EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1841425
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1841425_10-K_2024_0001213900-24-027258.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. Business.
Overview
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” “Verde,” “Verde Clean Fuels” and “Company”) is a development-stage clean energy technology company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass or natural gas (including renewable natural gas) and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons, primarily gasoline, through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through Verde Clean Fuels’ STG+® process, Verde Clean Fuels converts syngas into reformulated blend-stock for oxygenate blending (“RBOB”) gasoline. Verde Clean Fuels is focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps. The availability of biogenic feedstocks and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities.
We are redefining liquid fuels technology through our proprietary and innovative STG+® process to deliver scalable and cost-effective gasoline from renewable feedstocks or flared natural gas. We acquired our STG+® technology from Primus Green Energy (“Primus”), a company established in 2007 that developed the patented STG+® technology to convert syngas into gasoline or methanol. Since acquiring the technology, we have adapted the application of our STG+® technology to focus on the renewable energy industry. This adaptation requires a third-party gasification system to produce acceptable synthesis gas from renewable feedstocks. Our proprietary STG+® system converts the syngas into gasoline.
Over $110 million has been invested in our technology, including our demonstration facility in New Jersey, which has completed over 10,500 hours of operation producing gasoline or methanol. Our demonstration facility represents the scalable nature of our operational modular commercial design which has fully integrated reactors and recycle lines and is designed with key variables, like gas velocity and catalyst bed length, at a 1-to-1 scale with our commercial design. We have also participated in carbon lifecycle studies to validate the scoring of carbon intensity, which we define as the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing, distributing, and consuming a fuel, per unit of fuel energy (“CI”) and reduced lifecycle emissions (the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, distribution, and consumption of a fuel) of our renewable gasoline as well as fuel, blending and engine testing to validate the specification and performance of our gasoline product. Our carbon intensity score is based on an analysis styled after the Department of Energy’s Greenhouse gases Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (“GREET”) life cycle analysis. We believe our renewable gasoline, when paired with carbon capture and sequestration, exhibits a significant lifecycle carbon emissions reduction compared to traditional petroleum-based gasoline. As a result, we believe our gasoline produced from renewable feedstock, such as biomass, will qualify under the federal renewable fuel standard (“RFS”) program for the D3 renewable identification number (“RIN”), which could have significant value. Similarly, gasoline produced from our process may also qualify for various state carbon programs, including California’s low carbon fuel standard (“LCFS”). Unlike many other gas-to-liquids technologies, not only can our STG+® process produce renewable gasoline from syngas, but we expect it will be able to be applied at other production facilities to produce other end products including methanol. In addition to our initial focus on the production of renewable gasoline, we believe that there is opportunity to continue to develop additional process technology to produce middle distillates including lower-carbon diesel and aviation fuel. As with other government programs, the use requirements of the RFS program and other similar state-level programs are subject to change, which could materially harm our ability to operate profitably. As of December 31, 2023, the Company is still in the process of developing its first commercial production facility and has not derived revenue from its principal business activities. The Company is managed as an integrated business and consequently, there is only one reportable segment.
“Clean” or “lower-carbon” as used in relation to the Company’s products refers the lower CI, lower lifecycle emissions, and lower quantity of greenhouse gas emissions resulting directly from fuel combustion, relative to conventional gasoline derived from petroleum. “Renewable” as used in relation to the Company’s products refers to energy or fuel derived from biomass feedstock.
Our Growth Strategy
We intend to grow our business by leveraging our competitive advantages in the design and implementation of small-scale modular facilities that can be situated in proximity to renewable feedstock or natural gas sources. We believe we have a number of avenues to achieve our growth objectives:
Construction and Development of Commercial Production Facilities
A critical step in our success will be the successful construction and operation of the first commercial production facility using our STG+® technology. In April 2022, we commenced a pre-front-end engineering and design (“FEED”) study for our first commercial production facility in Maricopa, Arizona. While we have not abandoned a potential project in Maricopa, Arizona, we have refocused on projects that we believe have quicker paths to commercial operations. We believe our commercialization activities are being completed at a pace that can support first commercial production of renewable gasoline as early as 2026.
Concurrent with the Business Combination, Diamondback Energy, Inc (“Diamondback”) through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cottonmouth Ventures LLC (“Cottonmouth Ventures”), made a $20 million equity investment in Verde and entered into an equity participation right agreement pursuant to which Verde must grant Cottonmouth Ventures the right to participate and jointly develop facilities in the Permian Basin utilizing Verde’s STG+® technology for the production of gasoline derived from economically disadvantaged natural gas feedstocks. Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas, focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The production of gasoline from natural gas sourced from the Permian Basin is designed to allow Diamondback to mitigate the flaring of natural gas while also producing a high-margin product from natural gas streams that are subject to being price disadvantaged compared to other natural gas basins.
On February 6, 2024, Verde and Cottonmouth Ventures entered into a joint development agreement (“JDA”) for the proposed development, construction, and operation of a facility to produce commodity-grade gasoline using natural gas feedstock supplied from Diamondback’s operations in the Permian Basin. The JDA provides a pathway forward for the parties to reach final definitive documents and final investment decision (“FID”). The JDA frames the contracts contemplated to be entered into between the parties, including an operating agreement, ground lease agreement, construction agreement, license agreement and financing agreements as well as conditions precedent to close such as FID. We expect that the proposed facility, which is to be located in Martin County, Texas in the heart of the Permian Basin, could serve as a template for additional natural gas-to-gasoline projects throughout the Permian Basin and other pipeline-constrained basins in the U.S., as well as addressing flared or stranded natural gas opportunities internationally.
We plan to grow our business by building and operating a portfolio of commercial production facilities. Currently, we have three additional production facilities planned with additional potential production facility development opportunities in early-stage due diligence. We have identified opportunities to produce gasoline from natural gas in other pipeline-constrained production areas as well as opportunities to produce renewable gasoline from biomass in locations with access to suitable feedstock, carbon sequestration, and markets. We believe the number of identified and planned potential production facilities bode well for our potential growth.
On August 1, 2023, we announced a carbon dioxide management agreement (“CDMA”) with Carbon TerraVault JV HoldCo, LLC (“CTV JV”), a carbon management partnership focused on carbon capture and sequestration development formed between Carbon TerraVault, a subsidiary of California Resources Corporation (“CRC”), and Brookfield Renewable. Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, the Company would construct a new renewable gasoline production facility at CRC’s existing Net Zero Industrial Park in Kern County, California, to capture carbon dioxide and produce renewable gasoline from biomass and other agricultural waste feedstock to help support the further decarbonization of California’s economy and its transportation sector. It is anticipated that the project could produce up to 7 million gallons per year of renewable gasoline for use as transportation fuel. Project FID is targeted for mid-2025, with operations expected to begin in the second half of 2027.
Expansion of Commercial Operations and Customer Base
We believe there are growth opportunities utilizing our technology for the production of gasoline derived from existing locations with economically disadvantaged natural gas, flared natural gas and stranded natural gas feedstocks. We also plan to achieve growth through the expansion of our in-process projects as the facilities are expanded or otherwise begin to produce renewable gasoline. We also intend to license our technology in places where we do not anticipate deploying our own capital. Additionally, we intend to expand internationally to regions interested in our STG+® process, like the European Union and United Kingdom, and may enter relationships with other businesses to expand our operations and to create service networks to support our production and delivery of renewable gasoline.
Establishing and Maintaining Relationships with Key Strategic Partners
We have established, maintained and managed strategic relationships with certain key strategic partners, including Cottonmouth Ventures, CarbonTerraVault, California Resources Corporation, and InEnTec Inc., who have the resources to promote mutually beneficial business relationships and grow our business. To expand our business, we plan to continue to identify and evaluate development and partnership opportunities and other suitable and scalable business relationships.
Other Important Relationships
We are in the process of selecting the contractor for the FEED work for our Permian Basin project. The selected contractor is also expected to perform engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) services once the project has achieved FID. The selected contractor will be an important strategic relationship for Verde to support the strategy of engineering a system once and building many with minimal changes.
Koch Modular Process Systems, LLC (“KMPS”) is an important EPC subcontractor and provides technical information to IHI and/or its subcontractors for FEED execution.
Developing and Advancing Technology
Just as we refocused the use and application of our STG+® technology from using natural gas as a feedstock to using renewable biomass and other feedstocks, our research and development (“R&D”) team is continuously researching and developing ways to improve our technology and meet our customers’ energy needs. Using our innovative technology platform and intellectual property portfolio, we are well-positioned to continue making technology advancements over time. Additionally, we intend to develop or acquire additional intellectual property, such as processes for lower-carbon diesel and aviation fuel, as well as other complementary technologies.
Formation, Business Combination and Related Transactions
On February 15, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), we consummated (“Closing”) the Business Combination pursuant to that certain business combination agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 (“Business Combination Agreement”) by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. (“CENAQ”), a Delaware Corporation, Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CENAQ (“OpCo”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (“Intermediate”), and CENAQ Sponsor LLC (“Sponsor”). Immediately upon the completion of the Business Combination, CENAQ was renamed Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement: (i) CENAQ filed a fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Fourth A&R Charter”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware reflecting the name change to “Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.” and increasing the number of authorized shares of Verde Clean Fuels’ capital stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to 376,000,000 shares, consisting of (A) 350,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), (B) 25,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class C Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), and (C) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share; (ii) (A) CENAQ contributed to OpCo (1) all of its assets (excluding its interests in OpCo and the aggregate amount of cash required to satisfy any exercise by CENAQ stockholders of their Redemption Rights (as defined below)) and (2) 22,500,000 newly issued shares of Class C Common Stock (such shares, the “Holdings Class C Shares”) and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo issued to CENAQ a number of Class A common units of OpCo (the “Class A OpCo Units”) equal to the number of total shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the consummation of the transactions (the “Transactions”) contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”); and (iii) immediately following the SPAC Contribution, (A) Holdings contributed to OpCo 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo transferred to Holdings (1) 22,500,000 Class C common units of OpCo (the “Class C OpCo Units” and, together with the Class A OpCo Units, the “OpCo Units”) and (2) the Holdings Class C Shares. Additionally, the following transactions occurred in connection with the Business Combination:
● The issuance and sale of 3,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (Holdings purchased 800,000 of these shares of Class A Common Stock), for an aggregate purchase price of $32,000,000, in a private placement (“PIPE Financing”);
● An aggregate of $158.8 million was paid from the CENAQ trust account to holders of 15,403,880 shares of Class A Common Stock that exercised their redemption rights (“Redemption Rights”) and the balance of $19,031,516 of proceeds from CENAQ’s trust account related to non-redeeming holders of 1,846,120 shares of Class A Common Stock were released from trust and delivered to Verde Clean Fuels as part of the Business Combination;
● We repaid $3,750,000 of capital contributions made by Holdings and paid $10,043,793 of transaction expenses including deferred underwriting fees of $1,700,000;
● Holdings received earnout consideration (“Holdings earnout”) of 3,500,000 shares of Class C common stock and a corresponding number of Class C OpCo Units subject to vesting that will result in the issuance as follows: (i) one-half of the Holdings earnout shares will vest when the volume-weighted average share price (“VWAP”) of the Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days within five years of the Closing Date and (ii) the second half will vest when the VWAP of the Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $18.00 over the same measurement period (vesting will be deemed to occur in the event of a sale of Verde Clean Fuels at a price that is equal to or greater than the applicable triggering VWAP price);
● The Sponsor received earnout consideration (“Sponsor earnout”) of 3,234,375 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to forfeiture which will no longer be subject to forfeiture as follows: (i) one-half of the Sponsor earnout will no longer be subject to forfeiture if the VWAP of Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days within five years of the Closing Date and (ii) the second half will no longer be subject to forfeiture when the VWAP of the Class A Common Stock is greater than or equal to $18.00 over the same measurement period (forfeiture to be deemed of no further force and effect in the event of a sale of Verde Clean Fuels at a price that is equal to or greater than the applicable triggering VWAP price);
● The forfeiture by underwriters of 189,750 shares of Class A Common Stock; and
● The issuance of 253,125 and 825,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to the Sponsor and certain other investors in CENAQ’s initial public offering upon conversion of Class B common stock of CENAQ.
Total proceeds raised from the Business Combination were $37,329,178 consisting of $32,000,000 in PIPE Financing proceeds, $19,031,516 from the CENAQ trust, and $91,454 from the CENAQ operating account offset by $10,043,793 in transaction expenses which were recorded as a reduction to additional paid in capital, and offset by a $3,750,000 capital repayment to Holdings. As of the consummation of the Business Combination, there were (i) 31,858,620 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding, comprised of 9,358,620 shares of Class A Common Stock and 22,500,000 shares of Class C common stock and (ii) 2,475,000 shares of our Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of 2,475,000 private placement warrants originally issued by CENAQ (“Private Placement Warrants”) and 12,937,479 shares of our Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of our 12,937,479 public warrants issued in the CENAQ initial public offering (“Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each of the Warrants is currently exercisable to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at $11.50 per share on or prior to February 15, 2028, except for 29,216 Public Warrants that were exercised for cash of $335,984 in connection with the issuance of 29,216 shares of Class A Common Stock during fiscal 2023.
Prior to the Business Combination, Verde Clean Fuels, previously CENAQ, was a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Pursuant to ASC 805 - Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), the Business Combination was accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization where Intermediate was deemed the accounting acquirer and Verde Clean Fuels was treated as the accounting acquiree, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Business Combination was not treated as a change in control of Intermediate. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Verde Clean Fuels, Intermediate’s pre-Business Combination operations being the majority post-Business Combination operations of Verde Clean Fuels, and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings continues to have control of the Board of Directors through its majority voting rights. Under ASC 805, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination.
Following the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company is organized in an “Up-C” structure and the only direct assets of Verde Clean Fuels consists of equity interests in OpCo, whose only direct assets consists of equity interests in Intermediate. The up-C structure allows Holdings to retain its equity ownership through Opco, an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of Class C Opco Units, and provides potential future tax benefits for Verde Clean Fuels when the holders of Class C Opco Units ultimately exchange their Class C Opco Units and shares of the Company’s Class C Common Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock in Verde Clean Fuels. We are the sole managing member of Opco. As such, we consolidate Opco, and the unitholders that hold economic interests directly in Opco are presented as redeemable noncontrolling interests in our financial statements.
Holders of Class C Opco Units, other than Verde Clean Fuels, have the right (a “redemption right”), subject to certain limitations, to exchange all or a portion of its Class C Opco Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class C Common Stock for, at Opco’s election, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash.
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, Verde Clean Fuels entered into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with Holdings (together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,” and each a “TRA Holder”). Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels is required to pay each TRA Holder 85% of the amount of net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that Verde Clean Fuels actually realizes (computed using certain simplifying assumptions) or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances in periods after the Closing Date as a result of, as applicable to each such TRA Holder, (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of Verde Clean Fuels’ acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s Class C OpCo Units pursuant to the exercise of the OpCo exchange right, a mandatory exchange or the call right (collectively referred to as “Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right”) and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by Verde Clean Fuels as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments Verde Clean Fuels makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Verde Clean Fuels will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these net cash savings. The Tax Receivable Agreement contains a payment cap of $50,000,000, which applies only to certain payments required to be made in connection with the occurrence of a change of control. The payment cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years.
Our Facilities
We own a demonstration facility in Hillsborough, New Jersey and lease office space in Hillsborough, New Jersey and Houston, Texas.
Our Intellectual Property and Technology
As of December 31, 2023, Intermediate had been issued 28 patents globally, including 8 patents in the U.S., and had 3 pending patent applications globally. These patents, filed across 14 jurisdictions, including the U.S., protect key aspects of our technology, including the STG+® process, our proprietary method for converting syngas into gasoline. We believe our intellectual property rights are important assets for our success, providing a significant competitive advantage, and we aggressively protect these rights to maintain our competitive advantage in the market. Our U.S. patents expire on dates ranging from 2032 through 2039. We regularly review our development efforts to assess the existence and patentability of new technology and inventions, and we are prepared to file additional patent applications when we determine it would benefit our business to do so.
We own or have adequate rights to use the intellectual property associated with the STG+® technology. Approximately 17 patents or patent applications in our patent portfolio support and protect our ability to produce commodity-grade gasoline from syngas, 14 patents or patent applications relate to the specific fuel composition produced by our proprietary systems and certain claims of our patents relate potential future enhancements to our technology. We manage our patent portfolio to maximize the lifecycle of protecting our intellectual property and various components and aspects of our system are protected by patents that will expire at staggered times.
Market Opportunity
Demand for Renewable Gasoline and Lower-Carbon Natural Gas
Energy markets are undergoing dramatic changes as they shift from fossil fuels to carbon-reduced and carbon-free sources. A series of technological, economic, regulatory, social and investor pressures are leading the drive to decarbonize energy and sectors that are major energy consumers, such as transportation.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (the “EIA”) “2022 Annual Energy Outlook” and “U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2020,” gasoline accounts for more than 20% of the U.S.’s energy-related carbon dioxide (“CO2”) emissions and overall, transportation represents approximately 37% of total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions (or 1,903 million tons of CO2). Within the 37% of total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions caused by the transportation sector, in 2019, gasoline accounted for approximately 56% of the total (or 1,086 million tons of CO2) and accounted for over twice the emissions of diesel (which produced approximately 468 million tons of CO2) and over four times the emissions of aviation fuel (which produced approximately 261 million tons of CO2). Uptake on competing emissions-reduction technologies, such as electric vehicles, is growing, but, according to BloombergNEF, is only expected to reach 24% of the projected 2035 total vehicle fleet in the U.S. As a result, the EIA predicts 2035 gasoline demand to be at 92-102% of 2022 levels. According to the EIA’s “2022 Annual Energy Outlook,” petroleum and natural gas are projected to remain as the most-consumed source of energy in the U.S. through 2050, and motor gasoline is projected to be the most commonly used transportation fuel despite electric vehicles gaining market share.
Production of renewable gasoline paired with carbon capture and sequestration results in a fuel that has a negative carbon intensity score, meaning that more carbon is sequestered in the production of a gallon of fuel than is emitted by the consumption of that same quantity of fuel.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are approximately 241 million tons per year of waste forest resources and 318 million tons per year of agricultural waste generated annually in the U.S. Using Verde’s STG+® process to produce gasoline from biomass, waste from forest and agricultural sources could produce over 25 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Achieving production of 25 billion gallons of renewable gasoline could meet approximately 19% of the EIA’s estimated 2022 gasoline demand of 132 billion gallons. Renewable gasoline can be utilized within the existing 268 million internal combustion engine (“ICE”) vehicles in the U.S. without vehicle modification. We believe that our renewable gasoline will be able to utilize essentially all of the existing fossil fuel gasoline distribution and retailing infrastructure, including existing gas stations, making our renewable gasoline a drop-in solution that does not require a change in consumer behavior.
Based on the Fuel Institute’s “Life Cycle Analysis Comparison, 2022,” a single conventional ICE vehicle is accountable for approximately 66 tons of CO2 over a 200,000-mile life, which includes 5 tons of CO2 generated from the manufacturing process, 12 tons of CO2 generated from the production and processing of the oil and gasoline fuel used in the vehicle and 48 tons of CO2 generated from vehicle emissions. We estimate that an ICE vehicle utilizing renewable gasoline produced using our STG+® process with carbon sequestration would be accountable for approximately negative 81 tons of CO2 over a 200,000-mile life, which includes five tons of CO2 generated from the manufacturing process, negative 134 tons of CO2 from the production of the renewable gasoline fuel used in the vehicle and 48 tons of CO2 generated from vehicle emissions. As a result, we estimate that an ICE vehicle running solely on renewable gasoline produced using our STG+® process with carbon sequestration would account for over 200% less CO2 emissions over its lifecycle than the same vehicle running on traditional hydrocarbon-based gasoline.
Competition
Our traditional competitors in the renewable fuel market include companies in the incumbent petroleum-based industry, as well as those in the emerging renewable fuels industry and others selling carbon credits as a commodity. Our direct competitors are limited. There are only two other companies of which we are aware that also have their own technology to convert syngas into renewable gasoline: ExxonMobil Corporation (“Exxon”) and Topsoe (“Topsoe”). Although Exxon’s chemistry process is similar to ours, Exxon has historically focused on larger scale projects and markets. Topsoe, although it also focuses on larger scale projects, only licenses its technology and processes to others and does not produce renewable liquid hydrocarbons. We expect other market participants to emerge as competitors in the future.
We believe our technology, scale, and development capabilities are the competitive strengths that differentiate us from our competition. Utilizing biomass through a gasifier to produce syngas, our proprietary STG+® process can efficiently and economically convert syngas to gasoline. We plan to design our facilities to use modular construction and to operate at a scale that makes the use of renewable feedstocks viable. We believe that when using biomass as a feedstock, our ability to design facilities on a smaller scale gives us a competitive advantage, because we are able to deploy equipment to the feedstock rather than being required to build a large central facility. Our analysis suggests that the economies of scale that may benefit a larger facility are lost with the increased logistics and materials handling costs that come with the larger supply radius required to feed a large-scale facility. Our process remains in a vapor phase throughout resulting in a lower piece-count and, therefore, lower capital cost. We expect that emerging technologies in the future may also present competition to us.
Research & Development
Primus invested over $110 million in developing and patenting its technology and conducted over 10,500 hours of testing at our Hillsborough, New Jersey demonstration facility. Since we acquired Primus’ assets, our team has invested approximately $5 million to design the chemical processes and systems required to produce an acceptable synthesis gas from renewable feedstocks, and Verde plans to invest approximately $3 million in 2024 to engage a new FEED study in support of our Permian Basin natural gas-to-gasoline facility, which is expected to take approximately eight months to complete. We expect that the facilities of the scope and scale that we anticipate designing could require an estimated $100 to $200 million of additional capital expenditures per facility and take 18 to 24 months to construct. Our R&D team is also in the early stage of developing additional process technology to produce middle distillates, including diesel and aviation fuel.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
We plan to use renewable feedstocks, such as biomass or natural gas, and other feedstocks to produce our renewable or lower-carbon gasoline. We plan on contracting with various suppliers for renewable feedstocks, and intend to work with other commercial waste companies, agricultural industry participants and landowners to source our renewable feedstocks and maintain an established supply of product inputs. Additionally, to lower feedstock costs and maximize the ease of access to sufficient feedstock volumes for commercial production, we intend to develop future commercial production facilities in locations near biomass, natural gas or other feedstock sources. We do not intend to be dependent on sole source or limited source suppliers for any of our raw materials or chemicals. Additionally, as we intend to rely on various suppliers for the catalysts we use in our STG+® process, we do not expect to be dependent on a sole source for our supply of catalysts.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had six full-time employees and engaged six consultants on a part-time basis. Our workforce is mostly concentrated in the Texas and New Jersey regions. We have a seasoned leadership team with over 100 years of cumulative experience in the renewables field or a functionally equivalent industry. Our management team places significant focus and attention on matters concerning our human capital assets, and is focused on supporting diversity, enhancing capability development and succession planning. Accordingly, we review as appropriate employee development and succession plans for each of our functions to identify and develop our pipeline of talent. To date, we have not experienced any work stoppages and consider our relationship with our employees to be in good standing.
Customers
With RBOB as our product, we are able to market to a broad range of potential counterparties including refiners and importers of gasoline, distributors, blenders, retailers and trading organizations, among others. We intend to enter into offtake agreements with creditworthy counterparties with terms that are acceptable to lenders and us as support for our project financing.
Renewable gasoline. We transitioned into the renewable energy industry after applying our STG+® technology to focus on renewable inputs, expanding our potential customer base beyond the natural gas sector and traditional gasoline consumers in this space. Our potential customers will generally include companies obligated to purchase physical volumes of renewable fuel under the RFS program, such as refiners, blenders, fuel distributors and retailers and marketers, as well as trading shops.
Natural Gas. We have a strategic partnership with Cottonmouth Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Diamondback, to develop natural gas-to-gasoline facilities in the Permian Basin. We believe that these facilities will create a higher-value sales channel for natural gas producers by converting economically disadvantaged natural gas into high value gasoline. Verde believes that similar strategic partnerships can be formed in other natural gas constrained basins such as the Appalachian Basin, the Williston Basin, and the Uinta Basin. These opportunities are not limited to producing basins in the United States. The Company expects to find similar opportunities globally.
Carbon credits. Expanding the application of our STG+® technology will also expand how we can create revenue opportunities. We expect the value of our operations will include carbon credits derived from converting waste and other bio-feedstocks into a single, finished fuel, which can have value. For example, certain gasoline produced from renewable feedstock, such as cellulosic biomass, qualifies under the RFS for the D3 RIN (a carbon credit). Similarly, we expect that gasoline produced in this fashion will also qualify for various state carbon programs including California’s LCFS. We anticipate that we will produce 1.5 RINs per gallon of gasoline, which can be sold alongside each gallon of renewable gasoline as a separate commodity to customers who can sell the RINs later or solely into forward or futures markets.
However, as with other government programs, the use requirements of the RFS program and similar state-level programs are subject to change, which could materially harm our ability to operate profitably.
Regulatory Environment
Demand for renewable fuel has grown significantly over the past several years and is expected to continue to grow due in part to federal requirements for cellulosic biofuel volume obligations through programs such as the RFS, which was created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the “Energy Act”), which amended the Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and was expanded through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the “EISA”). The EISA requires the use of specific volumes of biofuel in the U.S. and is aimed at (i) increasing energy security by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and establishing domestic green fuel related industries and (ii) improving the environment through the reduction of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. Under the RFS program, transportation fuel sold in the U.S. must contain a certain minimum volume of renewable fuel. The EPA administers the RFS program with volume requirements for several categories of renewable fuels, which volume requirements are established through a notice-and-comment rulemaking process intended to occur at least 14 months prior to the year in which the volume will be required. On July 12, 2023 (as corrected on August 3, 2023), EPA issued its latest final rule that establishes the biofuel volume requirements for 2023 to 2025. Importantly, these most recent volume requirements include a steady growth of biofuels for 2023, 2024 and 2025. See “Business - Regulatory Mandates and Governmental Funding” for more information. However, as stated above, the RFS program is subject to change, including by modification or repeal by Congressional action or action by the EPA or the EPA administrator and EPA has, in some cases, failed to issue volume requirements sufficiently far in advance, which can contribute to uncertainty for producers of renewable fuels, like us. Similarly, state-level programs like California’s LCFS are also subject to change.
Social and Environmental Preferences and Investor Pressures
The effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and rising temperature and the increased health and socio-economic stability of at-risk populations, have increased public focus on reducing greenhouse gases and moving toward reduced carbon energy solutions. Because of this, we see environmentally conscious policies, initiatives and businesses growing in value and preference among certain stakeholders.
For example, certain segments of the investor community have enhanced their consideration of Environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) factors during the investment process and/or shifted their portfolios away from carbon-intensive assets. In addition, a number of large integrated energy companies have set decarbonization strategies and diversified into different forms of carbon-free and carbon-reduced energy.
Governmental Regulations
Our future operations are subject to stringent and complex laws and regulations governing environmental protection and human health and safety. Compliance with such laws and regulations can be costly, and noncompliance can result in substantial penalties. Laws and regulations that may have an impact on our business include:
● The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (or “CERCLA”) and analogous state laws, impose joint and several liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original act, on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the owner and operator of the site where the release occurred, past owners and operators of the site, and companies that disposed of or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at the site. Responsible parties under CERCLA may be liable for the costs of cleaning up hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources. Additionally, it is not uncommon for third parties to assert claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other pollutants into the environment.
● The federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (or “RCRA”), is the principal federal statute governing the management of wastes, including the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. RCRA imposes stringent operating requirements and liability for failure to meet such requirements, on a person who is either a generator or transporter of hazardous waste or an owner or operator of a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility. We anticipate that many wastes generated by our manufacturing facility or process will be governed by RCRA.
● The federal Water Pollution Control Act (also referred to as the “Clean Water Act”) imposes restrictions and controls on the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. These controls have become more stringent over the years, and it is possible that additional restrictions may be imposed in the future. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into state and federal waters. The Clean Water Act provides for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for discharges of oil and other pollutants and imposes liability on parties responsible for those discharges for the costs of cleaning up any environmental damage caused by the release and for natural resource damages resulting from the release. Comparable state statutes impose liability and authorize penalties in the case of an unauthorized discharge of petroleum or its derivatives or other pollutants into state waters.
● The CAA and associated state laws and regulations restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including facilities involved in manufacturing biofuels. New facilities are generally required to obtain permits before operations can commence, and new or existing facilities may be required to incur certain capital expenditures to install air pollution control equipment in connection with obtaining and maintaining operating permits and approvals. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for non-compliance with permits or other requirements of the CAA and associated state laws and regulations.
● The federal Endangered Species Act, the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and similar federal and state wildlife protection laws prohibit or restrict activities that could adversely impact protected plant and animal species or habitats. Construction of facilities could be prohibited or delayed in areas where such protected species or habitats may be located, or mitigation may be required to accommodate such activities. There is also increasing interest in nature-related matters beyond protected species, such as general biodiversity, which may similarly require us or our customers to incur costs or take other measures which may adversely impact our business or operations.
● The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) provides for, among other things, a new clean hydrogen production tax credit, a new credit for sustainable aviation fuel, credits for the production and purchase of electric vehicles, expanding eligibility for and increasing the value of the carbon capture and sequestration credit, extending the biodiesel, renewable diesel and alternative fuels tax credit, funding biofuel refueling infrastructure and providing additional funding for working lands conservation programs for farmers. The IR Act could have many potential impacts on our business that we are continuing to evaluate, including new opportunities to access production tax credits, carbon sequestration credits, and other benefits, which could result in changes in the configuration of the plant, and could slightly delay commercial operation.
We may be required to obtain certain permits to construct and operate our facilities, including those related to air emissions, solid and hazardous waste management and water quality. These permits can be difficult and expensive to obtain and maintain. Our ability to obtain these permits could be impacted by opposition from various stakeholders. Once operational, our facilities will also need to maintain compliance with these permits.
In addition to compliance with environmental regulations, we expect that our future operations will be subject to federal RFS program regulations. The EPA administers the RFS program with volume requirements for several categories of renewable fuels, which volume requirements are established through a notice-and-comment rulemaking process intended to occur at least 14 months prior to the year in which the volume will be required. On July 12, 2023 (as corrected on August 3, 2023), EPA issued a final rule that establishes the biofuel volume requirements for 2023 to 2025. The EPA calculates a blending standard annually based on estimates of gasoline usage from the EIA. Different quotas and blending requirements are determined for cellulosic biofuels, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels and total renewable fuel. RINs are used to ensure that the prescribed levels of blending are met. EPA’s RFS regulations establish rules for fuel supplied and administer the RIN system for compliance, trading credits and rules for waivers. We anticipate that our renewable gasoline and other future products will benefit from the RFS program. However, as stated above, the use requirements of the RFS program or state programs could change, which may impact our products and harm our ability to operate profitably. See “Business- Regulatory Mandates and Government Funding” for more information.
Climate Change, Regulatory Mandates and Government Funding
Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention. As a result, numerous proposals have been made and may continue to be made at the international, national, regional, and state levels of government to monitor and limit emissions of GHGs, with the reduction of greenhouse gases from the energy and transportation sectors being a key focus.
For example, continued increases in the federal requirement for cellulosic biofuel volume obligations position us to benefit as a producer of renewable gasoline from cellulosic feedstocks, which we expect will allow us to qualify for the RFS program.
The RFS program was created under the Energy Act, which amended the CAA. The EISA further amended the CAA by expanding the RFS program. The EPA implements the RFS program under the guidance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.
The RFS program is a federal policy that requires a certain volume of renewable fuel to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum-based transportation fuel, heating oil or aviation fuel. The four renewable fuel categories under the RFS are each assigned a “D-code” - a code that identifies the renewable fuel type - based on the feedstock used, fuel type produced, energy inputs and GHG reduction thresholds, among other requirements. The four categories of renewable fuel have the following assigned D-codes, as shown below. Lifecycle GHG reduction comparisons are based on a 2005 petroleum baseline as mandated by EISA. Biofuel facilities (domestic and foreign) that were producing fuel prior to enactment of EISA in 2007 are considered “grandfathered” under the statute, meaning these facilities are not required to meet the GHG reductions.
● Cellulosic biofuel, must be produced from cellulose, hemicellulose or lignin and must meet a 60% lifecycle GHG reduction, is assigned a D-code of 3 (cellulosic biofuel) or a D-code of 7 (cellulosic diesel);
● Biomass-based diesel, which must meet a 50% lifecycle GHG reduction, is assigned a D-code of 4;
● Advanced biofuel which can be produced from qualifying renewable biomass (except corn starch) and must meet a 50% GHG reduction, is assigned a D-code of 5; and
● Renewable fuel (non-advanced/conventional biofuel, like ethanol from corn starch) is assigned a D-code of 6 (grandfathered fuels are also assigned a D-code of 6) and must meet a 20% lifecycle GHG reduction threshold.
We believe our renewable gasoline will qualify under the cellulosic biofuel category, qualifying for the D3 RIN.
The 2007 enactment of EISA significantly increased the size of the program and included key changes, including:
● boosting the long-term goals to 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel;
● extending yearly volume requirements out to 2022 by statute and, after 2022, establishing a notice-and-comment rulemaking process by which EPA must determine the applicable volumes at least 14 months prior to the year in which the volume will be required (on July 12, 2023 (as corrected on August 3, 2023), EPA issued a final rule that establishes the biofuel volume requirements for 2023 to 2025);
● adding explicit definitions for renewable fuels to qualify (e.g., renewable biomass, GHG emissions) versus a 2005 petroleum baseline);
● creating grandfathering allowances for volumes from certain existing facilities; and
● including specific types of waiver authorities.
EPA has the authority to adjust cellulosic, advanced and total volumes set by Congress as part of the annual rule process.
The statute also contains a general waiver authority that allows the Administrator to waive the RFS volumes, in whole or in part, based on a determination that implementation of the program is causing severe economic or environmental harm, or based on inadequate domestic supply.
The EPA has approved fuel pathways under the RFS program under all four categories of renewable fuel. Advanced pathways already approved include ethanol made from sugarcane, jet fuel made from camelina, cellulosic ethanol made from corn stover, compressed natural gas from municipal wastewater treatment facility digesters and others. We believe our fuel will qualify for Pathway M.
Lifecycle GHG reduction comparisons are based on a 2005 petroleum baseline as mandated by EISA. Biofuel facilities (domestic and foreign) that were producing fuel prior to enactment of EISA in 2007 are “grandfathered” under the statute, meaning these facilities are not required to meet the GHG reductions.
The EPA continues to review and approve new pathways, including for fuels made with advanced technologies or with new feedstocks. Certain biofuels, such as our renewable gasoline, are similar enough to gasoline or diesel that they do not have to be blended, but can be simply “dropped in” to existing petroleum-based fuels. These drop-in biofuels directly replace petroleum-based fuels and hold particular promise for the future.
Obligated parties under the RFS program are refiners or importers of gasoline or diesel fuel (“Obligated Parties”). Compliance is achieved by blending renewable fuels into transportation fuel, or by obtaining credits, RINs, to meet an EPA-specified renewable volume obligation (“RVO”).
The EPA calculates and establishes RVOs every year through rulemaking, based on the CAA volume requirements and projections of gasoline and diesel production for the coming year. The standards are converted into a percentage and Obligated Parties must demonstrate compliance annually.
Obligated Parties use RINs to demonstrate compliance with the standard. These parties must obtain sufficient RINs for each category in order to demonstrate compliance with the annual standard. Some of the regulations regarding RINs include the following:
● RINs are generated when a producer makes a gallon of renewable fuel.
● At the end of the compliance year, Obligated Parties use RINs to demonstrate compliance.
● RINs can be traded between parties.
● Obligated Parties can buy gallons of renewable fuel with RINs attached. They can also buy RINs on the open market.
● Obligated Parties can carry over unused RINs between compliance years. They may carry a compliance deficit into the next year. This deficit must be made up the following year.
The RFS program’s four renewable fuel categories are “nested” within each other. This means the fuel with a higher GHG reduction threshold can be used to meet the standards for a lower GHG reduction threshold. For example, fuels or RINs for advanced biofuel (e.g., cellulosic, biodiesel or sugarcane ethanol) can be used to meet the total renewable fuel standards.
For cellulosic standards, an additional flexibility is provided by statute. Cellulosic waiver credits (“CWCs”) have historically been offered at a price determined by a formula in the Energy Act. Obligated Parties had the option of purchasing CWCs plus an advanced RIN in lieu of blending cellulosic biofuel or obtaining a cellulosic RIN. As a result, CWCs, in some cases, set a ceiling for cellulosic RIN prices. However, in the EPA’s July 12, 2023 rule (as corrected on August 3, 2023), EPA interpreted its authority in setting RIN volumes for 2023 through 2025 (which, for the first time were not set forth in statute) so as to preclude it from issuing CWCs in those years, absent a future waiver of EPA-established cellulosic standards.
In November 2021, the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and JOBS Act was signed into law that includes $65 billion in funding for power and grid investments. This includes investments in grid reliability and resiliency as well as clean energy technologies such as carbon capture, hydrogen and advanced nuclear, including small modular reactors. Additionally, in December 2021, President Biden signed an executive order mandating all electricity procured by the government be 100% carbon pollution-free by 2030, including at least 50% from around-the-clock dispatchable generation sources. The order also requires that federally owned buildings produce no net emissions by 2045 and that each federal agency achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle acquisitions by 2035.
At the international level, in February 2021, the Biden administration announced reentry of the U.S. into the Paris Agreement (an international agreement from the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France, which resulted in an agreement intended for countries to nationally determine their contributions and set GHG emission reduction goals along with a “nationally determined contribution” for U.S. GHG emissions that would achieve emissions reductions of at least 50% relative to 2005 levels by 2030. In addition, in 2021, President Biden publicly announced the Global Methane Pledge, a pact that aims to reduce global methane emissions at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030, including “all feasible reductions” in the energy sector. Since its formal launch at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, over 150 countries have joined the pledge. At the 27th Conference of the Parties, President Biden announced the EPA’s supplemental proposed rule to reduce methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources and agreed, in conjunction with the European Union and a number of other partner countries, to develop standards for monitoring and reporting methane emissions to help create a market for low methane intensity natural gas. Subsequently, at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, member countries (including the United States) entered into an agreement that calls for actions toward achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The goals of the agreement are, among other things, to accelerate efforts toward the phase-down of unabated coal power, phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and take other measures that drive the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Furthermore, many state and local leaders have intensified or stated their intent to intensify efforts to support international climate commitments and treaties, in addition to considering or enacting laws requiring the disclosure of climate-related information and developing programs that are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by means of cap and trade programs, carbon taxes or encouraging the use of renewable energy or alternative low-carbon fuels.
In addition, in March 2024, the SEC issued a rule regarding the enhancement and standardization of mandatory climate-related disclosures for investors. The rule mandates extensive disclosure of climate-related data, risks, and opportunities, including financial impacts, physical and transition risks, related governance and strategy, and, in some instances, Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions, for certain public companies.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 711 Louisiana St, Suite 2160, Houston, Texas 77002. Our website is located at www.verdecleanfuels.com.
We furnish or file with the SEC our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. We make these documents available free of charge at www.verdecleanfuels.com under the “Investors” tab as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished with the SEC. In addition, corporate governance information, including our corporate governance guidelines and code of ethics, is also available on our investor relations website under the heading “Governance Documents.” Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any of our other filings with the SEC. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Section 107 of the JOBS Act permits an “emerging growth company” to take advantage of an extended transition time to comply with new or revised accounting standards as applicable to public companies. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably opted out of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to other emerging growth companies that elect to take advantage of the extended transition period.
We will cease to be an “emerging growth company” upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.235 billion in annual revenue; (ii) the date we qualify as a large accelerated filer, with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates; (iii) the date on which we have, in any three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (iv) December 31, 2026 (the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of CENAQ becoming a public company).
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act and may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures and reporting requirements available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is $250 million or more measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues $100 million or more during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is $700 million or more measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.
Risk Factors
Our business involves significant risks, some of which are described below. You should carefully consider these risks, in addition to the other information contained in this Annual Report, including our financial statements and related notes and the section of this Annual Report titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The occurrence of any of the events or developments described in the following risk factors and the risks described elsewhere in this Annual Report could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. This Annual Report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of factors that are described in the following risk factors and the risks described elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The following risk factors apply to our business and operations. These risk factors are not exhaustive, and investors are encouraged to perform their own investigation with respect to the business, financial condition and prospects of our business, financial condition and prospects. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this Report, including matters addressed in the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” We may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, which may also impair our business or financial condition. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes to the financial statements included herein.
Risks Related to Our Business, Operations and Industry
Our commercial success depends on our ability to develop and operate production facilities for the commercial production of renewable gasoline.
Our business strategy includes growth primarily through the construction and development of commercial production facilities, including the development of our first commercial production facility which we expect to support first commercial production of renewable gasoline as early as 2026. This strategy depends on our ability to successfully construct and complete commercial production facilities on favorable terms and on our expected schedule, obtain the necessary permits, governmental approvals and carbon credit qualifications needed to operate our commercial production facilities and identify and evaluate development and partnership opportunities to expand our business. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully develop any commercial production facilities, obtain necessary approval, qualifications and permits necessary to operate, identify new opportunities and develop new technologies and commercial production facilities, or establish and maintain our relationships with key strategic partners. In addition, we will compete with other companies for these development opportunities, which may increase our costs. We also expect to achieve growth through the expansion of our in-process projects as the facilities are expanded or otherwise begin to produce renewable gasoline, but we cannot assure you that we will be able to reach or renew the necessary agreements to complete these commercial production facilities or expansions. If we are unable to successfully identify and consummate future commercial production facility opportunities or complete or expand our planned commercial production facilities, it will impede our ability to execute our growth strategy.
There is no assurance that our JDA with Cottonmouth Ventures, a subsidiary of Diamondback, will result in a FID to proceed and/or entry into final definitive agreements with respect to the proposed project in the Permian Basin. Likewise, there is no assurance our CDMA with CTV JV will result in a FID to proceed and/or entry into final definitive agreements with respect to the Kern County project. In both circumstances, we will be required to expend development costs prior to such determination, which costs we will not recoup if such project(s) do(es) not proceed.
Our ability to develop and operate commercial production facilities, as well as expand production at future commercial production facilities, is subject to many risks beyond our control, including:
● regulatory changes that affect the value of renewable fuels including changes to existing federal RFS program or state level low-carbon fuel credit systems, which could have a significant effect on the financial performance of our commercial production facilities and the number of potential projects with attractive economics;
● technological risks, including technological advances or changes in production methods that may render our technologies and products obsolete or uneconomical, delaying or failing to adapt or incorporate technological advances, new standards or production technologies that may require us to make significant expenditures to replace or modify our operations, and challenges in obtaining, implementing or financing any new technologies;
● competition from other carbon-based and non-carbon-based fuel producers that may have greater resources than us;
● changes in energy commodity prices, such as crude oil and natural gas as well as wholesale electricity prices, which could have a significant effect on our revenues and expenses;
● changes in quality standards or other regulatory changes that may limit our ability to produce renewable gasoline or increase the costs of processing renewable gasoline;
● changes in the broader waste collection industry or changes to environmental regulations governing the industry, including changes affecting the waste collection and biogas potential of the landfill industry, which could limit the renewable fuel feedstock that we currently target for our commercial production facilities;
● substantial construction risks, including the risk of delay, that may arise due to forces outside of our control, including those related to engineering and environmental problems, changes in laws and regulations and inclement weather and labor disruptions;
● the ability to establish and maintain our relationships with key strategic partners, on favorable terms or at all;
● disruptions in sales, productions, service or other business activities or our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
● operating risks and the effect of disruptions on our business, including the effects of global health crises or pandemics (such as COVID-19), weather conditions, catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, earthquakes, droughts and acts of terrorism, and other force majeure events on us, our customers, suppliers, distributors and subcontractors;
● accidents involving personal injury or the loss of life;
● entering into markets where we have less experience than our competitors;
● challenges arising from our ability to recruit and retain key personnel;
● the ability to obtain financing for a commercial production facility on acceptable terms or at all and the need for substantially more capital than initially budgeted to complete a commercial production facility and exposure to liabilities as a result of unforeseen environmental, construction, technological or other complications;
● failures or delays in obtaining desired or necessary land rights, including ownership, leases, easements, zoning rights or building permits;
● global and regional macroeconomic conditions, such as high inflation, high interest rates, changes to monetary policy, and military hostilities in multiple geographies (including the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the conflict in the Middle East);
● a decrease in the availability, pricing or timeliness of delivery of raw materials and components, necessary for the commercial production facilities to function;
● obtaining and keeping in good standing permits, authorizations and consents (including environmental and operating permits) from local city, county, state or U.S. federal governments as well as local and U.S. federal governmental organizations;
● difficulties in identifying, obtaining and permitting suitable sites for new commercial production facilities; and
● identifying potential customers for our products or entering into contracts to sell our products on favorable terms.
Any of these factors could prevent us from developing, operating or expanding our commercial production facilities, or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our limited history, lack of revenue and limited liquidity makes it difficult to evaluate our business and prospects and may increase the risks associated with your investment.
We were formed in 2020 and although our core syngas-to-gasoline technology has been developed and tested for over thirteen years, we have not produced gasoline on a large-scale, commercial level. As a result, we have a limited operating history upon which to evaluate our business and future prospects, which subjects us to a number of risks and uncertainties, including our ability to plan for and predict future growth. Following the acquisition of the patented STG+® process and demonstration facility with over 10,500 historical operating hours, we have continued to focus on commercial scale production of on-spec renewable gasoline from renewable feedstocks. The reactor designs, gas velocity, process configurations, and control system of the demonstration facility are representative of a full-scale syngas-to-gasoline production facility. We have also participated in carbon lifecycle studies to validate the CI score and reduced lifecycle carbon emissions of our renewable gasoline as well as fuel testing studies to validate the specification and performance of our gasoline product.
Since the acquisition of the STG+® technology in 2020, we have made progress towards constructing our first commercial production facility, including more recently focusing on our development of projects that we believe have quicker paths to commercial operations such as our joint project in the Permian Basin. While we have not abandoned the Maricopa, Arizona project, we anticipate the project in the Permian Basin to be our first commercial production facility.
We have encountered and expect to continue to encounter risks and difficulties experienced by growing companies in rapidly developing and changing industries, including challenges related to achieving market acceptance of our renewable fuel, competing against companies with greater financial and technical resources, competing against entrenched incumbent competitors that have long-standing relationships with our prospective customers in the commercial renewable fuels market, recruiting and retaining qualified employees, and making use of our limited resources. We cannot ensure that we will be successful in addressing these and other challenges that we may face in the future, and our business may be adversely affected if we do not manage these risks appropriately. As a result, we may not attain sufficient revenue (if any) to achieve or maintain positive cash flow from operations or profitability in any given future period, if at all.
To date, we have not generated any revenue. We do not expect to generate any meaningful revenue unless and until we are able to commercialize our first production facility. Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses, have an accumulated deficit of $23.9 million as of December 31, 2023, and negative operating cash flow during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Management expects that operating losses and negative cash flows may increase because of additional costs and expenses related to the development of technology and the development of market and strategic relationships with other companies. Our continued solvency is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional working capital to complete our product development and to successfully achieve commerciality of our projects.
Following the Business Combination and the closing of the PIPE Financing, we have used and expect to continue to use cash on hand to fund our ongoing operations and R&D activities. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $28.8 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. We believe that based on our current level of operating expenses and currently available cash on hand, we will have sufficient funds available to cover R&D activities and operating cash needs through 2024. However, as we have not yet developed a commercial production facility and have no meaningful revenue to date, we may require additional funds in future years. Our ability to raise funds through equity offerings may be limited by the significant number of shares that may be publicly sold.
We may be unable to qualify for existing federal and state level low-carbon fuel credits and other carbon credits and the carbon credit markets may not develop as quickly or efficiently as we anticipate or at all.
The continued development of carbon credit marketplaces will be crucial for our success, as we expect carbon credits (including, for example, the RFS for the D3 RIN and various state carbon programs such as California’s LCFS) to be a significant source of future revenue. The efficiency and integrity of the voluntary carbon credit market is currently subject to pressures and scrutiny relating to a number of factors including insufficiency of credit demand, the risk that carbon credits could be counted multiple times, concerns regarding the additionality or permanence of climate benefits that the credits represent, lack of standardization of and concerns regarding the integrity of credit verification. Additionally, such forces could put negative pressure on the value of voluntary carbon credits or otherwise make it more difficult to monetize any climate benefits that may be associated with our products. More broadly, the value of products produced using our process technologies may be dependent on the value of carbon credits which may fluctuate based on these market forces relevant to regulatory carbon markets or voluntary carbon markets. Under the current RFS regulations, renewable gasoline produced from separated yard waste, crop residue, slash, and pre-commercial thinnings, biogenic components of separated municipal solid waste, cellulosic components of separated food waste, and cellulosic components of annual cover crops through a gasification and upgrading process qualifies for D3 RINs. We intend for our commercial production facilities to utilize gasification and upgrading to produce renewable gasoline from one or more of these feedstocks. Accordingly, we believe that the renewable gasoline produced by our commercial production facilities will qualify for D3 RINs and intend to register with EPA as a producer of RINs prior to the commercial operation of our first commercial production facility. However, if our renewable gasoline is unable to qualify under the RFS for the D3 RIN and various state carbon programs, or for the generation of quality voluntary carbon credits that can be sold on registries preferred by consumers, or if changes to regulatory or voluntary standards otherwise limit the potential for such qualification, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely impacted. Delayed development of carbon credit markets, as well as any decline in the value of carbon credits or other incentives associated with products produced using our process technologies, could also negatively impact the commercial viability of our commercial production facilities and could limit the growth of the business and adversely impact our financial condition and future results. There is a risk that the supply of low-carbon alternative materials and products outstrips demand, resulting in the value of carbon credits declining. Any decline in the value of carbon credits or other incentives associated with products produced using our process technologies could harm our results of operations, cash flow and financial condition. The value of carbon credits and other incentives may also be adversely affected by legislative, agency, or judicial determinations.
Significant capital investment is required to develop and conduct our operations and we intend to raise additional funds through debt financing for our planned operations and these funds may not be available when needed.
The construction and development of our proposed commercial production facilities requires substantial capital investment. We intend to fund approximately 70% of such capital in the future through debt financing, which may include project financing, industrial revenue bonds, pollution control bonds or some other combination. While we have been in discussions with banks and other credit counterparties regarding project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, and these discussions have led to indications of debt financing equivalent to 70% of our expected capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such financing. If we are unable to obtain debt financing on favorable terms or at all, our development timeline may be delayed and would require raising of additional equity or debt capital.
Additionally, we may raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity-related or debt securities, through obtaining credit from government or financial institutions or by engaging in joint ventures or other alternative forms of financing. We cannot be certain that additional funds will be available on favorable terms when required, or at all. If we cannot raise additional funds when needed, our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. If we raise funds through the issuance of debt securities or through loan arrangements, the terms of such debt securities or loan arrangements could require significant interest payments, contain covenants that restrict our business, or contain other unfavorable terms. The current high interest rate environment adds additional risk and expense to the use of debt to fund capital investment. In addition, to the extent we raise funds through the sale of additional equity securities, our stockholders would experience additional dilution.
In order to construct new commercial production facilities, we typically face a long and variable design, fabrication, and construction development cycle that requires significant resource commitments and may create fluctuations in whether and when any revenue is recognized, and may have an adverse effect on our business.
The development, design and construction process for our commercial production facilities generally lasts from 24 to 36 months, on average. Prior to constructing and developing a commercial production facility, we typically conduct a preliminary review and assess whether the commercial production facility is commercially viable based on our expected return on investment, investment payback period, and other operating metrics, as well as the necessary permits to develop such commercial production facility. This extended development process requires the dedication of significant time and resources from our management team, with no certainty of success or recovery of our expenses. Further, upon commencement of operations, we expect it may take six months or longer for the commercial production facility to ramp up to our expected production level. All of these factors, and in particular, increased spending that is not offset by anticipated increased revenues, can contribute to fluctuations in our quarterly financial performance and increase the likelihood that our operating results in a particular period will fall below investor expectations.
Our business will require suitable tracts of real property upon which to construct and operate the specialized equipment supporting our commercial production facilities. We anticipate that such tracts of real property will be predominantly leased from third parties under long-term land leases, but it is possible that some of such tracts may be purchased by us. If we are unable to identify such suitable tracts of real property, or if we are unable to purchase or lease such tracts at commercially reasonable rates and under terms favorable to us, our business may be adversely affected.
The construction and operation of the equipment supporting our commercial production facilities sales may require specialized permitting from applicable governmental authorities. We may be unable to obtain such specialized permitting, or we may experience significant delays in obtaining such specialized permitting, and this may delay our ability to launch these facilities for commercial operations, which may have a significant impact on any anticipated revenue and profitability.
The complexity, expense, and nature of customer procurement processes result in a lengthy customer acquisition and sales process. We anticipate that it may take us months to attract, obtain an award from, contract with, and recognize revenue from the production of renewable gasoline by a new commercial production facility, if we are successful at all.
We have entered into relatively new markets for renewables, including renewable natural gas, renewable gasoline and biofuel, and these new markets are highly volatile and have significant risk associated with current market conditions.
We have limited experience in marketing and selling renewable gasoline. As such, we may not be able to compete successfully with existing or new competitors in supplying renewable gasoline to potential customers. If we are unable to establish production and sales channels that allow us to offer comparable products at attractive prices, we may not be able to compete effectively in the market. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that our renewables business will ever generate significant revenues or maintain profitability. The failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Fluctuations in the price of product inputs, including renewable feedstocks, natural gas and other feedstocks, may affect our cost structure.
Our approach to the renewable fuels market will be dependent on the price of renewable feedstocks, such as biomass, as well as natural gas (including synthetic natural gas) and other feedstocks that will be used to produce our renewable gasoline. A decrease in the availability of feedstocks or an increase in the price may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results. At certain levels, prices may make these products uneconomical to use and produce as we may be unable to pass the full amount of feedstock cost increases on to our customers.
The price and availability of biomass, natural gas and other feedstocks may be influenced by general economic, market and regulatory factors. These factors include farming decisions, government policies and subsidies with respect to agriculture and international trade and global demand and supply. For example, renewable feedstock prices may increase significantly in response to increased demand for biomass for the production of competing renewable fuels.
Fluctuations in petroleum prices and customer demand patterns may reduce demand for renewable fuels and bio-based chemicals and a prolonged environment of low petroleum prices or reduced demand for renewable fuels or biofuels could have a material adverse effect on our long-term business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Our renewable gasoline may be considered an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Therefore, if the price of crude oil falls, any revenues that we generate from renewable gasoline could decline and we may be unable to produce products that are a commercially viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Additionally, demand for liquid transportation fuels, including renewable gasoline, may decrease due to economic conditions or other factors outside of our control, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Long-term renewable fuels prices may fluctuate substantially due to factors outside of our control. The price of renewable fuels can vary significantly for many reasons, including: (i) increases and decreases in the number of internal combustion engines in operation in our markets; (ii) changes in competing liquid hydrocarbon technologies or fuel transportation capacity constraints or inefficiencies; (iii) energy or renewable fuel supply disruptions; (iv) weather conditions (which may be affected by climate change); (v) seasonal fluctuations; (vi) changes in consumer preferences and/or the demand for energy or in patterns of renewable fuel usage, including the potential development of demand-side management tools and practices; (vi) development of new fuels or new technologies for the production of renewable fuels; (vii) federal and state regulations; and (viii) then prevailing global and regional macroeconomic conditions.
We may face substantial competition from companies with greater resources and financial strength, which could adversely affect our performance and growth.
We may face substantial competition in the market for renewable fuel. Our competitors include companies in the incumbent petroleum-based industry as well as those in the emerging renewable fuels industry. The petroleum-based industry benefits from a large established infrastructure, production capability and business relationships. The greater resources and financial strength in this industry provide significant competitive advantages that we may not be able to overcome in a timely manner.
Our ability to compete successfully will depend on our ability to develop proprietary products that reach the market in a timely manner and are technologically superior to and/or are less expensive than other products on the market. Many of our competitors have substantially greater production, financial, research and development, personnel and marketing resources than we do. In addition, certain of our competitors may also benefit from local government subsidies and other incentives that are not available to us. As a result, our competitors may be able to develop competing and/or superior technologies and processes, and compete more aggressively and sustain that competition over a longer period of time than we could. Our technologies and products may be rendered obsolete or uneconomical by technological advances or entirely different approaches developed by one or more of our competitors. As more companies develop new intellectual property in our markets, the possibility of a competitor acquiring patent or other rights that may limit our business or operations increases, which could lead to litigation. Furthermore, to secure purchase agreements from certain customers, we may be required to enter into exclusive supply contracts, which could limit our ability to further expand our sales to new customers. Likewise, major potential customers may be locked into long-term, exclusive agreements with our competitors, which could inhibit our ability to compete for their business.
Our ability to compete successfully also depends on our ability to identify, hire, attract, train and develop and retain highly qualified personnel. We may not be able to recruit and hire a sufficient number of such personnel which may adversely affect our results of operations, sales capabilities and financial position. New hires require significant training and time before they achieve full productivity and the ability to attract, hire and retain them depends on our ability to provide competitive compensation. There is significant competition for personnel with strong sales skills and technical knowledge. We may be unable to hire or retain sufficient numbers of qualified individuals and such failure could adversely affect our business, including the execution of our proposed growth projects.
In addition, various governments have recently announced a number of spending programs focused on the development of clean technologies, including alternatives to petroleum-based fuels and the reduction of carbon emissions. Such spending programs could lead to increased funding for our competitors or a rapid increase in the number of competitors within those markets.
We also may face substantial competition as we develop our commercial production facilities and STG+® technology and seek to work with agricultural industry participants, commercial waste companies and landowners to source our renewable feedstocks, including biomass and MSW, as well as natural gas and other feedstocks and lease or acquire land to install and operate commercial production facilities. Our competitors include established companies and developers with significantly greater resources and financial strength, which may provide them with competitive advantages that we may not be able to overcome in a timely manner, or at all.
Our limited resources relative to many of our competitors may cause us to fail to anticipate or respond adequately to new developments and other competitive pressures. This failure could reduce our competitiveness and market share, adversely affect our results of operations and financial position and prevent us from obtaining or maintaining profitability.
Our proposed growth projects may not be completed or, if completed, may not perform as expected and our project development activities may consume a significant portion of our management’s focus, and if not successful, reduce any anticipated profitability.
We plan to grow our business by building multiple commercial production facilities, including our first commercial STG+® based production facility in the United States, along with our additional planned and identified potential commercial production facilities. Development projects may require us to spend significant sums for engineering, permitting, legal, financial advisory and other expenses before we determine whether a development project is feasible, economically attractive or capable of being financed.
Our development projects are typically planned to be large and complex, and we may not be able to complete them. There can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate the required agreements, overcome any local opposition, or obtain the necessary approvals, licenses, permits and financing. Failure to achieve any of these elements may prevent the development and construction of a project. If that were to occur, we could lose all of our investment in development expenditures and may be required to write-off project development assets.
We may not be able to develop, maintain and grow strategic relationships, identify new strategic relationship opportunities, or form strategic relationships, in the future.
We expect that our ability to establish, maintain, and manage strategic relationships, such as our relationships with Cottonmouth Ventures, CTV JV, InEnTec Inc. and EcoStrat Inc., could have a significant impact on the success of our business, although there can be no guarantee that these relationships will provide such impact. While we expect that our STG+® technology will enable us to become a more substantial operating entity in the future, there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify or secure suitable and scalable business relationship opportunities in the future or that our competitors will not capitalize on such opportunities before we do.
Additionally, we cannot guarantee that the companies with which we have developed or will develop strategic relationships will continue to devote the resources necessary to promote mutually beneficial business relationships and grow our business. Our current arrangements are not exclusive, and some of our strategic partners work with our competitors. If we are unsuccessful in establishing or maintaining our relationships with key strategic partners, our overall growth could be impaired, and our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results could be adversely affected.
We may acquire or invest in additional companies, which may divert our management’s attention, result in additional dilution to our stockholders, and consume resources that are necessary to sustain our business.
Although we have not made any acquisitions to date, our business strategy in the future may include acquiring other complementary products, technologies, or businesses. We also may enter relationships with other businesses to expand our operations and to create service networks to support our production and delivery of renewable gasoline. An acquisition, investment, or business relationship may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. We may encounter difficulties assimilating or integrating the businesses, technologies, products, services, personnel, or operations of the acquired companies particularly if the key personnel of the acquired companies choose not to work for us. Acquisitions may also disrupt our business, divert our resources, and require significant management attention that would otherwise be available for the development of our business. Moreover, the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, investment, or business relationship may not be realized or we may be exposed to unknown liabilities.
Negotiating these transactions can be time consuming, difficult, and expensive, and our ability to close these transactions may often be subject to approvals that are beyond our control. Consequently, these transactions, even if undertaken and announced, may not close. Even if we do successfully complete acquisitions, we may not ultimately strengthen our competitive position or achieve our goals, and any acquisitions we complete could be viewed negatively by our customers, securities analysts, and investors.
Fluctuations in the price and availability of energy to power our facilities may harm our performance.
We anticipate our commercial production facilities to use significant amounts of energy to produce our renewable gasoline. Accordingly, our business is dependent upon energy supplied by third parties. The prices and availability of energy resources are subject to volatile market conditions. These market conditions are affected by factors beyond our control, such as weather conditions, overall economic conditions and governmental regulations. Should the price of energy increase or should access to the required energy sources be unavailable, our business could suffer and have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, a lack of availability of sufficient amounts of renewable energy to effectively decarbonize our facilities could have a material impact on our business and results of operations.
We may be subject to liabilities and losses that may not be covered by insurance.
Our employees and facilities are and will be subject to the hazards associated with producing renewable gasoline. Operating hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to, or destruction of, property, plant and equipment and environmental damage. We maintain insurance coverage in amounts against the risks that we believe are consistent with industry practice, and maintain a safety program. However, we could sustain losses for uninsurable or uninsured risks, or in amounts in excess of existing insurance coverage. Events that result in significant personal injury or damage to our property or to property owned by third parties or other losses that are not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.
Insurance liabilities are difficult to assess and quantify due to unknown factors, including the severity of an injury, the determination of our liability in proportion to other parties, the number of incidents not reported and the effectiveness of our safety program. If we were to experience insurance claims or costs above our coverage limits or that are not covered by our insurance, we might be required to use working capital to satisfy these claims rather than to maintain or expand our operations. To the extent that we experience a material increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or workers’ compensation claims, or unfavorable developments on existing claims, our operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Renewable gasoline has not previously been used as a commercial fuel in significant amounts, its use subjects us to product liability risks and we may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm our financial condition and liquidity if we are not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.
Renewable gasoline has not been used as a commercial fuel in large quantities or for a long period of time. Research regarding this product and its distribution infrastructure is ongoing. Although renewable gasoline has been tested on some engines, there is a risk that it may damage engines or otherwise fail to perform as expected. If renewable gasoline degrades the performance or reduces the life-cycle of engines, or causes them to fail to meet emissions standards, market acceptance could be slowed or stopped, and we could be subject to product liability claims. A significant product liability lawsuit could substantially impair our production efforts and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
While we intend to carry insurance for product liability, it is possible that our insurance coverage may not cover the full exposure on a product liability claim of significant magnitude. A successful product liability claim against us could require us to pay a substantial monetary award. A product liability claim could also generate substantial negative publicity about our business and operations and could have an adverse effect on our brand, business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
Liabilities and costs associated with hazardous materials, contamination and other environmental conditions may require us to conduct investigations or remediation or expose us to other liabilities, both of which may adversely impact our operations and financial condition.
We may incur liabilities for the investigation and cleanup of any environmental contamination at our commercial production facilities, or at off-site locations where we arrange for the disposal of hazardous substances or wastes. For example, under CERCLA and other federal, state and local laws, certain broad categories of persons, including an owner or operator of a property, or businesses may become liable for costs of investigation and remediation, impacts to human health and for damages to natural resources. These laws often impose strict and joint and several liability without regard to fault or degree of contribution or whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous substances or whether the conduct giving rise to the release was legal at the time it occurred. We also may be subject to related claims by private parties, including employees, contractors, or the general public, alleging property damage and personal injury due to exposure to hazardous or other materials at or from those properties. We may incur substantial costs or other damages associated with these obligations, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, we rely on third parties to ensure compliance with certain environmental laws, including those relating to the disposal of wastes. Any failure to properly handle or dispose of wastes, regardless of whether such failure is ours or our contractors, could result in liability under environmental, health and safety laws. The costs of liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations, and future planned operations, are subject to certain environmental health and safety laws or permitting requirements, which could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating costs and restrictions. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could result in substantial fines or other limitations that could adversely impact our financial results or operations.
Our operations, as well as our contractors, suppliers, and customers, are subject to certain federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. We or others in our supply chain may be required to obtain permits and comply with procedures that impose various restrictions and operations that could have adverse effects on our operations. If key permits and approvals cannot be obtained on acceptable terms, or if other operations requirements cannot be met in a manner satisfactory for our operations or on a timeline that meets our commercial obligations, it may adversely impact our business. There are also significant capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental laws and regulations.
Environmental and health and safety laws and regulations are subject to change and may become more stringent over time, such as through new regulations enacted at the international, national, state, and/or local level or new or modified regulations that may be implemented under existing law. The nature and extent of any changes in these laws, rules, regulations, and permits could have material effects on our business. Future legislation and regulations or changes in existing legislation and regulations, or interpretations thereof, could cause additional expenditures, restrictions, and delays in connection with our operations as well as our other future projects.
Future changes to our operations, such as siting of new facilities or the implementation of manufacturing processes at our planned future facilities, could result in increased expenditures to comply with environmental laws, or to obtain and comply with pre-construction and operating permits. For example, federal siting requirements could require us to consider alternative sites for our manufacturing facilities or we could be subject to challenges from stakeholders regarding the use of land for such facilities, which could lead to delays or an inability to construct new facilities. Additionally, future planned operations may create regulated emissions which may require obtaining permits, adhering to permit limits, and/or the use of emissions control technology at our manufacturing facilities. Should permitted limits or other requirements applicable to our current or future operations change in the future, we may be required to install additional, more costly control technology to ensure continued compliance with environmental laws or permits. Any failure to comply with environmental laws could result in significant fines and penalties or business interruptions that could adversely impact our financial results or operations.
Transition risks related to climate change could have a material and adverse effects on us.
We are committed to a clean energy future and we believe our business is well-positioned to benefit from growing regulatory and policy support for decarbonization and other trends related to climate change. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that these developments may in the future adversely affect the business, our suppliers, and the demand for our product while supporting the development of competing technologies and energy sources. For example, the adoption of legislation or regulatory programs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (including carbon pricing schemes), or the adoption and implementation of regulations that require reporting of greenhouse gas emissions or other climate-related information, could adversely affect our business, including by requiring us or our suppliers to incur increased operating costs, stimulating demand for electric vehicles, restricting our ability to execute on our business strategy, reducing our access to financial markets, or creating greater potential for governmental investigations or litigation. See “Item 1. Business-Climate Change, Regulatory Mandates and Government Funding” for further discussion of the laws and regulations related to greenhouse gases and climate change. We could incur increased costs and compliance burden relating to the assessment and disclosure of climate-related risks. We may also face increased litigation risks related to disclosures made pursuant to the rule if finalized as proposed.
Increased focus on sustainability or other ESG matters could impact our operations and expose us to additional risks.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny from a variety of stakeholders, including investor advocacy groups, proxy advisory firms, certain institutional investors, and lenders, investment funds and other influential investors and rating agencies, related to their ESG and sustainability practices. The success of our business in part depends on customers and financial institutions viewing our business and operations as having a positive ESG profile. Increasing attention to, and societal expectations regarding, climate change, human rights, and other ESG topics may require us to make certain changes to our business operations to satisfy the expectations of customers and financial institutions. Additionally, our customers may be driven to purchase our fuel products due to their own sustainability or ESG commitments, which may entail holding their suppliers - including us - to ESG standards that go beyond compliance with laws and regulations and our ability to comply with such standards. Failure to maintain operations that align with such “beyond compliance” standards may negatively impact our reputation, cause potential customers to not do business with us or otherwise hurt demand for our products. More broadly, if we do not adapt to or comply with investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards on ESG matters as they continue to evolve, or if we are perceived to have not responded appropriately or quickly enough to growing concern for ESG and sustainability issues, regardless of whether there is a regulatory or legal requirement to do so, we may suffer from reputational damage and our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, growing interest on the part of stakeholders regarding sustainability information and growing scrutiny of sustainability-related claims and disclosure has also increased the risk that companies could be perceived as, or accused of, making inaccurate or misleading statements, often referred to as “greenwashing.” Such perception or accusation could damage our reputation and result in litigation or regulatory actions. Further, organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable ESG ratings could lead to increased negative investor sentiment toward us and our industry and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact on our stock price and our access to and costs of capital.
Failure of third parties to manufacture quality products or provide reliable services in accordance with schedules, prices, quality and volumes that are acceptable to us could cause delays in developing and operating our commercial production facilities, which could damage our reputation, adversely affect our partner relationships or adversely affect our growth.
Our success depends on our ability to develop and operate our commercial production facilities in a timely manner, which depends in part on the ability of third parties to provide us with timely and reliable products and services. In developing and operating our commercial production facilities and technologies, we rely on products meeting our design specifications and components manufactured and supplied by third parties, and on services performed by contractors and subcontractors. We also rely on contractors and subcontractors to perform substantially all of the construction and installation work related to our commercial production facilities, and we often need to engage contractors or subcontractors with whom we have no past experience.
If any of our contractors or subcontractors are unable to provide services that meet or exceed our expectations or satisfy our contractual commitments, our reputation, business and operating results could be harmed. In addition, if we are unable to avail ourselves of warranties and other contractual protections with providers of products and services, we may incur liability to our customers or additional costs related to the affected products, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, any delays, malfunctions, inefficiencies or interruptions in these products or services could adversely affect the quality and performance of our commercial production facilities and require considerable expense to find replacement products and to maintain and repair our facilities. This could cause us to experience interruption in our production and distribution of renewable gasoline, difficulty retaining current relationships and attracting new relationships, or harm our brand, reputation or growth.
We may be unable to successfully perform under future supply and distribution agreements to provide our renewable gasoline, which could harm our commercial prospects.
Our business strategy is to enter into multiple supply agreements pursuant to which we will supply our renewable gasoline to various customers. Under certain of these supply agreements, we expect the purchasers will agree to pay for and receive, or cause to be received by a third party, or pay for even if not taken, the renewable gasoline under contract (a “take-or-pay” arrangement). We anticipate that the timing and volume commitment of certain of these agreements will be conditioned upon, and subject to, our ability to complete the construction of our first commercial production facility and our additional planned and identified potential commercial production facilities. In order to construct and commence operations of commercial production facilities, we must secure third-party financing. We believe that we will be able to secure adequate financing in order to commence construction of and complete our commercial production facilities and, in turn, perform under these agreements, we cannot assure you that we will in the future be able to obtain adequate financing on favorable terms, or at all. Furthermore, we have not demonstrated that we can meet the production levels and specifications contemplated in anticipated or future supply agreements. If our production is slower than we expect, if demand decreases or if we encounter difficulties in successfully completing our first commercial production facility and our additional planned and identified potential commercial production facilities, the counterparties may terminate the supply agreements and potential customers may be less willing to negotiate definitive supply agreements with us, and therefore adversely impact our anticipated financial performance.
In addition, from time to time, we may enter into letters of intent, memoranda of understanding and other largely non-binding agreements or understandings with potential customers or partners in order to develop our business and the markets that we serve. We can make no assurance that legally binding, definitive agreements reflecting the terms of such non-binding agreements will be completed with such customers or partners, or at all.
Third parties on whom we may rely for transportation services are subject to complex federal, state and other laws that could adversely affect our operations.
The operations of third parties on whom we may rely for transportation services are subject to complex and stringent laws and regulations that require obtaining and maintaining numerous permits, approvals and certifications from various federal, state and local government authorities. These third parties may incur substantial costs in order to comply with existing laws and regulations. If existing laws and regulations governing such third-party services are revised or reinterpreted, or if new laws and regulations become applicable to their operations, these changes may affect the costs that we pay for services. Similarly, a failure to comply with such laws and regulations by the third parties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business and operations may be significantly disrupted upon the occurrence of a catastrophic event, information technology system failures or cyberattack.
Our business is dependent on proprietary technologies, processes and information that we have developed, much of which is stored on our computer systems. We also have entered into agreements with third parties for hardware, software, telecommunications and other information technology (“IT”) services in connection with our operations. Our operations depend, in part, on how well we and our vendors protect networks, equipment, IT systems and software against damage from a number of threats, including, but not limited to, cable cuts, damage to physical plants, natural disasters, intentional damage and destruction, fire, power loss, hacking, computer viruses, vandalism, theft, malware, ransomware and phishing attacks. Any of these and other events could result in IT system failures, delays, a material disruption of our business or increases in capital expenses. Our operations also depend on the timely maintenance, upgrade and replacement of networks, equipment and IT systems and software, as well as preemptive expenses to mitigate the risks of failures.
Furthermore, the importance of such information technology systems and networks and systems has increased due to many of our employees working remotely on less secure systems and environments. Additionally, if one of our service providers were to fail and we were unable to find a suitable replacement in a timely manner, we could be unable to properly administer our outsourced functions. If we cannot continue to retain these services provided by our vendors on acceptable terms, our access to the IT system and services could be interrupted. Any security breach, interruption or failure in our IT system and operations could impair quality of services, increase costs, prompt litigation and other consumer claims, result in liability under our contracts, and damage our reputation, any of which could substantially harm our business, financial condition or the results of operations.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. While we have implemented security resources to protect our data security and information technology systems, such measures may not prevent such events. In addition, certain measures that could increase the security of our IT system take significant time and resources to deploy broadly, and such measures may not be deployed in a timely manner or be effective against an attack. The inability to implement, maintain and upgrade adequate safeguards could have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Significant disruption to our IT system or breaches of data security could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Cyber-attacks are of ever-increasing levels of sophistication, and despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to such attacks or may be breached, including due to employee error or malfeasance.
Our facilities and processes may fail to produce renewable gasoline at the volumes, rates and costs we expect.
Some, or all, of our future commercial production facilities may be in locations distant from biomass and MSW, natural gas or other feedstock sources, which could increase our feedstock costs or prevent us from acquiring sufficient feedstock volumes for commercial production. General market conditions might also cause increases in feedstock prices, which could likewise increase our production costs.
Even if we secure access to sufficient volumes of feedstock, our commercial production facilities may fail to perform as expected. The equipment and subsystems that we install in our commercial production facilities may never operate as planned. Unexpected problems may force us to cease or delay production and the time and costs involved with such delays may prove prohibitive. Any or all of these risks could prevent us from achieving the production throughput and yields necessary to achieve our target annualized production run rates and/or to meet the future volume demands or minimum requirements of our customers, including pursuant to definitive supply or distribution agreements that we may enter into, which may subject us to monetary damages. Failure to achieve these rates or meet these minimum requirements, or achieving them only after significant additional expenditures, could substantially harm our commercial performance.
We may in the future use hedging arrangements to mitigate certain risks, but the use of such derivative instruments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are likely in the future to use interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. In addition, we may use forward energy sales and other types of hedging contracts, including foreign currency hedges if we do expand into other countries. If we elect to enter into these type of hedging arrangements, our related assets could recognize financial losses on these arrangements as a result of volatility in the market values of the underlying asset or if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. If actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources are not available, the valuation of these contracts would involve judgment or the use of estimates. As a result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts. If the values of these financial contracts change in a manner that we do not anticipate, or if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract, it could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Business interruptions, including those related to the widespread outbreak of an illness, pandemic (such as COVID-19), adverse weather conditions, manmade problems such as terrorism and other catastrophic events, may have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
We are vulnerable to natural disasters, the intensity or frequency of which may be influenced by climate change, and other events that could disrupt our operations. Any of our facilities or future facilities or operations may be harmed or rendered inoperable by catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, including earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods; nuclear disasters, riots, civil disturbances, war, acts of terrorism or other criminal activities; pandemics (such as COVID-19); power outages and other events beyond our control. We do not have a detailed disaster recovery plan. In addition, we may not carry sufficient business interruption or other insurance to compensate us for losses that may occur and it is possible that sufficient insurance coverage may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Any losses or damages we incur could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and success as an overall business.
In the event of natural disaster or other catastrophic event, we may be unable to continue our operations and may endure production interruptions, reputational harm, delays in manufacturing, delays in the development and testing of our STG+® solutions, and related technologies, and the loss of critical data, all of which could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results. If our facilities are damaged by such natural disasters or catastrophic events, the repair or replacement would likely be costly and any such efforts would likely require substantial time that may affect our ability to produce and deliver our renewable gasoline. Any future disruptions in our operations could negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results and harm our reputation. In addition, we may not carry enough insurance to compensate for the losses that may occur.
Even if we are successful in completing the first commercial production facility and consistently producing renewable gasoline on a commercial scale, we may not be successful in commencing and expanding commercial operations to support the growth of our business.
Our ability to achieve meaningful future revenue will depend in large part upon our ability to attract customers and enter into contracts on favorable terms. We expect that many of our customers will be large companies with extensive experience operating in the fuels or chemicals markets. We lack significant commercial operating experience and may face difficulties in developing marketing expertise in these fields. Our business model relies upon our ability to successfully implement the first commercial production facility and commence and expand commercial operations and successfully negotiate, structure and fulfill long-term supply agreements for our renewable gasoline. Agreements with potential customers may initially only provide for the purchase of limited quantities from us. Our ability to increase our sales will depend in large part upon our ability to expand these existing customer relationships into long-term supply agreements. Establishing, maintaining and expanding relationships with customers can require substantial investment without any assurance from customers that they will place significant orders. In addition, many of our potential customers may be more experienced in these matters than we are, and we may fail to successfully negotiate these agreements in a timely manner or on favorable terms which, in turn, may force us to slow our production, dedicate additional resources to increasing our storage capacity and/or dedicate resources to sales in spot markets. Furthermore, should we become more dependent on spot market sales, any potential profitability will become increasingly vulnerable to short-term fluctuations in the price and demand for petroleum-based fuels and competing substitutes.
We are a development stage company with a history of net losses, we are currently not profitable and we may not achieve or maintain profitability and if we incur substantial losses, we may have to curtail our operations, which may prevent us from successfully operating and expanding our business.
We have incurred net losses since our inception. We are currently in the development stage and have not yet commenced principal operations or generated revenue.
Furthermore, we expect to spend significant amounts on further development of our technology, acquiring or otherwise gaining access to commercial production facilities, marketing and general and administrative expenses associated with our planned growth and management of operations as a public company. In some market environments, we may have limited access to incremental financing, which could defer or cancel growth projects, reduce business activity or cause us to default under any debt agreements if we are unable to meet our payment schedules. In addition, the cost of preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent, trademark and other intellectual property rights and defending ourselves against claims by others that we may be violating their intellectual property rights may be significant. As a result, even if we are able to generate revenues in future periods, we expect that our expenses will exceed revenues for the foreseeable future. We do not expect to achieve profitability in the near future, and may never achieve it. If we fail to achieve profitability, or if the time required to achieve profitability is longer than we anticipate, we may not be able to continue our business. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. As such, we are exposed to the risk of being a development-stage company with a history of losses in an early-stage of operations.
Our actual costs may be greater than expected in developing our commercial production facilities or growth projects, causing us to realize significantly lower profits or greater losses.
We generally must estimate the costs of completing a specific commercial production facility or growth project prior to the construction of the facility or project. The actual cost of labor and materials may vary from the costs we originally estimated. These variations may cause the gross cost for a commercial production facility or growth project to differ from those we originally estimated. Cost overruns on our commercial production facilities and growth projects could occur due to changes in a variety of factors such as:
● failure to properly estimate costs of engineering, materials, equipment, labor or financing;
● unanticipated technical problems with the structures, materials or services;
● unanticipated project modifications;
● changes in the costs of equipment, materials, labor or contractors (whether as a result of supply chain issues, macroeconomic conditions or otherwise);
● our strategic partners, suppliers’ or contractors’ failure to perform;
● changes in laws and regulations; and
● delays caused by weather conditions.
As commercial production facilities or projects grow in size and complexity, multiple factors may contribute to reduced profit or greater losses, and depending on the size of the particular project, variations from the estimated costs could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, if costs exceed our estimates, it could cause us to realize significantly lower profits or greater losses.
Disruption in the supply chain, including increases in costs, shortage of materials or other disruption of supply, or in the workforce could materially adversely affect our business.
We rely on our suppliers and strategic partners for our business, from feedstocks to materials for our commercial production facilities and our STG+® technology. Future delays or interruptions in the supply chain could expose us to the various risks which would likely significantly increase our costs and/or impact our operations or business plans including:
● we or our strategic partners may have excess or inadequate inventory of feedstocks for operation of our facilities;
● we may face delays in construction or development of our growth projects;
● we may not be able to timely procure parts or equipment to upgrade, replace, or repair our facilities and technology system; and
● our suppliers may encounter financial hardships unrelated to our demand, which could inhibit their ability to fulfill our orders and meet our requirements.
We may not be able to obtain, or comply with terms and conditions for, government grants, loans, and other incentives for which we may apply for in the future, which may limit our opportunities to expand our business.
We anticipate that in the future there will be new opportunities for us to apply for grants, loans, and other federal and state incentives. Our ability to obtain funds or incentives from government sources is subject to the availability of funds under applicable government programs and approval of our applications to participate in such programs. The application process for these programs and other incentives is and will remain highly competitive. We may not be successful in obtaining any of these additional grants, loans, and other incentives. We may in the future fail to comply with the conditions of these incentives, which could cause us to lose funding or negotiate with governmental entities to revise such conditions. We may be unable to find alternative sources of funding to meet our planned capital needs, in which case, our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results could be adversely affected.
We may expand our operations globally, which would subject us to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, trade compliance, economic sanctions and similar laws, and non-compliance with such laws may subject us to criminal or civil liability and harm our business, financial condition and/or results of operations. We may also be subject to governmental export and import controls that could impair our ability to compete in international markets or subject us to liability if we violate the controls.
If we expand our operations globally, we would be subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, U.S. domestic bribery laws, and other anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws in the countries in which we would conduct business. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws have been enforced aggressively in recent years and are interpreted broadly to generally prohibit companies, their employees, and their third-party intermediaries from authorizing, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or benefits to recipients in the public or private sector. If we engage in international operations, sales and business with partners and third-party intermediaries to market our products, we may be required to obtain additional permits, licenses, and other regulatory approvals. In addition, we or our third-party intermediaries may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities. If we engage in international operations, sales and business with the public sector, we can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party intermediaries, our employees, agents, representatives, contractors, and partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities.
Failure to protect our intellectual property, inability to enforce our intellectual property rights or loss of our intellectual property rights through costly litigation or administrative proceedings, could adversely affect our ability to compete and our business.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other proprietary protection for commercially important inventions, to obtain and maintain know-how related to our business, including our proprietary manufacturing technology, to defend and enforce our intellectual property rights, in particular our patent rights, to preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets, and to operate without infringing, misappropriating, or violating the valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties. We rely on various intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, as well as confidentiality provisions and contractual arrangements, and other forms of statutory protection to protect our proprietary rights. We will be able to protect our proprietary rights from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that our proprietary technologies and future products are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as trade secrets. If we do not protect and enforce our intellectual property rights adequately and successfully, our competitive position may suffer, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
Our pending patent or trademark applications may not be approved, or competitors or others may challenge the validity, enforceability, or scope of our patents, the registrability of our trademarks or the trade secret status of our proprietary information. There can be no assurance that additional patents will be issued or that any issued patents will provide significant protection for our intellectual property or for those portions of our proprietary technology and software that are the most key to our competitive positions in the marketplace. In addition, our patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights may not provide us a significant competitive advantage. There is no assurance that the forms of intellectual property protection that we seek, including business decisions about when and where to file patents and when and how to maintain and protect trade secrets, license and other contractual rights will be adequate to protect our business.
Moreover, recent amendments to developing jurisprudence and current and possible future changes to intellectual property laws and regulations, including U.S. and foreign patent, trade secret and other statutory law, may affect our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights and to protect our proprietary technology. Despite our precautions, our intellectual property is vulnerable to unauthorized access and copying through employee, contractor or other third-party error or actions, including malicious state or state-sponsored actors, theft, hacking, cybersecurity incidents, and other security breaches and incidents, and such incidents may be difficult to detect or may be unknown for a significant period of time. It is possible for third parties to infringe upon or misappropriate our intellectual property, to copy or reverse engineer our proprietary manufacturing process, and to use information that we regard as proprietary to create products and services that compete with ours.
Intellectual property laws, procedures, and restrictions provide only limited protection and any of our intellectual property rights may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, infringed, or misappropriated. Further, the laws of certain countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and, therefore, in certain jurisdictions, we may be unable to protect our proprietary technology. Effective patent, trademark and other intellectual property protection may not be available in every country in which our services are made available. To the extent we expand our international activities, our exposure to unauthorized copying and use of our intellectual property and proprietary information may increase. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing on our intellectual property in all countries outside the U.S., or from selling or importing products made using our intellectual property in and into the U.S. or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and may also export infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement of patents and other intellectual protection is not as strong as that in the U.S. These products may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
As we move into new markets and expand our products or services offerings, incumbent participants in such markets may assert their intellectual property and other proprietary rights against us as a means of slowing our entry into such markets or as a means to extract substantial license and royalty payments from us. In addition, our agreements with some of our customers, suppliers or other entities with whom we do business requires us to defend or indemnify these parties to the extent they become involved in infringement claims, including the types of claims described above. As a result, we could incur significant costs and expenses that could adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition.
We have entered into confidentiality agreements with certain contractors and consultants as well as agreements containing restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions with certain employees, and we may enter into agreements with similar provisions with our employees and with other third parties in the future. We cannot ensure that these agreements, or all the terms thereof, will be enforceable or compliant with applicable law, or otherwise effective in controlling access to, use of, reverse engineering, and distribution of our proprietary information. Further, these agreements with our employees, contractors, and other parties may not prevent other parties from independently developing technologies, products and services that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technologies, products and services.
We believe that our proprietary manufacturing technology is a unique aspect in the current market and provides us with a significant competitive advantage. Our ability to prevent competitors from replicating this technology depends on our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, defend and enforce our intellectual property rights in the processes that comprise the technology and/or keep those processes and the underlying technology secret. We may not be able to prevent competitors from replicating or developing a better version of our proprietary manufacturing technology, which could result in a substantial decrease in our revenue and limit demand for our services.
We may need to spend significant resources securing and monitoring our intellectual property rights, and we may or may not be able to detect infringement by third parties. The steps we take to protect our intellectual property rights may not be sufficient to effectively prevent third parties from infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating our intellectual property rights or to prevent unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized use of our trade secrets or other confidential information. Our competitive position may be adversely impacted if we cannot detect infringement or enforce our intellectual property rights quickly or at all. In some circumstances, we may choose not to pursue enforcement because an infringer has a dominant intellectual property position, because of uncertainty relating to the scope of our intellectual property or the outcome of an enforcement action, or for other business reasons. In addition, competitors might avoid infringement by designing around our intellectual property rights or by developing non-infringing competing technologies. Litigation brought to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights could be costly, time-consuming, and distracting to management and our development teams and could result in the impairment or loss of portions of our intellectual property. Further, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims attacking the scope, validity, and enforceability of our intellectual property rights, or with counterclaims and countersuits asserting infringement by us of third-party intellectual property rights. Our failure to secure, protect, and enforce our intellectual property rights could adversely affect our brand and our business, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
Agreements containing confidentiality provisions and restrictive covenants with employees, contractors, consultants and other third-parties may not adequately prevent disclosures of trade secrets and other proprietary information.
We rely in part on trade secret protection to protect our confidential and proprietary information and processes. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We have taken measures to protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, but these measures may not be effective. We generally require our employees, consultants and contractors to enter into confidentiality agreements with us. We cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party who has developed intellectual property on our behalf and each party that has or may have had access to our confidential information, know-how and trade secrets. We intend for new employees, consultants and other third parties to execute confidentiality agreements or agreements containing confidentiality provisions upon the commencement of an employment or consulting arrangement with us. These agreements generally require that all confidential information developed by the individual or made known to the individual by us during the course of the individual’s relationship with us be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties. These agreements also generally provide that know-how and inventions conceived by the individual in the course of rendering services to us shall be our exclusive property. Nevertheless, these agreements may be insufficient or breached, or may not be enforceable, our proprietary information may be disclosed, third parties could reverse engineer our biocatalysts and others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets. Moreover, these agreements may not provide an adequate remedy for breaches or in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information or technology. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position. In addition, trade secrets and know-how can be difficult to protect and some courts inside and outside of the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets and know-how. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, we would not be able to prevent them from using that technology or information to compete with us, and our competitive position could be materially and adversely harmed. An unauthorized breach in our information technology systems may expose our trade secrets and other proprietary information to unauthorized parties.
Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, documentary, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions during the patent prosecution process. When related patents are pursued concurrently in multiple jurisdictions, international treaties may impose additional procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions. Periodic maintenance or annuity fees and various other governmental fees on any issued patent and/or pending patent applications are due to be paid to the USPTO and foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of a patent or patent application. Our outside counsel has systems in place to remind us to pay these fees, and we rely on our outside counsel and their third-party vendors to pay these fees. While an inadvertent lapse may sometimes be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are many situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction.
Non-compliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. If we fail to maintain the patents and patent applications directed to our proprietary technology, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Changes in patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our technology.
Our success is dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents. Obtaining and enforcing patents in our industry involves both technological and legal complexity and is therefore costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain, due in part to ongoing changes in patent laws. Depending on decisions by Congress, the federal courts and the USPTO, and equivalent institutions in other jurisdictions, the laws and regulations governing patents, and interpretation thereof, could change in unpredictable ways that could weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce existing or future patents. We cannot predict future changes in the interpretation of patent laws or changes to patent laws that might be enacted into law. Those changes may materially affect our patents or patent applications and our ability to obtain additional patent protection in the future.
Patent law can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important principles remain unresolved. In the United States and in many international jurisdictions, policy regarding the breadth of claims allowed in patents can be inconsistent. The U.S. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit have made, and will likely continue to make, changes in how they interpret the patent laws of the United States. Similarly, international courts have made, and will likely continue to make, changes in how they interpret the patent laws in their respective jurisdictions. We cannot predict future changes in the interpretation of patent laws or changes to patent laws that might be enacted into law by U.S. and international legislative bodies. Those changes may materially affect our patent rights and our ability to obtain issued patents.
We may be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties, which could be costly to defend, could require us to pay significant damages and, if we are unsuccessful in defending such claims, could limit our ability to use certain technologies and compete.
Third parties may assert claims of infringement of intellectual property rights or violation of other statutory, license or contractual rights in technology against us or against our customers for which we may be liable or have an indemnification obligation. Any such claim by a third party, even if without merit, could cause us to incur substantial costs defending against such claim and could distract our management and our development teams from our business.
Although third parties may offer a license to their technology the terms of any offered license may not be acceptable and the failure to obtain a license or the costs associated with any license could cause our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results to be adversely affected. In addition, some licenses may be non-exclusive, and therefore our competitors may have access to the same technology licensed to us. Alternatively, we may be required to develop non-infringing technology which could require significant effort and expense and ultimately may not be successful. Furthermore, a successful claimant could secure a judgment or we may agree to a settlement that prevents us from selling certain products or performing certain services or that requires us to pay substantial damages, including treble damages if we are found to have willfully infringed such claimant’s patents, copyrights, trade secrets or other statutory rights, royalties or other fees. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or alleged trade secrets of third parties or competitors or are in breach of noncompetition or non-solicitation agreements with our competitors or their former employers.
We also may employ or otherwise engage personnel who were previously or are concurrently employed or engaged at research institutions or other clean technology companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. We may be subject to claims that these personnel, or we, have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former or concurrent employers, or that patents and applications we have filed to protect inventions of these personnel, even those related to our technology, are rightfully owned by their former or concurrent employer. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could adversely affect our operations, result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
Our business and prospects depend significantly on our ability to build our brand and we may not succeed in continuing to establish, maintain, and strengthen our brand, and our brand and reputation could be harmed by negative publicity regarding our company or products.
Our business and prospects are dependent on our ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen our brand. Promoting and positioning our brand will depend significantly on our ability to provide high quality clean, renewable gasoline. In addition, we expect that our ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen our brand will also depend heavily on the success of our branding efforts. To promote our brand, we need to incur increased expenses, such as the costs associated with conducting product demonstrations and attending trade conferences. Brand promotion activities may not yield increased revenue, and even if they do, the increased revenue may not offset the expenses we incur in building and maintaining our brand and reputation. If we fail to promote and maintain our brand successfully or to maintain loyalty among our customers, or if we incur substantial expenses in an unsuccessful attempt to promote and maintain our brand, we may fail to attract new customers and partners, or retain our existing customers and partners and our business and financial condition may be adversely affected.
We also believe that the protection of our trademark rights is an important factor in product recognition, protecting our brand and maintaining goodwill. We may be unable to obtain trademark protection for our technologies, logos, slogans and brands, and our existing trademark registrations and applications, and any trademarks that may be used in the future, may not provide us with competitive advantages or distinguish our products and services from those of our competitors. Further, we may not timely or successfully register our trademarks. If we do not adequately protect our rights in our trademarks from infringement and unauthorized use, any goodwill that we have developed in those trademarks could be lost or impaired, which could harm our brand and our business.
Moreover, any negative publicity relating to our employees, current or future partners, our STG+® technology, our clean, renewable gasoline, or customers who use our technology or gasoline, or others associated with these parties may also tarnish our own reputation simply by association and may reduce the value of our brand. Additionally, if safety or other incidents or defects in our gasoline occur or are perceived to have occurred, whether or not such incidents or defects are our fault, we could be subject to adverse publicity, which could be particularly harmful to our business given our limited operating history. Given the popularity of social media, any negative publicity about our products, whether true or not, could quickly proliferate and harm customer and community perceptions and confidence in our brand. Other businesses, including our competitors, may also be incentivized to fund negative campaigns against our company to damage our brand and reputation to further their own purposes. Future customers of our products and services may have similar sensitivities and may be subject to similar public opinion and perception risks. Damage to our brand and reputation may result in reduced demand for our products and increased risk of losing market share to our competitors. Any efforts to restore the value of our brand and rebuild our reputation may be costly and may not be successful, and our inability to develop and maintain a strong brand could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
If we fail to comply with our obligations under license or technology agreements with third parties or are unable to license rights to use technologies on reasonable terms, we may be required to pay damages and could potentially lose license rights that are critical to our business.
We license certain intellectual property, including technologies, data, content and software from third parties, that is important to our business, and in the future we may enter into additional agreements that provide us with licenses to valuable intellectual property or technology. If we fail to comply with any of the obligations under our license agreements, we may be required to pay damages and the licensor may have the right to terminate the license. Termination by the licensor would cause us to lose valuable rights, and could prevent us from selling our products and services, or inhibit our ability to commercialize future products and services. Our business would suffer if any current or future licenses terminate, if the licensors fail to abide by the terms of the license, if the licensed intellectual property rights are found to be invalid or unenforceable, or if we are unable to enter into necessary licenses on acceptable terms. Moreover, our licensors may own or control intellectual property that has not been licensed to us and, as a result, we may be subject to claims, regardless of their merit, that we are infringing or otherwise violating the licensor’s rights.
In the future, we may identify additional third-party intellectual property we may need to license in order to engage in our business. However, such licenses may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. The licensing or acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and several more-established companies may pursue strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive or necessary. In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. Even if such licenses are available, we may be required to pay the licensor substantial royalties based on sales of our products and services. Such royalties are a component of the cost of our products or services and may affect the margins on our products and services. In addition, such licenses may be non-exclusive, which could give our competitors access to the same intellectual property licensed to us. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition and results of operations.
If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies prove to be incorrect or financial reporting standards or interpretations change, our operating results could be adversely affected.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, as described in the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, and equity as of the date of the financial statements, and the amount of revenue and expenses, during the periods presented, that are not readily apparent from other sources. Significant assumptions and estimates used in preparing our financial statements include those related to impairment of intangible and long-lived assets, and share-based compensation. Our operating results may be adversely affected if our assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from those in our assumptions, which could cause our operating results to fall below the expectations of industry or financial analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the trading price of our common stock.
Additionally, we regularly monitor our compliance with applicable financial reporting standards and review new pronouncements and drafts thereof that are relevant to us. As a result of new standards, changes to existing standards, and changes in interpretation, we might be required to change our accounting policies, alter our operational policies, or implement new or enhance existing systems so that they reflect new or amended financial reporting standards, or we may be required to restate our published financial statements. Changes to existing standards or changes in their interpretation may have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial position, and profit, or cause an adverse deviation from our revenue and operating profit target, which may negatively impact our financial results.
Inflation may adversely affect us by increasing costs of our business.
Inflation can adversely affect us by increasing costs of feedstock, equipment, materials, and labor. In addition, inflation is often accompanied by higher interest rates. In an inflationary environment, such as the current economic environment, depending on other economic conditions, we may be unable to raise prices of our fuels or products to keep up with the rate of inflation, which would reduce our profit margins. Given the inflation rates in 2023 and thus far in 2024, we have experienced, and continue to experience, increases in prices of feedstock, equipment, materials, and labor. Continued inflationary pressures could impact our financial results.
Our industry and our technologies are rapidly evolving and may be subject to unforeseen changes, and developments in alternative technologies may adversely affect the demand for renewable gasoline, and if we fail to make the right investment decisions in our technologies and products, we may be at a competitive disadvantage.
The renewable fuels industry is relatively new and has experienced substantial change in the last several years. As more companies invest in renewable energy technology and alternative energy sources, we may be unable to keep up with technology advancements and, as a result, our competitiveness may suffer. As technologies change, we plan to spend significant resources in ongoing research and development, and to upgrade or adapt our renewable gasoline, and introduce new products and services in order to continue to provide renewable gasoline and related products with the latest technology. Our research and development efforts may not be sufficient or could involve substantial costs and delays and lower our return on investment for our technologies. Delays or missed opportunities to adopt new technologies could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
In addition, we may not be able to compete effectively with other alternative fuel products and integrate the latest technology into our STG+® process and related technologies. Even if we are able to keep pace with changes in technology and develop new products, we are subject to the risk that our prior products and production process will become obsolete more quickly than expected, resulting in less efficient facilities and potentially reducing our return on investment. Moreover, developments in alternative technologies, such as advanced diesel, ethanol, hydrogen fuel cells, or compressed natural gas, or improvements in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine, may adversely affect our business and prospects in ways we do not currently anticipate. Any developments with respect to these technologies and related renewables research, or the perception that they may occur, may prompt us to invest heavily in additional research to compete effectively with these advances, which research and development may not be effective. Any failure by us to successfully react to changes in existing technologies could adversely affect our competitive position and growth prospects.
Concerns regarding the environmental impact of renewable gasoline production could affect public policy which could impair our ability to operate at a profit and substantially harm our revenues and operating margins.
Under the EISA, the EPA is required to produce a report to Congress every three years of the environmental impacts associated with current and future biofuel production and use, including effects on air and water quality, soil quality and conservation, water availability, energy recovery from secondary materials, ecosystem health and biodiversity, invasive species and international impacts. The first report to Congress was completed in 2011 and provided an assessment of the environmental and resource conservation impacts associated with increased biofuel production. The second report to Congress, completed in 2018, reaffirmed the overarching conclusions of the first report. A draft of the third report to Congress was published in January 2023. Should such EPA triennial reports, or other analyses find that biofuel production and use has resulted in, or could in the future result in, adverse environmental impacts, such findings could also negatively impact public perception and acceptance of biofuel as an alternative fuel, which also could result in the loss of political support. To the extent that state or federal laws are modified or public perception turns against biofuels, use requirements such as RFS and LCFS may not continue, which could materially impact our ability to ever operate profitably.
The Company identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting that have been remediated, and if we are unable to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results, and we may face litigation as a result.
In connection with the preparation of Intermediate’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the period from July 31, 2020 (inception) to December 31, 2021, management noted a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as described in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023. Management did not maintain effective internal control over the reconciliation of the final fair value of the unit-based compensation awards prepared by third party valuation specialists to the accounting records due to a lack of professionals with defined roles within the accounting function providing financial reporting oversight. Additionally, management did not maintain effective internal control regarding the date on which to apply new accounting standards based upon CENAQ’s elections made under the JOBS Act, as described in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023, which required Intermediate to apply new accounting standards as if it were a public business entity. These material weaknesses have been remediated.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. Effective internal controls are necessary to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud, and material weaknesses could limit the ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements. In such a case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange continued listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting, our securities price may decline and we may face litigation as a result. While we have remediated the material weaknesses described above, there can be no assurance that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
If we lose key personnel, including key management personnel, or are unable to attract and retain additional personnel, it could delay our development and harm our research, make it more difficult to pursue partnerships or develop our own products or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our business is complex and we intend to target a variety of markets. Therefore, it is critical that our management team and employee workforce are knowledgeable in the areas in which we operate. The departure, illness or absence of any key members of our management, including our named executive officers, or the failure to attract or retain other key employees who possess the requisite expertise for the conduct of our business, could prevent us from developing and commercializing our renewable gasoline for our target markets and entering into partnership arrangements to execute our business strategy. In addition, the loss of any key scientific staff, or the failure to attract or retain other key scientific employees, could prevent us from developing and commercializing our renewable gasoline for our target markets and entering into partnership arrangements to execute our business strategy. All of our employees are at-will employees, meaning that either the employee or we may terminate their employment at any time.
We also engage a number of individuals as independent contractors to provide certain material scientific and engineering services. The failure to retain access to the services provided by these individuals, or to attract and retain individuals to provide consulting or other services, could also delay or prevent us from developing and commercializing our renewable gasoline for our target markets and entering into partnership arrangements to execute our business strategy, and otherwise executing on our business plans.
Our management team has limited experience in operating a public company.
Our executive officers have limited experience in the management of a publicly traded company. Our management team may not successfully or effectively manage our operations to comply with the regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under federal securities laws. We may not have adequate personnel with the appropriate level of knowledge, experience, and training in the policies, practices or internal controls over financial reporting required of public companies in the United States. As a result, we may be required to pay higher outside legal, accounting or consulting costs than our competitors, and our management team members may have to devote a higher proportion of their time to issues relating to compliance with the laws applicable to public companies, both of which might put us at a disadvantage relative to competitors.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq Capital Market rules and, as a result, qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements, and as a result, you do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are not exempt from such corporate governance requirements.
Over 50% of our voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company. As a result, we are a controlled company within the meaning of Nasdaq Capital Market corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq Capital Market rules, a controlled company may elect not to comply with certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
● a majority of the board consist of independent directors under Nasdaq Capital Market rules;
● the nominating and governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and
● the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.
These requirements will not apply to us as long as we remain a controlled company. We may utilize some or all of these exemptions. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market.
From time to time, we may be involved in litigation, regulatory actions or government investigations and inquiries, which could have an adverse impact on our financial results and consolidated financial position.
We may be involved in a variety of litigation, other claims, suits, regulatory actions or government investigations and inquiries and commercial or contractual disputes that, from time to time, are significant. In addition, from time to time, we may also be involved in legal proceedings and investigations arising in the normal course of business including, without limitation, commercial or contractual disputes, including warranty claims and other disputes with potential customers, former employees and suppliers, intellectual property matters, personal injury claims, environmental issues, tax matters, and employment matters. It is difficult to predict the outcome or ultimate financial exposure, if any, represented by these matters, and there can be no assurance that any such exposure will not be material. Such claims may also negatively affect our reputation.
Risks Related to the Company
Future sales and issuances of our Class A Common Stock could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our share price to fall.
We expect that significant additional capital will be needed in the future to pursue our growth plan. To raise capital, we may sell shares of our Class A Common Stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. If we sell shares of our Class A Common Stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. Such sales may also result in material dilution to our existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights, preferences, and privileges senior to existing holders of our Class A Common Stock.
Future sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A Common Stock, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of Class A Common Stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our Class A Common Stock.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A Common Stock in the public market could occur at any time as substantially all of our shares of Class A Common Stock are eligible to be sold pursuant to Rule 144, subject to volume limitations. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of Class A Common Stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our Class A Common Stock.
The loss of our senior management or technical personnel could adversely affect our ability to successfully operate our business.
While the success of the Company is dependent upon, along with other factors, the service of our executive officers and additional employees that we engage, there is no assurance that key personnel will continue with the Company. The loss of the services of our senior management or technical personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company believes that the future success will depend in large part of its ability to attract and retain qualified management and technical personnel, and there can be no assurance that such personnel can be attracted and retained.
There are inherent limitations in all control systems, and misstatements due to error or fraud that could seriously harm our business may occur and not be detected.
Our management does not expect that our internal and disclosure controls will prevent all possible error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, an evaluation of controls can only provide reasonable assurance that all material control issues and instances of fraud, if any, in we have been detected.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Further, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons or by collusion of two or more persons. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Because of inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. A failure of our controls and procedures to detect error or fraud could seriously harm our business and results of operations.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early-stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss. We are also dependent, in part, upon Intermediate’s information. A failure in the security of Intermediate’s information systems could seriously harm our business and results of operations.
Holdings owns the majority of our voting stock and has the right to appoint a majority of our board members, and our interests may conflict with those of other stockholders.
Holdings owns the majority of our voting stock and is entitled to appoint the majority of our Board. As a result, Holdings is able to substantially influence matters requiring our stockholder or board approval, including the election of directors, approval of any potential acquisition of us, changes to our organizational documents and significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership makes it unlikely that any other holder or group of holders of Class A Common Stock will be able to affect the way we are managed or the direction of our business. The interests of Holdings with respect to matters potentially or actually involving or affecting us, such as future acquisitions, financings and other corporate opportunities and attempts to acquire us, may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders.
For example, Holdings may have different tax positions from us, especially in light of the Tax Receivable Agreement, that could influence our decisions regarding whether and when to support the disposition of assets, the incurrence or refinancing of new or existing indebtedness, or the termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement and acceleration of our obligations thereunder. In addition, the determination of future tax reporting positions, the structuring of future transactions and the handling of any challenge by any taxing authority to our tax reporting positions may take into consideration tax or other considerations of Holdings, including the effect of such positions on our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which may differ from the considerations of ours or other stockholders.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of Public Warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants. As a result, the exercise price and the exercise period of the warrants could be changed and the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without a holder’s approval.
Our Public Warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions therein to the descriptions of the terms of the warrants, or to cure, correct or supplement any defective provision, or (ii) to add or change any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the interests of the registered holders of the warrants. The warrant agreement requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the Public Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the Public Warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase or decrease of the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq.
Our shares of Class A Common Stock and the Public Warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “VGAS” and “VGASW,” respectively. If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the continued listing standards, we and our stockholders could face significant negative consequences. The consequences of failing to meet the listing requirements include:
● a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
● reduced liquidity for our securities;
● a determination that our Class A Common Stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A Common Stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;
● a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
● a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
Because there are no current plans to pay cash dividends on shares of Common Stock for the foreseeable future, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your shares of Common Stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
We intend to retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and there are no current plans to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. The declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends on shares of Common Stock will be at the sole discretion of our board, who may take into account general and economic conditions, our financial condition and results of operations, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax, and regulatory restrictions, implications on the payment of dividends by us to our its stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us and such other factors our board may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is limited by covenants of any indebtedness we incur. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in the shares of Class A Common Stock unless you sell your shares of Class A Common Stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
The trading price of our securities is limited and volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control.
There is a limited market for our securities and there can be no assurance that such a market for our securities will continue. The trading price of our securities has been and may continue to be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors (during the last 52 week period, range of trading has fluctuated from a high of $18.30 per share to a low of $1.95 per share), some of which are beyond our control. Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on your investment in our securities and our securities may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further decline.
Factors affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
● actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us;
● changes in the market’s expectations about our operating results;
● success of competitors;
● our operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in a particular period;
● changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning us or the market in general;
● operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
● our ability to market new and enhanced products and technologies on a timely basis;
● changes in laws and regulations affecting our business;
● our ability to meet compliance requirements;
● commencement of, or involvement in, litigation involving us;
● changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt;
● the volume of shares of our common stock available for public sale;
● any major change in our Board or management;
● sales of substantial amounts of common stock by our directors, executive officers or significant stockholders or the perception that such sales could occur;
● general economic and political conditions such as recessions, interest rates, fuel prices, international currency fluctuations and acts of war (such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the conflict in the Middle East) or terrorism.
Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our securities irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general and the Nasdaq Stock Market have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to us could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our common stock adversely, the price and trading volume of our common stock could decline.
The trading market for our shares of Class A Common Stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. If any of the analysts who may cover us change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, the price of our shares of Class A Common Stock would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease their coverage or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws or regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
As a result of plans to expand our business operations, including to jurisdictions in which tax laws may not be favorable, our obligations may change or fluctuate, become significantly more complex or become subject to greater risk of examination by taxing authorities, any of which could adversely affect our after-tax profitability and financial results.
Our effective tax rates may fluctuate widely in the future, particularly if our business expands domestically or internationally. Future effective tax rates could be affected by operating losses in jurisdictions where no tax benefit can be recorded under GAAP, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws. Factors that could materially affect our future effective tax rates include, but are not limited to: (a) changes in tax laws or the regulatory environment, (b) changes in accounting and tax standards or practices, (c) changes in the composition of operating income by tax jurisdiction and (d) pre-tax operating results of our business.
Additionally, we may be subject to significant income, withholding, and other tax obligations in the United States and may become subject to taxation in numerous additional U.S. state and local and non-U.S. jurisdictions with respect to income, operations and subsidiaries related to those jurisdictions. Our after-tax profitability and financial results could be subject to volatility or be affected by numerous factors, including (a) the availability of tax deductions, credits, exemptions, refunds and other benefits to reduce tax liabilities, (b) changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, if any, (c) the expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances, (d) the tax treatment of stock-based compensation, (e) changes in the relative amount of earnings subject to tax in the various jurisdictions, (f) the potential business expansion into, or otherwise becoming subject to tax in, additional jurisdictions, (g) changes to existing intercompany structure (and any costs related thereto) and business operations, (h) the extent of intercompany transactions and the extent to which taxing authorities in relevant jurisdictions respect those intercompany transactions and (i) the ability to structure business operations in an efficient and competitive manner. Outcomes from audits or examinations by taxing authorities could have an adverse effect on our after-tax profitability and financial condition. Additionally, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and several foreign tax authorities have increasingly focused attention on intercompany transfer pricing with respect to sales of products and services and the use of intangibles. Tax authorities could disagree with our intercompany charges, cross-jurisdictional transfer pricing or other matters and assess additional taxes. If we do not prevail in any such disagreements, our financial results may be affected.
Our after-tax profitability and financial results may also be adversely affected by changes in relevant tax laws and tax rates, treaties, regulations, administrative practices and principles, judicial decisions and interpretations thereof, in each case, possibly with retroactive effect.
We are a holding company, and our only material asset is our equity interest in OpCo, and we will accordingly be dependent upon distributions from OpCo to pay taxes, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and cover our corporate and other overhead expenses.
We are a holding company and have no material assets other than our equity interest in OpCo. We have no independent means of generating revenue. To the extent OpCo has available cash, we intend to cause OpCo to make (i) generally pro rata distributions to the holders of OpCo Units, including us, in an amount at least sufficient to allow us to pay our taxes and make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and any subsequent tax receivable agreement that we may enter into in connection with future acquisitions and (ii) non-pro rata payments to us to reimburse us for our corporate and other overhead expenses. To the extent that we need funds and OpCo or its subsidiaries are restricted from making such distributions or payments under applicable law or regulation or under the terms of any current or future financing arrangements, or are otherwise unable to provide such funds, our liquidity and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Moreover, because we have no independent means of generating revenue, our ability to make tax payments and payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be dependent on the ability of OpCo to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover our tax obligations (and those of its wholly owned subsidiaries) and obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement. This ability, in turn, may depend on the ability of OpCo’s subsidiaries to make distributions to it. We intend that such distributions from OpCo and its subsidiaries be funded with cash from operations or from future borrowings. The ability of OpCo, its subsidiaries and other entities in which it directly or indirectly holds an equity interest to make such distributions will be subject to, among other things, (i) the applicable provisions of Delaware law (or other applicable jurisdiction) that may limit the amount of funds available for distribution and (ii) restrictions in relevant debt instruments issued by OpCo or its subsidiaries and other entities in which it directly or indirectly holds an equity interest. To the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid.
We will be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for certain tax benefits that it may claim, and the amounts of such payments could be significant.
In connection with the Business Combination, we entered into the Tax Receivable Agreement with the TRA Holders. This agreement generally provides for the payment by us to the TRA Holders of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax and franchise tax (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) that we actually realize (or are deemed to realize in certain circumstances) in periods after the Business Combination as a result of certain increases in tax basis available to us pursuant to the exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right and certain benefits attributable to imputed interest. We will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of any actual net cash tax savings.
The term of the Tax Receivable Agreement will continue until all tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement have been utilized or expired, unless we experience a change of control (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales, or other forms of business combinations) or the Tax Receivable Agreement otherwise terminates early (at our election or as a result of our breach or the commencement of bankruptcy or similar proceedings by or against us), and we make the termination payments specified in the Tax Receivable Agreement in connection with such change of control or other early termination.
The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are our obligations and not obligations of OpCo, and we expect that the payments required to be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be substantial. Estimating the amount and timing of payments that may become due under the Tax Receivable Agreement is by its nature imprecise. For purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement, net cash tax savings generally are calculated by comparing our actual tax liability (determined by using the actual applicable U.S. federal income tax rate and an assumed combined state and local income and franchise tax rate) to the amount we would have been required to pay had it not been able to utilize any of the tax benefits subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. The actual increases in tax basis covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary depending on a number of factors, including the timing of any redemption of Class C OpCo Units, the price of our Class A Common Stock at the time of each redemption, the extent to which such redemptions are taxable transactions, the amount of the redeeming OpCo unitholder’s tax basis in its Class C OpCo Units at the time of the relevant redemption, the depreciation and amortization periods that apply to the increase in tax basis, the amount and timing of taxable income we generate in the future, the U.S. federal income tax rates then applicable, and the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement that constitute imputed interest or give rise to depreciable or amortizable tax basis. The Tax Receivable Agreement contains a payment cap of $50,000,000, which applies only to certain payments required to be made in connection with the occurrence of a change of control. The Payment Cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years. Any distributions made by OpCo to us in order to enable us to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, as well as any corresponding pro rata distributions made to the OpCo unitholders, could have an adverse impact on our liquidity.
The payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not be conditioned upon a TRA Holder having a continued ownership interest in us or OpCo.
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
If we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations) or the Tax Receivable Agreement otherwise terminates early (at our election or as a result of our breach or the commencement of bankruptcy or similar proceedings by or against us), our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement would accelerate and we would be required to make an immediate payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made by it under the Tax Receivable Agreement and such payment is expected to be substantial. The calculation of anticipated future payments would be based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement, including (i) that we have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement, and (ii) that any OpCo Units (other than those held by us) outstanding on the termination date are deemed to be redeemed on the termination date. If we were to experience a change of control, we estimate that the early termination payment, calculated on the basis of the above assumptions, would be approximately $32 million (calculated using a discount rate equal to (i) the greater of (A) 0.25% and (B) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus (ii) 150 basis points, applied against an undiscounted liability of $48 million based on the 21% U.S. federal corporate income tax rate and estimated applicable state and local income tax rates). The foregoing amount is merely an estimate and the actual payment could differ materially. In connection with a change of control, any early termination payment would be subject to the Payment Cap of $50,000,000. The Payment Cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years.
Any early termination payment may be made significantly in advance of, and may materially exceed, the actual realization, if any, of the future tax benefits to which the termination payment relates. Moreover, the obligation to make an early termination payment upon a change of control could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, or other forms of business combinations or changes of control.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to satisfy our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
In the event that payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are accelerated in connection with certain mergers, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control, the consideration payable to holders of our Class A Common Stock could be substantially reduced.
If we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations), we would be obligated to make a substantial immediate lump-sum payment, and such payment may be significantly in advance of, and may materially exceed, the actual realization, if any, of the future tax benefits to which the payment relates; provided that any such payment would be subject to the Payment Cap of $50,000,000, which applies only to certain payments required to be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement in connection with the occurrence of a change of control. The Payment Cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years. As a result of this payment obligation, holders of our Class A Common Stock could receive substantially less consideration in connection with a change of control transaction than they would receive in the absence of such obligation. Further, any payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not be conditioned upon the TRA Holders’ having a continued interest in us or OpCo. Accordingly, the TRA Holders’ interests may conflict with those of the holders of our Class A Common Stock. Please read “Risk Factors-Risks Related to the Company-In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.”
We will not be reimbursed for any payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the event that any tax benefits are subsequently disallowed.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that we will determine. The IRS or another taxing authority may challenge all or part of the tax basis increases covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement, as well as other related tax positions we take, and a court could sustain such challenge. The TRA Holders will not reimburse us for any payments previously made under the Tax Receivable Agreement if any tax benefits that have given rise to payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are subsequently disallowed, except that excess payments made to any TRA Holder will be netted against future payments that would otherwise be made to such TRA Holder, if any, after our determination of such excess (which determination may be made a number of years following the initial payment and after future payments have been made). As a result, in such circumstances, we could make payments that are greater than our actual cash tax savings, if any, and we may not be able to recoup those payments, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity.
If OpCo were to become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we and OpCo might be subject to potentially significant tax inefficiencies, and we would not be able to recover payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement even if the corresponding tax benefits were subsequently determined to have been unavailable due to such status.
We intend to operate such that OpCo does not become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A “publicly traded partnership” is a partnership the interests of which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under certain circumstances, the exchange of Class C OpCo Units pursuant to the OpCo Exchange Right or Mandatory Exchange (or acquisitions of Class C OpCo Units pursuant to the Call Right) or other transfers of Class C OpCo Units could cause OpCo to be treated as a publicly traded partnership. Applicable U.S. Treasury regulations provide for certain safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership, and we intend to operate such that redemptions or other transfers of OpCo Units qualify for one or more of such safe harbors. For example, we limited the number of holders of OpCo Units, and the OpCo operating agreement (“A&R LLC Agreement”), provides for certain limitations on the ability of holders of OpCo Units to transfer their OpCo Units and provides us, as the manager of OpCo, with the right to prohibit the exercise of an OpCo Exchange Right if it determines (based on the advice of counsel) there is a material risk that OpCo would be a publicly traded partnership as a result of such exercise.
If OpCo were to become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, significant tax inefficiencies might result for us and for OpCo, including as a result of our inability to file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return with OpCo. In addition, we might not be able to realize tax benefits covered under the Tax Receivable Agreement, and we would not be able to recover any payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement, even if the corresponding tax benefits (including any claimed increase in the tax basis of OpCo’s assets) were subsequently determined to have been unavailable.
In certain circumstances, OpCo will be required to make tax distributions to the OpCo unitholders, including us, and the tax distributions that OpCo will be required to make may be substantial. The OpCo tax distribution requirement may complicate our ability to maintain our intended capital structure.
OpCo will generally make quarterly tax distributions to the OpCo unitholders, including us. Such distributions will be pro rata and be in an amount sufficient to cause each OpCo unitholder to receive a distribution at least equal to (i) such OpCo unitholder’s allocable share of net taxable income (in the case of each OpCo unitholder other than us, taking into account prior normal operating pro rata distributions made to such OpCo unitholders in such year and calculated under certain assumptions), and (ii) with respect to us, any payments required to be made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any similar subsequent tax receivable agreements that it may enter into in connection with future acquisitions (in each case, calculated under certain assumptions) multiplied by an assumed tax rate. The assumed tax rate for this purpose will be the combined maximum U.S. federal, state, and local rate of tax applicable to us for the applicable taxable year unless otherwise determined by OpCo. As a result of certain assumptions in calculating the tax distribution payments, we may receive tax distributions from OpCo in excess of its actual tax liability and its obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The receipt of such excess distributions would complicate our ability to maintain certain aspects of our capital structure. Such cash, if retained, could cause the value of a Class A OpCo Unit to deviate from the value of a share of Class A Common Stock. If we retain such cash balances, the holders of Class C OpCo Units would benefit from any value attributable to such accumulated cash balances as a result of their exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right. We intend to take steps to eliminate any material cash balances. Such steps could include distributing such cash balances as dividends on our Class A Common Stock and reinvesting such cash balances in OpCo for additional Class A OpCo Units (with an accompanying stock dividend with respect to our Class A Common Stock or an adjustment to the one-to-one exchange ratio applicable to the exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right).
The tax distributions to the OpCo unitholders may be substantial and may, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of taxes that OpCo would have paid if it were a similarly situated corporate taxpayer. Funds used by OpCo to satisfy its tax distribution obligations will generally not be available for reinvestment in its business.
General Risk Factors
Changes in tax laws or the imposition of new or increased taxes may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We are a U.S. corporation and thus are subject to U.S. corporate income tax on our worldwide income. Further, our operations and customers will be located in the United States, and, as a result, we will be subject to various U.S. federal, state and local taxes. U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax laws, policies, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to us and may have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
For example, in the United States, several tax law changes have been previously proposed that would, if ultimately enacted, impact the U.S. federal income taxation of corporations. Such proposals have included an increase in the U.S. income tax rate applicable to corporations (such as us) from 21% to 28%. It is unclear whether this, similar or other changes will be enacted and, if enacted, how soon any such changes could take effect, and we cannot predict how any future changes in tax laws might affect us. Additionally, states in which we operate or own assets may impose new or increased taxes. Changes in tax laws or the imposition of new or increased taxes could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The new 1% U.S. federal excise tax on repurchases of corporate stock included in the IR Act could cause a reduction in the value of our Class A Common Stock.
On August 16, 2022, the IR Act was signed into law. The IR Act provides for, among other changes, a new 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not on its stockholders from whom the shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of any positive difference between the fair market value of any shares repurchased by the repurchasing corporation during a taxable year and the fair market value of certain new stock issuances by the repurchasing corporation during the same taxable year.
In addition, a number of exceptions will apply to this excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, this excise tax.
The JOBS Act permits “emerging growth companies” like us to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including (a) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (b) the exemptions from say-on-pay, say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements and (c) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and registration statements. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they deem important. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following August 17, 2026, the fifth anniversary of our IPO, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time) or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A Common Stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three year period.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act as long as we are an emerging growth company. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected to irrevocably opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time public companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another emerging growth company that has not opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A Common Stock less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A Common Stock less attractive as a result, there may be less active trading market for our Class A Common Stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
We are a smaller reporting company, and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For as long as we continue to be a smaller reporting company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not smaller reporting companies, including reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A Common Stock less attractive because we may rely on smaller reporting company exemptions. If some investors find our Class A Common Stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A Common Stock, and our stock price may be more volatile.
We may issue additional common stock or preferred stock under an employee incentive plan. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock under an employee incentive plan. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
● may significantly dilute the equity interests of our investors;
● may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
● could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and
● may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A Common Stock and/or warrants.
The Charter designates state courts within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
The Charter provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by, or other wrongdoing by, any current or former director, officer, employee or agent of ours to us or our stockholders, or a claim of aiding and abetting any such breach of fiduciary duty, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any director, officer, employee or agent of ours arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), the Charter or the Bylaws (as either may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time), (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Charter or the Bylaws (as either may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time), (v) any action asserting a claim against us or any director, officer, employee or agent of ours that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (vi) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the DGCL.
In addition, the Charter provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Charter provides that the exclusive forum provision will not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. Properties.
Our corporate headquarters is located at 711 Louisiana St, Suite 2160, Houston, Texas 77002. The office lease for our corporate headquarters expires in February 2027. We also lease commercial office space and a demonstration facility in Hillsborough, New Jersey pursuant to an operating lease that expires in April 2025.
Leasing our facilities gives us the flexibility to expand or reduce our office space as appropriate as we shift from product development to deployment. We believe our current facilities are adequate for our current operating needs, and we anticipate that we will have access to other facilities, through future contractual arrangements, for development, testing and production.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.
We do not consider any claims, lawsuits or proceedings that are currently pending against us, individually or in the aggregate, to be material to our business or likely to result in a material adverse effect on our future operating results, financial condition or cash flows. However, from time to time, we may be subject to various claims, lawsuits and other legal and administrative proceedings that may arise in the ordinary course of business. Some of these claims, lawsuits and other proceedings may involve highly complex issues that are subject to substantial uncertainties, and could result in damages, fines, penalties, non-monetary sanctions or relief. We recognize provisions for claims or pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Due to the inherent uncertain nature of litigation, the ultimate outcome or actual cost of settlement may materially vary from estimates.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Verde Clean Fuels’ Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants currently trade on Nasdaq under the trading symbols of “VGAS” and “VGASW,” respectively, and on March 28, 2024, the Company had 9,428,797 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding, 22,500,000 shares of Class C Common Stock issued and outstanding and 15,383,263 Warrants issued and outstanding.
Holders
On March 28, 2024, there were 33 holders of record of our Class A Common Stock, one holder of record of our Class C Common Stock and 16 holders of record of our warrants. We believe a substantially greater number of beneficial owners hold shares of Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants through brokers, banks or other nominees.
Dividends
The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition. The payment of any cash dividends will be within the discretion of the Company’s board of directors at such time. In addition, the Company’s board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None other than as previously reported.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
We did not repurchase any Class A Common Stock or Public Warrants during the three months ended December 31, 2023.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [Reserved].

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis provides information which we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. This discussion and analysis should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes that are included elsewhere in this Report, as well as with “Item 1. Business - Formation, Business Combination and Related Transactions.” In addition to historical financial information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See the sections entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and Item 1A. “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this Report. Actual results and timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Overview
We are a clean energy technology company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass or natural gas and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as gasoline through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through our STG+® process, we convert syngas into RBOB gasoline. We are focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other bio-feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps. The availability of biogenic MSW and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities with expected capacity to produce between approximately seven million to 30 million gallons of renewable gasoline per year.
We are redefining liquid fuels technology through our proprietary and innovative STG+® process to deliver scalable and cost-effective renewable gasoline. We acquired our STG+® technology from Primus, who developed the patented STG+® technology to convert syngas into gasoline or methanol. Since acquiring the technology, we have adapted the application of our STG+® technology to focus on the renewable energy industry. This adaptation requires a third-party gasification system to produce acceptable synthesis gas from renewable feedstocks. Our proprietary STG+® system converts the syngas into gasoline.
Key Factors and Trends Influencing our Prospects and Future Results
We believe that our performance and future success depend on a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including competition from other carbon-based and other non-carbon-based fuel producers, changes to existing federal and state level low-carbon fuel credit systems, and other factors discussed under the section titled “Risk Factors.” We believe the factors described below are key to our success.
Successful Implementation of the first commercial facility
A critical step in our success will be the successful construction and operation of the first commercial production facility using our patented STG+® technology. We believe our commercialization activities are being completed at a pace that can support first commercial production of gasoline as early as 2026.
Protection and Continuous Development of Our Patented Technology
Our ability to compete successfully will depend on our ability to protect, commercialize, and further develop our proprietary process technology and commercial facilities in a timely manner, and in a manner technologically superior to and/or are less expensive than competing processes.
Key Components of Results of Operations
We are an early-stage company and our historical results may not be indicative of our future results. Accordingly, the drivers of our future financial results, as well as the components of such results, may not be comparable to our historical or future results of operations.
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue to date. We expect to generate a significant portion of our future revenue from the sale of renewable RBOB grade gasoline or gasoline derived from natural gas.
Expenses
General and Administrative Expense
G&A expenses consist of compensation costs including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, and other administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees, professional fees paid for accounting, auditing and consulting services, and insurance costs. Following the Business Combination, we incurred higher general and administrative expenses for public registrant costs for compliance with the regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Research and Development Expense
Our R&D expenses consist primarily of internal and external expenses incurred in connection with our R&D activities. These expenses include labor directly performed on our projects and fees paid to third parties working on and testing specific aspects of our STG+ design and gasoline product output. R&D costs have been expensed as incurred. We expect R&D expenses to grow as we continue to develop the STG+ technology and develop market and strategic relationships with other businesses.
Contingent consideration
Prior to the Business Combination, the Company had an arrangement payable to the Company’s CEO and a consultant whereby a contingent payment would become payable if certain return on investment hurdles are met within five years of an asset purchase arrangement. The contingent consideration was forfeited when the Company closed on the Business Combination.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
For the
Year Ended For the
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
General and administrative expenses $ 11,515,192 $ 4,514,994
Contingent consideration (1,299,000 ) (7,551,000 )
Research and development expenses 329,194 316,712
Total Operating loss (income) 10,545,386 (2,719,294 )
Other (income) (447,074 ) -
Interest expense 236,699 -
Loss (income) before income taxes 10,335,011 (2,719,294 )
Provision for income taxes 166,265 -
Net loss (income) $ 10,501,276 $ (2,719,294 )
Comparison for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses increased approximately $7.0 million, or 155%, from $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $11.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher professional fees of $3.0 million primarily due to the Business Combination, higher share-based compensation expense of $1.5 million due to the acceleration of vesting of equity awards as a result of the consummation of the Business Combination, higher insurance expense of $1.4 million, and higher employee compensation and benefit costs of $0.4 million. Rent and depreciation expense and other general and administrative expenses also increased by $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
Contingent Consideration
The $1.3 million reduction to operating expenses associated with contingent consideration for the year ended December 31, 2023 reflects the reversal of the remaining accrual made by Holdings for certain contingent payments due to the contractual forfeiture of the payments following the close of the Business Combination on February 15, 2023. The reduction to operating expenses associated with contingent consideration of $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to a reduction in the probability of payment following an amendment to the terms and conditions of this arrangement during the third quarter of 2022, and due to the increased likelihood of closing the Business Combination with the SPAC, at which time the contingent payment would be forfeited. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Research and Development
R&D expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was consistent with the prior year.
Other Income
Other income of $447 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily attributable to interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $237 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was primarily attributable to our land lease in Maricopa, Arizona, which was classified as a finance lease until the third quarter of 2023. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes of $166 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2023 was attributable to changes in estimates related to CENAQ’S 2022 tax obligation. There was no income tax provision recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022, as Intermediate was a limited liability company treated as a partnership for tax purposes, with each of its members accounting for its share of tax attributes and liabilities. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We measure liquidity in terms of our ability to fund the cash requirements of our R&D activities and our near-term business operations, including our contractual obligations and other commitments. Our current liquidity needs primarily involve general and administrative and R&D activities for the ongoing commercialization of our first production facility and associated plant design.
To date, we have not generated any revenue, and as of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $28.8 million. We do not expect to generate any meaningful revenue unless and until we are able to commercialize our first production facility. Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses, have an accumulated deficit of $23.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and negative operating cash flow in both the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Management expects that operating losses and negative cash flows may increase because of additional costs and expenses related to the development of technology and the development of market and strategic relationships with other companies. Our continued solvency is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional working capital to complete our product development and to successfully achieve commerciality of our projects.
In connection with entering into the JDA with Cottonmouth Ventures, a subsidiary of Diamondback, we will begin to incur development costs with respect to the project, prior to reaching a FID and entering into final definitive agreements, irrespective of whether these events occur. We are currently evaluating the impact that the JDA will have on our consolidated financial statements and liquidity. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Following the Business Combination and the closing of the PIPE Financing, we received approximately $37.3 million in cash, net of approximately $10.0 million of transaction expenses and the repayment of approximately $3.75 million of capital contributions made by Holdings since December 2021. We expect to use such proceeds to fund our ongoing operations and R&D activities. The gross amount, before expenses, was composed of approximately $19.0 million released from CENAQ’s trust account, after payment of approximately $158.8 million to public stockholders who exercised Redemption Rights (representing a redemption rate of approximately 89.3%), and $32.0 million of proceeds raised from the PIPE Financing. We also received $91 thousand from the CENAQ operating account. We believe that based on our current level of operating expenses and currently available cash on hand, we will have sufficient funds available to cover R&D activities and operating cash needs for at least the next 12 months. However, as we have not yet developed a commercial production facility and have no meaningful revenue to date, we may require additional funds in future years. Our ability to raise funds through equity offerings may be limited by the significant number of shares that may be publicly sold. As the exercise price of our Public Warrants is $11.50 per share of Class A Common Stock, we do not expect that Public Warrants will be exercised in the foreseeable future. Our ability to fund R&D activities and our operating cash needs for several years does not depend on the proceeds we may receive as the result of exercises of outstanding Warrants.
As our transaction with CENAQ only resulted in $37.3 million of net proceeds, we expect that we will only be able to construct one of our first four originally planned production facilities with these proceeds. The $37.3 million of net proceeds raised at closing of the transaction with CENAQ will contribute to the equity capital portion of our capital expenditure requirements through 2025. We also expect to earn interest income on the net proceeds raised at closing during the ongoing development and construction of our facilities through 2025, and that such interest income will be utilized towards capital expenditures or for general and administrative expenses. We also expect 70% of our total project capital requirements will be met with project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, or some combination of debt financing. While we have been in discussions with banks and other credit counterparties regarding project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, and these discussions have led to indications of debt financing equivalent to 70% of our capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such financing. The inability to obtain debt financing will adversely impact our ability to implement our business plan.
In connection with the Closing, Sponsor was due $409,612 under existing promissory notes with CENAQ. On February 15, 2023, in lieu of repayment of the existing promissory notes with Sponsor, the Company entered into the New Promissory Note with the Sponsor totaling $409,612. The New Promissory Note canceled and superseded the existing promissory notes. The New Promissory note was non-interest bearing and the entire principal balance of the New Promissory Note was payable on or before February 15, 2024 in cash or shares at our election. On February 15, 2024, we settled the New Promissory Note through the issuance of 40,961 shares of Class A Common Stock at a conversion price of $10.00 per share and recorded an increase to additional paid-in capital of $409,608.
Comparison of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for the periods presented below:
For the Year Ended
December 31,
Net cash used in operating activities $ (9,112,666 ) $ (3,279,147 )
Net cash used in investing activities (58,588 ) (4,411 )
Net cash provided by financing activities 37,495,502 3,659,395
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 28,324,248 $ 375,837
Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities increased $5.8 million to $9.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared with net cash used in operating activities of $3.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase primarily was due to a higher net loss of $13.2 million and higher payments for prepaid expenses of $0.3 million and income taxes of $0.3 million. These increases were partially offset by a lower non-cash impact for the change in the liability for contingent consideration of $6.3 million and stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million, and other operating cash flows of $0.2 million.
Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was consistent with the prior year.
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased approximately $33.8 million to $37.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared with net cash provided of $3.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to the closing of the Business Combination on February 15, 2023, which raised $37.3 million in cash proceeds, partially offset by cash used for the payment of notes payable, the principal portion of finance lease liabilities, and deferred financing costs.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
In October 2022, we entered into a 25-year land lease in Maricopa, Arizona with the intent of building a biofuel processing facility. The commencement date of the lease occurred in February 2023 contemporaneous with us obtaining control of the identified asset. The lease was modified during the third quarter of 2023, resulting in a reclassification of the lease from finance to operating. We exited the lease as of December 31, 2023. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2023 and during the year ended December 31, 2023, we had not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP as determined by the FASB. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses and allocated charges during the reporting period. The following is a summary of certain critical accounting policies and estimates that are impacted by judgments and uncertainties and under which different amounts might be reported using different assumptions or estimation methodologies.
Contingent Consideration
Prior to the Business Combination, our parent entity (Holdings), on Intermediate’s behalf, had an arrangement payable to our Chief Executive Officer and a consultant whereby a contingent payment could become payable in the event that certain return on investment hurdles are met within five years of the closing date of the Primus asset purchase. We recognized the liability for such contingent payment on our balance sheet and remeasured the estimated payments under this arrangement and recorded our best estimate of amounts payable under such arrangement.
Our contingent consideration liability was measured at fair value and based on significant inputs not observable in the market. As such, our contingent consideration liability was classified as a Level 3 fair value measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The valuation of contingent consideration used assumptions we believe would be made by a market participant. We assessed these estimates on an ongoing basis as additional data impacting the assumptions was obtained. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration related to updated assumptions and estimates were recognized within the consolidated statements of operations.
In evaluating the fair value information, considerable judgment was required to interpret the market data used to develop the estimates.
The fair value of the contingent consideration as of the asset acquisition date was estimated using a concluded Enterprise Value of Intermediate’s business based on a weighting of derived value from the combination of two Income approaches to business valuation (Discounted Cash Flows and Relief from Royalty). Such business value underpinned a Monte Carlo Simulation valuation model to determine the ultimate contingent consideration liability balance.
In measuring the estimated amount payable under this arrangement as of December 31, 2022, we took into consideration a discounted cash flow valuation of the business based on internal projections as well as the business valuation implied by the proposed business combination transaction with CENAQ, which implied a value to existing equity holders of $225,000,000, and also considered the expected timing of the transaction closing which was assumed to occur in the first quarter of 2023. Such implied value and timing underpinned a Monte Carlo Simulation valuation model utilized in the determination of the contingent consideration liability balance (as similarly used in the prior periods). We also updated the probability of payment due to the increased likelihood of forfeiture of the contingent consideration payment as a result of an amendment to the terms and conditions of this contingent payment during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, as discussed further below. Accordingly, we recorded a reduction in contingent consideration totaling $7,551,000 during the year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in a contingent consideration liability balance of $1,299,000 as of December 31, 2022.
The contingent consideration liability determination using Monte Carlo Simulation was based on a number of assumptions including expected term, expected volatility, expected dividends, the risk-free interest rate, a discount rate (WACC), and probability of success, a specified contractual return hurdle (based on internal rate of return), and a contractual proportion of excess gain allocable to the contingent payment above the contractual return hurdle. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
On August 5, 2022, Holdings entered into an agreement with our management and CEO whereby, upon closing of the business combination with CENAQ, the contingent consideration would be forfeited. Following the closing on February 15, 2023, the contingent consideration was forfeited, and this arrangement was terminated and no payments were made. Thus, we reversed the entire $1,299,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. There were no contingent consideration arrangements as of December 31, 2023.
Impairment of Intangible Assets
A qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets is performed in order to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. In performing this analysis, we consider macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, current and forecasted financial performance, entity-specific events and changes in the composition or carrying amount of net assets under the quantitative analysis, intellectual property and patents are tested for impairment using a discounted cash flow approach and tested for impairment using the relief-from-royalty method. If the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.
We have considered a mix of information in monitoring the risks associated with impairment through the use of various valuation analyses which were used to measure the estimated fair value of our stock-based incentive awards. In addition, the Company considered market transactions (such as the Business Combination). As discussed above, substantially all of the value of the acquired assets from Primus was attributable to the intellectual property and patented technology. Such technology has remained our core asset since our acquisition and we have continued to develop such technology and expand its application to other feedstocks.
In connection with our valuation of our stock-based incentive units granted to management, we determined our estimated enterprise value utilizing a mix of market approach, discounted cash flow and relief from royalty methods in the determination and such estimated enterprise value exceeded the carrying amount of this intangible asset by a substantial amount.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we placed the most weight to the Business Combination in concluding that no impairment testing was required. We also leveraged the valuation analyses prepared in the measurement of our contingent consideration as discussed in detail above. Such transaction served to support management’s conclusion that fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying amount by a substantial amount, and no impairment charges were recognized in any of the periods presented. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2023, there were no events or changes in circumstances noted that would indicate that the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset may not be recoverable.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable, undiscounted cash flows from such asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the estimated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. There were no impairment charges in any of the periods presented.
Income taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred 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 tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. The Company has elected to use the outside basis approach to measure the deferred tax assets or liabilities based on its investment in its subsidiaries without regard to the underlying assets or liabilities.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considered whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
Unit-Based Compensation
We apply the fair value method under ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), in accounting for unit-based compensation to employees. Service-based units compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, or the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period. The fair value of the equity award granted is estimated on the date of the grant. Performance-based units are expensed over the requisite service period, based on the probability of achieving the performance goal, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the change. If the performance goal is not met, no unit-based compensation expense is recognized. We accelerated the unvested service and performance-based units during the year ended December 31, 2023 in connection with the Business Combination. No service-based or performance-based incentive units were granted during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Share-Based Compensation
We apply ASC 718 in accounting for share-based compensation to employees. We estimate the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. The fair value of RSUs granted is determined based on the value of our stock price on the date of the award subject to a discount for lack of marketability. Share-based compensation expense is recorded over the period during which the grantee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.
The determination of fair value requires significant judgment and the use of estimates, particularly with regard to Black-Scholes assumptions such as stock price volatility and expected option term. We estimate the expected term of options granted based on peer benchmarking and expectations. We use the treasury yield curve rates for the risk-free interest rate in the option valuation model with maturities similar to the expected term of the options. Volatility is determined by reference to the actual volatility of several publicly traded peer companies that are similar to us in our industry sector. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero in the option valuation model. We assess whether a discount for lack of marketability is applied based on certain liquidity factors. All equity-based payment awards subject to graded vesting based only on a service condition are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods.
There is substantial judgment in selecting the assumptions which we use to determine the fair value of such equity awards, and other companies could use similar market inputs and arrive at different conclusions.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 3 - Significant Accounting Policies in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for information regarding accounting pronouncements.
JOBS Act
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. CENAQ previously elected to irrevocably opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time public companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our consolidated financial statements with another emerging growth company that has not opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used. Additionally, we are not required to, among other things, provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Pursuant to Item 305(e) of Regulation S-K (§ 229.305(e)), the Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item as it is a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 229.10(f)(1).

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Dallas, Texas
March 28,
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2022.
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31,
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 28,779,177 $ 463,475
Restricted cash 100,000 -
Prepaid expenses 373,324 113,676
Deferred transaction costs - 3,258,880
Deferred financing costs - 6,277
Total current assets 29,252,501 3,842,308
Non-current assets:
Security deposits 160,669 258,000
Property, plant and equipment, net 62,505 7,414
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 524,813 323,170
Intellectual patented technology 1,925,151 1,925,151
Total non-current assets 2,673,138 2,513,735
Total assets $ 31,925,639 $ 6,356,043
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 184,343 $ 2,857,223
Accrued liabilities 1,976,812 762,119
Operating lease liabilities - current portion 297,380 237,970
Notes payable - insurance premium financing - 11,166
Total current liabilities 2,458,535 3,868,478
Non-current liabilities:
Contingent consideration - 1,299,000
Promissory note - related party 409,612 -
Operating lease liabilities 232,162 85,200
Total non-current liabilities 641,774 1,384,200
Total liabilities 3,100,309 5,252,678
Stockholders’ equity
Intermediate Member's Equity - 12,775,901
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 9,387,836 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 -
Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 22,500,000 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 2,250 -
Additional paid in capital 35,014,836 -
Accumulated deficit (23,922,730 ) (11,672,536 )
Noncontrolling interest 17,730,035 -
Total stockholders’ equity 28,825,330 1,103,365
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 31,925,639 $ 6,356,043
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For The Year Ended
December 31,
General and administrative expenses $ 11,515,192 $ 4,514,994
Contingent consideration (1,299,000 ) (7,551,000 )
Research and development expenses 329,194 316,712
Total operating loss (income) 10,545,386 (2,719,294 )
Other (income) (447,074 ) -
Interest expense 236,699 -
Loss (income) before income taxes 10,335,011 (2,719,294 )
Provision for income taxes 166,265 -
Net (loss) income $ (10,501,276 ) $ 2,719,294
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (7,757,688 ) -
Net (loss) income attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. $ (2,743,588 ) $ 2,719,294
Earnings per share
Weighted average Class A common stock outstanding, basic and diluted 6,140,529 N/A
Loss per Share of Class A common stock $ (0.45 ) N/A
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For The Year Ended December 31, 2022
Member's
Equity Accumulated
Deficit Total Member's
Equity
Balance - December 31, 2021 $ 7,605,369 $ (14,391,830 ) $ (6,786,461 )
Capital contribution 3,750,000 - 3,750,000
Unit-based compensation expense 1,420,532 - 1,420,532
Net income - 2,719,294 2,719,294
Balance December 31, $ 12,775,901 $ (11,672,536 ) $ 1,103,365
For The Year Ended December 31, 2023
Member’s Preferred Stock Class A Common Class C Common Additional
Paid in Accumulated Non-
Controlling Total
Equity Shares Values Shares Values Shares Values Capital Deficit Interest Equity
Balance - December 31, 2022 $ 12,775,901 - $ - - $ - - $ - $ - $ (11,672,536 ) $ - $ 1,103,365
Retroactive application of recapitalization - - - - - 2,573 (3,509 ) - - -
Adjusted beginning balance 12,775,901 - - - - 2,573 (3,509 ) (11,672,536 ) - 1,103,365
Reversal of Intermediate original equity (12,775,901 ) - - - (936 ) - (2,573 ) 3,509 11,672,536 - (1,103,365 )
Recapitalization transaction - - - 9,358,620 22,500,000 2,250 15,391,286 (4,793,142 ) 25,487,723 36,089,053
Class A Sponsor earn out shares - - - - - - - 5,792,000 (5,792,000 ) - -
Class C earn out shares - - - - - - - 10,594,000 (10,594,000 ) - -
Stock-based compensation - - - - - - - 2,901,569 - - 2,901,569
Warrant exercise - - - 29,216 - - 335,981 - - 335,984
Net (loss) - - - - - - - - (2,743,588 ) (7,757,688 ) (10,501,276 )
Balance - December 31, 2023 $ - - $ - 9,387,836 $ 939 22,500,000 $ 2,250 $ 35,014,836 $ (23,922,730 ) $ 17,730,035 $ 28,825,330
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For The Year Ended
December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income $ (10,501,276 ) $ 2,719,294
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities
Contingent consideration (1,299,000 ) (7,551,000 )
Depreciation 3,497 10,034
Finance lease amortization 127,617 -
Unit-based compensation expense 2,901,569 1,420,532
Deferred financing fee write-off 28,847 -
Amortization of right-of-use assets 413,354 237,850
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Prepaid expenses (259,648 ) 17,053
Security deposits (10,669 ) (108,000 )
Accounts payable (6,645 ) 108,121
Accrued liabilities and other 185,912 104,819
Operating lease liabilities (383,778 ) (237,850 )
Income taxes payable (312,446 ) -
Net cash used in operating activities (9,112,666 ) (3,279,147 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, equipment and improvements (58,588 ) (4,411 )
Net cash used in investing activities (58,588 ) (4,411 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
PIPE proceeds 32,000,000 -
Cash received from Trust 19,031,516 -
Less transaction expenses (10,043,793 ) -
Holdings capital repayment (3,750,000 ) -
Repayments of notes payable - insurance premium financing (11,166 ) (73,987 )
Repayments of the principal portion of finance lease liabilities (44,469 ) -
Deferred transaction costs - (10,341 )
Deferred financing costs (22,570 ) (6,277 )
Warrant exercises 335,984 -
Capital contribution - 3,750,000
Net cash provided by financing activities 37,495,502 3,659,395
Net increase in cash 28,324,248 375,837
Cash, beginning of year 463,475 87,638
CENAQ operating cash balance acquired 91,454 -
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, end of year $ 28,879,177 $ 463,475
For The Year Ended
December 31
Supplemental cash flow information:
Non-cash income tax payable and deferred tax liability obtained from CENAQ $ 431,632 -
Non-cash impact of debt issuance through the Business Combination $ 409,612 -
Non-cash deferred transaction costs - $ 3,248,539
Cash paid for interest $ 236,699 -
Cash paid for income taxes $ 431,632 -
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 1 - THE COMPANY
Overview
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clean energy technology company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass or natural gas and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons, primarily gasoline, through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through Verde Clean Fuels’ STG+® process, Verde Clean Fuels converts syngas into Reformulated Blend-stock for Oxygenate Blending (“RBOB”) gasoline. Verde Clean Fuels is focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps. The availability of biogenic feedstocks and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities.
NOTE 2 - BUSINESS COMBINATION
On February 15, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), the Company finalized a business combination (“Business Combination”) pursuant to that certain business combination agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 (“Business Combination Agreement”) by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. (“CENAQ”), Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CENAQ (“OpCo”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and CENAQ Sponsor LLC (“Sponsor”). Immediately upon the completion of the Business Combination, CENAQ was renamed to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
Prior to the Business Combination, and up to the transaction close on February 15, 2023, Verde Clean Fuels, previously CENAQ Energy Corp., was a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) (A) CENAQ contributed to OpCo (1) all of its assets (excluding its interests in OpCo and the aggregate amount of cash required to satisfy any exercise by CENAQ stockholders of their redemption rights (the “Redemption Rights”) and (2) the shares of Class C common stock (the “Holdings Class C Shares”) and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo issued to CENAQ a number of Class A OpCo Units equal to the number of total shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing Date (taking into account the PIPE Financing (as defined below) and following the exercise of Redemption Rights) (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”) and (ii) immediately following the SPAC Contribution, (A) Holdings contributed to OpCo 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo transferred to Holdings the Holdings OpCo Units and the Holdings Class C Shares. Holdings holds 22,500,000 OpCo Units and an equal number of shares of Class C common stock.
Pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”), the Business Combination is accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization where Intermediate is deemed the accounting acquirer and the Company is treated as the accounting acquiree, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Business Combination is not treated as a change in control of Intermediate. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Verde Clean Fuels, Intermediate’s pre-Business Combination operations being the majority post-Business Combination operations of Verde Clean Fuels, and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings continues to have control of the Board of Directors through its majority voting rights. Under ASC 805, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination.
Following the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company is organized in an “Up-C” structure and the only direct assets of the Company, consists of equity interests in OpCo, whose only direct assets consists of equity interests in Intermediate. Immediately following the Business Combination, Verde Clean Fuels is the sole manager of and controls OpCo.
The Business Combination includes:
● Holdings contributing 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate to OpCo in exchange for 22,500,000 Class C OpCo Units and an equal number of shares of Class C common stock;
● The issuance and sale of 3,200,000 shares of Class A common stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $32,000,000 (the “PIPE Financing”);
● Delivery of $19,031,516 of proceeds from CENAQ’s Trust Account related to non-redeeming Holders of 1,846,120 of Class A common stock; and
● Repayment of $3,750,000 of capital contributions made by Holdings since December 2021 and payment of $10,043,793 of transaction expenses including deferred underwriting fees of $1,700,000;
The following summarizes the Verde Clean Fuels Class A common stock and Class C common stock (collectively, the “Common Stock”) outstanding as of February 15, 2023. The percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 31,858,620 shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding as of February 15, 2023, comprised of 9,358,620 shares of Class A common stock and 22,500,000 shares of Class C common stock.
Shares % of
Common
Stock
CENAQ Public Stockholders(a) 1,846,120 5.79 %
Holdings(b) 23,300,000 73.14 %
New PIPE Investors (excluding Holdings)(c) 2,400,000 7.53 %
Sponsor and Anchor Investors(d) 1,078,125 3.39 %
Sponsor Earn Out shares(e) 3,234,375 10.15 %
Total Shares of Common Stock at Closing 31,858,620 100.00 %
Earn Out Equity shares(f) 3,500,000
Total diluted shares at Closing (including shares above)(g) 35,358,620
(a) CENAQ public stockholders holding 15,403,880 shares of Class A common stock exercised their right to redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account. Excludes 189,750 underwriters forfeited shares owned by Imperial Capital, LLC and I-Bankers Securities, Inc. that were forfeited as of Closing.
(b) Includes (i) 22,500,000 shares of Class C common stock issued to Holdings at Closing, representing 100% of the shares of Class C common stock outstanding as of February 15, 2023, and (ii) 800,000 shares of Class A common stock acquired by Holdings in the PIPE Financing.
(c) Excludes 800,000 shares of Class A common stock acquired by Holdings in the PIPE Financing.
(d) Includes 253,125 and 825,000 shares of Class A common stock issued to the Sponsor and other investors, respectively, upon conversion of a portion of their current Class B common stock at Closing.
(e) Includes 3,234,375 shares of Class A common stock issued to the Sponsor that are subject to forfeiture. These shares will no longer be subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of the Triggering Events. Excludes 2,475,000 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants held by Sponsor.
(f) Includes 3,500,000 shares of Class C common stock issuable to Holdings upon the occurrence of triggering events.
(g) Excludes 12,937,479 and 2,475,000 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants, respectively.
Total proceeds raised from the Business Combination were $37,329,178, consisting of $32,000,000 in PIPE Financing proceeds, $19,031,516 from the CENAQ trust, and $91,454 from the CENAQ operating account offset by $10,043,793 in transaction expenses which were recorded as a reduction to additional paid in capital and offset by a $3,750,000 capital repayment to Holdings.
As of December 31, 2023, no Class C OpCo units have been exchanged for shares of Class A common stock.
NOTE 3 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statement is presented in conformity with GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries for which the Company controls by ownership interest or other contractual rights giving the Company control over the most significant activities of an investee. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Verde Clean Fuels, and its subsidiaries OpCo, Intermediate, Bluescape Clean Fuels Employee Holdings, LLC, Bluescape Clean Fuels EmployeeCo., LLC, Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC, and Maricopa Renewable Fuels I, LLC.
All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Risks and uncertainties
The Company is currently in the development stage and has not yet commenced principal operations or generated revenue. The development of the Company’s projects are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the receipt of the necessary permits and regulatory approvals, commodity price risk impacting the decision to go forward with the projects, the availability and ability to obtain the necessary financing for the construction and development of projects.
The Company’s ability to develop and operate commercial production facilities, as well as expand production at future commercial production facilities, is subject to many risks beyond its control, including regulatory developments, construction risks, and global and regional macroeconomic developments.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock, in which the cumulative fair market value is greater than $1 million in a calendar year, by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. The amount of repurchases applicable to the excise tax can be reduced by the fair market value of any issuances at the time of issuance that occurred during the year, as well as certain exceptions provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”). The Treasury and the IRS released interim guidance on December 27, 2022, which can be relied upon until the issuance of proposed regulations.
In connection with the Business Combination, the Company incurred an excise tax of $1.59 million based on the redemption of $158.9 million at the request of the Common A shareholders. The excise tax is payable in the second quarter of 2024 and is recorded within accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023. Other than the 1% excise tax, the IR Act has not had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Additionally, section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect not to take advantage of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, and any such election to not take advantage of the extended transition period is irrevocable. The Company expects to be an emerging growth company through 2026. Prior to the Business Combination, CENAQ elected to irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company will adopt the new or revised standard when those standards are effective for public registrants.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. The most significant estimates pertain to the calculations of the fair values of equity instruments, contingent consideration, impairment of intangible and long-lived assets and income taxes. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $28,779,177 and $463,475, respectively. The Company also had a restricted cash balance of $100,000 and $0 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, for a letter of credit that is included in the determination of cash and restricted cash in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash equivalents of $26,155,789, which were comprised of funds held in a short-term money market fund having investments in high-quality short-term securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. There were no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet. The fair values of cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, and accrued expenses are estimated to approximate their respective carrying values as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 due to the short-term maturities of such instruments.
In determining fair value, the valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and cost approach shall be used to measure fair value. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs, which represent the assumptions used by the buyer and seller in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs are further defined as observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are those that buyer and seller would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that the buyer and seller would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows:
Level 1 - Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not being applied. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2 - Valuations based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities, or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market through correlation or other means.
Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.
Net Loss Per Common Stock
Subsequent to the Business Combination, the Company’s capital structure is comprised of shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A common stock”) and shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class C common stock”). Public shareholders, the Sponsor, and the investors in the private offering of securities of Verde Clean Fuels in connection with the Business Combination (the PIPE Financing) hold shares of Class A common stock and warrants, and Holdings owns shares of Class C common stock and Class C units of OpCo (the “Class C OpCo Units”). Class C common stock represents the right to cast one vote per share at the Verde Clean Fuels level, and carry no economic rights, including rights to dividends and distributions upon liquidation. Thus, Class C common stock are not participating securities per ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share” (“ASC 260”). As the Class A common stock represent the only participating securities, the application of the two-class method is not required.
Antidilutive instruments including outstanding warrants, stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and Sponsor earnout shares were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023 because the inclusion of such instruments would be anti-dilutive. As a result, diluted net loss per common stock is the same as basic net loss per common stock.
Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). Management’s assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, whether they meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period-end date while the warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, they are recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, they are recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and subject to remeasurement each balance sheet date with changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants to be recognized as a non-cash gain or loss in the statement of operations. See Note 8 for further information.
Segments
Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Company has determined that it operates in one operating segment, as the CODM reviews financial information presented on a combined basis for purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources, and evaluating financial performance.
Reverse recapitalization
The Business Combination was accounted for according to a common control reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Intermediate’s pre and post Business Combination operations and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings continues to have control of the Board of Directors through its majority voting rights.
Under the guidance in ASC 805, for transactions between entities under common control, the assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests of CENAQ and Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the business combination. Under this method of accounting, CENAQ is treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the business combination is treated as the equivalent of Intermediate issuing stock for the net assets of CENAQ, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Intermediate are stated at their historical value within the financial statements with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
Property, Equipment, and Improvements
Property, equipment, and improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset. The estimated useful lives of assets are as follows:
Computers, office equipment and hardware 3 - 5 years
Furniture and fixtures 7 years
Machinery and equipment 7 years
Leasehold improvements Shorter of the lease term (including estimated renewals) or the estimated useful lives of the improvement
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the accompanying statements of operations in the period realized.
Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
As of
December 31,
As of
December 31,
Accrued bonuses $ - $ 86,120
Accrued legal fees 237,839 558,860
Accrued professional fees 143,900 107,022
Other accrued expenses 1,595,073 10,117
Total accrued liabilities $ 1,976,812 $ 762,119
Leases
The Company accounts for leases under ASC 842, “Leases” (“ASC 842)”. The core principle of this standard is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, by recognizing in the consolidated balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset (“ROU asset”) representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. In accordance with the guidance of ASC 842, leases are classified as finance or operating leases, and both types of leases are recognized on the consolidated balance sheet.
Certain lease arrangements may contain renewal options. Renewal options are included in the expected lease term only if they are reasonably certain of being exercised by the Company.
The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components for real-estate lease arrangements. The Company combines the lease and non-lease component into a single accounting unit and accounts for the unit under ASC 842 where lease and non-lease services are included in the classification of the lease and the calculation of the right-of-use asset and lease liability. In addition, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not apply lease recognition requirements to leases with a term of one year or less. Under this expedient, lease costs are not capitalized; rather, are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company’s leases do not contain residual value guarantees or material restrictions or covenants.
The Company uses either the rate implicit in the lease, if readily determinable, or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate for a period comparable to the lease term in order to calculate the net present value of the lease liability. The incremental borrowing rate represents the rate that would approximate the rate to borrow funds on a collateralized basis over a similar term and in a similar economic environment.
Impairment of Intangible Assets
The Company’s intangible asset consists of its intellectual property and patented technology and is considered an indefinite-lived intangible and is not subject to amortization. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the gross and carrying amount of this intangible asset was $1,925,151.
A qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets is performed in order to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. In performing this analysis, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions are considered in addition to current and forecasted financial performance, entity-specific events and changes in the composition or carrying amount of net assets under the quantitative analysis, intellectual property and patents are tested.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges.
Impairment of Long-Term Assets
The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable, undiscounted cash flows from such asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the estimated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Company applies ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), in accounting for its share-based compensation arrangements.
Unit-Based Compensation
Service-based units compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, or the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period. Performance-based unit compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is expensed over the requisite service period, based on the probability of achieving the performance goal, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the change. If the performance goal is not met, no unit-based compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized unit-based compensation expense is reversed. Forfeitures of service-based and performance-based units are recognized upon the time of occurrence.
2023 Equity-Based Awards
In March 2023, the Company authorized and approved the Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”) which authorizes 4,727,112 shares. On April 25, 2023, the Company granted stock options to certain employees and officers and RSUs to non-employee directors, consistent with the terms of the 2023 Plan. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model and the fair value of RSUs granted were determined by the value of the stock price on the date of the award subject to a discount for lack of marketability.
Equity-based compensation is measured using a fair value-based method for all equity-based awards. The cost of awarded equity instruments is recognized based on each instrument’s grant-date fair value over the period during which the grantee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The determination of fair value requires significant judgment and the use of estimates, particularly with regard to Black-Scholes assumptions such as stock price volatility and expected option term. Equity-based compensation is recorded as a general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company estimates the expected term of options granted based on peer benchmarking and expectations. The Company uses U.S. Treasury yield curve rates for the risk-free interest rate in the option valuation model with maturities similar to the expected term of the options. Volatility is determined by reference to the actual volatility of several publicly traded peer companies that are similar to the Company in its industry sector. The Company does not anticipate paying cash dividends and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero in the option valuation model. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. The Company assesses whether a discount for lack of marketability is applied based on certain liquidity factors. All equity-based payment awards subject to graded vesting based only on a service condition are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods.
There is substantial judgment in selecting the assumptions used to determine the fair value of such equity awards and other companies could use similar market inputs and experience and arrive at different conclusions. See Note 7 for further information.
Contingent Consideration
Holdings had an arrangement payable to the Company’s CEO and a consultant whereby a contingent payment could become payable in the event that certain return on investment hurdles were met within 5 years of the closing date of the Primus asset purchase. On August 5, 2022, Holdings entered into an agreement with the Company’s management and CEO whereby, if the Business Combination reaches closing, the contingent consideration will be forfeited.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company remeasured the liability of this arrangement, and reassessed the probability of the completion of the Business Combination and reversed $7,551,000 of the accrued expense through earnings resulting in a contingent consideration liability of $1,299,000.
The Business Combination closed on February 15, 2023, and therefore the contingent consideration arrangement was terminated and no payments were made. Thus, the remaining $1,299,000 of accrued contingent consideration was reversed through earnings for the year ended December 31, 2023. See Note 10 for further information.
Deferred Transaction Costs
Deferred transaction costs are expenses directly related to the business combination with the SPAC. These costs consist primarily of legal and accounting fees that the Company capitalized. The deferred transaction costs were offset against the business combination proceeds and were reclassified to additional paid-in capital in the period of the completion of the business combination. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, deferred transaction costs were $0 and $3,258,880, respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred 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 tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures”. ASU 2023-07 enhances segment reporting under Topic 280 by expanding the breadth and frequency of segment disclosures. ASU 2023-07 requires disclosure of significant expenses that are regularly provided to an entity’s CODM and included in the reported measure(s) of a segment’s profit or loss. When applying this disclosure requirement, an entity identifies the segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM or easily computable from information that is regularly provided to the CODM. Entities are also required to disclose other segment items, i.e., the difference between reported segment revenue less the significant segment expenses and the reported measure(s) of a segment’s profit or loss. ASU 2023-07 also clarifies that single reportable segment entities are subject to Topic 280 in its entirety. ASU 2023-07 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 should be adopted retrospectively unless impracticable. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2023-07 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”. ASU 2023-09 requires public entities, on an annual basis, to provide: a tabular rate reconciliation (using both percentages and reporting currency amounts) of (1) the reported income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations, to (2) the product of the income (or loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and the applicable statutory federal (national) income tax rate of the jurisdiction (country) of domicile using specific categories, and separate disclosure for any reconciling items within certain categories that are equal to or greater than a specified quantitative threshold. For each annual period presented, ASU 2023-09 also requires all reporting entities to disclose the year-to-date amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal (national), state, and foreign. It also requires additional disaggregated information on income taxes paid (net of refunds received) to an individual jurisdiction equal to or greater than 5% of total income taxes paid (net of refunds received). ASU 2023-09 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. ASU 2023-09 is to be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2023-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs issued by the FASB. There are no other accounting pronouncements which have been issued but are not yet effective that would have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements when adopted.
NOTE 4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
ASC 850, “Related Party Disclosures” (“ASC 850”) provides guidance for the identification of related parties and disclosure of related party transactions. On February 15, 2023, the Company entered into a new promissory note with the Sponsor totaling $409,612 (the “New Promissory Note”). The New Promissory Note canceled and superseded all prior promissory notes. The New Promissory note was non-interest bearing and the entire principal balance of the New Promissory Note was payable on or before February 15, 2024 in cash or shares at the Company’s election. On February 15, 2024, the Company settled the New Promissory Note through the issuance of its Class A common shares at a conversion price of $10.00 per share. As a result, the Company issued 40,961 common shares and recorded an increase to additional paid-in capital of $409,608.
The Company has a related party relationship with Holdings whereby Holdings holds a majority ownership in the Company via voting shares and has control of the Board of Directors. Further, Holdings possesses 3,500,000 earn out shares.
NOTE 5. LEASES
The Company determines if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at contract inception based on whether that contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset in exchange for consideration for a period of time. Leases are classified as either finance or operating leases where the Company is lessee. This classification dictates whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. For all lease arrangements with a term of greater than 12 months, the Company presents at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.
The Company leases office space and other office equipment under operating lease arrangements with initial terms greater than twelve months. The office lease in Hillsborough, New Jersey was extended until 2025. In August 2023, the Company entered into a 40-month office lease in Houston, Texas commencing in November 2023. Office space is leased to provide adequate workspace for all employees.
In October 2022, the Company entered into a 25-year land lease in Maricopa, Arizona with the intent of building a biofuel processing facility. The commencement date of the lease was in February 2023 as control of the identified asset did not transfer to the Company on the effective date of the lease. As such, the Company did not record a ROU asset nor a lease liability as of December 31, 2022, specific to the land lease. On the commencement date, the present value of the minimum lease payments exceeded the fair value of the land, and, accordingly, the lease was classified as a finance lease.
On August 31, 2023, the Company terminated the land lease in Maricopa, Arizona. In connection with the termination, the Company incurred a termination fee of three months’ base rent. The termination was effective four months after the termination notice; thus, the Company had a continued right-of-use and obligation to make rental payments for use of the land through December 31, 2023. The Company accounted for the termination with a continued right-of-use as a lease modification resulting in a reclassification of the lease from finance to operating as of the lease modification date. Accordingly, the Company incurred finance lease costs up to the modification date and operating lease costs subsequent to the modification until lease termination. The Company exited the lease as of December 31, 2023.
Lease costs for the Company’s operating and finance leases are presented below.
Lease Cost Statements of Operations Classification For the
Year Ended
December 31,
For the
Year Ended
December 31,
Amortization of finance lease right-of-use asset General and administrative expense $ 127,617 $ -
Interest on finance lease liability Interest expense 236,699 -
Total finance lease cost
364,316 -
Operating lease cost General and administrative expense 431,245 237,850
Variable lease cost General and administrative expense 151,731 155,218
Total lease cost
$ 947,292 $ 393,068
Maturities of the Company’s operating and finance leases as of December 31, 2023 are presented below.
As of December 31, 2023
Maturity of lease liabilities Operating Finance
$ 324,789 $ -
162,409 -
69,531 -
11,822 -
Thereafter - -
Total future minimum lease payments 568,551 -
Less: interest (39,009 ) -
Present value of lease liabilities $ 529,542 $ -
Supplemental information related to the Company’s operating and finance lease arrangements was as follows:
As of As of
Operating lease - supplemental information December 31,
December 31,
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease $ 524,813 $ 323,170
Remaining lease term - operating lease 23 months 16 months
Discount rate - operating lease 7.50 % 7.50 %
NOTE 6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Major classes of property, plant, and equipment are as follows:
As of
December 31,
As of
December 31,
Computers, office equipment and hardware $ 16,956 $ 11,461
Furniture and fixtures 47,256 1,914
Machinery and equipment 43,799 36,048
Property, plant, and equipment 108,011 49,423
Less: accumulated depreciation 45,506 42,009
Property, plant and equipment, net $ 62,505 $ 7,414
Depreciation expense was $3,497 and $10,034 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Depreciation expense of $1,662 and $1,835 is included in general and administrative and research and development expense, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023. Depreciation expense of $1,355 and $8,679 is included in general and administrative and research and development expense, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
NOTE 7 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Earn-out Consideration
Earnout shares potentially issuable as part of the Business Combination are recorded within stockholder’s equity as the instruments are deemed to be indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the equity classification criteria under ASC 815-40-25. Earnout shares contain market conditions for vesting and were awarded to eligible shareholders, as described further below, and not to current employees.
As consideration for the contribution of the equity interests in Intermediate, Holdings received earnout consideration (“Holdings earnout”) of 3,500,000 shares of Class C common stock and a corresponding number of Class C OpCo Units subject to vesting with the achievement of separate market conditions. One half of the Holdings earnout shares will meet the market condition when the volume-weighted average share price (“VWAP”) of the Class A Common stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days within five years of the closing date. The second half will vest when the VWAP of the Class A Common stock is greater than or equal to $18.00 over the same measurement period.
Additionally, the Sponsor received earnout consideration (“Sponsor earnout”) of 3,234,375 shares of Class A common stock subject to forfeiture which will no longer be subject to forfeiture with the achievement of separate market conditions (the “Sponsor Shares”). One half of the Sponsor earnout will no longer be subject to forfeiture if the VWAP of Class A common stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 for any 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days within five years of the closing date. The second half will no longer be subject to forfeiture when the VWAP of the Class A common stock is greater than or equal to $18.00 over the same measurement period.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Holdings earnout and Sponsor earnout shares will vest in the event of a sale of the Company at a price that is equal to or greater than the applicable trigger price payable to the buyer of the Company. The earn out consideration was issued in connection with the Business Combination on February 15, 2023. Holdings earn out shares are neither issued nor outstanding as of December 31, 2023 as the performance requirements for vesting were not achieved. All Sponsor Shares granted in connection with the Business Combination are issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Sponsor Shares subject to forfeiture pursuant to the above terms that do not vest in accordance with such terms shall be forfeited.
The grant-date fair value of the Earnout Shares attributable to Holdings and the Sponsor, using a Monte Carlo simulation model, was $10,594,000, and $5,791,677, respectively. The following table provides a summary of key inputs utilized in the valuation of the Earnout Shares on February 15, 2023:
Inputs As of
February 15,
Expected volatility 50.00%
Expected dividends 0%
Remaining expected term (in years) 5.0 years
Risk-free rate 4.7%
Discount Rate (WACC) 14.7%
Payment Probability 12.6% to 18.3%
based on triggering event
The earnout arrangements are akin to a distribution to our shareholders, similar to the declaration of a pro rata dividend, and the fair value of the shares are a reduction to retained earnings.
Based on the Class A common stock trading price the market conditions were not met and no Earnout Shares vested as of December 31, 2023.
Share-based Compensation
Compensation expense related to share-based compensation arrangements is included within general and administrative expenses. The total compensation expense incurred related to the Company’s equity-based compensation plans was $2,901,569 and $1,420,532 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. As a taxable event has not occurred, there were no income tax benefits recorded for these awards for the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Incentive Units
Prior to closing of the Business Combination, certain subsidiaries of the Company, including Intermediate, were wholly owned subsidiaries of Holdings. Holdings, which was outside of the Business Combination perimeter, had entered into several compensation related arrangements with management of Intermediate. Compensation costs associated with those arrangements were allocated by Holdings to Intermediate as the employees were rendering services to Intermediate. However, the ultimate contractual obligation related to these awards, including any future settlement, rested and continues to rest with Holdings.
The Holdings equity compensation instruments consisted of 1,000 authorized and issuable Series A Incentive Units and 1,000 authorized and issuable Founder Incentive Units. Series A Incentive Units refers to 800 incentive units issued by Holdings on August 7, 2020 to certain members of management of Intermediate in compensation for their services. Founder Incentive Units refers to 1,000 incentive units issued by Holdings on August 7, 2020 to certain members of management of Intermediate in compensation for their services. Both Series A Incentive Unit holders and Founders Incentive Unit holders participated in earnings and distributions after a specified return to the Series A Preferred Unit holders. The Series A Incentive Units were deemed to be service-based awards under ASC 718 due to vesting conditions. Vesting of the service-based units was to occur in equal installments of 25% on each of the first through fourth anniversaries of the August 7, 2020 grant date subject to the participant’s continuous service through such dates. The Founder Incentive Units were deemed to be performance-based based units as no vesting conditions existed.
The Company classified these units as equity awards and measured their fair value at the grant date. The fair value of each award was estimated on the grant date using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that used the assumptions noted below and other valuation techniques. Expected volatility was based on historical volatility for guideline public companies that operate in the Company’s industry. The expected term of awards granted represents management’s estimate for the number of years until a liquidity event as of the grant date. The risk-free rate for the period of the expected term was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. In addition, management considered the distribution priority schedule or “waterfall calculation” in its estimation process.
There were 800 Series A Incentive Units granted by Holdings in August of 2020 and 400 were unvested as of December 31, 2022. As the award recipients resided on subsidiaries of Intermediate and provided service to the Company, the Company recognized $1,420,532 of compensation expense related to the awards during the year ended December 31, 2022.
There were 1,000 Founder Incentive Units issued in August of 2020 by Holdings and 1,000 were unvested as of December 31, 2022. No compensation expense was recorded related to these awards during the year ended December 31, 2022 as performance conditions had not, and were unlikely to be met.
On August 5, 2022, certain amendments to the existing Series A Incentive Units and Founder Incentive Units were made whereby all outstanding unvested Series A Incentive Units and Founders Incentive Units would become fully vested upon completion of the Business Combination. Additionally, as part of the amendment to these agreements, the priority of distributions under the Series A Incentive Units and Founders Incentive Units was also revised such that participants receive 10% of distributions after a specified return to Holdings’ Series A Incentive Unit holders (instead of 20%). The modifications to the Series A Incentive Units and Founders Units did not result in any incremental unit-based compensation expense in connection with the August 2022 modification.
In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, and as a result of the August 5, 2022 amendments, all of the outstanding and unvested Series A Incentive Units and Founder Incentive Units became fully vested. As such, the Company accelerated the remaining service-based share-based payment expense related to these awards of $2,146,792. The accelerated share-based payment expense was included in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023. Performance conditions for the performance-based Founder Incentive Units had not and were unlikely to be met as of December 31, 2023. As such, no share-based compensation cost was recorded for these units.
Equity Awards
On April 25, 2023, consistent with the terms of the 2023 Plan, the Company granted stock options to certain employees and officers and RSUs to non-employee directors. In addition to stock options and RSUs, the 2023 Plan authorizes for the future potential grant of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards, stock awards, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards, cash awards and substitute awards to certain employees (including executive officers), consultants and non-employee directors, and is intended to align the interests of the Company’s service providers with those of the stockholders.
Stock Options
Stock options represent the contingent right of award holders to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a stated price for a limited time. The stock options granted in 2023 have an exercise price of $11.00 per share and will expire 7 years from the date of grant. Stock options granted vest at a rate of 25% on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant subject to continued service through the vesting dates.
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model and the following underlying assumptions. Expected volatility was based on historical volatility for public company peers that operate in the Company’s industry. The expected term of awards granted represents management’s estimate for the number of years until a liquidity event as of the grant date. The risk-free rate for the period of the expected term was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
The fair value of stock options granted for the year ended December 31, 2023 were determined using the following assumptions as of the grant date:
Risk-free interest rate 3.4 %
Expected term 7 years
Volatility 48.2 %
Dividend yield Zero
Discount for lack of marketability 10 %
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $1.50 per share.
The table below presents activity related to stock options awarded for the year ended December 31, 2023:
Number of
options Weighted
average
exercise
price per
share Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 - - -
Granted 1,236,016 $ 11.00 7.0
Exercised - - -
Forfeited / expired - - -
Outstanding as of December 31, 2023 1,236,016 $ 11.00 6.3
Vested as of December 31, 2023 - - -
Unvested as of December 31, 2023 1,236,016 $ 11.00 6.3
Exercisable as of December 31, 2023 - - -
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $334,832 for the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $1,519,191. The remaining compensation cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.3 years. The weighted average remaining contractual term for all options outstanding at December 31, 2023 is 6.3 years. There were no vested stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2023, thus, there was no cash received for the exercise of stock options for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Restricted Stock Units
In March 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved 141,656 non-employee time-based RSU awards. RSUs represent an unsecured right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock equal to the value of the common stock on the settlement date. RSUs have a zero-exercise price and vest over time in whole after the first anniversary of the date of grant subject to continuous service through the vesting date.
The fair value of RSUs granted in 2023 were determined by the value of the stock price on the date of the award subject to a discount for lack of marketability of 13% for a per unit value of $4.35. The discount due to lack of marketability was applied because of the limited trading activity of the Company’s public equity.
RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2023 is as follows:
Time-
based
restricted
stock units
Unvested, December 31, 2022 -
Granted in the year ended December 31, 2023 141,656
Vested -
Forfeited -
Unvested December 31, 2023 141,656
The March 2023 RSU awards had an aggregate fair value of $616,204 as of the grant date. RSU compensation expense was $419,945 for the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs was $196,259. The remaining compensation cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.32 years.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had not granted RSUs which vest based on the achievement of certain market or performance metrics.
Recast of Intermediate Equity
The Business Combination was structured as a reverse merger and recapitalization which results in a common control arrangement where Holdings, the party that controls the reporting entity prior to the Business Combination, continues to control the Company immediately after the Business Combination. As such, there is not a new basis of accounting and the financial statements of the combined company represent a continuation of the financial statements of Intermediate where assets and liabilities of Intermediate continue to be reported at historical value. However, the reverse recapitalization requires a recast of Intermediate’s equity and earnings per share and is adjusted to reflect the par value of the outstanding capital stock of CENAQ. For periods before the reverse recapitalization, shareholders’ equity of Intermediate is presented based on the historical equity of Intermediate restated using the exchange ratio to reflect the equity structure of CENAQ.
Management evaluated the impact of the number of shares issued by CENAQ to affect the Business Combination in exchange for the shares of Intermediate (“the exchange ratio”) and concluded the recast of historical equity based on the exchange ratio did not result in a significant impact to historical equity.
NOTE 8 - WARRANTS
There were 15,383,263 warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023. Warrants were exercised on various dates during the year ended December 31, 2023 whereby the total number of warrants exercised was 29,216, resulting in 29,216 Class A common shares issued. The Company received cash of $335,984 related to the warrant exercises during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. However, no warrants will be exercisable for cash unless there is an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of Class A common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective within a specified period following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In the event of such cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the shares of Class A common stock for the 5 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. The warrants will expire on the fifth anniversary of our completion of an initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Company may call the warrants for redemption, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:
● at any time after the warrants become exercisable;
● upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder;
● if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the shares of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations), for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing at any time after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders; and
● if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying such warrants.
If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
NOTE 9 - INCOME TAX
As of December 31, 2023, Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. holds 29.38% of the economic interest in OpCo, which is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, OpCo generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax under current U.S. tax laws as its net taxable income (loss) and any related tax credits are passed through to its members and included in their tax returns, even though such net taxable income (loss) or tax credits may not have actually been distributed. Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. is subject to U.S. federal income taxes, in addition to state and local income taxes, with respect to its distributive share of the net taxable income (loss) and any related tax credits of OpCo.
Intermediate was historically and remains a disregarded subsidiary of a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income or loss. As a direct result of the Business Combination, OpCo became the sole member of Intermediate. As such, OpCo’s distributive share of any net taxable income or loss and any related tax credits of Intermediate are then distributed to the Company.
For the days and periods prior to the reverse recapitalization, Intermediate was a disregarded subsidiary of an entity treated as a partnership. As such, its net taxable loss and any related tax credits were allocated to its members. The period as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 discussed below represents the period beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023.
Intermediate had no current or deferred income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 due to its disregarded entity status.
The components of income taxes are as follows:
For The Year Ended
December 31,
Current:
Federal $ 166,265 $ -
State - $ -
Total current 166,265 $ -
Deferred:
Federal - -
State - -
Total deferred - -
Total Income Tax Expense $ 166,265 $ -
Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 consisted of $119,186 of current income taxes, and interest and penalties of $15,701 and $31,377, respectively. As a policy election, the Company records interest and penalties within income tax expense.
A reconciliation of income tax expense with amounts computed at the federal statutory tax rate is as follows:
For the
Year Ended
December 31,
Computed tax (21%) $ (2,170,352 )
Income attributable to legacy Intermediate holders 516,715
Income tax benefit attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,112,400
Change in valuation allowance 561,578
Other permanent items 36,793
Other items 109,131
Income Tax Expense $ 166,265
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Noncurrent deferred tax assets (liabilities) were as follows:
Deferred Taxes For the
Year Ended
December 31,
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Total deferred tax liabilities $ -
Deferred Tax Assets:
Start-up costs $ 193,765
Stock-based compensation 46,568
Investment in OpCo 8,168,987
Federal NOL carryforwards 553,497
Total deferred tax assets 8,962,817
Valuation allowance (8,962,817 )
Total net deferred tax assets $ -
Net deferred tax asset (liability) $ -
The Company has assessed the realizability of the net deferred tax assets, and in that analysis, has considered the relevant positive and negative evidence available to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considered all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and recent results of operations. After consideration of all available evidence, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets at Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. as of the Closing Date of the Business Combination and as of December 31, 2023, which will be maintained until there is sufficient evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of these allowances. The initial recognition of the Company’s deferred tax assets and valuation allowance in connection with the Business Combination was recorded to additional paid-in-capital on the consolidated balance sheet. As noted above, the valuation allowance completely offset the deferred tax assets of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc., which resulted in a net zero impact to the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of the Closing Date of the Business Combination.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a U.S. federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward totaling $553,497, which does not expire.
The Company recognizes the financial statement effects of uncertain income tax positions when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. To the extent the Company’s assessment of such tax positions changes, the change in estimate will be recorded in the period in which the determination is made. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has not recorded any uncertain tax positions, as well as any accrued interest and penalties on the consolidated balance sheet.
The Company’s income tax filings will be subject to audit by various taxing jurisdictions. The Company will monitor the status of U.S. Federal, state and local income tax returns that may be subject to audit in future periods. No U.S. Federal, state and local income tax returns are currently under examination by the respective taxing authorities.
Tax receivable agreement
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels entered into a tax receivable agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with Holdings (together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,” and each a “TRA Holder”) and the Agent (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement). Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels is required to pay each TRA Holder 85% of the amount of net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that Verde Clean Fuels actually realizes (computed using certain simplifying assumptions) or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances in periods after the Closing as a result of, as applicable to each such TRA Holder, (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of Verde Clean Fuels’ acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s Class C OpCo Units pursuant to the exercise of the OpCo Exchange Right, a Mandatory Exchange or the Call Right (each as defined in the Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of OpCo) and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by Verde Clean Fuels as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments Verde Clean Fuels makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Verde Clean Fuels will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these net cash savings. The Tax Receivable Agreement contains a payment cap of $50,000,000, which applies only to certain payments required to be made in connection with the occurrence of a change of control. The payment cap would not be reduced or offset by any amounts previously paid under the Tax Receivable Agreement or any amounts that are required to be paid (but have not yet been paid) for the year in which the change of control occurs or any prior years.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not have a tax receivable balance.
NOTE 10 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash equivalents of $26,155,789, which consisted of funds held in a short-term money market fund and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3.
The Company measured the liability for contingent consideration as of December 31, 2022 using level 3 inputs and valued the contingent consideration at $1,299,000.
The following table provides a summary of key inputs utilized in the valuation of the contingent consideration liability as of December 31, 2022:
Inputs As of
December 31,
Expected volatility 68.60 %
Expected dividends 0 %
Remaining expected term (in years) 0.09
Risk-free rate 4.12 %
Discount rate (WACC) 27.2 %
Payment probability 25 %
Internal rate of return hurdle 15 %
Excess return allocable to contingent payment 10 %
Estimated fair value of contingent consideration $ 1,299,000
There was no liability for contingent consideration as of December 31, 2023 as this liability was reversed and recognized in earnings during the year ended December 31, 2023 as a result of the close of the Business Combination.
At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no other assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as the earnout shares, public warrants, and private placement warrants are equity-classified.
NOTE 11 - LOSS PER SHARE
Loss per share
Prior to the reverse recapitalization in connection with the Business Combination, all net loss was attributable to the noncontrolling interest. For the periods prior to the Closing Date of February 15, 2023, earnings per share was not calculated because net income prior to the Business Combination was attributable entirely to Intermediate. Further, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, the Intermediate ownership structure included equity interests held solely by Holdings. The Company analyzed the calculation of earnings per share for comparative periods presented and determined that it resulted in values that would not be meaningful to the users of these consolidated financial statements. Therefore, the earnings per share information has not been presented for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Basic net loss per share has been computed by dividing net loss attributable to Class A common shareholders for the period subsequent to the Business Combination by the weighted average number of Class A shares of common stock outstanding for the same period. Diluted earnings per share of Class A common stock were computed by dividing net loss attributable to Class A common shareholders by the weighted-average number of Class A shares of common stock outstanding adjusted to give effect to potentially dilutive securities.
The Company’s potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be to reduce the net loss per share. Therefore, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share is the same. The following table sets forth the computation of net loss used to compute basic net loss per share of Class A common stock for the year ended December 31, 2023.
For the
Year Ended
December 31,
Net (loss) attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. $ (2,743,588 )
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding 6,140,529
Dilutive effect of share-based awards -
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 6,140,529
Basic (loss) per share $ (0.45 )
Diluted (loss) per share $ (0.45 )
The Company’s stock options, warrants, and earnout shares could have the most significant impact on diluted shares should the instruments represent dilutive instruments. However, securities that could potentially be dilutive are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share when a loss from continuing operations exists or when the exercise price exceeds the average closing price of the Company’s common stock during the period, because their inclusion would result in an antidilutive effect on per share amounts.
The following amounts were not included in the calculation of net income per diluted share because their effects were anti-dilutive:
As of
December 31,
Warrants 15,383,263
Earnout shares (1) 3,234,375
Convertible debt 40,961
Stock options 1,236,016
Time-based RSUs 141,656
Total antidilutive instruments 20,036,271
(1) Excludes 3,500,000 Class C earnout shares convertible into Class A common shares. Class C common stock are not participating securities; thus, the application of the two-class method is not required.
Noncontrolling Interests
Following the Business Combination, holders of Class A common stock own direct controlling interest in the results of the combined entity, while Holdings own an economic interest in the Company, shown as noncontrolling interests (“NCI”) in stockholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The indirect economic interests are held by Holdings in the form of Class C OpCo units.
Following the completion of the Business Combination, the ownership interests of the Class A common stockholders and the NCI were 29.38% and 70.62%, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the ownership interests of the Class A common stockholders and the NCI were 29.44% and 70.56%, respectively. The change in ownership interests was due to warrant exercises that resulted in the issuance of an additional 29,216 Class A common shares. See Note 8 for further information. The NCI may further decrease according to the number of shares of Class C common stock and Verde Clean Fuel OpCo LLC Class C units that are exchanged for shares of Class A common stock.
NOTE 12 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On February 6, 2024, the Company and Cottonmouth Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy (“Diamondback”), entered into a joint development agreement (“JDA”) for the proposed development, construction, and operation of a facility to produce commodity-grade gasoline using natural gas feedstock supplied from Diamondback’s operations in the Permian Basin.
Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas, focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas.
The JDA provides a pathway forward for the parties to reach final definitive documents and Final Investment Decision (“FID"). The JDA frames the contracts contemplated to be entered into between the parties, including an operating agreement, ground lease agreement, construction agreement, license agreement and financing agreements as well as conditions precedent to close such as FID.
The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the JDA will have on its consolidated financial statements.
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the consolidated financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than as disclosed above, the Company did not identify any other subsequent events that would have required adjustment in these consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
As previously disclosed in a current report filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023, the Audit Committee of the Company approved the dismissal of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) and approved the approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as its independent registered public accounting firm, effective upon February
15, 2023.
During the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as well as the subsequent interim period through Marcum’s dismissal, (1) there were no “disagreements” (as that term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosures or audited scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to Marcum’s satisfaction would have caused Marcum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report and (2) there have been no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) except as previously disclosed.
Deloitte previously served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Intermediate prior to the Business Combination. During the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as well as the subsequent interim period through Marcum’s dismissal, neither the Company, nor anyone on the Company’s behalf consulted with Deloitte on regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or a “reportable event,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K due to the remediation of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting for unit-based compensation expense and application of new accounting standards. As a result, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, management believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management noted material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to the understatement of unit-based compensation expense, as described in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023. The understatement of the grant date fair value was due to a revision in the underlying fair value determination, and such revision was not appropriately reflected in the financial statements. Management concluded that the grant date fair value and corresponding incremental expense should be adjusted by recognizing the additional expense in our March 31, 2022 financial statements. As part of such process, management identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to the grant date fair value revision. Additionally, we did not maintain effective internal control regarding the date on which to apply new accounting standards based upon CENAQ’s elections made as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, as described in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023, which required the Company to apply new accounting standards as if it were a public business entity. These material weaknesses have been remediated as discussed below.
Limitations of the Effectiveness of Control
A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations of any control system, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.
Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of our Company,
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and
(3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2023. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that its internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 were effective.
We believe the actions described in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2023, were sufficient to remediate the identified material weaknesses and strengthen our internal control over financial reporting for accounting for unit-based compensation expense and application of new accounting standards and that the material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting were fully remediated as of December 31, 2023.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than changes that have resulted from the material weakness remediation activities noted above, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting, during the most recently completed fiscal quarter, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. Other Information.
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the Company intends to file with the SEC the information required by this item not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our board adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on February 15, 2023 (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, which is available on our website. Our Code of Ethics is a “code of ethics,” as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. We will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of our code of ethics on our website at www.verdecleanfuels.com.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our charter contains provisions that limit the liability of our directors for damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for damages as a result of an act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a director, unless:
● the presumption that directors are acting in good faith, on an informed basis, and with a view to the interests of Verde Clean Fuels has been rebutted; and
● it is proven that the director’s act or failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director and such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the Company intends to file with the SEC the information required by this item not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the Company intends to file with the SEC the information required by this item not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the Company intends to file with the SEC the information required by this item not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the Company intends to file with the SEC the information required by this item not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is Deloitte & Touche LLP, PCAOB ID: 34
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. Exhibits, Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements:
See Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3) Exhibits
We hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Incorporated by Reference
Filed/Furnished
Exhibit No.
Description
Form
File No.
Exhibit
Filing Date
Herewith
2.1†
Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among the Company, CENAQ, Holdings, OpCo and Sponsor.
8-K
001-40743
2.1
8/12/2022
2.2
Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, dated December 21, 2022 by and among CENAQ, OpCo, Holdings, Intermediate and Sponsor.
8-K
001-40743
2.2
2/21/2023
3.1
Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
8-K
001-40743
3.1
2/21/2023
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
8-K
001-40743
3.2
2/21/2023
4.1
Specimen Unit Certificate.
S-1
333-253695
4.1
8/6/2021
4.2
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate.
S-1
333-253695
4.2
8/6/2021
4.3
Specimen Warrant Certificate.
S-1
333-253695
4.3
8/6/2021
4.4
Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and CENAQ Energy Corp., dated August 17, 2021.
8-K
001-40743
4.4
8/17/2021
4.5
Description of Securities of Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
10-K
001-40743
4.5
3/31/2023
10.1
Form of Verde Clean Fuels Indemnification Agreement
8-K
001-40743
10.1
2/21/2023
10.2
Omnibus Incentive Plan
8-K
001-40743
10.2
2/21/2023
10.3
Letter Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2021, by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. and its officers and directors and CENAQ Sponsor, LLC.
8-K
001-40743
10.1
8/17/21
10.4
Amendment No. 1 to Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2022, by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. and its officers and directors and CENAQ Sponsor, LLC.
8-K
001-40743
10.9
2/21/2023
10.5
Amendment No. 2 to Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2023, by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. and its officers and directors and CENAQ Sponsor, LLC.
8-K
001-40743
10.10
2/21/2023
10.6
Sponsor Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among the Company, CENAQ, Holdings and Sponsor.
8-K
001-40743
10.1
8/12/22
10.7
Underwriters Letter, dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among Intermediate, CENAQ, Holdings and the underwriters.
8-K
001-40743
10.2
8/12/22
10.8
Form of Subscription Agreement.
8-K
001-40743
10.3
8/12/22
10.9
Tax Receivable Agreement, dated February 15, 2023, by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. and the persons named therein.
8-K
001-40743
10.5
2/21/2023
10.10
A&R Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 15, 2023, by and among Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. and the persons named therein.
8-K
001-40743
10.6
2/21/2023
10.11
OpCo A&R LLC Agreement, including any Certificates of Designations.
8-K
001-40743
10.7
2/21/2023
10.12
Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022.
8-K
001-40743
10.5
8/12/22
10.13
Equity Participation Right Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2023, by and among CENAQ, OpCo and Cottonmouth.
8-K
001-40743
10.4
2/14/2023
Incorporated by Reference
Filed/Furnished
Exhibit No.
Description
Form
File No.
Exhibit
Filing Date
Herewith
10.14
Lease Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2011, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Primus Green Energy.
10-K
001-40743
10.13
	3/31/2023
10.15
First Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2015, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Primus Green Energy (the “Lease Agreement”).
10-K
001-40743
10.14
3/31/2023
10.16
Second Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of December 24, 2018, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Primus Green Energy.
10-K
001-40743
10.15
3/31/2023
10.17
Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of December, 2019 by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Primus Green Energy.
10-K
001-40743
10.16
3/31/2023
10.18
Fourth Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2020, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC.
10-K
001-40743
10.17
3/31/2023
10.19
Fifth Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2021, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC.
10-K
001-40743
10.18
3/31/2023
10.20
Sixth Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of January 4, 2023, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC.
10-K
001-40743
10.19
3/31/2023
10.21
Promissory Note, dated February 15, 2023, issued to the CENAQ Sponsor by Verde Clean Fuels.
10-K
001-40743
10.20
3/31/2023
10.22
Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement, dated as of January 10, 2024, by and between Hillsborough Park, L.L.C. and Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC
X
10.23
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2023 by and between the Company and Ernest B. Miller.
8-K
001-40743
10.1
4/17/2023
10.24
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2023 by and between the Company and John Doyle
8-K
001-40743
10.2
4/17/2023
16.1
Letter from Marcum LLP to the SEC dated February 15, 2023.
8-K
001-40743
16.1
2/21/2023
19.1
Insider Trading Policy
X
21.1
List of subsidiaries.
8-K
001-40743
21.1
2/21/2023
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
X
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature pages of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).
X
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
X
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
X
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
X
32.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
X
97.1
Policy Relating to Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation
X
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document.
X
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
X
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
X
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
X
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
X
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
X
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
† Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.