Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity and Equity-linked Instruments

v3.23.3
Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity and Equity-linked Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements  
Equity [Text Block]

6.

STOCKHOLDERSEQUITY AND EQUITY-LINKED INSTRUMENTS

 

On September 7, 2023, the Company filed the Second Amendment, effecting the Reverse Stock Split (the 1-for-20 reverse split of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock). The Reverse Split was approved by the Company’s Board on July 5, 2023. The Second Amendment became effective on September 11, 2023. The Company’s shares began trading on a Reverse Split-adjusted basis on the Nasdaq Capital Market on September 11, 2023.

 

As a result of the Reverse Split, every 20 shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was automatically combined and converted into one issued and outstanding share of common stock. No fractional shares of common stock were issued as a result of the Reverse Split. Instead, in lieu of any fractional shares to which a stockholder of record would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Reverse Split, the Company paid cash (without interest) equal to the value of such fractional share. The Reverse Split did not modify the rights or preferences of the common stock.

 

All references to common stock, warrants to purchase common stock, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock, share data, per share data and related information contained in the financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Reverse Split for all periods presented.

 

Equity Financing

 

On August 21, 2023, we entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Aegis Capital Corp. (the “Underwriter”), relating to the Company’s public offering (the “Common Stock Offering”) of 778,653 shares of its common stock, and pre-funded warrants to purchase 67,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, in lieu of the Company’s common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”, and collectively with the Shares, the “Firm Securities”) to certain investors. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company also granted the Underwriters a 45-day option (“Option”) to purchase an additional 126,923 shares of the Company’s common stock and/or Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Option Securities”, and together with the Firm Securities, the “Securities”). On September 12, 2023, the Underwriter partially exercised its Option and purchased an additional 32,616 shares of common stock at a price of $2.60 per share. The issuance by the Company of the Option Securities resulted in total gross proceeds of approximately $84,800, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and other offering expenses payable by the Company.

 

On August 23, 2023, the Company issued the Firm Securities and closed the Offering at a public price of $2.60 per share, and $2.58 per share underlying each Pre-Funded Warrant, for net proceeds to the Company of approximately $1.8 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

 

Each Pre-Funded Warrant had an exercise price per share of common stock equal to $0.001 per share. The exercise price and the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of each Pre-Funded Warrant was subject to appropriate adjustments in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting the common stock. Under the Pre-Funded Warrants, a holder would not be entitled to exercise any portion of any Pre-Funded Warrant that, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause: (i) the aggregate number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by such holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise; or (ii) the combined voting power of the Company’s securities beneficially owned by such holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% of the combined voting power of all of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Pre-Funded Warrant, which percentage may be changed at the holder’s election to a higher or lower percentage not in excess of 9.99% upon 61 days’ notice to the Company. In addition, in certain circumstances, upon a fundamental transaction, a holder of Pre-Funded Warrants would be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that such holder would have received had they exercised the Pre-Funded Warrants immediately prior to the fundamental transaction. The Pre-Funded Warrants were fully exercised as of August 29, 2023.

 

The Firm Securities were offered, issued, and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the SEC on Form S-3 (File No. 333-259347) (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as supplemented by a prospectus supplement, dated August 23, 2023, relating to the Securities (together with the accompanying base prospectus, dated September 7, 2021, the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on August 23, 2023.

 

The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriter, including for liabilities under the Securities Act, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of the Underwriting Agreement and as of the specific applicable dates contained in the Underwriting Agreement, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Underwriting Agreement and were subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.

 

 

Convertible Preferred Stock Issuances

 

Series AA Convertible Preferred Financing

 

On the dates set forth in the table below, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 11,781 shares of newly designated Series AA, AA-2, AA-3, AA-4 and AA-5 Convertible Preferred Stock, each series having a $0.001 par value and a $1,000 purchase price, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Series AA Preferred,” and the individual offerings of Series AA Preferred stock hereinafter collectively referred to as the Series AA Offerings, as follows:

 

Date

Series

Design-

ation

 

Conversion

Price – At

Issuance(2)

   

Shares

   

Gross

Proceeds

   

Fees

   

Net

Proceeds

   

Conversion

Shares – At

Issuance

   

Placement

Agent

Warrants

(1)

 
                                                           

April 19, 2023

Series AA

  $ 9.43       7,680     $ 7,680,000     $ 966,000     $ 6,714,000       814,000       114,000  

April 20, 2023

Series AA-2

  $ 10.43       1,500       1,500,000       130,000       1,370,000       144,000       13,000  

April 28, 2023

Series AA-3

  $ 9.50       1,025       1,025,000       133,000       892,000       108,000       15,000  

May 5, 2023

Series AA-4

  $ 9.28       1,026       1,026,000       133,000       893,000       111,000       16,000  

May 26, 2023

Series AA-5

  $ 10.60       550       550,000       72,000       479,000       52,000       7,000  

Total

            11,781     $ 11,781,000     $ 1,434,000     $ 10,348,000       1,229,000       165,000  

 


(1)

Issued on May 26, 2023, effective as of the applicable closing date, upon final closing of the Series AA Preferred Stock offering.

(2)

The Conversion price for Series AA Preferred stock outstanding as of August 23, 2023, totaling 10,706 shares of Series AA Preferred stock, was adjusted to $0.13 as a result of the Down Round Feature described below. The original conversion prices for the Series AA Preferred, as of the respective issuance dates, were as follows: Series AA - $9.43; Series AA-2 - $10.43; Series AA-3 - $9.50; Series AA-4 - $9.28; Series AA-5 - $10.60.

 

At September 30, 2023, Series AA Preferred stock outstanding was comprised of the following, including conversions of Series AA Preferred stock into shares of the Company’s common stock for the applicable periods presented:

 

   

Conversion

                                                         

Series

 

Price As

   

Preferred Shares

   

Conversion Shares

 

Designation

 

Adjusted(1)

   

Series Preferred AA

   

Series Preferred AA

 
                                                   

Additional Conversion

Shares -

   

Adjusted

 
           

Issued

   

Converted

   

Outstanding

   

Original Conversion Shares

   

Conversions During the

Period

   

Adjusted Conversion

Price(1)

   

Conversion

Shares At End

of Period

 
                                                                 

Series AA

  $ 2.60       7,680       (1,292 )     6,388       814,000       (476,000 )     2,119,000       2,457,000  

Series AA-2

  $ 2.60       1,500       (1,500 )     -       144,000       (288,000 )     144,000       -  

Series AA-3

  $ 2.60       1,025       -       1,025       108,000       -       286,000       394,000  

Series AA-4

  $ 2.60       1,026       (5 )     1,021       111,000       (2,000 )     284,000       393,000  

Series AA-5

  $ 2.60       550       -       550       52,000       -       160,000       212,000  

Total as of September 30, 2023

            11,781       (2,797 )     8,984       1,229,000       (766,000 )     2,993,000       3,456,000  

 


(1)

The Conversion price for Series AA Preferred stock outstanding as of August 23, 2023, totaling 10,706 shares of Series AA Preferred stock, was adjusted to $0.13 as a result of the Down Round Feature described below. The original conversion prices for the Series AA Preferred, as of the respective issuance dates, were as follows: Series AA - $9.43; Series AA-2 - $10.43; Series AA-3 - $9.50; Series AA-4 - $9.28; Series AA-5 - $10.60.

 

 

In connection with the Series AA Offerings, the Company filed Certificates of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series AA Preferred Stock (the “Series AA Certificates of Designation”) with the State of Delaware.

 

Each share of Series AA Preferred is convertible at the option of the holder, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations and primary market limitations as set forth in each Series AA Certificates of Designation, into such number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the number of Series AA Preferred to be converted, multiplied by the stated value of $1,000 (the “AA Stated Value”), divided by the applicable conversion price (refer to table above), subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and similar transactions. The conversion price is equal to the “Minimum Price,” as defined in NASDAQ Rule 5635(d)(1)). In addition, subject to beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, on the one year anniversary of the respective filing date, the Company may, in its discretion, convert (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Series AA Preferred if the VWAP of the Company’s common stock over the previous ten days as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “Series AA VWAP”), equals at least 250% of the Conversion Price, or (z) 100% of the outstanding shares of Series AA Preferred if the Series AA VWAP equals at least 300% of the respective conversion price.

 

The Series AA Preferred shall vote together with the common stock on an as-converted basis, and not as a separate class, subject to the primary market limitations, except that holders of Series AA Preferred shall vote as a separate class with respect to (a) amending, altering, or repealing any provision of the Series AA Certificates of Designation in a manner that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Series AA Preferred, (b) increasing the number of authorized shares of Series AA Preferred, (c) authorizing or issuing an additional class or series of capital stock that ranks senior to or pari passu with the Series AA Preferred with respect to the distribution of assets on liquidation, (d) authorizing, creating, incurring, assuming, guaranteeing or suffering to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money of any kind outside of accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, (e) entering into any agreement with respect to the foregoing; or (f) approving the issuance of common stock below the Conversion Price Floor (as defined in the AA Certificate of Designations). In addition, no holder of Series AA Preferred shall be entitled to vote on any matter presented to the Company’s stockholders relating to approving the conversion of such holder’s Series AA Preferred into an amount in excess of the primary market limitations. Upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Series AA Preferred (together with any Parity Securities (as defined in the Series AA Certificate of Designations)) will be entitled to first receive distributions out of the Company’s assets in an amount per share equal to the AA Stated Value plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, whether capital or surplus before any distributions shall be made on any shares of common stock (after the payment to any senior security, if any).

 

 

Holders of the Series AA Preferred will be entitled to receive dividends, subject to the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, payable in the form of that number of shares of common stock equal to 20% of the shares of common stock underlying the Series AA Preferred then held by such holder on the 12 and 24 month anniversaries of the respective filing date. In addition, subject to the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, holders of Series AA Preferred will be entitled to receive dividends equal, on an as-if-converted to shares of common stock basis, and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the common stock when, as, and if such dividends are paid on shares of the common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a holder’s right to participate in any dividend in shares of common stock to which such holder is entitled would result in such holder exceeding the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, then such holder shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend to such extent and the portion of such shares that would cause such holder to exceed the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of such holder until such time, if ever, as such holder’s beneficial ownership thereof would not result in such holder exceeding the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations.

 

Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, purchasers that (a) previously held shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, or (b) purchased at least $3.5 million in shares of Series AA Preferred (subject to the acceptance of such lesser amounts in the Company’s sole discretion), shall have the right to purchase shares of a newly designated series of Preferred Stock of the Company containing comparable terms as the Series AA Preferred (the “Additional Investment Right”) from the date of each respective closing through the date that is 18 months thereafter as follows: (i) such investor may purchase an additional dollar amount equal to its initial investment amount at $1,000 per share (the “AA Original Issue Price”), with a conversion price equal to the conversion price in effect on the date of original purchase; and (ii) such investor may purchase an additional dollar amount equal to its initial investment amount at the AA Original Issue Price, with a conversion price equal to 125% of the respective conversion price in effect on the date of original purchase.

 

Pursuant to the Series AA Certificate of Designations: (i) for as long as Series AA Preferred remains outstanding and subject to certain carveouts as described in the Series AA Certificates of Designations, if the Company conducts an offering at a price per share less than the then current conversion price (the “Future Offering Price”) consisting of common stock, convertible or derivative instruments, and undertaken in an arms-length third party transaction, then in such event the conversion price of the Series AA Preferred shall be adjusted to the greater of: (a) the Future Offering Price and (b) the Conversion Price Floor (“Down Round Feature”); and (ii) if as of the 24-month anniversary date of April 19, 2023, the VWAP (as defined in the Series AA Certificates of Designation) for the five trading days immediately prior to such 24-month anniversary date is below the then current conversion price, the holder will receive a corresponding adjustment to the then conversion price, such adjustment not to exceed the Conversion Price Floor.

 

The Company and the investors in the Offering also executed a registration rights agreement (the “AA Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-273282), covering the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series AA Preferred, which was declared effective on August 1, 2023.

 

The Company sold the shares of Series AA Preferred pursuant to a placement agency agreement (the “Series AA Placement Agency Agreement”) with a registered broker dealer, which acted as the Company’s exclusive placement agent (the “Series AA Placement Agent”) for the Offering. Pursuant to the terms of the Series AA Placement Agency Agreement, in connection with the closings of the Series AA Offerings, the Company paid the Series AA Placement Agent aggregate cash fees, and non-accountable expense allowances as disclosed in the table above, and will issue to the Series AA Placement Agent or its designees warrants (the “Series AA Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase shares of common stock as disclosed in the table above at the conversion prices disclosed above. The Series AA Placement Agent shall also earn fees and be issued additional Series AA Placement Agent Warrants with respect to any securities issued pursuant to the Additional Investment Rights. The Company also granted the Series AA Placement Agent the right of first refusal, for a twelve (12) month period after the final closing of the Offering, to serve as the Company’s lead or co-placement agent for any private placement of the Company’s securities (equity or debt) that is proposed to be consummated with the assistance of a registered broker dealer.

 

 

The securities to be issued in the Offering are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder because, among other things, the transaction did not involve a public offering, the investors are accredited investors, the investors are purchasing the securities for investment and not for resale and the Company took appropriate measures to restrict the transfer of the securities. The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Financing

 

On the dates set forth in the table below, we entered into subscription agreements with accredited investors in connection with the sale of an aggregate of 12,622 shares of newly designated Series A, A-2, A-3, A-4 and A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock, each series having a $0.001 par value and a $1,000 purchase price, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Series A Preferred,” and the individual offerings of Series A Preferred stock, hereinafter, collectively referred to as the Series A Offerings, as follows:

 

Date

Series

Design-

ation

 

Conversion

Price

   

Shares

   

Gross

Proceeds

   

Fees

   

Net

Proceeds

   

Conversion

Shares

   

Placement

Agent

Warrants

(1)

 
                                                           

November 22, 2022

Series A

  $ 12.40       5,359     $ 5,359,000     $ 752,000     $ 4,607,000       432,000       62,000  

November 28, 2022

Series A-2

  $ 13.29       1,297       1,297,000       169,000       1,128,000       98,000       14,000  

November 30, 2022

Series A-3

  $ 13.41       1,733       1,733,000       225,000       1,508,000       129,000       18,000  

December 22, 2022

Series A-4

  $ 7.60       1,934       1,934,000       251,000       1,683,000       254,000       36,000  

January 31, 2023

Series A-5

  $ 11.09       2,299       2,299,000       299,000       2,000,000       207,000       30,000  

Total – as of September 30, 2023

            12,622     $ 12,622,000     $ 1,696,000     $ 10,926,000       1,120,000       160,000  

 


(1)

Issued on May 26, 2023, effective as of the applicable closing date, upon final closing of the Series A Preferred Stock offering

 

Use of net proceeds from the Series A Offerings for the periods presented include the repayment of certain indebtedness and working capital and general corporate purposes, including sales and marketing activities and product development. As disclosed at Note 5, in the event the Company consummated a subsequent equity financing during the term of the Notes, the Company was required, at the option of the Note Holders, to use 50% of the gross proceeds raised from such sale to redeem all or any portion of the Notes outstanding upon closing of such equity financing. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, $0 and $719,000 of the net proceeds from the Series A Offerings were utilized in connection with the redemption of the Notes and related accrued interest, respectively.

 

On the respective effective dates, the Company filed certificates of designation of preferences, rights and limitations of the Series A Preferred with the State of Delaware, respectively.

 

Each share of Series A Preferred is convertible at the option of the holder, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations and primary market limitations as set forth in each Series A Certificate of Designation, into such number of shares of the Company’s common stock, equal to the number of Series A Preferred to be converted, multiplied by the stated value of $1,000 (the “Stated Value”), divided by the applicable conversion price (refer to the table above), subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and similar transactions. The conversion price is equal to the “Minimum Price,” as defined in NASDAQ Rule 5635(d)(1)) on the date of closing. In addition, subject to beneficial ownership and primary market limitations: (1) the Series A Preferred will automatically convert into shares of common stock at the Conversion Price upon the earlier of (a) the 24-month anniversary of the Effective Date or (b) the consent to conversion by holders of at least 51% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred; and (2) on the one year anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company may, in its discretion, convert (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred if the VWAP of the Company’s common stock over the previous 10 days as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “Series A VWAP”), equals at least 250% of the Conversion Price, or (z) 100% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred if and only if the Series A VWAP equals at least 300% of the Conversion Price.

 

 

During the applicable periods presented, conversions of Series A Preferred stock into shares of the Company’s common stock were comprised of the following:

 

           

Preferred Shares

   

Conversion Shares

 
           

Series Preferred A

   

Series Preferred A

 

Series Designation

 

Conversion Price

   

Issued

   

Converted

   

Outstanding

   

Original Conversion Shares

   

Conversions During the Period

   

Conversion Shares At End of Period

 
                                                         

Series A

  $ 0.6200       5,359       (3,126 )     2,233       432,000       (252,000 )     180,000  

Series A-2

  $ 0.6646       1,297       (375 )     922       98,000       (28,000 )     70,000  

Series A-3

  $ 0.6704       1,733       (1,130 )     603       129,000       (84,000 )     45,000  

Series A-4

  $ 0.3801       1,934       (878 )     1,056       254,000       (115,000 )     139,000  

Series A-5

  $ 0.5546       2,299       (220 )     2,079       207,000       (20,000 )     187,000  
              12,622       (5,729 )     6,893       1,120,000       (499,000 )     621,000  

 

The Series A Preferred shall vote together with the common stock on an as-converted basis, and not as a separate class, subject to the primary market limitations, except that holders of Series A Preferred shall vote as a separate class with respect to (a) amending, altering, or repealing any provision of the Series A Certificate of Designation in a manner that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Series A Preferred, (b) increasing the number of authorized shares of Series A Preferred, (c) authorizing or issuing an additional class or series of capital stock that ranks senior to or pari passu with the Series A Preferred with respect to the distribution of assets on liquidation, (d) authorizing, creating, incurring, assuming, guaranteeing or suffering to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money of any kind in excess of $5 million, or I entering into any agreement with respect to the foregoing. In addition, no holder of Series A Preferred shall be entitled to vote on any matter presented to the Company’s stockholders relating to approving the conversion of such holder’s Series A Preferred into an amount in excess of the primary market limitations. Upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Series A Preferred will be entitled to first receive distributions out of the Company’s assets in an amount per share equal to the Stated Value plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, whether capital or surplus before any distributions shall be made on any shares of common stock (after the payment to any senior security, if any).

 

Holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive dividends, subject to the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, payable in the form of that number of shares of common stock equal to 20% of the shares of common stock underlying the Series A Preferred then held by such holder on the 12 and 24-month anniversaries of the respective filing date. In addition, subject to the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, holders of Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive dividends equal, on an as-if-converted to shares of common stock basis, and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the common stock when, as, and if such dividends are paid on shares of the common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a holder’s right to participate in any dividend in shares of common stock to which such holder is entitled would result in such holder exceeding the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations, then such holder shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend to such extent and the portion of such shares that would cause such holder to exceed the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of such holder until such time, if ever, as such holder’s beneficial ownership thereof would not result in such holder exceeding the beneficial ownership and primary market limitations.

 

The Company and the investors in the Series A Offerings also executed a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company filed registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-271424), covering the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred, which was declared on June 5, 2023.

 

The Company sold the shares of Series A Preferred pursuant to a Placement Agency Agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) with a registered broker dealer, which acted as the Company’s exclusive placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) for the Series A Offerings.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Placement Agency Agreement, we agreed to pay to the Placement Agent at each Closing a cash fee equal to 10% of the gross proceeds raised in the Series A Offerings and (ii) a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of the Series A Offerings. In addition, we agreed to issue to the Placement Agent or its designees for nominal consideration and following the final closing under the Series A Offerings, five-year warrants to purchase 14.5% of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred shares sold in the Series A Offerings, at an exercise price equal to the applicable conversion price. The Placement Agent Warrants provide for a cashless exercise feature and are exercisable for a period of five years from the Effective Date. In addition, the Company agreed to grant the Placement Agent the right to appoint, subject to the Company’s approval, one representative to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors upon the closing of at least $10 million in aggregate in connection with the Series A Offerings.

 

The securities issued in the Series A Offerings are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder because, among other things, the transaction did not involve a public offering, the investors were accredited investors, the investors purchased the securities for investment and not for resale and the Company took appropriate measures to restrict the transfer of the securities. The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.

 

 

Placement Agent Warrants

 

The Placement Agent Warrants issued in connection with the Series A Preferred and the Series AA Preferred, described above, include provisions that are triggered in the event of the occurrence of a Fundamental Transaction, as defined in the underlying warrant agreement, which contemplates the potential for certain transactions that result in a third-party acquiring more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company for cash or other assets. Given the existence of multiple classes of voting stock for the Company, as described above, the Fundamental Transaction provisions in the warrant agreements could result in a 50% or more change in ownership of outstanding common stock, without a 50% change in voting interests. As such, the Placement Agent Warrants are not eligible for the scope exception under ASC 815, and therefore, the fair value of the Placement Agent Warrants are recorded as a liability at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

The fair value and change in the fair value of the warrant liability, measured using Level 3 inputs, and the related income statement impact for the periods presented was comprised of the following:

 

   

Three Months

Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months

Ended September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Beginning balance

  $ 1,764,000     $ -     $ -     $ -  

Initial fair value of warrant liability – grant date

    -       -       2,804,000       -  

Change in fair value

    (1,512,000

)

    -       (2,552,000

)

    -  

Fair value of warrant liability at September 30, 2023

  $ 252,000     $ -     $ 252,000     $ -  

 

The fair value of the Placement Agent Warrants was estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model and the following weighted-average assumptions for the applicable dates presented:

 

     May 26,    

September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2023

 

Expected Volatility

         95%                95%      

Risk–free interest rate

         3.88%                4.60%      

Dividend yield

         -%                -%      

Expected life of options (in years)

    5.0 - 5.19       4.67 - 4.85