Note 11. Equity
Outstanding Shares
The following table summarizes the common stock activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
|
2020 (1)
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
|
2020 (1)
|
|
|
Common stock:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, beginning of period
|
|
|
97,732,079
|
|
|
|
|
29,005,309
|
|
|
|
|
84,535,640
|
|
|
|
|
25,371,186
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock
|
|
|
2,592,236
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
15,788,675
|
|
|
|
|
3,634,123
|
|
|
Balance, end of period
|
|
|
100,324,315
|
|
|
|
|
29,005,309
|
|
|
|
|
100,324,315
|
|
|
|
|
29,005,309
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Retroactively restated for Business Combination
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Warrants
At December 31, 2020, there were 10 million outstanding publicly traded warrants to purchase shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments (“Public Warrants”). The Public Warrants were exercisable and potentially redeemable after May 7, 2021.
On June 16, 2021, we redeemed 50,965 Public Warrants, which included all unexercised Public Warrants. Prior to the redemption, 12,033,169 Public Warrants, including some Public Warrants that had initially been Private Warrants, were exercised. Net of fees, we collected $138.2 million in connection with these exercises and redemptions. The Public Warrants had qualified as equity instruments and we had included them in additional paid-in capital.
Non-Plan Legacy Danimer Options and Warrants
Prior to 2017, Legacy Danimer had issued 208,181 stock options that were not a part of either the 2016 Executive Plan or the 2016 Omnibus Plan. These options had a weighted average exercise price of $30 per share. On December 29, 2020, the then-remaining 30,493
12
of these options were converted to options to purchase 279,255 shares of our common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $3.28 per share. During the quarter ended June 30, 2021, 153,763 of these options were exercised.
As of December 29, 2020, Legacy Danimer had 55,319 warrants outstanding with an exercise price of $30 per share. In connection with the Business Combination, these options were converted to options to purchase 506,611 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $3.28 per share. All remaining Legacy Danimer warrants were exercised during the three month period ended March 31, 2021 on a cashless basis by issuing 435,961 shares of common stock.
Anti-dilutive Instruments
The following instruments were excluded from the calculation of diluted shares outstanding because the effect of including them would have been anti-dilutive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Employee stock options
|
|
5,518,473
|
|
|
|
7,072,426
|
|
|
|
10,642,260
|
|
|
|
7,072,426
|
|
Public Warrants
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Private Warrants
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,914,525
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Restricted shares
|
|
3,035,676
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,035,676
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Legacy Danimer options
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,805,555
|
|
|
|
125,490
|
|
|
|
1,805,555
|
|
Legacy Danimer warrants
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
506,611
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
506,611
|
|
Total excluded instruments
|
|
8,554,149
|
|
|
|
9,384,592
|
|
|
|
17,717,951
|
|
|
|
9,384,592
|
|
Note 12. Revenue
We recognize revenue from product sales and services in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). We derive our revenues primarily from: 1) product sales of developed compostable resins based on polylactic acid (“PLA”), polyhydroxyalkanoates (“PHA”), and other renewable materials; and 2) research and development (“R&D”) services related to developing customized formulations of biodegradable resins based on PHA.
We generally produce and sell finished products, for which we recognize revenue upon shipment. Due to the highly specialized nature of our products, returns are infrequent, and therefore we do not estimate amounts for sales returns and allowances. There are no forms of variable consideration such as discounts, rebates, or volume discounts that we estimate to reduce our transaction price.
We defer certain contract fulfillment costs. These costs are amortized to cost of revenue on a per-pound basis as we sell the related product. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we charged $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of fulfillment costs to cost of revenue. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 we had recorded gross contract assets of $2.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, related to these fulfillment costs.
R&D service revenues generally involve milestone-based contracts under which we work with a customer to develop a PHA-based specific solution designed to the customer’s specifications, which may involve a single or multiple performance obligations. At the inception of our R&D services contracts, customers generally pay consideration at the commencement of the agreement and at milestones or other intervals as outlined in the contracts. We recognize contract liabilities for such progress with an input method based on personnel hours incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated personnel hours, and then reduce each contract liability by recognizing revenue for our R&D services over time by measuring progress for each performance obligation identified within each contract. To the extent collectible revenue recognized under this method exceeds the consideration received, we recognize contract assets for unbilled consideration.
The following table shows the significant changes in the R&D contract asset and contract liability balances for the periods ended September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
2021
|
|
|
December 31, 2020
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Contract Assets
|
|
|
Contract Liabilities
|
|
|
Contract Liabilities
|
|
Beginning balance
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(2,115
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4,240
|
)
|
Revenue recognized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue recognized in the quarter ended:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,397
|
|
|
|
412
|
|
June 30
|
|
|
1,530
|
|
|
|
1,513
|
|
|
|
845
|
|
September 30
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
572
|
|
|
|
1,187
|
|
December 31
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,268
|
|
Total revenue recognized
|
|
|
1,536
|
|
|
|
3,482
|
|
|
|
4,712
|
|
Unearned consideration received in the quarter ended:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,600
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
June 30
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(350
|
)
|
September 30
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(350
|
)
|
December 31
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,887
|
)
|
Total unearned consideration received
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,600
|
)
|
|
|
(2,587
|
)
|
Ending balance
|
|
$
|
1,536
|
|
|
$
|
(233
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,115
|
)
|
Note 13. Stock-Based Compensation
In connection with the Business Combination, on December 29, 2020, our stockholders approved the 2020 Incentive Plan and the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We also have outstanding employee and director stock options that had been issued prior to the Business Combination under legacy stock plans.
The 2020 Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and full value awards. Full value awards include restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, performance stock and performance stock units. On December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2021, 3,093,984 shares and 3,308 shares, respectively, of our common stock remained authorized for issuance with respect to awards under the 2020 Incentive Plan.
In connection with the acquisition of Novomer described in Note 2, we obtained additional authorized share pool of 289,951 shares, which can only be granted to former Novomer employees or employees hired after August 11, 2021, of which 9,055 shares remain at September 30, 2021.
The 2020 ESPP Plan provides for the sale of our common stock to our employees through payroll withholding at a discount of 15% from the lower of the closing price of our common stock on the first or last day of each biannual offering period. Up to 2,571,737 shares of our common stock were authorized to be issued under this plan. The first offering period under this plan commenced on April 1, 2021 and we issued 5,013 shares effective July 1, 2021.
These share pool limits are subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or other changes in our capitalization.
Restricted Shares
On March 10, 2021, we registered the shares under the 2020 Incentive Plan and the 2020 ESPP Plan. On this date, a grant of 3,035,676 shares of restricted stock was effective. The restrictions on half of these shares lapse ratably on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date. The fair value of these shares on the date of grant was $37.09 and we are recognizing the compensation expense for these shares on a straight-line basis from the grant date through December 29, 2023. The restrictions on the other half of these shares lapse as follows:
1. On the first date the volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $24.20 for any 20 trading dates within a 30-day trading period beginning on December 29, 2021.
2. On the first date the volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $24.20 for any 20 trading dates within a 30-day trading period beginning on December 29, 2022.
3. On the first date the volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock equals or exceeds $24.20 for any 20 trading dates within a 30-day trading period beginning on December 29, 2023.
14
To reflect the effect of this market condition on the vesting of these restricted shares, we valued them using a Monte Carlo simulation, which takes into account a large number of potential stock price scenarios over time and incorporates varied assumptions about volatility and exercise behavior for those various scenarios. This valuation was Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. A fair value is determined for each potential outcome. The grant date fair value of these restricted shares is the average of the fair values calculated for each potential outcome, or $36.57. We are recognizing the compensation expense for these shares on a straight-line basis from the grant date through January 2024.
Performance Shares
On July 23, 2021, we awarded 95,943 shares of restricted stock with performance conditions. These shares are unvested until attainment of performance targets defined in the grant agreement as follows:
30% of the shares are subject to a return on equity "ROE" metric based on 2023 financial results. 50% of these shares vest if ROE is 5%, 100% vest if ROE is 9% or higher, with prorated vesting between 5% and 9%.
30% of the shares are subject to an EBITDA Metric based on 2023 financial results. 50% of these shares vest if EBITDA is $45 million, 100% vest if ROE is $65 million or higher, with prorated vesting between $45 million and $65 million.
40% of the shares are subject to a Neat PHA production capacity metric based on a third party assessment at December 31, 2023, 50% of the shares vest if capacity is 75 million pounds, 100% vest if capacity is 90 million pounds or higher, with prorated vesting between 75 million pounds and 90 million pounds.
In addition to these performance conditions, vesting of the shares is also subject to a shareholder approval to sufficiently increase the size of the 2020 Incentive Plan, which currently does not have enough shares remaining to fulfill this award. In the event such an approval does not take place, the performance shares must be settled in cash as calculated using the price of our common stock on the vesting date. Due to this cash settlement feature, the performance shares are accounted for as a liability. During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, we recognized expense of $0.1 million, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, and recorded a long-term liability of $0.1 million. The performance shares are marked to market using the price of our common stock on each reporting date, or $16.24 on September 30, 2021, with a life-to-date adjustment. Other than this mark to market effect, expense is recognized on a straight-line basis between the date of grant and the vesting date, which we anticipate will be in February 2024.
Stock Options
A summary of stock option activity under our equity plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
|
|
|
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
|
|
Balance, December 31, 2020
|
|
|
11,008,533
|
|
|
$
|
13.94
|
|
|
|
8.4
|
|
|
$
|
105,341,482
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
37,500
|
|
|
|
45.41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(363,064
|
)
|
|
|
3.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,744,316
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2021
|
|
|
10,682,969
|
|
|
|
14.41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
249,345,242
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(200,532
|
)
|
|
|
3.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,616,689
|
|
Balance, June 30, 2021
|
|
|
10,482,437
|
|
|
|
14.62
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
109,293,775
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
283,396
|
|
|
|
11.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(91,523
|
)
|
|
|
3.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,207,973
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(32,050
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, September 30, 2021
|
|
|
10,642,260
|
|
|
|
14.67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,733,771
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
4,511,251
|
|
|
|
4.79
|
|
|
|
5.47
|
|
|
|
52,112,514
|
|
Vested and expected to vest
|
|
|
10,642,260
|
|
|
$
|
14.67
|
|
|
|
8.12
|
|
|
$
|
60,733,771
|
|
The aggregate intrinsic values are calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the indicated stock options and the fair value of our common stock on the respective exercise dates or on September 30, 2021, as applicable.
In addition to the stock options granted under our equity plans, during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, we awarded 1,466,874 stock options that were contingent upon shareholder approval of an increase in the number of shares issuable under the 2020 Incentive Plan, which had not occurred. As a result, these awards were not reflected in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020. During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, our board of directors modified these stock options to add a cash-settlement feature if shareholder approval is not obtained by the vesting date. These modifications established grant dates for accounting purposes. Also during the quarter ended September 30, 2021, we granted options that vest ratably on the three successive anniversaries of the grant date with the same cash-settlement feature. This cash settlement feature requires us to treat these stock options as liabilities.
15
As a result, we re-calculate the fair value of the options at each reporting date and record a life-to-date adjustment to expense. This valuation process falls under Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Other than this mark to market factor, we recognize this expense in selling, general and administrative expenses on a straight-line basis over the respective vesting periods. During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, we recognized expense of $0.6 million, included in selling, general and administrative expenses, and recorded a long-term liability of $0.6 million.
The following table provides additional information regarding the cash-settleable stock options:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounting Grant Date
|
|
|
|
July 23, 2021
|
|
|
July 23, 2021
|
|
|
August 12,2021
|
|
Number of stock options
|
|
|
244,073
|
|
|
|
1,154,616
|
|
|
|
312,258
|
|
Exercise price
|
|
$
|
18.24
|
|
|
$
|
24.20
|
|
|
$
|
24.20
|
|
Vesting date(s)
|
|
July 23, 2022
|
|
|
February 1, 2024
|
|
|
February 1, 2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 23, 2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 23, 2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2021 fair value
|
|
$
|
6.68
|
|
|
$
|
5.25
|
|
|
$
|
5.27
|
|
The weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted during the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $7.15 per option. We have estimated the fair values of our option awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2021
|
Expected annual dividend yield (1)
|
|
0.00%
|
Expected volatility (2)
|
|
45.4%
|
Risk-free rate (3)
|
|
0.88% to 0.97%
|
Expected option term (years) (4)
|
|
6
|
(1) We have not paid and do no currently anticipate paying a cash dividend on our common stock.
(2) We estimated the expected volatility using the mean stock price for selected peer public companies over a historic timeframe similar to the expected return.
(3) We estimated the risk-free rate of return using the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect as of the valuation date.
(4) We estimated the expected term using the "simplified" method described in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 14,
As of September 30, 2021, there was $133.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options and restricted shares granted under the 2020 Incentive Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years.
Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
In connection with our 2007 acquisition of certain intellectual property, we agreed to pay royalties upon production and sale of PHA. The royalty is $0.05 per pound for the first 500 million pounds of PHA sold and decreases to $0.025 per pound for cumulative sales in excess of that amount until the underlying patents expire. We incurred approximately $0.2 million in royalties during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
In November 2015, we terminated a former executive and terminated our contract with an advisory firm (the “Advisory Contract”), pursuant to which we, through the advisory firm, engaged the individual as an executive of the Company. In December 2015, we deemed the Advisory Contract, together with all related arrangements in connection therewith, void, including any share issuances in connection with such arrangements. We filed suit against the former executive and the advisory firm during 2016, and various counterclaims were filed by the former executive and the advisory firm. During the third quarter of 2020, this matter was settled and we agreed to pay $8 million to resolve all outstanding claims, the executive agreed to the cancellation of any shares issued to such executive pursuant to the Advisory Contract and related arrangements, and the exchange of mutual releases among the parties. The remaining unpaid liability is included in accrued liabilities ($1.3. million and $1.3 million) and other long-term liabilities ($0.3 million and $1.3 million) at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
16
Litigation Matters
On May 14, 2021 a class action complaint was filed by Darryl Keith Rosencrants in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, on May 18, 2021, a class action complaint was filed by Carlos Caballeros in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, on May 18, 2021 a class action complaint was filed by Dennis H. Wilkins also in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, and on May 19, 2021, a class action complaint was filed by Elizabeth and John Skistimas in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Each plaintiff or plaintiffs brought the action individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated against the Company and/or Stephen E. Croskrey, John A. Dowdy, III, John P. Amboian, Richard J. Hendrix, Christy Basco, Philip Gregory Calhoun, Gregory Hunt, Isao Noda and Stuart W. Pratt (collectively, “Defendants”).
The alleged class varies in each case but covers all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired securities of the Company between October 5, 2020 and May 4, 2021 (“Class Period”). Plaintiffs are seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants’ alleged violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The complaints are substantially similar and are each premised upon various allegations that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding, among other things, the Company’s business, operations and compliance policies.
Plaintiffs seek the following remedies: (i) determining that the lawsuits may be maintained as class actions under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, (ii) certifying a class representative, (iii) requiring Defendants to pay damages allegedly sustained by plaintiffs and the class members by reason of the acts alleged in the complaints, and (iv) awarding pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert fees and other costs.
On July 29, 2021, the Georgia court transferred the Georgia cases to New York, and all four class actions have been consolidated into a single lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York. We expect a consolidated amended class action complaint will be filed by December 17, 2021 and if so, the Defendants intend to file motion to dismiss.
On May 24, 2021, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware by Richard Delman on behalf of the Company, alleging breach of fiduciary duty against the Company’s directors. On October 6, 2021, a shareholders derivative lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware by Ryan Perri on behalf of the Company, alleging breach of fiduciary duty against the Company’s directors. Both derivative lawsuits have been stayed pending the outcome of Defendants’ intended motion to dismiss the securities class actions. These derivative complaints repeat certain allegations which are already in the public domain. Defendants deny the allegations of the complaints, believe the lawsuits are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously. Since the amounts of loss related to this matter, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, no amounts have been accrued for this matter at September 30, 2021.
17
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) of Danimer Scientific, Inc. contains forward-looking statements. Except where the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated, the terms the “Company,” “Danimer,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” refer to the consolidated business of Danimer Scientific, Inc. (formerly known as Live Oak Acquisition Corp.) and its consolidated subsidiaries. All statements in this Report, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, hopes, beliefs, intentions, and strategies regarding future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. The Company cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company, incident to its business. Actual results and timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the section entitled “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this Report.
These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this Report (or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated herein by reference, as of the date of the applicable filed document), and any accompanying supplement, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of business combinations, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, and our ability to grow and manage growth profitably following business combinations;
costs related to business combinations;
changes in applicable laws or regulations;
the outcome of any legal proceedings against us;
the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business;
our ability to execute our business model, including, among other things, market acceptance of our products and services and construction delays in connection with the expansion of our facilities;
our ability to raise capital;
the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors;
our ability to timely and effectively remediate material weaknesses and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure and procedures; and
other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” of this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference
Any expectations based on these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other important factors, including those discussed in this Report, specifically the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Other risks and uncertainties are and will be disclosed in our prior and future SEC filings. The following information should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
Introductory Note
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations describes the business historically operated by Meredian Holdings Group and its subsidiaries (“Legacy Danimer”) under the “Danimer Scientific” name as an independent enterprise prior to December 29, 2020.
On December 29, 2020, the registrant, Live Oak Acquisition Corp. (“Live Oak”), merged with and into Legacy Danimer, with Legacy Danimer surviving as the surviving company (the “Business Combination”) and as a wholly owned subsidiary of Live Oak, and changed its name from Live Oak Acquisition Corp. to Danimer Scientific, Inc. (“Danimer”). Live Oak Acquisition Corp. (“Live Oak”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on May 24, 2019 as a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination with one or more businesses. Live Oak completed its initial public offering in May 2020.
18
On August 11, 2021, we closed the acquisition of Novomer, Inc. (“Novomer”) in exchange for $153.9 million in cash, gross of cash acquired, subject to certain customary adjustments as set forth in the merger agreement. Novomer's financial results are included in those of the Company from that date forward. In 2020, Novomer generated no revenue and incurred a net loss of $9.1 million. Novomer utilizes feedstocks as an input into its proprietary thermal catalytic conversion process to produce a unique type of PHA or p(3HP) or otherwise referred to under its brand name as Rinnovo.
Company Overview
We are a performance polymer company specializing in bioplastic replacement for traditional petroleum-based plastics. We bring together innovative technologies to deliver renewable, environmentally friendly bioplastic materials to global consumer product companies. We believe that we are the only commercial company in the bioplastics market to combine the production of a base polymer along with the reactive extrusion capacity in order to give customers a “drop-in” replacement for a wide variety of petroleum-based plastics. We derive our revenue from product sales of PLA- and PHA-based resins as well as from services such as R&D and tolling.
PHA-Based Resins
We are a leading producer of polyhydroxyalkanoate (“PHA”), a new, 100% biodegradable plastic feedstock alternative, which we sell under the proprietary Nodax® brand name, for use in a wide variety of plastic applications including water bottles, straws and food containers, among other things. We make Nodax through a fermentation process where bacteria consume vegetable oil and make PHA within their cell membranes as energy reserves. We harvest the PHA from the bacteria, then purify and filter the bioplastic before extruding the PHA into pellets, which we sell to converters. PHAs are a complete replacement for petroleum-based plastics where the convertors do not have to purchase new equipment to switch to the new biodegradable plastic. Utilizing PHA as a base resin significantly expands the number of potential applications for bioplastics in the industry and enables us to produce resin that is not just compostable, but also fully biodegradable.
We recently began making PHA on a commercial scale. In December 2018, we acquired a fermentation facility in Winchester, Kentucky (“Kentucky Facility”). We embarked on a two-phase commissioning strategy for the Kentucky Facility. We commenced scale-up fermentation runs in December 2019 and completed several components of the Phase I improvements by the end of 2020. Through September 30, 2021, we have invested $57 million for Phase I and related projects, excluding capitalized interest. Once Phase I is producing at full capacity, we expect to produce approximately 20 million pounds of finished product per year. We plan to expand the capacity of the plant by 45 million pounds of finished product, bringing total plant capacity up to 65 million pounds per year, by investing approximately $119 million to $121 million, excluding capitalized interest and internal labor, for the Phase II expansion. Phase II construction is underway with production expected to commence in the second quarter of 2022. We have invested $95.4 million in the Phase II expansion through September 30, 2021, excluding capitalized interest and internal labor.
In March 2021, we announced our plan to construct a six-fermenter PHA plant in Bainbridge, Georgia that would require a capital investment of approximately $700 million with a planned annual production capacity of approximately 250 million pounds of finished product. In July, we received an updated engineering estimated for the greenfield plant of $619 million to $1,033 million based on continued inflation in construction materials throughout 2021. Considering the recent acquisition of Novomer, we have modified our plans to include Novomer’s expansion through the construction of a commercial Rinnovo plant. In turn, we are modifying the plans for our Bainbridge greenfield facility to include three fermenters instead of the six fermenters included in the original plan, leaving space on the site for future expansion. Based on this updated three-fermenter design, we have made corresponding reductions in the downstream processing and extrusion areas and updated our engineering estimate for the Bainbridge greenfield plant to $390 million to $590 million. Through September 30, 2021, we have invested $11.5 million in the greenfield facility, excluding capitalized interest and internal labor. We may add additional fermentation, downstream processing, and extrusion modules to the Bainbridge facility at a future date.
We currently anticipate spending between $100 million to $180 million on the Rinnovo plant. Once the Rinnovo plant is completed and after making some additional investments in extrusion capacity, the Danimer network is expected to have production capacity of approximately 330 million pounds of PHA-based finished product resins when blended with other inputs. Danimer also expects to have approximately 60 million pounds of Rinnovo remaining to sell on a standalone basis or in formulations that don't include Nodax.
PLA-Based Resins
Since 2004, we have been producing proprietary plastics using a natural plastic called polylactic acid (“PLA”) as a base resin. We purchase neat PLA and formulate it into bioplastic applications by leveraging the expertise of our chemists and our proprietary reactive extrusion process. Our formulated PLA products allow many companies to begin to use renewable and compostable plastics to meet their customers’ growing sustainability needs. We have expanded our product portfolio and now supply customers globally.
19
Research and Development (“R&D”) and Other Services
Our technology team partners with global consumer product companies to develop custom biopolymer formulations for specific applications. R&D contracts are designed to develop a formulated resin using PHA, PLA and other biopolymers that can be run efficiently on existing conversion equipment. We expect successful R&D contracts to culminate in supply agreements with the customers. Our R&D services not only provide revenue but also a pipeline of future products.
In addition to producing our own products, we also toll manufacture for customers that need the unique extruder or reactor setup we employ for new or scale-up production. Our specialty tolling services primarily involve processing customer-owned raw materials to assist them in addressing their extrusion capacity constraints or manufacturing challenges.
Comparability of Financial Information
Our results of operations may not be comparable between periods as a result of the Business Combination and the acquisition of Novomer.
As a result of the Business Combination, we are an SEC-registered and NYSE-listed company, which will require us to continue to hire additional personnel and implement procedures and processes to address public company regulatory requirements and customary practices. We expect to continue to incur additional expenses as a public company for, among other things, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees and additional internal and external accounting and legal and administrative resources, including increased audit and legal fees.
Key Factors Affecting Operating Results
We believe that our performance and future success depend on several factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including those discussed below.
Factors Impacting Our Revenue
Our product revenue is significantly impacted by our ability to successfully scale the Kentucky Facility for commercial production of PHA. The completion of Phase II of the Kentucky Facility will significantly increase our capacity to produce and sell PHA, which is in high demand by our customers. Using Nodax as a base resin significantly expands the number of potential applications for bioplastics and also enables us to produce a resin that is not just compostable, but also fully biodegradable. Since we just recently introduced our PHA on a commercial scale, our product revenues are also impacted by the timing and success of customer trials as well as product degradation testing and certifications. Our product revenue from PLA-based resins is primarily impacted by the effective launch of new product offerings in new markets by our customers as well as the ability of our suppliers to continue to increase their production capacity of neat PLA. Finally, our product revenue is impacted by our ability to deliver biopolymer formulations that can be efficiently run on customer conversion equipment and meet customer application specifications and requirements.
Our services revenue is primarily impacted by the timing of, and execution against, customer contracts. Research and development services generally involve milestone-based contracts to develop PHA-based solutions designed to a customer’s specifications. Service revenues are recognized over time with progress measured based on personnel hours incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated personnel hours for each contract. Upon the completion of research and development contracts, customers generally have the option to enter into long-term supply agreements with us for the developed product solutions. Our ability to grow our services revenue depends on our ability to develop a track record of developing successful biopolymer formulations for our customers and effectively transitioning those formulations to commercial scale production.
Factors Impacting Our Expenses
Costs of revenue
Cost of revenue is comprised of costs of goods sold and direct costs associated with research and development service contracts. Costs of goods sold consists of raw materials and ingredients, labor costs for production staff, related production overhead, rent and depreciation costs. Costs associated with research and development service contracts include labor costs, related overhead costs and outside consulting and testing fees incurred in direct relation to specific service contracts.
Selling, general and administrative expense
Selling, general and administrative expense consists of labor costs, marketing expense, corporate administration expenses, stock-based compensation not allocated to research and development or production personnel, and elements of depreciation, rent and facility expenses that are not directly attributable to costs of production or associated with research and development activities.
Research and development expense
Research and development expense includes labor costs, third-party consulting and testing fees, and rent and related facility expenses directly attributable to research and development activities not associated with revenue generating service contracts.
20
Impacts Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. In response, government authorities have issued an evolving set of mandates, including requirements to shelter-in-place, curtail business operations, restrict travel and avoid physical interaction. These mandates and the continued spread of COVID-19 have disrupted normal business activities in many segments of the global economy, resulting in weakened economic conditions. Government mandates have been lifted by certain public authorities and economic conditions have improved in certain sectors of the economy. Certain regions of the world have experienced increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, however, and if this continues and if public authorities intensify efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, normal business activity may be further disrupted and economic conditions could weaken.
Our ability to continue to operate without any significant negative impacts will in part depend on our ability to protect our employees and our supply chain. We have endeavored to follow actions recommended by governments and health authorities to protect our employees, with particular measures in place for those working in our manufacturing and laboratory facilities. We have been able to broadly maintain our operations, and we intend to continue to work with our stakeholders (including customers, employees, suppliers and local communities) to responsibly address this global pandemic. However, uncertainty resulting from the global pandemic could result in an unforeseen disruption to our supply chain (for example a closure of a key manufacturing or distribution facility or the inability of a key supplier or transportation partner to source and transport materials and equipment) that could impact our operations and capital projects.
Although our revenue has continued to grow during the continuing global pandemic, we believe that some of our customers have deferred decision making and commitments regarding future orders and new contracts. The global pandemic has also resulted in delays in performing trials with new customers and obtaining certification for new products. In 2020, we extended our previous timetable for the scale up of the Kentucky Facility in order to conserve financial resources. We have not observed any material impairments of, or other significant changes to, the fair value of our assets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For additional information on risk factors that could impact our results, please refer to “Risk Factors” located elsewhere in this Report.
Current Developments
During the third quarter, we made further inroads in our mission to create biodegradable consumer packaging and other products which address the global plastics waste crisis, building on our team’s many accomplishments since we became a public company late last year. In the third quarter, we:
acquired and integrated Novomer,
increased our PHA production capacity,
made additional progress in negotiating development and supply agreements with our blue-chip customers, and
remained on schedule with the construction of our Phase II Kentucky Facility expansion.
As noted above, in August 2021, we closed on the acquisition of Novomer, a leading developer of conversion technology providing transformable, functional and low net carbon inputs into the production of PHA-based resins and other biodegradable materials, in a cash transaction valued at $153.9 million, gross of cash acquired and subject to customary adjustments. Novomer develops high-performing, carbon-efficient, cost-effective polymers and chemicals, including poly(3-hydroxypropionate) (“p(3HP)”), a type of PHA under its brand name, Rinnovo. We believe that Novomer’s technology will enhance the strength of product applications we develop due to the complementary nature of Novomer’s polymers when combined with Nodax and enable us to increase the expected overall volume of finished product we will be able to deliver, all while significantly lowering our production costs and capital expenditure per pound produced.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. The more critical accounting estimates include estimates related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, leases and derivatives. We also have other key accounting policies, which involve the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that are significant to understanding our results, which are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Revenue recognition
We recognize revenue from product sales and services in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
We derive our revenues from: 1) product sales of developed compostable resins based on PLA, PHA, and other renewable materials; and 2) research and development (R&D) services related to developing customized formulations of biodegradable resins based on PHA, PLA and other biopolymers, as well as tolling revenues.
21
We generally produce and sell resin pellets, for which we typically recognize revenue upon shipment. Due to the highly specialized nature of our products, returns are infrequent, and therefore we do not estimate amounts for sales returns and allowances. We offer a standard quality assurance warranty related to the fitness of our finished goods. There are no forms of variable consideration such as rebates or volume discounts.
R&D service revenues generally involve milestone-based contracts under which we work with a customer to develop a PHA-based solution designed to the customer’s specifications, which may involve a single or multiple performance obligations. When an R&D contract has multiple performance obligations, we allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations utilizing a cost-plus approach to estimate the stand-alone selling price, which contemplates the level of effort to satisfy the performance obligations, and then allocate the transaction price to each of the performance obligations based on the relative percentage of the stand-alone selling price. We recognize revenue for these R&D services over time with progress measured based on personnel hours incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated personnel hours for each performance obligation identified within the contract. Upon completion of the R&D services, the customers have an option to enter into long-term supply agreements with us for the product(s) that were developed within the respective contracts. We concluded these customer options were marketing offers, not separate performance obligations, since the options did not provide a material right to any of our customers.
Stock-based compensation
We have granted stock options and restricted shares to our employees, including some with market-based or performance-based factors that affect vesting. We recognize expense for these awards based on a straight-line basis over the over the longest of the explicit, implicit or derived service period of the award, as applicable. Most of our awards qualify for equity accounting, meaning the expense recognized is based on grant date fair value. However, some awards granted during the quarter ended September 30, 2021 have cash-settlement features that require application of the liability method of accounting, under which the instruments are re-valued at each reporting date and the expense recognized is cumulatively trued-up. We recognize a liability for such awards. We determine fair values for most of our stock options using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and for most of restricted shares using the trading price of our common stock, but the awards with market-based conditions required the use of Monte Carlo simulations for valuation.
Leases
We account for leases in accordance with ASC 842, Leases and we determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. We use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at lease commencement dates, such as rates recently offered to us by lenders on proposed borrowings, in determining the present values of future payments. Our incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate of interest we would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease, typically at our own discretion. We evaluate the renewal options at commencement and if they are reasonably certain of exercise, we include the renewal period in the lease term.
Lease costs associated with operating leases consist of both fixed and variable components. Expenses related to fixed lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable payments, such as insurance and property taxes, are recorded as incurred and are not included in the initial lease liability.
Derivatives
We account for outstanding privately-held warrants to purchase our common stock for $11.50 per share as derivatives under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging and therefore we report these warrants as a liability at their fair value, which we determine using the Black Scholes model, and we report mark-to-market changes in their fair value in condensed consolidated statement of operations.
22
Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products
|
|
$
|
12,397
|
|
|
$
|
11,249
|
|
|
$
|
1,148
|
|
Services
|
|
|
972
|
|
|
|
1,586
|
|
|
|
(614
|
)
|
Total revenue
|
|
|
13,369
|
|
|
|
12,835
|
|
|
|
534
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
13,601
|
|
|
|
9,188
|
|
|
|
4,413
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
(232
|
)
|
|
|
3,647
|
|
|
|
(3,879
|
)
|
Gross profit percentage
|
|
|
-1.7
|
%
|
|
|
28.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
Operating expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
26,592
|
|
|
|
3,370
|
|
|
|
23,222
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
5,010
|
|
|
|
2,190
|
|
|
|
2,820
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
31,602
|
|
|
|
5,560
|
|
|
|
26,042
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(31,834
|
)
|
|
|
(1,913
|
)
|
|
|
(29,921
|
)
|
Nonoperating expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on measurement of private warrants
|
|
|
28,392
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
28,392
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
(246
|
)
|
|
|
(334
|
)
|
|
|
88
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
108
|
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
Total nonoperating expenses
|
|
|
28,236
|
|
|
|
(226
|
)
|
|
|
28,462
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
(3,598
|
)
|
|
|
(2,139
|
)
|
|
|
(1,459
|
)
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
11,423
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
11,423
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
7,825
|
|
|
$
|
(2,139
|
)
|
|
$
|
9,964
|
|
Revenue
The increase in product revenue was driven by a 7.6% increase in pounds sold and a 1.4% increase in our weighted average selling price. In the third quarter of 2021, PHA-based products represented 32% and only represented 12% of total sales during the same period in the prior year. PHA-based product sales increased $2.7 million due to production capacity ramp-up in our Kentucky Facility. PLA-based product sales decreased $1.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due abnormally large volumes sold during the same period in 2020. We believe some of our PLA customers increased their inventory levels in 2020 to protect against potential supply chain disruptions related to the COVID-19 virus. Once these higher inventory levels were achieved, certain of these customers slowed their orders beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The decrease in services revenue relates primarily to a $0.6 million decrease in revenue from research and development contracts. Certain deliverables under our R&D contracts such as customer acceptance testing have been delayed by COVID and customer supply chain matters, resulting in less work being done on these projects currently and extended project timelines.
Four of our customers accounted for 60% and 80% of total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Cost of revenue and gross profit
Cost of revenue increased 48% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 as compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in cost of revenue is primarily a result of the cost of PHA-based products representing a significantly larger portion of our total revenue during the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020, as described above. The average cost per pound of PHA-based products sold in the quarter was significantly higher than our PLA-based products due to increasing depreciation costs as we place additional production capacity in service and elevated per-unit fixed-cost absorption at our Kentucky Facility as we run these new assets at less than full capacity. Gross margin percentage decreased to negative 2% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from 28% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decline in our gross profit margin was primarily the result of these fixed costs at the Kentucky Facility. We anticipate that fixed costs, including rent and depreciation, will become a smaller portion of our cost of revenue as we scale up production. We believe Kentucky Facility Phase I will reach its annual run rate capacity of 20 million pounds by the end of 2021.
Operating expenses
The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was due primarily to an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $13.6 million primarily related to equity awards that were granted in conjunction with the Business Combination and thereafter, as well as $2.3 million in Novomer acquisition-related expenses, an increase of $1.1 million in legal costs incurred to support our transition to becoming a publicly traded company and the completion of the Novomer acquisition, and an $0.8 million increase in property and other insurance costs and increased accrued property taxes associated with our growing asset base. The increase in research and development expense period over period was primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million primarily related to
23
equity awards granted in conjunction with the Business Combination, $1.3 million of R&D expense of Novomer (inclusive of depreciation and amortization), and increased compensation and benefits costs related to additional headcount in the research and development areas.
Gain on remeasurement of private warrants
The gain on our Private Warrants represents a decrease in the fair value of each of the 3.9 million outstanding Private Warrants due primarily to a decrease in the market price of our common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Interest expense
The decrease in interest expense primarily resulted from the payoff the 2019 Term Loan in January 2021, the settlement of convertible notes into equity in December 2020 and the extinguishment of certain loans issued in connection with the New Markets Tax Credit program. This decrease was offset by capitalized interest, associated primarily with capital expenditures at our Kentucky Facility, declining to $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Interest capitalization declined despite continued capital investment due to lower debt levels.
Income tax expense
For the three months ended September 30, 2021 we recorded significant deferred tax liabilities in connection with the acquisition of Novomer. As a result, we expect to realize certain of our deferred tax assets to offset these liabilities and we have released the valuation allowance associated with these deferred tax assets. This release of valuation allowance has been recorded as a tax benefit in the current period. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, we had no income tax expense or benefit since we were maintaining a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset. Our effective tax rates differed from the federal statutory rate of 21% due to our net loss position and maintaining a full valuation allowance, other than as noted in connection with the acquisition of Novomer in the current period.
Net income (loss)
We reported net income in the three months ended September 30, 2021 due to an income tax benefit associated with the acquisition of Novomer. The increase in loss before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared with 2020 was primarily attributable to increased selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by the gain on remeasurement of private warrants, as discussed in the sections above.
Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations for the Nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products
|
|
$
|
34,715
|
|
|
$
|
31,004
|
|
|
$
|
3,711
|
|
Services
|
|
|
6,306
|
|
|
|
4,302
|
|
|
|
2,004
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
|
41,021
|
|
|
|
35,306
|
|
|
|
5,715
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
37,786
|
|
|
|
25,058
|
|
|
|
12,728
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
3,235
|
|
|
|
10,248
|
|
|
|
(7,013
|
)
|
Gross profit percentage
|
|
|
7.9
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
Operating expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
55,791
|
|
|
|
9,178
|
|
|
|
46,613
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
11,604
|
|
|
|
5,565
|
|
|
|
6,039
|
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
(9
|
)
|
|
|
42
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
67,428
|
|
|
|
14,734
|
|
|
|
52,694
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(64,193
|
)
|
|
|
(4,486
|
)
|
|
|
(59,707
|
)
|
Nonoperating expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on remeasurement of private warrants
|
|
|
6,435
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,435
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
(668
|
)
|
|
|
(1,431
|
)
|
|
|
763
|
|
Gain on forgiveness of debt
|
|
|
1,776
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,776
|
|
Loss on loan extinguishment
|
|
|
(2,604
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,604
|
)
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
170
|
|
|
|
297
|
|
|
|
(127
|
)
|
Total nonoperating expenses
|
|
|
5,109
|
|
|
|
(1,134
|
)
|
|
|
6,243
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
(59,084
|
)
|
|
|
(5,620
|
)
|
|
|
(53,464
|
)
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
11,423
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
11,423
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(47,661
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5,620
|
)
|
|
$
|
(42,041
|
)
|
24
Revenue
In the first nine months of 2021, PHA-based products represented 29.9% of our total revenue compared to only 7% during the same period in the prior year. Driving this increase in product revenue was a 4.5% increase in pounds sold and an approximately 6.7% increase in our weighted average selling price. The $3.7 million increase in product revenue was primarily attributable to increases in PHA-based product sales of $9.7 million offset by a decrease in PLA-based product sales of $5.9 million. The increase in PHA-based product sales was the result of the continued increase of production capacity at our Kentucky Facility. The decrease in PLA-based product sales was primarily the result of some of our PLA customers deciding to increase their inventory levels in 2020 to protect against potential supply chain disruptions that might have arisen due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Once these higher inventory levels were achieved, certain of these customers slowed their orders beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The increase in services revenue relates primarily to a $1.9 million increase in revenue from research and development contracts.
We have four customers that accounted for 60% and 74% of total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Cost of revenue and gross profit
Cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 increased 51% as compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in cost of revenue is primarily a result of the cost of PHA-based products representing a significantly larger portion of our total cost of revenue during the 2021 year to date period compared to the 2020 year to date period. The average cost per pound of PHA-based products sold in the year to date period of 2021 was significantly higher than our PLA-based products due to elevated fixed-cost absorption at our Kentucky Facility. We expect our average cost per unit sold to improve as the Kentucky Facility continues to scale up production. Included in the increase in cost of revenue was a $3.8 million increase in depreciation expense and a $0.6 million increase in rent expense primarily related to having completed the installation of certain assets at the Kentucky Facility and commencing production. We anticipate that rent and depreciation will become a smaller portion of our cost of revenue as we continue to scale up PHA production at the Kentucky Facility. Gross margin percentage decreased to 8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from 29% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The decline in our gross profit margin was primarily the result of commencing limited PHA manufacturing activities in early 2020 at the Kentucky Facility and the incurrence of associated incremental ramp-up costs, including increased depreciation expense.. In the second quarter of 2021, we completed the debottlenecking of the Kentucky Facility and expect that these efforts will allow us to significantly scale production from previous levels, further reducing manufacturing costs of PHA based resins on a per pound basis. We believe the debottlenecking also positions us to accelerate production of PHA-based resins towards reaching 100% of the facility’s current annual run rate capacity of 20 million pounds of PHA-based resins by the end of 2021.
Operating expenses
The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was due primarily to an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $31.4 million primarily related to equity awards that were granted in conjunction with the Business Combination. Also contributing to the increase were $2.8 million in legal fees incurred to support our transition to becoming a publicly-traded company, our acquisition of Novomer in August 2021 and our defense against ongoing litigation; $2.6 million other Novomer deal related expenses; an increase of $1.7 million in accounting and auditing fees representing costs incurred to address the financial reporting requirements of becoming a public company; a $1.7 million increase in property and other insurance costs and increased accrued property taxes associated with our growing asset base; increases in compensation and benefits related to hiring additional finance and administrative staff; and incremental operating expenses arising from the inclusion of Novomer in our condensed financials starting in mid-August 2021. The increase in research and development expense period over period was primarily attributed to increases in stock-based compensation expense of $3.9 million primarily related to equity awards granted in conjunction with the Business Combination, $1.3 million of R&D expense of Novomer (inclusive of depreciation and amortization), and increased compensation and benefits costs of $1.3 million related to additional headcount in the research and development areas.
Gain on remeasurement of private warrants
The gain on remeasurement of our Private Warrants represents a decrease in the fair value of each of the 3.9 million outstanding Private Warrants due primarily to a decrease in the market price of our common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Interest expense
Interest expense decreased primarily due to the payoff of the 2019 Term Loan in January 2021, the settlement of convertible notes into equity in December 2020, and the extinguishment of certain loans issued in connection with the New Market Tax Credit program. This decrease was partially offset by capitalized interest declining to $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The interest capitalization primarily relates to the purchase, modification and installation of machinery and equipment at the Kentucky Facility and declined due to a reduction in debt balances when comparing the year-to-date periods.
25
Gain (loss) on loan extinguishment and other income
During the year to date period ended September 30, 2021, we voluntarily paid off our 2019 Term Loan balance of $27.0 million. We recognized a loss of $2.6 million upon this extinguishment due to the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and prepayment and other fees.
On April 12, 2021, we received notice that our PPP Loan had been forgiven by the Small Business Administration. As a result we have recognized a $1.8 million gain on forgiveness of debt, representing principal and interest earned on the balance in escrow, and net of associated fees. This amount was released from escrow during the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
Income tax expense
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recorded significant deferred tax liabilities in connection with the acquisition of Novomer. As a result, we expect to realize certain of our deferred tax assets to offset these liabilities and have released the valuation allowance associated with these deferred tax assets. This release of valuation allowance has been recorded as a tax benefit in the current period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we had no income tax expense or benefit since we were maintaining a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset. Our effective tax rate of 14.6% differed from the federal statutory rate of 21% due to our net loss position and maintaining a full valuation allowance, other than as noted in connection with the acquisition of Novomer in August 2021.
Net loss
The increase in net loss was primarily attributable to the increase in operating expenses discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity are currently equity issuances, warrant redemptions and debt financings. We had accumulated deficits of $106.4 million and $58.8 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. As of September 30, 2021, we had $194.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and working capital of $206.4 million. While we believe we have established an ongoing source of revenue that will be sufficient to cover our ongoing operating costs, we are currently experiencing a period of significant capital expenditures resulting from the ongoing expansion and construction of our manufacturing and production facilities. Excluding capitalized interest and labor, we have invested $95.4 million in the Phase II expansion through September 30, 2021. In total, we expect to invest $119 million to $121 million in the Kentucky Facility by the time it is completed. We plan to break ground on our Bainbridge, Georgia plant construction ahead of schedule in November 2021 and we have started placing orders for long-lead time equipment items to mitigate the impacts of ongoing inflation and delivery delays that could result from global supply chain challenges. As of September 30, 2021, we have invested $11.5 million of capital for the Bainbridge plant, and we expect to invest another $56 million by the end of 2021. Completion of the Bainbridge facility is contingent upon receiving additional financing. We believe we have adequate liquidity to fund our operations for the next twelve months.
At September 30, 2021, our most significant borrowing facilities are our Subordinated Term Loan and Asset-based Lending Arrangement described below.
Subordinated Term Loan
In March 2019, we entered into a subordinated credit agreement (“Subordinated Term Loan”) for $10 million in term loans. The term loans mature on February 13, 2024 and require monthly interest only payments with the outstanding principal balance due at maturity. After an amendment on March 18, 2021, the base interest rate is the LIBOR plus 2%. The Subordinated Term Loan provides for “springing” financial covenants including leverage ratio, fixed charge coverage ratio and adjusted EBITDA covenants that apply only if Danimer Scientific Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries have less than $10 million of unrestricted cash on deposits and imposes a maximum capital expenditures limit. Our ability to prepay the loan is restricted until after July 1, 2022.
Asset-based Lending Arrangement
On April 29, 2021, we entered into a credit facility with Truist Bank that includes a $20.0 million variable interest rate asset-based lending arrangement and a $1.0 million capital expenditure line of credit with customary terms and conditions. These arrangements mature on April 29, 2026. Interest on any borrowings is payable monthly and is calculated, at our election, using either a base rate (as defined in the credit agreement) plus an applicable margin of 1.50% for revolving loans and 1.75% for equipment loans, or a LIBOR market index rate (“LMIR”) (as defined in the credit agreement) plus an applicable margin of 2.50% for revolving loans and 2.75% for equipment loans. If we maintain a trailing twelve month consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) of 1.1:1.0 or better and no event of default exists, then the applicable margins for base rate revolving loans and LMIR rate loans are 1.00% and 2.00%, respectively. At September 30, 2021, we had no borrowings outstanding under the Asset-based Lending Arrangement. We estimate that out total availability under this arrangement is $14.7 million at September 30, 2021. Through October 29, 2023, as long as we maintain undrawn availability of at least $4 million, certain covenant ratio restrictions in the credit agreement do not apply.
Cash Flows for the Nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities:
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Nine Months
Ended September 30,
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
$
|
(47,441
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10,415
|
)
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
$
|
(247,637
|
)
|
|
$
|
(25,169
|
)
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
$
|
111,478
|
|
|
$
|
32,456
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $47.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and was $10.4 million during the comparable period for 2020. The period-to-period change was primarily attributable to a $21.5 million net loss after adjustments for non-cash items as well as well as a $15.3 million increase in cash used to fund changes in working capital.
Cash flows from investing activities
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we used $96.8 million for the purchase of property, plant and equipment which compares to $25.2 million for the purchase of property, plant and equipment for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. During 2021, we commenced a further expansion of the production capacity of our Kentucky Facility (Phase II) as well as procurement and construction for the greenfield facility in Georgia. We also had a net cash expenditure of $151.2 million for the acquisition of Novomer, as described above.
Cash flows from financing activities
For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities was $111.5 million which consisted primarily of:
Net proceeds from warrant exercises of $138.2 million,
Repayments of debt of $27.1 million, and
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $2.7 million.
This compares to net cash provided by financing activities of $32.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 which consisted of:
Proceeds of $29 million from the issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs, and
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt of $4.4 million.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
At September 30, 2021, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors. The term “off-balance sheet arrangement” generally means any transaction, agreement, or other contractual arrangement to which an unconsolidated entity is a party, under which we have any obligation arising under a guarantee contract, derivative instrument, or variable interest or a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to such entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity, or market risk support for such assets.
Currently we do not engage in off-balance sheet financing arrangements.
Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an emerging growth company (“EGC”), as defined in the JOBS Act, which currently exempts us from the requirement to receive an auditor's report over our internal controls over financial reporting in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K as well as from certain disclosures in our Definitive Proxy Statements on Form DEF14A.
Since the market value of our outstanding securities held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2021 exceeded $700 million, we expect to be deemed a “large accelerated filer,” as defined by the SEC, on January 1, 2022. As a result, our Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021 will be subject to auditor attestation over our internal controls over financial reporting as required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Compliance with Section 404(b) will require a significant amount of management's time, and we plan to make material expenditures on information technology, process improvement, headcount additions, and consulting expense in order to comply by the end of this year. There can be no assurance that we will succeed in these efforts, and if we do not, the disclosure of one or more material weaknesses is possible. In such a case, the market value of our common stock could be negatively affected.
As a large accelerated filer, we will also have to file a more expansive Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF14A, which will require additional time and expense as well.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As a smaller reporting company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the 1934 Act, as amended, for this reporting period, we are not required to provide the information required under this item.
27
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls can prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. There are inherent limitations in all control systems, including the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of one or more persons. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and, while our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to be effective under circumstances where they should reasonably be expected to operate effectively, there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential conditions. Because of the inherent limitations in any control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
On August 11, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Novomer, Inc. (“Novomer”). SEC guidance permits management to exclude acquisitions from their assessment of internal control over financial reporting during the first year of an acquisition. In conducting our evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we excluded Novomer in our evaluation during the three-month period ended September 30, 2021. We are in the process of incorporating Novomer into our system of internal control over financial reporting.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our management and our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing them with material information relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the 1934 Act.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In connection with correcting our accounting for equity and liability instruments (including the Private Warrants assumed by us as part of the Business Combination), we have implemented additional review procedures, additional training and enhancements to the accounting policy related to the accounting for equity and liability instruments (including those with warrants) to determine proper accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP (e.g., determination whether liability or equity classification and measurement is appropriate).
There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) and Rule 15d-15(d) of the 1934 Act, that occurred during the period ended September 30, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.