FREYR Battery Inc DE
For the period ended Jun 30, 2024. Filed Aug 9, 2024.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Jun 30, 2024 · Filed Aug 9, 2024
Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.
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Item 2. Results of Operations
The following table sets forth information on FREYR’s condensed consolidated results of operations (in thousands except percentages):
| Three months endedJune 30, · 2024 vs 2023 Change · Six months endedJune 30, · 2024 vs 2023 Change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ($) | (%) | 2024 | 2023 | ($) | (%) | |
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| General and administrative | $20,107 | $27,631 | $(7,524) | (27%) | $43,008 | $57,633 | $(14,625) | (25%) |
| Research and development | 10,493 | 6,365 | 4,128 | 65% | 22,238 | 11,209 | 11,029 | 98% |
| Share of net loss of equity method investee | 178 | 30 | 148 | NM | 334 | 55 | 279 | NM |
| Total operating expenses | 30,778 | 34,026 | (3,248) | (10%) | 65,580 | 68,897 | (3,317) | (5%) |
| Loss from operations | (30,778) | (34,026) | 3,248 | (10%) | (65,580) | (68,897) | 3,317 | (5%) |
| Other income | 3,628 | 8,761 | (5,133) | (59%) | 9,740 | 30,932 | (21,192) | (69%) |
| Loss before income taxes | (27,150) | (25,265) | (1,885) | 7% | (55,840) | (37,965) | (17,875) | 47% |
| Income tax expense | (11) | (138) | 127 | (92%) | (11) | (341) | 330 | (97%) |
| Net loss | (27,161) | (25,403) | (1,758) | 7% | (55,851) | (38,306) | (17,545) | 46% |
| Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests | 174 | 121 | 53 | 44% | 321 | 298 | 23 | 8% |
| Net loss attributable to stockholders | $(26,987) | $(25,282) | $(1,705) | 7% | $(55,530) | $(38,008) | $(17,522) | 46% |
NM - Not meaningful
Operating expenses
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses primarily consists of personnel and personnel-related expenses for our marketing and administrative personnel, costs for administrative offices, insurance, and outside professional services including legal, accounting, and other advisory services.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $7.5 million or 27%, to $20.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $27.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. General and administrative expenses decreased by $14.6 million or 25%, to $43.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $57.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. These decreases are primarily due to decreases in personnel costs and legal and professional fees.
In November 2023, FREYR announced the Restructuring, which focused on preserving Company liquidity during scale up of the CQP and development of Giga America, allowing us to rationalize spending while continuing to fund critical initiatives. The Restructuring included spending cuts, changes in reporting lines, and a reduction in force. As a result, we expect general and administrative expenses to be lower in 2024 as compared to the comparative periods in 2023. However, our spending may increase in the future based on the availability of project and other financing. See also “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
Research and development (“R&D”)
R&D expenses consist primarily of personnel and personnel-related expenses for employees engaged in research and development activities, internal and external engineering, depreciation for R&D equipment and facilities, supplies and services, and contributions to research institutions. R&D expenses also include development costs related to our technology license with 24M.
R&D expenses increased by $4.1 million or 65%, to $10.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $6.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. R&D expenses increased by $11.0 million or 98%, to $22.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $11.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. This is primarily due to an increase in personnel costs and spending on R&D operations at the CQP, which started operations late in the second quarter of 2023.
R&D expenses in future periods will be driven by increases in our technology personnel and research and development activities as we invest to improve our production processes, efficiency, and products and as we evaluate additional production and battery technologies in the normal course of business.
Share of net loss of equity method investee
Share of net loss of equity method investee consists of our proportionate share of the net earnings (losses) and other comprehensive income (loss) from Nidec Energy AS. See further discussion in Note 5 - Long-Term Investments to our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense) primarily consists of the fair value adjustments on our warrant liability, convertible note, interest income and expense, net foreign currency transaction gains and losses, and grant income.
Other income decreased by $5.1 million or 59%, to $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $8.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. Other income decreased by $21.2 million or 69%, to $9.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, from $30.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. These decreases are primarily due to a $(0.1) million and $1.4 million net foreign currency transaction (loss) gain for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to a $7.7 million and $23.8 million gain for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2024, we had approximately $221.5 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and current liabilities of approximately $35.4 million. To date, our principal sources of liquidity have been proceeds received from our Business Combination, issuance of equity securities, and amounts received from government grants. Historically, these funds have been used for constructing and equipping our battery manufacturing facilities, including the CQP and Giga Arctic, the purchase of land for Giga America, technology licensing, R&D activities, and general corporate purposes.
Our future liquidity requirements depend on many factors, including the timing and extent of the following: capital expenditures for construction of our battery manufacturing facilities and purchase of related equipment; spending to support technology licensing and R&D efforts; spending on other growth initiatives or expansion into new geographies, including through joint ventures; spending to support our future revenue generating activities, including market acceptance of our products and services; and general economic conditions.
Until we can generate sufficient revenue to adequately support our liquidity requirements, we expect to fund short-term cash needs through our existing cash balances. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to meet our contractual obligations and commitments for at least the 12 months following June 30, 2024.
Our long-term operating needs and planned investments in our business and manufacturing footprint, as currently devised, will require significant financing to complete. Such financing may not be available at terms acceptable to us, or at all. The credit market and financial services industry have in the past, and may in the future, experience periods of uncertainty that could impact the availability and cost of equity and debt financing. If we are unable to raise substantial additional capital, our ability to invest in Giga America, Giga Arctic, and other gigafactories or development projects will be significantly delayed or curtailed which would have a material adverse impact on our business prospects and results of operations. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities would have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock. The terms of debt securities or other borrowings could impose significant restrictions on our operations. If we raise funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to stockholders may result. Any equity securities issued may also provide for rights, preferences, or privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock.
FREYR is currently pursuing two tracks of development for Giga America in alignment with our technology diversification strategy. The financing options for Giga America may include the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program and project-level equity funding. One track would feature a multi-line 24M scaled technology, which is based in part on the timing of delivery of testable batteries to our key stakeholders from the CQP, their acceptance of these batteries and any further product development work. The other track would design production using conventional battery technology, and we are exploring potential conventional partnership opportunities that could accelerate Giga America’s development and start of production. Based on our current preliminary estimates for the 24M track, in light of design changes, inflation, and other factors, initial projected capital costs range from $2 billion to $3 billion. Initial capital costs for track two depend significantly on the partner we choose, plant configuration, and other factors, none of which have been finalized. FREYR expects to make a final investment decision on the Giga America in 2025 which could include one or both tracks.
We have begun the development of Giga America but have not yet begun construction nor committed significant funds for the purchase of materials and equipment. The total cost of Giga America construction will continue to be refined, as decisions concerning technology and product specifications, timing of the start of construction, factory layout, and equipment purchases are finalized.
In August 2022, the Company estimated its Giga Arctic facility to have a total cost of approximately $1.7 billion, using the configuration assumptions determined at that time. In 2023, we substantially completed groundworks and certain foundation structures, erected the initial building and secured and weatherized it, and then suspended work on the planned gigafactory. FREYR has elected to secure the Giga Arctic asset and minimize spending in 2024, instead prioritizing
FREYR’s liquidity and focusing spending on the development of Giga America. Additional spending on Giga Arctic is pending continuing technology development and a competitive Norwegian regulatory response to the IRA. The total cost to complete the construction and buildout of the Giga Arctic facility and the timing of cash requirements will depend on a variety of factors such as the ultimate configuration of the facility, including the number of production lines, the capacity of the facility, technology and product specifications, the form and amount of government grants and assistance, the availability, form, and additional requirements of project and other financing, and general economic conditions.
The estimated costs of constructing the Giga America and Giga Arctic facilities remain subject to technology and product specification decisions, ongoing business, financing, and operational changes, and changes to the overall macroeconomic environment. We will continue to provide updates to reflect material developments, including approvals or commitments for spending that differ materially from our previous estimates.
We are planning a reduction in total cash spending in 2024 as compared to 2023, in order to extend our liquidity runway. We further expect to refrain from making significant capital expenditures during fiscal year 2024 until we have secured additional funding.
Our planned capital expenditures are based on management’s current estimates and may be subject to change. There can be no assurance that we will execute our capital expenditure plans as currently estimated, without addition, reduction, or modification. We may also from time to time reduce or increase planned spending on specific capital projects and/or adjust the timing of planned capital expenditures due to factors both within and outside of our control, including the availability of financing. As a result, actual capital expenditures in future years may differ materially from the amounts discussed above.
Cash Flow Summary
The following table summarizes our cash flows (in thousands):
| Six months endedJune 30, · Change (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · 2023 | |||
| Cash flows from operating activities | $(44,201) | $(34,720) | 27% |
| Cash flows from investing activities | (6,364) | (131,016) | (95%) |
| Cash flows from financing activities | — | — | NM |
NM - Not meaningful
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $44.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $34.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in cash used in operating activities was primarily driven by an increase in cash used for working capital, largely due to the receipt in 2023 of a $20.0 million government grant with no corresponding amount in 2024, partially offset by a decrease in routine working capital needs in the period and a decrease in net loss, adjusted for non-cash items.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $6.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $131.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by a decrease in purchases of property and equipment due to lower construction activity in the current year period, and proceeds from the return of property and equipment deposits of $22.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 with no corresponding amount for the six months ended June 30, 2023.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was zero for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our critical accounting policies and estimates are consistent with those described in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.