Lightbridge(LTBR)

Search documents
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q4 - Annual Report
2022-03-31 20:17
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Commission file number: 001-34487 LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Nevada 91-1975651 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) (State or other jurisdicti ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2022-03-10 21:42
Lightbridge Corp (NASDAQ:LTBR) Q4 2021 Earnings Conference Call March 10, 2022 11:00 AM ET Company Participants Matthew Abenante - Director, IR Seth Grae - President, CEO & Executive Director Andrey Mushakov - EVP, Nuclear Operations James Fornof - VP, Program Management Conference Call Participants Operator Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Lightbridge Corporation Business Update Conference Call. Please note that today's call is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce Matthew Abena ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2021-11-08 23:06
Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ:LTBR) Q3 2021 Earnings Conference Call November 8, 2021 4:00 PM ET Company Participants Matthew Abenante - IR Seth Grae - CEO Andrey Mushakov - EVP for Nuclear Operations Larry Goldman - CFO Sherrie Holloway - Controller Conference Call Participants Operator Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Lightbridge Corporation Business Update and Third Quarter 2021 Conference Call. Please note that today's call is being recorded. And it's now my pleasure to introduce Matthew ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q3 - Quarterly Report
2021-11-08 22:00
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2021 ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________ to _____________ Commission File Number: 001-34487 LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (State or other jurisdicti ...
Lightbridge Corporation (LTBR) Investor Presentation - Slideshow
2021-08-23 19:25
® Advanced Nuclear Fuel Technologies to impact the world's climate and energy problems soon enough to make a difference NASDAQ : LTBR August 2021 Safe Harbor Statement With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in this presentation are forwardlooking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the timing and outcome of research and development activities and other steps to commercialize Lightbridge Fuel, future de ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q2 - Quarterly Report
2021-08-09 21:01
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended: June 30, 2021 ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________ to _____________ Commission File Number: 001-34487 LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (State or other j ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2021-05-13 02:36
Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ:LTBR) Q1 2021 Results Earnings Conference Call May 12, 2021 4:00 PM ET Company Participants Matthew Abenante - Director, Investor Relations Seth Grae - Chief Executive Officer Larry Goldman - Chief Financial Officer Sherrie Holloway - Accounting Manager Andrey Mushakov - Executive Vice President, Nuclear Operations Jim Fornof - Vice President, Nuclear Program Management Conference Call Participants Operator Thank you for standing by and welcome to the Lightbridge Corporation ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2021 Q1 - Quarterly Report
2021-05-12 21:00
Financial Performance - Total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021, decreased by 7% to $2,152,310 from $2,326,579 in the same period of 2020[114]. - General and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $153,895, or 8%, to $1,782,860 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $1,936,755 in 2020[114]. - Research and development expenses decreased by 5% to $369,450 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, from $389,824 in the same period of 2020[114]. - The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was $2,011,988, a decrease of 11% compared to a net loss of $2,264,086 in 2020[115]. Research and Development - Lightbridge Corporation is developing next-generation nuclear fuel aimed at improving economics, safety, and proliferation resistance in nuclear reactors[96]. - Lightbridge Corporation has built a significant portfolio of patents and is conducting R&D activities with U.S. national laboratories[99]. - Total R&D expenses for Q1 2021 were consistent with Q1 2020, with a decrease in employee compensation of approximately $0.2 million offset by increases in outside R&D work and patent expenses of approximately $0.1 million each[119]. - The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reduction in R&D expenses and an increase in general and administrative expenses due to severance payments[103]. Future Projections - The first small modular reactors (SMRs) expected to use Lightbridge Fuel™ are projected to begin operations in 2029[98]. - The company projects a negative cash flow from operations averaging approximately $0.8 million per month, leading to total expected expenditures of approximately $9 million to $10 million over the next 12 to 15 months[127]. - The company has approximately $14.8 million of working capital, which is expected to exceed budgeted expenditures through Q1 2022[127]. - The company plans to seek shareholder approval on May 27, 2021, to increase the number of authorized common shares to finance current and future R&D activities[128]. Funding and Support - The company requires substantial U.S. government support for its nuclear fuel R&D efforts, and failure to secure this funding may necessitate seeking alternative funding sources[129]. - The company has no debt or lines of credit and has financed operations through prior consulting revenue and the sale of preferred and common stock[131]. - The company was awarded a GAIN voucher from the DOE for a project valued at approximately $664,000 to support the development of Lightbridge Fuel™[108]. Strategic Alliances - The company aims to create strategic alliances over the next three years to support remaining R&D activities for fuel products[133]. - A settlement agreement with Framatome resulted in a payment of approximately $4.2 million for outstanding invoices and expenses[106].
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2020 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2021-03-26 01:19
Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ:LTBR) Q4 2020 Earnings Conference Call March 25, 2021 4:00 PM ET Company Participants Matthew Abenante - Director, Investor Relations Seth Grae - Chief Executive Officer Larry Goldman - Chief Financial Officer Sherrie Holloway - Accounting Manager Andrey Mushakov - Executive Vice President, Nuclear Operations Jim Fornof - Vice President, Nuclear Program Management Operator Thank you for standing by and welcome to the Lightbridge Corporation Business Update and Fiscal Year 202 ...
Lightbridge(LTBR) - 2020 Q4 - Annual Report
2021-03-25 20:30
PART I [Business](index=4&type=section&id=Item%201.%20Business) Lightbridge develops proprietary all-metal nuclear fuel for SMRs, aiming for enhanced performance and safety, with commercialization dependent on funding and infrastructure - The company is developing next-generation **all-metal nuclear fuel (Lightbridge Fuel™)** to improve the economics, safety, and proliferation resistance for existing and new nuclear reactors, with a strategic pivot towards **Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)**[18](index=18&type=chunk)[21](index=21&type=chunk)[23](index=23&type=chunk) - Lightbridge Fuel™ is designed to offer significant performance benefits, including a power uprate of up to **10-17%** in existing Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) or up to **30%** in new SMRs, and the potential to extend operating cycles from **18 to 24 months**[25](index=25&type=chunk)[26](index=26&type=chunk)[32](index=32&type=chunk) - The company faces competition from conventional uranium dioxide fuels and Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF). While ATF poses a threat in the market for existing large PWRs, Lightbridge believes its fuel has a competitive advantage in the **SMR market** due to its **superior power uprate capabilities**[54](index=54&type=chunk)[55](index=55&type=chunk)[57](index=57&type=chunk) - Key challenges to commercialization include the need for substantial U.S. government funding (estimated at **$10 million per year** in R&D), limited availability of suitable test reactors, the necessity of establishing a supply chain for **high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU)**, and forming strategic partnerships[60](index=60&type=chunk)[63](index=63&type=chunk)[64](index=64&type=chunk) - In February 2021, the company settled its legal dispute with Framatome, resulting in the dissolution of their joint venture, Enfission, LLC. Lightbridge agreed to pay Framatome approximately **$4.2 million**[73](index=73&type=chunk) [Risk Factors](index=33&type=section&id=Item%201A.%20Risk%20Factors) The company faces significant going concern risks due to recurring losses, requiring substantial capital and government funding for its long-term R&D - There is **substantial doubt** about the company's ability to continue as a **going concern** due to recurring losses from operations, which resulted in an accumulated deficit of **$129.1 million** as of December 31, 2020[117](index=117&type=chunk) - The company is **highly dependent** on securing significant **U.S. government funding** to support its projected **15-20 year** fuel development timeline, as it is unfeasible for the company to fund this effort on its own[126](index=126&type=chunk)[128](index=128&type=chunk) - Development is contingent on the availability of a **suitable test reactor**. The shutdown of the Halden reactor in Norway and the limited loop capacity at the U.S. Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) present **significant potential delays and cost increases**[132](index=132&type=chunk)[133](index=133&type=chunk) - The company's fuel requires **high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU)** in metallic form, which necessitates **modifications to the existing commercial nuclear infrastructure** (enrichment, fabrication, shipping), posing a risk to commercialization[139](index=139&type=chunk) - A **material weakness** was identified in the company's **internal control over financial reporting** related to the amortization of patent costs[178](index=178&type=chunk) [Properties](index=43&type=section&id=Item%202.%20Properties) The company leases its principal executive office in Reston, Virginia, with a monthly rent of approximately **$10,000** through December 2021 - The company's office is located at 11710 Plaza America Drive, Suite 2000, Reston, VA. The lease runs through **December 31, 2021**, with monthly rent of approximately **$10,000**[181](index=181&type=chunk) [Legal Proceedings](index=43&type=section&id=Item%203.%20Legal%20Proceedings) The company settled all legal disputes with Framatome in February 2021, paying approximately **$4.2 million** and dissolving their Enfission joint venture - The company settled all legal disputes with Framatome concerning their joint venture, Enfission, LLC, on **February 11, 2021**[183](index=183&type=chunk) - Under the settlement, Lightbridge paid Framatome approximately **$4.2 million** for outstanding invoices and other expenses. The Enfission joint venture was officially dissolved on **March 23, 2021**[184](index=184&type=chunk) PART II [Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities](index=43&type=section&id=Item%205.%20Market%20for%20Registrant%27s%20Common%20Equity%2C%20Related%20Stockholder%20Matters%2C%20and%20Issuer%20Purchases%20of%20Equity%20Securities) The company's common stock trades on Nasdaq under "LTBR", with no history or current plans for dividend payments, prioritizing reinvestment in operations - The company's common stock is listed on the **Nasdaq Capital Market** with the ticker symbol "**LTBR**"[187](index=187&type=chunk) - The company has **never paid dividends** and currently expects to utilize cash resources for ongoing operations rather than shareholder distributions[189](index=189&type=chunk) [Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation](index=44&type=section&id=Item%207.%20Management%27s%20Discussion%20and%20Analysis%20of%20Financial%20Condition%20and%20Results%20of%20Operation) In 2020, Lightbridge's net loss increased to **$14.4 million** due to legal settlements and impairment charges, partially offset by reduced R&D, ending with **$21.5 million** cash, but facing going concern doubts Consolidated Results of Operations (2020 vs. 2019) | Description | 2020 ($) | 2019 (revised) ($) | Change $ | Change % | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | General and administrative | 8,312,583 | 5,787,092 | 2,525,491 | 44% | | Research and development expenses | 891,626 | 2,676,156 | (1,784,530) | (67)% | | Legal settlement costs | 4,200,000 | — | 4,200,000 | — | | Patent write-off and impairment loss | 1,169,644 | — | 1,169,644 | — | | **Total Operating Expenses** | **14,573,853** | **8,463,248** | **6,110,605** | **72%** | | **Total Operating Loss** | **(14,501,144)** | **(11,069,859)** | **3,431,285** | **31%** | | **Net Loss** | **(14,417,266)** | **(10,676,747)** | **3,740,519** | **35%** | - The increase in General and Administrative expenses was primarily driven by approximately **$1.7 million** in professional fees related to the Framatome arbitration and a **$1.2 million** increase in employee compensation and benefits[233](index=233&type=chunk) - Research and Development expenses decreased by **$1.8 million (67%)** due to the company's transition away from R&D work related to the Enfission joint venture and towards a new strategy focused on the DOE's National Laboratories[237](index=237&type=chunk) - The company ended 2020 with **$21.5 million** in cash and cash equivalents, an increase from **$18.0 million** at the end of 2019, primarily due to receiving **$12.3 million** in net proceeds from the sale of common stock[251](index=251&type=chunk) - Management has concluded that **substantial doubt** exists about the Company's ability to continue as a **going concern** for the next 12 months, citing recurring losses, negative cash flows, and the need for significant additional capital to fund its long-term fuel development[255](index=255&type=chunk)[388](index=388&type=chunk) [Financial Statements and Supplementary Data](index=55&type=section&id=Item%208.%20Financial%20Statements%20and%20Supplementary%20Data) Audited financial statements for 2020 and 2019 are presented, with the auditor expressing substantial doubt about going concern and identifying patent cost impairment as a critical audit matter - The independent auditor's report expresses **substantial doubt** about the company's ability to continue as a **going concern**, citing recurring losses, negative cash flows, and an accumulated deficit of approximately **$129.2 million**[367](index=367&type=chunk) - The auditor identified the **impairment assessment of capitalized patent costs** as a **critical audit matter** due to the significant management judgment and complex assumptions involved in estimating future cash flows and fair value[372](index=372&type=chunk)[374](index=374&type=chunk) - The 2019 financial statements were revised to correct an immaterial error related to the amortization of capitalized patent costs. This correction increased the 2019 net loss by approximately **$90,000** and reduced total assets by approximately **$654,000**[442](index=442&type=chunk)[443](index=443&type=chunk)[444](index=444&type=chunk) - A total impairment charge of **$1.1 million** was recognized in **Q4 2020** for capitalized patent costs, reducing their carrying value to zero. This was triggered by extended development timelines and reduced prospects for government funding and facility availability[461](index=461&type=chunk)[462](index=462&type=chunk) [Controls and Procedures](index=55&type=section&id=Item%209A.%20Controls%20and%20Procedures) Management concluded disclosure controls were ineffective as of **December 31, 2020**, due to a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to patent cost amortization - Management concluded that disclosure controls and procedures were **not effective** as of **December 31, 2020**[283](index=283&type=chunk) - A **material weakness** was identified in **internal control over financial reporting** concerning the proper accounting policy for the amortization of capitalized patent costs[286](index=286&type=chunk) - A **remediation plan** is underway to enhance access to accounting literature and increase communication with third-party professionals to address the material weakness[287](index=287&type=chunk) PART III [Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance](index=56&type=section&id=Item%2010.%20Directors%2C%20Executive%20Officers%20and%20Corporate%20Governance) This section details the company's corporate governance, including biographical information for directors and executive officers, Board structure, and committee roles - The Board of Directors consists of **five members**: Seth Grae (President & CEO), Thomas Graham, Jr. (Chairman), Victor E. Alessi, Daniel B. Magraw, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend[291](index=291&type=chunk) - The company maintains **separate roles for the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer** to allow the CEO to focus on day-to-day operations[301](index=301&type=chunk) - The Board has **four committees**: Audit, Compensation, Governance and Nominating, and Executive. The Audit, Compensation, and Governance/Nominating committees are composed **entirely of independent directors**[300](index=300&type=chunk) [Executive Compensation](index=64&type=section&id=Item%2011.%20Executive%20Compensation) This section details **2020** executive compensation for named officers, including salary, bonus, and stock awards, along with director compensation 2020 Summary Compensation | Name | Position | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Total ($) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Seth Grae | CEO, President and Director | 489,673 | 244,654 | 213,855 | 974,182 | | Andrey Mushakov | Executive Vice President | 305,407 | 152,589 | 142,570 | 620,566 | | Larry Goldman | CFO and Corporate Secretary | 282,545 | 141,167 | 142,570 | 592,282 | - Director compensation for 2020 consisted of annual cash retainers ranging from **$45,000 to $60,000**, plus stock awards valued at **$14,257** for each director[334](index=334&type=chunk)[338](index=338&type=chunk) [Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters](index=67&type=section&id=Item%2012.%20Security%20Ownership%20of%20Certain%20Beneficial%20Owners%20and%20Management%20and%20Related%20Stockholder%20Matters) This section details beneficial ownership of common stock as of **March 15, 2021**, for directors, executive officers, and **5%** beneficial owners - As of **March 15, 2021**, all current directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned **343,694 shares**, representing **5.0%** of the outstanding common stock[341](index=341&type=chunk) - The largest individual beneficial holdings among insiders belong to Seth Grae (CEO) with **140,135 shares (2.1%)** and Andrey Mushakov (EVP) with **80,970 shares (1.2%)**[341](index=341&type=chunk) [Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence](index=67&type=section&id=Item%2013.%20Certain%20Relationships%20and%20Related%20Transactions%2C%20and%20Director%20Independence) The company reported no related party transactions, and the Board determined that a majority of its members are independent directors - **No related party transactions** involving directors, executive officers, or 5% stockholders were required to be disclosed[345](index=345&type=chunk) - The Board has determined that Victor Alessi, Daniel Magraw, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend are **independent directors**, forming a **majority of the Board**[347](index=347&type=chunk) [Principal Accountant Fees and Services](index=68&type=section&id=Item%2014.%20Principal%20Accountant%20Fees%20and%20Services) This section details fees billed by BDO for **2020** and **2019**, showing an increase in total fees primarily due to audit-related services Accountant Fees (BDO) | Fee Type | 2020 ($) | 2019 ($) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Audit Fees | 156,159 | 157,485 | | Audit Related Fees | 46,072 | 17,177 | | Tax Fees | 16,375 | 17,062 | | All Other Fees | — | — | | **Total** | **218,966** | **191,724** | - All audit and non-audit services provided by BDO were **pre-approved by the Audit Committee**, which determined that the provision of these services was compatible with maintaining **auditor independence**[353](index=353&type=chunk)[354](index=354&type=chunk) PART IV [Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules](index=68&type=section&id=Item%2015.%20Exhibits%20and%20Financial%20Statement%20Schedules) This section provides an index of all exhibits filed with the Form 10-K report, including corporate governance documents, material contracts, and certifications - This section provides an **index of all exhibits** filed with the annual report, including corporate governance documents, material contracts, and required certifications[357](index=357&type=chunk)[358](index=358&type=chunk)[359](index=359&type=chunk)