10-Q 1 esph_10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT Quarterly Report


 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

____________

 

FORM 10-Q

____________

 

þ

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

 

 

OR

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________


Commission file number: 000-25663

 

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc.

 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

20-3502861

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

3515 S.E. Lionel Terrace,
Stuart, Florida

 

34997

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (772) 287-4846


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

o

Accelerated filer 

o

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company 

þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ


Class

 

Outstanding at May 11, 2015

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

 

165,168,894 shares

 

 




TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

                      

                                                                                                                                                                     

                      

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

2

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

3

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

5

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

23

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

30

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

31

 

 

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

32

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

32

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

32

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

32

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

32

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

32

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

32


SIGNATURES

33







 




PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Assets

  

                            

  

  

                            

  

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

219,011

 

 

$

31,800

 

Restricted cash

 

 

50,050

 

 

 

50,050

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

2,400

 

Current portion of accounts receivable-related party

 

 

5,455

 

 

 

52,740

 

Inventory

 

 

788,264

 

 

 

559,150

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

165,953

 

 

 

55,109

 

Total current assets

 

 

1,228,733

 

 

 

751,249

 

Investment in unconsolidated investee

 

 

12,379,570

 

 

 

12,668,298

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

1,268,891

 

 

 

1,356,628

 

Slow moving inventory, net

 

 

71,401

 

 

 

71,401

 

Patents, net

 

 

188,306

 

 

 

189,303

 

Deposits

 

 

14,840

 

 

 

14,840

 

Total assets

 

$

15,151,741

 

 

$

15,051,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock and Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

700,480

 

 

$

417,721

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

1,128,405

 

 

 

981,012

 

Customer deposit

 

 

252,726

 

 

 

1,209

 

Current portion of deferred revenue

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

 

Current portion of convertible notes payable, net of discounts

 

 

3,044,028

 

 

 

2,038,116

 

Current portion of note payable

 

 

102,149

 

 

 

102,149

 

Current portion of related party note payable

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

Current portion of financing obligations

 

 

126,640

 

 

 

56,215

 

Current portion of capital lease obligation

 

 

16,345

 

 

 

16,141

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

5,445,773

 

 

 

3,612,563

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

 

469,792

 

 

 

 

Convertible notes payable, net of discounts and current portion

 

 

 

 

 

123,526

 

Financing obligations, net of current portion

 

 

51,038

 

 

 

63,594

 

Capital lease obligation, net of current portion

 

 

21,625

 

 

 

25,788

 

Total liabilities

 

 

5,988,228

 

 

 

3,825,471

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable convertible cumulative preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A - 11 shares authorized; 6 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; $25,000 per share redemption amount plus dividends in arrears

 

 

1,231,619

 

 

 

1,225,994

 

Series B - 484 shares authorized; 241 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively; $2,500 per share redemption amount plus dividends in arrears

 

 

2,592,348

 

 

 

2,577,285

 

Total redeemable convertible cumulative preferred stock

 

 

3,823,967

 

 

 

3,803,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. stockholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 165,168,894 and 164,734,112 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

 

 

1,651,689

 

 

 

1,647,341

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

115,967,719

 

 

 

115,252,710

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(112,278,343

)

 

 

(109,463,965

)

Total Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. stockholders' equity

 

 

5,341,065

 

 

 

7,436,086

 

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary

 

 

(1,519

)

 

 

(13,117

)

Total equity

 

 

5,339,546

 

 

 

7,422,969

 

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible cumulative preferred stock and equity

 

$

15,151,741

 

 

$

15,051,719

 


The accompanying unaudited notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.



1



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Revenues

    

 

 

 

  

Equipment sales and licensing

 

$

5,208

 

$

 

Equipment sales and licensing, related party

 

 

 

 

107,925

 

Aftermarket part sales, related party

 

 

8,506

 

 

26,324

 

Total revenues

 

 

13,714

 

 

134,249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment sales and licensing costs (exclusive of depreciation shown below)

 

 

 

 

33,925

 

Aftermarket part costs (exclusive of depreciation shown below)

 

 

9,528

 

 

21,916

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

1,328,964

 

 

1,765,120

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

92,996

 

 

103,949

 

Loss on sale of notes receivable

 

 

 

 

730,260

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

1,431,488

 

 

2,655,170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(1,417,774

)

 

(2,520,921

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on investment in unconsolidated investee

 

 

(288,728

)

 

(316,324

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

36,572

 

Interest expense

 

 

(916,503

)

 

(577,040

)

Gain on change in fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

1,907

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

(180,687

)

 

 

Other, net

 

 

911

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

 

 

(1,096,279

)

 

(538,561

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

(2,802,781

)

 

(3,375,806

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(20,688

)

 

(20,688

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss applicable to common stock before allocation to non controlling interest

 

 

(2,823,469

)

 

(3,396,494

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: net loss applicable to non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary

 

 

1,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss applicable to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. common stock

 

$

(2,821,950

)

$

(3,396,494

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per common share applicable to common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.02

)

Diluted

 

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.02

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

164,431,954

 

 

164,142,876

 

Diluted

 

 

164,431,954

 

 

164,142,876

 


The accompanying unaudited notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.



2



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)


 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

     

                           

  

  

                           

  

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) applicable to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. common stock

 

$

(2,821,950

)

 

$

(3,396,494

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) applicable to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. common stock to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

20,688

 

 

 

20,688

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

92,996

 

 

 

103,949

 

Non-controlling interest in loss of consolidated subsidiary

 

 

(1,519

)

 

 

 

Amortization of debt issue costs

 

 

 

 

 

8,093

 

Amortization of discount on notes payable

 

 

720,887

 

 

 

491,315

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

143,898

 

 

 

199,622

 

Income from change in fair value of warrant derivative liability

 

 

 

 

 

(1,907

)

Loss on investment in unconsolidated investee

 

 

288,728

 

 

 

316,324

 

Loss on sale of notes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

730,260

 

Modification of warrants and options

 

 

29,132

 

 

 

 

Shares issued for note extension

 

 

47,826

 

 

 

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

180,687

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accounts receivable

 

 

49,685

 

 

 

195,132

 

Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

(11,256

)

 

 

(3,865

)

Increase in inventory

 

 

(229,114

)

 

 

(134,241

)

Increase in accounts payable

 

 

282,761

 

 

 

207,824

 

Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities

 

 

147,392

 

 

 

(271,694

)

Increase in deferred revenue

 

 

494,792

 

 

 

 

Increase in customer deposits

 

 

251,517

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

(312,850

)

 

 

(1,534,994

)

Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

 

(2,396

)

 

 

(126,285

)

Interest on restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

(44

)

Payment of patent costs

 

 

(1,865

)

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(4,261

)

 

 

(126,329

)

Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable and warrants

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

245,000

 

Proceeds from issuance of related party note payable

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of notes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

1,600,000

 

Repayments of notes payable and insurance financing

 

 

(21,761

)

 

 

(17,025

)

Repayments of capital lease obligations

 

 

(3,959

)

 

 

(3,764

)

Repayments of vehicle and equipment financing

 

 

(19,958

)

 

 

(48,096

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

504,322

 

 

 

1,776,115

 

Net increase in cash

 

 

187,211

 

 

 

114,792

 

Cash at beginning of period

 

 

31,800

 

 

 

1,059,651

 

Cash at end of period

 

$

219,011

 

 

$

1,174,443

 


The accompanying unaudited notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements



3



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)


 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

     

                           

  

  

                           

  

Cash paid for interest

 

$

53,520

 

 

$

21,968

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued preferred stock dividends

 

$

20,688

 

 

$

20,688

 

Cashless exercise of options and warrants

 

$

 

 

$

88

 

Beneficial conversion feature on convertible debt and convertible debt modifications charged to additional paid in capital

 

$

519,188

 

 

$

234,211

 

Modification of warrants and options

 

$

 

 

$

37,432

 

Insurance premium finance contract recorded as a prepaid asset

 

$

99,588

 

 

$

104,299

 


The accompanying unaudited notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.




4



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION


Description of the Business


Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (“Ecosphere,” “ETI” or the “Company”) is a technology development and intellectual property licensing company that develops environmental solutions for global water, energy and industrial markets.  We help industry increase production, reduce costs, and protect the environment through a portfolio of more than 35 patented and patent-pending technologies:  Technologies like Ozonix®, the Ecos PowerCube® and our recently announced Ecos GrowCube™, which are available for exclusive and nonexclusive licensing opportunities across a wide range of industries and applications throughout the world.


The Company is a leader in emerging Advanced Oxidation Processes (“AOP”) and has an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that includes a combined twenty-three (23) approved and pending United States patents for its Ozonix® technology. Ozonix® is a revolutionary AOP that offers customers a chemical-free alternative to high-volume water treatment, disinfection and recycling for a wide variety of industries and applications, including but not limited to agriculture, energy, food and beverage, industrial, marine, mining and municipal wastewater treatment.


Ecosphere’s patented Ozonix® technology has been commercially proven in the oil and gas hydraulic fracturing industry and is currently being used by Fidelity National Environmental Solutions (“FNES”), formerly Ecosphere Energy Services (“EES”), and its sub-licensing partners around the United States and most recently Canada. FNES has an exclusive field-of-use license for Ecosphere's patented Ozonix® technology for global energy applications including, but not limited to, onshore and offshore oil and natural gas exploration and production, power generation, refineries and coal. 


In addition to its current operations, FNES presently has a sub-licensing partner, Hydrosphere Energy Solutions, LLC in the territory of Alberta and North East British Columbia, Canada. Since 2009, FNES and its sub-licensing partners have enabled oil and gas customers to treat, recycle and reuse over 5 billion gallons of water for more than 1,200 oil and natural gas wells around the United States and Canada in all major shale plays including but not limited to Fayetteville, Haynesville, Woodford, Eagle Ford, Bakken, Marcellus and Permian Basin; protecting $5 billion worth of well assets and generating over $70 million in equipment sales, service and technology licensing revenue.


Ecosphere and FNES have received numerous awards and accolades for its patented and proven Ozonix® water treatment solutions for the energy sector, including but not limited to:


·

2013 Oil and Gas Awards - Water Management Company of the Year Award, Midcontinent Region;

·

2013 Bloomberg New Energy Finance Awards - New Energy Pioneer;

·

2013 IHS CERAWeek - Energy Innovation Pioneer Award;

·

2013 American Technology Awards - "Clean Tech/Green Tech" Winner;

·

2013 World Technology Awards - Corporate "Environment" Category Winner;

·

2013 Governors Innovators in Business Awards by Enterprise Florida Rising Star;

·

2012 Frost & Sullivan North American Product Leadership Award in Disinfection Equipment for Shale Oil and Gas Wastewater Treatment; and

·

2010, 2011, 2012 Artemis "Top 50 Water Technologies" Winner.


Outside of the energy industry, Ecosphere has recently signed an exclusive technology licensing and equipment purchase agreement with Brasil Clean Energy (“BCE”), a Brazilian environmental services company, to deploy its patented Ozonix® water treatment technology across the Food and Beverage industry in Brazil. In September 2014, the Company completed manufacturing, testing and acceptance of BCE’s first piece of equipment, an Ozonix® EF10M mobile water treatment system capable of treating approximately 420 gallons-per-minute in a 10x12 footprint.


In January 2015, Ecosphere signed an exclusive technology licensing agreement with US H20, Inc. (“USH20”), to deploy its patented Ozonix® water treatment technology on an exclusive basis in the United States for the landfill leachate and marine port & terminal fields-of-use. Under the terms of the license agreement, USH20 was required to pay Ecosphere an upfront technology licensing fee in addition to ongoing royalty payments on all Ozonix® related gross revenue for the life of the patents.




5



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



In April 2015, Ecosphere also announced the receipt of a purchase order for an Ozonix® EF10M water treatment system by Kualiti Alam SDN BHD, a Malaysian waste management and renewable energy solutions provider, to be used for industrial wastewater treatment applications in Malaysia. Kualiti Alam SDN BHD paid Ecosphere a deposit for the Ozonix® EF10M water treatment system and manufacturing has begun at Ecosphere's Corporate Headquarters in Stuart, Florida USA. Under the terms of the equipment purchase agreement, the Ozonix® EF10M water treatment system is scheduled to be delivered in July 2015.


In addition to Ozonix®, Ecosphere has recently received a patent from the United States Patent Office for a mobile solar-powered generator. The Ecos PowerCube® is a portable, self-contained micro-utility that uses the power of the sun to provide electricity in the most remote, off-grid locations. Designed to meet the growing demand for off-grid energy, with a unique, patented array of stacked solar panels, the Ecos PowerCube® maximizes the total amount of solar power generation possible in 10', 20' and 40' ISO shipping container footprints - providing users with approximately 400% more solar power in a given footprint. With solar power generation capabilities up to 15 kW on the 40’ version, the Ecos PowerCube® can be transported by land, air, or sea and is ideally suited to support off-grid agricultural, military, emergency/disaster relief, humanitarian and wireless communication efforts for remote applications around the world.


In November 2014, Ecosphere’s patented Ecos PowerCube® technology was recognized as a winner in the Green category of the 2014 Best of What’s New Awards from Popular Science. Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new innovative products and chooses the top 100 winners across 12 categories for inclusion in the annual Best of What’s New issue – the best-read issue of the year. To win, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.  Ecosphere’s patented Ecos PowerCube® solar panel array technology was featured in the December 2014 special issue.


In November 2014, the Company formed a new subsidiary, Sea of Green Systems, Inc. (“SOG”) to deploy its most recently announced technology, the Ecos GrowCube™. The Ecos GrowCube™ is a turnkey, fully automated hydroponic growing structure that is made in the USA and fabricated out of aircraft-grade aluminum. An Ecos GrowCube™ utilizes hydroponic growing techniques in order to maximize the amount of crop production possible in a given footprint and eliminates the need for soil, fossil fuels, pesticides and toxic chemicals. The Ecos GrowCube™ offers commercial and residential farmers the opportunity to grow a wide range of crops in a fully automated and controlled environment virtually anywhere. It is a turn-key solution for the small to medium sized, highly focused hydroponic growers producing high-value crops. SOG has been formed to monetize Ecosphere’s Ecos GrowCube™ technology and Ozonix® product lines in the hydroponic growing market. The subsidiary has received a royalty-free global field-of-use license to the Company’s Ecos GrowCube™ technology in addition to Ecosphere’s multi-patented Ozonix® water treatment technology and all associated automation, software and controls for hydroponic growing markets around the world.


In June 2014, the Company engaged ICAP Patent Brokerage to monetize its patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technology portfolios and to serve as its exclusive licensing agent. ICAP Patent Brokerage is now the Company’s exclusive broker, tasked with successfully licensing both technologies across a wide variety of industries and applications on a global basis. ICAP Patent Brokerage’s veteran brokers have more than 35 years of experience in monetizing and leveraging intellectual property assets, drawing on an extensive knowledge of the marketplace across multiple sectors throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. ICAP brings credibility, stability and liquidity to the IP marketplace and is quickly becoming the intellectual property brokerage of choice for IP assets in both the primary and secondary markets.  With the growing pressure on global water resources and the need for clean, renewable energy, we expect Ecosphere’s patented technology portfolio to continue to expand. The Chief Executive Officer of ICAP is a director of and consultant to the Company.


In addition to Ozonix®, Ecos PowerCube® and Ecos GrowCube™, the Company has developed an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that can be purchased and licensed for use in large-scale and sustainable applications across industries, nations and ecosystems. Companies that license Ecosphere’s patented technologies are able to improve their financial metrics while also reducing their ecological and environmental footprints. The Company is currently focused on licensing its patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies, although its other technologies and patents remain a viable part of Ecosphere’s long-term technology licensing strategy.


Basis of Presentation


The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America (“U.S.”) as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and with the rules and regulations of the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments, which, in the opinion of management, are considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods shown. The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or for any future period. The information included in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations contained in this report and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.



6



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Going Concern


As of May 11, 2015, Ecosphere had cash on hand of approximately $70,000. Due to the nature of its technology licensing business model, Ecosphere presently does not have any regularly recurring revenue. The Company reported a net loss of $2,802,781 for the three months ended March 31, 2015, and cash used in operating activities of $312,850, respectively.  At March 31, 2015, the Company had a working capital deficiency and accumulated deficit of $4,217,040 and $112,278,343, respectively. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. To support its operations, the Company has a number of plans to monetize its intellectual property, which is described below.


Management believes that its current plans will provide sufficient liquidity for the next 12 months. Ecosphere plans to continue monetizing its intellectual property, and has identified the following liquidity sources that it expects to realize over the next three years:


·

Ecosphere is actively marketing exclusive and non-exclusive licensing opportunities for sale to strategic, well positioned partners that wish to bring our patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies to specific industries in their respective countries and regions of the world. Management expects this will result in similar realization of the value that has been realized by the development and sale of the global energy rights for its Ozonix® technology to FNES. Ecosphere owns 100% of the global rights to its patented Ozonix® technology for all non-energy related applications, including but not limited to agriculture, food and beverage, industrial, marine and municipal wastewater treatment, and any other industry in which water is treated with conventional liquid chemicals.  Ecosphere also owns 100% of the global right to its patented Ecos PowerCube® technology for all industries and applications worldwide.

·

Ecospheres business model revolves upon the licensing of its intellectual property to strategic customers and partners around the world that are well positioned and capitalized to bring Ecosphere’s patented technologies to their respective industries and countries. Additionally, Ecosphere has its own in-house design, engineering and manufacturing facilities to support customers and licensees that choose to not manufacture Ecosphere’s patented technologies themselves. In addition to the various licensing opportunities that are available for its patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies globally, the Companys 30.6% interest in FNES is also available for sale to strategic buyers.

·

In November 2014, Ecosphere launched its Ecos GrowCube, a state-of-the-art turnkey fully automated hydropnic growing structure that will use hydroponic growing techniques to maximize crop production using Ecosphere’s Ozonix® patents and thereby eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides without soil or fossil fuels.


Management believes that the realization of any of the above events will provide sufficient liquidity for the foreseeable future. However, Ecosphere cannot provide any assurance that these plans will be successful. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.


In addition to needing capital to support its operations, Ecosphere has a $50,000 note payable due in July 2015 (proceeds of three month note received in January 2015, see Note 14) and $5,135,000 in convertible notes payable due over the next 12 months from the date of this filing. This consists of $645,000 due in August 2015, $1,800,000 due in September 2015, $333,000 due in November 2015, $1,867,000 due in December 2015, $245,000 due in January 2016 and $245,000 due in March 2016. See Note 6.


2.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


Principles of Consolidation


The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ecosphere, it’s wholly and majority owned subsidiaries and through May 23, 2013, Ecosphere Energy Services, LLC (“EES”), now Fidelity National Environmental Solutions LLC (“FNES”). On May 24, 2013, the Company sold a 12% interest in FNES and transferred an additional 1.5% interest to a board member of FNES, reducing the Company’s ownership in FNES from 52.6% to 39.1%. Since May 24, 2013, the Company accounts for its investment in FNES under the equity method. On July 31, 2013, the Company sold an additional 8% interest in FNES and transferred an additional 0.5% interest to a board member of FNES, reducing the Company’s ownership in FNES from 39.1% to 30.6% (See Note 3). The Company continues to account for its investment in FNES under the equity method. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated.




7



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Noncontrolling Interest


In October 2013, the Company’s subsidiary, Ecosphere Mining, LLC, granted to its directors an aggregate of 5% ownership in Ecosphere Mining, LLC. Accordingly the Company is presenting noncontrolling interests as a component of equity on its consolidated balance sheets and reported noncontrolling interest net income or loss under the heading “Net (income) loss applicable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.


Use of Estimates


The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, valuation of inventory, estimates of depreciable lives and valuation of property and equipment, estimates of amortization periods for intangible assets, valuation of beneficial conversion features in convertible debt, valuation of equity based instruments issued for other than cash, valuation of derivatives, valuation of remaining interest in FNES and the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.


Cash Equivalents


The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.


Restricted Cash


Restricted cash as of March 31, 2015, represents a $50,050 compensating balance held pursuant to certain of the Company's short-term financing arrangements.


Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts


Accounts receivable are stated at their estimated net realizable value. The Company reviews its accounts to estimate losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. Any required allowance is based on specific analysis of past due accounts and also considers historical trends of write-offs. Past due status is based on how recently payments have been received from customers. The Company’s collection experience has been favorable reflecting a limited number of customers. No allowance was deemed necessary at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.


Inventory


Inventory is primarily comprised of raw materials to manufacture water treatment equipment, finished goods representing one Ecos PowerCube® completed for future sale and demonstration purposes where no binding sales contract exists and work-in-process representing water treatment equipment and one Ecos GrowCube™ being manufactured and assembled for future sale and demonstration purposes. Inventory on hand at each respective balance sheet date is stated at the lower of cost or market with cost determined using a weighted average methodology. See Note 4 and see Note 14 for security interest in inventory.


Property, Equipment and Capitalized Leases


Property and equipment is stated at cost. For equipment manufactured for use by the Company, cost includes direct component parts plus direct labor. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives generally ranging from three to seven years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the lesser of the useful life of the asset or the remaining term of the lease. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.


Debt Issuance Cost


The Company accounts for debt issuance cost in accordance with ASC 470, Debt. The costs associated with the issuance of debt are capitalized and amortized over the life of the underlying debt instrument.



8



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Patents

Patents are stated at cost and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated future periods to be benefited. All patents at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 have either been acquired from a related company or assigned to the Company by the Company's founder. Patents are recorded at the historical cost basis.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of ASC 360-10, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. This statement requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less, costs to sell.

Investment in Unconsolidated Investee

The Company accounts for investments in which the Company owns more than 20% of the investee, using the equity method in accordance with ASC Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Under the equity method, an investor initially records an investment in the stock of an investee at cost, and adjusts the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the investor's share of the earnings or losses of the investee after the date of acquisition. The amount of the adjustment is included in the determination of net income by the investor, and such amount reflects adjustments similar to those made in preparing consolidated statements including adjustments to eliminate intercompany gains and losses, and to amortize, if appropriate, any difference between investor cost and underlying equity in net assets of the investee at the date of investment. The investment of an investor is also adjusted to reflect the investor's share of changes in the investee's capital. Dividends received from an investee reduce the carrying amount of the investment. A series of operating losses of an investee or other factors may indicate that a decrease in value of the investment has occurred which is other than temporary and which should be recognized even though the decrease in value is in excess of what would otherwise be recognized by application of the equity method.

Derivative Instruments

ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC Topic 815”), establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and for hedging activities by requiring that all derivatives be recognized in the balance sheet and measured at fair value. Gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized in earnings or recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) depending on the purpose of the derivatives and whether they qualify and have been designated for hedge accounting treatment. The Company does not have any derivative instruments for which it has applied hedge accounting treatment.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures its financial and non-financial assets and liabilities, as well as makes related disclosures, in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC Topic 820”). For certain of our financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to their short maturities. Amounts recorded for notes payable, net of discount, also approximate fair value because current interest rates available to the Company for debt with similar terms and maturities are substantially the same.

ASC Topic 820 provides guidance with respect to valuation techniques to be utilized in the determination of fair value of assets and liabilities. Approaches include, (i) the market approach (comparable market prices), (ii) the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and (iii) the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). ASC Topic 820 utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:

Level 1:

Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:

Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.



9



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Level 3:

Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore developed using estimates and assumptions developed by us, which reflect those that a market participant would use.


Revenue Recognition

 

For each of our revenue sources we have the following policies:


Equipment and Component Sales


Revenues and related costs on production type contracts are recognized using the “percentage of completion method” of accounting in accordance with ASC 605-35, Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production Type Contracts (“ASC 605-35”). Under this method, contract revenues and related expenses are recognized over the performance period of the contract in direct proportion to the costs incurred as a percentage of total estimated costs for the entirety of the contract. Costs include direct material, direct labor, subcontract labor and any allocable indirect costs. All unallocable indirect costs and corporate general and administrative costs are charged to the periods as incurred. However, in the event a loss on a contract is foreseen, the Company will recognize the loss as it is determined. Contract costs plus recognized profits are accumulated as deferred assets, and billings and/or cash received are recorded to a deferred revenue liability account. The net of these two accounts for any individual project is presented as "Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts," an asset account, or "Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts," a liability account.


Production type contracts that do not qualify for use of the percentage of completion method, the Company accounts for these contracts using the “completed contract method” of accounting in accordance with ASC 605-35-25-57. Under this method, contract costs are accumulated as deferred assets, and billings and/or cash received is recorded to a deferred revenue liability account, during the periods of construction, but no revenues, costs, or profits are recognized in operations until the period within which completion of the contract occurs. Costs include direct material, direct labor, subcontract labor and any allocable indirect costs. All unallocable indirect costs and corporate general and administrative costs are charged to the periods as incurred. However, in the event a loss on a contract is foreseen, the Company will recognize the loss as it is determined. The deferred asset (accumulated contract costs) in excess of the deferred liability (billings and/or cash received) is classified as a current asset under "Costs in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts". The deferred liability (billings and/or cash received) in excess of the deferred asset (accumulated contract costs) is classified under current liabilities as "Billings in excess of costs on uncompleted contracts".


A contract is considered complete when all costs except insignificant items have been incurred; the equipment is operating according to specifications and has been accepted by the customer.


The Company may manufacture products in anticipation of a future contract. Since there are no binding contracts relating to the purchase of these products, ASC 605-35 is not applicable. Accordingly, revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, products are delivered to and accepted by the customer, economic risk of loss has passed to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable, collection is reasonably assured, and any future obligations of the Company are insignificant.


Field Services (See Note 3)


Revenue from water treatment contracts is earned based upon the volume of water processed plus additional period based contractual charges and is recognized in the period the service is provided. Payments received in advance of the performance of services or of the delivery of goods are deferred as liabilities until the services are performed or the goods are delivered.

 

Some projects the Company undertakes are based upon our providing water processing services for fixed periods of time. Revenue from these projects is recognized based upon the number of days the service has been provided during the reporting period.


After Market Part Sales


The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of aftermarket parts during the period in which the parts are delivered to the buyer.


Royalties


Revenue from technology license royalties will be recorded if and as the royalties are earned. No royalty revenue has been earned to date.



10



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Licensing Revenue


The Company typically amortizes licensing revenue over the life of a licensing agreement in accordance with SAB Topic 13f and the unamortized portion is recorded as deferred revenue. See Note 7.

 

The Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in revenues and shipping and handling costs in cost of revenues.


Equity-based Compensation

Compensation expense for all stock-based employee and director compensation awards granted is based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”). The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term. Vesting terms vary based on the individual grant terms.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based compensation awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option pricing model, which was developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are freely transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. The BSM option pricing model considers, among other factors, the expected term of the award and the expected volatility of the Company’s stock price. Expected terms are calculated using the Simplified Method, volatility is determined based on the Company's historical stock price trends and the discount rate is based upon treasury rates with instruments of similar expected terms. Warrants granted to non-employees are accounted for in accordance with the measurement and recognition criteria of ASC Topic 505-50, Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on difference between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to offset any net deferred tax assets for which management believes it is more likely than not that the net deferred asset will not be realized.

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes

The Company applies the provisions of ASC Topic 740-10-25, Income Taxes – Overall – Recognition (“ASC Topic 740-10-25”) with respect to the accounting for uncertainty of income tax positions. ASC Topic 740-10-25 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740-10-25 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As of March 31, 2015, tax years since 2012 remain open for IRS audit. The Company has received no notice of audit from the Internal Revenue Service for any of the open tax years.

Net Loss Per Share

The Company displays earnings per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 260”). ASC 260 requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share includes the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, no potential common shares were included in the calculation of diluted loss per share because they were anti-dilutive.



11



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Securities that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future, that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented, consist of the following:


Anti-Dilutive Potential Common Stock


 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Convertible debt

 

 

41,485,507

 

 

 

9,091,146

 

Convertible preferred stock

 

 

362,497

 

 

 

362,497

 

Options and warrants to purchase common stock

 

 

106,220,018

 

 

 

74,063,888

 

Total Anti-Dilutive Potential Common Stock

 

 

148,068,022

 

 

 

83,517,531

 


New Accounting Standards


In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40); Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern”. This update requires management of the Company to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. This update is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this standard to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.


3.

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTEE


As a result of its sale of a 12% interest in FNES on May 24, 2013, the Company deconsolidated FNES and accounts for its investment using the equity method of accounting. The Company sold an additional 8% interest in FNES in July 2013, reducing its ownership interest in FNES to 30.6%. Condensed unaudited summary financial information for FNES as of March 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is as follows:


 

 

March 31,

2015

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

  

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Cash

     

$

257,202

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

306,040

 

Property and equipment

 

 

3,564,698

 

Inventory

 

 

108,696

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

119,750

 

Intangible assets

 

 

1,701,389

 

Slow moving inventory, net

 

 

24,864

 

Deposits

 

 

8,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

6,090,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

198,666

 

Accounts payable, related party

 

 

5,455

 

Financing obligations

 

 

90,284

 

Debt

 

 

1,306,613

 

Debt, related party

 

 

2,461,793

 

Members' equity

 

 

2,028,028

 

 

 

 

 

   

Total liabilities and members' equity

 

$

6,090,839

 




12



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)




 

For the three

months ended

March 31, 2015

 

For the three

months ended

March 31, 2014

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

$

363,655

 

$

1,722,531

 

Cost of sales

 

348,102

 

 

967,861

 

Gross profit

 

15,553

 

 

754,670

 

Operating expenses

 

918,385

 

 

1,744,328

 

Operating loss

 

(902,832

)

 

(989,658

)

Other loss

 

40,961

 

 

44,339

 

Net loss

 

(943,793

)

 

(1,033,997

)

Ownership interest (rounded)

 

31%

 

 

31%

 

Share of net loss

$

(288,728

)

$

(316,324

)

Total equity interest loss recorded

$

(288,728

)

$

(316,324

)

Investment

$

12,379,570

 

$

14,053,115

 


4.

INVENTORY


Inventory consists of the following at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:


 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Raw materials

 

$

71,579

 

 

$

46,804

 

Work in process

 

 

415,287

 

 

 

210,948

 

Finished goods

 

 

301,398

 

 

 

301,398

 

 

 

$

788,264

 

 

$

559,150

 


At December 31, 2014, the Company recorded an inventory reserve for slow moving parts that have not moved in or out of the Company’s inventory in over one year; the value of these parts is $142,802. The majority of these parts are related to the manufacturing of Ozonix® EF80 units that the Company has not been manufacturing within the last year. Since the slow moving inventory is not obsolete and may have a future use, the Company then wrote down the slow moving inventory by 50%. This is the best estimate taking into consideration that the parts are only slow moving not obsolete. The balance of the slow moving inventory was $71,401 and is included as a long-term asset in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.


5.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT


Property and equipment consists of the following at March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014:


 

 

Estimated Useful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lives in Years

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Machinery and equipment

 

5

 

 

$

2,061,914

 

 

$

2,061,914

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

5 to 7

 

 

 

358,974

 

 

 

358,974

 

Automobiles and trucks

 

3 to 5

 

 

 

142,141

 

 

 

142,141

 

Leasehold improvements

 

5

 

 

 

526,659

 

 

 

524,263

 

Office equipment

 

5

 

 

 

620,858

 

 

 

620,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,710,546

 

 

 

3,708,150

 

Less total accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,441,655

)

 

 

(2,351,522

)

Property and equipment, net

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,268,891

 

 

$

1,356,628

 


The Company had minimal additions to furniture and fixtures and office equipment relating to the build out of the mining office in Park City, UT during the three months ended March 31, 2015. Depreciation expense amounted to approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.




13



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



6.

CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE, NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT

Debt consists of the following at March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014:

Convertible Notes Payable

 

 

March 31,

 2015

 

 

December 31,

 2014

 

In March 2015, the Company issued a convertible note in the aggregate principal amount of $250,000. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10%, matures in September 2015 and is convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.115 per share. In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 4,347,826 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $250,000 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility of 69.92%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate of 1.41% and no dividends. As of March 31, 2015, the unamortized amount of the discount was $233,051 and accrued interest was $833.

 

$

16,949

 

 

$

 

In November 2014, the Company issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10%, matures in December 2015 and is convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.12 per share. In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 8,333,333 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.12 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $500,000 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility of 72.69%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate of 1.56% and no dividends. As of March 31, 2015, the unamortized amount of the discount was $327,828 and accrued interest was $17,222.

 

 

172,172

 

 

 

47,172

 

In September 2014, the Company issued a convertible note in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10%, matures in September 2015 and is convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.115 per share. In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 17,391,304 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. The Company also reduced the exercise price of the investor’s existing 562,500 warrants to $0.115 and extended the term of the warrants to five-years from the date of the convertible note agreement. The fair value of the extended warrants totaled $28,043 and is to be amortized over the one year debt term. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $1,000,000 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility of 70.11%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate of 1.83% and no dividends. In February 2015, the Company amended the Note, increasing the aggregate principal amount to $1,250,000. In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 4,347,826 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $214,620 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility of 71.56%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate of 1.49% and no dividends. As of March 31, 2015, the unamortized amount of the discount was $615,478 and accrued interest was $57,500.

 

 

634,522

 

 

 

300,000

 




14



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)




 

 

March 31,

 2015

 

 

December 31,

 2014

 

In January 2014, the Company issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $245,000. The notes accrue interest at an annual rate of 10%, mature in January 2016 and are convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.30 per share. In connection with the issuance of the notes, the Company issued to the investors five-year warrants to purchase 1,633,328 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $234,211 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility ranging between 78.01% and 78.26%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate ranging between 1.61% and 1.77% and no dividends. In January 2015, the Company reduced the conversion rates and warrant exercise prices to $0.12 per share of note holders of an aggregate principal amount of $245,000. As a result of the modification, the Company recorded a debt discount of $33,889. The modification was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470-50-40 and reissuance of the existing debt, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $112,624 which included discounts associated with the old debt. As of March 31, 2015, the unamortized amount of the discount was $27,823 and accrued interest was $29,736.

 

 

217,177

 

 

 

123,526

 

In December 2013, the Company issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,700,000. The notes accrue interest at an annual rate of 10%, mature in December 2015 and are convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.30 per share. In connection with the issuance of the notes, the Company issued to the investors five-year warrants to purchase 11,333,328 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $1,700,000 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility ranging between 78.23% and 78.47%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate ranging between 1.55% and 1.71% and no dividends. In November and December 2014, the Company reduced three of the note holders conversion rates and warrant exercise prices to $0.12 per share. As a result of the modification, the Company recorded a debt discount of $915,273. The modification was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470-50-40 and reissuance of the existing debt, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $819,723 which included discounts associated with the old debt. In January 2015, the Company reduced the conversion rates and warrant exercise prices to $0.12 per share of note holders of an aggregate principal amount of $150,000. As a result of the modification, the Company recorded a debt discount of $20,679. The modification was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470-50-40 and reissuance of the existing debt, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $68,063 which included discounts associated with the old debt. As of March 31, 2015, the unamortized amount of the discount was $636,792 and accrued interest was $218,125.

 

 

1,063,208

 

 

 

793,406

 




15



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)




 

 

March 31,

 2015

 

 

December 31,

 2014

 

In February 2013, the Company issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $750,000. The notes accrue interest at an annual rate of 8.5%, mature in February 2015 and were convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.381 per share. Additionally, the note holders may elect to have up to 32.35% of the original principal amount of this Note repaid 18 months following the issuance date. In connection with the issuance of the notes, the Company issued to the investors five-year warrants to purchase 984,375 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.381 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants and beneficial conversion feature of $391,771 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility of 92.82%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rate of 0.86%, and no dividends. In December 2013, the holder elected to covert $37,500 of the convertible note into 98,425 shares of the Company’s common stock. As a result of the December 2013 financing, the Company was in violation of certain covenants included in the securities purchase agreements with the investors.  In March 2014, the investors agreed to waive their rights under securities purchase agreements in exchange for a reduction in the conversion price of the notes and exercise price of the warrants to $0.30 per share.  The Company also agreed to issue additional warrants to acquire 265,625 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.30 per share.  As a result of the modification, the Company recorded an additional debt discount of $37,432 for the increase in the fair value of the warrants. The modification was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470-50-40 and reissuance of the existing debt, resulting in the immediate expensing of the remaining discount of $164,503. There was no beneficial conversion feature on the exchanged debt. The Company received notice of a partial redemption request of $250,868 in August 2014, which is comprised of 32.35% of the original principal amount together with any and all accrued but unpaid interest. In August 2014, the holders agreed to waive their right to the early partial redemption and the Company paid the holders $24,263 plus $3,500 in lawyer’s fees. In addition to the payment, the Company reduced the conversion price under the Notes and the exercise price under the Warrants to $0.115 per share. As a result of the modification, the Company recorded a debt discount of $302,660. The modification was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470-50-40 and reissuance of the existing debt, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $61,051 which included discounts associated with the old debt and extension fees paid to the lender. In November 2014, the holders elected to convert $67,500 of the convertible notes into 586,957 shares of the Company’s common stock. In February 2015, the note holders agreed to extend an aggregate principal amount of $645,000 for an additional six months. The Company agreed to pay the holders an extension fee equal to an aggregate of $50,000 that was payable in 434,782 shares of common stock. In addition, the Company granted the holders five-year warrants to purchase 312,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. As of March 31, 2015, there was no unamortized discount and accrued interest was $28,206.

 

 

645,000

 

 

 

602,538

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




16



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)




 

 

March 31,

 2015

 

 

December 31,

 2014

 

In 2010 and 2011, the Company issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,225,000. The notes accrue interest at an annual rate of 10%, matured in the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and were convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.70 per share. In connection with the issuance of the notes, the Company issued to the investors five-year warrants to purchase 875,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.70 per share. The Company recorded a discount related to the warrants of $302,387 based upon the relative fair value of the warrants calculated using the Black Scholes valuation method and the following assumptions: volatility of 100.73% to 112.55%, an expected term of five years, a risk-free discount rates of 1.74% to 2.06%, and no dividends. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company repaid an aggregate of approximately $1.1 million of principal and interest on the notes. Holders of an aggregate of $295,000 of principal agreed to extend the maturity of their notes to March 2014. As consideration of the extensions the Company reduced the conversion price of the extended notes to $0.42 and issued warrants to purchase 368,467 shares of common stock for $0.42 per share over five years. As a result of extending the notes, the Company recorded additional discounts for beneficial conversion feature and relative fair value of the warrants totaling $111,738, which was being amortized through the extended maturity of the notes. Subsequent to March 31, 2014, the holders of the notes due in March 2014 agreed to extend the maturity dates of the notes to September 2014 for $50,000 of principal and March 2015 for $245,000 of principal, totaling $295,000. The note holders agreed to further extend in March 2015, this extends the maturity dates to September 2015 for $50,000 of principal and March 2016 for $245,000 of principal, totaling $295,000. These Notes were further extended in March 2015. As of March 31, 2015, there was no unamortized amount of the discounts. Accrued interest at March 31, 2015 was $126,089.

 

 

295,000

 

 

 

295,000

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

3,044,028

 

 

 

2,161,642

 

Less Current Portion, net of discounts

 

 

(3,044,028

)

 

 

(2,038,116

)

Convertible notes payable, long term, net of discounts

 

$

 

 

$

123,526

 


A summary of convertible notes payable and the related discounts as of March 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 is as follows:


 

 

March 31,

2015

 

 

December 31,

2014

 

Principal amount of convertible notes payable

 

$

4,885,000

 

 

$

4,385,000

 

Unamortized discount

 

 

(1,840,972

)

 

 

(2,223,358

)

Convertible notes payable, net of discount

 

 

3,044,028

 

 

 

2,161,642

 

Less: current portion

 

 

(3,044,028

)

 

 

(2,038,116

)

Convertible notes payable, net of discount, less current portion

 

$

 

 

$

123,526

 


Note Payable


On January 1, 2012, the Company reclassified a non-interest bearing unsecured note payable to a former director totaling $272,399 of which $102,149 were outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, from related party debt due to lack of on-going affiliation with the lender. The note is payable in quarterly payments of $17,025 with the last payment due December 2015. The Company’s last quarterly payment was October 2014. Accordingly, $102,149 is included as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.


Related Party Note Payable


In January 2015, the Company issued a promissory note to an employee of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $50,000. The note accrues interest an annual rate of 10%, matures in April 2015. In April 2015, the Company extended this note (see Note 14).




17



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Financing Obligations


 

 

March 31,

2015

 

 

December 31,

2014

 

Secured equipment notes payable in monthly installments of $3,406 over 60 months, maturing in July 2016 and accruing interest at an annual rate of 6.75%

 

$

51,976

 

 

$

61,212

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured vehicle notes payable in monthly installments of $1,046 over 72 months, maturing in September 2019 and accruing interest at an annual rate of 9.65%.

 

 

44,749

 

 

 

46,777

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing for insurance premiums payable in nine monthly installments of $11,810 accruing interest at 4.56%. The final payment is due in October 2015.

 

 

77,827

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured non-interest bearing, equipment notes payable in monthly installments of $8,333 over 12 months, maturing in December 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

8,326

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured non-interest bearing, software notes payable in monthly installments totaling $176 plus applicable taxes and fees over 36 months with a $1 purchase option at the end of the lease agreement in April 2017.

 

 

3,126

 

 

 

3,494

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

177,678

 

 

 

119,809

 

Less Current Portion

 

 

(126,640

)

 

 

(56,215

)

Financing obligations, long-term portion

 

$

51,038

 

 

$

63,594

 


Capital Lease Obligation


The Company entered into a capital lease to purchase a forklift costing $78,896 in July of 2012. The lease is payable in 60 monthly installments of $1,491 including interest at an implied rate of 5.05% through July 2017. The Company is entitled to buy the equipment for a bargain purchase price of $1 at the end of the lease.


Future minimum lease payments under this capital lease obligation as of March 31, 2015, by fiscal year, are as follows:


For the year ended December 31,

 

Payment

 

2015

 

$

13,416

 

2016

 

 

17,888

 

2017

 

 

8,946

 

Total

 

 

40,250

 

Less implied interest

 

 

(2,280

)

Capital lease obligation

 

 

37,970

 

Less current potion

 

 

(16,345

)

Long-term portion

 

$

21,625

 


Third Party Debt


Aggregate annual maturities of third party debt are as follows as of March 31, 2015:


For the year ended December 31,

 

Amount

 

2015

 

$

4,623,415

 

2016

 

 

541,458

 

2017

 

 

19,005

 

2018

 

 

11,219

 

2019

 

 

7,701

 

Total debt- face value

 

 

5,202,798

 

Less: unamortized discount

 

 

(1,840,972

)

Net debt

 

$

3,361,826

 




18



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



7.

DEFERRED REVENUE


In January 2015, the Company received an upfront, non-refundable licensing fee and in accordance with SAB Topic 13f, the Company will be amortizing it over the 20 year life of the licensing agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded $5,208 as equipment sales and licensing revenue. The remaining $494,792 of the licensing fee is recorded as deferred revenue with $25,000 in current and $469,792 will be amortized over the 20 year period.


8.

REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK

Series A

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 there were 6 shares of Series A Redeemable Convertible Cumulative 15% Preferred Stock outstanding. The shares are redeemable at the option of the Company at $27,500 per share plus accrued dividends or redeemable at the option of the holder upon a change of control event at $25,000 per share plus accrued dividends. A Change of Control ("CoC") event means a transfer of greater than fifty percent of the shares of common stock of the Company. The shares are convertible each into 24,000 common shares. Our Series A preferred stock provides for annual cash dividends at the rate of $3,750 per share. Accrued dividends totaled $1,081,619 and $1,075,994 on March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.


Series B

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 there were 241, respectively, of Series B Redeemable Convertible Cumulative 10% Preferred Stock outstanding. The shares are redeemable at the option of the Company at $3,000 per share plus accrued dividends or redeemable at the option of the holder upon a Change of Control (“CoC”) event at $2,500 per share plus accrued dividends. The shares are convertible each into 835 common shares. Our Series B preferred stock provides for annual cash dividends at the rate of $250 per share. Accrued dividends totaled $1,989,828 and $1,974,785 on March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.


9.

COMMON STOCK


Shares issued and issuable during the three months ended March 31, 2015 are summarized below.


Shares outstanding and issuable at December 31, 2014

 

 

164,734,112

 

Shares issued for extension fee (a)

 

 

434,782

 

Total common shares outstanding at March 31, 2015

 

 

165,168,894

 

———————

(a)

issued in lieu of a $50,000 payment as an extension fee to two convertible note holders. See Note 6.


10.

STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS


Convertible Note Issuances


In February 2015, the Company amended previously issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000. The Company increased the aggregate principal amount to $1,250,000 for the additional cash loan. The note continues to accrue interest at an annual rate of 10%, matures in September 2015 and is convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.115 per share. In connection with the additional issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 4,347,826 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. See Note 6.


In March 2015, the Company issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $250,000. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10%, matures in September 2015 and is convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.115 per share. In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 4,347,826 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. See Note 6.


Convertible Note Extensions and Amendments


In March 2015, two convertible note holders agreed to extend an aggregate principal amount of $645,000 for an additional six months. The Company agreed to pay the holders an extension fee equal to an aggregate of $50,000 that shall be payable in either cash or 434,782 shares of common stock. The Company also issued the note holders five-year warrants to purchase 312,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share.

 



19



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Stock Option Grant


In January 2015, the Company granted one of its Board members 666,667 non-qualified stock options, exercisable over a five-year period at $0.12 per share, vesting one year after the grant date, subject to continued service as a Director. The Director previously declined an automatic grant of options and restricted stock in July 2014.


The fair value of each option and warrant is estimated on the date of grant using the BSM option-pricing model. The Company used the following assumptions for options and warrants issued or valued during the three months ended March 31, 2015:


Risk-free interest rate

1.00% to 1.13%

Expected option life in years

2.76 to 4 years

Expected stock price volatility

63.20% to 68.33%

Expected dividend yield

None


Stock-based compensation expense related to options for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $143,898. At March 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options granted under the Company’s option plans totaled $366,674. This unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the next 21 months.


11.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


Related Party Private Licensing Engagement Agreement


In June 2014, the Company entered into a one year Private Licensing Engagement Agreement (the “Agreement”) with ICAP Patent Brokerage LLC (“ICAP”) in efforts to monetize the Company’s patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technology portfolios. The Agreement may be terminated by either party with 60 days’ notice. In the event that the Company enters into an Intellectual Property Licensing Agreement, ICAP is entitled to receive a commission equal to 10% of the monies paid to the Company and its affiliates in connection with such transaction. The Chief Executive Officer of ICAP Patent Brokerage is also one of the Company’s board members and consultants. The Company paid $50,000 related to the January 2015 licensing agreement.


Related Party Consulting Agreements


In January 2013, the Company entered into a three year consulting agreement at the rate of $250,000 per year that may be terminated with 30 days’ notice with one of the Company’s board members and who is also the Chief Executive Officer of ICAP Patent Brokerage. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company has incurred $62,500 pursuant to the consulting agreement.


Related Party Service Fee


The Company has been receiving a service fee for its continued accounting, executive, administrative and other miscellaneous services to FNES. In April 2014, the monthly service fee was reduced from $56,360 to $44,310. The Company continues to provide the services described above and will continue to do so in a transitional phase. Once this transitional phase is complete and FNES has taken over all functions listed above, FNES will no longer pay a service fee to the Company. All costs relating to the services fee are offset against various expense accounts on the statement of operations. The Company had no accounts receivable balance at March 31, 2015 relating to March 2015 services performed for FNES.


Related Party Accounts Receivable


At March 31, 2015 the Company had an accounts receivable balance of $5,455 due from FNES. The accounts receivable balance consisted of $5,455 in miscellaneous charges.


Related Party Option Grant


In January 2015, the Company granted one of its Board members 666,667 non-qualified stock options, exercisable over a five-year period at $0.12 per share, vesting one year after the grant date, subject to continued service as a Director. The Director previously declined an automatic grant of options and restricted stock in July 2014.



20



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



Related Party Note Payable

In January 2015, the Company issued a promissory note to an employee of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $50,000. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10%, maturing in April 2015. In April 2015, the note holder agreed to extend the note (see Note 14).

12.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


Leases


The Company makes monthly rent payments of $16,744 under a month-to-month agreement for the Company’s Stuart, Florida corporate offices, manufacturing location and machine shop buildings. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 the Company recognized rent expense amount of $50,232 for all four buildings in Stuart, FL.


In September 2013, the Company entered into a five year lease agreement for an office located in Park City, UT to begin developing the mining application. The commencement date for this operating lease is January 1, 2014 with the lease expiring on the day immediately prior to the fifth anniversary of the commencement date, December 31, 2018. The Company has an obligation of $173,793 as of March 31, 2015, relating to this five-year lease agreement.


Legal


From time to time, we may be involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business.


To our knowledge, except as described below, no legal proceedings, government actions, administrative actions, investigations or claims are currently pending against us or involve us that, in the opinion of our management, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

In December 2012, the Company reached a settlement with KIA, who filed a lawsuit against the Company in 2007, amounting to $100,000 to be paid with an initial $25,000 payment and 36 monthly installments for the remainder of the settlement amount. Should the Company default on any of its required payments, the settlement amount will increase to $150,000. The Company had originally accrued $197,500 in liabilities related to this settlement. As a result of the settlement, the Company reduced legal expense by $47,500 (as the original expense was charged to this account) leaving an accrued balance of $125,000 at December 31, 2012, which was comprised of the $150,000 obligation less the initial $25,000 payment. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had an accrued balance of $75,000 which is comprised of the $150,000 obligation less $75,000 in payments. Upon final payment in accordance with the settlement, the Company will record a $50,000 gain.

 

In March 2011, a former vendor obtained a judgment against the Company for a number of disputed billings. As of March 31, 2015 the Company has accrued $70,000 which is anticipated to be the amount of payment due to the vendor plus attorney’s fees.


Other Commitments


The Company has a Royalty Agreement with its president and founder where he is entitled to receive royalties equal to 4% of Ecosphere’s revenues generated from the patents and inventions which were created by him (the “Inventions”) less any base salary paid to him. In addition to the royalties paid on revenues, the royalties will also be paid on any consideration Ecosphere receives or its shareholders receive from a merger or sale of our assets outside of the ordinary course of business relating to the Inventions plus consideration received by our shareholders from exchange offer or tender offer, as well as proceeds received by Ecosphere from outstanding debt conversions (for all new debt issued beginning January 1, 2013) and sales of Ecosphere’s equity securities. Royalty payments will be paid for the life of all Inventions regardless of whether Mr. McGuire remains an employee of Ecosphere. Under the Royalty Agreement, Ecosphere granted Mr. McGuire a security interest (subordinated to all creditors and shareholders) in all of the Inventions and all revenues generated from the Inventions to secure payments owed to him under the Royalty Agreement. Provided that Ecosphere is not in default of the Royalty Agreement, Mr. McGuire will assign his rights to any technology invented by him during the term of his Employment Agreement. His amended Royalty Agreement provides that the Company will be in default for non-payment only if it has the liquidity to pay Mr. McGuire or if it defrauds him regarding its ability to pay him.



21



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)



In June 2014, the Company entered into a one year Private Licensing Engagement Agreement (the “Agreement”) with ICAP Patent Brokerage in efforts to monetize the Company’s patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technology portfolios. The Agreement may be terminated by either party with 60 days’ notice. In the event that the Company enters into an Intellectual Property Licensing Agreement, ICAP is entitled to receive a commission equal to 10% of the monies paid to the Company and its affiliates in connection with such transaction. The Chief Executive Officer of ICAP Patent Brokerage is also one of the Company’s board members and consultants.


13.

CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK


Concentration of Accounts Receivable and Revenues


At March 31, 2015, accounts receivable of $5,455 was comprised of one related party customer balance amounting to 100% of the total receivable balance. In addition, that same related party customer accounted for 62% of revenue and customer B accounted for 38% of revenue, respectively.


Concentration of Credit Risk


Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash in bank and financial institution deposits that at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts through March 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had $10,519 in cash equivalent balances held in a corporate checking account that were not insured. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral for accounts receivable. The Company’s payment terms are generally upon receipt or 30 days from delivery of products, but may fluctuate depending on the terms of each specific contract.


14.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS


Convertible Note Issuances

In April 2015, the Company and SOG closed an initial $100,000 transaction with an investment fund (the “Fund’). In exchange the Company issued the Fund a $100,000 12.5% convertible note due in six-months which note shall be convertible either into common stock of a publicly held entity which acquires SOG or the Company. Also, in connection with the transaction, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of ETI’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share.

In May 2015, the Company issued a $250,000 convertible note. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10%, matures in September 2015 and is convertible into common stock at a conversion rate of $0.115 per share. In connection with the issuance of the note, the Company issued to the investor five-year warrants to purchase 4,347,826 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.115 per share. The Note is secured by first liens on the Company’s Ecos GrowCube™ unit, the Company’s patent pertaining to the Company’s technology related to treating the waters of Lake Okeechobee and a patent pending on the Company’s Ecos GrowCube™. In addition, the Note is secured by collateral the Lender previously had on other notes evidencing prior loan totaling $1,500,000, consisting of the Ecos PowerCube® unit and the right to proceeds from any sale of the Company’s interest in Fidelity National Environmental Solutions, LLC (collectively, the security interests are the “Collateral”). In the event of any sale of the Collateral upon a default under the Note or any of the Company’s prior notes held by the Lender, which are also secured by the Collateral, the Company would be entitled to any proceeds remaining after satisfaction of any amounts outstanding under the Note, the prior notes held by the Lender, and related costs.

Related Party Note Payable Extension

In April 2015, a related party note holder agreed to extend an aggregate principal amount of $50,000 for an additional three months. The note accrues interest at an annual rate of 10% and matures in July 2015.





22



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



ITEM 2:

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.


Company Overview


Ecosphere is a technology development and intellectual property licensing company that develops environmental solutions for global markets. We help industry increase production, reduce costs, and protect the environment through a portfolio of more than 35 patented and patent pending clean water and clean energy technologies:  technologies like Ozonix®, the Ecos PowerCube® and our most recently announced Ecos GrowCube, which are licensable across a wide range of industries and applications throughout the world via ICAP Patent Brokerage, the worlds largest intellectual property brokerage firm.


Key highlights include:


·

In April 2015, Ecosphere received a purchase order for an Ozonix® EF10M water treatment system from Kualiti Alam SDN BHD, a Malaysian waste management and renewable energy solutions provider, for industrial wastewater treatment applications in Malaysia. Kualiti Alam SDN BHD made a deposit toward the purchase of the Ozonix® EF10M water treatment system and manufacturing has begun at Ecosphere’s Corporate Headquarters in Stuart, Florida USA. Under the terms of the equipment purchase agreement, the Ozonix® EF10M water treatment system is scheduled to be delivered in July 2015.

·

In April 2015, Ecosphere announced that another Ozonix® patent had been approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), bringing Ecosphere's Ozonix® intellectual property portfolio to 11 approved U.S. patents with numerous U.S. and International patents pending. On April 7, 2015, the USPTO issued a formal Notice of Allowance for Patent # 8,999,154, which is a process patent for treating fluids. This latest patented invention relates to fluid treatment and, in particular, to a water treatment apparatus for destroying aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in Florida's Lake Okeechobee, the C44 Canal and the Indian River Lagoon based on the principle of degradation/disinfection using a combination of Ozone (O3) Injection, Hydrodynamic Cavitation, Acoustic Cavitation and Electrolysis.

·

In January 2015, Ecosphere signed an exclusive technology licensing agreement with US H20, Inc. (USH20), to deploy its patented Ozonix® water treatment technology on an exclusive basis in the United States for the Landfill Leachate and Marine Port & Terminal fields-of-use. Under the terms of the license agreement, USH20 was required to pay Ecosphere an upfront technology licensing fee in addition to ongoing royalty payments beginning 18 months after the signing of the license agreement on all Ozonix® related gross revenue for the life of the patents.  Ecosphere received $500,000 in licensing fees from USH20.

·

In 2014, Ecosphere received a United States patent on its Ecos PowerCube® solar panel array technology. Ecosphere completed extensive design engineering and began the manufacturing of its first Ecos PowerCube® system in 2014 and is now actively seeking to license it to government contractors and commercial customers around the world.

·

Ecospheres patented Ecos PowerCube® technology was recognized as a winner in the 2014 Best of What's New Awards from Popular Science and named One of the Top 100 Innovations of 2014. Featured in the Green Category of the December 2014 special "Best of What's New" issue, Popular Science reviews approximately 20,000 new products and only considers those products which it believes have present commercial viability.

·

In November 2014, Ecosphere announced the launch of its Ecos GrowCube™ technology, an innovative, state-of-the-art, fully-automated growing system that utilizes hydroponic growing techniques in order to maximize the amount of crop production possible in a given footprint. The Ecos GrowCube™ incorporates Ecosphere’s patented Ozonix® water treatment technology and eliminates the need for soil, fossil fuels, pesticides and toxic chemicals. The Company anticipates the completion of the first Ecos GrowCube™ next week which is to be used for demonstrations in the coming months and to begin SOG operations.

·

Ecosphere has formed a new subsidiary, SOG to commercialize the Ecos GrowCube. The initial focus will be the legal medical marijuana market in states where local law permits the use medically and/or recreationally. This market is rapidly expanding as more states legalize marijuana use. Additionally, due to its Green technology, the Ecos GrowCube™ can be used in the “farm-to-table”, urban farming and organic farming movements.



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ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



·

In July 2014, Ecosphere announced an exclusive technology licensing and equipment purchase agreement with Brasil Clean Energy ("BCE"), a Brazilian environmental services company, to deploy its patented Ozonix® water treatment technology across the Food and Beverage industry in Brazil. Under the terms of the agreement, BCE is required to purchase a minimum of $5 million worth of Ozonix® equipment during the next two years, plus a royalty payment based on usage or revenue, with a minimum amount earned per machine. In September 2014, the Company completed manufacturing, testing and acceptance of BCE's first piece of equipment, an Ozonix® EF10M mobile water treatment system capable of treating approximately 420 gallons-per-minute in a 10x12 footprint.


Intellectual Property Portfolio


Because of generally accepted accounting principles and SEC accounting rules, Ecosphere’s patents and patents pending are reflected in its unaudited consolidated balance sheet based on the cost it pays its counsel to process and maintain those patents. This type of accounting method does not take into account the actual fair value of the intellectual property created that can be licensed to customers and industry leaders for the 20-year life of the patents. Ecosphere’s unique patents allow Ecosphere the sole right to exclude others from making, using or selling its proprietary solutions. Ecosphere’s patents also allow Ecosphere to monetize its assets for by granting local, regional or global field-of-use licenses to industry-specific partners.


History of Product and Application Development


Since 2008, the Company has incurred in excess of $5.5 million in developing its current line of products and industry specific applications utilizing its intellectual property.  Such costs are exclusive of amounts paid to executive officers or our chief technology officer, who spends a significant portion of his time on research and development, and indirect general and administrative tasks. Included in these development costs are engineering salaries and benefits, direct research and development costs, and costs related to the Company’s manufacturing and engineering facilities in Stuart, Florida.  These efforts, along with costs incurred directly related to the generation of over $70 million in revenue from the use of the Company’s intellectual property within the oil and gas industry, have resulted in the Company’s current intellectual property portfolio being available for license for various industries and applications as follows:


Business Model


The Company’s management team executes on a business strategy that is driven by open innovation and innovative manufacturing. “Open Innovation” is a concept that was developed by Dr. Henry Chesbrough, the Executive Director of the Center for Open Innovation at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. The Open Innovation concept provides a formula whereby small companies can rapidly develop and deploy new technologies and then license those technologies to larger organizations for rapid market penetration. In response to this concept, we developed the “Open Innovation Network,” our product development lifecycle that can be characterized by the following six stages:


1.

Identify a major environmental challenge,

2.

Invent new technologies and file patents,

3.

Partner with industry leaders,

4.

Commercialize and prove the technology with ongoing services paid for by customers and industry leaders,

5.

License the patented, commercialized technologies to well capitalized partners that are geographically located, and

6.

Create recurring revenues and increase shareholder value.


As a result, the Company has designed, developed, manufactured and commercialized a wide variety of patented technologies that are currently solving some of the world’s most critical water and environmental challenges. Our multi-patented Ozonix® technology is a revolutionary, high volume, AOP designed to treat and recycle industrial wastewater without the use of toxic chemicals, while our Ecos PowerCube® is a mobile patented solar-powered generator. In addition to the Company’s patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies, the Company has recently announced the launch of and the first sale to SOG of the Ecos GrowCube™ technology and product line, which is the world’s most state-of-the-art, fully-automated hydroponic growing system for cultivating high-value crops.


As a result, the Company has developed an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that includes more than 35 patented and patent-pending technologies that are available for exclusive and nonexclusive licensing opportunities throughout the world. These patented technologies and corresponding trademarks can be purchased and licensed for use in large-scale and sustainable applications across industries, nations and ecosystems. Companies that license our patented technologies are able to improve their financial metrics while also reducing their ecological and environmental footprints. Although our other technologies and patents remain a viable part of our long-term technology licensing strategy, the Company is currently focused on licensing its multi-patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies, as well as leasing and selling its Ecos GrowCube™ hydroponic growing systems.



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ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES




CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES


There were no changes in the Company’s critical accounting estimates during the period covered by this report.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months ended March 31, 2015 with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

The following table sets forth a modified version of our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations that is used in the following discussions of our results of operations:

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

Change

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment sales and licensing

 

$

5,208

 

 

$

 

 

$

5,208

 

Equipment sales and licensing, related party

 

 

 

 

 

107,925

 

 

 

(107,925

)

Aftermarket part sales, related party

 

 

8,506

 

 

 

26,324

 

 

 

(17,818

)

Total revenues

 

 

13,714

 

 

 

134,249

 

 

 

(120,535

)

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment sales and licensing (exclusive of depreciation shown below)

 

 

 

 

 

33,925

 

 

 

(33,925

)

Aftermarket part costs (exclusive of depreciation shown below)

 

 

9,528

 

 

 

21,916

 

 

 

(12,388

)

Salaries and employee benefits

 

 

801,140

 

 

 

927,959

 

 

 

(126,819

)

Administrative and selling

 

 

269,195

 

 

 

222,633

 

 

 

46,562

 

Professional fees

 

 

249,467

 

 

 

534,012

 

 

 

(284,545

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

92,996

 

 

 

103,949

 

 

 

(10,953

)

Research and development

 

 

9,162

 

 

 

80,516

 

 

 

(71,354

)

Loss on sale of notes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

730,260

 

 

 

(730,260

)

Total costs and expenses

 

 

1,431,488

 

 

 

2,655,170

 

 

 

(1,223,682

)

Loss from operations

 

 

(1,417,774

)

 

 

(2,520,921

)

 

 

1,103,147

 

Loss on investment in unconsolidated investee

 

 

(288,728

)

 

 

(316,324

)

 

 

27,596

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

36,572

 

 

 

(36,572

)

Interest expense

 

 

(916,503

)

 

 

(577,040

)

 

 

(339,463

)

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

(180,687

)

 

 

 

 

 

(180,687

)

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

1,907

 

 

 

(1,907

)

Other, net

 

 

911

 

 

 

 

 

 

911

 

Total other expense, net

 

 

(1,096,279

)

 

 

(538,561

)

 

 

(557,718

)

Net loss

 

 

(2,802,781

)

 

 

(3,375,806

)

 

 

573,025

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(20,688

)

 

 

(20,688

)

 

 

 

Net loss applicable to common stock

 

 

(2,823,469

)

 

 

(3,396,494)

 

 

 

573,025

 

Net loss applicable to noncontrolling interest of consolidated subsidiary

 

 

1,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,519

 

Net  loss applicable to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. common stock

 

$

(2,821,950

)

 

$

(3,396,494)

 

 

$

574,544

 


The Company reported net loss applicable to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. common stock of $2.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 (the "2015 Quarter") as compared to a net loss applicable to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. common stock of $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (the "2014 Quarter"). The drivers of the $0.6 million quarter-over-quarter change are discussed below.



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ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



Revenues


In early 2013, the Company began the final phase of its business model by selling a portion of its interest in FNES. The Company and FNES have recently executed agreements with licensees in Brasil and Canada that may result in increased revenues in the near to mid-term, and continues its efforts to secure licensing arrangements in all of its target industries for both, Ozonix® and Ecosphere's patented Ecos PowerCube®. During the 2014 Quarter, FNES sold its Ozonix® EF10M to Hydrosphere Energy Solutions, LLC, resulting in equipment sales of $0.1 million. During the 2015 Quarter, ETI signed an exclusive technology licensing agreement with US H2O, Inc., to deploy its patented Ozonix® water treatment technology on an exclusive basis in the United States for the Landfill Leachate and Marine Port & Terminal fields-of-use. The Company will recognize the revenues of the licensing fees received under this agreement over its 20 year term. During the 2015 Quarter, $500,000 in licensing fees has been paid by USH20 to Ecosphere.


Cost and Expenses

 

Equipment Sales and Licensing Costs (exclusive of depreciation)


The equipment sales and licensing costs for the 2014 Quarter were de minimis.


Aftermarket Part Costs (exclusive of depreciation)


The costs associated with the sale of aftermarket parts for Ozonix® water treatment equipment were de minimis for the 2015 and 2014 Quarter.


Salaries and Employee Benefits


The decrease in salaries and employee benefits of $0.1 million for the 2015 Quarter was primarily driven by a reduction in payroll related taxes and fees of $0.1 million.


Professional Fees


The $0.3 million decrease in professional fees for the 2015 Quarter was driven by a $0.1 million decrease in consulting fees and $0.1 million decrease in legal fees relating to the Halliburton arbitration.


Loss from Operations


Loss from operations for the 2015 Quarter was $1.4 million compared to loss from operations of $2.5 million for the 2014 Quarter. See discussion above under "Revenues," "Cost and Expenses" for details.


Loss on Investment in Unconsolidated Investee


On May 24, 2013, the Company sold a 12% interest in FNES and transferred an additional 1.5% interest to a board member of FNES, reducing the Company’s ownership in FNES from 52.6% to 39.1%.  Since May 24, 2013, the Company accounts for its investment in FNES under the equity method.  Furthermore, in July 2013, the Company sold an additional 8% interest in FNES and transferred an additional 0.5% interest in FNES reducing the Company’s ownership in FNES from 39.1% to 30.6%. The change in the loss on investment in unconsolidated investee was de minimis for the 2015 Quarter.


Interest Expense


Interest expense for the 2015 Quarter increased $0.9 million which was primarily due to the recent raise of $3.45 million through the sale of Convertible Notes and Warrants along with non-cash interest related charges as compared to $0.6 million for the 2014 Quarter.


Net Loss Applicable to Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Subsidiary


Net loss applicable to noncontrolling interest in our Ecosphere Mining, LLC consolidated majority-owned subsidiary was de minimis for the 2015 Quarter.




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ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



Non-GAAP – Financial Measures


The following discussion and analysis includes both financial measures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental to, and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, and cash flow from operating activities, liquidity or any other financial measures. They may not be indicative of the historical operating results of Ecosphere nor are they intended to be predictive of potential future results. Investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.


Our managements uses and relies on Adjusted Revenues because it believes that requiring a long term deferral of revenues from a licensing transactions which hopefully will result in additional revenues or sales royalties would be confusing to investors.  The Company’s business model is to license intellectual property and the upfront licensing fees are a fundamental portion of that business model.  Deferring revenues does not permit management to focus on how successful it has been while Adjusted Revenues more accurately reflects the Company’s success in lamenting its business model.


Our management uses and relies on Adjusted Revenues and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that both management and shareholders benefit from referring to the following non-GAAP financial measures in planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparison. Our management recognizes that the non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations because of the described excluded items.


Ecosphere defines Adjusted Revenues as GAAP revenues plus deferred licensing revenue which under GAAP is being amortized over the term of a license along with a customer deposit for an equipment purchase order which will be recognized as revenue once the equipment is completed and accepted. Adjusted revenues permit our management to understand if our business model is working in contrast to GAAP revenues.


Ecosphere defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (or loss) from continuing operations before the items in the table below. Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of our operating performance because it allows management, investors and analysts to evaluate and assess our core operating results from period-to-period after removing the impact of items of a non-operational nature that affect comparability.


We have included a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that providing the non-GAAP financial measures, together with the reconciliation to GAAP, helps investors make comparisons between Ecosphere and other companies. In making any comparisons to other companies, investors need to be aware that companies use different non-GAAP measures to evaluate their financial performance. Investors should pay close attention to the specific definition being used and to the reconciliation between such measure and the corresponding GAAP measure provided by each company under applicable SEC rules.


The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted Revenues:


 

 

For the

Three Months

Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

  

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues per GAAP

     

$

13,714

 

Customer deposit for equipment purchase order

 

 

252,726

 

Revenues recognized over term of license

 

 

494,792

 

Adjusted non-GAAP revenues

 

$

761,232

 


While actual revenues were limited for the three months ended March 31, 2015, that is solely because GAAP does not permit us to reflect the $500,000 we received as an initial license fee.  Because of this clear distortion of our operating results, our management uses Adjusted Revenues, a non-GAAP financial measure.




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ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net loss allocable to common shareholders, a GAAP financial measure:


 

 

For the

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 2014

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(2,802,781

)

 

$

(3,375,806

)

Interest expense, net of interest income

 

 

916,503

 

 

 

540,468

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

92,996

 

 

 

103,949

 

ETI’s share of unconsolidated investee depreciation and amortization

 

 

116,677

 

 

 

241,433

 

Loss of sale of notes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

730,260

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

180,687

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

143,898

 

 

 

199,622

 

ETI’s share of unconsolidated investee stock-based compensation

 

 

36,158

 

 

 

106,346

 

Adjusted EBITDA (Loss)  

 

$

(1,315,862

)

 

$

(1,453,728

)


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


A summary of our cash flows is as follows:


 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(312,850

)

 

$

(1,534,994

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(4,261

)

 

$

(126,329

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

$

504,322

 

 

$

1,776,115

 


2015 Period


Operating Activities


Net cash used in operating activities was $0.3 million for the 2015 Quarter. For the 2015 Quarter, cash used in operating activities of $0.3 million resulted from the net loss applicable to Ecosphere common stock of $2.8 million and was partially offset by the accretion of discounts of Notes payable of $0.7 million, increase in deferred revenue of $0.5 million in connection with a licensing agreement entered into in January 2015, the Company’s loss on investment in unconsolidated investee, or FNES, of $0.3 million, the increase in accounts payable of $0.3 million, the increase in customer deposits of $0.3 million in connection with an order received for an Ozonix® EF10M from a company in Malaysia and a loss on debt extinguishment of $0.2 million in connection with convertible debt and warrants amended in the 2015 Quarter.


Investing Activities


Net cash used in investing activities was de minimis for the 2015 Quarter. The Company had minimal additions to property, plant and equipment as well as patent additions during the 2015 Quarter.


Financing Activities


The Company’s net cash provided by financing activities of $0.5 million consisted primarily of proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes payable and warrants of $0.5 million and proceeds from the issuance of a related party note payable of $50,000, which was partially offset by repayments of insurance financing, capital lease obligations and vehicle and equipment financing of approximately $45,000.




28



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



2014 Period


Operating Activities


Net cash used in operating activities was $1.5 million for the 2014 Quarter. For the 2014 Quarter, cash used in operating activities of $1.5 million resulted from the net loss applicable to Ecosphere common stock of $3.4 million and was offset by the loss on sale of notes receivable of $0.7 million in connection with the two Ozonix® EF80 units sold in 2013 to FNES, an accretion of discounts of Notes payable of $0.5 million and the Company’s loss on investment in unconsolidated investee, or FNES of $0.3 million.


Investing Activities


Net cash used in investing activities of $0.1 million was primarily from additions to property and equipment. This included computer equipment and software, a Company manufactured fixture to house the Company’s raw metals inventory and additions to a mobile operations vehicle originally purchased during the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company also had additions to leasehold improvements and office equipment relating to the build out of the mining office in Park City, Utah.


Financing Activities


The Company’s net cash provided by financing activities of $1.8 million consisted primarily of proceeds from the sale of convertible notes and warrants as well as proceeds from the sale of notes receivable.


Liquidity


As of May 11, 2015, Ecosphere had cash on hand of approximately $70,000. Due to the nature of its technology licensing business model, Ecosphere presently does not have any regularly recurring revenue. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. To support its operations, the Company has a number of plans to monetize its intellectual property, which is described below.


If successful, management believes that its current plans will provide sufficient liquidity for the next 12 months. Ecosphere plans to continue monetizing its intellectual property, and has identified the following liquidity sources that it expects to realize over the next three years:


·

Ecosphere is actively marketing exclusive and non-exclusive licensing opportunities for sale to strategic, well positioned partners that wish to bring our patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies to specific industries in their respective countries and regions of the world. Management expects this will result in similar realization of the value that has been realized by the development and sale of the global energy rights for its Ozonix® technology to FNES. Ecosphere owns 100% of the global rights to its patented Ozonix® technology for all non-energy related applications, including but not limited to agriculture, food and beverage, industrial, marine and municipal wastewater treatment, and any other industry in which water is treated with conventional liquid chemicals.  Ecosphere also owns 100% of the global right to its patented Ecos PowerCube® technology for all industries and applications worldwide.

·

Ecospheres business model revolves upon the licensing of its intellectual property to strategic customers and partners around the world that are well positioned and capitalized to bring Ecospheres patented technologies to their respective industries and countries. Additionally, Ecosphere has its own in-house design, engineering and manufacturing facilities to support customers and licensees that choose to not manufacture Ecosphere’s patented technologies themselves. In addition to the various licensing opportunities that are available for its patented Ozonix® and Ecos PowerCube® technologies globally, the Company’s 30.6% interest in FNES is also available for sale to strategic buyers.

·

In November 2014, Ecosphere launched its Ecos GrowCube, a state-of-the-art turnkey fully automated greenhouse that will use hydroponic growing techniques to maximize crop production using Ecospheres Ozonix® patents and thereby eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides without soil or fossil fuels.  

·

On April 14, 2015, the Company and SOG closed an initial $100,000 transaction as part of its plan to spin off SOG. The Company is seeking to raise an additional $400,000 on similar terms and conditions. Further, as part of the Company’s plan in conjunction with PubCo’s acquisition of control of SOG, SOG would raise a minimum $2 million dollars in gross proceeds. Although, only $250,000 will be paid directly to the Company for the sale of the initial Ecos GrowCube™, some of the Company’s current overhead will be assumed by SOG.




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ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



Management believes that the realization of any of the above events will provide sufficient liquidity for the foreseeable future. However, Ecosphere cannot provide any assurance that these plans will be successful. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.


In addition to needing capital to support its operations, Ecosphere has a $50,000 note payable due in July 2015 and $5,135,000 in convertible notes payable due over the next 12 months from the date of this filing. This consists of $645,000 due in August 2015, $1,800,000 due in September 2015, $333,000 due in November 2015, $1,867,000 due in December 2015, $245,000 due in January 2016 and $245,000 due in March 2016.


RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

For information on related party transactions and their financial impact, see Note 11 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the Company pays a non-employee director, Chief Executive Officer of ICAP, a consulting fee of $250,000 per year.

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Research and development costs were de minimis during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and during the three months ended March 31, 2014.


RECENTLY ISSUES ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS


For information on recently issued accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS


This report contains forward-looking statements including expanding our technology into other industries, replicating the success of FNES, the value of subsidiaries in other verticals, anticipated and potential revenue and its plans with respect to liquidity. Forward looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects” and similar references to future periods.


Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the condition of the credit and financial markets, our ability to raise short-term and long-term working capital, the future price of natural gas, future legislation and regulations which affect hydraulic fracturing and the marijuana industry, the ability to find purchasers and investors for our technologies, FNES’ ability with Ecosphere’s assistance to market our Ozonix® technology to exploration companies and sell units to third parties, USH20’s continued success marketing or using in the landfill and marine port industries and the general reluctance of businesses to utilize new technology.


Further information on our risk factors is contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.


Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.




30



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on their evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified under SEC rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 



31



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

From time to time, we are party to certain legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course and are incidental to our business. During the period covered by this report there were no material changes to any pending legal proceedings to which we are a party.


ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS.

 

Not applicable.


ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

None


ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None


ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.


Not applicable.


ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None


ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS.


See the Exhibit Index.


 

 



32



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



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.


 

 

ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

May 15, 2015

 

/s/ Dennis McGuire

 

 

 

Dennis McGuire

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

May 15, 2015

 

/s/ David Brooks

 

 

 

David Brooks

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 









33



ECOSPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit

 

 

 

Incorporated by Reference

 

Filed or Furnished

No.

 

Exhibit Description

 

Form

 

Date

 

Number

 

Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Incorporation, as amended

 

10-Q

 

5/12/14

 

3.1

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws, as amended

 

10-Q

 

5/12/14

 

3.2

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Securities Purchase Agreement

 

8-K

 

3/26/15

 

10.1

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Convertible Promissory Note

 

8-K

 

3/26/15

 

10.2

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Warrant

 

8-K

 

3/27/15

 

10.1

 

 

10.4

 

Security Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2014

 

8-K

 

9/18/14

 

10.4

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer (Section 302)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

31.2

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer (Section 302)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

32.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (Section 906)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Furnished**

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculating Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed

 

———————

**

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.



Copies of this report (including the financial statements) and any of the exhibits referred to above will be furnished at no cost to our shareholders who make a written request to Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., 3515 S.E. Lionel Terrace, Stuart, Florida 34997 Attention: Jacqueline McGuire, Corporate Secretary.