Lightbridge Provides Business Update and Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
October 31 2024 - 3:05PM
Lightbridge Corporation (Lightbridge) (Nasdaq: LTBR), an advanced
nuclear fuel technology company, announced its financial results
for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, and provided an
update on the Company’s continued progress.
Seth Grae, President & Chief Executive
Officer of Lightbridge Corporation, commented, "The surge in demand
for clean energy from major tech companies, especially as they
shift towards data centers with AI chips, is driving significant
investment into the nuclear power industry. These companies are
increasingly funding strategic nuclear energy projects that may
help them reach their zero-emission climate goals.”
“At Lightbridge, we are proud to be developing
advanced nuclear fuel that enhances safety and improves the
efficiency of existing reactors and the new water-cooled reactors
being developed. Our fuel technology has the potential to increase
power output, extend the operating cycle length, dispose of
plutonium stockpiles, and be used in both current and
next-generation smaller reactors. We are working with Idaho
National Laboratory (INL) under a Strategic Partnership Project
agreement on fabrication of coupon fuel samples for capsule
irradiation testing in the Advanced Test Reactor. INL is the U.S
Department of Energy’s lead national laboratory for nuclear energy
R&D. We are also collaborating with MIT and Texas A&M
University on evaluation of Lightbridge Fuel's potential in small
modular reactors. We believe our fuel can set a new standard for
nuclear energy worldwide."
Financial Highlights
The Company’s working capital position at
September 30, 2024 was $25.9 million with no outstanding debt.
Cash Flows Summary
Cash and cash equivalents were $26.6 million at
September 30, 2024, compared to $28.6 million at December 31, 2023,
a decrease of $2.0 million, consisting of the following:
- Cash used in operating activities
for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $5.7 million, an
increase of $1.5 million compared to $4.2 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily due to
increased spending on R&D, general and administrative expenses,
and changes in working capital.
- Cash provided by financing
activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $3.7
million, a decrease of $0.8 million compared to $4.5 million in the
nine months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was due to a
decrease in the net proceeds from the issuance of common stock by
our at-the-market (ATM) facility.
Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets were $27.6 million, and total
liabilities were $1.2 million at September 30, 2024. Working
capital was $25.9 million at September 30, 2024, versus $28.3
million at December 31, 2023. This decrease of $2.4 million in
working capital was due primarily to the factors impacting cash
flows, as described above.
- Stockholders’ equity was $26.5
million at September 30, 2024, as compared to $28.9 million at
December 31, 2023.
Operations Summary
- General and administrative expenses
amounted to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30,
2024, compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended September
30, 2023. The increase of $0.1 million was primarily due to an
increase in employee compensation of $0.1 million, and an increase
in stock-based compensation of $0.1 million, offset by a decrease
in professional fees of $0.1 million.
- Lightbridge’s total research and
development expenses (R&D) amounted to $1.3 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $0.5 million for
the three months ended September 30, 2023, an increase of $0.8
million. This increase primarily consisted of an increase in INL
project labor costs and outside R&D expenses of $0.2 million,
an increase in the Centrus Energy FEED Study of $0.1 million, an
increase in allocated employee compensation and employee benefits
of $0.3 million due to an increase in R&D employees, an
increase in consulting fee of $0.1 million and an increase in IT
expenses of $0.1 million.
- Total other income was $0.3 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2024, unchanged compared
to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The Company’s
interest income earned from the purchase of treasury bills and from
our bank savings account for the three months ended September 30,
2024 was constant, as compared to the three months ended September
30, 2023.
- Net loss was $2.7 million for the
third quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to $1.8 million
for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.
CONFERENCE CALL & AUDIO
WEBCAST
The conference call will be led by Seth Grae,
President, and Chief Executive Officer, with other Lightbridge
executives available to answer questions.
To access the call by phone, please register at
this link (registration link), and you will be provided with
dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial
into the conference call fifteen minutes before the scheduled start
time. The webcast can be accessed at the following link
(webcast).
A webcast replay will also be available for a
limited time at the following link (webcast replay).
About Lightbridge
Corporation Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ: LTBR) is
focused on developing advanced nuclear fuel technology essential
for delivering abundant, zero-emission, clean energy and providing
energy security to the world. The Company is developing Lightbridge
Fuel™, a proprietary next-generation nuclear fuel technology for
existing light water reactors and pressurized heavy water reactors,
significantly enhancing reactor safety, economics, and
proliferation resistance. The Company is also developing
Lightbridge Fuel for new small modular reactors (SMRs) to bring the
same benefits plus load-following with renewables on a zero-carbon
electric grid.
Lightbridge has entered into two long-term
framework agreements with Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the United
States Department of Energy’s operating contractor for Idaho
National Laboratory, the United States' lead nuclear energy
research and development laboratory. DOE’s Gateway for Accelerated
Innovation in Nuclear program has twice awarded Lightbridge to
support the development of Lightbridge Fuel over the past several
years. Lightbridge is participating in two university-led studies
through the DOE Nuclear Energy University Program at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University. An extensive
worldwide patent portfolio backs Lightbridge’s innovative fuel
technology. Lightbridge is included in the Russell Microcap® Index.
For more information, please visit www.ltbridge.com.
To receive Lightbridge Corporation updates via
e-mail, subscribe at
https://www.ltbridge.com/investors/news-events/email-alerts.
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to follow @LightbridgeCorp at
http://twitter.com/lightbridgecorp.
Lightbridge is on Threads @lightbridgecorp.
Forward Looking
Statements With the exception of historical matters,
the matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements. These
statements are based on current expectations on the date of this
news release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that
may cause actual results to differ significantly from such
estimates. The risks include, but are not limited to: Lightbridge’s
ability to commercialize its nuclear fuel technology; the degree of
market adoption of Lightbridge’s product and service offerings;
Lightbridge’s ability to fund general corporate overhead and
outside research and development costs; market competition; our
ability to attract and retain qualified employees; dependence on
strategic partners; demand for fuel for nuclear reactors;
Lightbridge’s ability to manage its business effectively in a
rapidly evolving market; the availability of nuclear test reactors
and the risks associated with unexpected changes in Lightbridge’s
fuel development timeline; the increased costs associated with
metallization of Lightbridge’s nuclear fuel; public perception of
nuclear energy generally; changes in the political environment;
risks associated with war in Europe; changes in the laws, rules and
regulations governing Lightbridge’s business; development and
utilization of, and challenges to, Lightbridge’s intellectual
property; risks associated with potential shareholder activism;
potential and contingent liabilities; as well as other factors
described in Lightbridge's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”). Lightbridge does not assume any obligation
to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as
the result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by
law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
A further description of risks and uncertainties
can be found in Lightbridge’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and in its other filings with
the SEC, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors”
and “Forward-Looking Statements”, all of which are available at
http://www.sec.gov/ and www.ltbridge.com.
Investor Relations
Contact:Matthew Abenante, IRC Director of Investor
RelationsTel: +1 (347) 947-2093ir@ltbridge.com
*** tables follow ***
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LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATION UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
ASSETS |
|
Current Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
26,634,951 |
|
|
$ |
28,598,445 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
403,922 |
|
|
|
207,063 |
|
Total Current Assets |
|
27,038,873 |
|
|
|
28,805,508 |
|
Other Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid project costs and other long-term assets |
|
472,875 |
|
|
|
483,000 |
|
Trademarks |
|
108,865 |
|
|
|
108,865 |
|
Total Assets |
$ |
27,620,613 |
|
|
$ |
29,397,373 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ |
1,159,566 |
|
|
$ |
486,326 |
|
Total Current Liabilities |
|
1,159,566 |
|
|
|
486,326 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 authorized shares, 0
shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 and December
31, 2023 |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 25,000,000 authorized, 15,276,331
shares and 13,698,274 shares issued and outstanding at September
30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively |
|
15,276 |
|
|
|
13,698 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
186,693,926 |
|
|
|
181,295,125 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(160,248,155 |
) |
|
|
(152,397,776 |
) |
Total Stockholders’ Equity |
|
26,461,047 |
|
|
|
28,911,047 |
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
$ |
27,620,613 |
|
|
$ |
29,397,373 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATIONUNAUDITED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
|
|
September 30, |
|
|
September 30, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative |
|
1,676,209 |
|
|
|
1,609,142 |
|
|
|
5,626,567 |
|
|
|
5,071,889 |
|
Research and development |
|
1,298,601 |
|
|
|
552,751 |
|
|
|
3,232,036 |
|
|
|
1,367,650 |
|
Total Operating Expenses |
|
2,974,810 |
|
|
|
2,161,893 |
|
|
|
8,858,603 |
|
|
|
6,439,539 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Operating Income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed services - research and development |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
31,028 |
|
Total Other Operating
Income |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
31,028 |
|
Operating Loss |
|
(2,974,810 |
) |
|
|
(2,161,893 |
) |
|
|
(8,858,603 |
) |
|
|
(6,408,511 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income |
|
318,649 |
|
|
|
322,065 |
|
|
|
1,008,224 |
|
|
|
869,879 |
|
Total Other Income |
|
318,649 |
|
|
|
322,065 |
|
|
|
1,008,224 |
|
|
|
869,879 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss Before Income
Taxes |
|
(2,656,161 |
) |
|
|
(1,839,828 |
) |
|
|
(7,850,379 |
) |
|
|
(5,538,632 |
) |
Income taxes |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Net Loss |
$ |
(2,656,161 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,839,828 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,850,379 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,538,632 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss Per Common Share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted |
$ |
(0.19 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.15 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.57 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.47 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average Number of
Common Shares Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted |
|
14,189,787 |
|
|
|
12,252,342 |
|
|
|
13,871,756 |
|
|
|
11,902,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
LIGHTBRIDGE CORPORATIONUNAUDITED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
|
|
September 30, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Operating Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss |
$ |
(7,850,379 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,538,632 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operations to net cash used
in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock issued for services |
|
50,806 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
1,229,597 |
|
|
|
901,887 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
(37,665 |
) |
|
|
(137,139 |
) |
Prepaid project costs and other long-term assets |
|
10,125 |
|
|
|
(141,375 |
) |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
928,240 |
|
|
|
740,308 |
|
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities |
|
(5,669,276 |
) |
|
|
(4,144,951 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trademarks |
|
— |
|
|
|
(640 |
) |
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities |
|
— |
|
|
|
(640 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net proceeds from the issuances of common stock and tax payments
for share settlement of equity awards |
|
3,705,782 |
|
|
|
4,481,486 |
|
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities |
|
3,705,782 |
|
|
|
4,481,486 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents |
|
(1,963,494 |
) |
|
|
335,895 |
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period |
|
28,598,445 |
|
|
|
28,899,997 |
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period |
$ |
26,634,951 |
|
|
$ |
29,235,892 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Income taxes paid |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Non-Cash Financing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment of accrued liabilities with common stock |
$ |
255,000 |
|
|
$ |
215,000 |
|
Common stock issued for consulting services |
$ |
180,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified
individual.
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