10-Q: Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
Published on November 12, 2013
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013
Commission file number 000-33067
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware | 87-0398271 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|
|
500 West Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 140 Worthington, Ohio
|
43085 | |
(Address of principal Executive offices)
|
(Zip Code) |
(614) 505-6115
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | o | Accelerated filer | o |
Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
State the number of shares outstanding of each of the Issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: Common, $.001 par value per share; 35,299,429 outstanding as of November 12, 2013.
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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Condensed Financial Statements.
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1 | |||
Item 2.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
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21 | |||
Item 3.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
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27 | |||
Item 4.
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Controls and Procedures.
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27 | |||
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
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|||||
Item 1.
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Legal Proceedings.
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28 | |||
Item 1A.
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Risk Factors
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28 | |||
Item 2.
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
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28 | |||
Item 3.
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Default upon Senior Securities.
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28 | |||
Item 4.
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Mine Safety Disclosure.
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28 | |||
Item 5.
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Other Information.
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28 | |||
Item 6.
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Exhibits.
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29 | |||
SIGNATURES
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30 |
ii
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and reflect our current expectations regarding our future growth, results of operations, cash flows, performance and business prospects, and opportunities, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this report are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors in the Company’s 2012 Form 10-K”. In addition, matters that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors, the gain or loss of a major customer, change in environmental regulations, disruption in supply of materials, a significant change in general economic conditions in any of the regions where our customer utilities might experience significant changes in electric demand, a significant disruption in the supply of coal to our customer units, the loss of key management personnel, failure to obtain adequate working capital to execute the business plan and any major litigation regarding the Company. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances or for any other reason.
iii
PART I – FINANCIAL INFOMATION
ITEM 1 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index to Condensed Financial Information
Period Ended September 30, 2013
Page
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
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2 | |||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
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3 | |||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
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4 | |||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
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5 | |||
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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6 |
Page 1
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 AND DECEMBER 31, 2012
September 30,
2013
|
December 31,
2012
|
|||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets
|
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 284,388 | $ | 189,367 | ||||
Accounts receivable
|
346,401 | 274,464 | ||||||
Inventory
|
- | 37,993 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
147,378 | 68,598 | ||||||
Total current assets
|
778,167 | 570,422 | ||||||
Property and Equipment, Net
|
215,700 | 343,584 | ||||||
License, Net
|
72,059 | 76,471 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses
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25,974 | 36,281 | ||||||
Debt issuance costs, net
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601,651 | 125,534 | ||||||
Total assets
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$ | 1,693,551 | $ | 1,152,292 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
||||||||
Current liabilities
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||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
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$ | 278,292 | $ | 332,180 | ||||
Accrued legal and consulting fees
|
297,012 | 220,159 | ||||||
Accrued salaries and benefits
|
352,213 | - | ||||||
Accrued interest - related party
|
247,600 | 197,767 | ||||||
Advances payable - related party
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4,167 | 951,034 | ||||||
Convertible note payable of discontinued operations
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50,000 | 50,000 | ||||||
Notes payable
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300,000 | 150,000 | ||||||
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
|
262,032 | 262,032 | ||||||
Advances payable - related party of discontinued operations
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- | 169,984 | ||||||
Total current liabilities
|
1,791,316 | 2,333,156 | ||||||
Convertible promissory notes payable
|
4,204,403 | 2,570,199 | ||||||
Accrued interest
|
126,240 | 134,975 | ||||||
Total liabilities
|
6,121,959 | 5,038,330 | ||||||
Stockholders' deficit
|
||||||||
Preferred stock, $.001 par value: 2,000,000 shares authorized
|
||||||||
Common stock; $.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
|
||||||||
35,299,429 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013
|
||||||||
33,239,878 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2012
|
35,299 | 33,240 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital
|
12,275,375 | 9,958,202 | ||||||
Deficit accumulated during development stage
|
(16,739,082 | ) | (13,877,480 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders' deficit
|
(4,428,408 | ) | (3,886,038 | ) | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
|
$ | 1,693,551 | $ | 1,152,292 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Page 2
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 AND 2012
AND THE CUMULATIVE PERIOD DECEMBER 17, 2008 (INCEPTION) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
(UNAUDITED)
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
(Unaudited)
|
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Unaudited)
|
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(Unaudited)
|
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(Unaudited)
|
December 17, 2008 (Inception) Through September 30, 2013 (Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 917,202 | $ | 270,940 | $ | 1,424,992 | $ | 356,480 | $ | 2,985,169 | ||||||||||
Costs and expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold
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206,096 | 105,474 | 284,844 | 172,487 | 961,889 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses
|
359,373 | 96,890 | 809,146 | 136,538 | 1,569,390 | |||||||||||||||
License maintenance fees
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50,000 | 50,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 650,000 | |||||||||||||||
Marketing and development
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75,550 | 202,400 | 256,629 | 325,714 | 1,560,325 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses
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674,506 | 597,757 | 2,017,879 | 1,455,998 | 8,125,022 | |||||||||||||||
Professional fees
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109,846 | 291,171 | 409,224 | 636,216 | 2,162,671 | |||||||||||||||
Impairment of fixed assets
|
- | - | - | 400,000 | 800,000 | |||||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill
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- | - | - | - | 3,555,304 | |||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses
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1,475,371 | 1,343,692 | 3,927,722 | 3,276,953 | 19,384,601 | |||||||||||||||
Operating loss
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(558,169 | ) | (1,072,752 | ) | (2,502,730 | ) | (2,920,473 | ) | (16,399,432 | ) | ||||||||||
Other Income (expense)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense
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(183,849 | ) | (74,029 | ) | (439,528 | ) | (161,903 | ) | (755,319 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
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- | (19,504 | ) | - | (19,504 | ) | (19,504 | ) | ||||||||||||
Gain on forgiveness of liabilities
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- | - | 80,656 | - | 360,656 | |||||||||||||||
Total other income (expense)
|
(183,849 | ) | (93,533 | ) | (358,872 | ) | (181,407 | ) | (414,167 | ) | ||||||||||
Net loss from continuing operations
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(742,018 | ) | (1,166,285 | ) | (2,861,602 | ) | (3,101,880 | ) | (16,813,599 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations
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- | (2,118 | ) | - | (3,086 | ) | 74,517 | |||||||||||||
Net Loss
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$ | (742,018 | ) | $ | (1,168,403 | ) | $ | (2,861,602 | ) | $ | (3,104,966 | ) | $ | (16,739,082 | ) | |||||
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations
|
(0.02 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.09 | ) | ||||||||||||
Discontined operations
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- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
(0.02 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.09 | ) | |||||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding
|
35,031,570 | 33,239,878 | 33,941,311 | 33,101,779 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Page 3
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 17, 2008 (INCEPTION) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
(UNAUDITED)
Common Stock
|
Additional
Paid-in
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Accumulated
|
Common Stock
|
Total
Stockholders'
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
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Par Value
|
Capital
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(Deficit)
|
Subscribed
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Deficit
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 17, 2008
|
- | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||||
Common stock subscribed
|
23,601,967 | - | - | - | 23,601,967 | 23,601,967 | ||||||||||||||||||
Subscription receivable
|
(23,601,967 | ) | - | - | - | (23,601,967 | ) | (23,601,967 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net loss for the period
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2008
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- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds received from subscriptions receivable
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11,412,090 | 11,412 | (7,245 | ) | - | - | 4,167 | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the period
|
- | - | - | (30,750 | ) | - | (30,750 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2009
|
11,412,090 | 11,412 | (7,245 | ) | (30,750 | ) | - | (26,583 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from subscriptions receivable
|
12,189,877 | 12,190 | (7,739 | ) | - | - | 4,451 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock issued for services
|
3,483,604 | 3,484 | 60,116 | - | - | 63,600 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the period
|
- | - | - | (471,565 | ) | - | (471,565 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2010
|
27,085,571 | 27,086 | 45,132 | (502,315 | ) | - | (430,097 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock (pre merger)
|
164,321 | 164 | 149,836 | - | - | 150,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued for services (pre merger)
|
136,934 | 137 | 124,863 | - | - | 125,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in a business combination
|
3,042,977 | 3,043 | 2,774,735 | - | - | 2,777,778 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock issued for services
|
63,712 | 64 | 108,566 | - | - | 108,630 | ||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock subsequently converted to common stock, net of issuance costs
|
507,500 | 508 | 464,853 | - | - | 465,361 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in lieu of fractional shares from reverse split
|
337 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
Issaunce of warrants
|
- | - | 18,139 | - | - | 18,139 | ||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
|
1,677,298 | 1,677 | 1,612,212 | - | - | 1,613,889 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common stock to be issued
|
- | - | 3,953,193 | - | - | 3,953,193 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the period
|
- | - | - | (9,497,116 | ) | - | (9,497,116 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2011
|
32,678,650 | $ | 32,679 | $ | 9,251,529 | $ | (9,999,431 | ) | $ | - | $ | (715,223 | ) | |||||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
|
213,500 | 213 | 213,287 | - | - | 213,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock issued for services in 2012
|
175,000 | 175 | (175 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Shares issued to satisfy outstanding grant as of the merger date
|
172,728 | 173 | (173 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Common stock to be issued
|
- | - | 493,734 | - | - | 493,734 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the period
|
- | - | - | (3,878,049 | ) | - | (3,878,049 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance - December 31, 2012
|
33,239,878 | $ | 33,240 | $ | 9,958,202 | $ | (13,877,480 | ) | $ | - | $ | (3,886,038 | ) | |||||||||||
Stock issued for services
|
318,467 | 318 | 108,182 | - | - | 108,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
Common stock to be issued
|
- | - | 620,602 | - | - | 620,602 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock and warrants issued upon debt conversion
|
1,741,084 | 1,741 | 868,801 | - | - | 870,542 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sale / issuance of warrants, net of issuance costs
|
- | - | 719,588 | - | - | 719,588 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss for the period
|
- | - | - | (2,861,602 | ) | - | (2,861,602 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance - September 30, 2013 (Unaudited)
|
35,299,429 | $ | 35,299 | $ | 12,275,375 | $ | (16,739,082 | ) | $ | - | $ | (4,428,408 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Page 4
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 AND 2012
AND THE CUMULATIVE PERIOD DECEMBER 17, 2008 (INCEPTION) THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
(UNAUDITED)
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
|
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
|
December 17, 2008 (Inception) Through September 30, 2013
|
||||||||||
(Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities
|
||||||||||||
Net loss
|
$ | (2,861,602 | ) | $ | (3,104,966 | ) | $ | (16,739,082 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
||||||||||||
Stock based compensation
|
620,602 | 314,367 | 4,466,736 | |||||||||
Stock issued for services
|
108,500 | - | 1,006,523 | |||||||||
Amortization of license fees
|
4,412 | 4,412 | 27,941 | |||||||||
Amortization of discount on notes payable
|
17,193 | - | 17,193 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing fees
|
63,491 | - | 63,491 | |||||||||
Depreciation expense
|
127,884 | 319,383 | 556,525 | |||||||||
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
|
- | 19,504 | 19,504 | |||||||||
Impaiment of fixed assets
|
- | 400,000 | 800,000 | |||||||||
Impairment of goodwill
|
- | - | 3,555,304 | |||||||||
Gain on forgiveness of liabilities
|
(80,656 | ) | - | (464,680 | ) | |||||||
Change in assets and liabilities
|
||||||||||||
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable
|
(71,937 | ) | 92,094 | (346,401 | ) | |||||||
Decrease in inventory
|
37,993 | 30,622 | - | |||||||||
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets
|
(68,473 | ) | (109,683 | ) | (171,476 | ) | ||||||
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
1,021,772 | 350,604 | 1,805,214 | |||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities
|
(1,080,821 | ) | (1,683,663 | ) | (5,403,208 | ) | ||||||
Cash flows used in investing activities
|
||||||||||||
Purchase of license
|
- | - | (100,000 | ) | ||||||||
Cash assumed in reverse merger
|
- | - | 11,150 | |||||||||
Purchase of equipment
|
- | - | (1,414,602 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities
|
- | - | (1,503,452 | ) | ||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities
|
||||||||||||
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
(286,703 | ) | - | (412,237 | ) | |||||||
Net proceeds from related party advances
|
- | - | 951,034 | |||||||||
Payment on note payable
|
(150,000 | ) | - | - | ||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock, net
|
- | - | 483,500 | |||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of convertible promissory notes and warrants
|
1,612,545 | 1,378,459 | 4,182,744 | |||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net
|
- | 213,500 | 1,986,007 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
1,175,842 | 1,591,959 | 7,191,048 | |||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
95,021 | (91,704 | ) | 284,388 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
|
189,367 | 99,713 | - | |||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
|
$ | 284,388 | $ | 8,009 | $ | 284,388 | ||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
|
||||||||||||
Cash paid during the period for:
|
||||||||||||
Interest
|
$ | 9,250 | $ | 6,850 | $ | 18,400 | ||||||
Taxes
|
$ | 11,799 | $ | 5,773 | $ | 18,547 | ||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS
|
||||||||||||
Equipment purchases included in accounts payable
|
$ | - | $ | - | $ | 112,000 | ||||||
Conversion of interest to notes payable
|
$ | 305,496 | $ | - | $ | 305,496 | ||||||
Conversion of advances payable to convertible notes payable
|
$ | 1,036,195 | $ | - | $ | 1,036,195 | ||||||
Conversion of convertible notes payable to equity
|
$ | 866,211 | $ | - | $ | 866,211 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Page 5
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. and Subsidiaries
(A Development Stage Company)
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 – Organization
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (the “Company”) was organized under the laws of the State of Utah on July 19, 1983 under the name of Digicorp. Pursuant to shareholder approval, on October 6, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved and authorized the Company to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between the Company and Digicorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation and newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that was incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the purpose of effecting a change of domicile. Effective February 22, 2007, the Company changed its domicile from Utah to Delaware with the name of the surviving corporation being Digicorp, Inc.
Pursuant to a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation filed with the State of Delaware, which took effect as of October 16, 2008, the Company's name changed from “Digicorp, Inc.” to “China Youth Media, Inc.”
Reverse Merger
On June 21, 2011, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Midwest Energy Emissions Corp., a North Dakota corporation (“Midwest Energy Emissions”) pursuant to which at closing China Youth Media Merger Sub, Inc., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary formed for the purpose of such transaction (the “Merger Sub”), merged into Midwest Energy Emissions, the result of which Midwest Energy Emissions would become the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). The Merger closed on June 21, 2011 (the “Closing”). As a result of the Closing and the Merger, the Merger Sub merged with and into Midwest Energy Emissions with Midwest Energy Emissions surviving. Effective at the time of the Closing, Midwest Energy Emissions changed its name to MES, Inc. For accounting purposes, the Merger was treated as a reverse merger and a recapitalization of the Company. See Note 4 for further discussion.
Pursuant to a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation filed with the State of Delaware and effective as of October 7, 2011, the Company (i) changed its corporate name from “China Youth Media, Inc.” to “Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.”, and (ii) effected a reverse stock split of all the outstanding shares of our common stock at an exchange ratio of one for one hundred ten (1:110) (the “Reverse Stock Split”) and changed the number of our authorized shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, from 500,000,000 to 100,000,000.
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp (now known as MES, Inc.)
On December 17, 2008, Midwest Energy Emissions (a corporation in the development stage) was incorporated in the State of North Dakota. Midwest Energy Emissions is engaged in the business of developing and commercializing state of the art control technologies relating to the capture and control of mercury emissions from coal fired boilers in the United States and Canada.
Dissolution of subsidiaries
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, during the year ended December 31, 2012 the Company dissolved the following foreign entities:
· Youth Media (BVI) Ltd.
|
|
· Youth Media (Hong Kong) Limited
|
|
· Youth Media (Beijing) Limited
|
The Company is in the process of dissolving Rebel Crew Films, Inc.
Page 6
The operations and cash flows of these subsidiaries have been eliminated from the accounts of the Company’s ongoing operations and major classes of assets and liabilities related thereto have been segregated. The gains and losses from discontinued operations, including the impairment of certain assets of discontinued operations and gains from forgiveness of liabilities, have been reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company does not expect to derive any revenues from the discontinued operations in the future and does not expect to incur any significant ongoing operating expenses related to the discontinued operations.
Note 2 – Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Development Stage Company
The Company is considered to be in the development stage as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 915 Development Stage Entities. The Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to the corporate formation, the raising of capital and attempting to generate customers for the sale of the Company’s products.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments and other short-term investments with maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its operating cash in two accounts with one financial institution, which at times may exceed federally insured limits.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of amounts due to us in the normal course of our business, are not collateralized, and normally do not bear interest. The negotiated payment terms with certain customers for demonstrations of our technology include the waiving of payment of some or all of the contracted price of the demonstration if the customer signs a long term purchase agreement with the Company within a certain time frame. Should a long term agreement be signed with these customers, any unpaid accounts receivables would be converted to customer acquisition costs and recognized as an expense over the life of the agreement.
Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market (net realizable value).
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. When retired or otherwise disposed, the related carrying value and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and the net difference less any amount realized from disposition, is reflected in earnings. For financial statement purposes, property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years.
Page 7
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance which do not materially extend the useful lives of property and equipment are charged to operations. Management periodically reviews the carrying value of its property and equipment for impairment.
The Company capitalizes interest cost on borrowings incurred during new construction or upgrade of qualifying assets. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is amortized over the useful lives of the assets.
Recoverability of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets
The Company has adopted ASC 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360-10”). ASC 360-10 requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles held and used by the Company be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Events relating to recoverability may include significant unfavorable changes in business conditions, recurring losses or a forecasted inability to achieve break-even operating results over an extended period. The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets based upon forecasted undiscounted cash flows. Should impairment in value be indicated, the carrying value of the Long-Lived and or intangible assets would be adjusted, based on estimates of future discounted cash flows. Impairment charges of zero and $400,000 were recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Due to the short-term idling of both power plant units at the Company’s commercial customer, the Company evaluated the recoverability of the carrying value of the Company’s equipment at that site. Based on a review of the discounted expected cash flows associated with the value contract with the customer, an impairment charge was recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 against the value of the equipment. ASC 360-10 also requires assets to be disposed of be reported at the lower of the carrying amount or the fair value less costs to sell.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires equity-based compensation, be reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements over the period of service which is typically the vesting period based on the estimated fair value of the awards.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the inputs used to determine fair value, which are as follows:
·
|
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
|
·
|
Level 2 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
|
·
|
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.
|
The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.
The only asset or liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis by the Company at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was cash and cash equivalents, which are considered to be Level 1.
Page 8
Financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, advances payable from related parties and short-term debt. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximated fair value at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 due to their short-term maturities. The fair value of the convertible promissory notes payable at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, approximated the carrying amount as the notes were issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and year ended December 31, 2012, respectively, at current interest rates. The fair value of the convertible promissory notes payable was determined on a Level 2 measurement.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Company's functional currency is the United States Dollar (the “US Dollar”). Transactions denominated in currencies other than the US Dollar are re-measured to the US Dollar at the period-end exchange rates. Any associated transactional currency re-measurement gains and losses are recognized in current operations.
Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenue from sales in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). The criteria for recognition are as follows:
1. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;
2. Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered;
3. The seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and
4. Collectability is reasonably assured.
Determination of criteria (3) and (4) will be based on management's judgments regarding the fixed nature of the selling prices of the products delivered and the collectability of those amounts. Provisions for discounts and rebates to customers, estimated returns and allowances, and other adjustments will be provided for in the same period the related sales are recorded.
The Company generated revenues of $1,424,992 and $356,480 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company generated revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 by (i) performing demonstrations of its technology at customers with the intent of entering into long term supply agreements based on the performance of the Company’s products during the demonstrations and (ii) delivering product to its commercial customer.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the condensed consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets, including tax loss and credit carryforwards, 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 includes the enactment date. Deferred income tax expense represents the change during the period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on their characteristics. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s condensed consolidated financial statements is based on a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold. The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2013 or 2012. When necessary, the Company would accrue penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and three state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years prior to 2009 or state tax examinations for years prior to 2008. Prior to the reverse merger, the MES, Inc. was taxed as an S corporation and income and losses were passed through to the stockholders.
Page 9
Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share
Basic net loss per common share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution from common stock equivalents, such as stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options and warrants. There were no dilutive potential common shares as of September 30, 2013, because the Company incurred net losses and basic and diluted loss per common share were the same.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and equivalents on deposit with financial institutions and accounts receivable. The Company’s excess cash as of September 30, 2013 is on deposit in a non-interest-bearing transaction account that is fully covered by FDIC deposit insurance. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 76% of the Company’s revenue and 86% of the Company’s accounts receivable related to demonstrations performed for four demonstration customers and 24% of the Company’s revenue related to sales to its commercial customer. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, 76% of the Company’s revenue was related to one customer and at December 31, 2012 100% of the Company’s accounts receivable related to two customers.
Contingencies
Certain conditions may exist which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management assess such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company, or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company’s legal counsel evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.
If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, would be disclosed.
Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they arise from guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The update does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. However, the update requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this amendment in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Reclassification
Certain amounts in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Page 10
Note 3 – Going Concern
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2013 have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. From the period of inception (December 17, 2008) through September 30, 2013, the Company has experienced a net loss, negative cash flows from operations and has an accumulated deficit of $16,772,432. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company intends to raise near term financing to fund future operations through a restricted stock or convertible debt-to-equity offering. The Company intends to raise additional equity or debt financing to fund future operations. There is no assurance that its plan can be implemented; or that the results will be of a sufficient level necessary to meet the Company’s ongoing cash needs. No assurances can be given that the Company can obtain sufficient working capital through borrowings or that the continued implementation of its business plan will generate sufficient revenues in the future to sustain ongoing operations.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
Note 4 – Property And Equipment, Net
Property and equipment at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows:
September 30
|
December 31
|
|||||||
2013
|
2012
|
|||||||
Equipment & Installation
|
$ | 717,918 | $ | 717,918 | ||||
Office equipment
|
23,941 | 23,941 | ||||||
Computer equipment
|
11,985 | 11,985 | ||||||
Total Equipment
|
753,844 | 753,844 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation
|
538,144 | 410,260 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net
|
$ | 215,700 | $ | 343,584 |
The Company uses the straight-line method of depreciation over three to 10 years. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company installed equipment with a total cost of $1,499,080 at the site of its first commercial customer in Centralia, Washington. This equipment is subject to a bargain purchase option on January 1, 2015 and the Company also bears the cost of asset retirement at the end of the commercial contract should the customer not exercise the purchase option. The Company believes that if required to retire, the scrap value of the equipment would offset the cost of removal. Due to the short-term idling of both power units at the Company’s commercial customer, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $400,000 against the value of the equipment in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The Company recorded an additional impairment charge of $400,000 in the quarter ended December 31, 2012 after further review of the expected revenues from the customer prior to the bargain purchase option date of January 1, 2015. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, depreciation expense charged to operations was $127,884 and $319,383.
Page 11
Note 5 – License Agreement
On January 15, 2009, the Company entered into an “Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement Including Transfer of Ownership” (“License”) with the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation (“EERC”), a non-profit entity. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company has been granted an exclusive license for the technology to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, lease, and import the technology in any coal-fired combustion systems (power plant) worldwide and to develop and perform the technology in any coal-fired power plant in the world. The first US patent “Sorbents of Oxidation and Removal of Mercury” was filed by EERC on August 22, 2005 and granted on October 14, 2008. In addition, the Company has the same rights to other related patents in the US, Canada, China and Europe.
The Company paid $100,000 in 2009 for the license to use the patents and at the option of the Company can pay $1,500,000 for the assignment of the patents or pay the greater of the license maintenance fees or royalties on product sales for continued use of the patents. Our prior disclosure on the dollar amount of the Company’s option to require the EERC to assign the patent rights to the Company incorrectly stated the amount was $1,000,000. The correct amount is $1,500,000. The Company discovered the mistake in the third quarter of 2013 and has filed as exhibits to this Form 10-Q amendments to the License that include the $1,500,000 option to require the assignments. This increase was done in conjunction with the licensing of additional patents from the EERC. The license maintenance fees are $100,000 due January 1, 2010, $150,000 due January 1, 2011 and $200,000 due January 1, 2012 and each year thereafter. The running royalties are $100 per one megawatt of electronic nameplate capacity and $100 per three megawatt per hour for the application to thermal systems to which licensed products or licensed processes are sold by the Company, associate and sublicensees. Running royalties are payable by the Company within 30 days after the end of each calendar year to the licensor and may be credited against license maintenance fees paid.
The Company is required to pay the licensor 35% of all sublicense income received by the Company, excluding royalties on sales by sublicensees. Sublicense income is payable by the Company within 30 day after the end of each calendar year to the licensor.
The Company is required to annually enter into at least one sales agreement for at least one gigawatt nameplate electrical generation capacity. If the Company fails to fulfill this obligation, the licensor may treat the failure as a material breach of the license and terminate the agreement if not cured within ninety days after notifying the Company. The Company has received a waiver of this requirement for 2012 and is currently renegotiating this requirement for 2013 and subsequent years. At this time the Company does not believe that it will meet this requirement for 2013 and no assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in the renegotiating this requirement for 2013. If the Company is unsuccessful in its renegotiation efforts with the EERC on in obtaining a waiver of this obligation for 2013, it is possible that the EERC could terminate the License. The termination of the License would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its ability to continue as a going concern.
License costs capitalized as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows:
2013
|
2012
|
|||||||
License
|
$ | 100,000 | $ | 100,000 | ||||
Less: accumulated amortization
|
27,941 | 23,529 | ||||||
License, net
|
$ | 72,059 | $ | 76,471 |
Page 12
The Company is currently amortizing its patents over their estimated useful life of 17 years when acquired. Amortization expense charged to cost and expenses was $4,412 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. Estimated amortization for each of the next five years is approximately $5,900.
Note 6 – Convertible Note Payable of Discontinued Operations
On March 30, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with an unrelated third party pursuant to which such party agreed to assist the Company to effect a reverse merger or similar transaction with an operating business to be identified as the parties shall mutually agree. Such party agreed to immediately loan the Company the principal amount of $50,000 which shall be due and payable in one year, bear interest at the rate of 8.0% per annum, and be convertible into shares of common stock of the Company at the rate of $0.44 per share at the option of such party at any time following an exclusivity period granted to such party and until the maturity date of the loan. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively was $3,000 and $3,002.
Note 7 – Notes Payable
On September 13, 2011, the Bank of North Dakota New Venture Capital Program provided a working capital loan to the Company in exchange for a promissory note in the amount of $125,000 which was to mature on September 30, 2014. The Company made quarterly interest payments beginning December 31, 2011 at a fixed interest rate of 6% and continuing on a quarterly basis. $75,000 was advanced on the loan which was repaid on August 8, 2013 and the promissory note was canceled. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively was $2,750 and $3,425.
On September 13, 2011, the Bank of North Dakota Development Fund, Inc. provided a working capital loan to the Company in exchange for a promissory note in the amount of $125,000 which was to mature on September 30, 2014. The Company made quarterly interest payments beginning December 31, 2011 at a fixed interest rate of 6% and continuing on a quarterly basis. $75,000 was advanced on the loan which was repaid on August 8, 2013 and the promissory note was canceled. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively was $2,750 and $3,425.
Effective June 30, 2013, Tucker Ellis LLP accepted a promissory note in the amount of $300,000 from the Company in exchange for outstanding billings due of the same amount. The Company shall make quarterly interest payments beginning September 30, 2013 at a fixed interest rate of 5% and continuing on a quarterly basis until maturity. The Company is require to (i) stay current on Tucker Ellis LLP’s ongoing monthly invoices and (ii) make principal payments pursuant to the agreement based on the issuance of debt or equity securities. The promissory note matures on September 30, 2015. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $3,750.
Note 8 – Advances Payable – Related Party
On June 27, 2013 the Company entered into a Conversion Agreement with Richard MacPherson, a director of the Company, and 3253517 Nova Scotia Limited, of which MacPherson is the sole member (the “Nova Scotia Company”). Pursuant to the Conversion Agreement the Company converted advances payable from Mr. MacPherson, into 12% Convertible Promissory Notes (the “Notes”). Immediately prior to this conversion, Mr. MacPherson assigned and transferred $614,012 of his interest in the principal owing on certain advances payable to Nova Scotia Company (the “Nova Scotia Debt”), leaving a balance of the principal due and owing to Mr. MacPherson of $337,022 (the “MacPherson Debt”). Under the Conversion Agreement the Nova Scotia Company converted the Nova Scotia Debt into $614,012 of Notes of the Company and Mr. MacPherson converted $252,199 of the MacPherson Debt into $252,199 of the Notes of the Company, which shall be due and payable on the third anniversary of the date of issue and shall be convertible into units of the Company at a conversion price of $0.50 per unit with each unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company and one warrant to purchase 0.25 additional shares of Common Stock at $0.75 per share. In addition, pursuant to the Conversion Agreement Mr. MacPherson agreed to forgive $80,656 on the MacPherson Debt. The remaining principal balance of $4,167 bears interest at 9% per annum, has no fixed terms of repayment and is unsecured. Accrued interest on these advances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $216,282 and $174,099, respectively. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was $42,183 and $65,148, respectively.
Page 13
Note 9 – Advances Payable-Related Party of Discontinued Operations
As a result of the reverse merger, the Company assumed $169,984 of advances payable due to Jay Rifkin, a current director who is also a former officer of the Company. These advances bear interest at 9% per annum, have no fixed terms of repayment and are unsecured. On June 30, 2013 the Company entered into a Conversion Agreement with Mr. Rifkin. Pursuant to the Conversion Agreement the Company converted these advances payable from Mr. Rifkin into $169,894 of the Notes of the Company, which shall be due and payable on the third anniversary of the date of issue and shall be convertible into units of the Company at a conversion price of $0.50 per unit with each unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company and one warrant to purchase 0.25 additional shares of Common Stock at $0.75 per share. Accrued interest on these advances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $31,318 and $23,668, respectively. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, was $7,650 and $11,644, respectively.
Note 10 – Convertible Promissory Notes Payable
From April 26, 2012 to January 24, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $2,675,244. The notes have a term of three years, bear interest at 12% per annum, and are convertible into units, where each unit consists of: (i) one share of common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.001 per share, and (ii) a warrant to purchase 0.25 shares of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $1.25 per share. The initial conversion ratio shall be equal to $1.00 per unit. The notes may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part prior to the maturity date thereof. These securities were sold in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Accrued interest of $166,190 was converted to principal by the Company on July 1, 2013. Accrued interest on these advances at December 31, 2012 was $134,975, and was converted to principal by the Company on January 1, 2013. Accrued interest on these advances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $89,292 and $134,975, respectively. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, was $255,482 and $74,588, respectively.
From April 5 through May 10, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $405,000. The notes have a term of three years, bear interest at 12% per annum, and are convertible into units, where each unit consists of: (i) 1 share of common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.001 per share, and (ii) a warrant to purchase 0.25 shares of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The initial conversion ratio shall be equal to $0.50 per unit. The notes may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part prior to the maturity date thereof. These securities were sold in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Accrued interest at September 30, 2013 and interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 on these notes was $19,977.
On June 27 and June 30, 2013, the Company converted advances payable from related parties (see Note 8 and Note 9) into convertible notes totaling $1,036,195. The notes have a term of three years, bear interest at 12% per annum, and are convertible into units, where each unit consists of: (i) 1 share of common stock of the Issuer, par value $0.001 per share, and (ii) a warrant to purchase 0.25 shares of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The initial conversion ratio shall be equal to $0.50 per unit. The notes may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part prior to the maturity date thereof. These securities were issued in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. On July 12, 2013, the Company converted $866,211 of these notes, along with accrued interest of $4,331, into 1,741,084 common stock and 435,271 warrants to purchase shares of common stock (see Note 12). Accrued interest at September 30, 2013 was $5,156 and interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 on these notes was $9,487.
From July 30, 2013 through September 30, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes and warrants to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $1,102,500. The notes have a term of three years, bear interest at 10% per annum, and are convertible into one share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, with the initial conversion ratio equal to $0.50 per share. For each dollar invested, the investor received two warrants to purchase one shares of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The notes may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part prior to the maturity date thereof. These securities were sold in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Accrued interest at September 30, 2013 and interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 on these notes was $11,815. A discount on the notes payable of $466,683 was recorded based on the value of the warrants issued using a Black-Scholes options pricing model. Amortized interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 on this discount was $17,193.
Page 14
Note 11 – Commitments and Contingencies
As discussed in Note 5, the Company has entered in an “Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement Including Transfer of Ownership” that requires minimum license maintenance costs. The Company is planning on using the intellectual property granted by the patents for the foreseeable future. The license agreement is considered expired on the October 14, 2025, the date the patent expires. Future minimum maintenance fee payments are as follows:
As of September 30,
|
||||
2014
|
200,000 | |||
2015
|
200,000 | |||
2016
|
200,000 | |||
2017
|
200,000 | |||
2018
|
200,000 | |||
Thereafter
|
1,400,000 | |||
$ | 2,400,000 |
Property Leases
On June 1, 2011, the Company entered into a 36 month lease for warehouse space in Centralia, Washington, commencing August 1, 2011. The lease provides for the option to extend the lease on a month to month basis. Rent is $1,900 monthly throughout the term of the lease.
On October 18, 2011, the Company entered into a 39-month lease for office space in Worthington, Ohio, commencing November 15, 2011. The lease provides for the option to extend the lease under its current terms for three additional years. Rent is abated for the first three months of the lease. Rent is $1,933 per month for months four through fifteen, $1,968 for months 16 through twenty-seven and $2,002 for months twenty-eight through thirty-nine.
Future minimum lease payments under these non-cancelable leases are approximately as follows:
Twelve months ended September 30,
|
||||
2014
|
$ | 42,854 | ||
2015
|
10,011 | |||
$ | 52,865 |
The Company also leases office space in Grand Forks, ND, which has a renewable annual term and requires quarterly rental payments of $1,259.
Rent expense was approximately $53,000 and $45,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Fixed Price Contract
The Company’s contract with its customer contains a fixed price for product over three years beginning January 1, 2012. This contract exposes the Company to the potential risks associated with rising material costs during that same period. No losses have been recognized on this contract through September 30, 2013.
Note 12 – Equity
The Company has two classes of stock, common stock – 100,000,000 shares authorized at a par value of $0.001 and preferred stock – 2,000,000 shares authorized at a par value of $0.001.
On July 12, 2013, the Company, upon conversion of a promissory note dated June 27, 2013, issued 506,920 shares of common stock and 126,730 warrants to purchase common shares to Richard MacPherson, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, pursuant to a notice of conversion received by the Company from Mr. MacPherson to convert a promissory note held by Mr. MacPherson with a principal balance of $252,199 and accrued interest of $1,261 into 506,920 units of the Company, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company and one warrant to purchase 0.25 additional shares of common stock at $0.75 per share.
On July 12, 2013, the Company, upon conversion of a promissory note dated June 27, 2013, issued 1,234,164 shares of common stock and 308,541 warrants to purchase common shares to Nova Scotia Company, pursuant to a notice of conversion received from Nova Scotia Company to convert a promissory note held by Nova Scotia Company with a principal balance of $614,012 and accrued interest of $3,070 into 1,234,164 units of the Company, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company and one warrant to purchase 0.25 additional shares of common stock at $0.75 per share.
Page 15
Note 13 – Stock Based Compensation
Effective July 20, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the 2005 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan reserves 15,000,000 (approximately 136,364 post Reverse Stock Split) shares of common stock for grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, warrants and restricted stock awards to employees, non-employee directors and consultants performing services for the Company. Options and warrants granted under the 2005 Plan have an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the date of grant and become exercisable based on a vesting schedule determined at the date of grant. The options expire 10 years from the date of grant whereas warrants generally expire 5 years from the date of grant. Restricted stock awards granted under the 2005 Plan are subject to a vesting period determined at the date of grant.
On May 6, 2009, the Board of Directors adopted, subject to stockholder approval, which was obtained at the annual stockholders meeting held on June 19, 2009, an amendment to the 2005 Plan that increased the number of shares subject to the Stock Plan from 15,000,000 shares to 50,000,000. The total number of shares subject to the Stock Plan was revised to 454,545 shares by the Reverse Stock Split.
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, which addresses the accounting for employee stock options which requires that the cost of all employee stock options, as well as other equity-based compensation arrangements, be reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements over the vesting period based on the estimated fair value of the awards.
A summary of stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is presented below:
Outstanding Options
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
Available
for
Grant
|
Number
of
Shares
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
|
||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2012
|
169,087 | 285,458 | 14.44 | 6.3 | - | |||||||||||||||
Grants
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Cancellations
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
September 30, 2013
|
169,087 | 285,458 | 14.44 | 5.6 | - | |||||||||||||||
Options exercisable at:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2012
|
285,458 | 14.44 | 6.3 | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2013
|
285,458 | 14.44 | 5.6 |
The Company utilized a Black-Scholes options pricing model.
On March 16, 2011, Midwest Energy Emissions issued 50 shares to a consultant for a value of $125,000. The shares were valued at $2,500 per share upon Midwest Energy Emissions' then most recently completed equity financing transactions. These shares were converted into Series B Convertible Preferred Stock upon completion of the Merger on June 21, 2011.
In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and pursuant to Midwest Energy Emissions’ obligations under a Business Consulting Agreement dated March 18, 2011, on July 6, 2011, the Company issued 45,455 shares of our common stock to Eastern Sky, LLC as compensation for consulting services rendered in connection with the transaction. The shares were valued at $77,500.
On July 6, 2011, the Company issued 18,258 shares of our common stock to The Lebrecht Group, APLC as compensation for legal services rendered in connection with the Merger Agreement. The shares were valued at $31,130.
On January 2, 2013, the Company issued Jana Stover 68,468 shares to settle accrued consulting services performed in 2011. Compensation of $106,125 was recognized in 2011 related to the services performed.
Page 16
Effective as of June 29, 2012 the Company and Ken Rifkin entered into a Consulting Agreement. Ken Rifkin is the brother of Jay Rifkin, a company director. With Mr. Rifkin’s performance of consulting services over a three month period ending on September 29, 2012 the Company will issue to Mr. Rifkin 100,000 shares of the Company’s unregistered common shares after January 1, 2013, upon receipt of the appropriate stock grant agreement from Mr. Rifkin, as compensation for his service pursuant to the agreement. Compensation of $135,000 was recognized in 2012 related to this agreement and the shares were issued on March 5, 2013.
On July 1, 2012, the Company and R. Alan Kelley entered into an amended employment agreement (the “New Kelley Employment Agreement”) that replaced and terminated the then existing employment agreement between Mr. Kelley and the Company, dated November 1, 2011. Pursuant to the terminated employment agreement, Mr. Kelley was to receive 500,000 unvested shares of common stock as a signing bonus. These shares were to have vested on November 1, 2012 and are valued at $525,000 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Under the New Kelley Employment Agreement, the Company will issue to Mr. Kelley 650,000 shares of common stock upon the earlier of a change in control of the Company or January 1, 2014 (the “Stock Grant”) provided that Mr. Kelley remains an employee of the Company on January 1, 2014. In addition, the Company will make the Stock Grant to Mr. Kelley if his employment is terminated without cause, if he resigns for good reason, or on his death or disability. The Stock Grant is valued at $1,300,000 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and the difference from the previous valuation will be amortized from the date of the agreement through the Stock Grant date. Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and year ended December 31, 2012 on the New Kelley Employment Agreement was $388,000 and $258,000, respectively.
On July 1, 2012, the Company and Johnny F. Norris, Jr. entered into an amended employment agreement (the “New Norris Employment Agreement”) that replaced and terminated the then existing employment agreement between Mr. Norris and the Company, dated October 17, 2011. Pursuant to the terminated employment agreement, Mr. Norris was to receive 1,500,000 unvested shares of common stock as a signing bonus. These shares were to have vested 1/3 on October 1, 2012, 1/3 on October 1, 2013 and 1/3 on October 1, 2014 and are valued at $2,805,300 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Under the New Norris Employment Agreement, the Company will issue to Mr. Norris 1,500,000 shares of common stock upon the earlier of a change in control of the Company or January 1, 2014 (the “Stock Grant”) provided that Mr. Norris remains an employee of the Company on January 1, 2014. In addition, the Company will make the Stock Grant to Mr. Norris if his employment is terminated without cause, if he resigns for good reason, or on his death or disability. The Stock Grant is valued at $3,000,000 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and the difference from the previous valuation will be amortized from the date of the agreement through the Stock Grant date. Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and year ended December 31, 2012 on the New Norris Employment Agreement was $97,000 and $65,000, respectively.
On July 1, 2012, the Company and Richard H. Gross entered into an amended employment agreement (the “New Gross Employment Agreement”) that replaced and terminated the then existing employment agreement between Mr. Gross and the Company, dated September 19, 2011. Pursuant to the terminated employment agreement, Mr. Gross was to receive 50,000 unvested shares of common stock as a signing bonus. These shares were to have vested on October 10, 2012 and are valued at $93,500 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Under the New Gross Employment Agreement, the Company will issue to Mr. Gross 100,000 shares of common stock upon the earlier of a change in control of the Company or January 1, 2014 (the “Stock Grant”) provided that Mr. Gross remains an employee of the Company on January 1, 2014. In addition, the Company will make the Stock Grant to Mr. Gross if his employment is terminated without cause, if he resigns for good reason, or on his death or disability. The Stock Grant is valued at $200,000 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and the difference from the previous valuation will be amortized from the date of the agreement through the Stock Grant date. Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and year ended December 31, 2012 on the New Gross Employment Agreement was $53,000 and $36,000, respectively.
Page 17
On March 1, 2013, the Company and Marc Sylvester entered into an amended employment agreement (the “New Sylvester Employment Agreement”) that replaced and terminated the then existing employment agreement between Mr. Sylvester and the Company, dated July 25, 2011. Under the New Sylvester Employment Agreement, the Company will issue to Mr. Sylvester 250,000 shares of common stock upon the earlier of a change in control of the Company or January 1, 2014 (the “Stock Grant”) provided that Mr. Sylvester remains an employee of the Company on January 1, 2014. In addition, the Company will make the Stock Grant to Mr. Sylvester if his employment is terminated without cause, if he resigns for good reason, or on his death or disability. The Stock Grant is valued at $100,000 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 on the New Sylvester Employment Agreement was $70,000.
On March 7, 2013, the Company and Lytham Partners entered into a representation agreement. The agreement has a twelve month term and is cancelable after September 30, 2013. The Company will issue Lytham Partners 25,000 common shares per month for each month of the agreement. Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $121,000, 50,000 shares were issued on May 7, 2013, July 7, 2013 and September 7, 2013, respectively. The agreement was canceled as of September 30, 2013.
Note 14 – Warrants
The Company utilized a Black-Scholes options pricing model to value the warrants sold and issued. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions such as the expected stock price volatility and the expected period until the warrants are exercised. When calculating the value of warrants issued, the Company uses a volatility factor of 1.0, a risk free interest rate of 3% and the life of the warrant for the exercise period.
On May 11, 2009, the Company granted a consultant, as consideration for services on behalf of the Company, a vested warrant with a term of seven years to purchase 11,364 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $3.30 per share. The issuance of this warrant was exempt from registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
On October 24, 2011, the Company granted Global Maxfin Capital Inc. (“Global”), as consideration for fund raising services on behalf of the Company, a vested warrant with a term of five years to purchase 24,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.00 per share. The issuance of this warrant was exempt from registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Using a Black-Sholes Valuation model these warrants had a value of $18,139 which was recorded as syndication costs and deducted from the proceeds of the funds raised by Global.
On June 24, 2013, the Company entered into an amended and restated letter agreement with ViewTrade Securities Inc. (“ViewTrade”) to act as the Company’s exclusive placement agent in connection with a proposed private placement of equity, debt or equity-linked securities of the Company (“Securities”) as such offering may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Private Placement”). The terms of the Securities to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement were agreed to by and between the Company and ViewTrade on June 24, 2013. The gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be up to six million dollars. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company agreed to issue cashless warrants with an exercise period of five years to ViewTrade entitling ViewTrade to acquire an amount equal to 15% of value of the securities sold under the same terms as the Private Placement. From July 30, 2013 through September 30, 2013, the Company issued ViewTrade cashless warrants with a term of five years to purchase 330,750 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $.50 per share and cashless warrants with a term of five years to purchase 330,750 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $.75 per share as compensation for Securities sold to date. Using a Black-Sholes Valuation model these warrants had a value of $254,386 of which $146,705 was recorded as debt issuance costs and will be amortized over the life of the Securities sold in the Private Placement and $107,681 was recorded as syndication costs reducing the paid in capital recorded for the sale of the Securities sold in the Private Placement..
Page 18
From July 30, 2013 through September 30, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes and warrants to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $1,102,500. The notes are convertible into one share of common stock, with the initial conversion ratio equal to $0.50 per share. The investor received a total of 2,205,000 warrants to purchase one shares of common stock with an exercise price of $0.75 per share. These securities were sold in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Using a Black-Sholes Valuation model these warrants had a value of $466,683 which was recorded as a discount on the notes payable and will be amortized over the life of the associated notes payable.
On September 19, 2013, pursuant to an agreement dated as of March 20, 2013, by and among the Company, John Simonelli and Larry Howell, upon a closing of the Private Placement, the Company issued to each of Mr. Simonelli and Mr. Howell, cashless warrants with a term of five years to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $.50 per share. The issuance of this warrant was exempt from registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Using a Black-Sholes Valuation model these warrants had a value of $377,900 of which $217,937 was recorded as debt issuance costs and will be amortized over the life of the Securities sold in the Private Placement and $159,963 was recorded as syndication costs reducing the paid in capital recorded for the sale of the Securities sold in the Private Placement.
On September 30, 2013, the Company granted Bedminster Financial Group, Ltd. (“Bedminster”), as consideration for fund raising services on behalf of the Company, a vested warrant with a term of two years to purchase 13,950 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.25 per share. The issuance of this warrant was exempt from registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Using a Black-Sholes Valuation model these warrants had a value of $2,215 which was recorded as debt issuance costs and will be amortized over the life of the notes payables sold by Bedminster.
The following table summarizes information about common stock warrants outstanding at September 30, 2013:
Outstanding
|
Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise Price
|
Number Outstanding
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
Number Exercisable
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|||||||||||||||||
$ | 3.30 | 11,364 | 2.61 | $ | 3.30 | 11,364 | $ | 3.30 | ||||||||||||||
1.25 | 13,950 | 2.00 | 1.25 | 13,950 | 1.25 | |||||||||||||||||
1.00 | 24,000 | 3.07 | 1.00 | 24,000 | 1.00 | |||||||||||||||||
0.75 | 2,971,021 | 4.40 | 0.75 | 2,971,021 | 0.75 | |||||||||||||||||
0.50 | 1,330,750 | 4.95 | 0.50 | 1,330,750 | 0.50 | |||||||||||||||||
$ | .50 - $3.30 | 4,351,085 | 4.58 | 4,351,085 |
Note 15 – Tax
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward offset by a valuation allowance and, accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded. In addition, no benefit for income taxes has been recorded due to the uncertainty of the realization of any tax assets. At September 30, 2013, the Company’s net operating loss carryforward was approximately $18,630,000. Our deferred tax asset primarily related to accrued compensation and net operating losses. A 100% valuation allowance has been established due to the uncertainty of the utilization of these assets in future periods. As a result, the deferred tax asset was reduced to zero and no income tax benefit was recorded. The net operating loss carryforward, if not utilized, will begin to expire in 2025.
Page 19
Section 382 of the Internal Code allows post-change corporations to use pre-change net operating losses, but limit the amount of losses that may be used annually to a percentage of the entity value of the corporation at the date of the ownership change. The applicable percentage is the federal long-term tax-exempt rate for the month during which the change in ownership occurs.
Note 16 – Discontinued Operations
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on June 21, 2011, the Company ceased operations of the following entities: Youth Media (BVI) Limited, Youth Media (Hong Kong) Limited, Youth Media (Beijing) Limited and Rebel Crew Films, Inc. Accordingly, the results of operations of these entities are reported as losses from discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Results for discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
2013
|
2012
|
|||||||
China Youth Media, Inc.
|
$ | - | $ | 1,791 | ||||
Youth Media (Hong Kong)
|
- | - | ||||||
Youth Media (Beijing)
|
- | (823 | ) | |||||
Net loss from discontinued operations
|
$ | - | $ | 968 |
Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations were comprised of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
2013
|
2012
|
|||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
$ | 262,032 | $ | 262,032 | ||||
Related party note payable
|
- | 169,984 | ||||||
Convertible note payable
|
50,000 | 50,000 | ||||||
Total liabilities
|
$ | 312,032 | $ | 482,016 |
Note 17 – Subsequent Events
On November 8, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes and warrants to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $170,000. The notes are convertible into one share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, with the initial conversion ratio equal to $0.50 per share. For each dollar invested, the investor received two warrants to purchase one share of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The notes may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part prior to the maturity date thereof. In conjunction with the sale of these notes and warrants, the Company issued ViewTrade Securities, Inc. 51,000 warrants to purchase one share of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $0.50 per share and 51,000 warrants to purchase one share of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. These securities were sold in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.
Page 20
ITEM 2 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Background
We are a Development Stage Company that develops and employs patented and proprietary technologies to remove mercury from coal-fired power plant air emissions. The U.S. EPA MATS rule requires that all coal and oil-fired power plants in the U.S., larger than 25MWs, must limit mercury in its emissions to below certain specified levels, according to the type of coal burned and the plant design. In general, MATS requires EGUs to remove about 90% of the mercury from their emissions. Our licensed technology has been shown to be able to achieve mercury removal levels compliant with MATS and at a lower cost and plant impact than the most widely used approach of PAC or BAC injection. As is typical in this market, we are paid by the EGU based on how much of our material is injected to achieve the needed level of mercury removal. Our current client pays and we expect future clients will pay us periodically (monthly or as material is delivered) based on their actual use of our injected material. Clients will use our material whenever their EGUs operate, but they do not operate all the time. EGUs typically are not operated due to maintenance reasons or when the price of power in the market is less than their cost to produce that power. Thus, our revenues from EGU clients will not typically be a consistent stream but will fluctuate, especially seasonally as the market demand for power fluctuates.
Results of Operations
The third quarter of 2013 found utilities scheduling demonstrations of technologies for mercury control in order to find the most cost effective solution for their plant design and coal combinations. Through the nine months ended September of 2013 we have completed six demonstration projects and contracted for an additional demonstration to be performed in the fourth quarter. We expect more demonstrations to be contracted and performed later this year and early next year. We have been successful in demonstrating the ability to achieve MATS compliance with our licensed technology in all demonstrations to date and we are hopeful that long-term supply contracts will be negotiated and signed as a result. For most such contracts we would typically anticipate three year renewable agreements for injections of our mercury emission control materials beginning in 2015 to comply with MATS. Some power plants have state mercury emission limits they must meet now, and successful demonstrations which lead to supply contracts with such units could provide operating revenues for MEEC in 2014. At least two of our recently completed demonstrations fall into that category. Some plants are requesting and receiving a one year delay in the requirement to meet the MATS 2015 deadline.
Revenues of $285,000 in the third quarter of 2013 from our two large customer units met our expectations as these units were brought back on line in the quarter. However, revenues from these units are not indicative of revenues we would expect in 2015 from individual customer units. Our technology was able to achieve their current state mercury emissions limit (approximately 50% removal) using even less than anticipated sorbent material since the inception of the contract. In 2015, these units will have to meet the higher EPA MATS rule limits and we expect revenues to be more typical (approximately $2 million to $4 million annually) of large units achieving about 90% removal to meet MATS.
Revenues
Sales – We generated revenues of $917,000 and $271,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and $1,425,000 and $356,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The majority of this increase was generated during the performance of six and two demonstrations of our technologies at the power generating stations of potential customers in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The negotiated payment terms with certain customers for demonstrations of our technology include the waiving of payment of some or all of the contracted price of the demonstration if the customer signs a long term purchase agreement with the Company within a certain time frame. Should a long term agreement be signed with these customers, any unpaid accounts receivables would be converted to customer acquisition costs and recognized as an expense over the life of the agreement.
Page 21
Cost and Expenses
Costs and expenses were $1,475,000 and $1,363,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and were $3,928,000 and $3,296,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase in costs and expenses from the same period in the prior year is primarily attributable to the increase in operating expenses discussed below as well as an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Cost of goods sold were $206,000 and $105,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and were $285,000 and $172,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The costs in both quarters was for product sold to our commercial customer.
Operating expenses were $359,000 and $97,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and were $809,000 and $137,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increased costs in 2013 were associated with six demonstrations of our technologies at power generating stations of potential customers.
License maintenance fees were $50,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and were $150,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. The expenses relate to the amortization of the annual maintenance fee for the respective year.
Marketing and development expenses were $76,000 and $202,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and were $257,000 and $326,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 respectively. The decrease in marketing and development expenses during 2013 is primarily attributed to decreased consulting costs associated with fund raising planning and strategy in the current year. This decrease is partially offset by an increase in technical services related to customer bidding projects and upcoming customer demonstrations.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $675,000 and $598,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and were $2,017,000 and $1,456,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 respectively. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses during 2013 is primarily attributed to the amortization of the Company’s commitment to grant employee stock on January 1, 2014, if employees meet their contractual obligations.
Professional fee expenses were $109,000 and $291,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively and were $409,000 and $636,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 respectively. The decrease in professional fee expenses during 2013 is primarily attributed to costs incurred in 2012 associated with financial reporting compliance requirements.
Impairment of fixed assets were zero and $400,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Due to the short-term idling of both power units at the Company’s commercial customer, the Company recorded an impairment charge against the value of the equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Page 22
Net Loss
For the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 we had a net loss from continuing operations of approximately $742,000 and $1,168,000, respectively and for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 we had a net loss from operations of approximately $2,861,000 and $3,105,000, respectively. The Company incurred an impairment charge on equipment of $400,000 recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2012, had a decrease in professional fees incurred and earned increased revenue as well as the associated margin on operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Offsetting these decreased losses from the prior year were increased costs associated with employee stock grants and increased interest expense associated with increased debt from the prior year.
Other Expense
Given our financial constraints and our reliance on financing activities, interest expense related to the financing of capital was $184,000 and $74,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Interest expense related to the financing of capital was $439,000 and $162,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Management expects these costs to continue to increase based on our reliance on fund raising through the issuance of convertible promissory notes.
Taxes
As of September 30, 2013, our deferred tax asset primarily related to accrued compensation and net operating losses. A 100% valuation allowance has been established due to the uncertainty of the utilization of these assets in future periods. As a result, the deferred tax asset was reduced to zero and no income tax benefit was recorded. The net operating loss carryforward will begin to expire in 2025.
Section 382 of the Internal Code allows post-change corporations to use pre-change net operating losses, but limit the amount of losses that may be used annually to a percentage of the entity value of the corporation at the date of the ownership change. The applicable percentage is the federal long-term tax-exempt rate for the month during which the change in ownership occurs.
License Agreement
On January 15, 2009, the Company entered into an “Exclusive Patent and Know-How License Agreement Including Transfer of Ownership” (“License”) with the Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation (“EERC”), a non-profit entity. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company has been granted an exclusive license for the technology to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, lease, and import the technology in any coal-fired combustion systems (power plant) worldwide and to develop and perform the technology in any coal-fired power plant in the world. The first US patent “Sorbents of Oxidation and Removal of Mercury” was filed by EERC on August 22, 2005 and granted on October 14, 2008. In addition, the Company has the same rights to other related patents in the US, Canada, China and Europe.
The Company paid $100,000 in 2009 for the license to use the patents and at the option of the Company can pay $1,500,000 for the assignment of the patents or pay the greater of the license maintenance fees or royalties on product sales for continued use of the patents. The license maintenance fees are $100,000 due January 1, 2010, $150,000 due January 1, 2011 and $200,000 due January 1, 2012 and each year thereafter. The running royalties are $100 per one megawatt of electronic nameplate capacity and $100 per three megawatt per hour for the application to thermal systems to which licensed products or licensed processes are sold by the Company, associate and sublicensees. Running royalties are payable by the Company within 30 days after the end of each calendar year to the licensor and may be credited against license maintenance fees paid.
Page 23
The Company is required to pay the licensor 35% of all sublicense income received by the Company, excluding royalties on sales by sublicensees. Sublicense income is payable by the Company within 30 day after the end of each calendar year to the licensor.
The Company is required to annually enter into at least one sales agreement for at least one gigawatt nameplate electrical generation capacity. If the Company fails to fulfill this obligation, the licensor may treat the failure as a material breach of the license and terminate the agreement if not cured within ninety days after notifying the Company. The Company has received a waiver of this requirement for 2012 and is currently renegotiating this requirement for 2013 and subsequent years. At this time the Company does not believe that it will meet this requirement for 2013 and no assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in the renegotiating this requirement for 2013. If the Company is unsuccessful in its renegotiation efforts with the EERC on in obtaining a waiver of this obligation for 2013, it is possible that the EERC could terminate the License. The termination of the License would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its ability to continue as a going concern.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal source of liquidity has been cash generated from financing activities. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, our cash and cash equivalents were $284,000 and $189,000, respectively. We had a working capital deficit of approximately $1.0 million at September 30, 2013 and $1.8 million at December 31, 2012 and we continue to have recurring losses. Our anticipated cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months is approximately $3 million. In the past, we have primarily relied upon financing activities and loans from related parties to fund our operations. No assurances can be given that the Company can obtain sufficient working capital through financing activities, borrowings or that the continued implementation of its business plan will generate sufficient revenues in the future to sustain ongoing operations. Success in our fund raising efforts is crucial. We are actively seeking sources of additional financing in order to maintain and expand our operations and to fund our debt repayment obligations. Due to these efforts, we could dilute current shareholders and the dilution could be significant. Even if we are able to obtain funding, there can be no assurance that a sufficient level of sales will be attained to fund such operations or that unbudgeted costs will not be incurred. Our current cash flow needs for general overhead, sales and operations is approximately $250,000 per month with additional funds often needed for demonstrations of our technology on potential customer units. With our expected gross margins on customer contracts, we anticipate we will be at break-even on a cash flow basis when our revenues reach approximately $12 million annually. This break-even target is subject to achieving sales at that level with our expected gross margins. No assurance can be made that we will be able to achieve this target.
On May 1, 2013, the Company entered into a letter agreement with ViewTrade Securities Inc. (“ViewTrade”) to act as the Company’s exclusive placement agent in connection with a proposed private placement of equity, debt or equity-linked securities of the Company (“Securities”) as such offering may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Private Placement”). The terms of the Securities to be issued pursuant to the Private Placement were agreed to by and between the Company and ViewTrade on June 24, 2013. The gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be up to six million dollars. Under the agreement, which will remain in effect until November 30, 2013, the Company agreed to pay ViewTrade a non-refundable retainer of $35,000, and cash commissions and fees totaling 13 percent of the gross proceeds raised in the Private Placement. The Company must also reimburse ViewTrade for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by ViewTrade in connection with the Private Placement. The Company also agreed to issue cashless warrants with an exercise period of five years to ViewTrade entitling ViewTrade to acquire an amount equal to 15% of value of the securities sold under the same terms as the Private Placement. The letter agreement was amended and restated on June 24, 2013.
Page 24
In addition, pursuant to an agreement dated as of March 20, 2013, by and among the Company, John Simonelli and Larry Howell, upon the closing of the Private Placement, the Company is required to issue to each of Mr. Simonelli and Mr. Howell, warrants to purchase 500,000 of the Securities issued in the Private Placement, under the same terms as issued to ViewTrade under the agreement. In the event there is a minimum of four million dollars raised in the Private Placement, the agreement contains an obligation by the Company to grant to ViewTrade the right of participation to act as the lead manager or lead placement agent or co-manager or co-placement agent with a minimum of 50% of the economics with respect to any future public or private sale of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The agreement contains customary provisions for agreements of its type, including indemnity obligations on the part of the Company. The Company also agreed to pay $75,000 if the Company cancels the agreement under certain conditions.
Total assets were $1.7 million at September 30, 2013 versus $1.2 million at December 31, 2012. The change in total assets is primarily due to the increase in debt issuance costs of $476,000 associated with the Company’s fund raising efforts.
Operating activities used $1,081,000 of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to $1,684,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The decrease from the prior year is primarily attributable to the increase in operating liabilities as the Company conserved cash due to decreased financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Investing activities used no cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Financing activities provided $1,176,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 primarily from proceeds from the issuance of convertible promissory notes compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $1,592,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from proceeds from the issuance of convertible promissory notes and common stock.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our consolidated financial condition, revenues, results of operations, liquidity or capital expenditures.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial conditions and results of operation are based upon the accompanying consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management evaluates on an on-going basis our estimates with respect to the valuation allowances for accounts receivable, income taxes, accrued expenses and equity instrument valuation, for example. We base these estimates on various assumptions and experience that we believe to be reasonable. The following critical accounting policies are those that are important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations. These policies require management’s most difficult, complex, or subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.
The following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. In particular, our most critical accounting policies relate to the recognition of revenue, valuation of goodwill, and the valuation of our stock-based compensation.
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Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenue from sales in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). The criteria for recognition are as follows:
1. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;
2. Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered;
3. The seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and
4. Collectability is reasonably assured.
Determination of criteria (3) and (4) will be based on management’s judgments regarding the fixed nature of the selling prices of the products delivered and the collectability of those amounts. Provisions for discounts and rebates to customers, estimated returns and allowances, and other adjustments will be provided for in the same period the related sales are recorded.
Stock-Based Compensation
We have adopted the provisions of Share-Based Payment, which requires that share-based payments be reflected as an expense based upon the grant-date fair value of those grants. Accordingly, the fair value of each option grant, non-vested stock award and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan, were estimated on the date of grant. We estimate the fair value of these grants using the Black-Scholes model which requires us to make certain estimates in the assumptions used in this model, including the expected term the award will be held, the volatility of the underlying common stock, the discount rate, dividends and the forfeiture rate. The expected term represents the period of time that grants and awards are expected to be outstanding. Expected volatilities were based on historical volatility of our stock. The risk-free interest rate approximates the U.S. treasury rate corresponding to the expected term of the option. Dividends were assumed to be zero. Forfeiture estimates are based on historical data. These inputs are based on our assumptions, which we believe to be reasonable but that include complex and subjective variables. Other reasonable assumptions could result in different fair values for our stock-based awards. Stock-based compensation expense, as determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. To the extent that actual results or revised estimates differ from the estimates used, those amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period that estimates are revised.
Warrants
The Company utilized a Black-Scholes options pricing model to value the warrants sold and issued. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions such as the expected stock price volatility and the expected period until the warrants are exercised. When calculating the value of warrants issued, the Company uses a volatility factor of 1.0, a risk free interest rate of 3% and the life of the warrant for the exercise period.
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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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this item.
ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officer (“PEO”) and principal financial officer (“PFO”), we have evaluated the effectiveness, the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the PEO and the PFO determined that as of September 30, 2013, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because the Company’s corporate files did not contain legible copies of one executed copy of an amendment to a material contract. The discovery of a legible copy of this executed amendment showed that disclosures made in previous filings contained inaccurate information regarding a current term of an agreement. It was further discovered at this time that adequate disclosure of certain terms contained in the contract was not complete and that all amendments to previously filed material agreements had not been filed. These amendments are included as exhibits with this Form 10-Q filing.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The Company believes it has a weakness due to the discovered incompleteness of its corporate files and its inadequate disclosures regarding certain contracts as noted above.
We are in the process of improving disclosure controls and procedures in an effort to remediate these deficiencies through the a full review of the corporate files to ensure that legible executed copies of all material agreements are on file at the corporate office. Upon review of these agreements, we will assess if full disclosure has been made regarding their terms and conditions. We believe that these efforts will be sufficient to fully remedy these deficiencies and will improve and strengthen our disclosure control processes and procedures.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
MEEC is not currently involved in any litigation.
ITEM 1a – RISK FACTORS
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this item.
ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
From July 30, 2013 through September 30, 2013, the Company sold convertible notes and warrants to unaffiliated accredited investors totaling $1,102,500. The notes are convertible into one share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, with the initial conversion ratio equal to $0.50 per share. For each dollar invested, the investor received two warrants to purchase one shares of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The notes may be converted at any time and from time to time in whole or in part prior to the maturity date thereof. These securities were sold in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the safe harbor of Rule 506 under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.
ITEM 3 – DEFAULT UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5 – OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
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ITEM – 6 EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
|
10.1*
|
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Midwest Energy Emissions Corp and R. Alan Kelley dated June 1, 2013.
|
|
10.2*
|
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Midwest Energy Emissions Corp and Johnny F. Norris, Jr. dated June 1, 2013.
|
|
10.3*
|
Amendment No. 1 to the Exclusive Patent and Know-How License including Transfer of Ownership between RLP Energy, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated May 12, 2009
|
|
10.4*
|
Amendment No. 2 to the Exclusive Patent and Know-How License including Transfer of Ownership between RLP Energy, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated November 29, 2009
|
|
10.5*
|
Amendment No. 3 to the Exclusive Patent and Know-How License including Transfer of Ownership between RLP Energy, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated December 22, 2009
|
|
10.6*
|
Agreement Schedule of Payment between Grunergy Technologies USA, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated August 6, 2010
|
|
10.7*
|
Agreement Schedule of Payment between RLP Energy, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated April 19, 2011
|
|
10.8*
|
Agreement Schedule of Payment between MES, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated January 2, 2012
|
|
10.9*
|
Agreement Schedule of Payment between MES, Inc. and Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation dated December 17, 2012
|
|
31.1*
|
Certification by Chief Executive Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act
|
|
31.2*
|
Certification by Chief Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act
|
|
32.1*
|
Certification by Chief Executive Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code
|
|
32.2*
|
Certification by Chief Financial Officer, required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code
|
|
101*(1)
|
The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
_______
* Filed herewith.
(1)
|
In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL information in Exhibit 101 to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
|
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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.
MIDWEST ENERGY EMISSIONS CORP.
|
|||
Dated: November 12, 2013
|
By:
|
/s/ R. Alan Kelley | |
R. Alan Kelley
|
|||
Chief Executive Officer
|
|||
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
Dated: November 12, 2013
|
By:
|
/s/ Richard H. Gross | |
Richard H. Gross
|
|||
Chief Executive Officer
|
|||
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
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