altair_10q-033110.htm
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x |
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED |
|
March 31, 2010 |
|
|
o |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM
_________________ TO _________________
|
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Canada |
|
1-12497 |
|
33-1084375 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
|
(Commission File No.) |
|
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
204 Edison Way
Reno, Nevada 89502
|
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (775) 856-2500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES o NO o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
|
o |
Accelerated filer
|
x |
Non-accelerated filer
|
o |
Smaller reporting company
|
o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act): YES o NO x
As of May 7, 2010 the registrant had 105,400,728 Common Shares outstanding.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item 1. Financial Statements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars, except shares and per share amounts)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
12,350 |
|
|
$ |
18,122 |
|
Investment in available for sale securities
|
|
|
525 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
840 |
|
|
|
683 |
|
Product inventories
|
|
|
5,932 |
|
|
|
5,043 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
1,640 |
|
|
|
1,820 |
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
21,287 |
|
|
|
26,173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment in available for sale securities
|
|
|
2,448 |
|
|
|
2,587 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net held and used
|
|
|
8,749 |
|
|
|
8,670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net held and not used
|
|
|
2,096 |
|
|
|
2,211 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patents, net
|
|
|
483 |
|
|
|
551 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
$ |
35,188 |
|
|
$ |
40,317 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts payable
|
|
$ |
2,387 |
|
|
$ |
1,783 |
|
Accrued salaries and benefits
|
|
|
1,567 |
|
|
|
625 |
|
Accrued warranty
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
Accrued liabilities
|
|
|
539 |
|
|
|
758 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
94 |
|
|
|
810 |
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
4,669 |
|
|
|
4,055 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, less current portion
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders' equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, no par value, unlimited shares authorized;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,400,728 shares issued and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
|
|
|
188,577 |
|
|
|
188,515 |
|
Additional paid in capital
|
|
|
11,325 |
|
|
|
10,933 |
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(168,271 |
) |
|
|
(162,204 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(1,682 |
) |
|
|
(1,560 |
) |
Total Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
29,949 |
|
|
|
35,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interest in Subsidiary
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
541 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
30,486 |
|
|
|
36,225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
|
$ |
35,188 |
|
|
$ |
40,317 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
|
|
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars, except shares and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product sales
|
|
$ |
75 |
|
|
$ |
191 |
|
Commercial collaborations
|
|
|
294 |
|
|
|
699 |
|
Contracts and grants
|
|
|
823 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
1,192 |
|
|
|
902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
185 |
|
Commercial collaborations
|
|
|
178 |
|
|
|
229 |
|
Contracts and grants
|
|
|
611 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
Warranty and inventory reserves
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total cost of goods sold
|
|
|
895 |
|
|
|
436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
2,439 |
|
|
|
3,044 |
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
1,185 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
2,286 |
|
|
|
2,560 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
733 |
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
6,386 |
|
|
|
6,938 |
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(6,089 |
) |
|
|
(6,472 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other (expense) income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
Interest income
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
71 |
|
Realized loss on investment
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(18 |
) |
Loss on foreign exchange
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
Total other income, net
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(6,071 |
) |
|
|
(6,441 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.
|
|
$ |
(6,067 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,385 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per common share - basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares - basic and diluted
|
|
|
105,094,234 |
|
|
|
92,983,131 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
|
|
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
|
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars, except shares and per share amounts)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. Shareholders
|
|
|
Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compre-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Compre-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Paid In
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
hensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
|
|
|
hensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, January 1, 2009
|
|
|
93,143,271 |
|
|
$ |
180,105 |
|
|
$ |
5,378 |
|
|
$ |
(140,892 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,873 |
) |
|
$ |
42,718 |
|
|
$ |
1,098 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
1,098 |
|
|
$ |
43,816 |
|
Comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(6,385 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(6,385 |
) |
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
|
(6,441 |
) |
Other comprehensive gain
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
118 |
|
|
|
118 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
118 |
|
Comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,267 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(56 |
) |
|
|
(6,323 |
) |
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
236 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
258 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
258 |
|
Issuance of restricted stock
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Balance, March 31, 2009
|
|
|
93,153,271 |
|
|
$ |
180,127 |
|
|
$ |
5,614 |
|
|
$ |
(147,277 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,755 |
) |
|
$ |
36,709 |
|
|
$ |
1,042 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
1,042 |
|
|
$ |
37,751 |
|
|
|
Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. Shareholders
|
|
|
Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compre-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Compre-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Paid In
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
hensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
|
|
|
hensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, January 1, 2010
|
|
|
105,400,728 |
|
|
$ |
188,515 |
|
|
$ |
10,933 |
|
|
$ |
(162,204 |
) |
|
$ |
( 1,560 |
) |
|
$ |
35,684 |
|
|
$ |
541 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
541 |
|
|
$ |
36,225 |
|
Comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(6,067 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(6,067 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(6,071 |
) |
Other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(122 |
) |
|
|
(122 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(122 |
) |
Comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,189 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(6,193 |
) |
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
392 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
454 |
|
Balance, March 31, 2010
|
|
|
105,400,728 |
|
|
$ |
188,577 |
|
|
$ |
11,325 |
|
|
$ |
(168,271 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,682 |
) |
|
$ |
29,949 |
|
|
$ |
537 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
537 |
|
|
$ |
30,486 |
|
See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$ |
(6,067 |
) |
|
$ |
(6, 385 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
733 |
|
Noncontrolling interest in operations
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(56 |
) |
Securities received in payment of license fees
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
258 |
|
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(450 |
) |
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
(157 |
) |
|
|
467 |
|
Product inventories
|
|
|
(847 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
180 |
|
|
|
43 |
|
Other assets
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Trade accounts payable
|
|
|
535 |
|
|
|
304 |
|
Accrued salaries and benefits
|
|
|
942 |
|
|
|
168 |
|
Accrued warranty
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
Accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(219 |
) |
|
|
(393 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(4,660 |
) |
|
|
(5,295 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property and equipment
|
|
|
(392 |
) |
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(392 |
) |
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(continued)
|
|
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
(Expressed in thousands of United States Dollars)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment of notes payable
|
|
|
(716 |
) |
|
|
(652 |
) |
Proceeds from long-term debt
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
58 |
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(720 |
) |
|
|
(598 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(5,772 |
) |
|
|
(6,141 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
|
|
18,122 |
|
|
|
28,088 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
|
$ |
12,350 |
|
|
$ |
21,947 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
|
$ |
43 |
|
|
$ |
86 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2010:
|
- We made capital equipment purchases of $69,000 which are included in accounts payable at March 31, 2010.
|
- We had an unrealized loss on available for sale securities of $122,000.
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2009:
|
- We had an unrealized gain on available for sale securities of $118,000.
|
- We issued 10,000 shares of restricted stock to directors having a fair value of approximately $17,000 for which no cash will be received.
|
See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Note 1. Basis of Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Altair” “we” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Such rules and regulations allow the omission of certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, so long as the statements are not misleading. In the opinion of Company management, these consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring items) necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the periods shown. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the Commission on March 12, 2010.
The results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents consist principally of bank deposits and institutional money market funds. Short-term investments that are highly liquid have insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities of 90 days or less are classified as cash and cash equivalents. Investments that do not meet the definition of cash equivalents are classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale.
Our cash balances are maintained in bank accounts that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (“CDIC”) up to a maximum of US $250,000 and CN $100,000, respectively, per depositor. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 we had $1.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively in excess of insurance limits in bank accounts insured by the FDIC or CDIC.
Investment in Available for Sale Securities - The investment in short-term available for sale securities consists of 113,809 Shares of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. common stock valued at $525,000 and $505,000 at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. This stock was received in exchange for ownership assignment of all patent rights associated with Renazorb™ and Renalan™ compounds to Spectrum. Spectrum must also pay us future milestone and royalty payments as they develop revenues for these compounds.
Accounts Receivable — Accounts receivable consists of amounts due from customers for services and product sales, net of an allowance for losses. We determine the allowance for doubtful accounts by reviewing each customer account and specifically identifying any potential for loss.
The allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
In thousands of dollars
Beginning Balance, January 1, 2010
|
|
$ |
161 |
|
Additions charged to costs and expenses
|
|
|
- |
|
Net deductions (write-offs, net of collections)
|
|
|
- |
|
Ending Balance, March 31, 2010
|
|
$ |
161 |
|
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss – Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists entirely of unrealized loss on the investment in available for sale securities.
Long-Lived Assets - We evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset are less than the carrying value. Our estimate of the cash flows is based on the information available at the time including the following: internal budgets; sales forecasts; customer trends; anticipated production volumes; and market conditions over an estimate of the remaining useful life of the asset which may range from 3 to 10 years for most equipment and up to 22 years for our building and related building improvements. If an impairment is indicated, the asset value is written off to its fair value based upon market prices, or if not available, upon discounted cash flow value, at an appropriate discount determined by us to be commensurate with the risk inherent in the business model. The determination of both undiscounted and discounted cash flows requires us to make significant estimates and consider the expected course of action at the balance sheet date. Our assumptions about future sales and production volumes require significant judgment because actual sales prices and volumes have fluctuated significantly in the past and are expected to continue to do so. Until the Company’s products reach commercialization, the demand for our products is difficult to estimate. Subsequent changes in estimated undiscounted and discounted cash flows arising from changes in anticipated actions could impact the determination of whether an impairment exists, the amount of the impairment charge recorded and whether the effects could materially impact our consolidated financial statements. Events or circumstances that could indicate the existence of a possible impairment include obsolescence of the technology, an absence of market demand for the product or the assets used to produce it, a history of operating or cash flow losses and/or the partial or complete lapse of technology rights protection.
We reviewed our four capitalized patents and determined that three of these patents have value in excess of their net book value of $483,000. AlSher currently has an exclusive license to use this technology from Altair. The fourth patent no longer has value. The fourth patent had a net book value of $47,000 and an impairment charge of this amount was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
As of March 31, 2010, we estimate that our future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, are greater than our $11.3 million investment in long-lived assets. Our estimated future cash flows include anticipated product sales, commercial collaborations, and contracts and grant revenue, since our long-lived asset base, which is primarily composed of production, laboratory and testing equipment is utilized to fulfill contracts in all revenue categories. Estimated future cash flows in connection with the AlSher assets were based on the sale of our ownership interest in the joint venture to Sherwin-Williams completed on April 30, 2010.
Based on our assessment, which represents no change from the prior year in our approach to valuing long-lived assets, with the exception of the one patent described above, we believe that our long-lived assets are not impaired.
Deferred Income Taxes - We use the asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences on the basis of assets and liabilities as reported for financial statement purposes and income tax purposes. We have recorded a valuation allowance against all net deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets to an amount that represents management’s best estimate of the amount of such deferred tax assets that more likely than not will be realized.
Revenue Recognition - We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or service has been performed, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collectability is probable. Our revenues were derived from product sales, commercial collaborations and contracts and grants. Revenue from product sales is recognized upon delivery of the product, unless specific contractual terms dictate otherwise. Based on the specific terms and conditions of each contract/grant, revenues are recognized on a time and materials basis, a percentage of completion basis and/or a completed contract basis. Revenue under contracts based on time and materials is recognized at contractually billable rates as labor hours and expenses are incurred. Revenue under contracts based on a fixed fee arrangement is recognized based on various performance measures, such as stipulated milestones. As these milestones are achieved, revenue is recognized. From time to time, facts develop that may require us to revise our estimated total costs or revenues expected. The cumulative effect of revised estimates is recorded in the period in which the facts requiring revisions become known. The full amount of anticipated losses on any type of contract is recognized in the period in which it becomes known. Payments received in advance relating to the future performance of services or deliveries of products are deferred until the performance of the service is complete or the product is shipped. Upfront payments received in connection with certain rights granted in contractual arrangements are deferred and revenue is recognized over the related time period which the benefits are received. Based on specific customer bill and hold agreements, revenue is recognized when the inventory is shipped to a third party storage warehouse, the inventory is segregated and marked as sold, the customer takes the full rights of ownership and title to the inventory upon shipment to the warehouse per the bill and hold agreement. When contract terms include multiple components that are considered separate units of accounting, the revenue is attributed to each component and revenue recognition may occur at different points in time for product shipment, installation, and service contracts based on substantial completion of the earnings process.
Accrued Warranty - We provide a limited warranty for battery packs and energy storage systems. A liability is recorded for estimated warranty obligations at the date products are sold. Since these are new products, the estimated cost of warranty coverage is based on cell and module life cycle testing and compared for reasonableness to warranty rates on competing battery products. As sufficient actual historical data is collected on the new product, the estimated cost of warranty coverage will be adjusted accordingly. The liability for estimated warranty obligations may also be adjusted based on specific warranty issues identified. The balance of our accrued warranty as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, was $82,000 and $79,000, respectively.
Overhead Allocation - Facilities overhead, which is comprised primarily of occupancy and related expenses, are initially recorded in general and administrative expenses and then allocated to research and development and product inventories based on relative labor costs.
Noncontrolling Interest – In April 2007, Sherwin-Williams entered into an agreement with us to form AlSher Titania LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“AlSher”). AlSher is a joint venture combining certain technologies of ours and Sherwin-Williams in order to develop and produce titanium dioxide pigment for use in paint and coatings and nano titanium dioxide materials for use in a variety of applications, including those related to removing contaminants from air and water. Pursuant to a Contribution Agreement dated April 24, 2007 among Sherwin-Williams, AlSher, and us, we contributed to AlSher an exclusive license to use our technology (including our hydrochloride pigment process) for the production of titanium dioxide pigment and other titanium containing materials (other than battery or nanoelectrode materials) and certain pilot plant assets with a net book value of $3.1 million. We received no consideration for the license granted to AlSher other than our ownership interest in AlSher. Sherwin-Williams contributed to AlSher cash and a license agreement related to a technology for the manufacture of titanium dioxide using the digestion of ilmenite in hydrochloric acid. As a condition to enter into the second phase of the joint venture, we agreed to complete the pigment pilot processing plant and related development activities by January 2008. The 100 ton pigment pilot processing plant was commissioned in February 2008 and the costs associated with this effort were partially reimbursed by AlSher. AlSher is consolidated with our subsidiaries because we have a controlling interest in AlSher and any inter-company transactions are eliminated (refer to Note 1 – Basis of Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements). The noncontrolling shareholder’s interest in the net assets and net income or loss of AlSher are reported as noncontrolling interest in subsidiary on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and as noncontrolling interest share in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, respectively.
We sold our 70% interest in AlSher to Sherwin-Williams on April 30, 2010. See Note 12 – Subsequent Events for more details pertaining to this sale.
Net Loss Per Common Share - Basic loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and potentially dilutive shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive shares consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants, as well as unvested restricted stock. Potentially dilutive shares are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive. We had a net loss for all periods presented herein; therefore, none of the stock options and warrants outstanding during each of the periods presented or unvested restricted stock were included in the computation of diluted loss per share as they were anti-dilutive.
Property Plant and Equipment, net – held and not used - This balance sheet classification includes assets being redeployed from our Life Sciences and Performance Materials Divisions, into our Power and Energy Group. These assets are currently not being utilized but we plan to redeploy them into our Power and Energy Group in the future.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements —
Adopted:
On January 1, 2010, we adopted changes to the accounting for variable interest entities. These changes require an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity; to require ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity; to eliminate the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity; to add an additional reconsideration event for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in facts and circumstances occur such that holders of the equity investment at risk, as a group, lose the power from voting rights or similar rights of those investments to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and to require enhanced disclosures that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest entity. The adoption of these changes did not have an impact on the Financial Statements.
On January 1, 2010, we adopted changes to the accounting for transfers of financial assets. These changes removed the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity and removed the exception from the application of variable interest accounting to variable interest entities that are qualifying special-purpose entities; limited the circumstances in which a transferor derecognizes a portion or component of a financial asset; defined a participating interest; requires a transferor to recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer accounted for as a sale; and requires enhanced disclosure; among others. The adoption of these changes did not have an impact on the Financial Statements.
Issued and not yet adopted:
In January 2010, the FASB revised two disclosure requirements concerning fair value measurements and clarified two others. It requires separate presentation of significant transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy and disclosure of the reasons for such transfers. It will also require the presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements within Level 3 on a gross basis rather than a net basis. The amendments also clarify that disclosures should be disaggregated by class of asset or liability and that disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques should be provided for both recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements. Our disclosures about fair value measurements are presented in Note 3 – Fair Value Measurements. We have adopted the changes required except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements which will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2011. Management has determined that the adoption of these changes will not have an impact on the Financial Statements.
Reclassifications - Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to classifications adopted in the current period.
Note 3. Fair Value Measurements
Our financial instruments are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. A market or observable inputs is the preferred source of values, followed by assumptions based on hypothetical transactions in the absence of market inputs.
The valuation techniques are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:
|
Level 1 -
|
Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
|
|
Level 2 -
|
Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
|
|
Level 3 -
|
Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.
|
The following table summarizes the valuation of our assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2010:
In thousands of dollars
Assets at fair value :
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Auction rate corporate notes
|
|
$ |
2,448 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,448 |
|
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
|
|
525 |
|
|
|
525 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Investment in available for sale securities
|
|
$ |
2,973 |
|
|
$ |
525 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,448 |
|
The following table summarizes the valuation of our assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2009:
Assets at fair value:
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Auction rate corporate notes
|
|
$ |
2,587 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,587 |
|
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
|
|
505 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Investment in available for sale securities
|
|
$ |
3,092 |
|
|
$ |
505 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
2,587 |
|
The Spectrum Pharmaceuticals shares listed above as of March 31, 2010 were acquired from Spectrum on August 4, 2009 when we entered into an amended agreement with Spectrum to license them the rights to Renalan™ and RenaZorb™. A component of this agreement was the payment to us of an additional 113,809 shares of Spectrum common stock. These shares are valued at market closing price as of March 31, 2010.
The activity relating to assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis utilizing Level 3 inputs for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 is summarized below:
In thousands of dollars
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
|
|
Auction rate
corporate notes
2010
|
|
|
Auction rate
corporate notes
2009
|
|
Beginning Balance, January 1
|
|
$ |
2,587 |
|
|
$ |
2,816 |
|
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Included in other comprehensive income
|
|
|
(141 |
) |
|
|
55 |
|
Other adjustments
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
Ending Balance, March 31
|
|
$ |
2,448 |
|
|
$ |
2,866 |
|
Total unrealized loss for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $(122,000) and total unrealized gain for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $118,000. These amounts were included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in Stockholder’s Equity attributable to the change in cumulative unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets still held at the reporting date. No assets or liabilities are valued on a non-recurring basis at March 31, 2010 and 2009.
Financial instruments that trade in less liquid markets with limited pricing information generally include both observable and unobservable inputs. In instances where observable data is unavailable, we consider the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the asset. Such investments are categorized in Level 3 as the inputs generally are not observable. Our evaluation included consultation with our investment advisors, and we valued these securities using a risk-adjusted discount rate applied to the expected future cash inflows. This discount rate was computed based on annual rates of return on securities with similar credit ratings trading in an active market. As a result in the increased discount rate, the market value of these securities decreased by $141,000, from $2.6 million to $2.5 million at March 31, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively.
Note 4. Investment in Available for Sale Securities
Investment in available for sale securities includes auction rate corporate notes (long-term) and investments in common stock (short-term) as discussed below.
The auction rate corporate notes are long-term instruments with maturity in 2017. Through the third quarter of 2007, the interest was settled and the rate reset every 7 to 28 days and historically these investments were classified as short-term investments. However, in the fourth quarter of 2007 due to a reduction in the liquidity of the auction rate market, sell orders exceed bid orders in that market, and the interest rate relating to these investments was reset to a contractual rate of London Interbank Offering Rate plus 50 basis points. The auction rate markets have not yet recovered. As such, we evaluated these investments at March 31, 2010 to determine if they were other than temporarily impaired. Our evaluation included consultation with our investment advisors, assessment of the strength of the financial institution paying the interest on these investments, credit ratings of the underlying collateral and a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis. Based on this analysis, we estimate that at March 31, 2010 their fair value was $2.5 million, representing a cumulative unrealized holding loss of approximately $1.4 million. Based on our evaluation and our ability and intent to hold these investments for a reasonable period of time sufficient for an expected recovery of fair value, we do not consider these investments to be other than temporarily impaired at March 31, 2010.
On August 4, 2009 we entered into an amended agreement with Spectrum where we assigned all patent rights associated with Renalan™ and RenaZorb™. As part of this Agreement, we received 113,809 unregistered and restricted shares of Spectrum common stock. On receipt these shares were recorded at their market value of $750,000 as measured by their closing price on the NASDAQ Capital Market as of July 1, 2009. This investment had a market value of $525,000 as of March 31, 2010.
Note 5. Product Inventories
Product inventories consist of the following:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raw materials
|
|
$ |
3,760 |
|
|
$ |
3,933 |
|
Work in process
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
|
|
908 |
|
Finished goods
|
|
|
517 |
|
|
|
202 |
|
Total product inventories
|
|
$ |
5,932 |
|
|
$ |
5,043 |
|
As products reach the commercialization stage, the related inventory is recorded. The costs associated with products undergoing research and development are expensed as incurred. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, inventory consisted primarily of nano-structured lithium titanate spinel, battery cells and battery modules in various stages of the manufacturing process.
Note 6. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid inventory purchases
|
|
$ |
716 |
|
|
$ |
802 |
|
Prepaid insurance
|
|
|
175 |
|
|
|
301 |
|
Deposits
|
|
|
340 |
|
|
|
340 |
|
Other prepaid expenses and current assets
|
|
|
409 |
|
|
|
377 |
|
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
$ |
1,640 |
|
|
$ |
1,820 |
|
Our prepaid inventory purchases are associated with unfulfilled purchase orders of $1.2 million. Other prepaid expenses and current assets consist primarily of prepaid property taxes, service contracts, marketing expenses and rent.
Note 7. Patents
Our patents are associated with the nanomaterials and titanium dioxide pigment technology. We are amortizing these assets on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. The amortized patents’ balances as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
Patents and patent applications
|
|
$ |
1,366 |
|
|
$ |
1,518 |
|
Less accumulated amortization
|
|
|
(883 |
) |
|
|
(967 |
) |
Total patents and patent applications
|
|
$ |
483 |
|
|
$ |
551 |
|
The weighted average amortization period for patents is approximately 16.7 years. Amortization expense, which represents the amortization relating to the identified amortizable patents, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, was $21,000 in each period. For each of the next five years, amortization expense relating to patents is expected to be approximately $76,000 per year.
We reviewed our four capitalized patents and determined that three of these patents have value in excess of their net book value of $483,000. AlSher currently has an exclusive license to use this technology from Altair. The fourth patent no longer has value. The fourth patent had an original cost of $152,000, accumulated depreciation of $105,000 and a net book value of $47,000. An impairment charge of $47,000 was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
Note 8. Note Payable and Capital Leases
The current and long-term amounts of the notes payable and capital leases are as follows:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
Note payable to BHP Minerals International, Inc.
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
600 |
|
Note payable to AICCO, Inc.
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
|
|
194 |
|
Capital leases
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
53 |
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
847 |
|
Less current portion
|
|
|
(94 |
) |
|
|
(810 |
) |
Long-term portion of notes payable and capital leases
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
|
$ |
37 |
|
On August 8, 2002, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement with BHP Minerals International, Inc. (“BHP”), wherein we purchased the land, building and fixtures in Reno, Nevada where our titanium processing assets are located. In connection with this transaction, BHP also agreed to terminate our obligation to pay royalties associated with the sale or use of the titanium processing technology. In return, we issued to BHP a note in the amount of $3.0 million, at an interest rate of 7%, secured by the property we acquired. The final payment of $600,000 plus accrued interest was paid on January 27, 2010.
On August 6, 2009, we entered into a financing arrangement with AICCO, Inc, our insurance provider to finance the annual cost of our insurance over ten months. We issued a note to AICCO in the amount of $387,000, at an interest rate of 5.2% per annum.
Note 9. Stock-Based Compensation
We have a stock incentive plan, administered by the Board of Directors, which provides for the granting of options and restricted shares to employees, officers, directors and other service providers.
The total compensation cost charged in connection with the stock incentive plan was $672,000 and $418,000 for the three-months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. During the three-months ended March 31, 2010, 542,586 options vested at a weighted average price of $2.14. During the three-months ended March 31, 2009, 524,398 options vested at a weighted average price of $3.18. There were no stock option and warrant exercises during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
Compensation expense of $672,000 was recognized for the three-months ended March 31, 2010. This expense consisted of $218,000 related to the stock grant awards accrual of the “2010 Annual Incentive Bonus Plan” which is accrued to liabilities, as well as amortized expense of stock options of $392,000 and restricted stock of $62,000, the offset of which is additional paid in capital of stockholders’ equity. For the three-months ended March 31, 2009, compensation expense of $418,000 consisted of $160,000 related to the stock grant awards accrual of the “2009 Annual Incentive Bonus Plan”, amortized stock options of $236,000 and restricted stock expense of $22,000.
Stock Options
The total number of shares authorized for issuance under our 2005 stock incentive plan is 9.0 million shares. Prior stock option plans, which are now terminated, authorized a total of 6.6 million shares, of which options for 5,745,500 were granted and options for 181,500 are outstanding and unexercised at March 31, 2010. The total number of options relating to the 2005 stock incentive plan that are outstanding and unexercised at March 31, 2010 is 6,104,209.
Total options granted for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were 1,484,000 and 1,331,000, respectively. The weighted average grant date per share fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 was $1.02 and $1.18, respectively.
As of March 31, 2010, there was $1.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested options granted under the plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1 year as of March 31, 2010.
Restricted Stock
During the three-months ended March 31, 2010, the Board of Directors did not grant any shares of restricted stock under the plan. During the three-months ended March 31, 2009, the Board of Directors granted 10,000 shares of restricted stock under the plan with a weighted average fair value of $1.71 per share.
As of March 31, 2010 we had $163,000 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock which will be recognized over 1.6 years.
Note 10. Related Party Transactions
There were no material transactions with related parties during the three months ended March 31, 2010.
Note 11. Business Segment Information
Management views the Company as operating in two major business segments: Power and Energy Group, and All Other operations.
The Power and Energy Group develops, produces, and sells nano-structured lithium titanate spinel, battery cells, battery packs, and provides related design and test services. The All Others group consists of the remaining portions of the previous Life Sciences and Performance Materials groups. Management completed a thorough review of operations and strategies and determined that it was in the best interests of the shareholders for the Company to focus primarily on the Power and Energy Group. As a result of this assessment resources devoted to the Performance Materials Group and Life Sciences Group were considerably reduced and no new significant development is being pursued in those areas by the Company.
The accounting policies of these business segments are the same as described in Note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Reportable segment data reconciled to the consolidated financial statements as of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 is as follows:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Net Sales
|
|
|
From Operations
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
March 31, 2010:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Power and Energy Group
|
|
$ |
903 |
|
|
$ |
2,202 |
|
|
$ |
295 |
|
|
$ |
12,234 |
|
All Other
|
|
|
289 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
3,354 |
|
Corporate
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,782 |
|
|
|
45 |
|
|
|
19,600 |
|
Consolidated Total
|
|
$ |
1,192 |
|
|
$ |
6,089 |
|
|
$ |
476 |
|
|
$ |
35,188 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Power and Energy Group
|
|
$ |
848 |
|
|
$ |
2,283 |
|
|
$ |
356 |
|
|
$ |
6,800 |
|
All Other
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
516 |
|
|
|
333 |
|
|
|
5,406 |
|
Corporate
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,673 |
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
29,278 |
|
Consolidated Total
|
|
$ |
902 |
|
|
$ |
6,472 |
|
|
$ |
733 |
|
|
$ |
41,484 |
|
In the table above, corporate expense in the Loss from Operations column includes overall company support costs as follows: corporate research and development expenses; sales and marketing expenses; general and administrative expenses; and depreciation and amortization of the Reno headquarters building improvements.
Corporate assets consist primarily of cash, short term investments, and long-lived assets. Since none of the business units have reached break-even, cash funding is provided at the corporate level to the business units. The long-lived assets primarily consist of the corporate headquarters building, building improvements, manufacturing equipment, test equipment and land. As such, these assets are reported at the all other level and are not allocated to the other business segment.
Substantially all of our assets are held within the United States.
For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we had sales to three major customers, each of which accounted for 10% or more of revenues. Total sales to these customers for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the balance of their accounts receivable at March 31, 2010 were as follows:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
Customer
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
Power and Energy Group:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office of Naval Research
|
|
$ |
602 |
|
|
$ |
528 |
|
Proterra LLC
|
|
$ |
283 |
|
|
$ |
85 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
US Army RDECOM
|
|
$ |
203 |
|
|
$ |
193 |
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2009, we had sales to two major customers, each of which accounted for 10% or more of revenues. Total sales to these customers for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and the balance of their accounts receivable at March 31, 2009 were as follows:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
Customer
|
|
March 31, 2009
|
|
|
March 31, 2009
|
|
Power and Energy Group:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BAE Systems Science & Technology Inc.
|
|
$ |
482 |
|
|
$ |
202 |
|
BAE Systems Marine Limited
|
|
$ |
215 |
|
|
$ |
59 |
|
Amperex Technology Limited
|
|
$ |
103 |
|
|
$ |
103 |
|
Sales for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 by geographic area were as follows:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Geographic information (a):
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
March 31, 2009
|
|
United States
|
|
$ |
1,192 |
|
|
$ |
572 |
|
Other foreign countries
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
330 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
1,192 |
|
|
$ |
902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer.
|
|
Note 12. Subsequent Events
AlSher Titania Sale
On April 30, 2010 we sold our 70% share in the AlSher Titania Joint Venture (AlSher) to Sherwin-Williams. Sherwin-Williams will now own 100% of AlSher. All previous agreements with Sherwin-Williams regarding the AlSher Joint Venture are superseded.
Under terms of the agreement, certain intellectual property relating to the Altairnano Hydrochloride Process (AHP), along with certain other intellectual property owned by us, has been licensed to AlSher. We may receive future payments from AlSher based upon future revenues generated from the AHP, or from royalty payments relating to the licensed intellectual property. The amount of future payments from AlSher to us is based on AlSher revenue. All payments are capped at $3,000,000. Payments to us and continuation of the intellectual property licenses are conditional upon certain milestones being achieved and payments being made to us. AlSher also has an option to purchase the licensed intellectual property for $2,000,000.
We prepared a cash flow analysis on the estimated cash receipts from the sale of our interest in AlSher and determined that the expected cash receipts are higher than the sum of the $418,000 of fixed assets and the $483,000 of patents included in AlSher as of March 31, 2010.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) contains various forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by the use of the forward-looking words "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "likely," "believe," "intend," "expect," or similar words. These statements discuss future expectations, contain projections regarding future developments, operations, or financial conditions, or state other forward-looking information. When considering such forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors noted in Part II – Other Information, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements throughout this Report and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should also keep in mind that all forward-looking statements are based on management’s existing beliefs about present and future events outside of management’s control and on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. If one or more risks identified in this Report or any other applicable filings materializes, or any other underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected, or intended.
Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “Altair,” “we,” “Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.,” or the “Company” in this Report refer to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries. Altair currently has one wholly owned subsidiary, Altair US Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation. Altair US Holdings, Inc. directly or indirectly wholly owns Altairnano, Inc., a Nevada corporation, Mineral Recovery Systems, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“MRS”), and Fine Gold Recovery Systems, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Fine Gold”) which was dissolved on December 30, 2008. AlSher Titania LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was 70% owned by Altairnano, Inc until April 30, 2010, when such interest was transferred to Sherwin-Williams. We currently hold the following trademarks: Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.®, Altair Nanomaterials, Inc.®, Altairnano®, ALTI-ESST™, TiNano® and Nanocheck®. Any other trademarks and service marks used in this Report are the property of their respective holders.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
Overview
We are a Canadian corporation, with principal assets and operations in the United States, whose primary business is developing, manufacturing and selling our nano-lithium titanate battery cells, batteries and battery packs and providing related design, installation and test services. Our primary focus is marketing our large-scale energy storage solutions to power companies and electric grid operators throughout the world. In addition, we market our batteries to electric and hybrid-electric bus manufacturers.
In our 2008 strategic review we determined that the specific strategic efforts we should focus on going forward are: the provision of frequency regulation and renewables integration in the electric grid, the electrification of the mass-transit portion of the automotive market, and similar opportunities in the military market where we can leverage the specific application to support our overall technology development efforts. We believe that these are multi-billion dollar emerging markets with room for a number of successful suppliers. At the present time, we perceive no dominant provider and we believe that as a result of our significant differentiated product attributes, the overall strength of our management team, and the recognition we are receiving in the marketplace, that we have a very good chance of becoming one of the successful suppliers. Our proprietary technology platform gives our products a number of unique, highly sought after attributes that clearly differentiate our products from their alternatives. Included in these attributes are substantially longer cycle and calendar lives, a rapid recharge time, the ability to provide instantaneous high power, a wide operating temperature range and increased operational safety.
2009 was a transition year as we have discontinued the pursuit of low-margin grants and contracts in the life sciences and performance materials markets to focus on the power and energy systems market. We expect that the first half of 2010 will continue in this transition mode until we start to gain traction in the sale of our various battery products. Although we had excellent research and a number of prototype battery products in early 2009, there was still considerable work required on our part to turn these promising prototypes into commercially available products. That work continued in earnest throughout 2009, and we are now in a position to actively sell our products. Future revenues will depend on the success of these efforts, the results of our other research and development work, and the success of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals in the further development and market introduction of products based on Renazorb™ and Renalan™ for which we will receive future milestone and royalty payments.
On April 30, 2010 we sold our 70% share in AlSher to Sherwin-Williams. Under terms of the agreement, certain intellectual property owned by us, has been licensed to AlSher. We may receive future payments from AlSher based upon future revenues generated from the intellectual property, or from royalty payments relating to the licensed intellectual property. The amount of future payments from AlSher to us is based on AlSher revenue, and royalty payments are capped at $3,000,000. The payments to us and continuation of the intellectual property licenses are conditional upon certain milestones being achieved and payments being made to us. AlSher also has an option to purchase the licensed intellectual property for $2,000,000.
We also provide contract research services on select projects where we can utilize our resources to develop intellectual property and/or new products and technology. Although contract services revenue comprised 70% of total revenue during the quarter ending March 31, 2010, we expect this percentage to diminish as our battery sales expand.
Our revenues have been, and we expect them to continue to be, generated by product sales, commercial collaborations, government contracts and grants and license fees. We currently have agreements in place to (1) provide research to further develop battery electrode materials and nanosensors, (2) develop a suite of energy storage solutions for the stationary power market, (3) develop battery backup power systems for naval applications, and (4) provide battery modules to a U.S. based bus manufacturer. We have made product sales consisting principally of battery packs and nano lithium titanate cells.
General Outlook
We have generated net losses in each fiscal year since incorporation, and the first quarter of 2010 was no different. Revenues from product sales, commercial collaborations and contracts and grants increased in the first three months of 2010 to $1.2 million compared to $902,000 in the same period in 2009. Our gross profit margins on customer contracts for research and development work are very low, leading us to shift our focus away from these opportunities.
Our current focus is on the development of products and technologies in energy storage that we anticipate will eventually bring a substantial amount of higher-margin revenues from manufacturing, product sales and other sources. We expect our nano lithium titanate batteries and battery materials to be a source of such higher-margin revenues. Consequently, during the first three months of 2010, we continued to expand the scope of our Power and Energy Group by (1) hiring additional staff and increasing temporary personnel to handle the conversion from a prototype to a commercial product, (2) adding additional sales and marketing personnel to focus on this market, and (3) acquiring additional test and production equipment.
As we attempt to significantly expand our revenues, some of the key near-term events that will affect our long-term success include the following:
|
● |
Based on the success of the 2008 2 MW frequency regulation trial, as validated in the KEMA, Inc. analysis and report, we have experienced a substantial amount of interest in the product from other entities and are in active sales development discussions with a number of them.
|
|
|
|
|
● |
In August 2009, we signed a contract with Proterra, LLC, a Golden, Colorado based leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty drive systems, energy storage systems, vehicle control systems and transit buses to sell them battery modules for their all electric and hybrid electric buses. Proterra’s systems are scalable to all forms of commercial buses and Class 6-8 trucks. On May 3, 2010 we received a new purchase order of $850,000 with Proterra to supply additional battery modules for delivery in the third quarter. We anticipate additional larger orders from Proterra as it brings its new manufacturing plant on line and begins to scale up its operations.
|
|
|
|
|
● |
Based on the demonstrated success of our battery modules in the Proterra bus application and independent testing of our cells by other entities, we have also entered into discussions with a number of other bus manufacturers or systems integrators regarding the purchase of our battery products for their respective applications.
|
|
|
|
|
● |
Our efforts in the military market continue to move forward on several different projects. Initial testing phases on each project with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the British Ministry of Defense have all been completed and ongoing government funding for 2010 for the U.S. Navy is already in place. Although the results of the work done in the other areas were equally well received, ongoing work is dependent on government funding in each country. With the overall state of the economy still being weak, this funding is uncertain at the current time.
|
|
● |
Spectrum is continuing its product development work and pre-clinical testing with the intention of filing an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2010. During 2009, we assisted Spectrum in selection of a third-party manufacturer of the Renazorb™ and Renalan™ active pharmaceutical ingredient. Spectrum continues to enlist our analytical resources for development work. Pre-clinical trial work still lies ahead for the Renazorb™-based drugs.
|
|
|
|
|
● |
On April 30, 2010 we sold our 70% interest in AlSher Titania, LLC to Sherwin-Williams, who will be taking these assets to further develop this business on their own. We prepared a cash flow analysis on our expected cash receipts from the sale of our interest in AlSher and determined that the expected cash receipts are higher than the sum of the $418,000 of fixed assets and the $483,000 of patents as of March 31, 2010. In return Sherwin will make future payments to us based on the future business success of AlSher.
|
Although it is not essential that we are successful in all of these markets to permit substantial long-term revenue growth, we believe that full commercialization of several of our battery applications will be necessary in order to expand our revenues enough to create a likelihood of our becoming profitable in the long term. We remain optimistic with respect to our current key projects, as well as others we are pursuing, but recognize that, with respect to each, there are development, marketing, partnering and other risks to be overcome.
An important consideration as we begin to grow our revenue stream is to ensure that we have access to the various components and raw material we need to manufacture and then assemble our various products. With a small product volume, having multiple suppliers for each component is not practical, but is now becoming much more important to us. During the first quarter of 2010, we continued to identify and qualify additional suppliers or manufacturers for our critical components. While those efforts have progressed, the most critical sole-source relationship we currently have is for the manufacture of our battery cells. We currently have one supplier that manufactures all of our battery cells. These cells include our proprietary nano lithium titanate material produced by us in Reno, Nevada. Our contract manufacturer uses this material and other components that they acquire elsewhere to manufacture our cells and then delivers them to our Anderson, Indiana manufacturing facility. We then manufacture battery packs used in electric buses and also complete megawatt scale energy storage solutions for the electric grid markets. This battery cell supplier is critical to our manufacturing process. We are currently in the process of qualifying a second contract manufacturer and expect to have this capability in place by the end of this year.
As previously reported, we have experienced a quality issue with the critical manufacturing supplier described above that has impacted our immediate ability to supply product to our customers. We have engaged in ongoing discussions with this supplier to identify the root cause of the problem and rectify it. We are currently conducting validation testing and audits of the manufacturer’s processes to confirm resolution of the quality issue prior to authorizing resumption of production. The items in question are under warranty and although we do not expect a material financial impact, the delay in the problem rectification has delayed delivery of our products during the first quarter of 2010. This quality issue will constrain product deliveries through the second quarter of 2010, with the problem resolved for third quarter shipments.
Contracts and Grants
Our $3.8 million ONR II contract is running about three months behind due to the cell quality issue described in the above paragraph. We believe this issue has now been resolved and work will resume in the second quarter of 2010. We have earned $1.8 million of the revenue through the quarter ending March 31, 2010 and anticipate earning the $2 million balance during the second and third quarters of 2010.
Our $1.7 million U.S. Army nanosensor grant is on schedule, and we expect to finish the $1.4 million balance during 2010.
Our Operating Divisions
Since early 2009 we have been organized into two divisions: a Power and Energy Group and an All Other Division. Efforts began in late 2008 and early 2009 to eliminate or sell the Company’s assets and efforts in the Life Sciences and Performance Materials divisions. As of March 31, 2010, we have ceased all operations in the Life Sciences area and the assets formerly dedicated to that market either redeployed into the Power and Energy Group or are planned to be disposed of. There is still a small amount of residual work being done in the Performance Materials market to fulfill commitments with existing customers, but these efforts require a minimal level of resources. On April 30, 2010 we also signed an agreement to sell our 70% interest in the AlSher Titania joint venture to Sherwin-Williams. While we continue to service existing customers and agreements relating to other types of our previously developed products, our research and development, production and marketing efforts are now focused solely on the Power and Energy Group.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Current and Expected Liquidity
As of March 31, 2010, we had cash and short-term investments totaling $12.3 million compared to $21.9 million at the same point last year and $18.1 million at the start of this year. Net decrease in cash for the three months ended March 31, 2010 totaled $5.8 million compared to $6.1 million for the comparative 2009 period.
The major factors that have the greatest impact on our liquidity and resulting cash balance are:
|
● |
The volume and timing of our customer sales,
|
|
● |
The timeliness of our collections efforts,
|
|
● |
The build-up of our inventory levels in anticipation of sales,
|
|
● |
The addition of headcount and other operating expenses, and
|
|
● |
Our ability to raise additional capital.
|
Over the long term, we anticipate substantially increasing revenues and cash by entering into new contracts and increasing product sales primarily in the electric grid, renewables integration and mass transit markets. However, this increase in revenues will be dependent on our ability to transition our products from prototypes into commercial grade products.
To date we have been very successful in structuring our customer contracts in a way that is working capital neutral to us, timing the anticipated receipt of customer payments with the required payments to our suppliers. We have also been diligent in pursuing timely collection of payments from our customers.
As we move through 2010, we do not expect to build up our inventory levels much more than the current levels until we begin to close significant sales. With regard to inventory decisions, we consider the lengthy manufacturing cycle of four to six months required to produce our large battery systems and the time lag from our suppliers associated with some of our critical product components. Depending on the time lag between the initial inventory buildup and the actual sales, our cash balance may be negatively impacted. Since actual sales and production volumes for the full year of 2010 are unknown at this time, we are not able to currently estimate our anticipated inventory purchases through December 31, 2010. We expect that we will end 2010, however, with an overall inventory level in the same range as we ended the first quarter of 2010.
During the quarter ending March 31, 2010 we increased spending on our battery initiatives, compared to the same period last year, continuing the enhancement of our products and their conversion from prototypes into commercial grade products. We have also added a number of new hires to our marketing and engineering departments to better enable us to target and close the necessary customer sales.
We estimate that our current cash and short-term investments balance with anticipated customer orders over the next several months is sufficient to support our operations for approximately 6 months. However, it will not be sufficient to carry the Company to our projected cash flow breakeven point projected for late 2011 to early 2012. Consequently, we plan to raise additional capital during 2010.
Historically, we have financed operations primarily through the issuance of equity securities (common shares, convertible debentures, stock options and warrants) and by the issuance of debt. Consistent with past practice, we expect that this type of financing will continue to provide us with the current working capital required until anticipated order volume increases allow us to reach cash flow breakeven. The exact size and timing of this capital raise will depend upon a number of factors including the market price and trading volume of our common shares, our financial circumstances, including committed and anticipated order volume, and the general economic environment at the time we begin the process. We do not have any commitments with respect to future financing and may or may not, be able to obtain such financing on reasonable terms, or at all. We do not expect the current difficult economic environment to preclude our ability to raise capital, but the overall cost of capital will likely be high. Our objectives are to raise the capital required to carry the company to cash flow breakeven while in the process of doing so, creating the least amount of dilution to our existing shareholders.
Cash used in operations during the quarter ending March 31, 2010 of $4.7 million consisted primarily of payments for wages and salaries to our employees and an increased level of inventory purchases for long lead time items. We continue to monitor our cash flows very carefully and have been successful to date in structuring our customer contracts so that they are essentially cash flow neutral or slightly positive for us. As we begin to ramp up our anticipated sales volume this year we are not expecting a large up-front drain on our cash.
Investing activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 reflect the purchase of $392,000 in manufacturing equipment. Assuming we receive significant product orders during 2010, capital expenditures of approximately $4.9 million are anticipated through December 2010 based on the higher anticipated sales and production volumes.
The use of cash for financing activities of $720,000 primarily reflects the final payment of $600,000 on the note payable on our building. We had a single note payable in the original principal amount of $3.0 million secured by a first lien on our building. The final payment of principal and interest on this note was paid on January 29, 2010.
If order volume fails to increase as currently anticipated and we make no changes in our first quarter average monthly cash burn rate of $1.9 million, we have cash on hand for a little over six months of operations. Under this scenario, if no customer orders are received by July 2010, purchases of raw materials would be discontinued and other measures to conserve cash would be implemented as necessary to extend cash availability. Other measures to preserve cash on hand until order volume begins to increase would include the following:
|
● |
reducing production levels;
|
|
● |
deferring discretionary expenditures such as capital purchases, internal research costs, training, and routine equipment and building maintenance;
|
|
● |
eliminating or deferring filling non-critical positions through attrition; and
|
|
● |
|
Capital Commitments and Expenditures
The following table discloses aggregate information about our contractual obligations and the periods in which payments are due as of March 31, 2010:
In thousands of dollars
|
|
|
|
|
Less Than
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After
|
|
Contractual Obligations
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
1-3 Years
|
|
|
4-5 Years
|
|
|
5 Years
|
|
Notes Payable
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
|
$ |
78 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Contractual Service Agreements
|
|
|
397 |
|
|
|
397 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Property and Capital Leases
|
|
|
791 |
|
|
|
386 |
|
|
|
405 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Unfulfilled Purchase Orders
|
|
|
1,646 |
|
|
|
1,646 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total Contractual Obligations
|
|
$ |
2,912 |
|
|
$ |
2,507 |
|
|
$ |
405 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
We purchased equipment for our Reno, Nevada and Anderson, Indiana facilities for use in the development and expansion of our current advanced battery materials production capabilities. During the three months ending March 31, 2010, $435,000 was expended on lab and production equipment. An additional $31,000 was spent on software.
Assuming we receive significant product orders in 2010, we plan to spend approximately $4.9 million on production and tooling equipment associated with our Power and Energy Group capacity expansion. This level of expenditures assumes that we will continue to rely on a contract manufacturer to manufacture our cells. Should we change this model and decide to manufacture the cells ourselves, a much higher level of capital investment would be required to build a cell manufacturing capability here in the U.S. The size of this investment would be dependent upon the size of the facility required and to what extent we could use existing available space in our current locations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The company did not have any off-balance sheet transactions during the first quarter of 2010.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management based the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations on our consolidated financial statements. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our critical accounting policies and estimates, including those related to long-lived assets, share-based compensation, revenue recognition, accrued warranty, overhead allocation, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory, and deferred income tax. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. These judgments and estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Changes to these judgments and estimates could adversely affect the Company’s future results of operations and cash flows.
■ |
Long-Lived Assets. Our long-lived assets consist principally of the nanomaterials and titanium dioxide pigment assets, the intellectual property (patents and patent applications) associated with them, and a building. Included in these long-lived assets are those that relate to our research and development process. If the assets have alternative future uses (in research and development projects or otherwise), they are capitalized when acquired or constructed; if they do not have alternative future uses, they are expensed as incurred. At March 31, 2010, the carrying value of these assets was $11.3 million, or 32% of total assets. We evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset are less than the carrying value. Our estimate of the cash flows is based on the information available at the time including the following: internal budgets; sales forecasts; customer trends and order backlogs; anticipated production volumes; and market conditions over an estimate of the remaining useful life of the asset which may range from 3 to 10 years for most equipment and up to 22 years for our building and related building improvements. If an impairment is indicated, the asset value is written to its fair value based upon market prices, or if not available, upon discounted cash flow value, at an appropriate discount rate determined by us to be commensurate with the risk inherent in the business model. The determination of both undiscounted and discounted cash flows requires us to make significant estimates and consider the expected course of action at the balance sheet date. Our assumptions about future sales and production volumes require significant judgment because actual sales prices and volumes have fluctuated significantly in the past and are expected to continue to do so. Until our products reach commercialization, the demand for our products is difficult to estimate. Subsequent changes in estimated undiscounted and discounted cash flows arising from changes in anticipated actions could impact the determination of whether impairment exists, the amount of the impairment charge recorded and whether the effects could materially impact our consolidated financial statements. Events or circumstances that could indicate the existence of a possible impairment include obsolescence of the technology, an absence of market demand for the product or the assets used to produce it, a history of operating or cash flow losses and/or the partial or complete lapse of technology rights protection.
Fixed assets held by our joint venture with Sherwin Williams, AlSher Titania LLC, of $418,000, were also evaluated. Based on our agreement to sell our 70% interest in AlSher to Sherwin Williams dated April 30, 2010, Sherwin-Williams will be taking these assets to further develop this business on their own. We prepared a cash flow analysis on our expected cash receipts from the sale of our interest in AlSher and determined that the expected cash receipts are higher than the sum of the $418,000 of fixed assets and the $483,000 of patents as of March 31, 2010.
We reviewed our four capitalized patents related to AlSher and determined that three of these patents have value in excess of their net book value of $483,000. AlSher currently has an exclusive license to use this technology from Altair. The fourth patent no longer has value. The fourth patent had a net book value of $47,000 and an impairment charge of this amount was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2010.
As of March 31, 2010, we estimate that our future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, are greater than our $11.3 million in long-lived assets. Our estimated future cash flows include anticipated product sales, commercial collaborations, and contracts and grant revenue, since our long-lived asset base, which is primarily composed of production, laboratory and testing equipment and our Reno facility, is utilized to fulfill contracts in all revenue categories. Based on our assessment, which represents no change from the prior year in our approach to valuing long-lived assets, other than the $47,000 patent impairment charge described above, we believe that our long-lived assets are not impaired.
|
■ |
Stock-Based Compensation. We have a stock incentive plan that provides for the issuance of stock options, restricted stock and other awards to employees and service providers. We calculate compensation expense using a Black-Scholes Merton option pricing model. In so doing, we estimate certain key assumptions used in the model. We believe the estimates we use, which are presented in Note 9 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, are appropriate and reasonable.
|
|
|
■ |
Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or service has been performed, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collectability is probable. During the first quarter of 2010, our revenues were derived from three sources: product sales, commercial collaborations, and contract research and development. License fees are recognized when the agreement is signed, we have performed all material obligations related to the particular milestone payment or other revenue component and the earnings process is complete. Revenue for product sales is recognized upon delivery of the product, unless specific contractual terms dictate otherwise. Based on the specific terms and conditions of each contract/grant, revenues are recognized on a time and materials basis, a percentage of completion basis and/or a completed contract basis. Revenue under contracts based on time and materials is recognized at contractually billable rates as labor hours and expenses are incurred. Revenue under contracts based on a fixed fee arrangement is recognized based on various performance measures, such as stipulated milestones. As these milestones are achieved, revenue is recognized. From time to time, facts develop that may require us to revise our estimated total costs or revenues expected. The cumulative effect of revised estimates is recorded in the period in which the facts requiring revisions become known. The full amount of anticipated losses on any type of contract is recognized in the period in which it becomes known. Payments received in advance relating to future performance of services or delivery of products, are deferred until the customer accepts the service or the product title transfers to our customer. Upfront payments received in connection with certain rights granted in contractual arrangements are deferred and amortized over the related time period over which the benefits are received. Based on specific customer bill and hold agreements, revenue is recognized when the inventory is shipped to a third party storage warehouse, the inventory is segregated and marked as sold, the customer takes the full rights of ownership and title to the inventory upon shipment to the warehouse per the bill and hold agreement. When contract terms include multiple components that are considered separate units of accounting, the revenue is attributed to each component and revenue recognition may occur at different points in time for product shipment, installation, and service contracts based on substantial completion of the earnings process.
|
|
|
■ |
Accrued Warranty. We provide a limited warranty for battery packs and energy storage systems. A liability is recorded for estimated warranty obligations at the date products are sold. Since these are new products, the estimated cost of warranty coverage is based on cell and module life cycle testing and compared for reasonableness to warranty rates on competing battery products. As sufficient actual historical data is collected on the new product, the estimated cost of warranty coverage will be adjusted accordingly. The liability for estimated warranty obligations may also be adjusted based on specific warranty issues identified.
|
|
|
■ |
Overhead Allocation. Facilities overheads, which are comprised primarily of occupancy and related expenses, are initially recorded in general and administrative expenses and then allocated monthly to research and development expense based on labor costs. Facilities overheads and fringe benefits allocated to research and development projects may be chargeable when invoicing customers under certain research and development contracts.
|
|
|
■ |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on our assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and the aging of accounts receivable. We analyze historical bad debts, the aging of customer accounts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in our customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. From period to period, differences in judgments or estimates utilized may result in material differences in the amount and timing of our bad debt expenses.
|
|
|
■ |
Inventory. We value our inventories generally at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. We employ a full absorption procedure using standard cost techniques. The standards are customarily reviewed and adjusted quarterly. Overhead rates are recorded to inventory based on normal capacity. Any idle facility costs or excessive spoilage are recorded as current period charges.
|
■ |
Deferred Income Tax. Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Future tax benefits are subject to a valuation allowance when management is unable to conclude that its deferred income tax assets will more likely than not be realized from the results of operations. We have recorded a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred income tax assets that may not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred income tax assets become deductible, management believes it more likely than not that the Company will not realize benefits of these deductible differences as of March 31, 2010. Management has, therefore, established a full valuation allowance against its net deferred income tax assets as of March 31, 2010. Due to the significant increase in common shares issued and outstanding from 2005 through 2010, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code may provide significant limitations on the utilization of our net operating loss carry forwards. As a result of these limitations, a portion of these loss and credit carryovers may expire without being utilized.
|
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2009
In thousands of dollars
|
|
Power and Energy Group
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
Corporate
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product sales
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
137 |
|
|
$ |
75 |
|
|
$ |
54 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
75 |
|
|
$ |
191 |
|
Commercial collaborations
|
|
|
283 |
|
|
|
699 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
294 |
|
|
|
699 |
|
Contracts and grants
|
|
|
620 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
823 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
903 |
|
|
|
848 |
|
|
|
289 |
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,192 |
|
|
|
902 |
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
185 |
|
Commercial collaborations
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
194 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
178 |
|
|
|
229 |
|
Contracts and grants
|
|
|
465 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
146 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
611 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
Warranty and inv. reserves
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total cost of goods sold
|
|
|
688 |
|
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
895 |
|
|
|
436 |
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
215 |
|
|
|
466 |
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
466 |
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
1,976 |
|
|
|
2,293 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
|
|
458 |
|
|
|
576 |
|
|
|
2,439 |
|
|
|
3,044 |
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,185 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
|
|
1,185 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
144 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
2,095 |
|
|
|
2,453 |
|
|
|
2,286 |
|
|
|
2,560 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
333 |
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
476 |
|
|
|
733 |
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
2,416 |
|
|
|
2,749 |
|
|
|
188 |
|
|
|
516 |
|
|
|
3,782 |
|
|
|
3,673 |
|
|
|
6,386 |
|
|
|
6,938 |
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(2,201 |
) |
|
|
(2,283 |
) |
|
|
(106 |
) |
|
|
(516 |
) |
|
|
(3,782 |
) |
|
|
(3,673 |
) |
|
|
(6,089 |
) |
|
|
(6,472 |
) |
Other (expense) income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
Interest income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
71 |
|
Realized loss on investment
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(18 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(18 |
) |
Loss on foreign exchange
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
Total other (expense) income, net
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(2,202 |
) |
|
|
(2,284 |
) |
|
|
(106 |
) |
|
|
(516 |
) |
|
|
(3,763 |
) |
|
|
(3,641 |
) |
|
|
(6,071 |
) |
|
|
(6,441 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.
|
|
$ |
(2,202 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,284 |
) |
|
$ |
(102 |
) |
|
$ |
(460 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,763 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,641 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,067 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,385 |
) |
Revenues
Power and Energy Group revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $903,000 compared to $848,000 for the same period of 2009. This increase is primarily due to a $608,000 increase in contracts and grants from our ONR II contract netted with a decrease in commercial collaborations of $416,000 due to a one-time contract with BAE Systems during the first quarter of 2009.
Total revenue of All Other operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $289,000 compared to $54,000 for the same period of 2009. The $203,000 of revenue generated during the first quarter of 2010 from our nanosensor contract with the U.S. Army was the primary reason for this increase.
Cost of Goods Sold
The $170,000 of cost of goods sold (COGS) for Power and Energy Group commercial collaborations during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 is associated with battery packs sold to Proterra in 2010, under the 2009 Product Purchase Agreement. Power and Energy Group commercial collaborations COGS of $194,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 is associated with two projects - a project with BAE Systems for ultimate use by the U.S. Army, and a project with BAE Systems for commercial applications. Revenue was recognized on these contracts based on milestones being met.
Power and Energy Group contracts and grants COGS of $465,000 during the first quarter of 2010 related to fulfillment of our contract with the Office of Naval Research for battery safety testing. This contract is a cost including overhead reimbursement contract.
All Other Division contracts and grants COGS of $146,000 during the first quarter of 2010 related primarily to our US Army nanosensor grant.
It is important to note that our gross margins in any quarter are not indicative of future gross margins. At this early stage of development, our product mix, volume, per-unit pricing and cost structure may change significantly from quarter to quarter, and our margins may expand or contract depending upon the mix and timing of orders in future quarters.
Operating Expenses
Total research and development operating expenses declined $605,000 or 20% due to more focused R&D revenue-generating projects in 2010 over 2009. The research and development expenses related to our commercial collaborations and contracts and grants revenue projects are included in cost of goods sold.
Total sales and marketing expense doubled from $601,000 for the first quarter in 2009 to $1.2 million for the same period in 2010. This change is due primarily to an increase in marketing materials and trade shows of $168,000, and a $421,000 increase in sales and marketing personnel.
General and administrative expense decreased by $274,000 from $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $2.3 million in the same quarter of 2010 This decrease was primarily due to one-time ERP system implementation costs incurred during the first quarter of 2009.
Net Loss
The net loss attributable to Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 totaled $6.1 million ($0.06 per share) compared to a net loss of $6.4 million ($0.07 per share) in the first quarter of 2009.
All Other operations net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $102,000 compared to a net loss of $460,000 in the same quarter of 2009. This improvement is primarily attributable to contract and grant revenue of $203,000 earned in connection with the U.S. Army nanosensor grant during Q1 2010, and a reduction in operating expenses of $328,000. The lower operating expenses related primarily to lower headcount and lower asset values depreciated in the AlSher Titania joint venture. AlSher assets were impaired in the fourth quarter of 2009 and were written down from $1.4 million to $418,000 as of December 31, 2009.
The net loss for corporate during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $3.8 million compared to a net loss of $3.6 million in the same quarter of 2009. This increased loss was primarily due to our $584,000 ramp up of sales and marketing personnel and channel development costs during the first quarter of 2010 with the focus to increase our market position and revenue generated in the Power and Energy Group. This was offset by a $358,000 reduction in general and administrative costs. Most of this decrease was due to high one-time ERP system implementation costs incurred during the first quarter of 2009.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We do not have any derivative instruments, commodity instruments, or other financial instruments for trading or hedging purposes, nor are we presently at material risk for changes in interest rates on foreign currency exchange rates. Although we do not speculate on the currency markets, we will on occasion enter into currency hedging contracts to minimize our risk associated with currency rate fluctuations when purchasing from a foreign supplier in a foreign currency. During the first quarter of 2009, we entered into one such contract which has since been unwound at no cost or gain to us.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) Based on their evaluation as of March 31, 2010, which is the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) are effective, based upon an evaluation of those controls and procedures required by paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 of the Exchange Act.
(b) There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Material Changes in Risk Factors
The Risk Factors set forth below do not reflect any material changes from the “Risk Factors” identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, except as described below.
Due to our transfer to Sherwin-Williams of our interest in AlSher and related agreements, we have amended our risk factor related to AlSher and our pigment technology to read as follows:
Sherwin-Williams may elect not to, or be unable to, finance and continue AlSher Titania LLC or a related enterprise using our pigment production technology, in this case we would not receive any revenues or royalties related to such technology.
We transferred to Sherwin-Williams our 70% interest in AlSher Titania LLC, which holds an exclusive license to use our intellectual property relating to the Altairnano Hydrochloride Process for the production of pigments and similar powders or materials. Under agreements related to the transfer, we received no upfront consideration, and our right to receive a percentage of revenue over time is capped at $3,000,000 in the aggregate. Our receipt of any revenue under our agreement is tied to Sherwin-Williams or AlSher continuing to develop and exploit the technology, over which we have no control or influence. It is uncertain that we will receive any proceeds related to our pigment technology and it is unlikely that total revenues will be significant in the long term.
Risk Factors
An investment in our common shares involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in this Report before making an investment decision. Any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such case, you may lose all or part of your investment. Some factors in this section are forward-looking statements.
We may not be able to raise sufficient capital to expand our operations and meet future obligations.
As of March 31, 2010, we had approximately $12.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. As we take additional steps to enhance our commercialization and marketing efforts, or respond to acquisition and joint venture opportunities, large product orders or potential adverse events, our use of working capital will increase. In any such event, absent a comparatively significant increase in revenue, we will need to raise additional capital in order to sustain our ongoing operations, continue testing and additional development work and, if the trigger is a large product order or similar event, acquire inventory and/or expand and operate facilities for the production of those products.
We may not be able to obtain the amount of additional capital needed or may be forced to pay an extremely high price for capital. Factors affecting the availability and price of capital may include the following:
|
● |
market factors affecting the availability and cost of capital generally, including recent increases or decreases in major stock market indexes, the stability of the banking and investment banking systems and general economic stability or instability;
|
|
● |
the price, volatility and trading volume of our common shares;
|
|
● |
our financial results, particularly the amount of revenue we are generating from product sales;
|
|
● |
the amount of our capital needs;
|
|
● |
the market's perception of companies in our line of business;
|
|
● |
the economics of projects being pursued; and
|
|
● |
the market's perception of our ability to execute our business plan and any specific projects identified as uses of proceeds.
|
If we are unable to obtain sufficient capital or are in a position to pay a high price for capital, we may be unable to meet future obligations or adequately exploit existing or future opportunities. If we are unable to obtain sufficient capital in the long run, we may be forced to curtail or discontinue operations.
We may continue to experience significant losses from operations.
We have experienced a net loss in every fiscal year since our inception. Our loss from operations was $22.9 million in 2009 and $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Even if we do generate operating income in one or more quarters in the future, subsequent developments in the economy, our industry, customer base, business or cost structure, or an event such as significant litigation or a significant transaction, may cause us to again experience operating losses. We may never become profitable.
Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and will continue to fluctuate in the future, which could cause our stock price to decline.
Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past, and we believe that they will continue to fluctuate in the future, due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. If in future periods our operating results do not meet the expectations of investors or analysts who choose to follow our company, our stock price may fall. Factors that may affect our quarterly operating results include the following:
|
● |
fluctuations in the size and timing of customer orders from one quarter to the next;
|
|
● |
timing of delivery of our services and products;
|
|
● |
additions of new customers or losses of existing customers;
|
|
● |
positive or negative business or financial developments announced by us or our key customers;
|
|
● |
our ability to commercialize and obtain orders for products we are developing;
|
|
● |
costs associated with developing our manufacturing capabilities;
|
|
● |
new product announcements or introductions by our competitors or potential competitors;
|
|
● |
the effect of variations in the market price of our common shares on our equity-based compensation expenses;
|
|
● |
disruptions in the supply of raw materials or components used in the manufacture of our products;
|
|
● |
technology and intellectual property issues associated with our products; and
|
|
● |
general political, social, geopolitical and economic trends and events.
|
A majority of our revenue has historically been generated from low-margin contract research and development services; if we cannot expand revenues from other products and services, our business will fail.
Historically, a majority of our revenue has come from contract research and development services for businesses and government agencies. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, contract service revenues comprised 65%, 87% and 55% respectively, of our operating revenues. Contract services revenue is low margin, or has negative margins, and is unlikely to grow at a rapid pace. Our business plan anticipates revenues from product sales and licensing, both of which have potential for higher margins than contract services and have potential for rapid growth, increasing in coming years. If we are not successful in significantly expanding our revenues, or if we are forced to accept low or negative margins in order to achieve revenue growth, we may fail to reach profitability in the future.
We need to secure orders in the stationary power market in order to establish the viability of our large-scale stationary battery.
To date, substantially all of our orders have been made as part of testing and development arrangements with key customers. In order to establish the market viability of our stationary power battery products, we need to procure additional orders of market scale stationary power batteries in the near future and demonstrate the viability of such batteries. If we are unable to generate one or more significant orders for stationary batteries in the near future, our ability to establish a foothold in this emerging market could be compromised. Any failure to grow our stationary power battery business will significantly harm our ability to increase revenues and become profitable.
We depend upon several sole-source third-party suppliers.
We rely on certain suppliers as the sole-source of certain services, raw materials and other components of our products, including our battery cells. We do not have long-term supply or service agreements with any such suppliers. As a result, the providers of such services and components could terminate or alter the terms of service or supply with little or no advance notice. If our arrangements with any sole-source supplier were terminated, or if such a supplier failed to provide essential services or deliver essential components on a timely basis, failed to meet our product specifications and/or quality standards, or introduced unacceptable price increases, our production schedule would be delayed, possibly by as long as six months. Any such delay in our production schedule would result in delayed product delivery and may also result in additional production costs, customer losses and litigation.
The most critical sole-source relationship we currently have is for the manufacture of our battery cells. We currently have one supplier that produces all of our battery cells. These cells include our proprietary nano lithium titanate material produced in Reno, Nevada. Our supplier delivers battery cells to our Anderson, Indiana manufacturing facility. We then manufacture battery modules or packs used in electric buses and also manufacture complete multi-megawatt energy storage solutions for the electric grid renewables integration markets. This battery cell supplier is critical to our manufacturing process. We are currently seeking to establish supply agreements with other sources of battery cell manufacturing. Unless and until an agreement with a second supplier is reached, we will remain dependent upon this single supplier.
We are currently experiencing a quality issue with our existing battery cell supplier which has impacted our near-term capacity to build battery products. We are in active discussions with this supplier to identify the root cause of the problem and rectify it. The items in question are under warranty and although we do not expect a material financial impact, the delay in this problem rectification, if it continues for an extended period, may have an adverse impact on the delivery of our products during the first half of 2010. We anticipate having a qualified second source of cell supply in place by the end of 2010.
Continuing adverse economic conditions could reduce, or delay demand for our products.
The financial markets and general economic conditions are still very weak. Our products are targeted primarily at large power producers worldwide, the U.S. and British military, military contractors and bus manufacturers. Due to declining revenues and concerns about liquidity, companies and branches of the military in our target markets have reduced, delayed or eliminated many research and development initiatives, including those related to energy storage. This reduction or delay in development spending by key customers is hindering our development and production efforts and will continue to do so until development spending increases from current depressed levels.
Our patents and other protective measures may not adequately protect our proprietary intellectual property, and we may be infringing on the rights of others.
We regard our intellectual property, particularly our proprietary rights in our nano lithium titanate technology, as critical to our success. We have received various patents, and filed other patent applications, for various applications and aspects of our nano lithium titanate technology and other intellectual property. In addition, we generally enter into confidentiality and invention agreements with our employees and consultants. Such patents and agreements and various other measures we take to protect our intellectual property from use by others may not be effective for various reasons, including the following:
|
● |
Our pending patent applications may not be granted for various reasons, including the existence of conflicting patents or defects in our applications, if there was in existence relevant prior art or the invention was deemed by the examiner to be obvious to a person skilled in the art whether or not there were other existing patents;
|
|
● |
The patents we have been granted may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented because of the pre-existence of similar patented or unpatented intellectual property rights or for other reasons;
|
|
● |
Parties to the confidentiality and invention agreements may have such agreements declared unenforceable or, even if the agreements are enforceable, may breach such agreements;
|
|
● |
The costs associated with enforcing patents, confidentiality and invention agreements or other intellectual property rights may make aggressive enforcement cost prohibitive;
|
|
● |
Even if we enforce our rights aggressively, injunctions, fines and other penalties may be insufficient to deter violations of our intellectual property rights; and
|
|
● |
Other persons may independently develop proprietary information and techniques that, although functionally equivalent or superior to our intellectual proprietary information and techniques, do not breach our patented or unpatented proprietary rights.
|
Our inability to protect our proprietary intellectual property rights or gain a competitive advantage from such rights could harm our ability to generate revenues and, as a result, our business and operations.
In addition, we may inadvertently be infringing on the proprietary rights of other persons and may be required to obtain licenses to certain intellectual property or other proprietary rights from third parties. Such licenses or proprietary rights may not be made available under acceptable terms, if at all. If we do not obtain required licenses or proprietary rights, we could encounter delays in product development or find that the development or sale of products requiring such licenses is foreclosed.
The commercialization of many of our products is dependent upon the efforts of commercial partners and other third parties over which we have no or little control.
The commercialization of our principal products requires the cooperation and efforts of commercial partners and customers. For example, because completion and testing of our large-scale stationary battery packs for power suppliers requires input from utilities and connection to a power network, commercialization of such battery packs can only be done in conjunction with a power or utility company. The commercialization of military, transportation and other applications of our technology is also dependent, in part, upon the expertise, resources and efforts of our commercial partners. This presents certain risks, including the following:
|
● |
we may not be able to enter into development, licensing, supply and other agreements with commercial partners with appropriate resources, technology and expertise on reasonable terms or at all;
|
|
● |
our commercial partners may not place the same priority on a project as we do, may fail to honor contractual commitments, may not have the level of resources, expertise, market strength or other characteristics necessary for the success of the project, may dedicate only limited resources to, and/or may abandon, a development project for reasons, including reasons such as a shift in corporate focus, unrelated to its merits;
|
|
● |
our commercial partners may be in the early stages of development and may not have sufficient liquidity to invest in joint development projects, expand their businesses and purchase our products as expected or honor contractual commitments;
|
|
● |
our commercial partners may terminate joint testing, development or marketing projects on the merits of the projects for various reasons, including determinations that a project is not feasible, cost-effective or likely to lead to a marketable end product;
|
|
● |
at various stages in the testing, development, marketing or production process, we may have disputes with our commercial partners, which may inhibit development, lead to an abandonment of the project or have other negative consequences; and
|
|
● |
even if the commercialization and marketing of jointly developed products is successful, our revenue share may be limited and may not exceed our associated development and operating costs.
|
As a result of the actions or omissions of our commercial partners, or our inability to identify and enter into suitable arrangements with qualified commercial partners, we may be unable to commercialize apparently viable products on a timely and cost-effective basis, or at all.
Interest in our nano lithium titanate batteries is affected by energy supply and pricing, political events, popular consciousness and other factors over which we have no control.
Currently, our marketing and development efforts for our batteries and battery materials are focused primarily on stationary power, transportation and military applications. In the transportation and military markets, batteries containing our nano lithium titanate materials are designed to replace or supplement gasoline and diesel engines. In the stationary power applications, our batteries are designed to conserve and regulate the stable supply of electricity, including from renewable sources. The interest of our potential customers and business partners in our products and services is affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including:
|
● |
economic conditions and capital financing and liquidity constraints;
|
|
● |
short-term and long-term trends in the supply and price of gasoline, diesel, coal and other fuels;
|
|
● |
the anticipated or actual granting or elimination by governments of tax and other financial incentives favoring electric or hybrid electric vehicles and renewable energy production;
|
|
● |
the ability of the various regulatory bodies to define the rules and procedures under which this new technology can be deployed into the electric grid;
|
|
● |
the anticipated or actual funding, or elimination of funding, for programs that support renewable energy programs, electric grid improvements, certain military electric vehicle initiatives and related programs;
|
|
● |
changes in public and investor interest for financial and/or environmental reasons, in supporting or adopting alternatives to gasoline and diesel for transportation and other purposes;
|
|
● |
the overall economic environment and the availability of credit to assist customers in purchasing our large battery systems;
|
|
● |
the expansion or contraction of private and public research and development budgets as a result of global and U.S. economic trends; and
|
|
● |
the speed of incorporation of renewable energy generating sources into the electric grid.
|
Adverse trends in one or more of these factors may inhibit our ability to commercialize our products and expand revenues from our battery materials and batteries.
Our nano lithium titanate battery materials and battery business is currently dependent upon a few customers and potential customers, which presents various risks.
Our nano lithium titanate battery materials and battery business is dependent upon a few current or potential customers, including the U.S. government, a small number of power producers and smaller companies developing electric or hybrid electric buses. In addition, most of these customers are, or are expected to be development partners who are subsidizing the research and development of products for which they may be the sole, or one of a few, potential purchasers. As a result of the small number of potential customers and partners, our existing or potential customers and partners may have significant leverage on pricing terms, exclusivity terms and other economic and noneconomic terms. This may harm our attempts to sell products at prices that reflect desired gross margins. In addition, the decision by a single customer to abandon use or development of a product, or budget cutbacks and other events harming the ability of a single customer to continue to purchase products or continue development may significantly harm both our financial results and the development track of one or more products.
If we acquire or merge with other companies and we are unable to integrate them with our business, or we do not realize the anticipated financial and strategic goals for any of these transactions, our financial performance may be impaired.
As part of our growth strategy, we routinely consider acquiring or merging with other companies that we believe are strategic to our business. We do not have extensive experience in conducting diligence on, evaluating, purchasing or integrating new businesses or technologies, and if we do succeed in acquiring or investing in a company or technology, we will be exposed to a number of risks, including:
|
● |
we may find that the transaction does not further our business strategy, that we overpaid for the company or its technology or that the economic conditions underlying our transaction decision have changed;
|
|
● |
we may have difficulty integrating the assets, technologies, operations or personnel of a company we have acquired or merged with, or retaining and integrating key personnel;
|
|
● |
our ongoing business and management's attention may be disrupted or diverted by transition or integration issues and the complexity of managing geographically or culturally diverse enterprises;
|
|
● |
we may encounter difficulty entering and competing in new product or geographic markets or increased competition, including price competition or intellectual property litigation; and
|
|
● |
we may experience significant problems or liabilities associated with product quality, technology and legal contingencies relating to the integrated business or technology, such as intellectual property or employment matters.
|
In addition, from time to time we may enter into negotiations for acquisitions, mergers or other transactions that are not ultimately consummated. These negotiations could result in significant diversion of management time, as well as substantial out-of-pocket costs. If we were to proceed with one or more significant acquisitions or other transactions in which the consideration included cash, we could be required to use a substantial portion of our available cash. To the extent we issue shares of capital stock or other rights to purchase capital stock, including options and warrants, existing stockholders would be diluted. In addition, acquisitions or other transactions may result in the incurrence of debt, large one-time write-offs, such as acquired in-process research and development costs, and restructuring charges.
We intend to expand our operations and increase our expenditures in an effort to grow our business. If we are unable to achieve or manage significant growth and expansion, or if our business does not grow as we expect, our operating results may suffer.
During the past several years, we have increased our research and development expenditures in an attempt to accelerate the commercialization of certain products, particularly our nano lithium titanate batteries. Our business plan anticipates continued expenditure on development, manufacturing and other growth initiatives. We may fail to achieve significant growth despite such expenditures. If achieved, significant growth would place increased demands on our management, accounting systems, quality control and internal controls. We may be unable to expand associated resources and refine associated systems fast enough to keep pace with expansion, especially as we expand into multiple facilities at distant locations. If we fail to ensure that our management, control and other systems keep pace with growth, we may experience a decline in the effectiveness and focus of our management team, problems with timely or accurate reporting, issues with costs and quality controls and other problems associated with a failure to manage rapid growth, all of which would harm our results of operations.
Our competitors have more resources than we do, and may be supported by more prominent partners, which may give them a competitive advantage.
We have limited financial, personnel and other resources and, because of our early stage of development, have limited access to capital. We compete or may compete against entities that are much larger than we are, have more extensive resources than we do and have an established reputation and operating history. In addition, certain of our early stage competitors, including A123 Systems, are partnered with, associated with or supported by larger business or financial partners. This may increase their ability to raise capital, attract media attention, develop products and attract customers despite their short operating history and small size. Because of their size, resources, reputation and history (or that of their business and financial partners) certain of our competitors may be able to exploit acquisition, development and joint venture opportunities more rapidly, easily or thoroughly than we can. In addition, potential customers may choose to do business with our more established competitors, without regard to the comparative quality of our products, because of their perception that our competitors are more stable, are more likely to complete various projects, are more likely to continue as a going concern and lend greater credibility to any joint venture.
Our government grants and contracts are subject to termination or delays by the government.
A substantial portion of our current revenue is derived from government grants and contracts. These government grants and contracts are subject to termination or delay of funding at the election of the government. Termination or delayed funding of such agreements by the government would significantly reduce our revenue and inhibit our ability to sustain our operations and research.
Sherwin-Williams may elect not to, or be unable to finance and continue AlSher Titania LLC or a related enterprise using our pigment production technology, in which case we would not receive any revenues or royalties related to such technology.
We transferred to Sherwin-Williams our 70% interest in AlSher Titania LLC, which holds an exclusive license to use our intellectual property relating to the Altairnano Hydrochloride Process for the production of pigments and similar powders or materials. Under agreements related to the transfer, we received no upfront consideration, and our right to receive a percentage of revenue over time is capped at $3,000,000 in the aggregate. Our receipt of any revenue under our agreement is tied to Sherwin-Williams or AlSher continuing to develop and exploit the technology, over which we have no control or influence. It is uncertain that we will receive any proceeds related to our pigment technology and unlikely that total revenues will be significant in the long term.
As manufacturing becomes a larger part of our operations, we will become exposed to accompanying risks and liabilities.
We have not produced any products on a sustained commercial basis. In-house or outsourced manufacturing is expected to become an increasingly significant part of our business over the next few years. As a result, we expect to become increasingly subject to various risks associated with the manufacturing and supply of products, including the following:
|
● |
If we fail to supply products in accordance with contractual terms, including terms related to time of delivery and performance specifications, we may be required to repair or replace defective products and may become liable for direct, special, consequential and other damages, even if manufacturing or delivery was outsourced;
|
|
● |
Raw materials used in the manufacturing process, labor and other key inputs may become scarce and expensive, causing our costs to exceed cost projections and associated revenues;
|
|
● |
Manufacturing processes typically involve large machinery, fuels and chemicals, any or all of which may lead to accidents involving bodily harm, destruction of facilities and environmental contamination and associated liabilities;
|
|
● |
As our manufacturing operations expand, we expect that a significant portion of our manufacturing will be done overseas, either by third-party contractors or in a plant owned by the company. Any manufacturing done overseas presents risks associated with quality control, currency exchange rates, foreign laws and customs, timing and loss risks associated with overseas transportation and potential adverse changes in the political, legal and social environment in the host county; and
|
|
● |
We may have made, and may be required to make, representations as to our right to supply and/or license intellectual property and to our compliance with laws. Such representations are usually supported by indemnification provisions requiring us to defend our customers and otherwise make them whole if we license or supply products that infringe on third-party technologies or violate government regulations.
|
Any failure to adequately manage risks associated with the manufacture and supply of materials and products could lead to losses (or small gross profits) from that segment of our business and/or significant liabilities, which would harm our business, operations and financial condition.
Our past and future operations may lead to substantial environmental liability.
Virtually any prior or future use of our nanomaterials and titanium dioxide pigment technology is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws. Under such laws, we may be jointly and severally liable with prior property owners for the treatment, cleanup, remediation and/or removal of any hazardous substances discovered at any property we use. In addition, courts or government agencies may impose liability for, among other things, the improper release, discharge, storage, use, disposal or transportation of hazardous substances. If we incur any significant environmental liabilities, our ability to execute our business plan and our financial condition would be harmed.
Certain of our experts and directors reside in Canada or Dubai and may be able to avoid civil liability.
We are a Canadian corporation, and two of our directors and our Canadian legal counsel are residents of Canada. Two directors are residents of Dubai. As a result, investors may be unable to effect service of process upon such persons within the United States and may be unable to enforce court judgments against such persons predicated upon civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws. It is uncertain whether Canadian or Dubai courts would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or such directors, officers or experts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws or impose liability in original actions against us or our directors, officers or experts predicated upon U.S. securities laws.
We are dependent on key personnel.
Our continued success will depend, to a significant extent, on the services of our executive management team and certain key scientists and engineers. We do not have key man insurance on any of these individuals. Nor do we have agreements requiring any of our key personnel to remain with our company. The loss or unavailability of any or all of these individuals could harm our ability to execute our business plan, maintain important business relationships and complete certain product development initiatives, which would harm our business.
We may issue substantial amounts of additional shares without stockholder approval.
Our articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of an unlimited number of common shares that may be issued without any action or approval by our stockholders. In addition, we have various stock option plans that have potential for diluting the ownership interests of our stockholders. The issuance of any additional common shares would further dilute the percentage ownership of our company held by existing stockholders.
The market price of our common shares is highly volatile and may increase or decrease dramatically at any time.
The market price of our common shares is highly volatile. Our stock price may change dramatically as the result of announcements of product developments, new products or innovations by us or our competitors, uncertainty regarding the viability of our technology or our product initiatives, significant customer contracts, significant litigation or other factors or events that would be expected to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.
The market price for our common shares may be affected by various factors not directly related to our business or future prospects, including the following: