Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Abstract  
Commitments And Contingencies

NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Former Executive Officers

 

Mr. Rice’s Transition Arrangement:

 

On January 7, 2021, the Company and Philip Rice, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, entered into a written agreement concerning Rice’s departure from the Company (the “Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Rice resigned from his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective on January 1, 2021, and following a transition period, agreed to resign from all positions as an officer or employee of the Company effective as of January 31, 2021 (the “Separation Date”). The Separation Agreement provides that Mr. Rice will receive certain benefits that he is entitled to receive under his employment agreement dated March 4, 2020. Accordingly, under the Separation Agreement, subject to non-revocation of a general release and waiver of claims in favor of the Company, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Rice his base salary of $280,000 for one year and three weeks, beginning on the Separation Date, and grant him an option to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock. Pursuant to the Rice Agreement and the Separation Agreement, the Company paid to Mr. Rice on June 15, 2021, a $50,000 bonus that was tied to the successful June 2021 Offering. As of June 30, 2022, the Company has satisfied its responsibilities to Mr. Rice under the Transition Agreement.

 

Mr. Dahl’s Termination:

 

Effective January 4, 2022, the Company terminated Andrew Dahl, its President and Chief Executive Officer for cause pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. Pursuant to such terms, the Company does not believe Mr. Dahl is entitled to any severance payments.

Supply Chain Consulting Agreement

 

On February 27, 2019, the Company entered into a Supply Chain Consulting Agreement with a consultant (“Consultant”). In May 2019, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 62,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 for a term of five years to the Consultant. The warrants were valued at $529,023 using the Black Scholes pricing model relying on the following assumptions: volatility 181.49%; annual rate of dividends 0%; discount rate 2.34%. In October 2019, 25,000 of those warrants were returned to the Company resulting in a reduction in the value of $211,609. On September 14, 2019, the parties entered into a First Amendment to the Supply Chain Consulting Agreement (“Supply Consulting Agreement Amendment”). The Supply Consulting Agreement Amendment provides that the Consultant will identify and help negotiate the terms of potential joint ventures involving algae production development projects or related transactions or business combinations (“Development Project”). The Supply Consulting Agreement provides for exclusivity in Southeast Asia; Oceania; Indian subcontinent; and Africa; with regions in the Middle East by mutual agreement. The closing of a Development Project (as acceptable to the Company) is defined as the date that the Company is able, financially and otherwise, to proceed with engineering and construction of algae production facilities, processing or warehousing facilities and supply chain development, or related business combinations rendering an equivalent outcome (in the reasonable determination of the Company), for the production, processing, transport, compliance, marketing and resale of its proprietary algae biomass. Upon the closing of a Development Project, the Company will pay cash fees of $300,000 to Consultant, pay an on-going monthly fee of $50,000 for 24 months and issue to Consultant a cashless warrant with a five-year term to purchase two hundred thirty-seven thousand and five hundred (237,500) shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share. On November 24, 2020, the parties entered into a Second Amendment to the Supply Chain Consulting Agreement whereby the issuance to Consultant a cashless warrant with a five-year term to purchase two hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred (237,500) shares of the Company’s common stock was reduced to one hundred sixty-two thousand five hundred (162,500) shares of the Company’s common stock, and a cashless warrant with a five-year term to purchase thirty-seven thousand five hundred (37,500) shares of the Company’s common stock was issued to a member of the Consultant. The warrants were valued at $386,348 using the Black Scholes pricing model relying on the following assumptions: volatility 148.83%; annual rate of dividends 0%; discount rate 0.39%. As of June 30, 2022, the Development Project has not closed, and the warrants have not yet been issued.

 

The Board of Directors has also authorized the Company to issue to Consultant a cashless warrant with a five-year term to purchase 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share at its discretion. As of June 30, 2022, such warrant has not been issued.

 

On March 1, 2021, the Company and the aforementioned “member of the Consultant” signed an amendment to the original consulting agreement. The member of the Consultant agreed to take on additional responsibilities related to the non-North America expansion of the Company biomass production network. Upon the successful formation, licensing and start of operations, the member of the Consultant will be granted warrants to purchase 40,625 shares of the Company’s common stock at the prevailing market price at that time. In addition, a monthly cash payment of $12,500 is included in the consulting agreement. On November 3, 2021, the Company and the “member of the Consultant” signed a second amendment to the original consulting agreement. The monthly cash payment was raised to $15,000. All other terms of the original agreement as amended remained unchanged.

 

On December 8, 2021, the Company sent a letter to the consultant that terminated the Supply Chain Consulting Agreement effective December 13, 2021.

Legal Contingencies

 

On April 13, 2022, AEGLE Partners, 2 LLC (“AEGLE”) initiated an arbitration in Michigan against the Company with the American Arbitration Association. AEGLE asserted claims related to a certain Supply Chain Consulting Agreement entered into between AEGLE and the Company in 2019 (as amended from time to time, the “Agreement”), and a disagreement between AEGLE and the Company regarding whether AEGLE is entitled to payment of certain fees and warrants pursuant to the Agreement. AEGLE’s complaint seeks, among other things, three times the payment of such alleged fees and warrants and recovery of AEGLE’s costs and expenses. The Company believes that the claims made by AEGLE in its complaint are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against them.

 

The Company may become a party to litigation in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, other than the item above, there are no legal matters involving the Company that would have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operation or cash flows