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EX-32.2 - TARONIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.ex32-2.htm
EX-32.1 - TARONIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.ex32-1.htm
EX-31.2 - TARONIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.ex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - TARONIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.ex31-1.htm
EX-23.1 - TARONIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.ex23-1.htm

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

  [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

 

or

 

  [  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

 

Commission File Number: 001-35586

 

MagneGas Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   26-0250418

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

11885 44th Street North

Clearwater, Florida

  33762
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(727) 934-3448

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:         None

SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:         Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issued, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

 

Yes [  ] No [X]

 

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 [  ]

 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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 files).

 

Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated file, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]   Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [  ]   Smaller reporting company [X]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Emerging growth company [X]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 

Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates ($6,470,040) computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold ($18.48), or the average bid and asked price of such common equity ($18.59), as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2017):

 

Number of the issuer’s common stock outstanding as of April 9, 2018: 11,360,153.

 

 

 

 
 

 

MAGNEGAS CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-K REPORT

December 31, 2017

 

    Page
Part I
     
Item 1. Business. 3
Item 1A. Risk Factors. 8
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments. 19
Item 2. Properties. 19
Item 3. Legal Proceedings. 20
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. 20
     
Part II
   
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. 21
Item 6. Selected Financial Data. 23
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation. 23
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. 27
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 27
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. 28
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures. 28
Item 9B. Other Information. 30
     
Part III
     
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. 30
Item 11. Executive Compensation. 38
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. 40
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. 41
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services. 42
     
Part IV
   
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. 43
     
Signatures 44

 

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PART I

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions that are not statements of historical fact. This document and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. We may, in some cases, use words such as “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potentially,” “will,” “may” or similar words and expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking cautionary statements.

 

The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based on management’s discussion and analysis or plan of operations and elsewhere in this report. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, and are difficult to predict. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed as forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s reasonable view only as of the date of this report.

 

Item 1. Business.

 

Unless otherwise provided in this report, all references in this report to “we,” “us,” “MagneGas,” “our Company,” “our,” or the “Company” refer to MagneGas Corporation and our subsidiaries.

 

Overview

 

MagneGas Corporation is a technology company that utilizes a plasma based system for the gasification and sterilization of liquid waste. A byproduct of our process is a hydrogen-based fuel called “MagneGas2®” that we sell for metal cutting as an alternative to acetylene. We also market, for sale or licensure, our proprietary plasma arc technology for the processing of liquid waste (the “Plasma Arc Flow® System”). We have established a retail and distribution platform to sell our fuel for use in the metalworking industries. We have also developed a global network of brokers to sell our system for processing liquid waste. In addition, we are conducting research and development regarding the use of our fuel for co-combustion with hydrocarbon fuels to reduce emissions. Finally, we have and intend to continue to acquire complementary gas distribution businesses in order to become a larger distributor of MagneGas2®, other industrial gases and related equipment.

 

In October of 2014, we purchased Equipment Sales and Services, Inc. (“ESSI”) for $3 million cash. ESSI is a full line seller of industrial gases and equipment for the welding and metal cutting industries. Since acquiring ESSI, we have opened three additional retail locations and distribute our proprietary MagneGas2® product as well as other gases and welding supplies through ESSI, our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

In 2017, the Company began de-emphasizing its research and development activities so it could focus on increasing sales, growing ESSI and acquiring other new welding supply businesses, primarily in Texas and California.

 

On February 1, 2017, the Company formed two wholly owned subsidiaries in the State of Delaware called MagneGas Energy Solutions, LLC and MagneGas Welding Supply, LLC, respectively. MagneGas Energy Solutions, LLC was formed to acquire another company but the acquisition did not occur, so the Company will be used for future purposes. Magnegas Welding Supply, LLC was formed to be the holding company for all of the Company’s other welding supply companies, ESSI, Complete Welding and Trico.

 

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On March 3, 2017, the Company formed three wholly owned subsidiaries in the State of Delaware called MagneGas Real Estate Holdings, LLC, MagneGas IP, LLC and MagneGas Production, LLC, respectively. Magnegas Real Estate Holdings, LLC was formed to hold all future real estate for risk management purposes. Magnegas IP, LLC was formed to be the company that holds all of the consolidated entity’s intellectual property and Magnegas Production, LLC is the company where the gas is actually produced.

 

On December 13, 2017, the Company formed NG Enterprises Acquisition, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed under the laws of the State of California, for the purpose of acquiring all of the assets of GGNG Enterprises, Inc. The Company completed the acquisition on January 19, 2018, and commenced operations in San Diego, California, doing business under the name “Complete Welding San Diego”.

 

On February 12, 2018, the Company formed MWS Green Arc Acquisition, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed under the laws of the State of Texas for the purpose of acquiring all of the assets of Green Arc Supply, L.L.C. The Company completed the acquisition of the Green Arc Supply, L.L.C. assets on February 16, 2018 and commenced business operations in Texas and Louisiana doing business as “Green Arc Supply”.

 

Products

 

We currently sell two products: (i) our proprietary fuel, MagneGas2®, for use in the metal working industry, (ii) the machines that produce MagneGas2®, known as Plasma Arc Flow® refineries. In addition, the Company sells metal cutting fuels and ancillary products through ESSI, Complete Welding San Diego and Green Arc Supply.

 

Fuel

 

In the United States, we currently produce MagneGas2®, which is comprised primarily of hydrogen. The fuel can be used as an alternative to natural gas for metal cutting and other commercial uses. After production, the fuel is stored in hydrogen cylinders which are then sold to market on a rotating basis. Tests have confirmed that MagneGas2® cuts metal 38% faster than acetylene. The fuel has similar properties as acetylene making it easier for end users to adopt with limited training.

 

Our original fuel for the metal working industry was known as MagneGas®, however, we started selling MagneGas2® in July 2014 and stopped selling MagneGas® in March 2015.

 

Equipment

 

Our Plasma Arc Flow® System can gasify many forms of liquids and liquid waste such as used vegetable oils, ethylene glycol and sewage and sludge. The Plasma Arc Flow® refinery forces a high volume flow of liquid waste through an electric arc between carbon electrodes, which sterilizes the bio-contaminants within the waste without the need to add any chemical disinfecting agents. Another advantage of the Plasma Arc Flow® refinery is that it releases a clean burning fuel while sterilizing the liquid. We have configured our Plasma Arc Flow® refineries in various sizes from 50kw to 500kw for broad applications. Plasma Arc Flow® refineries range in price from $500,000 to $5 million.

 

Strategy

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision–making group in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer. The Company discusses three major marketing initiatives below. Even though we discuss discrete initiatives they are actually three product offerings and in fact the Company operates in one segments.

 

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The Company is pursuing three major market initiatives:

 

  industrial gas sales;
     
  equipment sales for liquid waste processing; and
     
  sales of Plasma Arc Flow® refineries.

 

The Company’s research and development activities focus on the following:

 

 

use of the Plasma Arc Flow® system for the processing of agricultural waste;

     
  increased system efficiency for higher fuel production;
     
  combustion of MagneGas2® with hydrocarbon fuels, such as coal, to reduce emissions; and
     
  third-party verification of fuel and equipment safety and performance results.

 

The Company is aggressively seeking additional gas distribution business acquisitions and has identified several potential targets. The Company has a strategy of selling fuel to major marquee customers in the manufacturing, electric utility and waste to energy industry. The fuel is sourced through ESSI, Green Arc Supply and Complete Welding San Diego or through local distributor relationships in various states. We have several major customers including utility companies, a transportation company, the U.S. government and military, certain other municipal organizations including fire/rescue, law enforcement, transportation and others. The transactions comprising our business relationships generally have relatively long sales cycles once initial orders have been received and filled. The Company is in various stages of the procurement process for additional penetration and recurring orders. The ramp-up period for these customers can range from several weeks to several months. In addition, the Company has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with a Florida company to distribute fuel to the first responder market throughout the Southeastern United States.

 

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 the Company had the following developments:

 

  It became an authorized distributor for Global Calibration Gases, a specialty gas company, located in Florida;
     
  A Fortune 100 auto manufacturing company converted an Indiana factory from acetylene to MagneGas2® for metal cutting;
     
  MagneGas2® was chosen by one of Florida’s largest counties as a fire-rescue metal cutting fuel;
     
  It received a $431,874 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to accelerate the commercialization of MagneGas’ plasma arc Venturi® sterilization system for the treatment of pathogens and nutrients found in animal biosolid wastes; and
     
  It completed the purchase of 2,000 additional gas cylinders to meet increased sales demand.

 

Distribution

 

The MagneGas2® fuel and welding supplies are distributed through ESSI, Green Arc Supply and Complete Welding San Diego and through a network of independent welding supply distributors. MagneGas Equipment is distributed directly through the Company and sold via a network of international brokers.

 

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Sales

 

Industrial Gas Sales

 

The Company’s industrial gas and welding supply subsidiaries are being utilized as a launching platform to accelerate MagneGas2® fuel sales into their respective markets by allowing the Company access to a variety of goods and services for the metal working market and access to acetylene customers for potential conversion into MagneGas2®.

 

The Company, maintains three ESSI locations in Florida, four Green Arc Supply locations in Texas and Louisiana, and one Complete Welding San Diego location in California.

 

Competitive Business Conditions

 

The Company sells MagneGas2® for metal working, along with other industrial gases and welding supplies for this market. The competitive landscape is comprised of three major international conglomerates that compete for this market primarily through price. In addition, there are smaller independent distributors that compete for market share in certain geographical areas through competitive pricing and existing relationships.

 

The Company believes that the superior qualities of MagneGas2® are a market differentiator which will allow market penetration and growth that exceeds industry averages.

 

Patents and Trademarks

 

MagneGas Corporation has patent ownership on the technology in the United States and is exploring filing patents under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in other areas of the world as needed. In addition to the patents list below, the Company has several patents pending. MagneGas Corporation has a 20% ownership interest in MagneGas entities that control the intellectual property in Europe, Africa and China. MagneGas Corporation owns the following U. S. patents:

 

U. S. Patent No. 6,926,872 – issued August 9, 2005, expires June 29, 2018, titled “Apparatus and Method for Producing a Clean Burning Combustible Gas with Long Life Electrodes and Multiple Plasma-Arc-Flows;”

 

U. S. Patent No. 6,972,118 – issued December 6, 2005, expires November 13, 2022, titled “Apparatus and Method for Processing Hydrogen, Oxygen and Other Gases;”

 

U. S. Patent No. 7,780,924 – issued August 24, 2010, expires June 7, 2029, titled “Plasma-arc-flow apparatus for submerged long lasting electric arcs operating under high power, pressure and temperature conditions to produce a combustible gas;”

 

U. S. Patent No. 8,236,150 – issued August 7, 2012, expires September 17, 2030, titled, “Plasma-Arc-Through Apparatus and Process for Submerged Electric Arcs;”

 

U.S. Patent No. 6,183,604 – issued February 6, 2001, expires August 11, 2019, titled “Durable and efficient equipment for the production of a combustible and non-pollutant gas from underwater arcs and method therefor;”

 

U.S. Patent No. 6,540,966 – issued April 1, 2003, expires June 29, 2018, titled “Apparatus and Method for Recycling Contaminated Liquids;”

 

U.S. Patent No. 6,673,322 – issued January 6, 2004, expires June 29, 2018, titled “Apparatus for Making a Highly Efficient, Oxygen Rich Fuels;” and

 

U.S. Patent No. 6,663,752 – issued December 16, 2003, expires July 9, 2022, titled “Clean Burning Liquid Fuel Produced via a Self -Sustaining Processing of Liquid Feedstock.”

 

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In addition to the above-listed utility patents, MagneGas Corporation is the assignee of multiple pending provisional applications and non-provisional utility patent applications. Furthermore, MagneGas Corporation is the owner of record for the registered trademark MAGNEGAS in both the United States and Mexico.

 

Governmental Approval

 

The Company continues to seek government approval from the United Stated Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) for the use of its Venturi® system to treat manures. The Company has received a grant to conduct third party testing of the process through the USDA by placing the system at a Florida hog farm. The Company must meet guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency for the release of treated manures.

 

Governmental Regulations

 

The Company is regulated by the Department of Transportation (Federal and State) in the method of storage and transportation of its fuels and by the Environmental Protection Agency (Federal and State) with regards to the processing of waste. The Company believes that its current operations are fully compliant with all local, state and federal regulations.

 

Research and Development

 

Sterilization System for Agricultural Use

 

In early 2015, the Company completed a new generation of mobile systems for use with the sterilization of manures and sewage waste. It has developed a new 50kw Venturi® System which was tested at a major hog farm in Indiana. The Company conducted multiple successful tests at the farm with increasing flow and efficiency rates. The pilot plant achieved what was expected, namely, full sterilization of manures processed through the 50kw pilot system. The Company made a presentation regarding this new sterilization system to officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) in early 2016. The officials indicated that there are grant programs available for these types of projects and the Company retained a consultant to assist it in the grant application process. The Company submitted an initial grant application on May 10, 2016. On June 13, 2017, the Company was awarded a $431,874 grant from the USDA. The grant will be used to accelerate the commercialization of MagneGas’ plasma arc Venturi® sterilization system for the treatment of pathogens and nutrients found in animal biosolid wastes.

 

Increased System Efficiency for Greater Fuel Output

 

The Company continues to explore methods to increase efficiency and reduce the cost of the production of its fuels. This effort is ongoing and includes exploring various power systems, filtration systems and conversion of certain byproducts into electricity for reduced operational cost.

 

MagneGas2 ® for the Co-Combustion of Hydro-Carbon Fuels to Reduce Emissions

 

The Company has completed internal testing both in the United States and Australia on the effect of combusting MagneGas2® with hydrocarbon fuel exhaust and has demonstrated reduced hydrocarbon emissions and increased heat with the co-combustion of coal and other hydrocarbon fuels and MagneGas2®.

 

On September 13, 2014 the Company and FuturEnergy PTY, LTD of Australia signed a term sheet to form a Joint Venture (“JV LLC Australia”) for the purposes of pursuing the co-combustion of MagneGas2® fuel with hydrocarbon fuels to reduce emissions through co-combustion of MagneGas2® fuel including diesel, gasoline and coal. On March 20, 2015, the Company and FuturEnergy PTY, LTD finalized a term sheet (the “March 2015 Term Sheet”) with a confidential party from Michigan for a tri-party joint venture implemented through a Delaware limited liability company (the “JV LLC”). Each party owns one-third of the JV LLC which is engaged in the worldwide testing, development, and pursuit of the co-combustion of MagneGas2® with coal and coal by-products in the electric power plant industry. The March 2015 Term Sheet was due to expire on December 31, 2015 unless the three parties agreed to extend the term. On December 26, 2015, the parties agreed to extend the March 2015 Term Sheet until December 31, 2016. The extension allows the parties to attain verification by an independent agency of the co-combustion technology by December 31, 2016.

 

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On October 23, 2016, a partner from the JV LLC died unexpectedly from a sudden medical condition. As a result, the verification of the co-combustion has been delayed. The testing for co-combustion was occurring in Michigan under operational leadership from this partner. The Company has since moved the process to Florida and resumed testing. As a result, the date of the verification is unknown at this time.

 

For the last two fiscal years, the Company typically had 3 to 6 employees working 40 hours per week on research and development projects.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2017, we employed 36 full-time employees. We occasionally have leased employees and independent technicians perform production and other duties, as required. We consider our relationship with our employees to be excellent.

 

Properties

 

In March of 2016, the Company moved into its corporate headquarters located at 18855 44th Street North, Clearwater, Florida. This facility is 18,000 square feet and has the capacity for three MagneGas systems to run simultaneously for multiple shifts.

 

Corporate Information

 

MagneGas Corporation was organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on December 9, 2005. The Company’s corporate headquarters is located at 11885 44th Street North, Clearwater, Florida 33762 and its telephone number is (727) 934-3448.

 

Reports to Security Holders

 

The Company files Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, registration statements and other items with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). MagneGas provides access free of charge to all of these SEC filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing, on its internet site located at www.magnegas.com.

 

In addition, the public may read and copy any materials MagneGas files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements regarding issuers, like MagneGas, that file electronically with the SEC.

 

The website addresses above are not intended to function as hyperlinks, and the information contained in our website and in the SEC’s website is not intended to be a part of this filing.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There can be no assurance that we can achieve or maintain profitability.

 

The likelihood of our success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays that we may encounter because we are a small business. As a result, we may not be profitable and we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to develop as we have planned.

 

Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow will be dependent upon:

 

management’s ability to maintain the technology and skills necessary for our fuel conversion services;
   
our ability to keep abreast of changes by government agencies and in the law, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and environmental regulation;

 

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our ability to attract customers who require the products and services we offer;
   
our ability to generate revenues through the sale of our products and services to potential clients; and
   
our ability to manage the logistics and operations of our company and the distribution of our products and services.

 

We have had operating losses since formation and expect to incur net losses for the near term.

 

We reported a net loss of $11,024,388 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to a net loss of $17,469,928 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. We currently use approximately $400,000 per month to fund operations. We anticipate that we will lose money in the near term and we may not be able to achieve profitable operations. In order to achieve profitable operations, we need to secure sales of fuel and Plasma Arc Flow® System. We anticipate the need to raise additional capital in the near term to satisfy our plan of operations.

 

Our financial statements for December 31, 2017 include disclosure regarding there being substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We have a history of losses since inception. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we incurred a net loss of $11,024,388, and had an accumulated deficit of $64,582,868. We expect to continue to incur operating and net losses for the foreseeable future as we expand our sales and marketing effort; invest in product development and establish the necessary administrative functions to support our growing operations and being a public company. Our losses in future periods maybe greater than the losses we would incur if we developed the business more slowly. In addition, we may find that these efforts are more expensive than we currently anticipate or that these efforts may not result in increases in our revenues, which would further increase our losses. Therefore, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue operations in the future as a going concern, as disclosed in the notes to the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. Although our financial statements raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, they do not reflect any adjustments that might result if we are unable to continue our business. If we cannot continue as a viable entity, our stockholders may lose some or all of their investment in our company.

 

We will need additional funding to continue operations in order to continue as a going concern, which may not be available to us on favorable terms or at all.

 

To date, we have generated only limited revenue from our product sales and have not achieved positive cash flows or profitability and therefore, we must raise additional capital to fund our operations in order to continue as a going concern. We expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future as we incur costs associated with the pursuit of potential acquisitions, continuation of our research and development programs, expand our sales and marketing capabilities, increase manufacturing of our products, and comply with the requirements related to being a U.S. public company listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. As a result, additional funding will be needed and it may not be available on terms favorable to us, or at all. However, if we are unable to improve our liquidity position we may not be able to continue as a going concern. If we raise additional funding through the issuance of equity securities, our stockholders may suffer dilution and our ability to use our net operating losses to offset future income may be limited. If we raise additional funding through debt financing, we may be required to accept terms that restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, require us to use our cash to make payments under such indebtedness, force us to maintain specified liquidity or other ratios or restrict our ability to pay dividends or make acquisitions. If we are unable to secure additional funding, our development programs and our commercialization efforts would be delayed, reduced or eliminated, our relationships with our suppliers and customers may be harmed, and we may not be able to continue our operations. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result if we are unable to continue as a going concern and, therefore, be required to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities other than in the normal course of business which could cause investors to suffer the loss of all or a substantial portion of their investment.

 

The growth of our business depends upon the development and successful commercial acceptance of our products.

 

We depend upon a variety of factors to ensure that MagneGas2® and our Plasma Arc Flow® System are successfully commercialized, including timely and efficient completion of design and development, implementation of manufacturing processes, and effective sales, marketing, and customer service. Because of the complexity of our products, significant delays may occur between development, introduction to the market and volume production phases.

 

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The development and commercialization of MagneGas2® and our Plasma Arc Flow® System involves many difficulties, including:

 

retention and hiring of appropriate operational, research and development personnel;
   
determination of the products’ technical specifications;
   
successful completion of the development process;
   
successful marketing of MagneGas2® and our Plasma Arc Flow® System and achieving customer acceptance;
   
managing inventory levels, logistics and operations; and
   
additional customer service and warranty costs associated with supporting product modifications and/or subsequent potential field upgrades.

 

We must expend significant financial and management resources to develop and market MagneGas2® and our Plasma Arc Flow® System. We cannot assure that we will receive meaningful revenue from these investments. If we are unable to continue to successfully develop or modify our products in response to customer requirements or technological changes, or our products are not commercially successful, our business may be harmed.

 

Acquisitions constitute a key aspect of our growth strategy, and our potential inability to successfully integrate newly acquired companies or businesses could adversely affect our financial results.

 

We may pursue acquisitions of other companies or their business assets in the future. Acquisitions are a key aspect of our growth strategy and, as a result, there can be no assurance that these transactions will be successful from an integration or financial perspective. If we complete acquisitions, we face many risks commonly encountered with growth through these transactions. These risks include:

 

incurring significantly higher than anticipated capital expenditures and operating expenses;
   
failing to assimilate the operations, customers, and personnel of the acquired company or business;
   
disrupting our ongoing business;
   
dissipating our management resources;
   
dilution to existing stockholders from the issuance of equity securities;
   
liabilities or other problems associated with the acquired business;
   
incurring debt on terms unfavorable to us or that we are unable to repay;
   
becoming subject to adverse tax consequences, substantial depreciation or deferred compensation charges;
   
improper compliance with laws of foreign jurisdictions;
   
failing to maintain uniform standards, controls and policies; and
   
impairing relationships with employees and customers as a result of changes in management.

 

Fully integrating an acquired company or business assets into our operations may take a significant amount of time. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered with acquisitions. To the extent we do not successfully avoid or overcome the risks or problems related to any acquisition, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. Future acquisitions also could impact our financial position and capital needs and could cause substantial fluctuations in our quarterly and yearly results of operations. Acquisitions could include significant goodwill and intangible assets, which may result in future impairment charges that would reduce our stated earnings.

 

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Management has identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting and as a result we may not prevent or detect misstatements in our financial reporting.

 

As a result of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, the Company’s management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Management has not maintained adequate segregation of duties within the Company due to its reliance on a few individuals to fill multiple roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, the Company has limited accounting personnel to prepare its financial statements and handle complex accounting transactions. Our failure to segregate duties and the insufficiency of our accounting resources has been a material weakness for the period covering this report.

 

Failure to comply with government regulations will severely limit our sales opportunities and future revenue.

 

Failure to obtain operating permits, or otherwise to comply with federal and state regulatory and environmental requirements, could affect our abilities to market and sell MagneGas2® and Plasma Arc Flow® Systems and could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations. We and our customers may be required to comply with a number of federal, state and local laws and regulations in the areas of safety, health and environmental controls. To the extent we intend to market the Plasma Arc Flow® System internationally, we will be required to comply with laws and regulations and, when applicable, obtain permits in those other countries. We cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain or maintain, required permits and approvals, that new or more stringent environmental regulations will not be enacted or that if they are, that we will be able to meet the stricter standards.

 

The preparation of our financial statements involves use of estimates, judgments and assumptions, and our financial statements may be materially affected if our estimates prove to be inaccurate.

 

Financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) require the use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts. Different estimates, judgments, and assumptions reasonably could be used that would have a material effect on the financial statements, and changes in these estimates, judgments, and assumptions are likely to occur from period to period in the future. These estimates, judgments, and assumptions are inherently uncertain, and, if they prove to be wrong, then we face the risk that charges to income will be required.

 

Our technology is unproven on a large-scale industrial basis and could fail to perform in an industrial production environment.

 

The Plasma Arc Flow® System has never been utilized on a large-scale industrial basis. All of the tests that we have conducted to date with respect to our technology have been performed on limited quantities of liquid waste, and we cannot assure you that the same or similar results could be obtained on a large-scale industrial basis. We cannot predict all of the difficulties that may arise when the technology is utilized on a large-scale industrial basis. In addition, our technology has never operated at a volume level required to be profitable. As our product is an alternative to acetylene, the unstable price of acetylene will impact our ability to become profitable and to sell cost competitive fuel. It is possible that the technology may require further research, development, design and testing prior to implementation of a larger-scale commercial application. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that this technology will perform successfully on a large-scale commercial basis, that it will be profitable to us or that MagneGas2® will be cost competitive in the market.

 

Our future success is dependent, in part, on the performance and continued service of Ermanno Santilli, Scott Mahoney and other key personnel. Without their continued service, we may be forced to interrupt our operations.

 

We are presently dependent to a great extent upon the experience, abilities and continued services of Ermanno Santilli, our President and CEO and Scott Mahoney, our Chief Financial Officer and corporate Secretary. Ermanno has several years of experience regarding the technical operation and deployment of our refineries and has built deep relationships with our partners. Scott’s finance and executive management experience is pivotal to our business operations and access to capital. The loss of Ermanno or Scott’s services would delay our business operations substantially.

 

Our related party transactions may cause conflicts of interests that may adversely affect our business.

 

Our intellectual property was purchased through a related party transaction with Hyfuels, Inc., a company which our former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairman of our Board of Directors, Dr. Ruggero Santilli, serves as the President and CEO, who through the transaction became a stockholder of our company. In addition, Dr. Santilli has personally contributed a small refinery for our use. We have received various small notes and loans from related parties. In addition, we own a 20% interest in MagneGas Europe, a company whose major stockholder is Ermanno Santilli, our CEO. See “Transactions with Related Persons”.

 

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We believe that these transactions and agreements that we have entered into with these affiliates are on terms that are at least as favorable as could reasonably have been obtained at such time from third parties. However, these relationships could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when our Board is faced with decisions that could have different implications for us and these affiliates. The appearance of conflicts, even if such conflicts do not materialize, might adversely affect the public’s perception of us, as well as our relationship with other companies and our ability to enter into new relationships in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise capital or to do business.

 

We have the potential risk of product liability, which may subject us to litigation and related costs.

 

Our Plasma Arc Flow® System may be utilized in a variety of industrial and other settings, and may be used to handle materials resulting from the user’s generation of liquid waste and the creation of a compressed hydrogen based fuel for distribution to end customers. The equipment, cylinders and gas will therefore be subject to risks of breakdowns and malfunctions. There is also inherent risk in the compression, transportation and use of MagneGas2® fuel. It is possible that claims for personal injury and business losses arising out of these risks, breakdowns and malfunctions will occur. Our insurance may be insufficient to provide coverage against all claims, and claims may be made against us even if covered by our insurance policy for amounts substantially in excess of applicable policy limits. Such an event could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Because we are smaller and have fewer financial and other resources than many alternative fuel companies, we may not be able to successfully compete in the very competitive alternative fuel industry.

 

Fuel is a commodity. There is significant competition among existing alternative fuel producers. Our business faces competition from a number of producers that can produce significantly greater volumes of fuel than we can or expect to produce, producers that can produce a wider range of fuel products than we can, and producers that have the financial and other resources that would enable them to expand their production rapidly if they chose to. These producers may be able to achieve substantial economies of scale and scope, thereby substantially reducing their fixed production costs and their marginal productions costs. If these producers are able to substantially reduce their marginal production costs, the market price of fuel may decline and we may be not be able to produce biogas at a cost that allows us to compete economically. Even if we are able to operate profitably, these other producers may be substantially more profitable than us, which may make it more difficult for us to raise any financing necessary for us to achieve our business plan and may have a materially adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

Costs of compliance with burdensome or changing environmental and operational safety regulations could cause our focus to be diverted away from our business and our results of operations may suffer.

 

Liquid waste disposal and fuel production involves the discharge of potential contaminants into the water and air and is subject to various regulatory and safety requirements. As a result, we are subject to complicated environmental regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and regulations and permitting requirements of the various states. These regulations are subject to change and such changes may require additional capital expenditures or increased operating costs. Consequently, considerable resources may be required to comply with future environmental regulations. In addition, our production plants could be subject to environmental nuisance or related claims by employees, property owners or residents near the plants arising from air or water discharges. Environmental and public nuisance claims, or tort claims based on emissions, or increased environmental compliance costs resulting therefrom could significantly increase our operating costs.

 

Because MagneGas2® is relatively new to the metalworking market, it may take time for the industry to adapt to it. In addition, the economy may adversely impact consumption of fuel in the metalworking market making it more difficult for us to sell our product.

 

MagneGas2® is a replacement for acetylene for the metalworking market. Because MagneGas2® is a new product in the industry, it may take time for end users to consider changing from acetylene to MagneGas2® and as such this may adversely impact our sales. In addition, consumption for fuel in the metalworking market is highly dependent on the economic conditions of the manufacturing industry and as such adverse conditions in the economy may also negatively impact our ability to sell our fuel to market.

 

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The possibility of a global financial crisis may significantly impact our business and financial condition and our ability to attract customers to our relatively new technology for the foreseeable future.

 

Turmoil in the global financial system may adversely impact our ability to raise capital, invest in the development and refinement of our technology and to successfully market it to new customers. We may face increasing challenges if conditions in the financial markets do not improve over time. Our ability to access the capital markets may be restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to raise financing, which could have a material negative impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. Economic situations could have a material negative impact on our ability to attract new customers willing to try our alternative fuel products or purchase our technology.

 

Mergers or other strategic transactions involving our competitors could weaken our competitive position, which could harm our operating results.

 

There is significant competition among existing alternative fuel producers. Some of our competitors may enter into new alliances with each other or may establish or strengthen cooperative relationships with systems integrators, third-party consulting firms or other parties. Any such consolidation, acquisition, alliance or cooperative relationship could lead to pricing pressure and our loss of market share and could result in a competitor with greater financial, technical, marketing, service and other resources, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

 

Our failure to respond to rapid change in the market for alternative fuel products could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Our future success will depend significantly on our ability to keep pace with technological developments and evolving industry standards. Our delay or failure to develop or acquire technological improvements, adapt the products we develop to technological changes or provide technology that appeals to our customers may result in us not being able to successfully compete in the marketplace or the loss of customers which could ultimately cause us to cease operations.

 

Because our long-term plan depends, in part, on our ability to expand the sales of our solutions to customers located outside of the United States, our business will be susceptible to risks associated with international operations.

 

We have limited experience operating in foreign jurisdictions. We continue to explore opportunities for joint ventures internationally. Our inexperience in operating our business outside of North America increases the risk that our current and any future international expansion efforts will not be successful. Conducting international operations subjects us to new risks that, generally, we have not faced in the United States, including:

 

fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
   
unexpected changes in foreign regulatory requirements;
   
longer accounts receivable payment cycles and difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;
   
difficulties in managing and staffing international operations;
   
potentially adverse tax consequences, including the complexities of foreign value added tax systems and restrictions on the repatriation of earnings;
   
localization of our solutions, including translation into foreign languages and associated expenses;
   
the burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and different legal standards, including laws and regulations related to privacy;
   
increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities;
   
political, social and economic instability abroad, terrorist attacks and security concerns in general; and
   
reduced or varied protection for intellectual property rights in some countries.

 

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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

 

The success of our business depends, in part, upon proprietary technologies and information that may be difficult to protect and may be perceived to infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties.

 

We believe that the identification, acquisition and development of proprietary technologies are key drivers of our business. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to obtain patents, maintain the secrecy of our proprietary technology and information, and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties. We cannot assure you that the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business, that the patents that provide us with competitive advantages will not be challenged by third parties, that we will develop additional proprietary technology that is patentable or that any patents issued to us will provide us with competitive advantages. Further, we cannot assure you that others will not independently develop similar or superior technologies, duplicate elements of our biomass technology or design around it.

 

To successfully commercialize our proprietary technologies, we may need to acquire licenses to use, or to contest the validity of, issued or pending patents. We cannot assure you that any license acquired under such patents would be made available to us on acceptable terms, if at all, or that we would prevail in any such contest. In addition, we could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves in suits brought against us for alleged infringement of another party’s patents or in defending the validity or enforceability of our patents, or in bringing patent infringement suits against other parties based on our patents.

 

In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we also rely on trade secrets, proprietary know-how and technology that we seek to protect, in part, by confidentiality agreements with our prospective joint venture partners, employees and consultants. We cannot assure you that these agreements will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any such breach, or that our trade secrets and proprietary know-how will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by others.

 

We cannot assure you that we will obtain any patent protection that we seek, that any protection we do obtain will be found valid and enforceable if challenged or that it will confer any significant commercial advantage. U.S. patents and patent applications may be subject to interference proceedings, U.S. patents may be subject to re-examination proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patents may be subject to opposition or comparable proceedings in the corresponding foreign patent offices, which proceedings could result in either loss of the patent or denial of the patent application, or loss or reduction in the scope of one or more of the claims of, the patent or patent application. In addition, such interference, re-examination and opposition proceedings may be costly. Moreover, the U.S. patent laws may change, possibly making it easier to challenge patents. Some of our technology was, and continues to be, developed in conjunction with third parties, and thus there is a risk that such third parties may claim rights in our intellectual property. Thus, any patents that we own or license from others may provide limited or no protection against competitors. Our pending patent applications, those we may file in the future, or those we may license from third parties, may not result in patents being issued. If issued, they may not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar technology.

 

Many of our competitors have significant resources and incentives to apply for and obtain intellectual property rights that could limit or prevent our ability to commercialize our current or future products in the United States or abroad.

 

Many of our potential competitors who have significant resources and have made substantial investments in competing technologies may seek to apply for and obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products either in the United States or in international markets. Our current or future U.S. or foreign patents may be challenged, circumvented by competitors or others or may be found to be invalid, unenforceable or insufficient. Since patent applications are confidential until patents are issued in the United States, or in most cases, until after 18 months from filing of the application, or corresponding applications are published in other countries, and since publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we were the first to make the inventions covered by each of our pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file patent applications for such inventions.

 

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If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our proprietary information and know-how, the value of our technology and products could be adversely affected.

 

In addition to patented technology, we rely on our unpatented proprietary technology, trade secrets, processes and know-how. We generally seek to protect this information by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and third parties. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors. To the extent that our employees, consultants or contractors use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.

 

Risks Related to Our Securities

 

The market price for our common stock is particularly volatile given our status as a relatively unknown company with a small and thinly traded public float and lack of profits, which could lead to wide fluctuations in our share price. You may be unable to sell your common stock at or above your purchase price, which may result in substantial losses to you.

 

The market for our common stock is characterized by significant price volatility when compared to the shares of larger, more established companies that trade on a national securities exchange and have large public floats, and we expect that our share price will continue to be more volatile than the shares of such larger, more established companies for the indefinite future. The volatility in our share price is attributable to a number of factors. First, as noted above, shares of our common stock are, compared to the shares of such larger, more established companies, sporadically and thinly traded. The price for our shares could, for example, decline precipitously in the event that a large number of our shares of common stock are sold on the market without commensurate demand. Secondly, we are a speculative or “risky” investment due lack of profits to date and uncertainty of future market acceptance for our potential products. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more risk-adverse investors may, under the fear of losing all or most of their investment in the event of negative news or lack of progress, be more inclined to sell their shares on the market more quickly and at greater discounts than would be the case with the stock of a larger, more established company that trades on a national securities exchange and has a large public float. Stock markets in general have experienced extreme volatility recently that has at times been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. Many of these factors are beyond our control and may decrease the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.

 

Future sales of our common stocks in the public market by management or our large stockholders could lower our stock price.

 

As of April 2, 2018, the members of our Board, our executive officers, and Dr. Santilli collectively beneficially own approximately 4.8% of our outstanding common stock (without the inclusion of outstanding options). If the members of our Board and officers sell, or indicate intent to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the trading price of our common stock may decline significantly.

 

Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, and these fluctuations may cause the price of our securities to fall.

 

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future due to a variety of factors that could affect our revenues or our expenses in any particular quarter. You should not rely on quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our results of operations as an indication of future performance. Factors that may affect our quarterly results include:

 

  market acceptance of our products and those of our competitors;
     
  the sales and fulfillment cycle associated with our products, which is typically lengthy and subject to a number of significant risks over which we have little or no control, and the corresponding delay in our receipt of the associated revenue;
     
  our ability to complete the technical milestone tests associated with our commercial agreements;
     
  our ability to attract and retain key personnel;
     
  development of new designs and technologies; and
     
  our ability to manage our anticipated growth and expansion.

 

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We have a significant number of options and warrants outstanding, and while these options and warrants are outstanding, it may be more difficult to raise additional equity capital. Additionally, certain of these warrants contain price-protection provisions that may result in the reduction of their exercise prices if certain transactions occur in the future.

 

As of April 12, 2018, we had outstanding options and warrants to purchase 215,342 and 43,619 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment, respectively. The holders of these options and warrants are given the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of our common stock. We may find it more difficult to raise additional equity capital while these options and warrants are outstanding. At any time during which these warrants are likely to be exercised, we may be unable to obtain additional equity capital on more favorable terms from other sources. Furthermore, the majority of these options and warrants contain price-protection provisions under which, if we were to issue securities in conjunction with a merger, tender offer, sale of assets or reclassification of our common stock at a price lower than the exercise price of such warrants, the exercise price of the warrants would be reduced, with certain exceptions, to the lower price. Additionally, the exercise of these options and warrants will cause the increase of our outstanding shares of our common stock, which could have the effect of substantially diluting the interests of our current stockholders.

 

We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and if we decide to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our common stock could be less attractive to investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an emerging growth company through December 31, 2018, although we could lose that status sooner if our revenues exceed $1 billion, if we issue more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three year period, or if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

 

Under the JOBS Act, “emerging growth companies” may also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

 

The price of shares of our common stock may not reflect our value and there can be no assurance that there will be an active market for our shares of common stock now or in the future.

 

The price of our common stock, when traded, may not reflect our value. There can be no assurance that there will be an active market for our shares of common stock either now or in the future. Market liquidity will depend on the perception of our operating business and any steps that our management might take to bring us to the awareness of investors. There can be no assurance given that there will be any awareness generated. Consequently, investors may not be able to liquidate their investment or liquidate it at a price that reflects the value of the business. As a result, holders of our securities may have difficulty finding purchasers for our shares should they attempt to sell shares held by them. Even if a more active market should develop, the price of our shares of common stock may be highly volatile. Our shares should be purchased only by investors having no need for liquidity in their investment and who can hold our shares for an indefinite period of time.

 

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No assurances can be made that our common stock will remain listed on Nasdaq Capital Market. If we are not able to comply with the Nasdaq’s listing requirements, our common stock will be delisted from Nasdaq and our common stock would likely be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or on the OTC Pink Sheets. As a consequence of any such delisting, a stockholder would likely find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the prices of our common stock. Also, a delisting of our common stock would adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations and harm our business.

 

If and when a larger trading market for our common stock develops, the market price of our common stock is still likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations, and you may be unable to resell your shares at or above the price at which you acquired them.

 

The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors that are beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

 

  Variations in our revenues and operating expenses;
     
  Actual or anticipated changes in the estimates of our operating results or changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding our common stock, other comparable companies or our industry generally;
     
  Market conditions in our industry, the industries of our customers and the economy as a whole;
     
  Actual or expected changes in our growth rates or our competitors’ growth rates;
     
  Developments in the financial markets and worldwide or regional economies;
     
  Announcements of innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;
     
  Announcements by the government relating to regulations that govern our industry;
     
  Sales of our common stock or other securities by us or in the open market; and
     
  Changes in the market valuations of other comparable companies.

 

We currently have shares of preferred stock outstanding that limit the rights of holders of our common stock.

 

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with designations, rights, and preferences determined from time to time by our board of directors. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights superior to those of holders of our common stock. For example, an issuance of shares of preferred stock could:

 

  adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common stock;
     
  make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of us;
     
  discourage bids for our common stock at a premium; and
     
  limit or eliminate any payments that the holders of our common stock could expect to receive upon our liquidation; or otherwise adversely affect the market price or our common stock.

 

As of December 31, 2017, we had 1,402,579 shares of preferred stock outstanding. Such preferred stock has liquidation and dividend rights over common stock, which is not in excess of its par value. Further, the preferred stock does not have any conversion rights or mandatory redemption features.

 

Certain members of our Board, their affiliates and our executive officers, as stockholders, control our company.

 

The members of our Board, our executive officers, and Dr. Santilli collectively beneficially own approximately 1.82% of our outstanding common stock (with the inclusion of outstanding options). As a result of this ownership, they have the ability to significantly influence all matters requiring approval by stockholders of our company, including the election of directors. Dr. Santilli and his spouse Carla Santilli, together with their children, Ermanno Santilli, our Chief Executive Officer, and Luisa Ingargiola, a Director (the “Santilli Family”), beneficially maintain voting control over 100% of our outstanding 1,000,000 shares of Series A preferred stock, which entitles the Santilli Family to voting rights in the aggregate of 100,000,000,000 votes. As a result, the Santilli Family has the ability to significantly influence all matters requiring approval by stockholders of our company. This concentration of ownership also may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that may be favored by other stockholders. This could prevent transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over current market prices.

 

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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about us, or publish negative reports about our business, our share price could decline.

 

Securities analysts from H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, currently cover our common stock but may not do so in the future. Our lack of analyst coverage might depress the price of our common stock and result in limited trading volume. If we do receive analyst coverage in the future, any negative reports published by such analysts could have similar effects.

 

Future issuance of our common stock could dilute the interests of existing stockholders.

 

We may issue additional shares of our common stock in the future. The issuance of a substantial amount of common stock could have the effect of substantially diluting the interests of our current stockholders. In addition, the sale of a substantial amount of common stock in the public market, either in the initial issuance or in a subsequent resale by the target company in an acquisition which received such common stock as consideration or by investors who acquired such common stock in a private placement could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

The application of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “penny stock” rules to our common stock could limit trading activity in the market, and our stockholders may find it more difficult to sell their stock.

 

Our common stock trades at less than $5.00 per share and is therefore subject to the SEC’s penny stock rules. Penny stocks generally are equity securities with a price of less than $5.00. Penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The broker-dealer must also make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity, if any, in the secondary market for a security that becomes subject to the penny stock rules. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our securities, which could severely limit their market price and liquidity. These requirements may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock and may affect your ability to resell our common stock.

 

FINRA sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our securities.

 

In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our securities, which may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our securities and have an adverse effect on the market for our securities.

 

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, and you must rely on increases in the market price of our common stock for returns on equity investment.

 

For the foreseeable future, we intend to retain any earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock. Accordingly, investors must be prepared to rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation to earn an investment return, which may never occur. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our Board and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board deems relevant.

 

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Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) may delay or deter a change of control transaction.

 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of deterring takeovers, such as those provisions authorizing our Board to issue, from time to time, any series of preferred stock and fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such series of preferred stock; prohibiting stockholders from acting by written consent in lieu of a meeting; requiring advance notice of stockholder intention to put forth director nominees or bring up other business at a stockholders’ meeting; prohibiting stockholders from calling a special meeting of stockholders; requiring a 66 2/3% majority stockholder approval in order for stockholders to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or adopt new bylaws; providing that, subject to the rights of preferred shares, the directors will be divided into three classes and the number of directors is to be fixed exclusively by our Board; and providing that none of our directors may be removed without cause. Section 203 of the DGCL, from which we did not elect to opt out, provides that if a holder acquires 15% or more of our stock without prior approval of our Board, that holder will be subject to certain restrictions on its ability to acquire us within three years. These provisions may delay or deter a change of control of us, and could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.

 

Recently enacted tax reform legislation in the U.S. could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”) was signed into law, making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes under the Tax Act include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings, limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of adjusted earnings (except for certain small businesses), limitation of the deduction for net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income and elimination of net operating loss carrybacks, one time taxation of offshore earnings at reduced rates regardless of whether they are repatriated, elimination of U.S. tax on foreign earnings (subject to certain important exceptions), immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and modifying or repealing many business deductions and credits (including reducing the business tax credit for certain clinical testing expenses incurred in the testing of orphan drugs). The overall impact of the new federal tax law is uncertain, and our business and financial condition could be adversely affected. For example, because of the tax rate decrease, our deferred tax assets and our corresponding valuation allowance against these deferred tax assets have been reduced and may continue to be adversely impacted. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to Tax Act and what effect that legal challenges will have on the Tax Act, including litigation in the U.S. and international challenges brought at organizations such as the World Trade Organization. The impact of the Tax Act on holders of our common stock is also uncertain and could be adverse. Investors should consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to this legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in or holding our common stock.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

In March of 2016, the Company moved into its current headquarters located at 18855 44th Street North, Clearwater, Florida. The facility is 18,000 square feet and has the capacity for three MagneGas systems to run simultaneously for multiple shifts.

 

Operating Leases

 

On April 5, 2016 the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a lease for a new operating facility in Lakeland, FL. The lease agreement is for 3 years with minimum monthly payments of $2,200 ($26,400 per annum).

 

19

 

 

On August 4, 2016 the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a lease for a new operating facility in Sarasota, FL. The lease agreement is for 5 years with minimum monthly payments of $1,700 ($20,400 per annum).

 

On March 23, 2017 the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a lease for a new operating facility in Huntington, IN. The lease agreement was for 2 years with minimum monthly payments of $2,700 ($32,400 per annum). On September 28, 2017 the lease agreement was terminated and the operating facility was closed.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time the Company may be a party to litigation matters involving claims against the Company. The Company operates with waste, hazardous material and within a highly regulated industry, which may lend itself to legal matters.

 

On April 16, 2015, there was an accident at the Company’s facilities which occurred during the gas filling process. As a result of the accident, one employee was killed and one was injured, but has recovered and has returned to work. Although the Company has Workers Compensation Insurance and General Liability Insurance, the financial impact of the accident is unknown at this time. No customers have terminated their relationship with the Company as a result of the accident. On October 14, 2015 the Company received their final report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) related to the accident. The OSHA report included findings, many of which were already resolved and a proposed citation. The Company was not cited for any willful misconduct and no final determination was made as to the cause of the accident. The Company received citations related to other various operational issues and received an initial fine of $52,000 which the Company has paid. The Company has also been informed by the U.S. Department of Transportation that it has closed its preliminary investigation with no findings or citations to the Company. The U.S. Department of Transportation has the right to re-open the investigation should new information become available.

 

The Company is still investigating the cause of the accident and there have been no conclusive findings as of this time. It is unknown whether the final cause of the accident will be determined and whether those findings will negatively impact Company operations or sales. The Company continues to be fully operational and transparent with all regulatory agencies. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not accrued for any contingency.

 

A lawsuit was filed on November 18, 2016 in District Court in Pinellas County, Florida by the Estate of Michael Sheppard seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit alleges that the Company was negligent and grossly negligent in various aspects of its safety, training and overall work environment that led to the accident. The Company was not cited by OSHA for any willful misconduct nor did it receive any citations from the Department of Transportation and it believes the lawsuit is without merit. The file number is 2016CA1294. The Company responded to this lawsuit in 2016 and as of the date of this filing, has not heard back from the plaintiff.

 

We are not currently involved in any other litigation that we believe could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of our Company or any of our subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting our Company, our common stock, any of our subsidiaries or of our Company’s or our Company’s subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such, in which an adverse decision could have a material adverse effect.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not Applicable.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “MNGA”.

 

Price Range of Common Stock

 

The following table sets forth the high and low sales price per share of common stock (all per share values reflect all stock splits effected) as reported by Nasdaq Capital Market for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

   High   Low 
Fiscal Year 2017          
First quarter ended March 31, 2017  $86.17   $61.50 
Second quarter ended June 30, 2017  $67.50   $18.00 
Third quarter ended September 30, 2017  $22.95   $6.00 
Fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017  $9.30   $4.35 
           
Fiscal Year 2016          
First quarter ended March 31, 2016  $1.65   $0.96 
Second quarter ended June 30, 2016  $1.14   $0.54 
Third quarter ended September 30, 2016  $0.92   $0.53 
Fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016  $0.87   $0.40 

 

Holders

 

As of April 2, 2018, there were approximately 263 stockholders of record. Because shares of our common stock are held by depositaries, brokers and other nominees, the number of beneficial holders of our shares is substantially larger than the number of stockholders of record.

 

Dividends

 

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock, and we do not anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends for the foreseeable future. We are not subject to any legal restrictions respecting the payment of dividends, except that we may not pay dividends if the payment would render us insolvent. Any future determination as to the payment of cash dividends on our common stock will be at our board of directors’ discretion and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements and other factors that our Board considers to be relevant.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2017, regarding shares of common stock that were issued under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “Equity Plan”). The Equity Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders and is the Company’s sole equity compensation plan.

 

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Plan category  (a)
Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise
of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   (b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   (c)
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column
(a))
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)   15,342    10.77    784.3 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2)   ˉ    ˉ    ˉ 
Total   15,342         784.3 

 

(1) Consists of the Equity Plan. In the year ended December 31, 2017, no shares underlying options were issued and 1,147,588 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to the Equity Plan.

 

(2) Not Applicable.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

From January 1, 2016 through and including December 31, 2017, there were no purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers.

 

Reverse Stock Splits

 

On May 18, 2017, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Delaware Secretary of State to effect a one-for-ten reverse split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock (the “2017 Reverse Stock Split”), and the Reverse Stock Split became effective in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Amendment on May 19, 2017. As a result of the split, every ten shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding were automatically combined into one share of common stock, without any change in the par value per share. The Company did not issue any fractional shares in connection with the 2017 Reverse Stock Split. Instead, fractional shares were entitled, upon surrender of certificate(s) representing shares, to receive a cash payment in lieu of the fractional shares without interest.

 

On January 16, 2018, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State to effect a one-for-fifteen reverse split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock (the “2018 Reverse Stock Split”), and the Reverse Stock Split became effective in accordance   with the terms of the Certificate of Amendment on January 16, 2018. As a result of the split, every fifteen shares of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding were automatically combined into one share of common stock, without any change in the par value per share. The Company did not issue any fractional shares in connection with the 2018 Reverse Stock Split. Instead, fractional shares were entitled, upon surrender of certificate(s) representing shares, to receive a cash payment in lieu of the fractional shares without interest.

 

The 2017 and 2018 Reverse Stock Splits did not modify the rights or preferences of the common stock. Proportional adjustments have been made to the conversion and exercise prices of the Company’s outstanding common stock warrants, convertible notes, common stock options, and to the number of common stock shares issued and issuable under the Company’s equity compensation plan.

 

All share and per share amounts for the common stock have been retroactively restated to give effect to the reverse splits.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

During the period October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, the Company issued 274,180 shares of the Company’s common stock to key advisors and consultants of the Company. The total value of these issuances is $1,584,037. The Company relied on the transaction exemption afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The shares are deemed restricted securities which may not be publicly sold unless registered for resale with the Securities and Exchange Commission or exempt from the registration requirements of the Act.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

The Company is a Smaller Reporting Company, as defined by 17 C.F.R. § 229.10(f)(1) and is not required to provide the information required by this Item.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following discussion is intended to assist you in understanding our business and results of operations together with our financial condition. This section should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and notes, included elsewhere in this report. Statements in our discussion may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. We caution that a number of factors could cause future production, revenues and expenses to differ materially from our expectations. Please see “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Overview

 

MagneGas Corporation is a technology company that utilizes a plasma based system for the gasification and sterilization of liquid waste. A byproduct of our process is a hydrogen-based fuel called “MagneGas2®” that we sell for metal cutting as an alternative to acetylene. We also market, for sale or licensure, our proprietary plasma arc technology for the processing of liquid waste (the “Plasma Arc Flow® System”). We have established a retail and distribution platform to sell our fuel for use in the metalworking industries. We have also developed a global network of brokers to sell our system for processing liquid waste. In addition, we are conducting research and development regarding the use of our fuel for co-combustion with hydrocarbon fuels to reduce emissions. Finally, we have and intend to continue to acquire complementary gas distribution businesses in order to become a larger distributor of MagneGas2®, other industrial gases and related equipment.

 

In October of 2014, we purchased Equipment Sales and Services, Inc. (“ESSI”) for $3 million cash. ESSI is a full line seller of industrial gases and equipment for the welding and metal cutting industries. Since acquiring ESSI, we have opened three additional retail locations and distribute our proprietary MagneGas2® product as well as other gases and welding supplies through ESSI, our wholly owned subsidiary.

 

In 2017, the Company began de-emphasizing its research and development activities so it could focus on increasing sales, growing ESSI and acquiring other new welding supply businesses, primarily in Texas and California.

 

On February 1, 2017, the Company formed two wholly owned subsidiaries in the State of Delaware called MagneGas Energy Solutions, LLC and MagneGas Welding Supply, LLC, respectively.

 

On March 3, 2017, the Company formed three wholly owned subsidiaries in the State of Delaware called MagneGas Real Estate Holdings, LLC, MagneGas IP, LLC and MagneGas Production, LLC, respectively.

 

On December 13, 2017, the Company formed NG Enterprises Acquisition, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed under the laws of the State of California for the purpose of acquiring all of the assets of GGNG Enterprises, Inc. The Company completed the acquisition of the GGNG Enterprises, Inc. assets on January 19, 2018 and commenced business operations in San Diego, California doing business as “Complete Welding San Diego”.

 

On February 12, 2018, the Company formed MWS Green Arc Acquisition, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed under the laws of the State of Texas for the purpose of acquiring all of the assets of Green Arc Supply, L.L.C. The Company completed the acquisition of the Green Arc Supply, L.L.C. assets on February 16, 2018 and commenced business operations in Texas and Louisiana doing business as “Green Arc Supply”.

 

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Subsequent Events

 

Amended & Restated Asset Purchase Agreement

 

On January 19, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement (“Amended Asset Purchase Agreement”) with GGNG Enterprises Inc. (formerly known as NG Enterprises, Inc.) and Guillermo Gallardo (collectively, the “Seller”) and closed the purchase of certain assets related to the Seller’s welding supply and gas distribution business in San Diego, California. The Amended Asset Purchase Agreement amended certain material terms of that certain Asset Purchase Agreement entered into between the Company and the Seller on December 29, 2017. The primary purpose of the Amended Asset Purchase Agreement was to expand the assets being purchased to include certain gas cylinders having an approximate value of $350,000 and simultaneously reducing the value of the account receivables being acquired. Under the terms of the Amended Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from the Seller all of the Seller’s right, title an interest to the Purchased Assets (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement). The total purchase price for the Purchased Assets was $745,000. In conjunction with the Amended Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Seller entered into an Assignment and Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement (“Bill of Sale”) on January 19, 2018. Upon consummation of the closing, on January 19, 2018, the Company commenced business operations in San Diego, California through its wholly owned subsidiary NG Enterprises Acquisition, LLC and is doing business as “Complete Welding San Diego”.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Revenues

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 we generated total revenues of $3,719,452 compared to $3,552,245.

 

Our increase in revenues was primarily due to additional customers and distributors we obtained through ESSI and the results of marketing our Company. We expect sales of our products to continue to increase as we expand into additional locations and obtain new relationships.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 costs of revenues were $2,216,773 compared to $2,018,453. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we generated a gross profit of $1,502,679 compared to $1,533,792. Gross margins decreased in 2017 as a result of a shift in composition of products sold during 2017, as well as the growth in lower margin sales to a select number of scalable client relationships in our industrial gas and   welding supply business. The Company anticipates that gross margins will improve in 2018 due to a diversification of our client base and the installation of a fill plant in Clearwater, FL, which is expected to materially improve our industrial gas margins.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating costs for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $12,458,213 compared to $13,664,130. The decrease in our operating costs in 2017 was primarily attributable to the completion of our new headquarters and increased consulting expenses related to research and development, investor relations, public relations and new business development. Our research and development expenses decreased by $506,895 primarily due to increased research activity being done on high volume processing and combustion of oil of MagneGas2 during 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017 we recognized a non-cash charge of $425,492 in stock-based compensation, compared to $346,906 in the comparable year ended December 31, 2016. Also during the year ended December 31, 2016, we recognized of an impairment charge in the amount of $806,716 related to our investments in joint ventures and a loss of $1,049,305 on the sale and disposal of certain property and equipment that was disposed of at the time of our move versus a gain on the sale and disposal of certain property and equipment of $50,180 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Other non-cash operating expenses were due to depreciation and amortization charges of $673,062 for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $650,887 for the year ended December 31, 2016. There was a decrease in non-cash charges from 2016 to 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized a Total Other Expense of $68,854 as compared to expense of $5,339,590 in the comparable year ended December 31, 2016. The difference relates primarily due to the modification of warrants $2,897,291 and the excess fair value of warrants $2,622,080 issued in connection with our debt financings in 2016.

 

During the year we used common stock as a method of payment for certain services, primarily the advertising and promotion of the technology to increase investor and customer awareness and as incentive to its key employees and consultants. We expect to continue these arrangements, though due to a stronger operating position, this method of payment may become limited to employees.

 

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Net Loss

 

Our results have recognized losses in the amount of $11,024,388 compared to $17,469,928 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in our loss was primarily attributable to a 2017 change in derivative liability related to our pre-2014 warrants, the warrants associated with the June 2016 financing as well as impairment for joint ventures. The interest expense associated with the Derivative Liability is a non-cash item.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had cash of approximately $587,000 and has reported a net loss of approximately $11 million and has used cash in operations of approximately $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, the Company has a working capital deficit of approximately $1,336,000 and an accumulated deficit of approximately $65 million. The aforementioned factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset amounts or the classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued.

 

Historically, the Company has financed its operations through equity and debt financing transactions and expects to continue incurring operating losses for the foreseeable future. The Company’s plans and expectations for the next 12 months from the date of filing this annual report include raising additional capital to help fund commercial operations, including product development. The Company utilizes cash in its operations of approximately $4.8 million. The primary use of cash from operations was to support the growth in our industrial gas and welding sales force and the supporting logistics and fulfillment team in Florida during 2017. In addition, the Company also incurred significant legal, consulting and advisory expenses related to the restructuring of our capital structure and identifying scalable capital options to execute the Company’s growth strategy.

 

If these sources do not provide the capital necessary to fund the Company’s operations during the next twelve months from the date of this report, the Company may need to curtail certain aspects of its operations or expansion activities, consider the sale of its assets, or consider other means of financing. The Company can give no assurance that it will be successful in implementing its business plan and obtaining financing on terms advantageous to the Company or that any such additional financing would be available to the Company.

 

Cash Flows from Operations

 

Cash flows from continuing operations for operating, financing and investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are summarized in the following table:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
         
Operating activities  $(4,787,876)  $(8,639,816)
Investing activities   (454,400)   (1,480,043)
Financing activities   4,212,690    6,416,400 
           
Net (decrease) increase in cash  $(1,029,586)  $(3,703,459)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017 we used cash of approximately $4.8 million in operations in 2017 as compared to $8.6 million in During the year ended December 31, 2017, cash used by investing activities consisted of approximately $500,000 primarily for a deposit on an acquisition and purchases of equipment. During the year ended December 31, 2016, cash used by investing activities consisted of $1.5 million primarily for capital expenditures. Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $4.2 million as compared to cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 of $6.4 million. The net decrease in cash during the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $1.0 million as compared to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

25

 

 

Recent Accounting Standards

 

Included in the Company’s financial statements included in this Form 10-K.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our significant accounting policies are presented in this Report in our Notes to financial statements, which are contained in this 2017 Annual Report. The significant accounting policies that are most critical and aid in fully understanding and evaluating the reported financial results include the following:

 

The Company prepares its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that these estimates are reasonable and have been discussed with our Board of Directors (the “Board”); however, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

We issue restricted stock to consultants for various services. Cost for these transactions are measured at the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The value of the common stock is measured at the earlier of (i) the date at which a firm commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached or (ii) the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete.

 

Long-lived assets such as property, equipment and identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment whenever facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When required impairment losses on assets to be held and used are recognized based on the fair value of the asset. The fair value is determined based on estimates of future cash flows, market value of similar assets, if available, or independent appraisals, if required. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying amount and fair value of the asset. When fair values are not available, the Company estimates fair value using the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk associated with the recovery of the assets.

 

The Company generates revenue through three processes: (1) the sale of its MagneGas2® fuel for metal cutting and (2) the sale of its Plasma Arc Flow Units. Additionally, and (3) the Company also recognizes revenue from territorial license arrangements, and through the sales of metal cutting gases and related products through their wholly owned subsidiary, ESSI.

 

  Revenue for metal-working fuel and related products are recognized when shipments are made to customers. The Company recognizes a sale when the fuel and/or product has been shipped and risk of loss has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Cylinder rentals are billed on a monthly basis.
     
  Revenue generated from sales of each Plasma Arc Flow Unit is recognized upon delivery. Significant deposits are required before production commences. These deposits are classified as customer deposits.
     
  Licenses are issued, per contractual agreement, for distribution rights within certain geographic territories. The Company recognizes revenue ratably, based on the amounts paid or values received, over the term of the licensing agreement.

 

The Company, on occasion, may recognize revenue under a bill-and-hold arrangement. Under a bill-and-hold arrangement revenue is recognized when the product is manufactured, completed, invoiced and segregated from the seller’s other inventory so that it is not subjected to being used to fill other orders. Upon invoicing under this arrangement, ownership has passed to the buyer with no right of return such that the earnings process is complete. The customer must request a bill-and-hold arrangement (preferably in writing), must commit to the purchase and the delivery date must be fixed. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized $775,000 of revenues under this arrangement.

 

The Company also enters into sales transactions whereby customer orders contain multiple deliverables and reports its multiple deliverable arrangements under ASC 605-25 “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“ASC-605-25”). These multiple deliverable arrangements primarily consist of the following deliverables: the Company’s MagneGas units, design, configuration, installation and training services. In situations where the Company bundles all or a portion of the separate elements, Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (“VSOE”) is determined based on prices when sold separately. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, multiple deliverable arrangements were immaterial.

 

The fair value of an embedded conversion option that is convertible into a variable amount of shares and warrants that include price protection reset provision features are deemed to be “down-round protection” and, therefore, do not meet the scope exception for treatment as a derivative under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”, since “down-round protection” is not an input into the calculation of the fair value of the conversion option and warrants and cannot be considered “indexed to the Company’s own stock” which is a requirement for the scope exception as outlined under ASC 815. The accounting treatment of derivative financial instruments requires that the Company record the embedded conversion option and warrants at their fair values as of the inception date of the agreement and at fair value as of each subsequent balance sheet date. Any change in fair value is recorded as non-operating, non-cash income or expense for each reporting period at each balance sheet date.

 

26

 

 

The Company reassesses the classification of its derivative instruments at each balance sheet date. If the classification changes as a result of events during the period, the contract is reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification. As a result of entering into a convertible credit facility for which such instruments contained a variable conversion feature with no floor, the Company has adopted a sequencing policy in accordance with ASC 815-40-35-12 whereby all future instruments may be classified as a derivative liability with the exception of instruments related to share-based compensation issued to employees.

 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was used to estimate the fair value of the warrants and conversion options. The model includes subjective input assumptions that can materially affect the fair value estimates. The Company determined the fair value of the Binomial Lattice Model and the Black-Scholes Valuation Model to be materially the same. The expected volatility is estimated based on the most recent historical period of time equal to the weighted average life of the warrants. Conversion options are recorded as debt discount and are amortized as interest expense over the life of the underlying debt instrument.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has no off balance sheet arrangements.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

The Company is a “Smaller Reporting Company” as defined by § 229.10(f)(1) and is not required to provide the information required by this Item.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

See pages F-1 through F-28 following the Exhibit Index of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

27

 

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

MagneGas Corporation

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MagneGas Corporation (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 2, the Company has a significant working capital deficiency, has incurred significant losses and needs to raise additional funds to meet its obligations and sustain its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

Marcum llp

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.

 

New York, New York

April 13, 2018

 

 
 

 

MagneGas Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    December 31, 2017     December 31, 2016  
             
Assets                
                 
Current Assets                
                 
Cash   $ 586,824     $ 1,616,410  
Accounts receivable, net     389,652       442,555  
Inventory     738,950       1,615,933  
Prepaid and other current assets     198,056       226,305  
Total Current Assets     1,913,482       3,901,203  
                 
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $2,032,265 and $1,474,944, respectively     6,865,389       6,402,931  
Deposit on acquisition     325,000       -  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $457,171 and $401,277, respectively     412,331       437,121  
Security deposits     27,127       26,636  
Goodwill     2,108,781       2,108,781  
                 
Total Assets   $ 11,652,110     $ 12,876,672  
                 
Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Equity                
                 
Current Liabilities                
                 
Accounts payable   $ 1,716,661     $ 416,247  
Accrued expenses     909,562       276,630  
Deferred revenue and customer deposits     44,095       25,000  

Capital leases payable, current

    27,460       9,328  
Note payable, net of debt discount of $13,043 and $0, respectively     451,754       -  
Promissory notes payable - related party     100,000       -  
Derivative liabilities     -       7,700,585  
                 
Total Current Liabilities     3,249,532       8,427,790  
                 
Long Term Liabilities                
Note payable     520,000       520,000  
Capital leases payable, net of current portion     63,839       25,317  
Senior convertible debenture, net of debt discount of $0 and $811,000, respectively     -       75,000  
Total Liabilities     3,833,371       9,048,107  
                 
Redeemable Convertible Series C Preferred stock: 25,000 shares designated; 115 shares issued and outstanding with a liquidation preference of approximately $132,000 and $0 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.     115,000       -  
Redeemable Convertible Series D Preferred stock: 694,422 shares designated; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016.     -       -  
Redeemable Convertible Series E Preferred stock: 455,882 shares designated; 402,464 shares issued and outstanding with a liquidation preference of approximately $496,000 and $0 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.     430,950       -  
Commitments and Contingencies                
                 
Preferred stock: $0.001 par; 10,000,000 shares authorized                
Series A Preferred stock: 1,000,000 shares authorized; 1,000,000 shares issued and outstanding with no liquidation preference at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016     1,000       1,000  
Series B Preferred stock: 2,700 shares designated, 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016     -       -  
Common stock: $0.001 par; 190,000,000 shares authorized; 1,782,864 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 386,935 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016     1,783       387  
Additional paid-in-capital     71,852,874       57,385,658  
Accumulated deficit     (64,582,868 )     (53,558,480 )
                 
Total Stockholders’ Equity     7,272,789       3,828,565  
                 
Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 11,652,110     $ 12,876,672  

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 F-1 
   

 

MagneGas Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

    For the years ended December 31,  
    2017     2016  
             
Revenue:   $ 3,719,452     $ 3,552,245  
                 
Cost of Revenues     2,216,773       2,018,453  
Gross Profit     1,502,679       1,533,792  
                 
Operating Expenses:                
Selling, general and administration     11,663,680       10,478,676  
Research and development     171,651       678,546  
Impairment of joint venture     -       806,716  
(Gain) loss on sale and disposal of property and equipment     (50,180 )     1,049,305  
Depreciation and amortization     673,062       650,887  
Total Operating Expenses     12,458,213       13,664,130  
                 
Operating Loss     (10,955,534 )     (12,130,338 )
                 
Other Income and (Expense):                
Interest     (14,684 )     (51,687 )
Loss on modification of warrants     -       (2,897,291 )
Accretion of debt discount     (1,030,372 )     (189,000 )
Excess fair value of warrants issued over related debt     -       (2,622,080 )
Other (expense) income     (1,778 )     49,842  
Loss on extinguishment of debt     (513,725 )     -  
Change in fair value of derivative liability     2,255,322       370,626  
Loss on settlement of liabilities     (763,617 )     -  
Total Other Income (Expense)     (68,854     (5,339,590 )
                 
Net Loss     (11,024,388 )     (17,469,928 )
                 
Deemed dividend     4,974,182       -  
                 
Net loss attributable to common shareholders   $ (15,998,570 )   $ (17,469,928 )
                 
Net loss per share: Basic and Diluted   $ (22.22 )   $ (52.74 )
                 
Weighted average common shares: Basic and Diluted     719,918       331,251  

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 F-2 
   

 

MagneGas Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2016 and the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

    Series A Preferred Stock    

 

Common

   

Additional Paid-in-

   

 Accumulated

    Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Capital     (Deficit)     Equity  
                                           
Balance at December 31, 2015     1,000,000     $ 1,000       303,997     $ 304     $ 50,703,512     $ (36,088,552 )   $ 14,616,264  
                                                         
Common stock and warrants issued for cash proceeds, net     -       -       6,803       7       2,785,280       -       2,785,287  
                                                         
Common shares issued for services     -       -       10,992       11       1,109,489       -       1,109,500  
                                                         
Amortization of stock based compensation     -       -       -       -       346,906       -       346,906  
                                                         
Prefunded warrants issued for cash, net     -       -       -       -       2,540,821       -       2,540,821  
                                                         
Reclassification of warrants to derivative liability due to tainting of warrants     -       -       -       -       (5,396,350 )     -       (5,396,350 )
                                                         
Common shares issued for the exercise of warrants     -       -       63,810       64       95,650       -       95,714  
                                                         
Reclassification of derivative liability to equity from the exercise of warrants and issuance of shares for convertible debt     -       -       -       -       5,086,351       -       5,086,351  
                                                         
Common shares issued for the settlement of debt     -       -       1,333       1       113,999       -       114,000  
                                                         
Net loss     -       -       -       -       -       (17,469,928 )     (17,469,928 )
                                                         
Balance at December 31, 2016     1,000,000       1,000       386,935       387       57,385,658       (53,558,480 )     3,828,565  
                                                         
Common shares issued for services     -       -       203,666       204       2,971,261       -       2,971,465  
                                                         
Board of directors fees paid in common stock     -       -       46,665       47       209,655       -       209,702  
                                                         
Issuance of common stock and series B preferred stock in accordance with debt extinguishment     -       -       6,667       7       5,652,493       -       5,652,500  
                                                         

Issuance of common stock with Series D preferred units

    -       -       10,000       10      

131,750

    -       131,760  
                                                         
Conversion of series B preferred stock into common stock     -       -       60,000       60       (60 )     -       -  
                                                         
Conversion of Series C preferred stock into common stock     -       -       634,482       634      

3,412,366

      -      

3,413,000

 
                                                         
Conversion of Series D preferred stock into common stock     -       -       120,100       120       694,302     -       694,422  
                                                         
Conversion of Series E preferred stock into common stock     -       -       36,010       36       189,013       -       189,049  
                                                         
Amortization of stock based compensation     -       -       -       -       425,492       -       425,492  
                                                         
Common shares issued for the exercise of warrants     -       -       5,291       5       7,932       -       7,937  
                                                         
Conversion of notes into shares of common stock     -       -       153,048       153       856,847       -       857,000  
                                                         
Reclassification of derivative liability to equity     -       -       -       -       427,568       -       427,568  
                                                         
Stock issuance costs     -       -       -       -      

(745,367

)     -      

(745,367

)
                                                         
Deemed Dividend     -       -       -       -      

(457,801

)     -      

(457,801

)
                                                         

Common shares issued for settlement of vendor liabilities

    -       -      

13,333

     

13

     

59,903

      -       59,916  
                                                         

Common shares issued for settlement of debt

    -       -      

106,667

     

107

     

631,862

      -      

631,969

 
                                                         
Net loss     -       -                               (11,024,388 )     (11,024,388 )
                                                         
Balance at December 31, 2017     1,000,000     $ 1,000       1,782,864     $ 1,783     $ 71,852,874     $ (64,582,868 )   $

7,272,789

 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 F-3 
   

 

MagneGas Corporation

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the years ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
         
Cash Flows from Operations          
Net Loss  $(11,024,388)  $(17,469,928)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   673,062    650,887 
Accretion of debt discount   1,030,372    189,000 
Amortization of stock-based compensation   425,492    346,906 
Common stock issued for services   2,971,465    1,109,500 
Provision for bad debt   -    36,363 
Provision for slow moving spare parts   50,000    175,000 
(Gain) loss on sale and disposal of property and equipment   (50,180)   1,049,305 
Loss on settlement of debt   

751,902

    - 
Loss on settlement of vendor liability   11,715    - 
Provision for impairment of investment in joint venture   -    806,716 
Loss on modification of warrants   -    2,897,291 
Excess fair value of warrants over related debt   -    2,622,080 
Loss on extinguishment of debt   513,725    - 
Change in fair value of derivative liability   (2,255,322)   (370,626)
Changes in operating assets:          
Accounts receivable   52,903    (105,912)
Inventory   (35,966)   (45,752)
Prepaid and other current assets   28,249    94,126 
Accounts payable   

1,348,614

    (9,047)
Accrued expenses   701,386    (228,225)
Deferred revenue and customer deposits   19,095    (387,500)
           
Net cash used in operating activities   (4,787,876)   (8,639,816)
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities          
Deposit on acquisition   (325,000)   - 
Purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets   (250,252)   (1,445,855)
Security deposit   (491)   (2,523)
Investment in joint ventures   -    (52,115)
Proceeds from sale of assets   121,343    20,450 
           
Net cash used in investing activities   (454,400)   (1,480,043)
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities          
           
Capital lease payments   (12,038)   (5,423)
Net proceeds on sale of notes payable   940,000      
Principle payments on notes payable   (776,292)   2,785,287 
Net proceeds on related party notes and advances   289,173    - 
Related party notes payments   (7,103)     
Net proceeds from senior convertible debenture, net   -    1,000,000 
Net proceeds from prefunded warrants, net   -    2,540,821 
Net proceeds from sale and issuance of preferred stock   3,771,013    - 
Cash proceeds from exercise of warrants   7,937    95,715 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities   4,212,690    6,416,400 
           
Net decrease in cash   (1,029,586)   (3,703,459)
           
Cash, beginning of year   1,616,410    5,319,869 
           
Cash, end of year  $586,824   $1,616,410 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid during the year for:          
Interest  $-   $- 
           
Noncash Transactions          
Issuance of common stock for the settlement of senior convertible debentures  $-   $114,000 
Reclassification of equity instruments to derivative liabilities due to tainting of warrants  $-   $(5,396,350)
Reclassification of derivative liabilities to equity from the exercise of warrants and issuance of shares for convertible debt  $-   $5,086,351 
Issuance of equity instruments attached to senior convertible debentures  $-   $1,000,000 
Reclassification of derivative liability to equity  $(427,568)  $- 
Issuance of common stock and series B preferred stock for debt extinguishment  $5,652,502   $- 
Common shares issued for debt  $857,000   $- 
Conversion from note payable to convertible note payable  $500,000   $- 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 F-4 
   

 

MagneGas Corporation

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2017

 

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS   

 

MagneGas Corporation (the “Company”) was organized in the State of Delaware on December 9, 2005.

 

The Company is an alternative energy company that creates a system that produces hydrogen based fuel through the gasification of liquid and liquid waste. Management has developed a process which gasifies various types of liquids and liquid wastes through a proprietary plasma arc system. A byproduct of this process is an alternative to natural gas currently sold in the metalworking market as a cutting fuel. The Company produces gas bottled in cylinders for the purpose of distribution to the metalworking market as an alternative to acetylene. Additionally, the Company markets for sale its proprietary plasma arc technology for the processing of liquid waste (the “Plasma Arc Flow Units” or “Plasma Arc Flow System”), is developing ancillary uses of its MagneGas2® fuel for co-combustion and has acquired a gas distribution company that sells various types of industrial fuels and supplies. Through the course of its business development, the Company has established a retail and wholesale platform to sell its fuel for use in the metalworking and manufacturing industries. The Company has also established a network of brokers to sell its Plasma Arc Flow equipment internationally.

 

In October of 2014, the Company purchased Equipment Sales and Services, Inc. (“ESSI”) for $3 million cash. ESSI is a full line seller of industrial gases and equipment for the welding and metal cutting industries. Since acquiring ESSI, the Company has opened three additional retail locations and distributes their proprietary MagneGas2® product as well as other gases and welding supplies through ESSI, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary.

 

On February 1, 2017, the Company formed two wholly owned subsidiaries in the State of Delaware called MagneGas Energy Solutions, LLC and MagneGas Welding Supply, LLC, respectively. MagneGas Energy Solutions, LLC was formed to acquire another company but the acquisition did not occur, so the Company   will be used for future purposes. Magnegas Welding Supply, LLC was formed to be the holding company for all of the Company’s other welding supply companies, ESSI.

 

On March 3, 2017, the Company formed three wholly owned subsidiaries in the State of Delaware called MagneGas Real Estate Holdings, LLC, MagneGas IP, LLC and MagneGas Production, LLC, respectively. Magnegas Real Estate Holdings, LLC was formed to hold all future real estate for risk management purposes. Magnegas IP, LLC was formed to be the company that holds all of the consolidated entity’s intellectual property and Magnegas Production, LLC is the company where the gas is actually produced.

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision–making group in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer. The Company discusses three major marketing initiatives below. Even though the Company discusses discrete initiatives it is actually three product offerings within one operating segment.

 

 F-5 
   

 

NOTE 2 - GOING CONCERN AND MANAGEMENTS’ PLAN

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had cash of $586,824 and has reported a net loss of $11,024,388 and has used cash in operations of $5,112,876 for the year ended December 31, 2017. In addition, as of December 31, 2017 the Company has a working capital deficit of $1,336,050 and an accumulated deficit of $64,582,868. The Company utilizes cash in its operations of approximately $430,000 per month. These conditions indicate that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the issuance date of the financial statements.

 

The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenue and its ability to raise additional funds by way of a public or private offering.

 

Historically, the Company has financed its operations through equity and debt financing transactions and expects to continue incurring operating losses for the foreseeable future. The Company’s plans and expectations for the next 12 months include raising additional capital to help fund expansion of its commercial operations, including product development. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of asset amounts or the classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

If these sources do not provide the capital necessary to fund the Company’s operations during the next twelve months from the date of this report, the Company may need to curtail certain aspects of its operations or expansion activities, consider the sale of its assets, or consider other means of financing. The Company can give no assurance that it will be successful in implementing its business plan and obtaining financing on terms advantageous to the Company or that any such additional financing would be available to the Company. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments from this uncertainty.

 

NOTE 3 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The Company prepares its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that these estimates are reasonable and have been discussed with the Board of Directors; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements presented include inventory reserves, fair value of derivative financial instruments, recoverability of deferred tax assets and collections of its receivables.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

The Company maintains its cash accounts at financial institutions which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). At times, the Company may have deposits in excess of federally insured limits.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash, checking accounts, money market accounts and temporary investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. As of December 31, 2017, and 2016 the Company had no cash equivalents.

 

 F-6 
   

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable consist of amounts due for the delivery of MagneGas2® sales to customers with payment terms of generally 30 days. An allowance for doubtful accounts is established for any amounts that may not be recoverable, which is based on an analysis of the Company’s customer credit worthiness, historical estimates, and current economic trends. Receivables are determined to be past due, based on payment terms of original invoices. The Company does not typically charge interest on past due receivables.   The allowance for doubtful accounts was $101,063 and $145,931 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Inventory is comprised of spare parts; consumables used in the production of gas, regulators and tips and work in process. Estimates of lower of cost or net realizable value are based upon economic conditions, historical sales quantities and patterns, and in some cases, the specific risk of loss on specifically identified inventories. The Company evaluates inventories on a regular basis to identify inventory on hand that may be slow moving. Inventory that is in excess of current and projected use is reduced by an allowance to the level that approximates its estimate of future demand.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 201-11 requires that inventory measured using any method other than last-in, first out (“LIFO”) or the retail inventory method to be subsequently measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value, rather than at the lower of cost or market value. Under this ASU, subsequent measurement of inventory using the LIFO and retail inventory method is unchanged. ASU 2015-11 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Property and equipment, net

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation using the straight–line method at rates sufficient to charge the cost of depreciable assets to operations over their estimated useful lives, which range from three to thirty-nine and a half years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of (a) the useful life of the asset; or (b) the remaining lease term. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the economic useful life of the related assets, are charged to operations as incurred, and expenditures which extend the economic life are capitalized. When assets are retired, or otherwise disposed of, the costs and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss on disposal is recognized.

 

Intangible assets, net

 

The Company’s recorded intangible assets consist of intellectual property. Applicable long–lived assets are amortized or depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives, the estimated period that the assets will generate revenue, or the statutory or contractual term. Estimates of useful lives and periods of expected revenue generation are reviewed periodically for appropriateness and are based upon management’s judgment. Intangible assets are amortized on the straight-line method over their useful lives of 15 years.

 

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Assets

 

The Company records goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets in connection with business combinations. Goodwill, which represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets of acquired companies, is not amortized. Indefinite-lived assets are stated at fair value as of the date acquired in a business combination.

 

The Company assesses the recoverability of goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets annually in the fourth quarter and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at a reporting unit level. Under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance for goodwill and intangible assets, a reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment, called a component. However, two or more components of an operating segment will be aggregated and deemed a single reporting unit if the components have similar economic characteristics. The Company operates as one reporting unit.

 

Authoritative accounting guidance allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the more detailed two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company performs the quantitative test if its qualitative assessment determined it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. The Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to the quantitative test for any reporting unit or asset. The quantitative goodwill impairment test, if necessary, is a two-step process. The first step is to identify the existence of a potential impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit (the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is calculated using a discounted cash flow model) with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the reporting unit’s goodwill is considered not to be impaired and performance of the second step of the quantitative goodwill impairment test is unnecessary. However, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss to be recorded, if any. The second step of the quantitative goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined using the same approach as employed when determining the amount of goodwill that would be recognized in a business combination. That is, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of its assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit.

 

For the 2017 annual goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment tests, the Company elected to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceeded directly to the quantitative analysis using the market price of the stock and determined that no impairment was deemed to exist as of December 31, 2017.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company assesses the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, when there are indications that the assets might be impaired. When evaluating assets for potential impairment, the Company compares the carrying value of the asset to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If an asset’s carrying value exceeds such estimated undiscounted cash flows, the Company records an impairment charge for the difference between   the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value.   

 

Based on its assessments, the Company did not record any impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2017 and recorded an impairment charge of $806,716 for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 F-7 
   

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company generates revenue through three processes: (1) the sale of its MagneGas2® fuel for metal cutting and (2) the sale of its Plasma Arc Flow Units. Additionally, and (3) the Company also recognizes revenue from territorial   license arrangements, and through the   sales of metal cutting gases and related products through their wholly owned subsidiary, ESSI.

 

Revenue for metal-working fuel and related products are recognized when shipments are made to customers. The Company recognizes a sale when the fuel and/or product has been shipped and risk of loss has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Cylinder rentals are billed on a monthly basis.

   
Revenue generated from sales of each Plasma Arc Flow Unit is recognized upon delivery. Significant deposits are required before production commences. These deposits are classified as customer deposits.
   
Licenses are issued, per contractual agreement, for distribution rights within certain geographic territories. The Company recognizes revenue ratably, based on the amounts paid or values received, over the term of the licensing agreement.

 

The Company, on occasion, may recognize revenue under a bill-and-hold arrangement. Under a bill-and-hold arrangement revenue is recognized when the product is manufactured, completed, invoiced and segregated from the seller’s other inventory so that it is not subjected to being used to fill other orders. Upon invoicing under this arrangement, ownership has passed to the buyer with no right of return such that the earnings process is complete. The customer must request a bill-and-hold arrangement (preferably in writing), must commit to the purchase and the delivery date must be fixed. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized $775,000 of revenues under this arrangement.

 

The Company also enters into sales transactions whereby customer orders contain multiple deliverables and reports its multiple deliverable arrangements under ASC 605-25 “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“ASC-605-25”). These multiple deliverable arrangements primarily consist of the following deliverables: the Company’s MagneGas units, design, configuration, installation and training services. In situations where the Company bundles all or a portion of the separate elements, Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (“VSOE”) is determined based on prices when sold separately. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, multiple deliverable arrangements were immaterial.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Company applies the accounting standards for distinguishing liabilities from equity under U.S. GAAP when determining the classification and measurement of its Preferred stock. Preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable preferred shares (including preferred shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, preferred shares are classified as permanent equity.

 

Derivative Liability

 

The Company evaluates its options, warrants or other contracts, if any, to determine if those contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as derivatives to be separately accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 815-10-05-4 and 815-40-25. The result of this accounting treatment is that the fair value of the embedded derivative is marked-to-market each balance sheet date and recorded as either an asset or a liability. In the event that the fair value is recorded as a liability, the change in fair value is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as other income or expense. Upon conversion, exercise or cancellation of a derivative instrument, the instrument is marked to fair value at the date of conversion, exercise or cancellation and then the related fair value is reclassified to equity.

 

The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period. Equity instruments that are initially classified as equity that become subject to reclassification are reclassified to liability at the fair value of the instrument on the reclassification date. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument is expected within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

 

The Company had no derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and derivative liabilities of $7,700,585 at December 31, 2016.

 

 F-8 
   

 

Beneficial conversion feature of convertible notes payable  

 

The Company accounts for convertible notes payable in accordance with the guidelines established by the FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) Topic 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. The beneficial conversion feature of a convertible note is normally characterized as the convertible portion or feature of certain notes payable that provide a rate of conversion that is below market value or in-the-money when issued. The Company records a beneficial conversion feature related to the issuance of a convertible note when issued and also records the estimated fair value of any warrants issued with those convertible notes. The beneficial conversion features that are contingent upon the occurrence of a future event are recorded when the contingency is resolved.

 

The effective conversion price and the market price of the Company’s common stock are used to calculate the intrinsic value of the conversion feature. The intrinsic value is recorded in the financial statements as a debt discount from the face amount of the note and such discount is amortized over the expected term of the convertible note (or to the conversion date of the note, if sooner) and is charged to interest expense.

 

Advertising Costs

 

The costs of advertising are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses are included in the Company’s operating expenses. Advertising expense was $4,218 and $110,755 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Research and Development

 

The Company expenses research and development costs when incurred. Research and development costs include engineering and laboratory testing of product and outputs.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs under the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense related to the fair value of stock-based compensation awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Stock based compensation expense recognized includes the compensation cost for all stock-based payments granted to employees, officers, and directors based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718. ASC 718 is also applied to awards modified, repurchased, or canceled during the periods reported.

 

The Company incurred stock-based compensation charges, net of estimated forfeitures of $425,492 and $346,906 for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively and has included such amounts in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Stock-Based Compensation for Non-Employees  

 

The Company accounts for warrants and options issued to non-employees under Accounting Standards Codification 505-50, “Equity – Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees”, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The value of such non-employee awards unvested are re-measured over the vesting terms at each reporting date.

 

Warranty Liabilities

 

The Company accrues an estimate of their exposure to warranty claims based on both current and historical product sales data and warranty costs incurred. The majority of the Company’s products carry a 1-year parts and labor warranty. Additional components carry a warranty from their own manufacturers. All such warranty details will be passed from Manufacturer to Buyer on or before delivery. The Company assesses the adequacy of their recorded warranty liability annually and adjusts the amount as necessary. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the accrued warranty liability was deemed to be immaterial.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purpose, referred to as temporary differences. Deferred tax assets and liabilities at the end of each period are determined using the currently enacted tax rates applied to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be settled or realized. The Company is subject to examination by U.S. tax authorities beginning with December 31, 2014.

 

 F-9 
   

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Bill”) was signed into law. Prior to the enactment of the Tax Reform Bill, the Company measured its deferred tax assets at the federal rate of 34%. The Tax Reform Bill reduced the federal tax rate to 21% resulting in the re-measurement of the deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2017. Beginning January 1, 2018, the lower tax rate of 21% will be used to calculate the amount of any federal income tax due on taxable income earned during 2018.

 

Basic and Diluted Net (Loss) per Common Share

 

Basic (loss) per common share is computed by dividing the net (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for each period. Diluted (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus the dilutive effect of shares issuable through the common stock equivalents.

 

As of December 31, 2017, and 2016 the Company’s common stock equivalents outstanding.

 

   December 31, 
   2017   2016 
Options   15,340    31,530 
Common Stock Warrants   222,222    155,108 
Convertible preferred stock   147,901    - 
Convertible secured debentures   -    11,696 
Total common stock equivalents outstanding   385,463    198,334 

 

Recent Accounting Standards

 

Revenue Related Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 — Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance throughout the ASC. The standard requires that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 should be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application. To allow entities additional time to implement systems, gather data and resolve implementation questions, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, in August 2015, to defer the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for one year, which is fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on its financial statements or disclosures. In addition, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08 in March 2016, to help provide interpretive clarifications on the new guidance in ASC Topic 606. The Company is currently evaluating the accounting, transition, and disclosure requirements of the standard to determine the impact, if any, on its financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers—Principal versus Agent Considerations.” This update provides clarifying guidance regarding the application of ASU No. 2014-09 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers when another party, along with the reporting entity, is involved in providing a good or a service to a customer. In these circumstances, an entity is required to determine whether the nature of its promise is to provide that good or service to the customer (that is, the entity is a principal) or to arrange for the good or service to be provided to the customer by the other party (that is, the entity is an agent). The amendments in the Update clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The update is effective, along with ASU 2014-09, for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2016-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements or disclosures.

 

On May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2016-12”). ASU 2016-12 provides clarifying guidance in a few narrow areas and adds some practical expedients to the guidance. The effective date and transition requirements for this ASU are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for ASU 2014-09. The Company is evaluating the effect of ASU 2014-09, if any, on its financial statements.

 

In September 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-13, “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to the Staff Announcement at the July 20, 2017 EITF Meeting and Rescission of Prior SEC Staff Announcements and Observer Comments” that enhances the guidance surrounding sale leaseback transactions, accounting for taxes on leveraged leases and leases with third party value. The related amendments to the Topics described above become effective on the same schedule as Topics 605, 606, 840 and 842.

 

The Company qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of relief from certain reporting requirements and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include an exemption from the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards until they would apply to private companies. As such, the Company has delayed the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers until January 1, 2019.

 

 F-10 
   

 

Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” Under ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize, for all leases of 12 months or more, a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. Additionally, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature of an entity’s leasing activities. This ASU is effective for public reporting companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of evaluating the effect of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which addresses the diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows with respect to eight specific cash flow issues. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented, if practical. Early adoption is permitted, including the interim period, and any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal period. ASU 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements or disclosures.

 

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory”, which eliminates the exception that prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income tax effects for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the update is permitted. The Company has determined that the impact of the new standard is immaterial.

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)”, requiring that the statement of cash flows explain the change in the total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. The provisions of this guidance are to be applied using a retrospective approach which requires application of the guidance for all periods presented. The Company has determined that the impact of the new standard is immaterial.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. This standard is required to be adopted in the first quarter of 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 F-11 
   

 

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features; II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception”. Part I of this update addresses the complexity of accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Down round features are features of certain equity-linked instruments (or embedded features) that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. Current accounting guidance creates cost and complexity for entities that issue financial instruments (such as warrants and convertible instruments) with down round features that require fair value measurement of the entire instrument or conversion option. Part II of this update addresses the difficulty of navigating Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, because of the existence of extensive pending content in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This pending content is the result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. The amendments in Part II of this update do not have an accounting effect. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company has adopted the accounting guidance. The adoption of this ASU resulted in the Company reclassifying $427,568 representing the fair value of the derivative liability on the date of the exchange to stockholders’ equity.

 

Subsequent Events

 

The Company evaluates events that have occurred after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued. Based upon the evaluation, the Company did not identify any recognized or non-recognized subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements, except as disclosed in Note 15.

 

NOTE 4 – FAIR VALUE  

 

Accounting Standards Codification 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure,” (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, not adjusted for transaction costs. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels giving the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

The three levels are described below:

 

Level 1 Inputs – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that is accessible by the Company;

 

Level 2 Inputs – Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly;

 

Level 3 Inputs – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability including significant assumptions of the Company and other market participants.

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, such as cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes payable approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

 

 F-12 
   

 

Transactions involving related parties cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s-length basis, as the requisite conditions of competitive, free-market dealings may not exist. Representations about transactions with related parties, if made, shall not imply that the related party transactions were consummated on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm’s-length transactions unless such representations can be substantiated.

 

Impairment.

 

The carrying value of the Company’s joint ventures and other long-lived assets are tested for impairment annually, at the end of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate it is more likely than not that the carrying amount may be impaired. Additionally, the Company continually evaluates whether events or changes in circumstances might indicate that the remaining estimated useful life of long-lived assets may warrant revision, or that the remaining balance may not be recoverable. The factors used to determine fair value are subject to management’s judgement and expertise and include, but are not limited to, the present value of future cash flows, net of estimated operating costs, internal forecasts, anticipated capital expenditures and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the expected cash flows projected. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs. There were no impairment charges during the year ended December 31, 2017. Impairment of the Company’s joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $806,719.

 

The assets 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. The following tables provides a summary of financial instruments that are measured at fair value as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

December 31, 2017        Quoted Prices           
         In Active    Significant      
         Markets for    Other    Significant 
         Identical    Observable    Unobservable 
         Liabilities    Inputs    Inputs 
    Total    (Level 1)    (Level 2)    (Level 3) 
Warrant liability  $           $ 
Embedded conversion feature                
Derivative liability – December 31, 2017  $           $ 

 

December 31, 2016         Quoted Prices              
          In Active     Significant        
          Markets for     Other     Significant  
          Identical     Observable     Unobservable  
          Liabilities     Inputs     Inputs  
    Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Warrant liability   $ 7,195,617                 $ 7,195,617  
Embedded conversion feature     504,968                   504,968  
Derivative liability – December 31, 2016   $

7,700,585

                $

7,700,585

 

 

The table below provides a summary of the changes in fair value, including net transfers in and/or out, of all financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

       Embedded   Total 
   Warrant   Conversion   Derivative 
   Liability   Feature   Liabilities 
             
Balance – December 31, 2015  $1,241,841   $-   $1,241,841 
Change in fair value   (386,182)   15,556    (370,626)
Warrants issued in connection with debt transactions   446,588    553,412    1,000,000 
Loss on modification of warrants   2,622,080           
Excess fair value of warrants issued over related debt   2,879,291    -    5,591,371 
Reclassification of equity instruments to derivative liabilities due to tainting of warrants   5,396,350    -    5,396,350 
Reclassification of derivative liabilities to equity from the exercise of warrants and issuance of shares for convertible debt   (5,022,351)   (64,000)   (5,086,351)
Balance – December 31, 2016   7,195,617    504,968    7,700,585 
Change in fair value   (2,131,990)   (123,332)   (2,255,322)
Reclassification of derivative liabilities to equity   (396,854)   (30,714)   (427,568)
Derivative extinguishment   (4,666,773)   (350,922)   (5,017,695)
Balance – December 31, 2017  $   $   $ 

 

 F-13 
   

 

The Company’s Level 3 liabilities shown in the above table consist of warrants that contain a cashless exercise feature that provides for their net share settlement at the option of the holder. In addition, the convertible debt conversion feature has a price reset provision with no floor. The warrants also contain a fundamental transaction   provision that permits their settlement in cash at fair value at the option of the holder upon the occurrence of a change in control. Such change in control events include tender offers or hostile takeovers, which are not within the sole control of the Company as the issuer of these warrants. Settlement at fair value upon the occurrence of a fundamental transaction computed using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model using the following assumptions:

 

Assumptions utilized in the valuation of Level 3 liabilities are described as follows:

 

   For the year ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
Risk free interest rate   0.2%-1.94%   0.2%-2.25%
Expected term   0.25 to 7.07 years    0.25 to 7.25 years 
Volatility   62% to 142%   51 to 123%
Dividends  $0   $0 

 

The risk-free interest rate was determined from the implied yields from U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with a remaining term consistent with the expected term of the instrument being valued. The expected term used is the contractual life of the instrument being valued. Volatility was calculated using the Company’s historical common stock price over the expected term of the instruments valued. Dividends were deemed to be $0 as the Company has historically never declared any dividends to its stock holders.

 

NOTE 5 - INVENTORY, NET  

 

Inventory primarily consists of:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Production materials consumables, spare parts, and accessories  $738,950   $937,133 
Work in process   -    853,800 
Total at cost   738,950    1,790,933 
Slow moving inventory allowance   -    (175,000)
           
Inventory, net  $738,950   $1,615,933 

 

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

   Estimated
useful life
  December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
            
Machinery and equipment  3 – 5 years  $482,263   $400,106 
Furniture and office equipment  5 – 7 years   182,305    179,206 
Transportation  3 – 5 years   222,144    303,826 
Production units  5 – 30 years   4,910,736    4,757,896 
Building  39.5 years   2,237,257    2,236,841 
Parts  n/a   862,949    - 
       8,897,654    7,877,875 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization      (2,032,265)   (1,474,944)
      $6,865,389   $6,402,931 

 

 F-14 
   

 

Depreciation expense was $616,480 and $599,992 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company ceased selling its older equipment and reclassified its parts inventory to property and equipment.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company put in production one unit with an approximate cost of $631,000.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company moved its operational facilities and sold and disposed of property and equipment and recorded a charge of approximately $1,049,000.

 

NOTE 7 – INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 

The Company’s intangible assets consisted of the following:

 

   Estimated
useful life
  December 31, 2017   December 31, 2016 
Intellectual property  15 years  $869,502   $838,398 
Less: Accumulated amortization      (457,171)   (401,277)
Intangible assets, net     $412,331   $437,121 

 

The Company recorded amortization expense of $55,894 and $55,895 for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The following table outlines estimated future annual amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter:

 

December 31,    
2018  $58,014 
2019   58,014 
2020   58,014 
2021   58,014 
2022   58,014 
Thereafter   122,261 
Total  $

412,331

 

 

NOTE 8 – INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES

 

The Company’s investment in joint ventures consisted of the following:

 

Magnegas Europe  $23,750 
Magnegas China   466,660 
Future Energy PTY, LTD   229,840 
Other   34,351 
Balance -December 31, 2015   754,601 
Additional investments during 2016   52,115 
    806,716 
Less impairment   (806,716)
Balance- December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively   - 

 

On June 25, 2010, the Company entered into agreement with a Belgian company, whereby 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and territorial license rights were exchanged for a 20% interest in MagneGas Europe. The Company valued the shares issued at the fair value of the shares issued ($23,750). The Company determined it did not have effective or beneficial control of the European entity and the Company accounts for this investment using the equity method. Equity in earnings or loss from MagneGas Europe to date have not been material. The Company has not seen any development of the venture to support the carrying value of the investment and accordingly has recognized an impairment for the full carrying value of the investment.

 

 F-15 
   

 

On June 28, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with DDI Industries, a Chinese company, in contemplation of the formation of MagneGas China. The Company provided mechanical drawings (for complete construction), computer programs, license of patents (Greater China Region), trademarks, among other items of the Plasma Arc Flow Recyclers to the joint venture for a 20% interest in MagneGas China. The fair value of the consideration provided was $466,660. The Company determined it did not have effective or beneficial control over the joint entity and accounts for this investment under the equity method. In May of 2016, the original majority owner of the entity, DDI Industries, sold their interest to another entity, Paishi Environment Technologies, also a Chinese entity. Based on the sales price DDI Industries received in the transaction for its controlling interest and the lack of earnings in the joint venture to date, the Company determined the carrying value of the investment was fully impaired.

 

On March 19, 2014, the Company signed a joint venture agreement with FutureEnergy Pty Ltd of Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will own 50% of a new company formed for the purpose of developing, licensing and commercializing new intellectual property for co-combustion of MagneGas fuels with hydrocarbon fuels to reduce emissions and increase energy. This agreement includes and extends beyond the existing partnership of coal co-combustion to include other current and future developments such as the combustion of MagneGas with diesel, heavy oil, aviation fuels, and liquid petroleum gas. The fair value of the Company’s investment was $254,840 and is accounted for under the equity method since day to day control rests with the other partners. This joint venture is a development stage company conducting research and development and research activity and has been minimal to date. During the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company had not seen the development of the venture to support the carrying value of the investment so the Company accordingly has recognized an impairment.

 

NOTE 9 - CAPITALIZED LEASES

 

The Company has equipment under various capital leases expiring in July 2020, October 2020, August 2022 and September 2022. The assets and liabilities under the capital lease are recorded at the lower of the present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the assets.

 

The assets, with costs of approximately $91,299 and $34,645 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, accumulated amortization of approximately $22,725 and $11,036 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are included in machinery and equipment, and are amortized over the estimated lives of the assets. Amortization of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation expense.

 

At December 31, 2017, annual minimum future lease payments under this capital lease are as   follows:

 

For the year ending December 31,  Amount 
2018   27,460 
2019   27,460 
2020   24,791 
2021   18,132 
2022   5,064 
Total minimum lease payments   102,907 
Less amount representing interest   11,608 
Present value of minimum lease payments   91,299 
Less current portion of minimum lease   27,460 
Long-term present value of minimum lease payment  $63,839 

 

The interest rate on the capitalized lease is approximately 6% and is imputed based on the lower of the Company’s incremental borrowings rate at the inception of each lease or the lessor’s implicit rate of return.

 

 F-16 
   

 

NOTE 10 – NOTES PAYABLE

 

Notes Payable – Related Parties 

 

On April 3, 2017, the Company entered into a $50,000 promissory note with a member of the Board of Directors. The note bears interest of 15% as is due on July 3, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the Note has not been repaid. During the first quarter of 2018 the company repaid $35,000 in principal and $6,313 in interest.

 

On April 11, 2017, the Company entered into a $50,000 promissory note with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The note bears interest of 15% and was due on July 11, 2017. The CEO funded an additional $7,103 which was repaid as of August 21, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the Note has not been repaid. During the first quarter of 2018 the company repaid $20,000 in principal and $6,146 in interest.

 

Accrued Expenses – Related Parties

 

During the period July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, the CEO, excluding the notes described above, continued to fund working capital in the amount of $249,570. There is no formal note agreement, stated interest rate or maturity date and is payable on demand. As of December 31, 2017, $182,070 is payable to the CEO and is included in accrued expenses.

 

Interest on the aforementioned notes and advances were not material during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Senior Convertible Debenture Payable

 

On June 27, 2016, the Company issued and sold a senior convertible debenture that matures in June 2021 in the principal amount of $1,000,000. The debenture has a stated conversion price of $85.50 per share and a stated interest rate of 0.0% per annum. The conversion feature to the note carries a reset provision whereby if the Company enters into a subsequent financing at a price less than the original conversion price the stated conversion price would reset to the lower of the subsequent financing transaction. The holder of the debenture will not have the right to convert any portion of the debenture if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion.

 

In connection with the debenture the Company granted the following warrants to purchase common stock of the Company to the investor as follows:

 

Common stock   Exercise     Expiration
Warrants   Price     Date
23,392   $ 157.50     12/23/2023
11,696   $ 195.00     12/23/2023
46,784   $ 151.50     12/31/2016
23,392   $ 157.50     12/27/2023
11,696   $ 195.00     12/27/2023

 

In addition, the Company sold to the investor prefunded warrants to purchase 35,088 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share for total cash proceeds of approximately $2,540,821, net of offering costs. The warrant has life of 0.5 years and was fully vested on the date of the grant.

 

The Company also entered into a registration rights agreement whereby the Company is required to maintain an effective registration statement covering the entire common stock equivalent for the conversion of the note and for the common stock issuable for the exercise of the warrants. Under the terms of the registration statement rights agreement the Company is required to have registered shares available for the settlement of these instruments 60 days from the date of the transaction, in the event of a full review the date will be 100 days from the date of the transaction. Should the Company not meet this obligation the Company would be required to pay liquidating damages of 2% of the total investment or approximately $80,000 on the date of the event and every month thereafter until the violation has been cured. The registration statement registering such shares was deemed effective on August 12, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the Company has not accrued any amount for this contingency as it was deemed not probable that the Company would incur any liquidating damages in connection with the registration rights agreement.

 

In addition, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary signed a guarantee in connection with the issuance of the debenture and registration rights agreement.

 

 F-17 
   

 

The Company has accounted for this transaction under ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” whereby the conversion feature in the debenture was deemed to have a “down round” price protection features with no floor. This feature resulted in the determination that the Company would not have sufficient authorized shares available to settle its outstanding warrants and convertible instruments. As a result of entering into a convertible credit facility for which such instruments contained a variable conversion feature with no floor, the Company has adopted a sequencing policy in accordance with ASC 815-40-35-12 whereby all future instruments may be classified as a derivative liability with the exception of instruments related to share-based compensation.

 

Accordingly, the warrants and the embedded conversion option of the debenture are recorded as derivative liabilities at their fair market value and are required to be marked to market through earnings at the end of each reporting period. The fair value of the financial instruments was determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model which approximated the binomial lattice model. The gross proceeds of the prefunded warrant and the sale of the debenture was recorded net of a discount of $1,000.000. The total fair value of all of the embedded conversion feature and warrants was approximately $6,675,000 which was in excess of the total proceeds of the transaction. The excess fair value of approximately $2,622,080 was recorded as a charge to the consolidated statement of operations as a component of interest expense. The company recorded a charge of approximately $189,000 for the amortization of the debt discount for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016 1,333 shares of common stock were issued for the settlement of 134,000 of principal reducing the principal amount to $886,000. During the period January 1, 2017 through May 9, 2017 the Company issued 6,667 shares of common stock for the settlement of $57,000 of principal.

 

On May 9, 2017 the Company agreed to amend the terms of a the convertible debenture, which had a current outstanding principal amount of $829,000 on the date of the amendment, as follows: (i) the Conversion Price of the Convertible Debenture is reduced from $85.50 to $45.00, subject to adjustment under the Exchange Agreement or under the terms of such Convertible Debenture, which will result in an increase of 8,726 shares of Common Stock that may be issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debenture and (ii) the Company shall be permitted to prepay the then-outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Debenture, together with a prepayment premium in the amount of 10% of the principal amount being prepaid.

 

The Company assessed the exchange for extinguishment versus modification accounting. The Company evaluated the fair value of the instrument prior to the exchange and compared such value to the fair value of the consideration received. Because the fair value of the consideration received was greater than 10%, the Company applied extinguishment accounting, resulting in an extinguishment loss of $513,725, which was recorded in other income/expense.

 

On the date of the extinguishment the Company recorded a debt discount of $829,000 which represented the face value of the debt for the beneficial conversion feature associated with the debt. The debt discount will be accreted over the remaining maturity of the note using the straight-line method which approximates the interest rate method.

 

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2017-11 which simplified the accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features and accordingly upon the adoption of this standard the derivative liability embedded in the convertible note ceased to exist; accordingly the Company reclassified $427,568 representing the fair value of the derivative liability on the date of the exchange to stockholders’ equity.

 

During the period ended May 9, 2017 through December 31, 2017, the noteholder converted $800,000 in principal into 152,381 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

On November 30, 2017 the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the noteholder and issued 106,667 shares of common stock for the settlement of $29,000. The excess fair value of the principal amount of $602,970 was recorded as a charge to operation and included as a component in settlement of vendor liability. As of December 31, 2017, the Senior Debentures was repaid in full.

 

As a result of the conversions and settlement agreement, the Company fully accreted the $829,000 in debt discount to other income and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Senior Debentures:

 

On May 9, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with an institutional investor providing for the sale and issuance of 8% Senior Debentures for gross proceeds of $1,000,000. The debenture was due in November 2017 and bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum. The Company is required to make interest payments quarterly beginning on the original issuance date of the Debenture. The Debenture is unsecured and is not convertible.

 

The Company recognized issuance costs of $60,000 as a debt discount and will expense over the maturity of the note. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded an expense of $60,000 for the accretion of the debt discount.

 

 F-18 
   

 

Note Agreement

 

On November 15, 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the holder of the senior debenture and entered into a short-term note agreement having an implicit interest rate of 25% and received net proceeds of $500,000. The short-term note agreement has a term of twelve (12) months and requires the Company to make monthly payments in the amount of $10,416.67 with a $625,000 balloon payment at end of term, which includes a $125,000 commitment fee. The Company has the right prepay the amounts owed under the note at any time without penalty.

 

The Company recorded $250,000 in commitment fees, buy back premiums and interest as an original issue discount and recorded a face amount of $750,000. The $250,000 in discount is being accreted over the 12-month life of the agreement using the straight-line method, which approximates the interest rate method. As of December 31, 2107, the Company accreted $65,796 of the discount. The short term note agreement has a blanket lien on the Company’s assets.

 

The Company recognized a loss on the settlement of the senior debenture of $ 121,428 for the year ended December 31, 2017. 

 

NOTE 11 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Reverse Stock Splits

 

On May 18, 2017, the Company filed an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to effect a one-for-ten reverse split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock which was effectuated on May 19, 2017.

 

On January 16, 2018, the Company filed an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to effect a one-for-fifteen reverse split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock which was effectuated on January 16, 2018.

 

The reverse stock splits did not modify the rights or preferences of the common stock. Proportional adjustments have been made to the conversion and exercise prices of the Company’s outstanding common stock warrants, convertible notes, common stock options, and to the number of common stock shares issued and issuable under the Company’s equity compensation plan. The Company did not issue any fractional shares in connection with the reverse stock splits or change the par value per share. Fractional shares issuable entitle shareholders, to receive a cash payment in lieu of the fractional shares without interest. All share and per share amounts for the common stock have been retroactively restated to give effect to the reverse splits.

 

All share and per share amounts for the common stock have been retroactively restated to give effect to the reverse splits.

 

 F-19 
   

 

Amendment to Authorized Shares

 

On June 14, 2017, the Company filed an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from ninety million (90,000,000) to one hundred ninety million (190,000,000). The proposal for the amendment was approved by the Company’s shareholders at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on May 17, 2017.

 

Common Stock Issued for Cash

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company issued 6,803 shares of common stock and 5,291 of pre-funded warrants for net cash proceeds of $2,785,287. The warrants were fully vested on the date of the grant, have a life of 1 year and are exercisable at a $1.50 per share and have a cashless exercise provision. As of December 31, 2016, in connection with the convertible debt issued with a reset provision that contained no floor the Company could not determine it had sufficient authorized shares to settle this contract. Accordingly, the Company reclassified $7,195,617 of fair value of these warrants as a component of derivative liabilities.

 

Common shares issued for services

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued 250,331 shares of the Company’s common stock to key advisors, directors and consultants of the Company. These shares were fully vested on the date of issuance and the fair value of these issuances was $3,181,167.

 

The Company issued 10,992 shares of common stock to consultants for various services rendered during the year ended December 31, 2016. These shares were fully vested on the date of issuance and the fair value of these issuances was $1,109,500.

 

Common shares issued for settlement of liabilities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company issued 13,333 of common stock to settle outstanding vendor liabilities of $48,201. In connection with this transaction the company also recorded a loss on settlement of liabilities of $11,715.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company issued 106,667 of common stock to settle outstanding debt of $29,000. In connection with this transaction the company also recorded a loss on settlement of liabilities of $631,970, which represents the excess fair value of the shares issued.

 

Common Stock Issued for Exercise of Warrants

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company issued 5,291 shares of common stock for the exercise of warrants, cash proceeds were $7,937. The exercise of these warrants resulted in a reclassification of the derivative liability associated with these warrants of $396,854, which has been reclassified from derivative liability to stockholders’ equity.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company issued 63,810 shares of common stock for the exercise of warrants, cash proceeds were $95,714. The exercise of these warrants resulted in a reclassification of the derivative liability associated with these warrants of $5,022,351, which has been reclassified to from derivative liability to stockholders’ equity.

 

Conversion of Convertible Note into Shares of Common Stock

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company issued 667 shares of common stock for conversion of $57,000 of senior convertible debentures. The conversion of the $57,000 resulted in the reclassification of the derivative liability to equity for the embedded conversion feature of $30,717.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company issued 1,333 shares of common stock for the settlement of $114,000 of senior convertible debentures.

 

 F-20 
   

 

Preferred Stock

 

Series A Preferred Stock

 

As of December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company has designated 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock par value $0.001 and 1,000,000 shares are issued and outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock does not have any conversion provision or provides for cumulative dividends and each share of Series A Preferred Stock has voting rights equal to 667 shares of common stock. The Series A Preferred Stock has no redemption provision at the option of the holder and accordingly has been classified as permanent equity.

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

On May 9, 2017 the Company filed a Certificate of Designation to designate 2,700 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock is convertible in shares of Common Stock at a price of $45.00 per share subject to subsequent equity sales reset provisions. The conversion provision was at the option of the holder and the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock did not provide for cumulative dividends and did not have any voting rights. The holders of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock would receive upon liquidation, the same amount that a holder of common stock would receive if the preferred stock were fully converted, paid pari passu with all holders of common stock.

 

On May 9, 2017, the Company entered into an exchange agreement with an institutional investor. Under the terms of the agreement, the investor agreed to exchange with the Company, warrants exercisable for 1,479,904 shares of common stock, for (i) 2,700 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at a stated value of $1,000 per share and convertible into 60,000 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $45.00 and (ii) 66,667 shares of common stock.

 

The Company cancelled 1,479,904 of warrants with a fair value of $4,666,773 on the date of the exchange, extinguished the derivative liability associated with the conversion feature in the amount of $350,922, and issued 2,700 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and 6,667 shares of common stock with an aggregate fair value of $5,652,500 The exchange resulted in an incremental increase of $513,725 which the Company has recorded as a loss on extinguishment of debt in other income (expense) in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, 2,700 shares of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 60,000 shares of the Company’s common stock an exchange rate of $45.00 per share.

 

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

 

On June 15, 2017 the Company filed a Certificate of Designation to designate 25,000 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. The Preferred Shares have a stated value of $1,000 and each share of preferred stock is convertible into common stock at a conversion price of $45.00 per share. The holders of Preferred Shares are entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared by the Board and after the occurrence of a triggering event. Until such time as all triggering events then outstanding are cured, the holders shall be entitled to receive dividends at a rate of eighteen percent (18.0%) per annum,

 

 F-21 
   

 

At any time the holder may, at its option, convert any Preferred Shares at an alternate conversion price as follows:

 

The lower of (A) the applicable conversion price as then in effect and (B) the greater of (x) $5.25 and (y) the lowest of (i) 85% of the Value Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) of the common stock as of the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable conversion notice, (ii) 85% of the VWAP of the common stock as of the trading day of the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable conversion notice and (iii) 85% of the price computed as the quotient of (I) the sum of the VWAP of the common stock for each of the ten (10) trading days with the lowest VWAP of the common stock during the twenty (20) consecutive trading day period ending and including the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable conversion notice, divided by (II) ten (10).

 

In lieu of conversion, upon a triggering event, the holder may require the Company to redeem all or any of the Preferred Shares at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (A) the conversion amount of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed multiplied by (B) a redemption premium of 115% and (ii) the product of (X) the conversion rate with respect to the conversion amount in effect at such time of redemption multiplied by (Y) the product of (1) a redemption premium of 115% multiplied by (2) the greatest closing sale price of the common stock on any trading day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Triggering Event and ending on the date the Company makes the entire redemption payment.  

 

The Company may, at its option following notice to each holder, redeem such amount of Preferred Shares by paying to each holder the corresponding installment amount in cash. The applicable installment conversion price with respect to a particular date of determination, shall be equal to the lower of (A) the conversion price then in effect and (B) the greater of (x) $5.25 and (y) the lower of (i) 85% of the VWAP of the common stock as of the trading day immediately preceding the applicable Installment Date and (ii) 85% of the quotient of (A) the sum of the VWAP of the common stock for each of the ten (10) trading days with the lowest VWAP of the common stock during the twenty (20) consecutive trading day period ending and including the trading day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date, divided by (B) ten (10). 

 

If the Company elects to effect an installment redemption in lieu of an installment conversion, in whole or in part, such Preferred Shares shall be redeemed by the Company in cash on the applicable Installment Date in an amount equal to 103% of the applicable installment redemption amount. 

 

As a result of such Triggering Event discussed above, the Series C Preferred Stock has redeemable features which are not in the Company’s control and therefore Management has classified the Series C Preferred Stock in temporary equity in accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  

 

On June 12, 2017, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with one or more investors. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company issued to each investor, Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, Series C Convertible Preferred Warrants and Warrants, for a total gross purchase price of up to $25,000,000. At the initial closing under the SPA, the Company issued a total of 75 Preferred Shares at a purchase price of $900 per share. The Preferred Warrants are exercisable for a total of 24,925 Preferred Shares at an exercise price of $900 per share. The Preferred Shares have an initial conversion price of $45.00 and are initially convertible into an aggregate of 8,555,556 shares of common stock. The Common Stock Warrants are exercisable for 194,444 shares of common stock, representing thirty-five percent (35%) of the total number of shares of common stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares. The exercise price of the Common Stock Warrants is $45.00 per share and are exercisable for 5 years.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the warrant holders exercised 3,528 Preferred Warrants into 3,528 Preferred Shares. The investors simultaneously converted 3,413 shares (and the previously issued 75 Preferred Shares) which had a stated value of $3,413,000 into 634,482 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Management analyzed the conversion features of the Series C Preferred stock underlying the Preferred Warrants and recorded a beneficial conversion feature in the amount of $3,528,000. The beneficial conversion feature was recognized as a deemed dividend. In addition because the Preferred Warrants may not be exercised into preferred shares unless the registration statement is effective, no derivative liability has been recognized.

 

As of December 31, 2017 the Company had 115 Series C shares outstanding with a stated value of $115,000.

 

 F-22 
   

 

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock

 

On July 21, 2017, the Company designated preferred stock as Series D Convertible Preferred Stock. The authorized number of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock was 694,222 each preferred share shall have a par value of $0.001. The holders are entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared by the Board. The Preferred Shares have a stated value of $15.00 per share. The initial conversion price of the preferred shares to common stock will be $15.00. In addition, under the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock designation holders representing at 65% of the aggregate stated value amount of the Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be required for any change, waiver or amendment to the certificate of designations provided, that 65% must include the holders as long as they beneficially owns any preferred shares.

 

Upon the occurrence of a triggering event as disclosed in the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock designation until such time as all triggering events then outstanding are cured, the holders shall be entitled to receive dividends at a rate of 18.0% per annum.

 

At any time the holder may, at its option, convert the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock under an alternate conversion price which is the lower of the applicable conversion price in effect on the applicable conversion date of the applicable alternate conversion and the greater of the following:

 

  a) the floor price and the lowest of 75% of the closing bid price of the common Stock as of the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable conversion notice,
     
  b) 75% of the variable weighted average price of the common stock as defined in the preferred designation

 

In lieu of conversion, upon a triggering event, the holder may require the Company to redeem all or any of the preferred shares at a price equal to the greater of calculations as defined in the preferred designation; accordingly, the Company has classified the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock as temporary equity

 

On July 21, 2017, the Company entered into a SPA with one or more investors. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company issued in the aggregate 10,000 shares of common stock and Series D Convertible Preferred Warrants for a total gross purchase price of $826,182. The preferred warrants have a life of 2.43 years and have an exercise price of $1.00.

 

On July 27, 2017, at the initial closing under the SPA, the Company issued to the Investors a total of 10,000 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $13.17 per share. The Preferred Warrants are exercisable for a total of 694,422 Preferred Shares at an exercise price of $1.00 per share. The Preferred Shares have an initial conversion price of $15.00 and are initially convertible into an aggregate of 46,295 shares of Common Stock.

 

Management analyzed the conversion features of the Series D Preferred stock underlying the Preferred Warrants and recorded a beneficial conversion feature in the amount of $826,182. The beneficial conversion feature was recognized as a deemed dividend. In addition because the Preferred Warrants may not be exercised into preferred shares unless the registration statement is effective, no derivative liability has been recognized.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the 694,422 shares of Series D Preferred Shares were converted into 120,100 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an average conversion price of $5.85 per share.

 

Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company has designated 1,060 shares of Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock par value $0.001 of which none are outstanding. The Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock included a conversion feature where by the holder could convert its Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock at a price of $1,500 per share and the conversion price was subject to subsequent equity sale reset provisions. The conversion provision was at the option of the holder and the Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock did not provide for cumulative dividends and carries no redemption provision outside the control of the Company.

 

The designation of shares as Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock was extinguished with the Company’s filing on June 14, 2017, of an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Series D-2 Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company has designated 940 shares of Series D-2 Convertible Preferred Stock of which none are outstanding. The Series D-2 Convertible Preferred Stock included a conversion into common stock at a price of $1,500 per share and the conversion price par value $0.001 was subject to subsequent equity sale reset provisions. The conversion provision was at the option of the holder and the Series D-2 Convertible Preferred Stock did not provide for cumulative dividends and carries no redemption provision outside the control of the Company.

 

The designation of shares as Series D-2 Convertible Preferred Stock was extinguished with the Company’s filing on June 14, 2017, of an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

 F-23 
   

 

Series E Convertible Preferred Stock

 

On September 15, 2017, the Company designated a new class of preferred stock as Series E Convertible Preferred Stock. The authorized number of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock was 455,882 each preferred share shall have a par value of $0.001. The holders are entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared by the Board. The Preferred Shares have a stated value of $1.36 per share. The initial conversion price of the preferred shares to common stock will be $1.36. In addition, under the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock designation holders representing at 65% of the aggregate stated value amount of the Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be required for any change, waiver or amendment to the certificate of designations provided, that 65% must include the holders as long as they beneficially owns any preferred shares.

 

Upon the occurrence of a triggering event as disclosed in the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock designation until such time as all triggering events then outstanding are cured, the holders shall be entitled to receive dividends at a rate of 18.0% per annum.

 

At any time the holder may, at its option, convert the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock under an alternate conversion price which is the lower of the applicable conversion price in effect on the applicable conversion date of the applicable alternate conversion and the greater of the following:

 

  a) the floor price and the lowest of 75% of the closing bid price of the common Stock as of the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable conversion notice,
     
  b) 75% of the variable weighted average price of the common stock as defined in the preferred designation

 

In lieu of conversion, upon a triggering event, the holder may require the Company to redeem all or any of the preferred shares at a price equal to the greater of calculations as defined in the preferred designation Accordingly the Company has classified the Series E Convertible Preferred Stock as temporary equity

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company issued 36,765 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock and issued 419,117 Series E Preferred Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants as part of a security purchase agreement for consideration of $50,00 which was for stock issuance cost. The Series E Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants have a life of 2.28 years and an exercise price of $1.36. The Company recorded a beneficial conversion feature in the amount of $620,000 for the underlying preferred shares of the preferred warrant. The beneficial conversion feature was recognized as a deemed dividend.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the warrant holders exercised 419,117 Preferred Warrants into 419,117 Preferred Shares for a total gross purchase price of $569,999. The investors simultaneously converted 139,007 shares of Preferred Series E which had a stated value of $189,049 into 36,011 shares of common stock.

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 316,875 Series E shares Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding with a stated value of $430,950.

 

Options

 

Options outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

       Weighted   Weighted     
       Average   Average     
   Options   Exercise   Remaining   Intrinsic 
   Outstanding   Price   Life in Years   Value 
December 31, 2015   28,473    198.00    2.4    968,000 
Granted   4,035    93.00    5.0    - 
Exercised                   
Forfeited                   
Expired                  
December 31, 2016   32,508    93.54    1.23    13.60 
Granted                   
Exercised                   
Forfeited                   
Expired   (17,166)   34.73           
December 31, 2017   15,342    159.34    1.58    0 
                     
Exercisable at December 31, 2017   15,342                

 

 F-24 
   

 

As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of non-vested options totaled $446,183 which will be amortized to expense over the weighted average remaining term of 1.58 years.

 

The fair value of each employee option grant is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Key weighted-average assumptions used to apply this pricing model during the year ended 2016 were as follows:

 

Risk free interest rate   1.10%
Expected term   3-5 years 
Volatility   55.6%
Dividends  $0 

 

On July 12, 2017, the Board of Directors submitted the following actions to the Majority Stockholder for ratification and approval by consent in lieu of meeting, and the Majority Stockholder has ratified and approved the following actions: approving the MagneGas Corporation Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “New Plan”), for the principal purpose of increasing the number of shares that may be issued or transferred pursuant   to awards under the New Plan. As of December 31, 2017, there are 15,432 shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights and 784.3 shares remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans.

 

Common Stock Warrants

 

Warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 

          Weighted     Weighted  
          Average     Average  
    Warrants     Exercise     Remaining  
    Outstanding     Price     Life in Years  
Balance -December 31, 2015     51,352       199.50          
Granted     186,061       82.50          
Exercised     (63,810 )     1.50          
Forfeited/Exchanged     -       -          
Expired     (20,321 )                
Balance -December 31, 2016     153,282       136.50       5.8  
Granted     22,222       455.63       5.0  
Exercised     (5,291 )     15.00          
Expired     (147,991 )     136.50          
Balance- December 31, 2017     22,222       455.63       4.45  
                         
Exercisable at December 31, 2017             22,222          

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017 the Company issued 5,291 shares of common stock for the exercise of warrants, cash proceeds were $7,937.

 

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the total intrinsic value of warrants outstanding and exercisable was $0 and $0, respectively.

 

Maxim Group, LLC (“Maxim”) acted as the exclusive placement agent for the Series C preferred stock transaction. The Company agreed to pay Maxim a cash fee payable upon each closing equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds ($4,050 in cash fees and a legal expense reimbursement of $5,000) received by the Company at each Closing (the “Placement Fee”). Such fees were recognized as stock issuance costs. Additionally, the Company granted to Maxim (or its designated affiliates) warrants to purchase up to 416,667 shares common stock (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Placement Agent Warrants expire five (5) years after the Closing. The Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable at a price per share equal to $49.50, are not be redeemable and are exercisable for 5 years. The Placement Agent Warrants may be exercised in whole or in part and provide for a “cashless” exercise, except in the event the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants are registered for resale, in which case they provide for a “cash” exercise only. The Placement Agent Warrants were recorded at fair value as a stock issuance costs. Although the Placement Agent Warrants contain certain change in control provisions that are potentially settleable in cash, such settlement is at the Company’s discretion.

 

 F-25 
   

 

Preferred Stock Warrants

 

Warrants outstanding to purchase Series C Preferred Stock as of December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:

 

       Weighted   Weighted 
       Average   Average 
   Warrants   Exercise   Remaining 
   Outstanding   Price   Life in Years 
Balance -December 31, 2016   -    -    - 
Granted   24,925    900    5.0 
Exercised   (3,528)   900      
Forfeited/Exchanged   -    -      
Expired               
Balance- December 31, 2017   21,397    900    4.45 
                
Exercisable at December 31, 2017   21,397           

 

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the total intrinsic value of preferred stock warrants outstanding and exercisable was $0 and $0, respectively.

 

NOTE 12 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company previously occupied 5,000 square feet of a building owned by a related party. Rent was payable at $4,000 on a month to month basis. The facility allowed for expansion needs. The lease was held by EcoPlus, Inc., a company that is effectively controlled by Dr. Ruggero Santilli, a former officer and director of the Company and one of the people who currently has voting and investment control over 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock which, in turn, has 100,000 votes per share on any matters brought to a vote of the common stock shareholders. Rent expense for both the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 under this lease was approximately $12,000 and $48,000, respectively. The lease was terminated on May 27, 2017.

 

NOTE 13 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation

 

Certain conditions may exist as of the date the consolidated financial statements are issued 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 assesses 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 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.

 

 F-26 
   

 

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, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s 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, then the nature of the contingent liability and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

 

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed, unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. There can be no assurance that such matters will not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, and results of operations or cash flows.

 

On April 16, 2015, there was an accident at the Company’s facilities which occurred during the gas filling process. As a result of the accident, one employee was killed and one was injured but has recovered and has returned to work. Although the Company has Workers Compensation Insurance and General Liability Insurance, the financial impact of the accident is unknown at this time. No customers have terminated their relationship with the Company as a result of the accident. On October 14, 2015 the Company received a final report from the Occupational and Safety Hazard Administration (“OSHA”) related to the accident. The OSHA report included findings, many of which were already resolved and a proposed citation. The Company was not cited for any willful misconduct and no final determination was made as to the cause of the accident. The Company received citations related to various operational issues and received a fine of $52,000. The Company has also been informed by the U.S. Department of Transportation that it has closed its investigation with no findings or citations to the Company. The U.S. Department of Transportation has the right to re-open the investigation should new information become available.

 

On November 18, 2016 a lawsuit was filed in District Court in Pinellas County, Florida by the Estate of Michael Sheppard seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit alleges that the Company was negligent and grossly negligent in various aspects of its safety, training and overall work environment that led to the accident. The Company was not cited by OSHA for any willful misconduct nor did it receive any citations from the Department of Transportation. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not accrued for any contingency. The Company responded to this lawsuit in 2016 and as of the date of this filing, has not heard back from the plaintiff.

 

NOTE 14 - INCOME TAX

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Bill”) was signed into law. Prior to the enactment of the Tax Reform Bill, the Company measured its deferred tax assets at the federal rate of 34%. The Tax Reform Bill reduced the federal tax rate to 21% resulting in the re-measurement of the deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2017. Beginning January 1, 2018, the lower tax rate of 21% will be used to calculate the amount of any federal income tax due on taxable income earned during 2018.

 

Income tax expense (benefit) consist of the following for the years ended December 31, consist of the following:

 

U.S. federal  2017   2016 
Current:        
Deferred   3,160,000    (3,900,000)
State and local          
Current        
Deferred   (1,000,000)   (400,000)
Total   (2,160,000)   (4,300,000)
           
Change in valuation allowance   4,890,000    4,300,000 
Income Tax Provision   -    - 

 

 F-27 
   

 

The reconciliation between the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective rate for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:

 

   2017   2016 
U.S. federal statutory rate   34.00%   34.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit   4.22%   2.41%
Other permanent items   4.71%   -10.41%
Effect of federal tax rate change   (66.96)%   -1.46%
Effect of state tax rate change   3.76%   - 
Change in valuation allowance   20.27%   -24.55%
Effective rate   0.00%   0.00%

 

As of December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company’s deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the effects of temporary differences attributable to the following:

 

Deferred tax assets  2017   2016 
Net Operating Loss carryover  $14,400,000   $16,000,000 
Stock-based compensation   600,000    900,000 
Other   -    600,000 
Total deferred tax asset   15,000,000    17,300,000 
Less reserve for allowance   15,000,000    17,300,000 
Total Deferred tax asset net of valuation allowance  $-   $- 

 

The tax loss carry-forwards of the Company may be subject to limitation by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the amount utilizable each year. This limitation reduces the Company’s ability to utilize net operating loss carry-forwards. The Company has not completed a detailed Section 382 study at this time to determine what impact, if any, that ownership changes may have had on its NOL carry forwards.

 

On December 22, 2017, new legislation was signed into law, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included, among other things, a provision to reduce the federal corporate income tax rate to 21%. Under ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, the enactment of the Tax Act also requires companies, to recognize the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities and the retroactive effects of changes in tax laws in the period in which the new legislation is enacted. There is no further change to its assertion on maintaining a full valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. The Company’s gross deferred tax assets have been revalued from 35% to 21% with a corresponding offset to the valuation allowance and any potential other taxes arising due to the Tax Act will result in reductions to its net operating loss carryforward and valuation allowance. Deferred tax assets of approximately $24.7 million have been revalued to approximately $15.0 million with a corresponding decrease to the Company’s valuation allowance. Upon completion of our 2017 U.S. income tax return in 2018 we may identify additional remeasurement adjustments to our recorded deferred tax liabilities. We will continue to assess our provision for income taxes as future guidance is issued, but do not currently anticipate significant revisions will be necessary. Any such revisions will be treated in accordance with the measurement period guidance outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118.

 

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company has federal and state net operating loss carryforwards each of $54,536,000 and $42,374,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, the tax returns for the years from 2014 through 2017 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and various state authorities. ASC 740, “Income Taxes” requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is “more likely than not” that all, or a portion of, deferred tax assets will not be recognized. A review of all available positive and negative evidence needs to be considered, including the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies. After consideration of all the information available, management believes that uncertainty exists with respect to future realization of its deferred tax assets and has, therefore, established a full valuation allowance as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2017 the change in valuation allowance was $590,000.

 

 F-28 
   

 

As of December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Company has evaluated and concluded that there were no material uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s policy is to classify assessments, if any, for tax related interest as income tax expenses. No interest or penalties were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefit position to change during the next twelve months.

 

NOTE 15 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Related Party Debt:

 

During the period January 1, 2018 through April 2, 2018, $67,458 in related party debt was repaid.

 

Equity:

 

During the period January 1, 2018 through April 11, 2018, the warrant holders exercised 9,991 Preferred Warrants into 9,991 Series C Preferred Shares. The investors converted 9,550 Series C Preferred Shares into 9,150,370 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

During the period January 1, 2018 through April 11,2018, the warrant holders exercised 0 Preferred Warrants into 0 Series E Preferred Shares. The investors converted 280,111 Series E Preferred Shares into 135,754 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Employment Agreements:

 

On March 13, 2018, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Ermanno Santilli (“Santilli Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the agreement Mr. Santilli will continue to serve as the Company’s chief executive officer and will receive an annual salary of $235,000 per year. The agreement includes the grant of 100,000 time-vested common stock options with strike price set at the Company’s closing share price on March 13, 2018. 50,000 common stock options vested on March 13, 2018 and the remaining 50,000 common stock options will vest 1/24th per month for a period of 24 months. The agreement also includes the opportunity for performance bonuses, subject to Mr. Santilli meeting certain objectives. If the performance objectives are met, the bonus compensation will vest 1/3 after December 31, 2018 followed by the balance vesting 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter. If Mr. Santilli’s agreement is not renewed for an additional Term (as defined in the Santilli Employment Agreement), the achieved performance cash and common stock options shall be subject to an accelerated vesting schedule with such cash and common stock options fully vesting thirty (30) days after his agreement terminates. If Mr. Santilli terminates his agreement unilaterally, any unvested cash or common stock options shall be forfeited.

 

On March 13, 2018, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Scott Mahoney (“Mahoney Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the agreement Mr. Mahoney will continue to serve as the Company’s chief financial officer and will receive an annual salary of $215,000 per year. The agreement includes the grant of 100,000 time-vested common stock options with strike price set at the Company’s closing share price on March 13, 2018. 50,000 common stock options vested on March 13, 2018 and the remaining 50,000 common stock options will vest 1/24th per month for a period of 24 months. The agreement also includes performance bonuses, subject to Mr. Mahoney meeting certain objectives. If the performance objectives are met, the bonus compensation will vest 1/3 after December 31, 2018 followed by the balance vesting 1/36th per month for 36 months thereafter. If Mr. Mahoney’s agreement is not renewed for an additional Term (as defined in the Mahoney Employment Agreement), the achieved performance cash and common stock options shall be subject to an accelerated vesting schedule with such cash and common stock options fully vesting thirty (30) days after his agreement terminates. If Mr. Mahoney terminates his agreement unilaterally, any unvested cash or common stock options shall be forfeited.

 

Asset Purchase Agreements:

 

On January 19, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement (“Amended Asset Purchase Agreement”) with GGNG Enterprises Inc. (formerly known as NG Enterprises, Inc.) and Guillermo Gallardo (collectively, the “Seller”) and closed the purchase of certain assets related to the Seller’s welding supply and gas distribution business in San Diego, California. The Amended Asset Purchase Agreement amended certain material terms of that certain Asset Purchase Agreement entered into between the Company and the Seller on December 29, 2017. The primary purpose of the Amended Asset Purchase Agreement was to expand the assets being purchased to include certain gas cylinders having an approximate value of $350,000 and simultaneously reducing the value of the account receivables being acquired. Under the terms of the Amended Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from the Seller all of the Seller’s right, title an interest to the Purchased Assets (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement). The total purchase price for the Purchased Assets was $745,000. In conjunction with the Amended Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Seller entered into an Assignment and Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement (“Bill of Sale”) on January 19, 2018. Upon consummation of the closing, on January 19, 2018, the Company commenced business operations in San Diego, California through its wholly owned subsidiary NG Enterprises Acquisition, LLC and is doing business as “Complete Welding San Diego”.

 

On February 16, 2018, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (“Asset Purchase Agreement”) with Green Arc Supply, L.L.C. (the “Seller”) and closed the purchase of certain assets related to the Seller’s welding supply and gas distribution business located in Louisiana and Texas. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from the Seller all of the Seller’s right, title an interest to the Purchased Assets and the Assumed Liabilities (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement. The total purchase price for the Purchased Assets and Assumed Liabilities was $2,500,000, which was comprised of a $1,000,000 cash payment and the issuance of that number of shares of restricted common stock equal to $1,500,000 divided by the ten-day VWAP as of the closing date. The Asset Purchase Agreement also includes certain conditional and bonus payments to the Seller, subject to certain performance criteria being met, as well as other terms and conditions which are typical in asset purchase agreements.

 

In conjunction with the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Seller entered into an Assignment and Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement (“Bill of Sale”) on February 16, 2018. The Bill of Sale conveyed the Purchased Assets and Assumed Liabilities (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement) to the Company.

 

Further, in conjunction with the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into four (4) Assignment, Assumption and Amendment to Lease Agreements (each a “Lease Assumption Agreement”) with the Seller and the landlords of certain real property leased by the Seller for the operation of the Seller’s business locations in Louisiana and Texas.

 

Securities Purchase Agreement:

 

On April 3, 2018, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Robert Baker, Joseph Knieriem (collectively, the “Sellers”) and Trico Welding Supplies, Inc., a California corporation (“Trico”) for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Trico by the Company. Under the terms of the SPA, the Company purchased one hundred percent (100%) of Trico’s issued and outstanding capital stock for the gross purchase price of $2,000,000 (“Trico Stock”). The SPA includes certain other terms and conditions which are typical in securities purchase agreements. On March 21, 2018, the Company made an initial non-refundable deposit for the purchase of the Trico Stock. Upon execution of the SPA the Company funded the remaining $1,000,000 balance due. Effective at closing, the Company commenced business operations in northern California through its new wholly owned subsidiary Trico Welding Supplies, Inc.

 

 F-29 
   

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

On May 17, 2016, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company dismissed Stevenson as its independent registered public accounting firm. The report of Stevenson on the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years, the subsequent interim periods thereto, and through May 17, 2016, there were no disagreements (as defined in Item 304 of Regulation S-K) with Stevenson on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Stevenson, would have caused it to make reference in connection with its opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement.

 

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years, the subsequent interim periods thereto, and through May 17, 2017, there were no reportable events (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In connection with the preparation of this report, an evaluation was carried out by the Company’s management, with the participation of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) as of December 31, 2017. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

28

 

 

During the evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2017, management concluded that Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

 

Notwithstanding the existence of these material weaknesses, management believes that the consolidated financial statements in this annual report filed on Form 10-K fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial condition as reported, in conformity with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process, under the supervision of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

  Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets;
     
  Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the board of directors; and
     
  Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management has not completed a proper evaluation, risk assessment and monitoring of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). As a result management has concluded controls were not effective and identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting.

 

A material weakness is a control 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 material weaknesses identified are disclosed below.

 

Failure to Segregate Duties. Management has not maintained adequate segregation of duties within the Company due to its reliance on a few individuals to fill multiple roles and responsibilities. Our failure to segregate duties has been a material weakness for the period covering this report.

 

Sufficiency of Accounting Resources. The Company has limited accounting personnel to prepare its financial statements and handle complex accounting transactions. The insufficiency of our accounting resources has been a material weakness for the period covering this report.

 

Evaluation. The Company did not perform a proper evaluation, risk assessment or monitor their internal controls over financial reporting.

 

29

 

 

As a result of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described above, the Company’s management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the COSO.

 

This report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. We were not required to have, nor have we, engaged the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to perform an audit of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

None.

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The following table sets forth the names, ages, positions and dates of appointment of our current directors and executive officers.

 

Name   Age   Position   Date Appointed
Ermanno P. Santilli   48   Chief Executive Officer, Director   June 21, 2012
Luisa Ingargiola   50   Director (1)   May 12, 2007
Scott Mahoney   43  

Chief Financial Officer (2)

Director (4)

 

December 1, 2016

March 8, 2018

Carla Santilli   76   Director   May 12, 2007
Christopher Huntington   57   Director   August 14, 2012
Kevin Pollack   47   Director   June 21, 2012
Joe C. Stone   51   Director (3)   April 30, 2013
William Staunton III   70   Director   April 30, 2013
Robert Dingess   71   Chairman of the Board of Directors   April 30, 2013

 

(1) On December 1, 2016, Luisa Ingargiola resigned as Chief Financial Officer and has taken a role as a Director.

 

(2) On December 1, 2016, Scott Mahoney was appointed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and corporate Secretary.

 

(3) On March 7, 2018, Joe Stone notified the Company of his resignation as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Stone’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the policies, practices or procedures of the Company.

 

(4) On March 8, 2018, the Company appointed Scott Mahoney to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy on the Board resulting from Joe Stone’s resignation.

 

Significant Employees

 

None.

 

30

 

 

Family Relationships

 

Ermanno Santilli, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Director’s, is the son of Carla Santilli, a member of our Board of Directors, and the brother of Luisa Ingargiola, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors.

 

Luisa Ingargiola, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Director’s, is the daughter of Carla Santilli, a member of the Board of Directors, and the sister of Ermanno Santilli, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors.

 

Carla Santilli, a member of the Board of Director’s, is the mother of Ermanno Santilli, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, and the mother of Luisa Ingargiola, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors.

 

Business Experience

 

Set forth below is a brief description of the background and business experience of our executive officers and directors for the past five years.

 

Ermanno P. Santilli has served as a Director since June 21, 2012 and has been our Chief Executive Officer since June of 2012 and is the son of Dr. Santilli and Carla Santilli. Prior to his role as CEO, Mr. Santilli was Executive Vice President of International Relations since 2009. Mr. Santilli was employed by Ingersoll Rand Company from March 2008 to April 2009 where he served as Vice President of Climate Control Business, Global Rail and Aftermarket. In this capacity he oversaw a department that generated over $270 million in sales and $80 million in operating income. He managed sales, business development, product management, and warehousing and dealer development with indirect procurement, manufacturing and engineering. Mr. Santilli also drove development of new business and rail markets in Australia and India.

 

From March 2006 to February 2008 Mr. Santilli served as Vice-President of Climate Control Aftermarket EMEA, he led a department that generated total sale of $150 million and operating income of $50 million. He was responsible for business development, product management, warehousing, procurement, engineering and dealer development with indirect sales. From December 2003 to February 2006 Mr. Santilli served as Vice-President of Customer Relations for Climate Control EMEA. He had operational responsibility for customer satisfaction for customers with total sales aggregating over 1 billion dollars. Mr. Santilli had direct responsibility for order management, credit and collections, warranty, business intelligence and dealer development.

 

Mr. Santilli’s qualifications to serve on our Board include his financial and management experience.

 

Luisa Ingargiola had served as our Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director since May 2007 and is the daughter of Dr. Santilli and Carla Santilli. Ms. Ingargiola graduated in 1989 from Boston University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. In 1996 she received her MBA in Health Administration from the University of South Florida. In 1990 Ms. Ingargiola joined Boston Capital Partners as an Investment Advisor in their Limited Partnership Division. In this capacity, she worked with investors and partners to report investment results, file tax forms, and recommend investments.

 

In 1992, Ms. Ingargiola joined MetLife Insurance Company as a Budget and Expense Manager. In this capacity she managed a $30 million dollar annual budget. Her responsibilities included budget implementation, expense and variance analysis and financial reporting. In 2007, Ms. Ingargiola began work on the MagneGas Corporation business plan in preparation for her new role as CFO. Ms. Ingargiola resigned as CFO and Secretary on December 1, 2016. She is still active in the Company as EVP of Capital Markets and as a Director.

 

Ms. Ingargiola’s qualifications to serve on our Board include her financial, management, and reporting experience.

 

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Scott Mahoney, has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since December of 2016. Mr. Mahoney brings 17 years of financial and distressed situation management experience. Prior to joining MagneGas, Mr. Mahoney was the Chief Financial Officer of Phoenix Group Metals, LLC, a leading auto core supply and automobile recycling company based in Phoenix, AZ. In addition, Mr. Mahoney has served in several entrepreneurial roles in the oil industry for the past 7 years, raising over $200MM in equity and debt capital for previous projects in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, Williston Basin, Rockies and Mid-Continent. Mr. Mahoney has managed 13 oil and gas acquisitions, and managed or participated in more than 350 oil and gas wells. Prior to co-founding Vast, Mr. Mahoney was the Chief Financial Officer of American Standard Energy Corp, building that company from a start up to a $400MM market capitalization in 2 years.

 

Prior to American Standard, Mr. Mahoney founded Catalyst Corporate Solutions, a financial consulting firm focused on turnaround management in the heavy industrial, business services, and oil and gas industries. Under that firm, Mr. Mahoney serves as a strategic advisor to XOG Operating, LLC a contract operator in 17 states, and Geronimo Holding Corporation, a portfolio of oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin, Williston Basin, Eagle Ford, South Texas, among other holdings. Mr. Mahoney also advised a number of southwest based companies on restructuring, debt and equity financings, acquisitions and the sale of multiple businesses. He has extensive experience in the technology, heavy manufacturing, recycling, and transportation and construction industries through both his banking and consulting client base. Prior to forming Catalyst, Mr. Mahoney spent 13 years in corporate and investment banking with JP Morgan, Wells Fargo and Key Bank. Mr. Mahoney is a Chartered Financial Analyst, has an MBA from Thunderbird, and two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire.

 

Mr. Mahoney’s qualifications to serve on our Board include his financial and management experience.

 

Carla Santilli has been a Director since May 2007 and is the spouse of Dr. Santilli and mother of Luisa Ingargiola and Ermanno Santilli. Mrs. Santilli holds a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration from the School of Social Work of Boston University. She held positions of Clinical Social Worker and Community Programs Coordinator for the State of Massachusetts. Since the late 1980’s, Mrs. Santilli has been employed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hadronic Press, Inc., a physics and mathematics academic publishing company. In this capacity, Mrs. Santilli has directed the growth of this company from start-up to become one of the world’s leading physics and mathematics publishing companies. Books and journals published by Hadronic Press can be found in all of the leading University libraries across the world. Mrs. Santilli has been involved in the private sector as grant administrator and public relations specialist in the fields of academic publishing and environmental sciences.

 

Mrs. Santilli’s qualifications to serve on our Board include her thirty years of experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hadronic Press, Inc. and her experience in the environmental sciences field.

 

Christopher Huntington has served as Director since August 14, 2012. In 2013 he was appointed a Principal with Encap Development LLC, a leading U. S. renewable energy project developer. In 2010, Mr. Huntington co-founded the strategic consulting firm, New Energy Fund Advisors, LLC. In 2007, Mr. Huntington co-founded Skyfuel, Inc., a solar thermal power technology company, where he was the Vice President of Business Development from 2007 until 2010. In 2006, Mr. Huntington founded Redhook Renewable Energy Ventures, LLC, a consulting firm advising renewable energy and clean-tech companies on fund-raising, marketing and media strategies, which he was a principal until 2007. Mr. Huntington worked at the Cable News Network (CNN) from 1989 to 2006 as a financial news producer and correspondent. Prior to his employment at CNN, Mr. Huntington worked at Pacific Securities/Robert C. Brown & Co. as an assistant bond trader. Mr. Huntington attended the University of California, Berkley and was awarded a B. A. in Rhetoric and a special diploma in Social Studies from Oxford University.

 

Mr. Huntington’s qualifications to serve on our Board include his financial and management experience.

 

Kevin Pollack has served as a Director since June 21, 2012. Mr. Pollack serves as an advisor to Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPNT), where from 2012 until 2017 he served as its Chief Financial Officer and a member of its board of directors. From 2007 until 2013, Mr. Pollack was a managing director at Paragon Capital LP, a private investment firm focused primarily on U.S.-listed companies. Since 2003, Mr. Pollack has also served as president of Short Hills Capital LLC. Prior to that, Mr. Pollack worked as an investment banker at Banc of America Securities LLC, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Mr. Pollack started his career at Sidley Austin LLP (formerly Brown & Wood LLP) as a securities attorney. Since 2012, Mr. Pollack has served as a member of the board of directors of Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: PBIO). Mr. Pollack graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received a dual J.D./M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated with Beta Gamma Sigma honors.

 

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Mr. Pollack’s qualifications to serve on our Board include his financial, legal, investment and management experience, including his experience with other public companies.

 

Joe C. Stone has served as a Director since April 30, 2013 until his resignation of March 7, 2018. Since 2006, he has been a partner at Pace Petroleum, LLC, a private oil and natural gas company. In 2013 he was appointed as Managing Director at Blackhill Partners, LLC. From 2000 to 2006 Mr. Stone was a Senior Vice President of Global Mergers and Acquisitions at the financial services firm of Lehman Brothers. From 1996 until 2000, Mr. Stone was a Vice President in Investment Banking at Deutsche Banc. Additionally, Mr. Stone was a Manager in Audit and Business Advisory Services at Price Waterhouse from 1991 until 1996. Mr. Stone holds a Master of Business Administration from McCombs School of Business, University of Texas, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Baylor University.

 

Mr. Stone’s experience in the oil and gas industry as well as an investment banker gave him the qualifications and skills to serve as a director of our Company.

 

William W. Staunton III has served as a Director since April 30, 2013. He is the CEO and Chairman of Okika Technologies, an electronics design services company specializing in custom integrated circuit (IC), firmware, and software solutions. He has been the President of Accel–RF Corporation, a provider of RF Reliability Test Systems for compound semiconductor devices from 2011 till 2013. In 2011, Mr. Staunton founded Kokua Executives, LLC, which provides guidance and interim executive level-leadership to companies. From 2000 to 2011, Mr. Staunton served as the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Ramtron International Corporation, which designs, develops and markets specialized semiconductor memory, microcontroller, and integrated semiconductor solutions. From March 1999 until December 2000, Mr. Staunton served as Chief Operating Officer of Maxwell Technologies, which designs and manufactures multi-chip modules and board products for commercial satellite applications. Previously, Mr. Staunton was executive vice president of Valor Electronics Inc. from April 1996 until February 1999. Mr. Staunton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Utah State University.

 

Mr. Staunton’s extensive experience in the semi-conductor industry, with specific background in Military and Space Contracting, give him the qualifications and skills to serve as a director of our Company.

 

Robert L. Dingess has served as Chairman of our Board of Directors since April 30, 2013. He has been the Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Management Services, Inc., d/b/a Ideal Image Central Florida, a laser hair removal company, since April 2004. From 1992 to 2002, Mr. Dingess served as the Chief Executive and owner of Dingess & Associates, Inc., a healthcare consulting and management company. From 1986 to 1992, Mr. Dingess was a partner in Ernst & Young’s Southeast Region Healthcare Operations Business Officer Practice, where he advised over 200 healthcare clients. Mr. Dingess holds a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Marshall University. Mr. Dingess’ financial experience also includes over 15 years in healthcare finance from 1975 to 1986 working for some of the largest hospitals and hospital systems in the country.

 

Mr. Dingess’ extensive experience in managing franchise operations, advising companies and more than twenty-five years of executive management give him the qualifications and skills to serve as a director of our Company.

 

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Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

To our knowledge, during the past ten years, none of our directors, executive officers, promoters, control persons, or nominees has:

 

  Been convicted in a criminal proceeding or been subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

 

  Had any bankruptcy petition filed by or against the business or property of the person, or of any partnership, corporation or business association of which he was a general partner or executive officer, either at the time of the bankruptcy filing or within two years prior to that time;

 

  Been subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction or federal or state authority, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting, his involvement in any type of business, securities, futures, commodities, investment, banking, savings and loan, or insurance activities, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

 

  Been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;

 

  Been the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated (not including any settlement of a civil proceeding among private litigants), relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

 

  Been the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

 

Except as set forth in our discussion below in “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” none of our directors or executive officers has been involved in any transactions with us or any of our directors, executive officers, affiliates or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than 10% owners are required by certain SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

Based solely upon a review of copies of such forms filed on Forms 3, 4, and 5, and amendments thereto furnished to us, we believe that as of December 31, 2017, our executive officers, directors and greater than 10 percent beneficial owners have all complied on a timely basis with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a code of ethics effective as of April 4, 2008, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer as well as our employees. Our standards are in writing and are to be posted on our website at a future time. The following is a summary of the key points of our Code of Ethics:

 

  Honest and ethical conduct, including ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

  Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure reports and documents that a small business issuer files with, or submits to, the Commission and in other public communications made by our Company;

 

  Compliance with applicable government laws, rules and regulations;

 

  The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and

 

  Accountability for adherence to the code.

 

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We will provide to any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of such Code of Ethics, as amended. Requests should be addressed to the address appearing on the cover page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Attn: Corporate Secretary.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Controlled Company

 

The Board has determined that the Company meets the definition of a “Controlled Company” as defined by Rule 5615(c) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules. A “Controlled Company” is defined in Rule 5615(c) as a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company. Certain NASDAQ requirements do not apply to a “Controlled Company”, including requirements that: (i) a majority of its Board must be comprised of “independent” directors as defined in NASDAQ’s rules; and (ii) the compensation of officers and the nomination of directors be determined in accordance with specific rules, generally requiring determinations by committees comprised solely of independent directors or in meetings at which only the independent directors are present.

 

Director Independence

 

We use the definition of “independence” of the NASDAQ Stock Market to make this determination. NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) provides that an “independent director” is a person other than an officer or employee of the company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the Company’s board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The NASDAQ listing rules provide that a director cannot be considered independent if:

 

  The director is, or at any time during the past three years was, an employee of the company;

 

  The director or a family member of the director accepted any compensation from the company in excess of $120,000 during any period of 12 consecutive months within the three years preceding the independence determination (subject to certain exclusions, including, among other things, compensation for board or board committee service);

 

  A family member of the director is, or at any time during the past three years was, an executive officer of the company;

 

  The director or a family member of the director is a partner in, controlling stockholder of, or an executive officer of an entity to which the company made, or from which the company received, payments in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenue for that year or $200,000, whichever is greater (subject to certain exclusions);

 

  The director or a family member of the director is employed as an executive officer of an entity where, at any time during the past three years, any of the executive officers of the company served on the compensation committee of such other entity; or

 

  The director or a family member of the director is a current partner of the company’s outside auditor, or at any time during the past three years was a partner or employee of the company’s outside auditor, and who worked on the company’s audit.

 

We have determined that the following directors of the Company are “independent” directors as defined by applicable SEC rules and NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards: Christopher Huntington; Kevin Pollack; Joe C. Stone; William Staunton III; and Robert Dingess.

 

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Board Meetings and Committees; Annual Meeting Attendance

 

The business and affairs of the company are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors (“Board”). We conducted two formal Board meetings in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Each of our directors has attended all meetings either in person or via telephone conference. The Board also conducted monthly telephone calls in which the majority of the independent Board members were present.

 

Term of Office

 

Our directors are appointed for one-year terms to hold office until the next annual general meeting of our shareholders or until removed from office in accordance with our bylaws. Our officers are appointed by our Board and hold office until removed by the Board.

 

Board Committees

 

On June 21, 2012, our Board formed three standing committees: audit, compensation, and corporate governance and nominating. Actions taken by our committees are reported to the full Board. The Board has determined that all members of each of the audit and compensation committees are independent under the current listing standards of NASDAQ. Our corporate governance and nominating committee is made up of two independent directors and one employee director. Each of our committees has a charter and each charter is posted on our website.

 

Audit Committee   Compensation Committee   Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee
Robert Dingess*   William Staunton III*   Luisa Ingargiola*
Kevin Pollack   Kevin Pollack   Robert Dingess
Christopher Huntington   Joe C. Stone   Kevin Pollack

 

* Indicates committee chair

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

 

Our corporate governance and nominating committee, which currently consists of three directors, monitors our corporate governance system, assesses Board membership needs, makes recommendations to the Board regarding potential director candidates for election at the annual meetings of stockholders or in the event of any director vacancy, and performs any other functions or duties deemed appropriate by the Board. The corporate governance and nominating committee has not met one time in 2016.

 

Director candidates must have experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility and leadership experience in the companies or institutions with which they are or have been affiliated. Directors are selected based upon contributions that they can make to the Company. The Company does not maintain a separate policy regarding the diversity of its Board members. However, consistent with its charter, the corporate governance and nominating committee, and ultimately the Board, seeks directors (including nominees for director) with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, experience and perspectives that, when combined, provide a diverse portfolio of experience and knowledge that will well serve the Company’s governance and strategic needs.

 

Audit Committee

 

Our audit committee, which currently consists of three directors, provides assistance to our Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations with respect to matters involving the accounting, financial reporting, internal controls and compliance functions of the Company. Our audit committee employs an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the Company and perform other assigned duties. Further, our audit committee provides general oversight with respect to the accounting principles employed in financial reporting and the adequacy of our internal controls. In discharging its responsibilities, our audit committee may rely on the reports, findings and representations of the Company’s auditors, legal counsel, and responsible officers. Our Board has determined that all members of the audit committee are financially literate within the meaning of SEC rules and under the current listing standards of NASDAQ. Our Board has also determined that Mr. Dingess qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” The audit committee has met four times since in 2017.

 

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Compensation Committee

 

Our compensation committee, which currently consists of three directors, establishes executive compensation policies consistent with the Company’s objectives and stockholder interests. Our compensation committee also reviews the performance of our executive officers and establishes, adjusts and awards compensation, including incentive-based compensation, as more fully discussed below. In addition, our compensation committee generally is responsible for:

 

  Establishing and periodically reviewing our compensation philosophy and the adequacy of compensation plans and programs for our directors, executive officers and other employees;

 

  Overseeing our compensation plans, including the establishment of performance goals under the company’s incentive compensation arrangements and the review of performance against those goals in determining incentive award payouts;

 

  Overseeing our executive employment contracts, special retirement benefits, severance, change in control arrangements and/or similar plans;

 

  Acting as administrator of any company stock option plans; and

 

  Overseeing the outside consultant, if any, engaged by the compensation committee.

 

Our compensation committee periodically reviews the compensation paid to our non-employee Directors and the principles upon which their compensation is determined. The compensation committee also periodically reports to the Board on how our non-employee Director compensation practices compare with those of other similarly situated public corporations and, if the compensation committee deems it appropriate, recommends changes to our director compensation practices to our Board for approval.

 

Outside consulting firms retained by our compensation committee and management also will, if requested, provide assistance to the compensation committee in making its compensation-related decisions.

 

Shareholder Communications

 

In addition to the contact information in this report, each stockholder will be given specific information on how he/she can direct communications to the officers and directors of the corporation at our annual stockholders meeting. All communications from stockholders are relayed to the members of the Board.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

 

Our Board is primarily responsible for overseeing our risk management processes. The Board receives and reviews periodic reports from management, auditors, legal counsel, and others, as considered appropriate regarding our Company’s assessment of risks. The Board focuses on the most significant risks facing our Company and our Company’s general risk management strategy, and also ensures that risks undertaken by our Company are consistent with the Board’s appetite for risk. While the Board oversees our Company’s risk management, management is responsible for day-to-day risk management processes. We believe this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing our Company and that our Board leadership structure supports this approach.

 

The audit committee, which was formed on June 21, 2012, assists our Board in its general oversight of, among other things, the Company’s policies, guidelines and related practices regarding risk assessment and risk management, including the risk of fraud. As part of this endeavor, the audit committee reviews and assesses the Company’s major financial, legal, regulatory, environmental and similar risk exposures and the steps that management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. The audit committee also reviews and assesses the quality and integrity of the Company’s public reporting, the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the Company’s independent auditors, the performance of the Company’s internal audit department, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s risk management policies and related practices.

 

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Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The following sets forth information with respect to the compensation awarded or paid to our named executive officers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 (collectively, the “named executive officers”) for all services rendered in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries in fiscal 2017 and 2016.

 

Executive Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth information regarding each element of compensation that we paid or awarded to our named executive officers for fiscal years 2017 and 2016.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year  Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Stock
Awards
($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation ($)
  

Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)

    All Other
Compensation
($)
   Totals
($)
 
                                   
Ermanno Santilli, CEO  2017  $235,000   $           $              $235,000  
   2016  $235,000   $           $              $235,000  
                                         
Scott Mahoney, CFO  2017  $215,000        $10,000              $4,000   $229,000  
   2016  $16,538        $100,000                   $116,538  
                                         
Luisa Ingargiola, Former CFO (2)  2017  $107,500   $           $         $1,900   $109,400  
   2016  $206,731   $           $              $206,731  
                                         
Jack Armstrong, Executive Vice  2017  $125,767   $    $29,600  $              $155,367  
President of Strategic Alliances  2016  $124,167   $           $              $124,167  
                                         
Richard Conz, Vice President  2017  $180,000        $25,900   $         $4,000   $209,900  
of Engineering  2016  $173,250             $              $173,250  

 

Narrative to Executive Compensation Table.

 

(1) In February 2015, the Board granted to Ermanno Santilli 150,000 shares of common stock options at an exercise price of $0.72 (the closing price on February 13, 2015) with a vesting schedule that was to be determined by the Board based on the Company’s achievement of pre-determined performance criteria. In August 2015, the Board signed resolutions whereby they agreed that the Company had achieved 55% of the pre-determined performance criteria and that Mr. Santilli should immediately vest in 55% of the options. This meant that Mr. Santilli had vested in the option to purchase 82,500 shares. In February 2016, the Board signed resolutions whereby they agreed that the Company had achieved another 45% of the pre-determined performance criteria and that Mr. Santilli should immediately vest in another 45% of the options. This meant that Mr. Santilli had vested in the option to purchase, in the aggregate, 142,500 shares. All such options, when exercised, will result in shares being issued with a restrictive legend unless the options are exercised in conjunction with a Rule 144 opinion.

 

(2) In February 2015, the Board granted to Luisa Ingargiola 100,000 shares of common stock options with the same exercise price, vesting schedule, and restrictions identified in Note (1) to the Executive Compensation table.

 

(3) In February 2015, the Board granted to Jack Armstrong 100,000 shares of common stock options with the same exercise price, vesting schedule, and restrictions identified in Note (1) to the Executive Compensation table.

 

(4) In April 2014, the Board granted to Jack Armstrong 25,000 shares of common stock options with an exercise price of $1.49 (the closing price on March 17, 2014). The vesting schedule is as follows: 50% vested in April 2015, 25% will vest in April 2016, and 25% will vest in April 2017. These options were issued pursuant to the Incentive Plan and so all such options, when exercised, will result in shares being issued without a restrictive legend.

 

(5) In June 2015, the Board granted to Richard Conz 40,000 shares of common stock options with an exercise price of $1.16 (the closing price on June 15, 2015). The vesting schedule is as follows: 50% will vest in June 2016, 25% will vest in June 2017, and 25% will vest in June 2018. All such options, when exercised, will result in shares being issued with a restrictive legend unless the options are exercised in conjunction with a Rule 144 opinion.

 

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Director Compensation Table.

 

The following sets forth information with respect to the compensation awarded or paid to our named directors during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 (collectively, the “named directors”) for all services rendered in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries in fiscal 2017 and 2016. The table excludes directors who are also executive officers, except to the extent the named executive officer’s compensation is not fully reflected under “Executive Compensation Table” above.

 

Name and Principal
Position
  Year   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Stock
Awards ($)
   Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation
($)
   Non-qualified
deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
   All Other
Compensation ($)
   Total 
Carla Santilli,
Director
   2017   $40,000       $40,000                $80,000(1)
    2016   $30,000        $50,000                 $80,000 
                                         
Robert Dingess,
Director
   2017   $88,750        $40,000                  $128,750(2)
    2016   $30,000        $50,000                  $80,000 
                                         
William Staunton,
Director
   2017   $50,000        $40,000                  $90,000(3)
    2016   $40,000        $40,000                  $80,000 
                                         
Joe Stone,
Director
   2017   $45,000        $40,000                  $85,000(4)
    2016   $40,000        $40,000                  $80,000 
                                         
Christopher Huntington,
Director
   2017   $47,500        $40,000                  $87,500(5)
    2016   $40,000        $40,000                  $80,000 
                                         
Kevin Pollack,
Director
   2017   $56,250        $40,000                  $96,250(6)
    2016   $40,000        $40,000                  $80,000 
                                         
Luisa Ingargiola, Director   2017   $23,750        $20,000                  $43,750(7)

 

  (1) Carla Santilli was issued common stock valued $32,447 under the Company’s 2014 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Award Plan (“Equity Plan”) during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $30,000 in cash compensation to 2018.
     
  (2) Robert Dingess was issued common stock valued at $32,447 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $32,958.14 in stock compensation and $54,375 in cash compensation to 2018.
     
  (3) William Staunton was issued common stock valued at $32,447 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $40,000 in cash compensation to 2018.
     
  (4) Joe Stone was issued common stock valued $32,447 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $35,000 in cash compensation to 2018.
     
  (5) Christopher Huntington was issued common stock valued $32,447 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $37,500 in cash compensation to 2018.
     
  (6) Kevin Pollack was issued common stock valued $32,447 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $46,250 in cash compensation to 2018.
     
  (7) Luisa Ingargiola was issued common stock valued at $15,020 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $5,500 in equity compensation and $23,750 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2017, regarding shares of common stock that may be issued under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “Equity Plan”). The Equity Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders and is the Company’s sole equity compensation plan.

 

Plan category  (a)
Number of securities
to be issued
upon exercise
of outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   (b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
   (c)
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column
(a))
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)   15,342    10.77    784.3 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2)   ˉ    ˉ    ˉ 
Total   15,342         784.3 

 

(1) Consists of the Equity Plan. In the year ended December 31, 2017, no shares underlying options were issued and 1,147,588 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to the Equity Plan.

 

(2) Not Applicable.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners.

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our shares of common stock beneficially owned as of April 9, 2018, for (i) each stockholder known to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) each named executive officer and director and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group. A person is considered to beneficially own any shares: (i) over which such person, directly or indirectly, exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, or (ii) of which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days through an exercise of stock options or warrants. Unless otherwise indicated, voting and investment power relating to the shares shown in the table for our directors and executive officers is exercised solely by the beneficial owner or shared by the owner and the owner’s spouse or children.

 

For purposes of this table, a person or group of persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any shares of common stock that such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 9, 2018. For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of our common stock held by each person or group of persons named above, any shares that such person or persons has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 9, 2018 is deemed to be outstanding, but is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The inclusion herein of any shares listed as beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner and Address  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership of
Common
Stock
   Percent of
Common
Stock (1)
   Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership of
Preferred Stock
   Percent of
Preferred
Stock (2)
 
                 
Dr. Ruggero Maria Santilli
90 Eastwinds Ct
Palm Harbor FL 34683
   20,457.6(3)   *    1,000,000(5)   100%
Directors and
Executive Officers
                    
Carla Santilli
90 Eastwinds Ct
Palm Harbor FL 34683
   20,457.6(3)   *    1,000,000(4)   100%
                     
Luisa Ingargiola
4826 Blue Jay Circle
Palm Harbor FL 34083
   8,619.1(5)   *    1,000,000(5)     
                     
Ermanno Santilli
90 Eastwinds Ct
Palm Harbor FL 34683
   58,695.3(6)   *    1,000,000(5)     
                     
Scott Mahoney   51,481.4(7)   *           
                     
Joe Stone   9,034.6    *           
                     
William Staunton   8,684.2    *           
                     
Robert Dingess   13,718.5    *           
                     
Christopher Huntington   7,267.8    *           
                     
Kevin Pollack   8,787.5    *           
                     
All directors and officers as a group (9 people)   207,203.6(7)   1.82%   1,000,000    100%

 

* Less than 1%.

 

(1) Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules and regulations of the SEC, and generally includes voting or dispositive power with respect to such shares. Based on 11,360,153.4 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 9, 2018. Shares of common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by that person for the purpose of computing the total number of shares beneficially owned by that person and the percentage ownership of that person, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or group. Accordingly, the amounts in the table include shares of common stock that such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 9, 2018 by the exercise of stock options.

  

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(2) Based on 1,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of April 9, 2018. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock has voting rights of 100,000 votes per share. The total aggregate number of votes for the Series A Preferred Stock is 100 billion.
   
(3) Consists of 16,124.4 restricted shares of Global Alpha; 1,240 restricted shares held by Global Beta, LLC, a privately owned company whose address is 35246 US 19 #215, Palm Harbor, FL 34684, of which Dr. Ruggero Santilli and Carla Santilli, the wife of Dr. Santilli, each own 50%; 31,300 restricted shares held by Clean Energies Tech, a privately owned company of which Dr. Santilli owns 50%; 1,800 restricted shares held by the RM Santilli Foundation, a foundation of which Mrs. Santilli controls 50%; 1,000 restricted shares held in Dr. Santilli’s (the Company’s previous CEO) own name; 7508.8 free trading shares held jointly in the name of Dr. and Mrs. Santilli; and 131.6 restricted shares held in the name of Mrs. Santilli. The principal address of Clean Energies Tech and the RM Santilli Foundation is 90 Eastwinds Ct., Palm Harbor, FL, 34683.
   
(4) These shares are held by Global Alpha, a privately owned company of which Dr. Santilli and Mr. Santilli each own 50%. Ermanno Santilli and Luisa Ingargiola are voting members of Global Alpha but have no equity interest.
   
(5) Consists of 1,608.6 restricted shares held in Mrs. Ingargiola’s own name; 3,977.1 free trading shares; and 3,033.3 shares of common stock underlying options held by Mrs. Ingargiola that are presently exercisable.
   
(6) Consists of 2,178.6 restricted shares held in Mr. Santilli’s own name; 166.6 restricted shares held by MagneGas Arc Applied Solutions Europe, a privately owned company whose address is Rue Aux Fleurs 1, Brussels 1000 Belgium, of which Mr. Santilli owns more than 50%; 1,800 restricted shares held by the RM Santilli Foundation, a foundation of which Mr. Santilli controls 50%; and 54,550 shares of common stock underlying options held by Mr. Santilli that are presently exercisable.
   
(7) Consists of 50,000 shares of common stock underlying options held by Mr. Mahoney that are presently exercisable and 1,481.4 restricted shares.
   
(8) The total does not equal the sum of each entry due to some shares being included in more than one entry.

 

Pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) the percentage calculations use different totals of outstanding securities for the purpose of determining ownership. Any securities not outstanding which are subject to such options, warrants, rights or conversion privileges shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding securities of the class owned by such person but shall not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of the class by any other person.

 

Changes in Control.

 

None.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Director Compensation

 

Carla Santilli was issued common stock valued $31,416.86 under the Company’s 2014 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Award Plan (“Equity Plan”) during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $40,000 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

Robert Dingess was issued common stock valued at $31,416.86 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $32,958.14 in stock compensation and $64,375 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

William Staunton was issued common stock valued $31,416.86 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $50,000 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

41

 

 

Joe Stone was issued common stock valued $31,416.86 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $45,000 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

Christopher Huntington was issued common stock valued $31,416.86 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $47,500 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

Kevin Pollack was issued common stock valued $31,416.86 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $8,583.14 in equity compensation and $56,250 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

Luisa Ingargiola was issued common stock valued at $14,500 under the Company’s Equity Plan during the year ended December 31, 2017 and agreed to accrue $5,500 in equity compensation and $23,750 in cash compensation to 2018.

 

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

 

The Company is a “Smaller Reporting Company,” as defined by § 229.10(f)(1), and is not required to provide information required by 17 CFR §229.404(b).

 

Promoters and Certain Control Persons

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the registrant’s financial statements and review of financial statements include in the registrants Form 10-Q or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were $294,653 and $101,000, respectively.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the registrant’s financial statements and not reported under Item 9(e)(1) of Schedule 14A, for professional services rendered were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

Tax Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning for professional services rendered were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

All Other Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services, provided by the principal accountant, other than the services report in Items 9(e)(1) through 9(e)(3) of Schedule 14A, for services rendered were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

Audit Committee Approval

 

Before a principal accountant is engaged by the Company or its subsidiaries to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement is approved by the Company’s audit committee.

 

42

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

Exhibit       Incorporated by Reference   Filed or
Furnished
Number   Exhibit Description   Form   Exhibit   Filing Date   Herewith
3.1   Amendment No. 1 to By-Laws of MagneGas Corporation.   8-K   3.1   09/29/2016    
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm               X  
31.1   Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.               X
31.2   Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.               X
32.1   Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.               X
32.2   Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.               X
101.INS   XBRL Instance.               X
101.SCH   XBRL Schema.               X
101.CAL   XBRL Calculation.               X
101.DEF   XBRL Definition.               X
101.LAB   XBRL Label.               X
101.PRE   XBRL Presentation.               X

 

43

 

 

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.

 

  MagneGas Corporation
   
  By: /s/ Ermanno Santilli
    Ermanno Santilli
    Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
 

Dated: April 13, 2018

 

  By: /s/ Scott Mahoney
    Scott Mahoney
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     
 

Dated: April 13, 2018

 

44