Note 13 - Subsequent Events

AC Midwest

On February 27, 2024, the Company entered into an Unsecured Debt Restructuring Agreement (the “Debt Restructuring Agreement”) with AC Midwest which replaced and superseded the Unsecured Note Financing Agreement.  See Note 7 – Related Party.  

Pursuant to the Debt Restructuring Agreement, on February 27, 2024, the Company (i) paid AC Midwest $9,040,000 as a reduction in the outstanding principal balance of the Unsecured Note, (ii) issued to AC Midwest a new unsecured replacement note representing the remaining outstanding principal balance of the Unsecured Note in the principal amount of $4,114,931 (the “New Note”), and (iii) paid AC Midwest $275,625 representing the remaining principal balance under the Secured Note of $271,686 plus interest of $3,939.  In addition, within 30 days, the Company would either facilitate the private sale to third parties of certain shares of common stock of the Company held by AC Midwest for a purchase price of no less than $960,000, which amount shall be applied as a credit against the principal balance due on the New Note dollar for dollar, or pay AC Midwest $960,000 toward the principal balance due on the New Note.  The private sale of shares for the purchase price of $960,000 was completed on March 11, 2024.  Any remaining principal balance on the New Note shall be due August 27, 2024 (the “Maturity Date”), which is six months from February 27, 2024.  Until repaid in full, the New Note shall accrue interest at a rate equal to SOFR plus 2.0% per annum.  The New Note completely replaces and supersedes the Unsecured Note, which shall be of no further force and effect. 

In addition, pursuant to the Debt Restructuring Agreement, AC Midwest shall be entitled to a profit participation preference equal to $7,900,000 (the “Restructured Profit Share”). The Restructured Profit Share is “non-recourse” and shall only be paid from Net Litigation Proceeds (as defined in the Debt Restructuring Agreement) from claims relating to our intellectual property.  Following the receipt of any Net Litigation Proceeds, we shall prepay any remaining principal balance of the New Note and pay the Restructured Profit Share in an amount equal to 75.0% of such Net Litigation Proceeds until the New Note and Restructured Profit Share have been paid in full.  The Restructured Profit Share completely replaces and supersedes the terms and conditions of the Profit Share in the amount of $17,654,931 provided for in the Unsecured Note Financing Agreement, which shall be of no further force and effect.  The Restructured Profit Share, if not paid in full on or before the Maturity Date, shall remain subject to the terms of the Debt Restructuring Agreement. 

In addition to facilitating the private sale to third parties as described above, AC Midwest has granted the Company the exclusive right until December 31, 2024 to facilitate the sale of all or a portion of the remaining balance of the shares of common stock of the Company held by AC Midwest, which proceeds above a certain amount will be applied as a credit against the Restructured Profit Share dollar for dollar.

As a result of the repayment of the remaining principal balance under the Secured Debt, the Company and AC Midwest executed a Satisfaction and Discharge of Secured Debt confirming the cancellation of the Secured Note and that all of the obligations under the Restated Financing Agreement have been fully satisfied and discharged. 

Patent Litigation

See “Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies” for information on the patent litigation initiated by the Company in 2019.  Following a five-day trial, on March 1, 2024, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware awarded a $57.1 million patent infringement verdict in favor of the Company against the remaining group of CERT defendants. Such group of affiliated defendants included multiple limited liability companies with refined coal industry operations, including CERT Operations II LLC, CERT Operations IV LLC, CERT Operations V LLC, and CERT Operations RCB LLC. The jury determined that these defendants infringed our patented technologies for mercury emissions and were liable for willful infringement, along with inducing and contributory infringement. 

Other Subsequent Events

On January 15, 2024, the Company granted nonqualified stock options to certain directors, executive officers and employees to acquire an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s 2017 Plan.  The options granted are exercisable at $0.88 per share, representing the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant as determined under the 2017 Plan. The options are fully vested and exercisable as of the date of grant and will expire five years thereafter.  In addition, on such date, the Company granted 50,000 restricted share units (“RSUs”) to another director pursuant to the 2017 Plan. The RSUs will vest one year from the date of grant on January 15, 2025. Once vested, each RSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock.

On February 27, 2024, the Company issued 9,285 shares of common stock to a former employee upon a cashless exercise of an option to purchase 18,750 shares of common stock covered by an option to purchase a total of 100,000 shares of common stock, with an exercise price of $0.27 per share.  Such share issuance was based upon a VWAP of $0.9230 per share as determined under the terms of the option.

On March 28, 2024, the lease for the Company’s warehouse space in Corsicana, Texas was extended for an additional five years from March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2029.