UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For
the quarterly period ended |
or
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the transition period from ___________ to _____________ | |
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file number |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
None | not applicable | not applicable |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Smaller
reporting company | |
Emerging
growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. shares of common stock are issued and outstanding as of May 13, 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No. | ||
PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Financial Statements (Unaudited). | 2 |
Item 2. | Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. | 10 |
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. | 12 |
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures. | 13 |
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION | ||
13 | ||
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings. | 13 |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors. | 13 |
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. | 14 |
Item 3. | Defaults upon Senior Securities. | 14 |
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. | 14 |
Item 5. | Other Information. | 14 |
Item 6. | Exhibits. | 15 |
i |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This report includes forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “likely,” “aim,” “will,” “would,” “could,” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operation, business strategy and financial needs. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
● | financial risks, including: |
● | our history of losses, lack of revenues and insufficient working capital; | |
● | our ability to continue as a going concern; | |
● | our ability to raise capital; |
● | business risks, including: |
● | our limited operating history and lack of products; | |
● | the lack of operating history of Leap Technology LLC; | |
● | the joint venture with the Barker Group/Firebird Manufactures remains to be finalized; | |
● | potential conflicts of interest of our management; | |
● | reliance on third parties; | |
● | potential FDA oversight; | |
● | lack of marketing and distributing experience; | |
● | possible inability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships; | |
● | possible dependence on licensing or collaboration agreements; |
● | risks relating to our common stock, including: |
● | the lack of a public market for our common stock; and | |
● | possible impact of Delaware’s anti-takeover statutes on our shareholders. |
You should read thoroughly this report and the documents that we refer to herein with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and/or worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements, Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as filed on March 31, 2025 (the “2024 10-K”) and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report, and you should not rely on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business.
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
Unless specifically set forth to the contrary, when used in this report the terms “CQENS,” “we,” “our,” “us,” and similar terms refer to CQENS Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation. In addition, “first quarter of 2025” refers to the three months ended March 31, 2025, “first quarter of 2024” refers to the three months ended March 31, 2024, “2025” refers to the year ended December 31, 2025, and “2024” refers to the year ended December 31, 2024. The information which appears on our web site at www.cqens.com is not part of this report.
1 |
PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
CQENS Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
Total Current Assets | ||||||||
Intellectual property, net | ||||||||
Right-of-use asset - lease, net | ||||||||
Leasehold improvement, net | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses - noncurrent portion | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
Accrued expenses | ||||||||
Related party loan | ||||||||
Investor deposits | ||||||||
Current portion of lease liability | ||||||||
Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | ||||||||
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Preferred Stock: $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024||||||||
Common Stock: $ | par value; shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
Non-controlling interests | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | $ |
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements
2 |
CQENS Technologies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||||
Operating Expenses | ||||||||
General and administrative | $ | $ | ||||||
Research and development | ||||||||
Professional fees | ||||||||
Total Operating Expenses | ||||||||
Total Operating Loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Other Income | ||||||||
Net Loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net Loss attributable to CQENS Technologies, Inc | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | ) | $ | ) | ||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||
Comprehensive Loss: | ||||||||
Change in foreign currency translation adjustments | ( | ) | ||||||
Comprehensive Loss: | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to CQENS Technologies, Inc. | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements
3 |
CQENS Technologies, Inc
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024
(Unaudited)
Common Stock | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | $0.0001 Par Value | Additional Paid in | Accumulated Deficit | Other Comprehensive Loss | Total | Non- controlling Interest | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for cash | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for services | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options expense | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net consolidated loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance March 31, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ |
Common Stock | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | $0.0001 Par Value | Additional Paid in | Accumulated Deficit | Other Comprehensive Loss | Total | Non- controlling Interest | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for cash | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for services | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options expense | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net consolidated loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ |
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements
4 |
CQENS Technologies Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations: | ||||||||
Amortization expense | ||||||||
Lease expense | ||||||||
Depreciation expense | ||||||||
Stock options expense | ||||||||
Common stock issued for services | ||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
Prepaid expenses - noncurrent portion | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Accounts payable | ||||||||
Investor deposits | ||||||||
Lease liability | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Accrued expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
Additions to intellectual property | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | ||||||||
Borrowing from related parties | ||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | ( | ) | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | $ |
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements
5 |
CQENS Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2025
NOTE 1 - NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Nature of Business
CQENS Technologies, Inc. (“we”, “our”, the “Company”, “CQENS”) is a technology company with a proprietary method of heating plant-based consumable formulations that produce an aerosol that lead to the effective and efficient inhalation of the plant’s constituents. This is accomplished at a high temperature but without the accompanying constituents of combustion. Our system of heating is a high temperature, non-combustion system. Our Heat-not-Burn Tobacco Product (HTP) system is a patent-pending method of heating plant-based consumables for inhalation that is superior to other methods of ingestion, smoking, vaping, swallowing or via topical application.
On
December 20, 2023 we entered into a Shareholder Agreement with Asahi Corporation to establish CQENS Electronics (Hong Kong) Limited (“CEL”),
a Hong Kong company, for design, development and manufacture of our heat-not-burn device (“Device”). CQENS acquired
Our business model is further dependent upon our ability to enter into additional strategic partnerships in the future, including alliances or joint ventures with consumer product companies, to enhance and accelerate the development and commercialization of our proposed products. We will be dependent upon third party marketing and distribution companies. We believe that our business opportunities are international in nature and include potential partnerships in the UK, the EU and Asia, including the People’s Republic of China. The recent and relatively prolonged worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19 and current recessionary conditions has caused certain of these opportunities to be delayed. Our product development and commercialization timelines have been reset and we expect to be able to adhere that schedule over the next 12 months provided we are able to successfully raise and deploy capital. Key milestones for us over these next 12 months include entering into international joint ventures, preparing and filing certain regulatory submissions with the US FDA, and undertaking market tests in the EU. Any prolonged recessionary pressures on the international capital markets will make it more difficult for small, pre-revenue companies such as ours to raise capital. We continue to assess the impact of any recessionary conditions on our company, and at this time, we are unable to predict all possible impacts on our company, our operations and our prospects.
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation - The following unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, such interim consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for complete annual consolidated financial statements. The information furnished reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items which are, in the opinion of management, necessary in order to make the consolidated financial statements not misleading. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The balance sheet as of March 31, 2025, has been derived from the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements that were audited by our independent registered public accounting firm but does not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete annual consolidated financial statements. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, for a broader discussion of our business and the risks inherent in such business.
Segment Information – In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures,” which introduced new guidance for improving disclosures about a public entity’s reporting segments to provide, when applicable, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses. This standard was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2024. The senior management team consisting of the CEO, CFO and COO collectively are identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The CODM, for the Company, has determined, consistent with the guidance in ASC 280 paragraph 280-10-50-1, that CQENS Technologies and its subsidiary, CQENS Electronics (Hong Kong) Limited (“CEL”), are a single operating and reporting segment. The CODM has chosen to organize the Company around differences in products and services. CQENS and CEL are focused on research and development of our HnB technology and on production and commercialization of this same technology. As a result, there are no additional disclosures required and no impact to our financial statements at adoption.
CQENS and its subsidiary CEL are organized currently with a singular focus on research and development of our HnB technology and on production and commercialization of this same technology. During the first quarter of 2025 no additional disclosures are required and there is no impact to our financial statements for this reporting period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements – On November 4, 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2024-03 which issues new guidance requiring disclosure of the disaggregation of income statement expenses (DISE) by public business entities (PBE’s) and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods after December 15, 2027.
Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard.
The Company does not believe that any other recently issued effective pronouncements, or pronouncements issued but not yet effective, if adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
6 |
NOTE 2 – GOING CONCERN
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) applicable to a going concern. This contemplates the realization of assets and the liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. Currently, the Company has recurring losses, with cash resources expected to be substantially depleted over the next 12 months, with renewed research and development efforts and with no source of revenue sufficient to cover its operations costs over the next 12 months, these may not allow it to continue as a going concern. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company will be dependent upon the raising of additional capital. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 3 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
In
the first quarter of 2025, we sold
In
the first quarter of 2025, we issued
In
the first quarter of 2024, we issued
In
the first quarter of 2024, we issued
In the first quarter of 2025 stock option expenses amounted to $
compared to $ for the same period in 2024.
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
The following table represents option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Number of Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding - December 31, 2024 | $ | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable - December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Granted | ||||||||||||||||
Forfeited | ||||||||||||||||
Vested | - | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding - March 31, 2025 | $ | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable - March 31, 2025 | $ | $ |
NOTE 4 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
We
maintain our corporate offices at 5550 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55419. We lease the premises on a month-to-month basis from 5550
Nicollet LLC, a company owned by Mr. Chong. Rent for the first quarter of 2025 was $
In
the first quarter of 2025, the Company did
In
the first quarter of 2025, Liu Mei Chong loaned CQENS Electronics (Hong Kong) Limited (CEL) $
In
the first three months of 2025 we secured the services of Plexus International, a common control entity, to provide consulting services
to assist in creating and implementing our Quality Management System (QMS). The fees and expenses incurred for the QMS consulting services
in the first quarter of 2025 were $
NOTE 5 – LEASES
In
March 2022 we entered into a three-year lease agreement commencing April 15, 2022 through April 30, 2025 at an initial annual rate of
$
We account for our leases under ASC 842, Leases, which requires all leases to be reported on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease obligations. We elected the expedients permitted under the transition guidance that retained lease classification and initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to adoption of the standard.
7 |
We categorized leases with terms longer than twelve months as either operating or finance. Finance leases are generally those leases that would allow us to substantially utilize or pay for the entire asset over its estimated life. Assets acquired under finance leases are recorded in property and equipment, net. All other leases are categorized as operating leases. We did not have any finance leases as of March 31, 2025. Our lease for property is for three years. We elected the accounting policy to include both the lease and non-lease components of our agreements as a single component and account for them as a lease.
Lease liabilities are recognized at the present value of the fixed lease payments using a discount rate based on similarly secured borrowings available to us. Lease assets are recognized based on the initial present value of the fixed lease payments, reduced by landlord incentives, plus any direct costs from executing the lease. Lease assets are tested for impairment in the same manner as long-lived assets used in operations. Leasehold improvements are capitalized at cost over the lesser of their expected useful life or the lease term.
When we have options to extend the lease term, terminate the lease before the contractual expiration date, or purchase the leased asset, and it is reasonably certain that we will exercise the option, we consider these options in determining the classification and measurement of the lease. Costs associated with the operating lease are recognized on a straight-line basis within operating expenses over the term of the lease.
The following table presents the lease-related asset and liability recorded on the balance sheets:
March 31, 2025 | ||||
Assets | ||||
Leasehold improvement, net | $ | |||
Operating lease asset | $ | |||
Liabilities | ||||
Current | ||||
Operating lease liabilities | $ | |||
Noncurrent | ||||
Operating lease liabilities | $ |
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | ||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | ||||
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ |
The table below presents the remaining lease terms and discount rates for operating lease:
March 31, 2025 | ||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term | ||||
Operating lease | ||||
Weighted-average discount rate | ||||
Operating lease | % |
Maturities of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2025, were as follows:
Operating Lease | ||||
2025 (1 month remaining) | ||||
Thereafter | ||||
Total lease payments | ||||
Less: amount of lease payments representing interest | ( | ) | ||
Present value future minimum lease payments | $ | |||
Less: current obligations under lease | ( | ) | ||
Non-current obligations | $ |
8 |
NOTE 6 - PREPAID EXPENSE – NON-CURRENT PORTION
Effective
July 13, 2022, the Company entered into a manufacturing contract with Montrade S.p.A., (“Montrade”) a company based in Bologna,
Italy, for Montrade to manufacture and install the consumable manufacturing equipment. The Company made an initial payment of $
On
February 23, 2023, the Company made a payment of $
In
2022, $
NOTE 7 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
May 2, 2025, we sold
9 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements that are included elsewhere in this report. Our discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information” appearing earlier in this report, Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors appearing in our 2024 10-K, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described throughout this report.
Overview
We are a technology company. We design and develop innovative methods to heat plant-based and/or medicant-infused formulations to produce aerosols for the efficient and efficacious inhalation of the plant and medicant constituents contained therein. We have two ways of accomplishing this: 1) at high temperatures via induction without combustion or the constituents of combustion; and 2) at low temperatures, where we heat an inert carrier, producing inhalable, medicant-infused aerosols while maintaining the integrity of the active ingredient(s).
Our high-temperature non-combusting technology is supported by 61 U.S. and international patents and pending patents. Among the applications of our patented and patent-pending technology are those for Heat-not-Burn (“HnB”) devices. Independent tests performed by an accredited lab on our system’s prototypes supported the benefits of rapid heating, confirmed non-combustion, even at high temperatures, and produced better toxicology results, greater than 99% better, when compared to products requiring combustion and compared to other non-combusting technologies currently on the market.
Our low-temperature, aerosolizing technology is supported by 31 U.S. and international patents and pending patents. This portfolio includes intellectual property around device designs and formulations containing a wide variety of herbal and pharmaceutical preparations. The development stage devices feature the ability to verify the user, validate the medicant or pharmaceutical preparation and measure, meter and monitor the proper, prescribed dosage.
We define our target market as the “international inhalation market,” a market that includes herbal, pharmaceutical, medical, recreational and lifestyle products and ingredients. Industry experts, like Nielsen, Grand View Research, Fior Markets, updated published reports in 2024 and 2025 that we have consolidated; these consolidated estimates support that this is a $1.1 trillion USD annual market. The largest category within this market is the combustible tobacco market, comprising over 90% of the total. Our near-term focus is on this segment, which represents the greatest opportunity for growth and the greatest opportunity to positively impact public health and wellness.
We believe our HnB technologies have applications to the international tobacco industry and the growing hemp/CBD and cannabis industries. HnBs represent the latest in tobacco and inhalable technologies, and it is likely to supplant the electronic vapor system (EVS) technologies that include e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems. We believe HnBs, when properly designed, will avoid many of the issues that have proved troublesome for EVS’, including thermal decomposition, heating irregularities and the formation and presence of high levels of acrolein and formaldehyde. In late 2019 Philip Morris International sought to introduce its HnB product to U.S. markets. This product, which was sold in more than 40 countries before entering U.S. markets, like other HnB technologies, is a device that heats a tobacco stick, rather than burning it, and testing by an independent accredited lab supports claims that the product can potentially reduce the number of noxious chemicals found in cigarette smoke by 95%. The Philip Morris product received the approval of the U.S. FDA in 2019, via both a Pre-market Tobacco Authorization (“PMTA”) and in 2020 with a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (“MRTP”) designation to market the product in the U.S.. However, the International Trade Commission ruled on September 29, 2021 that the Philip Morris product violated certain British American Tobacco patents and ruled that the Philip Morris product could not be imported to or sold in the U.S.. In 2023 Phillip Morris and British American Tobacco settled their patent litigation and the product is now being introduced into the U.S. market.
Since late 2019 we have focused our efforts on commercializing our HnB technology, by entering into international joint venture agreements that, when finalized, will pave the way for product introductions in Asia Pacific and for US tobacco consumable manufacturing, The U.S. consumable manufacturing will be supported by proprietary research and development and the completion of high speed manufacturing modules that are being manufactured by Montrade S.p.A., (“Montrade”) a company based in Bologna, Italy. To further extend our product development in late 2023 we entered into a Shareholder Agreement with Asahi Corporation to establish CQENS Electronics (Hong Kong) Limited (“CEL”), a Hong Kong company, for design, development and manufacture of our HNB device. We acquired 50% membership of CEL and hold the majority of the board seats including the chair. Pursuant to the establishment of CEL, we entered into an exclusive, worldwide License Agreement with CEL for designing, manufacturing a consumer device consistent with our IP. CEL is included in our consolidated financial statements.
10 |
Going concern
For the first quarter of 2025, we reported a consolidated net loss of $2,493,777 and net cash used in operations of $1,886,956 compared to a net loss of $995,765 and net cash used in operations of $350,447 for the first quarter of 2024. At March 31, 2025, we had cash on hand of $11,847,746 and an accumulated deficit of $37,242,946. The report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, contains an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern based upon our recurring losses and no source of revenues which are sufficient to cover our operating costs. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Results of operations
We did not generate any revenues from our operations in either the first quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2024. Our total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2025 increased 158.3% over those reported in the first quarter of 2024 principally due to an increase in professional fees. A portion of the professional fees increase is due to consulting services provided in exchange for stock compensation as well as an increase in stock options expenses in the first quarter of 2025 versus the same period in 2024. General and administrative expenses increased 17.0% in the first quarter of 2025 from the comparable period in 2024 due mainly to non-capital equipment purchases, increased payroll taxes, office administration and expenses relating to branding.
Research and development expenses in the first quarter of 2025 decreased 18.4% over this same period in 2024. This decrease was the result of slightly reduced engineering services relating to our devices and consumables. Professional fees increased 504.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. This increase is primarily attributable to increased consulting services. Some of the professional fees increase is attributable to consulting services provided in exchange for stock compensation and professional fees related to increased stock options expenses.
We expect that our operating expenses will increase as we continue to develop our business and we devote additional resources toward our new technologies and business opportunities, promoting that growth, most notably reflected in anticipated increases in general overhead, salaries for personnel and technical resources, as well as increased costs associated with our SEC reporting obligations. However, as set forth elsewhere in this report, our ability to continue to develop our business and achieve our operational goals is dependent upon our ability to raise significant additional working capital. As the availability of this capital is unknown, we are unable to quantify at this time the expected increases in operating expenses in future periods.
Liquidity and capital resources
As of March 31, 2025, we had $11,847,746 in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital surplus of $10,346,269 compared to $4,596,556 in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital surplus of $1,575,975 at December 31, 2024. Our current liabilities decreased $1,528,194 from December 31, 2024, reflecting a decrease in our accounts payable and accrued expenses, and a decrease in investor deposits. Our source of operating capital in the first quarter of 2025 came from the sale of 503,750 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $10,075,000 which includes $850,000 of investor deposits, borrowing from a related party of $60,612, and earned interest of $88,827. Our source of operating capital in the first quarter of 2024 came from cash on hand at the end of 2023 and from $313,000 of proceeds from the sale of our common stock along with $102,037 borrowed from related parties.
The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company obtaining adequate capital to fund operating losses until it becomes profitable. As the company is not generating revenues, continued activities and expenditures to bring product(s) to market as soon as we are able is important. Management believes the currently available funding will be insufficient to finance the Company’s operations for a year from the date of these consolidated financial statements and to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
In 2024 and 2023 we borrowed funds from Xten Capital Group, a related party, and as a result as of March 31, 2025, we owed Xten $1,000,000. The funds are being used for working capital. In the first quarter of 2025 Liu Mei Chong loaned $60,612 to CQENS Electronics (Hong Kong) Limited. The funds are being used for working capital. As of March 31, 2025 we owe Liu Mei Chong $77,326. The loans are non-interest bearing and due upon demand. At March 31, 2025 and as of the date of this filing, we borrowed $1,077,326 from related parties.
At the end of the first quarter of 2024, we owed $1,000,000 to Xten Capital Group and $6,284 to Liu Mei Chong.
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During the first quarter of 2025 we sold an aggregate of 503,750 shares of common stock to eight accredited investors for gross proceeds of $10,075,000 which includes $850,000 of investor deposits. Proceeds from the sales are being used for working capital. Subsequent to the period covered by this report and through the date of filing of this report we raised an additional $100,000 pursuant to the sale of 5,000 shares of common stock. We are using the proceeds for working capital.
As of the date of this report, we still will need to raise $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 in additional capital during the next 12 months to achieve our goals. There are no assurances we will have sufficient funds to fund our operating expenses and continued development of our products and to satisfy our obligations as they become due over the next 12 months. In that event, our ability to continue as a going concern is in jeopardy.
Summary of cash flows
March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 | |||||||
Net cash (used) in operating activities | $ | (1,886,956 | ) | $ | (350,447 | ) | ||
Net cash (used) in investing activities | $ | (147,508 | ) | $ | (64,504 | ) | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 9,285,612 | $ | 415,037 |
Our cash used in operating activities increased 438.0% in the first three months of 2025 compared to the first three months of 2024. During these time periods, we primarily used the cash to fund our net losses.
In the first quarter of 2025, there was $147,508 net cash used in investing activities from the capitalization of our intellectual property compared to net cash used in investing activities of $64,504 in the same period in 2024 for capitalization of our intellectual property.
In the first quarter of 2025, we had net cash provided by financing activities of $9,285,612 from the sale of our common stock and borrowing from related parties. We had net cash provided by financing activities in the first quarter of 2024 of $415,037 from the sale of our common stock and borrowing from related parties.
Critical accounting policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. The more critical accounting estimates include estimates related to impairment of long-lived assets. We also have other key accounting policies, none of these policies are deemed to be critical accounting policies or critical estimates.
Off balance sheet arrangements
As of the date of this report, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors. The term “off-balance sheet arrangement” generally means any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement to which an entity unconsolidated with us is a party, under which we have any obligation arising under a guarantee contract, derivative instrument or variable interest or a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to such entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support for such assets.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable for a smaller reporting company.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also 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.
Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that the information relating to our company required to be disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission reports (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure due to the presence of continuing material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as reported in our 2024 10-K. These material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting result from limited segregation of duties and limited multiple level of review in the financial close process.
The existence of the continuing material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting increases the risk that a future restatement of our financials is possible. In order to remediate these material weaknesses, we will need to expand our accounting resources. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis, however, we do not expect that the deficiencies in our disclosure controls will be remediated until such time as we have remediated the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Subject to the availability of sufficient capital, we expect to expand our accounting resources during 2025. in an effort to remediate the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In addition to the other information set forth in this report you should carefully consider the risk factors in Part I, Item 1A in our 2024 10-K and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. These cautionary statements are to be used as a reference in connection with any forward-looking statements, written or oral, which may be made or otherwise addressed in connection with a forward-looking statement or contained in any of our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
During the period covered by this report the Company issued the unregistered shares of common stock below pursuant to exemptions from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The shares contain restrictions on the transferability of such shares absent registration or applicable exemption.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 we sold an aggregate of 503,750 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of $10,075,000 which includes $850,000 of investor deposits to seven individuals or entities, all of where were deemed accredited investors. We did not pay a commission or finder’s fee and are using the proceeds for working capital.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, we issued an aggregate of 45,169 shares of our common stock to eight individuals or entities for consulting services. The shares of common stock were valued at $903,380.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable to our company’s operations.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits. [FILE NEW MONTRAGE AMENDMENT?]
No. | Exhibit Description | Form | Date Filed |
Number | Herewith | |||||
2.1 | Share Exchange Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated April 11, 2014 by and between OICco Acquisition IV, Inc., VapAria Corporation and the listed shareholders+ | 8-K | 4/11/14 | 2a | ||||||
3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | S-1 | 6/30/14 | 3.C | ||||||
3.2 | Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | 8-K | 8/21/14 | 3.4 | ||||||
3.3 | Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | 10-Q | 11/19/16 | 3.5 | ||||||
3.4 | Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | 8-K | 12/18/19 | 3.5 | ||||||
3.5 | Bylaws | S-1 | 3/29/10 | 3(b) | ||||||
31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer | Filed | ||||||||
31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer | Filed | ||||||||
32.1 | Section 1350 Certification | Furnished* | ||||||||
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document | Filed | ||||||||
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | Filed | ||||||||
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | Filed | ||||||||
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | Filed | ||||||||
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | Filed | ||||||||
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | Filed | ||||||||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | Filed |
+ Exhibits and/or schedules have been omitted. The Company agrees to furnish to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request for any omitted information.
* This exhibit is being furnished rather than filed and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing, in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CQENS Technologies Inc. | ||
May 13, 2025 | By: | /s/ Alexander Chong |
Alexander Chong, Chief Executive Officer | ||
May 13, 2025 | By: | /s/ Daniel Markes |
Daniel Markes, Chief Financial Officer |
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