ClearSign Technologies Corp: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 30, 2024

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q as well as our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis here and throughout this Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, the risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Overview

We design and develop technologies for the purpose of decarbonization and improving key performance characteristics of combustion systems, including emission and operational performance, energy efficiency and overall cost-effectiveness. Our ClearSign Core™ technology has been proven in full scale industrial test furnaces and boilers and first customer installations are currently operating in normal commercial applications. We have generated nominal revenues from operations to date to meet operating expenses.

We have incurred losses since inception totaling $98.0 million and we expect to experience operating losses and negative cash flow for the foreseeable future. We have historically financed our operations primarily through issuances of equity securities. As of September 30, 2024, we have raised approximately $105.2 million in gross proceeds through the sale of our equity securities. We may need to raise additional capital in the future, however, the significant volatility in the capital markets may negatively affect our ability to raise this additional capital.

In order to generate meaningful revenues, our technologies must gain market recognition and acceptance to develop sufficient recurring sales. In addition, management believes that the successful growth and operation of our business is dependent upon our ability to obtain adequate sources of funding through co-development agreements, strategic partnering agreements, or equity or debt financing to support commercialization of our research and development efforts, protect intellectual property, form relationships with strategic partners and provide for working capital and general corporate purposes. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in achieving our long term plans, or that such plans, if consummated, will result in profitable operations or enable us to continue in the long term as a going concern.

Our costs include employee salaries and benefits, compensation paid to consultants, materials and supplies for prototype development and manufacture, costs associated with development activities including materials, sub-contractors, travel and administration, legal and accounting expenses, sales and marketing costs, general and administrative expenses, and other costs associated with an early stage, publicly traded technology company. We currently have 16 full-time employees. Because using third party expertise and resources is more efficient than maintaining full time resources, we also expect to incur ongoing consulting expenses related to technology development and some administrative, sales and legal functions commensurate with our current level of activities.

The amount that we spend for any specific purpose may vary significantly, and could depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the pace of progress of our commercialization and development efforts, actual needs with respect to product testing, development and research, market conditions, and changes in or revisions to our sales and marketing strategies.

Research, development, and commercial acceptance of new technologies are, by their nature, unpredictable. Although we undertake development and commercialization efforts with reasonable diligence, there can be no assurance that the net proceeds from our securities offerings will be sufficient to enable us to develop our technology to the extent needed to create sufficient future sales to sustain operations. If the net proceeds from these offerings are insufficient for this purpose, we will consider other options to continue our path to commercialization, including, but not limited to, additional financing through follow-on equity offerings, debt financing, co-development agreements, sale or licensing of developed intellectual or other property, or other alternatives.

We cannot assure that our technologies will be accepted, that we will ever earn revenues sufficient to support our operations, or that we will ever be profitable. Furthermore, we have no committed source of financing, and we cannot assure that we will be able to raise money as and when we need it to continue our operations. If we cannot raise funds as and when we need them, we may be required to scale back our development by reducing expenditures for employees, consultants, business development and marketing efforts or to otherwise severely curtail, or even to cease, our operations.

Recent Developments

Public Offering and Concurrent Private Placement

On April 23, 2024, we completed an underwritten public offering, whereby we sold 4,620,760 shares of common stock and 5-year redeemable warrants to purchase up to 4,620,760 shares of common stock (the “Public Warrants”) (plus a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 693,114 shares of common stock and Public Warrants to purchase up to 693,114 shares of common stock, or up to 693,114 shares of common stock only) at a price of $0.92 per set of one share of common stock and one Public Warrant. Concurrently, we completed a private placement, whereby we sold 2,249,763 shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,155,642 shares of common stock and redeemable warrants (the “Private Warrants”) to purchase up to 8,108,106 shares of common stock. The offering prices in the private placement were $0.91 per share and $0.01 per Private Warrant, or $0.9099 per Pre-Funded Warrant and $0.01 per Private Warrant, as applicable. The redeemable warrants issued in both offerings have an exercise price equal to $1.05 per share.

In connection with this offering, we issued Public Ventures, LLC (“Public Ventures”) 5-year warrants to purchase up to 369,660 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.1375 per share as part of their underwriter compensation, which underwriter warrants become exercisable on October 16, 2024 (the “Underwriter Warrants”). We also issued Public Ventures 5-year warrants to purchase up to 432,432 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.1375 per share as part of their placement agent compensation in connection with the private placement, which warrants become exercisable on October 16, 2024 (the “Placement Agent Warrants,” and together with the Public Warrants, Private Warrants, Pre-Funded Warrants and Underwriter Warrants, the “Warrants,” and the shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the “Warrant Shares”). Both sets of warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis based on a formula set forth in the respective warrants.

Subsequently, on May 15, 2024, Public Ventures exercised its option in full to purchase an additional 693,114 shares of common stock and Public Warrants to purchase up to 693,114 shares of common stock at a price of $0.92 per set of one share of common stock and one Public Warrant, in connection with which we issued Public Ventures additional Underwriter Warrants to purchase up to 55,449 shares of common stock.

The public offering and the concurrent private placement resulted in combined gross proceeds of approximately $9,300 thousand, and net proceeds of approximately $8,100 thousand. The exercise of Public Ventures’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and Public Warrants resulted in additional gross proceeds of approximately $638 thousand.

Participation Right Exercise

On June 24, 2024, following clirSPV, LLC’s (the “SPV”) notice to exercise its participation right in connection with the underwritten public offering and concurrent private placement discussed above (See “Note 7 – Equity” for additional information), we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with the SPV whereby we issued an aggregate of (i) 3,907,000 shares of common stock, (ii) Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 786,000 shares of common stock, and (iii) Private Warrants to purchase up to 7,039,500 shares of common stock.

Subsequently, on June 26, 2024, the SPV and we entered into an Amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Amendment”) to provide for a revised allocation of the SPV’s subscription between shares of common stock and Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu thereof. Pursuant to the Amendment, the SPV subscribed for: (i) 3,350,000 shares of common stock, (ii) Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 1,343,000 shares of common stock and (iii) Private Warrants to purchase up to 7,039,500 shares of common stock, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4.3 million.

Nasdaq Deficiency Notice

On May 2, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq’s Listing Qualifications Staff (the “Staff”) indicating that, based upon our common stock’s closing bid price for the last 30 consecutive business days beginning on March 20, 2024 and ending on May 1, 2024, we no longer meet the requirement to maintain a minimum bid price of $1 per share, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). In accordance with Nasdaq rules, we were provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until October 29, 2024, in which to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.

On October 30, 2024, we received a second letter from the Staff, granting our request for a 180-day extension to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. We now have until April 28, 2025 to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. If at any time prior to April 28, 2025, our common stock’s closing bid price is at least $1 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during such 180-day extension, we will regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. As part of our request for the 180-day extension, we notified Nasdaq that we intend to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. If we do not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule during the additional 180-day extension, Nasdaq will provide written notification to us that our common stock will be delisted. At that time, the Company may appeal the relevant delisting determination to a hearings panel pursuant to the procedures set forth in the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules. However, there can be no assurance that, if we do appeal the delisting determination by Nasdaq to the hearings panel, that such appeal would be successful.

This second letter from the Staff does not result in the immediate delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq, and we intend to monitor our common stock’s closing bid price and consider our available options in the event that our common stock’s closing bid price remains below $1 per share.

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

On June 25, 2024, we held our 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, at which our stockholders approved, among other items, an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock available for issuance under our certificate of incorporation (as amended, the “certificate of incorporation”) to 87,500,000 shares from 62,500,000 shares previously authorized.

Accordingly, on June 25, 2024, we filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, reflecting the increase of our authorized shares of common stock to 87,500,000 shares, which became effective upon filing.

Suspension of Activities in China

On October 1, 2024, we informed our employees that we were suspending our operations in China as a result of delayed progress on commercialization of its products in that geographic market and as part of our efforts to align strategic priorities and to reduce operating costs. The suspension of our operations in China will involve declaring our Beijing, China wholly-owned subsidiary dormant, which is a legal entity status available under current China law. Under this legal entity status, operational activities cease for a time period not to exceed three years. By pursuing this entity status, we will initiate a project to suspend current operational activities, which are estimated to cease on or before December 31, 2024. Suspension activities include disposal and shipment of certain equipment in China, the termination of 2 employees and related benefit costs, and legal entity filing fees. In connection with this action, we estimate that we will incur certain one-time costs, primarily consisting of employee termination payments, as well as equipment disposal and shipment and legal filing fees. See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Foreign Operations” above for additional information.

Critical Accounting Policies

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Certain accounting policies and estimates are particularly important to the understanding of our financial position and results of operations. These policies and estimates require the application of significant judgment by management. These estimates can be materially affected by changes from period to period as economic factors and conditions outside of our control change. As a result, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. In applying these policies, our management uses their judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates. Those estimates are based on our historical operations, our future business plans and projected financial results, the terms of existing contracts, our observance of trends in the industry, information provided by our customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. We believe the current assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q are appropriate.

This Form 10-Q and our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K include discussions of our accounting policies, as well as methods and estimates used in the preparation of our audited consolidated financial statements. For further information on our critical accounting policies and estimates, see “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. Since our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not experienced a material change to our critical accounting policies or the methods and applications used to develop our accounting estimates.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

Highlights of our quarter financial performance are as follows:

(in thousands, except per share data)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Revenues and Gross Profit

Consolidated revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were $1,859 thousand compared to $85 thousand for the same period in 2023. Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were predominantly generated from our process burner product line by shipping multiple burners to a California refinery customer. Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2023 were generated from a boiler burner order. Consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $3,006 thousand compared to $1,129 thousand for the same period in 2023. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were predominantly generated from our process burner line by shipping multiple burners, performing engineering feasibility studies, and delivering spare parts, all of which constitute contractual performance obligations under ASC 606. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were generated predominantly from a burner performance test, engineering feasibility study, spare parts orders, and a boiler burner sale.

Gross profit increased by $527 thousand and $771 thousand, or 297.7%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the same time periods in 2023. The favorable increase in gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was predominantly due to higher revenues, as described above. The favorable increase in gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was due to higher revenues and an increased profit margin, which increased by 11.3% and added an additional $340 thousand in profit compared to the same period in 2023. This favorable change in profit margin was predominantly driven by the shipment of our process burners during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which was expected since the comparable period in 2023 included a low margin burner performance test.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses consist of research and development (“R&D”) and general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses. These are addressed separately below.

Research and Development

R&D expenses increased $236 thousand, or 253.8%, and $572 thousand, or 130.0%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the same time periods in 2023. This unfavorable year-over-year increase in R&D expenses was mainly driven by additional head count and related benefit costs of $69 thousand and $225 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, that did not exist in the comparable periods in 2023. In addition, we incurred an unfavorable additional year-over-year expense related to product development costs for our process burner product line for a total of $91 thousand and $234 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.

General and Administrative

G&A expenses increased by $227 thousand, or 15.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023. This unfavorable increase in G&A expenses is primarily attributed to a one-time non-recurring accrual estimate of $394 thousand related to the decision to suspend our China operations. These G&A expenses related to the suspension of our operations in China include severance and related benefit costs, the disposal and shipment of certain equipment in China, and legal entity filing fees. See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Foreign Operations” and “Recent Developments – Suspension of Activities in China” above for additional information. This unfavorable increase in G&A expenses was partially offset by a decrease of $93 thousand in human capital and benefit costs primarily driven by the timing of employee departures and subsequent onboarding costs.

G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, increased by $191 thousand, or 4.1%, compared to the same period in 2023. This unfavorable increase in G&A expenses is primarily attributed to a one-time non-recurring accrual estimate of $394 thousand related to our decision to suspend our operations in China, as described above. The year-over-year increase in G&A expenses was partially offset by a decrease of $228 thousand in human capital and benefit costs, which was primarily driven by the timing of employee departures and subsequent onboarding costs.

Other Income, net

Other income, net increased by $113 thousand, or 68.5%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The favorable increase is primarily due to $89 thousand increase in government assistance from our Department of Energy hydrogen burner development grant, and $61 thousand increase in interest income due to a higher cash balance during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $43 thousand in income from the sale of materials from the decommissioning of our Seattle office during the comparable period in 2023.

Other income, net increased $96 thousand, or 16.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. This favorable increase was predominantly due to the $237 thousand increase in government assistance related to our Department of Energy hydrogen burner project. This year-over-year increase was partially offset by a $154 thousand decrease in income in connection with the decommissioning of our Seattle office during 2023, while we derived no income from this project during the comparable period in 2024.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At September 30, 2024, our cash and cash equivalent balance totaled $14,486 thousand compared to $5,684 thousand at December 31, 2023, an increase of $8,802 thousand. The increase in cash and cash equivalent balance is primarily attributable to our public offering, concurrent private placement and the related SPV’s exercise of its participation right. See “Note 7 – Equity” for additional information.

At September 30, 2024, we had working capital of $13,851 thousand compared to $4,253 thousand at December 31, 2023. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024, contained a “going concern” note, which raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We believe that we have alleviated the substantial doubt following the consummation of the recent public offering, concurrent private placement and the related SPV’s exercise of its participation right. See “Note 7 – Equity” for additional information. Accordingly, we believe we have sufficient cash and expected cash collections to fund current operating expenses for over twelve months. We have no contractual debt obligations and to the extent we may require additional funds beyond twelve months from the date hereof, and customer cash collections cannot fund our needs, we may utilize equity offerings. Historically, we have funded operations predominantly through equity offerings. Until the growth of revenue increases to a level that covers operating expenses, the Company intends to continue to fund operations in this manner, although the volatility in the capital markets may negatively affect our ability to do so. As of September 30, 2024, approximately 21.3 million shares of our common stock are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (as defined above), and we may receive up to $22.5 million in aggregate gross proceeds from the cash exercises thereof, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations set forth therein. The Warrants require the warrant holder to tender cash upon exercise, with the exception of the Underwriter Warrants which allow the holder to exercise cashless if they so desire. These equity financial instruments may from time-to-time fund future cash needs, but the volatility of our stock and the risk tolerance of warrant holders will play a key role in this type of funding.

Operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, resulted in cash outflows of $3,958 thousand, primarily due to the net loss of $4,135 thousand during such period, which was partially offset by a non-cash expense of $688 thousand. The decision to suspend our China operations increased accounts payable and accrued liabilities by $394 thousand during the three months ended September 30, 2024, which represents a one-time accrual estimate for the costs to prepare and place our Beijing China entity into a dormant state. See “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Foreign Operations” and “Recent Developments – Suspension of Activities in China” above for additional information. The change in contract liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was predominantly impacted by our shipment of process burners during the three months ended September 30, 2024. See “Note 5 – Revenue, Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities” above for additional information.

Operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, resulted in cash outflows of $1,783 thousand, primarily due to the loss for the period of $4,239 thousand, offset with non-cash expenses of $678 thousand, and an increase of $1,554 thousand of contract liabilities, which represents payments from customers in advance of future project costs.

Investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, resulted in cash outflows of $177 thousand, which is primarily attributable to $159 thousand of disbursements for patents and other intangible assets.

Investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, resulted in cash inflows of $2,595 thousand, which is primarily attributable to the redemption $4,847 thousand of short-term held-to-maturity U.S. treasuries, partially offset by $2,162 thousand in purchases of the same type of investments.

Financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, resulted in cash inflows of $12,936 thousand, which is primarily attributable to the net proceeds received of $12,967 thousand from the issuance of securities in connection with the recent equity offerings (see “Note 7 – Equity” above for additional information).

Financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, resulted in cash outflows of $15 thousand due to disbursements for taxes paid related to vesting of employee restricted stock units.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

We do not have any off-balance sheet transactions.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal accounting and financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting and financial officer), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024, the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Based upon the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024, our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting and financial officer) concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (principal accounting and financial officer), does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect 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. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

We incorporate herein by reference the risk factors included under “Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 which we filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024. There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in such prior filing, except as set forth below.

There may be future sales of our common stock, or a perception that these sales could occur, which events could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur could materially adversely affect the market price of the shares of our common stock. For instance, the securities issued in our recent equity offerings (see “Note 7 – Equity” for additional information), as well as the Warrant Shares, have been registered for resale and are freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. As a result, a substantial number of shares of common stock may be sold in the public market following such offerings, subject to certain contractual transfer and beneficial ownership restrictions. We cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of those shares of common stock or the availability of those shares for sale will have on the market price of our common stock. Further, if there are significantly more shares of common stock offered for sale than buyers are willing to purchase, then the market price of the common stock may decline to a market price at which buyers are willing to purchase the offered common stock and sellers remain willing to sell common stock.

We will have broad discretion as to the proceeds that we receive from the cash exercise by any holder of the Warrants, and we may not use the proceeds effectively.

We may receive up to approximately $22.5 million in aggregate gross proceeds from cash exercises of the Warrants, based on the per share exercise price of the Warrants, and to the extent that we receive such proceeds, we intend to use the net proceeds from cash exercises of the Warrants for working capital, research and development, marketing and sales, and general corporate purposes. We have considerable discretion in the application of such proceeds. You must rely on our judgment regarding the application of the net proceeds from cash exercises of the Warrants, which may be used for corporate purposes that do not improve our profitability or increase the price of our shares of common stock. Such proceeds may also be placed in investments that do not produce income or that lose value. The failure to use such funds by us effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flow.

You may experience future dilution as a result of issuance of the Warrant Shares, future equity offerings by us and other issuances of our common stock or other securities. In addition, the issuance of the Warrant Shares, to the extent the Warrants are exercisable, and future equity offerings and other issuances of our common stock or other securities may adversely affect our common stock price.

You may experience future dilution as a result of issuance of the Warrant Shares and other issuances of our common stock or other securities. In order to raise additional capital, if needed, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share as prior issuances of common stock. We may not be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share previously paid by investors, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the prices per share for previous issuances of common stock or securities convertible into common stock paid by certain investors. In addition, the exercise price of the Warrants may be equal to or greater than the price per share previously paid by certain investors. You will incur dilution upon exercise of any outstanding stock options, warrants or upon the issuance of shares of common stock under our equity incentive programs.

If we fail to comply with Nasdaq’s continued minimum closing bid requirements by April 28, 2025 or other requirements for continued listing, including stockholder equity requirements, our common stock may be delisted and the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted.

Our common stock is listed for trading on Nasdaq, therefore, we must satisfy Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, including, among other things, a minimum closing bid price requirement of $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days. On May 2, 2024, the Staff notified us that we did not comply with the Bid Price Rule for continued listing, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), during the 30 consecutive business day period beginning on March 20, 2024 and ending on May 1, 2024. We were granted 180 calendar days, or until October 29, 2024, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.

On October 30, 2024, the Staff sent us a second letter granting our request for a 180-day extension, or until April 28, 2025, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. To regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule and to qualify for continued listing on Nasdaq, the minimum bid price per share of our common stock must be at least $1.00 for at least ten consecutive business days during the 180-day extension. As part of our request for the 180-day extension, we notified Nasdaq that we intend to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. If we do not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule during the 180-day extension, our common stock will be subject to delisting by Nasdaq. At that time, we may appeal the relevant delisting determination to a hearings panel pursuant to the procedures set forth in the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules. However, there can be no assurance that, if the we do appeal the delisting determination by Nasdaq to the hearings panel, that such appeal would be successful.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules. If we are unable to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule or if we fail to meet any of the other continued listing requirements, including stockholder equity requirements, our securities may be delisted from Nasdaq, which could reduce the liquidity of our common stock materially and result in a corresponding material reduction in the price of our common stock. In addition, delisting could harm our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the potential loss of confidence by investors, employees and business development opportunities.