LIGHTBRIDGE Corp - Quarter Report: 2008 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10−Q
(Mark
One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT
OF 1934
For
the
quarterly period ended: June 30, 2008
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT
OF 1934
For
the
transition period from ____________ to _____________
Commission
File Number: 000-28543
THORIUM
POWER, LTD.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
91-1975651
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Empl. Ident. No.)
|
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
1600
Tysons Boulevard, Suite 550
McLean,
VA 22102
(Address
of principal executive offices, Zip Code)
(571)
730-1200
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
8300
Greensboro Drive, Suite 800
McLean,
VA
22102
(Former
Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year if Changed Since Last
Report)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months
(or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
x
No
¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
Accelerated Filer ¨
|
Accelerated
Filer ¨
|
Non-Accelerated
Filer (Do
not check if a smaller reporting company) ¨
|
Smaller
reporting company x
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
¨
No
x
The
number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity,
as of June 30, 2008 is as follows:
Class
of Securities
|
Shares
Outstanding
|
|
Common
Stock, $0.001 par value
|
299,395,310
|
Transitional
Small Business Disclosure Format (check one): Yes ¨ No
x
ITEM
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THORIUM
POWER, LTD.
UNAUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007
Page
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
3
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss
|
4
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
5
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’
Equity
|
6
|
Notes
to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
|
7-15
|
2
Thorium
Power, Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
June 30
|
|
December 31
|
|
||||
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
||
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
Assets
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
5,185,597
|
$
|
9,907,691
|
|||
Prepaid
expenses & other current assets
|
216,131
|
204,035
|
|||||
Deferred
project costs
|
-
|
371,631
|
|||||
Total
Current Assets
|
5,401,728
|
10,483,357
|
|||||
Property
Plant and Equipment -net
|
27,209
|
30,676
|
|||||
Other
Assets
|
|||||||
Marketable
securities - available for sale
|
1,674,849
|
-
|
|||||
Patent
costs - net
|
217,875
|
217,875
|
|||||
Security
deposits
|
140,467
|
2,049
|
|||||
Total
Other Assets
|
2,033,191
|
219,924
|
|||||
Total
Assets
|
$
|
7,462,128
|
$
|
10,733,957
|
|||
Liabilities
and Stockholders' Equity
|
|||||||
Current
Liabilities
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
$
|
2,799,489
|
$
|
2,122,649
|
|||
Current
portion long term debt
|
-
|
4,651
|
|||||
Customer
deposit and other current liabilities
|
13,191
|
1,206,875
|
|||||
Deferred
revenue
|
-
|
3,793,125
|
|||||
Total
Current Liabilities
|
2,812,680
|
7,127,300
|
|||||
Notes
Payable - long term
|
-
|
5,782
|
|||||
Total
Liabilities
|
2,812,680
|
7,133,082
|
|||||
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|||||||
Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares, no shares
issued
and outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Common
stock, $0.001par value, 500,000,000 authorized, 299,395,310 shares
issued
and outstanding at June 30, 2008 and 299,014,182 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2007
|
299,395
|
299,014
|
|||||
Additional
paid in capital - stock and stock equivalents
|
44,530,174
|
41,791,735
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(40,415,637
|
)
|
(38,630,572
|
)
|
|||
Common
stock reserved for issuance, 2,127,626 shares and 2,000,000 shares
at June
30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively
|
626,373
|
590,000
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
26,628
|
30,143
|
|||||
Deferred
stock compensation
|
(417,485
|
)
|
(479,445
|
)
|
|||
Total
Stockholders' Equity
|
4,649,448
|
3,600,875
|
|||||
Total
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
$
|
7,462,128
|
$
|
10,733,957
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
3
Thorium
Power, Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss
Six Months Ended
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
June 30,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
||||||||
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
||||||||
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|||||
Revenue:
|
|||||||||||||
Consulting revenue
|
$
|
8,116,625
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
4,301,500
|
$
|
-
|
|||||
Total
Revenue
|
8,116,625
|
-
|
4,301,500
|
-
|
|||||||||
Cost
of Consulting Services Provided
|
3,384,566
|
-
|
1,736,562
|
-
|
|||||||||
Gross
Margin
|
4,732,059
|
-
|
2,564,938
|
-
|
|||||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
|||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
3,116,988
|
2,793,733
|
1,597,941
|
1,265,340
|
|||||||||
Research
and development expenses
|
285,449
|
155,471
|
154,788
|
129,402
|
|||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
2,787,178
|
2,454,734
|
1,423,376
|
1,119,217
|
|||||||||
Total
Operating Expenses
|
6,189,615
|
5,403,938
|
3,176,105
|
2,513,959
|
|||||||||
Operating
loss
|
(1,457,556
|
)
|
(5,403,938
|
)
|
(611,167
|
)
|
(2,513,959
|
)
|
|||||
Other
Income and (Expenses)
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
143,180
|
216,936
|
53,898
|
104,350
|
|||||||||
Realized
loss on marketable securities
|
(438,750
|
)
|
-
|
(438,750
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||
Other
expenses
|
-
|
(58,600
|
)
|
-
|
(58,600
|
)
|
|||||||
Total
Other Income and Expenses
|
(295,570
|
)
|
158,336
|
(384,852
|
)
|
45,750
|
|||||||
Net
loss before income taxes
|
(1,753,126
|
)
|
(5,245,602
|
)
|
(996,019
|
)
|
(2,468,209
|
)
|
|||||
Income
taxes
|
31,939
|
-
|
1,111
|
-
|
|||||||||
Net
loss
|
(1,785,065
|
)
|
(5,245,602
|
)
|
(997,130
|
)
|
(2,468,209
|
)
|
|||||
Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
|
|||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain (loss) marketable securities
|
(3,515
|
)
|
(657
|
)
|
128,208
|
(8,063
|
)
|
||||||
Total
Comprehensive Loss
|
$
|
(1,788,580
|
)
|
$
|
(5,246,259
|
)
|
$
|
(899,750
|
)
|
$
|
(2,476,272
|
)
|
|
Net
Loss Per Common Share, Basic and diluted
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
Weighted
Average Number of shares outstanding for the period used to compute
per
share data
|
299,215,481
|
295,979,377
|
299,366,947
|
296,784,409
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
4
Thorium
Power, Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash
Flows
Six Months Ended
|
|||||||
|
June 30
|
||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Operating
Activities:
|
|||||||
Net
Loss
|
$
|
(1,785,065
|
)
|
$
|
(5,245,602
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss from operations to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|||||||
Shares
issued for other than cash for payment of expenses
|
2,787,178
|
2,645,051
|
|||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,467
|
4,142
|
|||||
Amortization
of deferred revenue
|
(3,793,125
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Amortization
of deferred project costs
|
3,384,566
|
-
|
|||||
Changes
in non-cash operating working capital items:
|
|||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
(12,096
|
)
|
287,776
|
||||
Security
deposits
|
(138,418
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Accounts
payable, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities
|
673,325
|
(941,672
|
)
|
||||
Other
current liabilities
|
(1,193,684
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Deferred
project costs
|
(3,012,935
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Net
Cash Used In Operating Activities
|
(3,086,787
|
)
|
(3,250,305
|
)
|
|||
Investing
Activities:
|
|||||||
Net
Cash Used In Investing Activities
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Financing
Activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from issue of common shares
|
49,975
|
-
|
|||||
Payments
on notes payable and other
|
(10,433
|
)
|
(2,515
|
)
|
|||
Net
Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities
|
39,542
|
(2,515
|
)
|
||||
Net
Decrease In Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
(3,047,245
|
)
|
(3,252,820
|
)
|
|||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
|
9,907,691
|
10,927,775
|
|||||
Reclassification
of cash equivalents to marketable securities - available for
sale
|
(1,674,849
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
|
$
|
5,185,597
|
$
|
7,674,955
|
|||
Supplemental
Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
|
|||||||
Cash
paid during the year:
|
|||||||
Interest
paid
|
$
|
183
|
$
|
524
|
|||
Income
taxes paid
|
$
|
31,939
|
$
|
0
|
|||
Non-cash
transactions
|
|||||||
Conversion
of liabilities to equity
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
1,410,884
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
5
Thorium
Power, Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Changes in
Stockholder' Equity
For
Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
(Unaudited)
and
Year Ended December 31, 2007
Common Stock
|
|
Additional
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
Stock
Committed
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
Deferred
|
|
Treasury Stock
|
|
Stockholders’
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Paid-in Capital
|
|
Deficit
|
|
Future
Issuance
|
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
Stock
Compensation
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Equity
|
|||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2006
|
257,291,709
|
$
|
257,292
|
$
|
23,148,560
|
$
|
(27,177,989
|
)
|
$
|
1,200,000
|
$
|
18,861
|
$
|
(285,200
|
)
|
(850,000
|
)
|
$
|
(255,850
|
)
|
$
|
(3,094,326
|
)
|
||||||||
Issuance of stock for services
|
808,916
|
809
|
232,678
|
233,487
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of stock for payment of liabilities
|
714,120
|
714
|
277,727
|
278,441
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
based compensation - shares committed for future issuance and
issued
|
2,350,000
|
2,350
|
866,150
|
(1,200,000
|
)
|
(331,500
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
Option Expense
|
3,991,317
|
3,991,317
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the period
|
(11,452,583
|
)
|
(11,452,583
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gains on marketable securities
|
11,282
|
11,282
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of deferred stock compensation costs
|
395,755
|
395,755
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of warrant liability to additional paid in capital
|
1,132,444
|
1,132,444
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cashless
exercise of stock options and warrants
|
888,534
|
888
|
(888
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement
of treasury stock
|
(850,000
|
)
|
(850
|
)
|
(255,000
|
)
|
850,000
|
255,850
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
settlement - merger
|
128,139
|
128
|
37,032
|
37,160
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
based compensation - officers, directors and employees
|
1,022,927
|
1,023
|
357,002
|
358,025
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of temporary equity to permanent equity
|
36,659,837
|
36,660
|
12,004,713
|
12,041,373
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
based compensation - shares committed for future issuance
|
590,000
|
(590,000
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance –
December 31, 2007
|
299,014,182
|
299,014
|
41,791,735
|
(38,630,572
|
)
|
590,000
|
30,143
|
(479,445
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
3,600,875
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
(3,515
|
)
|
(3,515
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
320,350
|
320
|
49,655
|
49,975
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
option expense
|
2,668,845
|
2,668,845
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
based compensation - officers, directors and employees
|
60,778
|
61
|
19,939
|
20,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization
of deferred stock compensation costs
|
98,333
|
98,333
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
committed for future issuance
|
36,373
|
(36,373
|
)
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the period
|
(1,785,065
|
)
|
(1,785,065
|
)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
June 30, 2008
|
299,395,310
|
$
|
299,395
|
$
|
44,530,174
|
$
|
(40,415,637
|
)
|
$
|
626,373
|
$
|
26,628
|
$
|
(417,485
|
)
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
4,649,448
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
6
1. BASIS
OF
PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Basis
of
presentation
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiary have been prepared in accordance with the rules
and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) including the
instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Certain information and note
disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
have been condensed or omitted from these statements pursuant to such rules
and
regulation and, accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes
necessary for comprehensive consolidated financial statements and should be
read
in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2007, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year
ended December 31, 2007.
In
the
opinion of the management of the Company, all adjustments, which are of a normal
recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the
three-month periods have been made. Results for the interim period presented
are
not necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected for the entire
fiscal year.
Nature
of
Operations
Radkowsky
Thorium Power Corp., incorporated in the state of Delaware on January 8, 1992
(“Inception”), changed its name to Thorium Power, Inc. in Apri1 2001. On
February 14, 2006, Novastar Resources Ltd. (“Novastar”), now called Thorium
Power Ltd., entered into an Agreement and merged on October 6, 2006 with Thorium
Power, Inc. (Collectively after the merger, all entities are
referred to as the “Company" or “Thorium”). Thorium is engaged in two
business segments. The first business segment is the development, promotion
and
marketing of its patented nuclear fuel designs: (1) thorium/uranium nuclear
fuel
and (2) thorium/reactor-grade plutonium disposing fuel. The Company also has
a
conceptual design of a thorium/weapons-grade plutonium disposing fuel. These
fuels are designed to be used in existing light water reactors. Presently,
we
are focusing most of our efforts on demonstrating and testing our nuclear fuel
technology for the Russian designed VVER-1000 reactors. Operations to date
in
this business segment have been devoted primarily to continued development
of
our fuel designs, filing for certain patents related to our technology,
developing strategic relationships within the nuclear power industry, and
securing political as well as some financial support from the United States
and
Russian governments.
Our
business model expanded in 2007 and our second business segment is providing
consulting and strategic advisory services to companies and governments planning
to create or expand electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power
plants. We have to date secured three contracts with successively larger values
for consulting and strategic advisory services in the United Arab Emirates
(“UAE”). We started working on our first consulting project with the Executive
Affairs Authority (“EAA”) of Abu Dhabi, one of the member Emirates of the UAE in
December 2007 and completed this first consulting project in March 2008. We
secured our second consulting project with the EAA in March 2008 and completed
our second project in June 2008. On August 1, 2008, we signed separate
consulting services agreements with two government entities to be formed by
Abu
Dhabi. Under these two new agreements, we are to provide consulting and
strategic advisory services over a contract term of five years, with automatic
renewals of these contracts for one year periods, see note 2c below.
Once
our
reactor fuels are further developed and tested, we plan to license our
intellectual property rights to fuel fabricators, nuclear generators, and
governments for use in commercial light water nuclear reactors, or sell the
technology to a major nuclear company or government contractor or some
combination of the two. We anticipate having the final design of our fuel
technology for VVER-1000 reactors and demonstration of our fuel in a VVER-1000
operating reactor to commence in the next three to four years. Presently all
our
research, testing and demonstration activities are being conducted in Russia.
Our research operations are subject to various political, economic, and other
risks and uncertainties inherent in Russia.
We
participate in a highly regulated industry that is characterized by governmental
regulation. Our results of operations are affected by a wide variety of factors
including general economic conditions, decreases in the use or public favor
of
nuclear power, the ability of our technology, the ability to safeguard the
production of nuclear power and safeguarding our patents and intellectual
property from competitors. Due to these factors, we may experience substantial
period-to-period fluctuations in our future operating results.
7
We
may in
the future be designated as a potentially responsible party (PRP) by federal
and
state agencies with respect to certain sites with which we may have direct
or
indirect future involvement. Such designations can be made regardless of the
extent of our involvement.
2. SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a)
Consolidation
These
financial statements include the accounts of Thorium Ltd. (a Nevada corporation)
and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Thorium Power, Inc. (a Delaware corporation).
All
significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in
consolidation.
b)
Use of
Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, requires management to
make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
These
consolidated financial statements include some amounts that are based on
management's best estimates and judgments. The most significant estimates relate
to valuation of stock grants, stock options and stock purchase warrants, the
net
operating loss carry-forward and the valuation allowance for deferred taxes
and
various contingent liabilities. These above-mentioned estimates and others
may
be adjusted as more current information becomes available, and any adjustment
could be significant in future reporting periods.
c)
Revenue Recognition
Revenue—at
the
present time we are deriving all of our revenue from our consulting and
strategic advisory services business segment, by offering services to foreign
governments planning to create or expand electricity generation capabilities
using nuclear power plants. Our fee structure for each client engagement is
dependent on a number of variables, including the size of the client, the
complexity, the level of the opportunity for us to improve the client’s
electrical generation capabilities using nuclear power plants and other factors.
All of the Company's revenues for the first quarter of 2008 have been derived
from the completion of the defined contract deliverables required from the
first
consulting contract that we entered into with the EAA in December 2007. All
of
the Company’s revenues for the second quarter of 2008 have been derived from the
completion of the defined contract deliverables required from the second
consulting contract entered into in March 2008 with the EAA and completed in
June 2008.
Both
consulting contracts mentioned above were with the EAA of Abu Dhabi, one of
the
member Emirates of the UAE. For the first contract entered into, the consulting
fee was fixed and determinable. The consulting fee could have been refundable
under the provision of this contract if we would have breached the contract,
such as not deliver the final report to the foreign government. Therefore,
based
on these contract terms, the consulting fee revenue from this contract was
recognized on the
completed performance
model.
We
completed substantially all of the deliverables in our first consulting project
in March 2008 and therefore recognized all of the revenue in accordance with
the
completed performance model revenue recognition guidelines. We received all
of
this revenue in December 2007, in advance of our billing in March 2008. The
amount billed in advance of the period in which service was rendered was
recorded as a liability in the accompanying balance sheet captioned “deferred
revenue” in 2007. The total consulting revenue recognized under this contract
during the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $3,793,125, which was the
balance in the deferred revenue balance sheet account at December 31, 2007,
as
no revenue from this contract had been recognized in 2007.
8
For
the
second contract that was entered into with the EAA, the consulting fee revenue
was recognized ratably over the contract period. This contract called for
on-going consulting services for the period from March 2008 through June 22,
2008. We started work on this project in April 2008. All revenue earned under
this contract, $4,285,000 which was received in April 2008, was recognized
ratably during the second quarter of 2008.
Based
on
the completion of the above contracts and the current work we are performing
on
new consulting contracts that we entered into, we are no longer a development
stage company in 2008, as we now have an ongoing consulting and strategic
advisory services business segment, having recognized revenue earned in the
first and second quarter of 2008, and we will continue to recognize revenue
in
future periods in 2008 with the two new contracts that we entered into on August
1, 2008, mentioned above.
These
two
new contracts, for consulting services to be rendered during the period June
23,
2008 through December 31, 2008, provide for a total payment of $17.4 million,
with $10 million to be paid by the EAA on behalf of these two new governmental
agencies to be formed ($5 million paid on behalf of each entity), upon the
signing of this agreement, and the remaining total balance of $7.4 million
to be
paid by each of these new governmental entities equally, upon their formation.
These new government entities will be called the Emirates Nuclear Energy
Corporation (“ENEC”) and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (“FANR”).
We will provide strategic advisory services to both of these entities during
the
five year term of these agreements. Under these agreements, revenue is being
derived from a fixed professional fee agreement. Therefore, we will recognize
revenue as the consulting services are performed and certain contract
deliverables are met, in accordance with agreed-upon detailed work plans that
we
expect will be discussed with our clients and potentially adjusted on a
quarterly basis in connection with project reviews.
All
costs
directly related to producing the work under these agreements, such as
consulting costs, other professional fees and various administrative support
and
other costs, are capitalized as deferred project costs (current asset on the
accompanying balance sheet). Deferred project costs are then recognized or
amortized to an expense captioned, cost of consulting services provided, on
the
accompanying statement of operations, when the revenue is to be recognized
or
when the project is completed. Total deferred project costs that were charged
to
expense or cost of consulting services provided for the three month and six
month periods ended June 30, 2008 was $1,736,562 and $3,384,566, respectively.
Indirect corporate overhead incurred that was not allocated to the consulting
and strategic advisory services business segment is being reported in the
business segment information chart, in note 4 to these financial statements,
as
unallocated corporate overhead costs.
The
deferred project costs at June 30, 2008 were $0, as we completed all contract
deliverables for the first two consulting projects with the EAA and we had
not
yet provided any substantial work on the two new agreements that we entered
into
on August 1, 2008, mentioned above.
Travel
costs and other reimbursable costs were offset, in accordance with the
consulting agreements, against the balance sheet account captioned “customer
deposit account”, which is shown as a current liability on the balance sheet.
The customer deposit account is money advanced to us for reimbursable expenses
that are incurred in accordance with the contracts. The total travel and other
reimbursable expenses charged for these consulting projects for the three months
and six months ended June 30, 2008, was $479,904 and $1,193,684.
The
Company’s future operations and earnings will depend on the results of the
Company’s operations in foreign countries. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully conduct such operations, and a failure
to
do so would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position,
results of operations, and cash flows. Also, the success of the Company’s
operations will be subject to numerous contingencies, some of which are beyond
management’s control. These contingencies include general and regional economic
conditions, prices for the Company’s services, competition, and changes in
regulations. Because the Company is dependent on international operations,
particularly in one country right now, the Company will be subject to various
additional political, economic, and other uncertainties.
For
our
first business segment, once the company's thorium-based nuclear fuel designs
have advanced to a commercially usable stage the company will seek to license
its technology to major government contractors or nuclear companies, working
for
the US and other governments. We expect that our revenue from license fees
will
be recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of the related
license term.
9
d)
Segment Reporting
The
Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating
segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and
reporting used by the Company's chief operating decision maker for making
operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining
the
Company's reportable segments. The Company has determined that the Company
has
two operating segments as mentioned above and defined by SFAS 131, “Disclosures
about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”. The two reporting
business segments are our technology business and our consulting and strategic
advisory services business.
e) Deferred
Project Costs
The
Company defers certain costs related to its consulting and strategic advisory
services business segment, until the Company recognizes revenue in accordance
with its agreements. These costs are then expensed as revenue is recognized
pursuant to the terms of a contract. Management periodically reviews and
revises, when necessary, its estimate of the future benefit of these costs
and
expenses them if it is deemed there is no longer a future benefit. At June
30,
2008, and December 31, 2007, capitalized deferred project costs totaled $0
and
$371,631 respectively.
f)
Cash
and Cash Equivalents reclassified to Marketable Securities
At
June
30, 2008 the Company held auction rate and other government bonds with a total
original cost of $2,114,443, which now carry a fair market value of $1,674,849
(total realized loss of $439,594 for the three months and six months ended
June
30, 2008). These securities were reclassified as of March 31, 2008, based on
a
change of market conditions for these securities in the auction market for
the
six months ended June 30, 2008 as mentioned below, from cash equivalents to
long-term marketable securities available for sale, as presented in the
accompanying balance sheet and statement of cash flows at June 30, 2008, and
for
the six months then ended.
The
auction rate securities as well as cash equivalents, all being held by one
prominent US financial institution had a total market value of $5,090,517 at
June 30, 2008. The auction rate securities were purchased in 2006 and were
defined and classified by this financial institution as cash equivalents at
December 31, 2007 and 2006. These securities were liquid to the company in
2007
and 2006 with cash available on an as needed basis to the company on a weekly
or
monthly basis (less than a 3 month period which is the company’s policy for cash
equivalents). This financial institution reported the cost and fair market
value
of these securities as being the same throughout the 2007 year and at the years
ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, with no realized or unrealized gain or loss
in
market value on these auction rate securities in 2007 and 2006. Based on the
Company’s favorable sales experience regarding the liquidity of these securities
in 2007 and 2006, and based on information received from this prominent
financial institution at December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company classified
these securities in the same manner as this financial institution at December
31, 2007 and 2006, as cash equivalents at December 31, 2007 and
2006.
However,
for the six months ended June 30, 2008, market conditions for these securities
started to change and the company, due to the decline in the liquidity and
market value of these securities for the six month period ended June 30, 2008,
reclassified these securities from cash equivalents to long term marketable
securities. This reclassification was recorded on the cash flow statement for
the six months ended June 30, 2008 in the amount of $1,674,849 reducing the
cash
at the beginning of the period on the statement of cash flows from $9,907,691
to
$8,232,842, a decrease of $1,674,849, that was a result of this reclassification
from cash equivalents to marketable securities available for sale. These
marketable securities have various maturities ($800,000 – mature 6/1/30,
$825,000 – mature 12/15/39 and $485,000 mature 10/1/08).
The
Company’s investments in these marketable securities are classified as
available-for-sale securities under FAS-115, Accounting for Certain Investments
in Debt and Equity Securities. These securities are reported at their fair
market value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other
comprehensive income. The unrealized gain (loss) reported on all securities
for
the three months and six months ended June 30, 2008 was $128,208 and $(3,515),
respectively, which is being recorded in other comprehensive income and loss
for
the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.
10
3. FINANCIAL
STATUS OF THE COMPANY – JUNE 30, 2008
Management
anticipates, based on its current projected working capital requirements, that
it will have enough working capital funds to sustain its current operations
at
its current operating level, until sometime during the second quarter of 2009.
In
support of the Company’s longer-term business plan, the Company will need to
raise additional capital by way of an offering of equity securities, an offering
of debt securities, or by obtaining financing through a bank or other entity
to
finance its research and development expenditures on any further basis. The
Company will also need to raise capital to support its overhead operation if
the
consulting and strategic advisory services business becomes
non-sustaining.
4.
BUSINESS
SEGMENTS
The
Company has two principal operating segments, which are (1) technology and
(2)
consulting and strategic advisory services. These operating segments were
determined based on the nature of the operations and the services offered.
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which
separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by
the
chief operating decision-maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in
assessing performance. The Company’s chief executive officer, chief operating
officer and chief financial officer have been identified as the chief operating
decision makers. The Company’s chief operating decision makers direct the
allocation of resources to operating segments based on the profitability, the
cash flows, and the business plans of each respective segment.
The
Company evaluates performance based on several factors, of which the primary
financial measure is business segment income before taxes. The accounting
policies of the business segments are the same as those described in “Note 1:
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.” There is no allocation of corporate
level assets or certain corporate expenses even though they contribute to both
segments. The following tables show the operations of the Company’s reportable
segments for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008. In 2007,
the
company was a development stage company, did not provide any consulting services
and all expenses in 2007 were considered to be corporate expenses, other than
research and development expenses of $155,471 and $129,402, for the six months
and three months ended June 30, 2007.
Consulting
|
Technology
|
Corporate and Eliminations
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 2008
|
June 30, 2008
|
June 30, 2008
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
||||||||||||||||||
Revenue
|
8,116,625
|
4,301,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8,116,625
|
4,301,500
|
|||||||||||||||||
Segment
Profit - Before Tax
|
4,732,059
|
2,564,938
|
(632,992
|
)
|
(315,543
|
)
|
(5,852,193
|
)
|
(3,245,414
|
)
|
(1,753,126
|
)
|
(996,019
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
-
|
17,932
|
7,444,196
|
7,462,128
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Property
Additions
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Interest
Expense
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
183
|
-
|
183
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6,020
|
3,010
|
6,020
|
3,010
|
5. RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Research
and development costs, included in the statement of operations amounted to
$154,788 and $285,449 for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2008,
respectively. Total cumulative expense has amounted to $4,968,762 from January
8, 1992 (date of inception of Thorium Power, Inc.) to June 30,
2008.
6. STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Total
Common stock outstanding at June 30, 2008 was 299,395,310. At June 30, 2008,
there were 512,556 stock purchase warrants (expiring 8/26/08) and 51,225,480
stock options outstanding, all totaling 351,133,346 of total stock and stock
equivalents outstanding at June 30, 2008.
11
a) Common
Stock Issuances –
On
March
14, 2008, 320,350 stock options that were assumed in the merger and held by
one
consultant were exercised at a strike price of $.156 per share for total
consideration of $49,975. Accordingly, 320,350 shares of the company’s common
stock were issued in accordance with this option agreement. On May 13, 2008,
60,778 shares were issued to our directors in accordance with their respective
director agreements, valued at approximately $0.33 per share for a total value
of $20,000, for services rendered for the six months ended June 30,
2008.
b)
Share-based Compensation
Total
stock options outstanding at June 30, 2008 were 51,225,480, and 31,322,381
of
these total options were vested at June 30, 2008.
Stock
option transactions to the employees, directors, advisory board members and
consultants are summarized as follows for June 30, 2008:
|
2008
|
|
|||||
Stock
Options Outstanding
|
|
|
|||||
Beginning
of the Year
|
51,354,656
|
|
|||||
Granted
|
191,174
|
||||||
Exercised
|
(320,350
|
)
|
|||||
Forfeited
|
-
|
||||||
Outstanding
end of the period
|
51,225,480
|
||||||
Options
exercisable at the end of the period
|
31,322,381
|
The
above
table includes options issued as of June 30, 2008 as follows:
i).
|
|
A
total of 13,504,742 non-qualified 5-10 year options have been issued
by
Thorium Power, Ltd., to advisory board members at exercise prices
of $0.30
to $0.64 per share.
|
|
|
|
ii).
|
|
A
total of 31,243,810 5-10 year options have been issued to directors,
officers and employees of the Company, at exercise prices of $0.24
to
$0.80 per share. From this total, 18,619,906 options are outstanding
to
the Chief Executive Officer who is also a director, with remaining
contractual lives of 1-9.6 years. All other options issued have a
remaining contractual life ranging from 4.75 years to 9.6
years.
|
iii).
|
|
A
total of 6,476,928 non-qualified 3-10 year options have been issued
to
consultants of the Company, at exercise prices of $0.16 to $0.35
per
share.
|
The
following table provides certain information with respect to the
above-referenced stock options that are outstanding and exercisable at June
30,
2008:
12
Stock Options Outstanding
|
Stock Options Vested
|
||||||||||||
Exercise Prices
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
- Years
|
Number of
Awards
|
Number of
Awards
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
|
|||||||||
$0.16 - $0.29
|
4.0
|
16,869,745
|
13,093,452
|
$
|
0.17
|
||||||||
$0.30
- $0.44
|
7.3
|
7,228,555
|
2,512,896
|
$
|
0.34
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
$0.445-$0.63
|
5.8
|
17,927,180
|
10,182,693
|
$
|
0.47
|
||||||||
$0.64-$0.80
|
7.6
|
9,200,000
|
5,533,340
|
$
|
0.76
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Total
|
5.7
|
51,225,480
|
31,322,381
|
$
|
0.39
|
The
aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding at June 30, 2008 was
$914,912 of which $914,912 related to vested awards. Intrinsic value is
calculated based on the difference between the exercise price of the underlying
awards and the quoted price of our common stock as of the reporting date ($0.24
per share as of June 30, 2008)
Assumptions
used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for the six months ended June
30,
2008 were as follows:
Average
risk-free interest rate
|
|
4.06%
- 4.45%
|
|
Average
expected life
|
|
5-10
years
|
|
Expected
volatility
|
|
99%
- 275%
|
|
Expected
dividends
|
|
0%
|
|
During
the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008, $2,787,179 and $1,423,376
was recorded as stock-based compensation expense in the statement of operations,
respectively. The result of all the above stock option grants that occurred
after January 1, 2006 for Thorium Power Inc and stock option grants for Thorium
Power Ltd that were recorded in the statement of operations totaled $2,668,846
and $1,354,210 for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008
respectively and $6,709,330 for the period from January 1, 2006 to June 30,
2008
(non-deductible for tax purposes, may provide a tax deduction for the Company
when exercised).
Stock
compensation to two executive officers totaled $590,000, as a one-time stock
grant pursuant to employment agreements that they entered into in 2007, was
recorded to common stock (total 2 million shares) reserved for issuance. The
Company issued additional shares of common stock of 127,626, which was issued
in
May 2008 to 3 individuals that resulted in $36,373 of deferred stock
compensation. The amortization of deferred stock compensation, recorded as
stock
based compensation for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2008
was
$49,167 and $98,333, respectively. The remaining stock-based compensation was
issued to two directors, as mentioned above, which resulted in recording $20,000
of stock-based compensation.
e).
Warrants
There
were 512,556 warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2008.
At
June
30, 2008 the range of warrant prices for shares under warrants and the
weighted-average remaining contractual life are as follows:
13
Warrants Outstanding and
Exercisable
|
|||||
Warrants - Exercise Price
|
|
Number of
Warrants
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
- Years
|
|
|
|||||
$0.39
|
|
512,556
|
|
.2
|
|
On November
17, 2006 the Board of Directors of Thorium Power, Ltd. authorized the extension
of the expiration date of all common stock purchase warrants above by six months
from the expiration date identified on the respective warrants.
f).
Common Stock and Warrants reserved for Future Issuance
Common
stock reserved for future issuance consists of
|
Shares of
|
Stock
|
|
|||||||
|
Common
|
Purchase
|
|
|||||||
|
Stock
|
Warrants
|
Amount
|
|||||||
Stock-based
Compensation
|
2,127,626
|
0
|
$
|
626,373
|
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors unanimously voted to issue
2
million shares of restricted stock as an incentive for the Company’s COO and CFO
to work for the Company. The price used to value these shares was the market
price as of the date of the stock grant. The Compensation Committee also
approved in May 2008 to grant 127,626 shares to three new executives and
employees, as mentioned above.
7. INCOME
TAXES
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting
and the amounts recognized for income tax purposes. The significant components
of deferred tax assets (at a 40% effective tax rate) as of June 30, 2008 are
as
follows:
|
Total Amount
|
Deferred Tax
Asset Amount
|
|||||
Assets
|
|
|
|||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
$
|
7,991,205
|
$
|
3,196,482
|
|||
Approximate
net operating loss carryforward
|
10,000,000
|
4,000,000
|
|||||
Less:
valuation allowance
|
(17,991,205
|
)
|
(7,196,482
|
)
|
|||
|
$ | - |
$
|
-
|
Management
currently believes that it is more likely than not that the forecasted taxable
income will not be sufficient to utilize the tax loss carry forward, which
totaled approximately $10 million before their expiration in the years 2026
through 2028, to fully recover the deferred tax asset. The Company has net
operating loss carry forward for federal and state tax purposes with
substantially all of the net operating losses expected to expire unused or
not
be available to offset future taxable income, due to the Internal Revenue Code
Section 382 limitation for the ownership change that occurred on October 6,
2006. As a result, the amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable
was reduced 100% by a valuation allowance. In the near term, the company will
compute the actual Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limitation which will
change the reported net operating loss carry forward and the valuation allowance
shown above. The Company has no other deferred tax assets or
liabilities.
The
company had paid income taxes in the amount of $31,939 as many of the company’s
operating expenses in its 2006 tax year were classified under the internal
revenue code as start up costs which were not deductible for tax purposes,
and
the company had interest income that was taxable for tax purposes. This tax
amount is not included in the above deferred tax asset information as it is
deemed not significant at June 30, 2008.
14
8. RESEARCH
AGREEMENT
On
December 27, 2007, Thorium Power, Inc. (“TPI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company, entered into an agreement for ampoule irradiation testing (the
“Agreement”) with the Russian Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”
(“Kurchatov”). The ampoule irradiation testing program has been ongoing since
2002 pursuant to earlier agreements between TPI and Kurchatov. Under the
Agreement TPI agreed to compensate Kurchatov for irradiation testing of TPI’s
proprietary nuclear fuel designs conducted in 2006 and 2007. Pursuant to the
Agreement, TPI is obligated to pay to Kurchatov $410,000.00 (liability accrued
December 31, 2007), and Kurchatov is obligated to transfer to TPI the worldwide
rights in all of the test data generated in the course of the irradiation
testing of TPI’s proprietary nuclear fuel designs in 2006 and 2007. Kurchatov
agrees not to use, in any manner, the work product associated with such testing
or exercise any rights associated therewith without the written consent of
TPI.
Further, Kurchatov is obligated to provide to TPI and its affiliates specified
information and documentation for audit purposes, and to obtain any and all
permits from Russian governmental entities which may be required in order for
Kurchatov to perform under the Agreement. In addition to this agreement, there
are consulting agreements with several consultants working on various projects
for the company, which total approximately $15,000 per month.
9. COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments
and Contractual Obligations
The
Company has employment agreements with its executive officers, the terms of
which expire at various times. Such agreements provide for minimum compensation
levels, as well as incentive bonuses that are payable if specified management
goals are attained. Under each of the agreements, in the event the officer's
employment is terminated (other than voluntarily by the officer or by the
Company for cause, or upon the death of the officer), the Company, if all
provisions of the employment agreements are met, is committed to pay certain
benefits, including specified monthly severance.
The
Company has entered into an agreement to lease office space, under the terms
of
a sublease with a term of 65 months commencing August 1, 2008. Under the terms
of the sublease, the lease payments are inclusive of pass-through costs, which
include real estate taxes and standard operating expenses. As of June 30, 2008,
the Company has prepaid the first month’s rent and the security deposit related
to this sublease agreement in the amounts of $40,162 and $120,486 respectively.
The Company pays monthly rental fees in the amount of $40,162 in the first
year
of the agreement, and payments increase by a factor of 4% each year thereafter.
The Company may terminate this agreement by providing 60 days notice to the
Sublessor.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”). The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,”
“project,” “target,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “aim,” “will” or similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements
include, among others, those concerning our expected financial performance
and
strategic and operational plans, as well as all assumptions, expectations,
predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. These statements are
based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to us and reflect our current view concerning
future events. As such, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among many
others: our significant operating losses; our limited operating history;
uncertainty of capital resources; the speculative nature of our business; our
ability to successfully implement new strategies; present and possible future
governmental regulations; operating hazards; competition; the loss of key
personnel; any of the factors in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K; other risks identified in this Report; and any
statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. You should also
carefully review other reports that we file with the SEC. The Company assumes
no
obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements,
except as required by law.
15
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF
OPERATION.
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial
statements, together with the notes to those statements, included elsewhere
in
this report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions such as statements of our plans,
objectives, expectations, and intentions. Our actual results may differ
materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements because
of
the risks and uncertainties inherent in future events.
General
Overview
We
are a
developer of proprietary nuclear fuel designs and a provider of nuclear energy
consulting services, each of which will be described in the following
sections.
Consulting
and Strategic Advisory Services Business Segment
For
the
six months ended June 30, 2008, all of our revenue came from two consulting
agreements, both with the Executive Affairs Authority (“EAA”), a government
agency of Abu Dhabi, one of the member Emirates of the United Arab Emirates
(“UAE”). The contracts involved the evaluation of a domestic nuclear energy
program. We were first retained by the EAA on November 30, 2007 to provide
consulting services designed to produce a roadmap that would constitute the
first phase of a feasibility study (“Roadmap”) for a prospective program to
deploy civilian nuclear power plants within the UAE, by acting as strategic
advisor for the entity responsible for managing nuclear energy related
activities in the UAE. The Roadmap contract agreement called for a $5 million
upfront payment for professional fees and expenses, for a 15 week effort to
develop a roadmap with recommendations related to timelines, as well as
organizational structure and priorities for subsequent phases of the country’s
future nuclear energy program. We completed the Roadmap project in March 2008
and then entered into a larger follow-on consulting agreement (“Quickstart”).
The terms of the Quickstart project called for an upfront payment of
professional fees to Thorium Power of $4.3 million. We completed work on the
Quickstart project in June 2008. For both agreements, certain reimbursable
expenses repaid to us were capped at 20% of the total professional fees and
were
billed separately to the EAA
On
August
1, 2008, we entered into two separate consulting services agreements with two
governmental entities in the UAE and a side agreement with the EAA. The first
agreement is with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (“ENEC”), an Abu Dhabi
entity that, upon formation, would be responsible for implementing the country’s
nuclear energy infrastructure. We will provide strategic advisory services
regarding the development and management of ENEC (the “ENEC Agreement”). Under
the second agreement with the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (“FANR”),
which upon formation, will be the independent nuclear regulatory agency in
the
UAE, we will provide strategic advisory services regarding the development
and
management of FANR (the “FANR Agreement” and collectively with the ENEC
Agreement, the “Agreements”). Pursuant to the Agreements, we will be paid $8.9
million from ENEC and $8.5 million from FANR (aggregate of $17.4 million) for
professional fees related to our strategic advisory services performed during
the period from June 23, 2008 through December 31, 2008. In addition, we will
be
compensated for expenses which are capped at 20% of professional fees. The
term
of these Agreements is five years, with automatic renewal for one year periods
unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the provisions of these Agreements.
A
Side Letter provides that upon execution of these Agreements, the EAA will
pay
us $10 million of the aggregate $17.4 million, with the remaining $7.4 million
due under both of these agreements to be paid equally, by ENEC and FANR upon
their formation. Of the $10 million payment by the EAA, $5 million will be
deemed to be made as a partial payment from ENEC and FANR, under each of these
Agreements. Potential adjustments to our billings for future periods under
the
two new Agreements will depend on detailed work-plans which will typically
be
discussed and agreed between us and our clients on a quarterly basis during
project reviews.
Revenue
from the Roadmap contract was recognized during our first fiscal quarter of
2008, when the work on the contract was substantially completed. We recognized
revenue related to the Quickstart project ratably over the term of the agreement
as this contract called for on-going consulting services from March 2008 through
June 2008. Under the August 1, 2008 Agreements, revenues are being derived
from
fixed professional fee agreements. Therefore, we will recognize revenue as
the
consulting services are performed and certain contract deliverables are met.
Going forward, we may enter into additional consulting contracts to provide
support and assistance to other commercial and governmental entities that are
looking to develop and expand their nuclear power industry capabilities and
infrastructure. In future consulting engagements we expect that revenues may
be
derived either from fixed professional fee agreements or from fees generated
through hourly rates billed on a time and expense basis. Our current strategy
in
the consulting services business is focused on the following:
16
Primarily:
Further strengthening the relationship with our existing clients in the UAE
and
increasing the revenue potential by providing additional consulting and
strategic advisory services;
Secondarily:
Expanding our client base by further penetrating our markets and attracting
new
clients with similar needs as our existing clients, and also enhancing and
extending our services, including the creation of new service offerings.
Our
most
significant expense related to our consulting and strategic advisory services
business segment is the cost of services before reimbursable expenses, which
generally relates to costs associated with generating consulting revenues,
and
includes employee payroll expenses and benefits, contractor compensation, vendor
compensation, marketing expenses and direct costs of training and recruiting
the
consulting staff. Consultant compensation consists of salaries, incentive
compensation and benefits. As revenues are generated from services performed
by
our permanent staff and contractors, our success depends on attracting,
retaining and motivating talented, creative and experienced professionals at
all
levels.
Technology
Business Segment
For
most
of the past decade we have been engaged in the development of proprietary
nuclear fuel designs which we ultimately intend to introduce for sale into
two
markets: (1) nuclear fuel designs for use in commercial nuclear power plants
and
(2) nuclear fuel designs for reactor-grade plutonium disposition. In addition,
we have a conceptual nuclear fuel design for weapons-grade plutonium
disposition. These three types of fuel designs are primarily for use in existing
or future VVER-1000 light water reactors. We have also been conducting research
and development related to a variant of these nuclear fuel designs for use
in
existing pressurized water reactors (PWR).
Our
future customers may include nuclear fuel fabricators and/or nuclear power
plants, and/or the U.S. or foreign governments.
To
date,
our operations have been devoted primarily to the development and demonstration
of our nuclear fuel designs, developing strategic relationships within and
outside of the nuclear power industry, securing political and financial support
from the U.S. and Russian governments, and the filing of patent applications
including related administrative functions.
While
we
do not currently have any direct revenues from our research and development
activities regarding our proprietary nuclear fuel technology, and expect that
we
will not generate licensing revenues from this business for several years,
until
our fuel designs can be fully tested and demonstrated and we obtain the proper
approvals to use our nuclear fuel designs in nuclear reactors, we are utilizing
certain common corporate capabilities in both our technology and consulting
businesses. We believe we can leverage our general nuclear technology, business
and regulatory expertise as well as industry relationships, to optimize our
technology development plans and create integrated advisory services with the
highest levels of expertise and experience in the nuclear power industry.
Additionally, our knowledge of and credibility in addressing proliferation
related issues that we have developed over many years, benefit our new
consulting business. Our advisory services include a focus on non-proliferation,
safety and operational transparency of nuclear power programs.
Material
Opportunities and Challenges
Consulting
and Strategic Advisory Services
Our
emergence in the field of nuclear energy consulting is in direct response to
the
need for independent assessments, and highly qualified and integrated strategic
advisory services for countries looking to establish nuclear energy programs,
while still providing a blueprint for safe, clean, efficient and cost-effective
non-proliferative nuclear power. We offer full-scope planning and strategic
advisory services for new and existing markets, and offer such services without
a bias towards or against any reactor vendor or fuel technology. We believe
that
there are significant opportunities available to provide services to governments
that are dedicated to non-proliferative, safe and transparent nuclear
programs.
17
Our
major
challenge in pursuing our business is that the decision making process for
nuclear power programs typically involves careful consideration by many parties
and therefore requires significant time. Also, many of the potential clients
that could benefit from our services are in regions of the world where tensions
surrounding nuclear energy are high, or in countries where public opinion plays
an important role. Domestic and international political pressure may hinder
our
efforts to provide nuclear energy services, regardless of our focus on
non-proliferative nuclear power.
Proprietary
Nuclear Fuel Technology Development
We
believe that a major opportunity for us is the possibility that our fuel
designs, which are currently in the research and development stage, will be
used
in the manufacturing of nuclear fuel utilized in many existing light water
nuclear reactors in the future. Light water reactors are the dominant reactor
types currently in use in the world and fuels for such reactors constitute
the
majority of the commercial market for nuclear fuel. Our focus is on two
different types, or variants, of thorium-based fuel designs. The first is
designed to provide reactor owner-operators with an economically viable
alternative fuel that will not generate weapons-usable plutonium in the spent
fuel. The second is designed to dispose of reactor-grade plutonium that has
been
extracted from spent fuel from commercial reactors and stockpiled in Russia,
Western Europe, the U.S., Japan and other countries. We also have developed
a
conceptual design for a fuel to dispose of weapons-grade plutonium that is
stockpiled in Russia and the United States. All three of these fuel variants
are
expected to have additional benefits, including reduced volume and reduced
long-term radio-toxicity of spent fuel for the same amount of electricity
generated, as compared with the uranium fuels that are currently used in light
water reactors.
We,
through our wholly owned subsidiary Thorium Power, Inc., have been developing
relations with relevant entities within the United States and Russian
governments for over fourteen years. Thorium Power, Inc., in cooperation with
these governments, has been demonstrating its fuel designs in a research reactor
in Russia for over four years. Independent analyses of the technology have
been
performed, including a May 2005 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency
(the “IAEA”) and an April 2005 report by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
(“Westinghouse”). The IAEA and Westinghouse analyses were positive and
management believes that they can help lead to the favorable reception of our
nuclear fuel designs in the future.
We
are
also working with Russian nuclear research institutes and Russian nuclear
regulatory authorities to have one or more of the fuel designs demonstrated
in a
Russian VVER-1000 reactor within the next three to four years, if we are able
to
obtain necessary support and enter into agreements with the Russian government
and Russian research institutes. We believe that it will be necessary to enter
into commercial arrangements with one or more major nuclear fuel fabricators,
which in many cases are also nuclear fuel vendors, as a prerequisite to having
our fuel designs widely deployed in global markets.
Our
nuclear fuel designs have never been demonstrated in a full-size commercial
reactor. Our planned demonstration of the fuels in a VVER-1000 reactor in Russia
would provide operating experience that is critical to reactor owners and
regulatory authorities. We believe that once the fuels have been demonstrated
in
the VVER-1000 reactor, this can help convince other light water reactor
operators around the world to accept our thorium-based fuel
designs.
We
have
also been conducting research and development related to a variant of these
nuclear fuel designs for use in existing and future Western pressurized water
reactors (PWR).
We
believe that our greatest challenge will be acceptance of these fuel designs
by
nuclear power plant operators, which have in the past been hesitant to be the
first to use a new type of nuclear fuel. In addition, our fuel designs would
require regulatory approval by relevant nuclear regulatory authorities, such
as
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the United States or its equivalent
agencies in other countries, before they can be used in commercial reactors.
The
regulatory review process, which is outside of our control, may take longer
than
expected and may delay a rollout of the fuel designs into the market. We believe
that demonstration of one of the Company’s fuel designs in a commercial nuclear
reactor would make deployment of the other designs easier due to the many
similarities that exist among all of our fuel designs.
18
Thorium
Power, Inc. has been building relationships with companies and organizations
in
the nuclear power industry for several years. We will attempt to cause some
or
all of these companies and organizations to work in a consortium or a joint
venture type arrangement with us in the future, however, we may not be able
to
develop any such consortium or arrangement in the near term or at all. The
companies that we have identified for potential relationships have existing
contracts with nuclear power plant owner-operators under which they supply
nuclear fuel branded with their name to such nuclear power plants. We will
attempt to cause these nuclear fuel vending companies to provide their nuclear
power plant operating customers with fuels that are designed with our
technology. To do so, we will need to enter into agreements with one or more
of
these companies. Without such arrangements it would be more difficult for us
to
license our fuel designs because, in addition to the reputations, guarantees,
services, and other benefits that these nuclear fuel vendors provide when
selling fuel to nuclear power plant operators, they also often have multi-year
fuel supply contracts with the reactor operators. These multi-year fuel supply
contracts act as a barrier to entry into the market, such that it can be almost
impossible to penetrate some markets for nuclear fuel without working with
a
nuclear fuel vendor that can support long term contracts. If we are successful
in demonstrating our fuel designs in Russia and in continuing to build
relationships with nuclear fuel vendors, we believe it may lead to one or more
of these major companies in the nuclear power industry working with us in
producing and selling our nuclear fuel designs to commercial reactor operators
and governments.
Business
Segments and Periods Presented
Prior
to
January 1, 2008, we operated as a single reportable segment. As a result of
the formation of our consulting and strategic advisory services business segment
in December 2007, and based on a review of SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, we have determined that
we
now operate in two business segments starting in 2008; the "technology business"
and the "consulting and strategic advisory services business." We present our
segment information along the same lines that our chief executive, chief
operating officer and chief financial officer review our operating results
in
assessing performance and allocating resources.
We
have
provided a discussion of our results of operations on a consolidated basis
and
have also provided certain detailed segment information for each of our business
segments below for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2008, in
order
to provide a meaningful discussion of our business segments.
Consulting
|
Technology
|
Corporate and Eliminations
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 2008
|
June 30, 2008
|
June 30, 2008
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
6 Months
|
3 Months
|
||||||||||||||||||
Revenue
|
8,116,625
|
4,301,500
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8,116,625
|
4,301,500
|
|||||||||||||||||
Segment
Profit - Before Tax
|
4,732,059
|
2,564,938
|
(632,992
|
)
|
(315,543
|
)
|
(5,852,193
|
)
|
(3,245,414
|
)
|
(1,753,126
|
)
|
(996,019
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Total
Assets
|
-
|
17,932
|
7,444,196
|
7,462,128
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Property
Additions
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Interest
Expense
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
183
|
-
|
183
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6,020
|
3,010
|
6,020
|
3,010
|
Factors
Affecting the Comparability of Business Segment Results
As
discussed above, the formation of our consulting and strategic advisory services
business segment at the end of 2007 (December 2007), impacts the comparability
of our results of segment operations in the first six months of 2008 and three
months ended June 30, 2008 versus the first six months and three months ended
June 30, of 2007, as we were not performing consulting services during the
first
six months and three months ended June 30, of 2007, therefore we are not showing
comparative 2007 figures in the business segment information above.
19
Consulting
and Strategic Advisory Services Business
At
the
present time we are deriving all of our $8,116,625 of revenue for the six months
ended June 30, 2008 and $4,301,500 for the three months ended June 30, 2008
from
our consulting and strategic advisory services business segment, by offering
services to foreign governments planning to create or expand electricity
generation capabilities using nuclear power plants benefiting from thorium-based
or other nuclear fuels. Our fee type and structure that we offer for each client
engagement is dependent on a number of variables, including the complexity,
the
level of the opportunity for us to improve the client’s electricity generation
capabilities using nuclear power plants, and other factors. All of the Company's
revenues for the first six months and three months ended June 30, 2008 have
been
derived from the completion of the Roadmap and Quickstart projects with the
Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, one of the member Emirates of the
United Arab Emirates. The cost of consulting services provided are $3,384,566
for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and $1,736,562 for the three months
ended
June 30, 2008, which consists primarily of direct labor consulting expenses
and
other labor support costs incurred, to complete our first and second consulting
projects with the EAA. Other indirect corporate overhead incurred was not
allocated to the consulting and strategic advisory services business segment
and
is reported above in the business segment information chart as unallocated
corporate overhead costs.
Based
on
the completion of the Roadmap and Quickstart projects and the August 1, 2008
Agreements, we are no longer a development stage company in 2008.
Technology
Business
Over
the
next 12 to 18 months we expect to incur approximately $3-5 million in research
and development expenses related to the development of our proprietary nuclear
fuel designs. We expect to incur these expenses after we have entered into
formal agreements with Russian nuclear entities that will grant us licensing
and
other rights to use such technologies or intellectual property developed by
the
Russian entities. Any such agreement would require formal review and approval
by
the Russian Federal Agency for Atomic Energy (RosAtom). We have spent
approximately $285,000 for research and development so far in 2008, and a
cumulative amount from the date of our inception (January 8, 1992, date of
inception of Thorium Power Inc.) to June 30, 2008 of $4,968,762. In addition
we
incurred approximately $348,000 in salary, benefits and other general and
administrative support costs for the six months ended June 30, 2008. We have
established an office in Moscow and leased office space to support our research
and development activities in Russia, as of May 1, 2008.
Over
the
next several years, we expect that our research and development activities
will
increase and will be primarily focused on testing and demonstration of our
thorium/uranium and thorium/reactor-grade plutonium disposing fuel designs.
The
main objective of this research and development phase is to prepare for
full-scale demonstration of our nuclear fuel technology in an operating
commercial VVER-1000 reactor in Russia. Key research and development activities
will include: (1) Scaling up the fuel fabrication process to full length (10
feet) rods used in commercial VVER-1000 reactors, (2) Validating thermal
hydraulic performance of full size (10 feet) seed and blanket fuel assembly,
(3)
Continuing capsule irradiation testing of seed and blanket fuel samples in
a
research reactor and performing post-irradiation examination of fuel samples
that have reached the target burn-up level to confirm fuel performance, and
(4)
Obtaining final regulatory approvals for insertion of fuel in VVER-1000
commercial reactors. As this research and development program relates to
commercial applications of our fuel technology, and retaining ownership or
control over as much key intellectual property as we possibly can is critical
to
the long-term success of our licensing business model, our plan is to fully
fund
these research and development activities ourselves. At the same time, we do
not
currently plan to fund research, testing and demonstration of our
thorium/weapons-grade plutonium disposing fuel, which can only be used in the
U.S.-Russia government-to-government weapons-grade plutonium disposition program
and has no commercial applications. Hence, funding for any future research
and
development activities on this fuel design would have to be provided by the
U.S.
government or other stakeholders.
Financial
Status
At
June
30, 2008, our total assets were approximately $7.5 million and total liabilities
as of June 30, 2008 were approximately $2.8 million. We had a working capital
surplus of approximately $2.7 million at June 30, 2008.
20
Since
the
year ended December 31, 2007, our consulting revenues have improved our total
cash plus marketable securities available for sale substantially to $6.9 million
as of June 30, 2008, primarily due to the $4.3 million received in April 2008
as
pre-payment for the Quickstart consulting contract that we entered into in
March
2008, as mentioned above. Pursuant to the August 1, 2008 Agreements, the Company
will be paid a total of $8.9 million from ENEC and $8.5 million from FANR
(aggregate of $17.4 million), for professional fees and services performed
during the period from June 23, 2008 through December 31, 2008. The term of
the
Agreements is five years, with automatic renewal for one year periods unless
otherwise terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Agreements. A Side Letter
provides that upon execution of the Agreements, EAA will pay to the Company
$10
million of the aggregate $17.4 million, with the remaining $7.4 million due
under the agreements to be paid, equally, by ENEC and FANR upon their formation.
In
support of our longer-term business plan for our technology business segment,
we
will need to raise additional capital by way of an offering of equity
securities, an offering of debt securities, or by obtaining financing through
a
bank or other entity to finance our overhead and research and development
expenditures. We will also need to raise capital to support our overhead
operation if the consulting and strategic advisory services business becomes
non-sustaining. Our current average monthly projected working capital
requirements for the company, excluding the $3-5 million of research and
development expenses we expect to incur in Russia over the next
12 – 18 months is approximately $1,000,000 per month. This financing
will need to take place early in 2009, to ensure that we have the necessary
working capital to continue our business operations through 2009 and beyond.
It
is important to note that financing may not be available or we may not be able
to obtain that financing on terms acceptable to us. If additional funds are
raised through the issuance of equity securities, there may be a significant
dilution in the value of our outstanding common stock. To support this financing
activity, we are exploring transaction opportunities that could simultaneously
create strategic industry and market alliances for the company, to support
our
operations in 2009 and beyond.
Consolidated
Results of Operations
Comparison
of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 to June 30,
2007
The
following table summarizes certain aspects of the Company’s consolidated results
of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months
ended June 30, 2007:
Six Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
June 30,
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
Change $
|
Change %
|
||||||||||
Consulting
Revenues
|
$
|
8,116,625
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
8,116,625
|
-
|
||||||
Cost
of services provided
|
|||||||||||||
Consulting
expenses
|
$
|
3,384,566
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
3,384,566
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
42
|
%
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Gross
profit
|
$
|
4,732,059
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
4,732,059
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
58
|
%
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
|||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
$
|
3,116,987
|
$
|
2,793,733
|
$
|
323,254
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
38
|
%
|
N/A
|
12
|
%
|
||||||||
Research
and development expenses
|
$
|
285,449
|
$
|
155,471
|
$
|
129,978
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
4
|
%
|
N/A
|
-
|
|||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
$
|
2,787,179
|
$
|
2,454,734
|
$
|
332,445
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
34
|
%
|
N/A
|
14
|
%
|
||||||||
Total
Operating Loss
|
$
|
(1,457,556
|
)
|
$
|
(5,403,938
|
)
|
$
|
3,946,382
|
|||||
%
of total revenues
|
-18
|
%
|
N/A
|
-73
|
%
|
||||||||
Other
Income and (Expenses)
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
income/expense, other
|
$
|
(295,570
|
)
|
$
|
158,336
|
$
|
(453,906
|
)
|
|||||
%
of total revenues
|
-4
|
%
|
N/A
|
-287
|
%
|
||||||||
Net
loss - before income taxes
|
$
|
(1,753,126
|
)
|
$
|
(5,245,602
|
)
|
$
|
3,492,476
|
|||||
%
of total revenues
|
-22
|
%
|
N/A
|
-67
|
%
|
21
The
increase in revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008, as compared to
the
same period in 2007, is primarily due to us coming out of the development stage
with our consulting and strategic advisory services business segment. We earned
revenue by completing the Roadmap and Quickstart consulting projects mentioned
above. We will earn additional consulting revenues in the future quarters of
2008
from the
two new consulting agreements we entered into on August 1, 2008, and potential
additional consulting contracts we may obtain in 2008.
Cost
of Services Provided
The
increase in the cost of services for the six months ended June 30, 2008 is
due
to the expenses related to the consulting, professional, travel, administrative
and other costs that were incurred to complete the work performed on our Roadmap
and Quickstart consulting projects. We will incur additional consulting and
other support expenses while working on the two new consulting agreements that
we entered into on August 1, 2008 as well as potential additional consulting
contracts we may obtain, in the future reporting periods in 2008.
General
and Administrative Expenses
The
increase in the general and administrative expenses for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 is primarily due to an increase in corporate consulting costs
of
approximately $232,000, (from $266,000 in 2007 to $498,000 in 2008) and an
increase of approximately $216,000 in employee wages and benefits, due to the
increase in wages and also the increase in the number of employees hired to
support both business segments. This increase was offset by a decrease of
amounts paid for corporate travel expenses of $128,000, (from 337,000 in 2007
to
$209,000 in 2008). We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase
in future periods due to the expansion of our consulting and strategic advisory
services business segment and the hiring of new officers, employees and
consultants to help further develop and support both our (1) consulting and
strategic advisory services and (2) technology business segments.
Research
and Development Costs
The
increase in research and development costs for the six months ended June 30,
2008 is due to the increase in the scope of work for our research and
development activities both in Russia and elsewhere. We expect that our research
and development expenses will increase in the future periods.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
increase in stock based compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2008
is
due to the long-term incentive stock options and stock that were granted under
our stock plan to our executives, directors, advisors and employees at the
end
of 2007, which is now being expensed as these grants are vesting in 2008 and
in
future years. We expect that our stock based compensation will increase in
future periods due to the granting of additional stock options and stock to
attract new executives and consultants, as well as granting stock options and
stock to our current executives, directors, consultants and other support staff.
22
Other
Income and Expense
The
decrease in other income and expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008
is
due to the decrease in interest income earned on our idle cash balances and
the
realized loss on marketable securities. Due to the current lack of liquidity
for
auction rate securities held by the Company, we have concluded that the carrying
value of these investments was higher than its fair value as of June 30, 2008.
Accordingly, these auction rate securities have been recorded at their estimated
fair value of $1,674,849 (total realized loss of $439,594 for the three months
and six months ended June 30, 2008). The Company considers this to be an
other-than-temporary reduction in the carrying value of these auction rate
securities. Accordingly, the loss associated with these auction rate securities
of $439,594 has been recorded as a recognized loss on investments in the
Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three months and six
months ended June 30, 2008. The Company does not know at the present time when
it will be able to convert these investments into cash. Accordingly,
management has classified these investments as a non-current asset on its
consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2008. Management will continue to
monitor these investments closely for future indications of further impairment.
The Company currently expects to be able to sustain its operations as it
anticipates having adequate cash reserves for future operations. We expect
to
hold these auction rate securities until such time that the market recovers
for
these types of investments.
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2008 to June 30,
2007
The
following table summarizes certain aspects of the Company’s consolidated results
of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three
months ended June 30, 2007
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
June 30,
|
|||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
Change $
|
Change %
|
||||||||||
Consulting
Revenues
|
$
|
4,301,500
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
4,301,500
|
|||||||
Cost
of services provided
|
|||||||||||||
Consulting
expenses
|
$
|
1,736,562
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
1,736,562
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
40
|
%
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Gross
profit
|
$
|
2,564,938
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
2,564,938
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
60
|
%
|
-
|
N/A
|
|||||||||
Operating
Expenses
|
|||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
$
|
1,597,941
|
$
|
1,265,340
|
$
|
332,601
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
37
|
%
|
N/A
|
26
|
%
|
||||||||
Research
and development
|
$
|
154,788
|
$
|
129,402
|
$
|
25,386
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
4
|
%
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
$
|
1,423,376
|
$
|
1,119,217
|
$
|
304,159
|
|||||||
%
of total revenues
|
33
|
%
|
N/A
|
27
|
%
|
||||||||
Total
Operating Loss
|
$
|
(611,167
|
)
|
$
|
(2,513,959
|
)
|
$
|
1,902,792
|
|||||
%
of total revenues
|
-14
|
%
|
N/A
|
-76
|
%
|
||||||||
Other
Income and (Expenses)
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
income/expense, other
|
$
|
(384,852
|
)
|
$
|
45,750
|
$
|
(430,602
|
)
|
|||||
%
of total revenues
|
-9
|
%
|
N/A
|
-941
|
%
|
||||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(996,019
|
)
|
$
|
(2,468,209
|
)
|
$
|
1,472,190
|
|||||
%
of total revenues
|
-23
|
%
|
N/A
|
-60
|
%
|
23
Revenues
The
increase in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2008, as compared
to
the same period in 2007, is primarily due to us coming out of the development
stage with our consulting and strategic advisory services business segment.
We
earned revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2008 from our Quickstart
consulting project. We will earn additional consulting revenues in the future
quarters of 2008 from the two new consulting contracts that we entered into
on
August 1, 2008, mentioned above.
Cost
of Services Provided
The
increase in the cost of services for the three months ended June 30, 2008 is
due
to expenses related to the consulting, professional, travel, administrative
and
other costs that were incurred to complete the work performed on our Quickstart
consulting project. We anticipate incurring additional consulting and other
support expenses related to the August 1, 2008 Agreements as well as other
consulting projects that we may enter into, in future reporting periods in
2008.
General
and Administrative Expenses
The
increase in the general and administrative expenses for the three months ended
June 30, 2008 is primarily due to an increase in corporate consulting costs
that
are recorded as administrative expenses of approximately $300,000, (from $22,000
in 2007 to $322,000 in 2008) and an increase of approximately $153,000 in
employee wages and benefits due to the increase in wages and also the increase
in the number of employees hired. We also had an increase in fees and expenses
for our advisory boards of approximately $156,000. This increase was offset
by a
decrease in amounts paid for corporate travel expenses of $154,000, (from
212,000 in 2007 to $58,000 in 2008) and a decrease in legal fees paid of $74,000
(from 252,000 in 2007 to $178,000 in 2008). We expect our general and
administrative expenses to increase in future periods due to the expansion
of
our consulting and strategic advisory services business segment and the hiring
of new officers, employees and consultants to help further develop and support
our (1) consulting and strategic advisory services and (2) technology business
segments.
Research
and Development Costs
The
increase in research and development costs for the six months ended June 30,
2008 is due to the increase in the scope of work for our research and
development activities both in Russia and elsewhere. We expect that our research
and development expenses will increase in the future periods.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
increase in stock based compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2008
is
due to the long-term incentive stock options and stock that were granted under
our stock plan to our executives, directors, advisors and employees at the
end
of 2007, and in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which are now being expensed
as these grants are vesting in 2008 and in future years.
Other
Income and Expense
The
decrease in other income and expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008
is
due to the decrease in interest income earned on our idle cash balances and
the
realized loss on marketable securities, as mentioned above in the six month
analysis in the changes in other income and expense.
24
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As
of
June 30, 2008, we had a total of cash and cash equivalents of $5,185,597. The
following table provides detailed information about our net cash flow for all
financial statements periods presented in this Report.
Cash
Flow
Six Months Ended June 30,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
$
|
(3,086,787
|
)
|
$
|
(3,250,305
|
)
|
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Net
cash provided (used by) financing activities
|
39,542
|
(2,515
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash outflow
|
$
|
(3,047,245
|
)
|
$
|
(3,252,820
|
)
|
In
August
2008 we will receive $10 million as an advance payment for consulting services
to be performed under our two new consulting agreements signed on August 1,
2008.
Operating
Activities
Net
cash
used for operating activities was $3,086,787
for the
six months ended June 30, 2008, which is a decrease of $163,518 from
the
$3,250,305 net cash used for operating activities for the same period in 2007.
This decrease in the use of funds for our operating activities was primarily
due
to the cash received from the Quickstart consulting agreement of $4,285,000,
received in April 2008. The cash received of $3,793,125 for fees earned from
our
first consulting agreement, the Roadmap consulting agreement that was completed
in March 2008, was received in December 2007 as a full prepayment prior to
the
start of the Roadmap consulting contract and this amount (recorded as deferred
revenue at December 31, 2007) was recorded as cash received in the our statement
of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2007 and is not included in the
statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2008 nor in the above
liquidity chart for the six months ended June 30, 2008. This decrease in the
cash used in operation activities was offset by an increase
in our cost of services provided to perform these contracts, which was paid
to
our consultants in order to provide the necessary services for both the Roadmap
and Quickstart consulting projects. The other changes to the operating
activities cash flows are mentioned above in the consolidated results of
operations section regarding expenses incurred for general and administrative
expenses, and items mentioned in the other income and expense.
Financing
Activities
Net
cash
provided by financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2008 totaled
$39,542,
as
compared to cash used of $2,515
in the
same period of 2007. This increase in the cash provided by financing activities
was mainly attributable to money received from the exercise of stock options
in
the amount of $49,975.
This
increase in cash provided by our financing activities was offset by an increase
in our payments of our notes payable in the amount of $10,433.
Management
expects that the proceeds from our first two consulting agreements, as well
as
the expected proceeds from the two new consulting agreements we entered into
in
August 2008, will meet our foreseeable working capital needs for our current
operations for the next 6 to 12 months. However, we will need to raise
additional capital by way of an offering of equity securities, an offering
of
debt securities, or by obtaining financing through a bank or other entity to
support our longer term business plan. We will also need to raise capital to
support our overhead operation if the consulting and strategic advisory services
business becomes non-sustaining. If we need to obtain additional financing,
that
financing may not be available or we may not be able to obtain that financing
on
terms acceptable to us. If additional funds are raised through the issuance
of
equity securities, there may be a significant dilution in the value of our
outstanding common stock.
25
Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
We
do not
have any off balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely
to
have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial
condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity or capital
expenditures or capital resources that is material to an investor in our
securities.
Seasonality
Our
business has not been subject to any material seasonal variations in operations,
although this may change in the future.
Inflation
Our
business, revenues and operating results have not been affected in any material
way by inflation.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
SEC
issued Financial Reporting Release No. 60, "Cautionary Advice Regarding
Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies" suggesting that companies provide
additional disclosure and commentary on their most critical accounting policies.
In Financial Reporting Release No. 60, the SEC has defined the most critical
accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of
a
company's financial condition and operating results, and require management
to
make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the
need
to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this
definition, we have identified the following significant policies as critical
to
the understanding of our financial statements.
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make a variety of estimates and
assumptions that affect (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial
statements and (ii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting periods covered by the financial statements.
Our
management expects to make judgments and estimates about the effect of matters
that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions
affecting the future resolution of the uncertainties increase, these judgments
become even more subjective and complex. Although we believe that our estimates
and assumptions are reasonable, actual results may differ significantly from
these estimates. Changes in estimates and assumptions based upon actual results
may have a material impact on our results of operation and/or financial
condition. We have identified certain accounting policies that we believe are
most important to the portrayal of our current financial condition and results
of operations. Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2
to
the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form
10-K
filed with the Commission on March 27, 2008.
Accounting
for Stock Based Compensation, Stock Options and Warrants Granted to Employees
and Non-employees
We
adopted SFAS 123(R), as of January 1, 2006. SFAS 123(R) replaced
the existing requirements under SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based
Compensation, and Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting
for Stock-based Compensation to Employees, or APB 25. According to
SFAS 123(R), all forms of share-based payments to employees, including
employee stock options and employee stock purchase plans, are treated the same
as any other form of compensation by recognizing the related cost in the
statement of income.
Under
SFAS 123(R), stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date
based on the fair value of the award, and the expense is recognized ratably
over
the award's vesting period. For all grants made, we recognize compensation
cost
under the straight-line method.
26
We
measure the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using a
Black-Scholes option-pricing model which requires the use of several estimates,
including:
•
the
volatility of our stock price;
•
the
expected life of the option;
•
risk
free interest rates; and
•
expected dividend yield.
Prior
to
the completion of our merger in October 2006, we had limited historical
information on the price of our stock as well as employees' stock option
exercise behavior for stock options issued prior to the merger. As a result,
we
could not rely on historical experience alone to develop assumptions for stock
price volatility and the expected life of options. As such, our stock price
volatility was estimated with reference to our historical stock price for the
time period before the merger, from the date the announcement of the merger
was
made. We utilized the closing prices of our publicly-traded stock from the
announcement date in January 2006 to determine our volatility and will continue
to use our historical stock price closing prices to determine our volatility
in
2008.
The
expected life of options is based on internal studies of historical experience
and projected exercise behavior. We estimate expected forfeitures of stock-based
awards at the grant date and recognize compensation cost only for those awards
expected to vest. The forfeiture assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual
forfeiture rate. Estimated forfeitures are reassessed in subsequent periods
and
may change based on new facts and circumstances. We utilize a risk-free interest
rate, which is based on the yield of U.S. treasury securities with a maturity
equal to the expected life of the options. We have not and do not expect to
pay
dividends on our common shares.
The
options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The
assumptions used were as follows: volatility of 99% to 275%, a risk-free
interest rate of 4.06% to 4.45%, dividend yield of 0% and an exercise term
of
five to ten years.
Income
Taxes
We
account for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with SFAS
No. 109 Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires the recognition of
deferred tax assets or liabilities for the tax-effected temporary differences
between the financial reporting and tax bases of our assets and liabilities
and
for net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. The tax expense or benefit
for unusual items, prior year tax exposure items or certain adjustments to
valuation allowances are treated as discrete items in the interim period in
which the events occur.
On
January 1, 2007, we adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, or
FIN 48. FIN 48 addresses the determination of whether tax benefits
claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the
financial statements. Under FIN 48, we may recognize the tax benefit from
an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax
position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based
on
the technical merits of the position. As a result of the implementation of
FIN 48, we did not recognize any current tax liability for unrecognized tax
benefits. We have estimated the amount of our net operating loss carry-forwards
and we currently have engaged tax professionals to evaluate the amount of net
operating loss carry-forward available to us to offset future taxable income,
under Internal Revenue Code Section 382.
Revenue
Recognition from Consulting Contracts
We
believe one of our critical accounting policies is revenue recognition from
our
consulting contracts. We are currently primarily deriving our revenue from
fees
by offering consulting and strategic advisory services to foreign commercial
and
government owned entities planning to create or expand electricity generation
capabilities, using nuclear power plants. Our fee type and structure for each
client engagement depend on a number of variables, including the size of the
client, the complexity, the level of the opportunity for us to improve the
client’s electricity generation capabilities using nuclear power plants, and
other factors.
We
recognized the revenues for our first consulting project which we completed
in
March 2008, using the completed performance model. We recognized the revenues
from our second consulting contract in our second fiscal quarter of 2008 and
we
will recognize revenue from the two new consulting agreements that we entered
into in August 2008 as the consulting services are performed and certain
contract deliverables, performed in accordance with an agreed-upon detail work
plan, are met.
27
We
recognize revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin or SAB,
No. 104, Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue when all of the
following conditions are met:
1. There
is
persuasive evidence of an arrangement;
2. The
service has been provided to the customer;
3. The
collection of the fees is reasonably assured; and
4. The
amount of fees to be paid by the customer is fixed or determinable.
In
situations where contracts include client acceptance provisions, we do not
recognize revenue until such time as the client has confirmed its acceptance.
Intangibles
As
presented on the accompanying balance sheet, we had patents with a net book
value of $217,875 as of June 30, 2008. There are many assumptions and estimates
that may directly impact the results of impairment testing, including an
estimate of future expected revenues, earnings and cash flows, and discount
rates applied to such expected cash flows in order to estimate fair value.
We
have the ability to influence the outcome and ultimate results based on the
assumptions and estimates we choose for testing. To mitigate undue influence,
we
set criteria that are reviewed and approved
by various levels of management. The determination of whether or not intangible
assets have become impaired involves a significant level of judgment in the
assumptions. Changes in our strategy or market conditions could significantly
impact these judgments and require adjustments to recorded amounts of intangible
assets.
Marketable
Securities
The
Company’s investments in auction rate marketable securities are classified as
available-for-sale securities under FAS-115, Accounting for Certain Investments
in Debt and Equity Securities. These securities are reported at their fair
market value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other
comprehensive income. Due to the current lack of liquidity for auction rate
securities held by the Company, we have concluded that the carrying value of
these investments was higher than its fair value as of June 30, 2008.
Accordingly, these auction rate securities have been recorded at their estimated
fair value.
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
As
required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation
of
the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q.
This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, and
our
Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, management concluded that
our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the
Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management (including the chief
executive officer and chief financial officer) to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure and that our disclosure controls and procedures
are effective to give reasonable assurance that the information required to
be
disclosed by us in reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
rules and forms of the SEC.
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified
in
connection with the evaluation performed that occurred during the period covered
by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
28
Disclosure
controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed
to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or
submitted 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 in
our
reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to
management, including the Company’s Chief Executive and acting Chief Financial
Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal
Controls Over Financial Reporting
Section
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that management document and
test
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and include in this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q a report on management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f)
of
the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting based upon the framework in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (“COSO”). Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our
internal control over financial reporting is effective, as of June 30, 2008,
and
was effective during the entire quarter ended June 30, 2008.
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
ITEM
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From
time
to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which
arise in the ordinary course of business. However, 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. We are currently not aware
of any such legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have a material
adverse affect on our business, financial condition or operating
results.
ITEM
1A. Risk Factors
Risk
factors are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
but have been omitted from these statements pursuant to such rules and
regulation and, accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes
necessary for comprehensive consolidated financial statements and should be
read
in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2007, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year
ended December 31, 2007.
ITEM
2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES OR USE OF
PROCEEDS
There
were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the fiscal quarter ended
June 30, 2008.
ITEM
3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
There
were no defaults upon senior securities during the fiscal quarter ended June
30,
2008.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No
matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fiscal
quarter ended June 30, 2008.
ITEM
5. OTHER INFORMATION
N/A
29
ITEM
6. EXHIBITS
The
following exhibits are filed with this report, except those indicated as having
previously been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference to another
report, registration statement or form. As to any shareholder of record
requesting a copy of this report, we will furnish any exhibit indicated in
the
list below as filed with this report upon payment to us of our expenses in
furnishing the information.
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form 10-SB filed on December 17,
1999).
|
|
3.2
|
By-laws
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on September 18, 2006).
|
|
4.1
|
2005
Compensation Plan for Outside Consultants of Custom Brand Networks,
Inc.
dated March 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference from the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on March 10,
2005).
|
|
4.2
|
2005
Augmented Compensation Plan for Outside Consultants of the Company
dated
August 15, 2005 (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-8 filed on August 19, 2005).
|
|
4.3
|
2006
Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the current
report of the Company on Form 8-K filed February 21,
2006)
|
|
31.1*
|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification - Principal Executive
Officer
|
|
31.2*
|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification - Principal Accounting
Officer
|
|
32*
|
Section
1350 Certifications
|
______________
*
Filed
Herewith
30
SIGNATURES
In
accordance with section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the
Registrant caused this Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized individual.
Date:
August 13, 2008
THORIUM
POWER, LTD.
By:
/s/
Seth
Grae
Seth
Grae
Chief
Executive Officer,
President
and Director
31
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form 10-SB filed on December 17,
1999).
|
|
3.2
|
By-laws
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on September 18, 2006).
|
|
4.1
|
2005
Compensation Plan for Outside Consultants of Custom Brand Networks,
Inc.
dated March 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference from the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on March 10,
2005).
|
|
4.2
|
2005
Augmented Compensation Plan for Outside Consultants of the Company
dated
August 15, 2005 (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-8 filed on August 19, 2005).
|
|
4.3
|
2006
Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the current
report of the Company on Form 8-K filed February 21,
2006)
|
|
31.1*
|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification - Principal Executive
Officer
|
|
31.2*
|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification - Principal Accounting
Officer
|
|
32*
|
|
Section
1350 Certifications
|
______________
*Filed
Herewith
32