UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
For the quarterly period ended
or
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission file number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
|
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| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
(Address, including zip code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405
of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated Filer ☐ |
| Smaller reporting company | |
| Emerging Growth Company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is
a shell company (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act: Yes ☐ No
The number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, as of April 29, 2024 was .
Atomera Incorporated
Index
| 2 |
PART I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Atomera Incorporated
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Short-term investments | ||||||||
| Unbilled contracts receivable | ||||||||
| Interest receivable | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Long-term prepaid maintenance and supplies | ||||||||
| Security deposit | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use asset | ||||||||
| Financing lease right-of-use-asset | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | ||||||||
| Accrued payroll related expenses | ||||||||
| Current operating lease liability | ||||||||
| Current financing lease liability | ||||||||
| Deferred Revenue | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liability | ||||||||
| Long-term financing lease liability | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (see Note 9) | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock $ par value, authorized shares; issued and outstanding as of March 31 2024 and December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Common stock: $ par value, authorized shares; shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024; and shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Additional paid in capital | ||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 3 |
Atomera Incorporated
Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Revenue | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cost of revenue | ( | ) | ||||||
| Gross margin (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Research and development | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Selling and marketing | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||
| Interest income | ||||||||
| Accretion income | ||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total other income (expense), net | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Net loss per common share, basic | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Net loss per common share, diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 4 |
Atomera Incorporated
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 5 |
Atomera Incorporated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Other Comprehensive | Accumulated | Total Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Loss | Deficit | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance January 1, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock option exercise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeiture of restricted stock issuance | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| At-the-market sale of stock, net of commissions and expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | – | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities | – | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Other Comprehensive | Accumulated | Total Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Loss | Deficit | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance January 1, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock option exercise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At-the-market sale of stock, net of commissions and expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | – | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities | – | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 6 |
Atomera Incorporated
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Net Loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||
| Operating lease right of use asset amortization | ||||||||
| Financing lease right of use asset amortization | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | ||||||||
| Net accretion of discounts on available-for-sale securities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Unbilled contracts receivable | ||||||||
| Interest receivable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accrued payroll expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Operating lease liability | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Deferred revenue | ||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Acquisition of property and equipment | ( | ) | ||||||
| Purchase of available-for-sale securities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Maturity of available-for-sale securities | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Proceeds from at-the-market sale of stock, net of commissions and expenses | ||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | ||||||||
| Payments on principal of financing lease | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental information: | ||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cash paid for taxes | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
| 7 |
ATOMERA INCORPORATED
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
| 1. | NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Atomera Incorporated (“Atomera” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware in March 2007 under the name MEARS Technologies, Inc. and is engaged in the development, commercialization and licensing of proprietary processes and technologies for the semiconductor industry. On January 12, 2016, the Company changed its name to Atomera Incorporated.
Atomera is an early-stage company, having only recently begun limited revenue-generating activities, and is devoting substantially all its efforts toward technology research and development and to commercially licensing its technology to designers and manufacturers of integrated circuits.
| 2. | LIQUIDITY AND MANAGEMENT PLANS |
At March 31, 2024, the Company
had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $
On May 31, 2022, Atomera entered
into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, as agents, under which the Company
may offer and sell, from time to time at its sole discretion, shares of its $0.001 par value common stock, in “at the market”
offerings to or through the agent as its sales agent, having aggregate offering proceeds of up to $50.0 million (the “ATM Facility”).
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, the Company sold approximately shares pursuant to the ATM at an average price
per share of approximately $, resulting in approximately $
Based on the funds it has available as of the date of the filing of this report, the Company believes that it has sufficient capital to fund its current business plans and obligations over, at least, 12 months from the date that these financial statements have been issued. The Company’s future capital requirements and the adequacy of its available funds will depend on many factors, including the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its technology, competing technological and market developments, and the need to enter into collaborations with other companies or acquire technologies to enhance or complement its current offerings. The Company’s operating plans for the next 12 months include increased research and development expenses.
| 3. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies to those previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 15, 2024.
| 8 |
Basis of Presentation of Unaudited Condensed Financial Information
The unaudited condensed financial statements of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. However, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and its results of operations. Results shown for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be obtained for a full fiscal year. The balance sheet information as of December 31, 2023 was derived from the audited financial statements included in the Company's financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024. These unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with that report.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents may be invested in money market funds or U.S. agency bonds. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value.
The Company's portfolio of short-term investments is comprised solely of U.S. treasury bills and agency bonds with maturities of more than three months, but less than one year. The Company classifies these as available-for-sale at purchase date and will reevaluate such designation at each period end date. The Company may sell these marketable debt securities prior to their stated maturities depending upon changing liquidity requirements. These debt securities are classified as current assets in the consolidated balance sheet and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Gains and losses are recognized when realized. Gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method and are reported in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
Recent Accounting Standards
From time to time, new accounting standards are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. No new accounting standards issued or effective during the period ended March 31, 2024 have had or are expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
| 4. | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”) states that fair value represents the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. The three-tiered fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes which inputs should be used in measuring fair value, consists of:
Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices in the markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
| 9 |
The Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as Level 1 assets.
The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments classified by security type as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost | Unrealized Gain/(Loss) | Accretion of Discount | Fair Value | |||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Money market funds | ||||||||||||||||
| US treasury bills | ||||||||||||||||
| US agency bonds | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Cost | Accretion of Discount | Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Cash | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Money market funds | ||||||||||||
| US treasury bills | ||||||||||||
| US agency bonds | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| 5. | REVENUE |
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC No. 606. The Company generates revenues from engineering service contracts, license agreements and joint development agreements. The amount of revenue that the Company recognizes reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for goods or services and such revenue is recognized when the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring the product or service to the customer. When the Company’s performance obligation is to grant a license, revenue is recognized either at a point in time (such as a right to use licensed technology that is under the customer’s control), or over time (typically a right to access technology without obtaining control). Revenue from integration license agreements and from MSTcad licenses are recognized over the length of the license.
The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by primary geographical markets and timing of revenue recognition (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Primary geographic markets | ||||||||
| North America | $ | $ | ||||||
| Asia Pacific | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| Timing of revenue recognition | ||||||||
| Products and services transferred at a point in time | $ | $ | ||||||
| Products and services transferred over time | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
| 10 |
Unbilled contracts receivable
Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing customers. Accounts receivable includes amounts billed and currently due from customers. Unbilled contracts receivable represents unbilled amounts expected to be received from customers in future periods, where the revenue recognized to date exceeds the amount billed, and the right to receive payment is subject to the underlying contractual terms. Unbilled contracts receivable amounts may not exceed their net realizable value and are classified as long-term assets if the payments are expected to be received more than one year from the reporting date. All unbilled contracts receivable as of December 31, 2023 were billed and received during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Deferred Revenue
The Company records deferred
revenue for customers that were issued invoices, but the Company has not yet recognized the revenue based on its revenue recognition policy.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company has approximately $
| 6. | BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE |
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the sum of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding and the dilutive common stock equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The Company’s potentially dilutive common stock equivalent shares, which include incremental common shares issuable upon (i) the exercise of outstanding stock options and (ii) vesting of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive. Since the Company has had net losses for all periods presented, all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted net loss per share are equal.
The following potential common stock equivalents were not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share because the inclusion thereof would be anti-dilutive (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Stock Options | ||||||||
| Unvested restricted stock | ||||||||
| Total | ||||||||
| 7. | LEASES |
The Company accounts for leases over one year under ASC 842. Lease expense for the Company’s operating leases consists of the lease payments recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Expenses for the Company’s financing leases consists of the amortization expenses recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and interest expense. The Company’s lease agreement for a tool used in the development and marketing of the Company’s technology established a monthly lease payment of $150,000 per month. The lease contains a provision for an annual adjustment of lease payments based on tool availability and usage during the preceding 12 months and the adjusted payment is calculated on August 1 of each year of the lease. Effective August 1, 2023, the lease payments for this tool were adjusted to $137,650 per month for the period August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024. This adjustment to the lease payments also resulted in a reduction in the ROU and corresponding lease liability.
| 11 |
In December 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a tool in Tempe, Arizona. The term of this lease is for 12 months beginning on January 1, 2024 for $87,000 per month. Since the lease term is not for more than one year and there are no extension provisions in the lease, the future lease payments are not included in the lease obligations on the Company’s condensed balance sheets.
The components of lease costs were as follows (in thousands):
Three Months March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Financing lease costs: | ||||||||
| Amortization of ROU assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Interest on lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Total financing lease costs | $ | $ | ||||||
| Operating lease costs: | ||||||||
| Fixed lease costs | $ | $ | ||||||
| Short-term lease costs | ||||||||
| Total operating lease costs | $ | $ | ||||||
Future minimum payments under non-cancellable leases as of March 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
| For the Year Ended December 31, | Financing leases | Operating leases | ||||||
| Remaining 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| Total future minimum lease payments | ||||||||
| Less imputed interest | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total lease liability | $ | $ | ||||||
The below table provides supplemental information and non-cash activity related to the Company’s operating and financing leases are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Operating cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of financing liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
The table above does not include short-term leases that are one-year or less.
| 12 |
The weighted average remaining
discount rate is
| 8. | STOCK BASED COMPENSATION |
In May 2017, the Company’s shareholders approved its 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (“2017 Plan”) after its 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (“2007 Plan”) had expired in March 2017. The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock and for the grant of restricted and unrestricted shares. The 2017 Plan provides for the issuance of shares of common stock. In May 2023, the Company’s shareholders approved its 2023 Stock Incentive Plan (“2023 Plan”). The 2023 plan provides for the issuance of shares of common stock. All employees and employees of any subsidiary (including officers and directors who are also employees), as well as all of the nonemployee directors and other consultants, advisors and other persons who provide services to the Company are eligible to receive incentive awards under the 2017 Plan and 2023 Plan. Generally, stock options and restricted stock issued under the 2017 Plan and 2023 Plan vest over a period of one to four years from the date of grant. As of March 31, 2024, approximately shares remain available for issuance under both available plans.
The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense recorded in the Company’s results of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 for stock options and restricted stock granted under the Company’s incentive plans (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Research and development | $ | $ | ||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Selling and Marketing | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $ of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of years.
The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the options granted under the Company’s Plans were $ and $ for the three March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The following table summarizes stock option activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024 (in thousands except exercise prices and contractual terms):
Number of Shares | Weighted- Average Exercise Prices per Share | Weighted- Remaining Contractual Term (In Years) | Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
| Outstanding at January 1, 2024 | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Granted | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||
| Outstanding at March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Exercisable at March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| 13 |
During the three months ended
March 31, 2024, the Company granted options under the 2017 and 2023 Plans to purchase approximately shares of its common stock
to its employees and consultants. The fair value of these options was approximately $
The Company issues restricted stock to employees, directors and consultants and estimates the fair value based on the closing price on the day of grant. The following table summarizes all restricted stock activity during the three months March 31, 2024 (in thousands except per share data):
Number of Shares | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share | |||||||
| Outstanding at January 1, 2024 | $ | |||||||
| Granted | $ | |||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| Vested | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| Outstanding non-vested shares at March 31, 2024 | $ | |||||||
During the three months ended
March 31, 2024, the Company granted approximately restricted stock awards under the 2017 and 2023 Plans. The fair value of these
awards was approximately $
| 9. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
Litigation, Claims and Assessments
The Company may be subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not party to any material litigation as of March 31, 2024, or through the date these financial statements have been issued.
| 10. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
Management has evaluated subsequent events and transactions through the date these financial statements were issued.
| 14 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Atomera Incorporated should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the accompanying notes that appear elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in condition, significance, value and effect, including those risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024. Such risks, uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed herein and in ways not readily foreseeable. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report and are based on information currently and reasonably known to us. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this Quarterly Report. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this Quarterly Report, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Overview
We are engaged in the business of developing, commercializing and licensing proprietary processes and technologies for the $550+ billion semiconductor industry. Our lead technology, named Mears Silicon Technology™, or MST®, is a thin film of reengineered silicon, typically 100 to 300 angstroms (or approximately 20 to 60 silicon atomic unit cells) thick. MST can be applied as a transistor channel enhancement to CMOS-type transistors, the most widely used transistor type in the semiconductor industry. MST is our proprietary and patent-protected performance enhancement technology that we believe addresses a number of key engineering challenges facing the semiconductor industry. We believe that by incorporating MST, transistors can be made smaller, with increased speed, reliability and power efficiency. In addition, since MST is an additive and low-cost technology, we believe it can be deployed on an industrial scale, with equipment commonly used in semiconductor manufacturing. We believe that MST can be widely incorporated into the most common types of semiconductor products, including analog, logic, memory and optical integrated circuits.
We do not intend to design or manufacture integrated circuits directly. Instead, we develop and license technologies and processes that we believe offer the designers and manufacturers of integrated circuits a low-cost solution to the industry’s need for greater performance and lower power consumption. Our customers and partners include:
| · | foundries, which manufacture integrated circuits on behalf of fabless manufacturers; | |
| · | integrated device manufacturers, or IDMs, which are the fully-integrated designers and manufacturers of integrated circuits; | |
| · | fabless semiconductor manufacturers, which are designers of integrated circuits that outsource the manufacturing of their chips to foundries; | |
| · | original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, that manufacture the epitaxial, or epi, equipment used to deposit semiconductor layers, such as the MST film, onto silicon wafers; and | |
| · | electronic design automation companies, which make tools used throughout the industry to simulate performance of semiconductor products using different materials, design structures and process technologies. |
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Our commercialization strategy is to generate revenue through licensing arrangements whereby foundries, IDMs and fabless semiconductor manufacturers pay us a license fee for their right to use MST technology in the manufacture of silicon wafers as well as a royalty for each silicon wafer or device that incorporates our MST technology. We also license our MSTcad(r) software to our customers for use in simulating the effects of using MST technology on their wafers and/or devices. To date, we have generated revenue from (i) licensing agreements with two IDMs, one fabless manufacturer and one foundry, (ii) a joint development agreement, or JDA, with a leading semiconductor provider, (iii) engineering services provided to foundries, IDMs and fabless companies and (iv) licensing MSTcad.
In April 2023, we entered into a license agreement with ST Microelectronics (“ST”) that authorizes ST to manufacture and distribute MST-enabled products to its customers. This agreement provides for payment of license fees payable upon reaching milestones consistent with Atomera’s standard business model. Our standard model is based around two major milestones, namely the installation of MST in a customer’s fab and qualification of an MST-enabled process. After process qualification is completed, ST will have the right to commercially distribute MST-enabled products and, assuming ST brings such products to market, we will receive royalties on all MST-enabled products manufactured for commercial purposes. This license agreement with ST is our first grant of commercial manufacturing and distribution rights. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we completed the first major milestone under the ST license agreement by delivering our MST film recipe and ST accepting the film, resulting in our recognizing license revenue associated with that milestone. We expect that ST will now proceed to completing process qualification with MST which would result in additional license fees for the distribution license upon completion of qualification, at which time ST would commence paying royalties on MST-enabled products they sell. There can be no assurance, however, that ST will complete its process qualification and pursue the licensed rights through development to the manufacture and commercial sale of MST-enabled products.
We were organized as a Delaware limited liability company under the name Nanovis LLC on November 26, 2001. On March 13, 2007, we converted to a Delaware corporation under the name Mears Technologies, Inc. On January 12, 2016, we changed our name to Atomera Incorporated.
On May 31, 2022, we entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, as agents, under which we may offer and sell, from time to time at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million in an “at-the-market” offering or “ATM”, to or through the agents. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we sold approximately 510,000 shares pursuant to our ATM at an average price per share of approximately $8.06, resulting in approximately $4.0 million of net proceeds to us after deducting commissions and other offering expenses.
Results of Operations
Revenues. To date, we have only generated limited revenue from customer engagements for engineering services, integration license agreements, a manufacturing license granted under a JDA and licensing of MSTcad. Our license agreement with ST, which was executed in April 2023, is our first commercial manufacturing and distribution agreement and, assuming successful completion of contractual milestones and payments of associated fees, will entitle us to royalties on all MST-enabled products manufactured for commercial purposes. Our MSTcad licenses grant customers the right to use MSTcad software to simulate the effects of incorporating MST technology into their semiconductor manufacturing process. MSTcad licenses are granted on a monthly or yearly basis and revenue is recognized over time.
Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $18,000 and $0, respectively. Our revenue in 2024 consisted of MSTcad License revenue and consulting services related to MSTcad.
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Cost of revenue. Cost of revenue consists of costs of materials, as well as direct compensation and expenses incurred to provide deliverables that result in payment of success fees, delivery of wafers delivered as part of integration license agreements and consulting services provided for our MSTcad License. Cost of revenue is expensed when incurred and may not correspond with revenue earned. Cost of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $33,000 and $0, respectively. We anticipate that our cost of revenue will vary substantially depending on the mix of license and engineering services revenues we receive and the nature of products and/or services delivered in each customer engagement.
Operating expenses. Operating expenses consist of research and development, general and administrative, and selling and marketing expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, our operating expenses totaled approximately $5.0 million and $5.2 million, respectively.
Research and development expense. To date, our operations have focused on the research, development, patent prosecution, and commercialization of our MST technology and related technologies such as MSTcad. Our research and development costs primarily consist of payroll and benefits costs for our engineering staff and costs of outsourced fabrication (including epi tool leases) and metrology of semiconductor wafers incorporating our MST technology.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we incurred approximately $2.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively, of research and development expenses, a decrease of approximately $178,000, or 6%. This decrease was primarily due to decrease of approximately $241,000 in outsourced research as we discontinued working with our foundry services provider, TSI Semiconductor, as of January 31. 2024. We are currently seeking a replacement provider of foundry services. This decrease was offset by increases in both employee related expenses and stock-based compensation totaling approximately $92,000.
General and administrative expense. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and benefit costs for administrative personnel, office-related costs and professional fees. General and administrative costs were approximately $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the three months March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, representing an increase of approximately $69,000, or 4%. The increase is primarily related to increases of approximately $107,000 in payroll and benefits costs and approximately $57,000 in stock-based compensation. These increases were partly offset by a decrease of approximately $74,000 in corporate legal expenses.
Selling and marketing expense. Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of salary and benefits for our sales and marketing personnel and business development consulting services. Selling and marketing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were approximately $350,000 and $389,000, respectively, representing a decrease of approximately $39,000, or 10%. The decrease in costs is primarily related to a reduction in head count.
Interest income. Interest income for three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $205,000 and $199,000, respectively. Interest income for the periods presented related to interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Accretion income. Accretion income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $46,000 and $2,000, respectively. Accretion income relates to the increase in value of our available-for-sale securities from the purchase date through the maturity date.
Interest expense. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $39,000 and $53,000, respectively. Interest expense is related to the tool financing lease entered into in August 2021.
Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
Net cash used in operating activities of approximately $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 resulted primarily from our net loss of approximately $4.8 million offset by approximately $1.0 million of stock-based compensation and approximately $550,000 of collected contracts receivable offset by the payment of accrued payroll expenses of approximately $928,000.
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Net cash used in operating activities of approximately $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 resulted primarily from our net loss of approximately $5.0 million offset by approximately $927,000 stock-based compensation.
Net cash provided by investing activities of approximately $2.5 million and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 consisted primarily of the maturity of short-term available-for-sale investments, offset by the purchase of short-term available-for-sale investments.
Net cash used in investing activities of approximately $5.0 million and for the three months March 31, 2023 consisted primarily of the purchase of short-term investments.
Net cash provided by financing activities of approximately $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 primarily related to the net proceeds from our ATM offering, offset by the principal payments on our financing lease.
Net cash provided by financing activities of approximately $125,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily related to the net proceeds from our ATM offering, offset by the principal payments on our financing lease.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $14.8 million, short-term investments of approximately $4.5 million and working capital of approximately $16.8 million. For three months ended March 31, 2024, we had a net loss of approximately $4.8 million and used approximately $4.1 million of cash and cash equivalents in operations. Since inception, we have incurred recurring operating losses.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we sold approximately 510,000 shares pursuant to our ATM at an average price per share of approximately $8.06, resulting in approximately $4.0 million of net proceeds to us after deducting commissions and other offering expenses.
We believe that our available working capital is sufficient to fund our presently forecasted working capital requirements for, at least, the next 12 months following the date of the filing of this report. However, our future capital requirements and the adequacy of our available funds will depend on many factors, including our ability to successfully commercialize our MST technology, competing technological and market developments, and the need to enter into collaborations with other companies or acquire technologies to enhance or complement our current offerings. If we are not able to generate sufficient revenue from license fees and royalties in a timeframe that satisfies our cash needs, we will need to raise more capital. In the event we require additional capital, we will endeavor to acquire additional funds through various financing sources, including our ATM Facility, follow-on equity offerings, debt financing and joint ventures with industry partners. In addition, we will consider alternatives to our current business plan that may enable us to achieve revenue-producing operations and meaningful commercial success with a smaller amount of capital. If we are unable to secure additional capital, we may be required to curtail our research and development initiatives and take additional measures to reduce costs in order to conserve cash.
Critical Accounting Estimates
There have been no changes to our critical accounting estimates from those included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk.
Not applicable.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes to our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined by Rule 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
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PART II. Other Information
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The primary risk factors affecting our business have not changed materially from the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024.
Item 5. Other Information
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2024, no director or officer of the Company
Item 6. Exhibits
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Report on Form 10-Q:
|
Exhibit No. |
Description | Method of filing |
| 31.1 | Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 31.2 | Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 32.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350) | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | Filed electronically herewith | ||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in IXBRL, and included in exhibit 101). | Filed electronically herewith |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and the on the date indicated.
| ATOMERA INCORPORATED. | |||
| Date: April 30, 2024 | By: | /s/ Scott A. Bibaud | |
| Scott A. Bibaud Chief Executive Officer, |
|||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| and Director | |||
| Date: April 30, 2024 | By: | /s/ Francis B. Laurencio | |
| Francis B. Laurencio | |||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
| (Principal Financial and | |||
| Accounting Officer) | |||
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