ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
GENERAL
Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.'s ("Bion," "Company," "We," "Us," or "Our") patented and proprietary technology provides comprehensive environmental solutions to a significant source of pollution in U.S. agriculture: large-scale livestock production facilities (also known as “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations” or ”CAFOs"). Application of our technology and technology platform can simultaneously remediate environmental problems and improve operational/resource efficiencies by recovering value high-value co-products from the CAFOs’ waste stream that has traditionally been wasted or underutilized, including renewable energy, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and clean water.
The $200 billion U.S. livestock industry is under intense scrutiny for its environmental and public health impacts at the same time it is struggling with declining revenues and margins. We believe that Bion’s technology platform, coupled with common-sense policy changes to our clean water strategy that are already underway, provides a pathway to true economic and environmental sustainability with ‘win-win’ benefits to the industry, the environment, and the consumer. Bion’s business model can open up the opportunity for joint ventures (in various contractual forms) (‘JVs’) between the Company and large livestock/food/fertilizer industry participants, based upon the cash flow generated by our 3G Tech (defined and discussed below) supporting the costs of technology implementation (including related debt), which will result in long term value including the sustainable consumer branding opportunity created by our technology (discussed below). Long term, Bion anticipates that the branding opportunity may expand to represent the single largest contributor to the economic opportunity provided by Bion.
During July 2018, the Company received a Notice of Allowance for the first patent filed on our third-generation technology (“3G Tech”) and has continued its work to expand its patent coverage for our 3G Tech since that date. The 3G Tech platform has been designed to maximize the value of coproducts produced during the waste treatment/ recovery processes, including pipeline-quality renewable natural gas and organic commercial fertilizer products. All processes will be verifiable by third-parties (including regulatory authorities, certifying boards and consumers) to comply with environmental regulations and trading programs, as well as meet the requirements for renewable energy credits and the expected organic certification of the fertilizer co-products. Bion anticipates moving forward with the development process of its first commercial installations of its 3G technology during 2019 and 2020 calendar years.
In parallel, Bion has worked (which work continues) to advance public policy initiatives that will create a market in Pennsylvania (and subsequently other states) utilizing taxpayer funding for the purchase of verified pollution reductions from agriculture - ‘credits’ - by the state (or others) through a competitively-bid procurement program. The credits can then be used as a ‘qualified offset’ by an individual state to meet its federal clean water mandates at significantly lower cost to the taxpayer. Competitive procurement of verified credits is now supported by US EPA, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, national livestock interests, and other key stakeholders. Legislation in Pennsylvania to establish the first state competitive procurement program passed the Pennsylvania Senate by a bi-partisan majority in June 2019 and we anticipate it will be voted on in the Pennsylvania House in the fall. Bion believes the bill has bi-partisan support and will be passed by the Pennsylvania legislature and signed into law by the Governor in the 2019 fall session.
The livestock industry is under tremendous pressure to adopt sustainable practices - from regulatory agencies, a wide range of advocacy groups, institutional investors and the industry’s own consumers. Environmental cleanup is inevitable - policies are already changing. Bion’s 3G technology was developed for implementation on large scale livestock production facilities, where scale drives lower treatment costs and efficient production of co-products. We believe that scale, coupled with Bion’s verifiable treatment technology platform, will create a transformational opportunity to integrate clean production practices at (or close to) the point of production-the source from which most of the industry’s environmental impacts are initiated. Bion intends to assist the forward-looking segment of the livestock industry in actually bringing animal protein production in line with twenty-first century consumer sustainability and environmental demands and priorities.
The Problem/Opportunity
In the U.S. (according to the USDA’s 2012 agricultural census) there are over 9M dairy cows, 90M beef cattle, 60M swine and 2 billion poultry - an indication of both the scope of the problem addressed by Bion, as well as the size of the opportunity. Environmental impacts from livestock production include surface and groundwater pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution, excess water use and pathogens related to foodborne illnesses and antibiotic resistance. The greatest impacts come from the manure waste. Estimates of total annual U.S. livestock manure waste vary widely, but start around a billion tons, between 100 and 130 times greater than human waste. However, where human waste is generally treated, livestock waste - raw manure - is spread on our nation’s croplands for its fertilizer value. Runoff from livestock waste has been identified as one of the largest sources of excess nutrients in most major watersheds. Excess nutrients fuel algae blooms nationwide that are increasingly toxic; dead zones in the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, and Gulf of Mexico; and nitrate-contaminated drinking water in a growing number of states including Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin, Washington and other states. US EPA considers excess nutrients “one of America’s most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems.” Nutrient runoff is expected to worsen with rising temperatures and increasing rain storm intensity.
More than half of the nitrogen nutrient impacts from livestock come from ammonia emissions from the waste. Nitrogen in the form of ammonia is extremely reactive and mobile. When airborne ammonia/ nitrogen eventually comes back to the ground through atmospheric deposition - it ‘rains’ everywhere. Much of this nitrogen enters surface and groundwater. In the context of groundwater aquifers, it can contaminate drinking water sources. It is now well-established that most of the voluntary conservation practices (often referred to as “BMPs” or “Best Management Practices”) that have traditionally been implemented to attempt to mitigate nutrient runoff are considerably less effective than previously was believed to be the case (especially with regard to addressing mobile ammonia emissions because such BMPs are primarily focused on surface water runoff).
Further, groundwater transports this nitrogen downstream creating an additional problem as most of the conservation practices relied on to reduce agricultural runoff to our lakes and estuaries are bypassed by this flow. Nitrate-contaminated groundwater is of growing concern in agricultural regions nationwide. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, California and Washington, among other states, all of which states now have areas where groundwater nitrate levels exceed EPA standards for safe drinking water. Additionally, in arid climates, such as California, airborne ammonia emissions from livestock manure contribute to air pollution through PM2.5, small inhalable particulate matter that is a regulated air pollutant with significant public health risks. Whether airborne or dissolved in water, ammonia can only be cost-effectively controlled and treated at the source, before it has a chance to escape and take diluted form.
Nutrients from livestock waste runoff fuel downstream toxic algae blooms and dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. Excess nutrient runoff also impacts local water resources, producing algae blooms in lakes and rivers and contaminating underground aquifers that supply drinking water. The impacts of livestock production on public health and the environment are coming under increasing scrutiny from environmental groups and health organizations, regulatory agencies and the courts, the media, consumers and activist institutional investors.
When implemented in appropriate situations, Bion's technology prevents the uncontrolled release to the environment of most of the nutrients from the CAFO waste stream, while recovering a substantial portion for value-added commercial utilization. Our technology platform largely eliminates ammonia emissions, as well as greenhouse gases, odors and other harmful air emissions. Additionally, the platform destroys virtually all pathogens in the waste stream that have been linked to foodborne illnesses and growing antibiotic resistance. Similar to point-source treatment, such as an industrial or municipal wastewater treatment plant, the performance of Bion’s technology platform can be precisely measured and quantified (in contrast to the modeled - and so far, disappointing - results from BMPs). Verification of data from our facilities by independent third parties can provide the basis for environmental credits, as well as sustainable branding claims.
Bion’s proven second generation technology (“2G Tech”) platform was developed to provide comprehensive onsite livestock waste treatment for wet (beef/dairy/swine) waste streams and has been proven at commercial scale at Kreider Dairy Farm (“Kreider 1”) in Pennsylvania (“PA”). In 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) issued the Kreider 1 system a full water quality management permit and verified the nitrogen and phosphorus reductions achieved by our 2G Tech. These ‘verified nutrient credits’ can be used as qualified offsets to PA’s federally-mandated Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction requirements. In 2014 the 2G Tech was reviewed and qualified for federal loan guarantees under USDA’s Technical Assessment program. The Company anticipates that our 3G Tech will be similarly qualified and will produce results that exceed the results provided by our 2G Tech.
Bion is working with several stakeholders, including national representatives of the livestock industry and members of the PA Legislature, to establish a competitive bidding program in PA that will allow the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to purchase low-cost nutrient reduction credits from private-sector providers such as Bion. Bion believes that other states which face similar livestock waste-related nutrient pollution issues will adopt a similar strategy in the future. When competitively-bid markets for nutrient reductions become fully-established, Bion anticipates a robust opportunity to use its 3G Tech-based platforms to retrofit both existing CAFOs and equip new large-scale livestock facilities (“Projects”) to generate revenue from sales of verified nutrient reduction credits. If such nutrient markets are established and Bion is successful in certifying its fertilizer co-products from Projects for Organic use with resulting higher-value markets (Bion intends to file an application with the Organic Materials Research Institute (OMRI) during the next 120 days), we believe that revenue from nutrient reductions and organic co-products, together with renewable energy credit revenues and the potential value of environmental sustainable branding, will combine to create numerous profitable economically and environmentally sustainable opportunities for our Projects and related JVs.
Policy Change is Coming
The current clean water strategy being utilized in the U.S. is clearly failing, because it doesn’t adequately address waste from agriculture. About half of U.S. crops are now fertilized with raw, untreated manure and approximately 75% of the nutrients in that manure are not utilized by the plants and escape to contaminate the environment through various pathways. While livestock waste is one of the largest contributors to nutrient problems in our watersheds, livestock waste treatment can also be the source of the low-cost solution for such problems if the waste is treated at (or close to) the source of production. Manure control technologies at large scale facilities, where concentration and scale enable cost-effective cleanup, can potentially offer the lowest cost nutrient solutions available in most watersheds. More than 70 percent of U.S. livestock production takes place on large-scale facilities. There is no longer any real question regarding whether such facilities need to be cleaned up. The actual question for public policy concerns developing sources of new revenues to offset the implementation costs for the cleanup.
Despite trends toward concentration over the last several decades, the U.S. animal-protein industry remains a fragmented, low-margin commodity business. Cleaning it up will have to be orderly and contain a path to sustainability that does not cause U.S. food costs to spike or bankrupt the industry. Global export is a significant part of the U.S. livestock production industry and an abrupt increase in federal regulation absent offsetting revenues would likely create costs that could not be absorbed by the industry in a manner that would allow it to remain competitive in international markets. Selective state regulation would have a similar chilling effect within the U.S., since regulated producers in one state would be unable to compete with unregulated producers in adjoining states. Subsidies and/or new revenue sources are required.
Bion believes that reallocating some part of the approximately $110 billion in U.S. taxpayer-funded clean water spending to lower-cost alternative solutions in agriculture (including competitively-bid nutrient reduction procurement) is inevitable. It will provide the taxpayer with accelerated and substantially lower-cost verified air and water quality solutions compared to current strategy. In addition, if Bion’s technology is implemented in appropriate situations, it will provide the livestock industry with the recurring revenues that are needed to offset the costs of technology adoption without major disruption to the industry. To date, a wide range of entrenched interests have opposed and fought policy change that might reallocate spending to more cost-effective alternatives; but this common-sense approach is being accepted by a widening group of stakeholders.
A bipartisan 2013 Pennsylvania legislative study projected that creating a competitive bidding program to procure nitrogen reductions to meet federal Chesapeake Bay mandates, regardless of source, could reduce the state’s tax- and ratepayer-funded compliance costs by up to 80 percent (approximately $1.5B annually). The legislative study was updated in 2018 to reflect new policies. The updated report projects savings of up to 90 percent. As discussed in the original study, much of the savings were due to low-cost high-impact manure control projects (Bion’s technology figured prominently in the report). Senate Bill 575, which is supported by legislative leadership, US EPA, national livestock interests and other key stakeholders, will establish a competitive procurement program that will unlock some of these opportunities in PA. In June 2019, the Pennsylvania Senate voted 33 to 17 in favor of Senate Bill 575. The bill is now pending in the House. Bion is optimistic that the bill will be adopted by the House and signed by the Governor in the current session this fall.
In a 2017 Letter of Expectation to PA’s Department of Environmental Protection, US EPA demonstrated its support of a procurement strategy to engage the private sector - as long as the credits are verified. It is noteworthy that US EPA and national livestock industry representatives agree on this strategy. Such a procurement strategy is also consistent with USDA and EPA support of ‘Private Partnerships’ and OMB’s guidance that supports acquiring verified results vs. financing projects with uncertain outcomes and taxpayer risks. We believe that strategies being developed in Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay are likely to serve as a model for the 40 other states now seeking solutions to similar water quality problems. Today, most states face a similar issue---unfunded federal clean water mandates. Pennsylvania’s proposed competitive bidding program provides an opportunity to significantly reduce the cost to PA (and a model for other states to utilize in the future) in meeting such mandates.
Technology and Technology Platform
We have invested years of work and substantial capital on the development of our technology and technology platform since 1989.
Bion’s patented second generation technology (“2G Tech”) was proven at commercial scale and it was reviewed and qualified for federal loan guarantees under USDA’s Technical Assessment program. Bion’s 2G Tech Kreider dairy project (“Kreider 1” or “KF1”) received the first verified /measurable nutrient reduction credits from a non-point source livestock facility in the U.S. and its nutrient reductions were verified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”). A key attribute of Bion’s 2G Tech (now supplanted by our 3G Tech) is that nutrient and other pollution reductions can be measured, providing a level of verification on par with a municipal wastewater treatment plant -- which creates the opportunity for their nutrient reductions to be used as “qualified offsets” to EPA-mandated requirements. While it was an engineering success, Kreider 1 has failed financially to date because the 2G Tech platform was almost wholly dependent for revenue from anticipated demand for credits based on nitrogen reductions (“Credits”) in Pennsylvania’s trading program that failed to materialize.
The 3G Tech was developed by Bion to avoid the dependence of our 2G Tech systems on the sale of Credits. The 3G Tech platform has been designed to maximize the revenues from the co-products that are produced from very large-scale production facilities while simultaneously remediating the CAFO’s waste stream. The first patent on the 3G Tech was filed in September 2015 for an ammonia recovery process that produces ammonium bicarbonate (a commercial fertilizer) without external chemical additives, thereby providing the basis for organic certification. A Notice of Allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) was received during August 2018 related to this patent application. Since July 2017 Bion has filed for extensions of this patent application to provide broadened protections and to cover improvements to the process developed in the interim. The 3G Tech platform incorporates Bion’s patented and proprietary technology while utilizing existing commercial evaporation and distillation process equipment (with decades of reliability and service history) that is customized for Bion’s specific applications.
The 3G Tech platform supports a business model with four distinct revenue streams: 1) pipeline quality renewable natural gas and related carbon credits, 2) premium fertilizer products, 3) nutrient credits, and 4) premium pricing from a USDA-certified ‘Environmentally Sustainable’ branding. Carbon and nutrient credit revenues will be generated by third-party verification of the waste treatment processes that produce renewable energy and fertilizer products - with relatively limited incremental cost to Bion. The same verified data will provide the backbone for the USDA-certified sustainable brand, again with limited incremental cost.
Renewable energy and related carbon credits:
Bion’s 3G Tech platform utilizes customized anaerobic digestion (“AD”) to recover methane from the waste stream. At sufficient scale, methane produced from AD can be cost-effectively conditioned, compressed and injected into a pipeline. The US Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS”) program and state programs in California and elsewhere provide ongoing renewable energy credits for the production and use of renewable transportation fuels.
Fertilizer products:
The 3G Tech platform will produce multiple fertilizer products: i) concentrated ammonia bicarbonate liquid, ii) ammonium bicarbonate in solid crystal form and iii) a soil amendment product that will contain the remaining nitrogen, phosphorus and other micronutrients captured from the livestock waste stream. Bion believes each product will qualify for organic certification and intends to file initial applications to OMRI within 120 days.
Ammonium bicarbonate manufactured using chemical processes has a long history of use as a fertilizer. Bion’s ammonium bicarbonate crystal product will contain 12 to 14 percent nitrogen in a crystalline form that will be easily transported, water soluble and provide readily-available nitrogen. It will contain virtually none of the other salt, iron and mineral constituents of the livestock waste stream and will be in an industry-standard form that can be precision-applied to crops using existing equipment. Due to its high concentration of ammonia nitrogen in readily-available and water-soluble form, Bion believes that the product will have broad applications in the production of row crops; horticulture, greenhouse and hydroponic production; and potentially retail lawn and garden products.
Successful organic certification for this product will provide access to substantially higher value markets compared to synthetic nitrogen products. Based on preliminary market surveys to date, we believe that existing competing products in both liquid and granular form are being sold presently at price points significantly greater than Bion’s projected cost and pricing.
Nutrient credits:
Bion anticipates that passage of SB575 in Pennsylvania this fall will establish a competitively-bid market for nutrient reduction Credits in Pennsylvania, which will be functioning during 2020 and thereafter Bion’s Kreider Farms poultry project (“Kreider 2”) is projected to generate between 1.5-3M lbs of Chesapeake Bay (“CB” or “Bay”) verified nitrogen reduction credits (the range depends on the specific calculation methodology agreed to between the EPA and the Pennsylvania DEP). Bion anticipates the market value for these credits will be in the range of $8 to $12 per pound annually. The focus of the latest regulatory watershed improvement plan (“WIP”) has shifted the reduction mandates to individual counties. Lancaster County, PA is being asked to reduce 21% of the mandate (approximately 11M lbs of nitrogen) to the Bay. As a result, we believe that it is likely that the Kreider 2 project in Lancaster County will expand to include a regional processing opportunity in addition to the Kreider 2 base project. SB 799’s initial funding will allow Bion and others to demonstrate the technological effectiveness and cost savings of manure control technologies, which should open the door for increased funding and expanded opportunities in PA and elsewhere.
Sustainable Branding:
Consumers have demonstrated a willingness to pay a premium for their safe and sustainable food choices. Bion has received conditional approval from USDA Process Verified Program (“PVP”) related to its Kreider 1 project (utilizing 2G Tech). It is our intention to amend and resubmit its application for the 3G Tech Platform during the current fiscal year and seek an approval for certification based on third-party-verified reductions in nutrient impacts, greenhouse gases and pathogens in the waste stream based on our 3G Tech. The USDA’s PVP is the gold standard of food certifications. PVP certification will back the claims for a meaningful and recognizable sustainable brand that the Company believes will enable Bion customers/joint venturers to command premium pricing for their livestock products.
Food safety and sustainability are issues of growing importance in the U.S. and worldwide. Bion’s branding initiative reflects trends already underway in the livestock industry. Driven by growing consumer demand, large food retailers such as Walmart and Costco, and restaurant chains including Chipotle and McDonalds, are increasingly demanding greater responsibility and improved sustainability in food production practices from their suppliers. The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (“Roundtable”) was created to advance a sustainable global beef value chain that is “environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable”. The Roundtable represents members from across the supply chain, including U.S., Canadian and Australian cattlemen’s associations, Cargill, JBS, Elanco, McDonalds and A&W.
More recently, large institutional investors have begun to pressure the livestock industry. Ceres and several other large activist institutional investors have already expressed concerns about carbon footprint, water quality, antibiotic usage and animal welfare in letters to management of their investment holdings in the food production industry. The Collier Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return (“FAIRR”) Initiative was recently launched to highlight the environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) risks associated with large-scale livestock production.
The food industry cannot successfully address sustainability for meat and dairy products without dealing with the production side of the supply chain, where most of the environmental and public health impacts occur. In addition to mitigating direct environmental impacts, Bion’s technologies have been developed to allow greater control over inputs, improved traceability and accountability, and the cleanest, most efficient production practices possible. We believe it will be possible to communicate these verified improvements to the consumer at the point-of-sale with a bar-coded brand certified by the USDA PVP.
Over the last few years, most large meat and dairy product retailers have announced sustainability initiatives, although the definition of sustainability is unclear. Bion believes that as these initiatives move forward, true sustainability on the production side will look a lot like what Bion can provide today with its 3G Tech. We believe our 3G Tech platform can deliver verifiable metrics that demonstrate meaningful improvements in sustainability for livestock production including: a) reduced carbon and nutrient footprint; b) lower negative impacts to water, soil and air; c) increased pathogen destruction and other environmental and public health impacts that are unmatched in the industry today.
Over the last three years, Bion has worked on development of its third generation technology (“3G Tech”) which is designed to: a) generate significantly greater value from the nutrients and renewable energy recovered from the waste stream, b) treat dry (poultry) waste streams as well as wet waste streams (dairy/beef cattle/swine), and c) while maintaining or improving environmental performance. The 3G Tech platform will produce a) a stable nitrogen fertilizer product that Bion believes will qualify for certification for use in organic food production, b) a soil amendment product that Bion believes will also qualify for organic production, as well as c) renewable natural gas that can be conditioned to pipeline quality.
For the past decade, Bion has been directed toward creating applications of our patented and proprietary waste management technologies and technology platform to pursue JVs in three main business opportunities:
1)
Installation of Bion systems to retrofit and environmentally remediate existing large CAFOs (“Retrofits” and “Retrofit Projects”) in selected markets where:
a) government policy supports such efforts (such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Great Lakes Basin states, and/or other states and watersheds facing EPA ‘total maximum daily load’ (“TMDL”) issues), and/or
b) where CAFO’s need our technology to obtain permits to expand or develop without negative environmental consequences.
2)
Development of new state-of-the-art large scale waste treatment facilities (now utilizing our 3G Tech) which may be developed in conjunction with new CAFOs in strategic locations that were previously impracticable due to environmental impacts or to treat the waste streams from one or more existing large livestock facilities (“Projects”). Some of these Projects may be either a) Integrated Projects as described below, b) ‘central processing facilities’ which receive the waste from multiple livestock facilities, c) Retrofit Projects or d) hybrids with elements of each of these types. Each version will be able to realize revenue from multiple revenue streams potentially generated by our 3G Tech.
3)
Licensing and/or joint venturing of Bion’s technology and applications (primarily) outside North America.
In both categories 1) and 2) above, the Company intends to directly participate (whether by joint venture agreement or other contractual arrangements) in the revenues of the Retrofits and Projects.
The opportunities described at categories 1) and 2) above each require substantial political and regulatory (federal, state and local) efforts on the part of the Company and a substantial part of Bion’s efforts are focused on such political and regulatory matters. Bion is currently intends to pursue the international opportunities primarily through the use of consultants with existing relationships in target countries.
At this time, our primary focus is on categories 1) and 2) above using our 3G Tech to develop new (or expanded) large-scale Projects with strategic partners (including the Kreider 2 Project) on a joint venture (or other participating contractual form) basis. Bion’s business model opens up the opportunity for JV’s in various forms based upon the revenue generated by our 3G Tech platform from nutrient reductions, fertilizer co-products and renewable natural gas (which revenue streams will be secured through long term take-off agreements for each of these co-products) providing initial support for financing of required capital expenditures (whether equity or debt). We anticipate that these revenue streams will be supplemented by revenue realized from long-term premium pricing resulting from the sustainable branding opportunity. We believe that the branding opportunity may provide the single largest contribution to the economic opportunity over time.
Kreider Farms - Initial 3G Tech Project
Bion is completing an envelope of policy change and technology pilots that will allow it to move forward with the first commercial scale 3G Tech project at Kreider Farms. Having recently received a Notice of Allowance of the initial 3G Tech patent, Bion is focused on multiple key tasks (including the following items) during the remainder of 2019 that will ‘complete the envelope’ and allow Bion to launch active development of the Kreider 2 poultry project in early 2020:
1.
Support for adoption of PA SB 575: This will create a competitively-bid market for nutrient reductions/Credits that we believe will provide support for project financing for Kreider 2 prior to development of markets for the coproducts from Kreider 2 are established.
2.
Installation of a small-scale 3G Tech ammonia recovery system to produce ammonium bicarbonate to be used for grower trials to develop coproduct markets and for OMRI review.
3.
Completion of OMRI filings for all of Bion’s fertilizer products.
The 3G Tech Kreider 2 project is planned for two (or more) locations. It is intended to treat the waste from Kreider Farms’ 1,600 dairy cows and approximately six million egg layer chickens (with capacity for an additional three million layers). The Project will be designed for a capacity of 450 tons per day of waste and will remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the waste stream that will be converted into high-value coproducts instead of polluting local and downstream waters. The Project is planned to be built in three phases and may be expanded to include a ‘central processing facility’ with modules that will accept transported waste from the region on a fee basis.
Bion has a long-standing relationship with Kreider Farms including a 2016 joint venture agreement related to this facility. Kreider has already made a significant investment in upgrading its poultry facilities to maximize the treatment and recovery efficiencies that can be achieved with Bion’s technology. We are optimistic that once PA SB575 has been passed, a market will be put in place for long-term commercial sale of the nutrient reduction credits produced at Kreider 2. Once adopted, PA will need to create the rules under which the bidding can be performed prior to any awards If the competitive procurement is implemented, we intend to arrange project financing for the initial portions of the Kreider 2 Project during the first half of 2020.
Integrated Projects:
We believe that Bion’s technology also creates the opportunity to enter joint ventures with livestock and other agriculture industry entities (‘JVs’) to develop Integrated Projects that profitably integrate large-scale CAFO's production with their feed producers, downstream food processing facilities, and in certain applications, biofuel/ethanol production. The Bion 3G technology platform will provide treatment of, as well as renewable energy and co-product recovery/production from, both the CAFO and food processing waste streams, on-site utilization of some or all of the renewable energy generated, and potentially, biofuel/ethanol production, in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner that reduces the aggregate capital expense and operating costs for the entire integrated complex while increasing production efficiencies and generating supplemental revenue streams.
In one such application, modeled in the context of our 2G Tech-based Integrated Projects, beef, dairy or swine production can be integrated with food processing and ethanol production, so that overall efficiencies would be increased by onsite use of energy and certain by-products, thereby maximizing their value. In addition to mitigating polluting releases to water and emissions to air, Bion’s platform will recover cellulosic biomass from portions of the CAFO waste stream from which renewable energy can be produced to be utilized by integrated ethanol plants, CAFO end-product processors (including cheese, ice cream and /or bottling plants in the case of dairy CAFOs and/or slaughter and/or further processing facilities in the context of beef CAFOs) and/or other users as a replacement for fossil fuel energy (and/or sold to unrelated purchasers). Also, an integrated ethanol plant's main by-product, called distillers grain, can be added to the feed of the animals in wet form, thereby potentially lowering the: i) capital expenditures, ii) operating, marketing and shipping costs, and iii) energy/fossil fuel usage of the ethanol production process. Thus, integrated ethanol plants can potentially act as a feed mill for the CAFO, thereby reducing the CAFO's feeding costs and both lowering costs and generating revenue to the ethanol plant(s), and also provide a market for the renewable energy from the cellulosic biomass that Bion's System (defined below) modules produce from the CAFO waste stream.
Utilization of our 3G Tech will vary the integration process in several ways, including the production and utilization of renewable natural gas and greater recovery of nutrients, with a corresponding increase in value for fertilizer/soil amendment products---which products the Company believes can qualify for organic certification with higher value realization as described above.
As such, Bion Integrated Projects can be denominated "closed loop". We anticipate that the participants in our Integrated Projects will have substantially lower carbon footprints (per unit of production) compared to non-integrated producers of the same products. We anticipate that different projects will be integrated to different degrees and in different manners. Bion, as developer of, and a participant in, its Integrated Projects, anticipates that it will share in the cost savings and revenue generated from these (and other) benefits of integrated activities, including the potential for premium pricing due to sustainable branding.
We anticipate that most Projects (including Integrated Projects) undertaken by the Company in which we retain ownership interests will be pursued through and owned by single project subsidiaries. Bion PA 1 LLC (“PA1”), through which the Kreider 1 System was developed at the Kreider dairy, and Bion PA 2 LLC (“PA2”), through which we are pursuing development of the Kreider JV and the Kreider 2 poultry waste Project, are the first two of what are likely to be many such entities.
Bion’s current long-term goal is to enter in to JVs to develop, or have in a development pipeline, 5 to 10 large Projects over the next 24 to 48 months.
Going Concern:
The Company's consolidated financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 included herein have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company has not recorded significant revenue from operations for either of the years ended June 30, 2019 or June 30, 2018. The Company has incurred net losses of approximately of $2,659,000 and $3,018,000 during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company had a working capital deficit and stockholders' deficit, respectively, of approximately $10,876,000 and $14,724,000 as of June 30, 2019.The report of the independent registered public accounting firm on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018 includes a "going concern" explanatory paragraph, which means that there are factors that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Bion has invested over $100 million in its business since 1989, much of which has been expended development of its technologies and technology platform, policy change initiatives and other activities. Our 2G Tech (now supplanted by our 3G Tech) has been proven at commercial scale and has been reviewed and qualified for federal loan guarantees under USDA’s Technical Assessment program. The 2G Tech platform (as will our 3G Tech going forward) provided verified nutrient credits from wet livestock waste (dairy, beef, and swine) that can be used to offset US EPA-mandated TMDL requirements. The Company intends to implement its first 3G Tech systems during 2020.
Each Bion system (whether prior 2G Tech or current 3G Tech) is comprised of several process units combined in a ‘process train’, much like a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The platform utilizes a combination of mechanical, biological, and thermal processes and can be configured in a variety of ways, based on the needs and economics of the location, to provide the level of environmental treatment required, while separating and aggregating the various components of the waste stream for processing and recovery. A key attribute of the Bion platform is that the performance of the systems can be measured, quantified and verified through a proprietary data collection system, providing a level of oversight and verification similar to waste water treatment facilities. In addition to providing third-party verification of reductions for regulatory/credit purposes, the same data can also be used to support the claims of a USDA-certified sustainable branding.
Bion’s waste treatment solutions are scalable, proven in commercial operations (2G Tech) and the verified results have been accepted by EPA (for use as a “qualified offset”), USDA and other regulatory agencies. Bion’s core processes are protected by seven U.S. patents and six international patents, with additional applications pending in the US, EU, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. We do not know of any other cost-effective technology that provides Bion system’s level of treatment of livestock waste: dairy, beef, poultry and swine. Note that while revenues from Bion’s 2G platform were 90 percent dependent on developing markets for nutrient reductions, our 3G Tech systems will generate revenues from multiple co-product streams to supplement revenues from nutrient reductions.
Bion’s 3G Tech platform has been developed over the past four years to maximize co-product recovery values from large scale facilities (or multiple modular facilities) while maintaining/improving the level of environmental remediation produced by our 2G systems. The 3G systems will recover nitrogen from the CAFO waste stream for production of nitrogen-rich fertilizer products that Bion believes will qualify for certification for use in growing organic crops. Further, the 3G Tech platform will recover methane that can be conditioned to pipeline quality and will qualify for various credits and subsidies as clean, renewable natural gas. These two revenue streams will supplement revenues from nutrient reduction credits and USDA-certified (PVP) sustainable branding.
Building upon our 2G Tech and Bion's over 20 years of experience providing waste treatment services to the livestock industry, commencing with our first generation technology applications, the Company is pursuing the Retrofit opportunity related to environmental remediation of existing CAFOs. Our technology has evolved and been upgraded over the decades to meet changing standards and requirements. Bion's 3G Tech platforms creates potentially profitable business opportunities to provide waste treatment services and systems and/or renewable energy production capability to existing large livestock operations (of which there are many), and potentially to smaller facilities through aggregation of waste streams. Candidates for these solutions include individual CAFO facilities that face impending regulatory action, CAFOs that wish to expand or relocate, and operations located in regions that suffer severe and immediate environmental issues, such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Great Lakes region and/or the San Joaquin Valley, where financial incentives (such as nutrient reduction credit trading programs) are (or may become) available that encourage voluntary reductions of nutrient releases and/or atmospheric emissions from agricultural sources.
The Kreider 1 dairy system in Pennsylvania in the Chesapeake Bay watershed represents the Company's first Retrofit in this market segment. This Retrofit installation was designed and intended primarily to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus releases and ammonia emissions from the dairy waste streams to generate tradable nutrient reduction credits as part of a nutrient credit trading program through the PA Department of Environmental Protection (‘PADEP’). While this project has not been (and most likely will not be) a commercial success on a stand-alone basis (due to PA’s failure to implement a viable long-term credit trading market), it has demonstrated that Bion’s manure treatment technology can generate low-cost verified credits, providing the basis of a 2013 PA Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report (updated in 2018) that supports the use of manure technologies to provide low-cost alternatives to meet Bay mandates.
It is likely that the Kreider 2 poultry waste treatment Project, which is in its early development and pre-permitting phase, will be our first large scale Project. The Kreider 2 Project will utilize our 3G Tech to treat the waste stream from Kreider Farm’s large poultry operations (possibly together with waste from other nearby poultry operations and/or other waste streams) (and the dairy waste stream previously treated in the Kreider 1 system) to generate renewable energy, marketable nutrient reduction credits and co-products (including nitrogen in organic and/or non-organic forms). It is targeted to treat the waste stream from approximately 9 million birds, in modules, when fully developed. Estimated capital costs (‘capex’) are currently in the $60 million range (with the caveat that no site has yet been chosen, technology development is not complete and the final design work has not yet begun) and has the potential to generate gross revenues of up to $50 million annually from the multiple revenue streams based on current projected yields and prices, none of which are assured. Note that tech and system design work is continuing and the Company anticipates reduce reductions of both capex and operating costs.
To complete and operate these projects, substantial capital (equity and/or debt) has been and will continue to be expended. Additional funds will be needed to be expended for upgrade and continuing maintenance operations of the Kreider 1 system until sufficient revenues can be generated and the Pennvest Loan (see below) situation can be resolved, of which there is no assurance. The Kreider 1 system was developed to earn revenue primarily from the sale of nutrient reduction (and/or other) environmental credits. Upon successful construction and operation, the Company anticipates that the Kreider 2 Project will earn revenue from the sale of nutrient reduction (and/or other) environmental credits generated by its 3G Tech system, and through sales of renewable energy and co-products (fertilizer nutrients and soil amendment products in organic and/or non-organic forms and/or renewable energy and environmental credits) recovered.
To date the market for long-term nutrient reduction credits in Pennsylvania has been very slow to develop and the Company’s activities have been negatively affected by such lack of development. However, Bion is confident that once these markets are established, the credits it produces will be competitive in the credit trading markets, based on its cost to remove nitrogen from the livestock waste stream, compared to the cost to remove nitrogen through various other treatment activities.
Several independent studies have calculated the average cost to remove nitrogen through various sector practices. Reports prepared for the PA Senate (2008), Chesapeake Bay Commission (2012) and PA legislature (2013; described below), as well as the Maryland Chesapeake Bay Financing Strategy Report (2015), demonstrate that the cost to remove nitrogen (per pound on average) from agriculture is $44 to $54, municipal wastewater: $28 to $43, and storm water: $386 to $633. Pursuant to the PA legislative study, by replacing sector allocation (for all sectors) with competitive bidding, up to 80 percent savings could be achieved in PA’s Chesapeake Bay compliance costs ($1.5 billion annually) by 2025. If the legislative study had focused on the cost differentials of competitive bidding compared only with storm water, the relative savings would be substantially greater.
Since these studies were completed, most of the larger (Tier 1) municipal wastewater treatment plants in PA have been upgraded, at a cost of approximately $2.5 billion (vs initial 2004 PA DEP cost estimates of $376 million). US EPA is now focused on PA’s storm water allocation (3.5 million pounds) and has this sector on ‘backstop level actions’, the highest level of EPA-oversight and the final step before sanctions. In the same 2004 PA DEP cost estimate that led to the more than a $2 billion underestimate/miscalculation in municipal wastewater plant upgrade costs, the estimate for storm water cost was $5.6 billion. In April 2017, US EPA sent a Letter of Expectation to PA DEP, expressing the agency’s support for the use of nutrient credit trading and competitive bidding to engage the private-sector to lower costs. The letter specifically encouraged the use of credit trading to offset the state’s looming storm water obligations.
Bion anticipates that it will be able to profitably sell nutrient credits from its Kreider facilities (and subsequent projects) if prices are in the range of $8-$12 (or higher) per lb. of nitrogen reduction under long-term contracts, of which there is no assurance. Bion further believes that with the studies and information now available to other states that are (or will shortly be) facing these same decisions, a cost-benefit analysis will make it clear from the outset that competitive bidding for nutrient reduction credits from alternative approaches can provide dramatically lower-cost solutions than traditional strategies.
The Company anticipates that the Kreider 2 poultry waste treatment facility in PA will be its initial 3G Tech Project. Bion intends that it will select a site for the Kreider 2 Project and/or its initial Integrated Project (and possibly additional Projects) during the current fiscal year. Bion hopes to commence development of its initial Project by optioning land and beginning the permitting process during calendar year 2020, but delays are possible. It is not possible at this time to firmly predict where the initial Project will be developed or the order in which Projects will be developed. All potential Projects are in very early pre-development stages and may never progress to actual development or may be developed after other Projects not yet under active consideration.
Bion also hopes to be able to move forward on additional Projects through 2020-22 to create a pipeline of Projects. Bion’s current long-term goal is to acquire or develop, or have in a development pipeline, 5 to 10 large Projects over the next 24 to 48 months. It is possible that one or more Projects will be developed in joint ventures specifically targeted to meet the growing animal protein demand outside of the United States (including without limitation Asia, Europe and/or the Middle East). No Projects (including Integrated Projects) have been developed to date.
The Company's successful accomplishment of its business activities is dependent upon many factors (see 'Forward-Looking Statements' above) including without limitation the following, none of which can be assured at this date:
·
Successful development and completion of the first 3G Tech Project(s) to demonstrate the commercial economics of its technology platform;
·
Successful development of the first Integrated Project to demonstrate the operation of a fully-integrated, environmentally-compliant Integrated Project at a profitable level;
·
Establishment of a substantial and liquid market for nutrient reductions generated from the Company’s present and future facilities;
·
Establishment of marketing relationships needed for realization of full value from the saleable co-products including organic nitrogen fertilizer products;
·
Successful completion of organic certifications and USDA-certified sustainable brand ;
·
Our ability to raise sufficient funds to allow us to finance our activities, Retrofits and Projects; and
·
Regulatory and enforcement policies at the Federal, State and local levels.
CAFO INDUSTRY: PROBLEM AND OPPORTUNITY
In the U.S., we have over 9 million dairy cows, 90 million beef cattle, 60 million swine and 2 billion poultry (USDA NASS 2012) - an indication of both the scope of the problem addressed by Bion, as well as its opportunity. Estimates of total annual U.S. livestock waste vary widely, but start around a billion tons, between 100 and 130 times greater than human waste. Although the U.S. spends over $110 billion a year to clean up human waste, animal waste is disposed of today largely as it has been for centuries: spread on the ground untreated for its fertilizer value. Today, however, the agronomic balance between livestock production and crop farming has been skewed, leading to runoff of excess nutrients and other pollution that contaminates local and downstream waters.
Over the last several decades the livestock industry ‘specialized’, essentially decoupling from crop farming, and began developing increasingly larger facilities, which are often in close proximity, to improve production efficiencies. CAFOs are now responsible for the majority of U.S. animal protein production. The unintended consequence of increased scale, together with concentration in certain geographies, has been to overwhelm nature’s ability to absorb nutrients and mitigate other impacts from animal waste.
Nutrients from livestock waste enter the environment primarily through direct runoff (after ground application) or atmospheric deposition of nitrogen from ammonia emissions, after which they contaminate groundwater and surface waters. Livestock waste has now been acknowledged as one of the largest sources of excess nutrients that cause toxic algal blooms and dead zones in our waters, in addition to being a large source of greenhouse gases and ammonia, and pathogens that have been linked to food-borne illnesses and antibiotic resistance. A major study, completed in May 2016 by Colorado State University in collaboration with US EPA and the National Park Service, determined that ammonia emissions (from livestock and nitrogen fertilizers) have surpassed NOx emissions (from automobiles and power plants) as the largest source of problem nitrogen cycling from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
The same manure that is degrading our environment also represents lost opportunities for the industry. Spreading manure is a tremendous waste of the energy and most of the valuable nutrients it contains. Only about 25 percent of the highly-reactive and mobile nitrogen in manure is available to crops when applied as fertilizer; the rest is lost to runoff and/or volatilization to the atmosphere as ammonia or other gases. Further, in order to achieve the desired level of nitrogen via manure application, phosphorus must be over-applied, which is both wasteful and harmful to soil health and waters to which it migrates. Bion’s technology platform provides direct treatment of the waste stream (vs. release to the environment) that separates its various components so that they can then be processed into value-added byproducts, thereby allowing the energy, nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrients to be utilized independent of each other.
The traditional business model for CAFO's, regardless of livestock type, has relied on a combination of: 1) a passive environmental regulatory regime (including exemptions pursuant to certain statutes), and 2) access to a relatively unlimited supply of cheap land and water to serve as the basis for "environmental" treatment of animal waste. Such land and water resources have now become significantly more expensive and, due to climate/weather variations, less reliable. Further, ongoing consolidation of the CAFO industry has produced substantially increased and more concentrated waste streams. At the same time, regulatory scrutiny of, and public concern about, food safety and the health and environmental impacts from CAFO's has intensified greatly as the occurrence of downstream and local impacts has become more commonplace.
The production of animal protein (meat and dairy) in the United States (and elsewhere) now faces substantial constraints due to environmental pollution problems (primarily air and water), public health concerns, resource limitations (land, water and energy), input cost volatility and increases (feed, fuel, etc.), product price volatility and, potentially, weather variability and climate change. Each of these issues negatively affect both the current profit levels and the future activities of the industry as presently structured. Spreading a billion tons of manure annually on fields and crops for fertilizer, is both a tremendous waste of resources and contributes to several widespread and costly environmental and public health impacts. Based on current estimates and practices, the annual environmental remediation costs of the nitrogen impacts from a dairy cow in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the Chesapeake Bay range from $1,200 to $4,000 (depending on cleanup sector) while generating only $150 to $400 in net income (at current milk prices). Onsite waste treatment such as Bion’s can reduce that nutrient reduction cost by 60-80% (or more) while generating measurable local environmental benefits whose economic value in many cases will exceed the Bay nutrient reduction costs. Bion believes that its technologies (and its technology platform) can not only remediate/mitigate many of these problems, but can also be a catalyst for the substantial relocation, rationalization and modernization that is currently needed by the livestock industry in the U.S.
Agricultural runoff (including atmospheric deposition of nitrogen from livestock-related ammonia emissions) is the largest water pollution problem in the United States. Agricultural release of nitrogen and phosphorus into rural watersheds negatively impacts water quality and increases remediation costs, not only for local waterways and aquifers, but also for downstream water bodies and urban areas. Over-application of animal waste to cropland has resulted in manure nutrients polluting surface and ground water systems, adversely impacting fresh and salt water quality throughout the country, including the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.
Clean-up initiatives for the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes and elsewhere are requiring the expenditure of substantial sums of money to reduce excess nutrient pollution and resultant algal blooms. In each such case, agriculture in general--and CAFO's in particular--have been identified among the main contributors of pollution. CAFO's are also recognized as a significant source of harmful air emissions and odors. Dairy CAFO's have been identified as the largest contributor to airborne ammonia and other polluting gases in the San Joaquin Valley in California and elsewhere. They are also among the largest contributors to nutrient pollution of the Chesapeake Bay.
A substantial volume of the nitrogen released to the atmosphere from CAFOs and their waste streams originates as ammonia and other nitrogen gas emissions, which is subsequently re-deposited to the ground, adding to the nitrogen loading to surface and ground water systems. Ammonia emissions also contribute to the formation of PM2.5, small inhalable particulate matter that is a well-recognized health risk. Further, untreated manure from CAFO’s utilized as fertilizer has been linked to pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses, as well as the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA.
Bion believes that its patented and proven technologies offer the only comprehensive solution to the environmental impacts of these concentrated livestock waste streams.
We believe Bion's technologies can enable animal protein production to take place in a manner which is both economically and environmentally sustainable, because our technology removes nutrients from the waste streams generated by animal operations at the source while it is still concentrated. The platform thereby dramatically reduces releases to water and gaseous atmospheric emissions in a cost-effective manner. The potential resulting herd concentration increase (due to lower pollution) will reduce marginal costs of production for the CAFO’s. Previously unavailable locations close to markets, feed and other needed inputs may become available due to the reduced pollution created by our technology. Also, it results in a core Bion technology platform that can enable substantial integration of environmental treatment, renewable energy and by-product production, and/or animal protein processing operations, and/or biofuel/ethanol production, thereby creating the basis for the Company's Integrated Projects business opportunity.
Bion’s 3G Tech platform will provide comprehensive onsite waste treatment and substantially greater value co-product recovery capabilities at very large-scale production facilities (‘Projects’). The 3G Tech platform will recover renewable energy and nitrogen (that can be processed into a high-value natural and/or organic nitrogen fertilizer product), while simultaneously offering cost-effective solutions to several pressing environmental and public health issues.
Bion’s 3G Tech Project business model, which is applicable to large scale installations (such as the Kreider poultry operations in PA) or, potentially, ‘central waste processing facilities’ that serve multiple geographically-close CAFO facilities, is based on revenue from the sale of 1) financial products generated in the course of Bion’s 3G Tech waste treatment including: a) nutrient reduction credits, b) renewable energy-related credits and c) other environmental credits; 2) co-products, including a) ammonium bicarbonate fertilizer (liquid and solid crystal), b) other fertilizer/soil amendment products, and 3) renewable natural gas (“RNG”); and 4) revenues from premium pricing due to sustainable branding. Based on pilot study results over the last 24 months related to the 3G Tech platform (and assuming such pilot results are achievable at commercial scale), Bion’s management currently estimates that in a commercial-scale Bion 3G Tech Project (such as the proposed Kreider 2 poultry waste treatment facilities or a large scale beef project of equivalent size) that there will be three large and roughly equivalent-sized revenue streams (based on currently projected pricing and yields (of products and/or verified credits), which may vary in the future, each category would contribute between 25%-45% of the gross revenues) and a fourth revenue stream thereafter:
1.
sales of verified nutrient reductions (when competitive bidding markets mature);
2.
sales of nutrient/soil amendment co-products (which will require building distribution with industry partners, regulatory certifications (including organic certification), field trials and market acceptance);
3.
sales of RNG (and related credits); and, thereafter,
4.
revenue from licensing sustainable branding based on implementation of Bion’s technology.
Assuming that Bion can accomplish the tasks above, we believe that in some fully built-out Projects, any two of the above revenue categories may be sufficient to support debt service and operating costs , based upon current estimated CAPEX and OPEX costs, and achieve profitability when three revenue streams, plus licensing fees from branding, can be realized by a particular Project. Additional revenue streams will potentially be available in Integrated Projects.
There are many risks associated with these projections, but Bion’s management is cautiously optimistic that the challenges will be met as the initial Projects are developed.
The Company is involved in ongoing technology development work with regard to:
1)
Ammonium Nitrogen Recovery (plus residual soil amendment production)
As part of our 3G Tech work, Bion filed patent applications in September 2015 and July 2017, for our processes that recover a natural nitrogen fertilizer product without the use of chemical additives or processes. A Notice of Allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) was received during August 2018 related to this patent application. Organic co-products consist of concentrated ammonia liquid, ammonium bicarbonate crystal solids and residual solids from the evaporation/distillation process utilized to process the discharge from a customized front-end anaerobic digester. Bion is preparing a filing with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) (and potentially other certification bodies) for certification of these coproducts for use in growing of organic food. The solid fertilizer product is intended to contain 12 to 15 percent nitrogen in a solid crystalline form that is water soluble and provides readily-available nitrogen. It will contain none of the phosphorus, salt, iron and other mineral constituents found in many organic fertilizers and also in the livestock waste stream (which may be separately recovered). Instead, the nitrogen recovered from Bion’s process will be in an industry-standard yet pure form that can be precision-applied to crops using existing practices and is intended to be suited to greenhouse, hydroponic and indoor vertical farming applications. Successful OMRI (and/or other) approval, if achieved, for the product’s use in organic crop production will provide Bion with access to a higher value market for the product than the synthetic nitrogen markets. The ability to generate concentrated ammonium bicarbonate in large scale and at low cost will potentially open significant opportunities in existing and future unique markets such as corn-fed organic beef, vertical farming and potentially organic cannabis. Both the ammonium bicarbonate and the residual solids will require OMRI (or other institutional) review and approval for their use as certified fertilizer products in organic farming operations.
2)
Renewable Energy/Credits
Bion’s 3G Tech platform incorporates anaerobic digestion (AD) (following pre-treatment) to recover methane from the volatile solids in the CAFO waste stream. At sufficient scale, methane can be cost-effectively conditioned and injected into existing pipelines, resulting in a renewable compressed natural gas. Federal programs to support renewable energy production include a 30 percent Biogas Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for qualifying biogas technologies and the Renewable Fuel Standard program that provides ongoing renewable energy credits for the production and use of renewable transportation fuels. Livestock waste is one of the largest contributors of methane and nitrous oxide emissions, two of the most potent greenhouse gases. Under California’s carbon cap-and-trade program, eligible credits are currently being purchased from dairy farms located anywhere in the U.S. that utilize AD. Bion will file an application to include poultry layer manure, such as will be processed at Bion’s Kreider 2 poultry waste treatment facility, as an eligible feedstock.
3)
Sustainable Branding
During December 2015, Bion submitted its branding application to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services’ Process Verified Program (PVP) to certify a number of verifiable environmental and public health benefits associated with the application of Bion’s technology to livestock production facilities utilizing our 2G Tech. The initial application included reductions in both nitrogen and carbon footprint, as well as pathogens. Licensing Bion’s brand, if approval is received, will allow producers that utilize Bion’s technology to differentiate themselves to consumers who are becoming increasingly more sustainability- and safety-conscious in their food choices. Bion’s application has received initial stage approvals by USDA, pending site-specific audits. We intend to amend our applications to include the utilization of our 3G Tech.
4)
Nutrient Reductions
Public expenditures on clean water from federal, state and local ratepayers are rising rapidly while overall water quality continues to decline. Harmful algal blooms that block sunlight and lead to ‘dead zones’ are occur regularly in the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and many other U.S. waters. Toxic algal blooms, like the 2014 Lake Erie bloom that shut down Toledo, Ohio’s water supply for several days, occur with increasing frequency. High nitrate levels in water wells located near livestock production are also increasing. Livestock waste has been acknowledged as one of the largest sources of excess nutrients. A task force of EPA and state officials described excess nutrients as having the potential to become “one of the costliest, most difficult environmental problems we face in the 21st century.” In 2010 US EPA established the Chesapeake Bay regulations that require substantial reductions in nutrients and sediment from the six Bay states and Washington, DC. This is the first watershed-wide, multi-state regulation of U.S. water quality. Compliance cost estimates vary widely, from $30 to $50 billion. Bion’s technology will capture most of the nutrients from a livestock production facility, providing large-scale nutrient reductions at a fraction of the cost of traditional agricultural or downstream treatment.
Bion’s long-term objective is to focus the use of its 3G technology, branding and organic co-product revenues to develop large-scale livestock production Projects that consolidate, either by direct ownership or joint venture, the revenues from livestock production and Bion’s platform-related revenue sources. Note that appropriate housing for beef cattle (replacing open feedlots) will represent a significant percentage of the cost in the case of Projects involving beef production and will be required to collect the waste in an efficient manner in order to generate renewable energy and nutrient credits. However, the Company believes the such housing will significantly increase livestock production net income (due to efficiencies in rate of weight gain, improved mortality rates and other documented factors) and that premium pricing of even 5-7% at the wholesale level resulting from a USDA-certified ‘environmentally sustainable’ brand will have a dramatic positive impact on the overall economics of production. Further, we project that the potential revenue streams associated with organic coproducts and sustainable branding will provide key long-term value opportunities that will drive such Projects.
The current Administration’s US EPA and USDA strongly support a market-driven strategy that will engage the private sector to provide innovative solutions to reduce costs. Proposed cuts to federal funding are likely to accelerate movement by the EPA and/or multiple states toward competitive bidding and other lower cost approaches to environmental cleanup. Nutrient reduction credit trading and/or procurement programs are already being evaluated and proposed in many states. They would allow verified reductions from unregulated sources, such as agriculture, to be used to offset federal requirements, in lieu of dramatically higher-cost infrastructure projects, such as municipal wastewater and storm water treatment. Nutrient reductions from Bion’s manure treatment technologies can be verified and achieved at substantially less cost than traditional infrastructure solutions, as well as today’s voluntary agricultural conservation practices. Additionally, treating livestock waste at its source also provides many benefits to the local environment and community that cannot be achieved with downstream treatment.
CORPORATE BACKGROUND
The Company is a Colorado corporation organized on December 31, 1987. Our principal executive offices are located at the residences of our President at 1774 Summitview Way, Crestone, Colorado 81131 and 520 Emery Street, Unit 6, Longmont, Colorado 80501. Our primary telephone number is 212-758-6622. We have no additional offices at this time.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR BUSINESS
Substantially all of our business and operations to date has been conducted through wholly-owned subsidiaries, Bion Technologies, Inc. (a Colorado corporation organized September 20, 1989), Bion Integrated Projects Group, Inc. ("Projects Group") (formerly Bion Dairy Corporation through August 2008 and originally Bion Municipal, Inc., a Colorado corporation organized July 23, 1999) and Bion Services Group, Inc. ("Services Group") (formerly Bion International, Inc., a Colorado corporation organized July 23, 1999) and BionSoil, Inc. (a currently inactive Colorado corporation organized June 3, 1996). Bion is also the parent of Bion PA 1 LLC (a Colorado entity organized August 14, 2008) (“PA1”) and Bion PA 2 LLC (a Colorado entity organized June 24, 2010) (“PA2”). In January 2002, Bion entered into a series of transactions whereby the Company became a 57.7% (now 58.9%) owner of Centerpoint Corporation (a Delaware corporation organized August 9, 1995) ("Centerpoint").
Although we have been conducting business since 1989, we determined that we needed to redefine how we could best utilize our technology during 2003. From 2003 through early 2008, we primarily worked on technology improvements and applications and in furtherance of our business model of Integrated Project development. During 2008 we re-commenced pursuing active commercial transactions involving installation of our 2G Tech for CAFO waste treatment and related environmental remediation and initiation of pre-development modeling and pre-development work to prepare for our initial Integrated Projects.
Our original systems were wastewater treatment systems for dairy farms and food processing plants. The basic design was modified in late 1994 to create Nutrient Management Systems ("NMS") that produced organic soil products as a byproduct of remediation of the waste stream when installed on large dairy or swine farms. Through June 30, 2002, we sold and subsequently installed, in the aggregate, approximately 30 of these first iteration of Bion’s systems in 7 states, of which we believe a few may still in operation in 3 states. We discontinued marketing of our first-generation NMS systems during fiscal year 2002 and turned control and ownership of the first-generation systems over to the farms on which they were installed over the following two years. We were unable to produce a business model based on the first-generation systems that would generate sufficient revenues to create a profitable business. While continuing to market and operate the first-generation systems, during the second half of calendar year 2000, we began to focus our activities on developing the next generation of the Bion technology. We no longer operate or own any of the first-generation NMS systems.
As a result of our research and development efforts, the core of our current technology was re-developed during fiscal years 2001-2004. We designed and tested Systems that used state-of-the-art, computerized, real-time monitoring and system control with the potential to be remotely accessed for both reporting requirements and control functions. These Systems were smaller and faster than our first-generation NMS systems. The initial versions of our second generation of Bion Systems were designed to harvest solids used to produce organic fertilizer and soil amendments or additives (the "BionSoil(R) products") in a few weeks as compared to six to twelve months with our first-generation systems.
During 2003-4 we designed, installed and began testing a commercial scale, second generation Bion System as a temporary modification or retrofit to a waste lagoon on a 1,250-milking cow dairy farm in Texas, known as the DeVries Dairy. In December 2004, Bion published an independently peer-reviewed report, a copy of which may be found on our website, www.biontech.com, with data from the DeVries project demonstrating a reduction in nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) of approximately 75% and air emissions of approximately 95%. More specifically, those published results indicated that the Bion System produced a 74% reduction of nitrogen and a 79% reduction of phosphorus. The air results show that the Bion System limited emissions from the waste stream as follows: (in pounds per 1,400-pound dairy cow per year):
·
Ammonia 0.20
·
Hydrogen Sulfide 0.56
·
Volatile Organic Compounds 0.08
·
Nitrogen Oxides 0.17
These emissions represented a reduction from published baselines of 95%-99%.
Through 2007 the demonstration project at the DeVries Dairy in Texas also provided Bion with the opportunity to explore mechanisms to best separate the processed manure into streams of coarse and fine solids, with the coarse cellulosic solids/biomass supporting generation of renewable energy and the fine solids potentially becoming the basis of organic fertilizer products and/or a high-protein animal feed ingredients. On-going research was also carried out on various aspects of nutrient releases and atmospheric emissions.
Bion discontinued operation of the DeVries demonstration research system during 2008.
During the 2005-2008 period, Bion focused on completing development of its 2G Tech platform and business model. As such, we did not pursue near term sales and revenue opportunities, such as retrofitting existing CAFO's with interim versions of our waste management solutions, because such efforts would have diverted scarce management and financial resources and negatively impacted our ability to complete development of an integrated technology platform in support of large-scale sustainable Projects.
From 2009 through the present period, Bion has actively pursued business opportunities in three broad areas 1) Bion systems to retrofit of existing CAFO’s (some of which may generate verified nutrient credits and revenues from the production of renewable energy and byproducts) (“Retrofits”), and 2) development of new state-of-the-art large scale waste treatment facilities, potentially in conjunction with new CAFOs developed in strategic locations that were not previously possible due to environmental constraints in strategic locations (“Projects”) (some of these may be “closed loop’ Integrated Projects that were not previously possible due to environmental constraints as described below), and 3) licensing and/or joint venturing of Bion’s technology (primarily) outside North America. Bion is pursuing these opportunities within the United States and internationally. Launch of our 3G Tech (for use in all these areas) is anticipated during 2017/2018.
We believe significant Retrofit opportunities exist that will enable us to generate future revenue streams from Bion's 2G and 3G Tech. The initial Retrofit opportunities we are pursuing have related to the existing clean-up program for the Chesapeake Bay ('Chesapeake Bay Program' or 'CB Program'). The Company has at times deployed some of its limited resources toward an initiative in the Great Lakes/North Central states that has not yet yielded any contracts. The Company anticipates that further opportunities for our remediation/retrofit business will develop in other areas with CAFO’s, including the watersheds of the Great Lakes (from New York to Minnesota), the extended Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico watershed (including its tributaries from Pennsylvania in the east to Montana/Wyoming/Colorado in the west), and other areas with excess nutrient pollution from agriculture in general and CAFO’s in particular.
Over the past 36 months the Company has undertaken research and development efforts to develop the 3G Tech (and related applications) with emphasis on increasing efficiency and increasing recovery of high value by-products (organic and inorganic), which efforts continue during the current fiscal year.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Kreider Farms Projects/Pennsylvania Initiatives
The urgency and priority of the need to clean up nutrient (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution to the Chesapeake Bay was clearly demonstrated with promulgation of President Obama's 2009 Executive Order concerning clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay and the EPA’s publication and issuance during December 2010 of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standard (http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/tmdlexec.html) for nutrient pollution in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. In May 2010, the EPA published their overall strategy for remediating the Chesapeake Bay, and they have committed to reducing nitrogen and phosphorus flows to the Bay sufficiently to enable 60% of the Bay watershed segments to meet water quality standards by 2025. At that time, 89 of the 92 Bay and tidal watershed segments were not in compliance with water quality standards (97% were out of compliance). The EPA and associated state agencies also committed to short-term 3-year compliance milestones to enhance accountability and corrective actions, along with a host of definable and measurable goals, enhanced partnerships, and major environmental initiatives. Based on these actions, greater compliance has been required commencing with the 2016 ‘water year’. EPA documents defined the overall mission as requiring an approximately 65-million-pound annual reduction from existing nitrogen (N) loading to the Chesapeake Bay by 2025, of which 35 million pounds was allocated to Pennsylvania. Importantly, the 3-year compliance milestones were established as a part of the compliance program to add both short- and long-term accountability to state actions associated with reduced nutrient and sediment flows to the Chesapeake Bay. According to the EPA’s Interim Evaluation of Pennsylvania’s Milestone Progress published in June 2015, PA was 14.6 million pounds behind its 2014-2015 milestone commitments for nitrogen, a remarkably large deficit given the previously stated 2-million-pound deficit from the 2012-2013 water year. EPA has placed PA’s agriculture and urban/suburban sectors under a “Backstop Actions Level”, the highest level of EPA oversight. EPA has also stated that if load reductions remain off track, EPA may consider seeking additional (and expensive) pollutant reductions from the wastewater sector.
In an effort to get back on track and hold off federal intervention, PA unveiled a purported “comprehensive strategy” to "reboot" the state's efforts to improve water quality in January 2016. The reboot strategy relied upon a mix of enhanced farm compliance and enforcement activities along with the promotion of additional best management practices (BMP). This proposed strategy has been met with skepticism about its efficacy/practicality and resistance within the agricultural community. While many of these reboot efforts are continuing today, the PADEP Secretary resigned in May 2016 and PA appears to have slowed implementation efforts recently while seeking alternative approaches to reduce PA’s nitrogen pollution to the Chesapeake Bay. The budget spending package that was passed by the PA legislature in July 2018 contained no new funding for clean water related to either the Chesapeake Bay compliance mandates or state water quality.
As a result of PA’s default of its Bay mandates, and the host of upcoming both short and long-term specific commitments and compliance deadlines, Bion believes that its long-term opportunity related to the Chesapeake Bay clean-up has potentially been significantly expanded and accelerated.
During 2008, Bion executed an agreement to install a Bion System at the Kreider Farms (“KF”) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to reduce nitrogen (including ammonia emissions which are re-deposited as nitrogen from the atmosphere) and phosphorus in the farm's effluent. Bion undertook this project due, in large part, to Pennsylvania's nutrient credit trading program, which was established to provide cost-effective reductions of the excess flow of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Bion worked extensively with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ('PADEP') over several years to establish nutrient credit calculation/ verification methodologies that were appropriate to Bion's 2G Tech and recognizes its 'multi-media' (both water and atmospheric) approach to nutrient reductions. Pennsylvania's nutrient credit trading program allows for voluntary credit trading between a 'non-point source' (such as a dairy or other agricultural sources) and a 'point source' polluter, such as a municipal waste water treatment plant or a housing development. For example, pursuant to this program, since Bion can reduce the nutrients from an existing dairy much more cost-effectively than a municipal wastewater treatment plant can reduce nutrients to meet its baseline, a municipal facility can purchase nutrient reduction credits (‘Credits’) from Bion to offset its nutrient discharges, rather than spending significantly more money to make (and operate) the plant upgrades necessary to achieve its own reductions. However, the market for long term Credits in PA has failed to develop any significant breadth or depth and no Credits have been sold from the Kreider 1 system.
During May 2008, the PADEP approved Bion's initial protocols to determine how many tradable nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) credits Bion would receive for nutrient reductions achieved through installation of its comprehensive dairy waste management 2G Tech Kreider 1 project pursuant to PA's efforts under the Chesapeake Bay Program mandates. During April 2010, the PADEP issued an amended certification. The PADEP's approval includes the certification of credits, both for ammonia air emission reductions, and for significantly reducing the leaching and runoff potential of land-applied nutrients. The PADEP has certified the Kreider 1 dairy system for 107 nitrogen and 13 phosphorus credits (each credit represents an annual pound of reduction) for each of the 1,200 dairy cows (subject to testing and verification based on operational data). Bion's agreements with Kreider Farms provide for the Kreider 1 System to expand through-put to treat the waste from the Kreider dairy support herd after the PADEP has verified the operating results. It is anticipated that this expansion will take place and lead to a proportionate increase in credits generated for sale, only if a more robust market for long term nutrient reductions develops.
The economics (potential revenues, profitability and continued operation) of the Kreider 1 System are based almost entirely on the long-term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up. See below for further discussion.
Pursuant to the KF agreements, Kreider 1 system to treat KF's dairy waste streams to reduce nutrient releases to the environment, while generating marketable nutrient credits and renewable energy, was designed, constructed and entered full-scale operation during 2011. On January 26, 2009, the Board of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (“Pennvest”) approved a $7.75 million loan to Bion PA 1, LLC (“PA1”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for the initial Kreider Farms project (“Kreider 1”). After substantial unanticipated delays, on August 12, 2010, PA1 received a permit for construction of the Kreider 1 system. Construction activities commenced during November 2010. The closing/settlement of the Pennvest Loan took place on November 3, 2010. PA1 finished the construction of the Kreider 1 System and entered a period of system ‘operational shakedown’ during May 2011. The Kreider 1 System reached full, stabilized operation by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. During 2011, the PADEP re-certified the nutrient credits for this project. The PADEP issued final permits for the Kreider 1 System (including the credit verification plan) on August 1, 2012, on which date the Company deemed that the Kreider System was ‘placed in service’. As a result, PA1 commenced generating nutrient reduction credits for potential sale, while continuing to utilize the Kreider 1 system to test technology improvements and add-ons. However, to date, liquidity in the Pennsylvania nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which limited liquidity/depth has negatively impacted Bion’s business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reductions created by PA1’s existing Kreider 1 project and Bion’s other proposed projects. These difficulties have prevented PA1 from generating any material revenues from the Kreider 1 project to date and raise significant questions as to when, if ever, PA1 will be able to generate such revenues from the Kreider 1 system. PA1 has had sporadic discussions/negotiations with Pennvest related to forbearance and/or re-structuring its obligations pursuant to the Pennvest Loan for more than five years. In the context of such discussions/negotiations, PA1 elected not to make interest payments to Pennvest on the Pennvest Loan since January 2013. Additionally, PA1 has not made any principal payments, which were to begin in fiscal 2013, and, therefore, the Company has classified the Pennvest Loan as a current liability as of June 30, 2019. Due to the failure of the PA nutrient reduction credit market to develop, the Company determined that the carrying amount of the property and equipment related to the Kreider 1 project exceeded its estimated future undiscounted cash flows based on certain assumptions regarding timing, level and probability of revenues from sales of nutrient reduction credits and, therefore, PA1 and the Company recorded impairments related to the value of the Kreider 1 assets of $1,750,000 and $2,000,000 at June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. During the 2016 fiscal year, effective June 30, 2016, PA1 and the Company recorded an impairment of $1,684,562 to the value of the Kreider 1 assets which reduced the value on the Company’s books to zero. This impairment reflects management’s judgment that the salvage value of the Kreider 1 assets roughly equaled PA1’s contractual obligations related to the Kreider 1 system, including expenses related to decommissioning of the Kreider 1 system, costs associated with needed capital upgrade expenses, and re-certification/ permitting amendments.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payments demanded by Pennvest. PA1 has commenced discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but Pennvest has rejected PA1’s proposal made during the fall of 2014. No formal proposals are presently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the last 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of such this matter, but the Company believes that a loan modification agreement (coupled with an agreement regarding an update and re-start of full operations of the Kreider 1 System) may be reached in the future if/when a more robust market for nutrient reductions develops in Pennsylvania, of which there is no assurance. PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 system met the ‘technology guaranty’ standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan is now solely an obligation of PA1.
As a result of the extended period of Kreider 1 full-scale, commercial operations, Bion is confident that future Bion 2G Tech systems can be constructed with even higher operational efficiencies at lower capital expense and with lower operational costs. Operating results of the Kreider 1 system have documented the efficacy of Bion’s nutrient reduction technology and vetted potential ‘add-ons’ for future installations.
Additionally, the Kreider agreements provide for Bion to develop a waste treatment/renewable energy production facility to treat the waste from Kreider's approximately 6+ million chickens (planned to expand to approximately 9 million)(and potentially other poultry operations and/or other waste streams)('Kreider Renewable Energy Facility' or ‘ Kreider 2 Project’). On May 5, 2016, the Company executed a stand-alone joint venture agreement with Kreider Farms covering all matters related to development and operation of the Kreider 2 system to treat the waste streams from Kreider’s poultry facilities in Bion PA2 LLC (“PA2”). The Company continues its development work related to the details of the Kreider 2 Project. During May 2011 the PADEP certified Kreider 2 Project for 559,457 nutrient credits under the old EPA’s Chesapeake Bay model. The Company anticipates that the Kreider 2 Project will be re-certified for between 1.5-2 million nutrient reduction credits (for treatment of the waste stream from Kreider’s poultry) pursuant to the Company’s pending reapplication (or subsequent amended application) during 2017 pursuant to the amended EPA Chesapeake Bay model and agreements between the EPA and PA. Note that this Project may be expanded in the future to treat wastes from other local and regional CAFOs (poultry and/or dairy) and/or Kreider poultry expansion (some of which may not qualify for nutrient reduction credits). The review process to clarify certain issues related to credit calculation and verification commenced during 2014 but has been largely placed on hold while certain matters are resolved between the EPA and PA and pending development of a robust market for nutrient reductions in PA. The Company anticipates it will submit an amended application once these matters are clear. Design and engineering work for this facility, which will probably be the first to utilize Bion’s 3G Tech, have not commenced, and the Company does not yet have financing in place for the Kreider 2 Project. This opportunity is being pursued through PA2. If there are positive developments related to the market for nutrient reductions in PA, of which there is no assurance, the Company intends to pursue development, design and construction of the Kreider 2 Project with a goal of achieving operational status during the 2020 calendar year, and hopes to enter into agreements related to sales of the nutrient reduction credits for future delivery (under long term contracts) during 2018 subject to verification by the PADEP based on operating data from the Kreider 2 Project. The economics (potential revenues and profitability) of the Kreider 2 Project, despite its use of Bion’s 3G Tech for increased recovery of marketable by-products, are based in material part on the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up. However, liquidity in the PA nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which lack of liquidity has negatively impacted Bion’s business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reduction credits generated by PA1’s existing Kreider 1 project and will most likely delay PA2’s Kreider 2 Project and other proposed projects in PA.
Note that Bion believes that the Kreider 1 System, the Kreider 2 Project and/or subsequent Bion Projects will eventually generate revenue from: a) sales of nutrient reductions (credits or in other form), b) renewable energy (and related credits), c) sales of fertilizer products, d) sustainable branding and/or e) potentially, in time, credits for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that while the potential market is very large, it is not possible to predict the exact timing and/or magnitude of these potential markets at this time.
Several independent studies have calculated the average cost to remove nitrogen through various sector practices. Reports prepared for the PA Senate (2008), Chesapeake Bay Commission (2012) and PA legislature (2013; described below and updated during 2018), as well as the Maryland Chesapeake Bay Financing Strategy Report (2015), demonstrate that the cost to remove nitrogen (per pound on average) from agriculture is $44 to $54, municipal wastewater: $28 to $43, and storm water: $386 to $633. Pursuant to the PA legislative study, by replacing sector allocation (for all sectors) with competitive bidding, up to 80 percent savings could be achieved in PA’s Chesapeake Bay compliance costs ($1.5 billion annually) by 2025. If the legislative study had focused on the cost differentials of competitive bidding compared only with storm water, the savings would be substantially greater.
Since these studies were completed, most of the larger (Tier 1) municipal wastewater treatment plants in PA have been upgraded, at a cost of approximately $2.5 billion (vs initial 2004 PA DEP cost estimates of $376 million). US EPA is now focused on PA’s storm water allocation (3.5 million pounds) and has this sector on ‘backstop level actions’, the highest level of EPA-oversight and the final step before sanctions. In the same 2004 PA DEP cost estimate that led to the more than a $2 billion underestimate/miscalculation in municipal wastewater plant upgrade costs, the estimate for storm water cost was $5.6 billion. In April 2017, US EPA sent a Letter of Expectation to PA DEP, expressing the agency’s support for the use of nutrient credit trading and competitive bidding to engage the private-sector to lower costs. The letter specifically encouraged the use of credit trading to offset the state’s looming storm water obligations.
Bion anticipates that it will be able to profitably sell nutrient credits from its Kreider facilities (and subsequent projects) if prices are in the range of $10-$12 (or higher) per lb. of nitrogen reduction, of which there is no assurance. Bion further believes that with the studies and information now available to other states that are (or will shortly be) facing these same decisions, a cost-benefit analysis will make it clear from the outset that credits from alternatives can provide dramatically lower-cost solutions than traditional strategies.
On January 22, 2013, the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (“LBFC”) published a study (“Report”) detailing the economic and environmental benefits that would result from the implementation of a competitively bid, request for proposal (“RFP”) program for nitrogen reductions to fulfill Pennsylvania’s obligations under the US EPA-mandated Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (CB TMDL). We agree with and support the basic conclusions and recommendations of the Report. Links to both the full Report and a summary are available on the policy page of Bion’s website at www.biontech.com/policy. The Report demonstrates that implementation of such a RFP program would result in dramatically lower cost compliance with Pennsylvania’s requirements under the CB TMDL and would also provide a host of additional environmental and economic benefits to Pennsylvania’s interior freshwater resources and communities.
The Report (which references Bion in numerous places) concluded that:
(1)
Adoption of the competitively-bid RFP program would reduce Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction compliance costs by up to 80% through the purchase of verified nitrogen reductions from all public and private sector sources, including technology providers such as Bion. The Report estimates that adoption of a competitive RFP program for nitrogen reductions would result in reducing Pennsylvania’s compliance expenditures from a projected cost of $628M to $110M in 2015 and from $1.7B to $250M in 2025. The Report further concludes that absent the implementation of cost-cutting measures, Pennsylvania’s compliance with the storm water and agricultural reduction mandates in the CB TMDL standard is at risk of default as there is insufficient funding available to comply under today’s existing cost structure. The CB TMDL was established by the US EPA to protect and restore the Bay after decades of decline in water quality and aquatic life due to excess nitrogen from the surrounding watershed.
(2)
The use of verified nitrogen reductions from agricultural (and primarily livestock) sources to achieve CB TMDL compliance will generate substantial economic and environmental benefits, well beyond the cost savings of the CB TMDL compliance itself. These ancillary benefits are in the form of increased agricultural investments and significant improvements to the State’s local fresh water resources.
(3)
Adoption would significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorous impacts to local freshwater resources such as streams, lakes and groundwater, thereby reducing long term freshwater quality compliance costs. These local reductions would be a by-product of achieving Chesapeake Bay reductions since it requires (on average) the upstream reduction of two to five pounds of nitrogen and as much as twenty pounds of phosphorous to achieve a one pound reduction of these nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay. The long term economic value and environmental benefits to interior freshwater sources could well be greater than the downstream estuary cost savings and benefits.
The Report was updated in 2018 to reflect new policies. It now projects savings of up to 95 percent - $340 million in costs versus $6.5 billion. As discussed in the original study, much of the savings were due to low-cost high-impact manure control projects.
The Report’s conclusions support adoption of a competitive bidding platform for nitrogen reductions as a cost-effective solution to the high costs facing state and local tax and rate payers. The Report also demonstrates that this strategy would provide tangible environmental, economic, quality of life and health benefits to those upstream rural communities which have shouldered much of the economic cost of downstream nutrient reductions, with little or no benefit to their local communities.
In 2013, a report was issued by PennState University (https://www.usda.gov/oce/environmental_markets/files/EconomicTradingCBay.pdf) which the PADEP Secretary in 2016 described as the most reliable estimate of the amount of financial resources required to fully implement non-point source best management practices (BMPs) called for in Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). This report provided two estimates. The first estimate showed a need for $3.6 billion in capital costs to fully implement all non-point source BMPs in the WIP, in incremental levels between 2011 and 2025. The second estimate annualized costs through 2025 and included operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, resulting in a figure of $378.3 million per year. Overall, this 2013 PSU study projected the state would need $378 million per year for 15 years, including O&M totaling $5.6 billion to place in service a sufficient number of designated BMPs to achieve reductions of 24 million pounds of nitrogen annually. The 2013 PSU study was completed prior to guidance issued by US EPA Region 3 in 2014 which was adopted by the PADEP as a requirement for a one-for-three ‘uncertainty factor’ be applied to BMPs in PA, since their actual performance is now known to be substantially less than previously modelled. Accounting for the uncertainty factor, PA’s BMP cost estimate per the PSU study would need to be increased to $16.8 billion (three times the $5.6 billion conclusion of the PSU study).
A significant portion of Bion’s current activities concern efforts with private and public stakeholders (at local and state level) in PA, (and other Chesapeake Bay, Midwest and Great Lakes states) and at the federal level (EPA and other executive departments and Congress) to establish appropriate public policies which will create regulations and funding mechanisms that foster installation of the low cost, technology-based environmental solutions that Bion (and others) can provide through clean-up of agricultural waste streams. The Coalition for an Affordable Bay Solution (“Coalition”) was formed to support the creation of a competitively-bid nitrogen trading program in Pennsylvania that will enable Pennsylvania to capture the economic benefits outlined in the Report. The Coalition supports legislation to establish a competitively-bid RFP program for nitrogen reductions, where bids will also be ‘scored’ to reflect the value of the benefits to PA’s interior waterways and communities. Founding members of the Coalition represent both Chesapeake Bay and national industry participants, and include Bion, JBS, SA, Kreider Farms, and Fair Oaks Farms. The Company believes that: i) the April 2015 release of a report from the Pennsylvania Auditor General titled “Special Report on the Importance of Meeting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Targets” which highlighted the economic consequences of EPA-imposed sanctions if the state fails to meet the 2017 TMDL targets, as well as the need to support using low-cost solutions and technologies as alternatives to higher-cost public infrastructure projects, where possible, and ii) Senate Bill 799 (successor to prior SB 924 and SB 724) which, if adopted, will establish a program that will allow the Pennsylvania’s tax- and rate-payers to meet their EPA-mandated Chesapeake Bay pollution reductions at significantly lower cost by purchasing verified reductions (by competitive bidding) from all sources, including those that Bion can produce through livestock waste treatment, represent visible evidence of progress being made on these matters in Pennsylvania. Such legislation, if passed and signed into law, will potentially enable Bion (and others) to compete for public funding on an equal basis with subsidized agricultural ‘best management practices’ and public works and storm water authorities. Note, however, that there has been vocal opposition to SB 799 (and its predecessors) from threatened stakeholders committed to the existing status quo approaches--- a significant portion of which was focused on attacking (in often inaccurate and/or vilifying ways) Bion in/through social media and internet articles, blogs, press releases, twitter posts and re-tweets, rather than engaging the substantive issues. If legislation similar to SB 799 is passed and implemented (in something close to its current form), Bion expects that the policies and strategies being developed in PA will not only benefit the Company’s existing and proposed PA projects, but will also subsequently provide the basis for a larger Chesapeake Bay watershed strategy and, thereafter, a national clean water strategy.
The Company believes that Pennsylvania is ‘ground zero’ in the long-standing clean water battle between agriculture and the further regulation of agriculture relative to nutrient impacts. The ability of Bion and other technology providers to achieve verified reductions from agricultural non-point sources can resolve the current stalemate and enable implementation of constructive solutions that benefit all stakeholders, providing a mechanism that ensures that taxpayer funds will be used to achieve the most beneficial result at the lowest cost, regardless of source. All sources, point and non-point, rural and urban, will be able to compete for tax payer-funded nitrogen reductions in a fair and transparent process; and since payment from the tax and rate payers would now be performance-based, these providers will be held financially accountable.
We believe that the overwhelming environmental, economic, quality of life and public health benefits to all stakeholders in the watershed, both within and outside of Pennsylvania, make the case for adoption of the strategies outlined in the Report less an issue of ‘if’, but of ‘when and how’. The adoption of a competitive procurement program will have significant positive impact on technology providers that can deliver verified nitrogen reductions such as Bion, by allocating existing tax- and rate-payer clean water funding to low cost solutions based upon a voluntary and transparent procurement process. The Company believes that implementation of a competitively-bid nutrient reduction program to achieve the goals for the Chesapeake Bay watershed can also provide a working policy model and platform for other states to adopt that will enhance their efforts to comply with both current and future requirements for local and federal estuarine watersheds, including the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes Basin and other nutrient-impaired watersheds.
Bion estimates that the overall market opportunity for Bion in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is large and of long duration. Most (if not all) of the publicly proposed new (or upgraded) municipal waste water and storm water treatment facilities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in PA, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC have projected costs (capital and operating) far in excess of the costs involved in reducing nutrients using Bion’s technology to treat CAFO wastes at the source. While regulatory and enforcement policy is still evolving and, therefore, the impact of those future policies upon Bion's operations cannot be precisely predicted and/or fully quantified, Bion believes that the tremendous difference between its cost to remove nutrients from a concentrated livestock manure waste stream and the cost required for reduction of nutrients from diluted conventional waste water and storm water treatment technologies, makes it reasonable to believe that Bion's potential profitability from projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed should be significant. Based on the aggregate size of livestock operations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Bion believes that the potential market for reductions in nitrogen loadings to the Chesapeake Bay watershed from livestock can be reasonably anticipated to increase tenfold (or more) to total in excess of 65 million (or more) pounds annually (including airborne ammonia) over the next decade, with verified nutrient reductions potentially generated equaling 50% to 60% of that aggregate required nitrogen reduction. Bion hopes that some significant portion of the nutrient reductions related to this clean-up mandate will be made by Bion Systems (which portion cannot be reasonably estimated at this time).
We believe that the credits from the Kreider 1 dairy project (verified by the PADEP) represent the first nutrient credits from ‘multi-media’ (air and water) reductions from an unregulated, non-point source (livestock) technology-based project to be verified (including ammonia reductions). These credits will be equivalent to municipal wastewater treatment plant reductions, once regulatory issues are resolved. Further, we believe this will provide, over time, a basis for credit trading basin-wide throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed (beyond just Pennsylvania where the credits are being generated to the other states and Washington, DC). An established basin-wide trading program will potentially broaden the market for credits from smaller local watersheds to the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Both USEPA and Maryland DNR have expressed support for basin-wide trading for the Bay.
Bion has undertaken, and will continue to pursue, work to establish appropriate public policies to facilitate environmental clean-up of CAFOs in the Chesapeake Bay states and at the federal level and in other locales.
Bion also believes that it is reasonable to assume that a version of the Chesapeake Bay Program strategies developed by the US EPA and various state regulatory agencies to address the issue of excess nitrogen loadings to the Chesapeake Bay watershed clean-up, will be subsequently applied to deal with the much larger nutrient pollution problems of the Mississippi River Basin that are a primary cause of the 'Dead Zone' in the Gulf of Mexico and similar problems in the Great Lakes and elsewhere. The US EPA has stated the intention that the strategies being developed for the Chesapeake Bay will be utilized in the Mississippi River Basin and other watersheds in the U.S. Note, however, that such an EPA initiative is certain to generate significant political opposition. The Mississippi River Basin alone has been estimated to require more than 1 billion pounds of annual nitrogen reduction to remediate the ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf of Mexico. Applying the same metrics as above (Bion’s ability to profitably provide nitrogen reductions at a cost of $8-12 per pound per year compared to municipal wastewater and storm water removal costs of $35 or higher per pound per year), using Bion-type solutions would represent a potential benefit in excess of $25 billion annually to tax- and rate-payers of the 31 Mississippi River Basin states and the federal government. We believe that Bion will potentially have large business opportunities for utilization of its technology as efforts to clean up such polluted areas develop, but at present such opportunities are not quantifiable nor can a definitive timeline be predicted.
RECENT FINANCINGS
Sales of Common Stock during 2019 and 2018 Fiscal Years
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company sold 1,793,606 shares of its unregistered common stock (not including the issuance of 18,162 shares to an employee pursuant to its 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, 116,000 shares issued to entities for services and 200,000 shares issued upon conversion of debt). During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company sold 1,793,606 unregistered shares at $0.50 per share and received gross proceeds of $896,801 and net proceeds of $832,921 including units consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock at $0.75 per share with expiry dates ranging from June 30, 2019 through December 31, 2020. The Company also issued 1,028 shares of common stock as commissions.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company sold 567,331 shares of its unregistered common stock (not including issuance of 24,456 shares to consultants and employees pursuant to its 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, 33,334 shares issued to entities for services and 427,436 shares issued upon conversion of debt). During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company sold 267,331 unregistered shares at $0.75 share and received gross proceeds of $200,496 and net proceeds of $185,621 including 267,331 units consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase half a share of the Company’s restricted common stock at $1.00 until June 30, 2018. During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company also sold 300,000 units at $0.50 per share, and received gross proceeds of $150,000 with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase half a share of the Company’s restricted common stock at $0.75 per share until September 30, 2018. Holders exercised 135,681 warrants at a reduced price of $0.50 and the Company sold 135,681 restricted shares for gross proceeds of $67,841 and the Company issued 3,441 shares of common stock as commission.
COMPETITION
There are a significant number of competitors in the waste treatment industry who are working on animal related pollution issues. Probably the most efficient way to assess competition in this industry is to review the Newtrient Technology Catalog, a service provided by Newtrient which is an organization created by the dairy industry to help farmers, technology providers, manure-based product developers and other stakeholders assess manure related challenges and opportunities. Many of the technologies reviewed by and organized by Newtrient in their catalog, such as Bion, address manure streams in addition to dairy. The potential competition has increased with the growing governmental and public concern focused on pollution due to CAFO wastes. Waste treatment lagoons which depend on anaerobic microorganisms ("anaerobic lagoons") are the most common traditional treatment process for animal waste on large farms within the swine and dairy industries. Additionally, many beef feedlots, poultry facilities and dairy farms simply scrape and accumulate manure for later field application. Both lagoon and scrape/pile manure storage approaches are coming under increasing regulatory pressure due to associated odor, nutrient management and water quality issues and are facing possible phase-out in some states. Although we believe that Bion’s comprehensive solution is the most economically and technologically viable solution for the current problems, other alternative (though partial) solutions do exist, including, for example, synthetic lagoon covers (which are placed on the top of the water in the lagoon to trap the gases), methane digesters (a tank which uses anaerobic microorganisms to break down the waste to produce methane), multistage anaerobic lagoons and solids separators (processes which separate large solids from fine solids), as well as various thermal waste-to-energy technologies. Additionally, many efforts are underway to develop and test new technologies.
Our ability to compete is dependent upon favorable regulatory conditions, our ability to obtain required approvals and permits from regulatory and other authorities and upon our ability to introduce and market our Systems in the appropriate industry and geographic segments.
There is also extensive competition in the organic soil amendment/fertilizer and feed ingredient markets. There are many companies that are already selling products to satisfy demand in the sectors of these markets we are trying to enter. Many of these companies have established marketing and sales organizations and customer commitments, are supporting their products with advertising, sometimes on a national basis, and have developed brand name recognition and customer loyalty in many cases. Because Bion systems offer a comprehensive solution that is designed to produce up to four separate and distinct revenue streams, the Company believes that it has the ability to be more competitive in any one of the sectors from which it derives revenue.
DEPENDENCE ON ONE OR A FEW MAJOR CUSTOMERS
In our Projects (including Integrated Projects) business segment, we will most likely be dependent upon one or a few major customers/partners/joint venturers since a relatively limited number of Projects (including Integrated Projects) will be developed by the Company. We anticipate initially developing, owning interests in, and operating only one or a few Projects commencing during 2018-19, and, thereafter, developing a limited number of Projects at a time. Thus, at least for the near future, our revenues will be dependent on a relatively small number of major Projects, participants and/or customers.
In our CAFO Retrofit/remediation business segment, we currently have only one operating System and contracts with only a single party. However, there are thousands of CAFO’s in the United States and we anticipate that in the future we will have agreements with many CAFO customers.
PATENTS
We are the sole owner of seven United States patents plus one United States patent for which a Notice of Allowance has been received and one United States patent with revival pending. Bion also owns one Australian patent, two Canadian patents, one patent from New Zealand and two patents from Mexico and has one International (PCT) Currently Pending:
Patent Numbers and date of issue:
United States Currently Issued:
(1)
6,689,274 - 2/10/04: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System: (NdeN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 6/28/2021)
(2)
6,908,495 - 6/21/05: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System: (NdeN+divisional) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 5/2/2021)
(3)
7,431,839 - 10/7/08: Low Oxygen Biologically Mediated Nutrient Removal: (NdeN+PwA) James W. Morris & Jere Northrop (Exp 12/26/2021)
(4)
7,575, 685 - 8/18/09: Low Oxygen Biologically Mediated Nutrient Removal: (NdeN+PwoA) James W. Morris & Jere Northrop (Exp 2/8/2021)
(5)
7,879,589 - 2/1/11: Micro-Electron Acceptor Phosphorous Accumulating Organisms: (NdeN+PwoA Microbial) James W. Morris & Jere Northrop (Exp 11/10/20)
(6)
8,039,242 - 10/18/11: Low Oxygen Biologically Mediated Nutrient Removal: (NdeN+PwoA Microbial) James W. Morris & Jere Northrop (Exp 11/10/20)
(7)
8,287,734 - 10/16/12: Method for Treating Nitrogen in Waste Streams: (OCN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 3/20/31)
(8)
10,106,447 - (09/14/15 application date): Process to Recover Ammonium Bicarbonate from Wastewater: Morton Orentlicher & Mark M. Simon. (Exp. 9/14/2035)
Australia Issued:
(1)
2002-227,224 - 12/14/06: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System: (NdeN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 11/8/2021)
Canada Currently Issued:
(1)
2,428,417 - 1/15/13: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System: (NdeN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 11/8/21).
(2)
2,503,166 - 10/16/12: Low Oxygen Biologically Mediated Nutrient Removal: (NdeN+PwA) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 11/8/21).
Mexico Issued:
(1)
240,124 - 9/8/06: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System; 9/8/06 (notified 3/26/07) (NdeN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 11/8/2021)
(2)
263,375 - 12/19/08: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System: (NdeN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 11/8/2021)
New Zealand Currently Issued:
(1)
526,342 - 7/7/05: Low Oxygen Organic Waste Bioconversion System: (NdeN) Jere Northrop & James W. Morris (Exp 11/8/2021)
We are also the sole owner of, or possess the contractual right to acquire exclusive patent rights to (as noted below using an "*"), three United States patent applications and one international (PCT) patent application as set forth below:
United States Currently Pending:
(1) 15/638,193 (07/29/17 filing date): Process to Recover Ammonium Bicarbonate from Wastewater; Dominic Bassani, Steve Pagano, Morton Orentlicher & Mark M. Simon. (Allowed)
(2)
16/139,709 (09/24/2018 filing date): Process to Recover Ammonium Bicarbonate from Wastewater; Dominic Bassani, Steve Pagano, Morton Orentlicher & Mark M. Simon. (Pending - Examination not yet started)
International (PCT) Currently Pending:
(1)
PCT/US2016/13254 (01/13/16 filing date): Process to Recover Ammonium Bicarbonate from Wastewater: Morton Orentlicher & Mark M. Simon. (Application Published)
(2)
PCT/US2018/67247 (12/21/2018 filing date) Process to Recover Ammonium Bicarbonate from Wastewater; Dominic Bassani, Steve Pagano, Morton Orentlicher & Mark M. Simon.
In addition to such factors as innovation, technological expertise and experienced personnel, we believe that a strong patent position is increasingly important to compete effectively in the businesses on which we are focused. It is likely that we will file applications for additional patents in the future. There is, however, no assurance that any such patents will be granted.
Because the direct costs of the patent filings has historically been and continues to constitute a small portion of the Company’s total expenses, we have elected to expense such costs rather than capitalize and record the cost of patent filings as an asset.
It may become necessary or desirable in the future for us to obtain patent and technology licenses from other companies relating to technologies that may be employed in future products or processes. To date, we have not received notices of claimed infringement of patents based on our existing processes or products, but due to the nature of the industry, we may receive such claims in the future.
We generally require all of our employees and consultants, including our management, to sign a non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements upon employment with us.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Current research and development work is focused toward completion of the development and ongoing improvement of our 3G Tech (the initial version of which is ready for implementation in an appropriate Project) with emphasis on increased recovery of valuable by-products (including nutrients in organic and/or non-organic forms, production of renewable energy from by-products together with related renewable energy and/or environmental credits). Bion believes its 3G Tech will produce significantly greater value from the CAFO waste stream through the recovery of a concentrated natural nitrogen fertilizer and pipeline-quality natural gas.
During the years ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively, we expended approximately $435,000 and $344,000 (excluding non-cash stock-based compensation) on research and development activities related to our technology platform applications in support of large-scale, economically and environmentally sustainable Projects and Retrofits. During the 2018 fiscal year, Bion’s research and development has been primarily focused on development work to complete and further refine development of our 3G Tech which will have the capacity to process dry, poultry CAFO waste streams (in addition to wet dairy/beef/swine CAFO waste streams) and increase our ability to recover marketable by-products from the waste stream remediation including renewable natural gas and nitrogen products (organic and non-organic). Some work has also involved modifying and adding unit processes to our 2G Tech platform with the objective of reducing capital costs and operating costs, while generating commercial equivalent by-products (and therefore, potential revenue streams) and significantly increasing environmental efficiency. As a result of these efforts (including their continuation during the current period), Bion made new patent filing(s) during the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years. The Company anticipates completion of its pilot system and pre-commercial testing for its 3G Tech by end of the current fiscal year. Our technology focus is to separate and aggregate the various “assets” in the waste stream and then to re-assemble them to maximize their economic value and our current research and development efforts have been focused on developments that will enhance potential sales revenues from renewable energy (both from solids combustion and methane generation thru the use of anaerobic/microaerobic digestion modules), fertilizer and soil amendment products (organic and inorganic), water reuse, environmental and reduction credits (including but not limited to nutrient, carbon, sediment, water and pathogen reduction) while reducing capital costs and operating costs. Bion continues to focus on “normalizing” its technology platform for use on multiple species. This effort has required significant work and resource allocation on research regarding balancing the activities of each unit process so that its output enables the subsequent unit processes to maximize efficiency and discharge to the subsequent unit in order to process a feedstock cost effectively. The by-products of this series of unit processes (which include certain Bion proprietary elements) are then “reassembled” into products to maximize their economic value. To date, research and development results have supported our objectives. In prior periods, Bion's main efforts were directed at further refinement of our 2G Tech and its applications. In addition, substantial research and development activity was focused on design and refinement of all aspects of the technology and integration engineering related to the energy balances, renewable energy production and on-site utilization, related to Integrated Project issues and our business model. Research activities were also focused on factors related to renewable energy production from CAFO waste including coarse solid recovery, drying and use for renewable energy production, as well as fine solids recovery, drying and utilization as fertilizer and/or animal feed, water re-use and other matters.
Environmental Protection/Regulation and Public Policy
In regards to Retrofits and development of Projects, we will be subject to extensive environmental (and other) regulations related to CAFO's, biofuel production and end product (e.g fertilizer) producers. To the extent that we are a provider of systems and services to others that result in the reduction of pollution, we are not under direct enforcement or regulatory pressure. However, we are involved in the business of CAFO waste treatment and are impacted by environmental regulations in at least five different ways:
·
Our marketing and sales success depends, to a substantial degree, on the pollution clean-up requirements of various governmental agencies, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level to state and local agencies;
·
Our System design and performance criteria must be responsive to the changes in federal, state and local environmental agencies' effluent and emission standards and other requirements;
·
Our System installations and operations require governmental permits and/or other approvals in many jurisdictions;
·
To the extent we own or operate Projects (including Integrated Projects with CAFO facilities and ethanol plants), those facilities will be subject to environmental regulations; and
·
Appropriate public policies need to be developed and implemented to facilitate environmental clean-up at CAFOs and the sale of nutrient reductions from such activities in order for the Company to monetize the nutrient reductions generated by its facilities.
Additionally, our activities are affected by many public policies and regulations (federal, state and local) related to other industries such as municipal waste and storm water treatment, watershed-wide mandates, and others. For example, the existing differences in the regulatory requirements for agriculture versus municipal wastewater clean-up currently in place have negatively impaired the development of viable markets for nutrient reduction credits.
EMPLOYEES
As of September 1, 2019, we had 6 employees and primary consultants, all of whom are performing services for the Company on a full-time basis. The Company utilizes other consultants and professionals on an ‘as needed’ basis. Our future success depends in significant part on the continued service of our key personnel and the ability to hire additional qualified personnel. The competition for highly qualified personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain our key managerial and technical employees or that we will be able to attract and retain additional highly qualified technical and managerial personnel in the future. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good. None of our employees is covered by "key person" life insurance.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
The Company maintains its corporate offices at Box 566/1774 Summitview Way, Crestone, Colorado 81131 and 520 Emery Street, #6, Longmont, Colorado, the offices of its President, and its main corporate telephone number is: (212) 758-6622.
We are the sole owner of seven United States patents plus one United States patent for which a Notice of Allowance has been received and one United States patent with revival pending. Bion also owns one Australian patent, two Canadian patents, one patent from New Zealand and two patents from Mexico and has one International (PCT) Currently Pending (See Item 1, “Patents” above).
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Company is currently involved in no litigation matters.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and has accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payment demanded by Pennvest. During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 system met the ‘technology guaranty’ standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan is now solely an obligation of PA1. PA1 has commenced discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but Pennvest has rejected PA1’s proposal made during the fall of 2014. No formal proposals are presently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the last 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of such this matter, but the Company believes that a loan modification agreement (coupled with an agreement regarding an update and re-start of full operations of the Kreider 1 System) may be reached in the future if/when a more robust market for nutrient reductions develops in Pennsylvania, of which there is no assurance. PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
Litigation has not commenced in this matter but has been threatened by Pennvest. Such litigation is likely if negotiations do not produce a resolution.
The Company currently is not involved in any other material litigation.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
None.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
(a) Market Information
Our common stock is quoted on the Over-The-Counter Electronic Bulletin Board under the symbol "BNET." The following quotations reflect inter dealer prices, without retail mark up, markdown or commissions and may not represent actual transactions.
(b) Holders
The number of holders of record of our common stock at September 1, 2019 was approximately 1,100. Many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, so we are unable to estimate the number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
The transfer agent for our common stock is Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc., 3200 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 430, Denver, Colorado 80209.
(c) Dividends
We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock. Our board of directors does not intend to declare any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but instead intends to retain earnings, if any, for use in our business operations. The payment of dividends, if any, in the future is within the discretion of the board of directors and will depend on our future earnings, if any, our capital requirements and financial condition, and other relevant factors.
During each of fiscal year 2019 and 2018 the Company paid an aggregate dividend of $0 and $0, respectively, on shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock which were outstanding during the year. A dividend of $2,000 was accrued on Series B Preferred Stock during each of the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years.
(d) Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
In June 2006 the Company adopted its 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, as amended ("Plan"), which terminated all prior plans and merged them into the Plan. The Plan was ratified by the Company's shareholders in October 2006. Under the Plan, Directors may grant Options, Stand Alone Stock Appreciation Rights ("SAR's"), shares of Restricted Stock, shares of Phantom Stock and Stock Bonuses with respect to a number of Common Shares that in the aggregate does not exceed 22,000,000 shares. The maximum number of Common Shares for which Incentive Awards, including Incentive Stock Options, may be granted to any one Participant shall not exceed 2,000,000 shares in any one calendar year; and the total of all cash payments to any one participant pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year shall not exceed $1,500,000. As of September 1, 2019, 7,436,600 Options have been granted and are outstanding under the Plan (as amended), including all options granted under prior merged plans, and options granted from July 1, 2019 through September 1, 2019. Of the 7,436,600 options, 7,436,600 are vested as of September 1, 2019. As of June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, the Company had no outstanding contingent Stock Bonuses.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes share and exercise price information about the Company’s equity compensation plans as of June 30, 2019:
(e) Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company sold 1,793,606 shares of its unregistered common stock (not including the issuance of 18,162 shares to an employee pursuant to its 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, 116,000 shares issued to entities for services and 200,000 shares issued upon conversion of debt). During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company sold 1,793,606 unregistered shares at $0.50 per share and received gross proceeds of $896,801 and net proceeds of $832,921 including units consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock at $0.75 per share with expiry dates ranging from June 30, 2019 through December 31, 2020. The Company also issued 1,028 shares of common stock as commissions.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company sold 567,331 shares of its unregistered common stock (not including issuance of 24,456 shares to consultants and employees pursuant to its 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, 33,334 shares issued to entities for services and 427,436 shares issued upon conversion of debt). During the year ended June 30, 2018 the Company sold 267,331 unregistered shares at $0.75 share and received gross proceeds of $200,496 and net proceeds of $185,621 including 267,331 units consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase half a share of the Company’s restricted common stock at $1.00 until June 30, 2018. During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company also sold 300,000 units at $0.50 per share, and received gross proceeds of $150,000 with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase half a share of the Company’s restricted common stock at $0.75 per share until September 30, 2018. Holders exercised 135,681 warrants at a reduced price of $0.50 and the Company sold 135,681 restricted shares for gross proceeds of $67,841 and the Company issued 3,441 shares of common stock as commission.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
N/A
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Included in ITEM 8 are the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 ("Financial Statements").
Statements made in this Form 10-K that are not historical or current facts, which represent the Company's expectations or beliefs including, but not limited to, statements concerning the Company's operations, performance, financial condition, business strategies, and other information, involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results of operations, most of which are beyond the Company's control, could differ materially. These statements often can be identified by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," anticipate," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative thereof. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Any forward looking statements represent management's best judgment as to what may occur in the future. However, forward looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and important factors beyond our control that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from historical results of operations and events and those presently anticipated or projected.
These factors include adverse economic conditions, entry of new and stronger competitors, inadequate capital, unexpected costs, failure (or delay) to gain product or regulatory approvals in the United States (or particular states) or foreign countries and failure to capitalize upon access to new markets. Additional risks and uncertainties that may affect forward looking statements about Bion's business and prospects include the possibility that markets for nutrient reduction credits (discussed below) and/or other ways to monetize nutrient reductions will be slow to develop (or not develop at all), the existing default by PA1 on its loan secured by the Kreider 1 system, the possibility that a competitor will develop a more comprehensive or less expensive environmental solution, delays in market awareness of Bion and our Systems, uncertainties and costs related to research and development efforts to update and improve Bion’s technologies and applications thereof, and/or delays in Bion's development of Projects and failure of marketing strategies, each of which could have both immediate and long term material adverse effects by placing us behind our competitors and requiring expenditures of our limited resources. Bion disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements filed with this Report.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
From 2014 through the current fiscal year, the Company has focused its research and development activities toward development of our 3G Tech, augmenting the basic ‘separate and aggregate’ approach of its technology platform to provide additional flexibility and to increase recovery of nutrient co-products (in organic and non-organic forms) and renewable energy production (either/both biogas and/or renewable electricity and related credits), thereby increasing potential related revenue streams and reducing dependence of its future projects on the monetization of nutrient reductions (which still remain an important part of project revenue streams). This research and development effort also involves ongoing review of potential “add-ons” and applications to our technology platform for use in different regulatory and/or climate environments. These research and development activities continued through the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years with increased focus on recovery of marketable ‘coproducts’ (including nutrients and renewable natural gas) and completion of development of Bion’s 3G Tech and technology platform. We believe such activities will continue at least through the 2019 calendar year (and likely longer), subject to availability of adequate financing for the Company’s operations, of which there is no assurance. Such activities may include the design and construction of an initial, commercial-scale module utilizing our 3G Tech to assist in optimization efforts before construction of the full Kreider 2 project (see below).
Bion’s 3G Tech and technology platform are designed to capture four revenue streams under one umbrella and provide the basis for joint ventures between the Company and larger livestock producers seeking to produce environmental/sustainable product lines. The revenue streams are: a) renewable energy and associated greenhouse gas credits (including US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and/or Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits), b) verified nutrient reductions (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) that can be used as qualified offsets to the federal Chesapeake Bay mandate and US EPA TMDL (‘total maximum daily limit’) requirements, c) co-products consisting of high value fertilizer that Bion believes will achieve certification for use in organic food production for human consumption during the current fiscal year, and d) an environmentally sustainable USDA certification that will be incorporated into a “brand” that can address the consumer concerns regarding food safety and sustainability (based on incorporation of all of the third party verified data for greenhouse gas reductions, nutrient reductions and fertilizer products into a digital register). The “branding” opportunity will offer large scale livestock producer / processor / distributors of livestock products the opportunity to differentiate and identify their products in the marketplace and, thereby creates the opportunity to achieve “premium pricing” by addressing consumer concerns related to safety and sustainability in a manner similar to the premiums achieved by organic producers.
Operational results from the initial commercial system (utilizing our 2G Tech) confirmed the ability of Bion’s technologies to meet nutrient reduction goals at commercial scale for an extended period of operation. Bion’s 3G Tech platform (and the new variations under development) center on its patented and proprietary processes that separate and aggregate the various assets in the CAFO waste stream so they become benign, stable and/or transportable. Bion systems can: a) remove up to 95% of the nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) in the effluent, b) reduce greenhouse gases by 90% (or more) including elimination of virtually all ammonia emissions, c) while materially reducing pathogens, antibiotics and hormones in the livestock waste stream. Our core technology and its primary CAFO applications are now proven in commercial operations. It has been accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and other regulatory agencies and it is protected by Bion’s portfolio of U.S. and international patents (both issued and applied for).
Currently, our research and development activities are underway to improve, update and commercialization of our 3G Tech systems (which is ready to be implemented) during the current fiscal year to meet the needs of CAFOs in various geographic and climate areas with nutrient release constraints and to increase the recovery and generation of valuable by-products while adding the capability to treat dry (poultry) waste streams in addition to wet manure streams at lower capital costs and operating costs
Bion is focused on using applications of its patented and proprietary waste management technologies and technology platform to pursue three main business opportunities: 1) development of new state-of-the-art large-scale waste treatment facilities in joint ventures with large CAFO’s (and other agricultural industry parties) in strategic locations (“Projects”) ( some of these may be Integrated Projects) with multiple revenue streams; 2) installation of Bion systems ( some of which may generate verified nutrient reduction credits and revenues from the production of renewable energy and coproducts) to retrofit and environmentally remediate existing large scale CAFOs (“Retrofits”) in selected markets where: a) government policy supports such efforts (such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed, some Great Lakes Basin states, and/or other states and watersheds facing EPA ‘total maximum daily load’ (“TMDL”) issues, and/or b) where CAFO’s need our technology to obtain permits to expand or develop without negative environmental consequences; and 3) licensing and/or joint venturing of Bion’s technology and applications (primarily) outside North America. The opportunities described at 1) and 2) above each require substantial political and regulatory (federal, state and local) efforts on the part of the Company and a substantial part of Bion’s efforts are focused on such political and regulatory matters. Bion intends to pursue international opportunities primarily through the use of consultants with existing relationships in target locations. The most intense focus is currently on the requirements for the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay , on CAFO projects in the mid-west involving various species, and the potential use of Bion’s technology and technology platform on CAFOs to remediate ammonia release (and re-deposition to the ground and water) and as an alternative to what the Company believes is far more expensive nutrient removal downstream in storm water and other projects.
During 2008 the Company commenced actively pursuing the opportunity presented by environmental retrofit and remediation of the waste streams of existing CAFOs which effort has met with very limited success to date. The first commercial activity in this area is represented by our agreement with Kreider Farms (“KF”), pursuant to which the Kreider 1 system to treat KF's dairy waste streams to reduce nutrient releases to the environment while generating marketable nutrient credits and renewable energy was designed, constructed and entered full-scale operation during 2011. On January 26, 2009 the Board of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (“Pennvest”) approved a $7.75 million loan to Bion PA 1, LLC (“PA1”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for the initial Kreider Farms project (“Kreider 1 System”). After substantial unanticipated delays, on August 12, 2010 PA1 received a permit for construction of the Kreider 1 System. Construction activities commenced during November 2010. The closing/settlement of the Pennvest Loan took place on November 3, 2010. PA1 finished the construction of the Kreider 1 System and entered a period of system ‘operational shakedown’ during May 2011. The Kreider 1 System reached full, stabilized operation by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. During 2011 the PADEP re-certified the nutrient credits for this project. The PADEP issued final permits for the Kreider 1 System (including the credit verification plan) on August 1, 2012 on which date the Company deemed that the Kreider 1 System was ‘placed in service’. As a result, PA1 commenced generating nutrient reduction credits for potential sale while continuing to utilize the Kreider 1 System to test improvements and add-ons. However, to date liquidity in the Pennsylvania nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which limited liquidity/depth has negatively impacted Bion’s business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reductions created by PA1’s existing Kreider 1 project and Bion’s other proposed projects. These difficulties have prevented PA1 from generating any material revenues from the Kreider 1 project to date and raise significant questions as to when, if ever, PA1 will be able to generate such revenues from the Kreider 1 System. PA1 has had sporadic discussions/negotiations with Pennvest related to forbearance and/or re-structuring its obligations pursuant to the Pennvest Loan for more than three years. In the context of such discussions/negotiations, PA1 elected not to make interest payments to Pennvest on the Pennvest Loan since January 2013. Additionally, the Company has not made any principal payments, which were to begin in fiscal 2013, and, therefore, the Company has classified the Pennvest Loan as a current liability as of June 30, 2019. Due to the failure of the Pennsylvania nutrient reduction credit market to develop, the Company determined that the carrying amount of the property and equipment related to the Kreider 1 project exceeded its estimated future undiscounted cash flows based on certain assumptions regarding timing, level and probability of revenues from sales of nutrient reduction credits and, therefore, PA1 and the Company recorded impairments related to the value of the Kreider 1 assets of $1,750,000 and $2,000,000 at June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. During the 2016 fiscal year, PA1 and the Company recorded an impairment of $1,684,562 to the value of the Kreider 1 assets which reduced the value on the Company’s books to zero. This impairment reflects management’s judgment that the salvage value of the Kreider 1 assets roughly equals PA1’s contractual obligations related to the Kreider 1 System, including expenses related to decommissioning of the Kreider 1 System, costs associated with needed capital upgrade expenses, and re-certification/ permitting amendments.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payments demanded by Pennvest. PA1 has commenced discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but Pennvest has rejected PA1’s proposal made during the fall of 2014. As of the date of this report, no formal proposals are currently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the last 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of this matter, but the Company believes that a loan modification agreement (coupled with an agreement regarding an update and re-start of full operations of KF1) may be reached in the future if/when a more robust market for nutrient reductions develops in Pennsylvania, of which there is no assurance. PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
The economics (potential revenues, profitability and continued operation) of the Kreider 1 System are based almost entirely on the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up. See below for further discussion.
During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 System met the ‘technology guaranty’ standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan has been (and is now) solely an obligation of PA1 since that date.
PA1 is currently maintaining the Kreider 1 System pending development of a more robust market for its nutrient reductions.
Bion continues its pre-development work related to a waste treatment/renewable energy production facility to treat the waste from KF’s approximately 6+ million chickens (planned to expand to approximately 9-10 million)(and potentially other poultry operations and/or other waste streams)('Kreider Renewable Energy Facility' or ‘ Kreider 2 Project’). On May 5, 2016, the Company executed a stand-alone joint venture agreement with Kreider Farms covering all matters related to development and operation of Kreider 2 system to treat the waste streams from Kreider’s poultry facilities in Bion PA2 LLC (“PA2”). During May 2011 the PADEP certified a smaller version of the Kreider 2 Project for 559,457 nutrient credits under the old EPA’s Chesapeake Bay model. The Company anticipates that when designs are finalized, the Kreider 2 Project will be re-certified for between 1.5-2 million (or more) nutrient reduction credits (for treatment of the waste stream from Kreider’s poultry) pursuant to the Company’s subsequent amended application during the 2019 fiscal year pursuant to the amended EPA Chesapeake Bay model and agreements between the EPA and PA. Note that this Project may be expanded in the future to treat wastes from other local and regional CAFOs (poultry and/or dairy---including the Kreider Dairy) and/or additional Kreider poultry expansion (some of which may not qualify for nutrient reduction credits). The review process to clarify certain issues related to credit calculation and verification commenced during 2014 based on Bion’s 2G Tech but has been placed on hold while certain matters are resolved between the EPA and Pennsylvania and pending development of a robust market for nutrient reductions in Pennsylvania. The Company anticipates it will submit an amended or new application based on our 3G Technology once these matters are clear. Site specific design and engineering work for this facility, which will probably be the first full-scale project to utilize Bion’s 3G Tech, have not commenced, and the Company does not yet have financing in place for the Kreider 2 Project. This opportunity is being pursued through PA2. If there are positive developments related to the market for nutrient reductions in Pennsylvania, of which there is no assurance, the Company intends to pursue development, design and construction of the Kreider 2 Project with a goal of achieving operational status for its initial modules during the coming calendar year, and hopes to enter into agreements related to sales of the nutrient reduction credits for future delivery (under long term contracts) during the current 2020 fiscal year subject to verification by the PADEP based on operating data from the Kreider 2 Project. The economics (potential revenues and profitability) of the Kreider 2 Project, despite its use of Bion’s 3G Tech for increased recovery of marketable by-products, are based in material part the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up. However, liquidity in the Pennsylvania nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which lack of liquidity has negatively impacted Bion’s business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reduction credits generated by PA1’s existing Kreider 1 project and will most likely delay PA2’s Kreider 2 Project and other proposed projects in Pennsylvania.
Note that while Bion believes that the Kreider 1 System, the Kreider 2 Project and/or subsequent Bion Projects will eventually generate revenue from the sale of: a) nutrient reductions (credits or in other form), b) renewable energy (and related credits), c) sales of fertilizer products, and/or d) potentially, in time, credits for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, plus e) license fees related to a ‘sustainable brand’. We believe that the potential market is very large, but it is not possible to predict the exact timing and/or magnitude of these potential markets at this time.
A substantial portion of our activities involve public policy initiatives (by the Company and other stakeholders) to encourage the establishment of appropriate public policies and regulations (at federal, regional, state and local levels) to facilitate cost effective environmental clean-up and, thereby, support our business activities. Bion has been joined by National Milk Producers Federation, Land O’Lakes, JBS and other national livestock interests to support changes to our nation’s clean water strategy that will allow states to acquire low-cost nutrient reductions through a competitive procurement process, in a similar manner to how government entities now acquire many other goods and services on behalf of the taxpayer. As developing markets for nutrient reductions become fully-established, Bion anticipates a robust business opportunity to retrofit existing CAFOs and develop Projects, based primarily on the sale of nutrient credits that provide cost-effective alternatives to today’s high-cost and failing clean water strategy.
To date the market for long-term nutrient reduction credits in Pennsylvania (‘PA’) has been very slow to develop and the Company’s activities have been negatively affected by such lack of development. However, Bion is confident that once these markets are established, the credits it produces will be competitive in the credit trading markets, based on its cost to remove nitrogen from the livestock waste stream, compared to the cost to remove nitrogen through various other treatment activities.
Several independent studies have calculated the average cost to remove nitrogen through various sector practices. Reports prepared for the PA Senate (2008), Chesapeake Bay Commission (2012) and PA legislature (2013; described below), as well as the Maryland Chesapeake Bay Financing Strategy Report (2015), demonstrate that the cost to remove nitrogen (per pound on average) from agriculture is $44 to $54, municipal wastewater: $28 to $43, and storm water: $386 to $633. Pursuant to the PA legislative Report, by replacing sector allocation (for all sectors) with competitive bidding, up to 80 percent savings could be achieved in PA’s Chesapeake Bay compliance costs ($1.5 billion annually) by 2025. If the legislative study had focused on the cost differentials of competitive bidding compared only with storm water, the relative savings would be substantially greater.
Since these studies were completed, most of the larger (Tier 1) municipal wastewater treatment plants in PA have been upgraded, at a cost of approximately $2.5 billion (vs initial 2004 PA DEP cost estimates of $376 million). US EPA is now focused on PA’s storm water allocation (3.5 million pounds (per last published data)) and has this sector on ‘backstop level actions’, the highest level of EPA-oversight and the final step before sanctions. In the same 2004 PA DEP cost estimate that led to the more than a $2 billion underestimate/miscalculation in municipal wastewater plant upgrade costs, the estimate for storm water cost was $5.6 billion. In April 2017, US EPA sent a Letter of Expectation to PA DEP, expressing the agency’s support for the use of nutrient credit trading and competitive bidding to engage the private-sector to lower costs. The letter specifically encouraged the use of credit trading to offset the state’s looming storm water obligations.
The Company believes that: i) the April 2015 release of a report from the Pennsylvania Auditor General titled “Special Report on the Importance of Meeting Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Reduction Targets” which highlighted the economic consequences of EPA-imposed sanctions if the state fails to meet the 2017 TMDL targets, as well as the need to support using low-cost solutions and technologies as alternatives to higher-cost public infrastructure projects, where possible, and ii) Senate Bill 575 (introduced in April 2019 as successor to prior SB 799 (which was passed by PA Senate during January 2018 but was not voted on in the House)) which, if adopted, will establish a program that will allow the Pennsylvania’s tax- and rate-payers to meet significant portions of their EPA-mandated Chesapeake Bay pollution reductions at significantly lower cost by purchasing verified reductions (by competitive bidding) from all sources, including those that Bion can produce through livestock waste treatment, represent visible evidence of progress being made on these matters in Pennsylvania. SB 575 was passed by the PA Senate earlier this year and introduced in the PA House which is expected to take up the bill during its Fall 2019 session which begins in September. Such legislation (which has bi-partisan support), if passed and signed into law (of which there is no assurance), will potentially enable Bion (and others) to compete for public funding on an equal basis with subsidized agricultural ‘best management practices’ and public works and storm water authorities. Note, however, that there is opposition to SB 575 (as was the case for SB 799 and its predecessors) from threatened stakeholders committed to the existing status quo approaches--- a significant portion of which was focused on attacking (in often inaccurate and/or vilifying ways) Bion in/through social media and internet articles, blogs, press releases, twitter posts and re-tweets, rather than engaging the substantive issues. If legislation similar to SB 575 is passed (on a stand-alone basis or as part of a larger piece of legislation) and implemented (in a form which maintains its core provisions), Bion expects that the policies and strategies being developed in PA will not only benefit the Company’s existing and proposed PA projects, but will also subsequently provide the basis for a larger Chesapeake Bay watershed strategy and, thereafter, a national clean water strategy.
The Company believes that Pennsylvania is ‘ground zero’ in the long-standing clean water battle between agriculture and the further regulation of agriculture relative to nutrient impacts. The ability of Bion and other technology providers to achieve verified reductions from agricultural non-point sources can resolve the current stalemate and enable implementation of constructive solutions that benefit all stakeholders, providing a mechanism that ensures that taxpayer funds will be used to achieve the most beneficial result at the lowest cost, regardless of source. All sources, point and non-point, rural and urban, will be able to compete for tax payer-funded nitrogen reductions in a fair and transparent process; and since payment from the tax and rate payers would now be performance-based, these providers will be held financially accountable.
We believe that the overwhelming environmental, economic, quality of life and public health benefits to all stakeholders in the watershed, both within and outside of Pennsylvania, make the case for adoption of the strategies outlined in the Report less an issue of ‘if’, but of ‘when and how’. The adoption of a competitive procurement program will have significant positive impact on technology providers that can deliver verified nitrogen reductions such as Bion, by allocating existing tax- and rate-payer clean water funding to low cost solutions based upon a voluntary and transparent procurement process. The Company believes that implementation of a competitively-bid nutrient reduction program to achieve the goals for the Chesapeake Bay watershed can also provide a working policy model and platform for other states to adopt that will enhance their efforts to comply with both current and future requirements for local and federal estuarine watersheds, including the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes Basin and other nutrient-impaired watersheds.
Bion will also pursue the opportunities related to development of Projects (including Integrated Projects) which are likely to involve joint ventures with large livestock producers who can utilize the benefits of the ‘sustainable branding’ that Bion technology can facilitate for products produced utilizing its technology. Integrated Projects will include large CAFOs (such as large poultry facilities, dairy complexes, beef cattle feed lots and/or hog farms) with Bion waste treatment/resource recovery system modules processing the aggregate CAFO waste stream from the equivalent of 20,000 to 80,000 (or more) beef or dairy cows (or the waste stream equivalent of other species), while recovering renewable energy and value-added fertilizer/soil amendment products, integrated with CAFO end product users/processing facilities, and/or potentially in some locations, a biofuel/ethanol plant. Such Integrated Projects will involve large CAFOs with Bion waste treatment/resource recovery modules on a single site and/or on sites within an approximately 30-mile radius. Bion believes its 3G technology platform will allow integration of large-scale CAFO's with end product processors (and/or potentially biofuel production), together with renewable energy production and co-product recovery from the waste streams, and on-site energy utilization in a relatively 'closed loop' manner that will reduce the capital expenditures, operating costs and carbon footprint for the entire Integrated Project and each component facility. Some Integrated Projects may be developed from scratch while others may be developed in geographic proximity to (and in coordination with) existing participating CAFOs, feed producers (corn growers and/or biofuel plants) and end product processors. Each Integrated Project is likely to have different degrees of integration, especially in the early development phases.
The Company currently anticipates that the Kreider 2 poultry waste treatment facility in PA will be its initial full-scale 3G Project. Bion anticipates that it will finalize site selection for the Kreider 2 Project and/or its initial Integrated Project (and possibly additional Projects) during the current fiscal year if SB 575 becomes law in PA. Bion hopes to commence development of its initial Project by optioning land and beginning the site-specific design and permitting process during the current fiscal year, but further delays are possible. It is not possible at this time to firmly predict where the initial Project will be developed or the order in which Projects will be developed. All potential Projects are in very early discussion and pre-development stages and may never progress to actual development or may be developed after other Projects not yet under active consideration.
Bion also hopes to be able to move forward on additional Projects through 2020-22 to create a pipeline of Projects. Management has a 5-year development target (through calendar year 2025) of approximately 10 or more Projects pursuant to joint ventures (or similar agreements). Management hopes to have identified and begun development work related to 3-5 Projects over the next 2 years. At the end of the 5-year period, Bion projects that 3-8 of these Projects will be in full operation in 3-6 states (and possibly one or more foreign countries), and the balance would be in various stages ranging from partial operation to early development stage. It is possible that one or more Projects will be developed in joint ventures specifically targeted to meet the growing animal protein demand outside of the United States (including without limitation Asia, Europe and/or the Middle East). No Projects (including Integrated Projects) have been developed to date.
The Company’s audited financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company has incurred net losses of approximately $2,659,000 and $3,018,000 during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30, 2019 includes a “going concern” explanatory paragraph which means that there are factors that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. At June 30, 2019, the Company had a working capital deficit and a stockholders’ deficit of approximately $10,876,000 and $14,724,000, respectively. Management’s plans with respect to these matters are described in this section and in our consolidated financial statements (and notes thereto), and this material does not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. However, there is no guarantee that we will be able to raise sufficient funds or further capital for the operations planned in the near future.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Revenue Recognition
The Company currently does not generate revenue and if and when the Company begins to generate revenue the Company will comply with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”.
Stock-based compensation
The Company follows the provisions of ASC 718, which generally requires that share-based compensation transactions be accounted and recognized in the statement of income based upon their grant date fair values.
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Pursuant to ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” (“Topic 815”), the Company reviews all financial instruments for the existence of features which may require fair value accounting and a related mark-to-market adjustment at each reporting period end. Once determined, the Company assesses these instruments as derivative liabilities. The fair value of these instruments is adjusted to reflect the fair value at each reporting period end, with any increase or decrease in the fair value being recorded in results of operations as an adjustment to fair value of derivatives.
Warrants:
The Company has issued warrants to purchase common shares of the Company. Warrants are valued using a fair value based method, whereby the fair value of the warrant is determined at the warrant issue date using a market-based option valuation model based on factors including an evaluation of the Company’s value as of the date of the issuance, consideration of the Company’s limited liquid resources and business prospects, the market price of the Company’s stock in its mostly inactive public market and the historical valuations and purchases of the Company’s warrants. When warrants are issued in combination with debt or equity securities, the warrants are valued and accounted for based on the relative fair value of the warrants in relation to the total value assigned to the debt or equity securities and warrants combined.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09 “Scope of Modification Accounting” which clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. The new guidance will reduce diversity in practice and result in fewer changes to the terms of an award being accounted for as modifications. ASU No. 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. The guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods beginning December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 “Compensation - Stock Compensation - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting” to simplify the accounting for share based payments granted to nonemployees. Under this guidance, payments to nonemployees would be aligned with the requirements for share based payments granted to employees and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2019 COMPARED TO THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018
Revenue
Total revenues were nil for both the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
General and Administrative
Total general and administrative expenses were $1,725,000 and $2,335,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
General and administrative expenses, excluding stock-based compensation charges of $536,000 and $1,199,000, were $1,189,000 and $1,136,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing a $53,000 increase. Salaries and related payroll tax expenses were $254,000 and $280,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing a $26,000 decrease due to one less employee during the year ended June 30, 2019. Consulting costs were relatively constant at $446,000 and $454,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Insurance related expenses were $86,000 and $72,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as the Company economized by changing some of its insurance coverage during the year ended June 30, 2018 but then increased coverage again during the year ended June 30, 2019. Investor relation expenses were $145,000 and $58,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increased activity is due to the engagement of an investor relations firm during the latter part of the year ended June 30, 2019.
General and administrative stock-based employee compensation for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 consists of the following:
Stock-based compensation charges were $536,000 and $1,199,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Compensation expense relating to stock bonuses expensed for the year ended June 30, 2018 of $9,000, related to 100,000 shares in stock bonuses granted to an employee and a consultant with vesting periods ranging from April 2017 through January 2020 (a portion of which were allocated to research and development). Compensation expense relating to the change in fair value from the modification of option terms was $211,000 and $244,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as the Company granted a reduction in certain exercise prices and an extension of certain option expiration dates for an employee during the year ended June 30, 2019 and the Company extended certain option expiration dates for seven employees and consultants during the year ended June 30, 2018. During the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the Company extended expiration dates of warrants for certain employees and consultants which resulted in the recognition of $118,000 and $164,000, respectively, in non-cash compensation. The fair value of stock options expensed for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $207,000 and $782,000 respectively. The Company granted 655,000 and 2,647,500 fully vested options during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Depreciation
Total depreciation expense was $1,314 and $1,744 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Research and Development
Total research and development expenses were $520,000 and $1,185,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Research and development expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expenses of $85,000 and $841,000 were $435,000 and $344,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing a $91,000 increase. Salaries and related payroll tax expenses were $80,000 and $72,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Consulting costs were $230,000 and $177,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in consulting costs is attributable to a shift in existing consultants formerly charged to general and administrative working on research and development projects. The Company also incurred $51,000 and $22,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively in the development of a new pilot program for its anaerobic digestate process.
Research and development stock-based employee compensation for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 consists of the following:
Stock-based compensation expenses were $85,000 and $841,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Compensation expense relating to stock bonuses expensed for the year ended June 30, 2018 of $15,000 related to 70,000 shares in stock bonuses granted to an employee, whose time is partially allocated to research and development, with vesting periods ranging from April 2017 through January 2020. The compensation expense of $11,000 and $106,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for the change in fair value from modification of options terms is due to a research and development employee and consultant having certain option exercise prices reduced during those periods. During both the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company extended expiration dates of warrants for certain research and development employees and consultants which resulted in the recognition of $45,000 and $133,000, respectively, in non-cash compensation. The Company expensed $29,000 and $587,000 for the fair value of stock options that vested during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company granted 655,000 and 2,647,500 options during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, that were fully vested within that time period and a portion of the stock compensation was allocated to research and development.
Loss from Operations
As a result of the factors described above, the loss from operations was $2,246,000 and $3,523,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Other Expense (Income)
Other expense (income) was $413,000 and $(505,000) for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company recognized other income of $876,000 due to the extinguishment of liabilities related to deferred compensation of non-related parties of $719,000 and $157,000 due to the legal release of certain accounts payable. Interest expense was $413,000 and $360,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest expense related to the Pennvest loan increased by $41,000 during the year ended June 30, 2019 and the Company recorded $25,000 of interest expense related to the extension of warrant expiry dates for certain investors, however the increased interest expense was partially offset by lower interest on deferred compensation due to lower average balances owed during the year ended June 30, 2019.
Net Loss Attributable to the Noncontrolling Interest
The net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest was $5,000 and $3,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net Loss Attributable to Bion’s Common Stockholders
As a result of the factors described above, the net loss attributable to Bion’s stockholders was $2,654,000 and $3,015,000 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and the net loss per basic common share was $0.10 and $0.12 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2019 have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The Report of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended June 30, 2019 includes a "going concern" explanatory paragraph which means that the auditors stated that conditions exist that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Operating Activities
As of June 30, 2019, the Company had cash of approximately $41,000. During the year ended June 30, 2019, net cash used in operating activities was $811,000, primarily consisting of cash operating expenses related to salaries and benefits, and other general and administrative costs such as insurance, legal, accounting and investor relations expenses. As previously noted, the Company is currently not generating significant revenue and accordingly has not generated cash flows from operations. The Company does not anticipate generating sufficient revenues to offset operating and capital costs for a minimum of two to five years. While there are no assurances that the Company will be successful in its efforts to develop and construct its Projects and market its Systems, it is certain that the Company will require substantial funding from external sources. Given the unsettled state of the current credit and capital markets for companies such as Bion, there is no assurance the Company will be able to raise the funds it needs on reasonable terms.
Investing Activities
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company had investing activities of $2,000 for the purchase of property and equipment.
Financing Activities
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company received gross cash proceeds of $897,000 from the sale of 1,793,606 units which consists of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share through dates ranging from June 30, 2019 to December 2020. The Company paid cash commissions related to the sale of units of $64,000.
As of June 30, 2019 the Company has debt obligations consisting of: a) deferred compensation of $874,000, b) convertible notes payable - affiliates of $3,801,000, and, c) a loan payable and accrued interest of $9,303,000 (owed by PA1).
Plan of Operations and Outlook
As of June 30, 2019, the Company had cash of approximately $41,000.
The Company continues to explore sources of additional financing to satisfy its current operating requirements as it is not currently generating any significant revenues. During the past six years (fiscal years 2014 through 2019), the Company experienced greater difficulty in raising equity and debt funding than in the prior years (which is not mitigated by the relative increase in equity funding during the year ended June 30, 2019). As a result, the Company faced, and continues to face, significant cash flow management challenges due to material working capital constraints. These difficulties, challenges and constraints have continued during fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and the Company anticipates that they may continue for the next twelve (12) months or longer. To partially mitigate these working capital constraints, the Company's core senior management and some key employees and consultants have been deferring all or part of their cash compensation and/or are accepting compensation in the form of securities of the Company (Notes 4 and 6 to Financial Statements) and members of the Company's senior management have made loans to the Company which have been converted into convertible promissory notes as of June 30, 2019. During the year ended June 30, 2018 senior management and certain core employees and consultants agreed to a one-time extinguishment of liabilities owed by the Company which in aggregate totaled $2,404,000. As of June 30, 2019, such deferrals totaled approximately $4,675,000 (including accrued interest and deferred compensation converted into promissory notes but excluding conversions of deferred compensation into the Company's common stock by officers, employees and consultants that have already been completed). The extended constraints on available resources have had, and continue to have, negative effects on the pace and scope of the Company's effort to develop its business. The Company made reductions in its personnel during the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2015 and again in 2018. The Company has had to delay payments of trade obligations and economize in many ways that have potentially negative consequences. If the Company does not have greater success in its efforts to raise needed funds during the current year (and subsequent periods), we will need to consider deeper cuts (including additional personnel cuts) and curtailments of operations (including possibly Kreider 1 operations). The Company will need to obtain additional capital to fund its operations and technology development, to satisfy existing creditors, to develop Projects (including Integrated Projects) and CAFO Retrofit waste remediation systems (including the Kreider 2 facility) and to continue to operate the Kreider 1 facility (subject to agreements being reached with Pennvest as discussed above). The Company anticipates that it will seek to raise from $2,500,000 to $50,000,000 or more (debt and equity) during the next twelve months. However, as discussed above, there is no guarantee that we will be able to raise sufficient funds or further capital for the operations planned in the near future.
The Company is not currently generating any significant revenues. Further, the Company’s anticipated revenues, if any, from existing projects and proposed projects will not be sufficient to meet the Company’s anticipated operational and capital expenditure needs for many years. During the year ended June 30, 2019 the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately $897,000 through the sale of its securities (Note 7 to the annual Financial Statements in the Form 10-K) and paid commissions of approximately $64,000, and anticipates raising additional funds from such sales and transactions. However, there is no guarantee that we will be able to raise sufficient funds or further capital for the operations planned in the near future.
Because the Company is not currently generating significant revenues, the Company will need to obtain additional capital to fund its operations and technology development, to satisfy existing creditors, to develop Projects and to sustain operations at the KF 1 facility.
The first commercial activity in the Retrofit segment is represented by our agreement with Kreider Farms ("KF"), pursuant to which the Kreider 1 system to treat KF's dairy waste streams to reduce nutrient releases to the environment while generating marketable nutrient credits and renewable energy was designed, constructed and entered full-scale operation during 2011. On January 26, 2009 the Board of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority ("Pennvest") approved a $7.75 million loan to Bion PA 1, LLC ("PA1"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for the initial Kreider Farms project ("Kreider 1 System"). After substantial unanticipated delays, on August 12, 2010 PA1 received a permit for construction of the Kreider 1 system. Construction activities commenced during November 2010. The closing/settlement of the Pennvest Loan took place on November 3, 2010. PA1 finished the construction of the Kreider 1 System and entered a period of system 'operational shakedown' during May 2011. The Kreider 1 System reached full, stabilized operation by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. During 2011 the PADEP re-certified the nutrient credits for this project. The PADEP issued final permits for the Kreider 1 System (including the credit verification plan) on August 1, 2012 on which date the Company deemed that the Kreider System was 'placed in service'. As a result, PA1 commenced generating nutrient reduction credits for potential sale while continuing to utilize the Kreider 1 system to test improvements and add-ons. However, to date liquidity in the Pennsylvania nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which limited liquidity/depth has negatively impacted Bion's business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reductions created by PA1's existing Kreider 1 project and Bion's other proposed projects. These difficulties have prevented PA1 from generating any material revenues from the Kreider 1 project to date and raise significant questions as to when, if ever, PA1 will be able to generate such revenues from the Kreider 1 system. PA1 has had sporadic discussions/negotiations with Pennvest related to forbearance and/or re-structuring its obligations pursuant to the Pennvest Loan for more than three years. In the context of such discussions/negotiations, PA1 elected not to make interest payments to Pennvest on the Pennvest Loan since January 2013. Additionally, the Company has not made any principal payments, which were to begin in fiscal 2013, and, therefore, the Company has classified the Pennvest Loan as a current liability as of June 30, 2019. Due to the failure of the PA nutrient reduction credit market to develop, the Company determined that the carrying amount of the property and equipment related to the Kreider 1 project exceeded its estimated future undiscounted cash flows based on certain assumptions regarding timing, level and probability of revenues from sales of nutrient reduction credits and, therefore, PA1 and the Company recorded impairments related to the value of the Kreider 1 assets of $1,750,000 and $2,000,000 at June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. During the 2016 fiscal year, PA1 and the Company recorded an impairment of $1,684,562 to the value of the Kreider 1 assets which reduced the value on the Company's books to zero. This impairment reflects management's judgment that the salvage value of the Kreider 1 assets roughly equals PA1's contractual obligations related to the Kreider 1 system, including expenses related to decommissioning of the Kreider 1 system, costs associated with needed capital upgrade expenses, and re-certification/ permitting amendments.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payments demanded by Pennvest. PA1 has commenced discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but Pennvest has rejected PA1's proposal made during the fall of 2014. As of the date of this report, no formal proposals are currently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the last 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of this matter, but the Company believes that a loan modification agreement (coupled with an agreement regarding an update and restart of full operations of KF1) may be reached in the future if/when a more robust market for nutrient reductions develops in PA, of which there is no assurance. PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
The economics (potential revenues, profitability and continued operation) of the Kreider 1 System are based almost entirely on the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up. See below for further discussion.
During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 system met the 'technology guaranty' standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan is now solely an obligation of PA1.
The Company is currently operating the Kreider 1 System in a limited manner pending development of a more robust market for its nutrient reductions.
As indicated above, the Company anticipates that it will seek to raise from $2,500,000 to $50,000,000 or more (from debt, equity, joint venture, strategic partnering, etc.) during the next twelve months, some of which may be in the context of joint ventures for the development of one or more large scale projects. We reiterate that there is no assurance, especially in the extremely unsettled capital markets that presently exist for companies such as Bion, that the Company will be able to obtain the funds that it needs to stay in business, finance its Projects and other activities, continue its technology development and/or to successfully develop its business.
There is extremely limited likelihood that funds required during the next twelve months or in the periods immediately thereafter will be generated from operations and there is no assurance that those funds will be available from external sources such as debt or equity financings or other potential sources. The lack of additional capital resulting from the inability to generate cash flow from operations and/or to raise capital from external sources would force the Company to substantially curtail or cease operations and would, therefore, have a material adverse effect on its business. Further, there can be no assurance that any such required funds, if available, will be available on attractive terms or that they will not have a significantly dilutive effect on the Company's existing shareholders. All of these factors have been exacerbated by the extremely limited and unsettled credit and capital markets presently existing for companies such as Bion.
Currently, Bion is focused on using applications of its patented and proprietary waste management technologies and technology platform to pursue three main business opportunities: 1) installation of Bion systems ( some of which may generate verified nutrient reduction credits and revenues from the production of renewable energy and byproducts) to retrofit and environmentally remediate existing CAFOs ("Retrofits") in selected markets where: a) government policy supports such efforts (such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Great Lakes Basin states, and/or other states and watersheds facing EPA 'total maximum daily load' ("TMDL") issues, and/or b) where CAFO's need our technology to obtain permits to expand or develop without negative environmental consequences; 2) development of new state-of-the-art large scale waste treatment facilities in joint ventures with large CAFO’s in strategic locations ("Projects") ( some of these may be Integrated Projects as described below) with multiple revenue streams, and 3) licensing and/or joint venturing of Bion's technology and applications (primarily) outside North America commencing during the 2019 calendar year. The opportunities described at 1) and 2) above each require substantial political and regulatory (federal, state and local) efforts on the part of the Company and a substantial part of Bion's efforts are focused on such political and regulatory matters. Bion is currently pursuing the international opportunities primarily through the use of consultants with existing relationships in target countries. The most intense focus is currently on the requirements for the clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay faced by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the potential use of Bion’s technology and technology platform on CAFOs to remediate ammonia release (and re-deposition to the ground and water) and as an alternative to what the Company believes is far more expensive nutrient removal downstream in storm water and other projects.
Additionally, the Kreider agreements provide for Bion to develop a waste treatment/renewable energy production facility to treat the waste from Kreider's approximately 6+ million chickens (planned to expand to approximately 9-10 million)(and potentially other poultry operations and/or other waste streams)('Kreider Renewable Energy Facility' or ' Kreider 2 Project'). On May 5, 2016, the Company executed a stand-alone joint venture agreement with Kreider Farms covering all matters related to development and operation of a system to treat the waste streams from Kreider's poultry facilities in Bion PA2 LLC ("PA2"). The Company continues its development work related to the details of the Kreider 2 Project. During May 2011 the PADEP certified Kreider 2 Project for 559,457 nutrient credits under the old EPA's Chesapeake Bay model. The Company anticipates that the Kreider 2 Project will be re-certified for between 1.5-2 million (or more) nutrient reduction credits (for treatment of the waste stream from Kreider's poultry) pursuant to the Company's pending reapplication (or subsequent amended application) during 2018 pursuant to the amended EPA Chesapeake Bay model and agreements between the EPA and PA. Note that this Project may be expanded in the future to treat wastes from other local and regional CAFOs (poultry and/or dairy - including the Kreider Dairy) and/or Kreider poultry expansion (some of which may not qualify for nutrient reduction credits). The review process to clarify certain issues related to credit calculation and verification commenced during 2014 based on Bion’s 2G Tech but has been largely placed on hold while certain matters are resolved between the EPA and PA and pending development of a robust market for nutrient reductions in PA. The Company anticipates it will submit an amended application based on our 3G Technology once these matters are clear. Site specific design and engineering work for this facility, which will probably be the first full-scale project to utilize Bion's 3G Tech, have not commenced, and the Company does not yet have financing in place for the Kreider 2 Project. This opportunity is being pursued through PA2. If there are positive developments related to the market for nutrient reductions in PA, of which there is no assurance, the Company intends to pursue development, design and construction of the Kreider 2 Project with a goal of achieving operational status of its initial modules during the 2019 calendar year, and hopes to enter into agreements related to sales of the nutrient reduction credits for future delivery (under long term contracts) during the 2019 fiscal year subject to verification by the PADEP based on operating data from the Kreider 2 Project. The economics (potential revenues and profitability) of the Kreider 2 Project, despite its use of Bion's 3G Tech for increased recovery of marketable by-products, are based in material part the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up. However, liquidity in the PA nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which lack of liquidity has negatively impacted Bion's business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reduction credits generated by PA1's existing Kreider 1 project and will most likely delay PA2's Kreider 2 Project and other proposed projects in PA.
Note that while Bion believes that the Kreider 1 System (when re-started), the Kreider 2 Project and/or subsequent Bion Projects will eventually generate revenue from the sale of: a) nutrient reductions (credits or in other form), b) renewable energy (and related credits), c) sales of fertilizer products, and/or d) potentially, in time, credits for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, plus e) license fees related to a ‘sustainable brand’. We believe that the potential market is very large, but it is not possible to predict the exact timing and/or magnitude of these potential markets at this time.
The Company anticipates that the Kreider 2 poultry waste treatment facility in PA will be its initial Project. Bion anticipates that it will select a site for the Kreider 2 Project and/or its initial Integrated Project (and possibly additional Projects) during the current fiscal year if SB575 becomes law in PA. Bion hopes to commence development of its initial Project by optioning land and beginning the site specific design and permitting process during the current year, but delays are possible. It is not possible at this time to firmly predict where the initial Project will be developed or the order in which Projects will be developed. All potential Projects are in very early pre-development stages and may never progress to actual development or may be developed after other Projects not yet under active consideration.
Bion also hopes to be able to move forward on additional Projects through 2020-22 to create a pipeline of Projects. Management has a 5-year development target (through calendar year 2025) of approximately 10 or more Projects. Management hopes to have identified and begun development work related to 3-5 Projects over the next 2 years. At the end of the 5-year period, Bion projects that 3-8 of these Projects will be in full operation in 3-6 states (and possibly one or more foreign countries), and the balance would be in various stages ranging from partial operation to early development stage. It is possible that one or more Projects will be developed in joint ventures specifically targeted to meet the growing animal protein demand outside of the United States (including without limitation Asia, Europe and/or the Middle East). No Projects (including Integrated Projects) has been developed to date.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
We have the following material contractual obligations (in addition to employment and consulting agreements with management and employees):
During 2008 the Company commenced actively pursuing the opportunity presented by environmental retrofit and remediation of the waste streams of existing CAFOs which effort has met with very limited success to date. The first commercial activity in this area is represented by our agreement with Kreider Farms ("KF"), pursuant to which the Kreider 1 system to treat KF's dairy waste streams to reduce nutrient releases to the environment while generating marketable nutrient credits and renewable energy was designed, constructed and entered full-scale operation during 2011. On January 26, 2009 the Board of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority ("Pennvest") approved a $7.75 million loan to Bion PA 1, LLC ("PA1"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for the initial Kreider Farms project ("Kreider 1 System"). After substantial unanticipated delays, on August 12, 2010 PA1 received a permit for construction of the Kreider 1 system. Construction activities commenced during November 2010. The closing/settlement of the Pennvest Loan took place on November 3, 2010. PA1 finished the construction of the Kreider 1 System and entered a period of system 'operational shakedown' during May 2011. The Kreider 1System reached full, stabilized operation by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. During 2011 the PADEP re-certified the nutrient credits for this project. The PADEP issued final permits for the Kreider 1 System (including the credit verification plan) on August 1, 2012 on which date the Company deemed that the Kreider System was 'placed in service'. As a result, PA1 commenced generating nutrient reduction credits for potential sale while continuing to utilize the Kreider 1 system to test improvements and add-ons. However, to date liquidity in the Pennsylvania nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which limited liquidity/depth has negatively impacted Bion's business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reductions created by PA1's existing Kreider 1 project and Bion's other proposed projects. These difficulties have prevented PA1 from generating any material revenues from the Kreider 1 project to date and raise significant questions as to when, if ever, PA1 will be able to generate such revenues from the Kreider 1 system. PA1 has had sporadic discussions/negotiations with Pennvest related to forbearance and/or re-structuring its obligations pursuant to the Pennvest Loan for more than three years. In the context of such discussions/negotiations, PA1 elected not to make interest payments to Pennvest on the Pennvest Loan since January 2013. Additionally, the Company has not made any principal payments, which were to begin in fiscal 2013, and, therefore, the Company has classified the Pennvest Loan as a current liability as of June 30, 2019. Due to the failure of the PA nutrient reduction credit market to develop, the Company determined that the carrying amount of the property and equipment related to the Kreider 1 project exceeded its estimated future undiscounted cash flows based on certain assumptions regarding timing, level and probability of revenues from sales of nutrient reduction credits and, therefore, PA1 and the Company recorded impairments related to the value of the Kreider 1 assets of $1,750,000 and $2,000,000 at June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively. During the 2016 fiscal year, PA1 and the Company recorded an impairment of $1,684,562 to the value of the Kreider 1 assets which reduced the value on the Company's books to zero. This impairment reflects management's judgment that the salvage value of the Kreider 1 assets roughly equals PA1's contractual obligations related to the Kreider 1 system, including expenses related to decommissioning of the Kreider 1 system, costs associated with needed capital upgrade expenses, and re-certification/ permitting amendments.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payments demanded by Pennvest. PA1 has commenced discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but Pennvest has rejected PA1's proposal made during the fall of 2014. As of the date of this report, no formal proposals are currently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of this matter, but the Company believes that a loan modification agreement (coupled with an agreement regarding an update and restart of full operations of KF1) may be reached in the future if/when a more robust market for nutrient reductions develops in PA, of which there is no assurance. PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
The economics (potential revenues, profitability and continued operation) of the Kreider 1 System are based almost entirely on the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up.
During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 system met the 'technology guaranty' standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan is now solely an obligation of PA1.
The Company is currently operating the Kreider 1 System in a limited manner pending development of a more robust market for its nutrient reductions.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements (as that term is defined in Item 303 of Regulation S-K) that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
N/A
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
The consolidated financial statements are set forth on pages through hereto.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of June 30, 2019, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's President and Principal Financial Officer (the same person), management has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operations of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the President and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2019 as a result of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting discussed below.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-15(f). Our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (the same person) conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO Framework") and the related guidance provided in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - Guidance for Smaller Public Companies, also issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations.
Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of June 30, 2019. Our President and Principal Financial Officer concluded we have a material weakness due to lack of segregation of duties. Our size has prevented us from being able to employ sufficient resources to enable us to have an adequate level of supervision and segregation of duties within our internal control system. There is one person involved in the processing of the Company's accounting and banking transactions and a single person with overall supervision and review of the cash disbursements and receipts and the overall accounting process. Therefore, while there are some compensating controls in place, it is difficult to ensure effective segregation of accounting duties. While we strive to segregate duties as much as practicable, there is an insufficient volume of transactions to justify additional full time staff. As a result of this material weakness, we have implemented remediation procedures whereby in May 2006 we engaged an outside accounting and consulting firm with SEC and US GAAP experience to assist us with the preparation of our financial statements, evaluation of complex accounting issues and the implementation of systems to improve controls and review procedures over all financial statement and account balances. We believe that this outside consultant's review improved our disclosure controls and procedures. If this review is effective throughout a period of time, we believe it will help remediate the segregation of duties material weakness. However, we may not be able to fully remediate the material weakness unless we hire more staff. We will continue to monitor and assess the costs and benefits of additional staffing.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit the Company to provide only management's report on internal control in this annual report.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
Our directors, executive officers and significant employees/consultants, along with their respective ages and positions are as follows:
Mark A. Smith (69) currently serves Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. as Executive Chairman, President, General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer and a director and has continually served in senior positions since late March 2003. Since that time, he has also served as sole director, President and General Counsel of Bion's wholly-owned subsidiaries including Project Group and Services Group. Since mid-February 2003, Mr. Smith has served as sole director and President and General Counsel of Bion's majority-owned subsidiary, Centerpoint Corporation. Mr. Smith also serves as Manager of Bion PA1, LLC and Bion PA2, LLC. Previously, from May 21, 1999 through January 31, 2002, Mr. Smith served as a director of Bion. From July 23, 1999, when he became President of Bion, until mid-2001 when he ceased to be Chairman, Mr. Smith served in senior positions with Bion on a consulting basis. Additionally, Mr. Smith was the president of RSTS Corporation prior to its acquisition of Bion Technologies, Inc. in 1992. Mr. Smith received a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado (1980) and a BS from Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts (1971). Mr. Smith has engaged in the private practice of law in Colorado since 1980. In addition, Mr. Smith has been active in running private family companies, Stonehenge Corporation (until 1994), LoTayLingKyur, Inc. (1994-2002) and LoTayLingKyur, LLC (2007-present). Until returning to Bion during March 2003, Mr. Smith had been in retirement with focus on charitable work and spiritual retreat. Since July 2018 Mr. Smith has taken on interim senior executive duties at Grow-Ray Technologies, Inc., a private LED lighting company based in Boulder, Colorado, on a consulting basis.
Edward T. Schafer (73) Edward Schafer previously served the Company's senior management team as Executive Vice Chairman and has been a member of the Company's Board of Directors since January 1, 2011. Mr. Schafer served as a consultant to Bion since July 2010. Mr. Schafer served as a director of Continental Resources (NYSE-CLR) 2011-2016. He also chairs the Board of Directors of Dynamic Food Ingredients and the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. In addition he has served on the Board of Governors of Amity Technology LLP since 2009 and the Board of Directors of AGCO-Amity JV since it was formed in 2011. Mr. Schafer served as a trustee of the Investors Real Estate Trust (NASDAQGS-IRET) from September 2009 to October 2011. He also served as a trustee of the IRET from September 2006 through December 2007, when he resigned from the IRET's Board to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President George W. Bush. Mr. Schafer, a private investor, is a former Governor of North Dakota. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Extend America, a telecommunications company, from 2001 to 2006, and he has been a member of the Boards of RDO Equipment Co., a privately-owned agricultural and construction equipment company (August 2001 to July 2003) and the University of North Dakota Foundation (June 2005 to December 2007). He completed a six month term as Interim President of the University of North Dakota in 2016. Mr. Schafer brings the following experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to the Company: general business management, budgeting and strategic planning experience from his service as Chief Executive Officer of Extend America and extensive government, regulatory, strategic planning, budgeting administrative and public affairs experience from his service as Governor of North Dakota and Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture.
Jon Northrop (76) has served as our Secretary and a Director since March of 2003. Since September 2001 he has been self employed as a consultant with a practice focused on business buyer advocacy. Mr. Northrop is one of our founders and served as our Chief Executive Officer and a Director from our inception in September 1989 until August 2001. Before founding Bion Technologies, Inc., he served in a wide variety of managerial and executive positions. He was the Executive Director of Davis, Graham & Stubbs, one of Denver's largest law firms, from 1981 to 1989. Prior to his law firm experience, Mr. Northrop worked at Samsonite Corporation's Luggage Division in Denver, Colorado, for over 12 years. His experience was in all aspects of manufacturing, systems design and implementation, and planning and finance, ending with three years as the Division's Vice President, Finance. Mr. Northrop has a bachelor's degree in Physics from Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts (1965), an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (1969), and spent several years conducting post graduate research in low energy particle physics at Case Institute of Technology, Cleveland.
Dominic Bassani (72) has served as Chief Executive Officer of Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. since April 2011. Previously he was a full-time consultant to the Company and served as the General Manager of Bion's Projects Group subsidiary from April 2003 through September 2006. From September 15, 2008 he has served as Director-Special Projects and Strategic Planning of the Company and our Projects Group subsidiary. He has been an investor in and consultant to Bion since December 1999. He is an independent investor and since 1990 has owned and operated Brightcap, a management consulting company that provides management services to early stage technology companies. He was a founding investor in 1993 in Initial Acquisition Corp. that subsequently merged in 1995 with Hollis Eden Corp. (HEPH), a biotech company specializing in immune response drugs. From early 1998 until June 1999 he was a consultant to Internet Commerce Corp. (re-named EasyLink Services International Corporation) (ESIC), a leader in business-to-business transactions using the Internet. He is presently an investor in numerous private and public companies primarily in technology related businesses. From 1980 until 1986, Mr. Bassani focused primarily on providing management reorganization services to manufacturing companies and in particular to generic pharmaceutical manufacturers and their financial sponsors.
Family Relationships
There are currently no family relationships among our Directors and Executive Officers.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and stockholders owning more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is not aware of any persons who failed to timely file reports under this section.
Involvement in Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, during the past five years, none of the following occurred with respect to our directors or executive officers:
(1)
any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which one of them was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
(2)
any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
(3)
being subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily inquiring, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities; and
(4)
being found by a court of competent jurisdiction, the SEC or the CFTC to have violated Federal or state securities or commodities laws.
Audit Committee
The Company has no audit committee and is not now required to have one, or an audit committee financial expert.
Code of Ethics
To date, the Company has not adopted a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to its officers, directors or accounting officer.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The Company does not have a compensation committee due to its small size and limited resources. The Board of Directors directly reviews and authorizes all compensation matters.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to, or accrued for, each of our current and former executive officers during each of our last two fiscal years and the compensation paid to, or accrued for, each of our significant employees and consultants for the same period.
Summary Compensation
1.
Includes compensation paid by Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries.
2.
Reflects the dollar amount expensed by the Company during the applicable fiscal year for financial statement
3.
Effective October 2015, Mr. Smith agreed to provide services to Bion and subsidiaries, through an extension of a previously extended employment agreement, through June 30, 2016 at an annual salary of $228,000. In October 2016, the Company approved a month to month contract extension with Smith which included the issuance of 25,000 bonus shares which were subsequently cancelled), the grant of 75,000 options which vested immediately, a monthly deferred salary of $18,000 effective October 1, 2016 and the right to convert up to $125,000 of his deferred compensation, at his sole election, at $0.75 per share (which was expanded on April 27, 2017 to the right to convert up to $300,000) and the right to convert his deferred compensation in whole or in part, at his sole election, at any time in any amount at "market" or into securities sold in the Company's most current/recent private offering until December 31, 2019.
4.
In September 2014 the Company entered into an extension agreement with Brightcap for services provided to the Company by Dominic Bassani at an annual salary of $312,000 for services provided through April 15, 2015. On February 10, 2015, Mr. Bassani agreed to an extension to continue his employment through December 31, 2017 at an annual salary of $372,000 effective January 1, 2015. During October 2016, Bassani was granted the right to convert up to $125,000 of his deferred compensation, at his sole election, at $0.75 per share which was expanded on April 27, 2017 to the right to convert up to $300,000). During February 2018, the Company agreed to the material terms of a binding two-year extension agreement, while a fully executed agreement is still being negotiated. Bassani's annual salary will remain at $372,000 and the Company agreed to pay him $2,000 per month to be applied to life insurance premiums. The Company granted Bassani 2,000,000 fully vested options at $0.75 per share with an expiry date of December 31, 2022 which contain a 90% execution bonus and the options may be extended for an additional 5 years at $0.01 per share per extension year.
5.
Mr. Schafer's compensation is determined periodically based on evaluation by the board of directors.
Employment Agreements:
Mark A. Smith (“Smith”) has held the positions of Director, President and General Counsel of Company and its subsidiaries under various agreements and terms since March 2003 (details regard earlier years and periods between 2003 and 2011 may be found in the Company’s prior Forms 10-K and other SEC filings). During July 2011, the Company entered into an extension agreement pursuant to which Smith continued to hold his current positions in the Company through a date no later than December 31, 2012. Commencing January 1, 2012, Smith’s monthly salary was $20,000, which has been accrued and deferred. In addition, Smith has been issued 90,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in two tranches of 45,000 shares on each of January 15, 2013 and 2014, respectively. As part of the extension agreement, Mr. Smith was also granted 200,000 options, which vested immediately, to purchase common shares of the Company at a price of $3.00 per share and which options expire on December 31, 2019. Effective July 15, 2012, the Company entered into an extension agreement pursuant to which Smith will continue to hold his current positions in the Company through a date no later than June 30, 2014. Effective September 2012, Smith’s monthly salary became $21,000 (which is currently being deferred). In addition, Smith was issued 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in two tranches of 75,000 shares on each of January 15, 2014 and 2015, which shares vested immediately. As part of the extension agreement, Smith was also granted a bonus of $25,000 paid in warrants, which vested immediately, to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $2.10 per share and which warrants expire on December 31, 2018 and a contingent stock bonus of 100,000 shares payable on the date on which the Company’s stock price first reaches $10.00 per share (regardless of whether Smith is still providing services to the Company on such date). Mr. Smith has voluntarily reduced his monthly deferred salary accrual to $14,000 due to the Company’s financial situation. During September 2014, Smith agreed to continue his employment agreement through April 15, 2015 and also agreed to continue to defer his temporarily reduced salary of $14,000 per month. On February 10, 2015, the Company executed an Extension Agreement with Smith pursuant to which Smith extended his employment with the Company to December 31, 2015 (with the Company having an option to extend his employment an additional six months). As part of the Extension Agreement, the balance of Smith’s existing convertible note payable of $854,316 as of December 31, 2014, adjusted for conversions subsequent to that date, was replaced with a new convertible note with an initial principal amount of $760,519 with terms that i) materially reduced the interest rate by 50% (from 8% to 4%), ii) increased the conversion price by 11% (from $0.45 to $0.50), iii) set the conversion price at a fixed price so there can be no further reductions, iv) reduced the number of warrants received on conversion by 75% (from 1 warrant per unit to 1/4 per unit) and v) extended the maturity date to December 31, 2017 (which maturity date was subsequently extended to July 1, 2019). Additionally, pursuant to the Extension Agreement, Smith: i) continued to defer his cash compensation ($18,000 per month) until the Board of Directors re-instates cash payments to all employees and consultants who are deferring their compensation, ii) cancelled 150,000 contingent stock bonuses previously granted to him by the Company, iii) has been granted 150,000 new options which vested immediately and iv) outstanding options and warrants owned by Smith (and his donees) have been extended and had the exercise prices reduced to $1.50 (if above that price). Due to expiration of his most recent extension, Mr. Smith is currently serving the Company on a month-to -month basis.
Dominic Bassani (“Bassani”) has served in senior management positions with the Company (as a full-time consultant) since 2001 (see prior Forms 10-K for earlier years and other filings with the SEC). Since March 31, 2005, the Company has had various agreements with Brightcap, Bassani’s family consulting company, through which the services of Bassani were provided through 2011. On September 30, 2009 the Company entered into an extension agreement with Brightcap pursuant to which Bassani provided services to the Company through September 30, 2012 for $312,000 annually (currently deferred). The Board appointed Bassani as the Company's CEO effective May 13, 2011. On July 15, 2011, Bassani, Brightcap and the Company agreed to an extension/amendment of the existing agreement with Brightcap which provided that Bassani serve as CEO through June 30, 2013 and would continue to provide full-time services to the Company in other capacities through June 30, 2014 at a salary of $26,000 per month. In addition Bassani was to be issued 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable in three tranches of 100,000 shares on each of January 15, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Bassani was also granted 725,000 options, which vested immediately, to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at $3.00 per share which options expired on December 31, 2019. Effective July 15, 2012, Bassani, Brightcap and the Company agreed to a further extension/amendment of the existing agreement with Brightcap which provided that Bassani would continue to provide the services of CEO through June 30, 2014. Bassani continued to provide full-time services to the Company at a cash salary of $26,000 per month (which has been deferred) and Bassani would be issued 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable in two tranches of 150,000 shares on each of January 15, 2015 and 2016, respectively, which shares would be immediately vested upon issuance. As part of the extension agreement, Bassani was also granted a bonus of $5,000 paid in warrants, which vested immediately, to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $2.10 per share and which warrants expired on December 31, 2018. During September 2014, Bassani agreed to extend his employment agreement until April 15, 2015 and that previously issued and expensed share grants of 100,000 and 150,000 shares that were to be issued on January 15, 2015, would be deferred until January 15, 2016. On February 10, 2015, the Company executed an Extension Agreement with Bassani pursuant to which Bassani extended the term of his service to the Company to December 31, 2017, (with the Company having an option to extend the term an additional six months.) As part of the agreement, the Company’s existing loan payable, deferred compensation and convertible note payable to Bassani, were restructured into two promissory notes as follows: a) The of sum of the cash loaned by Bassani to the Company of $279,000 together with $116,277 of unreimbursed expenses through December 31, 2014 were placed into a new promissory note with initial principal of $395,277 which was due and payable on December 31, 2015. In connection with these sums and the new promissory note, Bassani was issued warrants to purchase 592,916 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.00 until December 31, 2020; and b) the remaining balances of the Company’s accrued obligations to Bassani ($1,464,545) were replaced with a new convertible promissory note with terms that compared with the largest prior convertible note obligation to Bassani: i) materially reduced the interest rate by 50% (from 8% to 4%), ii) increased the conversion price by 11% (from $0.45 to $0.50), iii) set the conversion price at a fixed price so there can be no further reductions, iv) reduced the number of warrants received on conversion by 75% (from 1 warrant per unit to 1/4 per unit) and v) extended the maturity date to December 31, 2017 (See Note 6 to Financial Statements) (which maturity date was subsequently extended to July 1, 2019. Additionally, pursuant to the Extension Agreement, Bassani i) will continue to defer his cash compensation ($31,000 per month) until the Board of Directors re-instates cash payments to all employees and consultants who are deferring their compensation, ii) cancelled 250,000 contingent stock bonuses previously granted to him by the Company, iii) has been granted 450,000 new options which vested immediately and iv) outstanding options and warrants owned by Bassani (and his donees) have been extended and had the exercise prices reduced to $1.50(if above that price). On May 5, 2013, the Board of Directors approved agreements with Bassani and Smith, with effective date of May 15, 2013, in which Bassani and Smith agreed to continue to defer their respective cash compensation through April 30, 2014 (unless the Board of Directors elected to re-commence cash payment on an earlier date) and extended the due dates of their respective deferred cash compensation until January 15, 2015. The Company provided Bassani and Smith with convertible promissory notes which reflected all the terms of these agreements to which future accruals were added as additional principal. These convertible promissory notes were altered as set forth in the paragraphs below. As part of the agreements, Bassani and Smith also forgave any possible obligations that Bion may have owed each of them in relation to unused vacation time for periods (over 10 years) prior to June 30, 2012. In consideration of these agreements, Bassani and Smith: a) have been granted 50% ‘execution/exercise’ bonuses to be effective upon future exercise of outstanding (or subsequently acquired) options and warrants owned by Bassani and Smith (and their respective donees) and in relation to contingent stock bonuses; b) their warrants and options, if due to expire prior to December 31, 2018, were extended to that date (and later further extended); and c) other modifications were made.
Effective January 1, 2011, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Edward Schafer (“Schafer”) pursuant to which for a period of three years, Schafer provided senior management services to the Company on an approximately 75% full time basis, initially as Executive Vice Chairman and as a director. Compensation for Schafer’s services were initially set at an annual rate of $250,000, which was to consist of $150,000 in cash compensation and $100,000 payable in the Company’s common stock. Commencing the month following the first calendar month-end after the Company has completed an equity financing in excess of $3,000,000 (net of commissions and other offering expenses), Schafer’s compensation was to be at an annual rate of $225,000, all of which would have been payable in cash. Effective July 15, 2012, the Company entered into a deferral/employment/ compensation agreement with Schafer pursuant to which Schafer provided senior management services to the Company on an approximately 75% full time basis, as Executive Vice Chairman and as a director. Basic compensation for Schafer’s services remained unchanged and Schafer was issued 100,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at $2.10 per share until December 31, 2018, which options immediately vested and a contingent stock bonus of 25,000 shares payable on January 1 of the first year after the Company’s stock price first reaches $10.00 per share (regardless of whether Schafer is still providing services to the Company on such date). Since May 15, 2012 Schafer has deferred the cash portion of the compensation due him from the Company, in consideration of which he has been granted a 50% ‘execution/exercise’ bonus to be effective upon future exercise of outstanding (or subsequently acquired) options and warrants owned by Schafer (and his donees) and in relation to contingent stock bonuses. Effective January 1, 2014, Mr. Schafer agreed to continue his services to the Company as Director and Executive Vice-Chairman without periodic compensation in light of the Company’s financial situation. Mr. Schafer agreed not to receive any periodic compensation (cash or deferred) commencing January 1, 2014 and agreed to be compensated with bonuses from time-to-time as determined to be appropriate by the Board of Directors. No such bonuses have been declared to date. On February 10, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with Schafer pursuant to which Schafer continued to provide services to the Company through December 31, 2015. As part of the agreement, unreimbursed expenses of $15,956 due to Schafer at December 31, 2014 were replaced with a new promissory note with initial principal of $15,956 which was due and payable on December 31, 2015 and Schafer was issued warrants to purchase 7,978 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $1.00 until December 31, 2020. Schaefer’s deferred compensation for 2014 (and prior years) in the amount of $394,246 (including a sum of $120,000 for calendar year 2014) was placed in a convertible promissory note (See Note 6 to Financial Statements). Additionally, pursuant to the agreement, i) the exercise period of outstanding options and warrants owned by Schafer have been extended, ii) certain of Schafer’s outstanding options and warrants had the exercise prices reduced to $1.50 (if above that price), and iii) 25,000 contingent stock bonuses previously granted to Schafer have been cancelled by the Company. Effective June 30, 2016, Schafer and the Company determined that due to other obligations Schafer’s involvement with the Company during the 2016 fiscal year was less than anticipated and reduced his fiscal year 2016 compensation (all of which had been deferred) by $160,000 and agreed that future compensation will be determined periodically based on evaluation by the board of directors
Bassani, Smith and Schafer each agreed, effective June 30, 2017, to extend the maturity date of the outstanding convertible promissory notes set forth in the paragraphs above from December 31, 2017 to July 1, 2019 which maturity date was subsequently extended to July 1, 2021.
Other Agreements
The Company has declared contingent deferred stock bonuses to its key employees and consultants at various times throughout the years. The stock bonuses were contingent upon the Company’s stock price exceeding a certain target price per share, and the grantees still being employed by or providing services to the Company at the time the target prices are reached. During the year ended June 30, 2017, pursuant to agreement with the employees and a consultant who had been granted the outstanding contingent stock bonuses, the Company cancelled all 117,500 outstanding contingent stock bonuses. In consideration for the cancellations, the Company granted 109,500 fully vested options to these employees and a consultant to purchase common stock of the Company at $1.00 per share until December 31, 2020.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock covered by outstanding stock option awards that are exercisable and unexercisable, and the number of shares of common stock covered by unvested restricted stock awards for each of our named executive officers as of June 30, 2019.
Director Compensation
Members of the Board of Directors do not currently receive any cash compensation for their services as Directors, but are entitled to be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses in attending meetings of the Board. However, it is the Company's intention to begin to pay cash compensation to Board members at some future date.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation paid to directors during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019:
(1)
Reflects the dollar amount expensed by the Company during the applicable fiscal year for financial statement reporting purposes pursuant to ASC 718.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
As of August 21, 2019, the Registrant had 28,115,688 shares of common stock issued and 27,411,379 shares of common stock outstanding (the balance of 704,309 shares are owned by Centerpoint, the Company's majority-owned subsidiary).
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of August 21, 2019 by:
·
each person that is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock;
·
each of our directors;
·
each of our executive officers and significant employees; and
·
all our executive officers, directors and significant employees as a group.
Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, beneficial ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to securities and includes the shares issuable under stock options, warrants and convertible securities that are exercisable/convertible within sixty (60) days of August 21, 2018. Those shares issuable under stock options, warrants and/or convertible securities are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of each person holding options, warrants and/or convertible securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. The percentage of beneficial ownership schedule is based upon 25,991,394 shares outstanding as of August 15, 2018. The address for those individuals for which an address is not otherwise provided is c/o Bion Environmental Technologies, c/o PO Box 323, Old Bethpage, NY 11604 . To our knowledge, except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting power and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock listed as owned by them.
___________________________
(1)
Centerpoint Corporation is currently majority owned by the Company. Under Colorado law, Centerpoint Corporation is not entitled to vote these shares unless otherwise ordered by a court. These shares of common stock may be distributed to the shareholders of Centerpoint Corporation at a future date pursuant to a dividend declared during July 2004. The shares distributed to Bion, if any, will be cancelled immediately upon receipt.
(2)
Includes 62,201 shares, 3,175,000 shares underlying options and 2,465,000 shares underlying warrants held directly by Mr. Bassani, 354,342 shares and 250,000 shares underlying warrants held by Mr. Bassani’s wife; and 839,933 shares held in IRA accounts of Mr. Bassani and his wife. Also includes 576,000 shares owned by Mr. Bassani’s daughter, Danielle Lominy (formerly Danielle Bassani), 646,458 shares underlying warrants owned by Danielle Lominy and 1,500,000 warrants issued to Dominic Bassani 2019 Irrevocable Trust of which Danielle Lominy is the beneficiary. Also includes 3,465,798 shares and 1,732,899 warrants underlying units that could be issued on the conversion by Bassani of a deferred compensation promissory note in the amount of $1,732,899. Mr. Bassani has the option to convert this amount into units with each unit consisting of 1 share of common stock and ½ warrant exercisable at $1.00 per share until December 31, 2020. The conversion price will be $0.50 per unit. Also includes 267,410 shares of common stock that could be issued on the conversion (at the election of Bassani) by Mr. Bassani of convertible notes in the amount of $160,446. The conversion price will be $0.60 per share. Also includes 747,119 shares of common stock that could be issued on the conversion (at the election of Bassani) by Bassani of deferred compensation in the amount of $395,973. The note is convertible at $0.53 per share (current market value at 7/31/2019) pursuant to agreements with the Company. Mr. Bassani disclaims ownership of 1,511,477 shares underlying warrants held by the Danielle Christine Bassani Trust, which is separately itemized herein. Mr. Bassani’s adult daughter Danielle Lominy (formerly Danielle Bassani), who lives with him, is the beneficiary of the Danielle Christine Bassani Trust and Mr. Bassani is not one of the trustees of the trust. Mr. Bassani further disclaims beneficial ownership of shares and warrants owned by various other family members (including Christopher Parlow who is itemized separately), none of whom live with him or are his dependents, and such shares are not included in this calculation.
(3)
Includes 570,063 shares held directly by Mr. Orphanos plus 156,750 shares underlying warrants held directly by Mr. Orphanos; 120,263 shares held jointly with his wife; 1,425,374 shares held in IRA accounts; and 669,482 shares of common stock that could be issued on conversion of $401,689 convertible notes (conversion price $.60 per share). Not included are 400,000 shares and 1,511,477 shares underlying warrants held by the Danielle Christine Bassani Trust, of which Mr. Orphanos is a co-trustee, and 3,019,777 common shares owned by certain clients of Blacksmith Advisors, over which Mr. Orphanos exercises discretionary authority (which shares include: a) 839,933 shares held in IRA accounts for Mr. Bassani and his wife; b) 354,342 shares held by Mr. Bassani’s wife; c) 5,624 shares held by Mr. Bassani personally; and d) 68,000 shares owned by Danielle Lominy (formerly Danielle Bassani). Mr. Orphanos disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares listed in the preceding sentences because he has no pecuniary interest in the shares.
(4)
Includes 176,000 shares held directly by Danielle Lominy (formerly Danielle Bassani), 1,511,477 shares underlying warrants held by The Danielle Christine Bassani Trust, Anthony Orphanos and Donald Codignotto, trustees; 400,000 shares owned by the Danielle Bassani Trust, 311,458 shares underlying warrants, 105,000 shares underlying warrants owned jointly with husband and 230,000 shares underlying warrants owned by Danielle Lominy’s daughter and 1,500,000 warrants issued to the Dominic Bassani 2019 Irrevocable Trust of which Danielle Lominy is a beneficiary.
(5)
Includes 325,809 shares held jointly by Mark A. Smith with his wife, 62,535 shares held by Mark Smith in an IRA; 1,375,000 shares underlying options held directly by Mr. Smith, 1,517,186 shares underlying warrants held directly by Mr. Smith; 53,756 shares held by his wife in her IRA, 12,681 shares of common stock held by LoTayLingKyur Foundation and 260,000 shares of common stock held by LoTayLingKyur LLC which is controlled by Mr. Smith and his wife. Also includes 1,799,742 shares and 899,871 warrants underlying units that could be issued on the conversion (at the election of Mr. Smith) by Mr. Smith of a deferred compensation promissory note in the amount of $899,871. Mr. Smith has the option to convert this amount into units with each unit consisting of 1 share of common stock and ½ warrant exercisable at $1.00 per share. The conversion price will be $0.50 per unit. Also includes 304,836 shares of common stock that could be issued on the conversion (at the election of Mr. Smith) by Mr. Smith of deferred compensation in the amount of $152,418. Does not include shares and warrants owned by various family members of which Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Smith is also the President of Centerpoint, although shares owned by Centerpoint are not entitled to a vote while held by Centerpoint.
(6)
Includes 158,254 shares held directly by Mr. Schafer, options to purchase 790,000 shares and warrants to purchase 23,934 shares. Also includes 895,211 shares and 447,605 warrants underlying units that could be issued on the conversion by Mr. Schafer of a deferred compensation promissory note in the amount of $447,605. Mr. Schafer has the option to convert this amount into units with each unit consisting of 1 share of common stock and ½ warrant exercisable at $1.00 per share until December 31, 2020. The conversion price is $0.50 per unit. Also includes 31,559 shares of common stock that could be issued on the conversion (at the election of Mr. Schafer) by Mr. Schafer of a convertible note in the amount of $18,935. The conversion price will be $0.60 per share.
(7)
Includes 127,289 shares held directly by Jon Northrop and options to purchase 292,500 shares held by Jon Northrop. Does not include shares or options owned by the adult children of Jon Northrop nor his former wife.
(8)
Includes 2,005 shares held directly by Christopher Parlow, 65,000 shares held jointly with wife, 250,000 shares owned by the Christopher Parlow Trust and 50,000 shares owned by Christopher Parlow’s minor daughters. Also includes 1,614,000 shares underlying warrants held by the Christopher Parlow Trust, 147,154 shares underlying warrants held jointly with wife, 150,000 warrants held directly by Mr. Parlow, 459,780 shares underlying warrants held by Mr. Parlow’s minor daughters and 1,500,000 shares underlying warrants issued to the Dominic Bassani 2019 Irrevocable Trust of which Mr. Parlow is a beneficiary.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Other than the employment/consulting agreements, deferred compensation arrangements and conversions of debt described above in Item 1 Business and Item 11 Executive Compensation, there are no related party transactions except that:
No directors of the Company are considered to be independent directors.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
Audit Fees
In December 2005, the Company engaged GHP Horwath, P.C. (now Crowe Horwath) as its independent registered public accounting firm. In January 2017 the Company engaged Eide Bailly LLP as its successor independent registered public accounting firm. The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018 by Crowe Horwath (formerly GHP Horwath, P.C.) and Eide Bailly LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements and reviews of interim financial statements included in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (and related matters) were $47,000 and $52,000, respectively.
Audit Related Fees
There were no fees billed by Crowe Horwath (formerly GHP Horwath, P.C.) and Eide Bailly LLP for audit-related fees in each of the last two fiscal years ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018.
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for tax services rendered by Crowe Horwath (formerly GHP Horwath, P.C.) and Eide Bailly LLP for tax compliance and related services for the two fiscal years ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018 were nil and $756, respectively.
All Other Fees
None.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
Under provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company's principal accountant may not be engaged to provide non-audit services that are prohibited by law or regulation to be provided by it, and the Board of Directors (which serves as the Company's audit committee) must pre-approve the engagement of the Company's principal accountant to provide audit and permissible non-audit services. The Company's Board has not established any policies or procedures other than those required by applicable laws and regulations.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description and Location
3.1
Articles of Incorporation. (1)
3.2
Bylaws. (1)
10.1
Subscription Agreement dated January 10, 2002 between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Centerpoint Corporation regarding issuance of stock in exchange for cash and claims regarding Aprilia. (1)
10.2
Agreement dated March 15, 2002 and effective January 15, 2002 between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Centerpoint Corporation regarding purchase of warrant and management agreement. (1)
10.3
Agreement dated February 12, 2003 between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Centerpoint Corporation canceling provisions of the Subscription Agreement by and between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Centerpoint Corporation. (1)
10.4
Promissory Note and Security Agreement between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Bright Capital, LLC. (1)
10.5
First Amendment to Lease between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Pan Am Equities Corp. (1)
10.6
Agreement between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Bergen Cove. (1)
10.7
Agreement between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and David Mitchell dated April 7, 2003. (1)
10.8
Letter Agreement with Bright Capital, Ltd. (1)
10.9
Agreement with OAM, S.p.A. dated May 2003. (1)
10.10
Amended Agreement with Centerpoint Corporation dated April 23, 2003. (1)
10.11
Form of Series A Secured Convertible Notes issued in August 2003. (1)
10.12
Financing Documents for Bion Dairy Corporation. (1)
10.13
Form of Class SV/DB Warrant. (1)
10.14
Form of Class SV/DM Warrant. (1)
10.15
Form of Series A* Secured Convertible Notes issued in April 2004. (1)
10.16
Form of Series B Secured Convertible Notes issued in Spring 2004. (1)
10.17
Form of Series B* Secured Convertible Notes issued in June 2004. (1)
10.18
Form of Series C Notes issued in September 2005. (1)
10.19
Form of 2006 Series A Convertible Promissory Notes issued in September 2006. (1)
10.20
Form of Non-Disclosure Agreement used by the Company. (1)
10.21
Promissory Note and Conversion Agreement between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Mark A. Smith related to deferred compensation. (1)
10.22
Promissory Note and Conversion Agreement between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Bright Capital, Ltd. related to deferred compensation. (1)
10.23
Employment agreement with Mark A. Smith. (1)
10.24
Employment agreement with Salvatore Zizza. (1)
10.25
Employment agreement with Bright Capital, Ltd. (1)
10.26
Employment agreement with Jeff Kapell. (1)
10.27
Employment agreement with Jeremy Rowland. (1)
10.28
Office lease at 641 Lexington Avenue, 17th Floor, New York. (1)
10.29
2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan. (1)
10.30
Memo to Dominic Bassani & Bright Capital, Ltd. dated October 16, 2006 regarding Change in Title/Status of DB/Amendment to Brightcap Agreement. (1)
10.31
Letter Agreement between Bion Dairy Corporation and Fair Oaks Dairy Farms dated June 19, 2006. (2)
10.32
Waiver and Release Agreement with Ardour Capital Investments, LLC. (2)
10.33
Promissory Note and Conversion Agreement for Mark Smith, dated January 1, 2007. (2)
10.34
Promissory Note and Conversion Agreement for Salvatore Zizza, dated January 1, 2007. (2)
10.35
Promissory Note and Conversion Agreement for Bright Capital, Ltd., dated January 1, 2007. (2)
10.36
Extension Agreement dated March 31, 2007 between the Company and Mark A Smith. (3)
10.37
Form of Note dated March 31, 2007 in the amount of $151,645.89 in favor of Mark A. Smith. (3)
10.38
Form of Note dated March 31, 2007 in the amount of $379,389.04 in favor of Salvatore Zizza. (3)
10.39
Form of Note dated March 31, 2007 in the amount of $455.486.30 in favor of Bright Capital, Ltd. (3)
10.40
Stipulation and Agreement of Compromise and Release dated May 21, 2007 between Centerpoint Corporation, Bion Environmental Technologies, Richard Anderson and Joseph Foglia, as Plaintiffs, and Comtech Group, Inc., OAM S.p.A., Invested Ernst & Company and others as Defendants. (4)
10.41
Stipulation and Agreement of Compromise, Settlement and Release dated May 15, 2007 between TCMP3 Partners, LLP as Plaintiff and Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Bion Dairy Corporation, among others, as Defendants. (4)
10.42
Stipulation and Agreement of Compromise, Settlement and Release as to Certain Defendants dated May 15, 2007 between TCMP3 Partners, LLP as Plaintiff and certain defendants other than Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Bion Dairy Corporation. (4)
10.43
Letter of Intent dated August 18, 2007 between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Evergreen Farm, Inc. (5)
10.44
Memorandum of Understanding with Kreider Farms. (6)
10.45
Subscription Agreement from Bright Capital, Ltd. (7)
10.46
Amendment to 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan. (7)
10.47
Agreement between the Company and Mark A. Smith dated May 31, 2008. (7)
10.48
2007 Series AB Convertible Promissory Note. (8)
10.49
Promissory Note between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Salvatore Zizza. (9)
10.50
Promissory Note between Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. and Dominic Bassani. (9)
10.51
Agreement between Jeff Kapell and Bion dated November 1, 2008. (10)
10.52
Agreement between David Mager and Bion dated November 1, 2008. (10)
10.53
Promissory Note between Anthony Orphanos and Bion dated October 30, 2008, Guaranteed by Dominic Bassani. (10)
10.54
Addendum to Settlement Agreement and Release Stipulation from Bion, Bion Dairy and Mark Smith dated October 31, 2008. (10)
10.55
Kreider Farms Agreement (September 25, 2008): REDACTED. (11)
10.56
Agreement between Salvatore Zizza and Bion effective December 31, 2008. (12)
10.57
Amendment #3 to 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan. (12)
10.58
Agreement between Bright Capital, Ltd. and Dominic Bassani and Bion effective January 11, 2009. (13)
10.59
Agreement between Mark A. Smith and Bion effective January 12, 2009. (13)
10.60
Orphanos Extension Agreement dated January 13, 2009. (13)
10.61
Articles of Amendment including Statement of Designation and Determination of Preferences of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. (14)
10.62
Lease Agreement between Ronald Kreider and Kreider Farms and Bion PA 1 LLC dated June 26, 2009. (15)
10.63
Capitalization Agreement between Bion Companies and Bion PA 1 LLC dated June 30, 2009. (15)
10.64
Zizza Notice re Master Sublease Option Exercise (November 20, 2009). (16)
10.65
Town of Schroeppel resolution (December 10, 2009). (16)
10.66
Articles of Amendment including Statement of Designation and Determination of Preferences of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. (17)
10.67
Extension Agreement with Mark A. Smith. (18)
10.68
Agreement with Edward Schafer. (18)
10.69
Accepted Funding Offer (base loan agreement) (without exhibits) with PENNVEST for Kreider Farms Project Loan -- effective November 3, 2010. (19)
10.70
Short Form Agreement. (20)
10.71
Resume of William O’Neill. (20)
10.72
Loan & Security Agreement with Milestone Bank. (21)
10.73
O'Neill Employment Agreement (dated December 22, 2010). (22)
10.74
Schafer Employment Agreement (dated December 21, 2010). (22)
10.75
Biography of Edward T. Schafer. (22)
10.76
James Morris Employment Agreement. (23)
10.77
John R. Grabowski Employment Agreement. (23)
10.78
Kreider Farms Clarification Agreement. (23)
10.79
Resignation of William O’Neill (effective May 13, 2011). (24)
10.80
PADEP Certification of Kreider Poultry Credits. (25)
10.81
Bassani/Bright Capital Extension Agreement (executed August 31, 2011) (26)
10.82
Smith Extension Agreement (executed August 31, 2011) (26)
10.83
Bloom Employment Agreement (executed September 30, 2011) (27)
10.84
Extension/Conversion Agreement with Smith and Bassani (dated March 31, 2012) (28)
10.85
Memorialization of extension of Maturity of Bassani convertible deferred compensation (dated July 31, 2012) (29)
10.86
Kreider Permit (dated August 1, 2012) (29)
10.87
Memorialization of Smith Extension Agreement (dated August 14, 2012) (30)
10.88
Memorialization of Bassani Extension Agreement (dated August 14, 2012) (30)
10.89
Memorialization of Schafer Agreement (dated August 21, 2012) (30)
10.90
Board Ratification dated May 5, 2013 (31)
10.91
Demand Promissory Note dated May 13, 2013 (31)
10.92
Pennvest Demand Letter (dated September 25, 2014) (32)
10.93
Extension Agreement with Mark A. Smith (w/o exhibits) (February 10, 2015) (33)
10.94
Extension Agreement with Dominic Bassani (w/o exhibits) (February 10, 2015) (33)
10.95
Agreement with Edward Schafer (w/o exhibits) (February 10, 2015) (33)
10.96
Convertible Promissory Note between the Company and Dominic Bassani dated September 8, 2015 (34)
10.97
Convertible Promissory Note between the Company and Edward Schafer dated September 8, 2015 (34)
10.98
Convertible Promissory Note between the Company and Anthony Orphanos dated September 8, 2015 (34)
10.99
Kreider Poultry Joint Venture Agreement (May 5, 2016) (35)
10.100
Bassani Warrant Purchase effective August 1, 2018
10.101
Smith Warrant Purchase effective August 1, 2018
10.102
Amendment #9 to 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, as amended
Subsidiaries of the Registrant. (1)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Filed herewith electronically.
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Filed herewith electronically.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 - Filed herewith electronically.
32.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 - Filed herewith electronically.
_______________
(1)
Filed with Form 10SB12G on November 14, 2006.
(2)
Filed with Form 10SB12G/A on February 1, 2007.
(3)
Filed with Form 8-K on April 3, 2007.
(4)
Filed with Form 8-K on August 13, 2007.
(5)
Filed with Form 8-K on August 22, 2007.
(6)
Filed with Form 8-K on February 27, 2008.
(7)
Filed with Form 8-K on June 3, 2008.
(8)
Filed with Form 8-K on June 19, 2008.
(9)
Filed with Form 8-K on September 30, 2008.
(10)
Filed with Form 8-K on November 13, 2008.
(11)
Filed with September 30, 2008 Form 10-Q on November 14, 2008.
(12)
Filed with Form 8-K on January 6, 2009.
(13)
Filed with Form 8-K on January 15, 2009.
(14)
Filed with March 31, 2009 Form 10-Q on May 14, 2009.
(15)
Filed with Form 8-K on July 2, 2009.
(16)
Filed with Form 8-K on December 15, 2009.
(17)
Filed with December 31, 2009 Form 10-Q on February 9, 2010.
(18)
Filed with Form 8-K on August 18, 2010.
(19)
Filed with Form 8-K on November 3, 2010.
(20)
Filed with Form 8-K on November 22, 2010.
(21)
Filed with Form 8-K on December 6, 2010.
(22)
Filed with Form 8-K on December 28, 2010.
(23)
Filed with Form 8-K on March 16, 2011.
(24)
Filed with Form 8-K on May 13, 2011.
(25)
Filed with Form 8-K on June 1, 2011.
(26)
Filed with Form 8-K on September 2, 2011.
(27)
Filed with Form 8-K on October 4, 2011.
(28)
Filed with Form 8-K on April 4, 2012.
(29)
Filed with Form 8-K on August 3, 2012
(30)
Filed with Form 8-K on August 21, 2012.
(31)
Filed with March 31, 2013 Form 10-Q on May 14, 2013.
(32)
Filed with June 30, 2014 10-K on September 26, 2014.
(33)
Filed with December 31, 2014 Form 10-Q on February 11, 2015
(34)
Filed with June 30, 2015 Form 10-K on September 22, 2016
(35)
Filed with March 31, 2016 Form 10-Q on May 9, 2016
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
Our consolidated financial statements being filed as part of this Form 10-K are filed on Item 8 of this Form 10-K. All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.
Crestone, Colorado
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows, for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. as of June 30, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has not generated significant revenue and has suffered recurring losses from operations. These factors raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also discussed in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Eide Bailly LLP
We have served as Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. auditor since 2017.
Denver, Colorado
September 24, 2019
BION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See notes to consolidated financial statements
BION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019 AND 2018
See notes to consolidated financial statements
BION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019 AND 2018
See notes to consolidated financial statements
BION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019 AND 2018
See notes to consolidated financial statements
BION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019 AND 2018
1.
ORGANIZATION, NATURE OF BUSINESS, GOING CONCERN AND MANAGEMENT’S PLANS:
Organization and nature of business:
Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (“Bion” or “We” or the “Company”) was incorporated in 1987 in the State of Colorado and has developed and continues to develop patented and proprietary technology and business models that provide comprehensive environmental solutions to a significant source of pollution in United States agriculture, large scale livestock facilities known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (“CAFO’s”). Application of our technology and technology platform can simultaneously remediate environmental problems and improve operational/resource efficiencies by recovering value from the CAFOs’ waste stream that has traditionally been wasted or underutilized, including renewable energy, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)--- in organic and conventional form-- and clean water. Bion’s technologies (and applications related thereto) produce substantial reductions of nutrient releases (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) to both water and air (including ammonia, which is subsequently re-deposited to the ground) from livestock waste streams based upon our operations and research to date (and third party peer review thereof). Our technology simultaneously enables the documentation of the remediation efforts thereby providing the basis for product branding which addresses consumer concerns regarding sustainability and food safety. We are continually involved in research and development to upgrade and improve our technology and technology applications, including integration with third party technology. Bion provides comprehensive and cost-effective treatment of livestock waste onsite (and/or at nearby locations), while it is still concentrated and before it contaminates air, soil, groundwater aquifers and/or downstream waters, and, in certain configurations, can be optimized to maximize recovery of marketable nutrients for potential use as fertilizer (organic and/or inorganic) and/or feed additives plus renewable energy (and related environmental credits).
From 2014 through the current 2019 fiscal year, the Company has focused its research and development on augmenting the basic ‘separate and aggregate’ approach of its technology platform to provide additional flexibility and to increase recovery of marketable nutrient by-products (in organic and non-organic forms) and renewable energy production (either/both biogas and/or renewable electricity), thereby increasing potential related revenue streams and reducing dependence of its future projects on the monetization of nutrient reductions (which still remain an important part of project revenue streams). Bion has worked on development of its third generation technology (“3G Tech”) which is designed to: a) generate significantly greater value from the nutrients and renewable energy recovered from the waste stream, b) treat dry (poultry) waste streams as well as wet waste streams (dairy/beef cattle/swine) while c) maintaining or improving environmental performance. This research and development effort also involves ongoing review of potential “add-ons” and applications to our technology platform for use in different regulatory and/or climate environments. These research and development activities have targeted completion of development of the next generation of Bion’s technology and technology platform. We believe such activities will continue at least through the 2019 calendar year (and likely longer), subject to availability of adequate financing for the Company’s operations, of which there is no assurance. Such activities may include design and construction of an initial, commercial-scale module utilizing our 3G Tech to assist in optimization efforts before construction of the full Kreider 2 project (see below) and other Projects.
For the past decade, Bion has been directed toward creating applications of our patented and proprietary waste management technologies and technology platform to pursue JVs in three main business opportunities:
1)
Installation of Bion systems to retrofit and environmentally remediate existing large CAFOs (“Retrofits” and “Retrofit Projects”) in selected markets where:
a) government policy supports such efforts (such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Great Lakes Basin states, and/or other states and watersheds facing EPA ‘total maximum daily load’ (“TMDL”) issues), and/or
b) CAFO’s need our technology to obtain permits to expand or develop without negative environmental consequences.
2)
Development of new state-of-the-art large scale waste treatment facilities (now utilizing the Company’s 3G Tech) which may be developed in conjunction with new CAFOs in strategic locations that were previously impracticable due to environmental impacts or to treat the waste streams from one or more existing large livestock facilities (“Projects”). Some of these Projects may be either a) Integrated Projects as described below, b) ‘central processing facilities’ which receive the waste from multiple livestock facilities, c) Retrofit Projects or d) hybrids with elements of each of these types. Each version will be able to realize revenue from multiple revenue streams potentially generated by our 3G Tech.
3)
Licensing and/or joint venturing of Bion’s technology and applications (primarily) outside North America.
In both categories 1) and 2) above, the Company intends to directly participate (whether by joint venture agreement or other contractual arrangements) in the revenues of the Retrofits and Projects.
The opportunities described at 1) and 2) above each require substantial political and regulatory (federal, state and local) efforts on the part of the Company and a substantial part of Bion’s efforts are focused on such political and regulatory matters. Bion currently intends to pursue the international opportunities primarily through the use of consultants with existing relationships in target countries.
At this time, our primary focus is on category 2) above using our 3G Tech to develop new (or expanded) large-scale Projects with strategic partners (including the Kreider 2 Project) on a joint venture (or other participating contractual form) basis. Bion’s business model opens up the opportunity for JV’s in various forms based upon the revenue generated by our 3G Tech platform from nutrient reductions, fertilizer co-products and renewable natural gas (which revenue streams will be secured through long term take-off agreements for each of these co-products) providing initial support for financing of required capital expenditures (whether equity or debt). We anticipate that these revenue streams will be supplemented by revenue realized from long-term premium pricing resulting from the sustainable branding opportunity. We believe that the branding opportunity may provide the single largest contribution to the economic opportunity over time.
During 2008 the Company commenced actively pursuing the opportunity presented by environmental retrofit and remediation of the waste streams of existing CAFOs which effort has met with very limited success to date. The first commercial activity in this area is represented by our agreement with Kreider Farms (“KF”), pursuant to which the Kreider 1 system to treat KF's dairy waste streams to reduce nutrient releases to the environment while generating marketable nutrient credits and renewable energy was designed, constructed and entered full-scale operation during 2011. On January 26, 2009 the Board of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (“Pennvest”) approved a $7.75 million loan to Bion PA 1, LLC (“PA1”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for the initial Kreider Farms project (“Kreider 1 System”). After substantial unanticipated delays, on August 12, 2010 PA1 received a permit for construction of the Kreider 1 System. Construction activities commenced during November 2010. The closing/settlement of the Pennvest Loan took place on November 3, 2010. PA1 finished the construction of the Kreider 1 System and entered a period of system ‘operational shakedown’ during May 2011. The Kreider 1 System reached full, stabilized operation by the end of the 2012 fiscal year. During 2011 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) re-certified the nutrient credits for this project. The PADEP issued final permits for the Kreider 1 System (including the credit verification plan) on August 1, 2012 on which date the Company deemed that the Kreider 1 System was ‘placed in service’. As a result, PA1 commenced generating nutrient reduction credits for potential sale while continuing to utilize the Kreider 1 System to test improvements and add-ons. However, to date liquidity in the Pennsylvania nutrient credit market has been slow to develop significant breadth and depth, which limited liquidity/depth has negatively impacted Bion’s business plans and has resulted in challenges to monetizing the nutrient reductions created by PA1’s existing Kreider 1 System and Bion’s other proposed projects. These difficulties have prevented PA1 from generating any material revenues from the Kreider 1 System to date and raise significant questions as to when, if ever, PA1 will be able to generate such revenues from the Kreider 1 System. PA1 has had sporadic discussions/negotiations with Pennvest related to forbearance and/or re-structuring its obligations pursuant to the Pennvest Loan for more than four years. In the context of such discussions/negotiations, PA1 elected not to make interest payments to Pennvest on the Pennvest Loan since January 2013. Additionally, the Company has not made any principal payments, which were to begin in fiscal 2013, and, therefore, the Company has classified the Pennvest Loan as a current liability as of June 30, 2019. Due to the failure of the Pennsylvania nutrient reduction credit market to develop, the Company determined (on three separate occasions) that the carrying amount of the property and equipment related to the Kreider 1 System exceeded its estimated future undiscounted cash flows based on certain assumptions regarding timing, level and probability of revenues from sales of nutrient reduction credits. Therefore, PA1 and the Company recorded impairments related to the value of the Kreider 1 assets totaling $3,750,000 through June 30, 2015. During the 2016 fiscal year, PA1 and the Company recorded an additional impairment of $1,684,562 to the value of the Kreider 1 assets which reduced the value on the Company’s books to zero. This impairment reflects management’s judgment that the salvage value of the Kreider 1 assets roughly equals PA1’s contractual obligations related to the Kreider 1 System, including expenses related to decommissioning of the Kreider 1 System, costs associated with needed capital upgrade expenses, and re-certification/ permitting amendments.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payments demanded by Pennvest. PA1 has commenced discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but Pennvest has rejected PA1’s proposal made during the fall of 2014. No formal proposals are presently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the last 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of such this matter, but the Company believes that a loan modification agreement (coupled with an agreement regarding an update and re-start of full operations of the Kreider 1 System) may be reached in the future if/when a more robust market for nutrient reductions develops in Pennsylvania, of which there is no assurance. PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 System met the ‘technology guaranty’ standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan has been (and is now) solely an obligation of PA1 since that date.
The economics (potential revenues, profitability and continued operation) of the Kreider 1 System are based almost entirely on the long term sale of nutrient (nitrogen and/or phosphorus) reduction credits to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay environmental clean-up.
On May 5, 2016, Bion PA2 LLC (“PA2”) executed a stand-alone joint venture agreement with Kreider Farms covering matters related to development and operation of a system to treat the waste streams from Kreider’s poultry facilities (“Kreider 2”).
The Kreider projects are owned and operated by Bion through separate subsidiaries, in which Kreider has the option to acquire a noncontrolling interest. Substantial capital (equity and/or debt) has been and will continue to be expended on these projects. Additional funds will be required for continuing operations and additional capital expenditures for upgrades at Kreider 1 until sufficient revenues can be generated, of which there is no assurance. The Company anticipates that the Kreider 1 System will generate revenue primarily from the sale of nutrient reduction (and/or other) environmental credits. A portion of Bion’s research and development activities has taken place at the Kreider 1 facility.
Kreider Farms - 3G Tech Project
Bion is completing an envelope of policy change and technology pilots that will allow it to move forward with the first commercial large scale 3G Tech project at Kreider Farms. Having recently received a Notice of Allowance of the initial 3G Tech patent (and subsequent filing of related additional patent applications/continuations), Bion is focused on two key tasks during the remainder of the 2019 fiscal and calendar year that will ‘complete the envelope’ and allow Bion to launch active development of the Kreider 2 poultry project (and/or other Projects) in 2019:
1. Support for adoption of PA SB 575 (successor to SB 799): This will create a competitively-bid market for nutrient reductions/Credits that we believe will provide support for project financing for Kreider 2 prior to development of markets for the coproducts from Kreider 2 are established.
2. Installation of a small-scale 3G Tech ammonia recovery system to produce ammonium bicarbonate to be used for grower trials and to make application to OMRI for organic certification.
The 3G Tech Kreider 2 Project is planned for two (or more) locations. It is intended to treat the waste from Kreider’s 1,800 dairy cows and approximately six million egg layer chickens (with capacity for an additional three million layers). The Kreider 2 Project will be designed with modules with capacity of 450 tons (or more) per day of waste and will remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the waste stream that will be converted into high-value coproducts instead of polluting local and downstream waters. The Kreider 2 Project is planned to be built in three phases and may be expanded to include a ‘central processing facility’ with modules that will accept transported waste from the region on fee basis.
Bion has a long-standing relationship with Kreider Farms including a 2016 joint venture agreement related to this facility. Kreider has already made a significant investment in upgrading its poultry facilities to maximize the treatment and recovery efficiencies that can be achieved with Bion’s technology. We are cautiously optimistic that once PA SB575 (the recently introduced successor to SB799) will be passed during the current fiscal year, a market will be put in place for long-term commercial sale of the nutrient reduction credits produced at Kreider 2. Bion anticipates that it may require up to 6 months after SB575 becomes law to develop the rules/regulations related to the competitive bidding program. If the competitive bidding program is implemented, we intend to arrange project financing for the Kreider 2 Project during 2019.
Assuming there are positive developments related to the market for nutrient reductions in Pennsylvania, the Company intends to pursue development, design and construction of the Kreider 2 poultry waste/renewable energy project with a goal of achieving operational status for its initial modules during 2020. However, as discussed above, this Project faces challenges related to the current limits of the existing nutrient reduction market and funding of technology-based, verifiable agricultural nutrient reductions which are anticipated to constitute the largest share of its revenues.
Bion’s current long-term goal is to acquire or develop, or have in a development pipeline, 6 to 12 Projects over the next 36 to 48 months.
A significant portion of Bion’s activities concern efforts with private and public stakeholders (at local and state level) in Pennsylvania (and other Chesapeake Bay and Midwest and Great Lakes states) and at the federal level EPA and the Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) (and other executive departments) and Congress) to establish appropriate public policies which will create regulations and funding mechanisms that foster installation of the low cost environmental solutions that Bion (and others) can provide through clean-up of agricultural waste streams. The Company anticipates that such efforts will continue in Pennsylvania and other Chesapeake Bay watershed states throughout the next 12 months and in various additional states thereafter.
Going concern and management’s plans:
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company has not generated significant revenues and has incurred net losses (including significant non-cash expenses) of approximately $2,659,000 and $3,018,000 during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. At June 30, 2019, the Company has a working capital deficit and a stockholders’ deficit of approximately $10,876,000 and $14,724,000, respectively. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability or classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The following paragraphs describe management’s plans with regard to these conditions.
The Company continues to explore sources of additional financing (including potential agreements with strategic partners - both financial and ag-industry) to satisfy its current and future operating and capital expenditure requirements as it is not currently generating any significant revenues.
During the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company received total proceeds of approximately $897,000 and $418,000 from the sale of its debt and equity securities. Proceeds during the 2019 and 2018 fiscal years have been lower than in earlier years which reduction has negatively impacted the Company’s business development efforts.
During fiscal years 2019 and 2018, the Company continued to experience difficulty in raising equity funding. As a result, the Company faced, and continues to face, significant cash flow management challenges due to working capital constraints. To partially mitigate these working capital constraints, the Company’s core senior management and several key employees and consultants have been deferring (and continue to defer) all or part of their cash compensation and/or are accepting compensation in the form of securities of the Company (Notes 4 and 6) and members of the Company’s senior management have made loans to the Company. During the year ended June 30, 2018, senior management and certain core employees and consultants agreed to a one-time extinguishment of liabilities owed by the Company which in aggregate totaled $2,404,000. Additionally, the Company made reductions in its personnel during the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2015 and again during the year ended June 30, 2018. The constraint on available resources has had, and continues to have, negative effects on the pace and scope of the Company’s efforts to develop its business. The Company has had to delay payment of trade obligations and has had to economize in many ways that have potentially negative consequences. If the Company does not have greater success in its efforts to raise needed funds during the remainder of the current fiscal year (and subsequent periods), management will need to consider deeper cuts (including additional personnel cuts) and curtailment of operations (including possibly Kreider 1 operations) and/or research and development activities.
The Company will need to obtain additional capital to fund its operations and technology development, to satisfy existing creditors, to develop Projects (including Integrated Projects and the Kreider 2 facility) and CAFO Retrofit waste remediation systems and to continue to operate the Kreider 1 facility. The Company anticipates that it will seek to raise from $2,500,000 to $50,000,000 or more debt and/or equity through joint ventures, strategic partnerships and/or sale of its equity securities (common, preferred and/or hybrid) and/or debt (including convertible) securities, and/or through use of ‘rights’ and/or warrants (new and/or existing) during the next twelve months. However, as discussed above, there is no assurance, especially in light of the difficulties the Company has experienced in recent periods and the extremely unsettled capital markets that presently exist (especially for companies like us), that the Company will be able to obtain the funds that it needs to stay in business, complete its technology development or to successfully develop its business and Projects.
There is no realistic likelihood that funds required during the next twelve months (or in the periods immediately thereafter) for the Company’s basic operations and/or proposed Projects will be generated from operations. Therefore, the Company will need to raise sufficient funds from external sources such as debt or equity financings or other potential sources. The lack of sufficient additional capital resulting from the inability to generate cash flow from operations and/or to raise capital from external sources would force the Company to substantially curtail or cease operations and would, therefore, have a material adverse effect on its business. Further, there can be no assurance that any such required funds, if available, will be available on attractive terms or that they will not have a significantly dilutive effect on the Company’s existing shareholders. All of these factors have been exacerbated by the extremely limited and unsettled credit and capital markets presently existing for small companies like Bion.
2.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of consolidation:
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Bion Integrated Projects Group, Inc. (“Projects Group”), Bion Technologies, Inc., BionSoil, Inc., Bion Services, PA1, and PA2; and its 58.9% owned subsidiary, Centerpoint Corporation (“Centerpoint”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and cash equivalents:
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.
Property and equipment:
Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated, when placed into service, using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, generally three to twenty years. The Company capitalizes all direct costs and all indirect incrementally identifiable costs related to the design and construction of its Integrated Projects. The Company reviews its property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value of the assets or asset group exceeds its estimated fair value, and is recognized as a loss from operations.
Patents:
The Company has elected to expense all costs and filing fees related to obtaining patents (resulting in no related asset being recognized in the Company’s balance sheet) because the Company believes such costs and fees are immaterial (in the context of the Company’s total costs/expenses) and have no direct relationship to the value of the Company’s patents.
Stock-based compensation:
The Company follows the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, which generally requires that share-based compensation transactions be accounted and recognized in the statement of operations based upon their grant date fair values.
Derivative Financial Instruments:
Pursuant to ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” (“Topic 815”), the Company reviews all financial instruments for the existence of features which may require fair value accounting and a related mark-to-market adjustment at each reporting period end. Once determined, the Company assesses these instruments as derivative liabilities. The fair value of these instruments is adjusted to reflect the fair value at each reporting period end, with any increase or decrease in the fair value being recorded in results of operations as an adjustment to fair value of derivatives.
Warrants:
The Company has issued warrants to purchase common shares of the Company. Warrants are valued using a fair value based method, whereby the fair value of the warrant is determined at the warrant issue date using a market-based option valuation model based on factors including an evaluation of the Company’s value as of the date of the issuance, consideration of the Company’s limited liquid resources and business prospects, the market price of the Company’s stock in its mostly inactive public market and the historical valuations and purchases of the Company’s warrants. When warrants are issued in combination with debt or equity securities, the warrants are valued and accounted for based on the relative fair value of the warrants in relation to the total value assigned to the debt or equity securities and warrants combined.
Concentrations of credit risk:
The Company's financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash. The Company's cash is in demand deposit accounts placed with federally insured financial institutions and selected brokerage accounts. Such deposit accounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such accounts.
Noncontrolling interests:
In accordance with ASC 810, “Consolidation”, the Company separately classifies noncontrolling interests within the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets and separately reports the amounts attributable to controlling and noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the noncontrolling interest continues to be attributed its share of losses even if that attribution results in a deficit noncontrolling interest balance.
Fair value measurements:
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The Company uses a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of input to determine fair value.
Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 - observable inputs other than Level 1, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, and model-derived prices whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and
Level 3 - assets and liabilities whose significant value drivers are unobservable.
Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs are based on the Company’s market assumptions. Unobservable inputs require significant management judgment or estimation. In some cases, the inputs used to measure an asset or liability may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is required to be classified using the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Such determination requires significant management judgment.
The fair value of cash and accounts payable approximates their carrying amounts due to their short-term maturities. The fair value of the loan payable is indeterminable at this time due to the nature of the arrangement with a state agency and the fact that it is in default. The fair value of the redeemable preferred stock approximates its carrying value due to the dividends accrued on the preferred stock which are reflected as part of the redemption value. The fair value of the deferred compensation and convertible notes payable - affiliates are not practicable to estimate due to the related party nature of the underlying transactions.
Revenue Recognition:
The Company currently does not generate revenue and if and when the Company begins to generate revenue the Company will comply with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”.
Income taxes:
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their tax bases, as well as net operating losses.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets or liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the tax change occurs. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets by 100%, since the Company believes that at this time it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state tax examinations for fiscal years before 2009. Management does not believe there will be any material changes in the Company’s unrecognized tax positions over the next 12 months.
The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. As of June 30, 2019, there were no penalties or accrued interest amounts associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor was any interest expense recognized during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.
Loss per share:
Basic loss per share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share assumes the conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock instruments, such as options or warrants, unless the effect is to reduce the loss per share or increase the earnings per share. During the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the basic and diluted loss per share was the same, as the impact of potential dilutive common shares was anti-dilutive.
The following table represents the warrants, options and convertible securities excluded from the calculation of basic loss per share:
The following is a reconciliation of the denominators of the basic and diluted loss per share computations for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:
Use of estimates:
In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
The Company continually assesses any new accounting pronouncements to determine their applicability. When it is determined that a new accounting pronouncement affects the Company’s financial reporting, the Company undertakes a study to determine the consequences of the change to its financial statements and assures that there are proper controls in place to ascertain that the Company’s financial statements properly reflect the change.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09 “Scope of Modification Accounting” which clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment awards must be accounted for as modifications. The new guidance will reduce diversity in practice and result in fewer changes to the terms of an award being accounted for as modifications. ASU No. 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. The guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 “Compensation - Stock Compensation - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting” to simplify the accounting for share based payments granted to nonemployees. Under this guidance, payments to nonemployees would be aligned with the requirements for share based payments granted to employees and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
3.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Property and equipment consists of the following:
As of June 30, 2019, the net book value of Kreider 1 was zero. Management has reviewed the remaining property and equipment for impairment as of June 30, 2019 and believes that no impairment exists.
Depreciation expense was $1,314 and $1,744 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
4.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION:
The Company owes deferred compensation to various employees, former employees and consultants totaling $874,162 and $421,641 as of June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Included in the deferred compensation balances as of June 30, 2019, are $363,761 and $133,972 owed Dominic Bassani (“Bassani”), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Mark A. Smith (“Smith”), the Company’s President, respectively, pursuant to extension agreements effective January 1, 2015, whereby unpaid compensation earned after January 1, 2015, accrues interest at 4% per annum and can be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at the election of the employee during the first five calendar days of any month. The conversion price shall be the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the last 10 trading days of the immediately preceding month. The deferred compensation owed Bassani and Smith as of June 30, 2018 was $219,157 and $56,892, respectively. The Company also owes various consultants, pursuant to various agreements, for deferred compensation of $302,945 and $72,108 as of June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, with similar conversion terms as those described above for Bassani and Smith, with the exception that the interest accrues at 3% per annum. Bassani and Smith have each been granted the right to convert up to $300,000 of deferred compensation balances at a price of $0.75 per share until December 31, 2019 (to be issued pursuant to the 2006 Plan). Smith also has the right to convert all or part of his deferred compensation balance into the Company’s securities (to be issued pursuant to the 2006 Plan) “at market” and/or on the same terms as the Company is selling or has sold its securities in its then current (or most recent if there is no current) private placement. The Company also owes a current employee deferred compensation of $984 which is convertible into 1,406 shares of the Company’s common stock as of June 30, 2019 and, a former employee $72,500, which is not convertible and is non-interest bearing.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, Smith elected to convert deferred compensation and accounts payable of $87,063 and $12,937, respectively, into an aggregate 200,000 units at $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share until December 31, 2022.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, Bassani elected to convert $150,000 of deferred compensation into a 2019 Convertible Note (Note 6). The note bears interest at 4% per annum and is payable on May 15, 2021.
The Company recorded interest expense of $20,983 ($15,747 with related parties) and $34,789 ($28,166 with related parties) for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
5.
LOAN PAYABLE:
PA1, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, owes $9,303,270 as of June 30, 2019 under the terms of the Pennvest Loan related to the construction of the Kreider 1 System including accrued interest and late charges totaling $1,549,270 as of June 30, 2019. The terms of the Pennvest Loan provided for funding of up to $7,754,000 which was to be repaid by interest-only payments for three years, followed by an additional ten-year amortization of principal. The Pennvest Loan accrues interest at 2.547% per annum for years 1 through 5 and 3.184% per annum for years 6 through maturity. The Pennvest Loan required minimum annual principal payments of approximately $4,273,000 in fiscal years 2013 through 2019, and $794,000 in fiscal year 2020, $819,000 in fiscal year 2021, $846,000 in fiscal year 2022, $873,000 in fiscal year 2023 and $149,000 in fiscal year 2024. The Pennvest Loan is collateralized by the Kreider 1 System and by a pledge of all revenues generated from Kreider 1 including, but not limited to, revenues generated from nutrient reduction credit sales and by-product sales. In addition, in consideration for the excess credit risk associated with the project, Pennvest is entitled to participate in the profits from Kreider 1 calculated on a net cash flow basis, as defined. The Company has incurred interest expense related to the Pennvest Loan of $238,655 and $197,494 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Based on the limited development of the depth and breadth of the Pennsylvania nutrient reduction credit market to date, PA1 commenced negotiations with Pennvest related to forbearance and/or re-structuring the obligations under the Pennvest Loan. In the context of such negotiations, PA1 has elected not to make interest payments to Pennvest on the Pennvest Loan since January 2013. Additionally, the Company has not made any principal payments, which were to begin in fiscal 2013, and, therefore, the Company has classified the Pennvest Loan as a current liability as of June 30, 2019.
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and has accelerated the Pennvest Loan and demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and does not have the resources to make the payment demanded by Pennvest. PA1 has engaged in on/off discussions and negotiations with Pennvest concerning this matter but no such discussions/negotiations are currently active. As of the date of this report, no formal proposals are presently under consideration and only sporadic communication has taken place regarding the matters involved over the past 5 years. It is not possible at this date to predict the outcome of this matter, but the Company believes it is possible that an agreement may yet be reached that will result in a viable loan modification. Subject to the results of the negotiations with Pennvest and pending development of a more robust market for nutrient reductions in Pennsylvania, PA1 and Bion will continue to evaluate various options with regard to Kreider 1 over the next 180 days.
In connection with the Pennvest Loan financing documents, the Company provided a ‘technology guaranty’ regarding nutrient reduction performance of Kreider 1 which was structured to expire when Kreider 1’s nutrient reduction performance had been demonstrated. During August 2012 the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 System had surpassed the requisite performance criteria and that the Company’s ‘technology guaranty’ was met. As a result, the Pennvest Loan is solely an obligation of PA1.
6.
CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE - AFFILIATES:
January 2015 Convertible Notes
The January 2015 Convertible Notes accrue interest at 4% per annum and were due and payable on December 31, 2017. Effective June 30, 2017, the maturity dates were extended on the January 2015 Convertible Notes until July 1, 2019 and were further extended to July 1, 2021 effective September 30, 2018. The January 2015 Convertible Notes (including accrued interest, plus all future deferred compensation), are convertible, at the sole election of the noteholder, into Units consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and one half warrant to purchase a share of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $0.50 per Unit until December 31, 2020. The warrant contained in the Unit shall be exercisable at $1.00 per share until December 31, 2020. The original conversion price of $0.50 per Unit approximated the fair value of the Units at the date of the agreements; therefore no beneficial conversion feature exists. Management evaluated the terms and conditions of the embedded conversion features based on the guidance of ASC 815-15 “Embedded Derivatives” to determine if there was an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation. An embedded derivative instrument (such as a conversion option embedded in the deferred compensation) must be bifurcated from its host instruments and accounted for separately as a derivative instrument only if the “risks and rewards” of the embedded derivative instrument are not “clearly and closely related” to the risks and rewards of the host instrument in which it is embedded. Management concluded that the embedded conversion feature of the deferred compensation was not required to be bifurcated because the conversion feature is clearly and closely related to the host instrument, and because of the Company’s limited trading volume that indicates the feature is not readily convertible to cash in accordance with ASC 815-10, “Derivatives and Hedging”.
As of June 30, 2019, the January 2015 Convertible Note balances, including accrued interest, owed Bassani, Smith and Edward Schafer (“Schafer”), the Company’s Vice Chairman, were $1,727,923, $897,287 and $446,320, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, the January 2015 Convertible Note balances, including accrued interest, owed Bassani, Smith and Schafer were $1,669,342, $866,866 and $431,188, respectively. The Company recorded interest expense of $104,134 and $104,135 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company agreed to sell Bassani and Smith, 3,000,000 and 300,000 warrants, respectively, exercisable at $0.60 per share until June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2023, respectively. The purchase price for the warrants is $0.10 per warrant and is payable with secured promissory notes of $300,000 and $30,000 from Bassani and Smith, respectively, both of which are secured by portions of their January 2015 Convertible Notes (Note 7). The promissory notes accrue interest at 4% per annum and as of June 30, 2019 the accrued interest owed by Bassani and Smith is $10,948 and $1,095, respectively.
September 2015 Convertible Notes
During the year ended June 30, 2016, the Company entered into September 2015 Convertible Notes with Bassani, Schafer and a Shareholder which replaced previously issued promissory notes. The September 2015 Convertible Notes bear interest at 4% per annum, had maturity dates of December 31, 2017 and may be converted at the sole election of the noteholders into restricted common shares of the Company at a conversion price of $0.60 per share. Effective June 30, 2017, the maturity dates of the September 2015 Convertible Notes due Bassani and Schafer were extended until July 1, 2019 and during the year ended June 30, 2018, the maturity date of the note due a Shareholder was extended until July 1, 2019. During the year ended June 30, 2019, the maturity dates of the all the September 2015 Convertible Notes were extended until July 1, 2021. As the conversion price of $0.60 approximated the fair value of the common shares at the date of the September 2015 Convertible Notes, no beneficial conversion feature exists. During the year ended June 30, 2018, Bassani and the Company agreed to split his original September 2015 Convertible Note into two replacement notes with all the terms remaining the same. One of the replacement notes’ original principal is $130,000, which is being held by the Company as collateral for a subscription receivable promissory note from Bassani. During the year ended June 30, 2019, with the Company’s approval, Bassani sold $300,000 of his second replacement note to a Shareholder with all the terms remaining the same.
The balances of the September 2015 Convertible Notes as of June 30, 2019, including accrued interest owed Bassani, Schafer and Shareholder, are $159,963, $18,879 and $400,405, respectively. The balances of the September 2015 Convertible Notes as of June 30, 2018, including accrued interest, were $452,400, $18,224 and $87,196, respectively.
The Company recorded interest expense of $21,428 and $21,094 for the year ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
2019 Convertible Notes
During the year ended June 30, 2019, Bassani converted $150,000 of his deferred compensation into a 2019 Deferred Compensation Convertible Promissory Note. The 2019 Convertible Note accrues interest at 4% per annum and is due and payable on May 31, 2021 and as of June 30, 2019 the 2019 Convertible Note and accrued interest was $150,391. The 2019 Convertible Note (including accrued interest), is convertible, at the sole election of the noteholder, into Units consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and one half warrant to purchase a share of the Company’s common stock, at an initial price of $0.50 per Unit. The warrant contained in the Unit shall be exercisable at $0.75 per share until December 31, 2021. The original conversion price of $0.50 per Unit approximated the fair value of the Units at the date of the agreements; therefore no beneficial conversion feature exists.
7.
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Series B Preferred stock:
Since July 1, 2014, the Company has 200 shares of Series B redeemable convertible Preferred stock outstanding with a par value of $0.01 per share, convertible at the option of the holder at $2.00 per share, with dividends accrued and payable at 2.5% per quarter. The Series B Preferred stock is mandatorily redeemable at $100 per share by the Company three years after issuance and accordingly was classified as a liability. The 200 shares have reached their maturity date, but due to the cash constraints of the Company have not been redeemed.
During the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company declared dividends of $2,000 and $2,000 respectively. At June 30, 2019, accrued dividends payable are $16,000. The dividends are classified as a component of operations as the Series B Preferred stock is presented as a liability in these financial statements.
Common stock:
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by common stockholders. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of common stock are entitled to share in all assets remaining after liabilities have been paid in full or set aside and the rights of any outstanding preferred stock have been satisfied. Common stock has no preemptive, redemption or conversion rights. The rights of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock or any series of preferred stock the Company may designate in the future.
Centerpoint holds 704,309 shares of the Company’s common stock. These shares of the Company’s common stock held by Centerpoint are for the benefit of its shareholders without any beneficial interest.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company issued 57,790 shares of the Company’s common stock at prices ranging from $0.52 to $0.91 per share for services valued at $42,583, in the aggregate, to two consultants and an employee.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company entered into subscription agreements to sell units for $0.75 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $1.00 per share with expiry dates of June 30, 2018 and pursuant thereto, the Company issued 267,331 units for total proceeds of $200,496, net proceeds of $185,621 after commissions. The Company allocated the proceeds from the 267,331 shares and the 133,666 warrants based upon their relative fair values, using the share price on the day each of the subscription agreements were entered into and the fair value of the warrants, which was determined to be $0.05 per warrant. As a result, $6,152 was allocated to the warrants and $194,344 was allocated to the shares, and both were recorded as additional paid in capital.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company entered into subscription agreements to sell units for $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share with expiry dates of September 30, 2018 and pursuant thereto, the Company issued 300,000 units for total proceeds of $150,000. The Company allocated the proceeds from the 300,000 shares and the 150,000 warrants based upon their relative fair values, using the share price on the day each of the subscription agreements were entered into and the fair value of the warrants, which was determined to be $0.05 per warrant. As a result, $4,991 was allocated to the warrants and $145,009 was allocated to the shares, and both were recorded as additional paid in capital.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company entered into two subscription agreements to exercise certain warrants with expiry dates on or before March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, into restricted shares of the Company’s common stock at a reduced exercise price of $0.50 for the period from March 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018and May 18, 2018 through June 15, 2018, respectively. At March 31, 2018 the Company exercised its right to extend the first offering an additional 15 days to April 15, 2018 and therefore any warrants which would have expired on March 31, 2018 were automatically extended to April 15, 2018. On June 15, 2018 the Company exercised its right to extend the second offering an additional 15 days to June 30, 2018. As the $0.50 exercise price was a reduction from the original exercise price of $1.00, and due to the limited time in which the warrant holders had to subscribe, the reduction in the offering price was accounted for as an inducement and a conversion inducement of $10,784 was recorded. As a result of the offering, 135,681 warrants were exercised and 135,681 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock were issued resulting in cash proceeds of $67,841 for the year ended June 30, 2018. In conjunction with the warrant exercises, 3,441 shares of common stock were issued as commissions and recorded to additional paid in capital.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, a consultant elected to convert $60,178 of deferred compensation into 120,356 units at $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half a share of the Company’s restricted common stock. The 60,178 warrants to purchase common shares of the Company at $0.75 per share have expiry dates of September 30, 2018.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, Smith elected to convert deferred compensation, loan payable - affiliates and accounts payable of $70,000, $18,000 and $65,540, respectively, into an aggregate 307,080 units at $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share until December 31, 2020.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company issued 134,162 shares of the Company’s common stock at prices ranging from $0.50 to $0.74 per share for services valued at $93,408 in the aggregate, to two consultants and an employee.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company issued 1,028 shares as commissions for the warrant exercises during the year ended June 30, 2018 valued at $514.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company entered into subscription agreements under four different offerings to sell units for $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share with expiry dates ranging from June 30, 2019 through December 31, 2020, and pursuant thereto, the Company issued 1,793,606 units for total proceeds of $896,801, net proceeds of $832,921 after commissions. The Company allocated the proceeds from the 1,793,606 shares and the 896,806 warrants based upon their relative fair values, using the share price on the day each of the subscription agreements were entered into and the fair value of the warrants, which was determined to be $0.05 per warrant. As a result, $31,560 was allocated to the warrants and $865,241 was allocated to the shares, and both were recorded as additional paid in capital.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, Smith elected to convert deferred compensation and accounts payable of $87,063 and $12,937, respectively, into an aggregate 200,000 units at $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share until December 31, 2022.
Warrants:
As of June 30, 2019, the Company had approximately 16.7 million warrants outstanding, with exercise prices from $0.60 to $2.00 and expiring on various dates through June 30, 2025.
The weighted-average exercise price for the outstanding warrants is $0.95, and the weighted-average remaining contractual life as of June 30, 2019 is 3.6 years.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, warrants to purchase 70,069 shares of common stock of the Company at prices ranging from $0.85 to $3.00 per share expired.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company entered into subscription agreements under four different offerings to sell units for $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share with expiry dates ranging from June 30, 2019 through December 31, 2020, and pursuant thereto, the Company issued 1,793,606 units for total proceeds of $896,801, net proceeds of $832,921 after commissions. The Company allocated the proceeds from the 1,793,606 shares and the 896,806 warrants based upon their relative fair values, using the share price on the day each of the subscription agreements were entered into and the fair value of the warrants, which was determined to be $0.05 per warrant. As a result, $31,560 was allocated to the warrants and $865,241 was allocated to the shares, and both were recorded as additional paid in capital.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company received an interest bearing, secured promissory note for $300,000 from Bassani as consideration to purchase warrants to purchase 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock, which warrants are exercisable at $0.60 and have expiry dates of December 31, 2025. The promissory note bears interest at 4% per annum, is secured by Bassani’s January 2015 Convertible Note and as of June 30, 2019 the accrued interest was $10,948. The secured promissory note is payable July 1, 2020.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company received an interest bearing, secured promissory note for $30,000 from Smith as consideration to purchase warrants to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock, which warrants are exercisable at $0.60 and have expiry dates of December 31, 2023. The warrants have a 75% exercise bonus. The promissory note bears interest at 4% per annum, is secured by $30,000 of Smith’s January 2015 Convertible Note and as of June 30, 2019 the accrued interest was $1,095. The secured promissory note is payable on July 1, 2020.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, Smith elected to convert deferred compensation and accounts payable of $87,063 and $12,937, respectively, into an aggregate 200,000 units at $0.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s restricted common stock and one warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s restricted common stock for $0.75 per share until December 31, 2022.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company issued 125,000 warrants to a consultant to purchase 125,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock, which warrants have exercise prices ranging between $0.74 and $1.20 per share and have expiry dates of ranging from August 27, 2020 through October 27, 2020. The warrants were in exchange for services expensed at $6,250, in aggregate.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company agreed to extend the expiration dates of 5,947,864 warrants owned by certain individuals (including 1,765,000 owned by Bassani and 3,104,010 owned by Smith) which were scheduled to expire at various dates ranging from September 30, 2018 through December 31, 2021. The Company recorded non-cash compensation expense related to the modification of the warrants of $163,026 ($88,250 and $68,758 for Bassani and Smith, respectively) and $25,467 as interest expense.
Stock options:
The Company’s 2006 Consolidated Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2006 Plan”), provides for the issuance of options (and/or other securities) to purchase up to 30,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Terms of exercise and expiration of options/securities granted under the 2006 Plan may be established at the discretion of the Board of Directors, but no option may be exercisable for more than ten years.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company approved the modification of existing stock options held by certain employees and consultants, which extended certain expiration dates. The modifications resulted in incremental non-cash compensation of $349,656 (including $119,350 and $68,000 for Bassani and Schafer, respectively).
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company approved the modification of existing stock options held by Smith, which extended certain expiration dates. The modifications resulted in incremental non-cash compensation of $222,300.
The Company recorded compensation expense related to employee stock options of $236,100 and $1,369,350 for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company granted 655,000 and 2,647,500 options during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The fair value of the options granted during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
The expected volatility was based on the historical price volatility of the Company’s common stock. The dividend yield represents the Company’s anticipated cash dividend on common stock over the expected term of the stock options. The U.S. Treasury bill rate for the expected term of the stock options was utilized to determine the risk-free interest rate. The expected term of stock options represents the period of time the stock options granted are expected to be outstanding based upon management’s estimates.
A summary of option activity under the 2006 Plan for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
The following table presents information relating to nonvested stock options as of June 30, 2019:
The total fair value of stock options that vested during the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $236,100 and $1,376,250 respectively. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options.
Stock-based employee compensation charges in operating expenses in the Company’s financial statements for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
8.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
Employment and consulting agreements:
Smith has held the positions of Director, President and General Counsel of Company and its subsidiaries under various agreements (and extensions) and terms since March 2003. On October 10, 2016, the Company approved a month to month contract extension with Smith which includes provisions for i) a monthly deferred salary of $18,000 effective October 1, 2016 until the Board of Directors re-instates cash payments to all employees and consultants who are deferring compensation, ii) the right to convert up to $125,000 of his deferred compensation, at his sole election, at $0.75 per share, until March 15, 2018 (which was expanded on April 27, 2017 to the right to convert up to $300,000 of his deferred compensation, at his sole election, at $0.75 per share, and subsequently extended until December 31, 2019), and iii) the right to convert his deferred compensation in whole or in part, at his sole election, at any time in any amount at “market” or into securities sold in the Company’s current/most recent private offering at the price of such offering to third parties. Smith agreed effective July 29, 2018 to continue to serve the Company under these terms.
Since March 31, 2005, the Company has had various agreements with Brightcap and/or Bassani, through which the services of Bassani are provided (any reference to Brightcap or Bassani for all purposes are the same individual). The Board appointed Bassani as the Company's CEO effective May 13, 2011. On February 10, 2015, the Company executed an Extension Agreement with Bassani pursuant to which Bassani extended the term of his service to the Company to December 31, 2017, (with the Company having an option to extend the term an additional six months.) Pursuant to the Extension Agreement, Bassani continued to defer his cash compensation ($31,000 per month) until the Board of Directors re-instates cash payments to all employees and consultants who are deferring their compensation. During October 2016 Bassani was granted the right to convert up to $125,000 of his deferred compensation, at his sole election, at $0.75 per share, until March 15, 2018 (which was expanded on April 27, 2017 to the right to convert up to $300,000 of his deferred compensation, at his sole election, at $0.75 per share, and subsequently extended until December 31, 2019). During February 2018, the Company agreed to the material terms for a binding two-year extension agreement for Bassani’s services as CEO, while a detailed, fully executed agreement is still being negotiated and will be finalized in the future. Bassani’s salary will remain $372,000 per year, which will continue to be accrued until there is adequate cash available while negotiations proceed toward the re-instatement of a least a partial cash payment. Additionally, the Company has agreed to pay him $2,000 per month to be applied to life insurance premiums. On August 1, 2018, in the context of extending his agreement to provide services to the Company on a full time basis through December 31, 2022) plus 2 years after that on a part-time basis, the Company received an interest bearing secured promissory note for $300,000 from Bassani as consideration to purchase warrants to purchase 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock, which warrants are exercisable at $0.60 and have expiry dates of June 30, 2025. The promissory note is secured by Bassani’s $300,000 of January 2015 Convertible Note (Notes 6 and 7) and as of June 30, 2019 the accrued interest was $10,948.
Execution/exercise bonuses:
As part of agreements the Company entered into with Bassani and Smith effective May 15, 2013, they were each granted the following: a) a 50% execution/exercise bonus which shall be applied upon the effective date of the notice of intent to exercise (for options and warrants) or issuance event, as applicable, of any currently outstanding and/or subsequently acquired options, warrants and/or contingent stock bonuses owned by each (and/or their donees) as follows: i) in the case of exercise by payment of cash, the bonus shall take the form of reduction of the exercise price; ii) in the case of cashless exercise, the bonus shall be applied to reduce the exercise price prior to the cashless exercise calculations; and iii) with regard to contingent stock bonuses, issuance shall be triggered upon the Company’s common stock reaching a closing price equal to 50% of currently specified price; and b) the right to extend the exercise period of all or part of the applicable options and warrants for up to five years (one year at a time) by annual payments of $.05 per option or warrant to the Company on or before a date during the three months prior to expiration of the exercise period at least three business days before the end of the expiration period. Effective January 1, 2016 such annual payments to extend warrant exercise periods have been reduced to $.01 per option or warrant.
During the year ended June 30, 2014, the Company extended 50% execution/exercise bonuses with the same terms as described above to Schafer and to Jon Northrop (“Northrop”), the Company’s other board member.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company extended 50% execution/exercise bonuses with the same terms as described above to all options and warrants issued prior to November 7, 2017, to an employee and two former employees who are now consultants.
During the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company increased the above 50% execution/exercise bonus on all outstanding options and warrants owned or acquired in the future by Bassani, Smith and Schafer to 75% (to the extent such existing exercise bonus is less than 75%).
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company approved the right to extend the exercise period of all or part of any options or warrants granted in the past or in the future, for up to five years (one year at a time) by annual payments of $0.01 per option/warrant for one of its employees. The extension payment may be made in i) cash; ii) by reduction of sums owed by the Company, and iii) by reduction of applicable exercise bonuses.
As of June 30, 2019, the execution/exercise bonuses ranging from 50-90% were applicable to 7,239,600 of the Company’s outstanding options and 12,032,095 of the Company’s outstanding warrants.
Litigation:
On September 25, 2014, Pennvest exercised its right to declare the Pennvest Loan in default and has accelerated the Pennvest Loan and has demanded that PA1 pay $8,137,117 (principal, interest plus late charges) on or before October 24, 2014. PA1 did not make the payment and did not then and does not now have the resources to make the payment demanded by Pennvest. During August 2012, the Company provided Pennvest (and the PADEP) with data demonstrating that the Kreider 1 system met the ‘technology guaranty’ standards which were incorporated in the Pennvest financing documents and, as a result, the Pennvest Loan is now solely an obligation of PA1. No litigation has commenced related to this matter but such litigation is likely if negotiations do not produce a resolution (Note 1 and Note 5).
The Company currently is not involved in any other material litigation.
9.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
The Coalition for Affordable Bay Solutions (“CABS”), a not-for-profit organization that engages in political and legislative lobbying and educational activities regarding the competitive bidding procurement and nutrient credit trading program in Pennsylvania (and elsewhere), shares certain key management members with the Company. During the year ended June 30, 2017 the Company recorded expenses of $165,650 for consulting costs incurred on behalf of CABS (the Company contributed $68,900 to CABS and issued 129,000 shares of its restricted common stock valued at $96,750 to pay third party consultants for services to CABS) and during the year ended June 30, 2018, the Company received reimbursements from CABS for the prior year expenses of $41,000 incurred by the Company in providing support for CABS.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company received $30,000 for expense reimbursements from CABS. The Company also issued 16,000 shares of its restricted common stock valued at $8,000 for third party consulting expenses on behalf of CABS during the year ended June 30, 2019 and paid CABS $37,220 in consulting fees.
During the year ended June 30, 2019, the Company determined that it had made omissions in not disclosing certain related party transactions with CABS during the years ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. The Company determined the omissions are immaterial and prior year financial statements and reports previously filed, would not have to be amended.
10.
INCOME TAXES:
The reconciliation between the expected federal income tax benefit computed by applying the Federal statutory rate to loss before income taxes and the actual benefit for taxes on loss for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
The Company has net operating loss carry-forwards (“NOLs”) for tax purposes of approximately $50,914,000 as of June 30, 2019. These NOLs expire on various dates through 2038.
The utilization of the NOLs may be limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Company’s deferred tax assets for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 are estimated as follows:
The Company has provided a valuation allowance of 100% of its net deferred tax asset due to the uncertainty of generating future profits that would allow for the realization of such deferred tax assets.
11.
401(k) PLAN:
The Company has adopted the Bion Technologies, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust (the “401(k) Plan”), a defined contribution retirement plan for the benefit of its employees. The 401(k) Plan is currently a salary deferral only plan and at this time the Company does not match employee contributions. The 401(k) is open to all employees over 21 years of age and no service requirement is necessary.
12.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
The Company has evaluated events that occurred subsequent to June 30, 2019 for recognition and disclosure in the financial statements and notes to the financial statements.
From July 1, 2019 through September 23, 2019, the Company has issued 29,000 shares to consultants for services valued at approximately $16,350.
From July 1, 2019 through September 23, 2019, the Company has sold 18,000 Units of its securities at $0.50 per Unit for aggregate consideration of $9,000. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock and a callable warrant to purchase one half of a share of the Company’s common shares at $0.75 per share until December 31, 2020.
From July 1, 2019 through September 23, 2019, the Company has sold 205,914 Units of its securities at $0.50 per Unit for aggregate consideration of $102,957. Each Unit consists of one share of common stock and a callable warrant to purchase one share of the Company’s common shares at $0.75 per share until December 31, 2020.
From July 1, 2019 through September 23, 2019, Bassani and Smith have loaned the Company $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, for working capital requirements. The loans are non-interest bearing and will be repaid when there is adequate cash available to allow repayment.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunder duly authorized.
BION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Dated: September 24, 2019
By:
/s/ Mark A. Smith
Mark A. Smith, President and Chief
Financial Officer (Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
SIGNATURE
TITLE
DATE
/s/ Mark A. Smith
Executive Chairman,
September 24, 2019
Mark A. Smith
President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
/s/ Dominic Bassani
Chief Executive Officer
September 24, 2019
Dominic Bassani
/s/ Jon Northrop
Secretary and Director
September 24, 2019
Jon Northrop
/s/ Edward Schafer
Vice Chairman
September 24, 2019
Edward Schafer
and Director