Lightbridge Provides Business Update and Announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Conference Call on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 4pm ET
RESTON, Va., May 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and provided an update on the Company's continued progress.
Seth Grae, President & Chief Executive Officer of Lightbridge Corporation, commented, “Our first quarter saw momentum continue to build related to advancing our fuel development activities. We continue to make progress with our work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) from our second voucher from the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program, focused on the manufacturing process for Lightbridge Fuel™. At the same time, we are actively engaging in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), a benefit of our strong working relationship, as well as the private sector, for additional scopes of work that will take Lightbridge Fuel closer to commercialization.”
Financial Highlights
The Company maintained a strong working capital position at March 31, 2022 of approximately $28.2 million and had no debt.
Cash Flows Summary
- Cash and cash equivalents were $28.2 million at March 31, 2022, compared to $24.7 million at December 31, 2021, an increase of $3.5 million in cash and cash equivalents.
- Cash used in operating activities was $1.9 million, a decrease from $6.3 million in 2021. This decrease was due primarily to the dissolution of the Enfission joint venture in the first quarter of 2021 and the payment of approximately $4.2 million to Framatome for outstanding invoices for work performed by Framatome and other expenses incurred by Framatome.
- Cash provided by financing activities increased to $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to nil in the first quarter of 2021. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the net proceeds from the issuance of common stock by our at-the-market (ATM) facility in the first quarter of 2022.
Balance Sheet Summary
- Total assets were $28.9 million and total liabilities were $0.5 million at March 31, 2022. Working capital was $28.3 million at March 31, 2022 versus $24.7 million at December 31, 2021. This was an increase of $3.6 million in working capital for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
- Stockholders’ equity was $28.4 million at March 31, 2022 as compared to $24.8 million at December 31, 2021.
Operations Summary
- Total general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to an increase in employee compensation and employee benefits of approximately $0.1 million, an increase in directors’ fees of approximately $0.1 million due to the addition of new board members, an increase in sponsorship fees and promotion fees of approximately $0.1 million due to increased promotion activities, and an increase in stock-based compensation of approximately $0.2 million due to the issuance of restricted stock awards in 2021. These increases were offset by a decrease in professional fees of approximately $0.4 million relating to fees incurred in connection with the arbitration matter in 2021 that were not repeated during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
- Lightbridge’s total corporate research and development costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022 decreased by approximately $0.1 million, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. There was a decrease in employee compensation and employee benefits of approximately $0.1 million. Lightbridge is working with the U.S. National Laboratories on research and development activities and is negotiating new contracts for additional future scopes of work in 2022.
- Total net other operating income related to contributed services – research and development was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, with a charge to R&D expenses and a corresponding amount recorded to contributed services – research and development.
- Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 was $2.0 million.
FIRST QUARTER 2022 CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST
Lightbridge will host a conference call on Thursday, May 12th at 4:00 pm Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial results and provide an update on its fuel development activities.
Interested parties can access the conference call by calling 833-519-1295 for U.S. callers or 914-800-3866 for international callers. Please reference Conference ID: 2162086.
The call will be available on the Company’s website via webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/5ya6qrtm. The conference call will be led by Seth Grae, President and Chief Executive Officer, with other Lightbridge executives available to answer questions.
The webcast will also be archived on the Company’s website. A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately two hours following the call and can be accessed by dialing 855-859-2056 from the U.S. or 404-537-3406 for international callers. Please reference Conference ID: 2162086.
About Lightbridge Corporation
Lightbridge (NASDAQ: LTBR) is an advanced nuclear fuel technology development company positioned to enable carbon-free energy applications that will be essential in preventing climate change. The Company is developing Lightbridge Fuel™, a proprietary next-generation nuclear fuel technology for Small Modular Reactors, as well as existing light-water reactors, which significantly enhances reactor safety, economics, and fuel proliferation resistance. To date, Lightbridge has been awarded twice by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear program to support development of Lightbridge Fuel™. Lightbridge’s innovative fuel technology is backed by an extensive worldwide patent portfolio. Lightbridge is included in the Russell Microcap® Index. For more information, please visit: www.ltbridge.com.
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Forward Looking Statements
With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the timing and outcome of research and development activities, other steps to commercialize Lightbridge Fuel™ and future governmental support and funding for nuclear energy. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this news release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly from such estimates. The risks include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to commercialize its nuclear fuel technology; the degree of market adoption of the Company's product and service offerings; the Company’s ability to fund general corporate overhead and outside research and development costs; market competition; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; dependence on strategic partners; demand for fuel for nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors; the Company's ability to manage its business effectively in a rapidly evolving market; the availability of nuclear test reactors and the risks associated with unexpected changes in the Company’s fuel development timeline; the increased costs associated with metallization of our nuclear fuel; public perception of nuclear energy generally; changes in the political environment; risks associated with the further spread of COVID-19, including the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on people, economies, and the Company’s ability to access capital markets; changes in the laws, rules and regulations governing the Company’s business; development and utilization of, and challenges to, our intellectual property; risks associated with potential shareholder activism; potential and contingent liabilities; as well as other factors described in Lightbridge's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lightbridge does not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Lightbridge’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements”, all of which are available at http://www.sec.gov/ and www.ltbridge.com.
Investor Relations Contact:
Matthew Abenante, IRC
Director of Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (646) 828-8710
ir@ltbridge.com
*** tables follow ***
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LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||
| Current Assets | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 28,226,863 | $ | 24,747,613 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 558,777 | 113,452 | |||||||
| Total Current Assets | 28,785,640 | 24,861,065 | |||||||
| Other Assets | |||||||||
| Trademarks | 101,583 | 101,583 | |||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 28,887,223 | $ | 24,962,648 | |||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||||
| Current Liabilities | |||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 452,826 | $ | 171,521 | |||||
| Total Current Liabilities | 452,826 | 171,521 | |||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity | |||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 authorized shares | — | — | |||||||
| Common stock, $0.001 par value, 13,500,000 authorized, 10,588,674 shares and 9,759,223 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively |
10,589 | 9,759 | |||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 167,464,610 | 161,772,641 | |||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (139,040,802 | ) | (136,991,273 | ) | |||||
| Total Stockholders' Equity | 28,434,397 | 24,791,127 | |||||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 28,887,223 | $ | 24,962,648 | |||||
|
LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||
| Three Month Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Revenue | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 1,913,564 | 1,782,860 | ||||||
| Research and development | 262,823 | 369,450 | ||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,176,387 | 2,152,310 | ||||||
| Other Operating Income | ||||||||
| Contributed services – research and development | 123,353 | 103,319 | ||||||
| Total Other Operating Income | 123,353 | 103,319 | ||||||
| Total Operating Loss | $ | (2,053,034 | ) | $ | (2,048,991 | ) | ||
| Other Income | ||||||||
| Interest income | 3,505 | 3,309 | ||||||
| Foreign currency transaction gain | — | 33,694 | ||||||
| Total Other Income | 3,505 | 37,003 | ||||||
| Net Loss Before Income Taxes | (2,049,529 | ) | (2,011,988 | ) | ||||
| Income taxes | — | — | ||||||
| Net Loss | $ | (2,049,529 | ) | $ | (2,011,988 | ) | ||
| Accumulated Preferred Stock Dividend | — | (131,434 | ) | |||||
| Additional deemed dividend on preferred stock due to the beneficial conversion feature | — | (57,489 | ) | |||||
| Net Loss Attributable to Common Shareholders | $ | (2,049,529 | ) | $ | (2,200,911 | ) | ||
| Net Loss Per Common Share | ||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | (0.33 | ) | ||
| Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding – Basic and diluted | 10,283,280 | 6,589,392 | ||||||
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LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
| Three Month Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Operating Activities | ||||||||
| Net Loss | $ | (2,049,529 | ) | $ | (2,011,988 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operations to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 264,936 | 60,068 | ||||||
| Changes in operating working capital items: | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (445,325 | ) | (465,191 | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 296,305 | 321,597 | ||||||
| Accrued legal settlement costs | — | (4,200,000 | ) | |||||
| Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | (1,933,613 | ) | (6,295,514 | ) | ||||
| Investing Activities | ||||||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | — | — | ||||||
| Financing Activities | ||||||||
| Net proceeds from the issuances of common stock | 5,412,863 | — | ||||||
| Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities | 5,412,863 | — | ||||||
| Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents | 3,479,250 | (6,295,514 | ) | |||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period | 24,747,613 | 21,531,665 | ||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period | $ | 28,226,863 | $ | 15,236,151 | ||||
| Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information | ||||||||
| Cash paid during the period: | ||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Income taxes paid | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Non-Cash Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Accumulated preferred stock dividend | $ | — | $ | 188,923 | ||||
| Payment of accrued liabilities with common stock | $ | 15,000 | $ | 69,690 | ||||
Released May 11, 2022