Judd Merrill
Analyst · Oppenheimer. Please proceed with your question
Thank you, Ben. Moving on to the financials, we ended the year in solid financial position in our expectation for the year and placing us in good shape for the year to come. And then you first make some comments on our balance sheet. As on December 31 2021, cash and working capital balances were $8.1 million and $8.4 million respectively as compared to cash of $6.5 million working capital of $4.9 million as of December 31, 2020. This places us in stronger financial strength at the end of this year as compared to in the prior year. We accounted for certain assets with the net book value of $2.6 million as assets held for sale. Due to non-core assets and are no longer necessary for our future operating plans. In fact, subsequent to year end we sold some of these assets to LiNiCo totally approximately 8,00,000 and an additional 6,00,00 non-core equipment to other vendors. As we mentioned in prior quarters, we accounted or the lease to buy agreement with LiNiCo as a sales type lease, as a component for the accounting for this agreement, we recognize the fair value the land in the plan of approximately $70 million of lease receivable. And during the fourth quarter 2021 LiNiCo made their first required deposit of $1.25 million. The deposit is nonrefundable, however, it will be applied to the purchase price of the building at the time and now is due in for. We believe that LiNiCo wants to pay off the building later this year and in fact they are incentivized to do so. Accrued liabilities includes approximately $2.3 million in remaining cost to repair the plants, the plant repairs were successful and the portion of the plant damaged by the fire now looks brand new and it is in great condition. The plant looks amazing and the cleanup and repair efforts were very successful. LiNiCo's perfect sign enclosed to beginning their installation of equipment's. Moving on to the income statement. Cost of product sales increased approximately 28% for the 12 months ending December 31, 2021 as compared to the prior year. Cost of product sales for the year increased as a result of the plant cleanup cost and preparation for the lease and eventual sale of the TRIC facility. If you look just at the basic cost of product sales without the cleanup, without the plant cleanup cost, our cost of product sales have been very consistent even for the last [two] years. And we expect these costs to actually come down from one in 2022. During the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, the research and development cost shifted to primarily lithium-ion recycling as lead recycling product development concluded, were also decreasing overall for the year by approximately 9% compared to 2020. Research and development is a key part of our business strategy includes our focus on continuous product improvement of the company's proprietary technology for the lead acid battery recycling. And further advancing our development related to the application of AquaRefining to the lithium-ion batteries. General and administrative expense increased approximately 8% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the 12 months ended December 31, 2020. The increases in general administrative expense included changes in stock based comp in addition to the increase in legal expenses and insurance premiums. Our G&A expense has been consistent likewise for the last two years and in line with our expectations. In conjunction with our year-end accounting, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020; a $0.5 million and $11.7 million respectively. Subsequent to an analysis of our fixed assets and the right down the fair market values. We recognized a loss on the sale of assets held for sale of approximately $1.4 million during the year-end December 31, 2021, as a result of disposals completed in conjunction with the plant cleanup. In addition, we recognized a loss on the sale of assets at $3.5 million recognized in conjunction with accounting for the repurchase arrangement or the company's in McCarran, Nevada facility. Net loss for the year was a negative $18.2 million and basic and diluted net loss per share was a negative $0.26 per share. And that was in line with our management guidance and expectation. Just to report, the company does have a Federal NOL to report of approximately a $135 million of which they do not start expiring until 2034. My final comments are related to cash flows, net cash use and operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, was $7.6 million and an $11 million respectively. This covers our OpEx and our G&A cost and was adjusted for non-cash items the details of which are in our 10-K. We don’t see cash use for operations growing in the near term even with added new hires and strategic consultants who add to our bench strength and our team we believe these costs will be the increases in cost will be partially offset by reduced cost elsewhere such as reduced cost has been moved out of the plant early this year. And cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $2.2 million compared to the prior of $6.6 million. Net cash in investing activities during these periods consisted primarily purchased this for fixed assets and insurance proceeds received. And then finally, net cash used or net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 consisted of $10.2 million, net proceeds from ATM share sales. The majority of the ATM proceeds happened in the Q1 was a very little use for the remainder of the year. And our strategy with the ATM has been it seems to be that we tried to use it when there is only strategic opportunities to invest. I will now turn the time over to the moderator to begin the questions and answers portion.