10-Q 1 e1343_10q.htm FORM 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2019

or

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

 

For the transition period from ______to______.

 

    XG SCIENCES, INC.    
    (Exact name of registrant as
specified in its
charter)
   

 

Michigan   333-209131   20-4998896
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Commission File No.)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.)

 

3101 Grand Oak Drive

Lansing, MI 48911

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

 

(517) 703-1110

(Issuer Telephone number)

 

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 No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company þ
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
  Emerging growth company þ

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has not elected to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. þ

 

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: N/A

 

As of May 15, 2019, there were 4,011,943 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 

1 
 

 

XG SCIENCES, INC.

FORM 10-Q

March 31, 2019

INDEX

 

 

 

PART I  
     
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4
     
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 16
     
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 28
     
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 28
     
PART II  
     
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 29
     
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 29
     
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS 29
     
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES 29
     
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 29
     
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION 29
     
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS 30
     
SIGNATURES 31

 

 

2 
 

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” and information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) relating to XG Sciences, Inc., a Michigan corporation and its subsidiary, XG Sciences IP, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (collectively referred to as “we”, “us”, “our”, “XG Sciences”, “XGS”, or the “Company”), which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects and plans and objectives of management. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the risks set forth beginning on page 12 under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K/A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 3, 2019. 

 

3 
 

 

ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

XG SCIENCES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED

BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

 

   March 31, 2019  December 31, 2018
ASSETS  (unaudited)   
CURRENT ASSETS          
Cash  $2,844,498   $4,703,834 
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $85,000 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018   465,853    859,054 
Inventories   705,905    660,217 
Other current assets   111,177    114,453 
Total current assets   4,127,433    6,337,558 
           
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET   4,246,616    4,223,650 
           
RESTRICTED CASH FOR LETTER OF CREDIT   190,210    190,140 
           
LEASE DEPOSIT   20,156    20,156 
           
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET   700,410    690,646 
           
RIGHT OF USE ASSET   1,871,366    —   
           
TOTAL ASSETS   11,156,191    11,462,150 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
CURRENT LIABILITIES          
Accounts payable   838,069    1,102,910 
Other current liabilities   381,260    429,573 
Deferred revenue   —      832 
Current portion of long-term debt   723,755    196,723 
Current portion of lease liabilities   449,683    3,613 
Total current liabilities   2,392,767    1,733,651 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES          
Long-term portion of lease liabilities   1,532,112    11,914 
Long term debt   4,054,800    4,725,866 
Total long-term liabilities   5,586,912    4,737,780 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   7,979,679    6,471,431 
           
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Series A convertible preferred stock, 3,000,000 shares authorized, 1,890,354 shares issued and outstanding, liquidation value of $22,684,248 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018   22,307,480    22,307,480 
Common stock, no par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 3,811,518 and 3,760,268 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively   30,682,476    30,268,476 
Additional paid-in capital   8,190,211    8,101,923 
Accumulated deficit   (58,003,655)   (55,687,160)
Total stockholders' equity   3,176,512    4,990,719 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   11,156,191    11,462,150 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

4 
 

 

 

XG SCIENCES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)  

  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

   2019  2018
REVENUE      
Product sales  $857,278   $886,337 
Grants   —      —   
Licensing revenue   —      —   
Total revenues   857,278    886,337 
           
COST OF GOODS SOLD          
Direct costs   681,153    468,191 
Unallocated manufacturing expenses   493,469    746,583 
Total cost of goods sold   1,174,622    1,214,774 
           
GROSS LOSS   (317,344)   (328,437)
           
OPERATING EXPENSES          
Research and development   385,245    277,063 
Sales, general and administrative   1,420,922    1,186,679 
Total operating expenses   1,806,167    1,463,742 
           
OPERATING LOSS   (2,123,511)   (1,792,179)
           
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)          
Interest expense, net   (76,665)   (85,169)
Government incentives, net   —      3,253 
Total other expense   (76,665)   (81,916)
           
NET LOSS  $(2,200,176)  $(1,874,095)
           
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING – Basic and diluted   3,774,879    2,454,314 
NET LOSS PER SHARE – Basic and diluted  $(0.58)  $(0.76)

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(unaudited)

 

   Preferred stock (A)  Common stock  Additional
paid-in
  Accumulated   
   Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  capital  deficit  Total
Balances, December 31, 2018   1,890,354   $22,307,480    3,760,268   $30,268,476   $8,101,923   $(55,687,160)  $4,990,719 
Stock issued for cash   —      —      51,250    410,000    —      —      410,000 
Stock issuance fees and expenses   —      —      —      (16,000)   —      —      (16,000)
Transition adjustment for adoption of new lease standard   —      —      —      —      —      (116,319)   (116,319)
Stock-based compensation   —      —      —      20,000    88,288    —      108,288 
Net loss   —      —      —      —      —      (2,200,176)   (2,200,176)
                                    
Balances, March 31, 2019   1,890,354   $22,307,480    3,811,518   $30,682,476   $8,190,211   $(58,003,655)  $3,176,512 

 

 

   Preferred stock (A)  Common stock  Additional
paid-in
  Accumulated   
   Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  capital  deficit  Total
Balances, December 31, 2017   1,857,816   $21,917,046    2,353,350   $19,116,012   $7,831,958   $(47,767,544)  $1,097,472 
Stock issued for cash   —      —      201,925    1,615,400    —      —      1,615,400 
Stock issuance fees and expenses   —      —      —      (9,838)   —      —      (9,838)
Preferred stock issued to pay capital lease obligations   7,140    85,671    —      —      —      —      85,671 
Stock-based compensation   —      —      —      20,000    67,764    —      87,764 
Net loss   —      —      —      —      —      (1,874,095)   (1,874,095)
Balances, March 31, 2018   1,864,956   $22,002,717    2,555,275   $20,741,574   $7,899,722   $(49,641,639)  $1,002,374 

  

 

6 
 

 

XG Sciences, Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

  

For the 3 Months Ended

March 31,

   2019  2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES          
Net loss  $(2,200,176)  $(1,874,095)
Depreciation   194,055    209,131 
Amortization of intangible assets   15,858    12,934 
Stock-based compensation expense   108,288    87,764 
Non-cash interest expense   13,166    85,973 
Non-cash equipment rent expense        53,082 
Changes in current assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   393,201    (199,417)
Inventory   (45,688)   (37,847)
Other current assets   (2,613   (75,809)
Accounts payable and other liabilities   (313,986)   467,765 
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES   (1,837,895)   (1,270,519)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES          
Purchases of property and equipment   (217,021)   (874,357)
Purchases of intangible assets   (25,623)   (15,574)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (242,644)   (889,931)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Repayments of capital lease obligations   (15,527)   (5,721)
Repayments of long-term loan debt   (157,200)   0 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock   410,000    1,615,400 
Common stock issuance fees and expenses   (16,000)   (9,838)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES   221,273    1,599,841 
           
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH   (1,859,266)   (560,609)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD   4,893,974    3,041,591 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF PERIOD   3,034,708    2,480,982*
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash paid for interest        220 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Value of preferred stock issued for AAOF capital lease obligations           85,671 

 

 

*For reporting purposes, restricted cash was included with Cash and Cash Equivalents beginning in April 2018. It has been included in the 2018 Cash and Cash Equivalents amount for the first three months of 2018 for comparable purposes.

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

 

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

XG Sciences, Inc., a Michigan company located in Lansing, Michigan and its subsidiary, XG Sciences IP, LLC (collectively referred to as “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) manufactures graphene nanoplatelets made from graphite, using two proprietary manufacturing processes to split natural flakes of crystalline graphite into very small and thin particles, which we sell as xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets. We sell our nanoplatelets in the form of bulk powders or dispersions to other companies for use as additives to make composite and other materials with specially engineered characteristics. We also manufacture and sell integrated, value-added products containing these graphene nanoplatelets such as greases, composites, thin sheets, inks and coating formulations that we sell to other companies. Additionally, we have licensed our technology to other companies in exchange for royalties and other fees.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in our annual audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been condensed or omitted in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Form 10-K/A on April 3, 2019.

 

The results of operations presented in this quarterly report are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for any future periods. In the opinion of management, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments and accruals, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair statement of the results of all interim periods reported herein.

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues are recognized at a point in time, typically when control of the promised goods is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods. The Company does not recognize revenue in cases where collectability is not probable, and defers the recognition until collection is probable or payment is received.

 

The Company generally expenses sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses. Customer deposits, deferred revenue and other receipts are deferred and recognized when the revenue is realized and earned.

 

Revenue related to licensing agreements is recorded upon substantial performance of the terms of the licensing contract. In the case of licensing arrangements that involve up-front payments, revenue is recorded when management determines that the appropriate terms of the contract have been fulfilled. For example, this may occur when technology has been transferred via written documents or, if training is involved, whenever all contracted training has occurred. In the case of licenses where product delivery is also embedded in the deliverable, a portion of revenue would be recognized when products are delivered.

 

We have also out-licensed certain of our intellectual property to licensees under terms and conditions of license agreements that specify the   intellectual property licensed, the territory, and the type of license. In exchange for these licenses, we have recorded revenues associated with the initial granting of the license and expect to receive royalties based on sales of products

produced under these licenses. License revenues are recorded to reflect our performance of requirements under these license agreements. In addition, we record royalty revenues from licensees at the time they are earned.

 

8 
 

 

XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

 

Grant contract revenue is recognized over the life of the contracts as the services are performed or as milestones are met.

 

Amounts received in excess of revenues earned are recorded as deferred revenue.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Accounts receivable are stated at the amount management expects to collect from outstanding balances. Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a provision for bad debt expense and an adjustment to a valuation allowance based on their assessment of the current status of individual accounts. Balances that are still outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the allowance account and a credit to accounts receivable.

 

Intangible Assets

 

We have entered into a license agreement with Michigan State University under which we have licensed certain intellectual property in the form of patents and patent applications and invention disclosures. We are responsible for managing the patent process and ongoing filings for this licensed intellectual property and for bearing the cost thereof. We capitalize all costs related to the acquisition and ongoing administration of this license agreement and we amortize these costs over 15 years or the remaining life of the license agreement, whichever is shorter.

 

In addition to the costs of managing in-licensed intellectual property, we also file for patent protection for inventions and other intellectual property generated by our employees. All patents are evaluated for filing in international markets on a case-by-case basis and are filed in the United States and in selected international markets as considered appropriate. All external legal and filing costs related to patent applications, patent filings, ongoing registrations, overseas filings, and legal opinions related thereto are capitalized as intangible assets at cost and amortized over a period of 15 years from the date incurred, or the remaining useful life of the associated patent, whichever is shorter.

 

The cost of royalties or minimum payments specified under the license agreement for in-licensed technology is expensed as incurred.

 

Liquidity

 

We have historically incurred recurring losses from operations and we may continue to generate negative cash flows as we implement our business plan. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared using GAAP as applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.

  

As of May 9, 2019, we had cash on hand of $2,686,494. We believe our cash is sufficient to fund our operations through May 31, 2020 after taking into account various sources of funding and cash received from continued commercial sales transactions. Our primary means for raising funds since 2016 has been through our offering of shares of common stock at a fixed price of $8.00 per share to the general public in a self-underwritten offering (the “Offering” or our “IPO”) and under a draw loan note and agreement with The Dow Chemical Company (the “Dow Facility”). On April 12, 2019, we completed the Offering, after selling 2,615,425 shares under the Registration Statement at a price of $8.00 per share for total proceeds of $20,923,400. We have $5 million of proceeds from the Dow Facility available to us, which we intend to be our primary source of liquidity at this time (See Note 3).  

 

There has been no public market for our securities and a public market may never develop, or, if any market does develop, it may not be sustained. Our common stock is not currently quoted on or traded on any exchange or on any over-the-counter market. In the event we are unable to fund our operations from existing cash on hand, operating cash flows, additional borrowings or raising equity capital, we may be forced to reduce our expenses, slow down our growth rate, or discontinue operations. Our 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 we be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, together with amounts disclosed in the related notes to the financial statements. Actual results and outcomes may differ from our estimates, judgments and assumptions. Significant estimates, judgments and assumptions used in these condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, those related to revenue, accounts receivable and related allowances, contingencies, useful lives and recovery of long-term assets, including intangible assets, income taxes, and the fair value of stock-based compensation. These estimates, judgments, and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of material revisions in estimates are reflected in the financial statements prospectively from the date of the change in estimate.

 

Inventory

 

The following amounts were included in inventory at the end of the period:      
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2019     2018  
Raw materials   $ 67,711     $ 48,371  
Consumables     160,630       188,764  
Finished goods     477,564       423,082  
Total   $ 705,905     $ 660,217  

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition and requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented.   We adopted ASU 2016-02 as of January 1, 2019.

 

Adoption of Lease Accounting Policy  

 

We applied ASU 2016-02 and all related amendments (“ASC 842”) using the modified retrospective method by recognizing the cumulative effect of adoption as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at January 1, 2019. Therefore, the comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under prior leasing guidance. As a result, in the first quarter of 2019 we recorded ROU assets of $1,871,366. We also recorded lease liabilities of $1,981,795. The decrease to retained earnings was $116,319, reflecting the cumulative impact of the accounting change. The standard did not have a material effect on consolidated net income or cash flows.

 

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. As our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

We do not record a ROU asset or lease liability for leases with an expected term of 12 months or less. The comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under prior leasing guidance.

 

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  

NOTE 3 –FINANCING AGREEMENT

 

Dow Facility

 

In December 2016, we entered into the Dow Facility which provides us with up to $10 million of secured debt financing at an interest rate of 5% per year, drawable at our request under certain conditions. We received $2 million at closing and an additional $1 million on July 18, 2017, September 22, 2017 and December 4, 2017, respectively. After December 1, 2017, an additional $5 million became available when we raised $10 million of equity capital after October 31, 2016. As of September 30, 2018, we had raised in excess of $10,000,000 from our IPO since November 1, 2016, and thus have met this requirement. Therefore, the remaining $5 million under the Dow Facility is now available to us.

 

The Dow Facility is senior to our other debt and is secured by all of our assets. It matures on December 1, 2021 (subject to certain mandatory prepayments based on our equity financing activities). When we raise a cumulative amount of equity capital exceeding $15 million, we are required to prepay an amount equal to 30% of the amount raised over $15 million, but less than $25 million. We began these prepayments on equity raised as of September 10, 2018. Interest was payable beginning January 1, 2017, although we had elected, per the loan documents, to capitalize the interest as part of the outstanding debt through January 1, 2019. Beginning April 1, 2019, current interest is payable in cash on the first day of each quarter.

 

Dow received warrant coverage of one share of common stock for each $40 in loans received by us, equating to 20% warrant coverage, with an exercise price of $8.00 per share for the warrants issued at closing of the initial $2 million draw. After the initial closing, the strike price of future warrants issued is subject to adjustment if we sell shares of common stock at a lower price. As of March 31, 2018, we had issued 125,000 warrants to Dow, which are exercisable on or before the expiration date of December 1, 2023. 

 

The aforementioned warrants meet the criteria for classification within stockholders’ equity. Proceeds were allocated between the debt and the warrants at their relative fair value. The total debt discount on the Dow Facility was approximately $372,000. The debt discount is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the loans using an average effective interest rate of 7.68%. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we recognized $77,792 of amortization expense consisting of $64,626 interest expense   and $13,166 of amortization from debt discount accretion related to the Dow Facility. We have repaid $157,200 of outstanding principal on the debt, resulting in a carrying value of $4,778,555 for the Dow Facility as of March 31, 2019.

 

The Dow Facility entitles Dow to appoint an observer to our Board. Dow will maintain this observation right until the later of December 1, 2019 or when the amount of principal and interest outstanding under the Dow Facility is less than $5 million.

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 4 – STOCK WARRANTS ACCOUNTED FOR AS EQUITY INSTRUMENTS

 

The following table summarizes the warrants (including the warrants previously accounted for as derivatives) outstanding at March 31, 2019, which are accounted for as equity instruments, all of which are exercisable: 

 

Date Issued   Expiration Date  

Indexed

Stock

  Exercise Price     Number of 
Warrants
 
                     
07/01/2009   07/01/2019   Common   $ 8.00       6,000  
10/08/2012   10/08/2027   Common   $ 12.00       5,000  
01/15/2014 - 12/31/2014   01/15/2024   Series A Convertible Preferred   $ 6.40       972,720  
04/30/2015- 05/26/2015   04/30/2022   Common   $ 16.00       218,334  
06/30/2015   06/30/2022   Common   $ 16.00       6,563  
12/31/2015   12/31/2020   Common   $ 8.00       20,625  
03/31/2016   03/31/2021   Common   $ 10.00       10,600  
04/30/2016   04/30/2021   Common   $ 10.00       895  
12/14/2016   12/01/2023   Common   $ 8.00       50,000  
07/18/2017   12/01/2023   Common   $ 8.00       25,000  
09/22/2017   12/01/2023   Common   $ 8.00       25,000  
12/04/2017   12/01/2023   Common   $ 8.00       25,000  
                      1,365,737  

  

Each warrant indexed to Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is currently exercisable and exchangeable into 1.875 shares of common stock.

 

NOTE 5 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

Common Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue 25,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value per share of which 3,811,518 and 3,760,268 shares were issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 the Company issued 51,250 shares of common stock pursuant to the Offering. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 the Company issued 201,925 shares of common stock pursuant to the Offering. Upon its completion on April 12, 2019, the Company had sold 2,615,425 shares of common stock in its IPO at a price of $8.00 per share for gross proceeds of $20,923,400.

 

Potentially dilutive securities consist of shares potentially issuable pursuant to stock options and warrants as well as shares that would result from full conversion of all outstanding convertible securities. These potentially dilutive securities were 3,013,987 and 2,903,987 as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are excluded from diluted net loss per share calculations because they are anti-dilutive.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

The Company is authorized to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred”). Each share of the Series A Preferred, which has a liquidation preference of $12.00 per share, is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of common stock at the lower of: (a) $12.00 per share, or (b) 80% of the price at which the Company sells any equity or equity-linked securities in the future. The Series A Preferred also contains typical anti-dilution provisions that provide for adjustment of the conversion price to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, or similar events. The Series A Preferred is subject to mandatory conversion into common stock upon the listing of the Company’s common stock on a Qualified National Exchange. However, the Series A Preferred is not subject to the mandatory conversion until all outstanding convertible securities are also converted into common stock. The Series A Preferred ranks senior to all other equity or equity equivalent securities of the Company other than those securities which are explicitly senior or pari passu in rights and liquidation preference to the Series A Preferred and pari passu with the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock.

 

The Company issued 1,456,126 shares of Series A Preferred in connection with the conversion of certain convertible notes on December 31, 2015.

 

In December 2015, the conversion price of the Series A Preferred was reduced from $12.00 to $6.40 (80% of $8.00), and thus, each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into 1.875 shares of common stock. During the period from May 17, 2016 through December 31, 2018 the Company issued shares of Series A Preferred Stock to Aspen Advanced Opportunity Fund, LP (“AAOF”) as payment for lease financing obligations under the terms of a Master Leasing Agreement.

 

As of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the Company had 1,890,354 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding which is currently convertible into 3,544,414 shares of our common stock.

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  

NOTE 6 – EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

We previously established the 2007 Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Plan”), which was scheduled to expire on October 30, 2017 and under which we granted key employees and directors options to purchase shares of our common stock at not less than fair market value as of the grant date. On May 4, 2017, the Board approved the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) to replace the 2007 Plan, which became effective upon the approval of the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power in the Company on July 18, 2017. The 2017 Plan replaces the 2007 Plan and authorizes us to issue awards (stock options and restricted stock) with respect of a maximum of 1,200,000 shares of our common stock, which equals the number of shares authorized under the 2007 Plan.   

 

On July 24, 2017, certain stock options from the 2007 Plan were cancelled and replacement stock options were awarded. The replacement stock option awards have an exercise price of $8.00 per share, a seven-year term, are vested 50% on date of grant with the remaining vesting over a 4-year period from the date issued and are subject to certain other terms. Each option holder received options equal to 150% of the number of cancelled stock options. The cancellation and reissuance of the stock options were treated as a modification under ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. Incremental compensation cost of approximately $1,015,758 was measured as the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before the terms were modified. Compensation cost of approximately $501,071 was recorded on the date of cancellation for awards that were vested on the date of the modification. For unvested awards, compensation cost of approximately $514,687 will be recorded over the remaining requisite service period. 

 

On September 30, 2018 and August 10, 2017, the Company granted each Board member 2,500 stock options and 2,500 shares of restricted stock for their Board services. The options were granted at a price of $8.00 per share and vest ratably over a four-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary. The options had an aggregate grant date fair value of $29,580 and $26,120 on September 30, 2018 and August 10, 2017, respectively. The restricted stock issued to the Board members has an aggregate fair value of $160,000 and vest ratably in arrears over four quarters on the last day of each fiscal quarter following the grant date. As of March 31, 2019, 17,500 of the 20,000 shares of restricted stock issued had vested, resulting in compensation expense of $20,000 for the period ended March 31, 2019.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company granted 7,500 employee stock options. The options were granted at a price of $8.00 per share and had an aggregate grant date fair value of $22,822. The options vest ratably over a four-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary. The fair value of the options granted was estimated on the date of grant using the Black Scholes option-pricing model using the following assumptions: Stock price: $8.00, Exercise Price: $8.00, Expected Term: 4.75 years, Volatility: 41.07%, Risk free rate: 2.23%, Dividend rate: 0%.

 

All options granted thus far under the 2017 Plan have an exercise price of $8.00 per share and vesting of the options ranges from immediate to 25% per year, with most options vesting 25% per year beginning on the one-year anniversary of the grant date. The options expire seven years from the date of grant.

 

Stock-based compensation expense was $108,288   and $87,764 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively. As of March 31, 2019, there was approximately $621,000 in unrecognized compensation cost related to the options granted under the 2017 plan. We expect to recognize these costs over the remaining vesting terms, ranging from 3 to 4 years.

 

A summary of the stock options available as of March 31, 2019 is as follows:

 

        Weighted
    Number   Average
    Of   Exercise
    Options   Price
         
Options outstanding at December 31, 2018     797,875     $ 8.00  
Changes during the period:                
Expired     (0 )     8.00  
New Options Granted – at market price     7,500       8.00  
                 
Options outstanding at March 31, 2019     805,375     $ 8.00  
                 
Options exercisable at March 31, 2019     399,025     $ 8.00  

 

 

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 7 – LEASES

 

Right of Use Asset and Leased Liability:

 

Estimated Lease Life – Lease term through December 2022

 

Right-of-use lease assets- operating as of January 1, 2019  $1,982,739 
Less: Accumulated amortization   (111,373)
Right-of-use lease assets- operating as of March 31, 2019  $1,871,366 
      
Lease liability-operating as of January 1, 2019  $2,094,958 
Less: Accumulated Amortization     (113,163)
Lease liability operating-as of March 31, 2019  $1,981,795 
      
Operating lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019  $150,557 
Actual remaining lease payments  $2,369,312 
Present value of remaining payments  $1,981,795 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases:

 

   Leases
   Three months
   ended
   March 31, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:     
    Operating cash flows from operating leases  $152,347 
      
Weighted average remaining lease term- operating leases ( in months)   21.25 
Weighted average discount rate- operating leases (annual)   9.98%
      
Maturities of leases liabilities were as follows:     
  Year ending December 31, 2019 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2019)  $464,708 
  Year ending December 31, 2020   622,878 
  Year ending December 31, 2021   638,178 
  Year ending December 31, 2022   643,548 
       Total Lease payments   2,369,312 
Less imputed interest   (387,517)
    Total  $1,981,795 

 

With the exception of the standards discussed above, we believe there have been no new accounting pronouncements effective or not yet effective which have significance, or potential significance, to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

  

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XG SCIENCES, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

We have a licensing agreement for exclusive use of patents and pending patents with Michigan State University (“MSU”), a shareholder of the Company via the MSU Foundation. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 we recorded licensing expense of $12,500 per quarter.  

 

We have also entered into product licensing agreements with certain other shareholders. No royalty revenue or expenses have been recognized related to these agreements during the three months ended March 31, 2019 or the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 we did not issue any Series A Preferred stock. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we issued 7,140 shares of Series A Preferred stock to AAOF as payment for lease financing obligations under the terms of the Master Lease Agreement, dated March 18, 2013.

 

NOTE 9 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

During the period from April 1 through its completion on April 12, 2019, we received proceeds of $1,603,400 for the sale of 200,425 shares of common stock in our IPO.

 

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless otherwise indicated, the words “we”, “us”, “our”, “XG”, “XGS”, “XG Sciences” or the “Company” refer to XG Sciences, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, XG Sciences IP, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company.

 

Introduction

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto included herein. The information contained below includes statements of the Company’s or management’s beliefs, expectations, hopes, goals and plans that, if not historical, are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion on forward-looking statements, see the information set forth in the introductory note to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q under the caption “Forward-Looking Statements”, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Overview of our Business

 

XG Sciences was formed in May 2006 for the purpose of commercializing certain technology to produce graphene nanoplatelets and integrated, value-added products containing graphene nanoplatelets. First isolated and characterized in 2004, graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms configured in an atomic-scale honeycomb lattice. Among many noted properties, monolayer graphene is harder than diamonds, lighter than steel but significantly stronger, and conducts electricity better than copper. Graphene nanoplatelets are particles consisting of multiple layers of graphene. Graphene nanoplatelets have unique capabilities for energy storage, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, barrier properties, lubricity and the ability to impart physical property improvements when incorporated into plastics, metals or other matrices.

 

We believe the unique properties of graphene and graphene nanoplatelets will enable numerous new product applications and the market for such products will quickly grow to be a significant market opportunity. Our business model is to design, manufacture and sell advanced materials we call xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets and value-added products incorporating xGnP® nanoplatelets. We currently have hundreds of customers trialing our products for numerous applications, including, but not limited to lithium ion batteries, lead acid batteries, thermally conductive adhesives, composites, thermal management and heat transfer, inks and coatings, printed electronics, construction materials, cement, and in a range of other industrial uses. We believe our proprietary processes have enabled us to be a low-cost producer of high-quality, graphene nanoplatelets and value-added integrated products containing graphene nanoplatelets and that we are well positioned to address a wide range of end-use applications.  

 

Our Customers

 

We sell products to customers around the world and have sold materials to over 1,300 customers in 47 countries since 2008. Some of these customers are research organizations and some are commercial organizations. Our customers have included well-known automotive and OEM suppliers around the world (Ford, Johnson Controls, Magna, Honda Engineering), global-scale lithium ion battery manufacturers in the U.S., South Korea and China (Samsung SDI, LG Chemical, Lishen, A123) and diverse specialty material companies (3M, BASF, Henkel, Dow Chemical, DuPont), as well as leading research centers such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Oakridge National Laboratory. We have also licensed some of our base manufacturing technology to other companies. Our licensees include POSCO, the fifth largest steel manufacturer in the world by 2018 tonnage output, and Cabot Corporation (“Cabot”), a leading global specialty chemicals and performance materials company. These licensees further extend our technology through their customer networks. Ultimately, we believe we will benefit in terms of royalties on sales of xGnP® nanoplatelets produced and sold by our licensees. As can be seen in the below bar chart, the cumulative number of customers has steadily grown over the last ten years.

 

 

16 
 

 

Cumulative Customers, By Year

 

We believe average order size is an early indicator of commercial traction. The majority of our customers are still ordering in smaller quantities consistent with their development and engineering qualification work. As can be seen in the chart below, our quarterly average order size was relatively modest until the second half of 2017, when a number of customers reached commercial status with different product applications. The data below represents orders shipped in the respective quarter and exclude no charge orders targeted mainly for R&D purposes. The data shows that the average order size has increased steadily over the last two years, and we believe that it will continue to increase as more customers commercialize products using our materials. In the three months ending March 31, 2019 the average order size was $16,809, an increase of 6.2% from $15,827 for the three months ending March 31, 2018 and an increase of 11.9% from $15,024 for the three months ending December 31, 2018, which resulted from changes in customer and product mix in sequential quarters. In 2018 our customer shipments increased by over 210% to 59.9 metric tons (MT) of products from the 19.3 MT shipped in 2017. In the 3 months ending March 31, 2019 we shipped 11.1 MT of product, primarily in the form of dry powder, a decrease of 3% over the 3 months ending December 31, 2018

 

17 
 

Average Order Size of Fulfilled Orders

Our Products

XG Sciences is a manufacturer of graphene nanoplatelets marketed under the brand xGnP® and value-added products that contain graphene nanoplatelets. The term “graphene” is used widely in the literature and the popular press to cover a variety of specific forms of the material. We generally think about two broad classes of graphene materials:

  1. One-atom thick films of carbon commonly referred to as monolayer graphene, manufactured typically from gases by assembling molecules to form relatively large, transparent sheets of material. These materials have been characterized by their performance attributes that differentiate them from other advanced materials and that may include: 200 times stronger than steel, flexible and able to stretch up to 25% of its original length, optically transparent, more electrically conductive than copper, more thermally conductive than any other known material and atomic-level barrier properties. XG Sciences does not manufacture these films and does not participate in the markets for these films and believes that in general, the markets for these films do not compete with those for graphene nanoplatelets.

 

  2. Ultra-thin particles of carbon that consist of layers of graphene sheets ranging in thickness from a few layers to many layers – that are commonly referred to as graphene nanoplatelets (“GNP” or “GNPs”). Because GNPs are thin and can be manufactured in a range of diameters, they are useful for a wide variety of applications. XG Sciences manufactures GNPs that range in thickness from a few nanometers and up to 10-20 nanometers and with diameters ranging from less than 1 micron and up to 100 microns. The manufacture of these graphene particles is our main area of expertise, and their use in practical applications is the focus of our sales, marketing and development activities.

 

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The well-publicized isolation and characterization of graphene in 2004 at the University of Manchester, has spawned a new class of 2D materials based on layers of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal array and each carbon having lone pair electrons. The unique characterization and related performance of this new class of materials is derived from their two-dimensional nature and their composition of sp2 carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal array. The ability of any new material to be exploited in industrial applications will depend on its fit-for-performance. In the case of graphene nanoplatelets, the fit-for-performance is very much related to their aspect ratio (among other factors) such that the diameter is greater than the thickness and is what differentiates the material from bulk graphite of high crystallinity and purity. We classify nanoplatelets consisting of largely basel planes of carbon atoms packed in a hexagonal array (i.e., graphene) as graphene nanoplatelets so long as their aspect ratio may be classified as two-dimension and are thus in the form of platelets. Such a definition implies that the thickness is nanoscale – GNPs having a thickness in the range from generally 0.6 nanometers and up to many 10’s of nanometers. We have chosen to utilize the definitions as set out by the Carbon Journal editorial team (Carbon, volume 65, pp.1-6) and Fullerex (Bulk Graphene Pricing Report, 2018) which provides classification for the various material types which provide meaningful descriptions of commercially available graphene.

 

Graphene Product Thickness Definitions Based on Thickness

  Number of Layers   Product Description
  1   Graphene (monolayer)
  1-3   Very Few Layer Graphene (vFLG)
  2-5   Few Layer Graphene (FLG)
  2-10   Multilayer Graphene (MLG)
  >10   Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP)

 

Bulk Materials. We sell bulk materials under the trademarked brand name of xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets. These materials are produced in various grades, which are analogous to average particle thickness, and average particle diameters. There are three commercial grades (Grades H, M & R), each of which is offered in three standard particle sizes and a fourth, C Grade, which is offered in three standard surface areas. We also have access to other development grades (Grade T, for example), but which are not yet made available commercially and have been used internally for those products containing graphene nanoplatelets. These bulk materials, which normally ship in the form of a dry powder, are especially applicable for use as additives in polymeric or metallic composites, or in coatings or other formulations where particular electrical, thermal or barrier applications are desired by our customers. We also offer our material in the form of dispersions of nanoplatelets in liquids such as water, alcohol, or organic solvents, or mixed into resins or polymers such as thermoplastics or thermosets. We use two different commercial processes to produce these bulk materials:

 

Grade H/M/R/T materials are produced through chemical intercalation of natural graphite followed by thermal exfoliation using a proprietary process developed by us. The “grade” designates the thickness and surface characteristics of the material, and each grade is available in various average particle diameters. Surface area, calculated by the Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller (BET) Method, is used as a convenient proxy for thickness, so each grade of products produced through chemical intercalation is designated by its average surface area, which ranges from 50 to 150 m2/g of material. We are able to extend the surface area higher (250 m2/g for T Grade) but are not yet producing these materials in metric-ton quantities. As the market need emerges for this class of materials, we will scale them as needed. For example, we introduced a new Grade of xGnP® powders, R-Grade, with improved electrical conductivity targeting use in applications for electrically and thermally conductive ink and composites and have scaled R-Grade to metric-ton quantities. 

 

Grade C materials are produced through a high-shear mechanical exfoliation using a proprietary process and equipment that we invented, designed, constructed and patented. The Grade C materials are smaller particles than those grades produced through chemical exfoliation, and Grade C materials are designated by their BET surface area, which ranges from 300 to 800 m2/g. We are able to produce other surface areas and may make those available commercially as needed by our customers.

The following graphic depicts xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets as a function of both layer thickness and aspect ratio (thickness by diameter), two key parameters which will influence their performance in a range of industrial applications.

19 
 

 

XG Sciences’ Graphene Nanoplatelet Product Portfolio and Versus Graphite

Composites. These consist of compositions of specially designed xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets formulated in pre-dispersed mixtures that can be easily incorporated in various polymers. Our integrated composites portfolio includes pre-compounded resins derived from a range of thermoplastics as well as master batches of resins and xGnP® nanoplatelets and their combination with resins and fibers for use in various end-use applications that may include industrial, automotive and sporting goods and which have demonstrated efficacy in standard injection molding, compression molding, blow molding and 3-D processes, to name but a few. Our current product portfolio of polymer resins containing various forms of our xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets and in varying concentration includes polyurethane (XGPU), polypropylene (XGPP), polyethylene terephthalate (XGPET), vinyl ester (XGVE), polyetherimide (XGPEI) and high density polyethylene (XGHDPE). Others polymers may be added over time depending on the end-market and customer needs. In addition, we offer various bulk materials with demonstrated efficacy in plastic composites to impart improved physical performance to such matrices, which may be supplied as dry powders or as aqueous or solvent-based dispersions or cakes as described above. We have also targeted use of our graphene nanoplatelets as an additive in cement mixtures, which we believe results in improved barrier resistance, durability, toughness and corrosion protection. Our GNP® Concrete Additive promotes the formation of more uniform and smaller grain structure in cement. This fine-grain and uniform structure gives the concrete improvements in flexural and compressive strength. In addition, the embedded graphene nanoplatelets will stop cracks from forming and retard crack propagation, should any cracks form – the combination of which will improve lifetime and durability of cement.

Inks and Coatings. These consist of specially-formulated dispersions of xGnP® together with solvents, binders, and other additives to make electrically or thermally conductive products designed for printing or coating and which are showing promise in diverse customer applications such as advanced packaging, electrostatic dissipation and thermal management. We also offer a set of standardized ink formulations suitable for printing. These inks offer the capability to print electrical circuits or antennas and may be suitable for other electrical or thermal applications. All of these formulations can be customized for specific customer requirements.

Energy Storage Materials. These consist of specialty advanced materials that have been formulated for specific applications in the energy storage segment. We offer various bulk materials for use as conductive additives for cathodes and anodes in lithium-ion batteries, as an additive to anode slurries for lead-carbon batteries, as a component in coatings for current collectors in lithium-ion batteries and we are investigating the use of our materials as part of other battery components.

 

Thermal Management Materials.  These consist mainly of various thermal interface materials (“TIM”) in the form of custom greases or pastes. Our  custom XG TIM® greases and pastes are also designed to be used in various high temperature environments. Additionally, we offer various bulk materials for use as active components in adhesives, liquids, coatings and plastic composites to impart improved thermal management performance to such matrices.

 

Our Focus Areas

 

We believe we are a “platform play” in advanced materials, because our proprietary processes allow us to produce varying grades of graphene nanoplatelets that can be mapped to a variety of applications and in many market segments. However, we are prioritizing our efforts in specific areas and with specific customers that we believe represent opportunities for either relatively near-term revenue or especially large and attractive markets. At this time, we are focused on four key vertical markets: Automotive, Sporting Goods, Packaging and Industrial. The following graphic provides examples of target applications within each of the four key verticals where XG Sciences has either commercial sales or is in development with one or more customers.

 

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XGS Market/Application Focus Areas

 

 

Addressable Markets

 

The markets for our materials are large and growing. As one example, the 2019 North American packaging market for plastic bottles and containers is estimated to be more than $34 billion (Mordor Intelligence). Further, Mordor estimates the 2019 global market for PET water bottles at 543.8 billion units. XG Sciences is engaged in the commercial supply of xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets for use in water bottles manufactured initially in North America and we are expanding our market activities into other geographies. If each water bottle produced in 2019 were to incorporate just 1 milligram of xGnP® graphene nanoplates, the total revenue available to XG Sciences may range from $200 to $300 million, depending on product form.

 

Commercialization Process

 

Because graphene is a new material, most of our customers are still developing applications that use our products. Commercialization is a process, the exact timing of which is often difficult to predict. It starts with our own internal R&D to validate performance for an identified market or customer-specific need. Our customers then validate the performance of our materials and determine whether our products can be incorporated into their manufacturing processes. This is initially done at pilot production scale levels. Our customers then have to introduce products that incorporate our materials to their own customers to validate performance. After their customers have validated performance, our customers will then move to commercial scale production. Every customer goes through the same process, but will do so at varying speeds, depending on the customer, the product application and the end-use market. Thus, we are not always able to predict when our customers will begin ordering commercial volumes of our materials or predict their expected volumes over time. However, as customers move through the process, we generally receive feedback and gain greater insights regarding their commercialization plans. According to our respective customers, the following are examples where our products are providing value to our customers at levels that are either in commercial production or we believe will warrant their use on a commercial basis.

  In 2018, Callaway Golf Company introduced new dual-core Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X golf balls incorporating our xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets into the outer core, resulting in a new class of golf ball that enables higher driving speeds, greater distance and increased control, which is allowing Calloway to command a premium price for their golf balls in the marketplace, and in 2019 Callaway expanded the use of our technology to incorporate our xGnP® into the ERC Soft line of golf balls;

 

  The Ford Motor Company, after having demonstrated a 17 percent reduction in noise, a 20 percent improvement in mechanical properties and a 30 percent improvement in heat endurance properties compared with that of polyurethane foam used without graphene  is now incorporating our graphene nanoplatelets for polyurethane based foam parts in over ten under hood components on the Ford F-150 and Mustang with initial production in 2018.

 

21 
 

  

  Light emitting diode module and product company demonstrated approximately 50% improvement in thermal management capability when compared to existing commercial thermal management products, translating into a 15% improvement in thermal management at the device level;

 

  Lead acid battery manufacturers incorporating our materials in the commercial supply of batteries demonstrating improvements in measured cycle life, capacity and charge acceptance;

 

  U.S. bottling company adopting commercial use of our graphene nanoplatelets in PET water bottles to improve modulus (10% with minimal affect to color and up to 200% with color change), shelf life and energy savings during processing;

 

  Plastics composite part manufacturer demonstrating 7-30% improvement in strength and 40% improvement in modulus when used in sheet molding compound; and

 

  Plastic composite parts manufacturer demonstrating 25% increase in tensile strength and 15% improvement in flex modulus for a high-density polyethylene composite, and Plastics manufacturer demonstrating up to 25% increase in tensile modulus, 15% increase in tensile strength and 8x increase in puncture impact for nylon-based thermoplastics.

 

The process of “designing-in” new materials is relatively complex and involves the use of relatively small amounts of the new material in laboratory and engineering development for an extended period of time. Following successful development, customers that incorporate our materials into their products will then order much larger quantities of material to support commercial production. Although, our customers are under no obligation to report to us on the usage of our materials, some have indicated that they have introduced or will soon introduce commercial products that use our materials. Thus, while many of our customers are currently purchasing our materials in kilogram (one or two pound) quantities, some are now ordering at multiple ton quantities and we believe many will require tens of tons or even hundreds of tons of material as they commercialize products that incorporate our materials. We also believe that those customers already in production will increase their order volume as demand increases and others will begin to move into commercial volume production as they gain more experience in working with our materials and engage new customers. For example, in 2017 we shipped 19.3 metric tons of product for various end-use customers. In 2018, we shipped 59.9 metric tons of products comprising 48.3 metric tons of dry powders and approximately 11.6 metric tons of additional product in the form of slurry, cake or other integrated products. This demand profile is further evidence that we are transitioning into higher-volume commercial production.

 

Commercialization Trends

 

We are tracking the commercial and development status of more than 75 different customer applications using our materials with some customers pursuing multiple applications. As of March 31, 2019, we had eighteen specific customer applications where our materials are incorporated into our customers’ products and such customers are actively selling these products to their own customers. In addition, we have another twenty customer applications where our customers have indicated that they expect to begin shipping product incorporating our materials in the next 3 – 6 months and have another twenty-two customer applications where our customers have indicated an intent to commercialize in the next 6 – 9 months. We are also working with numerous additional customers that have not yet indicated an exact date for commercialization, but we believe have the potential to contribute to revenue in 2019. The following graphic demonstrates the commercialization trends over the past 8 fiscal quarters as an increasing number of customers indicate their intent to commercialize applications and move into actively selling or promoting products for future sales. We believe that the average order size for these customers will increase throughout 2019 as their demand grows. As a result, we believe we will begin shipping significantly greater quantities of our products, and thus continue scaling revenue through 2019.

 

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(a)  Customer applications where our materials are used in customer products and they are actively selling them to their customers.

(b) Customer applications where our customers are indicating that they expect to begin shipping products incorporating our materials in the next 3-6 months.

(c)   Customer applications where our customers are indicating an intent to commercialize in the next 6-9 months.

 

Additional 10’s of customers demonstrating efficacy and moving through qualification process.

 

Manufacturing Capacity

 

We completed the first phase of expansion in our newest 64,000 square-foot facility in the first half of 2018. The expansion has added 90 metric tons of graphene nanoplatelet production capacity, bringing the total capacity of the facility up to approximately 180 metric tons of dry powder. Phase two of the expansion was partially complete by year-end 2018 and resulted in up to ~270 metric tons of total graphene nanoplatelet output capacity at the facility. We expect to complete the last portion of this phase two expansion in the first half of 2019, resulting in up to ~400 metric tons of total graphene nanoplatelet output capacity. Our total graphene nanoplatelet output capacity across both of our manufacturing facilities, as of March 31, 2019, exceeded 300 metric tons per year and will increase to an approximate 450 metric tons by year-end. The expansions support our mission to continue commercializing the use of graphene in customer products across diverse industries. XG’s increasing capacity will support the growing demand for our products over the next several fiscal quarters. However, additional manufacturing capabilities for certain value-added products and certain bulk materials remain to be developed and may require the acquisition of additional facilities. In particular, the production processes for certain integrated products will require additional capital and may require additional facilities to meet expected future customer demand.

 

Some of the Company’s products are new products that have not yet been fully developed and for which manufacturing operations have not yet been fully scaled. Although we believe we will continue to scale our production capability and revenue rapidly in 2019, we have not yet demonstrated the capability to produce sufficient materials to generate the ongoing revenues necessary to sustain our operations in the long-term.

 

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Our Intellectual Property

 

Some of our proprietary manufacturing processes were developed at Michigan State University (MSU) and licensed to us in 2006. We license three U.S. patents and patent applications from MSU. On August 8, 2016, we signed an agreement acquiring an exclusive license to Metna’s background IP for use of graphene nanoplatelets as additives to concrete mixtures. For purposes of the agreement, Metna’s background IP relates to the U.S. Patent 8,951,343. Also, on August 8, 2016, we entered into a second agreement for an exclusive license related to all Metna’s background technology and foreground technology, including any jointly-owned foreground technology where the end use is known to be any graphite additive dispersed in concrete mixtures. Over time, our scientists and engineers have made many further discoveries and inventions that are embodied in the form of (and as of March 31, 2019): eleven (11) additional U.S. patents, sixteen (16) foreign patents, eleven (11) additional U.S. patent applications and numerous trade secrets. For many of the applications filed in the U.S., additional filings are made in other countries such as the European Union, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan or other applicable countries. As of March 31, 2019, we maintained twenty-two (22) international patent applications. These filings and analyses are made on a case-by-case basis. Typically, patents that are defensive in nature are not filed abroad, while those that are protective of active XGS products or applications are filed in relevant countries abroad. Our general IP strategy is to keep as trade secrets those manufacturing processes that are difficult to enforce should they be disclosed and to seek patent coverage for other manufacturing processes, materials derived from those processes, unique combinations of materials and end uses of materials containing graphene nanoplatelets. We believe that the combination of our rights under the MSU license, our patents and patent applications, and our trade secrets create a strong intellectual property position.

 

Operating Segment

 

We have one reportable operating segment that manufactures xGnP® graphene nanoplatelets and value-added products produced therefrom, conducts research on graphene nanoplatelets and related products, and licenses our technology as appropriate. As of March 31, 2019, we shipped products on a worldwide basis, but all of our assets were located within the United States.

 

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,   
   2019  2018  Change
Total Revenues  $857,278   $886,337   $(29,059)
Cost of Goods Sold   1,174,622    1,214,774    40,152 
Gross Loss   (317,344)   (328,437)   11,093 
Research & Development Expense   385,245    277,063    (108,182)
Sales, General & Administrative Expense   1,420,922    1,186,679    (234,243)
Total Operating Expense   1,806,167    1,463,742    (342,425)
Operating Loss   (2,123,511)   (1,792,179)   (331,332)
Other Expense   (76,665)   (81,916)   5,251 
Net Loss  $(2,200,176)  $(1,874,095)  $(326,081)

 

Revenue

 

Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, by category, are shown below.

 

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,   
   2019  2018  Change
Product Sales  $857,278   $886,337   $(29,059)
Licensing Revenues   —      —      —   
Total  $857,278   $886,337   $(29,059)

 

 

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Product sales consist of two broad categories: (1) material sold to customers for research or development purposes; and (2) production orders for customers. Typically, the order sizes for the first category are relatively small, however we expect orders in the second category to be much larger in the future. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, product sales decreased by $29,059, or 3% from the comparable period in the prior year. Customers are moving through development programs towards commercialization, requiring larger quantities of our materials for advanced testing, pilot production and commercial-scale production activities. We believe that those customers already in production will increase their order volume as demand increases and others will begin to move into commercial volume production as they gain more experience in working with our materials and engage their own customers. As a result of this movement, we shipped 11.1 MT of product, primarily in the form of dry powder in the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to 10.4 MT of dry powder shipped in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

We ship our products from our Lansing, MI manufacturing facilities to customers around the world. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we shipped materials to customers in 13 countries, as compared to 12 countries during the same three-month period in 2018. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, shipments to one country, South Korea, accounted for more than 10% of product sales. For the three months ended, March 31, 2018, there were no shipments to any one country that accounted for more than 10% of product sales.

 

Order Summary

The table below shows a comparison of domestic and international orders fulfilled (note that this does not include orders for free samples). The table also includes the average order size for product sales. These numbers indicate that our customer base remains active with research and development projects that use our materials, but that the order size is increasing as more customers order for production purposes or approach commercial status with products using our materials. The average order size for the product revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019 increased by 6.2% as compared to the same period in 2018. Although the average size of these orders is still relatively small, we have begun shipping in metric ton quantities to multiple customers.

 

 

    For the Three Months Ended March 31,     Change  
    2019     2018           %  
Number of orders – domestic     25       38       (13     (34.2)  
Number of orders – international     26       18       8          44.4  
Number of orders – total     51       56       (5 )     (8.9)  
 Average order size for product sales recorded in Statement of Operations   $ 16,809     $ 15,827       982       6.2  

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

We use a standard cost system to estimate the direct costs of products sold. Direct costs include estimates of raw material costs, packaging, freight charges net of those billed to customers, and an allocation for direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Because of the nature of our production processes, there is a substantial fixed manufacturing expense requirement that represents the ongoing cost of maintaining production facilities that are not directly related to products sold, so we use a “full capacity” allocation of overhead based on an estimate of what product costs would be if the manufacturing facilities were operating on a full-time basis and producing products at the designed capacity.

 

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The following table shows the relationship of direct costs to product sales for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

Direct Margin and Gross Profit Summary 

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

   
   2019  2018  Change
Product Sales  $857,278   $886,337   $(29,059)
Direct Costs   681,153    468,191    (212,962)
Direct Cost Margin   176,125    418,146    (242,021)
% of Sales   20.5%   47.2%   (26.7)%
                
Unallocated Manufacturing Expense   493,469    746,583    (253,114)
Gross Loss on Product Sales  $(317,344)  $(328,437)  $11,093 
% of Sales   (37.0)%   (37.1)%   0.1%

 

(1) Gross Loss on Product Sales excludes any licensing or grant revenues.

 

We believe that the fluctuations in gross loss on product sales and direct cost from period to period are not indicative of future margins because of the relatively small size of our sales in comparison to our future expectations. Direct costs vary depending on the size of an order, the specific products being ordered, and other factors like shipping destination (which on small orders can represent a significant percentage of the cost).

 

The remaining “non-direct” costs of operating our manufacturing facilities are recorded as unallocated manufacturing expenses. These expenses include personnel costs, rent, utilities, indirect supplies, depreciation, and related indirect expenses. Unallocated manufacturing expenses are expensed as incurred. We allocate these costs to direct product costs based on the proportion of these expenses that would be representative of direct product costs if we were operating our factory at full capacity.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, unallocated manufacturing expenses decreased by 34% to $493,469 as compared to $746,583 in 2018. The decrease of $253,114 is largely due to increased operating efficiencies at the Mason, MI facility since opening in mid-2018 as well as an increase in inventory for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the same period in the prior year.

 

Sales, General and Administrative Expenses 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we incurred selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) of $1,420,921. This is an increase of approximately $234,243 or 19.7% from the same period in 2018. This increase in SG&A expense is related to both an increased hiring of skilled personnel to respond to customer needs and to promote growth. As we continue to grow and gain traction in the marketplace, we expect that our SG&A expenses will increase, but should stabilize and become more fixed in nature as we achieve economies of scale.

  

Research and Development Expenses

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we incurred research and development expenses (R&D) of $385,246. This is an increase of $108,183 or 39% from the same period in 2018. This increase in R&D is primarily due to additional utilization of external testing services and other increased activities in our research and development area as we continue to commercialize and expand our sales reach.

 

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Other Income (Expense)

 

The following table shows a comparison of other income and expense by major expense component for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

   For the Three Months Ended March 31,   
   2019  2018  $
Interest expense, net  $(76,665)  $(85,169)   8,504 
Government incentives, net   —      3,253    (3,253)
Total  $(76,665)  $(81,916)   5,251 

 

Interest expense, net of interest income in the three months ended March 31, 2019, decreased by $8,504 compared to the same period in 2018. The decrease is due to a decrease in the amount of indebtedness outstanding under the Dow Facility.

  

Government incentives include accruals for incentive awards from state and local government entities, these incentives often relate to new hires or job creation activities.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Expenditures

 

Liquidity

 

We have historically incurred recurring losses from operations and we may continue to generate negative cash flows as we implement our business plan. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared using GAAP as applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.

  

As of May 9, 2019  , we had cash on hand of $2,686,494. We believe our cash is sufficient to fund our operations through May 31, 2020 after taking into account various sources of funding and cash received from continued commercial sales transactions. Our primary means for raising funds since 2016 has been through our offering of shares of common stock at a fixed price of $8.00 per share to the general public in a self-underwritten offering (the “Offering” or our “IPO”) and under a draw loan note and agreement with The Dow Chemical Company (the “Dow Facility”). On April 12, 2019, we completed the Offering, after selling 2,615,425 shares under the Registration Statement at a price of $8.00 per share for total proceeds of $20,923,400. We have $5 million of proceeds from the Dow Facility available to us, which we intend to be our primary source of liquidity at this time (See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).  

 

There has been no public market for our securities and a public market may never develop, or, if any market does develop, it may not be sustained. Our common stock is not currently quoted on or traded on any exchange or on any over-the-counter market. In the event we are unable to fund our operations from existing cash on hand, operating cash flows, additional borrowings or raising equity capital, we may be forced to reduce our expenses, slow down our growth rate, or discontinue operations. Our 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 we be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

In preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), we have adopted various accounting policies. Our most significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Our estimates and assumptions, including those related to inventories, intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, legal proceedings, research and development, warranty obligations, product liability, fair valued liabilities, sales returns and discounts, going concern, and income taxes are updated as appropriate, which in most cases is at least quarterly. We base our estimates on historical experience, or various judgements about the reported values of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Actual results may materially differ from these estimates.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide this information.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and that such information 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. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

As required by SEC Rule 15d-15, our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this report.

(b) Changes in internal controls. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

 

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide this information.

  

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

None.

  

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.


 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

 

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
  DESCRIPTION   LOCATION
         
         
31.1    Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   Filed herewith
31.2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    Filed herewith
32.1   Certification Pursuant To 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002*   Filed herewith
32.2    Certification Pursuant To 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*   Filed herewith
101. INS   XBRL Instance Document   Filed herewith
         
101. CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Link base Document   Filed herewith
         
101. DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Link base Document   Filed herewith
         
101. LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Label Link base Document   Filed herewith
         
101. PRE   XBRL Extension Presentation Link base Document   Filed herewith
         
101. SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Scheme Document   Filed herewith

 

 

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SIGNATURES 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Dated: May 15, 2019 By:   /s/ Philip L. Rose
  Name:   Philip L. Rose
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
       
Dated: May 15, 2019 By:   /s/ Jacqueline M. Lemke
  Name:   Jacqueline M. Lemke
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

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