UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
For
the quarterly period ended
For the transition period from _____to _____
Commission
File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code:
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc.
600
Travis Street, Suite 5050
Houston, Texas 77002
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| The | ||||
| The |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ||
| Emerging growth company |
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
There
were
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
| PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |||
| ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 1 | |
| ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | 25 | |
| ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK | 34 | |
| ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 34 | |
| PART II OTHER INFORMATION | 35 | ||
| ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 35 | |
| ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS | 35 | |
| ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS | 35 | |
| ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES | 35 | |
| ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES | 35 | |
| ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION | 35 | |
| ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS | 36 | |
| SIGNATURES | 37 | ||
i
Item 1. Financial Statements
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
| Deferred transaction costs | ||||||||
| Deferred financing costs | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Non-current assets: | ||||||||
| Security deposits | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | ||||||||
| Intellectual patented technology | ||||||||
| Total non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities – current portion | ||||||||
| Notes payable – insurance premium financing | ||||||||
| Promissory note – related party | ||||||||
| Income taxes payable | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Non-current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Contingent consideration | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Total non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 5) | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Intermediate Member’s Equity | $ | $ | ||||||
| Class A common stock, par value $ | ||||||||
| Class C common stock, par value $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid in capital | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | ||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
1
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Contingent Consideration | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Research and development expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Operating (income) loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other (income) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss (income) before income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (net loss) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||
| Earnings per share | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss per Share of Class A common stock | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
2
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three months ended September 30, 2023
| Member’s | Preferred stock | Class A Common | Class C Common | Additional Paid In | Accumulated | Non controlling | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Shares | Values | Shares | Values | Shares | Values | Capital | Deficit | Interest | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance – June 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance – September 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine months ended September 30, 2023
| Member’s | Preferred stock | Class A Common | Class C Common | Additional Paid In | Accumulated | Non controlling | Total Stockholders’ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Shares | Values | Shares | Values | Shares | Values | Capital | Deficit | Interest | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance - December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | - | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retroactive application of recapitalization | - | - | - | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted beginning balance | - | - | - | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reversal of Intermediate original equity | ( | ) | - | - | ( | ) | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recapitalization transaction | - | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A Sponsor earn out shares | - | - | - | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class C Sponsor earn out shares | - | - | - | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant Exercise | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance – September 30, 2023 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3
Statement of Member’s Equity for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
| Member’s Equity | Accumulated Deficit | Total Member’s Equity | ||||||||||
| Balance – June 30, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| Capital contribution | ||||||||||||
| Unit-based compensation expense | ||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||
| Balance September 30, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||
Statement of Member’s Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
| Member’s Equity | Accumulated Deficit | Total Member’s Equity | ||||||||||
| Balance – December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| Capital contribution | ||||||||||||
| Unit-based compensation expense | ||||||||||||
| Net income | ||||||||||||
| Balance September 30, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||
The accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
4
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
| For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities | ||||||||
| Contingent consideration | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Depreciation | ||||||||
| Unit-based compensation expense | ||||||||
| Finance lease amortization | ||||||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | ||||||||
| Security deposits | ( | ) | ||||||
| Income taxes payable | ||||||||
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
| PIPE proceeds | ||||||||
| Cash received from Trust | ||||||||
| Transaction expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
| BCF Holdings capital repayment | ( | ) | ||||||
| Repayments of notes payable - insurance premium financing | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Repayments of the principal portion of finance lease liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Deferred transaction costs | ( | ) | ||||||
| Deferred financing costs | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Warrant exercises | ||||||||
| Capital contributions | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
| Net change in cash and restricted cash | ||||||||
| Cash, beginning of year | ||||||||
| CENAQ operating cash balance acquired | ||||||||
| Cash and restricted cash, end of year | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental cash flows | ||||||||
| Non-cash income tax payable and deferred tax liability obtained from CENAQ | $ | |||||||
| Non-cash impact of debt issuance through the business combination | $ | |||||||
| Non-cash deferred transaction costs | $ | |||||||
| Non-cash deferred financing costs | $ | |||||||
The accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
5
VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (the “Company” or “Verde Clean Fuels”) is a renewable energy company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass, municipal solid waste (“MSW”) and mixed plastics, as well as natural gas (including synthetic natural gas) and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as gasoline through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through Verde Clean Fuels’ STG+® process, Verde Clean Fuels converts syngas into Reformulated Blend-stock for Oxygenate Blending (“RBOB”) gasoline. Verde Clean Fuels is focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other bio-feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps. The availability of biogenic MSW and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities.
On February 15, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Verde Clean Fuels finalized a business combination (the “Business Combination”) pursuant to that certain business combination agreement, dated as of August 12, 2022 by and among CENAQ Energy Corp. (“CENAQ”), Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CENAQ (“OpCo”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”), Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Intermediate”), and CENAQ Sponsor LLC (“Sponsor”). Immediately upon the completion of the Business Combination, CENAQ was renamed to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. The Business Combination is discussed further in Note 3.
Following the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company is organized in an “Up-C” structure and the only direct assets of the Company, consists of equity interests in OpCo, whose only direct assets consists of equity interests in Intermediate. Immediately following the Business Combination, Verde Clean Fuels is the sole manager of and controls OpCo.
As of the year ended December 31, 2022, prior to the Business Combination, and up to the transaction close on February 15, 2023, Verde Clean Fuels, previously CENAQ Energy Corp., was a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
6
NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of Intermediate included in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 7, 2023 and are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) have been made that are necessary to present fairly the financial position, and the results of its operations and its cash flows. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of results for a full year.
The Company’s management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Risks and uncertainties
The Company is currently in the development stage and has not yet commenced principal operations or generated revenue. The development of the Company’s projects are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the receipt of the necessary permits and regulatory approvals, commodity price risk impacting the decision to go forward with the projects, the availability and ability to obtain the necessary financing for the construction and development of projects.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation
The Company’s policy is to consolidate all entities that the Company controls by ownership interest or other contractual rights giving the Company control over the most significant activities of an investee. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Verde Clean Fuels and its subsidiaries: OpCo, Intermediate, Bluescape Clean Fuels Employee Holdings, LLC, Bluescape Clean Fuels EmployeeCo., LLC, Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC, and Maricopa Renewable Fuels I, LLC. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash Equivalents
The
Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
The Company has a restricted cash balance of $
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution,
which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation limit of $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities which qualify as financial instruments under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to its short-term nature.
In determining fair value, the valuation techniques consistent with the market approach, income approach and cost approach shall be used to measure fair value. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs, which represent the assumptions used by the buyer and seller in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs are further defined as observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are those that buyer and seller would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that the buyer and seller would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
7
The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows:
Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not being applied. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2 — Valuations based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities, or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market through correlation or other means.
Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. The fair value of certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet. The fair values of cash, prepaid expenses, and accrued expenses are estimated to approximate the carrying values as of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, due to the short maturities of such instruments.
Net Loss Per Common Stock
Subsequent
to the Business Combination, the Company’s capital structure is comprised of shares of Class A common stock, par value $
Antidilutive instruments including outstanding warrants, stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and earn out shares were excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2023, because the inclusion of such instruments would be anti-dilutive. As a result, diluted net loss per common stock is the same as basic net loss per common stock for the periods.
Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and the applicable authoritative guidance in ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). Management’s assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, whether they meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own common stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period-end date while the warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, they are recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, they are recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and subject to remeasurement each balance sheet date with changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants to be recognized as a non-cash gain or loss in the statement of operations.
Segments
Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Company has determined that it operates in one operating segment, as the CODM reviews financial information presented on a combined basis for purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources, and evaluating financial performance.
8
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, “Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. The Company has elected to use the outside basis approach to measure the deferred tax assets or liabilities based on its investment in its subsidiaries without regard to the underlying assets or liabilities.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considered whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.
ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
Reverse recapitalization
The Business Combination was accounted for according to a common control reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with US GAAP. This determination reflects Holdings having a majority of the voting power of Intermediate’s pre and post Business Combination operations and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings continues to have control of the Board of Directors through its majority voting rights.
Under the guidance in ASC 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”), for transactions between entities under common control, the assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests of CENAQ and Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the business combination. Under this method of accounting, CENAQ is treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the business combination is treated as the equivalent of Intermediate issuing stock for the net assets of CENAQ, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of Intermediate are stated at their historical value within the consolidated financial statements with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
9
Property, Plant and Equipment
| Computers, office equipment and hardware | |
| Furniture and fixtures | |
| Machinery and equipment | |
| Leasehold improvements |
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the accompanying statements of operations in the period realized.
Accrued Liabilities
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Accrued bonuses | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued legal fees | ||||||||
| Accrued professional fees | ||||||||
| Other accrued expenses | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
Other
accrued expenses as of the period ended September 30, 2023 consist primarily of an excise tax payment of $
Leases
The Company accounts for leases under ASU 842, “Leases” (“ASC 842)”. The core principle of this standard is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases by recognizing in the consolidated balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset (“ROU asset”) representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. In accordance with the guidance of ASC 842, leases are classified as finance or operating leases, and both types of leases are recognized on the consolidated balance sheet.
Certain lease arrangements may contain renewal options. Renewal options are included in the expected lease term only if they are reasonably certain of being exercised by the Company.
The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components for real-estate lease arrangements. The Company combines the lease and non-lease component into a single accounting unit and accounts for the unit under ASC 842 where lease and non-lease components are included in the classification of the lease and the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability. In addition, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not apply lease recognition requirements to leases with a term of one year or less. Under this expedient, lease costs are not capitalized; rather, are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company’s leases do not contain residual value guarantees or material restrictions or covenants.
10
The Company uses either the rate implicit in the lease, if readily determinable, or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate for a period comparable to the lease term in order to calculate the net present value of the lease liability. The incremental borrowing rate represents the rate that would approximate the rate to borrow funds on a collateralized basis over a similar term and in a similar economic environment.
Impairment of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
The
Company’s intangible asset consists of its intellectual property and patented technology and is considered an indefinite lived
intangible and is not subject to amortization. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the gross and carrying amount of this
intangible asset was $
A qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets is performed in order to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. In performing this analysis, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions are considered in addition to current and forecasted financial performance, entity-specific events and changes in the composition or carrying amount of net assets under the quantitative analysis, intellectual property and patents are tested.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges.
Impairment of Long-Term Assets
The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable, undiscounted cash flows from such asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the estimated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges.
Emerging Growth Company Accounting Election
Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect not to take advantage of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, and any such election to not take advantage of the extended transition period is irrevocable. The Company expects to be an emerging growth company through 2023. Prior to the Business Combination, CENAQ elected to irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company will adopt the new or revised standard when those standards are effective for public registrants.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Company applies ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), in accounting for unit-based compensation to employees.
Unit-Based Compensation
Service-based units compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, or the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period. Performance-based unit compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is expensed over the requisite service period, based on the probability of achieving the performance goal, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the change. If the performance goal is not met, no unit-based compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized unit-based compensation expense is reversed. Forfeitures of service-based and performance-based units are recognized upon the time of occurrence.
Prior to closing of the Business Combination, certain subsidiaries of the Company, including Intermediate, were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Holdings. Holdings, which was outside of the Business Combination perimeter, had entered into several compensation related arrangements with management of Intermediate. Compensation costs associated with those arrangements were allocated by Holdings to Intermediate as the employees were rendering services to Intermediate. However, the ultimate contractual obligation related to these awards, including any future settlement, rested and continues to rest with Holdings.
On
August 5, 2022, Holdings entered into an agreement with its management team whereby all outstanding unvested Series A Incentive Units
and Founder Incentive Units became fully vested on the closing of the Business Combination. As part of the agreement, the priority of
distributions under the Series A Incentive Units and Founders Incentive Units was also revised such that participants receive
11
In
connection with the close of the Business Combination, the Company accelerated the unvested service and performance-based units and recorded
share-based payment expense within general and administrative expense of $
2023 Equity-Based Awards
In March 2023, the Company authorized and approved the Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”). On April 25, 2023, the Company granted stock options to certain employees and officers and granted RSUs to non-employee directors, consistent with the terms of the 2023 Plan. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model and the fair value of RSUs granted were determined by the value of the stock price on the date of the award, subject to a discount for lack of marketability (see Note 7).
Equity-based compensation is measured using a fair value-based method for all equity-based awards. The cost of awarded equity instruments is recognized based on each instrument’s grant-date fair value over the period during which the grantee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The determination of fair value requires significant judgment and the use of estimates, particularly with regard to Black-Scholes assumptions such as stock price volatility and expected option term. Equity-based compensation is recorded as a general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company estimates the expected term of options granted based on peer benchmarking and expectations. Treasury yield curve rates are used for the risk-free interest rate in the option valuation model with maturities similar to the expected term of the options. Volatility is determined by reference to the actual volatility of several publicly traded peer companies that are similar to the Company in its industry sector. The Company does not anticipate paying cash dividends and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the option valuation model. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. The Company assesses whether a discount for lack of marketability is applied based on certain liquidity factors. All equity-based payment awards subject to graded vesting based only on a service condition are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods.
There is substantial judgment in selecting the assumptions which we use to determine the fair value of such equity awards and other companies could use similar market inputs and experience and arrive at different conclusions.
Contingent Consideration
Holdings had an arrangement payable to the Company’s CEO and a consultant whereby a contingent payment could become payable in the event that certain return on investment hurdles were met. On August 5, 2022, Holdings entered into an agreement with the Company’s management and CEO whereby if the Business Combination was completed, the Contingent Consideration would be forfeited.
For
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company remeasured the liability of this arrangement and reassessed the probability
of the completion of the Business Combination. The Company reversed $
The
Business Combination closed on February 15, 2023, and therefore the contingent consideration arrangement was terminated and no payments
were made. Thus, the remaining $
NOTE 3 – BUSINESS COMBINATION
On August 12, 2022, the Company entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) by and among CENAQ Energy Corp., Verde Clean Fuels OpCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of CENAQ, Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Bluescape Clean Fuels Intermediate Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and CENAQ Sponsor LLC. The Company consummated the Business Combination on February 15, 2023.
Pursuant
to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) (A) CENAQ contributed to OpCo (1) all of its assets (excluding its interests
in OpCo and the aggregate amount of cash required to satisfy any exercise by CENAQ stockholders of their redemption rights (the “Redemption
Rights”) and (2) the shares of Class C common stock (the “Holdings Class C Shares”) and (B) in exchange
therefor, OpCo issued to CENAQ a number of Class A OpCo Units equal to the number of total shares of Class A common
stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing (taking into account the PIPE Financing and following the exercise of Redemption
Rights) (such transactions, the “SPAC Contribution”) and (ii) immediately following the SPAC Contribution,
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Pursuant to ASC 805, the Business Combination was accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization where Intermediate is deemed the accounting acquirer and the Company is treated as the accounting acquiree, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with US GAAP. The Business Combination is not treated as a change in control of Intermediate. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Verde Clean Fuels, Intermediate’s Pre-Business Combination operations being the majority post-Business Combination operations of Verde Clean Fuels, and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings continues to have control of the Board of Directors through its majority voting rights. Under ASC 805, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination.
The Business Combination includes:
| ● | Holdings contributing 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate to OpCo in exchange for 22,500,000 Class C OpCo Units and an equal number of shares of Class C common stock; |
| ● | The issuance and sale of 3,200,000 shares of Class A common stock for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $32,000,000 in the PIPE Financing pursuant to the subscription agreements; |
| ● | Delivery of $19,031,516 of proceeds from CENAQ’s Trust Account related to non-redeeming holders of 1,846,120 of Class A common stock; and |
| ● | Repayment of $3,750,000 of capital contributions made by Holdings since December 2021 and payment of $10,043,793 of transaction expenses including deferred underwriting fees of $1,700,000; |
| Shares | % of Common Stock | |||||||
| CENAQ Public Stockholders | % | |||||||
| Holdings | % | |||||||
| New PIPE Investors (excluding Holdings) | % | |||||||
| Sponsor and Anchor Investors | % | |||||||
| Sponsor Earn Out shares | % | |||||||
| Total Shares of Common Stock at Closing | % | |||||||
| Earn Out Equity shares | ||||||||
| Total diluted shares at Closing (including shares above) | ||||||||
Total proceeds raised from the business combination
were $
NOTE 4 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
ASC 850, “Related Party Disclosures”
(“ASC 850”) provides guidance for the identification of related parties and disclosure of related party transactions. On February
15, 2023, the Company entered into a new promissory note with the Sponsor totaling $
The Company has a related party relationship with
Holdings whereby Holdings holds a majority ownership in the Company via voting shares and has control of its Board of Directors. Further,
Holdings possesses
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NOTE 5 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at inception based on whether that contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset in exchange for consideration for a period of time. Leases are classified as either finance or operating leases. This classification dictates whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. For all lease arrangements with a term of greater than 12 months, the Company presents at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.
The Company leases office space and other office equipment under operating lease arrangements with initial terms greater than twelve months. The office lease was extended until 2024. Office space is leased to provide adequate workspace for all employees.
In October 2022,
On August 31, 2023, the Company terminated the land lease in Maricopa, Arizona. In connection with the termination, the Company incurred a termination fee of three months’ base rent. The termination is effective four months after the termination notice; thus, the Company has a continued right-of-use and obligation to make rental payments for use of the land through December 31, 2023. The Company accounted for the termination with a continued right-of-use as a lease modification resulting in a reclassification of the lease from finance to operating as of the lease modification date. Accordingly, the Company incurred finance lease costs during the three months ended September 30, 2023 up to the modification date. The Company expects to incur operating lease costs subsequent to the modification until lease termination. As the lease was classified as an operating lease as of August 31, 2023, the lease is presented as an operating lease within these unaudited consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2023.
| Lease Cost | Statements of Operations Classification | Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | ||||
| Amortization of finance lease right-of-use asset | General and administrative expense | $ | ||||
| Interest on finance lease liability | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Total finance lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Operating lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Variable lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Total lease cost | $ | |||||
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| Lease Cost | Statements of Operations Classification | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | ||||
| Amortization of finance lease right-of-use asset | General and administrative expense | $ | ||||
| Interest on finance lease liability | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Total finance lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Operating lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Variable lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Total lease cost | $ | |||||
| Lease Cost | Statements of Operations Classification | Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 | ||||
| Operating lease cost | General and administrative expense | $ | ||||
| Variable lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Total lease cost | $ | |||||
| Lease Cost | Statements of Operations Classification | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 | ||||
| Operating lease cost | General and administrative expense | $ | ||||
| Variable lease cost | General and administrative expense | |||||
| Total lease cost | $ | |||||
| As of September 30, 2023 | ||||||||
| Maturity of lease liabilities | Operating | Finance | ||||||
| 2023 | $ | $ | ||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| Thereafter | ||||||||
| Total future minimum lease payments | ||||||||
| Less: interest | ( | ) | ||||||
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
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| As of | As of | |||||||
| Operating lease - supplemental information | September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2022 | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease | $ | $ | ||||||
| Remaining lease term - operating lease | ||||||||
| Discount rate - operating lease | % | % | ||||||
Contingencies
The Company is not party to any litigation.
NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Computers, office equipment and hardware | $ | $ | ||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | ||||||||
| Machinery and equipment | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | ||||||||
| Less; accumulated depreciation | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||
Depreciation expense was $
NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Earnout Consideration
Earnout shares potentially issuable as part of the Business Combination are recorded within stockholder’s equity as the instruments are deemed to be indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the equity classification criteria under ASC 815-40-25. Earnout shares contain market conditions for vesting and were awarded to eligible shareholders, as described further below, and not to current employees.
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As consideration for the contribution of the equity
interests in Intermediate, Holdings received earnout consideration (the “Holdings earnout”) of
Additionally, the Sponsor received earnout consideration
(the “Sponsor earnout”) of
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Holdings earnout and Sponsor earnout shares will vest in the event of a sale of the Company at a price that is equal to or greater than the redemption price payable to the buyer of the Company. The earn out consideration was issued in connection with the Business Combination on February 15, 2023. Holdings earn out shares are neither issued nor outstanding as of September 30, 2023 as the performance requirements for vesting were not achieved. All Sponsor Shares granted in connection with the Business Combination are issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023. Sponsor Shares subject to forfeiture pursuant to the above terms that do not vest in accordance with such terms shall be forfeited.
| Inputs | February 15, 2023 | |
| Expected volatility | ||
| Expected dividends | ||
| Remaining expected term (in years) | ||
| Risk-free rate | ||
| Discount Rate (WACC) | ||
| Payment Probability | based on triggering event |
The earnout arrangements are akin to a distribution to our shareholders, similar to the declaration of a pro rata dividend, and the fair value of the shares are a reduction to retained earnings.
Based on the Class A common stock trading price the market conditions were not met and no earnout shares vested as of September 30, 2023.
Share-based Compensation
Compensation expense related to share-based compensation
arrangements is included within general and administrative expenses. The total compensation expense incurred related to the Company’s
equity-based compensation plans was $
Share-based compensation costs incurred in the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 were $
17
Incentive Units
The Holdings equity compensation instruments consisted
of
The Company classified these units as equity awards and measured their fair value at the grant date. The fair value of each award was estimated on the grant date using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that used the assumptions noted below and other valuation techniques. Expected volatility was based on historical volatility for guideline public companies that operate in the Company’s industry. The expected term of awards granted represents management’s estimate for the number of years until a liquidity event as of the grant date. The risk-free rate for the period of the expected term was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. In addition, management considered the distribution priority schedule or “waterfall calculation” in its estimation process.
There were 800 Series A Incentive Units granted
by Holdings in August of 2020 and 400 were unvested as of December 31, 2022. As the award recipients resided on subsidiaries of Intermediate
and provided service to the Company, the Company recognized $
There were
On August 5, 2022, certain amendments to the existing
Series A Incentive Units and Founder Incentive Units were made whereby all outstanding unvested Series A Incentive Units and Founders
Incentive Units would become fully vested upon completion of the Business Combination. Additionally, as part of the amendment to these
agreements, the priority of distributions under the Series A Incentive Units and Founders Incentive Units was also revised such that participants
receive
In connection with the closing of the Business
Combination, and as a result of the August 5, 2022 amendments, all of the outstanding and unvested the Series A Incentive Units and Founder
Incentive Units became fully vested. As such, the Company accelerated the remaining service-based share-based payment expense related
to these awards of $
2023 Equity Awards
In addition to stock options and RSUs, the 2023 Plan authorizes for the future potential grant of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards, stock awards, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards, cash awards and substitute awards to certain employees (including executive officers), consultants and non-employee directors, and is intended to align the interests of the Company’s service providers with those of the stockholders.
18
Stock Options
Stock options represent the contingent right of
award holders to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a stated price for a limited time. The stock options granted in
2023 have an exercise price of $
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model and the following underlying assumptions. Expected volatility was based on historical volatility for public company peers that operate in the Company’s industry. The expected term of awards granted represents management’s estimate for the number of years until a liquidity event as of the grant date. The risk-free rate for the period of the expected term was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
| Risk-free interest rate | % | |||
| Expected term | ||||
| Volatility | % | |||
| Dividend yield | ||||
| Discount for lack of marketability | % |
| Number of options | Weighted average exercise price per share | Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) | ||||||||||
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||
| Exercised | ||||||||||||
| Forfeited / expired | ||||||||||||
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Vested as of September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Unvested as of September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Exercisable as of September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock
options was $
Restricted Stock Units
RSUs represent an unsecured right to receive
19
The fair value of RSUs granted in 2023 were determined
by the value of the stock price on the date of the award, subject to a discount for lack of marketability of
| Time-based restricted stock units | ||||
| Unvested, December 31, 2022 | ||||
| Granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 | ||||
| Vested | ||||
| Forfeited | ||||
| Unvested September 30, 2023 | ||||
For RSUs, the compensation expense was $
To date, the Company has not granted RSUs which vest based on the achievement of certain market or performance metrics.
Recast of Intermediate Equity
The Business Combination was structured as a reverse merger and recapitalization, which results in a common control arrangement where Holdings, the party that controls the reporting entity prior to the Business Combination, continues to control the Company immediately after the Business Combination. As such, there is not a new basis of accounting and the financial statements of the combined company represent a continuation of the financial statements of Intermediate where assets and liabilities of Intermediate continue to be reported at historical value. However, the reverse recapitalization requires a recast of Intermediate’s equity and earnings per share and is adjusted to reflect the par value of the outstanding capital stock of CENAQ. For periods before the reverse recapitalization, shareholders’ equity of Intermediate is presented based on the historical equity of Intermediate restated using the exchange ratio to reflect the equity structure of CENAQ.
Management evaluated the impact of the number of shares issued by CENAQ to affect the Business Combination in exchange for the shares of Intermediate (“the exchange ratio”) and concluded the recast of historical equity based on the exchange ratio did not result in a significant impact to historical equity.
20
NOTE 8 – WARRANTS
There are
The Company may call the warrants for redemption,
in whole and not in part, at a price of $
| ● | at any time after the warrants become exercisable; |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; |
| ● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the shares of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $ |
| ● | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying such warrants. |
If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
Warrants were exercised on various dates during
the nine months ended September 30, 2023 whereby the total number of warrants exercised was
21
NOTE 9 – INCOME TAX
Intermediate was historically and remains a disregarded subsidiary of a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income or loss. The Company is subject to U.S. Federal income taxes, in addition to state and local income taxes, with respect to its distributive share of any net taxable income or loss and any related tax credits of OpCo.
The Company’s effective tax rate was (
The Company has assessed the realizability of its net deferred tax assets and in that analysis has considered the relevant positive and negative evidence available to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2023, which will be maintained until there is sufficient evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of these allowances.
The Company’s income tax filings will be subject to audit by various taxing jurisdictions. The Company will monitor the status of U.S. Federal, state and local income tax returns that may be subject to audit in future periods. No U.S. Federal, state and local income tax returns are currently under examination by the respective taxing authorities.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, CENAQ’s
former Trust assets were invested in income generating U.S. Treasury bills. As a result of the investment income, CENAQ generated a Federal
income tax liability of $
Tax receivable agreement
On the Closing Date, in connection with the consummation
of the Business Combination and as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Verde Clean Fuels entered into a tax receivable
agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with Holdings (together with its permitted transferees, the “TRA Holders,”
and each a “TRA Holder”) and the Agent (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement). Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement,
Verde Clean Fuels is required to pay each TRA Holder
22
NOTE 10 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
As of September 30, 2023, the Company did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as earn out shares and warrants are equity classified and therefore are not measured at fair value.
The Company measured the liability for contingent
consideration as of December 31, 2022 using Level 3 inputs and valued the contingent consideration at $
NOTE 11 – LOSS PER SHARE
Prior to the reverse recapitalization in connection with the Business Combination, all net loss was attributable to the noncontrolling interest. For the periods prior to February 15, 2023, earnings per share was not calculated because net income prior to the Business Combination was attributable entirely to Intermediate. Further, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, the Intermediate ownership structure included equity interests held solely by Holdings. The Company analyzed the calculation of earnings per share for comparative periods presented and determined that it resulted in values that would not be meaningful to the users of these condensed consolidated financial statements. Therefore, the earnings per share information has not been presented for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Basic net loss per share has been computed by dividing net loss attributable to Class A common shareholders for the period subsequent to the Business Combination by the weighted average number of Class A shares of common stock outstanding for the same period. Diluted earnings per share of Class A common stock were computed by dividing net loss attributable to Class A common shareholders by the weighted-average number of Class A shares of common stock outstanding adjusted to give effect to potentially dilutive securities.
The Company’s potentially dilutive securities
have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be to reduce the net loss per share. Therefore,
the weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share is the same.
| Three months ended September 30, 2023 | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. | $ | ( | ) | |
| Basic weighted-average shares outstanding | ||||
| Dilutive effect of share-based awards | ||||
| Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding | $ | |||
| Basic income per share | $ | ( | ) | |
| Diluted income per share | $ | ( | ) | |
23
| Nine months ended September 30, 2023 | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. | $ | ( | ) | |
| Basic weighted-average shares outstanding | ||||
| Dilutive effect of share-based awards | ||||
| Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding | $ | |||
| Basic income per share | $ | ( | ) | |
| Diluted income per share | $ | ( | ) | |
The Company’s stock options, warrants, and earnout shares could have the most significant impact on diluted shares should the instruments represent dilutive instruments. However, securities that could potentially be dilutive are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share when a loss from continuing operations exists or when the exercise price exceeds the average closing price of the Company’s common stock during the period, because their inclusion would result in an anti-dilutive effect on per share amounts.
| As of | ||||
| September 30, 2023 | ||||
| Warrants | ||||
| Earnout Shares | ||||
| Convertible debt | ||||
| Stock options | ||||
| Time based RSUs | ||||
| Total anti-dilutive instruments | ||||
NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date, up to the date which the consolidated financial statements were issued. There were no subsequent events or transactions.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
References in this report (the “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Verde Clean Fuels, Inc. (formerly known as CENAQ Energy Corp.). References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special note regarding forward-looking statements
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” for the purposes of federal securities laws that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors contained in this Form 10-Q. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
Formation
On July 29, 2020, Green Energy Partners, Inc. (“GEP”), formed by the Chief Executive Officer of Intermediate, and an additional individual (the “Founders”), entered into an asset purchase agreement with Primus Green Energy, Inc. (“Primus”) to purchase the assets of Primus. The assets under the asset purchase agreement included a demonstration facility, a laboratory, office space, and intellectual property including the patented STG+ process technology.
GEP then assigned its rights under the asset purchase agreement to a newly formed subsidiary of Intermediate. Immediately following the closing of the asset purchase agreement, the Founders sold 100% of their membership interests to BEP Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BEP”) in exchange for agreeing to make the payments under the asset purchase agreement as well as other capital contributions and a contingent payment. BEP ultimately contributed the membership interests to Intermediate. Intermediate holds the acquired assets through Bluescape Clean Fuels, LLC. Since acquiring the assets from Primus, we have developed the use and application of the technology acquired to focus on the renewable energy industry.
The Transactions
We entered into the Business Combination Agreement with CENAQ on August 12, 2022. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and based on approval by CENAQ’s shareholders, (i) (A) CENAQ contributed to OpCo (1) all of its assets (excluding its interests in OpCo and the aggregate amount of cash required to satisfy any exercise by CENAQ stockholders of their redemption rights) and (2) the Holdings Class C Shares and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo issued to CENAQ a number of Class A OpCo Units equal to the number of total shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing (taking into account the PIPE Financing and following the exercise of Redemption Rights) and (ii) immediately following the SPAC Contribution, (A) Holdings contributed to OpCo 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Intermediate and (B) in exchange therefor, OpCo transferred to Holdings (1) the Holdings OpCo Units and the Holdings Class C Shares. After giving effect to the business combination, Holdings holds 22,500,000 OpCo Units and an equal number of shares of Class C Common Stock.
25
The Business Combination was accounted for as a common control reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with US GAAP. The Business Combination was not treated as a change in control of Intermediate. This determination reflects Holdings holding a majority of the voting power of Verde Clean Fuels, Intermediate’s pre-Business Combination operations being the majority post-Business Combination operations of Verde Clean Fuels, and Intermediate’s management team retaining similar roles at Verde Clean Fuels. Further, Holdings continues to have control of the Board of Directors through its majority voting rights.
Under the guidance in the ASC 805, for transactions between entities under common control, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of CENAQ and Intermediate are recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination. Under this method of accounting, CENAQ will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Intermediate issuing stock for the net assets of CENAQ, accompanied by a recapitalization.
The most significant change in Verde Clean Fuel’s reported financial position and results is a net increase in cash (as compared to Intermediate’s financial position as of December 31, 2022) of $37.3 million, consisting of $32.0 million in PIPE Financing proceeds, $19.0 million from the trust, and $91 thousand from the CENAQ operating account, offset by $10.0 million in transaction expenses which were recorded as a reduction to additional paid in capital, and offset by a $3.75 million capital repayment to Holdings.
On February 15, 2023, CENAQ completed the Business Combination. Immediately upon the completion of the Business Combination, CENAQ was renamed Verde Clean Fuels Inc.
Following the Business Combination, Verde Clean Fuels is a renewable energy company specializing in the conversion of synthesis gas, or syngas, derived from diverse feedstocks, such as biomass, municipal solid waste (“MSW”) and mixed plastics, as well as natural gas (including synthetic natural gas) and other feedstocks, into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as gasoline through an innovative and proprietary liquid fuels technology, the STG+® process. Through our STG+® process, we convert syngas into Reformulated Blend-stock for Oxygenate Blending (“RBOB”) gasoline. We are focused on the development of technology and commercial facilities aimed at turning waste and other bio-feedstocks into a usable stream of syngas which is then transformed into a single finished fuel, such as gasoline, without any additional refining steps. The availability of biogenic MSW and the economic and environmental drivers that divert these materials from landfills will enable us to utilize these waste streams to produce renewable gasoline from modular production facilities with expected capacity to produce between approximately seven million to 30 million gallons of renewable gasoline per year.
We are redefining liquid fuels technology through our proprietary and innovative STG+® process to deliver scalable and cost-effective renewable gasoline. We acquired our STG+® technology from Primus, a company established in 2007 that developed the patented STG+® technology to convert syngas into gasoline or methanol. Since acquiring the technology, we have adapted the application of our STG+® technology to focus on the renewable energy industry. This adaptation requires a third-party gasification system to produce acceptable synthesis gas from these renewable feedstocks. Our proprietary STG+® system converts the syngas into gasoline.
We have made significant progress towards commercializing the first STG+® based commercial production facility in the United States. We have several renewable gasoline projects and flare mitigating natural gas to gasoline projects, in various early stages of development.
Over $110 million has been invested in our technology, primarily by our predecessor owners, including our which has completed over 10,500 hours of operation producing gasoline or methanol. Our demonstration facility represents the scalable nature of our operational modular commercial design which has fully integrated reactors and recycle lines and is designed with key variables, like gas velocity and catalyst bed length, at a 1-to-1 scale with our commercial design. We have also participated in carbon lifecycle studies to validate the carbon intensity score (“CI score”) and reduced lifecycle emissions of our renewable gasoline as well as fuel, blending and engine testing to validate the specification and performance of our gasoline product. We believe our renewable gasoline exhibits a significant lifecycle carbon emissions reduction compared to traditional petroleum-based gasoline. As a result, we believe our gasoline produced from renewable feedstock, such as biomass, will qualify under the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS”) for the D3 RIN (a carbon credit), which can have significant value. Similarly, gasoline produced from our process may also qualify for various state carbon programs, including California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standards (“LCFS”). Unlike many other gas-to-liquids technologies, not only can our STG+® process produce renewable gasoline from syngas, but we expect it will be able to be applied at other production facilities to produce other end products including methanol. In addition to our initial focus on the production of renewable gasoline, there is opportunity to continue to develop additional process technology to produce middle distillates including sustainable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. As of September 30, 2023, the Company has not derived revenue from its principal business activities. The Company is managed as an integrated business and consequently, there is only one reportable segment.
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Key Factors Affecting Our Prospects and Future Results
We believe that our performance and future success depend on a number of factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including competition from other carbon-based and other non-carbon-based fuel producers, changes to existing federal and state level low-carbon fuel credit systems, and other factors discussed under the section titled “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q. We believe the factors described below are key to our success.
Commencing and Expanding Commercial Operations
In April 2022, we commenced a pre-front-end engineering and design (“FEED”) study for the Maricopa, Arizona facility. While we have not abandoned a potential project in Maricopa, AZ, we have refocused on projects that we believe have quicker paths to commercial operations. We believe our commercialization activities are being completed at a pace that can support first commercial production of renewable gasoline as early as 2026.
We have three additional production facilities planned and four additional identified potential production facility development opportunities. We believe the number of planned and identified potential production facilities bode well for our potential future success.
Verde and Cottonmouth Ventures have completed a preliminary evaluation of several possible Permian Basin locations, including a review of natural gas supply and available utilities, and the parties have selected the first development location for a potential joint project. The proposed facility would utilize undervalued Permian Basin gas and mitigate flaring and pipeline congestion in the region. Verde expects to enter into a Joint Development Agreement with Cottonmouth Ventures to proceed with Front End Engineering and Design (FEED), permitting, and other development activities required for Final Investment Decision (FID). Project Final Investment Decision (“FID”) is targeted for late 2024, with operations expected to being in mid-2026.
On August 1, 2023, the Company announced a Carbon Dioxide Management Agreement (“CDMA”) with Carbon TerraVault JV HoldCo, LLC (“CTV JV”), a carbon management partnership focused on carbon capture and sequestration development formed between Carbon TerraVault, a subsidiary of California Resources Corporation (“CRC”), and Brookfield Renewable.
Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, the Company expects to construct a new renewable gasoline production facility at CRC’s existing Net Zero Industrial Park in Kern County, California. The plant is expected to capture carbon dioxide and produce renewable gasoline from biomass and other agricultural waste feedstock to help support the further decarbonization of California’s economy and its transportation sector. The project is expected to produce approximately 7 million gallons per year of renewable gasoline for use as transportation fuel. Project FID is targeted for mid-2025, with operations expected to begin in the second half of 2027.
Successful Implementation of the first commercial facility
A critical step in our success will be the successful construction and operation of the first commercial production facility using our patented STG+® technology. We expect that the first commercial production facility could be operational as early as 2025.
Protection and continuous development of our patented technology
Our ability to compete successfully will depend on our ability to protect, commercialize, and further develop our proprietary process technology and commercial facilities in a timely manner, and in a manner technologically superior to and/or are less expensive than competing processes.
Key Components of Results of Operations
We are an early-stage company and our historical results may not be indicative of our future results. Accordingly, the drivers of our future financial results, as well as the components of such results, may not be comparable to our historical or future results of operations.
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Revenue
We have not generated any revenue to date. We expect to generate a significant portion of our future revenue from the sale of renewable RBOB grade gasoline primarily in markets with federal and state level low-carbon fuel credit systems.
Expenses
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expenses consist of compensation costs including salaries, benefits and stock-compensation expense, for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, and other administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees, professional fees paid for accounting, auditing and consulting services, and insurance costs. Following the Business Combination, we expect we will incur higher general and administrative expenses for public company costs such as compliance with the regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Research and Development Expense
Our research and development (“R&D”) expenses consist primarily of internal and external expenses incurred in connection with our R&D activities. These expenses include labor directly performed on our projects and fees paid to third parties working on and testing specific aspects of our STG+® design and gasoline product output. R&D costs are expensed as incurred. We expect R&D expenses to grow as we continue to develop the STG+® technology and develop market and strategic relationships with other businesses.
Income Tax Effects
Intermediate was historically and remains a disregarded subsidiary of a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income or loss. The Company is subject to U.S. Federal income taxes, in addition to state and local income taxes, with respect to its distributive share of any net taxable income or loss and any related tax credits of OpCo.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022
| Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||||
| September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2022 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | $ | 2,511,176 | $ | 867,704 | ||||
| Contingent Consideration | - | (5,288,000 | ) | |||||
| Research and development expenses | 78,314 | 72,548 | ||||||
| Total Operating (income) expenses | 2,589,490 | (4,347,748 | ) | |||||
| Other (income) | (144,004 | ) | - | |||||
| Interest expense | 67,430 | - | ||||||
| Loss (income) before income taxes | 2,512,916 | (4,347,748 | ) | |||||
| Provision for income taxes | 119,186 | - | ||||||
| Net loss (income) | $ | 2,632,102 | $ | (4,347,748 | ) | |||
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General and Administrative
General and administrative expense increased approximately $1.6 million, or 189%, from $868 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2022 to $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in professional fees of $0.7 million, including accounting, legal and directors’ fees, higher insurance costs of $0.4 million, higher share-based payment expense of $0.2 million and other miscellaneous general and administrative expenses of $0.3 million.
Contingent Consideration
The $5.3 million reduction to operating expenses associated with contingent consideration for the three months ended September 30, 2022 reflects the reversal of a portion of an accrual made by Holdings for certain contingent payments as a result of an assessment of the probability of completing the Business Combination (see Note 2 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements).
Research and Development
R&D expense increased approximately $6 thousand, or 8%, from $72 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2022 to $78 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase in R&D expense was primarily due to higher operating costs associated with the Company’s demonstration plant in New Jersey.
Other Income
Other income was primarily attributable to interest earned on approximately $37 million in cash received as a result of the business combination, which closed on February 15, 2023.
Interest Expense
The increase in interest expense was attributable to the Company’s finance lease liability (see Note 5 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements).
Provision for Income Taxes
Income tax expense increased due to changes in estimate related to the Company’s 2022 tax obligation.
Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022
| Nine months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||
| September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2022 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | $ | 9,234,697 | $ | 3,338,467 | ||||
| Contingent Consideration | (1,299,000 | ) | (7,181,000 | ) | ||||
| Research and development expenses | 246,788 | 242,353 | ||||||
| Total Operating (income) expenses | 8,182,485 | (3,600,180 | ) | |||||
| Other (income) | (238,891 | ) | - | |||||
| Interest expense | 236,699 | - | ||||||
| Loss (income) before income taxes | 8,180,293 | (3,600,180 | ) | |||||
| Provision for income taxes | 119,186 | - | ||||||
| Net loss (income) | $ | 8,299,479 | $ | (3,600,180 | ) | |||
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense increased approximately $5.9 million, or 177%, from $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 to $9.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher professional fees of $2.6 million, including accounting, legal and directors’ fees, greater share-based compensation expense of $1.5 million, greater insurance expense of $1.0 million, and other miscellaneous general and administrative expenses of $0.8 million related to rent, depreciation and amortization.
Contingent Consideration
The $5.9 million reduction to operating expenses associated with contingent consideration for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 reflects the reversal of the remaining accrual made by Holdings for certain contingent payments due to a contractual forfeiture of the payments following the close of the Business Combination on February 15, 2023. The $5.9 million reduction to operating expenses associated with contingent consideration for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 reflects the reversal of a portion of the accrual made by Holdings as a result of an assessment of the probability of completing the Business Combination (see Note 2 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements).
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Research and Development
R&D expense remained consistent between the nine months September 30, 2022 and the nine months ended September 30, 2023. R&D expense consists primarily of outside consulting expenses related to R&D projects.
Other Income
Other income was primarily attributable to interest earned on approximately $37 million in cash received as a result of the Business Combination, which closed on February 15, 2023.
Interest Expense
The increase in interest expense was attributable to the Company’s finance lease liability (see Note 5 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements).
Provision for Income Taxes
Income tax expense increased due to changes in estimate related to the Company’s 2022 tax obligation.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
We measure liquidity in terms of our ability to fund the cash requirements of our R&D activities and our near-term business operations, including our contractual obligations and other commitments. Our current liquidity needs primarily involve general and administrative and R&D activities for the ongoing commercialization of our first production facility and associated plant design.
To date, we have not generated any revenue. We do not expect to generate any meaningful revenue unless and until we are able to commercialize our first production facility. Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses, have an accumulated deficit of $23.3 million as of September 30, 2023 and negative operating cash flow during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. Management expects that operating losses and negative cash flows may increase because of additional costs and expenses related to the development of technology and the development of market and strategic relationships with other companies. Our continued solvency is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional working capital to complete our product development, to successfully achieve commerciality of our projects.
Following the Business Combination and the closing of the PIPE Financing, we received approximately $37.3 million in cash, net of approximately $10.0 million of transaction expenses and the repayment of approximately $3.75 million of capital contributions made by Bluescape Clean Fuels Holdings, LLC since December 2021. We expect to use such proceeds to fund our ongoing operations and R&D activities. The gross amount, before expenses, was composed of approximately $19.0 million release from CENAQ’s Trust Account, after payment of approximately $158.8 million to public stockholders who exercised redemption rights (representing a redemption rate of approximately 89.3%), and $32.0 million of proceeds from the PIPE Financing. We also received $91 thousand from the CENAQ operating account. We believe that based on our current level of operating expenses and currently available cash on hand, we will have sufficient funds available to cover R&D activities and operating cash needs through 2024. However, as we have not yet developed a commercial production facility and have no meaningful revenue to date, we may require additional funds in future years. Our ability to raise funds through equity offerings may be limited by the significant number of shares that may be publicly sold. Our ability to fund R&D activities and our operating cash needs for several years does not depend on the proceeds we may receive as the result of exercises of Warrants.
As our transaction with CENAQ only resulted in $37.3 million of net proceeds, we expect that we will only be able to construct one of our first four originally planned production facilities with the proceeds from the CENAQ transaction. The $37.3 million of net proceeds raised at closing of the transaction with CENAQ will contribute to the equity capital portion of our capital expenditure requirements through 2025. We also expect to earn interest income on the net proceeds raised at closing during the ongoing development and construction of our facilities through 2025, and that such interest income will be utilized towards capital expenditures or for general and administrative expenses. We also expect 70% of our total project capital requirements will be met with project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, or some combination of debt financing. While we have been in discussions with banks and other credit counterparties regarding project financing, industrial revenue bonds, or pollution control bonds, and these discussions have led to indications of debt financing equivalent to 70% of our capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such financing.
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In connection with the Closing, Sponsor was due $409,612 under existing promissory notes with CENAQ. On February 15, 2023, in lieu of repayment of the existing promissory notes with Sponsor, the Company entered into the New Promissory Note with the Sponsor totaling $409,612. The New Promissory Note cancels and supersedes the existing promissory notes. The New Promissory note is non-interest bearing and the entire principal balance of the New Promissory Note is payable on or before February 15, 2024. The New Promissory Note is payable at the Company’s election in cash or in Class A common stock at a conversion price of $10.00 per share.
Summary Statement of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022
The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents for the periods presented below:
| For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (6,793,768 | ) | $ | (2,311,710 | ) | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,723 | ) | (4,411 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 37,495,502 | 3,669,350 | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash | $ | 30,699,011 | $ | 1,353,229 | ||||
Cash Flows used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in our operating activities increased $4.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 versus the same period in 2022, which primarily was due to incurring additional professional fees of $2.6 million primarily attributable to the business combination. Other uses of cash include increases in directors and officers insurance of $1 million.
Cash Flows used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was consistent during both the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased approximately $33.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily due to the close of the Business Combination on February 15, 2023, which raised $37.3 million.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
On October 17, 2022, we entered into a 25-year land lease in Maricopa, Arizona with the intent of building a biofuel processing facility. The commencement date of the lease occurred in February 2023 contemporaneous with the Company obtaining control of the identified asset. The Company terminated the lease during the third quarter of 2023 and expects to exit the lease as of December 31, 2023. Accordingly, the Company reversed a substantial portion of the existing right-of-use asset and lease liability and reclassified the lease from finance to operating as of September 30, 2023. See Note 5 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2023, we have not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. Management of Intermediate noted a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the understatement of unit-based compensation expense. The understatement of the grant date fair value was due to a revision in the underlying fair value determination, and such revision was not appropriately reflected in the financial statements. Management concluded that the grant date fair value and corresponding incremental expense should be adjusted by recognizing the additional expense in Intermediate’s March 31, 2022 financial statements. As part of such process, management identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to the grant date fair value revision. Additionally, Intermediate did not maintain effective internal control regarding the date on which to apply new accounting standards based upon CENAQ’s elections made as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, which required Intermediate to apply new accounting standards as if it were a public business entity.
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Effective internal controls are necessary to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud, and material weaknesses could limit the ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements. Our management continues to evaluate steps to remediate the material weaknesses. These material weaknesses have not been fully remediated. We are in the early stages of designing and implementing a plan to remediate the material weaknesses identified. Our plan includes the below:
| ● | Designing and implementing a risk assessment process supporting the identification of risks facing our Company. |
| ● | Implementing controls to enhance our review of significant accounting transactions and other new technical accounting and financial reporting issues and preparing and reviewing accounting memoranda addressing these issues. |
| ● | Hiring additional experienced accounting, financial reporting and internal control personnel and changing roles and responsibilities of our personnel as we transition to being a public company and are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. |
| ● | Implementing controls to enable an accurate and timely review of accounting records that support our accounting processes and maintain documents for internal accounting reviews. |
We cannot assure you that these measures will significantly improve or remediate the material weaknesses described above. The implementation of these remediation measures is in the early stages and will require validation and testing of the design and operating effectiveness of our internal controls over a sustained period of financial reporting cycles and, as a result, the timing of when we will be able to fully remediate the material weaknesses is uncertain and we may not fully remediate these material weaknesses during the year ended December 31, 2023. If the steps we take do not remediate the material weaknesses in a timely manner, there could be a reasonable possibility that these control deficiencies or others may result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements that would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. This, in turn, could jeopardize our ability to comply with our reporting obligations, limit our ability to access the capital markets and adversely impact our stock price.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with US GAAP as determined by the FASB’s ASC. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the Company to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported on the unaudited consolidated financial statements. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see “Critical Accounting Policies Before the Business Combination” and “Critical Accounting Policies After the Business Combination” in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Impairment of Intangible Assets
The Company’s intangible asset consists of its intellectual property and patented technology and is considered an indefinite lived intangible and is not subject to amortization. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the gross and carrying amount of this intangible asset was $1,925,151.
A qualitative assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets is performed in order to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. In performing this analysis, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions are considered in addition to current and forecasted financial performance, entity-specific events and changes in the composition or carrying amount of net assets under the quantitative analysis, intellectual property and patents are tested for impairment using a discounted cash flow approach and tested for impairment using the relief-from-royalty method. If the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges.
Impairment of Long-Term Assets
The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable, undiscounted cash flows from such asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the estimated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record any impairment charges.
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Equity-Based Compensation
The Company applies the fair value method under ASC 718 in accounting for equity-based compensation to employees and non-employees. The determination of fair value requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to inputs into the Black-Scholes option pricing model such as stock price volatility, expected option lives and the discount rate. Equity-based compensation is recorded as a general and administrative expense in the consolidated Statements of Operations.
We measure the fair value of each option grant at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. We estimate the expected term of options granted based on historical experience and expectations. We use the treasury yield curve rates for the risk-free interest rate in the option valuation model with maturities similar to the expected term of the options. Volatility is determined by reference to the actual volatility of several publicly traded companies that are similar to us in our industry sector. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero in the option valuation model. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Using alternative assumptions could cause there to be differences in the resulting fair value. If the fair value were to increase, the amount of expense that would result would also increase. Conversely, if the fair value were to decrease, the amount of expense would decrease. All equity-based awards subject to graded vesting based solely on service condition are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods.
Compensation cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, or the requisite service period, which is usually the vesting period. Performance-based unit compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the equity instruments awarded and is expensed over the requisite service period, based on the probability of achieving the performance goal, with changes in expectations recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the change. If the performance goal is not met, no unit-based compensation expense is recognized and any previously recognized unit-based compensation expense is reversed. Forfeitures of service-based and performance-based units are recognized upon the time of occurrence.
Prior to closing of the Business Combination, certain subsidiaries of the Holdings, including Intermediate, were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Holdings. Holdings, which was outside of the business combination perimeter, had entered into several compensation related arrangements with management of Intermediate. Compensation costs associated with those arrangements were allocated by Holdings to Intermediate as the employees were rendering services to Intermediate. However, the ultimate contractual obligation related to these awards, including any future settlement, rested and continues to rest with Holdings.
On August 5, 2022, in connection with entering into the Business Combination Agreement, certain amendments to existing unit-based awards were made whereby all outstanding unvested Series A Incentive Units (service-based) and Founders Incentive Units (performance-based) of Holdings became fully vested in upon completion of the Business Combination. Additionally, as part of the amendment to these agreements, the priority of distributions under the Series A Incentive Units and Founders Incentive Units were also revised such that participants receive 10% of distributions after a specified return to Holdings’ Series A Incentive Unit holders (instead of 20%). The modifications to the Series A Incentive Units and Founders Incentive Units did not result in any incremental unit-based compensation expense in connection with the modification.
The Company accelerated share-based payment expense related to service-based units during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 in connection with the Business Combination totaling $2.1 million. No service-based or performance-based incentive units were granted during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023.
In March 2023, the Company authorized and approved the 2023 Plan. On April 25, 2023, consistent with the terms of the 2023 Plan, the Company granted stock options to certain employees and officers and RSUs to non-employee directors. In addition to stock options and RSUs, the 2023 Plan authorizes for the potential future grant of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards, stock awards, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards, cash awards and substitute awards to certain employees (including executive officers), consultants and non-employee directors, and is intended to align the interests of the Company’s service providers with those of the stockholders.
Emerging Growth Company Accounting Election
Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect not to take advantage of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non- emerging growth companies, and any such election to not take advantage of the extended transition period is irrevocable. Following the consummation of the Business Combination, we expect to be an emerging growth company at least through 2023; however, prior to the transaction CENAQ did not elect to use the extended transition period. As such, when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time public companies adopt the new or revised standard.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management believes there is no new accounting guidance issued but not yet effective that would have a material impact to the Company’s current consolidated financial statements.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed and summarized within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have taken the necessary steps to design our disclosure controls and procedures to attain a reasonable level of assurance.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is implementing a plan to mitigate risks associated with disclosure controls and procedures. The status of our plan is as follows:
| ● | Designed and implemented a risk assessment process supporting the identification of risks facing the Company. |
| ● | Designed controls to enhance our review of significant accounting transactions and other new technical accounting and financial reporting issues and preparing and reviewing accounting memoranda addressing these issues. |
| ● | Hired additional experienced accounting, financial reporting and internal control personnel and changing roles and responsibilities of our personnel as required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. |
| ● | In the process of implementing controls to enable an accurate and timely review of accounting records that support our accounting processes and maintenance of documents for internal accounting reviews. |
Aside from the update detailed above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15 (e) of the Exchange Act during our most recent fiscal quarter 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
From time to time, we and our subsidiaries may be parties to legal proceedings arising in the normal course of our business. We and our subsidiaries are currently not a party, nor is our property subject, to any material pending legal proceedings. Regardless of outcome, such proceedings or claims can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of resources and other factors and there can be no assurances that favorable outcomes will be obtained.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations.
Risks Related to Intermediate
The following risk factors apply to our business and operations. These risk factors are not exhaustive, and investors are encouraged to perform their own investigation with respect to the business, financial condition and prospects of Intermediate and our business, financial condition and prospects following the completion of the business combination. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in the 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” We may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, which may also impair our business or financial condition. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of Intermediate and notes to the financial statements included herein.
Risks Related to Intermediate’s Business, Operations and Industry
Our commercial success depends on our ability to develop and operate production facilities for the commercial production of renewable gasoline. Our business strategy includes growth primarily through the construction and development of commercial production facilities, including the development of our first commercial production facility which we expect to support first commercial production of renewable gasoline as early as 2025. This strategy depends on our ability to successfully construct and complete commercial production facilities on favorable terms and on our expected schedule, obtain the necessary permits, governmental approvals and carbon credit qualifications needed to operate our commercial production facilities and identify and evaluate development and partnership opportunities to expand our business. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully develop commercial production facilities, obtain necessary approval, qualifications and permits necessary to operate, identify new opportunities and develop new technologies and commercial production facilities, or establish and maintain our relationships with key strategic partners. In addition, we will compete with other companies for these development opportunities, which may increase our costs. We also expect to achieve growth through the expansion of our in-process projects as the facilities are expanded or otherwise begin to produce renewable gasoline, but we cannot assure you that we will be able to reach or renew the necessary agreements to complete these commercial production facilities or expansions. If we are unable to successfully identify and consummate future commercial production facility opportunities or complete or expand our planned commercial production facilities, it will impede our ability to execute our growth strategy.
For more information regarding risk factors, please refer to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2023.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| November 13, 2023 | VERDE CLEAN FUELS, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Ernest Miller | |
| Name: Ernest Miller | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Office and Interim Chief Financial Officer | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
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