this chapter) 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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of May 12, 2023, there were 11,250,813 shares of the registrant’s common stock issued and outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may be “forward-looking statements.”

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” and “would.” These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based in part on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our other filings with SEC.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law.

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASHFLOWS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

GREENWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

March 31, 2023 (Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Overview

Greenwave Technology Solutions, Inc. (“Greenwave” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on April 26, 2013 as a technology platform developer under the name MassRoots, Inc. The Company sold its social media assets in October 2021 and has discontinued all operations related to this business. On September 30, 2021, we closed our acquisition of Empire Services, Inc. (“Empire”), which operates 13 metal recycling facilities in Virginia and North Carolina. The acquisition was effective October 1, 2021 upon the effectiveness of the Certificates of Merger in Virginia and Delaware.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Empire Services, Inc., Empire Staffing, LLC, Liverman Metal Recycling, Inc., and Greenwave Elite Sports Facility, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions were eliminated during consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and reclassifications and non-recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and its financial position as of March 31, 2023 have been made. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full year.

Certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to the annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted from these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023 and amended on April 13, 2023 (the “Annual Report”). The December 31, 2022 balance sheet is derived from those statements.

NOTE 2 – GOING CONCERN AND MANAGEMENT’S LIQUIDITY PLANS

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash of $276,085 and a working capital deficit (current liabilities in excess of current assets) of $21,320,881. The accumulated deficit as of March 31, 2023 was $366,294,690. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Until the Company’s consummation of the Empire acquisition, the Company had experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operations. The Company believes it could generate positive cashflows from operations going forward but in the event the market for recycled metals experiences a sharp downturn or if it experiences delays in its growth plans, the Company may need to raise additional capital. The Company’s failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and its ability to pursue its business strategy.

The Company believes that the current cash on hand of $276,085 and anticipated cash generated from operations could be sufficient to conduct planned operations for one year from the issuance of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, management believes they can raise additional capital, if necessary, through both equity and debt financing.

If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, its stockholders would experience dilution. Additional debt financing, if available, may involve covenants restricting its operations or its ability to incur additional debt. Any additional debt financing or additional equity that the Company raises may contain terms that are not favorable to it or its stockholders and require significant debt service payments, which diverts resources from other activities. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital will be impacted by market conditions and the price of the Company’s common stock.

Accordingly, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for one year from the date the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement values. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

NOTE 3 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Greenwave Technology Solutions, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include estimates used in the, fair values relating to derivative liabilities, payroll tax liabilities with interest and penalties, assumptions used in right-of-use and lease liability calculations, impairments of intangible assets acquired in business combination, estimated useful life of long-lived assets and finite life tangible assets, and the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 825-10, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825-10”) requires disclosure of the fair value of certain financial instruments. The estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, including cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are carried at historical cost basis, which approximates their fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. All other significant financial assets, financial liabilities and equity instruments of the Company are either recognized or disclosed in the condensed consolidated financial statements together with other information relevant for making a reasonable assessment of future cash flows, interest rate risk and credit risk.

The Company follows ASC 825-10, which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.

Cash

For purposes of the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had no cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in accounts that at times may be in excess of the federally insured limit of $250,000 per bank. The Company minimizes this risk by placing its cash deposits with major financial institutions. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the uninsured balances amounted to $48,735 and $434,399, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represent amounts primarily due from customers on product and other sales. These accounts receivable, which are reduced by an allowance for credit losses, are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company delivers shipments of scrap metal to customers and typically receives payment within 45 days of delivery.

The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors, including the aging of customer receivable balances, the financial condition of the Company’s customers, historical collection rates, and economic trends. Management uses this evaluation to estimate the amount of customer receivables that may not be collected in the future and records a provision for expected credit losses. Accounts are written off when all efforts to collect have been exhausted. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the accounts receivable balances amounted to $359,525 and $215,256, respectively.

Property and Equipment, net

We state property and equipment at cost or, if acquired through a business combination, fair value at the date of acquisition. We calculate depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, except for our leasehold improvements, which are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or their related lease term. Upon the sale or retirement of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from our accounts and the resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to income. We expense costs for repairs and maintenance when incurred. Our property and equipment is pledged as collateral for certain factoring advances and promissory notes, see Note 8 – Factoring Advances and Non-Convertible Notes.

Cost of Revenue

The Company’s cost of revenue consists primarily of the costs of purchasing metal from its suppliers.

Related Party Transactions

Parties are considered related to the Company if the parties, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, control, are controlled by, or are under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and 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. The Company discloses all related party transactions. See Note 16 – Related Party Transactions.

Leases

The Company accounts for its leases under ASC 842, Leases. Under this guidance, arrangements meeting the definition of a lease are classified as operating or financing leases and are recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as both a right of use asset and lease liability, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the right of use asset is amortized over the lease term. For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right of use asset result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term. Variable lease expenses, if any, are recorded when incurred.

In calculating the right of use asset and lease liability, the Company elected to combine lease and non-lease components. The Company excluded short-term leases having initial terms of 12 months or less from the new guidance as an accounting policy election and recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. See Note 11 – Leases.

Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. Except as set forth below, we are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results. See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when services are realized or realizable and earned, less estimated future doubtful accounts.

The Company’s revenues are accounted for under ASC Topic 606, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers” (“ASC 606”) and generally do not require significant estimates or judgments based on the nature of the Company’s revenue streams. The sales prices are generally fixed at the point of sale and all consideration from contracts is included in the transaction price. The Company’s contracts do not include multiple performance obligations or material variable consideration.

In accordance with ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with that core principle by applying the following:

The Company primarily generates revenue by purchasing scrap metal from businesses and retail suppliers, processing it, and selling the ferrous and non-ferrous metals to clients.

The Company realizes revenue upon the fulfillment of its performance obligations to customers. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had a contract liability of $25,000 and $25,000, respectively, for contracts under which the customer had paid for and the Company had not yet delivered.

Inventories

Although we ship the ferrous and non-ferrous metals we purchase from suppliers multiple times per day, we do maintain inventories. We calculate the value of the inventories we do carry, which consist of processed and unprocessed scrap metal (ferrous and nonferrous), used and salvaged vehicles, and supplies, based on the net realizable value or the cost of the inventories, whichever is less. We calculate the value of the inventory based on the first-in-first-out (FIFO) methodology. We calculate the value of finished products based on their net realizable value as their cost basis is not readily available. The value of our inventories was $493,472 and $189,646, respectively, as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

Advertising

The Company charges the costs of advertising to expense as incurred. Advertising costs were $5,522 and $16,230 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date fair value of the award and is expensed over the requisite service period. For stock-based awards to employees, non-employees and directors, the Company calculates the fair value of the award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date under this model requires judgment, including estimating volatility, employee stock option exercise behaviors and forfeiture rates. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent the Company’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.

Income Taxes

The Company follows ASC Subtopic 740-10, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740-10”) for recording the provision for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed based upon the difference between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rate applicable when the related asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. Deferred income tax expenses or benefits are based on the changes in the asset or liability during each period.

If available evidence suggests that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is required to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Future changes in such valuation allowance are included in the provision for deferred income taxes in the period of change. Deferred income taxes may arise from temporary differences resulting from income and expense items reported for financial accounting and tax purposes in different periods.

Convertible Instruments

U.S. GAAP requires companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as freestanding derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria include circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur, and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument. An exception to this rule is when the host instrument is deemed to be conventional, as that term is described under ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities From Equity.”

The Company records, when necessary, deemed dividends for: (i) warrant price protection, based on the difference between the fair value of the warrants immediately before and after the repricing (inclusive of any full ratchet provisions); (ii) the exchange of preferred shares for convertible notes, based on the amount of the face value of the convertible notes in excess of the carrying value of the preferred shares; (iii) the settlement of warrant provisions, based on the fair value of the common shares issued; and (iv) amortization of discount on preferred stock resulting from recognition of a beneficial conversion feature.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company classifies as equity any contracts that: (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement; or (ii) provide the Company with a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement) providing that such contracts are indexed to the Company’s own stock. The Company classifies as assets or liabilities any contracts that: (i) 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 (ii) gives the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). The Company assesses classification of its common stock purchase warrants and other freestanding derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between assets and liabilities is required.

Environmental Remediation Liability

The operations of the Company, like those of other companies in its industry, are subject to various domestic and foreign environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations not only govern current operations and products, but also impose potential liability on the Company for past operations. Management expects environmental laws and regulations to impose increasingly stringent requirements upon the Company and the industry in the future. Management believes that the Company conducts its operations in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and has implemented various programs designed to protect the environment and promote continued compliance.

The Company continuously assesses its potential liability for remediation-related activities and adjusts its environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated and as additional accounting guidelines are issued. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had accruals reported on the balance sheet as current liabilities of $0 and $0, respectively, as the Company had paid all civil penalties and completed all remediation activities required under the Virginia DEQ Consent Order dated June 30, 2021. See Note 12—Commitments and Contingencies.

Actual costs incurred may vary from the accrued estimates due to the inherent uncertainties involved including, among others, the nature and magnitude of the wastes involved, the various technologies that can be used for remediation and the determination of acceptable remediation with respect to a particular site. Additionally, costs for environmental-related activities may not be reasonably estimable and therefore would not be included in our current liabilities.

Management believes these contingent environmental-related liabilities have been resolved.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its property and equipment and any identifiable intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The test for impairment is required to be performed by management at least annually. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted operating cash flow expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Intangible assets are stated at cost and reviewed annually to examine any impairments, usually assuming an estimated useful life of five to ten years. When retired or otherwise disposed, the related carrying value and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and the net difference less any amount realized from disposition, is reflected in earnings. The estimated useful lives of the Intellectual Property, Customer List, and Licenses assumed in the Empire acquisition is 5 years, 10 years, and 10 years, respectively. See Note 7 – Amortization of Intangible Assets.

Factoring Agreements

We have entered into factoring agreements with various financial institutions to receive cash for our future revenues. These transactions are treated as a debt instrument and are accounted for as a liability because the Company makes weekly payments towards the balance and fees. We utilize factoring arrangements as an integral part of our financing for working capital. Any change in the availability of these factoring arrangements could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company owed $6,571,311 and $4,893,207, net debt discounts of $735,911 and $1,221,022, respectively for factoring advances. See “Note 9 – Advances, Non-Convertible and PPP Notes Payable.”

Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets of the acquired business. Goodwill is tested annually at December 31 for impairment. The annual qualitative or quantitative assessments involve determining an estimate of the fair value of reporting units in order to evaluate whether an impairment of the current carrying amount of goodwill exists. A qualitative assessment evaluates whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The first step of a quantitative goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount including goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss may be recognized. The amount of impairment loss is determined by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value then an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess. The Company has adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)_2017-04, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 requires goodwill impairments to be measured on the basis of the fair value of a reporting unit relative to the reporting unit’s carrying amount rather than on the basis of the implied amount of goodwill relative to the goodwill balance of the reporting unit. Thus, ASU 2017-04 permits an entity to record a goodwill impairment that is entirely or partly due to a decline in the fair value of other assets that, under existing U.S. GAAP, would not be impaired or have a reduced carrying amount. Furthermore, ASU 2017-04 removes “the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test.” Instead, all reporting units, even those with a zero or negative carrying amount will apply the same impairment test. Accordingly, the goodwill of reporting unit or entity with zero or negative carrying values will not be impaired, even when conditions underlying the reporting unit/entity may indicate that goodwill is impaired.

We test our goodwill for impairment annually, or, under certain circumstances, more frequently, such as when events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. We are required to write down the value of goodwill only when our testing determines the recorded amount of goodwill exceeds the fair value. Our annual measurement date for testing goodwill impairment is December 31. We fully impaired our goodwill as of December 31, 2022.

None of the goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Chief Financial Officer, or decision-making group, in deciding the method to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company currently has one reportable segment for financial reporting purposes, which represents the Company’s core business.

Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

The Company computes earnings (loss) per common share under ASC Subtopic 260-10, Earnings Per Share. Net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share, if presented, would include the dilution that would occur upon the exercise or conversion of all potentially dilutive securities into common stock using the “treasury stock” and/or “if converted” methods, as applicable.

The computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 excludes potentially dilutive securities when their inclusion would be anti-dilutive, or if their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common stock during the period.

Potentially dilutive securities are as follows:

SCHEDULE OF POTENTIALLY DILUTIVE SECURITIES EXCLUDED FROM THE COMPUTATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER SHARE

On February 17, 2022 the Company effectuated a 1-for-300 reverse stock split. Pursuant to GAAP, the Company retrospectively recasted and restated the weighted-average common shares included within its condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The basic and diluted weighted-average common shares are retroactively converted to shares of the Company’s common stock to conform to the recasted condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers” (ASU 2021-08). which requires that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC 606, as if it had originated the contracts. Prior to ASU 2021-08, an acquirer generally recognizes contract assets acquired and contract liabilities assumed that arose from contracts with customers at fair value on the acquisition date. ASU 2021-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2021-08 is to be applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date of the amendment (or if adopted early as of an interim period, as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes the interim period of early application). The adoption of ASU 2021-08 did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

There are other various updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold for credit losses requiring, instead, that all financial assets (or group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected inclusive of the entity’s current estimate of all lifetime expected credit losses. The ASU also applies to certain off-balance-sheet credit exposures such as unfunded commitments and non-derivative financial guarantees. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) in order to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The income statement under this ASU will reflect the initial recognition of current expected credit losses for newly recognized assets, as well as any increases or decreases of expected credit losses that have occurred during the period. ASU 2016-13 retains many currently-existing disclosures related to the credit quality of an entity’s assets and the related allowance for credit losses amended to reflect the change to an expected credit loss methodology, as well as enhanced disclosures to provide information to users at a more disaggregated level. Upon adoption, ASU 2016-13 provides for a modified retrospective transition by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is effective, except for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment has previously been recognized. For these debt securities, a prospective transition is provided in order to maintain the same amortized cost prior to and subsequent to the effective date of the ASU. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those annual periods with early adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of ASU 2021-08 did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

NOTE 4 – CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK

Accounts Receivable

The Company has a concentration of credit risk with its accounts receivable balance. Three customers individually accounted for $87,854, $54,335, and $33,878, or 24%, 15%, and 9%, respectively, of our accounts receivable at March 31, 2023. The Company has adopted (ASU) 2016-13 as of January 1, 2023 and not had a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as of March 31, 2023.

Customer Concentrations

The Company has a concentration of customers. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, two customers individually accounted for $5,200,126 and $536,624, or approximately 58% and 6% of our revenues, respectively.

The Company’s sales are concentrated in the Virginia and northeastern North Carolina markets.

NOTE 5 – INVENTORIES

Inventories as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of the following:

 SCHEDULE OF INVENTORIES

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is summarized as follows:

SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $529,228 and $134,131, respectively.

NOTE 7 – AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

All of the Company’s current identified intangible assets were assumed upon consummation of the Empire acquisition on October 1, 2021. Identified intangible assets consisted of the following at the dates indicated below:

SCHEDULE OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $739,625 and $739,625 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Total estimated amortization expense for our intangible assets for the years 2023 through 2027 is as follows:

SCHEDULE OF AMORTIZATION EXPENSES FOR INTANGIBLE ASSETS

NOTE 8 – FACTORING ADVANCES AND NON-CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE

Factoring Advances

On December 8, 2022, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $3,025,000 for a purchase price of $2,500,000. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer was personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company was required to make weekly payments in the amount $60,020 through December 2023. The advance matured on December 15, 2023. There was amortization of debt discount of $492,540 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company made cash repayments of $695,198 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the remaining $2,149,742 balance was repaid out of the proceeds of another advance. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $0 and $2,352,000, net an unamortized debt discount of $0 and $492,540, respectively.

On December 8, 2022, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $1,815,000 for a purchase price of $1,470,000. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer was personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company was required to make weekly payments in the amount $34,904 through December 2023. The advance matured on December 15, 2023. There was amortization of debt discount of $323,669 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company made cash repayments of $408,136 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the remaining $1,302,152 balance was repaid out of the proceeds of another advance. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $0 and $1,386,619 net an unamortized debt discount of $0 and $323,670, respectively.

On December 29, 2022, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $1,474,000 for a purchase price of $1,067,000. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company is required to make weekly payments in the amount $28,346 through January 2024. The advance matures on January 4, 2024. There was amortization of debt discount of $98,468 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company made cash repayments of $340,154 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $827,502 and $1,069,188 net an unamortized debt discount of $306,344 and $404,812, respectively.

On January 17, 2023, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $770,000 for a purchase price of $550,000. There was an origination fee of $50,000. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer was personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company was required to make weekly payments in the amount $24,062 through June 2023. The advance matured on June 17, 2023. There was amortization of debt discount of $270,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company made cash repayments of $192,500 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the remaining balance of $548,625 was repaid out of the proceeds of another advance. There was a $28,875 gain on settlement of the advance. As of March 31, 2023, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $0.

On January 17, 2023, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $1,400,000 for a purchase price of $1,000,000. There was an origination fee of $100,000. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer was personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company was required to make weekly payments in the amount $43,750 through June 2023. The advance matured on June 17, 2023. There was amortization of debt discount of $500,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company made cash repayments of $350,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the remaining balance of $1,003,870 was repaid out of the proceeds of another advance. There was a $46,130 gain on settlement of the advance. As of March 31, 2023, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $0.

On March 29, 2023, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $2,902,500 for a purchase price of $2,250,000. There was an origination fee of $67,500. The proceeds of $2,182,500 were used to payoff other advances and there were no cash proceeds. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company is required to make weekly payments in the amount $54,764 through April 2024. The advance matures on April 24, 2024. There was amortization of debt discount of $3,508 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $2,253,508 net an unamortized debt discount of $648,992.

On March 29, 2023, the Company entered into a revenue factoring advance in the principal amount of $4,386,000 for a purchase price of $3,400,000. There was an origination fee of $102,000. There were cash proceeds of $476,109 and the remaining proceeds of $2,821,891 were used to pay off other advances. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is personally liable for this factoring advance. The Company is required to make weekly payments in the amount $82,755 through April 2024. The advance matures on April 24, 2024. There was amortization of debt discount of $5,301 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the revenue factoring advance had a balance of $3,405,301 net an unamortized debt discount of $980,699.

The remaining advances are for Simple Agreements for Future Tokens, entered into with accredited investors issued pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and/or Regulation D thereunder in 2018. As of December 31, 2022, the Company owed $85,000 for Simple Agreements for Future Tokens.

Non-Convertible Notes Payable

On September 23, 2021, the Company entered into a Resolution Agreement with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton concerning the $459,250.88 judgement entered against the Company (See Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies). Under the terms of the Resolution Agreement, which the Company has classified as a non-convertible note, the Company was required to make a $25,000 initial payment by September 30, 2021 and is required to make $15,000 monthly payments from October 2021 to January 2023 with a final $10,000 payment due in February 2023. There was amortization of the debt discount of $3,182 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company made $40,000 in payments towards the Resolution Agreement. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Resolution Agreement had a balance of $0 and $38,284, net an unamortized debt discount of $0 and $3,182, respectively.

On April 11, 2022, the Company entered into a vehicle financing agreement with GM Financial for the purchase of a vehicle for use by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer in the principal amount of $74,186. GM Financial financed $65,000 of the purchase price of the vehicle and the Company was required to make a $10,000 down payment. There was a $2,400 rebate applied to the purchase price. The Company is required to make 60 monthly payments of $1,236. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company made $3,267 in payments towards the financing agreement. There was amortization of debt discount of $442 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the financing agreement had a balance of $57,288 and $60,114, net an unamortized debt discount of $7,448 and $7,890, respectively.

On April 21, 2022, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $964,470 for the financing and installation of a piece of equipment in the amount $750,000. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount $6,665 through October 2022 and monthly payments of $19,260 until October 2026. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on October 21, 2026. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company made $56,115 in payments towards the note. There was amortization of debt discount of $11,741 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a balance of $693,411 and $732,550 net an unamortized debt discount of $168,288 and $180,030, respectively.

On September 1, 2022, the Company entered into a Deed of Trust note for the purchase of land and buildings. The note has a principal amount of $600,000, bears an interest rate of 6.5%, and matures on September 1, 2032. The Company is required to make monthly payments of $4,476 until September 1, 2032, when the remaining principal and accrued interest becomes due. The Company made principal and interest payments of $4,214 and $9,214, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a principal balance of $591,740 and $595,954 and accrued interest of $3,161 and $3,184, respectively.

On September 1, 2022, the Company entered into an additional Deed of Trust note for the purchase of land and buildings. The note has a principal amount of $600,000, bears an interest rate of 6.5%, and matures on September 1, 2032. The Company is required to make monthly payments of $4,476 until September 1, 2032, when the remaining principal and accrued interest becomes due. The Company made principal and interest payments of $4,214 and $9,214, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a principal balance of $591,740 and $595,954 and accrued interest of $3,161 and $3,184, respectively.

On September 14, 2022, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $2,980,692 for a purchase price of $2,505,000. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount $82,797 through September 2025. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on September 14, 2025. There was amortization of debt discount of $39,509 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $248,391 towards the note during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a balance of $2,177,935 and $2,386,817 net an unamortized debt discount of $388,772 and $428,281, respectively.

On November 28, 2022, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,539,630 for a purchase price of $1,078,502. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $10,410 through March 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $20,950 through March 2029. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on March 5, 2029. There was amortization of debt discount of $18,048 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $19,515 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a balance of $1,083,652 and $1,085,120 net an unamortized debt discount of $436,462 and $454,510, respectively.

On November 28, 2022, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,560,090 for a purchase price of $1,092,910. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $10,630 through March 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $21,225 through March 2029. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on March 5, 2029. There was amortization of debt discount of $18,285 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $21,260 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a balance of $1,096,639 and $1,099,614 net an unamortized debt discount of $442,191 and $460,476, respectively.

On November 28, 2022, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,597,860 for a purchase price of $1,119,334. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $10,860 through March 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $21,740 through March 2029. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on March 5, 2029. There was amortization of debt discount of $18,729 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $21,720 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a balance of $1,123,210 and $1,126,201 net an unamortized debt discount of $452,930 and $471,659, respectively.

On December 15, 2022, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,557,435 for a purchase price of $1,093,380. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $10,585 through March 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $21,190 through March 2029. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on March 15, 2029. There was amortization of debt discount of $18,302 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $21,170 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the note had a balance of $1,093,766 and $1,096,634 net an unamortized debt discount of $442,499 and $460,801, respectively.

On January 10, 2023, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,245,018 for a purchase price of $1,021,500. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $10,365 through March 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $34,008 through March 2026. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on March 10, 2026. There was amortization of debt discount of $15,288 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $10,365 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the note had a balance of $1,026,423 net an unamortized debt discount of $208,230.

On January 12, 2023, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,185,810 for a purchase price of $832,605. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $8,030 through April 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $16,135 through April 2028. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on April 12, 2028. There was amortization of debt discount of $14,187 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were payments of $8,030 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the note had a balance of $838,763 net an unamortized debt discount of $339,017.

On February 23, 2023, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $822,040 for a purchase price of $628,353. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $6,370 through June 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $16,595 through June 2027. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on June 23, 2027. There was amortization of debt discount of $4,043 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the note had a balance of $632,396 net an unamortized debt discount of $189,644.

On February 24, 2023, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $1,186,580 for a purchase price of $832,605. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make monthly payments in the amount of $9,185 through June 2023 and then monthly payments in the amount of $23,955 through June 2027. The note bears an interest rate of 10.6%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on June 24, 2027. There was amortization of debt discount of $6,189 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the note had a balance of $913,189 net an unamortized debt discount of $273,391.

On March 1, 2023, the Company entered into a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $635,000. The note is secured by certain assets of the Company. The Company is required to make a payment in the amount of $63,500 on March 15, 2023 and then commencing on April 15, 2023, monthly payments in the amount of $14,138 through March 2027. The note bears an interest rate of 8.5%, is secured by certain assets of the Company, and matures on March 15, 2027. There were payments of $61,282 and $2,218 to principal and interest, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the note had a balance of $573,718 and accrued interest of $2,138.

The following table details the current and long-term principal due under non-convertible notes as of March 31, 2023.

SCHEDULE OF CURRENT AND LONG TERM PRINCIPAL DUE UNDER NONCONVERTIBLE NOTE

Total principal payments due on non-convertible notes for 2023 through 2027 and thereafter is as follows:

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-CONVERTIBLE NOTES

NOTE 9 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company owed accounts payable and accrued expenses of $6,018,847 and $5,035,330, respectively. These are primarily comprised of payments to vendors, accrued interest on debt, and accrued legal bills.

SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

NOTE 10 – ACCRUED PAYROLL AND RELATED EXPENSES

The Company is delinquent in filing its payroll taxes, primarily related to stock compensation awards in 2016 and 2017, but also including payroll for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Additionally, there is accrued payroll for the last three days of the year ended December 31, 2022 and ten days of the quarter ended March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company owed payroll tax liabilities, including penalties, of $3,909,762 and $3,946,411, respectively, to federal and state taxing authorities. The actual liability may be higher or lower due to interest or penalties assessed by federal and state taxing authorities.

NOTE 11 – LEASES

Property Leases (Operating Leases)

The Company leases its facilities and certain automobiles under operating leases which expire on various dates through 2025. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and whether it is a finance or operating leases. Right of Use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. When readily determinable, the Company uses the implicit rate in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU asset also includes any fixed lease payments, including in-substance fixed lease payments and excludes lease incentives. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease term is determined at lease commencement and includes any non-cancellable period for which the Company has the right to use the underlying asset, together with any options to extend that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise.

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $3,492,531 in ROU assets and $3,650,358 in lease liabilities for the leasing of scrap metal yards from an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the leases, Empire was required to pay an aggregate of $145,821 per month from January to March 2022. On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into amendments to the leases for its Kelford and Carrolton yards, increasing the monthly rent payments by an aggregate of $50,000 per month for use of an automotive shredder and downstream processing system, respectively, being installed on those properties. The Company is required to pay $199,821 per month in rent for these facilities from April to December 2022 and increasing by 3% on January 1st of every year thereafter. On September 1, 2022, the Company terminated the lease for its Portsmouth yard on account of the Company purchasing the land underlying the lease, reducing the lease payment by $11,200 per month. The leases expire on January 1, 2024 and the Company has two options to extend the leases by 5 years per option. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the leases will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease any of the properties under the lease agreements.

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $30,699 in ROU assets and $31,061 in lease liabilities for an office lease. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $1,150 per month and increasing by 3% on April 1st of every year beginning on April 1, 2022. The lease expires on March 31, 2024 and Empire was required to make a security deposit of $1,150. The Company does not have an option to extend the lease. The Company cannot sublease the office under the lease agreements.

On October 11, 2021, Empire entered into leasing agreements with a company owned by the Chief Executive Officer of Empire for the leasing of the Company’s Virginia Beach metal recycling location. Under the terms of the leases, Empire is required to pay $9,677 for the prorated first month and $15,000 per month for the facilities beginning November 1, 2021 and increasing by 3% on January 1st of every year thereafter. The leases expire on January 1, 2024 and the Company has two options to extend the leases by 5 years per option. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the leases will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease any of the properties under the lease agreements.

On January 24, 2022, the Company entered into leasing agreements for 3,521 square feet of office space commencing upon the completion of tenant improvements which was expected to be on April 1, 2022 but shall be no later than May 1, 2022 (“Commencement Date”). Under the terms of the leases, the Company is required to pay $3,668 for the first twelve months of the lease and increasing by approximately 3% every 12 months thereafter until the expiration of the lease. The lease is for a period of five years from the Commencement Date and the Company was required to make a security deposit of $3,668. The Company does not have an option to extend the lease. The Company cannot sublease any of the office space under the lease agreement.

Effective February 1, 2022, the Company entered into an office space/land lease agreement with an entity owned by the Chief Executive Officer of Greenwave for the leasing of the Company’s Fairmont metal scrap yard located at 406 Sandy Street, Fairmont, NC 28340. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay $8,000 per month for the facility beginning February 1, 2022 and increasing by 3% on January 1, 2023. The lease expires on January 1, 2024 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by 5 years per option. The Company also has the option to extend the term of the lease for an additional year for the next 5 years upon the same terms and conditions. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the lease will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease the property under the lease agreement.

Effective October 13, 2022, the Company entered into an office space/land lease agreement for the leasing of 900 Broad Street, Suite C, Portsmouth, VA 23707. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay $4,300 per month for the facility beginning November 1, 2022 and increasing by 3% on January 1, 2023. The lease expires on December 31, 2027 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by 5 years per option. The Company also has the option to extend the term of the lease for an additional year for the next 5 years upon the same terms and conditions. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the lease will continue a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease the property under the lease agreement.

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company entered into an office space/land lease agreement with an entity owned by the Chief Executive Officer of Greenwave for the leasing of the Company’s Chesapeake facility located at 101 Freeman Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay $9,000 per month for the facility beginning January 1, 2023 and increasing by 3% on January 1, 2024. The lease expires on January 1, 2025 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by 5 years per option. The Company also has the option to extend the term of the lease for an additional year for the next 5 years upon the same terms and conditions. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the lease will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease the property under the lease agreement.

Automobile Leases (Operating Leases)

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $26,804 in ROU assets and $18,661 in lease liabilities for an automobile lease. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $750 per month until the lease expires on February 18, 2025 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible for any damage to the automobile under the terms of the lease.

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $34,261 in ROU assets and $27,757 in lease liabilities for an automobile lease. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $650 per month until the lease expires on February 15, 2026 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible for any damage to the automobile under the terms of the lease.

On December 23, 2021, Empire entered into a lease agreement for the leasing of an automobile. Under the terms of the lease, Empire was required to pay $18,000 for the first month and $1,000 per month thereafter for 60 months. The lease expires on December 23, 2025 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible to any damage to the automobile under the terms of the lease.

On July 1, 2022, Empire entered into a lease agreement for the leasing of certain equipment. Under the terms of the lease, Empire was required to pay $2,930 per month thereafter for a period of 24 months. The lease expires on July 31, 2024 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible to any damage to the equipment under the terms of the lease.

ROU assets and liabilities consist of the following:

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Aggregate minimum future commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and other obligations at March 31, 2023 were as follows:

SCHEDULE OF NON CANCELABLE OPERATING LEASES AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS 

The Company leases its facilities, automobiles, and offices under operating leases which expire on various dates through 2027. Rent expense related to these leases is recognized based on the payment amount charged under the lease. Rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $747,778 and $515,223, respectively. As of March 31, 2023, the leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 1.35 year and a weighted average discount rate of 10%.

NOTE 12 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCES

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. Except as set forth below, we are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Sheppard Mullin’s Demand for Arbitration

On December 1, 2020, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (“Sheppard Mullin”), the Company’s former securities counsel, filed a demand for arbitration at JAMS in New York, New York against the Company, alleging the Company’s breach of an engagement agreement dated January 4, 2018, and a failure of the Company to pay $487,390.73 of outstanding legal fees to Sheppard Mullin. Sheppard Mullin was awarded $459,251 in unpaid legal fees, disbursements and interest on June 25, 2021. A judgement confirming the arbitration award was entered on September 8, 2021 in the Federal District Court located in Denver, Colorado.

On September 23, 2021, the Company entered into a Resolution Agreement with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton concerning the $459,250.88 judgement entered against the Company. Under the terms of the Resolution Agreement, the Company was required to make a $25,000 initial payment by September 30, 2021 and is required to make $15,000 monthly payments from October 2021 to January 2023 with a final $10,000 payment due in February 2023. The Company has made the October 2021 through February 2023 monthly payments.

NOTE 13 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock

The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Series Z

On September 30, 2021, the Company authorized the issuance of 500 shares of Series Z Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. The Series Z Preferred Stock has a $20,000 stated value per share and all 500 Series Z preferred shares, in aggregate, are convertible into 19.98% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (post conversion). The conversion rate is applicable on a pro rata basis to each share of Series Z Preferred Stock upon conversion. This anti-dilutive conversion feature is in effect until such time an S-1 Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC in conjunction with a NASDAQ listing. The Company credited additional paid in capital $7,237,572 for a deemed dividend for the trigger of a price protection provision in the Series Z Preferred Stock upon uplisting to NASDAQ.

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 250 and 322 shares of Series Z Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.

On January 23, 2023, 72 shares of Series Z Preferred Stock were converted into 288,494 shares of common stock.

Common Stock

The Company is authorized to issue 1,200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company issued 288,494 shares of common stock for the conversion of 72 shares of Series Z Preferred Stock.

As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 11,250,813 and 10,962,319 shares, respectively, of common stock issued and outstanding.

NOTE 14 – WARRANTS

A summary of the warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 is as follows:

SCHEDULE OF WARRANT ACTIVITY

SCHEDULE OF WARRANT EXERCISABLE

The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock warrants was $0 based on warrants with an exercise price less than the Company’s stock price of $0.99 as of March 31, 2023 which would have been received by the warrant holders had those holders exercised the warrants as of that date.

NOTE 15 – STOCK OPTIONS

Our stockholders approved our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan in June 2014 (the “2014 Plan”), our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan in December 2015 (the “2015 Plan”), our 2016 Equity Incentive Plan in October 2016 (“2016 Plan”), our 2017 Equity Incentive Plan in December 2016 (“2017 Plan”), our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan in June 2018 (the “2018 Plan”), our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan in September 2021 (the “2021 Plan” and together with the 2014 Plan, 2015 Plan, 2016 Plan, 2018 Plan, the “Prior Plans”), and our 2022 Equity Incentive Plan in November 2022 (“2022 Plan” , and together with the Prior Plans, the “Plans”). The Plans are identical, except for the number of shares reserved for issuance under each. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had granted an aggregate of 214,367 securities under the Plans since inception, with 567,300 shares available for future issuances. The Company made no grants under the plans during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

The Plans provide for the grant of incentive stock options to our employees and our subsidiaries’ employees, and for the grant of stock options, stock bonus awards, restricted stock awards, performance stock awards and other forms of stock compensation to our employees, including officers, consultants and directors. The Prior Plans also provide that the grant of performance stock awards may be paid out in cash as determined by the committee administering the Prior Plans.

Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. The fair value of stock-based payment awards was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with a volatility figure derived from historical data. The Company accounts for the expected life of options based on the contractual life of the options.

There were no options issued during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

A summary of the stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as follows:

SCHEDULE OF STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY

SCHEDULE OF STOCK OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE

The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options was $0, based on options with an exercise price less than the Company’s stock price of $0.99 as of March 31, 2023, which would have been received by the option holders had those option holders exercised their options as of that date.

The fair value of all options that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $0 and $0, respectively. Unrecognized compensation expense of $0 as of March 31, 2023 will be expensed in future periods.

NOTE 16 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On January 1, 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the Company’s Chesapeake location with an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the lease agreement, the Company pays $9,000 per month in rent, increasing 3% on January 1st of each year. The lease expires on January 1, 2025 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by a term of five years per option.

As of March 31, 2023, the Company leases 13 scrap yard facilities by an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, including the lease for the Chesapeake location described above. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company had a rent expense of $672,557 to an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company owed $847,474 and 317,781, respectively, in accrued rent to an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. See Note 11 – Leases.

NOTE 17 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluates events that have occurred after the balance sheet date but before the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.

In April 2023, we are opening a metal recycling facility in Cleveland, Ohio.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report. Please also refer to the note about forward-looking information for information on such statements contained in this Quarterly Report immediately preceding Part I, Item 1.

Overview

We were formed on April 26, 2013 as a technology platform developer under the name MassRoots, Inc. In October 2021, we changed our corporate name from “MassRoots, Inc.” to “Greenwave Technology Solutions, Inc.” On September 30, 2021, we closed our acquisition of Empire Services, Inc. (“Empire”), which operates 13 metal recycling facilities and 1 metal processing facility in Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio. The acquisition was deemed effective October 1, 2021 on the effective date of the Certificate of Merger in Virginia.

Upon the acquisition of Empire, we transitioned into the scrap metal industry which involves collecting, classifying and processing appliances, construction material, end-of-life vehicles, boats, and industrial machinery. We process these items by crushing, shearing, shredding, separating, and sorting, into smaller pieces and categorize these recycled ferrous, nonferrous, and mixed metal pieces based on density and metal prior to sale. In cases of scrap cars, we remove the catalytic converters, aluminum wheels, and batteries for separate processing and sale prior to shredding the vehicle. We have designed our systems to maximize the value of metals produced from this process.

We operate an automotive shredder at our Kelford, North Carolina location and a second automotive shredder at our Carrollton, Virginia is expected to come online in the third quarter of 2023. Our shredders are designed to produce a denser product and, in concert with advanced separation equipment, more refined recycled ferrous metals, which are more valuable as they require less processing to produce recycled steel products. In totality, this process reduces large metal objects like auto bodies into baseball-sized pieces of shredded recycled metal.

The shredded pieces are then placed on a conveyor belt under magnetized drums to separate the ferrous metal from the mixed nonferrous metal and residue, producing consistent and high-quality ferrous scrap metal. The nonferrous metals and other materials then go through a number of additional mechanical systems which separate the nonferrous metal from any residue. The remaining nonferrous metal is further processed to sort the metal by type, grade, and quality prior to being sold as products, such as zorba (mainly aluminum), zurik (mainly stainless steel), and shredded insulated wire (mainly copper and aluminum).

One of our main corporate priorities is to open a facility with rail or deep-water port access to enable us to efficiently transport our products to domestic steel mills and overseas foundries. Because this would greatly expand the number of potential buyers of our processed scrap products, we believe opening a facility with port or rail access could result in an increase in both the revenue and profitability of our existing operations.

Empire is headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia and has 143 full-time employees as of May 9, 2023.

Competitors

We compete with other metal recycling facility operators, such as Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCHN) and are focused on utilizing technology to create operating efficiencies and competitive advantages over our peers.

Products and Services

Our main product is selling ferrous metal, which is used in the recycling and production of finished steel. It is categorized into heavy melting steel, plate and structural, and shredded scrap, with various grades of each of those categorized based on the content, size and consistency of the metal. All of these attributes affect the metal’s value.

We also process nonferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, nickel, brass, titanium, lead, alloys and mixed metal products. Additionally, we sell the catalytic converters recovered from end-of-life vehicles to processors which extract the nonferrous precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.

We provide metal recycling services to a wide range of suppliers, including large corporations, industrial manufacturers, retail customers, and government organizations.

Pricing and Customers

Prices for our ferrous and nonferrous products are based on prevailing market rates and are subject to market cycles, worldwide steel demand, government regulations and policy, and supply of products that can be processed into recycled steel. Our main buyers adjust the prices they pay for scrap metal products based on market rates usually on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. We are usually paid for the scrap metal we deliver to customers within 14 days of delivery.

Based on any price changes from our customers or our other buyers, we in turn adjust the price for unprocessed scrap we pay suppliers in order to manage the impact on our operating income and cashflows.

The spread we are able to realize between the sales prices and the cost of purchasing scrap metal is determined by a number of factors, including transportation and processing costs. Historically, we have experienced sustained periods of stable or rising metal selling prices, which allow us to manage or increase our operating income. When selling prices decline, we adjust the prices we pay customers to minimize the impact to our operating income.

Sources of Unprocessed Metal

Our main sources of unprocessed metal we purchase are end-of-life vehicles, old equipment, appliances and other consumer goods, and scrap metal from construction or manufacturing operations. We acquire this unprocessed metal from a wide base of suppliers including large corporations, industrial manufacturers, retail customers, and government organizations who unload their metal at our facilities or we pick it up and transport it from the supplier’s location. Currently, our operations and main suppliers are located in the Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina markets. In the second quarter of 2023, we are expanding our operations by opening a metal recycling facility in Cleveland, Ohio.

Our supply of scrap metal is influenced by overall health of economic activity in the United States, changes in prices for recycled metal, and, to a lesser extent, seasonal factors such as severe weather conditions, which may prohibit or inhibit scrap metal collection.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022

Revenues

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we generated $9,043,422 in revenues, as compared to $9,921,238 during the same period in 2022, decrease of $877,816. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in metal prices. The $9,043,422 in revenue includes $42,790 in rental income, $7,111,025 in revenue generated from the sale of metal, $1,872,979 generated from hauling services, and $16,627 in miscellaneous revenue, including from the sale of gas from scrap cars.

Our cost of revenues decreased to $4,316,811 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $5,656,980 during the same period in 2022, a decline of $1,340,169, primarily due to a decline in metal prices.

Our gross profit was $4,726,611 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $462,353 from $4,264,258 during the same period in 2022 primarily due to the margins on the Company’s hauling and rental revenue.

Operating Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, our operating expenses were $6,661,787 and $4,461,953 respectively, an increase of $2,199,834. There was an increase in payroll and related expenses of $661,459 as payroll and related expenses were $1,951,259 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $1,289,800 for the same period in 2022 which was the result of an increase in our labor force. Advertising expense decreased by $10,708 to $5,522 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $16,230 for the same period in 2022 as the Company focused on operations. Depreciation of fixed assets, along with amortization of intangible assets, increased by $395,097 to $1,268,853 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $873,756 in 2022 as a result of the Company acquiring more fixed assets during fiscal year 2022. There were hauling and equipment maintenance costs of $1,250,717 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to $800,438 in 2022, an increase of $450,279, due to the Company expanding its fleet of trucks. Consulting, accounting, and legal expenses decreased to $273,073 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $365,952 during the same period in 2022, a decrease of $92,879 as a result of the Company not having significant offerings or corporate activity in 2023. There was an increase in rent expenses as a result of the Company adding additional facilities, increasing $148,306 from $875,403 during the three months ended March 31, 2022 to $1,023,709 during the same period in 2023.

Our other general and administrative expenses increased to $888,654 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $240,374 for the same period in 2022, an increase of $648,280, as a result of the Company’s operations expanding.

The increase of these expenditures resulted in our total operating expenses increasing to $6,661,787 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $4,461,953 during the three months ended March 31, 2022, an increase of $2,199,834.

Loss from Operations

Our loss from operations increased by $1,737,481 to $1,935,176 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $197,695 during the three months ended March 31, 2022 for the reasons discussed above.

Other Expense

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we incurred other expenses of $(2,090,499), as compared to $(4,977,781) for the same period in 2022, a decrease of $2,887,282. There was a gain on settlement of non-convertible notes and advances of $75,005 and $163,420 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Interest expenses and amortization of debt discount decreased to $(2,165,504) during the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $(19,405,677) during the three months ended March 31, 2022. There was no change in the fair value of derivative liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to a gain of $14,264,476 during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Net Loss

Our net loss was $4,025,675 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $5,175,475 during the same period in 2022, a change of $1,149,800, for the reasons discussed above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $203,965 as compared to $53,764 provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the cash flows used in operating activities were driven by a net loss of $4,025,675, amortization of right of use assets (related-party) of $602,404, amortization of right of use assets of $43,226, depreciation and amortization of $1,268,853, accrual of due to related parties of $529,693 increase of prepaid expenses of $42,262, an increase of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $812,188, a decrease in operating lease liabilities of $95,160, a decrease in operating lease liabilities (related-party) of $574,454, a gain on the settlement of non-convertible notes and accrued interest of $75,005 interest and amortization of debt discount of $1,861,971, an increase in accounts receivable of $144,269, increases in inventories of $303,826, increase in security deposit of $25,000, and a decrease in accrued payroll of $36,649. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the cash flows generated by operating activities were driven by a net loss of $5,175,475, amortization of right of use assets (related-party) of $411,349, amortization of right of use assets of $10,490, depreciation and amortization of $873,756, payment of accrued rent to a related party of $122,865, increase of prepaid expenses of $90,522, decreases of accounts payable and accrued expenses of $89,697, a decrease in operating lease liabilities of $4,776, a decrease in operating lease liabilities (related-party) of $421,526, largely offset by a gain on the settlement of convertible notes and accrued interest of $163,420, interest and amortization of debt discount of $19,405,676, change in the value of derivative liabilities of $14,264,476, increases in inventories of $348,073, increase of accrued payroll of $55,530, and a decrease in environmental remediation liabilities of $22,207.

Net cash used in investing activities was $712,335 and $1,121,793 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, there was cash used in the purchase of equipment of $712,335. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, there was cash used in the purchase of equipment of $1,121,793, of which $152,500 was paid to a related-party.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $370,581 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to cash used in financing activities of $100,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company received $1,876,109 from the issuance of factoring advances and $1,000,000 from the issuance of non-convertible notes, while utilizing $519,543 in the repayment of non-convertible notes and utilizing $1,985,985 for the repayment of factoring advances. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company utilized $100,000 to settle a non-convertible debt note.

Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2023, we had cash on hand of $276,085. We currently have no external sources of liquidity such as arrangements with credit institutions that will have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition or immediate access to capital.

Required Capital over the Next Fiscal Year

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash of $276,085 and a working capital deficit (current liabilities in excess of current assets) of $21,320,881. The accumulated deficit as of March 31, 2023 was $366,294,690. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements.

The Company believes it could generate positive cashflows from operating activities going forward and may not need to raise any additional capital to continue operations. Should the Company choose to raise capital, it believes it can do so through non-equity based instruments such as non-convertible notes, lines of credit, and cash advances.

If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, its stockholders would experience dilution. Additional debt financing, if available, may involve covenants restricting its operations or its ability to incur additional debt. Any additional debt financing or additional equity that the Company raises may contain terms that are not favorable to it or its stockholders and require significant debt service payments, which diverts resources from other activities. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital will be impacted by market conditions and the price of the Company’s common stock. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

Contractual Obligations

Our contractual obligations are included in our notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. To the extent that funds generated from our operations, together with our existing capital resources, are insufficient to meet future requirements, we will be required to obtain additional funds through equity or debt financings. No assurance can be given that any additional financing will be made available to us or will be available on acceptable terms should such a need arise.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

For a discussion of our accounting policies and related items, please see the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

As a “smaller reporting company” we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Pursuant to Rules 13a-15(b) and 15-d-15(b) under the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Interim Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon such evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023 were not effective (at a reasonable assurance level) due to identified control deficiencies regarding the lack of segregation of duties and the need for a stronger internal control environment.

To address the material weaknesses, we performed additional analysis and other post-closing procedures in an effort to ensure our financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error or fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2023. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (issued in 2013). A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Based upon the assessments, management has concluded that as of March 31, 2023, there was a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting due to the fact that we did not have an adequate process established to ensure appropriate levels of review of accounting and financial reporting matters, which resulted in our closing process not identifying all required adjustments and disclosures in a timely fashion.

We plan to take steps to enhance and improve the design of our internal control over financial reporting. To remediate our material weaknesses, we plan to appoint additional qualified personnel with the requisite knowledge to improve the levels of review of accounting and financial reporting matters; however, such remediation efforts are largely dependent upon our securing additional financing or generating significant revenue to cover the costs of implementing the changes required.

Until we remediate our material weakness in internal control over financial reporting such weaknesses could result in material misstatements in our financial statements not being prevented or detected.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, including the Company’s CEO and CFO, does not expect that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objective and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Company’s CEO and CFO has identified control deficiencies regarding the lack of segregation of duties and the need for a stronger internal control environment. The small size of the Company’s accounting staff may prevent adequate controls in the future, such as segregation of duties, due to the cost/benefit of such remediation.

Because of the above material weakness, management has concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2023, based on the criteria established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the COSO.

This Quarterly Report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Quarterly Report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the most recent fiscal quarter, the Company began hiring additional accounting personnel to enhance its segregation of duties and establishment of procedures in an effort to ensure appropriate levels of review of accounting and financial reporting matters.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As disclosed in Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company is engaged in certain legal matters and there have been no material developments since December 31, 2022 with respect to our legal proceedings, except as described in Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies. The disclosures set forth in Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies relating to certain legal matters are incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

As a “smaller reporting company,” we are not required to provide the information required by this Item 1A. Please see the Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023 as amended on April 13, 2023.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company issued 288,494 shares of common stock upon the conversion of 72 shares of Series Z Preferred Stock.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(b) Exhibit Index

SIGNATURES

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