UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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the quarterly period ended
or
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No. | ||
PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Financial Statements (Unaudited). | 4 |
Item 2. | Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. | 12 |
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. | 17 |
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures. | 17 |
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION | ||
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings. | 18 |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors. | 18 |
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. | 18 |
Item 3. | Defaults upon Senior Securities. | 18 |
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. | 18 |
Item 5. | Other Information. | 18 |
Item 6. | Exhibits. | 18 |
2 |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This report includes forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “likely,” “aim,” “will,” “would,” “could,” and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operation, business strategy and financial needs. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
● | financial risks, including: |
● | our history of losses, lack of revenues and insufficient working capital; | |
● | our ability to continue as a going concern; | |
● | the possible impact of COVID-19 on our company; |
● | business risks, including: |
● | our limited operating history and lack of developed, proven or launched products; | |
● | the lack of operating history of Leap Technology LLC; | |
● | potential conflicts of interest of our management; | |
● | reliance on third parties; | |
● | potential FDA oversight; | |
● | lack of marketing and distributing experience; | |
● | possible inability to finalize and maintain strategic partnerships with The Barker Group and Firebird Manufacturing; | |
● | possible dependence on licensing or collaboration agreements; |
● | risks relating to our common stock, including: |
● | the lack of a public market for our common stock; and | |
● | possible impact of Delaware’s anti-takeover statutes on our shareholders. |
You should read thoroughly this report and the documents that we refer to herein with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and/or worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements, Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 as filed on April 15, 2021 (the “2020 10-K”) and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report, and you should not rely on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business.
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
Unless specifically set forth to the contrary, when used in this report the terms “CQENS,” “we,” “our,” “us,” and similar terms refers to CQENS Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation. In addition, “third quarter of 2021” refers to the nine months ended September 30, 2021, “third quarter of 2020” refers to the nine months ended September 30, 2020, “2020” refers to the year ended December 31, 2020, and “2021” refers to the year ending December 31, 2021. The information which appears on our web site at www.cqens.com is not part of this report.
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PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CQENS Technologies, Inc.
Balance Sheets
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
Total Current Assets | ||||||||
Equipment, net | ||||||||
Intellectual property, net | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
Accrued expenses | ||||||||
Loan from related party | - | |||||||
Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | ||||||||
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Preferred Stock: $ par value: shares authorized shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 | - | - | ||||||
Common Stock: $ par value; shares authorized: shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | $ |
See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements
4 |
CQENS Technologies Inc.
Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
General and administrative | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Research and development | ||||||||||||||||
Professional fees | ||||||||||||||||
Total Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
Other (Expense) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Net Loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
Basic and diluted loss per common share | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements
5 |
CQENS Technologies Inc.
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
(Unaudited)
Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | $0.0001 Par Value | Additional Paid in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2021 | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for cash | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Stock options expense | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Loss | - | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ |
Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | $0.0001 Par Value | Additional Paid in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2020 | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock for cash | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for consulting services | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Stock options expense | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Loss | - | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ |
Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | $0.0001 Par Value | Additional Paid in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2020 | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for consulting services | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock returned to treasury | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Warrants issued for intellectual property | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Loss | - | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ |
Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | $0.0001 Par Value | Additional Paid in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2019 | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for cash | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for note payable | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued for consulting services | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Warrants for intellectual property | - | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Common stock returned to treasury | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||
Net Loss | - | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ |
See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements
6 |
CQENS Technologies Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations: | ||||||||
Amortization expense | ||||||||
Depreciation expense | - | |||||||
Stock options expense | - | |||||||
Common stock issued for consulting services | ||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable - related party | - | |||||||
Accrued expenses | ||||||||
Accrued expenses - related party | - | |||||||
Interest payable | - | ( | ) | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
Additions to intellectual property | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Net cash flows used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | ||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | - | ( | ) | |||||
Borrowing on debt with related party | - | |||||||
Repayment of related party debt | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Repayment of convertible note | - | ( | ) | |||||
Net Cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
Supplementary Information | ||||||||
Interest paid | $ | $ | ||||||
Income taxes paid | - | - | ||||||
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash activities: | ||||||||
Warrants issued for intellectual property | $ | $ | ||||||
Common stock issued from conversion of note payable and accrued interest | $ | $ | ||||||
Purchase of fixed asset through accounts payable related party | $ | $ |
See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements
7 |
CQENS Technologies Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
NOTE 1 - NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Nature of Business
CQENS Technologies, Inc. (“we”, “our”, the “Company”, or “CQENS”) is a technology company with a proprietary method of heating plant-based consumable formulations that produce an aerosol that led to the effective and efficient inhalation of the plant’s constituents. This is accomplished at a high temperature but without the accompanying constituents of combustion. Our system of heating is a high temperature, non-combustion system. Our Heat-not-Burn Tobacco Product (HTP) system is a patent-pending method of heating plant-based consumables for inhalation that is superior to other methods of ingestion, smoking, vaping, swallowing or via topical application.
In the first nine months of 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact the Company. While the duration and full impact of the pandemic is unknown at this time, we expect that the pandemic will adversely impact CQENS in several ways. Our business model is dependent upon our ability to enter into strategic partnerships in the future, including alliances with consumer product companies, to enhance and accelerate the development and commercialization of our proposed products. We will also be dependent upon third party manufacturers to produce our proposed products, as well as third party marketing and distribution companies. We believe that our business opportunities are international in nature and include potential partnerships in the UK, the EU and Asia, including the People’s Republic of China. The worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19 have caused these opportunities to be delayed. Should the pandemic continue and/or be prolonged throughout 2021 and 2022 certain of these opportunities might be limited or lost. We also need to raise additional working capital to provide sufficient funding to bring our proposed products to market. The impact of COVID-19 on the capital markets will make it more difficult for small, pre-revenue companies such as ours to access capital. We will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our company, however, at this time we are unable to predict all possible impacts on our company, our operations, and our prospects.
Basis of Presentation - The accompanying financial statements have been prepared by the Company without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of September 30, 2021, have been made.
Certain information and footnote disclosures included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes thereto in the Company’s December 31, 2020, audited financial statements. The results of operations for the period ended September 30, 2021, are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company does not believe that any recently issued effective pronouncements, or pronouncements issued but not yet effective, if adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.
NOTE 2 – GOING CONCERN
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) applicable to a going concern. This contemplates the realization of assets and the liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. Currently, the Company has recurring losses, and although has cash just over four million dollars, with increasing research and development activities, increased costs anticipated in commercializing products as contemplated in the next 12 months and with no source of revenue sufficient to cover its operations costs over the next 12 months, these may not allow it to continue as a going concern. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company will be dependent upon the raising of additional capital. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
8 |
NOTE 3 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On
February 15, 2021, the Board of Directors determined that it was in the best interest of the Company to grant stock options under the
Company’s 2019 Equity Compensation Plan to two consulting engineers involved in our research and development. Each of the consultants
was granted options to purchase shares at $per share. of the grants are exercisable immediately, with
the balance vesting over the next in equal instalments and subject to certain
terms and conditions, including continuing in their consulting roles through the vesting periods. The fair market value of the options
at the grant date was determined to be $of which $
On
March 15, 2021, we sold a total of
On
April 21, 2021, we sold a total of
On May 1, 2021, we entered into a consulting engagement memorandum with an unrelated third party for the consultant’s guidance and expertise in identifying business opportunities, partners, and other skilled consultants in the People’s Republic of China and/or other territories of Asia. As compensation for the services, we issued this individual shares of our common stock valued at $ . The recipient was a non-U.S. person, and the issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on an exemption provided by Regulation S promulgated thereunder.
On May 16, 2021, we entered into a consulting engagement memorandum with an unrelated third party pursuant to which we engaged this party to identify key Asian resources for our company. As compensation for the services, we issued this individual shares of our common stock valued at $ . The recipient was a non-U.S. person, and the issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on an exemption provided by Regulation S promulgated thereunder.
On
May 17, 2021, we sold a total of
On
September 28, 2021, we sold a total of
On
September 28, 2021, we sold
On
September 30, 2021, we sold
On
January 29, 2020, we sold
On
March 6, 2020, the holder of the $
On April 13, 2020, we entered into a consulting engagement memorandum with an unrelated third party pursuant to which we engaged this party to identify key Asian resources for our company. As compensation for the services, we issued this individual shares of our common stock valued at $ .
On April 16, 2020, we entered into a consulting engagement memorandum and agreement with an unrelated third party and engaged this individual to provide certain services to us in connection with the further development of certain of our patents. As compensation, upon execution, we issued this individual shares of our common stock valued at $ and are obligated to issue him an additional shares at such time as additional patents are issued. As of the date of this report no additional patents have been issued.
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On
June 1, 2020, we sold a total of
On
June 4, 2020, we sold
On June 17, 2020, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with an unrelated stockholder pursuant to which it agreed to repurchase shares of its common stock from the stockholder for $ . The Stock Purchase Agreement contained customary terms, including cross general releases. On August 10, 2020, the transaction closed. Following the closing of the transaction, the shares have been cancelled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.
On July 17, 2020, we entered into a consulting engagement memorandum with an unrelated third party for the consultant’s guidance and expertise in identifying business opportunities, partners, and other skilled consultants in the People’s Republic of China and/or other territories of Asia. As compensation for the services, we issued this individual shares of our common stock valued at $ . The recipient was a non-U.S. person.
On July 17, 2020, we entered into a consulting engagement memorandum with an unrelated third party for the consultant’s guidance and expertise in identifying potential financiers, partners, and other skilled consultants in the People’s Republic of China and/or other territories of Asia. As compensation for the services, we issued this individual shares of our common stock valued at $ . The recipient was a non-U.S. person.
On
September 30, 2020, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Xten, a common control entity, pursuant to which it acquired
a portfolio of 29 U.S. and international patents and patent applications in the areas of devices and technologies for aerosolizing certain
remedies and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as the solutions and preparation for inhaled delivery. As consideration for the acquisition,
the Company issued Xten common stock purchase warrants exercisable for an aggregate of
NOTE 4 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In
the first nine months of 2020 the Company borrowed $
We
maintain our corporate offices at 5550 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55419. We lease the premises from 5550 Nicollet, LLC, a company
owned by Mr. Chong. In December 2020 we entered into a month-to-month lease that began January 1, 2021, with a monthly rental rate of
$
In
the first nine months of 2020, pursuant to a signed agreement, Xten
provided research and development related expertise and services specific to HNB technologies, devices, and intellectual property. Costs
to the Company were $
10 |
On
September 30, 2020, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement
with Xten, pursuant to which it acquired a portfolio of 29 U.S. and international patents and patent applications in the areas of devices
and technologies for aerosolizing certain remedies and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as the solutions and preparation for inhaled
delivery. As consideration for the acquisition, the Company issued Xten the Warrants, including (i) a Series A Common Stock Purchase
Warrant exercisable for shares of common stock commencing on September
30, 2023 and expiring on September 30, 2026, (ii) a Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable for shares of common stock commencing on September
30, 2026 and expiring on September 30, 2029, and (iii) a Series C Common Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable for shares of common stock commencing on September
30, 2029 and expiring on September 30, 2032. The Company has the right to accelerate or extend the exercise period of each series of
Warrants in its discretion. In addition, the exercise period of each series of Warrants automatically accelerates in the event of a “change
of control” (as defined in the Warrants) prior to such series of Warrants becoming exercisable by its respective terms. The Asset
Purchase Agreement contained customary indemnification provisions. The assets have been accounted for at a carrying value of $
NOTE 5 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
October 18, 2021, we sold a total of
On October 21, 2021, we granted options to the management team valued at $ .
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and 2020 should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and the notes to those statements that are included elsewhere in this report. Our discussion includes forward looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information” appearing earlier in this report, Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors appearing in our 2020 10-K, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward looking statements. Such statements are based on our current expectations and could be affected by the uncertainties and risk factors described throughout this report.
Overview
We are a technology company; we design and develop innovative methods to heat plant-based and/or medicant-infused formulations to produce aerosols for the efficient and efficacious inhalation of the plant and medicant constituents contained therein. We have two ways of accomplishing this: 1) at high temperatures via induction without combustion or the constituents of combustion; and 2) at low temperatures, where we heat an inert carrier, producing an inhalable, medicant-infused aerosol while maintaining the integrity of the active ingredient(s).
Our high-temperature non-combusting technology is supported by 21 U.S. and international patents and pending patents. Among the applications of our patented and patent-pending technology are those for Heat-not-Burn (“HnB”) devices. In one instance for example, our method of heating a tobacco formulation for inhalation is superior, less toxic, and far more convenient than other methods of tobacco consumption, especially when compared to the inhalation of the smoke produced by combustible products, i.e., cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Independent tests of our system’s prototypes supported the benefits of rapid heating, confirmed non-combustion, even at high temperatures, and produced better toxicology results, 98% better, when compared to products requiring combustion and compared to other non-combusting technologies currently on the market.
Our low-temperature, aerosolizing technology is supported by 30 U.S. and international patents and pending patents. This portfolio includes intellectual property (“IP”) around device designs and around formulations containing a wide variety of herbal and pharmaceutical preparations. This system features the ability to verify the user, validate the medicant or pharmaceutical preparation and measure, meter and monitor the proper, prescribed dosage. We define our target market as the “international inhalation market,” a market that includes herbal, pharmaceutical, medical, recreational and lifestyle products and ingredients. Industry experts, like Nielsen, Grand View Research, Fior Markets, have published reports in the last half of 2020 that we have consolidated; these consolidated estimates support that this as an $880 billion USD annual market currently and it’s expected to grow to $1.1 trillion USD by 2025. The largest category within this market is the combustible tobacco market, comprising 92% of the total. Our near-term focus is on this segment, which represents the greatest opportunity for growth and the greatest opportunity to positively impact public health and wellness.
Our HnB technologies are of great interest to the international tobacco industry and the growing hemp/CBD and cannabis industries. HnBs represent the latest in tobacco and inhalable technologies, and likely to supplant the electronic vapor system (EVS) technologies including e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems. We believe HnBs, if properly designed, will avoid many of the issues that have proved troublesome for EVS’ including thermal decomposition, heating irregularities and the formation and presence of high levels of acrolein and formaldehyde. In late 2019 Philip Morris International introduced its HnB product to U.S. markets. This product, which was sold in more than 40 countries before entering U.S. markets, like other HnB technologies, is a device that heats a tobacco stick, rather than burning it, and testing supports claims that the product can potentially reduce the number of noxious chemicals found in cigarette smoke by 95%.
12 |
Since late 2019 we have focused our efforts on commercializing our HnB technology. This entry began with the December 31, 2019, transaction pursuant to which we acquired the following assets from Xten Capital Group, Inc., formerly known as Chong Corporation (“Xten”), a related party:
● | assignment of all patent applications and patent related documents and materials currently assigned to or owned or held by Xten in the field of HnB methods and embodiments developed by Xten which are the backbone of the CQENS System, consisting of the following: |
● | the provisional patent application filed by Xten on January 3, 2018, the non-provisional patent application filed by Xten on June 28, 2018, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) application filed by Xten on January 3, 2019; | |
● | all documents and files related to device and tobacco consumable development; | |
● | all versions of prototyped embodiments, consisting of both device and tobacco consumable embodiments; and | |
● | all files, correspondence, communication, data, and test results related to the toxicology testing undertaken by Xten related to the CQENS System. |
● | exclusive licenses from Xten in the fields and applications of tobacco, nicotine, reduced tobacco risk and smoking cessation, for device patents assigned to Xten, U.S. Patent No. 9,770,564 and U.S. Patent No. 9,913,950; and | |
● | exclusive licenses from Xten in the fields and applications of tobacco, nicotine, reduced tobacco risk and smoking cessation, for international device patents and patent applications assigned to Xten, including those issued in the People’s Republic of China, the European Union, Japan, and Hong Kong, and those pending in Germany, France, Brazil, Canada and Korea, and divisional patents pending in the European Union and Japan. |
During 2020 and into 2021 we have continued our efforts that we began in 2019, including:
● | On July 24, 2020, we entered into an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the “Operating Agreement”) of Leap Technology LLC (“Leap Technology”) with Zong Group Holdings LLC (“Zong”) and Leap Management LLC (“LM”). Under the terms of the Operating Agreement and the related Contribution Agreement dated July 24, 2020 (the “Contribution Agreement”), we acquired a 55% membership interest in Leap Technology in exchange for the contribution of an exclusive, royalty-free license (the “Leap License Agreement”) for the use in the Asia Pacific countries listed in the Contribution Agreement of certain of our intellectual property, patents pending, and patents related to our heated tobacco product technology. It is expected that Leap Technology will form additional business entities to commercialize our propriety technology in those Asia Pacific countries which include China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The goal of the joint venture is the market development of the Company’s intellectual property in the Asia Pacific region together with other initiatives and the formation business relationships with tobacco companies who operate in the Asia Pacific region. As of the date of this report, the joint venture is still in a pre-formative stage expected to be formalized consistent with the Operating Agreement in the third quarter of 2021; | |
● | On August 25, 2020, we were issued U.S. Patent 10,750,787 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a Heat-not Burn Device and Method. The patent covers the technology behind the proprietary CQENS System; | |
● | On September 4, 2020, we were informed by our intellectual property counsel that it had received a favorable International Preliminary Report on Patentability that was issued as a result of its filing of a Chapter II Demand and Article 34 Amendments with the International Bureau of the WIPO on September 5, 2019. The report was issued in connection with the PCT patent application filed by on January 3, 2019, for our Heat-Not-Burn Device and Method. The examiner’s conclusion was that 84 of the 91 claims were considered to be “patentable,” and while the PCT does not issue patents, based upon management’s experience we believe that a preliminary, favorable examination does provide insight as to how individual country examinations would likely proceed; |
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● | On September 30, 2020, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Xten pursuant to which we acquired a portfolio of 29 U.S. and international patents and patent applications in the areas of devices and technologies for aerosolizing certain remedies and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as the solutions and preparation for inhaled delivery. This transaction effectively terminated all prior licensing agreements, resulting with the portfolio being assigned to the Company; | |
● | On September 30, 2020, we also entered into a second Asset Purchase Agreement with Xten pursuant to which we acquired certain assets including, but not limited to, a custom-built plume and inhalation testing machine, oscilloscope with probe, multiple pieces of laboratory and workshop equipment, computers, monitors and accessories; and | |
● | On February 15, 2021, we entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with The Barker Group of Companies and affiliates. The Barker Group is involved in the processing, manufacturing, and distribution of tobacco from “seed through shelf,” principally in the US. From planting the seeds, through growing, processing, manufacturing, and finally placing the finished product on the shelf, The Barker Group has the necessary permits and facilities to support fully legal and regulatory compliant tobacco activity in the U.S. The Barker Group’s businesses have recently expanded to include hemp and CBD products. The Barker Group includes Cherokee Tobacco Company (CTC), the exclusive national distributor of Cherokee and Palmetto cigarettes, Cherokee and Arrowhead pipe tobacco, Cherokee and Virginia Heritage filtered cigars, the full line of Pure HempSmokes, Piedmont Blue CBD products, and AHP hemp pre-rolls. The Barker Group distributes its products to over 130,000 US retail locations. The parties have agreed to negotiate in good faith collaborating on certain strategic initiatives, including the following: |
● | to commercialize CQENS’ patented and patent pending HnB technology by designing devices and consumables for The Barker Group to manufacture and distribute exclusively in the U.S. for tobacco, hemp/CBD, and cannabis products where U.S. laws and regulations permit; | |
● | to prepare and submit a Premarket Tobacco Authorization (“PMTA”) for submission to the FDA to enable the launch of the CQENS System throughout the U.S.; and | |
● | to expand the scope of the HnB marketing opportunities by also submitting a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (“MRTP”) application to the FDA in addition to the PMTA. |
Additionally, the MOU provides for CQENS to license its technology to The Barker Group under certain terms and conditions yet to be finalized and for The Barker Group to invest in CQENS with terms and conditions yet to be finalized. The foregoing initiatives, as well as other items contained in the non-binding MOU, are subject to the completion and execution of definitive agreements, all of which will be subject to customary closing conditions.
On August 17, 2021, CQENS entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (the “JV Agreement”) with Firebird Manufacturing, LLC (“Firebird”). Under the terms of the JV Agreement the parties have agreed to organize, negotiate, and establish a limited liability company joint venture entity (the “Joint Venture Entity”) for the purposes of developing, manufacturing, and distributing Heat- not-Burn (“HnB”) hemp/CBD products in the United States for an initial term of four years, subject to an automatic renewal for successive one-year terms provided certain conditions are met. The Joint Venture Entity will be owned equally by the Company and Firebird. The Company will license its intellectual property to the Joint Venture Entity, receiving a 10% royalty on direct consumable sales and will be responsible for designing and coordinating the manufacture of an HnB device exclusively conformed to heat but not combust hemp/CBD. Firebird will be responsible for manufacturing the hemp/CBD consumable and distributing both the device and consumables to the retail locations where the product can be lawfully sold.
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Pursuant to the JV Agreement, the Company and Firebird will each receive on a monthly basis a distribution out of the Joint Venture profits, if any, equal to 30% after payment of expenses. The remaining profits, if any, will be distributed annually. The JV Agreement also provides that the parties will be prohibited from marketing a competing product for two years following the termination of the Joint Venture Entity, subject to penalty in the amount of $5 million. The JV Agreement also sets forth in general terms the respective contributions of the parties, including equipment, manufacturing facilities, intellectual property, and expertise. Under the terms of the JV Agreement, there will be five managers of the Joint Venture Entity, three of whom will be designated by the Company and two of whom will be designated by Firebird. In the event the parties formalize and enter into a Joint Venture Entity Operating Agreement, Jay Barker, an affiliate of Firebird, may be appointed to the Company’s board of directors. The JV Agreement contains customary representations and warranties.
The parties have also agreed to indemnify each other and the JV against any losses arising from a breach by the other of certain representations and warranties. The execution of the Joint Venture Entity Operating Agreement is subject to formalizing the definitive Joint Venture Operating Agreement and the execution of additional agreements, including a license agreement for the use of intellectual property, certain product development agreements, supply agreements and such other agreements as may be necessary to further the purpose of the JV Agreement. As of the date of the filing of this report no other agreements have been entered into by the parties and there are no assurances that the parties will complete and formalize such agreements.
Going concern
For the first nine months of 2021 we reported a net loss of $3,208,938 and net cash used in operations of $1,023,543 compared to a net loss of $1,046,031 and net cash used in operations of $703,143 for the first nine months of 2020. At September 30, 2021, we had cash on hand of $4,026,095 and an accumulated deficit of $8,052,520. The report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, contains an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern based upon our minimal cash and no source of revenues which may not be sufficient to cover our operating costs. These factors, among others, and despite the cash and cash equivalent amount on hand at the end of this quarter, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and pay our obligations as they become due over the next year. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. There are no assurances we will be successful in our efforts to raise additional capital, develop a source of revenues, report profitable operations or to continue as a going concern, in which event investors would lose their entire investment in our company.
Results of operations
We did not generate any revenues from our operations in the first nine months of 2021 or 2020. Our total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2021 increased 28.5% over those reported in the third quarter of 2020 while the first nine-months of 2021 increased 208% over those reported in the first nine months of 2020. General and administrative expenses increased 732% in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 due mainly to the non-cash stock option expense of $1,854,459 relating to the options granted to two contracted engineers involved in research and development activities.
Research and development expenses in the third quarter of 2021 decreased 8.9% over this same period in 2020 while the first nine months show a slight decrease of 0.3% over the first nine months of 2020. Professional fees decreased 14.3% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020 and increased 68% in the first nine months of 2021 when compared to this same period in 2020 which is attributable primarily to an increase in consulting services and legal fees.
We expect that our operating expenses will increase as we continue to develop our business and we devote additional resources towards promoting that growth, most notably reflected in anticipated increases in research and development, general overhead, salaries for personnel and technical resources, as well as increased costs associated with our SEC reporting obligations. However, as set forth elsewhere in this report, our ability to continue to develop our business and achieve our operational goals is dependent upon our ability to raise significant additional working capital. As the availability of this capital is unknown, we are unable to currently quantify the expected increases in operating expenses in future periods.
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Liquidity and capital resources
Liquidity is the ability of a company to generate sufficient cash to satisfy its needs for cash. As of September 30, 2021, we had $4,026,095 in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital surplus of $3,983,571 as compared to $589,153 in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital surplus of $312,132 at December 31, 2020. Our current liabilities decreased $239,529 or 71.2% from December 31, 2020, primarily due to the repayment of the related party loan. Our source of operating capital in the first nine months of 2021 came from the sale of 545,288 shares of our common stock raising $4,810,000 compared to the same period in 2020 where our source of operating capital came from the sale of 496,898 shares of our common stock raising $2,400,000.
The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company obtaining adequate capital to fund operating losses until it becomes profitable. As the company is not generating revenues, continued activities, and expenditures to bring product(s) to market as soon as we are able is important. Management believes the currently available funding will be insufficient to finance the Company’s operations for a year from the date of these financial statements and to satisfy our obligations as they become due.
We will need to raise an additional $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 in additional capital during the next 12 months. As we do not have any firm commitments for all or any portion of this necessary capital, there are no assurances we will have sufficient funds to fund our operating expenses and continued development of our products and to satisfy our obligations as they become due over the next 12 months. In that event, our ability to continue as a going concern is in jeopardy.
Summary of Cash Flows
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||
Net cash (used) in operating activities | $ | (1,023,543 | ) | $ | (703,143 | ) | ||
Net cash (used) in investing activities | $ | (93,971 | ) | $ | (152,372 | ) | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 4,554,456 | $ | 2,110,000 |
Our cash used in operating activities increased 45.6% in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the first nine months of 2020. During these time periods we used the cash to primarily fund our net losses.
In the first nine months of 2021 there was $93,971 net cash used in investing activities from capitalization of IP related legal fees compared to $152,372 in the same period of 2020.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the first nine months of 2021 consisted of $4,810,000 raised from the sale of 545,288 shares of our common stock and $255,544 in debt repayment to Xten compared to $2,400,000 raised from the sale of 496,898 share of our common stock, repayment, and satisfaction in full of the convertible note of $40,000, additional borrowing of $2,500 from Xten and $250,000 repayment of debt to Xten, a common control entity, in the first nine months of 2020.
Critical accounting policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. The more critical accounting estimates include estimates related to revenue recognition, accounts receivable allowances and impairment of long-lived assets. We also have other key accounting policies, which involve the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that are significant to understanding our results, which are described in Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for 2020 appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021.
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Off balance sheet arrangements
As of the date of this report, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors. The term “off-balance sheet arrangement” generally means any transaction, agreement, or other contractual arrangement to which an entity unconsolidated with us is a party, under which we have any obligation arising under a guarantee contract, derivative instrument or variable interest or a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to such entity or similar arrangement that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support for such assets.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable for a smaller reporting company.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also is 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.
Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that the information relating to our company required to be disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission reports (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure due to the presence of continuing material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. These material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting result from limited segregation of duties and limited multiple level of review in the financial close process.
The existence of the continuing material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting increases the risk that a future restatement of our financials is possible. In order to remediate these material weaknesses, we will need to expand our accounting resources. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis, however, we do not expect that the deficiencies in our disclosure controls will be remediated until such time as we have remediated the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. In order to do so, we will need additional capital to permit us to hire employees and put the requisite controls in place. We had expected to expand our accounting resources in 2019, which was subsequently delayed into 2020 and has now been delayed into 2021. Given the uncertainties with our ability to raise working capital as discussed earlier in this report, there are no assurances we will be able to remediate the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting during 2021.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In addition to the other information set forth in this report you should carefully consider the risk factors in Part I, Item 1A in our 2020 10-K and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results. These cautionary statements are to be used as a reference in connection with any forward-looking statements, written or oral, which may be made or otherwise addressed in connection with a forward-looking statement or contained in any of our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
On September 28, 2021, we sold a total of 296,000 shares of our common stock to eleven non-U.S. Persons for a total of $2,960,000. The shares issued contain a legend restricting their transferability absent registration of applicable exemption. The recipients were non-U.S. Persons, and the issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in reliance on an exemption provided by Regulation S promulgated thereunder. We did not pay a commission or finder’s fee and are using proceeds for working capital.
On September 28, 2021, we sold 5,000 shares of our common stock to an investor for $50,000 in a private transaction. The recipient was an accredited investor and the shares issued contain a legend restricting their transferability absent registration of applicable exemption. The issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on an exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2). We did not pay a commission or finder’s fee and are using the proceeds for working capital.
On September 30, 2021, we sold 30,000 shares of our common stock to an investor for $300,000 in a private transaction. The recipient was an accredited investor and the shares issued contain a legend restricting their transferability absent registration of applicable exemption. The issuance was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on an exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2). We did not pay a commission or finder’s fee and are using the proceeds for working capital.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable to our company’s operations.
Item 5. Other Events.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CQENS Technologies Inc. | ||
November 15, 2021 | By: | /s/ Alexander Chong |
Alexander Chong, Chief Executive Officer | ||
November 15, 2021 | By: | /s/ Daniel Markes |
Daniel Markes, Chief Financial Officer |
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