Aqua Metals, Inc.
For the period ended Mar 31, 2025. Filed May 8, 2025.
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Mar 31, 2025 · Filed May 8, 2025
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Unaudited
1. Organization
Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) is engaged in the business of applying its commercialized clean, water-based recycling technology principles to develop the clean and cost-efficient recycling solutions for both lead and lithium-ion (“Li”) batteries. Our recycling process is a patented hydro- and electrometallurgical technology that is an innovative, proprietary and patented process we developed and named AquaRefining. AquaRefining is a low-emissions, closed-loop recycling technology that replaces polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries with higher purity, lower emissions, and with minimal waste. The modular “Aqualyzers” cleanly generate ultra-pure metalone atom at a time, closing the sustainability loop for the rapidly growing energy storage economy.
We are in the process of demonstrating that Li AquaRefining, which is fundamentally non-polluting, can create the highest quality and highest yields of recovered minerals from lithium-ion batteries with lower waste streams and lower costs than existing alternatives.
Our focus for the lead market is providing equipment and licensing of our lead acid battery recycling technologies in an enabler model which allows us to work with anyone in the industry globally and address the entire marketplace. Our focus for the lithium market includes operating ourfirst-of-a-kind lithium battery recycling facility, utilizing electricity to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces and licensing.
Liquidity and Going Concern Assessment
For thethree months ended* March 31, 2025and2024**,* the Company reported a net loss of $8,315,000 and $5,752,000, respectively, and negative cash from operations of $2,753,000 and $4,251,000, respectively. As of* March 31, 2025**,* the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately 1,589,000, current liabilities of $7,164,000 and an accumulated deficit of $256,085,000. The Company's current liabilities of $7,164,000 includes the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC* in the amount of approximately $3,000,000, due on July 27, 2025and notes payable witheight* accredited investors* in the amount of approximately $1,000,000, gross of unamortized issuance costs of $732,000, due on December**31,* 2025 as disclosed in Note10. The Company hasnot generated revenues from commercial operations and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future. On* May 2, 2025,the Company has repaid in full the outstanding balance of the notes payable witheight* accredited investors, including12 months interest.
Management believes that the Company doesnot have sufficient capital resources to sustain operations through at least the nexttwelve months from the date of this filing. Additionally, in view of the Company’s expectation to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future it will be required to raise additional capital resources in order to fund its operations, although the availability of, and the Company’s access to such resources, isnot assured. Accordingly, management believes that there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern through the nexttwelve months from the date of this filing.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements donot include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that* may*result from uncertainty related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
The significant accounting policies and estimates used in preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are described in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended* December 31, 2024*, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended* December 31, 2024*, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on* March 31, 2025.There have beenno* material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies during thethree months ended* March 31, 2025*.
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Aqua Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Aqua Metals”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended* December 31, 2024*, which are included on Form10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on* March 31, 2025.Accordingly, they donot* include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of* March 31, 2025*, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for thethree months ended* March 31, 2025* and* March 31, 2024*, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for thethree months ended* March 31, 2025* and* March 31, 2024* and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for thethree months ended* March 31, 2025* and* March 31, 2024*, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of* December 31, 2024* has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of such date, but it doesnot include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual presentation.
The results of operations for thethree months ended* March 31, 2025* arenot necessarily indicative of results that* maybe expected for the year ending December 31, 2025*.
Principles of consolidation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
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Use of estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, the determination of stock option expense and the determination of the fair value of stock warrants issued. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair value measurements
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of short and long-term debt, and lease liabilities also approximates fair value since these instruments bear market rates of interest or are calculated using market rates of interest.None of these instruments are held for trading purposes.
Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or payment to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Athree-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:
Level1. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level2. Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that arenot active, or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level3. Significant unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data.
The asset or liability’s fair value measurement within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
As of* March 31, 2025* and* December 31, 2024,the Company had a Level3* warrant liability related to freestanding warrants issued in connection with a private placement transaction that is measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
Net loss per share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive. The following shares underlying outstanding convertible notes, stock options, RSUs and warrants to purchase common stock were anti-dilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive weighted average securities computation for thethree months ended* March 31*, as indicated below:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| Excluded potentially dilutive weighted average securities (1): | 2025 | 2024 |
| Unvested restricted stock units | 208,323 | 435,689 |
| Financing warrants to purchase common stock | 1,823,856 | 28,554 |
| Total potential dilutive weighted average securities | 2,032,179 | 464,243 |
(1) Securities are presented on a weighted average outstanding calculation as required if the securities were dilutive and adjusted to give effect to the November 4, 2024 reverse stock split.
Segment and geographic information
Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the CODM in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM views its operations and manages its business inone operating segment. For further discussion related to segment reporting, please refer to Note14 - Segment reporting.
Concentration of credit risk
The Company didnot generate revenue during thethree months ended* March 31, 2025and2024*, respectively. The Company hadno trade receivables as of* March 31, 2025* and* December 31, 2024*. The accounts receivable balance on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of* March 31, 2025* consisted of an employee retention credit.
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Recent accounting pronouncements
Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
In* November 2024,the FASB issued ASU2024*-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which introduced new guidance on disclosures of specified information about certain costs and expenses included within expenses presented on the face of the income statements, such as purchases of inventory and employee compensation. This guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning* January 1, 2027and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2028.*The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this pronouncement will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In* December 2023,the FASB issued ASUNo.* 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic740). The ASU requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after* December 15, 2024.Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that havenot* yet been issued or made available for issuance. This ASU will result in the required additional disclosures being included in our consolidated financial statements, once adopted.
3. Revenue recognition
The Company has historically generated revenues by recycling lead acid batteries (“LABs”) and selling the recovered lead to its customers.
The Company wasnot in commercial production during thethree months ended* March 31, 2025and2024*, respectively. Historically, Company products transferred to customers at a single point in time accounted for 100% of its revenue.
4. Note receivable
During the year ended* December 31, 2023,the Company sold its $2,000,000 stock investment in LINICO and recorded an impairment of $1,400,000 and a note receivable of $600,000. The note was payable over a12*-month installment which began in* January 2024.The balance of the note receivable was $100,000 as of December 31, 2024*, and was fully collected as of* March 31, 2025*.
The Company accounted for the LINICO investment under ASC321, Investments-Equity Securities, using the measurement alternative of recording at cost as the investment in LINICO didnot have a readily determinable fair value.
5. Inventory
Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | $245 | $251 |
| Total inventory | $245 | $251 |
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6. Property, plant and equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Useful Life | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Class | (Years) | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 |
| Operational equipment | 3 - 10 | $3,551 | $3,551 |
| Lab equipment | 5 | 1,128 | 1,128 |
| Computer equipment | 3 | 107 | 107 |
| Office furniture and equipment | 3 | 87 | 87 |
| Leasehold improvements | 2.5 | 80 | 80 |
| Land | - | 1,141 | 1,141 |
| Building | 39 | 3,131 | 3,131 |
| Equipment under construction | 4,583 | 9,726 | |
| 13,808 | 18,951 | ||
| Less: accumulated depreciation | (2,699) | (2,478) | |
| Total property, plant and equipment, net | $11,109 | $16,473 | |
Property, plant and equipment depreciation expense was $221,000 and $218,000 for thethree months ended* March 31, 2025* andthree months ended* March 31, 2024*, respectively. Equipment under construction is comprised of our lithium-ion battery recycling commercial equipment along with various components being manufactured or installed by the Company.
In* April 2025,the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell a facility located at TRIC that was under construction and intended for our Li AquaRefining recycling campus. The decision was driven by a change in the Company's strategic priorities and capital allocation plans. The facility includes the building structure, the underlying land, and various permanent improvements, and was previously classified as construction-in-progress within property, plant, and equipment on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2025.In accordance with ASC360*-10-45-13, the Company determined that the assets met the criteria to be classified as held for sale in* April 2025.As a result, the assets will be reclassified to assets held for sale in thesecond* quarter of2025. The total carrying value of the assets group was approximately $9,345,000 as of* March 31, 2025,net of depreciation. An impairment charge of $5,247,000 was recognized during thethree* months ended* March 31, 2025.The fair value of the asset group was determined to be $4,100,000 which is a level3* measurement. The fair value was determined based on a market analysis of comparable properties recently sold. The Company anticipates the sale will be completed during thesecond quarter of2025.
7. Other assets
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment deposits (1) | $4,107 | $4,540 |
| Nevada facilities Right of Use Assets (2) | 482 | 542 |
| Other assets | 20 | 20 |
| Total other assets, non-current | $4,609 | $5,102 |
(1) Deposits for equipment to be acquired and utilized at the Company's Phase One build-out of our recycling campus at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC).
(2) See Footnote9.
8. Accrued expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Property, plant and equipment related | $560 | $560 |
| Payroll related | 860 | 1,576 |
| Professional services | 1,068 | 884 |
| Other | 324 | 110 |
| Total accrued expenses | $2,812 | $3,130 |
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9. Leases
As of* March 31, 2025*, the Company maintainedone finance lease for equipment andtwo operating leases for real estate. The operating leases have current terms of 36 and 37 months and includeone or more options to extend the duration of the agreements. These operating leases are included in "Other assets" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets and represent the Company's right to use the underlying assets for the term of the leases. The Company's obligation to make lease payments are included in "Lease liability, current portion" and "Lease liability, non-current portion" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.
On* March 14, 2024,the Company extended its operating lease for its headquarters located at5370* Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease andnot a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.61%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $170,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $166,000.
On* June 9, 2024,the Company extended its operating lease for its Innovation Center located at160* Denmark Dr, McCarran, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease andnot a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.52%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $347,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $324,000.
The Company currently maintainsone finance lease for equipment. On* April 1, 2024the Company entered into a finance lease for laboratory equipment which expires in2029.* In* November 2021,the Company entered into a finance lease for a modular laboratory which expired in October 2024.*
Information related to the Company's right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Cash paid for operating lease liabilities | $73 | $68 |
| Operating lease cost | $72 | $67 |
| Cash paid for finance lease liabilities | $12 | $14 |
| Interest expense | $2 | $1 |
| March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases | 1.9 | 1.4 |
| Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases | 10.50% | 9.18% |
| Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases | 4.0 | 1.6 |
| Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases | 4.85% | 8.17% |
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: | ||
| Operating leases | $— | $170 |
Future maturities of lease liabilities as of* March 31, 2025* are as follows (in thousands):
| Due in 12-month period ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Leases · Finance Leases | ||
| 2025 | $292 | $47 |
| 2026 | 145 | 47 |
| 2027 | 111 | 47 |
| 2028 | — | 48 |
| Less imputed interest | (57) | (16) |
| Total lease liabilities | $491 | $173 |
| Current lease liabilities | $256 | $40 |
| Non-current lease liabilities | 235 | 133 |
| Total lease liabilities | $491 | $173 |
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10. Notes payable
On* February 1, 2023,Aqua Metals Reno, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Loan Agreement with Summit Investment Services, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender provided us with a loan in the amount of $3,000,000. The loan proceeds were used to purchase a building located at2999* Waltham Way McCarran, NV89434 (the “Building”). The loan accrues interest at a fixed annual rate of 9.50%. Interest-only payments are due monthly for thefirst twenty-four months and the principal and all unpaid interest is due on* February1,* 2025. During2025 we extended the existing maturity date to* April27,* 2025 and later on to* July 27, 2025.We have the right to prepay the loan at any time, provided that we must pay guaranteed minimum interest of $213,750 (9-months of interest). The Loan Agreement includes representations, warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants that are customary of institutional loan agreements. As of March 31, 2025*, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants. The loan is collateralized by afirst priority lien on the building and site improvements, and is guaranteed by Aqua Metals, Inc. During* February 2025,*Eric Gangloff, founder and CEO of Summit Investment Services, LLC was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
On* December 18, 2024,the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with eight accredited investors, including executives and related parties of the Company, in connection with a private placement of secured promissory notes (“Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 and common stock purchase warrants (“Warrants") to purchase 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Securities Purchase Agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and covenants by the investors and the Company. Certain officers and directors of the Company purchased Notes in the aggregate amount of $1,250,000, including $400,000 related to a holder who was appointed as a director of the Company in February**2025.* The Notes accrue interest at the rate of 20% per annum, subject to a payment of a minimum of12 months interest in the event of prepayment. The entire principal amount evidenced by the Notes plus all accrued and unpaid interest is due on* December 31, 2025.We have the right to prepay the loan at any time, subject to our payment of12* months interest. Additionally, upon the occurrence of an event of default, the note holders* maydeclare the Notes to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the principal and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, plus all costs of enforcement and collection (including court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees), shall immediately become and be forthwith due and payable. The Company’s obligations under the Notes are secured by afirst* lien on the Company’s strategic metal inventory and asecond lien on all other assets of the Company. Each Note purchaser received a Warrant to purchase share of the Company’s common stock in an amount equal to the principal amount of the investor’s Note divided by two, for a total of 750,000 shares of common stock. The Warrants are exercisable over afive-year period at an exercise price of $1.92 and $1.93 per share and are convertible to shares of common stock of the Company upon a change in control of the Company. The private placement closed on* December 19, 2024for the gross proceeds of $1,500,000. Proceeds from the transaction werefirst* allocated to the warrants and then to the notes on a residual basis resulting in $986,000 allocated to liability-classified warrants and $514,000 to the notes, creating a discount on the notes. Any subsequent changes to the fair value of the Warrant Liability will be recorded in current period earnings. The Company incurred issuance costs of $58,000, which were proportionally allocated between the notes and warrants. Costs related to the warrants were immediately expensed, while costs associated with the notes were included in the note discount and are amortized as interest expense over the loan term. During thefirst quarter of2025, we made a principal payment of $500,000. As of* March 31, 2025* and* December 31, 2024*, the outstanding principal balance on the secured notes was $1,000,000 and $1,500,000, respectively. As of* March 31, 2025*, we accrued interest of $84,000. The notes payable are presented net of discount, and the amortization of the discount is recorded as interest expense in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. On* May 2, 2025,the Company has repaid in full the outstanding balance of $1,000,000, plus12* months interest of $300,000.
Notes payable is comprised of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Notes payable, current portion | ||
| Summit Investment Services, LLC | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Notes related-party | 833 | 856 |
| Notes | 167 | 654 |
| Less issuance costs | (732) | (974) |
| Total notes payable, current portion | $3,268 | $3,536 |
11. Warrant liability
The Company accounted for the warrants to purchase 750,000 shares, issued in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement on Note10, in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC Topic815 “Derivatives and Hedging”. These warrants contain provisions—such as a mandatory conversion feature upon a change in control—that preclude equity classification and were recorded as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classified the warrants as a liability at fair value and adjusts them to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is re-measured at each balance sheet date until the warrants are exercised or expire, and any change in fair value will be recognized in the Company’s statement of operations. The fair value of the warrants was estimated using the Monte-Carlo option pricing model to determine the fair value of its liability-classified warrants. These instruments are classified within Level3 of the fair value hierarchy due to the use of unobservable inputs. Key assumptions used in the valuation as of* March 31, 2025* and* December 31, 2024*, included:
| As of March 31, 2025 | As of December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Expected life of the options to convert | 4.72 | 4.97 |
| Risk-free rate | 3.88% | 4.29% |
| Historical volatility | 93.28% | 96.71% |
| Valuation date stock price | 1.87 | 2.52 |
| Strike price | $1.93/$1.92 | $1.93/$1.92 |
| Probability of completing a change in control | 5% | 20% |
| Volatility if change in control occurs | 100% | 100% |
| Dividend yield | 0% | 0% |
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The following table provides a rollforward of the Level3 warrant liability as of* December 31, 2024* and* March 31, 2025*, (in thousands):
| Warrant liability | |
|---|---|
| Fair value as of December 31, 2024 | $1,493 |
| Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | (491) |
| Fair value as of March 31, 2025 | $1,002 |
12. Stockholders’ equity
Shares issued
During thethree months ended* March 31, 2025*, the Company issued 58,349 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 29,419 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 26,476 shares to satisfy approximately $67,000 of employees’ tax obligations during thethree months ended* March 31, 2025*. We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock.
During thethree months ended* March 31, 2025*, the Company issued 3,353 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.
During thethree months ended* March 31, 2025*, the Company issued 596,487 shares of common stock pursuant to the at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $1,214,000.
During thethree months ended* March 31, 2024,the Company issued 52,804 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 21,428 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 22,832 shares to satisfy approximately $360,000 of employees’ tax obligations during thethree* months ended* March 31, 2024.*We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock.
During thethree months ended* March 31, 2024,*the Company issued 1,988 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.
During thethree months ended* March 31, 2024,*the Company issued 207,781 shares of common stock pursuant to the at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $2,126,000.
Stock-based compensation
The stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Plant operations | $8 | $86 |
| Research and development cost | 38 | 20 |
| General and administrative expense | 655 | 668 |
| Total | $701 | $774 |
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2019 Stock Incentive Plan
In2019, our board of directors adopted the Aqua Metals, Inc.2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the*“2019* Plan”). On* May 23, 2024,475,000 shares of common stock were authorized and added to the plan. As of March 31, 2025,a total of 1,400,000 shares of common stock was authorized for issuance pursuant to the2019* Plan. The2019 Plan provides for the following types of stock-based awards: incentive stock options; non-statutory stock options; restricted stock; restricted stock units, or RSUs; and performance stock units, or PSUs. The2019 Plan, under which options* maybe granted to employees and directors under incentive and non-statutory agreements, requires that the option price maynot* be less than the fair value of the stock at the date the option is granted. Option awards are exercisable until their expiration, which* maynot* exceed 10 years from the grant date.
As of* March 31, 2025*, the Company has granted RSUs and PSUs under the2019 Plan, which upon settlement entitle their holders to receive 1,164,504 shares of common stock, all of which are subject to future vesting conditions, which exceeds the 786,611 shares available for issuance. The Company has established a sequencing policy such that grants with the latest grant date will be reclassified to liabilities first. Considering this policy and the terms of the underlying grants, this Company has reclassified 377,893 of its service-based RSUs to liabilities as of* March 31, 2025*.
| Number of Shares | Number of | Number of | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available for | PSUs | RSUs | |
| Grant | Outstanding | Outstanding | |
| Balances, December 31, 2024 | (232,441) | 180,181 | 874,097 |
| Granted | (148,816) | — | 148,816 |
| Released | — | — | (61,702) |
| Forfeited | 56,297 | — | (56,297) |
| Returned to Plan | 26,476 | — | — |
| Balances, March 31, 2025 | (298,484) | 180,181 | 904,914 |
Restricted stock units
During thefirst quarter of2025, the Company granted 5,347 RSUs to an employee, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $10,000. The shares vest inthree equal installments over athree-year period.
On* October 3, 2024,the Company approved a supplemental retention program designed to retain business-critical resources essential to ongoing operations and strategic initiatives. Participation in the program is contingent upon management achieving specified fundraising targets and subject to the continued service of eligible employees. The program established specific funding tranches tied to cumulative fundraising milestones, which must be achieved on or before March 7, 2025.The grant terms included a fixed dollar, variable share, structure with potential settlement valued from $0 to $925,014 dependent upon satisfaction of performance conditions. Once performance conditions are met, the shares to be granted are fixed and subject to an additionalsix-month service condition. During thefirst* quarter of2025, thefirst funding tranche was achieved, triggering the issuance of 118,469 RSUs to qualified employees in accordance with the program’s terms. These shares have been granted subject to continued service requirements.
During thefirst quarter of2025, the Company granted 25,000 RSUs to an employee, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $49,000. The shares vest over asix-month period.
13. Commitments and contingencies
We* may**,* from time to time, be party to litigation and subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. As we grow, we* maybecome party to an increasing number of litigation matters and claims. The outcome of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, and the resolution of any future matters could materially affect our future financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We arenot* party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
14. Segment reporting
Aqua Metals, Inc. hasone operating segment: sustainable metals recycling. The Company's operations are focused on the development and commercialization of AquaRefining technology for the clean and efficient recovery of valuable metals from lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. The CODM evaluates financial performance at a consolidated, entity-wide level and doesnot assess operating results by individual business unit or product line. Financial results are reviewed in line with the Company’s condensed consolidated financials, and resource allocation decisions are made based on overall Company performance.
The CODM assesses performance for the segment based on net loss, which is reported on the statement of operations as net loss. The measure of segment assets is reported on the balance sheet as total assets. Significant expenses within net loss, include plant operations, research and development cost, impairment expense, loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, and general and administrative expenses, which are each separately presented on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
15. Employee Retention Credit
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided an employee retention tax credit to certain employers that either (1) fully or partially suspend operations because of government orders associated with COVID-19 or (2) experience a substantial decline in income but continue to pay employees their wages. The credit is equal to50% of qualified wages paid in2020, up to a maximum of*$10,000* in qualified wages per employee for the year, and70% of qualified wages paid in2021 (through thethird quarter), up to a maximum of*$10,000* in qualified wages per employee per quarter and can be applied against payroll taxes, with any excess tax credit eligible for a cash refund. The Company’s policy is to recognize these credits based on ASC450-30, Gain Contingencies, when all uncertainties are resolved, and the income is realized. During the quarter ended* March 31, 2025,*the Company recorded government grant income of $223,000, related to the employee retention credit and $34,000 related to interest income, asinterest and other income on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
16. Subsequent events
In* April 2025,the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell a facility located at TRIC that was under construction and intended for our Li AquaRefining recycling campus. See further disclosure within Note6* - Property, plant and equipment, net.
On* May 2, 2025,the Company has repaid in full the outstanding balance of the notes payable witheight* accredited investors, including12 months interest. See notes payable detail within Note10 - Notes payable.
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