8-K

AQUABOUNTY TECHNOLOGIES INC (AQB)

8-K 2020-11-03 For: 2020-11-03
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Added on April 07, 2026

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

| Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) | November 3, 2020 | | --- | --- || AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. | | --- | | (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) || Delaware | 001-36426 | 04-3156167 | | --- | --- | --- | | (State or other jurisdiction<br>of incorporation) | (Commission<br>File Number) | (IRS Employer<br>Identification No.) |

2 Mill & Main Place, Suite 395, Maynard, Massachusetts

(Address of principal executive offices)

01754

(Zip Code)

978-648-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of exchange on which registered
--- --- ---
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share AQB The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Emerging growth company     ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ☐

Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 3, 2020, AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. issued a press release regarding its financial and operational results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01  Other Events.

The following statements contained in the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 are hereby incorporated herein and shall be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2020:

•“Commenced harvesting of conventional Atlantic salmon in June at the Company’s Indiana farm, validating its land-based Recirculating Aquaculture System as an efficient and sustainable way to raise Atlantic salmon.”

•“Growth and feed conversion ratio targets for the Company’s AquAdvantage Salmon (AAS) are tracking as expected, validating the economics and preparing the company for the imminent first-ever harvest of AAS.”

•“Identified Mayfield in Graves County, Kentucky as the leading site location for its planned large-scale farm designed for the Company’s proprietary AquAdvantage salmon after an exhaustive nationwide search spanning approximately 230 sites.”

•“Raised gross proceeds of $31.6 million through an underwritten public offering of 12.65 million shares of common stock at a price of $2.50 per share.”

Third Quarter Financial Summary

•“Revenue in the third quarter of 2020 was $68,000, as compared to no revenue in the same period of the prior year.”

•“Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2020 were $3.7 million, as compared to $3.0 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in operating expenses was due to increased production operations and legal fees.”

•“Cash used for capital projects for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $1.1 million compared with $0.9 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase was a result of on-going improvements to the Indiana farm.”

•“Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $39.5 million as of September 30, 2020, compared with $2.8 million at December 31, 2019. In August 2020, the Company fortified its balance sheet with gross proceeds of $31.6 million from a public offering of common stock.”

•“Net loss in the third quarter of 2020 was $3.6 million, as compared to $3.0 million in the same period of the prior year.”

Except as expressly set forth in Item 8.01, the information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Forward Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K and the attached press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the attached press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential for, timing of and expected yields from the harvesting and sale of our fish from our production farms, the size of any such harvests, future revenues, the development of new farms and the selection of related service providers, the development of a shareholder communication program, and arrangements with potential customers, distributors, and processors; the effectiveness of our COVID-19 response and the potential impact of the pandemic; the sufficiency of prior capital raises; our scale and volume of production; and the potential for fish diseases, use of antibiotics, pollution of the marine environment, annual production increases, demonstration of aquaculture expertise, reduction in carbon footprint, development of new technologies, and our geographic expansion. Forward-looking statements may be identified with words such as “will,” “may,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “upcoming,” “believe,” “estimate,” or similar terminology, and the negative of these terms. Forward-looking statements are not promises or guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these

forward-looking statements. For additional information regarding these and other risks faced by us, please refer to our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), available on the Investors section of our website at www.aquabounty.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press release issued by AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. on November 3, 2020, furnished herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
(Registrant)
November 3, 2020 /s/ David A. Frank
David A. Frank
Chief Financial Officer

Document

image_01.jpg

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. Announces Results for the

Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

and Provides a Corporate Update

MAYNARD, Mass., November 3, 2020 – AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQB) (“AquaBounty” or the “Company”), a land-based aquaculture company utilizing technology to enhance productivity and sustainability, announces the Company’s financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020 along with a corporate update.

Key Highlights

•Commenced harvesting of conventional Atlantic salmon in June at the Company’s Indiana farm, validating its land-based Recirculating Aquaculture System as an efficient and sustainable way to raise Atlantic salmon.

•Growth and feed conversion ratio targets for the Company’s AquAdvantage salmon (AAS) are tracking as expected, validating the economics and preparing the company for the imminent first-ever harvest of AAS.

•Identified Mayfield in Graves County, Kentucky as the leading site location for its planned large-scale farm designed for the Company’s proprietary AquAdvantage salmon after an exhaustive nationwide search spanning approximately 230 sites.

•Raised gross proceeds of $31.6 million through an underwritten public offering of 12.65 million shares of common stock at a price of $2.50 per share.

Management Commentary

“The third quarter of 2020 was marked by our continued progress towards the first-ever commercial scale harvest of AquAdvantage salmon,” said Sylvia Wulf, Chief Executive Officer of AquaBounty. “In the second quarter, we successfully started harvesting conventional salmon with the intention of refining the processes, operating procedures and partner relationships required for the first harvest of AAS. The foundational work with these first conventional harvests was crucial as it has allowed us to implement the necessary logistical and operational processes for a successful and de-risked first harvest of AAS, including refinements of quality and productivity operational parameters. Today, I am pleased to announce that AquAdvantage salmon are meeting our growth and feed conversion ratio expectations—a key component of their economic profile—and we have made tremendous strides towards building out an enhanced logistics network to expand our distribution capabilities nationwide.

“While we prepare for the first harvest of AAS and scale our conventional salmon harvesting efforts, we continue to closely monitor overall market demand for salmon given COVID-19’s impact on the food service industry. That said, we will remain flexible in efforts to maximize revenue and capitalize on the recovery of food service end-markets and in the meantime, continue to form relationships with additional customers who continue to be receptive to our sustainably grown salmon. To that end, we are now preparing to send out the initial AAS product samples for customer feedback which we expect to be positive given its benefits of competitive pricing, freshness, quality and domestic sourcing in America’s heartland.

“Given this positive momentum in our business, we are also aggressively moving forward with the planning for our first large-scale farm, which is anticipated to have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of AquAdvantage salmon annually. We’ve selected Mayfield in Graves County, Kentucky as the leading location as it met all of the previously determined technical, environmental and economic requirements and we are now completing due diligence and beginning purchase negotiations.”

“Given our strong balance sheet, the impending first-ever commercial harvest of AAS and the planned construction of our next farm, AquaBounty is in a better position than ever to drive long-term value for our shareholders and become a major domestic supplier of fresh, sustainable salmon,” concluded Wulf.

Third Quarter Financial Summary

•Revenue in the third quarter of 2020 was $68,000, as compared to no revenue in the same period of the prior year.

•Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2020 were $3.7 million, as compared to $3.0 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in operating expenses was due to increased production operations and legal fees.

•Cash used for capital projects for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $1.1 million compared with $0.9 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase was a result of on-going improvements to the Indiana farm.

•Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $39.5 million as of September 30, 2020, compared with $2.8 million at December 31, 2019. In August 2020, the Company fortified its balance sheet with gross proceeds of $31.6 million from a public offering of common stock.

•Net loss in the third quarter of 2020 was $3.6 million, as compared to $3.0 million in the same period of the prior year.

About AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AQB) is a leader in the field of land-based aquaculture and the use of technology for improving its productivity and sustainability. The Company’s objective is to ensure the availability of high-quality seafood to meet global consumer demand, while addressing critical production constraints in the most popular farmed species.

The Company’s AquAdvantage fish program is based upon a single, specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid growth in early development. With aquaculture facilities located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Indiana, USA, AquaBounty is raising its disease-free, antibiotic-free salmon in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems, offering a reduced carbon footprint and no risk of pollution of marine ecosystems as compared to traditional sea-cage farming. For more information, please visit www.aquabounty.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties about AquaBounty. AquaBounty may use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “can,” “focus,” “will,” and “may” and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things, whether or not AquaBounty will be able to raise capital, market and other conditions, AquaBounty’s business and financial condition, and the impact of general economic, public health, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by AquaBounty, see disclosures contained in AquaBounty’s public filings with the SEC, including the “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included in this press release and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and AquaBounty undertakes no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information, except as required by law.

Company Contact:

AquaBounty Technologies

Dave Conley

Corporate Communications

(613) 294-3078

Investor Relations:

Greg Falesnik or Luke Zimmerman

MZ Group - MZ North America

(949) 259-4987

AQB@mzgroup.us

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

December 31,
2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 38,989,366 $ 2,798,744
Other receivables 55,198
Inventory 1,232,049
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 391,162
Total current assets 4,477,153
Property, plant and equipment, net 25,065,836
Right of use assets, net 399,477
Definite-lived intangible assets, net 157,588
Indefinite-lived intangible assets 101,661
Restricted cash
Other assets 32,024
Total assets 69,596,179 $ 30,233,739
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 2,116,877 $ 1,462,809
Current lease liabilities and other 62,286
Current debt 163,155
Total current liabilities 1,688,250
Long-term lease obligations 352,808
Long-term debt, net 4,432,052
Total liabilities 6,473,110
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, 0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized;
44,916,926 (2019: 21,635,365) shares outstanding 21,635
Additional paid-in capital 156,241,363
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (360,160)
Accumulated deficit (132,142,209)
Total stockholders’ equity 23,760,629
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 69,596,179 $ 30,233,739

All values are in US Dollars.

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended<br>September 30, Nine Months Ended<br>September 30,
2020 2019 2020 2019
Revenues
Product revenues $ 67,763 $ $ 77,466 $ 140,371
Costs and expenses
Production costs 1,355,939 846,306 3,238,689 2,649,674
Sales and marketing 143,646 206,256 331,868 381,637
Research and development 458,462 446,582 1,662,879 1,923,512
General and administrative 1,722,874 1,500,448 5,053,608 4,960,553
Total costs and expenses 3,680,921 2,999,592 10,287,044 9,915,376
Operating loss (3,613,158) (2,999,592) (10,209,578) (9,775,005)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense (38,335) (17,933) (73,527) (45,483)
Other income (expense), net 1,705 (697) 15 11,603
Total other income (expense) (36,630) (18,630) (73,512) (33,880)
Net loss $ (3,649,788) $ (3,018,222) $ (10,283,090) $ (9,808,885)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss) 86,491 (38,892) (129,993) 133,448
Total other comprehensive income (loss) 86,491 (38,892) (129,993) 133,448
Comprehensive loss $ (3,563,297) $ (3,057,114) $ (10,413,083) $ (9,675,437)
Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.09) $ (0.14) $ (0.31) $ (0.50)
Weighted average number of Common Shares -
basic and diluted 38,911,054 21,604,072 32,756,074 19,556,607